Chapter 18

Twenty minutes later Runetide landed, she folded her wings into her back and they promptly vanished but this time no Alex or Farren and Serafin was now were to be seen, Uriel leapt into Runetide’s outstretched hands they nuzzled each other for a few seconds before Runetide transferred Uriel to her shoulder.

‘Where is Farren?’ Luna asked.

‘It’s complicated.’

‘And Serafin?’ Arious inquired, ‘wasn’t she a part of this too? Or is she not a dragon?’

Runetide sighed heavily ‘yes she is a dragon but’ Runetide hesitated, ‘look something has come up and they're not really talking and Serafin.’ Runetide sighed ‘I don’t even know where she is.’

‘And where is Alex?’ Dante asked.

‘He is with the prime minister now of Archasia now, the talks with Archericon did not go well it seems Farren’s prime minister is doing his best to ignore our warnings, yes he gave us funding enough for three bases how he thinks we can protect an entire continent with three bases, I have no idea but we will just have to make do.’

‘Well you count on us’ Dante said fiercely, the other lycanthropes nodded.

‘We still don’t know what’s going to happen and when’ Runetide sighed.

‘So, we improvise’ Luna said, ‘it’s simple.’

‘I like that plan’ Sol said, ‘but first can I fix and clean my armour? coz it's freaking filthy.’

‘Yes,’ Runetide nodded, ‘when you’re ready Arious will fly you back to a base where you can chat to someone high up in the chain of command, we need Arious’s father to rally other dragons.

They decided to slit up Alex, Runetide and Uriel would take Archericon Dante, Sol, Luna and Arious would take Archasia hopefully Farren and Serafin would pull their shit together.

It began two days later, the invasion started they had all gathered everyone together, but they didn’t start in Archericon as most people expected. In fact, what they did surprised everyone. They immerged in hundreds of locations all around the world, small teams of humans and nagas attacking anyone who comes close and trying to set up small bases that on their own wouldn’t be a challenge, but there were so many of them in was hard to effectively counter, given that what Archericon had been preparing for was an all-out assault. So its forces were concentrated in key areas which meant the first few hours of the war consisted of rapid mobilization of troops and vehicles to areas where there was suspected or confirmed presents of enemy troops, and Archasia was taken by surprise no one had told them that this would happen, that being said they were doing much better they had many dragon’s ready and willing to fight. Already relayed by Arious and his father the problem was that suddenly the insurgency was suddenly very well equipped and armed, dragons once thought loyal changed sides and Archasia was sent reeling by multiple shock and awe attacks from the somehow now much more advanced insurgency.

The pathfinder core in the first few days was being run into the ground, with flying all over the world and constant engagements, they were losing personal quickly to the enemy’s superior armour and weapons, saying that the body armour of the regular infantry did stand up better to the handheld rail guns, but it still took a lot longer to kill one of the enemy soldiers then It did for them to kill our men, the enemy only needed one or two good shots. 

Mark, Petrov and Zain where exhausted Zain pulled his mask off and undid his helmet strap and pulled it off and fell onto the floor as the gunship lifted off, and the doors closed and they began to lift off he slumped on the floor he didn’t even bother to take a seat.

They had been to three separate islands all across the planet because of cores the enemy couldn’t just and on the main continents, in the past two days and had been in five multi-hour firefights both repelling attacking and scouting enemy positions, their gunship was marked with dents from enemy fire and over half of the ships ten seats were empty, Mark and Petrov took their seats near the rear hatch, Zain had just collapsed next to the side hatch the one rifleman who had survived she had taken a seat next to the side hatch.

‘Pain’ Zain moaned.

Mark sighed, ‘you’ll get used to it kid.’

Zain just moaned again, and Petrov chuckled wearily, ‘Funny Mark’ he said, As they sped from a substantially sized island to Archericon.

Jet lag was killing them all sleep-wise and they were all exhausted from the constant fighting.

Then over the team com came the pilot's voice, ‘you tucked in back their gamma team?’

‘Yep’ Mark answer for everyone.

‘Well then you all just sit back and enjoy the ride home boys and girls; I’ll even play you some relaxing music.’  

‘No thanks’ Zain said.

