"Hello everyone, this is an emergency live stream with your host TwoFirstNames Bob Ryan from Indie News. As most of you know, we have been scattered reports coming out of Army base Fort Carson all day. Something about a attack, with the army engaged with a hostile force. There has bene no video of a ongoing attack; however, five other media channels have reported different reports of the same issue. From what I understand, there has been no single source but all saying the same thing.

Fifteen minutes ago, I know the White House had an emergency meeting with the Joint Chiefs and they are being quiet. I was planning on covering the press stream, but as I logged in, they cut the feed.

There has been weird news coming out of Fort Carson all year, but it has been debunked as another Congress UFO hoax. I thought the same thing, but these reports are crazy. All of them are talking about heavy allied casualties, fighting something called Unity. There are leaks coming out of…, wait a minute.

I am just learning that the 2nd Brigade, 1st Astralis Division was mobilized an hour ago to assist the 4th Division and relieve Salva as part of a Quick Reaction Force. My veteran firsts in the chatbox are telling me that for them to be considered a QRF, they would have to be informed in advance. I am not a military expert, but if true, that would imply that there is something going on inside the Army Fort. What I do not understand is, what is a Salva?

This is a developing situation. None of it is making sense, but it seems like the United States Army is in battle. Maybe we are under a surprise attack? I will stay live as long as I can or at least we hear something from the President."

April 20th, 2068 (Military Calendar)

Brigade HQ, Salva, the former Confederacy of Daru'uie

Nevali Region, Aldrida, Alagore

*****

The forward barricades and checkpoints had fallen, forcing the soldiers in the courtyard to defend fiercely against the advancing Aristocracy army.

1st LBCT, 4th ID had established its headquarters at the former adventurer guild when they first occupied the city. Abandoned during the initial siege, the facility's central location made it ideal for the Americans to coordinate defenses. Trees surrounding the exterior were either cleared or burned, with soldiers entrenched in sandbag bunkers or behind T-bone fortifications.

Comanche and their Militia squad advanced down the main street. Allied shieldmen held scutum shields steady, absorbing enemy fire and enabling the group to close the distance.

"Hold!" Ryder ordered.

The dozen shieldmen halted, adjusting their shields for maximum protection. Comanche, armed with battle rifles, and the circilmen engaged the Aristocracy attackers.

In the intense firefight, the other Minutemen Combat Team, Ghost, and their Militia squad exploited the distracted enemy to leapfrog forward. Halfway to the enemy position, they paused, providing cover fire for Comanche to advance.

The Vampires at the street's end were quickly overwhelmed and retreated, unable to withstand the coordinated assault from the two Minutemen and Militia teams. This allowed the allies to secure the intersection unopposed.

"They fled fast," Ford remarked.

"It's because they know who they're up against," Wallace boasted.

"It's not that," Forest countered. "Their focus is Brigade HQ."

"If they take that," Barrett interjected, "they take the city."

"That explains their aggression," Ford said.

"Why wouldn't they be aggressive?" Higgins asked.

"I mean," Ford clarified, "they're acting like a dagger, not securing a foothold. It's desperate, not tactical."

"Desperate and tactical can look awfully similar sometimes," Barrios noted.

King approached the Comanche Captain. "What's the plan, Boss?"

Ryder tapped the HUD controller on his chest plate, accessing the 1st LBCT HQ feed. The footage showed the enemy pressing hard, with the outer perimeter already lost, leaving the courtyard as the final defensive line. A walker advanced through the streets, its massive shield—adorned with three blue diamonds—protecting its amplifier orb, trailing vehicles, and infantry below. A rocket from a defender struck the shield, causing the diamonds to glow faintly, reminiscent of artillery impacts on Salva's defensive walls.

"1st Brigade's gonna get overrun soon," King warned.

Ryder issued orders: "Comanche and the Militia will secure the courtyard. Ghost, find a building and snipe high-value targets."

"What about those walkers?" Millar asked.

Ryder turned to the Ghost Captain. "Get on the horn. See if any units nearby can flank those walkers."

