The castle and the Arendellians living outside of its walls had experienced a glimpse of warfare for the first time. A roar of cannon fire shook the buildings to their very core but that was now over. It was a surprise how relatively quick Prince Hans' navy had not dared to storm the docks but a relief in itself. Their departure to the North was a concerning affair as the young monarch brought those she had encountered into her father's study.

Colonel Mel'nikov's presence was assuring given his background as a military officer. After all, it was his planning alongside his compatriots that gave the defense for the kingdom's heartland. They all surrounded the table - which was now covered in a collection of maps, drawn-up battle plans, and notes. "Klebnikov has told me that the enemy fleet has pulled away from the range of our guns and is heading north as we speak. The Mayflower is still out there but has run out of torpedoes to do any significant damage. So the best it can do is relay coordinates of their positions for us. They may try a landing so we got to be quick about it."

"Iduna, why haven't you told us that you were in the middle of a war," Spoke the old Northuldran woman as she stared at Elsa's parents, "It would have prevented my people from walking into danger."

"Not her fault. We wanted to maintain some form of order and prevent panic throughout the kingdom."

Yalena let out a deep breath before staring at the maps. She looked at the unmarked regions where Northuldra would be. "Based on what I am seeing, you don't have any grasp of the geography there."

"Yes," The commander of the Polis Rangers acknowledged before stealing a glance from the Arendellian royals, "Unfortunately, we're working with whatever maps the locals have on hand. Not great, not terrible."

"So it would seem."

The queen looked around at her makeshift council to see Lieutenant Mathias in deep thought as his hand scratched his beard. "If you need any assistance, perhaps the Northuldrans can help with that. They know more about their country than any of us in this room."

"Are you implying that I would offer my services to these men?" The elder suggested, "That is for me to decide if this conflict is even in my people's interest."

"Apologies but this is my kingdom you are talking about."

Elsa recognized some of the tension there and hoped an explanation of the events would help ease her conscience. "The Prince of the Southern Isles asked for my hand in marriage but it was a ruse to take my throne once he… disposed of me and my sister."

"Oh," She realized as the woman relaxed the tone in her voice, "Well, we will gladly help then. I need to leave immediately and speak with my people then."

The leader of the Northuldrans had immediately departed from the room while the others remained to shape the battle plan. Before Yalena stepped into the hallway, Elsa saw her mother exchange a quiet conversation among themselves before the door was closed shut.

Colonel Mel'nikov took control of the conversation and continued, with his finger tracing the capital of Arendelle alongside the small trails leading into the north. "Artyom will lead in my stead the Rangers of the Spartan Order, OSKOM, the factions of the Moscow Metro, and the rest of his collection of fighters as our quick response force. If our observation posts catch any sightings of a landing zone, he'll be the one to perform delaying action for the rest of our forces."

"With all due respect, I do not agree with this," Prince Vaska Dolokhov answered with a hand resting on the hilt of his sword, "I must protect the heir of the Russian throne and it would do me no good if he is in the thick of the fighting."

"I understand but he's one of the few Rangers I trust to make this work. His experience in managing forces of that scale is too valuable not to make him a leader. I don't have time to contact my comrades back in Polis. If you're worried, why don't you join him?"

The Russian nobleman nodded his head in approval as he crossed his arms. "That will do. I'll bring my regiments and horse artillery to support his efforts."

"With that dealt with, Klebnikov will be waiting for the helicopters to return. He'll be preparing his men for air assaults," The commander stated, "At the same time, I'll be with my heavy units trying to pave a way to reach the base camp near the Arendellian-Northuldran border. Hopefully, we can make it there and stop any advance from Hans."

"This plan seems to work."

Everyone turned their heads towards the queen of Arendelle as she blushed at the attention. Part of her felt lucky she had these soldiers working with her; however, the problem she had was her place in the grand scheme of things. What could she do to improve their current situation? An idea popped into her head now that she remembered that Northuldra would be a possible battleground. Her latest adventure in those lands had her encounter the spirits of the forests and now they could help change the tide if she had called upon them for assistance.

"I'll accompany Artyom to the north. The spirits of Northuldra could help us if I'm there."

The former king of Agnarr was quick to disapprove of the notion. "Elsa, you would be placed in immediate danger. Perhaps you should stay here with us?"

"Definitely a risk," Colonel Klebnikov replied after being silent throughout the whole discussion, "If the stories about her ice magic are correct, she could even the playing field for us and we need it as much as possible."

"It's dangerous."

Elsa looked at her father and began to comfort him. "Let me go. I need to do this, for Arendelle and Northuldra. They need me."

"I was afraid you would say that," He answered and walked to her mother's side, "but I cannot stop you if you're insistent."

"Maybe Anna should come along too? She'll help sort things out at the base camp."

Her father did not share her optimism. "I'm not sure, you'll be too close to the fighting."

"It's okay. I won't be alone," She assured him before thinking of a good excuse to justify the company, "If I have to, I'll bring Lieutenant Mathias and the royal guard to accompany me while I'm there."

"Lieutenant, are you still able?"

The old warrior of Arendelle smiled with his hands behind his back. He straightened his back with pride. "Worry not, your majesties. I will not fail you."

"Very well then," Her father acknowledged as he nodded his head in approval, "Just stay safe."

Grandpabbie had expected many things on this auspicious day but war was not one of them. Now that the Kingdom of Arendelle was under attack, the old troll didn't know what to do. The affairs of humankind usually did not concern him unless it was related to magic and even then, he would try to keep magic away from people lest the power attracts those undesirable. Still, he had to decide concerning the situation.

What should he do?

Trolls were not renowned for their martial prowess but their natural understanding of magic. This situation was beyond anything his wisdom could conjure out and yet, he had to do something. What could he do to help this neighboring kingdom from being conquered? There was nothing he could offer and part of him hated that he wasn't being helpful.

"Grandpabbie?"