‘Well alright then nighty night’ the com clicked off within minutes everyone excepting the pilot was asleep, for the five hours that they flew with one refuelling pit stop along the way and then they arrived at base one the rifleman gently nudged Zain with her foot as they landed she looked over at Mark.

‘He dead?’

Petrov smiled, ‘no he’s just sleeping’ he said standing up

Mark stood also using its strap he secured his weapon over his shoulder, then hit the rear hatch release switch, ‘Petrov would mind waking up Zain?’

‘No problem boss’ Petrov said smiling.

The rifleman stood stepping over Zain as she passed Mark, he put a hand on her shoulder.

‘you ok?’ He asked.

‘yep, I’m ok.’

‘I’ll see if I can get reassigned somewhere not on the front lines ok? something like civilian evac.’

‘No’ she said, ‘I’ll be rescinded just like everyone else.’

Mark nodded, ‘ok good luck Gamma three.’ 

‘You two gamma one.’

There was a clang as Petrov slammed the butt of his pathfinder carbine into the deck, It most definitely woke Zain up.

‘Let’s go sunshine’ Petrov said helping Zain to his feet and picking up his helmet and armoured gas mask.

And all together they walked off the gunship thanking the pilot as they went, they all fell gratefully into their beds taking of their pathfinder body armour and armoured gas masks, each of them yet again fell straight to sleep.

Four days after the invasion started having seen no action Alex and Runetide were going stir crazy, so they had talked major lock to let them take the forces that remanded at base one and mount an assault of what was assumed was the area the enemy had decided to make there jump-off point, they needed to attack as soon as posable and there was no one closer than they were.

Alex and Calsifer were in the hanger of one of the large troop carrier VTOLs surrounded by light tanks and APCs, there was a holographic projector at the back and that’s where the men and women of havoc team plus Calsifer and Alex were standing around.

‘I’m beginning to regret my decision to let you tag along.’

‘Why is that?’ Calsifer said at for the fifteenth he adjusted the straps of his body armour.

‘Because you can’t keep still.’

‘Well you know I'm not new to the combat thing and as an added bonus I’m not used to this body armour since Serafin and Runetide helped redesign it, and tecs like me were not first in line to test the new gear.’

‘I have no idea what you mean’ Alex said.

‘Never thought I say this’ Calsifer said, ‘but I do miss the old body armour.’

‘I still don't know that you mean’ Alex said.

Calsifer punched Alex’s arm lightly.

‘Hey, what was that for?’

Could you two please concentrate Marcus said.

Both Alex and Calsifer started giggling.

‘Oh fuck me’ Marcus said he gestured at Alex and Calsifer who were gently nudging each other ‘can you two quit it I need you both paying attention, this is the signal largest concentration on enemy troops and I need to plan our attack.’

‘Sorry sir’ Alex said.

‘Good’ Marcius said, ‘now lest get back to it shall we.’

It was a rhetorical question they were all gathered here to discuss the attack on the strongest enemy position in Archericon discovered so far out of the two hundred and twenty known points where the enemy had arrived, this camp located deep in the centre of a forest the first indication had been the large patches of missing trees, this had been tagged as a priority one because of its size. However whether or not they here even going to try and take it was up for debate, their numbers were severely depleted they still hadn't been able to replace their losses from the loss of the first division and their pathfinders had been petitioned by almost every other military force on the planet, they had lent some help sending out pathfinders but their survival rates were not amazing, as it stood with the assistance of pathfinders the had managed to shut down fifty-odd insertions with a fifty-five present casualty rate.

The rifleman's survival rate wasn't much better the enemy had the technology advantage and it didn’t feel like it, but the earth still had the numbers abet spread very thin.  

These factors and many more ran their way through Marcus head, that and Serafin’s disappearance and Farren’s withdrawal. If he was honest with himself he didn't want to send Runetide out because if they lost Runetide they would have no dragons and he had seen Serafin in action they were going to need her not for this part but when dragons came through that was the second reason Runetide and Alex had been kept in the backfield, there was also a third, the dam government they were not letting a single dragon through.

‘I’m going be honest’ Marcus said, ‘I have no idea what to do our forces are sped to thin mounting an assault of this size, it might not be the best bet.’

