“With our superior firepower and mightier size, we shall have little trouble punching a hole through the New Estinian defenses.” King Dallin crossed his arms, satisfied with the plan he laid out for Aemor Greyblade and Marcus Newsun.

“It is not the Estinian ships that concern me, it is their dragon flight that stiffens my fur,” said Greyblade. He moved forward a long rod to push a group of miniature dragon figures across a plotting board with a hastily drawn map of the New Estinian beachhead. “My dragon flight will meet them head on, so that Dallin’s armada may push onwards to Ghostoc Port.”

Marcus picked up one of the blue dragon figures and tossed into the air. “What little good your flight would do, Greyblade. You only brought, perhaps, thirty dragon riders?”

Greyblade shot a nasty glare to the White Cloak.

“Meanwhile your scouts report seeing a flight close to double that amount,” finished Marcus.

“What do you suggest then, lad?” asked the harekin king.

“I believe sending in your dragons as a way to extinguish a small army of Estinian dragon riders is a death sentence—no matter how good you say your SMO are.” Marcus placed the figure back down onto the plotting board. “I say we use the tools we brought with us more than rushing headlong into a death charge.”

Marcus gestured his hand to Dallin. “How many of your ships are equipped with scorpion ballistas?”

Dallin rubbed his chin, estimating his number. “One for every three ships.”

“Ten, good.” Marcus turned back to Greyblade. “And what of your ships?”

“Hm, I have four fully rigged frigates. Although they are used to transport the drakes, I have them armed with a row of cannons and each has a scorpion ballista at the stern.”

“Excellent. Long Whisper only has twenty armed merchant vessels, but where we lack in artillery, we make up for in mages. We have ten battle mages trained and ready to go,” said Marcus.

“So we draw the enemy dragons close to our ships and attack with the fierceness of our defenses?” asked Dallin.

“With my dragons as air support!” asserted the Greyblade king.

“Yes, that’s what I had in mind,” confirmed Marcus. “However, my theory is that the dragons will not be the bulk of their defenses. According to our scholars, blueprints show that Ghostoc Port is an impregnable fortress, capable of withstanding any invasion.”

“Even the hardest of defenses shall crumble to a barrage of cannonballs!” laughed Dallin.

“Do not be foolhardy, my king,” warned Marcus. “Their walls are of the strongest iron in all of Dragon Realm Blight.”

“Then we shall make our landing elsewhere and we will force their gate to buckle!”

“Have you not paid attention to the reports of New Estinia?” scoffed Aemor Greyblade.

Dallin held his tongue in embarrassment.

“The cliffs are too sheer to land or climb. The waves will break any wayward ship upon the crags that make up their shores. Only Ghostoc Port can be breached,” the harekin explained.

“It will most likely fall onto the SMO and ARO joint task force to open the gate, but we will cross that threshold when we get there,” said Marcus.

He walked to one of the port side windows and gazed across the ocean to the fast approaching silhouettes of the New Estinian dragon riders.

“Majesties, get your men in order; we will enter this war tonight!”

***

Essie leaned against the Sea Sprinter’s banister with her chin snuggly tucked into the cowl of her cloak. Her nose rubbed the deep blue wool material as the chilly night air nipped at her cheeks. Her elven eyes cut through the darkness that would otherwise only be illuminated by the soft glow of the white moon. All was silent on the decks save for the light rocking of the gentle ocean waves.

As calm as the night was, Essie’s mind was not. She was about to enter another war, and with the last one taking such a toll on her, she felt ill-prepared for this one as well.

Rulan, keep me in your prayers tonight, she thought to herself.

“May I join you?” came a gruff voice from beside Essie. She turned to find Bruce Brawnwood approaching her.

Essie gave him a polite nod. The harekin gave a long sigh as he planted himself next to the elf. He clapped his hands and rubbed them vigorously to warm them up.

“With all the chaos happening, I never got much time to talk to you,” Bruce said.

Essie nestled her head further into her cloak. “I’m not one for talking.” Her voice came out muffled under the cloth.

Bruce gave her a slight grin. “Now why is that? You don’t seem as troubled as your fearless leader, and Elisa and Kyzo are a joy to be around.”

