I'm really busting my ass to push out content for you guys. Thanks as always to the reviewers. I'm happy Vignettes(I) was well received. You can expect Vignettes(II) after Chapter 6.

Back to the story. We have some unimportant characters in this chapter, and the first appearance of Hardin and Nyna.

[North Fortress, Riverbed 00:00]

"RECON-6, this is ALTEA-6. Need that report. Have to match the intel the informant gave."

"ALTEA-6, this is RECON. Got the data. Sending it."

"Copy that. Return to base RECON. Can you spare any troops for Bull on this operation?"

"Negative. Panther's suffered too many casualties."

"Understood. CAV-6, you hear that?"

"Copy. We won't need much."

Marth opened the tablet again. He sighed in relief as figures began appearing in their expected spaces on his screen.

"Teacher, they haven't changed position."

"I wouldn't expect it. Khadein trains us to be untraceable," Wendell replied.

"I see…" He thought for a second. "I need you and Merric to get to that air launch pad. Cain's Bulls will provide an escort. You're one of our strongest assets in this battle."

"Your wish is my command, sir," Wendell bowed. "I will make sure it is done."

They think they can trap Hardin in this valley right here. But I can isolate their quick reaction force and then flank them myself.

"Caeda," he called.

"Yes, sir?" she sang.

"I- stop calling me that!" He protested. Caeda did her best to hold in her laughter. "Are you ready?" He asked.

"FIREBIRD's loaded. We're low on WINGSPEAR's rounds."

"Hmm…" Marth thought for a second. "I still need you to initiate fires. Take the other air-to-ground missiles. I'll send you the route."

"Got it," she said. "Marth?"

"Yes?"

"Do me a favor and don't die."

[North Fortress 02:00]

"AURELIS-6. Please respond!" Hardin jumped to his feet at the sound of the radio call.

'ARCHANEA-6, this is AURELIS."

"I hear gunfire outside. It isn't the Macedonian artillery."

"Copy ARCHANEA. Consulting recon right now."

"ORACLE-6, this is AURELIS-6, come in."

"Coyote, this is ORACLE. Lieutenant Roshea and I confirm sight of a FIREBIRD aircraft, a custom modification from the Kingdom of Talys."

"So that means…" Hardin mused. "He's come." He got back on the radio.

"ORACLE, hold your position. And dig in. If we want to win this battle, we need to follow Prince Marth's gameplan."

"Copy, Coyote."

Hardin dialed once more.

"ARCHANEA-6, I confirm. The Talysian Air Force is leading the attack which means-"

"Prince- Prince Marth has come for us!"

"Yes, ma'am. Now, what say you we turn this battle around? I'm going to take keep my men here to help lay down suppressive fire. I think I know what he's planning. Together we will retake the castle. Stay here, my lady, and wait for the good news."

"Copy, AURELIS. ARCHANEA out."

[North Fortress 02:45]

"Uh oh, ALTEA-6. Got eyes on multiple bogeys in our airspace."

"How many?"

"Six. I'm going to need to pick up some air-to-air missiles at base. I don't want to trade fires outnumbered without some serious firepower."

"Copy. I'll send RAM with shoulder mounts. If you're engaged, I'll ping their location and you can draw them to RAM's location."

"Roger, ALTEA. RTB now."

"TALYS-6 and ALTEA-6, this is AURELIS-6. I'll send you a ping. We've got several chopper-mountable weapons, but no chopper. Come to us."

"L-Lord Hardin! I've come to offer what help I can."

"And I very gratefully accept it. Stories of your exploits travel fast, young prince. I feel as though I've gained a thousand allies in one."

"I've heard a few stories of you as well, Coyote. It will be an honor to fight alongside such a courageous man."

"I've left Princess Nyna someplace safe for now. We need to decide who will command here. I was hoping it would be you."

"Me? But, Sir Hardin, you are far more qualified-"

"Tsk, Princess Nyna would not be pleased to hear us nitpicking over who will be listed in the history books. Take command, so we can oust this Macedonian scum and be done with it."

"You are sure?"

"Make no mistake. Lord Marth. I consider myself an exceptionally good judge of character. If I thought you acted out of selfishness or ambition, I would not extend the offer I have. You have my trust."

"Lord Hardin, thank you. That is an honor. If you don't mind me saying so… I feel as though I've made a good friend. We share the same ideals, I think."

"That we do. May our friendship be a long one."

