Back with another chapter as the battle gets underway.

But first...

Sokka: Death by Snu Snu indeed. Bozes just received one of the most expensive suits of armor in the known worlds and Taylor put Sergeant Tomita's name on the tag. Bozes is going to thank Tomita VERY richly I think.

Anyway, stay tuned. Read, review, and enjoy!

Chapter 54: Operation Drive-Thru Part 2

City of Sadera, South Gate.

"There it goes," Sergeant Moffit noted in hushed tones, spotting three quick flashes of red laser light coming from the guard post. "Let's move."

After a quick dash, the four men ducked inside. Four dead guards, three of them with a simple quick slash across their throats. The fourth had defensive wounds on both arms and a slash across his calf as well as a final cut across the throat. Dymphna shook her head with some regret.

"He musta got a glimpse of somethin'. I couldn't get a clean kill. May the gods keep the poor sod." Rather than looting the bodies, Dymphna and her companions opened a coin purse found on one of the men and placed silver denarii in their eyes, and gave a quiet prayer to Emroy.

Moffit nodded in agreement. "Alright, Garvey signal command that we've secured the South Gate. Will wait for instructions."

"Straight away..."

Outside Sadera

3rd Wing, Imperial Wyvern Corps: 'Rippers'

Junius fondly patted the side of Terpsichore. The big Horned Red female let out a contended growl, as close to a purr as the large reptiles could manage. Junius and Terpsichore had been partnered for four years now and Junius knew how lucky he was to have her. Not all Horned Reds were as even-tempered as Terpsichore and he'd seen a young male turn on an inexperienced rider. Junius smirked. Terpsichore was not only even-tempered but probably smarter than many of his fellow riders and certainly smarter than most of the generals and legates.

Today, after her breakfast of Ma-Nuga meat, they would practice some new air-to-ground attacks. Third Wing's commander was a forty-year veteran of the Flying Corps and was the first Wing Commander in many years to have come up through the Dragon Corps and not simply a ground forces officer with connections and had some definite ideas about remaking the Corps. So today, Junius and Terpsichore would be practicing dropping different weapons such as caltrops and flechettes and Junius would practice using a riding bow. Only Terpsichore's steadiness allowed him to even consider such a thing. He had some ideas for a crossbow rig he wanted to try out but they needed more work before he presented his ideas to his commander.

Glancing up, Junius spotted a patrol of wyverns from First Wing. In Junius's view, First Wing was all a bunch of 'show ponies'. They spent more time polishing their armor than they did polishing their flying, a pattern which hadn't apparently changed much, despite the virtual destruction of Second Wing between the Expedition and the battles at Alnus. Real information about what had happened was hard to come by but surely, pretending nothing was wrong was a bad way to handle things. Junius's own commander had privately admitted he did not know just what techniques might make any difference against the invaders but had ordered his men to increase their training tempo nonetheless.

It was hard work and the riders in Third Wing never got to be in parades or anything but Junius would much rather a day flying to any parade or triumph.

"That's a girl!" He looked up again. "It looks like it's going to be a good day for flying!" But as he continued to stare into the sky, something seemed off. Terpsichore seemed to sense it as well as she paused in her eating, staring upward. Junius began to rub circles on her flank.

"Easy.. easy…" he soothed, smiling a bit as the Horned Red resumed eating. Now if only he could calm the growing uneasiness in himself. He looked over to Marcellus, who was tending his own mount, Alecto.

"I've got a bad feeling. I think we should get our gear ready."

Marcellus, who had been paired with Alecto almost as long as Junius and Terpsichore, frowned "All right. Whatever it is, I think Alecto senses something too."

Not for the first time, Junius thanked the gods that Terpsichore and Alecto were female Horned Reds. They tended to have calmer dispositions than the males. Not that all females were calm or that all male wyverns were irascible but there was a reason that First Wing had a higher rate of handler and mount injuries. Though male Reds also tended to have brighter scale coloration, making them prettier 'show ponies'. Which, naturally, was why virtually all mounts in First Wing were males.

"You start rounding up our gear. I'm going to go find the Old Man."

"Going to tell him you got a feeling?"

"Going to tell him that Terpsichore and Alecto have gotten a feeling."

"Fair enough," Marcellus agreed. The 'Old Man' might not give two shits for their gut instincts but he'd been riding since before they were born and a Wyvern's instincts were a far different matter.

