Operation: HomeFront - Entr'Act
     Authors: Will Keith, Centurion Selene, Warrior Jambavan

     The slain and wounded were piled up around the entrances to the
Generator room. Outside, the battle still continued, but currently it was
between sponge minions. The Jihaddi had pulled back for a quick breather
after an hours-long holding action. Some were sorting the wounded into
those who were too hurt to carry on and those who could continue. Others
were checking ammunition supplies and taking from anyone who would not be
needing it anymore. Will and Sanford were debating what exactly would be
their best course of action to locate and eliminate Rhyn. Jambavan was
still with the generator, setting up a nested series of extremely fatal
traps. As he explained it, "The longer we can keep them from getting to the
generator, the less time they'll have to try to undo our damage. Plus we'll
be able to eliminate some of the smarter ones this way."
     Selene hurried to get the injured troops together and ready to move.
Since discovering the Lyran presence in the fortress, she had become even
more determined to get their wounded people to safety.
     She pulled three TRES Corps members aside. "You three have been
serving as medics for this group?" They nodded though the answer had been
obvious if she had taken the time to look. "Good. I'm giving you temporary
field command positions. Pick two of you.  They are to take these wounded
men and women and get them safely back to camp. You are to be stealth
itself. No heroics. Trace our path back to the door we came in - Zaphyre
can give you directions if you need them. Wait for us back at the camp; if
we're not there in twenty-four hours, contact your respective HQ's for
further orders. If you see Mitchell on the way, pass the word on and tell
him to fall back and wait for further orders. We will not take any chances
when it comes to the Lyrans."
     "And if he argues?"
     Her eyes flashed in anger; she hated it when people disagreed with her
orders. "If he argues, remind him of my more... draconic nature. And let
him know that if he crosses me on this, he'll experience it firsthand.
Anything else?"
     All three shook their heads, unable to think of anything else.
     "Good. Now, we just need to get you back to the other side of the
antechamber. Follow me."
     Selene headed towards the door, confidant that the others were right
behind her. She poked her head out and was awarded with a view similar to
the one she had left only moments before.
     *Doesn't look like things have changed much,* the dragon pointed out,
watching as sponge minions battled each other just as often as they battled
the twenty or so Jihaddi positioned on the outer edges.
     *Look closer, Zaph,* Selene disagreed, *at least the battle seems to
have evened out again for the moment.*
     *Until you notice the pile of bodies around that Wyrm Minion.*
     *Point taken.* Shrugging her shoulders, she signaled to Lt. Turbo, who
had just glanced back toward the control room. He easily dispatched the
Sponge in front of him before jogging back to her present position.
     "What's up?"
     "I need your help - we've got a group of injured men in the room
behind me that need to be moved to the other side of the antechamber. I
need somebody to help cover them from the back - I'll take care of the
rest."
     "Sure thing - sending them out?"
     "Yeah, now that we know the score they're less of a help and more of a
hindrance. You ready?"
     "Let's go."
     Selene motioned the soldiers behind her to get ready, before charging
forward into the melee Shifting[tm] into draconic form as she did so. The
minions, shocked to find a large blue dragon charging towards them, stepped
back, creating a path for the wounded men and women to run through. Turbo
provided cover from the rear, spraying the area around the escaping Jihaddi
with bullets until all had reached the other side.
     *Thanks, Turbo, I'll take it from here.* a soft voice whispered in his
mind. Not quite sure what to make of that fact, he shrugged and hurried to
rejoin the battle.
     On the other side of the antechamber, a white light flared brightly as
Selene returned to her human form. "Go, quickly," she whispered, watching
as the wounded soldiers, tired and bleeding, disappeared around the first
bend in the corridor.
     *Grimace, Zaph, I hope they make it, I just don't know what else could
have been done. It would have been suicidal to take them with us.*
     *You did what you could. Leaving them here would have certainly led to
their deaths - this way there is at least hope.*
     *I know, but I still feel like I should have been able to do more. Go
with them or something.*
     *You're needed here. Besides, if they face that which you fear the
most, your presence would have mattered nought. You did what you could and
now must get on with the fight.*
     *You're right, Zaph. As usual, but I don't have to like it.*
     *No, you just have to live with it.*
     Turning back towards the battle, she sighed. *I hate it when you're
right. Well, let's get to it then.*
     Her body shimmered, expanding outward as she again took on Zaphyre's
natural form. The dragon stretched her wings outward, relishing the feeling
before moving towards the fight. *Let's head for that Wyrm Minion, shall
we?. Her blood won't taste as good as Rhyn's... but one who fights like
she, deserves not to live.*
     Selene shivered inwardly at the dragon's words, not comfortable with
her Companion's[tm] apparent blood lust. The dragon moved swiftly into the
chamber and began to force her way towards the Wyrm Minion. Slashing wildly
with her talons, she was careful to only target the 'normal' minions, just
knocking the altered ones out of her way. She moved steadily forward,
leaving large pools of blood and gore behind her as she crept deeper into
the mass of sponge minions that surrounded her goal.