He turned around to find Kristoff and Sven present. This adoptive member of his family had surprised him and broke the concentration in his thoughts. Perhaps he'll come up with a decision after he spoke with him? "My boy, do you have something to tell me?"

The young man stole a glance from his reindeer that had been attached to the sled. Then he knelt beside the troll. "I'm going down there to help Arendelle and the Russians. I would like to have your permission to let me go."

"You're going down there?" This was a genuine surprise for him and he wanted to know why. "It's a dangerous task and you two might get hurt."

"I know but the Russians saved my life and if it wasn't for me, Prince Hans would have taken Arendelle already. It's the right thing to do."

That last sentence made Grandpabbie realize his adoptive grandson had already decided for himself. It was his blessing to go down there that he wanted. He would grant that but not without some form of assistance. He reached into his mossy shirt and produced red crystals for the young man's eyes.

"What's this?"

"These are red crystals," He began. This would help him and Sven avoid the dangers of war, "When you are caught in battle, crack one of these apart to give you great speed but also fortune to avoid the dangers. There is not much I can do to help the kingdom beyond that."

Kristoff hugged him and laughed. "No, this is good enough. Thank you."

"Stay safe, we hope for your return."

"I won't let you down."

Grandpabbie let go of the human with a bittersweet smile. "Go now, they will need you."

The young man ran towards Sven and the sled with great haste. Upon taking his seat, he grabbed the reins and quickly took the path down to the castle and its people below. Perhaps this would be his gift for the royals?

The Mi-24 returned to the landing zone as the taste of victory was in full swing. Artyom rested by his position as a door gunner and watched the rest of the attack and transport helicopters follow them back. The town had received its share of destruction where one can trace the impact of the cannonballs. Fortunately, it seemed like the population was fine with their current situation as the helicopter made its touchdown. Soon the Polis Ranger heard comm chatter amongst the pilots and he turned his head to see. "What's going on?"

A pilot sitting on the left side had looked over his shoulder while remaining in his seat. "Colonel Mel'nikov is ordering you to be in charge of a quick response force to the north. So that means both of you have to dismount while they prepare the force together."

"What about you guys?" He wondered, curious about the fate of the pilots he rode into battle with.

"We're going to get resupplied, refueled, and repair anything critical." The pilot answered as he looked towards his instruments, "You two dismount."

Pavel tapped Artyom's shoulder and gestured outside. "Let's go."

The duo exited the aircraft with their gear but before they could do anything, Uhlman and Roman stood ahead of them and signaled for their attention. What did they have in store for them? They approached them before the other Ranger stepped forward to greet them. "Artyom, it's good to see you in one piece. I pray that you and your comrade gave them the belt."

"Two belts," Corrected the communist, "What's this all about? The fleet?"

He nodded his head as he pulled out a lighter and cigarette. "Yep. The survivors are heading north and we're going to squash any landing before they consolidate. You two should get a bit of a break while we get the horses ready for our merry band of strangers."

Artyom began to wonder what he meant by that. "Who is coming with us?"

"I can't believe I'm saying this but we're getting soldiers of the Fourth Reich, the Red Line, Hanza cooperating. Then there's OSKOM, a few guys from Vladivostok, Roman's people, the imperials, and the Arendellians."

"Funny," Hearing that those people would be fighting together was perhaps the amazing part after twenty years in the Moscow Metro, "To think someone would get the Reds and the others to stand together, who would have thought?"

"War makes for strange bedfellows. Come, there's a bakery ahead and I haven't eaten and this might be my last meal."

Four soldiers traversed through the town as the locals welcomed their presence, often cheering and saying their thanks. It was a nice feeling to have since the last time Artyom had been thanked was when he was at Paveletskaya when the survivors learned he saved the son of their station commander. Yet, he also felt their expectations, knowing that he and the other fighters would have to win no matter the cost. The burden was heavy, but it was one that he gladly carried.

They entered the street and found the bakery around the corner with the aroma of fresh bread in the air. Uhlman sniffed the warmth from the oven and chuckled. "Let's see what they have in store."

Upon entering the entrance, the four soldiers were brought into a room full of bread but also sweets and cakes. The sheer number of treats that one could take was impressive, even for the souls who fed on mushrooms. Soon the owner stepped out of the backroom with his white apron on and smiled at the newcomers. "Greetings! I hadn't expected any customers today with all this fighting going on."

"Likewise, chuvak," Pavel replied as he walked over to a shelf full of various loaves of bread, "My comrades and I saw your shop and hoped we would get a decent meal before we get going."

"My apologies but we are no restaurant."

Roman was quick to speak. "Just something to snack on, we're not asking much."

"I know just the thing," The baker replied as he walked back into the backroom for a mere moment. Minutes passed as they waited but he returned with a metal container. He opened the top and passed the food over to the men, "Knäckebröd, I hope you all like it."

Artyom took a single bite out of it before taking in the taste of the crunchy snack he had in his hand. "Tastes good. I could bring it with me."

"So, who's paying? None of you are tasting a free sample."

"Well, shit," He realized as he checked his pockets, "I'll see what I have on me."

The door to the bakery opened as they all turned their heads to the newcomer. Prince Vaska had entered with his hand resting on the hilt of his sword and a pouch on hand. "It's on me."

He tossed it towards the baker, who was just as surprised as his customers, untying the string and taking a look at the contents. "Thank you, good sir."

"Gentlemen, I will be accompanying you alongside the hussars, dragoons, uhlans, and cossacks," The imperial stated as he adjusted his hat, "Hopefully, we'll end this affair on our terms. Isn't that, right, your highness?"

Confusion rose through the men in the room as Uhlman seemed to be their voice of concern. "Who are you talking about?"

"Artyom."

Pavel, Uhlman, and Roman turned their heads toward the young man. They were taken aback by the news as the Polis Ranger did his best not to express his embarrassment. "This is awkward."

"Hold up," Said Roman, "You're telling me that you're royalty?"

He nodded his head towards his companion. "It's a long story. Even I have a hard time believing it."

