Scorpion watched as the Imperial soldiers dug into the ground where he said that he and his med had placed some 'acquired' EDF tech and weapons. Zorzal wasn't too fond of the idea of using EDF weaponry, and wanted to show that steel and blades were superior. But both his generals and Scorpion insisted that he used the weapons as it would place them on an even footing. While they wouldn't be able to outfit an entire army, they would be able to outfit a brigade sized unit to try and counter the EDF.

But Scorpion had his doubts. The former Cartel boss knew from experience, and practice, that even with their tech without training and experience, using EDF tech was only going to get them attention and little else. Even if he managed to train them up, the experience gap would be too far wide that they would get crushed, but it would take longer than if they still used swords and shields. But the man couldn't but smile.

He wanted out of the EDF for a long time. But it was next to impossible. Since the war, there was a mandatory military service order across the world for people at the age of 16 regardless of gender or ideology. While there were perks, like good pay, training for your desired trade or others, once you were registered as an EDF soldier, that would never get removed unless you were too old, too sick or dead. That way if something major happened, they could recall you. Effectively, the entire population of the planet from the UN council themselves to the street beggar was a member of the EDF in some way shape or form.

Scorpion wanted to get away from that. He wanted to get away from the organisation that destroyed his business, and he would show them what that meant to a former Cartel boss. A dull thud forced him to look to one of the soldiers as he dusted dirt off od the green crate he uncovered. A stylised blue eagle sat on the crate and Scorpion smiled as he walked up looking at the metal crate.

He turned to a runner. "Go tell his majesty, we've found the weapons he's been looking for," he said with a venomous smile.

OOOOO

"Storm 1 to ground, standby we are beginning attack run!" the pilot of the 5 plane wing said as they rapidly approached the mage city of Rondel.

"Understood," Itami said. "We have magical barriers up, no need to worry about collateral damage!"

"Hard copy," Strom 1 said.

Itami looked to the skies as he watched the forward swept combat planes approach. Several other wizards looked up with amazement and muttered to themselves about how such beasts could fly without wings, but the conversation died as a sonic boom echoed causing many of them to cover their ears.

"BRACE FOR IMPACT!" Itami yelled to the mages holding up the barriers.

They nodded and focused their concentration, making their staffs glow even brighter then before. The water-like rippling shield above them turned more solid as the planes came in for another pass, this time to unleash their payload onto the demon bugs below. Ever since the attack begin, Rondel had ben hit very vey hard by the alien bugs. But thanks to the EDF and mages, they were held back. But that was all they could do as they couldn't push them out. As the jets flew by they released their payloads. They broke open and separated scattering across the city. As soon as they landed, they didn't explode, they cracked opened allowing the chemical reaction to spew forth covering the city in a ball of fire. The flames engulphed the city, incinerating the bugs.

The heat was intense causing the EDF and mages to sweat, but it was quick as it only lasted for 20 seconds. Before dying down and leaving the defenders, more than a little toasty. Itami, Rory and Leiei walked up to the shield and looked out to see the ashes of the demon bugs. The flesh had been seared off the blackened bones. Several mages and EDF soldiers looked away and vomited at seeing the carnage. Not that they couldn't be blamed. Incendiary weapons, like the cluster munitions used, weren't widely used by the EDF due to the collateral damage they could provide.

Fire was indiscriminate, it would burn anyone if you weren't careful. That and there were also the Geneva conventions to consider. The mages dropped the shield allowing the clean-up operation to begin with Itami, Rory and Leiei helping out. But after a couple of hours, one of the EDF soldiers came running.

"Sir!" he yelled getting Itami's attention. "We got a call from Alnus command, it seems that the Empire has gotten their hands on some of our tech,"

Itami's eyes widened.

OOOOO

Scorpion moved though the Imperial soldiers as they moved though some basic drills. These drills were to get people used to wearing PA gear without tearing their arm off. In this case he watched them as they moved though sword, spear and shield drills. While a few mumbled, he instead on them working slowly. That way they could get used to the gear. He didn't walk too far until a cry of pain made him shake his head as he walked over to the person who was in pain.

It didn't take long for him to arrive to see what happened. One of the younger, headstrong soldiers ignored his ordered and twisted his arm in unnatural ways. Scorpion sighed as he walked up and shot the man in the face. He then turned to the soldiers around.