     . . .

     Meanwhile, on the other side of the antechamber it was obvious that
the tide of the battle had turned. The addition of fresh troops from the
control room, along with the new mission objectives, had been enough to
give the Jihaddi the advantage they needed. Plus, since they had stopped
targeting the robot- like sponge minions, they had stopped being targets
for them as well.
     Trooper Thaleia, for one, was very satisfied with the progress they
were making, although she hadn't been too keen on the idea at the start.
Swiftly disarming the sponge in front of her, she knocked him across the
side of his face with the flat part of her blade. Pushing the unconscious
body aside, she quickly checked on the status of the rest of the group not
wanting to lose any more able bodies.
     Trooper Cecrops and Colonel Sanford were the closest to the Wyrm
minion and had begun working as a team. Thaleia watched as Cecrops raised
his Shield[tm] to protect the LoD officer from an attack on one side.
Almost in unison, the two stabbed downwards, finishing their current
opponents.
     "Thaleia, heads down!"
     Thaleia ducked instinctively at Commander Burdoo's shouted warning and
was rewarded with the rapport of gunfire. She raised her head slightly,
just in time to watch a Spongin' body topple to the ground in front of her.
     "Thanks," she gasped as Burdoo jogged up to her side.
     "No prob - how does it look?"
     "Not too bad," she nodded towards Cecrops and Sanford. "They've almost
reached our primary objective and Commander Keith isn't far behind."
     Both women watched as Will, the officer in question, quickly and
efficiently swept away his opponent's sword before ruthlessly crushing the
minion's windpipe and moving on to his next victim.
     "Grimace, I'd hate to fight him." Thaleia muttered half under her breath.
     "You and me both, " Burdoo agreed, effortlessly disarming a minion
that had wandered in their general direction. "It might be interesting to
watch him and the Centurion go at it some time though - his calculated
ruthlessness versus her instinctive responses, it'd be a pretty good
fight."
     "I'll second that. They make an interesting pair, that's for sure."
Thaleia replied before sliding a small dagger between the sponge's ribs.
Indicating another group of spongies approaching, she shrugged. "Back to
work, I guess."
     The two women returned to the battle, working together as a
devastating team. Soon, they had caught up to Will and the others closest
to the Wyrm minion.

     . . .

     Back on the other side of the chamber, Zaphyre had run into a small
problem. As she got closer to the Wyrm minion, the number of 'robotic'
sponges increased. For every one that she pushed out of the way, two would
replace it. Snarling in frustration, she reared back ready to send out a
burst of flame to end this stupid mess once and for all.
     *Zaphyre, wait! You'll fry Will, too!*
     *Mmrp?* the dragon asked, not seeing the human in the mass of bodies
between her and the Wyrm Minion.
     *He's on the other side, you dimwit... and it looks like a big part of
the rest of the group is with him. It's too big of a risk. We'll just have
to distract this mob and hope that they can get to her and take care of
that problem.*
     *Arrgh. Fine. But /I/ get Rhyn.*
     *Sure, whatever. Now, how to...*
     The dragon roared in pain and whirled about, grabbing at her left arm.
Some sponge minion had grown tired of trying to get around her and had
somehow thrust his sword through her tough skin. Snarling, Zaphyre yanked
the offending metal stick from her hide and hurled it to the ground.
     *Now, I'm Mad[tm].*
     The dragon's eyes swirled with flames as she began to 'clean up' the
minions behind her, not caring if they were 'friend' or foe. She just
wanted them gone.
     *Great,* Selene thought to herself, unable to stop the dragon's fit of
rage. She settled herself in for a long wait. *Well, I guess this could be
called a distraction...*

     . . .

