The journey to the Snowfields is long, and the sun is already setting by the time Xander arrives, with Danny and Maria just a few minutes behind. With the main assault already in progress, Xander immediately changes course, using his knowledge of the terrain to stay away from the battle lines as he heads straight for Shuigang itself. Danny and Maria don't change course however, instead heading towards the encampment some way behind the advancing forces.
Fifty feet from the encampment, Danny signals to hold position. He and Maria slide to a halt in the snow.
"You know you said you thought there was something else going on besides the cities fighting over the Kingdom Stone?" Danny asks.
"That's what we're here to find out," Maria replies.
"Does that look like a Shang Mu/Shang Tu alliance up ahead?" Danny continues, indicating the mix of senior officers in red armour and blue.
Maria takes out her binoculars to get a better look. "You're right!" she squeaks.
"Come on," Danny commands. "Let's get in there and find out what's going on."
Ten minutes later, Maria and Danny, disguised as camp security, make their way towards the main command tent. Taking care not to arouse suspicion, they find a place to hide. Placing an ear against the fabric wall, Maria turns her attention and her sensitive hearing to the activity inside the tent.
"The first field reports are in, sir!" an adjutant announces, entering the tent.
"Good," replies General Gong. "What's the news?"
"The insertion of Team Lilac is going well. They're deep behind enemy lines, heading straight for Brevon's Dreadnought and the Kingdom Stone. Unfortunately, they've been forced to abandon their transports and are proceeding alone and on foot, so we won't get any more reports from them until they return to base."
Gong sighs deeply. "Their fate is in the hands of the Ancients now. If they don't succeed in retrieving the Stone… What of the main assault force?"
"They're meeting strong resistance," the adjutant reports. "But they are making some progress."
"How much?" the General prompts.
"A few squads have managed to breach the city walls, but the bulk of the force is still stalled by the defences. It's only a matter of time before those defences fall though."
"We'd be making better progress if your troops were under my leadership!" Mayor Zao boasts.
Maria pulls an expression of disgust that causes Danny confusion.
"I don't know what's worse," Gong sighs in exasperation. "The fact you claim that, or the fact you genuinely believe it."
"It's official," Maria whispers, pulling away from the tent wall. "Shang Mu and Shang Tu are working together against Shuigang and someone called 'Brevon'."
"Anything else?" Danny prompts.
"Yeah: Lilac is leading her friends to retrieve the Kingdom Stone from this 'Brevon'. Or, more likely, to certain death."
"So she survived whatever happened to her yesterday, only to throw her life away anyway."
"Looks that way."
"It also looks like Xander's picked the wrong side in this fight," Danny concludes. "We need to find him. Let's go."