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New Missions The Rising Menace Begins:

If Something Has A Beginning The Thing Has An End As Well

Story Devised and Written by Doomfond

Copyright belongs to Doomfond

Story Revision by Bewildered_Cougar

The last time we saw Dragon X, the engineered super soldier had just survived his baptism of fire during the defense of the city of Lockmont. The costly victory having paved the way for Doomfond's master plan to create a clone army to be the salvation of his empire.

A C-92 transport ship is dispatched and soon lands near the location of Doomfond, Dragon X, and the surviving members of Hell Division. The group boards the transport and then takes off towards Head Quarters.

Arn: "So what now, Sir?"

Doomfond: "I'm going to have a staff meeting once we touchdown and the rest of your unit has earned a much deserved break until I have need of you once again."

Jack: "So, we're all off duty just like that?"

Doomfond: "Yes, but it will be short-lived before your thrown back into service. So enjoy what little time that may be..."

The rest of the trip was spent in silence aboard the transport as each one reflected upon that day's victory and what that might hold for the coming future until the touching down at HQ. Dragon X went to have his broken armor inspected and repaired while Arn, Jack, Razz, Vernik, and Crus changed into civilian clothing to have a little R&R at the various recreation facilities while waiting for new orders to come. Meanwhile, Doomfond gathered his most trusted generals and advisors of the SLG, DAR, STING, SVIP, and the major contributing companies providing aid and production for Dovahreich's Armed Forces for a staff meeting to discuss major issues on production rates and the possible new direction of the war effort. The topic of Hell Division's battlefield performance during the defense of Lockmont being the driving point for the creation of a clone army to supplement the dragon empire's existing forces was discussed while the major companies were tasked to expand their production and any new developments in armor and weapons that would soon be contributing on the battlefield before the staffing meeting was dismissed. Doomfond taking special note to monitor the activities of the major companies to make sure the new production quotas on tanks and attack craft were being reached over the next several weeks.

The time finally came for Hell Division to answer the call of service once again for their empire. Doomfond gathered the unit from their short vacation from the war outside a reinforced hanger to personally deliver the next mission.

Doomfond: "Alright, Listen Up! I have a vital mission for your unit to carryout, Arn. I want you and your men to seize and hold a enemy fuel refineries in Ernborg. If we manage to capture these refineries, it will hinder our enemy's movement and eventually bring those resources into our war effort."

Arn: "But those refineries are located far...far...far behind enemy lines."

Jack: "Yeah... We'll need an army to even stand a chance of getting a talon hold on that place."

Doomfond: "That won't be a problem, follow me..."

Doomfond escorts the members of Hell Division inside the nearby hanger filled with Königspanthers Tanks painted with the Dragon Elite Emblems. Every member of the unit being amazed at the sight of the tanks except for Dragon X.

Dragon X: "Why didn't we make use of these tanks in the defense of Lockmont?"

Doomfond: "Because, the empire didn't have the necessary number of trained recruits to crew these during that time, but we now have a army of clones programmed to finally bring these beasts of war on to the battlefield. Here is that army to bring your unit to Ernborg, to finally take what rightfully belongs to our empire. So are you ready to risk life and limb to bring those refineries under our banner?"

Hell Division: "Yes, Sir!"

Doomfond: "Very well... Report to Officer Infernos, he'll be in the main control room. Infernos will give a far better briefing of your objectives. Good Luck, Hell Division!"

Hell Division saluted their Emperor and soon headed out of the hanger to meet with Officer Infernos.

Officer Infernos was overlooking a holo-projection of the landscape surrounding Ernborg as the members of Hell Division entered the central control room. Dragon X taking note of the dragon's newly acquired cybernetic implants that covered him from his feet up to his neck with dark plated power-armor very similar construction to his very own armor.

Infernos: It's a pleasure to see your unit again. I guess your all here to be briefed on the up coming mission?

Arn: Yes, Sir! Congratulations are in order for your promotion, Sir.