‘I disagree Alex said ‘this may be our only chance at finding out how to counter there only way here. Every single camp we have discovered and destroyed there had been no sign of how they got here the running theory is that there just portaling here with no way of knowing where they’re going to show up, but this camp is the only place that has had consistent growth, so the logical conclusion is that this is their main base. We need to attack now destroy it now and if we find what we're looking for that means a swift end to this war before the casualties reach the high hundreds.’

Marcus turned to the hologram of Major lock next to the topographical map of the area ‘we had not been able to secure any pathfinders or drones so all we had to go off was satellite imagery.’

‘So’ Marcus said, ‘you want us, twenty people, three light tanks and two APCs to storm a base?’

‘Yes,’ Alex nodded, ‘we do also have a dragon.’

‘So, do they Marcus countered.’

‘Not yet’ Alex said ‘they can’t bring dragons through yet, the portal needs to be more stable how many times do I have to say it, securing this base if It’s not already then it should be priority one. We cannot let them bring dragons through, it's not a game over but sure as hell will make this war harder even if we get Serafin and Farren back that’s only three draconic attacks we can counter.’

‘We will be over the drop zone in five’ came the pilot’s voice over the comm.

‘And their super tech has given them a false sense of securely, I don’t think they even know we have satellites. I reckon they don’t even know we can see them and what we're about to do is the last thing they will expect.’

‘Ok,’ then Marcus said, ‘it’s not like the government is going to see sense any time soon.’ Then he turned the members of havoc team ‘havoc team he shouted you better strap your wings on coz it almost time to fly.’

‘Sir yes sir’ came the reply. 

Alex upon finding out about the low orbit insertion jump pack or LO-IP Alex had very much wanted to use one, not that he needed it.

In two minutes everyone was kitted out including Alex who did not know how to use the heads up display or HUD for short, he was wearing the same as everyone else, a mix between combat and body armour it was a fully sealed environment inside the forest camo body glove, and close filling armour plates and the helmet with a full face visor and HUD with a back-mounted oxygen canister and soft case pouches on the lower chest.

The tanks and APC’s had been moved to the rear so that there was plenty of room for everyone to line up in formation, from there they would make the jump all the way down into the middle of the base. The troop career would then swing around and drop the tanks and one of the APCs at a discrete distance then it would provide fire support by bombing the shit out of anything that was marked as dangerous by the team on the ground.

Calsifer was there for on the ground tec support he hadn't had much time, but he had got a look at some the enemies tec he might prove useful and with a dragon they may be able to capture some solders Calsifer would be dropped in the APC and escorted in by the tanks. 

‘Ok,’ Marcus said, ‘havoc one it’s your time to shine.’ 

‘Right’ havoc one said, ‘everyone I arrowhead formation I will take point Alex your behind me.’

‘Will do’ Alex said.

‘Ok timer set’ havoc one said, ‘Alex when that tome hits zero you jump got it?’

‘Got it’ Alex said.

‘Alright pop the hatch’ havoc one said to the pilot over comms.

Alex turned and blew a kiss towards Calsifer he caught it grinning and stepped back. 

Alex waited looking at the timer ten seconds, five, four, three, two, one the timer hit zero and Alex jumped he calmed himself and breathed deep to slow his racing heart, he felt the wind currents and subtly moved them, the ground was very far away, but it was getting awfully close awfully quickly

‘So how long is this going to take?’ Alex asked.

‘On my mark’ havoc, one said, ‘activate’ he waited for a few seconds ‘mark’ all of havoc team activated there LO-IPs and they all manoeuvred into landing positions ‘shock absorbers ready?’

Twenty-one lights winked green the ground was coming up fast, everything was growing closer, Alex could hear the wind screaming now the ground was rushing to meet him. They all hit the ground there was a moment of stillness no one moved then havoc team was firing Alex summoned his sword they had landed bang on target just off the centre, people started dropping there body’s spasming blood spattering from exit wounds not all of the personal where wearing armour the base was about a football field long of cleared forest, with mostly incomplete buildings.

Alex took a moment just a moment to look around at the other end of the base there where landed gunships and there were a lot of semi built buildings, he followed havoc team as they sought shelter havoc one checked in with the VTOL to see how many enemies they were dealing with.

