It was morning. They were right outside of Poznan, Poland. There was snow everywhere surrounding Romanov's camp. Inside the tent, Skylar's brother Saul was arguing over the deactivated table. He had both his hands on the table and spoke directly at Sky, "I will not follow the orders of a Russian!"

Skylar responded back, "Save your hatred for the Nemesis, Saul! They are the enemy. Not the Russians. Not the Germans. Not even the Italians! Only the man behind the Nemesis itself. General Vladimir Rasputin!"

"But," Saul tried, but Skylar interjected with his words as he touched his finger at the table, "You saw what he did? The people he killed. The cities he ravaged. The lives he destroyed. Those are the work of the Nemesis. It is all that we, the Allies, can do to stop him. His experiments against the people were inhumane and those has got to stop. Every nation let alive in this world are doing what they can to stop him. It doesn't matter what nations are with us. What matters is we are all united as a world and our goal is to stop him no matter what. To stop his atrocities at all costs. To take him and the Nemesis down."

Saul was silent as he continued to listen to his older brother. He realized there was truth in his words, but he was still unconvinced. Skylar continued, "You have seen what we have so far for our forces. Many of us see Rasputin for what he is. A monster. You may not like the Major, but his idea is the same for the Allies. Our mission will take us right through Rasputin's backdoor. We will infiltrate him without him looking and then we will bring him down at all costs. We have the advantage. I guarantee you that in two years times the war will be over and the Allies will have won. We need to work together, Saul. All of us."

Sky risked a peek behind him and noticed the major standing there. He didn't know how long he was there. Saul nodded responding, "Okay, let's say I'm with you on this. What would you have me do?"

Sky responded to him, "Be patient and open your mind. I need to know that you have my back because I am relying on you for your help."

Saul let out a defeated sigh and responded, "Alright. You got it, big brother. Whatever you say goes."

Sky smiled and nodded responding, "Good. Dismissed lieutenant."

Saul returned his nod and turned to leave when he noticed the major standing there. He responding quickly saluting, "Oh sorry Major. Did not see you there, sir!"

Dimitri nodded and waved his hand as he responded in a husky Russian accent, "No worries, Lieutenant. Keep the good work."

"Thank you, sir," Saul finished as he rushed out of the tent.

Sky clicked his heels together as he clapped his hands on the side of his body to stand straight in a salute, "Major. Didn't hear you come in. How long were you listening?"

Dimitri nodded with a smile as he waved his hand again to put his second XO at ease, "Long enough, Captain. I am glad we are both of the same mind. We need it if we are to put this war to bed. God knows it went long enough. It is time to end it. Your brother was right to be angry at us. It was the Russians led by Fury who ravaged the entire city of Milan, Italy. Killed women and children without remorse."

Sky responded with a counter point, "They were Nemesis forces, Major. Ordered by General Rasputin to execute the entire city. He needs to be stopped."

Dimitri nodded in agreement as he tapped the table. He activated it as the light of the holographic display came on. Sky responded putting himself at ease as he placed his hand on the edge of the table, "What is the status of our team? It is not gonna be only you, me, my brother and Sergeant Muhina is it?"

"One more. However, first you need to know about Muhina," Dimitri responded as he activated the holographic display on the table. It contained the map of the Northeastern European countries from the side of Germany and east of it. Dimitri continued pushing the holographic buttons to display information on their small team and their target list. One of the first picture that he popped up was Anastasia.

Skylar listened as the Major started the briefing, "Sergeant Anastasia Muhina. Age 24. Born in Stockholm, Sweden. Attended the Julliard school for the gifted students in arts and drama in Stockholm, but she moved to Moscow to continue pursuing her interests in the military. Graduated at a young age from the Moscow Military Institute of the Russian FSS. Not only did she learn to shoot at a young age, but she was also trained as an interrogator. She had very high marks in marksman which made her very well as part of the Federal Security Service. However, she switched sides to join the Allies as soon as she realized who she was working for."

Sky nodded intrigued as he responded, "We are good to have her on our side, sir. Who else?"

Dimitri moved Anastasia's picture to the side and brought up another man on the picture. Sky's eyes widened as he recognized him, "Wolf?"

The major nodded as he continued, "Sergeant Takoda Kee. Sik'Is is his tribe name meaning Friend. Navajo Native American with an unusual ability to shape shift. You call him Wolf. We call him something else. A skinwalker. Now, it is legend because there aren't a lot of skinwalkers around and most of them went insane a hundred years ago that government officials had to put them down. Kee has excellent tracking abilities and is able to cross the cold wastes without slowing down. He can survive without food and water for several days. When his name came across my desk, I realized how useful he can be in our mission. Since you know him, this makes recruiting him a lot easier."