"What you are wearing, is no ordinary armour," he said. "It's a powered exo-frame that is capable of enhancing your strength, speed, agility and more. Without training, without discipline you cannot use it. And this is why!" he practically yelled. "Slow movements help for you to get used to the armour. Once you learn that, you can use it in battle but not before!" he then turned to someone. "Leave the body till the end of the day. Let this be a warning to all of them,"

With that he turned and walked back into the compound while the Centurions began yelling for the soldiers to get back to their training. Scorpion shook his head as he muttered something in Spanish as he made his way to his room. He entered before falling onto one of the better stuffed chairs in the room. He sighed as he relaxed and a slave walked up.

"What would master like," she asked.

"The strongest wine. Once you got that, service me," he ordered.

"Yes master," the woman said before walking out.

OOOOO

Sleena stood at attention in front of her commander with her new mistress next to her. He was looking over the report she had made as soon as she had gotten back as well as the report about her 'health'. As it turned Vampires still had a heartbeat, but were still susceptible to things like sunlight, which was why it was dark outside. While the scientists wanted to get their hands on her and run tests, the military came first as she needed to make a report about Demon bug activity.

Her mistress, Lady Venessa, was very cooperative with the EDF seeing as they needed to make sure that things went swimmingly. It was something she was used to. After all, after 500 years of rule, you needed to keep atop of the administrative stuff in order to keep the nation or military working. And being as hold as she was, you learned to wait when it came to things you didn't understand.

The commander looked up between the two before he set the report and sighed. "This is just…" he muttered while rubbing his eyes. "We knew we would find other mythological creatures here, but vampires? The public will go insane,"

"Why would they go mad?" Venessa asked.

"We have a lot of people who would just love to become a vampire, and those who would like to burn you at the stake," Sleena answered. "I am of the former rather than the latter,"

"Ah," was all the vampire said understanding what the soldier had said.

She knew what she was talking about, as she had met more than a few people who practically begged to be drained of their blood. And then these were those who burned her fellow blood drinkers at the stake.

"So, madam Venessa, you wanted to come here to talk about the Demon bugs?" the commander asked.

The vampire nodded. "Indeed. While they have not yet reached my domain, I do understand that my forces aren't enough to hold them off. Which is why I am here. I am an emissary for the Counts of the region. We are formally requesting EDF support to defend out territories from the Demon bugs,"

The commander nodded and leaned back. "Your regions are to the north, right?" the countess nodded. "That's should be simple. We have been planning excursions to the north to secure our north flank," he looked up with a smile "I'm sure we can work on an agreement,"

Venessa licked her lips. "I'm sure we can," she smiled.

OOOOO

The image in front of the UN council had put them into silence for the last quarter of an hour. Not one of them had any illusions that this wasn't what they suspected, and that was the major problem. If the demon bugs were building such a weapon, that meant a number of things, they didn't even want to consider. The image of the structure in front of them was a large four towered object with organic mass surrounding it. Parts that look like veins pulsed with something with the middle of the object glowed.

Organic mass surrounded the building with several oval like structures surrounding it. They had the appearance of eggs, but it was difficult to tell. Several larger towers, also covered in the organic mass, were places at spaced intervals around the central tower. These ones were clearly glowing with something inside of them. What, they weren't sure, but they were sure that they wouldn't like the idea.

Swallowing, the speaker stood. "Ahem, this image was taken 12 hours ago by a fighter wing doing recon into the Demon Bugs territory. Analysis has yet to be completed, but initial estimates show a more than likely possibility that this weapon is a genocide gun,"

Silence fell in the council chambers as they just stared at the horrifying weapon. Despite the silence, the speaker continued.

"It is put forth to the council for a plan to destroy this super weapon before it can be activated," he said.

Members of the council looked to one another before they hit something in front of them. A hologram appeared with a full green bar. Despite the silence in the chamber, it was clear to everyone that there was no interesting in letting this weapon exist for longer than it needed to. The speaker nodded and said nothing as the image changed to one of another recon pictures from a plane.

"This picture was taken a few days ago," he said. "We have been working to verify the information, but it seems that one of our own had hid supplies of EDF weapons and tech to use at a future date,"

"That's concerning," one of the Asian representatives said.

"Yeah…" the French representative said. "Do we have an identification?"

"We have a partial," the speaker said as the image changed to one showing a zoomed image and a profile pic of an EDF soldier. "The name is a fake, but we believe this man is a former criminal of the Cartels,"

"The Cartels?" the Mexican representative asked. "I thought that they were destroyed,"

"They were," The American representative said. "But some of them could have escaped and enlisted in the EDF. It's more than possible that they formed a sub group in the force to move tech and weapons,"

Several of the reps nodded. "Then it seems we have work to do," the Mexican representative said.