"Colonel Hackett, our forces were able to punch a hole into the Verliance Aristocracy lines. It required a double push. The 1st Battalion from 1st LBCT launched an offensive against the enemy fortifications on the main highway. The enemy withheld our assault, which was expected as our drones were seeking a weak spot. One was discovered: a slight disconnection within their bunkers and trenches, and my Rangers exploited it.

Charlie Company from Bravo Company from my 5th Rangers explored the discovery, dislodging the enemy fortifications along the highway. I can confirm Ivy 4th Battalion was able to head west unmolested by the enemy, heading to your missing Minutemen team, CFT-4 "Razorfist".

The enemy, though, quickly launched a counterattack, and our forces are holding. However, I do request an additional company from the 2nd Rangers who are protecting Salva, or we risk losing the Highway and cutting off your Minutemen and their QRF. " - Lieutenant Colonel Barker, 5th Rangers

March, 13th, 2048 (Military Calendar)

Orlatus, Yuplenia Mountain Range, Verliance Aristocracy

Nevali Region, Aldrida, Alagore

*****

The three special forces teams traveled through the countryside unmolested toward the general destination on the cartography map. As planned, Ghost Team went in their own direction to protect their flank. At the same time, the Comanche and Redcoats assaulted the enemy mountain port, assuming they could find it.

According to Assiaya, the mountain Orlatus was directly in front of them. It was clustered between two other mountains, with the east side sliced off and not shaped as a cone compared to the others. Although it was not as tall as the other nearby mountain, it was still towering. While the sights did not live up to the great Rocky Mountains Mathew Ryder saw in Colorado, they were still impressive. They had a blue tint with white snowy peaks.

Hearing the Captain's second in command, Warrant Officer-1 Rommel King, engage Assiaya, Ryder noticed the frustration in his eyes. The girl had hesitated to communicate with anyone except for him because they were strangers. "Assiaya, you can trust them."

Assiaya looked toward him and then everyone. It seemed like she was debating the subject, but she turned back to him. "That is the mountain, but I need a better view to find the door."

Ryder lifted the girl onto the hood and held her side as she stood. Higgins handed her the digital binoculars and showed her how to operate them before the dual-eye girl stared toward Orlatus.

"I think it is over there," Assiaya mumbled.

"I know the rock was there," Assiaya continued. "But those trees were not. I know the passage is different, but that is the face I was hoping to see."

Ryder was about to respond as he thought she was talking to him. However, he noticed her continuing to mumble as if she was having a conversation with herself. He glanced at King and saw the same concerned reaction: maybe entrusting everyone to an eleven or twelve-year-old girl was a bad idea.

"Assiaya?" Ryder asked. "Are you sure you know where you are going?"

Assiaya lowered the binoculars and stared at him with a smile. "Yes." She then pointed to a rock face and continued, "See that, the door is over there."

"Door?" Ryder said. "We are looking for a door built into the mountain?"

"That is correct, sir," Assiaya replied. "I remember where it is at."

"Thank you very much," Ryder said. He helped the Lat girl off the hood and turned to this XO. "What do you think?"

"I think we need to be careful," King said. "Are you sure she has all the screws in her head?"

"I wouldn't have made it this far if she was crazy," Ryder replied, remembering the strange things he saw while escaping the wild. "But I get what you are saying. We will keep going but pull out if we run into a sizable force or cannot find this door within a reasonable amount of time."

The two men headed toward Forest and Higgins, who were looking toward Orlatus. The Staff Sergeant had his M200 DMR and the Sergeant range finder.

"What do you two see?" King asked.

"Nothing so far," Forest said. "And I mean nothing."

"I see no facilities anywhere," Higgins said. "It just looked like the countryside. No signs of a military facility."

"Do you not see a road or something?" Ryder asked.

"Affirmative," Forest said. "There is a cleared-out path down there. I would say recent traffic passes through, but nothing so far."

"Not even a no trespassing sign," Higgins added. "I am offended."

"Better than nothing," King said. "But there are not a lot of leads to go with. A mountain base is a large area to search, and even if she has a good memory of where this door is, it will take time to find it without some marker."

The Captain had to admit that he disliked how events were played out. He was placing a lot of trust in the girl's knowledge. Ryder wondered if he allowed his emotions to interfere with his objectivity. His dream was compelling: the stars were aligning, and there had to be some truth to what she was saying. Being Kallem's slave, she had to overhear details from Kallem's conversation about his people and Assiaya's information and insight knowledge.

"Natilite," Ryder called for.