Sky nodded responding, "Yes sir. I do know him. We owe each other our lives many times over. You can trust him. Where is he?"

Dimitri responded as he moved the pictures into a little folder to save them, "On a scouting mission at the moment. He will meet us halfway south of Poznan. Now, our first target is a man named Yaeris Khan. He is the second lieutenant of General Viktor Sloan," as he mentioned Sloan, he brought up the picture of him as he continued, "Viktor Sloan is the right hand man of Rasputin and one of the most loyal ones. He would know every secrets and ever details of his plan. Sloan is also a prideful man and one of the vain ones so Yaeris would have his ear. Yaeris would be useful but he is not going to go down easily so we would have to capture him and interrogate him for everything he's got. It will not be easy, but then again easy is a part of Anastasia's vocabulary. She is the best interrogator anywhere."

Sky asked while studying the map, "Where is he?"

Dimitri continued as he placed his finger on the map and trailed a line to make a path from their location to the location of the enemy's territory, "We will make our way southeast of Poznan to meet with Wolf. Yaeris is located in the enemy camp of Lublin near the border of Ukraine. Wolf is only there to confirm his location and once we meet, we will make our way there. I do not believe there will be any unforeseen complications, but be prepared. We are traversing into enemy terrain so there could be some unexpected development, but I have every confidence in my team. Do you?"

Sky nodded, "Yes sir. Whatever happens, I got your back. Shall I prep the team?"

Dimitri responded, "Do it. We leave within the hour. Questions?"

The captain had one last question in mind as he was concerned, so he asked, "Are there any signs of Fury and her Blood mercs?"

The major shrugged explaining, "None. It's been quiet lately after her devastating attack on Sicily six months ago. We lost the city, but we have not yet lost the war. It does not mean that she will come out of hiding, so we must be prepared for it. Dismissed."

Skylar saluted and turned to exit the tent leaving his Major to his deliberations.

It was thirty minutes passed after leaving the tent as Skylar walked across the heavy snow laden path. He came upon both Sade and Anastasia seated on the snow guarding the entrance of their small camp chattering among each other softly. Listening closely, the captain smiled. They were surprisingly pleasant with each other. Sade responded with a laugh as he lightly punched Ana on the shoulder, "You can't be serious?"

Tasia giggled as she adjusted the weight of her sniper weapon resting on her leg, "Da. Nikolai then took the cake with him for the rest of the day. It was his birthday. He wanted it all for himself."

"Heh." Saul shook his head and then turned to see his brother. They both stood and saluted as he responded, "Oh hey Skye. What's going on?"

Sky dismissed him as he shook his head in an attempt to hide his amusement responding, "See, you are keeping the peace. I would have thought you had some trouble."

Saul shrugged, "What trouble, brother? You're right. It is not the Russians that are the enemy. It's the Nemesis. They need to be stopped and the only we can do that is by working together with our common allies."

Ana looked at Saul with humor as she giggled a bit, "I hope you're not trying to make me cry."

Saul looked at her innocently as he responded, "What?"

The captain interrupted them speaking, "Alright, settle down kids. We are on the clock. The Major wants us to move out immediately to Poznan. He'll be sending you two the briefing in a minute, but right now, I need someone to scout ahead and make sure the roads are clear of enemy. The last we need are ambushes."

Before Tasia spoke, Saul interrupted responding, "I volunteer!"

Tasia smirked looking at him responding, "Typical Americans. Trying to impress their charge."

Saul looked at her again incredulously, "You do realize our superior officer is present?"

The captain shrugged as he responded, "It's alright. Saul, I appreciate your volunteering. You and Tasia will take turns once every hour. We will meet up on each checkpoints about five hundred meters apart to meet up. Soon as we arrive to Poznan, we will meet up with Wolf."

"Wolf?" Saul inquired as he grinned, "I see the wolfboy will be joining us. I look forward to seeing him again."

Ana gave her co-patriot a look, "Wolf?"

Saul explained to her, "Sergeant Takoda Kee. He is a friend and a skinwalker. You'll see him soon enough," he continued as he gave the captain a look, "he would be the one scouting right? Using his wolf senses across the terrain?"

The captain responded, "Right. So get your stuff together and meet at the Shed within five minutes. The sentries will return to take over within a few seconds. We need to go. Now. Before it gets dark. You know how cold it gets in the night?"

They both saluted as Ana responded, "Yes sir. Right away!"

As they skittered off, the captain followed them behind and sneaked a look behind him into the cold horizon and terrain. He gulped deeply getting a bit of a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach.

