Dixon struggled frantically as the tentacle coiled tightly around his right leg drew him in closer to the monstrous plant creature. As the large pod, glistening with acidic juices, opened wide, ready to envelope, and then slowly digest, him, he saw several more tentacles emerge from the dark. His rifle had long since been lost, torn from his grip by the sudden and bone jarring impact with the hard ground when the tentacle first plucked him off his feet. Instinct and ingrained reflexes taking over he immediately went for his particle magnum side arm. Unfortunately said side arm was currently secure in the holster strapped to his leg. His right leg. The very same leg that the aforementioned tentacle was wrapped around. This made drawing his side arm somewhat difficult, but thankfully not impossible. After a few moments of fumbling in an attempt to free his weapon from the vice like grip the tentacle had on it he finally succeeded. Raising and aiming it with a speed and precision that came from years of experience he prioritised targeting the additional tentacles moving closer to him. It would be easier to aim for them and there was no use taking out the one holding him if several more were about to grab hold of him.

The fleeting few seconds it had taken him to aim his weapon had provided him with enough time to switch his weapon from its lowest, and non-lethal, setting to its highest. A setting which was very lethal. Admittedly this setting had a habit of reducing the crystalline battery faster than the middle setting but since he was on the verge of being eaten alive that understandably wasn't his biggest concern at the moment. Three targets. Three shots. Three tentacles writhing in agony as the energy bolts burned large chunks from their hides. The plant creature let out a high pitched shriek that would have left him somewhat disorientated had his suit not filtered it to a more acceptable level of volume. No doubt this was a defensive response meant to dissuade attackers from continued aggression. It didn't work on Dixon.

Somehow sensing that he was lining up a shot on the tentacle around his leg and noting that the shrieking sound was not impairing him in the slightest the plant creature adjusted its strategy, swinging him across the breadth of the corridor as it dragged him in closer. Thankfully his armour protected him from any bodily harm that might be caused by the impact with the stone walls and he was able to keep his grip on his handgun, however the repeated impacts did manage to completely screw up his shot.

A second tentacle wrapped around his other leg while a third went for his gun hand, latching around his wrist and squeezing, hard. The pressure was enough to crack the armour, as well as loosen his grip to the point that the next impact with the wall forced it from his hand.

As his vision blurred from the sudden movements he looked up at the pod, now wide open in front of him and seemingly very, very close. As he inched closer and closer he could see the digestive fluids the pod excreted dripping onto the floor, creating a slight dip in the stone as the acid burned through it. That acid would no doubt burn through the softer parts of his exoskeleton before searing away the flesh from his bones. If he was caught in that pod he death was all but assured.

As he moved closer and closer to the pod terror gained its icy grip over his heart. He would never see his wife again. Never hold his children in his arms. Never watch his youngest start her first day of elementary school. He felt alone. Like there was no one else to help him or they surely would have by now, wouldn't they?

What he didn't realise, couldn't realise with all the confusion, was that all this had transpired in mere seconds. Not even close to half a minute had past since that first tentacle had snagged him. Before he even realised what was happening help had arrived in the form of a green blur speeding past him. Snaky dived the tentacles at his legs his jaw widening as hi head snapped forward in two successive movements, leaving behind two bite marks where the fangs had penetrated. In his hand was a particle magnum. His particle magnum! Apparently snaky had decided to pick it up on his way toward him, and considering that he used it to blast the tentacle wrapped around his wrist he apparently knew how to use the thing.

The plant creature's shrieked increased in volume and the tentacles around his legs and wrist began to withdraw. Interestingly the ones near his legs began to spasm uncontrollably for some unknown reason.

"Down!" someone back down the corridor yelled, although in his dazed state Dixon couldn't tell whose it was.

Snaky immediately hit the deck, one arm forcing Dixon down with him. From his angle Dixon saw the pod of the plant creature explode as it was peppered with high velocity railgun rounds. Internal fluids and plant matter sprayed outwards as the pod burst open like a water melon and the writhing tentacles convulsed in the creatures death throes even as more bullets tore through it. After what seemed like an age the creature gave one last shudder before it collapsed in a heap.