Pavel chuckled as he remarked on the moment. "A communist being friends with a queen, a princess, and a prince. Could life get any more stranger?"

"You won't hold that against me, would you?" He knew that Pavel's ideology disapproved of such concepts and part of him wondered how he would react. "I hope you don't take this the wrong way."

"How can I treat a friend of mine so poorly? No, if there is anything I have learned, you're not the royalty I should be worried about. Communism might be warning against men like that Prince Hans instead of people such as you or the royals of Arendelle."

Artyom was filled with relief when the officer of the Red Line patted him on the shoulder, assuaging any fears that their relationship would turn sour. It seemed that fortune was on his side, for now, but for how long? He never had the time to contemplate that thought when someone was knocking on the window.

Just outside the bakery was Martin the blacksmith. The middle-aged man had brought with him a sheathed sword as he made his way towards the door and entered the building. Prince Dolokhov stepped aside to let him through as he approached the soldier. "I had just finished sharpening the sword. It should be good as new."

"Thank you," The weapon was handed to him and the Polis Ranger partially unsheathed the blade to see the steel refreshed after its use in combat. It had surprisingly served him well. "Just in time as well, we will be deployed to the north."

"I've heard about that. It looks like I'm joining the main force and see to their disposition of blades."

Uhlman crossed his arms and leaned his back against the bakery counter. "You're handing out swords?"

"Yes," He answered as he stole a glance from Artyom's blade, "Just sabre briquets, nothing like his. Why do you ask?"

"I'm thinking about getting them. Though, my knife is still handy. Perhaps I should speak with Colonel Mel'nikov just so everyone in the order gets a sword."

"That is if you get to use them," Commented Artyom as he attached the sheathed sword to his belt, "Roman can attest to that."

Heads turned towards the man eating the knäckebröd before they heard him speak while he chewed. "Yep. You got some balls to do something like that with a sword."

"Looks like we'll have to see," The other Polis Ranger replied, "We'll have to see."

An animal barked outside as they turned around once more to find a wolf wagging its tail and its paws printing on the window. The baker expressed his worry as he grabbed his rolling pin. "What's a wolf doing out here?"

Yet, Artyom knew better as he walked outside the bakery to find his wild companion return to him. "Hey buddy, what are you doing here?"

He was drenched in water but that was the least of his concerns. The prince of the Southern Isles had been rescued from the sea as he watched the remains of his fleet head north. A chill rippled through his spine but he had to endure and see this invasion to the end. Shivering in wet clothes, one of his horse guards had approached him with a blanket as he stood on the deck, looking at the fearful eyes of those under his command. The terror of those machines still irked into their hearts but he had to find a way to bring their morale under control.

Saul approached him with an iron expression thanks to the current situation. "Don't tell me that was your plan all along? We didn't come all this way to get killed by some fucking helicopters."

"No, I still intend to keep my end of the bargain," Prince Hans answered as he stood on the edge of the ship and looked at the land in the distance, "If we cannot land in the fjord, then let us land North of capital."

"If we land too close, they'll catch us and it will be a slaughter."

He remembered the last conversation he had with Queen Elsa. All that commotion of a place called Northuldra. It was a foreign land, perhaps an unknown journey for him but he had to begin there if he had any chance of seizing the throne for himself. He turned around to see the worried eyes of mercenaries, bandits, and slavers. "We will land in Northuldra. That's where will gather our strength and make our way south to the castle. There, you will all earn your just rewards."

"I do have an idea that might interest you," The liaison from the Baron began, "Rather than concentrate our forces in one area, how about we spread out across the shorelines to cover more territory that way? We'll be too far North for any response force to be in our way."

It seemed like a sound plan. As much as he wanted to concentrate his forces, getting troops on land was paramount to the success of this invasion. There was a risk but it seemed preferable to being killed in a single moment. "Signal the other ships to begin landing when we've surpassed any familiar landmarks on the shore. Spread out and cover as much ground as they can."

Scouts had reported the sightings of Hans' fleet making a landing. Hearing the news had driven a strange array of troops into a frenzy of movement, where they mounted horses and speedily marched to the North. A menagerie of soldiers from Arendelle, Northuldra, and Russia had immediately departed with haste as the flags of their respective countries and units waved high above.

Elsa felt that she was becoming part of an epic story that her parents told her when she and Anna were children. These tales of swashbuckling heroes and magnificent princes, noble characters, and dastardly villains. Was it strange to think she would have one to herself? That kind of connection to the past felt relevant in these trying times as the queen joined the quick response forces atop the Nokk.

She was not alone as her sister tried to keep pace with her horse but it was difficult for a mere beast to match the enthusiasm of the elemental creature. It was not the only sentient element that had accompanied the queen as Gale flew above the soldiers while the Spirit of Fire rested atop her shoulders. As she continued riding, a thought occurred that a name should be given to the lizard, something adorable for a being that was an anathema to her ice magic. It would have to wait after the battle but hopefully, she would come up with the name by the end of the day… if they made it through.

What truly surprised her was the man at the head of this army. Artyom had been accompanied by a retinue of dozens of men as Prince Vaska rode by his side. Most of the men were officers of the imperial Russian military while the others seemed to have been from the young man's world. Pavel was among them, expressing great reluctance on his steed as they followed him to the north. Then there was a wolf following them unmolested by the others.

The queen looked over her shoulder to see her sister still trying to catch up but she called out to her. "Artyom is at the front. I'm going to join him."

"See you soon," Anna replied as her horse struggled, "You two have fun while you're there."

"Don't worry, I'll come back for you."

Her sister nodded her head. "I know you will."

The Nokk quickened its pace surpassing those that came before it. Elsa stole a glance from the rest of the army as they seemed to be in awe at the sight of her. It was strange to feel so many eyes gaze upon her despite being so used to this many people. The coronation should have killed her fear of being in the public but there were still ghostly reminders of the past that rose. Still, the queen of Arendelle wouldn't let that spoil the moment she was going to spend with her love.