The Shed was another word for a small garage. It contained vehicles such as some snow trucks and snow speeders. The small team of four, Major Dimitri Romanov, Captain Skylar Cade, Lieutenant Saul Cade and Sergeant Anastasia Mulhina, were prepping four snow speeders for their trek across the snow. Saul was ahead of the team as he already packed a few things he needed for his scouting mission. Soon as he finished, he turned to the team leader, "Major, I am done. Shall I head out?"

The Major nodded responding, "Do it. Remember. Stop at every five hundred meters out within every hour to scout. Sergeant Mulhina will take over for you for the next hour and so on. Good luck and watch your back."

"Yes Sir," Saul gave off a salute and boarded his speeder. He turned the ignition as it let out a low rumble on the snow. The speeder peeled off in one direction out leaving the camp.

The captain responded, "Major, we are about done. Are we to wait five more minutes before starting off? Giving my brother a head start?"

The Russian Major nodded as he responded, "Da, but we must be wary if we are to follow behind. And quickly. Before it gets dark soon when we reach Poznan to meet with Wolf."

They were silent as they continued to finish up with the packing before five minutes are up.

It had been hours since the Major's team reached the southern border of Poznan, but there were no sight of Wolf anywhere. They waited for several more hours, but nothing. Sky was concerned. It wasn't like his friend to be late. Dimitri had already sent both Saul and Ana ahead scouting with himself and his XO not far behind. Saul and Ana were scouting the Northern section of the abandoned town of Poznan toward the eastern section while both Dimitri and Sky were scouting the southern section toward the west. Their heavy boots made some noisy impression on the snow, but they weren't too concerned about people here. They all abandoned the town some time ago. Poznan was abandoned and for good reason. The Vengeance of Blood, Kyra's mercs, ravaged the small town and left a red mark like a warning saying that no one is to trespass because if they return to see the town occupied, then they will destroy the place again. It was Fury's edict to the people of the surrounding border of Russia.

It was mid-afternoon. Both Dimitri and Sky already ate lunch. A small lunch to keep them going. With their weapon low and their eyes scanning the abandoned buildings of the town, they kept their guard up. Dimitri was smoking a cigar, a bad habit that he found it hard to break. Sky didn't mind him smoking. Taking the cigar out, he blew out a smoke as they went around the corner of the two buildings. It was deathly quiet. No animals or birds. It was eerie as if a curse was placed upon the town. Sky spoke as he thought he saw something, "Sir!"

He moved across quickly while holding the weapon up and crouched before some prints on the snow letting the Major catch up. He touched the footprints on the snow along with some dried blood, "I have something."

Dimitri responded, "What is it?"

Sky responded as he looked around seeing more blood on the wall of the buildings along with some bullet holes, "There was a fight here, sir. Some blood. Wolf wasn't alone, sir."

The major continued watching Sky as he stood and approached the wall trailing his fingers across the bullet holes. They were bigger as if they were fired by a bigger gun. He noticed some large casings and picked one of them up recognizing the signature, "Sir, I have evidence that Kyra was here. Kyra and her band. Strong evidence."

"What?" Dimitri responded as Sky turned to hand him a casing of a bullet, "Are you sure? Is she close?"

Sky shook his head, "No sir. Wherever she is, she's long gone by now. It's too quiet in here, but we need to find Wolf. And fast. No way in hell he would survive her mercs. Fury has the nose of a bloodhound."

"Alright, we…" the Major started and suddenly reacted to the quick sound of footsteps closing onto them. They pointed their weapons, but relaxed when it was Saul who was running toward them. He responded, "Sirs, we found Wolf's footprints. Or at least, his wolf form. He's injured. Badly as evidence of massive blood loss he's leaving behind. Ana is tracking him to some buildings in the eastern section."

Dimitri responded knowing that they had to remain radio silent for the sake of infiltration, "How long ago?"

As the major placed his cigar back into his mouth, Saul responded quickly, "Not long. About ten minutes ago. We need to hurry."

The captain responded, "Let's go then. Lead on, Lieutenant."

His young brother turned onto his heels and took off in a run with both Dimitri and Sky not far behind catching up with him.

It didn't take them long, but soon as they tracked Wolf and his blood they found Ana tending to Wolf's wounds. Sky shouted a single word getting his attention as he ran and slid across the snow to his side, "Wolf!"

He grabbed his hand as Ana looked at him with concern, "Soon as I got to him, he lost conscience. I don't know if he will wake up."