Infernos: Thanks, but let's get on with the business at hand shall we. As your unit can see on the holographic map of Ernborg, the area surrounding the refineries is fortified with heavy gun emplacements located at these routes. I plan to draw their attention with my forces while your unit breaks off to strike at the flanks of the heavy gun emplacements. Once those guns are out of commission, Hell Division will reunite with my forces making their way towards the refineries' main gate. Then your unit will storm the refineries and take control of the facilities while my forces soldiers will engage with any counter attack that might come our way during the mission. This is the plan, does any one have any questions?

Dragon X: No, Sir! Your plan is sound, simple yet efficient.

Arn: When will we be heading out, Sir?

Infernos: As soon as your unit is ready to go...

Arn: Hell Division will be ready in 15 minutes...

Infernos: Very well, I'll see your unit then.

Arn saluted his commanding officer and headed with the rest of his troops to prep their gear and tanks for the coming mission. Hell Division hitched rides on the some of the tanks as the empire's army marched towards Ernbrog to seize the refineries from the enemy's iron grasp.

The march went on for mile after mile, village after village on the road towards Ernborg only stopping for refueling the tanks and having quick rations before continuing onward...

Two days later, the army had finally reached the no-dragon's-land where the broken remains of infrastructure and twisted bodies of beasts of war littered the blasted landscape.

Arn: It will be interesting to see how this landscape will recover after the war ends.

Jack: I don't remember if I ever saw this area before the war started...

Infernos: Me neither, but my father said it was once a very green land which was lush with life. Yet, I was just a young hatchling only then...

Dragon X: I wonder what sort of animals called these land home then?

Infernos: By the Hells, these lands was once crawling with all sorts of wildlife but now this is just a wasteland...

As Infernos finished speaking, Dragon X went over to examine the burnt remains of what appeared to be of a feral bovine creature.

Dragon X: What happened here so many years ago?

Infernos: At the start of the war, both sides launched a barrage of missile strikes at each other to soften defensive positions and take out key facilities along each borders before a possible invasion. Later, the two armies clashed upon this tortured land with the Ghost Pirates claming victory that day and advancing their position greatly...

After the history lesson, the army headed into enemy occupied territory, every soldier was now in great danger but tanks kept rolling forward until there objective broke across the horizon. Infernos raised the order to halt so that Hell Division could disembark before maneuvering to draw the fire of the enemy emplacements.

Infernos: Remember your assignments, your to flank and destroy the enemy heavy guns while my forces draw their fire with a frontal assault as diversion for your movements. Just don't leave us hanging out their in front of those heavy guns for to long. Good luck and hopefully to see your unit very soon on the other side...

Arn: Got It! Hell Division Move Out!

Dragon X and the rest of his comrades were now on foot attempting to out flank the enemy guns as ordered while Infernos' tank battalion roared forward and opened fire at the entrenched emplacements of the enemy. The enemy scrambled in confusion as the first salvo of tank fire blasted into defensive barriers, but soon enough the enemy had regrouped and returned fire to a devastating effect as several of the empire's T4 and T2 model tanks had been knocked out of commission while the Könighspanther's advanced armor shrugged off anything that the enemy could throw at it for the time. Meanwhile, Hell Division sprinted to reach the refineries and managed to sneak past the enemy established defensive line without being spotted as the enemy focused their fire on Infernos' tank battalion. Arn motioned for Razz and Crus to break off and takeout one of the gun nests each while Vernik and Jack would provide cover for them incase they got spotted during their ambushes. Dragon X was shouldered with responsibility to find he refineries' control room and shutting it down. The unit soon split up with Vernik taking up position on the right and Jack on the left flank. Arn, Razz, and Crus all snaked their way up near there chosen gun emplacements and with Arn's signal each one opened the door and lobed a grenade into the bunker before taking cover as the explosions rocked the inside of gun emplacements. After the loud explosions, Arn, Razz, and Crus breached the doorways of the bunkers with weapons drawn incase anyone survived the grenade attacks among the broken wreckage of the heavy guns. Shortly, Vernik and Jack had to open fire as a group of enemy soldiers approached to investigate the source of earlier explosions. Arn, Razz, and Crus took cover at the entrances of the bunkers and started to return fire at the approaching enemy force.

