[color=000000] [center] [h1][i][b]The Highwayman[/b][/i] [/h1] [/center] [/color] 

The watch tower was a tiered construction of rusted metal platforms and concrete pillars. Its paint was peeling away, exposing cracked reddish steel, and the glass spotlights at its peek had been smashed centuries ago. Nevertheless, it gave the Guardsmen occupying it a decent level of high-ground, and had been paramount in halting the progress of the OBR through this section of the marshlands, as snipers picked off their scouting parties from on-high. 

It also just so happened to be home to Chief Genlin; the Highwayman's target. 

Its approach had been planned meticulously, so that the steel-clad figure could make its way towards the tower under the cover of night. Its dull metal body trugged steadily through the marshland, a speck lost in the sea of darkness, as the Highwayman drew closer and closer to the tower. 

Once it was nearing the base of the tower, the Highwayman ducked down behind the carcass of a fallen tree, its mechanical eyes fixing on the Guardsmen patrolling at ground level. 

[b][center] * [/center][/b]

"Oh Jeeze! Oh Fuck! Please, help me!" a curvy blonde girl came scampering out of the night, bare-footed, with her tattered clothes hanging off of her full body in grubby rags, and trails of glistening tears streaming down her tanned cheeks. 

"Hold it right -fuckin'- there, [i]girlie[/i]!" Barked one of the Guardsmen, sliding to one knee and slinging his assault rifle off of his back. 

"For God's sake, Gomez, she's just a child!" Snapped one of his comrades, giving Gomez a sharp shove as he came striding out to meet her. 

"P-please, h-help..." sobbed the girl, running straight into the soldier's arms, and pressing herself tightly against his chest. 

"Easy, girl," The soldier soothed in his most comforting voice "You're safe here. These are good people you're amongst. Can you tell us what's happened?"

"Oh God," The girl was choking on her words "Lurkers came o-out of the swamp...attacked our caravan," her lower lip wobbled as she spoke "they...oh god, they got my big brother!" 

"Official orders are to shoot unidentified hostiles on sight." grumbled Gomez, as he pulled himself up off of the ground. 

"Yeah, the crying teenaged girl is really fucking hostile," the other guardsman scowled at him "Shithead." He turned his attention back to the girl "Come on, missy. I'll take you to see the Chief."