As far as the VTOL pilot could tell sixteen defenders closing in on havoc teams position five of them having been killed upon entre Alex fell back to their position they were held up in a semi-complete buildings, firing out the gaps the building's architecture, covering each other as the others reloaded the strange cracks coming from the enemies guns were very good at armour penetration, Alex watched as Havoc ten took a round through the visor, there was an exposition or red and white from the front and back of the helmet. Twelve stood firing talking out one of the enemy soldiers before falling neat wholes caved into her body, the enemy's guns were suppressing them then two came around trying to flank them.

Alex herd a scream as one of the rail guns rounds penetrated the body armour of havoc five them Alex saw them.

Alex jumped forward he fell upon a pair of unsuspecting black armour clad soldiers his sword pierced the chest of one then as he pulled it out a wall of earth hit the second solder nocking away it’s weapon then Alex decapitated them both but they went winning they had lost five members of havoc squad, they were returning fire but it was taking a lot more bullets to take down their solders.

‘Alright, there positioning is marked’ havoc one said ‘fire.’

‘On it’ the carrier VTOL pilot said there was a few seconds silence then an explosion engulfed the advancing enemy soldiers’ bits of human and black angular armour rained down.

‘How are we looking?’ Alex inquired.

We lost six three ten, twelve nineteen and twenty, five and eight have severe injuries.

‘Alright,’ Alex said awkwardly ‘you go do your thing.’

Havoc one nodded, ‘you find that portal stop this.’

Alex nodded.

Havoc one turned to the surviving members of his team ‘two, three, four and six you're on policing weapons if you find anyone try to take prisoners, but that’s not the priority.’

They nodded and four of them spread out.

‘Twenty, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, thirteen perimeters, eleven, seven get over to those gunships with Calsifer the APC and tanks will meet you there, rest of you we are on clean up with me, everyone nodded.

Alex set about finding trying to find the portal the tell-tail shimmer the strange almost cracked mirror effect.

Runetide are you noticing anything in the area.

Runetide walked out of the forest carrying several of the people in white uniforms, she was holding them in her clenched fist, ‘I’m not getting anything here’ she said, ‘I don’t think there’s one here.’

‘I found what looks like a comms relay’ said havoc six, ‘you guys wanna take a look.’

‘Hold it there’ havoc one said, ‘mark it then move on.’

‘Yes, sir.’

Calsifer cut in, let me take a look under the hood we can fit one of these gunships in the VTOL. Plus, all the gear we have scavenged, and you never know what intel we might gleam from tapping into their comms, if they realize this base is compromised, they will shut down their comms.’  

‘You didn’t need to convince’ me havoc one said, ‘double-time it over there eleven and seven start getting those enemy gunships ready for transport APC stand by, light tanks help secure the perimeter.’

‘Yes sir’ they all replied.

‘Um’ Runetide asked ‘what am supposed to do with these?’ she was still holding the humans, two in each of her clenched fists, they were struggling to extricate themselves their arms were pinned to their sides.

‘Whatever you like I suppose’ Alex said out loud, but he sent a message to Runetide make them willing to talk, so spook them but not too much.

Runetide nodded smiling she sat down with the four humans.

Alex sat down on the ground he looked over to Runetide, who was very much enjoying dangling the humans above her open jaws.

Alex descried it was about time he got Farren out of his stupor, they were going to need Serafin if they were going to beat Aborwrath if they didn’t get ground down by attrition fist.

Alex stood, Runetide ‘I am in need of transport’ he said.

‘What am I going to do with these four?’ she asked in an overly dramatic sad voice.

‘Just give them to havoc team.’

‘Aw Runetide said, ‘but I was just getting to know them.’

‘You can play with them later’ Alex said, trying and failing to repress a smile. 

Runetide gave an exaggerated squeal of delight as Alex walked over to Calsifer and they took their helmets and briefly hugged.

‘See you later’ Alex said.

‘You better’ Calsifer replied, ‘just gonna see what we can get from this there antenna’ Alex nodded Runetide scooped him up and ran back to base one, it was strange apart from a skeleton crew there was almost on one in the base, all combat technicians tanks and here drivers and riflemen and pathfinders were on duty. Either securing or fighting for territory all over the world, Runetide stepped over the wall lowing Alex to the ground.