"On it," Miller replied. "Ghost, with me. Sergeant Mustafa, there's an apartment complex with a flat roof—perfect vantage point. Patrick, find us support when we're there."

After Ghost departed, Comanche and the Militia reorganized and moved toward Battalion HQ. A few hostiles tried to secure the headquarters' rear but were swiftly neutralized.

Entering the courtyard, Comanche and the Militia witnessed the battle in full swing. Small statues, likely of renowned Adventurers, dotted the area. Traces of a garden had been cleared for American defenses. The guild building, ancient and weathered, showed its age: chipped concrete and stone walls, cracked or dusty windows, and a faded gold lining around the roof's rotting edges.

With the enemy closing in, the teams entered the rear Hesco bastion entrance, guarded by a lone Private. Barrett remarked on the rearguard's thin security, suggesting most forces had been pulled to the front.

The exterior defenses were straightforward but constrained by surrounding buildings. 4th ID soldiers manned every available weapon. Infantry stood on double-stacked Hesco bastions, a new lunette adaptation, using LOWS machine turrets for cover. Additional soldiers operated fixed positions within the guild structure. Roof-mounted heavy weapons targeted flying warrior harpies, while PI-operated machine gun turrets repelled minor airborne assaults, forcing the Wraths to engage from nearby rooftops.

A single exit, a natural funnel, controlled personnel flow. Before the steel-reinforced door, dozens of soldiers defended sandbag bunkers.

One soldier turned to the approaching Minutemen with relief. "Thank God, it's the Minutemen. Staff Sergeant Lawrence, Second Platoon. I'll patch you into Brigade."

The Comanche Captain touched his helmet, joining BattNet, as his XO led the team and Militia to secure the area.

"Captain. This is Colonel Burke. How many Minutemen CFTs do you have?"

"Two, sir," Ryder replied over BattNet. "Ghost is in the southern buildings, sniping targets and coordinating with other teams to flank the enemy. I also have two Militia squads."

"Good," Burke said. "We've got Militia aiding us, but coordination's a mess. You're their Duke—take command."

Mathew Ryder bristled at his political title. He preferred being a Captain, trained to fight, not govern. But Colonel Hackett, Minutemen leader, had entrusted him with this role. The Army needed a leader for their allies, not just another soldier.

"Roger that, Colonel," Ryder replied.

He briefed his team on their mission: assist Charlie Company, the headquarters' security. He sent Sergeant Ordlina to locate the additional Militia and regroup at the 2nd Platoon Command Post on the right flank.

Once the Militia squads left, Ryder addressed his team. "Hold the line until relief arrives."

"Take that path to 3rd Platoon, Sir," Lawrence said.

Comanche followed the Specialist through the security checkpoint, where the battle raged. A thick line of Bremer walls and sandbags spanned the courtyard. Tracer rounds streamed from bunkers toward the enemy.

Three soldiers manned a position: one, equipped with Hercules modules and a third arm, operated an M337 machine gun, while two others fired through a Bremer wall's firing hole.

A UGV Bigdog—a four-legged robotic drone—traversed the path, followed by a tracked TrUmLB with a central basket. Both carried ammunition, water, and batteries to Charlie Company, which Comanche used to replenish their dwindling supplies.

The team pressed forward, passing wounded soldiers tended by medics. Machine gun turrets on the Hesco bastions roared, drowned out only by enemy mortar impacts. An orange bolt struck a turret, exploding above Comanche.

They passed a small square pod where two soldiers operated a mortar with a robotic arm feeding ammunition. Given the enemy's proximity, shells arced nearly vertically.

At the path's end, a soldier reloaded his M11, guarding the 3rd Platoon Command Post. The sandbag bunker was barely functional, battered by relentless attacks. Wreckage of Talos constructs and crawlers littered the area, some inside the compound. IRiSS units engaged Aristocracy machine warriors in hand-to-hand combat.

Comanche fanned out, occupying available spots on the remaining Bremer and sandbag fortifications. Ryder saw the enemy attempting to exploit a breach in American defenses. He knew this was where they'd hold. Comanche and the defenders opened fire. The enemy sent robotic forces first, likely to clear mines or carve a path for infantry, nearly succeeding.

