Hoot''s old face creased in a wide grin. "You look a bit better off than you didst time you were here."


    Nix nodded in agreement. He nced toward the middle of theke where the floating city of Bachoni was located. Although the settlement wasn''t within visual range, the glow of an anomaly hovered where he knew it to be. "Might have to rebuild the town when all this is done."


    "It was an ugly ce anyways." Hoot''s old eyes nced at the expanded anomaly that was clearly visible in the distance. "That light started expanding a few hours ago. Was that your doing?"


    "Probably." Nix stared at the veil of light that extended upward toward the clouds and spanned the entire width of Lake Bachoni. "We''ll rebuild everything that the Ice Goddess destroyed."


    "Hmm." Hoot watched as the Inferno Leader activated his Archon bloodline and shot into the air without speaking further.


    /Alpha: Pon: The curse is broken?


    /Alpha: Nix: Sure as shit. Everyone on me, we''re heading to the Titan Base Camp.


    The cold of Everspire seemed substantially less brutal that than what Inferno had seen in Colonial and Oasis. Perhaps the Ice Goddess was weakening due to the efforts of the Alliance. Nix climbed to an altitude of a thousand meters before leveling off and scanning the horizon.


    /Inferno: Jun Li: You close, Nix?


    /Inferno: Nix: Yeah, Alpha is heading to base camp now.


    /Inferno: Jun Li: Meet you there.


    Pon whistled softly, a sound that waspletely erased by the swirling winds. The vast expanse of snow and ice was darkened considerably by the army that was camped outside of the veil. "How many fighters do the Titans have?"


    Nix banked slightly and started to descend toward the camp."More than thirty thousand, not counting the ones we helped evolve." The veil that acted as a barrier was semi-transparent. Forms could be seen moving on the other side, but the details remained a mystery.


    Alphanded near the central tent a few minutester, each of them dropped their Archon forms immediately. Arge perimeter of about thirty meters had been cleared out for a singrmand tent. There were no guards posted outside the entrance, but perhaps that was a moot point since they were surrounded by an army.


    The tent p was pulled aside suddenly by an overlyrge hand. A mountain of a man walked out; his step was light and agile despite his enormous size. "Nix!"


    Nix nodded at the Titan Warleader, who managed to cover the distance between them in tworge strides. "We''vee to the end."


    Mortimus gripped the Inferno Leader''s shoulder like he would a younger brother. "I heard about the Oasis raid. Those of us that are here will fight to the end. No matter the cost."


    Nix nodded in agreement. "We need to put her down."


    Jun Li arrived with the rest of the Inferno Officers a few minutester. They followed the Titan Warleader back into the tent and took seats around therge fire at the center.


    *********************


    A slender hand gripped the arm of the Ice Throne, Khione''s crystal blue eyes stared at her remaining General. "The enemy forces have gathered?"


    Vorn nodded his head. "We still outnumber them, but I believe when their reserves are brought in, we''ll be evenly matched." Shapeshifter Vorn bowed his head slightly. Although his appearance was simr to that of an Ice Howler, his dark eyes brimmed with confidence. "Nix is a problem; I feel like we should concentrate on killing him."


    The hand that gripped the throne rxed and strummed yfully. "His death has already been foreseen. Fortunately for us, he cannot avoid this destiny."


    Vorn considered her words. Unlike other Ice Howlers, his body was covered by a fine velvet-like blue fur. His slim appearance gave off a predatory type of pressure that made others avoid his gaze. "Because he is the Cora''Zai?"


    Khione smiled slightly, her cold face taking on an astounding beauty before withdrawing back into frozen countenance. "Cora''Zai or if you want to believe the dragon version, DraCora''Zai. I will have to deal with him personally even if your army fails."


    "When will you activate the mole?" Vorn had confidence in himself, but he also understood the strength of his opposition. Through a series of unforeseen events, one of Khione''s people had found their way into the Gemini Temple, the holy ground thaty at the base of Inferno''s strength.


    "Not until Inferno''s reserves are on the battlefield. With all of their fighters in Everspire, my spy will open a gate into Haven. At that point, you and your shifters will exit into Haven and raze it to the ground while our remaining forces continue to fight here."


    "And the dragons?" Vorn was confident that he could deal with Haven''s residual forces, but rumor said that three dragons now resided within the Inferno stronghold.


    "Once the gate to Haven has been opened, I will leave the Everspire battlefield and kill those three pests." Khione''s coldugh echoed in her icy chambers. "Haven will be the new capital from which I will dominate the nes."


    *******************


    Nix stood with Alpha in a small circle that included Morti, Ducky, and Soup. A second team consisting of Ronnie, Sharl, Chiba, Beta, and Donri sat nearby while listening to their conversation. This group of just over a dozen had a somewhat different mission than the rest. As soon as the Ice Goddess appeared on the battlefield, they would ignore fighting and kill Khione.


    /Dagger: Sharl: Ronnie will be with the snipers until Khione is spotted; she will make the call one way or another.


    /Dagger: Ronnie: Count on me!


