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Autumn was nearly at an end and the falling night had brought a chill over the valley. The vale would see its first snowfall of the year in a few short weeks. Several hours had passed since the sun had dipped below the horizon, the temperature becoming more comfortable for the three Vius'Karr that moved hastily through the woods. The moonless night worked in their favor, casting them as shadowy spectres wearing dark military fatigues.

They continued up the forested slope towards a man-made clearing that was just beyond the thinning tree line. A cluster of dark buildings occupied the middle of the open space along with several stacks of shipping crates and barrels scattered around the compound. A lone two-story structure in the middle of it all cast a soft yellow light that filtered through its poorly shuttered windows. That light was their guide as they slowly approached the clearing.

The leader of the group stopped short of the tree line and dropped to a knee. He brought his left arm up and balled his paw into a fist. The two who trailed behind him stopped where they were and knelt, their long bushy tails resting against the hard ground. Rifle stocks firmly planted against their shoulders, all three scanned the surroundings, ears perked up and twitching to the sounds of the wilderness. Hot breath filtered through the balaclavas they wore, the puffs of air turning white in the frosty air. A few seconds passed before they confirmed they hadn't attracted any attention on their approach. For the moment, they were alone.

Colonel Traegen Var'enn pulled down his mask to reveal a gray-furred muzzle. He never liked the feeling of the material pressing against his snout. With his rifle resting across his body, he reached up and pulled down a pair of night vision goggles and focused on the compound.

The green-imbued vision picked out nearly every detail of the buildings and the surrounding area. On a clear afternoon, a Vius'Karr could count the fingers on a hand from over a mile away. Their natural night vision wasn't nearly as impressive, but was still better than the Humans. All the same, he wasn't interested in counting fingers; he was looking for someone. Their mission dictated that their target had to be taken alive; unharmed, if possible. Her captors where a different story. He counted two guards on the roof of the main building.

He pressed the button to a walkie-talkie held in a vest pouch. The sound of his radio connecting popped in his ear. "Lieutenant De'sara," he spoke softly, the microphone strapped to his throat effortlessly picking up every syllable, "I count two men on the roof of the center building. One on the southwest corner, one on the northeast. What's your status?"

"I copy, sir," De'sara's voice came back. "I'm moving into position now."

"Acknowledged - standing by. Hurry up."

The colonel sat and watched the two guards meander around. Time was of the essence and the fact that De'sara wasn't in position yet irritated him. Their mission had come down at the eleventh hour, military intelligence rushing them the information the moment they saw an opportunity to extract their target. His team had been forced to cover nearly two miles between their drop off point to the compound through the dense forest and rugged terrain. He glanced at his watch. They had actually made good time with twelve minutes left of their thirty minute window. It was, after all, a race against the clock. At the end of their window, an enemy convoy was scheduled to arrive. They had to be in and out before that happened.

"Colonel, I'm in position," De'sara's voice crackled over the com once more. "Tango on the northeast corner in sight. Awaiting your order, sir."

"Acknowledged, standby." The colonel looked over at the two men behind him, each having been hand-picked for his fireteam.

Lieutenant Colonel Cyrrus Farrion was his second in command and had proven himself an effective and capable officer over the years. Half-a-dozen silver hoops pierced his left ear while several more pierced his right. They were badges of honor; each a commendation for going above and beyond the call of duty. The auburn-furred soldier gazed back with his piercing blue eyes and gave a curt nod.

"Alright then. Farrion," the colonel said, "you're up front. I want you at their front door before they know we're here."

"Yes, sir." Farrion slung his rifle over the sword strapped across his back and gave the strap a tug, securing it in place. He moved a few paces toward a tree and crouched low. Muscles flexing in anticipation, he dug his bare footpaws into the dirt. With one paw on the trunk and the other resting on the cold ground, he crouched as if waiting for the crack from a starter's pistol.