"Boss," Higgins said. "I can't reach Division or MDTF."

Ryder hid his frustration but wasn't surprised. The Unity's rear assault had crippled US assets, rendering fire support unreliable. The City-State held only due to its superior area defense.

"Forget it," Ryder said. "If support was coming, we'd know."

"Got word from Ghost," Higgins added. "Redcoat and Viking are inbound, moving to flank the Aristocracy tanks."

Relieved by the news, Ryder eyed the enemy. They advanced in small groups, not a line, creating safe paths for infantry to breach. Aristocracy construct warriors, Perun, led the charge—half wielding axes and maces, the others staff weapons. "Here they come!" Forest shouted.

A Perun climbed the wall and dropped among Comanche, swinging its mace at Ford, who ducked. Wallace grappled the mace, overpowering the construct. Barrios aimed his M31, blasting its head off. As it collapsed, two more Perun dropped in. The Twins engaged in a melee, wielding Tomahawks. Barrios blocked a battleax, locking in a struggle. Forest jammed a fragmentation grenade into a Perun's back joint. "Fire in the hole!" Forest yelled. The Perun exploded. Barrios rose, gripping his melee weapon, and attacked another from behind. A third Perun scaled the Bremer but was gunned down. An IRiSS from the Platoon CP fired an AA-22 automatic shotgun, using slug rounds.

With the breach stabilized, Ryder focused on the enemy infantry closing in. The 3rd Platoon Lieutenant announced claymores over BattNet. Explosions shredded the Aristocracy's first wave, but shielded enemies survived, allowing a second wave to charge.

"Ben, Marcos," Barrett called. "Grenades!"

Barrett, Ford, and Gonzales hurled M92 fragmentation grenades. The blasts halted the enemy, who returned fire, igniting sandbags with energy weapons.

Ryder spotted a Diantiee-ranked Vampire reorganizing troops, equivalent to a mid-level NCO. He stood, aimed his M31, and fired. The first shot struck the Vampire's chest armor, staggering it. The second missed, but the third neutralized the target. Two others—a j'avais and a Vampire—dragged the body away, but the assault intensified. A winged Perun with a large shield led the advance, protecting the infantry.

Relief came as Sergeant Ordlina arrived with more Militia. "Is there more coming?" Ryder asked.

"Correct, my Lord," Ordlina replied.

"Good. Have them form up with Comanche and engage."

The Salva Militia rushed to available positions, joining the defense. Ordlina and two others coordinated the low-ranking citizen soldiers with Comanche and 3rd Platoon NCOs. Though less skilled than the Americans, the Militia's accurate fire surprised the Aristocracy, halting their advance.

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"Boss," Higgins said. "Colonel Burke is on BattNet."

"This is Comanche-Lead," Ryder responded.

"Captain," Burke said. "What's the situation with the Militia and Minutemen reinforcements?"

"The enemy nearly overran us," Ryder reported. "The first Militia batch arrived, stabilizing the line. Two CFTs—Redcoat and Samurai—are incoming, flanking the enemy armor."

"Acknowledged," Burke said. "The northern fort assault was repelled. Rangers, backed by Lances and a Campbell light tank, are en route. I'm holding them until your Minutemen neutralize the walkers."

Ryder hesitated but understood Burke's caution—walkers could snipe armor in tight urban terrain.

"What do you want Comanche to do, Sir?"

"We won't win slugging it out," Burke said. "When your Minutemen take out those walkers, form up with the Militia on the right. When the enemy reacts, the Rangers will hit hard. Then your group swings right like a sucker punch."

Ryder grasped the plan: overwhelm the enemy with simultaneous assaults, breaking their momentum. He switched to Ghost's channel. "Ghost-Lead, this is Comanche-Lead. Rejoin us for a counter-offensive."

"Roger," Miller replied. "Ghost inbound."

