Chapter One:
The Defeat of the Dreg

With the addition of the new soldiers, Elephande's armies were now the same size as the Dreg army, and fighting intensified. The attackers were forced back with a ferocity not seen since Frontian, the last battle that Elephande and Zambiandë fought together almost eight hundred years earlier. The Ten strengthened their armies, and answered only to Elephande himself.

It seemed that Zambiandë had landed straight out of prophecy itself, which he had, with vast amounts of troops, and had made thirteen swell to fourteen. The numerous banners of the Indosyne Union flew proudly once again.

Yet Zambiandë's fury was unchanged over 700 years in the Zealo. His armies gave chase to the fleeing Dreg, and killed a great many. However, he had exposed his position, and was putting his army at risk by charging out agianst the Dreg.

"Elephade! Call back your troops!" yelled Elephate of Defond, but his cousin's words went unheeded.

Elephade ran over a hill only to find a multitude of Dreg troops on the other side, who immediately gave chase, spurring Zambiandë back to his lines. As they came back over the hill, the skilled marksmen of Defond and Origin were waiting for the Dreg on Elephande's side of the hill, and many more fell. Knowing they were beaten, the Dreg leaders sped off in their vehicles, only to be chased by General Falcane's.

"Copy that, Five." Six light assault vehicles crashed in to the clearing, chasing the first of the Dreg leaders.

"Ali, take Three and Four, flank 'em to the left. Echo, Cain, come with me, we're going right."

"Copy, Lead." The group split in half and started to flank the convoy.

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Meanwhile, a lone Jupiter Adept sat high up in a watch post, reflecting on recent events. Just a month ago, Richard and his friends had been simple Adepts, protecting the tower at Anegon. After Afrin showed up, they had stumbled into war after war. First an attempt to destroy his home, now this galactic battle between creatures he'd never seen in his life.

"Forget it. I'm not sitting around anymore," he said.

"We were told to stay here, Richard. Besides, what could we do? It's out of our hands anyway," replied Ryan, a young Venus Adept.

"I don't care. I'm not sitting around and waiting for it to end. Come on guys."

Allen and Cyrus followed Richard down the tower. Mumbling, Ryan, Cody and Casey followed them down.

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General Suligan watched the space battle with mild interest from the command seat of the Zalendaria II. He had hoped to be on the ground on this day, since his expertise was in ground-based fighting. Ever since he had let in those transports, the reports on Balecroft were improving. He listened in to General Falcane's report of the fleeing Dreg leaders.

Suligan had never paid much attention to those "old stories of home" told by Elephande, but with recent events, how could he doubt them? These grand shadows, specters of the past, come back for one final chance at freedom? The great Suliantig himself, a commanding fourteen feet tall? The lost herd Elephade, led back to glory by Zambiandë, the one who started it all? It was too much to take in at once. The Ten of legend, leading the forces of Frontian, as the two brothers, Elephade and Elephande, called it, into battle?

Elephade-Apoc-Allysuntis appeared next to him.

"Sir, Patriarch Afrin requests you on Balecroft immediately. He needs to talk with you," she said

"Very well. Have my ship ready," Suligan replied.

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By the end of the day, Afrin's outlook had changed. The battle was going much better now. It seemed that his namesake, Elder Afrin, the prophet of Allysulia, had been right. But not even his father had guessed that Elephade Zambiandë would be alive after this long. Suligan's arrival interrupted his thoughts.

"Patriarch?"

"As you may be aware of, Admiral, Algonine, Suisune's patriarch was killed on the field today."

"I was aware, but what do I have to do with him?"

"You have been selected to succeed him to his position," Afrin replied.

"Why me? What did Algonine think I could do? I was never even in his herd."

"No, but he was well aware of your capabilities as a squadron leader."

"Squadron? I have no space combat training!" exclaimed Suligan.

"I don't understand it either, but he left no heir, and he left me to choose his replacement."

"So this has to do with getting me off your back?" he joked.

"Actually…"

"I knew it! I'll take the position, but…"

"You'll be on the ground in no time," Afrin interrupted.

Richard led his friends into the Suliantig herd's camp. As Afrin walked out of a building, he noticed the group of Adepts.

"What are you doing here?" he exclaimed.

"Someone didn't want to wait…" explained Ryan, a bit sarcastically.

Afrin rolled his eyes. Richard never liked to be in the same place for a long time. He had hoped to join the battle here, but Elephande didn't need their help.

Elephande strode into view, the Mark of Suliantig shining a bright red on his forehead. "It seems you could make yourselves of use here," he remarked, and he took out a map. "This area of Balecroft is not populated at all. In fact, you should be able to use that to your advantage," he continued.

Richard understood what Elephande had planned immediately. He went off to discuss a course of action, while the others stood back and waited for them to return. Shortly thereafter, the six Adepts moved onto different hills overlooking the Dreg camp.

From his vantage point, Casey saw General Falcane's rides escort the last Dreg General back into Elephande's camp. He sent up a plume of fire, which was the groups chosen signal, and braced himself. Below, an earthquake split the Dreg camp off from the surrounding hills.

Richard and Cyrus then sent a barrage of lightning into the Dreg camp, while Allen and Cody made the sky rain fire down onto the unsuspecting Dreg. The final defeat of the Dreg was on hand.