Artyom was caught by surprise when she arrived by his side while the army continued to ride out in force. Her leg was barely touching his as they followed the trail that once led them to the base camp. The first thought on her mind was how he felt after attacking Hans' fleet. "How was the attack on the ships?"

"I feel like we could have done more," He stole a glance from her before looking forward, "If we did enough damage to their ships, we wouldn't have to be riding out into the hinterlands."

"Don't be too hard on yourself. This is better than I could have expected. Prince Hans could have landed on the docks and the capital would suffer the worst of the fighting."

The Polis Ranger shook his head. "I don't know. This is perhaps the first time I've had to admit it but I'm afraid of what's going to happen. The battle is beyond anything I've experienced, which is a lot."

"Then don't worry about the fighting ahead," She assured him, "Think about what we can do afterward."

"Get married to the love of my life and be with her forever."

That sentence alone had stolen her breath away as he reached for her hand and gently clasped his palm with hers. Thinking about his love for her had warmed her heart while her gut felt like it was full of butterflies. She appreciated the tender moment backed by the everlasting conviction in an honest soul.

A hussar behind them had pointed his finger toward their left flank. "Rider!"

The Fifth Spirit and the Stalker turned their heads towards the newcomer. There was a silhouette of a rider seen among the trees, his horse galloping past trees and bush to intercept the leading elements of the troops. Yet, Elsa recognized a red bandana of a rider as Artyom fully acknowledged the stranger's presence. "He's friendly."

"Slow down!" Ordered Prince Vaska Dolokhov from behind, "Save the strength of your horses when we get there."

"Khan, what are you doing here?"

A chill ran down Elsa's spine ever since her previous encounter with the old man; however, his intentions had been honest and helpful so far. Despite that history, there was an aura of genuine fear that remained even after Khan stopped being a mere acquaintance. "Are you here to join us to defend Arendelle?"

"No," He answered as his horse remained impetuous amidst the conversation, "I'm just here to give you some news. The fleet has decided to land but has done so across the shores of Northuldra. There are many landing sites that you have to deal with but a sizeable amount have been landing in the north, the rest are there to delay your advance."

"You saw them? Where can we deal with most of them?"

The mysterious old man nodded his head. "They're north of the dam but it will be a matter of time before they march together."

"Can we trust this windbag?" Prince Dolokhov wondered as he rode up to the side of the royals, "We can't make a decision just based on his information."

Artyom turned towards the noble and spoke. "I know this man long enough to trust him with my life. If he says they've landed where they landed, I'll take his word for it."

"As you wish, your highness."

"Are these smaller landing sites too important?"

Khan shook his head. "They're just delaying troops but you can spare forced for defeat in detail but that would require you to split your forces up."

"Alright, we'll go with your information," Soon the Polis Ranger looked towards Vaska and his retinue while Elsa watched, "Queen Elsa and her sister will return to the base camp and deal with these forces as they wait for the main force. The rest of us will head north and meet the enemy at the dam!"

If they were going deep into the lands of the north, she needed to provide her assistance. "Artyom, before you go, take some of the Northuldran guides with you. They'll know the trails."

"Thank you. Anyone, I should know in particular?"

"Look for Honeymaren," Elsa answered, "She's an acquaintance of mine."

He nodded his head in approval as the army began to reorganize itself into two groups. The Rangers of the Spartan Order, the cavalry of Imperial Russia, and the rest of the post-apocalypse fighters began to move with haste while the Arendellians, the Northuldran warriors, and the infantry regiments had stepped aside to watch their friends and comrades depart for war.

She looked to the north to see the riders move with haste over a hill that was cluttered with trees. As they reached the top, Artyom and his retinue remain idle at the top while mounted troops rode past them. To see them flood up a hill should have been an awe-inspiring sight but Elsa could see the soldier's face look down upon her. His eyes were full of concern and perhaps silent regret that this might be the last time they would see each other.

When the last riders were past them, the retinue followed after them but the young Russian waited for a few minutes atop the hill to look at her one more time. Elsa watched as it almost felt like an eternity before he pulled the reins and turned his horse to the north. It shouldn't have been painful to watch but it was.

Khan brought his steed closer to hers as he too looked at the spot where Artyom was. "The love between you two has blossomed from becoming simple friends. I suppose some things never change. Do not fret, he will return to you, I guarantee that."

"You seem so certain he will," She replied as the queen focused her full attention on him, "How can you be so sure."

"Love is strong; yet, an underestimated source of power. You can terrify a man into fighting for your cause but when the opportunity presents itself, he will run. A man who loves will die for it and sometimes, a dead man walking can ensure he never finds a grave."

The topic seemed grim; however, it was calming to be next to him despite his unnaturalness. "That is quite the grim observation. Any more words of wisdom I should know?"

"Yes," He nodded his head before looking at her, "There might be a chance that Artyom and his comrades will destroy the dam. This is perhaps their best chance to do so as it will give you a chance at victory. There does come a risk that will affect Arendelle?"

"What makes you think they will destroy the dam and put Arendelle at risk?"

Now she was truly concerned about the risks that came with the destruction of such a building. "There is so much such soldiers can do and they'll likely be overwhelmed. So I wouldn't put it out of place for them to destroy it but if the dam is broken, it will flood the valley and wash away your home."

"We should stop them before they make that mistake," Realized the queen as the fear of a flood killing her people and loved ones was too dangerous, even for her, "I got to tell him."

"You worry but you are also fortunate in other ways. There will come a time when the spirits will call upon your soul but you must answer. It is paramount that you keep that in mind and listen to them. This is part of your destiny as the Fifth Spirit and to save your kingdom from the ruins of war."

She didn't know whether her heart found solace in those answers but Khan's calmness was enough to reassure her. Elsa didn't know whether to feel happy or tremble at the thought of making the mistake when her moment had come. Stealing a glance from the man, she couldn't help herself but appreciate his assistance. "Thank you."

