"Here," Znap said. The asuran male was pointing to one of the many complex mechanisms inside the back portion of the machine. "That's the aetheric power buffer that failed. That resulted in a cascading effect causing components to fail throughout the entire alchemic exchange system."

"And the surge that then raced through the system fried everything else." Rikbore sighed. "There's nothing left to salvage."

"The entire device has been rendered into so much aetheric rubbish," Znap agreed. "We may as well have allowed it to remain embedded in the swamp."

"We had to be able to get into it with the full tool set in the shop." Rikbore put a hand on the shoulder of his diminutive co-engineer. "Sorry."

Znap waved the apology away. "You are, of course, correct in your assertion. We had to verify."

"Well," Rikbore leaned back, resting his back against the upper body of the centaur-like device Xandra had created with their help. "We'll have to increase the size of the entire power component to handle the buffering needed to control these amounts of energy."

"That means we're going to have to make a larger and more robust road belt to carry the weight."

Rikbore grunted. "We do that, we might as well make the cannon larger."

"But if we make the cannon larger, we'll have to make the power plant larger, and with that the buffering. Ad infinitum."

"It's a vicious circle." Rikbore sighed and slid off the back of the device. "Let's grab some paper and start crunching the numbers. We'll have to see if we can find a sweet spot."

"Indeed. Finding the optimal balance of power to weight ratios would be the starting spot."

"I've already done it."

Rikbore and Znap both turned to look at the bottom of the stairs. Xandra was smirking as she sat on the bottom step, looking as though she had been there for some time. "It is gratifying to see the two of you playing well together."

Rikbore grinned. "Told you so," he said to Znap.

"Fine, fine. You were correct to make us wait to go looking for her." Znap slid off the back of the metallic beast, landing on both feet and propping his fists on both hips. "And where have you been, young lady?"

Xandra grinned and stood, walking over. "I am so glad you asked. Having thoroughly analyzed my situation and options, I made the decision that, if I was trapped, I'd at least make it as comfy a cage as I possibly could."

"You went to see Zojja," Rikbore surmised.

"I went to see the head of the Pact. Trahearne."

Znap nodded. "Zojja is not actually part of the Pact. They may have a common interest in destroying dragons, but it's Trahearne, not Zojja, that's interested in the weapon. Zojja just wants Xandra involved."

Rikbore nodded his understanding. "And it was Sara, not Zojja, that did the mousetrapping. Sara is Pact."

"Exactly," Xandra agreed. "So, I went straight to the top and spoke with Trahearne. I told him he got his weapon, but on my terms."

Znap smiled. "And just what were those terms?"

"I get to pick my krewe. I want someone, I get him. I also get to pick the location of the lab, and Trahearne, not I, am responsible for ensuring I get all the supplies I need for it."

"Not bad," Rikbore grinned. "Let me guess, you picked here, and us?"

"Of course," Xandra waved her hand. "We'll have to do a final assembly on the other side of the gate. The final machine will be too large to pass through fully assembled."

Znap and Rikbore gave one another a sidelong glance. The most recent machine would have had no problem squeezing through the gates. One too large to fit would be significantly scaled up.

"There's more," Xandra's grin was even larger. "I might as well be hanged for a wolf as a sheep, right?" She held a paper out to Rikbore.

Rikbore took it and grunted. "Centurion?"

"I told Trahearne that if this was going to be a Pact project I insisted on a properly authoritative technical adviser from Iron Legion. Since I already had just such an adviser, he merely needed the authority for such a tech exchange. So he had a little chat with Rytlock. You are now, officially, one of Iron Legions chief R&D officers engaged in detached duty with the Pact."

Znap punched Rikbore's shoulder. "Congratulations, Centurion."

Rikbore blinked. "Er... Thank you?"

"As for you, Znap, we are officially a Krewe."

Znap looked surprised. "We're not part of Zojja's Krewe?"

"She'll just have to live with it. I suspect she'll get over it quickly." Xandra shrugged. "I wanted to retain autonomy. I may be caged, but at least I can pick my jailer."

"There is that," Znap grinned. "So, a krewe of our own."

"We'll be getting a few assistants soon, but make no mistake. They're here strictly as wrench turners. It's the three of us that will be the brains of this outfit."

Znap grinned.

"Don't let it go to that over sized melon you call a head," Rikbore chuckled.