Ryder briefed his team and the Militia's senior members. Though the Militia had improved, the plan demanded discipline, and Ryder worried they might falter. He assigned Sergeant First Class Gregory Barrett to manage them, given his training experience.

The enemy reorganized swiftly, launching a second assault through the breached checkpoint and fences. Comanche couldn't wait; they held the line as the counterattack formed. The Americans and Salva endured heavy fire but stood firm. Two Atlatl missiles from adjacent apartments struck the shield walker, enabling defenders to fire guided missiles and rockets, destroying the accelerator and amplifier.

Seeing the opportunity, Ryder prepared to order Comanche forward but noticed Ordlina awaiting orders. "Rommel, take Comanche and harass the enemy until we're ready." Comanche charged, with Rommel King nodding approval. Ghost joined from the apartments, halting the enemy's advance.

"Ordlina, Barrett," Ryder said. "Form the Militia into three sections." He addressed the hesitant Militiamen, with Ordlina translating: "You know what's at stake. The Aristocracy thinks you're weak. Today, you prove them wrong. This is your city. Earn your place in history—you won't get another chance. Form three lines: shields with elecprobus upfront, circilmen behind. Three volleys, then we charge."

Barrett barked orders, instilling discipline. About a hundred Militia left the fortifications, forming three groups. The first line wielded shields and elecprobus weapons; the rear two held circiletums, firing to harass and suppress. Ryder stood behind the middle group, Barrett on the left, Ordlina on the right. The enemy shifted focus to them, as planned. "Scutum's, advance!" Ryder shouted. "Second line, fire!"

The shield infantry advanced, with the middle line firing accurate flechettes. The third line moved behind the shieldmen and fired when directed. The Militia's volume of fire drew the enemy's attention, allowing .50 caliber rounds from two Lances to flank them. The Aristocracy reacted, but a Campbell light tank's blast scattered their response. 4th ID infantry and Rangers advanced with the armor, engaging aggressively.

As the Aristocracy focused on the armor, Ryder ordered the Militia to attack. The triple-line formation, with Comanche and Ghost, pressed forward. The sudden assault recaptured much of the courtyard. Flanked without heavy support, the Aristocracy crumbled, unable to counter dual assaults. Some attempted a controlled retreat, but the Campbell's blasts and lost walkers broke their resolve.

At the intersection, Ryder halted Comanche. The enemy was reforming a rear guard, shifting to an orderly withdrawal. He avoided pursuing, wary of a trap. With Rangers, Redcoat, and Samurai arriving, the Militia and Minutemen cheered, having repelled the Aristocracy's attempt to bisect the city.

Ryder noticed his Airman speaking grimly to the Comanche XO, Rommel King. Approaching, he demanded, "What's wrong?"

King replied, "The purple bastards have Assiaya."

Ryder froze, processing the news. Higgins showed a dioliet captured during a prior ambush on Toriffa soldiers. "I was monitoring enemy comms. Couldn't understand most, but my PI translated 'Slave Princess.'"

Ryder's mind reeled. His daughter, Fraeya, was supposed to be safe at the Palace with the Colonel. But Hackett had requested her return to Minutemen HQ, a move now suspicious. He radioed HQ. "This is Actual," Hackett said.

"This is Comanche-Lead. Is the Princess with you?"

"Negative," Hackett replied. "Aristocracy Knights used our tunnel network to breach the dungeon. CIC was attacked; she was captured."

Ryder fought to suppress his rage. "I'm going after them."

"Not yet," Hackett said. "Fraeya and Ar'lya are in pursuit, buying time. You need to retake the city wall, or they'll be trapped behind enemy lines."

"After the wall?" Ryder pressed.

"Then you don't need my authority," Hackett said. "But the wall must be reclaimed for my plan to work."

The cheering stopped as everyone stared at Ryder. He pushed aside their reactions, battling instincts he'd never felt before. His urge to abandon his post and save his daughter—not Princess, but his kid—surged. Yet Hackett's logic held: even if he went now, he'd face enemy lines without retaking the wall. Trusting his mentor, Ryder delayed his personal mission.

"The wall," Ryder said. "Affirmative."

