The fate of the world had been chosen, but such fate was not set to resolve itself so easily. Even the night before, opposition to this fate had made moves to fight back.
With the sun having already set, Khaexyn looked at the scene before him in dismay, his attack already foiled. Having grown in desperation, he had set off himself with some of his greatest weapons at hand to take back his family, to rescue them from the hands of his enemy. He had depended on the tracking tool installed in Sxeiva to find her, but that same tool had just recently gone dark. He could only assume that her systems had been forced to power it down, that her life was that far in danger. She rushed to where it last gave a signal, only to find nothing remained.
He checked his tools once again, having backup plans upon backup plans. He could faintly detect her nearby, but not any energy signal. This only alarmed him further. He rushed to track down the source of his signal, leading him only to a set of recently disturbed dirt. Frantic, he set about having the dirt dug up, eventually excavating a metallic arm. As panic heightened, he eventually dug up everything else. He collapsed before the mechanical remains of his love, not missing the burn marks scorching the metal.
He knew in that moment, she had been murdered.. a third attempt on her life had been set and this time had claimed its victim. Even this far away, it seems he was still unable to save his Sxeiva from tainted murderous hands. There wasn't even any sign that his dear Yhse was still alright, or if she had fallen as well. Everyone was so set on taking away everything he loved, everything he cherished. This world, it needed to change, it needed to learn from its mistake.. and he would force that painful lesson upon it. His research was making progress, but it seems the world would not idly wait for him to finish.
The rebellion, even the ones who killed his love, he had no way to find them. However, he did understand what they fought for. He had been following the records, the elites had came across the mountain and had thrown themselves in with the Rebellion, hiding among them. It was even those elites responsible for this catastrophe, eager to finish the death they had started. But if they had came all the way here, who was protecting the home they had left behind? Instead of searching for those who killed his love, he would visit upon them the same grief, and send his forces to the other side of the mountain.
The gifted elites of society, all of them had to die, all of them had to suffer for this injustice. He would then pick from those remaining who would be better fit for following his will, who would accept the new world due for them, and once the world lay in his grip, he would be free to complete his research. It pained him to have to resort to such extreme measures, but once the new world laws were set, he could find his own solitude and wait out the rest of his days, his goal then finally completed.
He returned quickly at that, and had ordered his forces to begin amassing. After the incident with his family, he had grown to suspect that some of the people working for him might not have his own vision in truth, everyone was suspect. He couldn't even find any of the maids assigned to either his wife or daughter. The two that were originally assigned to his daughter, they were executed. Everyone was suspect, unless they were aethyrnz. It seems the only ones he could fully trust right now were those he had made. Maybe he should consider having the people of the world lead by aethyrnz instead, they were far more reliable. It was for this very reason that his forces were completely aethyrnz, not a single human or elf among them.
Khaexyn himself would have to stay behind, entrusting his aethyrnz to the task. He had to determine for himself which of the people around him would betray or serve him. He also needed to keep researching, finding new ways to proceed. He was still struggling to find useful information, almost half of the data he had recovered from what Earth called 'the Internet' was stuff such as useless pictures of various fluffy pointed-ear creatures. Much of the information he found could be disturbing, but he expected that was only because it was as yet a culture he was not a part of. The fact that very little was useful for matters of war just prevailed how perfect the culture actually was, even if it did make it harder to create his own weapons of war.
By lunch, his forces had already gathered as a massive armada. He bade everything to continue, as he returned to his own research. While he wouldn't get to do it himself, he took personal pride in the fact he was staging his own revenge, he would still have vengeance even while he researched. The thought set his mind at ease, as he returned to his work.
"Khaexyn is making a move, he's already gathering an army. That's not even the worst part, he's heading straight for the great mountain instead of wasting time on us. Everyone back there is in danger!" Mhyl wasn't even resorting attempting Izhaethyx, making use of her English instead. Lwyn, who had yet to figure out why Mhyl was suddenly panicking, froze in her understanding. Qheria managed to pass the message on to the others instead.
Much of the Rebellions plan was to be the enemy on the doorstep, the first obstacle to pass. Everyone had even counted upon the idea that Khaexyn would commit to hunting them down, weakening his forces in the process, while stalling any further progress. The plan was still for the four factions to stage a grand offensive, once they had one prepared, which would then support the Rebellion. Together, everyone would crush the Fortress. However, if Khaexyn was instead going straight for the mountain, they would have to instead fight to intercept him, to slow him down.