Snaky gave one long hiss of satisfaction as he stared at the dead creature before slivering away. Dixon heard footsteps approach and stiffly turned his head to see Cadman approaching, her railgun rifle in hand and a wide grin on her face. Behind her was the rest of his squad, their railgun rifles raised and at the ready. Not surprising given the number of unknown aliens around them.

Cadman reached down and offered him her hand, helping pull him to his feet.

"You sure got here fast Cadman," Dixon noted.

Her smile grew noticeably wider. "I heard you screaming, sir. I figured you needed some help."

"I did not scream, Captain. I simply stated my situation. Something perfectly acceptable given the situation I found myself in."

"Yes, sir."

Dixon grunted. "Status report."

"Cell doors unlocked, we're counting three dozen plus aliens of species we've never encountered before and we're still counting them. Sir, who is that?" She pointed at the alien Dixon had dubbed Snaky.

"It appears he is a friend of mine," Dixon replied. He turned to the alien. "So what do I call you my friend?"

"As'Arif, my name is As'Arif. And your assistance was unnecessary, human."

"Oh really?" Cadman didn't sound very convinced.

As'Arif nodded. "My venom would have killed the Hesinna shortly if you had not shot it first." As he smiled the two humans were given an excellent view as a drop of venom leaked from the tip of his sharp fangs.

"Hessina? You know this creature?" Dixon asked.

"Yes," As'Arif hissed. "It is from my world, my home. The Zarasians must have brought it with them, even though it is not sentient. Judging by how it reacted to your presence it must have been quite hungry." He gazed up at Dixon's tall and broad form. "You are big. You would have made a good meal."

"I would have guaranteed it indigestion," Dixon replied.

As'Arif chuckled. He handed Dixon back his particle magnum. "An impressive weapon. I shall have to see about acquiring one for myself."

"I take it your no stranger to guns?"

"My people have acquired a few weapons over the years through trade but energy weapons are quite a rare find. Most races do not have the means to maintain them, let alone produce them."

"Still doubt we're from Atlantis?"

"Not as much as I did before."

Dixon sighed. "And exactly what I have to do to prove that we have people inhabiting the city of the Ancients?"

"Show me the city."

"And how would you recognise it?"

As'Arif looked at him as though he were stupid. "Tales of the city of the ancestors have been told for generations. I know of few who would not know of it on sight."

"Sir," Cadman said over their private com link. "What do you think he's going to think of Borealis?"

"He'll probably think its Atlantis at first…" He suddenly realised what the Captain was insinuating. "Ah crap. Well I guess we'll just have to cross that bridge when we come to it. It does give me an idea though, but be ready to stun him if he gets too twitchy once we're up top."

"Can do, sir."

"So As'Arif, what say you and I make a deal?"

As'Arif cocked his hooded head at Dixon. "I'm listening human."

"I'll get you and your people, and these others, out of here. You tell us the entire story about how you got here and where your worlds are and then I'll show you Atlantis."

"Atlantis first, then my story."

"Borealis, freedom and your story first, then Atlantis."

"Borealis?"

"Another city ship the Ancients built."

"All the cities of the ancestors were destroyed during the war with the Wraith. Atlantis was their last stronghold before it sank beneath the waves. Everyone knows this."

"This one was only mostly destroyed, we resurrected it," Dixon explained before quietly adding. "Mostly."

He turned back to Cadman. "What's the status of the other teams?"

"They've secured the facility and are freeing the prisoners. They're a little edgy but seem to be going along with our people without complaint."

"Tell them to switch to particle magnums, stun setting only. Oh and tell them to watch out for fly traps."

"Yes, sir."

"As'Arif you're with me. I need you to spread the word to these people that we are not here to hurt them, quite the opposite in fact. Oh and I'm Colonel David Dixon by the way."

"Nice to meet you Colonel. Please lead the way. I am eager to see the sun again."

