Lounoni held a strange, and interesting device in her off-hand as she carried a spear beside her sister. She was never a fighter, even with the training in her youth.

She was neither skilled nor passionate about it. She would rather learn of the ancient secrets of magic or examine one of the few still working relics of old. But she at least knew how to use a spear. That perhaps is probably why she got along with Azanii so well.

She is known to be a great warrior. If she had a better head of politics she would be the favorite to be the next elder, little alone the next Matriarch. But as the next general, Azanii would be happy with that.

The major problem comes when she tries personal relationships. All they see is what most know. Azanii the warrior. Azanii the tactician. Azanii the not very girly one.

Lounoni and Azanii used to laugh about who would find a male worthy of them between them first. While Lounoni swore it off till she found the right one. Her sister had tried and failed three times. The first one when they were young.

When Azanii reputation was beginning to grow. She was known publicly as being very stern and strict. So she decided to partner with another rising star of the clan. When she removed her armor and opened herself, her first partner was rough and impersonal. Thought this was a reward of service rather than an act of partnership.

The second was political. Azanii neither cared nor desired such a partnership with the individual and found nothing beyond her expectations. A cold heart and disappointment in bed. The third was just a random pick on a dare. The poor guy passed out during the deed.

Lounoni had no doubt that if Azanii was presented the chance. She would bed the Dreadnaught. They were so alike romantically, and he had given her similar glances she had given him. That is why Lounoni asked for the recording device from her own new mate. To record for her of him, if he should fall, or to show any with doubt that he is worthy of her.

Lounoni and the other dragonkin were placed in the reserves. They were to act as they see fit but to stay out of the way till they were needed. So she recorded as her own mate was nearby on his laptop working on something ‘big’ he said.

And as the humans began their unique war chant of defiance, it was John who triggered the trap set off that caused the horizon to burn. She never imagined humans had such ability, but by the look on John’s face, she can tell it would not be enough.

“ Well Rick, I am about out of tricks. Just big bird I am going to save for when we need it most and our final goodbye. What about you?”

Rick, the big human in one of the new exo-suits, carried a large maul with him. In addition, Lounoni could see two auto-turrets she and John had worked tirelessly to program the night before. In fact, it was during her final check of the coding that David came to her in the middle of the night to get suited up.

“ Marry is with the others in the HQ. Keeping an eye on Jewlie and the other kids. I am with you till the end my friend.”

Lounoni recorded the two before she turned to some of the other defenders. The most active by far was the adventurer guild. An organization of children and fools trying to survive a cruel world and do good while they do it.

Amateurs with their weapons, Even she could see their potential if even one in twenty of them managed to survive. That lone survivor would become a force equal to those twenty fallen and more.

The Jedi were strange to her. Their magic is a unique blend of mind and will manifest in the physical world. Their whole thing seemed to be balance and peacekeeping. Keeping order among the noncombatants and combatants alike. Their strange weapons also had a strange feeling of nobility to them as well.

The Roughnecks were a unique bunch. John had told her it was them that went far beyond the basic strategies and upped the levels of lethality to all their traps. They are also the ones who decided the position of all the troops and battleplans they were to follow.

The dragonkin even received a battle plan from them, even though they had been there less than a week, they had a solid grasp of their strengths and weaknesses just by theory and observation of them.

And it is not because they saw the dragonkin as a potential threat in the future, in fact, Lounoni was fairly sure her sister was a little insulted being disregarded as a threat. No, what made the Roughnecks so dangerous was that they knew how to fight this enemy.

They know how to fight against their tactics and make them bleed for every inch in no way Azanii say that she would not even be able to match. They both could see in those warriors’ eyes a unique fire. A fire that has burned brightly at the thought of killing their great enemy.

Then there were the Wardens. Most of them were taking support roles. Carrying ammo or provisions to those on the walls. But several dozen of them were around the interior of the wall running patrols in their exo-suits. Ready to go wherever they are needed.

As she received the various groups Lounoni felt her sister tense as a large string of weapon fire began from the Dreadnaught. That was the signal the final battle had begun.