"I suppose this is the moment where we part ways," Khan stated as he turned his horse around, "You are becoming the person who is no longer dictated by fear. I congratulate you on overcoming it."

The commander of the Spartan Order stood in front of the castle of Arendelle and stared at the number of armored fighting vehicles that have been gathered from the bunker complex's motor pool. This had been the largest fighting force ever consolidated since the nuclear war and it was all under his command. As the coalition troops rested on the cobblestone square with their equipment, an army of maintenance crews took to the vehicles, refurbishing them to the best of their ability. For the first time in twenty years, these machines of war would soon see the light of combat again after gathering so much dust in the darkness. Meanwhile, explosions erupted in the distance and from behind his back, a result of the demolition teams clearing the way for these vehicles to get to the north. T-72s, BTRs, BMPs, Vodniks, and BRDMs - these would be the armored fist of the main force when they would finally reach their destination.

As the preparations continued to be underway, Colonel Klebnikov stepped out from the sea of vehicles and soldiers. His counterpart from Novosibirsk had begun to strap on his helmet while his visor remained raised. The man stopped in front of him while Mel'nikov noticed a look of worry on his face. "Something wrong?"

"Observation posts in Northuldra are reporting multiple landing zones being initiated by hostiles," The OSKOM officer answered as he finished adjusting his helmet, "We should give Artyom and his comrades some additional assistance while we wait."

"I know but he has to make do with what he has."

He was placing a lot of trust in Artyom's ability to lead. Hopefully, the young man's experience in post-apocalypse Russia hadn't rubbed off on him. Yet, Klebnikov still had a point. Perhaps he should do more than wait.

"We still have our helicopters," The Spartan Commander stated as he hoped their swift speed would still be able to provide support, "We send them back in the air for interdiction. If we can inflict casualties upon any exposed troops in the water. We'll still bleed Hans' men before they have the time to consolidate."

"Then I'll have to relay that to my lieutenants."

One of the Polis Rangers ran up to him from resting soldiers with great haste. When he arrived in his presence, he straightened his back and saluted him. "Sir, maintenance says they're almost done."

"They're finished before we cleared the trail for them," Noted Klebnikov as he turned away from the rank-and-file and towards him, "How do we proceed?"

The commander took the moment to think about their situation. If they didn't clear the trail then they'll be slowed down by any remaining trees that haven't been blown up. Yet, the reinforcements were paramount in dealing with the enemy and salvaging Artyom from being outnumbered by the opposition. He would have to make do with what he had. "Gentlemen, it's a green light. Mount up and advance. If there's a forest in our way, we can crush it under our treads."

Artyom and his men were fortunate that their Northuldran guides knew their homeland better than anyone else. This place was truly alien to him with all of its trees and rough terrain making it difficult to navigate this many troops in a single path. As he rode his horse around the bushes and branches in this maze of a forest, following the small trails that carried him to the north, the young man felt the air grow colder and the winds howl past him. The temperature would match the aura of the bloodshed to come.

The Northuldran girl by the name of Honeymaren had led the group uphill and out into a clearing. Her assistance was fruitful as they reached the edge of a tree line and approached the edge of a cliff. She rode her reindeer forward as the Russian followed after her. They neared the edge on their mounts before she pointed her finger at the point of interest. A massive dam had been built, creating a massive valley in its wake while connecting the two opposing ridgelines if the Polis Ranger had ridden further to his right flank.

She stole a glance from him as she lowered her hand. "This is the dam built by the Arendellians. If your foes are this further north, they would have to pass through here if they want to reach the border in time."

"Thank you," He appreciated her efforts but there were still questions in his mind. They would likely have to destroy the dam to blockade any efforts to deal with any hostile troop movements. So another thought occurred to him as he considered other routes if the dam's destruction was successful, "Where would I go if I wanted another way around?"

"That water behind the dam is a massive lake so they'll likely take a long trek around it if they are to come around this side of the ridge. The terrain is much more dangerous there as the stone giants are much more active there. It would be suicide for them to make that kind of risk."

Artyom nodded his head in approval of her knowledge. Every detail mattered and he was going to take full advantage of it. He was taken aback when his radio echoed to life with Uhlman's voice on frequency. "Our guide has managed to bring us to the base of the dam. It's too bad that a nice place like this is going to get blown up. Artyom, I need you down here since you're going to play a certain role again."

His hand reached for the radio and clicked the button to speak. "Understood, I'll get there when I can."

When he released his hold on the button, Honeymaren spoke. "Going down? There's a trail to your left. It's an easy footpath if you're not afraid of heights but your horse is going to have to stay.

"Elsa made the right call to ask for your help," He dismounted from his horse before snatching his railgun hanging from the holster attached to his saddle, "Well, I'll be going."

A loud commotion occurred with Prince Dolokhov spouting orders. "Bring the cannons to the edge of these cliffs. I want a clear line of fire for any exposed positions on the opposite side."

"Vaska, what do you think of this?"

The Russian noble turned away from his men and rode his horse to the edge of the cliff. He gave a long look at the geography and the dam's presence. Then he looked at the young Russian. "You're going to need a lot to destroy this dam. I've already sent my men with powderkegs to your compatriots near the bottom. They should be planting them while we make our preparations."

"Anything else I would want to know?" Artyom wondered, knowing full well that he didn't have the time to run back and forth from the base of the dam to this very cliff. Every detail mattered, "I'll be heading down there soon."

"I'm sending the dragoons across the bridge to scout the area ahead. Should they encounter the enemy, they'll do what they can to delay their advance. Speaking of which, there they go."

He noticed Vaska's eyes shift towards the dam before the Polis Ranger looked over his shoulder to see mounted riflemen cross the dam with haste. Their horses were swift as their hooves made the ground thunder, a mere fraction of the force that had entered the north. Above the ranks of the riders, their regimental standard flew high for a brief moment while their number was lost in the forest across from them.

