The camp was in a rush. Hectic though everyone was they were not under enemy attack; a scout had rushed back on horse to inform Colonel Winters of a shift in enemy movement. "They've abandoned siege tactics, milord! The golems are assaulting the villa! If we don't act now, the viceroy's force will be overwhelmed!" Winters acted with the resolve of a leader. He said, "Then we'll just have to move out and meet them head on!"

Although it sounded like what a real warrior did -- meeting the enemy head-on in glorious combat -- Zan knew everyone wasn't prepared. "Zan! I entrust you and your squad will perform with valor!" Winters said before rushing off to marshal his forces, directing them into glorious battle.

Zan found Jiehong and Whiskey. Whiskey had her own scouts on her, though looking at them, Zan saw the rebel scouts as much as frontline fighters than he or Jiehong were as they had a rough-handed, domineering look to them; bits of armored leather reinforced with steel cushioned their bodies, allowing for both mobility and defense. Not as good as his special 'fairy silk' clothing, which took many a lethal blow for Zan, but still impressive.

"What shall we do?" Whiskey asked. Everywhere was activity and they needed to act, now.

Around them the camp was in a tizzy. Battle was on the horizon. But with the chaos, Zan and his group knew no one would be entering the field before thirty-minutes. When the scout had come, much of the camp was in relaxation mode, waiting for nightfall. With urgency forcing their hand, the fighters hurried on their battle garb as Zan, and company, fought to decide their course of action. Having little time to discuss matter, of course, a brash decision was made.

"Let's mount our bikes. We're ready, right? Let's cleave some space for our allies when they enter the field!" Zan said.

"I like the sound of that!" Jiehong exclaimed. Whiskey nodded, saying, "I like the sound of that. I've been too lazy for the past couple of days."

Making their own last-minute preparations, Zan and Company made their way (roughly) toward where the Colonel intended on using them. Technically, they were an infiltration team. Originally, Winters wanted them to stay close to his frontline units and take a chance to infiltrate the villa once the heavy units broke through the automotron lines. Considering the nature of the enemy's change in tactics, Zan did not know how much of this plan was to still remain on the table.

Outside the limits of the camp, Zan halted, and focused on his headset. "Activate?" he said, still unsure of how it operated.

The headset brought itself to life at his word's whim. Zan saw the indistinct boxes slowly appear as he focused more on them. It wasn't long before he had in his vision the abstracted limits of several so-called 'boxes.'

'Okay,' Zan muttered. "Just remember what the Screen Master said. Focus one at a time. Make the map-in-miniature appear...'

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"What are you talking about? You good?" Jiehong asked, overhearing Zan talk to himself while standing completely still.

"I'm fine. Sorry. I am fiddling with the headset, testing it. Give me a moment," Zan said to his impatient buddies.

Focusing on the map-in-miniature, it appeared! Zan saw the rectangular box appear in his upper-righthand line-of-sight. It obscured some of the real world, yeah, but testing the limits of the headset's display functions, Zan learned he could see through the boxes which appeared within his vision. Zan hoped they would disappear further while he was in combat. He was sure they would.

"Warm Up Complete," a voice said.

"Who said that?" Zan asked.

Jiehong and Whiskey had no clue what he was talking about, so he clarified and told them.

Zan wanted to join the battle. He knew his friends were growing impatient. So, he told them to go on ahead and he would catch up. Whiskey said, "We're not leaving you behind while two hostile forces are about to clash -- don't be stupid!"

Ignoring his friends' words out of necessity, Zan focused on the headset's voice. An instant later the voice vanished, leaving behind confusion. "Okay! I don't know what that was all about, but let's advance on the enemy!"

They hadn't even taken a step before Screen Master Simulacrum pinged them. "I am sorry to disturb you, Zan. I know you are about to enter combat. I wanted to remind you I will be there with you in every battle. Do not be afraid to call upon my vast knowledge of the combative arts."

"I will keep that in mind Screen Master. Thank you!" Zan said diplomatically.

Hoping that was all for the time being, Zan took another step forward. This time, nothing happened, so he got greedy and took another step, expecting nothing. How wrong he was!

A couple of steps after the Screen Master's intrusive ping, the headset came alive again. A notification came to his vision. But as he couldn't read, Zan didn't know what it said. So, doing the only thing he could do, he pinged the Screen Master and explained the situation. The Screen Master replied back, "Just a second. I will perform some long-range maintenance on your headset." A couple of moments went by... "There." The Screen Master suddenly said. "I have programmed a new feature into your headset to allow the verbal translation of words into spoke speech. Try asking the headset to repeat the notification."

His friends staring at him like he was a crazy man, Zan said, "Repeat notification."

"[Assessing Enemy Movements]" ... that was what the headset had told him in notification form. Zan saw the words he couldn't read show up once more inside their brackets. This time, a voice read-aloud for him.

Feeling more confident with the new technology, Zan felt like he was getting somewhere using this headset. He admitted he had not liked it when the Screen Master intruded upon him, but now he was thankful. He would have to acclimate himself to multiple people talking in his head at once.

Taking a few more tentative steps, no more notifications or voices conjured themselves into Zan's ears. It's time to fight! Zan thought as he warmed himself up and stretched; though he felt like a fool, stretching upon the open plain as a vast enemy host was preparing to charge the villa -- or perhaps already was in the process of doing so -- Zan knew the basics had to be adhered to. Basics like a good stretch before a vigorous martial showcase.

"Everyone ready? For real?" Zan asked.

"Born ready," Jiehong said.

Whiskey said nothing though her intense look said much more than mere words could ascribe.

"Then let's kick it up and show these termites all the things we can do!"