     Will glanced up sharply hearing the draconic roar of pain and
redoubled his efforts to reach the Wyrm minion. He whirled and swung his
staff sharply to the left, knocking the nearest sponge's weapon to the
ground. Following the move through, he spun his staff around then slammed
the other end sharply onto the side of his head. The helpless minion
toppled to the ground, no longer a threat. Will took another step forward
and found himself standing face to face with the Wyrm Minion and her pile
of bodies.
     Faide, the Wyrm minion in question, looked him up and down sizing him
up, then quirked an eyebrow in challenge. She could tell that he was more
than just a simple sponge minion but couldn't believe that any normal man
would have the gall to challenge her.
     Enjoying herself, she raked her eyes over his body noting both his
bulk as well as the ease with which he held his staff. Instinctively, she
knew he would be her biggest challenge of the day and so decided to pull
out her trump card. Moving slowly to keep from attracting his notice, she
slid an arm behind her back groping for the small Derringer pistol that she
always kept handy for situations like these.
     Will watched her like a hawk, determined not to show her any
weaknesses. Not sure what her first move would be, he felt his muscles
tense as he tried to be ready for anything. Slowly, the rest of the room
fell away; his world narrowed, tightened, and became focused solely on the
Wyrm minion in front of him. His breathing slowed and deepened, as he
waited patiently for the tic, for the twitch that would give away her
movement. He was therefore, totally unprepared for what happened next.
     As he watched, a small round hole suddenly appeared in the center of
the woman's forehead. A small trickle of blood seeped out of the hole as a
look of surprise flitted across her face, moments before she fell to one
side, obviously dead.
     Will stunned, blinked a couple of times then turned, just in time to
watch Jambavan drop his PPG pistol to dangle from a lanyard on his neck as
he put an Aikido throw on a charging sponge minion.
     "Didn't mean to steal your thunder, sir," the Warrior commented when
Will didn't say anything. "But I wasn't sure if you had noticed the
Derringer she had just palmed into her left hand." He carefully stepped
around the Commander and kicked the woman's hand open. There, in her left
hand, was a small pistol with her finger now locked in place on the
trigger.
     Will let out a long sigh, not sure how to react. "Thanks, Jambavan. I
- just thanks. Spread the word, cease fire. It's time to see where these
altered sponge minions will lead us."
     The Dobermensch Warrior saluted smartly, "Yes, sir!" then turned and
hurried quickly to carry out the order.
     *Selene,* Will's mental voice, filtered through Kit brushed against
the dragon's mind, *time to pull back and regroup. We've dealt with the
Wyrm minion.*
     Getting Will/Kit's message, Selene yanked control from Zaph. The
draconic body shimmered brightly and suddenly vanished, replaced almost
immediately by her human form. A white light flickered gently over her
skin, soon replaced by her Centurion's uniform. *Zaph, remind me to thank
Will again later for this gift/necklace... it's wonderful.*
     *Maybe. Why in Grimace's name did you do that?! We were winning!*
     *Because, idiot, killing the ones we need to follow wouldn't be very
intelligent now, would it?*
     The dragon continued to grumble as Selene carefully picked her way
through the sponges.
     It had become easier to tell which had been altered and which were
'normal'. The normal ones had suddenly started wandering around aimlessly,
while the 'robotic' ones were moving with a single-minded purpose toward
one of the antechamber doors.
     Selene shoved her way through the mass of minions, catching sight of
Will and the group of Jihaddi. Raising her hand in a tired wave, she smiled
as she reached them, somewhat relieved to see everyone on their feet.
     "Status report?" she asked, snatching one of the rolls of bandages
that were being passed around. Tearing a section off, she tucked the rest
into her belt. She listened while carefully wrapping the bandage around her
injured arm and felt a sense of relief flow through her. Miraculously, they
hadn't lost anybody; a few were seriously wounded, but it sounded like they
would still be able to fight.
     Selene nodded to herself before speaking. "Good. Let's stick to the
plan then and follow, quietly, behind this group of minions. Zaphyre and
Kit can keep a mental eye out to warn us of any approaching Lyrans. I don't
expect to see any; they like to send others to do their dirty work, but one
never really knows for sure."
     "Jambavan, for now I want you and Sanford to take the lead, the two of
you probably have more experience then the rest of us, combined. Thaleia
and Burdoo, you made a pretty efficient team in there, guard the rear. If
anyone senses anything remotely suspicious, report to Will or me
immediately - otherwise, just keep your heads down and don't do anything
stupid." Turning to Will, she smiled somewhat sheepishly, "got anything to
add?"
     He shook his head, "Nope. I think that about takes care of everything."
     The Centurion winced, tightening the bandage about her arm. "Then
let's get a move on."

     TBC in "Uptempo"...