As the rest of his unit was returning fire, Dragon X was busy searching for the control room without being detected by the enemy force occupied with defending the facility. It was taking every bit of his advanced warfare systems and own instincts to detect, monitor, and avoid enemy movements and detection just like his earlier VR training programs. He was able to effortless out maneuver enemy patrols and silently dispatch them with his trusty blade before eventually locating the refineries' control station. He walked up to the control panel and placed his assault rifle down against the wall while opening the panel door with the tip of his knife. He located the proper ports to connect wires from his wrist computer to begin a hacking program to gather information from Ghost Pirate Network, at first there was nothing special simply reports on battlefield performance, missing men and women of the war, etc. But, two classified files caught the dragon's eye and quickly opened the files marked: Tank Production. Dragon X was shocked as the file read of the Ghost Pirates having ceased production of tanks in favor of a new MECH design focus. This drew his attention to the second file marked: (Full Upraised Killing Machines). The Ghost Pirates have created and been testing prototype MECHs, a situation that soon could be a menace for Dovahreich. The incursion into Ghost Pirate Network didn't go unnoticed and soon after Dragon X was being counter hacked and had to disconnect the wires of his wrist computer from the control room interface.

After manually triggering the emergency shutdown of the facilities' pumps, two enemy soldier stormed into the control room with their assault rifles focused on Dragon X. The noise of gunfire filled the room as bullets ripped through the pump control terminal. Dragon X's heighten senses and reflexes allowing him just in the nick of time to tumble out of the way of the incoming projectiles and draw his pistol in one fluid motion to squeeze off two rounds which passed through the craniums of the enemy soldiers. Before the enemy soldiers' bodies hit the control room floor, Dragon X retrieved his assault rifle and bolted out the doorway to regroup with the rest of his unit and finish securing the refineries from enemy hands. As he made his way back, Infernos' tank division and the rest of Hell Division was mopping up the last remaining pockets of resistance and taking prisoners of the remaining Ghost Pirate forces that had surrendered after securing the refineries. After reporting his findings to his commanding officer, Infernos understanding the new threat that faced the empire quickly sent word to his emperor. Emperor Doomfond was surprised and soon intrigued by the information that was recovered and sent out transport helicopters to pick up Dragon X and the rest of his unit. Hell Division took a much needed moment to recoup from the battle while waiting on the helicopters to arrive to pick them up along with the Ghost P.O.Ws before heading back home. Meanwhile, Officer Infernos' Dragon Riders Elite Division was ordered to continue pushing further into enemy territory and quickly moved out with their new objectives. Shortly, the transport helicopters touched down kicking up a lot of dust and debris before Dragon X and the rest of his unit boarded to head back to HQ with the information held within his wrist computer. Dragon X peered out a window of the transport catching further glimpse of the barren, blasted landscape as the helicopter rose further into the sky. After the landing at HQ, Dragon X was escorted by guardsmen to the emperor's chambers as the rest of his unit was escorted to their quarters to wait on further orders. Dragon X was ordered to transfer the captured files to a data pad, which he obeyed and was quickly dismissed to reunite with his unit after transferring the important data so that his emperor could consult with his advisor, Ignatius. He left the chamber but didn't return to his unit to wait for further instructions, instead his curiosity of what might be discussed took hold upon the engineered dragon. He wanted to spy on the conversation inside the private chambers and he knew just how to do it, he moved quickly down the hallway to find a vent.

After waiting for a patrol to pass, he grabbed hold of the vent cover and lifted it out of the way before slipping into ventilation crawlspace while placing the cover back in place to not raise suspicion. Dragon X crawled through the cramped confines of the ventilation shaft looking for a grate that overlooked the private study of the emperor, waiting for hours until Ignatius entered the study taking seat while bring up the captured files upon a large veiwing-screen mounted upon the wall. Moments later, Emperor Doomfond walked into the private study.

Doomfond: Have you finished studying the report?

Ignatius: Yes, My Lord. It's a disturbing turn of events.