10,000 Feet Above Sadera

Owens looped around for another pass. His first targets were the anti-air defenses covering the west and south walls. Their first warning was when the predawn suddenly lit up and the spotting tower on the southwest corner fell over, leaving the defenders alerted to the fact that something was happening but with no understanding of what, leaving them in no position to respond effectively as another line of charges fell, destroying a ballista.

Pulling back up. Owens selected his next target. He was fairly anxious to complete this part of his mission before Saderan Air Patrols caught on and warned Desiree to be extra alert, silently thanking Heaven that she had come along. As a race capable of their own gliding flight, Dragonkin were almost impossible to disorient in the air. Her eyes were sharper than any human's as well and this made her the perfect spotter.

"Are we still clear?" He called back to her.

"Yes!" Desiree answered. "They're dropping low. Circling the fire."

"It worked this time. But they have to catch on sometime. We'll bank around and hit the second tower from the other side. Hold on tight," he called as he pushed himself to fly even faster, building up speed for the next dive.

Akusho District

Mizari had a way with command, Harrington admired as he watched her organizing the wagons needed to carry out the evacuation of the Pro-Peace Senators and their families. She spoke firmly, and concisely, and she knew exactly what each of her people were capable of handling. She was calm, assured.

She's damn magnificent! Harrington thought. He'd been spending the past few hours explaining the situation to their 'partners' in Akusho, having promised to alert them when any serious matters arose and this was definitely serious. The family heads had agreed to help supply wagons and their men were helping maintain security.

Most of them looked forward to the humiliation the Imperial Army was about to receive. It would have been better if it was Zorzal's Secret Police but as of late, any arm of Zorzal's regime was an acceptable target. Of course, they had been warned that there was always the potential that things could go seriously wrong and the fighting could end up spilling into Akusho.

In response, Growler had simply smirked.

"Let them come!"

Akusho readied itself for war.

JSDF 1st Combat Unit

Sergeant Ono Yaeko looked down the scope of her M24 sniper rifle in satisfaction. A mile away stood the command tent of the Saderan 53rd Legion, one of three Legions based just outside Sadera standing ready to defend the Imperial Capital and the one best positioned to attempt to interfere with the Allied thrust that was imminently forthcoming. That was why she was here. She and her spotter, Sergeant Ozawa had been carefully inserted by helicopter early yesterday evening. They had selected a small, nondescript hilltop from which they could safely and clearly observe the imperial camp below. And now, Yaeko patiently awaited the moment she could begin hunting her prey.

Prey.

She wondered if her instructors at sniper school understood just how literally Yaeko meant that term. Yaeko was from a very old clan that had long-held, long-guarded secrets, some of which she employed now.

This Legion was already effectively dead by her hand, she only awaited the moment to carry out the mechanics of that death, when she would cut the Legion's head. After that, the body would twitch and flail impotently and she would keep hunting them until it was time to go.

Training Barracks, Order of the Kestral, Sadera

Hadrian Sol Marus was already hard at work training at this early hour. While he was not naive enough to think his position as Cadet Company Commander was based solely on his own abilities and merits, he was determined to earn his place. He knew Cassieopiea would understand. So even though the instructors had given them all a couple of 'rest days', Hadrian had gotten up early, tended his gear, and then strode out to the training field to start his day's exercises. This morning he was joined by Aelred Du Mas, a boy his same age. Hadrian freely admitted Aelred's swordsmanship was better but Aelred just as readily admitted that Hadrian was the better in studies. The two had become fast friends, the lean Hadrian and the broad-built Aelred were almost inseparable.

"At least we won't have to put up with another lecture from Optio Venarus today," Aelred commented. "He gives the same speech every time! 'Unquestioning and unyielding faith and loyalty to the Empire are the cornerstones of victory'. My grandfather served for forty years and no one had to tell him his duty. And he can still swing a sword better than the optio."

"Ah! But what is the Empire?" Hadrian replied. "Is the Empire a man or a state or are they the same?" He quoted the words which his sister had asked him when he had described the optio's standard lecture to her.

"Let me know when you have the answer, will you?" They both laughed and resumed their practice.

JSDF 1st Air Brigade, 3rd Company, 1st Battalion.

Captain Nakajima faced his men, displaying more confidence than he actually felt. Of course, he had no more actual combat experience than they did, which was to say none, but if he had his way, they'd go in by helicopter insertion. Then again, captains did not question the wisdom of brigadier generals and General Takada felt that the sight of Japanese paratroopers descending on Sadera would have a paralyzing 'shock and awe' effect on the enemy.

