As we approached Warsong Hold, the mechano-tanks opened up. The air ahead suddenly became saturated with black pock-marks - the shells of those guns. I shuddered. What the nether...how were we going to get through something like that? Intense firing from the ground was a lot less dangerous than being attacked by flying warriors, but it was also more scary - there was no way you could fight back at bursting shells.

I knew how accurate the control systems for the tanks were - we had spent hours ripping them apart when we got them from the steam-pools. Not to mention the fact that I noticed that the flak clouds were adjusting to our flightpath, which meant that they had developed some sort of tracking system - probably Goblin Engineered. Damn those green runts - selling their knowledge for money! Had they no shame?

My train of thoughts was rudely interrupted though.

CRASH! The noise came from below me. I dropped down into the cabin to survey the damage, but could see nothing - the whole place awas smogged up because of that shell. My first fear was that both Tarkus and Sorassa were either dead or seriously injured, but as the smoke cleared, I saw that they were okay, though shaken.

"Turret to Copilot. Are either of you hurt? My earphones are dead, so give me some sign."

Tarkus swung around and waved his hand, giving a thumbs-up - they were okay.

I quickly climbed back into my post. Several Wyverns were circling our formation, attacking ruthlessly. I had a hellish time tracking each one down and trying to eliminate as many as I could. I got a fright as one Troll jumped onto the craft and began clawing at the engine with his spear - he didn't get far before my Auto-Gun tore into him, ripping his arm off and sending him screaming to his death below. The spear was still embedded into the wing, but it wouldn't be a problem - the wing had been coated with Thorium.

However, I got quite a shock as I swung around from the wing to my right. A huge mass the size of a mechanostrider was flying right alongside us! It glistened in the bright light of the Tundra Sun like a diamond. I whimpered - What in the name of all that was holy WAS that thing? Some new weapon the Horde had developed? If it exploded, we were finished. I hid on the opposite sie of the Computing sight to avail of what small cover was available until it began to break up and dissolve into a thousand shimmering particles that fanned out around and below us. How the nether did it get up here? What was it?

The Wyverns were veering off, too low for me to get a clear shot. Just then there was a small explosion near Engine Three and it began to vibrate violently - it had been hit! Then another smash just below me and my Earphones were working again! (Like an old voice-transmodulator you kick and it resumes playing)

"Copilot to Navigator."

"Go ahead."

"Any oil leak from number Three Engine?"

"It's throwing oil real bad."

"Pilot to Copilot - Tarkus, feather number Three. Don't argue, do it NOW!"

The engine slowed down and eventually stopped.

"Copilot to Navigator - still leaking now?"

"Nah, it's about stopped."

"Thank the light."

I suddenly felt the plane lurch upwards, and realised Ames had dropped the bombs. I looked below to see them fall squarely on the battlements, blowing them apart and scattering the Orcs around them. Yah! Take that you filthy greenskins! I exulted. Sorassa swung around a little more and flew over the docks. Again I felt the plane lurch and the bombs fell with a scream onto the docks, blowing apart one, hitting aother and damaging a Transport, scattering the men aboard it - probably mercenaries.

The formation started flying away, first towards Valiance Keep to shake off the fighters, then back to Fizzcrank Airstrip. As I looked behind, I saw the sky was almost one boiling black mass of flak clouds. I wondered how the hell any of our craft got out of it, and how many were downed.

I was about to find out. Amongst other things.