Doomfond: I have to agree, Ignatius. I first heard word from Officer Infernos that the data recovered by 'X' was rather worrisome news. What have our interrogations of the prisoners have brought us?

Ignatius: My apologies, My Lord. But, I would like to ask first how my son is doing since his injuries...

Doomfond: He has done superbly with no complications since the procedures implanting his cybernetics...

Ignatius: That is good to hear, My Lord. I was a bit skeptical at first that it may have gotten in the way of him being a dragon, being more machine and metal instead of flesh and scale...

Doomfond: It never was my intention for my cybernetics and power-armor to hinder my warriors fighting spirit, Ignatius. The cybernetics link the warrior's brain to his power-armor which becomes an extension of himself. Let's get back to my original question shall we, did the prisoners mention anything similar to what was presented in the captured files?

Ignatius: No, My Lord. It appears that Ghost Pirate Command was keeping this under tight security and made sure that even their loyal soldiers didn't even hear whispers of slow down in tank production or even the move towards MECHs.

Doomfond: They didn't want us to catch wind of their plans...

Ignatius: More then likely, My Lord.

Doomfond: The next step if to find proof of this new menace to the empire by sending some dragons behind the enemy lines.

Ignatius: This would be an incredibly dangerous mission with no certainty that anyone would be coming back home. Besides, who would be willing let alone crazy enough for such a task, My Lord?

Doomfond: Dragon X...

Ignatius: Him... Only Him...

Doomfond: He will be accompanied by the rest of this battle brothers of Hell Division, but for the infiltration behind enemy lines it will be his alone...

Ignatius: But, he will never be up to the task...

Doomfond: Ignatius, stop being so negative of the hero of Lockmont and give the dragon a chance. Besides, the spirit of his father is burning bright within him now...I can feel it and I fear it...he's our only hope in this matter.

Ignatius: If this 'soldier' is that important, why didn't we contact his father and have him deal with this threat at the beginning of this war, as I asked so long ago?

Doomfond: You think I didn't try. His father refused to involve himself in our struggle and sealed himself within his castle for the rest of his unnatural life because of the death of his beloved wife. Even if he decided to lend his aid now, he has refused to devour souls to fuel his powers which has made him a husk of his former self...

Dragon X couldn't believe what he was hearing, his father was still alive yet was slowly killing himself over the death of his mother. How could his emperor have lied to him all this time, this fact enraging the hidden dragon but not enough for him to lose his composure and quit listening in on their discussion.

Ignatius: The Dark Dragon Knight, the one that killed the two most powerful dragons in our known universe is slowly killing himself...why?

Doomfond: I'm not entirely sure of the main reason, maybe he killed the only being that had the power to truly vanquish Dark Master and by doing so doomed our entire race. If he had only listened to me...

Ignatius: Isn't prophesized that the chosen one will be revitalized by The Dragon Goddess, My Lord?

Doomfond: I haven't put much faith in this so called prophecy, if I have read right, there can only be one chosen by the goddess and all others imposters...

Ignatius: That is what I have studied and heard as I was once a acolyte of the convent. The chosen one will from this realm or another such realm. The chosen son or daughter will carry on...

Doomfond: 'Or' the one that slays the chosen of the goddess has the option to take up the mantle...I have studied the teachings myself, Ignatius. My belief is that the prophesy is little more then just superstition...

Ignatius: Is it because you've grown envious of The Dark Dragon Knight, My Lord?

Doomfond: No...Yes...Maybe...All that I can say is that I only envy him as a smaller brother would his older sibling. I was created before him to lead the soul eaters, but my fate was taken away by my master's sick and corrupted ways. It was to be me who was destined to face the chosen one, not him. It's not fair to be punished and cast aside for only trying to live up to your true potential, to have what you we're designed to be taken from you...

Ignatius: You can not change fate, My Lord. You must leave the past behind and focus your mind and energy upon the future...

Doomfond: I'm afraid that your right, Ignatius. But, if the chance ever comes that I may prove myself the better of the two, I will not hesitate to do such. As there has never been a nation, religion, nor armor that can stop my blade...as I'm the greatest of the soul eaters ever created...