[North Fortress, Landing Bay 03:30]

"Princess Caeda, Talys Air Force. It's been a long time since we met when you were a child. We've heard much about your newer exploits," Hardin said, returning the Princess' salute.

"Likewise, Coyote. How you've managed to stay alive here against the odds is most admirable."

"Captain Vyland. The air-to-air weapon," Hardin motioned for him to leave. The red-haired man began barking at mechanics to hurry to outfit FIREBIRD with its new weapon system.

"They say behind every great man is a great woman. I wonder if you're the great woman behind Prince Marth."

"Oh- um… Prince Marth and I aren't married," Caeda blushed.

"Betrothed, perhaps?" Hardin asked, raising an eyebrow.

"N-not even," Caeda said, a bit embarrassed now.

"Hmm… Only a matter of time then I suppose," Hardin stroked the corners of his mustache. He turned to leave, but before he left he called Caeda again.

"Yes?"

"Don't let him get away from you. There are few men in this world worth a woman like you."

[East Plains 03:30]

There was a small outpost dead ahead of Cain's escort troop. Cain couldn't make out the details, but through his binoculars, he was able to sense a significant enemy presence.

"We're in position, sir. Striking on your command as ordered." Cain said into the radio.

"Roger, CAV-6. Hit time is now. As soon as SAGE has eyes." Cain heard the reply and motioned for Wendell. He handed him his binoculars.

"Here, teacher. The priority is the light armor in the open. Looks like they're doing a fueling op right now. Prince Marth says to strike when ready. You take the first shot. We'll cover you for the follow-ups."

Wendell reached into his carrying pouch and pulled a large tome. He began chanting and the pages flipped themselves.

"Strike inbound," Cain reported. Cain ordered his own troops, "Stay low, and get off of anything metal."

A large bolt of lightning illuminated the battlefield, blasting the tank in the open. For a brief second, Cain caught glimpse of the enemy, counting just a lone cavalry troop in the center of the field. A minute later he heard sirens in the small outpost.

"We must be early," Cain said. "Let's push to some cover, give these good mages some battlefield medicine. I need Bravo Troop on me, Alpha covering our asses, and Charlie ready to flank. You know the positions."

Wendell's breathing returned to normal. As Cain's cav troop moved forward, Wendell shook his head. He began flipping his pages for the second strike.

"They're in disarray," Cain said over the radio. "We're firing in 5...4...3...2…"

[North Fortress, Riverbed 04:30]

"CAV-6, return to base for further tasking," Marth ordered. "Make sure BREAKER comes with you."

"Copy," Cain replied.

"CAV-6, be advised. You've got bogeys moving in on your position," Caeda warned. "I count two rotorcrafts moving in. Predicted two-turret armaments."

"Roger that, ma'am. We'll be careful," Cain assured her.

"TALYS-6, this is BREAKER-5. I can handle small craft," Merric interjected. "It may put me out for a spell, however."

That's right. That green magic… Marth thought.

"GUARD-6, do we have aircraft in that region?"

"Negative, sir."

"CAV-6, take alternate path B and stay in the open. Make sure you're highly visible."

"Say again, sir?"

"I want Macedon to think twice about calling air support."

"Sir, I'd be cautious. We have many battles to fight ahead of us, and the enemy is gaining an idea of our capabilities," Jagen warned.

"Don't worry Jagen. This is a bluff. The weapon is incomplete," Marth assured him. "BREAKER needs practice with their weapon, and we need to show that the Macedonian Air Force is no match for us."

"A bluff," Jagen echoed. "Very well. TALYS-6, avoid the area."

"Copy," she said.

"Malledus," Marth said. "Get me eyes."

"Yes, sir."

Marth watched from the live feed as two support helicopters were vanquished from the sky.

[North Fortress, East Plains 05:05]

"That- that should do it," Merric stammered.

"Son…" Wendell began. "You've grown, yet you still are reckless."

Merric shook his head. "I'm fine," he gasped.

Cain grabbed Merric's shoulder. "A job well done, reckless or not. Let's get you home." He motioned for two of his men to help Merric along the path.

[North Fortress, Riverbed 05:15]

"This is AURELIS-6, we've been engaged. We're hitting them with all that we've got!"

"Copy. KNIGHT-6?" Marth acknowledged. "Come in. Time to flank and hit these guys hard."

"Copy."

"RAM-6, are you in position?"