Var'enn motioned to the other Vius'Karr in turn, his subordinates fur white with the vaguest hint of an ice blue color that seemed to almost shine in the dark. "Harken, on me. You and I will bring up the rear and provide cover fire for Farrion."

Captain Therius Harken was relatively new to the fireteam, having being shifted between other military units over the last several years. He was not as seasoned as Farrion or his commanding officer, the pair of silver hoops piercing his left ear was indication of that, but what he lacked in in-field experience he made up for in adaptability. He moved to a position alongside his commanding officer with rifle at the ready. "Understood, sir."

The colonel turned and scanned the main building once more. The only movement came from the two guards patrolling the roof and there was no evidence that they had been spotted. It was strange that they hadn't witnessed a ground patrol and that fact didn't sit well with him. Still, he didn't see any other option. He took a firm hold of his rifle. Time was running out and if they were going to successfully complete this mission, they had to move now. He tapped his radio. "You're clear to engage."

Barely a second passed before he witnessed the head of the sentry on the northeast corner snap backwards. A clean hit. The other guards turned with his weapon raised at the sound of his comrade collapsing, but before he could raise an alarm, he was put down in the same fashion.

De'sara's voice crackled over the radio. "Targets neutralized."

"Copy," Var'enn replied. De'sara was young, but damn if he wasn't an excellent sniper. Not seeing any movement, he pulled up his night vision goggles and rose. "Move out!"

The three soldiers entered the open field. The structure was no more than fifty yards away, but a lack of cover would make them easy pickings if things turned sour. The colonel and Harken moved forward as quickly as they could with rifles poised. The lieutenant colonel didn't follow their example. Instead, he flew past in a blur, foot paws kicking up the dirt as he sprinted towards the building. He had almost closed the distance when the door swung open and a pair of Human guards stepped out. Momentarily distracted by their conversation, they never saw the charging Vius'Karr with murder in his eyes.

Farrion was upon them in an instant, the steel of his curved blade flashing in his paw. The razor-sharp edge sliced the closest man's chest from collarbone to waist and cut him down with a terrifying shriek. He continued forward, pushing his first victim down and out of the way. He let the momentum of his swing carry the blade around and spun it in his paw before lashing out in a horizontal strike. Flesh parted amid a spray of dark blood as the second guard's neck peeled back. Without skipping a beat, he grabbed the dying man by the front of his military jacket and pushed him back.

A flood of bright spotlights bathed the surrounding area as the cries of the dying man raised the alarm. Using the kevlar-vested body as a shield, the Vius'Karr survived the hail of gunfire that followed as he covered the last few steps to the building. Pushing the corpse off of him, he slipped to the side and pressed his body against the reinforced wall. The taste of blood assaulted his senses. He spat and wiped away the blood from his eyes and muzzle. Reaching into a pouch on his tactical vest, he withdrew a flashbang grenade and pulled the pin.

The colonel and Harken took positions opposite of the blood-soaked Vius'Karr, their bodies pressing against the wall. Harken about-faced and covered the rear while the colonel leaned away from the wall and fired a short burst through the doorway and giving Farrion the opportunity he needed.

Flashbang in hand, Farrion gave a nod to his commanding officer who backed away from the door. Loosening his grip, the handle to the grenade popped free and he counted to one before tossing it through the opening. The clinks of the metal cannister on the concrete floor as it bounced and rattled around were quickly replaced by confused and panicked shouts.

Two.

Three.

Bang.

The colonel took the lead. He rounded the corner first and assessed the interior in an instant as he swept his rifle from right to left. It was a wide hallway, several tables and stacks of cardboard filing boxes lining the walls. A door on either side led to vacant rooms while a flight of stairs at the end of the corridor climbed to the second story. Then there were the enemy defenders.

