Here's Chapter Ten. Chapter 11 is the final real chapter, Chapter 12 will be an Epilogue.

Thanks for all the support so far, and I hope to have this finished tomorrow or Wednesday. I may suffer a major delay but if I do I will let you all know.

Enjoy!

Chapter Ten - The Best Laid Plans

We had taken every spare Guardian possible, about 70 in total, to Anchorage and began to plan our attack. We weren't even sure Rose, or any other Strigoi were there, but this was the only Bunker that records indicated was finished. The blueprints showed that there was one main entrance and an emergency exit. The main entrance was a set of stairs that descended three stories into the Bunker, which had four floors. The Command Center, which was essentially the throne room and heart of the entire damn place, was connected directly to the escape tunnel, was in the center of the fourth floor, at the center of the bottom floor, so we would be focusing on making it there. We knew the Strigoi would fight us for every damn inch of the place, so we had every weapon we could muster, including a shotgun assigned to every Guardian, as well as Silver Stakes and Fire using Moroi.

"So, let's go over this one more time.", Harkin said aloud to the Guardians and Moroi gathered in the room. "First entry will be a team of 55 Guardians and 12 Moroi into the main entrance, this will be a distraction. Then, our computer specialist," he nodded to the Guardian who had helped us back at the mansion, "will tap into the control system and disable the alarms linked to the emergency elevator. Then, the team of 15 Guardians and 5 Moroi will descend in the elevator and take the Command Center. Guardian Belikov and myself will be taking this group, because it is the most dangerous task. Good luck to you all, and may god help us."

As the Guardians dispersed, likely to get some rest, I approached Harkin. "Do you really think that this will work?"

"Well," he began, "I think that either this will work brilliantly, or that we are all going to die. But hopefully, we can take down that bitch of a Queen with us."

I flinched at him calling Rose a bitch, "Remember Andy, I love that girl, so you better fucking try and capture her. If you don't, then I am going to make sure you regret it."

He shook his head and chuckled, "Dimitri, you cannot let your feelings get in the way here. If she lives, then you are going to die, and if she lives, then this war is not going to end. If she doesn't die or get converted, I will hold you responsible. Start thinking straight man, this has to end."

He walked away and I went to see Lissa.

"Dimitri!" She said as she ran over to hug me, "How long has it been since you had your charm done, are you feeling alright?"

I didn't like her making a fuss over me, "Calm down Lissa, don't worry about me, how are you?"

She sighed, "About the same as any other day, I suppose. I miss Rose, and I hope we can turn her back to her old self."

I looked at Lissa, and whispered into her ear, "I do too." I leaned in and kissed her, as passionetly as I could. I knew it was the only way I could get her to calm down and relax a bit.

"Dimitri, if we turn her back, we can't do that anymore, you understand, right?"

I nodded, "Yes, but it will be worth it. We need Rose back." I smiled, "Think you could ever get used to Harkin?"

A small smile appeared on her face, "Maybe, I know he is talented, and that would make him a great Guardian."

"Good," I said, "Because I am going to see if I can get him assigned to you after this is all over. We could use his talents. Besides, with him as your Guardian, it would make politics easier having an intimidating Guardian."

She looked at me and her smile grew larger, "I suppose that would be nice, he doesn't seem so bad."

"Well, I have to go get some rest, I have to go for the attack tomorrow."

Her smile managed to grow even sweeter, "I understand." She kissed me lightly on the cheek, "Be careful Dimitri, and please bring her back."

I nodded and walked away. I knew that no matter what happened, we had to end this tomorrow.

Whether I died, or Rose died, it would end tomorrow.