General Hazama had expressed some reservations and opined that Takada was perhaps. underestimating their opponent. He also felt that Takada's selected drop zones were too close to the city walls. While no one was crazy enough to try a drop right at the wall of a fortified city, Hazama had felt the intended landing zone was still too close.

General Takada assured him that the risk was minimal and that his men would safely drop well clear of the enemy defenses before forming up and proceeding to the target.

And now Nakajima and his men would see if their commander's confidence was justified. He put on his best 'Game Face' and addressed his men.

"All right! This is what we have trained for. With attention to detail and firm resolve, we will accomplish our objectives and you will demonstrate that you have earned the wings you wear!"

Corporal Shizaki grinned fiercely. This was it!

"Up!"

Shizaki took a deep breath and stood up, suppressing a minor bit of nerves.

"Green light! Go!"

Shizaki followed the line, waiting his turn to jump. Finally, it was his turn.

"Go!"

Shizaki jumped. His chute opened and he and his fellow troopers descended, floating down toward the Saderan Capital below.

"Shit!" Nakajima swore as he saw the walled city looming larger. They'd misjudged the wind! Instead of landing safely miles from the enemy defenses, the air current was going to drop Nakajima's company down right on top of them. The next few minutes were the longest of Nakajima's life as he desperately tried to steer away from the wall.

Down on the wall below, Cadeus looked up in fascination as what looked like giant white flower blossoms bloomed in the skies above. He and several others stared up as if in a trance for several seconds. The blossoms floated down larger… closer as it sank in that these were enemy troops.

Enemies who were coming to kill them.

Cadeus shook himself, desperate to push away the descending enemy soldiers, he summoned up a gust of wind magic, unleashing a torrent of wind…

Corporal Shizaki swore as his chute was caught in a sudden gust. His gentle descent now ended as he slammed into the stone wall, leaving him dazed. Still, he was in better shape than several of his squadmates as their platoon was scattered. Some being blown over the wall, cut off. Others, still floating down as the first archers shook off their own astonishment and the first arrows were loosed upon them.

And for all this, Captain Nakajima counted himself lucky that day. For even as he hurriedly shed his chute and grabbed Sergeant Goto, pulling the injured paratrooper into the limited cover he could find, worse befell Captain Igitaki's 2nd Company which had dropped right behind his own.

Fixated on what was happening to 3rd Company, Corporal Nishimura did not see the pair of dragons dive into their ranks before a loud screech caused him to turn his head sharply to the left as one of the large beasts ripped through Sergeant Nagano's chute with razor sharp claws, collapsing it in a moment. Nishimura did not live to see if Nagano would be able to pull his reserve chute as the corporal was engulfed in Dragonflame. The two dragon riders pulled their mounts around for another pass…

"Shit!" Owens swore as he spotted the wyverns cutting through the defenseless paratroopers. "Choppers can't engage. They'd kill more of our own guys than the dragons." Owens was frankly pissed at whoever had dropped paras into this environment. He had performed this same exercise with his brothers in the 101st more than once and the results had never gone well for the paratroops.

Even as Owens banked around, Desiree saw the problem. Noting the dull color of the two large females. "My Lord! Breathe in deeply and roar with all of your fury!"

"What?"

"Trust me!"

"Okay…. Here goes nothing!"

ROOOOOAAAAARRRRRR!

Two miles south, Terpsichore and Alecto flinched at the intimidating sound of a very large, aggressive male. Instinctively, the two females turned away from the roar, interposing their bellies to try to protect their soft and fragile companions, and despite all the futile urgings of their riders, Terpsichore and Alecto raced south, hugging the ground, out of the fight.

"What was that?" Owens asked.

"Dominance call," Desiree answered. "They were females so their first instinct was to seek safety and protect their riders. If they had been male, then chances are they would have tried to challenge you."

"That doesn't sound great. But it worked this time! Thanks."

"Of course, my lord."

Then the glint of highly polished armor caught Owens' eye. "Uh oh… I think this is the other half of the coin. They're moving hell-bent for leather. Hang on tight!" Owens told Desiree and swung around to face the three male dragons racing toward them.

Down below, Captain Nakajima ordered cover fire as Corporal Shima carried an injured Lieutenant Hosegawa over to where Nakajima now had about a dozen men holed up. The 'plan' may have gone to hell but Nakajima still had a mission to do.

"Alright… " He pointed out six men. "You men come with me…"

To Be Continued