‘You try and find Serafin, we need to sort them out now because we're not going to be able to kill Aborwrath on our own and this won’t end until she dies I hope this is the beginning and the end.’

‘That was deep’ Runetide said.

‘Thanks’ Alex smiled sarcastically.

‘Alright,’ Runetide said ‘you got and kick Farren’s ass, there’s a war on.’

Alex nodded and headed towards the civilian quarters.

Interlude 5

Arious watched from the street corner in the shadow of a building, he was human-sized today but he still looked like a dragon it was mid-day, usually, at this time there would be people and cars crowding the street but it wasn’t crowned the five enemy soldiers and a naga were held up in a house the people inside had been killed they area around had been tapped off, the two-story street house was home to a family of five and now they were shooting at anyone who got too close to the building, one of the less successful insurgent operations in the area.

‘Guys I’m in position’ Arious whispered into his commlink

‘Good’ Dante said.

‘Alright let’s go.’ Luna said

This was his seventh house building today even though Archasia had been taken almost complexly by surprise, they were doing a lot better than Archericon they had dragons and Lycanthropes in ample supply and were using them to counter on every front. The problem was mostly property damage. Arious had always sworn that he would never take another life and so far he hadn't needed to, they needed prisoners, they needed intel and with Runetide and Uriel in Archericon the Lycanthrope team needed a number four and seeing as there was no way in hell Quinn was getting anywhere near this war, and the Lycanthropes wanted Arious he would have to do.

Luna fired a single shot from the other side of the town. Blowing the left side of the second story to pieces and Arious charged across the street smashing down the door, there were three of them, two of were in the dining room and one was standing rather close to the door, Arious backhanded the soldier, his black helmet cracked the other two temporarily stunned did not think to look behind them the wall exploded Dante slammed an armoured fist into one of the soldiers and Sol backhanded the other, they were both dead before they hit the ground, Arious regretted the loss of life but he understood the necessity, then something grabbed his shoulder, he whipped around and there was a knife at his throat without thinking he reacted he grabbed the man’s arm, crushing the bone, then he punched the soldier in the chest, The enemy soldier collapsed to the ground struggling to breath. Arious fell to his knees ripping the helmet of the soldier’s head. 

‘Naga and human on the top floor confirmed Kia’ came Luna over the comms, ‘hold on shit.’ 

Arious looked up, ‘What is it, Luna?’

‘The enemy, Aborwrath’s army they have taken a city, Archericon was blocking comms fuck those idiots pride will get us all killed we need to get there ASAP.’ 

‘I’m not coming.’ 

Arious looked back down at the solder she was still struggling to breathe, she was coughing up blood, trying in vain to get air into her punctured lungs she passed slowly and painfully through the vale. 

‘What?’ Dante said almost desperately, ‘we need you out there.’ 

‘The incursions have been lessening but they haven't stopped completely, I'll finish off here with my dad we might find my mum ok, I’m needed here there are others who need my help.’ 

Sol didn't say anything for a bit then, ‘ok I understand say here we will be fine.’ 

‘Thank you’ Arious nodded. 

‘Alright let’s move’ Dante howled, ‘we have a city to save.’ 

I have a mum to find Arious thought to himself, Arious and his dad had been trying to track her down but what with the invasion, being kidnapped and Quinn it had been a struggle to find the time. All he wanted to know was why she had tried to have him killed.

Seri’es looked down at the men and woman of his team, they looked small and they were compared to him and his squad he sat cross-legged in the training yard of outpost beta in upper Archasia but humans he reflected as he watched them go through drills, humans had indomitable spirit even when facing dragons “they die just like anything else” seemed to a sought of mantra which made sense stated firearms didn’t do much more then irritate a dragon but anything above that basically anything that was explosive, if it hit the right place could do some very serious damage, Seri’es watched as the members of his own squad returned from patrol stepping over the wall of the outpost all of them had all worked and trained together the men and woman under Seri’es command respected him for two reasons; one he was a competent commander, but he also didn’t treat the humans any different to the dragons to him they were all a part of his team