The Templar approached the Captain. "What can I do for you?"

"Can you fly ahead and spot any ambushes?" Ryder asked.

"I was wondering when you would let me fly," Natilite said with a thrilling tone.

Natilite adjusted her light gray and white armor. The two open slots on the back of her armor allowed her to flex her wings before pushing herself into the air. Once in the air, she waved to Comanche and then flew off.

"I am never going to get used to that," King said.

"After my experiences this week, if I saw a pig fly, it wouldn't phase me." Ryder heard a noise from a nearby bush. When he turned to investigate, he saw a thick black skin with white spots and a pig-like creature exit the bushes. The beast stopped, stared directly at the Captain, and heard a noise. He pulled out his pistol and aimed it at the animal. "Do not dare."

The pig-like animal saw Ryder and then turned around, heading back into the forest.

"Another day at the office?" King asked as he chuckled.

Ryder put away his sidearm, feeling like the world was intently going after him. "I don't get paid enough for this. Alright, pack up, and let's head out."

The two teams drove off once Comanche and Redcoat Teams mounted their vehicles and followed their flying Valkryie comrade while maintaining radio contact. It took close to an hour to drive through the forest. Ryder turned to check the back seat, seeing Assiaya comfortably sitting behind him. To his surprise, she was not scared or worried. The old ballistic body armor used before the battlesuit's introduction was more prominent than her frame allowed.

"Assiaya." Seeing that Ryder got her attention, he continued, "If we engage the enemy, hide on the floor and keep that body armor over your body. Do you understand?"

The girl nodded and looked back outside the window. He could see a fascinated look in her eyes, probably because this was her first car ride. The Captain then turned to Fraeya and saw the opposite emotion in her eyes: fear.

"Do not worry, Fraeya," Ryder said. "If he is there, we will do our best to find him."

"I know," Fraeya said.

"I also need you to understand. Do not rush off to save your father or anyone else. Stay with the team, and we will go from there. Going rouge could get someone killed or your father."

"Okay," Fraeya said.

Looking forward, Ryder took a deep breath before taking aspirin.

"Are you feeling better, Boss?" Ford asked.

Looking toward Sergeant Ford, who was driving, Ryder couldn't help but focus on the sizable cut across his chest from the Akuma blade. While the healing potion and the gel had assisted in the healing process, there was a deep sting feeling that had yet to go away.

According to Natilite, she lectured him about how he overused the healing potions without following the proper cleaning procedures to clean the wound. While healing potions fix the wound, they do not fix the burning and infections from an open wound.

Ryder responded, "Yeah. I still feel a sting, but it has tampered."

"That sucks, man," Ford said. "But it is good to have your back."

"The Lord owes us one," Ryder replied. "I hope so, too."

After moving through the forest for about an hour, the two Special Forces teams reached the opening Forest mentioned. Assiaya leaned through the front seat gap, providing directions now that she could see the surrounding landmass.

"Go there," Assiaya said. "Go between those rocks. There."

"You heard the lady," Ryder said.

The convoy stopped, and everyone dismounted to secure the area. Ryder looked around and saw nothing, not even a fence.

I heard someone say they saw a Valkyrie incoming. Ryder looked up; his silver VISOR blocked the sunlight. He saw Natilite lowering herself onto the ground. "Did you see anything?"

"Not really," Natilite said after landing. "However, it did seem there was movement on the roads, but that could be anything."

"Sir," King said as he approached. "We cannot stay here long. We are too in the open."

Knowing that his XO was correct, Ryder looked through the open window and saw Assiaya. "Are you sure that this is the place?"

Assiaya looked at him with confusion. "I know they do not believe me."

"Excuse me?"

The girl looked annoyed. She crawled over and pointed to the mountain wall. "It is right there."

Ryder turned to the mountain and saw nothing.

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

"Maybe it is a hidden door?" Fraeya stated.

"Hidden door?" Barrett asked.

"Yes," Fraeya said. "If it is a magical door, it could be carved into the rock and open. While everyone can use it, it does require a lot of maintenance to keep the magical door there, or it will fade away."

"If it's hidden," Natilite said. "Then it will be hard to find. We could be here for a while to find the enchantments."

"We will assume that," Ryder said as he opened the door for Assiaya to exit. "Can you show us?"

Assiaya exited and stared at everyone confusedly. She then grabbed Ryder's hand and walked through the group.

The Captain followed, hearing grumbles from both teams about how dumb this was as there was nothing there. He thought this was a wild goose chase, trusting a child to find nothing. He couldn't blame them, as he couldn't see another note.