The flashbang had rendered those in the immediate vicinity helpless, most staggering about trying to regain their sense of sight and hearing. He scanned their faces and found their target not among them. That made his job easier. The silencer affixed to his rifle muffled the three-shot bursts he and his subordinates fired into the stunned combatants. A rustle behind a stack of boxes caught his attention. Rifle trained, he stepped forward over the bodies of the fallen and stepped into view of the survivor. He was a Vius'Karr.

The man stood no more than ten feet away from the colonel in green military fatigues, visibly in pain as his paws rubbed his ears. The superior hearing of a Vius'Karr was a double-edged sword. While they could pick out a conversation on a busy street, loud noises could render them temporarily deaf. When in combat situations, great care was taken to wear sound-dampening ear plugs for that very reason. It was obvious the poor bastard had not been prepared.

Anger flashed across the colonel's face as a single word cross his mind: traitor. A bullet would be too kind, too quick for him; honor demanded something else. He released his rifle and let it hang from it shoulder strap as he moved forward and unsheathed his combat knife. Clamping a paw around the rogue Vius'Karr's muzzle in an iron grip, he slammed the man against the wall and drove the dark steel deep into his heart. He leaned in close and snarled. "On this day, you die. You will not go to the Great Hall. You die without honor, traitor."

The colonel knew the man could hear him; the dying whimpers and thrashing of limbs were evident of that. A few moments passed before he withdrew the knife and watched the Vius'Karr slump to the floor. He turned away in disgust.

He looked to Harken and Farrion as he wiped the blade on his sleeve. The auburn-furred Vius'Karr had taken up a defensive position outside the doorway to his left while his counterpart guarded the portal to his right. Several more men lay dead between the two adjacent rooms; he hadn't even noticed the gunfire. His sense of duty to uphold the Vius'Karr code of honor had been overwhelming, but his duty was done. Now they had a mission to complete.

"What's your count?" Var'enn asked harshly.

"Three," Harken responded.

"Five," Farrion followed.

"Alright; I took out five. That makes a total of thirteen. Plus the two De'sara took out on the roof." He checked his rifle magazine. "My guess is that there are at least two guards with the target and probably three of four elsewhere in the building."

"Most likely," Farrion confirmed. "What are your orders, colonel?"

"Farrion, you take the left; Harken, you have the right. Clear the first floor and plant the charges. When we leave, nothing is to be left standing."

"Yes, sir." The two responded in unison.

"I'll take the second floor. And remember: our target needs to be rescued unharmed, so don't fire blindly into a room."

"Understood."

The colonel watched the two depart and turned his attention towards the stairs, stepping lightly over the fallen men that lay strewn across his path. He planted a foot on the first step of the stairwell and paused. The second floor landing was clear, a closed door hiding what lay beyond. Ears on alert, they twitched to the various sounds. He could hear his men picking through the rooms on the first floor, but could hear nothing ahead or above him. He checked his watch. Eight minutes left; time was running short. Clenching his teeth, he pressed the rifle stock to his shoulder and crept up the stairs.

He opened the door and scanned from left to right. Clear. He stepped across the threshold and rounded the corner down an adjacent hallway. All was quiet until he heard the unmistakable sound of a metallic click as a door was opened to his left. He turned and in the span of a single breath, assessed the stranger, snarled in disgust, and pulled the trigger.

The colonel leered at the fallen foe - another Vius'Karr. "Traitor," he spat in a low growl. A raging fire had been stoked deep within him at the discovery of another one of his kind aiding the enemy. A bullet had been too good for the turncoat, but time was running short and there was little recourse. He continued onward until coming to the end of the corridor and facing a shut door that barred his path. Undeterred, he delivered a swift kick and separated the door from its frame in a shower of splinters.

"Stop right there, dog!"

Var'enn took a step in and froze at the call. His ears fixated on the voice as his eyes scanned the well-lit expanse laid out before him. With the windows boarded up, it was no wonder so little light had filtered out from the second floor despite the bright fluorescent bulbs. Numerous I-beams stretched from floor to ceiling with a smattering of plywood partitions scattered between. With a wall to his left and no one in sight, he crept forward.