Seri’es looked up his team as they approached he was their leader he had dark scales and dark green eyes, Kira a blue scaled dragon smaller than the rest of her squad she was the only female, Link who had blue scales that were slightly lighter than his sisters and finally Morgwath a black dragon with red eyes and spikey white hair he was the most recent addition the Seri’es team but he got along with the humans extremely well he in the ground pretending to fight Jek one of the humans with two of his fingers Seri’es watched as Morgwath pretended to recoil for a punch to his middle finger then promptly knocked Jek flat on his ass Kira and Link stopped briefly to chant and exchange banter, Seri’es smiled a few years ago they would not have let a lycanthrope work in the same team as humans let alone dragons but now look at them all working together and all the stronger for it

‘Thanks for dinner’ Seri’es said to Kira who was carrying several large animals

She grinned back ‘just doing my part any way you should be thanking Link, he caught the beasts he’s just too lazy to carry them back or cook them for that matter’ she headed off to cook the meat for the dragon’s dinner.

‘Well, the cooks with thank you’ Seri’es said standing, ‘so any of you see anything at all?’

Link shook his head ‘nothing at all.’ He sat down in a courtyard and began to chat with the five members of beta team about the best spots to find the beasts.

‘Strange I defiantly picked up her scent around here’ Seri’es scratched under his chin.

‘I’m assuming that means that means we got nothing’ said one of the humans.

Seri’es nodded down at Mike also known as delta one, Mike patted Seri’es ankle ‘don’t worry big guy we will find her.’

Link put a hand on Seri’es shoulder, ‘I know you want to find her but look at what she did are you sure-‘

‘Yes,’ Seri’es said, ‘I’m sure I have to know why.’

Morgwath stopped playfighting with Jek and gently scooped him up.

‘I’m sure we will find her’ Morgwath said, still holding Jek in one hand Seri’es nodded accepting the encouragement.

Seri’es addressed the other humans in the base, ‘when we find her I want dragons only he said you’re out here because I don’t trust any other dragons with your lives but I don’t want you directly engaging her, got it? this is personal I won’t any of you getting injured or killed over this’ he said.

‘Yes sir’ they said.

‘Alright then playtimes over, Morgwath return Jek to his quarters Link go and help you sister.’

Morgwath and Link nodded ‘yes sir’ they said and as Morgwath turned, he raised his hand and gently nuzzled Jek before setting him on the ground he fist-bumped a few other members of team two as did Link.

Outpost beta was very small it was made out of a courtyard a mess hall and barracks and a small comm tower, the rest of the humans nodded to the dragons and headed into barracks to get changed and then to the mess hall so get food. It was dinner time Seri’es smiled to himself as he stepped over the wall to where the dragons had made there own camp, as it would be unwise to have four dragons sleeping in such a small area so they slept outside the base, on near each wall, Kira had lit a fire and was cooking the meat, she slapped at her bothers hand as he nonchalantly reached for one of the smaller creatures.

‘They're not ready yet’ she said, smiling at her older brother.

‘But I’m hungry now’ Link put on a high false moan.

‘Stop acting like a hatchling’ Kira said playfully swatting her brother's muzzle, Seri’es smiled.

‘Cut it out you two’ he said playfully.

Morgwath laughed ‘you guys are so strange.’

‘Why’ Kira said, ‘who’s weirder us or the dragon who follows?’

Morgwath opened his jaws to respond but found himself unable to then he closed them again, ‘alright you have me there’ everyone started laughing including Morgwath, once it had died down he looked at Seri’es ‘Sir can- may he um.’

‘You want to know if Jek can join us?’ Seri’es said.

Morgwath nodded.

‘Sure, of cores any time, and if anyone else wants to join us they may.’

Morgwath nodded and stood he stepped over the wall to get Jek and anyone else who wished to join the dragons, soon enough everyone was outside, eating with the dragons they all sat around the massive campfire, four dragons and fifteen humans all sitting together enjoying each other’s company chatting, bosting and telling old story’s the revelry was cut short however Seri’es in-ear commlink beeped

‘Shit, he said ‘there attacking a village near here the garrison force is being slaughtered’ he listened for a few seconds ‘let’s go now there are thee dragons confirmed, team two gear up we will act as vanguard, mount up and get there ASAP’ behind outpost beta there were two APC’s they were similar to the designs used by Archericons military, team two rushed into the base to get there gear the dragons spread their wings Morgwath looked for a second towards the humans.