"Is that all?" The nobleman questioned as he rested his hand atop the hilt of his sword, "I'll have to manage the horse artillery while we wait."

There was never a chance to speak as Artyom noticed his wolf companion stand beside him and sit down. It was partially tempting to bring him along but the danger would be too great for such an animal. So he hoped the nobleman would be able to assist. "Mind taking care of my wolf and horse while I'm down there?"

"I'll see what I can do but no guarantees."

"I appreciate it," He somehow felt assured by that response as Vaska introduced himself to the wolf and began to reach his hand towards its mouth, "Good hunting, Vaska."

They nodded their heads before the young man departed from the arrival of the cannons. The trail mentioned by Honeymaren was steep and high but he was used to that. Flashbacks called back to him when he was climbing the tower at Ostankino. He should have been afraid of heights; however, the experience of that moment had changed him. Somehow, with everything on the line, there was nothing to fear except failure to perform his critical role in fighting Prince Hans and his men.

What was interesting was the few spots where one could hide behind the rocks and bushes. It would prove useful in the fight to come as the Polis Ranger continued to descend towards the bottom. Yet, he was gaining a closer look at the preparations at the base of the dam. While there was water seeping from beneath this massive construction, it was only less than a foot's height, meaning that one could casually stroll through the water without worry. This also meant that the dozen of men present were eagerly splashing water to bring powder kegs and explosives to the dam.

When the cliffside trail had ended, Artyom followed a group of men who were arriving towards the dam's base from a different approach with a wagon full of kegs of gunpowder. Soon the soldier's boots made contact with the low water, causing him to see the crusty mud on it get disintegrated by the current of the water. Hopefully, they wouldn't stay too long. "Uhlman, what do you have for me?"

A head turned from the men planting the explosives as the familiar face turned around and revealed himself. "Comrade Artyom, I'm glad you're here. We need to talk about the situation we have going for us."

"What would that be?" He wondered before stealing a glance at Pavel and Roman carrying makeshift Metro-made bombs near the kegs, "Do we not have enough?"

"A dam like this is bound to take a lot of firepowers to destroy but blow up the critical stuff, we'll flood this valley without question. Problem is that I had to make a request with Colonel Mel'nikov about using more than our bombs. Turns out the submarine we have has some cruise missiles, the same ones we tried to use on those Dark Ones at the Botanical Gardens awhile ago, you remember?"

He nodded his head at Uhlman's plan as he continued. What did he have in store for him and what did he mean by 'playing a certain role' when he radioed him?

"Well, we're fortunate that the target designator that you didn't get to use on the mutants can be used here. What we need to do is blow up all of the explosives at the bottom of the dam; however, the target designator will call in the cruise missiles to hit the middle sections. This will weaken the structural integrity of the building and force the top to collapse on itself."

The wagon of explosives was drawn near the duo as the more experienced man approached it and reached inside. A minute of rummaging later, Artyom's blood froze as he recognized the target designator and the tripod it came with. It was the tool he once tried to use against the creatures who tried to help him; yet, it served the same purpose but recontextualized into the current conflict. "Where do I need to place it?"

"Over there by the trail you came down in," His hand pointed past him, "I noticed the cover there. The rocks and bushes will provide you a place to hide from relative safety while you guide the missiles where they need to work."

"Turn on the laser and point at the target. Just like you told me to do before I went to Ostankino."

Uhlman smiled at the reference to the past and let out a chuckle. "I'm surprised that you would remember that. It means less work for me to bring you up to speed on that designator again."

A rider galloped from the opposite side of the shallow riverbank. He quickly approached the men as the duo turned their heads to see the dragoon return. His eyes were fraught with terror as he breathed heavily.

"Hey, why are you separated from your unit?" He wondered while walking up to the soldier's horse, "Take a deep breath before you speak."

The rider did as he was told before he slowed the pace of his breaths. "My regiment has encountered the enemy vanguard. They're having a small skirmish against their cavalry but it won't be long before the rest of their forces arrive."

"Good job, comrade, return to the other riders."

Soon the dragoon rode past them and rejoined their side while the aura of the situation changed with Artyom reaching for the target designator and taking it with him. "I'll set up my position, call me when you're done."

"Alright," He replied before reaching for his radio, "Any infantry near the dam, take up positions along the ridgelines and cover the demolition team. We're almost done with the explosives."

He turned away from his comrade as he wrapped the tripod underneath his left arm while his railgun rested atop the right shoulder. It was going to take a while to reach a suitable position alongside the trail as his boots climbed the incline. With the additional weight, it felt like he was climbing a mountain but the young man didn't let up as he continued up the slopes of the path.

The air cracked behind him in the far distance but it did not let up. He could hear the echoes of the gunfire slowly make its way towards the dam and the riverbed but Artyom hoped the preparations would be completed by then. As the trail became equalized in elevation, he saw a cluster of rocks overseeing his comrades below.

His railgun was placed on the ground as he began to set up the tripod amidst the dirt. He extended the legs out one-by-one but paused at the sound of hooves kicking up the ground while the third leg remained as it was. Stealing a glance at the top of the dam, he could see the Russian dragoons return from their engagement with the enemy. Then he hastened the deployment of the system by bringing out the last leg before planting it in the dirt beside the rocks. There were a few quick adjustments to the targeting laser as he pointed it at the center of the dam.

All he had left was the hope that they could succeed. "Please let this work."

Artyom reached for his railgun and checked what ammunition he had on him. There were two cases of ball-bearings he had available to him, which also meant that he had to count his shots before his Kalashnikov would have to come into play. Hopefully, it wouldn't have to come to that but even his fortune could only last for so long.

"In position," He whispered into his radio while resting the barrel of his weapon atop the geographic formations and laying down on the ground, "How are we on the ordnance?"

He heard Pavel's voice reply. "The wagon's moving. We got the last keg in."