"I know you're in here," the masculine voice called out again. "Throw down your weapon or I put a bullet through the pretty lady's head."

With no one in sight, the colonel's mind picked apart what he could gather from the voice alone. A few things immediately jumped out to him: his opponent was Human, older by the sound of it, and most likely the leader judging by the air of confidence and authority. Whether there really was the barrel of a gun held to the woman's head, he didn't know; he wasn't psychic. He had to get eyes on him somehow.

He spotted a knot with a small hole in the nearby divide and moved to it. Careful not to make any noise so as to give away his position, he lowered his rifle and pressed his furred cheek against the wood. He peered through the gap and scanned the space beyond. There, on the other side and nearly forty feet away, was the old soldier.

The man was built like a house. Standing tall in Varennian military fatigues, his hard facial features gave him the look of having seen his fair share of fights over the years. Undoubtedly, he had been selected for this mission based on his experience. He had a hand firmly planted on the woman's shoulder and had a semi-automatic pistol pressed against her temple. There was no mistake: he wasn't bluffing.

"I'm running out of patience," the lone defender declared. "Either you surrender or she dies."

So am I, the colonel mused. He took a few extra moments to examine the woman. Her back was turned to him, but she was immediately identifiable as a Fenilee. Her powder-white furred ears came out nearly to the width of her shoulders as long brown hair covered the back of her head and neck. Her feline tail, having the same color of fur, poked through a gap in the back of the chair and swayed behind her. At least she seemed calm. Based on the description of their target from the mission briefing, she was a positive match. All he had to do was get her out safely.

"You have ten seconds to come out or she's dead."

The colonel weighed his options. None appealed to him. The best of the worst it is, then, he thought.

He knew he would have only one shot. If he missed, his mission would be a failure. He judged the man's position, pulled away from the wall, and leveled his rifle.

"Five seconds!"

He was going to have to take this on faith. A short prayer flew through his mind: May the Gods find my aim true and carry my bullet into the deserving. He pulled the trigger.

The reverberating sound of the shot masked the audible gasp and the clattering of a pistol on the concrete floor. Knowing there was no other recourse, the colonel moved out from his cover and into clear view of the woman. Next to her lay the dead soldier, the gunshot wound hidden from this distance but its effects apparent: blood and gray matter splattered the floor. His shot had been better than he had hoped. He proceeded forward cautiously. "Miss, please stay calm, you're going to be alright."

His eyes scanned the room. He half expected a group of men to jump out at any moment; it just felt like one of those kind of missions. No one came to investigate the gunshot though. He moved closer to the woman and kept on eye on the fallen man. As he closed the distance, he noticed that something wasn't right. He looked closer. The gunshot wound was in the wrong place; the bullet had entered his left temple and exited his right. How could- he looked over at the still-seated woman and leapt back. "What the hell is going on here?"

The woman rose to face him, the hint of a smile creeping across her lips.

"Drop the gun!" The colonel ordered. "Now!"

The Fenilee casually looked at the pistol and tossed it aside with a shrug.

"Identify yourself, now!"

"You know who I am, Colonel Traegen Var'enn. After all, you came here to rescue me, isn't that right?" She looked at him, head dipped forward, her murderous green eyes staring into his soul. Her hand inched towards a larger holster that hung off her right hip.

Var'enn could see the specks of yellow in her irises that seemed to glow. He took a menacing step forward and snarled. "Keep your hands up or so help me-"

She swiped at him with incredible speed, her hand knocking his rifle aside as he pulled the trigger. Her right hand unholstered her weapon and raised it in a flash.

It was unlike any weapon he had seen before; in person, anyway. He had seen pictures and heard descriptions of such weapons, but he had never seen an alchemist's gun up close before; he couldn't take his eyes off of it.