‘C’mon’ Kira said patting him on the shoulder, ‘maybe if we get their quick maybe we can save the village before they even get there.’

Morgwath nodded spreading his wings and as one the dragons ran forward and leapt into the sky, it did not take the dragons long to reach the village, it was not a pretty sight the village was placed about halfway up a snowy mountain there was one winding road that lead up the village which was nestled into the side of the mountain it seemed to be mostly stuck in pre-electric times. With all the houses made out of wood and gas lights everywhere the village would have had a very nice vibe except most of it was on fire, the dragons fiery breath leaving most of the houses and garrison as smouldering husks the dragons were still rampaging through it setting buildings on fire and praying on the hapless civilians, the local garrison had been slaughtered they were too late Seri’es signalled and the all dived Kira and Link going for a dark green dragon he was raising his foot to crush some civilians, Morgwath for another red one who was lifting a small human female up to her open jaws and Seri’es dived towards one a pure white female, she was currently ripping a roof off a house but before Seri’es could do anything a massive grey from collided with her, Seri’es heard his son roar ‘how could you?’

Vira was stunned suddenly pinned under her son, ‘What in the gods how did you-‘

She was interrupted by her son roaring in her face ‘why would do this what did these people do to you?’

Seri’es landed next to them both, Morgwath had broken the arm of the red dragon while holding the human which had so recently destined to be a snack, Morgwath sent the red dragon to the ground with I kick making sure that he caused no collateral damage. The red dragon was roaring but he had wisely surrendered, Kira and Link gave there quarry no such chance they did not arrive in time to save the humans. Link got up close and distracted the dark green dragon, he did not stand a chance he did try to fight back and he did see the threat posed by Kira as she tried to get behind him, he lashed a kick out in her direction but Link caught it and Kira slammed a fist into the dark green dragons leg shattering his knee Link shoved the other dragon back as he roared in pain crushing a house under him Kira straddled him and snapped the dark green dragon’s neck, Link hauled the body up and threw it over the edge of the village into the darkness, Kira spat after the corps as this was happening to Arious hauled Vira to her feet, he was taller than her now by half ahead and he was radiating anger Seri’es had had never seen his son so angry before he put a hand on his sons shoulder

Arious he said I will deal with this you help the others team two will be here soon they will assist you

No Arious said looking down as hit mothers’ blood-stained claws why he said again this time in a whisper when will it be enough for when you will stop this want and slaughter the pointless deaths

‘When we have Vira started

Arious’s rage returned and Seri’es stepped in ‘she’s a zealot Arious I’ll take it from here ok? She thinks what she is doing is right.’

Arious slowly released his grip on his mother’s shoulder and she lashed out slamming her tail into Seri’es stomach and slugging Arious across the jaw, Morgwath Kira and Link saw what happened but they were both holding civilians and Morgwath was restraining the red dragon, whey were all too late to stop Vira as she jumped back and reached into the burning house and her hand came out carrying a mother and her two children.

‘Morgwath stay where you are’ Seri’es said.

‘Step back’ Vira said, ‘or these three get it’ she clenched her fist drawing pained cries form the mother and her kids to make her point, Seri’es was the first to recover.

‘You don’t want to do this’ he said, helping to steady his son.

Arious shook his head to clear it Kira and Link had put down the civilians and curled around Vira, she was surrounded.

‘How many more innocents will you kill?’ Arious asked his mum ‘before you this stops’ he gestured at the villages at the injured civilians and the dead bodies strung about the burning village.

‘This will never stop’ Vira said, ‘she is coming and when she does none of you will be able to stop her.’

Arious ignored this ‘put them down he’ said in a calming voice, ‘come with us no one else needs to die.’

Vira shook her head ‘no.’

Arious charged trying to save the humans but he was too late, as were Kira, Link and Seri’es they died screaming

‘NO’ Arious screeched he stopped moving, almost frozen looking at his mother's left-hand, covered now in more blood and gore.