Assiaya escorted them to the mountain wall and pointed. The girl turned to Ryder and said, "Right here. Do you not see the lines?"

All Ryder could see were rocks. Nothing looked artificial, and there were no signs that civilization had modified or touched the mountain.

Rommel King whispered to the Captain, "Not to be disrespectful, but this is a dead end."

Ryder was starting to agree. He may have placed too much trust in the little girl. With the trauma and stress she must have had growing up, serving vampires, and being chased like dogs for a week, it was starting to seem like she was suffering mentally.

However, Ryder looked at the girl, and she was confident and more annoyed than anything else. "Fraeya, do you have any ideas?

Fraeya hand glowed and blasted the wall with a low-level mana spell.

To everyone's shock, bright white lines formed a large garage-sized door. The elf girl stepped away, surprised by the sudden door.

"I stand corrected," King said.

"I did not even feel it," Fraeya said. "It must be a powerful spell to be this well-hidden."

A part of Ryder was thrilled that Assiaya was correct and that it was right to place his faith in her. However, another part of him was surprised that she was, or at least was, this correct. How could she know precisely where a hidden magical door was?

Either way, what mattered was that they were in business, so he suppressed any questions and turned to Webster, the British Troop captain. "Let's get ready."

Fraeya approached the magical door and placed both her hands on it. As a geomancy mage, she could bypass the lock and open it. It took a lot of mana and strength to open the door; however, the wall split into two and started opening.

The Twins stormed when the door crack was wide enough and secured the entrench. They confirmed that no one was guarding the entrance.

"It seems they are not expecting anyone," King said. Alright, Comanche and Redcoats. Let's thank them for their overconfidence."

Webster approached and said, "I am leaving two men to guard our vehicles and exit. Going to have them bring them up here."

"Good idea." Ryder turned to Assiaya, who looked satisfied that she had been validated. "Stay out here and hide inside the vehicles. Do not get out." The girl nodded in agreement.

Comanche and Redcoats formed up. When the garage-sized magical door finished opening, the special forces teams stormed the enemy facility.

*****

With the sounds of battle, Sergeant Benjamin Ford took cover by an orange-colored metal crate as the enemy frantically defended against the Altaerrie assault.

From what he could tell, they caught the enemy completely by surprise and desperately formed a defense.

Seeing four enemy defenders bunkered at the top of the path, Ford fired from his cover. He quickly ducked as the enemy returned fire.

Wallace and Forest dropped next to the Sergeant. "They are dug in like a tick."

"Eger," Forest said. "Place suppressive fire. Ben, fire a M320."

The two acknowledged the order. Wallace and Forest attempted to provide suppressive fire, allowing Ford to load his undersling grenade launcher.

Ford leaned over the crate but was forced to duck as a blast impacted the hall beside him. The man then rose again, firing his grenade, impacting the enemy make-shift barricade.

The other half of Comanche rushed toward the enemy position after Ford grenade. When they reached the top, a short firefight was heard; however, Marcos Gonzales told everyone that the chokepoint was clear.

The two teams moved past the choke point and continued rushing through the mountain. Surprisingly, they were going up, not down, as the Sergeant expected. This confirmed that this was not an underground seaport, as Natilite suggested, from one of many Alalgore terrestrial river networks. It was clear they were heading to an airport built in the mountain. Based on Ryder's obversion and Natilite's confirmation of airships, Ford was expecting to see dragons and balloon ships.

When the two teams reached the top, Ford stopped, surprised by the large chamber within the mountain.

The Sergeant did not know what he expected, maybe cave-like openness or something natural. What he saw was a fully functional compound. The hard rock was smoothed with a complex lighting and ventilation system. Concrete pillars held the ceiling. There were buildings, and three port piers hung over a carved-out ditch for the many aircraft that could dock. Buildings were everywhere for storage and air control; however, most were still under construction, meaning this facility needed to be completed. While the dug-out cave was massive, it must be more significant for a Zeppelin.

The docked giant airship shocked Benjamin Ford and the rest of Comanche. He expected a long balloon-type ship with a passage section on the bottom.

This airship looked closer to a hybrid between a galley and a spaceship. It had decks, but on the sides, thrusters besides balloon tanks were located. Sails were also present but not set up like traditional wind sails, designed to face the sky with a yellow shine.

"I thought you said they were airships?" Ford asked.

"I did," Natilite said. "That is what I was talking about."

"Where is the balloon?" Higgins asked.

"Why would there be balloons?" Natilite asked.

"Because that is what an airship is," Higgins said. "Giant ship filled with helium that flies around."