"Yes sir! Ready to fire! AURELIS-6, send the coordinates!"

Marth waited a few seconds.

"Splash out," Hardin reported. "Direct hit. Fire for effect."

Marth heard more explosions as he began to strap together his armor.

"Malledus," he started. "I think the air's clear enough for me to go out now. Fetch me a fire-team."

"Yes, sir," Malledus answered.

"This is AURELIS-6, reporting four enemy artillery units destroyed. Still got eyes on two heavy tanks. One helo-pad looking like it's ready to move."

"Copy, AURELIS."

"This is KNIGHT-6, we've initiated contact with one heavy. Similar armaments to us. We're maneuvering."

"This is RAM-6, we're reloading. KNIGHT's too close to friendlies," Gordin reported.

"Stay alive KNIGHT-6," Bord said. "We've got charges armed on the bridge. If you roll back, we can blast the bridge."

"It'd take them out of the battle though…" Marth said to himself.

"Copy. This is a heavyweight fight, sir." Draug started. "Can't win this one without support."

"CRIMSON-6, the anti-tank rounds?" Marth asked.

"We're too far," Navarre reported. "Can't hit from here."

Damn! Marth thought.

"TALYS-6?"

"Preoccupied," Caeda replied. "I got bogeys closing in on my position."

"Stay alive," Marth ordered.

"I'm trying to lure them to Hardin's men, but they're breaking contact and headed for KNIGHT."

"RAM-6, withdraw." Marth ordered. "RECON, CAV, I need you back out there."

"Roger," Abel said. "We're on the move."

[North Fortress, Bridge 05:45]

"This is GUARD-6. Intercepted an enemy infantry platoon running to flank the KNIGHT. This is their last push, I'm sure of it. Hold. Enemy aircraft inbound!"

"I see them. Shots out!"

One of the enemy aircraft exploded instantly. The others turned and began firing on Caeda's FIREBIRD. She drew the attention of one of the tanks, which launched a round at her while she was preoccupied.

"No!" She jerked the bird sharply to the left and pulled sharply on the power. The helicopter took a sharp bank away from the incoming shell, but the FIREBIRD sustained some turret damage.

"What in the blazes do you think you're doing?" Her co-pilot screamed. "You almost got me killed!"

"Keeping us alive, dammit!" She yelled back. "We're taking fire!"

"Copy, TALYS! Return to base at once!" Marth ordered. "KNIGHT-6, no choice. Retreat across the bridge and regroup! Gotta blow the bridge now!"

"Roger!"

"HATCHET, as soon as the tanks begin to cross-"

"We got it, sir!" Bord yelled. "Charges ready!"

There was a loud explosion as the enemy tanks fell into the river and were destroyed.

Marth took in a heavy breath. He shook his head. He picked up the radio again.

"TALYS-6, status."

"Safe… Equipment is damaged and avionics are acting up. We're RTB to North Fort."

"Copy. Good hunting."

"This is AURELIS-6. We're locked onto enemy birds."

How did I forget about them?

"Copy. Let's close this one out."

[North Fortress, Bridge 06:30]

Marth's helicopter landed on the landing bay. Caeda noticed something about him looked off.

"Hey," she said, as she walked up to him. "What's going on?"

Marth jerked his head towards the direction of the battlefield. He slid out of the helicopter and shook his head. "I have to be better," he said.

Their eyes met. Marth took in a strained breath and exhaled slowly. Caeda noticed that Marth seemed to smile with a mix of worry and relief. He hugged her with one arm.

"I'm glad you're alright," he said. "Come, join me."

Caeda joined Marth on his left side. As they were walking, they were joined by Jagen.

"Status report Jagen," Marth asked.

"Light casualties," he said. "Cain's unit primarily."

Marth sighed in relief. "I hope they find a quick fix for the bridge."

They met with a grey-haired man donning a royal battle uniform. He initiated the salute, which Marth returned. They shook hands, and the man said:

"Prince Marth, your arrival could not have been better timed. Please accept our gratitude. Princess Nyna of Archanea is en route. I am sure she will wish to meet you once you conclude this battle. The battle is not won yet, though: many of the enemy continue to hold out within the castle's halls. Stay wary."

They went their separate ways.

"Prince Hardin," Marth called. Hardin saluted Marth, which he returned. "I apologize. I will not forget about you again."

"No need to apologize, friend," Hardin assured him. "You've fought well."

The group began to plan their next move.