The barrel was long and looked like the future kin to an old musket with its elongated metal stock. Its composition was dark in color, predominantly black with a blueish tint that ran throughout. Ancient script was scrawled along its length from the tip of its muzzle to the six-round rotary chamber just in front of the grip. Three platinum rings rotated along the barrel as several flaps that pointed back towards the owner rose and fell in quick succession. Had it not been for the blue lightning that arced along the gun's length, he might have missed the subtle movement of the woman's finger on the trigger. He threw himself to the ground.

The colonel hit the concrete floor as a deep electric hum filled the air and the gun belched a beam of plasma fire. His eyes followed the shot and his maw parted slightly in amazement. The alchemist's shot had burned a hole large enough for him to step through into the side of the building. A rush of cold air and the smell of burnt materials washed over him. This was bad.

He scrambled to his feet and took several strides in an effort to put some distance between himself and the woman. Despite the turn of events, there was still no doubt in his mind that she was the one they were supposed to extract. Someone in intel had screwed the pooch big time. He would have to find that someone and wring their neck when this was all over.

He tugged on his rifle strap and swung the rifle behind him. Shooting her was out of the question as his mission orders still stood: she had to be taken unharmed. He unholstered the tranquilizer pistol that was strapped to his leg. Originally there in case they ran across a civilian in the woods, he now had to rely on it for a new purpose. He had five darts; five chances to put her to sleep. He hoped he wouldn't have to go to Plan C.

His ears picked up the click of her gun's cylinder locking into place and he threw himself to the side a moment before another heat wave washed over him. Rolling onto his back, he grasped the pistol grip in both paws, got her in his sights, and pulled the trigger twice. Both shots missed. Damn it! he cursed to himself. He scrambled to his feet and took off once more. He had to stay mobile and would have to look for another opportunity.

The alchemist hit the ground and rolled into a crouched position, the two darts flying harmlessly by. "Why are you running, dog?" she taunted. "Stand and fight me!"

Var'enn rounded a corner and skid to a stop. Walls surrounded him on three sides. No cover, no way out: he was trapped. A growl formed in his throat and he turned to face her. Holding the pistol in both paws, he stood his ground. "Drop the weapon and come peacefully."

She gave a short laugh and took a few steps towards him. "Or what? I know you can't harm me. To take me alive were your orders, no?"

His eyes focused on her weapon for a moment before coming back to her. He said nothing.

"First, I'm going to kill you," she taunted. "Then, I'm going to find your comrades and I'm going to-" She looked down at her leg, her head twisting slightly as her eyes focused on a small dart protruding from her leg. Another arrived a moment later and dug into her flesh with a thwip.

She pulled out the tranquilizer darts and tossed them aside. Turning her attention to the left, she spotted a second Vius'Karr in a crouched position holding a gun on her. "Why...you..." She collapsed to the floor.

The colonel glanced over to see Farrion standing up and holstering his sidearm. The lieutenant colonel had arrived unnoticed and had taken momentary cover behind a plywood barrier before intervening. "About time you showed up."

"Sorry, sir," he replied simply. "I had someone get cute with me."

The commanding officer walked over to the alchemist and moved her gun away with a foot paw. "Trouble downstairs?"

"Nothing Harken and I couldn't handle, sir."

"Good." The colonel checked his watch. Four minutes. "Time to go."

"I was about to suggest that, sir," Farrion said as he moved in to secure the target.

Var'enn stepped away and pressed a button on the walkie-talkie tucked into his vest. With his back turned, he spoke quickly into the microphone. "Alpha team to Nighthawk, do you copy?"

"Alpha team, we copy," the radio crackled back.

"We have the package. Requesting immediate extraction."

"Roger that. ETA ... two minutes."

"Copy. We'll be waiting on the front lawn." The colonel turned back around to see his companion binding the alchemist's feet and hands together with large plastic ties. "Farrion?"

"Not taking any chances, sir."

"I'm not disagreeing with you, but she's out cold."