    The dark archer smiled brazenly at Nix. "Going to reward me if I kill Khione?"


    "Sure," Nixughed. They''d been together since the start; his soft spot for Ronnie was widely known.


    A giant hud popped up with a holographic view of the battlefield. Nix stared at it for a long moment before dividing the groups into subdivisions. A momentter, a holo popped into view.


    A familiar form saluted respectfully. "The forces of Mid-Everspire have gathered under one banner. We stand ready to fight."


    "Chael?" Nix grinned at the ex-Inferno ranger. "The Four Corners have sent help?"


    Chael nodded. "Our numbers are thin because of Deep Winter, a bit over five thousand fighters in our Legion."


    "General Chael then... Stand by and thank you for the support."


    The Dire Wolf that had been lingering near Alpha suddenly stood up, her ears pricked forward as she stared at the holo. Nansu had insisted on taking part in the battles with one of Nix''s puppets. The lifestyle yer wasn''t a hardened veteran, but she wasn''t running away from a fight. "Chael ising," she muttered to herself while trying to calm her nerves.


    ******Author''s Note*****


    Chael and Nansu were a couple long before Inferno was formed. The ranger and the Alchemist parted ways after a "possessed" Chael tried to kill Nansu in Haven. Although the incident was defused by Nix, the pair were never able to put it behind them.


    ********************


    [Your Allies have given you control of the battle and await deployment orders.]


    Nix noted that none of the deployed Titan ns were listed on his Breach Commander hud. They fell under the authority of Warleader Mortimus, the exception being the Titan ns that Inferno had revived.


    [Breach Commander Deployment Menu]


    [Air Forces]


    1) Fey


    2) Muncie


    3) Haven''s Drake Squadron


    4) Rhylia and the Arch Wing Division


    6) Titan Hawk n


    [Ranged Fighters]


    1) Lamia Scorched Earth Acolytes


    2) Inferno Ranger Company


    3) Dhassi Ranged Fighters.


    [Melee]


    1) Lion Titan n


    2) Scorpion Titan n


    3) Tharaka and the Ashobel n


    [Nether Allied Generals]


    Leva the Fallen


    Genta


    Chog the Furious


    Ro''Sinda


    NyCyndor


    [Misceneous Forces]


    1) 1st Division me Knights of Solomon City


    2) 1st Division Earth Knights of Houdinya City.


    3) General Chael and the Mid-Spire Legion.


    4) Nemesis Shi and the Haven Ice Acolytes.


    /Inferno: Jun Li: We''ll use the same setup from our Colonial Battle, plus the Pathfinder and Sand Killer groups. Here is the Raid Sheet.


    Main Tank: Morti


    Alt Tank: Sharl


    2nd Alt Tank: Banz


    [Alpha]


    Nix: CC, Ranged/Melee DPS


    Pon: Ranged DPS


    Wind: Melee DPS


    Semmi: Melee DPS


    Fajii: Buffs, Melee DPS


    [Bravo]


    Sharl: Tank


    Ronnie: Range DPS


    Bali: Range DPS


    Mt: Melee DPS


    Nansu: Melee DPS


    [Charlie]


    Banz: Tank


    Chiba: Melee DPS


    Beta: Melee DPS


    Rhylia: CC, Ranged Support


    Zhava: Melee DPS


    [Delta]


    Jun Li: Off Tank/Melee DPS


    Shae: Ranged DPS


    Donri: Ranged DPS


    S: CC/Melee DPS


    Sasi: Melee DPS


    [Pathfinder]


    Gideon: DPS


    Nebs: Heals


    Roto: Range DPS


    Jiggs: DPS


    Paco: Tank


    [Sand Killers]


    Toxin: Tank


    Brell: Shaman


    Eri dale: Ranger


    Corm: Javalier


    Retric: Javalier


    Ainsba: Sand Shadow


    Dune: Sand Shadow


    [Healer Protection Group]


    Vooni: Tank, Melee DPS


    Aja: Ranged/Melee DPS


    Nunzo, Melee DPS


    Omak: Ranged DPS


    [Healers]


    Tess


    Gypsy


    Pinky


    Wylie


    Saji


    Nezbit


    [Sniper Group]


    Darsi


    Moki


    Dalton


    Sorbie


    /Breach Commander Nix: Give me a moment to organize the deployment. Going to bring the ground forces in and then hand you off to the other Breach Commanders.


    /Breach Commander Mtui: Whenever you are ready.


    Nix nodded to himself and brought up a holo image of the existing battlefield. Unfortunately, there was no real cover to speak of; they were fighting in the middle of Everspire''srgestke. A soft furred head pushed against his side; without pausing, he scratched the yer''s ears. "You should be back in Oasis with the other Dhassi. Your people have lost enough today."


    Del''s blue eyes close while she purred happily. "I ordered Cora and most of the Dhassi to remain behind. But, since we arepanions, I''ll fight with you until the end."


    "You''re too stubborn." Nix left a hand on her soft head while arranging the allied forces. "Stay close to me today."


    "Don''t I always?"