*****

Comanche advanced slowly behind a massive shield wall of militiamen. The enchanted scutum absorbed enemy weapon fire, pushing back against the Aristocracy forces. Minutemen, Rangers, and ranged Militia stood behind, firing as they inched forward.

Enemy energy bolts struck the Militia's scutum, shattering the enchantment and causing city guards to collapse, screaming from burns. Ryder and Gonzales dragged a wounded elf to a street corner, where a city healer began treatment.

"Boss," Ford called.

Ryder turned and saw an elecprobus walker emerge from an alley, firing and killing a section of their formation. The Campbell's 105mm cannon roared, drowning out all sound, and obliterated the walker.

With the Aristocracy's defenses faltering, Ryder ordered the Militia to advance, directing Comanche to follow. The tactic—using Salva heavy shields to protect ranged troops—mirrored the Aristocracy's own strategy, allowing the allies to reclaim streets one by one.

As Comanche, Viking, and circilmen advanced behind the shield wall, Aristocracy soldiers on the third floor of a nearby building attacked. A Vampire wielding a large elecprobus weapon, resembling a machine gun, fired, demolishing the sidewalk and part of a concrete wall.

Ford, Higgins, Barrett, and several circilmen adjusted their aim, targeting the building. An enemy shieldman held his protection at the window, deflecting Comanche and Militia fire, enabling his comrades to engage from their elevated position.

A flechette struck Ford, slamming him into the concrete wall with its kinetic force. He slid down, clutching his armor plate. The Comanche medic rushed to him, shielded by a Salva shieldman. The chest plate was heavily damaged but had done its job, leaving only a bruise.

Ryder signaled the British SRO team at the rear, pointing to the building. Without hesitation, they entered an adjacent shop. Reaching the top floor, they fired into the occupied building, catching the enemy off guard as they focused on Redcoat.

With the building secured, the Campbell fired again, shattering the Aristocracy formation and securing the intersection. This allowed the allied forces to push forward. Ryder saw the enemy attempting an organized retreat, using delaying tactics, but the Campbell thwarted their efforts.

Ryder waved to his team and the Militia. "They're on the run. Stay in formation."

The allies seized the intersection. The adjacent building, previously held by the enemy, exploded under Campbell fire. As the enemy retreated and the Minutemen prepared their next move, four IRiSS took point, their medium machine guns providing cover for the infantry's advance.

The Aristocracy had resisted fiercely but overcommitted to their offensive, failing to fortify their foothold. Had they captured Brigade HQ, it might have worked, but now, with momentum lost, their lack of defense was costly.

As the enemy retreated, a roar echoed through the battle. A stream of liquid fire erupted from a massive dragon, setting buildings ablaze. The street ahead burst into flames as the dragon flew low, barely above the rooftops, before making a sharp U-turn and landing on a four-story apartment facing the American column.

An accelerator ballista on the dragon's back, manned by three operators, fired at the Campbell light tank. The tank's active sensors intercepted the enchanted projectile, triggering a powerful explosion. The blast knocked over many Militia and Minutemen; two of the four IRiSS were destroyed. Close to the explosion, Ryder was tackled to the ground by King.

The Campbell adjusted its 105mm cannon and fired, the blast deafening in the confined street. The dragon took flight as the round struck the apartment's roof, roaring as it headed east, staying above the building line.

Ryder and King exchanged a glance, the Captain offering a grateful nod. They stood, assessing the situation. Soldiers near the blast were helped up, and the forward robots were gone. The tank's defenses had saved many, but the dragon's firewall blocked their advance, and the enemy infantry was retreating hastily.

"What the hell was that?" Ford asked.

"A dragon," Ryder said. "I saw them in the wild en route to Vagahm."

"Why didn't our AA take it out?" Higgins asked.

"They flew too low," Ryder explained. "When the Aristocracy Air Corps sniped our convoys to and from Vagahm, our AA downed them. They've adapted to fly low."

"One issue, Sir," Ford said. "Why use them now?"

King snapped his fingers. "They feared we'd shoot them down, so Artie held them back. Now they're desperate to retreat."