"Yes, sir, but take a look at this." Farrion carefully rolled the woman over and brushed aside her hair. A small gunmetal-colored device was clamped onto the back of her neck over where her Realm Interface Implant would be. Whatever it was, it gave off no indication it was active. "What do you think, sir?"

He shook his head. "I don't know. I've never seen anything like it."

"Neither have I."

"Well, whatever it is, I'm sure command will take a proper look at it. First thing's first though - we need to get her onto the bird."

"Yes, sir." Farrion crouched down and slung the alchemist over his shoulder in a fireman's carry. After grabbing her weapon with his free paw, he stood up with the slightest of grunts as he shifted her weight a bit. "Ready, colonel."

"Need a hand?"

"No, sir. Let's just get the hell out of here."

He couldn't argue with that statement. Rifle held at the ready, he led the way downstairs with his second-in-command following closely behind.

The building was empty of live souls, save for his team and their Fenilee VIP, but he had learned over the years that trouble would rear its head when was least expected. Or wanted, for that matter. He could do his best to be prepared at every opportunity, but he had no control over fate. Upon reaching the first floor and spotting Harken in a crouched position by the entrance, he felt a pit in his stomach. Fate had dealt them a hand. "Is there a problem, Harken?"

The captain didn't budge, his gaze locked into the distance. "I spotted several sets of headlights coming towards us about thirty seconds ago, but I haven't seen them since."

"Damnit." Var'enn crouched next to him and looked out into the night. He couldn't make out anything noticeable. "Status on the explosives?"

"Good to go, sir," Harken replied. "We can detonate them at any time."

"Good." The colonel hit his walkie talkie again. "Nighthawk, we've had a possible sighting on the enemy convoy, do you copy?"

"We copy," the pilot's voice replied. "Lieutenant De'sara spotted them just a moment ago before they killed their lights. Their course is taking them up the mountain road due north of your position, colonel."

"Do you think you were spotted?"

"I don't think so, sir, we're running dark at the moment."

There had to a be a reason why the convoy was arriving early. Had someone tipped them off? Did they know about the mission? Regardless, there was nothing that could be done now. With the element of surprise gone, he and his men would be both outmanned and outgunned when the convoy arrived. Making a run for it wouldn't be an option either, not with the unconscious alchemist slowing them down in their escape through the mountainside. All they could do was wait. "ETA?"

"Sixty seconds, sir."

The colonel's lips broke into a small snarl and his ears twitched. He could hear the muffled roar of a diesel engine approaching from just beyond the treeline. Damn; sixty seconds would be too long. "Copy. Beware that the LZ may be hot."

"Understood."

The thump thump thump of the engine strokes grew louder with each passing second. Soon, others joined in and it became a chorus for the impending firefight. Var'enn motioned for Harken and Farrion to step away from the open doorway as he pressed the stock of his rifle against his shoulder. The convoy had arrived. "Things are about to get interesting, boys."

The headlights of several trucks blinked on in a blinding display of raw lumen power as men began to shout. Impressively, the sounds of men clamoring out of the trucks and fanning out amid the bellows of officers overpowered the sound of the diesel motors. A few seconds passed before a megaphone popped on. "Attention enemy forces! You have invaded Varennian territory and have engaged in hostile activities with her armed forces. Under Article Three of the treaty held between Varennia and Luen, your actions can be construed as and are tantamount to an act of war.

"You are surrounded. Release your hostage unharmed, lay down your weapons, and surrender. You will be granted P.O.W. status and will not be harmed as outlined under Article Four of the same treaty. You have sixty seconds to comply."

Var'enn looked over his shoulder at this men and couldn't help but scoff. "Are you fucking kidding me?"

"How did they know we were here, sir?" Harken asked.

"Someone talked," Farrion piped in.

"We don't know that," the colonel said quickly in response to Farrion, "but I would like to know the answer to that myself, Harken. This whole op is starting to smell and I'm thinking we were fed the intel to get us here."

"Sir, you know the minute we step out of here, we're as good as dead."