As the group of three travelled through the myriad of corridors to the surface they encountered many different aliens. As'Arif only spoke a few words of their personal language it was difficult communicating their intent, but eventually they were able to pass along the message that the armoured humans, along with the occasional Asgardian, were here to help them. As'Arif was proving to be a wealth of information on the various species imprisoned in the Zarasian facility. Quite wisely, the Zarasians had thought to mix the aliens so that there was an equal number of the different species in each section. This made it more difficult for any resistance to be organised since communication was limited at best and the different aliens didn't interact much with those outside their own species.

This meant that a single section of the prison held examples of every species within the facility. As'Arif, however, was naturally inquisitive and had made observations about his fellow inmates and attempted to learn what he could about them. Most likely he had been bored and this was the only way to entertain him. The Zarasians, after all, weren't known to hand out magazines for prisoners to read.

Slowly, they traversed the corridors, with As'Arif stopping occasionally to speak to the occasional member of his species or pass on assurances about the humans intentions to the other aliens. When they encountered a dead Reaper grunt for the first time As'Arif took particular pleasure in noting the substantial damage inflicted to them by the human weapons. After being imprisoned for so long it was undoubtedly satisfying for him to see his jailors laid low, and not in a gentle manner.

When they finally made it to the surface structures and emerged into the warm sun As'Arif's lidded eyes, an attribute gained through evolution that was not shared by his Earth cousins, went wide at the sight before him. Through the haze of dust, thrown into the air by the numerous explosions, and smoke, generated by the numerous still burning fires dotted across the landscape, you could make out the remains of the once extensive facility beyond the breached perimeter walls. What had once been sturdy, and well built, structures of a sprawling industrial zone had been reduced to a tangled mess of burnt, twisted metal and shattered stone. The bombardment had been so fierce that it was practically impossible to determine what had once stood here.

To As'Arif such destruction of that which his captors held dear was a visual feast. He marvelled at the ruined factories and shattered towers, noting with delight the skeletal remains of small ships that had either been brought down in the attack or never left their docks before they were turned into scrap.

"How long do you think until he notices it?" Cadman asked.

"Hard to say, since he's enjoying the view so much," Dixon replied. "Call in some transports to get these people onto Borealis. We can use the onboard stargate to get them off this world."

"Where do you want them sent to?"

"Concordia."

"Sir, are you sure that is a good idea?"

Knowing Cadman to be an Atlantis veteran he knew what her concern was and his answer was shaped accordingly. "Security on Borealis is state of the art. Before they even step through the gate they'll be scanned multiple times to check for any transmitters, implanted or not. Davis will be thinking the same thing as you Captain and will be keeping an eye on them, I guarantee it. That thing is built like a monument to paranoia. You make one wrong move and you'll find yourself caught between multiple force fields with a gun turret pointed square at your head. And heaven help them if they try and cause trouble on Concordia. Those arcologies may seem benign but just because you don't see the internal defences doesn't mean they aren't there."

Cadman raised an eyebrow. "Asgard designed?"

"Asgard tech and a design based on human paranoia."

She cringed. "Ouch." She tapped the control screen built into her gauntlet, opening a channel to Borealis. After an exchange of confirmation codes to signify her command authorisation transport craft began to descend from the fortress floating above the prison.

At the sound of the gentle whine of the crafts sublight drives As'Arif turned and finally caught site of the marvel of engineering he had previously failed to notice. Floating majestically, several thousand feet in the air, was the glimmering form of Borealis. Several hundreds of million of tons of pristine metal suspended effortlessly in the sky for all to see, to marvel upon, and marvel As'Arif did.

"Is that?" he hesitantly asked.

"Borealis, sister to Atlantis," Dixon answered. "She's really something, isn't she?"

As'Arif's look of wonder twisted and warped into one of disdain. The reason why was not lost on Dixon.

As'Arif's response was deceptively calm, but had an edge that hinted at a concealed fury. "How can she be a sister when she looks so different to what the legends tell us Atlantis looks like? Where are the towers? What have you done?"

Dixon had been expecting this reaction and had prepared and appropriate response.

"As'Arif, calm down. When we found Borealis she was a wreck. The central tower was on the verge of collapse and the others had long since fallen. The city had crash landed leaving most of it completely underground. The Ancients had chosen to abandon it and for good reason. It took a long time to excavate what was left, and even after that the only thing left that we could save was the snowflake base. Without the schematics we couldn't restore what was lost, so we did what we could. We repaired the engines and the rest of the base section and then built on top of it. We brought Borealis back from the brink and gave her teeth."