The Rebellion Leader came to a quick conclusion. "We're going to have to split up from here. We'll work to try and slow Khaexyn down, however we can. Rhyde, take your crew and go to their defense, bring your siege weapon across the mountain and bear it in their defense. Your crew already has four ladies of their kingdoms, along with many others in their support, it wouldn't be fair to keep them here any longer. Go, as a representative of our Rebellion, and ensure they are ready for this armada. We'll endure as best we can, slow them as much as we are able, and meet you there. Best of luck!" The Rebellion then turned to find his son, who was still doing power armor training.
Rhyde turned to Yuxzn, who was making calculations for a plan. Their enemy was amassing forces, unknown number, unknown strength, unknown path. They would have to proceed by... "Thanrie, go get Zyuixqs and get him back into his driving seat, we're leaving now. Lwyn, what do you think the odds are, how do we cross the mountain with this giant crate?" "Yeah, that cave won't work twice, not with something this size. However, the main pass would fit us, and would be a deathtrap for Khaexyn, he's probably going to go all the way around the great mountain. The whole thing would be over a quarter of a lunar cycle by foot, but with this thing.. two days. Less, if Mhyl is able to do her thing at all." "Perfect. Mhyl, I leave to you to decide whatever advantage you can give us. Take things easy, so that you can maximize on your own stamina." Sharing a plan in English, Qheria worked out matters with the others after getting some advice from Lwyn. Lwyn was still very familiar with things around the mountain.
Qheria turned to Izhaethyx at this point. "Rhyde, we've got a plan in motion already. Can you get everyone set to go right away? I expect we'll be leaving some of this for the Rebellion, but otherwise we need to get everything moving. Ihzyhur, can you go signal my mother to return? Let her know we're done here and leaving immediately, things have taken a turn for the worst. Yuxzn, do you know if we're missing anything else before we can just leave?" "Well, the Wardens might be gathering supplies, but otherwise..." "Good, make sure all the Wardens are recalled then, and we should be good to go." Qheria was even taking action over Rhyde, not having the patience to wait. Rhyde did not miss how Qheria had even made use of Yuxzn to gain what knowledge she didn't already have. Yuxzn still hadn't completed calculations, and yet it seemed Lwyn had already beaten him to the punch.
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Things proceeded quickly after that, as preparations began. Zyuixqs gave a parting farewell to his father before heading to his assigned seat, the controls for driving the facility. Thanrie watched the proceeding, unable to hear anything from her distance. She had really underestimated Zyuixqs' father, and felt bad for that. As Zyuixqs left, his father turned to Thanrie and waved. She could feel the meaning behind his message, she was to look after his son for him. She nodded and waved back, she'd gotten good at putting Zyuixqs in his place, be that with his head against her fist, or his butt in a pilot seat. It was much less of the first now, much more of the second, but she would see to it that he got the help he needed.
In hardly any time after that, they were set to go. The plan was to proceed wide of the river, in approach of the mountain. They would have elves keep watch, scouting for any signs of their enemy's approach. Mhyl would be denied most of this, as she would instead be trying to apply her gift to make their path easier, Chyurae instead was the one chosen for this. Thanrie had set to the engines and was boosting it's performance, in an effort to help Mhyl and Zyuixqs. Qheria and Lwyn were working on a plan as Rhyde and Yuxzn kept watch, both feeling suddenly replaced. The moment everything shifted from this side of the mountain, it seems like Rhyde and Yuxzn had fallen out of their element. They hadn't even passed the mountain yet, and this had happened.
"According to the Ehryinae, the citadel is the central point of the war efforts right now. That's great, because that's where the pass is going to take us. We should be smart though, setup a blockade behind us as we go through, make it so that they can't even send anything that way. It will leave both the east and west of the mountain open, both Wyxir and Qicir. There is a chance they might try to pass through the woods, but the Elniri have that guarded so well that we would at least know if they tried. I expect they would find it a rough way in. That leaves us divided on only two fronts." Lwyn went over the pictures in Mhyl's atlas, forming a plan with Qheria in Izhaethyx.
Qheria was very familiar with the Qicir geography, so had a fair idea how things would pan out. "I don't think we can bring the facility around the battlefield then, everything is a bit too cluttered for this. We'll have to leave it at the citadel. With the pass blocked, I don't think that would be a problem. There is also the concern about bringing this in and raising alarms everywhere. On foot, we're probably going to have to form two divisions, one for each front we need to defend. As I know the Qiciri side, I'll be going there, while Thanrie will go to her family. That's probably true for our family too, my mother and her brother. Family might in fact be a really good idea here, you should find your grandfather with Ehryinae, figure out what the citadel's plans are for everything, help things out. Mhyl should probably meet with her mother to do the same." Qheria knew this plan was simply returning everyone to the families they had fled, but given the circumstances, that was probably the best solution.