"Just because you have insufficient cranial capacity to be truly brilliant does not mean the rest of us are so handicapped," Znap sniffed, but he smiled back at the large feline-like Charr.

"Don't make me regret my decisions," Xandra chastised, though she too was smiling.

"So," Rikbore rumbled. "What next?"

Xandra patted the immobile wreck they stood beside. "Well, now that our proof of concept demonstrates that the theory is sound, it's time to make a fully working device. Come over here."

Together the three of them walked over to one of the work benches on which Xandra had an Asuran data console set up. Powering it on she brought up a large schematic.

Rikbore whistled. "You weren't kidding about not fitting through the gates."

"The test may have been brief, but I learned quite a bit from it. The first is that the unique drive system takes additional attention from the traditional siege golem. Instead of translating the simple act of walking into the act of making the golem walk, you now have to use a complex system of controls to lock or lay down the track that the device rolls on. In combat that could take all of the attention of a driver by itself, leaving no cognitive capability for gunnery.

"Given that, I've chosen to separate that function into a dedicated driver, while a second operator focuses exclusively on the weaponry. The gun operator is going to have a rather significant task as well. Given we are designing this to take down a dragon, rather than simply knocking down castle gates, the cannon on this thing will have to be truly enormous, and capable of multiple shots. Given our reliance on a source of energy that the dragons cannot absorb, we are, for the first time in history, capable of actually running out of aether. The gunner is going to have to use smaller weapons against targets that a full cannon-load will be wasted against. I'm adding auxiliary guns for minions. That means the gunner needs to have her entire mind on the weapons systems."

Rikbore grunted. "Which explains this third seat. You need someone to coordinate the other two."

"And to be aware of all of the additional things taking place, as well as communicating with any supporting forces. No matter how strong we make this thing, one swat from a dragon and the fight is over. This new golem is going to require support." Xandra sighed. "So our third operator will have a complete set of communication devices as well as audio and visual devices to be able to see and assess the entire combat environment."

Znap eyed the projection. "Even so this thing is significantly oversized. The krewe compartments are adding considerable size. If we reduce them in size we can make a leaner machine, which translates to power savings."

"We could, except that we're making this for the Pact, not for Asurans," Rikbore countered. "There are Asurans in the Pact, but unless we want to consign them to operating these things instead of leaving them to their trained professions we need the controls to be adjustable for everything from an Asuran to a Norn or Charr."

"Exactly," Xandra agreed. "So we have to have compartments that are not only large enough for a big, fat Charr..."

"I have a thick coat," Rikbore commented.

"... but which also has room for all of the adjustable parts to allow the controls and seating to be fitted to the user."

"Ah, that is true," Znap nodded. "There's certain advantages to that, however. Since we have to have a larger compartment for each krewe member we can simply extend that back to the power system and increase the power storage." He reached up and began manipulating the schematic.

"Well, if you do that, we can slide the upper body holding the guns backwards. That cannon is enormous." Rikbore gestured to the offending part. "Pulling it back will actually reduce the overall length as much of the gun will actually be above the golem instead of in front of it."

"Which will make it easier to maneuver in tight spaces." Znap grinned and began making the adjustments.

Much later, Xandra and Rikbore had their own personal little reunion. Rikbore found himself grinning at the ceiling as he managed to finish catching his breath.

Curled up on top of Rikbore's chest Xandra made a very content sound. "It's good to be back."

"But you're never on your back. I'd smother you to death," Rikbore chuckled, making the diminutive woman bounce up and down atop him.

"You can keep your little moments of humor to yourself, you oversized, hirsute feline. You know what I mean." Xandra slapped Rikbore on the pectoral, an act about as effective as slapping a wall.

"Yes, I do," Rikbore smiled. "It's good to have you back. I missed you. We. Missed you."

Xandra sighed, a small frown on her face. "Rikbore..."

"What do you think of him, Xandra?"

"Do we have to do this now? After we just..."

Rikbore shrugged, then folded his arms around the little Asuran atop him. "We have to face it sometime. Why not now?"

Xandra squirmed a bit. "I do not wish you to feel as though you are being..." She trailed off.

"Cheated on?"

"Yes."

There was silence between them for a short bit, and then Xandra spoke again. "Would you?"

Rikbore thought a moment. "I don't know. I honestly do not know." He looked down at Xandra. "Would it feel like it to you?"

"I honestly do not know," Xandra echoed."I really don't."