"They're trying to get their army out before we encircle them," Barrett added.

"We've got them on the run," Gonzales said.

Captain Mathew Ryder agreed. The enemy's desperation, risking dragons and wyverns to create firewalls as a delay tactic, confirmed it. It also meant time was running out to save his daughter.

Approaching a Ranger First Lieutenant, Ryder asked, "How fast can you extinguish those fires?"

"Engineers are on it, sir," the officer replied. "Fifteen minutes?"

"Too long," King said, echoing Ryder's thoughts.

Panic rising, Ryder eyed the three vehicles—one Campbell tank and two Lance APCs. The infantry couldn't cross the firewall, but the vehicles could.

He approached the Campbell's open hatch. "Staff Sergeant, can you escort us to the city wall?"

The tank commander scanned the buildings. "We'd be sitting ducks without infantry cover."

"I know what you're thinking, Matt," Murphy, the Viking Captain, interjected. "Viking can ride on top, providing cover while everyone else rides in the Lances."

Ryder was surprised by their resolve, as if they shared his personal stake. "You sure? You'd be exposed up there."

"Hey," Murphy said, pointing to his team checking their weapons and battlesuits, "we didn't escort her across these lands to let her be kidnapped from under our noses."

Ryder nodded, grateful for his fellow Minutemen's support. The Viking Captain directed his team to mount the APCs, four on each. The two remaining IRiSS took point ahead of the Campbell, while Comanche and Viking loaded into the Lances. As the Rangers and Militia battled the flames, the three vehicles drove through the intense firewall toward the city wall.

Inside the Lance, amid the roar of .50 caliber fire from the APCs and Viking's covering shots, Ryder sat quietly, his mind racing. He wondered how his daughter was captured and why he was still stuck in the city.

"Don't worry, Boss," Wallace said.

"If we have to raze Forlace," Barrios added, "we'll get her back."

"Too far," Ryder said. "We deal with this now."

"That's my boy," King said.

"Whatever the Colonel's plan," Ford said, "Fraeya's one of us. She'll do her job. No need to worry."

"Ar'lya's with her," Wallace added. "They'll find Assiaya. We just need to back our ladies."

"Thank you, everyone," Ryder said. "It's been an honor to serve this unit."

King tapped his foot. "First to awake…"

The team chanted: "The first to awake, the first to fight, the first to tell the enemy good night. We are the Minutemen ready to fight."

Ryder met his team's gazes, taking a deep breath to steady himself. "Let the Red Moon guide us to our fight."

The Lance stopped abruptly, its rear ramp opening. Ford and Forest exited first, taking positions to fire. Comanche stormed out, splitting evenly around the APC and engaging the enemy.

Viking was already clashing with Aristocracy and Toriffa forces, most of whom had fallen back to the courtyard between the city buildings and the defensive wall. The warehouse to the left bore holes from Campbell fire. A heavy elecprobus encampment lay in flames, littered with bodies.

The three teams formed up: Comanche in the center, Viking on the left, Ghost on the right. The two IRiSS fired medium machine guns from behind. Dozens of enemy soldiers in the courtyard attempted a double-layered shield wall with ranged units in the rear.

"Don't let them form up," Ryder ordered.

Ford and other Minutemen with M340 under-barrel or M42 MGL launchers fired explosive and fragmentation grenades into the forming enemy, sowing chaos. The shield wall shattered, leaving the circilmen exposed. The Minutemen teams neutralized priority targets, preventing the Aristocracy and Toriffa from organizing.

Enemy soldiers on the wall fired down. The Campbell responded, obliterating them with a powerful blast. The Lances held back, providing suppressive fire against rallying enemies or those attempting to fortify the wall.

A massive projectile struck a nearby building, collapsing half of it. The dragon swooped in, its back-mounted ballista firing. The tank commander adjusted aim, firing the 105mm cannon, narrowly missing. The dragon descended, mana gathering in its mouth for a fire attack.

