206 Landing on foreign soil

They land in Baghdad at the trading base. They are met by the commanding officer there to get them the men and equipment they will need. 

Astla sees some familiar faces and goes to chat. One an officer of the Iraqi military. 

"Ahmed how are you old friend, look I don't want to do this with a big show of force. I need it to be as if we are invisible. So I know that Onacona and I will be able to blend in ;but Marshal not as much. Does your wife still work in the theater as a makeup artist?" 

Ahemed nods and gives his wife a call. They take some time to go over the maps and get what supplies they will need that can be easily carried. When Ahmed's wife arrives she transforms Marshal to look like an Iraqi. Using a civilian vehicle and having only a few friends of Astila's for back up they are on their way. Astila has the military run a decoy operation so he and his small unit can move more freely through the area. By making a show of looking for the missing solders it will keep the captors watching thesolders  not them. Giving Ahmed the coordinates they find that he knows the area well. He tells them about where they are going. 

" It's a run down area about sixty kilometers out side of the city. It is mostly run by petty criminals but no one knows the boss. They call him a ghost. I can get us in but it will not be easy to get anyone to talk. This man rules with an iron fist and most are terrified of crossing him. If the commander is there knowing him he has left clues that no one but his men would know. "

"That is what I am counting on. I need to bring him home my wife will be very upset if I don't , and there is a five year old little girl waiting for him. That is one little girl you do not want to make angry. I thank you for doing this for me. I know you normally do not go on these kind of missions." 

Ahmed acknowle his graditude and tells him why he agreed. 

"For starters we are friends and I have deep respect for the commander. It is not everyday that I get to see the skills of sacred  fire up close. I have always envied the closeness of your unit. I remember the first time I heard your code name that I wanted to know how you got it. " 

Onacona starts to snicker and gives Astila a funny look.  Ahmed asks . 

" What  is so funny?" 

Onacona answers him . 

" his code name is his name. Astila means sacred fire in our language. I find it funny that he was given his name as a code name." 

"Ahh now I understand well that's kind of a let down i was thinking it was more exciting then that." Ahmed says sounding a little disappointed. 

He hears a knock at his door and Onacona comes in. He has a bowl with specific herbs and feathers. 

" This is shaman magic it won't be detectable by others. If we do it together it will be stronger. " they get the room set up and begin. It doesn't take long before the room turns cold and a cold hand is on Astila's shoulder.

when he looks up his room is filled with spirits. They vary in age but all are wanting to say something. A girl of about twelve still has her hand on his shoulder she looks at Onacona and asks. 

" How did a spirit become human?" Pointing at Onacona. 

Astla explains. 

" He did a great deed as a spirit and was rewarded by being allowed to be reborn. He is a human just as he was before he was a spirit. " the girl says something to the others in their language. She looks at them and asks Astila. 

" You are here for the blood seeker. Be careful he has no regard for life.he doesn't care about age or gender ;he just wants blood of those that will make him stronger . We were not able to move on because he still hold our essence . If you can release us them we can move on. He holds a man who has ties to the blood he seeks. Though I don't sense it in you , there is something special about you. We can guide you to him since we are no longer flesh and blood he cannot sense us anymore. You have to promise to release us so we can move on. " 

Astila agreed but needs to ask . 

"What do you mean about your essence, how can I release it?"

"Those  he kills for their blood he keeps their bodies in a cave beneath his house. He places a spell on them so that they do not decay. I don't know why he is keeping us. You must release us by burning us. Even if we are taken to be buried he can still call for us . If our bodies are burned he cannot use our essence any more." The girl explains and Astila agrees now that he understands what must be done. The spirits leave but he knows they will be close to help them when the time comes. The two men retire for the night so they can get started early in the morning. 

Astila opens his eyes and stares into the black room. Not hearing a sound he looks at his watch. It's three in the morning. Getting up he goes to peer out of the window . 

"hmmm" thinking to himself " I wonder what Aisling is doing right now. " as he sees a movement on the balcony. Looking closer he sees that it is just a bird. It's a crow smiling he knows it's a sign from Morrigan. Sighing he goes back to bed. They are not supposed to meet up for another two hours. Turning towards the bed he is met by the spirit of one of his buddies. His heart leaps seeing him . It means he is to late to save him.  Astila gets on his knees and kneels in front of the spirit and whispers. 

"I'm sorry I was too late. I will free you from him I promise." A tear slips from his eye as he thinks of his friend. The spirit puts his hand on Astila's say 

"Hey, it's not your fault it's mine. I came on my own . I was with a unit a few months ago and we were ambushed. I thought I would be alright since we had a holy man with us. I am the reason the commander is here. I left clues all around they will be easy for you to notice. I left seven point stars where I have been. Follow them and you will find the commander. I always knew the rumors we true that you kept us safe because you could see the dead. Now I'm glad that it's true this way you can save the others and set us free. " the spirit disappears. 

after a few more hours of sleep and meditating Astila goes down stairs to the hotel restaurant. There he sees his buddies spirit sitting at a table. He asks the hostess if his party can have that one , pointing at the table where the spirit was sitting. Sitting down he sees a seven point star etched in the corner. Astila sits his back pack down on the floor . Looking under the table , there is a thumb drive nestled in the corner . He slips it out and places it in his pocket. Looking at the menu he waits for the others. Ahmed arrives with Marshal , looking around he wonders if Onacona has woken up yet.

" Your friend is he a late sleeper, I knocked on his door but there was no answer." Ahmed tells them as he looks at the menu. Astila's phone beeps , it's a text from Onacona. 

"I have a visitor in my room , I will get some information and be right there."  Astila wonders who the visitor is . Astila orders breakfast and waits. 

Onacona arrives and gives Astila a frazzled look. 

"Sorry , I had a problem with my room. " onacona tells them . They eat in silence and then head out to meet the broker for the weapons they brought to sell as their cover. Once in the car Astila hands Marshal the thumb drive.  Pulling out his computer he uploads the file. It shows a sacrifice ceremony , the person on screen is sacrificing people for power. Looking at Astila Ahmed asks. 

"Where did you get this from?" 

" i found a clue and it was with it. Look at the person conducting the ceremony does he look familiar to you?" 

Astila asks Ahmed. 

"He is the leader of the Iraq republican gaurd. It will be impossible to bring him down. He will know every move we make . If it's him holding the commander then we will need a different plan. " 

Astila looked at his companions and told them. 

" I did not get my reputation for easy missions. From here on out we have no contact with anyone outside of the mission. Give me your phones. " the men hand Astila their phones. He looks at his friend Ahmed questionly wondering if he can trust him or not. Looking at Onacona's face Astila knows he needs to get time to talk to him without Ahmed around to find out about his delay.