Pip ordered her crew to lay low until things calmed down. Unlike Aldric, she wasn't worried they might pick a fight with the Horde. Rather, she was still concerned that perhaps members of her crew were targets. The attack on Furyman may have simply been a coincidence, but that didn't mean the Horde weren't behind the attempt on her own life. Somebody was responsible for the long string of security incidents that resulted in her being sent up here, and the Horde had more than enough motive.
However, with Aldric's troops holed up in their base, Pip didn't want to expose her own crew to any more danger than she had to, so she passed word that they were to stay on the Tournament grounds and remain observant.
By the afternoon Pip's three crews were reclining in separate parts of the tavern, drinking and socializing. Some of the tension from this morning had bled off, and a few Alliance troops could be seen out and about once more. Few were actually in the tavern, while the upstairs was practically crowded to limit with Horde. Still, there were far more than enough Alliance attendees about to make Pip comfortable keeping her crew here.
She hadn't been there long when Mariel arrived, looking for her. Mariel engaged her in small talk for a moment, visibly trying to play the part of her 'long lost friend' to onlookers, but Pip could feel many of the Horde take notice as they spoke.
Mariel said, "You really have to come see some of the things I kept from our days back in Elwyn, Pip. You mind if I steal you away from your friends?"
"Please do," Rivv played along, raising her glass and scrunching her face at Pip.
Once outside, Mariel whispered "Something's come up, orders." Pip followed her back to the Alliance base, but at least she could enter visibly this time under the guise of visiting an old friend.
Mariel led her straight to the Command building. The first thing Pip noticed upon entering were the two rogues standing in the waiting area. They didn't speak, but just stood watchful, wearing the colors of Stormwind. She knew immediately there were from SI:7. Mariel asked Pip to wait up front with them as she walked back into Aldric's office. Through the office doorway, Pip could see an SI:7 special courier speaking with Aldric.
It wasn't long before the courier took his leave, nodding at Pip as he passed. His two escorts fell into step with him and the three departed quickly. Mariel lingered a bit longer before coming back out to get Pip.
"Remember that outpost I showed you earlier? The one way out on our western front? I need you to meet me there in an hour. Just you," Mariel told her.
"Did something happen?"
"No, but I can't say more right now. Just be there in an hour, okay? I've got to prepare a few things."
"I'll be there," Pip told her, before heading back out, thoroughly confused.
---
Rivv was none too pleased, but she told her to keep all of their crew in town.
The western outpost was basically a round, squat stone sentry tower, about thirty feet across and twenty high, that stood far out in the middle of the valley plain. It was constructed solidly enough not to need a surrounding picket, but was comfortable enough inside to house a dozen or more troops if it had to. It had two levels, a lower one that served most of the utilitarian functions (armory, supplies, etc.), and an upper one that served as a residence (kitchen, living area, and sleeping quarters). Downstairs was divided up into several rooms, while the upstairs portion was one large common area.
As she approached, Pip took note of Alliance sentries flying wide circles over the valley, keeping a watchful eye on their western front. Two guards stood outside at the heavily-reinforced door to the outpost. The stone walls surrounding the door were a good two feet thick, and she had marveled at the craftsmanship that made this outpost such a strong structure. It had to be, of course, standing so far out by itself. The door was solid oak and was reinforced outside with steel, but swung open easily enough on its thick hinges.
Inside stood Mariel, looking over some papers on a table off to one side. She looked up at Pip, but smiled apprehensively. Instead of her usual gray uniform, she was wearing a commoner's outfit, a plain brown peasant's dress that appeared older and overused. Was she to join her crew undercover somehow? Surely enough people in the region knew her face so as to make that impractical. Mariel saw the questions in her eyes.
"Sorry for not telling you more earlier, Pip, I was under orders."
"That's okay, so what's going on?"
"You may want to read it yourself." Mariel handed over an opened document, apparently the same one delivered this afternoon from Stormwind.
Pip examined the broken seal and recognized Renzik's insignia. She unfolded it and began reading. It contained, not new orders, but a temporary interruption to her mission. Stormwind Intelligence, like any large organization, had it's very own layer of bureaucracy. It was a small layer, fortunately, but it existed nonetheless. Somebody, somewhere, had pointed out how long it had been since Pip had led an active mission, and raised the concern that too much time had passed since her last security evaluation. Active field operators went through rigorous training in all aspects of both gathering and protecting sensitive information. Apparently her little stunt with Orgrim's Hammer had rattled a few of them enough to wonder if she was still at the top of her game.
She doubted Renzik had any concerns, but with so much going on right now in their struggle against the Lich King, Stormwind could afford to be a little cautious.