Essie gave the rabbit a quick glance. If she stayed silent maybe he would go away.

“You and I might be spending long nights in the trenches, we should get to know each other,” Bruce pressed further.

Essie bit her lip. “How much would you like to know?”

“How about why you are up on these decks while everyone is spending what could be their last nights together in the company of friends?”

Essie looked down at her feet.

Maybe just having a friend to be there is good enough?

“I was thinking about family… back home.”

Bruce gave her shoulder a gentle pat. “Yes, and who do you have back in Long Whisper?”

Essie’s lip quivered as she remembered her only brother, and the one they lost.

“Rulan, my twin,” she said with a choked up sigh.

“You have a twin?” Bruce asked.

Essie wiped away a tear. “I am a triplet—I was a triplet. We lost our other sibling in the Varis War. It’s why this war lays heavy on my mind.” Essie chewed on her lip again, having trouble finishing her thought. “I’m afraid something will happen to me and Rulan will become an only child…”

Bruce pulled Essie into his warm chest. “Come now, Essie. You are with the two most elite units in all of Cypress. We won’t let anything happen to you,” Bruce cooed.

Essie allowed Bruce to embrace her. She felt a little bit better in his huge arms.

“I lost someone too, thanks to the Estinians. A family member, just as close as a brother,” Bruce said.

Essie looked up. “You did? Do you want to talk about it?”

“No lass, I’d rather not. Some things need healing, other things just need to be left alone.” Bruce stared off into the watery night. He squeezed Essie tighter. “But thank you anyways. Sometimes just having a friend to be there is good enough.”

Essie gave him a wide smile. “Yeah. Yeah, it is.”

***

“Listen up, lads and lasses!” Mave leaped down the flight of stairs leading to the galley. She waved a parchment in her hand. With an exaggerated wind up, she slapped it on the long wooden table that both the Anti-Rogue Op members and her harekin soldiers ate at. “We have our orders for tonight!”

Quinn snatched the paper from his sister and read it outloud.

“1st SMO Division, those of you assigned with the attachment of the Anti-Rogue Operatives are to fly at the rear. Your primary objective is to clear the skies of fire bomber drakes and riders to support landing operations at Ghostoc Port. If you find yourselves within range and clear of any immediate danger, attack them with extreme prejudice. Let no bomber escape. Use any available methods to take on stragglers. If need be, deploy your ARO jumper.”

“Seems simple enough,” said Quinn as he finished reading.

Elisa pulled the orders for herself to read. “Wait, there’s a bit more.”

“Orders pertaining to the 1st ARO division attachment, If you are deployed to chase after a bomber, proceed with caution. We understand you are freshly trained in the usage of your wingsuits and aerial combat. If you believe you can down a bomber rider, then execute your attack. If you deem it too dangerous, do not proceed.”

Elisa handed the orders back to Mave and sat down.

“So we are the backup. The little cousins to the actual dragon riders,” Elisa said quietly.

“Only because our squad is too valuable. Chin up, Elisa. Do you really think they’d train you to sit on your hands all night?”

Elisa grew a wide grin.

“That’s right, bucko! Who are we lads?” Mave shouted so loud that her voice echoed across the ocean.

“Angels in the skies!”

“Devils in the Night”

“We’re the bloody SMO!”

The harekins cheered and roared, pounding their fists on the table and whistling through their teeth.

Not wanting to be out done by a bunch of boisterous rabbits, Kyzo leaped up onto the table and waved his hands in the air. “Come on guys! Who are the Anti-Rogue Ops?”

“Kyzo!” Elucard shot his apprentice a deadly glare. “Do not make a fool of yourself.”

The galley fell silent. All that could be heard was the waves brushing against the ship as it gently rocked back and forth.

“Listen,” whispered Elucard. He lowered his hood and strained his Black Rabbit senses.

“I hear nothing,” Mave said, still miffed by Elucard’s serious demeanor.

“Listen carefully,” repeated Elucard. He rose from his seat and walked slowly to the edge of the bottom step leading up to the deck.

From the distance came the sounds of beating wings and war drums. The New Estinia dragons had finally arrived.

“It’s time.”