Chapter 21

The newcomers, who called themselves "Humans", had struck them. They had sent larger creatures from their mountain, ones that could fly, to attack Gamus and his fellow Redscales who had been bold enough to deny Caeldon's foolish decree.

The flying creatures had been quick and had stung them fiercely, but had eventually flown off. This fuelled Gamus' determination. The Humans were not as strong as they appeared; already retreating in defeat.

He called to his clan brothers to unleash their flames upon the thin mountain, blasting its smooth stone until the Humans were forced outside so they could be picked off more easily.

The Humans used their narrow fire in return, but it was untamed and only hit one of the brothers. He had merely suffered a minor burn, confirming Gamus' speculation that the this fire was no match for them.

There had been a large creature lying near the mountain, similar to the flying ones, but it had not moved, so they had ignored it. Now, as Gamus and the others continued their unrelenting assault, he noticed that the creature's skin seemed to have opened up. He kept one eye on it, in case it made a move.

Just as Gamus was beginning to wonder how much heat these Humans could endure, he suddenly felt an unbearable pain in his belly and tail. The others must have felt the same, as they all ceased their flames and fell to the ground, roaring in agony.

This was unlike any burn or bite Gamus had felt before; this seemed to be coming from within him. It was too much for his clan brothers, who rose up with difficulty on their wings and started to fly away.

"Cowards!" Gamus shouted after them, the pain choking his voice. He would not be so easily scared off. This was his home; he needed to defend it. For his brother. For his father.

His body wracked with burning, stabbing sensations, Gamus rose up as well, but facing the lone mountain. Growling with forced concentration, he detected a low noise against his scales, which he deduced must be the source of the pain, as he realised he had not heard it prior.

He traced the sound to halfway up the mountain, a strange, smooth rock seemed to be making it. Focusing his pain into fury, he flew upwards to this rock and dashed it aside with his claws.

The pain stopped.

He continued upwards and clung to the top of the Humans' intrusive home, his tail wrapping around it. He would pull the whole thing down himself if he had to.

"The remaining creature has destroyed the EMP generator," McQueen said, looking to Thorpe in horror.

"Damn," Thorpe said quietly.

"It's climbing the tower!" Patel said.

"Phase cannons," Thorpe ordered. The time for a delicate touch was over.

"Sir," said the tactical officer, "I can't risk firing; I might hit the tower."

Thorpe was out of options. He had no answers.

"Look!" McQueen shouted, pointing to the south wall. Through the windows, they all saw the massive orange-red head of the last dragon peering in at them.

"Evacuate Ops!" Thorpe shouted. "Everyone out! Get to the Bunker!"

Everyone hurried out the four access doors, and soon it was just Thorpe standing alone, staring into the monster's yellow eyes.

He could almost sense the hatred coming from his enemy as he approached the glass. There was nothing to be done now; he may as well accept defeat with dignity.

The creature pulled its head back, opening its mouth, and Thorpe prepared for the fire.

He hoped he would be remembered not as a politician's son from Alpha Centauri, but as Captain Eric Thorpe, Starfleet officer, who died in the line of duty.

Suddenly, the creature disappeared from the window.

Unsure at what had happened, Thorpe darted closer to the glass, looking down to see that more of the dragons had arrived. Larger ones, that had pulled the attacker off of the tower and were now wrestling with him in mid-air.

The attacker clawed and bit at them, trying to breath fire upon them as well, but there were too many of the others. He would not relent, and Thorpe could see that they were forced to claw at him until he dropped out of their grasp to the ground, dead.

Thorpe became aware of the sound of his own heavy breathing in the empty command centre. He sat himself at the console nearest to him.

To his surprise, now that he had finally found himself in a combat situation, he felt only relief that it was over, and a sense of pity for his enemy.

After receiving an update from Thorpe, North made his way back down into the cavern.

His team were still gathered around Caeldon, along with some of the other dragons, and Kostopoulos had applied salves and bandages from her and Threv's medkits onto the burns, although it seemed a bit like plugging a leaky dam with a cork. They all looked up at him.

"The base is safe," he said. "But… I'm afraid the others you sent after Gamus were forced to kill him."

Caeldon sighed, her voice raspy. "That is regrettable… There are so few of us left… But he brought it on himself. He and his brother sought only blood, and blood they found."

"Many have died today, Clan Mother," said Mamao'lani, standing near Caeldon's head. "We have to make some good come from it."

"I told my people to send a medical team as soon as they could," said North. "We may be able to heal you."

Caeldon closed her eyes and tilted her head at North. "Already you are proving your worth, Commodore Zachary North. We may become strong allies indeed. But, remember, the Redscales are not the only clan. There are others who may not wish to share our world."

"If I've learned anything, Clan Mother," said Mamao'lani, "it's that anyone can live together if they are willing to try."

North wondered if this sentiment was directed at him as well.

"You both speak… words of power…" said Caeldon. "Which of you… leads your clan?"

North said nothing, expecting Mamao'lani to invoke his diplomatic status and claim leadership.

"We both are," said Mamao'lani.

The ambassador looked round at North with a smile. North couldn't help returning it.

Caeldon lifted her head slightly. "Something new… at last… has begun."