"You still can't take it!?"

A human adorned in gold and red looked away from the siren's face. "Yes, the cats fared no better, we can't overcome the fire magic."

"My scouts informed me that less than 50 fire spitters are left, and you fail to get anywhere close?" She was now bright red with fury. "Perhaps the Apostate should relive you of command."

"No please Mistress! I'll lead them myself next time." He begged.

"Found another scape goat, have you sparrow?"

Both of them looked to see a man in a blue cloak. Two well armored legionaries stood next to him. The siren was not impressed.

"Come to gloat, again have you? Just remember I was chosen as the head of the army not you."

"And look how you've done. The army has ground to a halt while the enemy has been mobilizing to go on the offensive again. If you fail to keep up the initiative there's no telling whom our master will take out his fury on."

The siren groaned. "You stay out of this I'll take charge of things personally!"

The man in blue smiled. "Don't you worry your little birdy head. I'll mop up this little mess of yours and you'll get all the credit without lifting a feather."

A soldier wiped the sweat from his forehead. His unit had now repulsed three waves of attackers from taking their position. It was one of five bastions that was meant to be defended at all costs. It could hardly be described as a base but was merely two large warehouses full of weapons and supplies. It was difficult to defend, and the most vulnerable of the bases. If it fell, then the state would be divided in two and the road would be open to the main airbase.

They were cut off and surrounded. The soldier could not help but stare at one of his stricken foes. Unlike the first attackers who despite bizarre attire were clearly human, the last attackers had triangular ears and tails. He had heard reports of human-rabbit hybrids but found such a thing difficult to swallow. A closer look was in order to verify if such appendages were real, but he dared not leave his position. They had been ordered to dig a trench but had only enough time to dig a few holes.

Suddenly another wave of attackers appeared from the wood line. They bore medieval armor and long, rectangular shields. After emerging from the trees, they held their shields out and locked them together. The soldier scoffed, they were practicing an attack centuries out of date. The soldier looked to the hole to his left. Two soldiers pointed their springfields and he looked back to the enemy doing the same. There was no reason to fire right away. The armored men marched forward slowly and after a few minutes they made it halfway between the wood and the base. Then everyone opened up with rifles from the holes and on top of the buildings.

Bullets impacted the metal shields as they continued to march forward. The soldier emptied a clip and then reloaded. He looked up expecting most of the attackers to be down but to his surprise they were still coming closer having suffered no casualties. He fired several more shots, but the bullets merely ricocheted off the shields. Confusion turned to fear. No machine guns were present and the rifles which easily killed those doing similar assaults earlier were now rendered ineffective.

There was only one thing left to be done. He reached to his belt, pulled out a grenade, and pulled the pin. He held it in his hand a moment and then hurled it at the enemy formation. It bounced off a shield and fell straight down. Another minute and then an explosion ripped through them. Three of the medieval men fell. The soldier felt a moment of elation but just as it seemed like the attack had been foiled, he felt a wet sensation. The hole was filling up with water. He quickly crawled out but was soon swallowed up and then everything froze. The soldiers on top of the buildings looked down to see ice as if it were January. Before they could react, the ice returned to a liquid state and was swept up to the roof before freezing them in place as well.

The man in the blue cloak appeared from behind the buildings. "Hah it worked like a charm!"

One of the legionaries called to him. "Sir Reynolds and Harold are dead, and Klein is bleeding bad."

The man in blue scratched his chin. "Even enchanted armor wasn't strong enough to keep everyone safe hmm?"

"Klein sir can you heal him?"

The mage shook his head. "Bind him up as best you can if he dies, he dies. I'm incapable of performing any healing magic."

The legionnaire was frustrated as he had been assured that the armor and shields which had been enchanted by the Harvester would make them invincible which was clearly not the case. They had merely been used as a distraction for the mage to get close and use his water magic. He looked at the bodies of the guardsmen strewn on the wet ground.

"Are they dead?"

"The human body cannot survive being frozen even briefly. Shows you how frail our bodies really are doesn't it?" The mage said with a smile.

The legionnaire shook his head. "We should leave now and get medical assistance. I'll send the cats to occupy this place, were done here."

"Proceed without me." Said the mage. "I want to see what exactly they were trying to protect inside these buildings." With that he walked toward the warehouses.

The legionnaire took one last look at the guardsmen still frozen in place on the roof before going over to help care for his stricken comrade.

Back at the air base it was a sight to behold a number of transport trucks had arrived and troops poured out. While it had been expected that they would be more members of the National Guard that had been called up it was now clear that they were actually federal troops. They set up a formation just outside the headquarters. Commander Paul was about to greet them when an armored Cadillac pulled up followed by a Steins Knight luxury car. The driver emerged and opened the door while the soldiers stood at attention. A decorated Colonel emerged and walked up to the headquarters. Those in the National Guard also saluted at his approach.

Commander Paul paid his respects as well. "Your arrival is most welcome."

The Colonel was quick to respond. "Commander I'd like to speak with you inside."

Paul quickly invited him in and once they entered the headquarters the Colonel's turn in attitude shocked everyone present.

"COMMANDER PAUL DID YOU TAKE AND USE CHOLORINE FROM A FEDERAL STOCKPILE?!"

Paul was bewildered and struggled to respond for a minute. "Colonel a number of my men were killed I had…"

"DID YOU OR DID YOU NOT USE CHEMICAL WEPONS?!"

"YES COLONEL!"

"As of 0700 Article 10 has been invoked you are now relived of your command. He turned to the Major. "Major Roland I want to be quickly debriefed on what the h*ll is going on out here!"

"Colonel I want to see…" began Paul.

"You have been stripped of your command and I suggest you leave as soon as possible. Until then I don't want to hear another word come out of your pathetic mouth!"

Paul stood at attention and saluted before leaving the headquarters.

Outside he was met by Henderson. "Commander I…"

"I don't know what the heck is going on, but this Colonel is in charge now just do what he says. May I request that I be driven home in one of the base cars?"

"Of course, Paul. I'll get Airman Reynolds to take you."

Paul rubbed his face. "Thank you George I'm getting far away from here."

The Colonel sat at Henderson's desk and stared Roland down. "So, Major I heard there's rednecks running around with sticks and knives. They've attacked many small towns and we were forced to evacuate the civilians in the immediate area. What I want to know is why I'm doing your job while you're holed up here like the entire Kraut army is about to bear down on you."

During this entire time Roland's mind was sputtering. He was unsure about what to say or where to begin. "Colonel we did engage these peoples and attempted to crush them straight out and succeeded in killing many of them, but our second battle with them resulted in heavy casualties and we were forced to retreat."

"I see." Said the Colonel. "I'm sorry for your loss, but how do you explain this debacle?"

"Conventionally they fight like a medieval army and are no match for our guns, but they have several things that I can only describe as supernatural which attributes to why so much of our force was lost."

The Colonel knocked on the desk. "Elaborate Major I don't want to make the same mistakes."

The Major held his breathe a minute and then replied. "Most of those who were killed was because of a monstruous creature. Killing it must be our top priority."

He nodded. "Well, you better describe this 'monster'.

Roland gulped. "It is a dragon sir."

"MAJOR I WILL ACCEPT NO LIES MEANT COVER UP YOUR INCOMPTENCE TELL ME EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED!"

"I will tell you everything Colonel."