Sergeant Bruno Barrios rushed into the Lance, grabbing an FIM-95 Arrow anti-air launcher. Kneeling, he fired the heat-seeker. The missile struck, spraying dragon fire and forcing the beast to veer off. The APCs' M2 Brownings targeted its underbelly, wounding but not killing it as it fled.

With the dragon gone, Ryder spotted a Vampire commander directing troops up a stairway. He fired three shots, killing the target. His team neutralized the remaining hostiles in the courtyard. After a quick scan, Ryder confirmed the area was secure.

"Alright, everyone," he said. "Have the Lances watch our six. Ghost, take the southern stairway. Viking, north. Regroup on the wall."

"Ford, Gonzales," King added, "take point."

The Lance's .50 caliber fire covered Comanche as they stormed the exterior stairway. Ford kicked a Vampire body off the stairs into the courtyard. After climbing two flights, they reached the top.

A cluster of orcs, j'avais, and Vampires hid behind a makeshift shield wall. Others jumped off the wall, caught by Unity anti-gravity lifts. As Comanche engaged, Ryder threw a fragmentation grenade behind the shield wall, eliminating the defenders. He aimed his rifle at the retreating enemy. "Advance. We can use the lifts."

Ford, Gonzales, and Barrett followed Ryder to the enemy lift, while the rest covered their rear. One j'avais fired a staff weapon frantically; another charged with a flaming spear-tipped staff. Gonzales killed the ranged j'avais, while Ryder blocked the charging one, deflecting the elecprobus tip. Barrett took a clean shot, neutralizing the Toriffa soldier.

Ryder pushed the body off the wall and saw Ford at the lift. Something felt wrong, prompting him to rush over.

"Sorry, Boss," Ford said. "The lift's deactivated. All of them are."

In fustration, the Comanche Captain punched a broken battlement, confirming Ford's report. The enemy had destroyed or taken the lifts as they fled across the hellish landscape.

Standing on the eastern wall, Ryder glared at the retreating Aristocracy and Toriffa army. His team had repelled a major assault, yet all he could think was how the enemy had kidnapped his daughter from under their noses.

He scanned the wall for a place to jump. His Itlian battlesuit's exoskeleton could handle a second-floor drop, maybe a third, but risked injury. The enemy had used lifts and walkers to scale the wall, and with his daughter in their hands, he saw no alternative. Climbing over the battlement, he prepared to jump, but King and Barrett grabbed him.

"Let me go!" Ryder shouted. "I can't wait for another route."

"Don't be stupid," King said. "You don't even know if she's there."

"She has to be!"

"Going out there is suicide," Barrett said. "We need to regroup and get off this wall."

"Dying now won't save her," King added.

Ryder knew they were right but burned with the urge to act. Memories of his wife's death during his deployment flooded back. "Not again, damn it!" he said, punching the battlement.

A confused, feminine voice approached. Ryder turned to see Natilite landing on the wall, her armor battle-worn, hair bloodstained, and expression exhausted.

"What's happening?" she asked. "Did we win?"

"They took Assiaya," Ryder said, voice heavy with pain. Natilite's face twisted in horror.

With the other Minutemen teams securing their ends of the wall, Comanche debated their next move. Getting off the wall wasn't the issue; every option took too long, and they didn't know where to go.

Ryder turned to Higgins, who was trying to radio Fraeya with no response, raising fears she too was captured or dead.

A faint voice caught Ryder's attention. He looked toward the enemy but saw only retreating forces and skirmishes. The voice felt familiar, like a dream. Leaning against the battlement, he caught a flash—a winged girl reaching out, whispering faintly, Father.

"No," Ryder said. "Assiaya's there. I'm going."

"You don't know that," King countered.

"Yes, I do," Ryder insisted.

"Then let's go," Natilite said.

Ryder and King turned, surprised by the Templar's resolve.

"I'm strong enough to fly us both," Natilite said.

Ryder smiled and nodded. He kissed his cross necklace, handed his M31 to his XO to reduce weight, and readied his tomahawk and sidearm. Stepping close to the Valkyrie, she wrapped an arm around his waist and took off.

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