Natilite gripped her fist with frustration, placing her hand on her forehead. "I have never been to your world, so I have no idea. I do not work for the enemy. All I know is that they have been using Airships like this, and this is a medium troop carrier."

"Enough chatting," Barrett said. "It does not matter what it's called; our people might be on their so double time."

Comanche pushed forward, taking a position on the stone ramps that looked over the dock. Seeing defenders and dock workers taking cover against their attack.

Ford fired against the rallying Aristocracy as a firefight began. He noticed Redcoats rushing down a side path and headed to what looked like a dock office.

He watched as they blew the door open and stormed into the room. The door on the other side of the building was open, and hostile runners ran out.

"Contacts, due left," Ford said.

"I am on it," Bruno said.

The two Comanche's shifted their focus and engaged the fleeing hostiles. After naturalizing three hostiles, Redcoats exited and fanned out after securing the office building and flanked the Aristocracy forces.

"Alright, Comanche," King said. "Advance."

Comanche dislodged from their position and pushed forward. The CFT could reach the enemy's formal position with cover fire from Redcoats. When Ford got close to cover, he was suddenly impacted by a bright object, which knocked him onto his back.

Feeling the wind knock out of him, he felt someone grabbing his foot and dragging him to cover. Once on the ground, he crawled and leaned against a crate while the team medic, Gonzales, rushed over.

Ford looked at the impact and saw these clear pieces of crystals impeded into his left chest plate. "What the hell are these?"

Gonzales stopped and looked over. "You look okay. The plate absorbed the impact."

Natilite took cover next to them, providing cover with her wrist energy shield. "Are you okay?"

"Yes," Ford replied. "I was hit by this, crystal?"

The Templar learned to investigate. "Those are Shrouds. Primary ammunition of the Unity. Looks like you got hit by a clear one."

"Lucky me," Ford said. He grabbed his M31 and got into the firing position. "Anyone knows where that sniper came from?"

"Right in front of us," Wallace said. "New contacts."

Seeing the pier, their pathway led to a wall of the dock they needed to go to. In front of it was a lift, but unlike the ones on Earth, which function with mechanics, this one had a crystal on the floor and another on top of the pier. A glow between the two allowed a large platform to move up and down like an elevator.

The platform lowered, and enemy soldiers joined the Aristocracy forces. The new soldiers' uniforms and armor looked different compared to the Aristocracy. While maintaining a similar medieval theme, they were far slicker and bulkier. Besides carrying physical shields like the Aristocracy, their shields were energy-based, like what Natilite utilized. Ford and the others ducked from the enemy's sudden firepower before raising to counterfire. He focused on one hostile who was giving orders. The target armor glowed as its energy shield was activated, forcing the hostile to seek cover. Two shrouds exploded on the crate, resulting in small crystal fragments bursting around.

"Who the hell are these people?" Ford asked.

"The Unity," Natilite replied.

"Do they all have shields?" Gonzales asked.

"Not usually," Natilite said. "Higher-ranking soldiers or specialists do, not the grunts. But this must mean that the airship is carrying vital cargo for this much protection."

The Sergeant peaked from his cover and fired a few shots before being forced to seek cover. "That sniper is pissing me off."

"I see him," Natilite said. "He is on the higher platform. Cover me, and I can take care of him."

The Templar leaped and flew along the cave wall while running on the hard rock, heading toward the upper platform. Some of the enemy soldiers redirected their fire toward her. Ford and the others opened fire and picked off many of the enemy soldiers, forcing them to seek cover.

"This is our chance," King said. "Comanche, head to the lift!"

After firing three shots against one of the Unity soldiers, neutralizing the target, Benjamin Ford leaped over the crate and rushed down the cargo bay. Among him was the rest of the Comanche.

Glancing toward the upper platform, Ford saw the Templar killing the enemy sniper. The Valkyrie then turned the enemy sniper rifle against the enemy, focusing on the leadership. It started engaging what remained of the enemy defenders in front of Commanche.

Enemy energy bolts impacted Ford, so he sought cover from a deactivated Walker. Barrett and Gonzales stopped next to him.

"They are dug in tight," Gonzales said.

"You and I toss frags," Barrett said. "Ford, you assault. We will then follow behind."

Ford took position next to one of the legs and held his rifle out while he remained in cover. He switched from first to second person, utilizing a tiny camera on his rifle to see its point of view and provide suppressive fire.

The other two Comanches tossed two fragmentation grenades that exploded within the enemy position. Ford switched to his first-person mode on his VISOR and charged.