Lwyn also considered this plan. Mhyl vising her mother, that would give them the knowledge of the High-Seer, who had a talent similar to her own mother. It was actually the purest version of that talent, to converse directly with the world flow. Considering the information they had on the subject, that would be priceless with dealing with the veil itself. Meanwhile, confronting her grandfather would give her access to the book her mother had offered her in those dying moments. All stuff that would be required for her to fulfill the promise she made her mother. She had concerns about her mother's ashes too, but there wouldn't be any time for that right away.
Lwyn nodded her agreement. "Sounds like a plan. All of us were supposed to be the super-weapons of each family, so it's only fitting. On that thought, we should expect a bit of struggle fitting in. People really won't expect how much has changed, nor what we're capable of. We're going to need to be ready for some resistance in that area. Fortunately, all four of us have family-assigned witnesses who can vouch for us. That might be the best way to make that work, I can't think of anything better." Lwyn found her own insight getting a nod in return, with Qheria fully in agreement.
"The question remains then, what of everyone else. The people working under Rhyde.." "I'm right here, by the way. I expect most of the staff left, considering your plan, will just remain at the facility. There would be very little they could offer anywhere else, holding this place would be the best way forward. With that in consideration, I expect the best solution will be to invite my staff to follow whatever cause they believe in. Those that can fight, will probably follow one of you four off to war. There is still plenty of weapons left from Thanrie's efforts, I might actually care to pick one for myself. Another of the power armor suits is almost ready, maybe I should take it for myself. Yuxzn, you are of course free to follow your own path in the same way." Qheria was surprised at Rhyde's plan to not plan. Rhyde was getting the feeling that, being out of his element, it was better to just leave matters to those with.. more expertise.
Yuxzn watched as Rhyde commit to this statement by walking off, feeling no more compulsion to sit in the leadership role of this expedition. Yuxzn himself though didn't know what to do with this knowledge. He turned back to Qheria and Lwyn, who had resumed their conversation, the plan pretty much already set. Yuxzn was impressed with how well Lwyn had managed to figure things out, and noted upon his own weaknesses. He had many other weaknesses too, when compared to the four girls, such as their combat talent. They held a mixture of the gift and a talent for the mechanical, the first he had no way of having himself. The second on the other hand, even Rhyde had calculated getting involved in. Maybe Yuxzn himself should attempt to follow in kind.
Yuxzn went off to find Thanrie, who was currently taking a break from her gift. They were already well ahead of schedule, due to arrive late at night the next night if Mhyl and Thanrie could keep stuff up. That puts the whole thing at almost half the original estimate, just over a day of travel. Yuxzn was interested in some of the firearms Thanrie had worked with, and wanted to look into something for himself. Thanrie considered Yuxzn's demonstrated ability with a bow, at excessive range. She actually had an idea for something that didn't quite prove practical for most people, because it needed a tripod just because of the kick. The biggest issue with it was that it was only good at excessive ranges, which itself was hard for most people to deal with. However, not as much for an elf, considering their excessive vision. The turret was practically a rail gun, with a punch velocity that could deny most reinforced steel its own protection. It also wasn't that hard to reload, although still slower than her tastes. It also was large enough that she personally found it uncomfortable to work with, being a bit too small. Yuxzn should have no problems with it, however.
Yuxzn took the opportunity to adjust to the new offering, cautious enough to not actually fire it. He had been told that it's firing mechanism was very loud, that if he wanted subtle, he would have to use something else. His bow was subtle enough, it was power that it lacked. He had been told it compared to the sniper rifles he had gotten a chance to review earlier. The range of those weapons was remarkable, the speed was incredible, and this thing was superior in both areas. Unlike a bow, the shot fired incredibly straight, with hardly any drop to compensate for. He might have to waste his first shot when the time came, just to bear witness to what happened, but he certainly would not waste the second. The only regrettable part was how heavy the entire thing was, even when packed up. It was heavier than his bow, but at least much lighter than either weapon Rhyde typically carried.
They took a break overnight, and set off early again the next dawn. By lunch, they had arrived at the great mountain, and had set off along the path to the other side of it.