As'Arif just stood there, staring at the phoenix reborn from the ashes, processing everything he had just learned. Eventually, after a few agonising minutes of silence with Cadman anxiously fingering her side arm, ready to stun a potential hostile, As'Arif gave them a predatory grin. "Teeth?"

Dixon chuckled. "We made sure she has formidable defences and enough firepower to make anyone think twice about taking her on in a fight. Her guns levelled this whole area and the shields weren't even scratched."

"Impressive," As'Arif hissed approvingly.

"Glad you like it."

As'Arif took note of the transport craft beginning to land within the compound walls. "Where are we going now?"

"You'll be taken to Borealis. Once there we'll get your people transferred via stargate to a safe world of ours where most of the galaxy's population currently resides."

"And what are the people of an entire galaxy doing confined on a single world?"

"They're under our protection from the Zarasians, and ideally we would like you to remain there for the duration of the conflict."

"And if I and my people wish to fight instead of cower behind others?"

Dixon sighed. "Unfortunately that's not my call to make."

"And if it were?" As'Arif asked persistently.

Dixon decided to keep his cards close to his chest. "I'll talk to my superiors about it."

As'Arif nodded in understanding. "Thank you, my friend."

Calium – Capital City

The chess game, being played between the allies and the Reaper known as Red Eyes, and where every piece on the board represented a life, was beginning to reach its final stages. Having withstood the initial aggressive opening moves of the allied forces and launched his own counterattack, Red Eyes had conceded that air superiority and the other islands had been lost to him. Thus he had consolidated his forces and re-positioned them to where he was strongest. A direct confrontation was simply out of the question, that option had been explored in its entirety when he had been forced to push through the defensive line in order to bring in further forces to this island. He also knew that while a direct confrontation was out of the question victory was also off the table. He simply lacked the forces necessary to destroy them completely and their current activity suggested they intended to eventually retreat as soon as possible. In which case, even if he wiped them all out, they could simply destroy the island from orbit and there would be nothing he could do to stop them. As his human masters would say in their more colourful moments, he was well and truly screwed.

Records, however, indicated that the ally's strategy would be to rescue as many humans as possible, which presented a tactical vulnerability that could be exploited. Just because he couldn't destroy them outright didn't mean he couldn't inflict as much damage as possible before he finally went down. A strategic victory is an excellent substitute for an actual victory if you are looking at the bigger pictures.

His data indicated that the allied ground forces had set up defensive positions around, what appeared to be, transport points, which were being utilised to evacuate civilians. They most likely felt secure. It was time to rattle them up, and make use of the local resources.

They wanted to protect the citizens of this planet from harm. It was time to see how determined they were to stick to this code of conduct.

He had some special units at his disposal but not enough for his current needs. It was time to do a little recruiting

In a more suburban sector of the city a family of four were gathered together with a crowd of others, hiding out in the basement of an apartment building, waiting for help to arrive. From the small window, letting in the only light from above, they could almost here the sounds of battle in the distance.

Two young children, a boy and a girl, not yet beyond the age of ten were asleep in their mother's arms. That gentle contact being the greatest source of comfort and safety that any child could know. Their father, standing close by, shared a look with his wife, offering her a fleeting smile of hope, that they would survive this ordeal. She smiled back and her husband, while subconsciously holding her children closer to her.

The silence in the basement was deafening, no one said a word. What small children there were amongst the gathered mass had long since fallen silent, the trickle of tears having run dry. There was nothing more to say, no more questions to ask that hadn't already been unanswered. There was nothing they could do now but wait for help to come. They all knew the situation out there. Their home, their city, was under siege. People who they had never even met before were out their fighting for them. They could only hope that they won.

The silence was broken by a frantic, but subtly rhythmic, beating on the basement door. A door that had been locked and bolted shut since they had, by unspoken consent, all come down here.

"Let us in," said a gruff voice on the other side.

No one moved toward the door, quite the opposite, people backed away.