The colonel looked at Farrion and nodded as he considered their options. "Yep. If we surrender, we won't be alive long enough to see the sunrise, that much is certain."

"What are you thinking, sir?"

Before the colonel could respond, their radios crackled to life and De'sara's voice came over the com. "Looks like you could use a hand, sir."

Var'enn smiled at the sound of his voice. Turning his attention to the east, he could make out the dark form of the aircraft rapidly approaching over the tree tops. Judging by the volume of the low-pitch whine of its engines, it would be here in a matter of moments. "Just in time, Lieutenant. Do you think you can let them know we won't be staying?"

"Be my pleasure, sir. Sit tight."

"You have thirty seconds," the Human commander announced.

The fireteam's leader didn't dignify the enemy with a response. Instead, he looked over Farrion and Harken. "We're only going to get one shot at this. As soon as the bird gets here, we're going to move out. Farrion, you need to ensure that she is safe; get her onto the aircraft. Harken and I will lay down cover fire."

"Yes, sir."

The whine of several jet engines washed over the compound as the aircraft arrived, its nose rising and exposing its angular matte-black underbelly as it decelerated rapidly. The fire-breathing nacelles affixed to the end of the wings rotated, stabilizing the craft and kicking up clouds of dust and dirt around the mass of troops below. The confusion didn't last long before a flurry of gunfire erupted and pelted the armored underside of the VC-11 airship.

Circling above the enemy forces, the rear door lowered and De'Sara stepped onto the ramp. His marbled white and black fur almost glowed from the interior lights that illuminated him from behind. Using the armored fuselage as cover, he pulled a swingarm-mounted minigun into view. The unmistakable high-pitched whir of the barrels spinning up to speed could be heard a split second before it was drowned out by the bullet storm it unleashed.

Metal buckled and was torn asunder as round after round of the armor-piercing bullets rained down upon the men below. Those that stood their ground fared worse than their comrades who scattered, flesh and armored vests standing no chance against the high velocity projectiles. De'sara methodically swept his gun from side to side, destroying the two troop transports in short order and killing over half the enemy contingent.

Several stalwart soldiers fired their automatic weapons up at the aircraft, forcing him to duck as bullets whizzed by his head. He retaliated in kind, cutting down those that he spotted easily. Satisfied, he radioed the pilot. "Enemy forces pacified - let's land this thing."

"Copy that, setting her down."

The aircraft finished its flyover and moved to a clearing close to the main building. De'sara scanned the treeline and spotted a few soldiers taking cover as the craft circle around. He swung the minigun in their general direction, but the tail end of the craft swung away from them before he could fire. That didn't stop the group from pelting the aircraft with a burst of gunfire though. Bullets pinged off the armored plating and he ducked as several ricocheted inside the craft. He felt a stabbing pain in his back and fell to the deck.

Var'enn watched the VC-11 airship swing around to land. A burst of gunfire from the treeline drew his attention and he responded in kind. The silenced shots from his rifle splintered the tree trunks and branches, silencing the attackers. He didn't think he had hit those responsible, but knew they had at least been forced to take cover. That would give him and his men the chance they needed. He motioned to Harken. "We're up. As soon as the wheels touch dirt, I'll head out first. Harken, you provide cover and Farrion, you get that woman on the plane."

The two replied in unison: "Yes, sir."

A barrage of gunfire erupted as the VTOL aircraft touched down a few dozen yards away, its nose pointed towards the burning wrecks. Var'enn wasted no time and moved out of the doorway. He crouched along the wall and fired several short bursts at any muzzle flashes he saw. Harken soon followed, sprinting out to a position behind a stack of crates and adding to the suppressing fire. The auburn-furred Vius'Karr left the building and his comrades behind, moving quickly towards the awaiting airship.