Ignatius: I understand...but I would like to hear the report on production and the new devised strategy of dealing with new threat.

Doomfond: Certainly, I'm wanting to push hard upon the south flank of the enemy as your son continues to press deeper into the northern front. Be ready to send reinforcements once the final trails for the T3s Königspanther 2 and other tanks such as: T4A1, T2MT, and T6 have been deemed a successful. We have in development of a new super heavy tank, a design to revolutionize our methods to transport heavier loads through the air, and a newly designed MECH Spider which is undergoing it's first trials as an advanced reconnaissance unit. I have just issued modern equipment for our soldiers on the battlefield, a far superior armor for the Mobile Infantry and the Svip Mobile Rifle to replace their aging assault rifles...and far more in the future.

Ignatius: This great news, My Lord. We could very well win this war...

Doomfond: Yes, but I have another special project in the works to guarantee our victory. With the new development of MECH technology, I'm planning to create a superior MECH to surpass anything the Ghost Pirates have in development, but all that hinges upon if we can secure far more data upon the enemy research.

Ignatius: I now understand your reasoning for sending Dragon X behind enemy line, but the next question would be where are you sending him?

Doomfond: I will be sending him to the region known as Inaleria, reports have surfaced of suspicious activity happening in that region of late. That would be the first place to search for clues of the enemy development of MECHs.

Ignatius: Very well. Keep me informed with what news you deem allowable, My Lord. I must take my leave and return to the frontlines...

Doomfond: Of course, good luck on the battlefield, Ignatius.

Ignatius: You as well, My Lord.

Ignatius salutes his emperor and takes his leave of the private study. Emperor Doomfond walks over to the large viewing screen and deletes the uploaded files from memory, just as a uneasy feeling of be watched came over the elder dragon lord, but ignored the sensation and soon walked out of the room. A mixture of emotions bottled themselves within the dragon hidden among the ceiling ventilation overlooking the private study, Dragon X felt uneasy with being kept in the dark about his family and sadness washed over him once learning the truth. He was internally debating his next move of continuing to fight for Emperor Doomfond in spite being lied to 'or' fleeing to reunite with his father which he hadn't the faintest clue to begin searching for...

It only takes a minute for the dragon to make up his mind, Dragon X kicks open the ceiling grate of the ventilation to the private study and drops down into the room. He walks over to the viewing screen and swipes a talon across to bring up a search program and begins to hunt information about this father and possible his possible locations. He soon finds what he was seeking, a place called Dragonstone and the only heavily guarded portal contained within a fortress which would be the only way out of Dovhareich...seconds later alarms sounded as the building went to high alert over that information being accessed. As Dragon X quickly attempted to return the screen to how it was before, a guard entered the room with his weapon drawn.

Guard: Stand Down! You shouldn't be in here...That terminal is off limits because of sensitive information...

Dragon X: So What!?!

Dragon X lunges towards the exit as the guard manages to squeeze off a round which misses it's mark, the engineered soldier connecting with a round house kick to the jaw of the guard while pushing through the doorway. The hallway is awash in blinking red lights and the constant alarm, ALARM! INTRUDER! INTRUDER!, assaulting the ears of 'X' while being chased by backup called in by the assaulted guard from earlier. Dragon X runs as fast as he can, seeing he exit just ahead, before having searing pain course through his draconic frame as two prongs of a stun gun embedded themselves across his side. He wouldn't accept defeat as his vision faded in and out, not like this, he began to crawl his legs being limp and useless from the earlier electrical surge. Doomfond comes to block his path towards freedom, the smoking stun gun clinched within his dark gauntlet.

Doomfond: It is a shame that you were so close, but yet so far...Guards take him away.

Dragon X has another surge of electrical energy delivered into his fallen body as he loses conciseness with only the burning question of what is to be his fate upon his mind...

Is this game over for Dragon X, now that he knows the truth about his family which Doomfond was hiding from him? Well, Stay tuned for the next exciting chapter...

The Great War,

Hell Division, Heroes of the Dovahreich

Chapter 4