"The capital city doesn't exist anymore. It's ground zero for a catastrophe. The only thing standing is the enormous Fire Palace." Semmi sent the rest of the officers the scout team's findings.

/Inferno: Nix: Semmi, I want you to take Chael, Wind, Tess, and Sharl. Find the next in line for the Safarza throne and keep them safe.

/Inferno: Semmi: I'll do some research. According to initial estimations, the entire royal family and nearly fifteen thousand inhabitants have been vaporized.

/Inferno: Jun Li: What should we do Nix?

/Inferno: Nix: I want you to take the fleet to Safarza. Notify our Allies that we are deploying and that we expect them to support us.

/Inferno: Jun Li: And do what?

/Inferno: Nix: Create a blockade, Safarza may have enemies that are looking to move in. It's possible that Sogon has allies, he's strong but he must have someone standing with him. One Salamander can't stand against Colonial.

/Inferno: Sharl: What are you going to do?

/Inferno: Nix: I'm going to take Shae, Rhylia, Fajii, Milat, and Pon, then we're going to kill that f*cking creature.

/Inferno: Jun Li: All teams report to your designated ships immediately.

/Inferno: Nix: After the 1800 ferry leaves, I want all non-combatants to return to the Sea-World. Wylie, I need you and all your Knights on the walls.

/Inferno: Wylie: Yes, Commander.

/Inferno: Nix: I'm going to leave Banz with you, and a cleric.

[Whisper: Nix to Sajana] Inferno has gone on full alert. If you are willing I have a mission for you.

[Whisper: Sajana to Nix] Yes, of course, Nix.

[Whisper: Nix to Sajana] Report to Captain Wylie on the City walls.

Pinky quickly put back the armor she was looking at and headed toward the 10th-floor exit. She slowed when she spotted a group of her guildmates.

Mira, one of the clerics in Tea Leaf stepped in front of her. "Jana. Where's that big bear? We are ready to go."

"Morti? You do realize he's not my bear? He's the companion of Nix, the Inferno Guild Leader."

"We told you to make him come," Mira played with a strand of her light brown hair while her cold green eyes stared.

"No, I won't even ask him. Anything else Mira?" Sajana started toward the elevator but stopped when she read the message.

[You have been removed from Tea Leaf]

She sighed and waved at them, ignoring the smile on Mira's face. "Sorry, I have an important mission."

**************

Fajii stood in front of Sori Dah and her two hundred Acolytes. The dark-skinned Scorched Earth Mage looked nothing like the easy-going Aquarion Alchemist from a few months earlier. "You will stand with Knights on the City Walls. We must ensure that if Glory is attacked, we protect our people."

Sori Dah nodded. "Did you pass on my message to the Champion?"

Fajii sighed, it was painfully obvious that Nix avoided her Priestess at all costs. "I told him."

Sori Dah's cold face frowned. "Am I not worthy of his time? There are things I must discuss with him."

As an Aquarion, Fajii was honest to a fault and was sometimes overly blunt. "He's nervous around you because of your lower half."

Sori looked down at her snake tail, surprized etched on her features. "He thinks of me like a snake?"

Fajii nodded. "I believe this to be the case, but you would have to talk directly to him to know for sure."

"I'm a Lamia, the highest-ranking of my kind." Sori's verticle Irises expanded and contracted several times, a sign that she was upset. "Could you arrange something Mistress?"

Fajii smiled at the title. They had called her Queen for the first few days until the Aquarion decided that she didn't like the term. "I will make sure he comes to see you." Sori hadn't told her the nature of her business with Nix, only that it was imperative.

Wylie stood on the west wall an hour later, a fully armored Banzi was standing in front of her. She lay a gloved hand on his shoulder. "The men have transitioned to rifles, so if we are overrun, we'll be relying on you." The surrounding knights watched their captain with interest, it was no secret that she fancied the Inferno Tank.

Banzi nodded. "I won't let you down, Captain."

"Captain Wylie?" They both turned as a young pink-haired woman skidded to an abrupt stop in front of them. She wore white cleric's robes and was somewhat out of breath.

"Are you the cleric that Nix assigned to me?" Wylie grabbed Banzi's arm. "See this guy? Your job is to keep him alive."

Pinkie nodded. "Keep him alive, got it, Captain!"

Banzi waited until Wylie moved away, then he lowered his voice. "If Wylie is killed, I need you to drop whatever it is you are doing and rez her right away."

"No matter what?" Pinkie understood the order. As an NPC, the time in which Wylie could be rezzed was limited. No one was sure what sort of calculation went into the time period, it varied from a few minutes all the way to a quarter of an hour.

Banzi nodded. "Nix agrees, we can always rebuild but we must protect our friends."

Pinkie smiled, "I'll keep you healed sir, and watch the Captain's back."

******************

Captain Delphie moved the Phoenix into the small channel between Safarza and the rest of Broyan. She glanced up at the Arch-Winds that Nix had assigned to them. All three of them were perched on the mainsail. The Aquarion assault team were standing by at the bow. "An entire city destroyed," she shuddered at the idea, her voice trailing off. What kind of monster would do that?

Mina and her team stood by the rail. They would enter the water the moment an enemy was spotted. She smiled at the Siren who waved at her from beneath the waves. Nix had assigned Ducky and Soup to her. The massive Sea-Turtle could sink anything smaller than a Dreadnought and the Siren was a powerful Charmer. "We mustn't allow any ships to make it to shore."

Zhava frowned at the empty sea. "Why are we here? Our place is with the Cora'Zai."

Mina's eyes narrowed. "You aren't allowed to use that term! We will support Nix by making sure no one is able to approach them from the sea."

"He is the Battle Leader of our people. Yet, he continues to push us into support roles." Zhava sighed in frustration.

"You know his reasoning, our lives are valuable to him. This is as it should be." Mina understood that above all, her human friend valued his friends.

"I am a Spirit Companion now! This protection should enable me to stand with the Cor..." Zhava trailed off without finishing the sentence. "Forgive my words Filamina. I say too much."

***************

Semmi glanced at the Inferno Guild Leader. He was sitting comfortably on his Drake while two Nemesis traveled on either side of him. Her team would find a sixteen-year-old male name Nygil Rapti. According to Semmi's research, this was the person with the best claim to the Safarza Throne.

/Inferno: Semmi: We have to part here Nix, our mission is taking us west to Vrye Peak. Nygil should be there.

/Inferno: Nix: Okay Sem, do whatever you need to do. Secure his safety.

/Inferno: Tess: Be safe guys.

/Inferno: Sharl: Cya soon.

Semmi turned slightly west, a small gap appeared between the two groups. She could tell that none of her group was happy about leaving them. "It's fine guys. We have our own mission. Trust Shae and Nix to take care of this rogue Salamander."

Wind nodded, hiding a slight smile. Before they had parted he had given Lubo an order. It never hurt to have a hidden card when things started going badly.

[Command: Protect Nix]