But these Mar'hute were different. They were the absolute best at what they did. They were all defenders, who constantly trained, constantly practiced, and were always on the alert. The Mar'hute valued their privacy, and although several of them had gone into the outside world, in general they stayed deep beneath the earth.
<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Main body<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->
The Mar'hute defenders who were rapidly approaching their objectives had prepared for this time well. The moment they heard the seventh explosion they masked their minds, as well as their bodies. Good defenders could mask themselves so well that no one could see them. At all. Even other Defenders had difficulty seeing them in broad daylight, in the mind as well as in the flesh.
The center column reached the main door seconds after the last explosion. They all lined up in two lines, each then pressed himself onto the wall. Standing like statues on opposite sides of the fifty meter hallway they would be difficult to see even if they weren’t masked. But masked it would be impossible. While the defenders took their places, Marcus and the Defender leader walked to the door, and listened. Their were no explosions, but to their ears, long trained to use the force as an extension of their body, the sounds of scratching was clear as a bell. They consulted each-other, and determined that it would be best to spread the body of twenty defenders out. They issued orders silently, communicating with the force as they usually did. The defenders spread themselves out until they were five meters apart, then again they stood back to the wall, invisible in the shadows, as well as in their mask. And they waited.
<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Left Flank, Right Flank<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->
Splitting off to the left and right at the end of the gallery, the second and third groups also jogged down relief carved hallways. Stories depicting the battles of their ancestors gave them courage, as they ran out to flank an enemy of who's size they were unknowing. They too masked upon the seventh and final blast, and increased speed when they heard no more. The leaders sprinted ahead, making sure that the way was clear before leading their troops out of the hidden doorway's into the sun.
Spreading out in long lines they began to encircle the main entrance by three hundred meters. Masked and in their native environment they were all but invisible. But they still had a way to go before they could see what was going on.