Dimitri noticed Saul staring at Wolf wondering when he will wake, so he grabbed his shoulder and got his attention, "We got this Lieutenant. Take guard and alert me of danger."

"Yes sir," Saul nodded glad to do something. He had to do something.

Dimitri walked over to the captain and crouched as he spoke, "Report, Sergeant. Will he be alright?"

Ana was covered in blood trying to tend to Wolf's wounds, but he was still out of it. She responded rubbing her nose with her wrist, "I managed to stop the bleeding, but he is still bleeding internally somewhere. I must have missed a fragment of a bullet. Even if I take it out, he lost too much blood."

Before Dimitri could respond, Sky spoke up, "Wolf will be alright. He's a skinwalker. They can self-regenerate. We just have to let him rest. Can you get the fragment out?"

Ana nodded but responded with concern, "Yes sir, but I do not know if he will awake. Like I said…"

Sky shook his head dismissing it, "I know. Trust me. All he needs is rest. Tell me what to do."

"Yes sir," Ana responded as she took a metal surgical tool to remove a metal fragment embedded somewhere in Wolf's wounds. Dimiti watched as Sky helped to hold the blood down while Ana attempted to pull the last bullet fragment out of his wounds.

Satisfied, she responded, "There, that's it. I guess all he needs is rest."

Skylar responded taking out thermal blankets from his pack, "We just need to return his warm temperatures and keep him stable. All he needs is rest. Sir, might I suggest spending the night here? As it might take a while for him to rest and recuperate."

Dimitri nodded, "Break out the sleeping bags. We will make a small fire and take turns watching. Sergeant, clean this up and watch after Wolf. Make sure he is comfortable. The captain and I will take turns keeping guard after the lieutenant."

Ana nodded and tended to Wolf's blood on the snow. She cleaned her hands and helped placed the thermal blankets on Wolf while both Dimitri and Sky prepared a small fire to keep them warm for the night.

It was dawn. Around 6 AM as the sun slowly awoke. Skylar was awake still watching the horizon and guarding their camp. Wolf awoke a while ago moaning in pain, but Ana gave him something that calmed him down. He went back to sleep. It caused Sky to cringe as he was worried about his friend. He was attacked and left for dead. Possibly by Fury and her mercs. She was dangerous and rarely leaves prisoners. She assumed that Wolf would be dead by the time anyone would find him, but she underestimated his resolve and his fight for survival.

Saul joined him at the watch handing him a granola bar. Sky happily accepted it as they bit into their snack. Saul responded, "Wolf is awake if you want to talk to him. He's currently briefing the Major. I'll take over."

Sky offered him a brief smile but keeping his solemn, worried expression, "Thanks brother."

He quickly made his way back to Wolf and placed his knees down as Wolf grabbed his hand. He offered his smile as he responded, "Skye. You came."

Sky responded, "Of course I did. I owe you too much to leave you behind. Major."

He nodded at Dimitri as he responded, "Captain. As Wolf was telling me, Fury and her band passed by Poznan several days ago. He was scouting them and saw no more than nine people with her. They were taking a break when Wolf was discovered. They ran him across several buildings and he got injured getting away. He did take some of them down, but so far no casualties. Fury's small band remained tough as ever. She left him for dead."

Sky nodded and asked Wolf, "Wolf, where did she go?"

Wolf responded, "A bit south and around the canyon. I don't know where they are going, but it seems they are just scouting. They are pressing their ranks hard preparing for something."

"For what?" the captain asked, but Wolf shook his head shrugging, "No idea, sir. I'm sorry. I didn't get much as I was running to avoid getting shot at."

Dimitri nodded, "I understand. We need to push on. Are you okay to move?"

Ana responded protesting a bit, "But sir, Wolf can't be moved. I just healed his wounds, but the trauma…"

Wolf touched her hand and responded kindly, "I will be fine, Ms. Mulina. I have good healing generation. Major, when we get started, I would like to continue my scouting."

The major nodded, "Very well. Sergeant, once we find our speeders south of town, you will take the speeder and scout ahead. Same order, Wolf will come with you. I need his senses."

Ana let out a sigh giving in, "Okay, Major. Will do."

Wolf looked and assured her, "It will be alright. I am stronger than you believe. Skye…"

He offered his hand and Sky accepted it hoisting him up onto his feet. After finishing up with the packing, they started heading back across the snowy wastes of the abandoned buildings of Poznan south toward their speeders to continue their objectives across the snow toward Lublin where the enemy camp was located. Anastasia started off first with Wolf seated behind her as they scouted ahead five hundred meters with Dimitri, Skylar and Saul not far behind. It was cold in the morning as the sun continued its way up.