One more look at the top of the dam to see the cavalry fully cross; however, there was a morbid sight to see the last few dozen horses follow without several of their riders. It was a bloody fate for such men but that was the reality of war. As the beautiful scenery became eerily silent, the soldier looked through his scope to see his comrades approach his side of the riverbed with haste. Each man was eager to get out of the open as their legs splashed in the water.

There was a radio from the covering infantry. "Contact, hostiles approaching across the opposite ridge and the left flank."

Artyom shifted his makeshift weapon towards the hostile ridge to see glimpses of movement in the trees. Yet, minutes passed as the enemy soldiers revealed themselves marching along the small trails in flamboyant clothing encased by armor. Then his head turned towards the left side of the riverbed to find regiments of cavalry riding swiftly towards the crossing.

"Cover us," Ordered Uhlman through the radio, "We're almost there!"

It did not take a shadow of a doubt for the post-apocalypse survivors to unleash all of their automatic fire across the ridge from their hidden positions. Enemy troops caught in the open became the first victims of this battle as the accurate rifle fire tore through their ranks with ease. While the infantry on the opposite ridge took cover, the enemy cavalry had the worse of fate as the stream of armor-piercing tracer rounds rippled over the demolition team and into their number. The riders and their mounts could do so little except flee to cover.

"We've made it. Thank fucking God!"

The exacerbation in Uhlman's voice was relieving before the cracks of musket fire revealed themselves on the opposite ridge. Clouds of smoke revealed the true positions of their shooters, allowing Artyom to repel. He guided his barrel towards a musketeer hiding behind a tree as he was reloading his weapon amid the smoke; however, it began to clear and reveal the torso of the soldier preparing to fire.

He pulled the trigger as the electrical discharge signaled the firing of the railgun with a single solid and superheated projectile flew across the way. A moment passed as the target was unaware of his fate before the young man witnessed the impact of the shot land in the abdomen and cause him to stumble onto the ground.

One down, many more to go.

Footsteps made their way towards his spot as his comrades joined him by landing atop the dirt. Pavel chuckled as he crawled beside him with his VSV in hand. "How are things up here?"

"Finally, got a kill," He answered before searching for another target and firing the weapon, "Are you here to spot?"

"No, but to make sure the designator is working."

A launch echoed from the left of the Polis Ranger, causing Artyom to see Roman let loose his crossbow, with the bolt flying towards the foes. "Bad time to call for IT support."

"Hey, that's my line!" Remarked Uhlman as he stood beside a rock one boulder away from Roman as he brandished his assault rifle and fired overhead, "Go get your jokes."

"Not the place and time for it."

Pavel seemed to have some sense to speak. "Shut, up I'm making a call."

He placed his weapon down as one hand held his radio and another had a pair of binoculars looking down on the dam.

"Mayflower, do you read this frequency? I say again, do you read?"

A heavily armored great swordsman was seen ordering the musketeers around but Artyom swiftly picked him off with another shot. He couldn't give them the chance to coordinate.

"Mayflower!"

Captain Baronov's voice had managed to get through. "You do not have to yell so loud. I heard you the first two times."

"I have the target designator ready. Do you have the missile launchers ready for deployment? We need to make this count."

"Of course I do," He answered at that moment, "Tom, take this key. We're going to turn it together. Make sure the laser is active otherwise we'd be wasting munitions."

Artyom knew what he meant by that as he brought himself onto his knees and adjusted the dial for the targeting system. A red laser shined through the battle as gunfire exchanged between the two sides. There was a sudden shift when cannons roared above before the balls smashed into the formations of the enemy. Yet, it wasn't enough as the infantry and cavalry began to pour in with greater numbers. Their hesitation was replaced with far more courageous souls who dared to storm their way across the river.

Pavel snatched his suppressed submachine gun and hastily fired away at the disorganized collection of troops. "Here they come, don't let them cross!"

The fighting intensified as the Russian troops intensified their volume of fire. Any of the Southern troops not killed had taken cover among their fallen brethren or hid behind the rocks when they reached their side of the riverbed. Grenades were thrown as the vulnerable were caught in the middle of the explosion.

"There's too many, we need to blow it."

Uhlman voiced his reply as he sprayed his assault rifle. "Shoot the explosives-"

The air cracked as Artyom turned his head and found his companion to be knocked back by a stray round. He fell and landed on the ground, groaning at the impact of the shot.

"Fuck! Blow the explosives, the missiles will do the rest."

Soon the young soldier knelt with one knee as his elbow rested atop his left leg. As he stabilized his weapon, the Polis Ranger focused on the pile of ordnance placed at the base of the dam. Artyom began to exhale and held his breath for the moment, waiting as the sway ceased and the sounds of warfare were drowned out by his patient line-up.

The crosshair rested on the target and so he fired.

Such a moment was rewarded when a massive explosion erupted with water and dirt being tossed into the air. Enemy troops crossing the river were taken aback by the firepower they had just witnessed while the riverbed began to rise. Desperation filled their eyes as their running slowly transitioned into swimming. Yet, the force of the ordnance knocked the target designator off balance and leaned off the cliff.

Pavel noticed this and tried to reach it; however, the tripod was out of his reach when it tipped over. "Shit, we need to realign the laser."

"I'll get it," Artyom ordered as he tossed his railgun to the side and ran towards the edge of the cliff. He jumped down and slid down the slopes while brandishing his Kalashnikov in hand, "Cover me."

Gunshots and crossbow bolts rain came from behind his back as the first wave of enemy troops to reach the riverbed noticed him. The musketeers fired at him but his descent was too quick for them to be accurate. Then came the great swordsmen and halberdiers charging out, clothes drenched in water. Unfortunately, the Polis Ranger was quicker as he fired short bursts at seven men who tried to reach for their kill. Their bodies slumped towards the ground before seeking out the fallen target designator.

He let his weapon hanging from his shoulder before setting the system upright and bringing the laser back on the dam. Then it beeped and an automated female voice spoke, "Signal acquired, homing procedure complete."

