Ava Baxter stood atop the observation tower looking over at the city. There were many people walking hurriedly in many directions. To the east there were many ships lifting off from the Mulgrath City quay. It was a disheartening but understandable site. Off on the northwestern horizon she experienced deja vu once again seeing a large mass of reptilian forces preparing to overwhelm the town they were in. The sliding doors came open and out walked Colonel Davenport, Roman Darossa, and one of her young aides.

"Ms Baxter" Davenport said, "we have contacted Dragon Claw Chief Krall, Fire Flower Chief Strigwire. They are giving everyone twelve hours to leave the city and are saying they will arrest anyone who remains afterward and kill anyone who resists." Ava nodded her head.

"Not the ending I was hoping for" Ava said with a sigh.

"On the bright side" Davenport said, any sliver of hope of Lance winning the election has all but evaporated." Ava took a large sip from whatever the hot drink it was that she was drinking.

"I'm not sure how much that may matter now. Just what is it that I will be governor of? A people who have lost the spirit to stand up for what is rightfully theirs? I hate to sound melodramatic, but I don't think I've ever wanted to be governor any less than I do today."

"I believe you are being melodramatic" the Colonel said. It will take almost no time to rebuild any effective resistance. And you will have full authority bolster the outworld forces."

"Not if the new Quildalar Accords put a cap on the size of the standing army" Ava retorted.

"Oh, there are ways to undermine that process" the Colonel said. If you appoint me as the head of the outworld forces I will make it happen."

"Ms. Baxter" Roman cut in when it was looking like she had some kind of retort for the Colonel. "I hate to interrupt, but I've got an urgent message to deliver to you from Director Bohr. He wants me to get you out of here and take you back to Earth."

"The reptilia aren't going to do anything to me" Ava said taking another sip from her hot drink.

"He's not concerned about you being safe from the reptilia, he has good reason to believe that the Elven Marshalls are going to have you arrested."

"Arrest me?" Ava said sounding befuddled. "And why would they do that?"

"They know about the role you played in helping to arm the militias at Umbramontis. If they have you arrested Lance wins by default."

"You see!" the Colonel interjected. "The fear they have for you is enough reason alone to not leave the race."

"At this point my arrest might do more for our cause than-"

"What is that!" Ava's aide interrupted her words pointing to the southern horizon. They all turned to look at what appeared to be a large dark-colored cloud that was on the horizon. Gradually, the cloud was getting closer. As the cloud was a few hundred yards away, it started to look familiar.

"That looks like a locust swarm!" Roman exclaimed. "I didn't think any species like that existed on this world's ecosystem."

"They don't" Ava said. "This is very weird."

"They're coming!" Ava's aide shouted. As he said, the bugs were all flying through the city below them. There had to have been many millions of them. A few of them flew high enough and started landing on the group standing atop the tower. They all shooed them away as best as they could.

"They're heading for the reptilian army! " the colonel shouted. Sure enough, the swarm seemed to be heading towards the army. Roman got out his magnification goggles and put them on. He could see the hoplites running around frantically and many of them rolling over and shooting into the air, desperately trying to get them to go away.

"Colonel, the swarm is attacking the reptilia!" Roman said in a stunned voice handing him the magnification goggles. The Colonel took the goggles and looked toward the horizon where the army was standing.

"He's right" the Colonel said. What the hoplites were doing were just of no use. There were just too many bugs all over them. "They're retreating. Mother of God, those crazy bugs might've just saved us!" Just as he had said, both the infantry and the artillery retreated back to the northwest, and before long, was completely out of sight. Loud cheers could be heard all around the tower in the city.

"Who could've done this?" the Colonel asked Ava.

"The same people that helped us win at Umbramontis, I'm guessing" Ava said. The group continued to stare at the swarm off in the distance. Most of it couldn't be seen, and none of the reptilian forces could be seen.

"Colonel" said a voice coming over Davenport's radio. "The reptilian forces are retreating all the way back to their ships."

"Good" the Colonel said. "Tell everyone to seek shelter. Those insects are ravenous, and we don't know if they will come after us next."

"Ten-four" the voice said.