Kira and Link grabbed his mother’s arms and forced her to the ground, Seri’es stood over her, by now team two had arrived and they had started helping the civilians. A troop carrier was inbound to help with evac medical needs none of the garrison had survived they were strewn about the streets they had all died fighting, a task force of dragons were inbound to transport the red dragon and Vira for integration and imprisonment, for now, Morgwath was making sure the red dragon did not get any funny ideas. Vira was forced to the ground two dragons on top of her.

‘Restrain her’ Seri’es said, ‘I’ll make sure she does not run then make sure we have not left people behind’

Link secured Vira then joined Kira as they finished methodically searching the village with the assistance of team two, snow started to fall putting out the fires Kira and link helped excavate and carry the most severely injured civilians. Team two had many stretchers between them and beta team had set up a field medical camp to treat the injured civilians, but they were woefully underprepared they were helping to the best of their ability, but they were running out of gauze, anaesthetic and bandages very quickly, not that the latter did much for those with burns. The dragons could only do so much, gently carrying those who they rescued from the buildings to the field camp and hoping for the best, many had lost limbs either to the attacking dragons or collapsed buildings many more had burns, some were minor, some were missing half their face, screaming in agony Kira sat and watched unable to help as the helpless humans whose only mistake had been being in the wrong place at the wrong time died. Either at peace or in agony and team two did there best to treat everyone but there were many, too many Kira felt sadness welling up from deep inside her, she stood and looked out over the burned-out village over to where the sun would rise soon and felt her brother's hand on her shoulder.

‘You ok?’ he asked.

‘No,’ she said she gestured over to the camp, ‘look at all these people just because some dragons got bord.’

‘Well we cannot say that was the reason’ Link said, ‘but I understand what you mean, it only took three of them to do all this, destroy this village, kill I don’t know how many people that’s why we are here. We are bigger stronger but that means we have a responsibility to help those who need it, just because we are bigger do not mean we can do what we want, it means we have a responsibility these dragons forgot that.’ 

Kira nodded, ‘and they will pay the price.’

‘Well maybe’ Link said looking down at his sister, ‘but maybe rehabilitation it a better idea then just locking them up.’

‘Maybe’ Kira said looking over at the red dragon and Vira, who were chained up and being guarded by Morgwath, Seri’es and Arious ‘but how can we just excuse their actions?’

‘We can’t’ Link looked over at the imprisoned dragons, ‘but maybe they can make up for it, atone for their sins by helping others.’

Kira nodded, ‘I just wish we could help them’ she said looking down at the field camp.

‘There is not much we can do now’ Link said looking out towards the rising sun, ‘just have faith in our brothers and sisters.’

They both stood there in silence, it was not long before they both heard the wine of a troop carrier it brought with it plenty of supplies and additional personal. Enough to help the survivors of the attack relieving team two of their exhausting duty, soon after five dragons arrived to transport the red dragon and Vira. Once Morgwath was free of his charge he set about finding, Jek even though he had not seen any combat Morgwath was still worried about him. It did not take long there were only fifteen humans, after all. Kira and Link began entertained team two with the story of how they killed their dragon, Morgwath joined them sitting down with crosslegged with Jek in his lap and the rest of team two gathered around him, as Kira and Link told their story with a little artistic licence to raise moral.

Seri’es tuned to his son three of the newly arrived dragons were now moving Vira, she hadn’t spoken to either of them, which was properly good what she had done was inexcusable ‘you could join us you know’ he put a hand on his shoulder.

Arious looked out over the village at the injured people ‘yes,’ he said, ‘but what about the others.’

‘What others?’ Seri’es said.

‘People don’t just he hurt in wars there are other things accidents natural disasters’ Arious sighed ‘I’ll be here for the war but I’m not going to join you. I will be joining disaster relief; I will fight for the people without violence.’

Seri’es looked out over the horizon and wondered if Arious would ever forgive Vira after what she had done. because whether he liked it or not her actions had shaped him. Perhaps even been the driving force behind his decision, in the end, he decided maybe but it would take some time.

Then his comm beeped again Seri’es looked over towards the men and woman under his command ‘new orders’ he said, ‘get ready to fall out,’ then he turned to Arious ‘you might want to come for this one.’