The technology to call upon an ancient weapon had come to fruition as the enemy infantry and cavalry stormed past the riverbed. Their blades were drawn as hundreds had hastily crossed the water for his very soul. Yet, Artyom did not think to run as his hands guided the laser towards the middle section of the dam. Pavel's voice called out to him from behind, "There's too many of them! Get out of there!"

A cuirassier rode his horse hard and past his fellow soldiers. The rider approached him with sabre in hand but as he closed the distance, the skies screamed in fire. Three missiles arrived overhead and incited confusion for the armies below, slamming their payload into the Arendellian construction with unrelenting fury. There was a slight pause as the building tried to remain intact but the sound of structural weakness was its last cry before it started to collapse.

Artyom knew what would follow as he reached for his assault rifle and held the trigger down. The rapid automatic gunfire sprayed into the puzzled rider and his horse before he snatched the designator and ran. As his legs burned from the exertion of his muscles, his head looked over his shoulder to find the enemy chaotically running after him.

It was too late for them as the dam's collapse unleashed a tidal wave of a lake onto those unfortunate to be in its wake. The great force descended into the valley while the soldier increased his pace to avoid becoming a victim. Cries for help and terror descended upon the foes behind his back but there was nothing to be done about them.

He returned to the cliffside where he fell off before Pavel grabbed the target designator out of his arms. "That's some ballsy shit, comrade."

Then he looked down to see the enemy troops that once tried to cross, swept away by a raging river. Their armor sunk into the current while the survivors returned to their side of the former riverbank. Their suffering did not end there as the Russian troops continually unleashed a barrage of gunfire and cannon balls at their retreat.

"Close call, I say."

Roman stood up and grabbed the railgun lying against the rocks before handing it back to the Polis Ranger. "Well, that turned out better than expected. Still, we should have sentries keep watch over this river. If the water lets up, they might be desperate enough to make another crossing or build a bridge."

"That's if we let them," Pavel replied as he began to pack the designator up, "Let's head back up. I believe this calls for a break."

The Spirits of the Forest called to her and the Queen of Arendelle answered. When the feeling of danger erupted, mental images of her kingdom being drowned entered her mind. It was warning her about the destruction of her home but the Nokk was eager to ease her concern. The magical stamina it carried was beyond anything she had to imagine as the spirit of the water speedily crossed the country of Northuldra. It had been difficult to make out any unique geological features to grasp a sense of direction but it will only matter once she finished saving her people.

Every time they came across a large body of water, the Nokk seemed to increase in its speed. It was a good thing that she didn't eat anything, otherwise, her lunch would have been found. Yet, she had to leave behind her sister and the others before time ran out to save what was so precious to her. They would understand when she would return but now was not the time to ponder such matters.

The Nokk encountered a deep ravine with a river at the bottom and somehow had the sense to leap into the air without hesitation. Despite the queen's experience with the spirit, it was still thrilling to yell in excitement about descending from incredible heights. Then a massive splash erupted when they landed in the water, drenching Elsa's clothes before turning to the right and following the river to where she needed to be.

They turned around sudden corners, shifting weight from one side to the other to minimize the turning time. She trusted the instincts of the spirit before she looked ahead to see the white foams and the thunderous waves approach her. The royal grabbed the frozen reins of her magical steed to make a stand against this threat. As the waves rushed towards her, the queen reached her hands out to unleash streams of ice to cover the rush but the force was too much for it. Her arms strained themselves as she reached further, only to feel her concentration come to fruition with a wave of force creating a massive wall of ice. From one side of the gorge to the other, the symbol of Northuldra was present and held up against the tide. Unlike her previous effort, this stopped the flood from making its way to Arendelle.

Elsa felt absolute relief at saving her kingdom from this fate before she leaned forward and petted the Nokk on its neck. "Thank you."

The spirit raised its head and began to trot in the water with pride.

"Let's return to Anna and the others. They'll want to know why we had to leave all of a sudden."

It responded with a nod before running up to the side of the gorge and defying the laws of reality. She held tightly to the reins as gravity pulled her down - the higher they went, the hard it was to keep control. The feeling changed when the spirit reached the edge and brought her to the leveled ground in the Enchanted Forest. Elsa breathed after taking in all of that excitement as the Nokk casually strolled past the trees.

The queen took the time to think; especially, when it came to Artyom and his men. Hopefully, they would be successful in repelling Hans and his army from her kingdom. It would be a shame if their efforts were truly in vain.

Silence filled the surroundings as the royal relaxed for a brief moment. It wouldn't be long before things went her way. Footsteps ran up to her from her left as heavily armored men with halberdiers and great swordsmen assaulted her. "Get her!"

Elsa was taken aback by the ambush as the Nokk turned to them and raised its back legs to kick at the perpetrators. Yet, this sudden change of events had made her fall from the saddle and onto the ground. She looked up to see a Landsknecht sabaton as his armored gauntlet reached for her.

Instinct took over as she sprayed ice onto his legs before rising from the ground. He was taken aback before pointing at her. "Watch out for the witch's magic!"

Two ran past him with their weapons drawn before the queen swept her hand towards the ground to encase the dirt in smooth ice. They were unable to approach her as they slipped and landed on their behinds. She shouldn't have giggled at the moment but it was comical to her. Then the young woman turned around to see a cuirassier mounted atop a white horse, coming after her. This was immediately intercepted by the Nokk, using its full form to smash into the body of the mount and the rider.

The unhorsed rider drew his sword and started waving it at the spirit before the Nokk come forward and step on him. It was a gruesome sight to see the poor soldier get trampled but they were trying to fight her.

She was about to call the spirit's attention but a hand with a piece of cloth had covered her mouth. Elsa tried to call upon the creature and it did not know while many men tried to fight it. Her captor dragged her away from the scene before a strange scent made her feel sleepy. Then she heard a distinctive Russian accent, "Bind her hands. Let's get to the prince before the horse sees us."