Farrion rounded the rear of the aircraft and into the shadow of the v-shaped tail. The three nacelles affixed to the tail above hummed idly, a red glow emanating from their exhausts as they awaited the command to open up from the ship's pilot. He stomped up the metal ramp and into the fuselage. his eyes scanned the interior and snapped onto De'sara who lay on his back, unmoving. "Shit," he muttered.

He bounded the rest of the way into the fuselage and hastily lay the unconscious woman down on a nearby bench seat. Moving over to De'sara, he knelt down and quickly looked him over from head to footpaw. No wounds were visible on his front, but cursed again when he noticed a pool of blood beginning to seep out from under his body. He pressed two fingers against the side of De'sara's neck and hoped for the best. There was a heartbeat; a strong one, too. A groan escaped the wounded man. "De'sara?"

"...sir?"

"Where are you hit?"

"Right shoulder and my lower back ... I think."

"Can you wiggle your toes?" Farrion looked at the soldier's footpaws, but saw no movement.

"No." The young lieutenant grimaced, suppressing an overwhelming urge to lose his composure. "No, I can't."

"You're going to be okay. Hang in there." Farrion reached over and pulled out a red plastic case, its hard shell clattering against the deck as he practically ripped the lid off. He picked out a sterile pad and apologized before rolling the wounded soldier over.

De'sara howled in agony as he settled onto his side.

At least he still has some feeling, he thought and pressed the bandage onto the lower wound. He tapped his radio with his free paw. "Colonel! De'sara's been hit; we need to get him back to base ASAP."

There was a pause before the radio crackled back. "Copy. Can you stabilize him?"

"I'm doing that now, sir."

"Do what you can. We need you to lay down some additional cover fire so we can pull back - we're pinned down out here."

Farrion applied pressure to the wound, a red tint rapidly taking over the white gauze. "Damnit."

De'sara raised his arm and clasped the paw Farrion held to his side. "Give me another pad and get out there."

"Shut up. I'm going to get you stabilized first."

"I'm not being selfless - the sooner you get out there, the sooner we leave," De'sara reinforced. "Now give me another godsdamn pad."

The lieutenant colonel clenched his teeth for a moment before grunting in agreement. He shoved a paw into the med case and retrieved another sterile pad. Ripping the package open with his teeth, he pressed De'sara's own paw over it and stood up. "Don't die on me."

"I don't plan on it, sir. Just don't take your sweet-ass time."

Farrion took his rifle in both paws and walked a few steps towards the outside before stopping short. He could mark out there and lay down cover fire, but there was no telling how well that would work. What he needed was something to really throw the enemy into disarray. He glanced over at the alchemist, eyes falling on her weapon that had been stowed underneath the bench. I wonder...

He cautiously poked his head out from around the rear of the aircraft to assess the situation. He saw both the colonel and Harken pinned down behind the stack of crates Harken had originally used as cover. Several muzzle flashes lit up the windows from a nearby building. Some of the enemy had taken refuge and mounted a counterattack. Good for them. While ineffectual in killing the Vius'Karr fireteam, they had prevented their escape. He hoped this was going to work.

He dashed out from behind the safety of the airplane, weapon in hand. The shadow of the plane largely concealed him, but he knew its protection was fleeting. The moment he stepped into the light, he felt all eyes shift onto him. He skidded to a halt, footpaws kicking up a small cloud of dust as he dropped to a knee and took a firing position. He aimed at the building where he had seen the enemy soldiers and pulled the trigger.

Arcs of lightning sparked along the barrel for an instant before the weapon kicked back in his paws. A bolt of magic leapt forth with a thunderous roar and bit into the concrete wall, the ensuing explosion throwing debris in every direction. He looked at the devastation in awe. Yup, I definitely need to get one of these, he said to himself.

The firefight had come to an end. He wasn't sure if he had neutralized the threat or not, but they had undoubtedly been subdued for the moment. This was their window of opportunity. He stood up and waved in the direction of his team, the hum of the aircraft's engines behind him growing louder as the pilot prepared to take off. "Time to go!"