Chapter Twenty

While en route to Alinor, Faasnu listened in on the allied radio networks, being careful to maintain radio silence. From them, he, Kabier and Elenwen gleaned that the DMC had taken the small towns of Firsthold and Skywatch, and the assault on Dusk was proceeding quickly, while the combined Imperial and Stormcloak forces had taken Shimmerene and Cloudrest, and were now converging on Lillandril. The bulk of the enemy forces had fallen back to the last cities controlled by the Dominion in preparation for their final stand.

Dawn was approaching when Faasnu, Kabier and Elenwen flew their stolen drop ship to the outskirts of Alinor, where they ditched it and headed under cloak into the Altmer capital. They quietly silenced the perimeter guard, then slipped into the city proper. There was no civilian presence in the streets – Faasnu reasoned they'd been moved underground or otherwise to some safe place in preparation for the enemy's final stand. Even on the faces of the troops present, Faasnu could see their fear. The last stand of the Aldmeri Dominion – Faasnu would ensure that is what the coming battle would be called when history wrote of this war.

Faasnu, Kabier and Elenwen headed through the city, looking for the portal when something unexpected happened. "This is the Aldmeri Resistance Force to the Dragon'taan Marauder Corps personnel in Alinor, if you can hear me on this channel, acknowledge this transmission."

What the hell...? Faasnu thought. He motioned the others to take cover with him in a vacant alley, then answered, "This is Lieutenant General Faasnu Dovahkiir to Aldmeri Resistance Force, I read you. Go ahead."

"We have you on our scopes," The resistance radioman said. "We have information on where the Dominion's Portal is, but we wish to meet with you in person to give you its location."

"Why in person?" Faasnu asked.

"Too much to explain over this channel – head to the abandoned warehouse, western edge of Alinor. Hurry!" The radioman said, before cutting the channel.

"Could be a trap," Kabier suggested.

"Perhaps," Faasnu admitted, "But traps work both ways."

"Then again," Elenwen said, "It may be our chance to glean more intel; before I defected, I had received a number of reports concerning this Aldmeri Resistance Force – formed just after the end of the Skyrim Civil War. This could be the break we need to figure out a way to completely destroy the portal."

"Then let's not keep them waiting," Faasnu commanded. "Move out." He, Kabier and Elenwen headed to the aforementioned warehouse, with Elenwen guiding them through the city and Faasnu and Kabier providing support. They reached it at midday, and stopped just shy of the entrance. Faasnu took point again, and crept into the warehouse, pointing his weapon this-way-and-that as he searched for a threat. When he saw there was none, he motioned the others inside. Kabier and Elenwen entered, and as they did, a soft clatter sounded and cause weapons to go up.

"Hold your fire!" an Altmer said as he emerged from the shadows. "Come on, before the Dominion forces see you here!" Faasnu, Kabier and Elenwen followed the elven youngster to a secret door, where they descended a ladder and came upon an underground base. The secret door closed behind them, and Faasnu decided it safe to disengage his PCD. He, Kabier and Elenwen seemingly appeared out of thin air, and followed the Altmer to a meeting room, where several other elves were waiting around a holographic representation of the city.

"So you're the interlopers?" one of them queried. "We've been monitoring the Dominion's radio channels – you've got them scared shitless."

"I don't doubt it," Faasnu commented. "Can you tell me anything else they're talking about?"

"We've intercepted numerous communiques from the Dominion," another elf spoke up. "They know you're after the Portal. They've hired a special... what did they call it?"

"A Bounty Hunter," a third said. She looked to Faasnu. "They've hired a special Bounty Hunter to take you out."

"Just him?" Kabier asked.

"That's all we know about this hunter – aside from his name, T'Bai," the third elf told her.

"What of the portal?" Faasnu asked, "Can you tell us anything useful about the portal?"

"The portal is a tangible thing, and can be destroyed," said a voice from the shadows. Faasnu looked to his left and saw an older Altmer, dressed in expensive red garments.

"Lieutenant General Faasnu, meet former-Aldmeri King Janus," one of the elven leaders said.

"I thought you were dead," Faasnu commented.

"I came close to death, yes – closer than I'd like," Janus stated.

"You've seen the Portal?" Faasnu asked.

"I have seen it – or rather, the device that creates the Portal," Janus affirmed. "I know it took years to build – or would have, had the Necromyans not stepped in to help."

"Where is it?" Faasnu queried.

"It is in the center of the city, protected by a network of anti-aircraft batteries," Janus answered.

"Is there any way to destroy it?" Kabier asked before Faasnu could.

"We were hoping you had a way to destroy it," one of the Altmer commanders said. "We ourselves lack the means to – otherwise, we would have done it by now." Faasnu thought for a moment, then asked,

"You said it was protected by anti-aircraft defenses, yes?"

"Yes, I did," Janus said. "Why?"

"If you can pinpoint the exact location of that machine that creates the portal," Faasnu explained, "And where all their AA guns are, I can punch a hole in their anti-aircraft defenses large enough for the DMC to initiate a low-level airstrike."

"It would take a lot of firepower to destroy that thing," Janus warned Faasnu. "Can your DMC handle it?"

"Kadgeron Mass Drivers, Antimatter Missiles, Cluster Torpedoes, Disruptors, Plasma Siege Cannons," Faasnu said, "The DMC has enough firepower to level Alinor – taking out a Portal-creating machine is a simple task."

"Well, the Portal Machine is in the very center of Alinor, here," an Altmer commander said, indicating a massive structure in the center of the city, "In what remains of the Aldmeri Arena. Anti-aircraft defenses are scattered all around it. If you think you can take them out, we'll send our best troops to assist you."

"Do it," Faasnu commanded. "It's time to end this war."

"We gonna call in the cavalry?" Kabier asked.

"Damn right, we are," Faasnu growled.

"What of the Bounty Hunter, T'Bai?" Janus queried.

"I'll deal with him myself," Faasnu stated. He marked the coordinates of the Portal Machine in his armor, then opened a radio channel.

"This is Lieutenant General Faasnu to General Indari – I have located the Portal," he announced.

"Music to my ears, General Dovahkiir," Indari responded. "What's the plan?"

"I'll be coordinating with local resistance forces on-site to take down enemy AA batteries – once they're down, the DMC fleet can swoop in for a low-level airstrike. Bring the rain, and bring it hard."

"What of Aldmeri leadership?" Indari queried.

"I'll take care of them while the fleet's busy blasting the machine apart," Faasnu assured his CO. "One way or the other, we'll finish this war... sir."

"I'll organize a strike fleet – and keep an eye on the enemy defenses. Once you punch a hole I think is big enough, I'll send the fleet in," Indari proclaimed. "I don't know whether or not they know it, but the Dominion is about to get kicked right off their throne. We will destroy the portal, defeat the Dominion and their allies, and finish the fight they started!"

"We haven't a moment to lose," Faasnu said. He, Kabier and Elenwen left, gathering their team of Resistance soldiers, and headed back into the city.

The Battle of Alinor was about to begin...