Seeing that his section was clear, the Sergeant looked over and saw two additional hostiles taken out by rifle fire. Then he saw the Twins pushing back an Orc swordsman and rammed the Unity soldier into the wall.

The Orc attempted to swing his sword, but Bruno Barrios grabbed the arm. At the same time, Edger Wallace rammed the butt of his M31 stock into the Orc helmet, knocking the enemy soldier onto the ground.

Rommel King approached and was the first to step onto the platform. "Let's not leave the lady hanging, Comanche. Fraeya, how do we activate this thing?"

"Let me look." Fraeya stepped onto the platform, followed by the rest of the team. She looked at the control council and pressed a few buttons.

The precise diamond crystal at the center of the platform glowed, followed by the one above them. The platform shook slightly and rose like an elevator.

"What the hell is this?" Forest asked.

"Some type of anti-gravity elevator," Higgins said. "I don't know what else it could be."

"Do not ask me," Fraeya said. "I have never seen such magitech before."

"I see why you people have been having problems with these Unity folk," Gonzales said.

The team gathered as the platform reached the pier. Comanche fanned out while engaging the surrounding enemy forces. Crates, equipment, and a few mobile prison cells were scattered around. This airship was supplying this facility while loading the prisoners.

"Hey, Warrant Officer," Wallace said. "I think that crate over there is full of people."

"We will assume so," King said. "Establish a defense perimeter until Redcoats make it up the lift. Twins, Ford, Fraeya, investigate."

The four rushed through the pier and took cover by a crate. Ford and Barrio engaged an enemy soldier who was firing a staff weapon. Two people behind the hostile fled, heading forward to the airship.

"I think they are pulling out," Wallace said.

"Let's reinforce that behavior," Barrios said.

Comanche fanned out so they were not clustered and pressed forward. That was until Ford saw Fraeya run past him, yelling atar, meaning father in elvish, as she moved too far away. "Fraeya!"

"Damnit," Wallace said. "We will cover you."

Seeing the Twins take a position to fire toward the airship as the enemy prepared a last stand, Ford also noticed that the first Troop of Redcoats appeared from the gravity lift. He rushed through the pier after Fraeya, who reached the prisoner cell.

"Father!" Fraeya yelled as she frantically searched.

"Fraeya," Ford said as he finally caught up. An energy blast impacted the cell, so he turned around, placing three sound shots into an Aristocracy staffmen. "You cannot run into the open like that."

"I need to find my father!" Fraeya said.

"Who is she looking for?" a man within the prison crate said.

Ford looked over the cover and saw a caucasian man in what appeared to be ragged gray prison clothing. "Excuse me?"

"I am Colonel Robert, USSF security for the alien device."

"The Bridge?" Ford said. "She is looking for a male elf like her, the one who activated that device."

"I know who you are talking about," Robert said. "He is with the others on that flying ship. With him are the other upper echelons of our government. They were loaded first and were preparing us when you attacked."

"Father is on that airship?" Fraeya didn't hesitate before running toward the airship.

"Damnit," Ford said. He requested coverfire from his comrades as he chased after the elf girl. A dock worker emerged from cover with a construction hammer and attempted to attack her from behind. The Sergeant rammed the dock worker into the crate and continued going, allowing his teammates to finish off the threat.

Looking forward, he noticed the remaining enemy were loading onto the airship. A loud horn echoed throughout the massive cave port before the four side thrusters emitted the same glow as the gravity lift. The galley ship pushed forward before the bridge was retracted.

"Father!" Fraeya yelled as she saw the galley starting to leave.

Benjamin Ford was able to catch up with the elf girl thanks to the exoskeleton element of his battlesuit. Seeing that Fraeya would attempt to jump onto the galley, he jumped and tackled her onto the ground. "Stop! You never were going to make it."

"Let me go!" Fraeya yelled as she struggled. "I am this close; I cannot lose him again!"

Ford quickly held the elf girl onto the ground, a fact that he was not thrilled about. She was acting hysterical to such an extent that he felt guilty for what he had done. However, he knew stopping her was the right thing to do. If she had made it onto the galley, either she would have fallen to her death or become a prisoner.

Hearing the loud horn, he looked up and saw the galley leaving the pier, heading toward the opening on the side of the mountain.

As other Comanche and Redcoats approached, Ford got off Fraeya. She got onto her knees and cried as everyone watched the airship exit the mountain. No one spoke, allowing her to weep. Until now, everyone had wondered what type of war this would be, but for the first time, everyone understood.

That the fight had only begun.