"We're here to help, let us in."

Still no one moved toward the door, but one person was brave enough to ask the question they were all thinking, "Who are you?"

"Friends, let us in."

"What do you want?"

"To get you out of there."

Something about that sentence struck them as odd. The phrasing, the use of the word there, when most people would say here. As if the person saying the word wasn't right there with them. As if the other side of that door was a world away.

"Open the door," the stranger said.

Several men gripped wooden and metal clubs tightly at the lack of urgency in the stranger's voice. Something here was wrong, very wrong. Something about this whole thing sounded bad. What they didn't know was that the really bad sound was the one no one had really noticed, the repetitive click, click, click of metallic feet against stone. It wasn't until the first outcry that people finally turned around to the only other entry point that no one had been looking at, with their attention focused solely on the door, the narrow basement window.

Pouring through the open window like a metallic tide was a swarm of robotic centipedes. Each one was made of a dark metal and had multiple menacing, glowing red eyes. Zarasian stringers!

The source of the outcry was a man standing closest to the window. A stringer had leapt onto his back and multiple metallic bands were constricting around his chest as the wires burrowed into the back of the unfortunate individuals neck. As he collapsed to the floor his body began to spasm uncontrollably. He was only the first.

People fled back away from the approaching swarm as several more people became victim to the stringers. In the ensuing panic no one noticed the door to the basement suddenly gained a sizeable hole at the base, or the multiple metallic orbs that rolled through said hole. The orbs uncurled but the stringers, remaining unseen for now, simply climbed up the walls in anticipation, waiting for the right moment to strike.

Several men, each armed with simple club like weapons, had moved to the front of the crowd, putting themselves between the crowd and the approaching tide of stringers. Any that attempted to get close to the still standing people were swatted like insects. Those that attempted a more aerial approach were sent flying back, shattering into piles of components from the force of the blows and the impact with the far wall.

These men were focused solely on stopping the approaching horde, which was why they never noticed the threat massing behind them. These men had been determined to be the biggest threat to their mission so they were the first to fall as the stringers leapt. Suddenly the dwindling crowd found themselves under attack from both sides. Those that had turned to face the new threat found themselves falling prey to the first one.

The mother of two held her trembling children closer to her, shielding them with her arms, as the battle between man and machine grew ever more frantic. For a time she held them off, the need to protect her children giving her strength. Suddenly in front of her stood her husband. She froze, she had seen him fall protecting them moments ago, but it was that moment's hesitation that was her downfall. With the strength of man possessed her husband grabbed their children pulling them away despite her frantic struggles, tossing them into the writhing mass of bodies and centipedes littering the floor. Within moments the centipedes were on them.

As he reached for her she looked up into the eyes of the man she loved, eyes she loved to stare into constantly. But to her these eyes were the eyes of a stranger, hollow and empty, completely devoid of emotion. As this terrifyingly familiar stranger descended upon her and her children writhed on the floor in agony she did the only thing she could think to do, she screamed for help.

No one answered.

It was done. Red Eyes now had the additional foot soldiers he required. Now he need only arm them and they would be ready. That would take time but for now there were other moves he could make.

He had many more pieces on the board besides those he had captured and enslaved. It was time to use them.

With the fighting at the docks now over the Titans had moved into the myriad of streets and back alleys that made up the Calium capital city. Most were travelling individually, the thinking being that they were powerful enough on their own to take on most threats and help was never far away.

Red Eyes knew this and was capitalising on the fact.

They came out of nowhere, moving at high speed. By the time they were close enough for sensors to detect them, despite the jamming signal each was generating, the behemoths were upon them. Heated claws tore through vulnerable mechanised joints and into the now exposed and vulnerable occupants.

Nearly two dozen Titans fell in a matter of minutes before they realised what was happening, but Red Eye's war of terror had only just begun.

Sometimes psychological warfare requires a personal touch, a little reinforcement with emotion. Which was why, when Red Eyes appeared in front of Ullr and Thor as behemoths moved to surround them, he wore a sinister grin.

"Greetings Asgardians. I am Red Eyes. Tell me, do you fear death?"