After eating enough calories to easily feed a family of twelve, I was pumped up, satisfied and ready for action. Time passed quickly and before I knew it, Phoebe had called us all over and we moved out.

On the trek, she explained the plan to me as everyone else knew it in detail. Pulling up a small holographic display, she then held it in her hand and pointed at five blinking dots. "This is us. We are about two hours walking from our location here."

She proceeded to point at a location within Drakoshi occupied territory.

"The Drakoshi are using this region as an ammunition stockpile thanks to the sloped terrain providing decent cover from artillery. We believe that the Drakoshi have not found the entrance to the underground just yet, our main target. But if they have, we will have to switch up our tactics from stealth to heavy stealth."

"Heavy stealth?" I questioned and got a response from Aeteos to my left.

"If there are no enemies left alive to inform others we were there, that is still stealth."

Phoebe then continued. "The Drakoshi cannot become aware of the crystals. Most of Spartari do not even know of Praedoxite. Its existence is highly classified. Not even the local commander of Spartari forces, Serena Hyllus knows of its existence. The only reason we are informing you is because you have shown yourself to be a true ally to our people. Trust is earned and you have earned it."

Phoebe then closed the hologram and spoke with determination. "If the Drakoshi explore that subterranean cave network, the entire area needs to be purged. No one can know of their existence."

I nodded, serious. "I understand. I hope I will be of use to you all today."

"We have gone over the battle reports of your siege, Apollo. I am positive you are going to be nothing but an asset to us during this mission... Though, if I might ask? Have you left your ranged weapon and your shield also at the fort?"

I smiled at Phoebe before raising my arm. She then watched as my armour began creating my minigun from nowhere. The shield then also began to emerge already connected by a strap to my forearm.

For the two days after the siege, I had nothing to do except walk around, so I had plenty of time to allow my minigun to adapt to my armour. Its Psionic properties allowed it to fully integrate with ease.

I had also fed the shield to the power source of my armour. The Damatrium was now fully part of my armour, but I could use the excess material now as a shield when needed. But when it was not in shield form, it was protecting my midriff. The amount of gutshots I took the other day when taking down the boomstick made that the most reasonable location.

Plus, with integration, it was 100% more efficient than carrying the things around.

"Intriguing." Phoebe spoke and took my arm for closer inspection. "Apollo, this armour is truly fascinating... I must admit, I am a little jealous. It may be extra galactic in origin, but it’s so adaptable. I would have loved the chance to meet its creators and extract the knowledge on how to create it."

"Plus it looks awesome!" Marnes added from the side.

I chuckled. "Yeah, it is pretty awesome. It really is a shame there was only one of them on that derelict ship."

I then changed the direction of the conversation before they started asking more questions.

"So, do we have numbers for opposition?"

Rhapso then came to my side and grabbed my arm. "We do! Since the other day and almost all their northern stockpiles being destroyed. The big dummy’s have done a smart and are using their elites to guard the stockpiles now. At least twenty silver pauldrons. alongside at least a thousand other troops. We have also received word of an Emoth Silver pauldron on the verge of becoming a warlord in the region. So if we come across him, that will become a secondary objective. The longer we hold off a warlord from forming on the planet, the more territory we have a chance to gain without excessive losses."

"Are Warlords really that dangerous? I’ve only seen one at the college. Sure he seemed strong, but not unstoppable."

"Grimshank was emaciated Apollo." Nerissa spoke. "It took a lot to bring him in and the food he gets keeps him weak. A warlord on the battlefield is something else. Though the five of us? We should be able to beat a warlord, though it won’t exactly be easy."

"It’s not just the warlord itself though." Phoebe interjected. "It’s the effect a Warlord has on the surrounding Drakoshi. Its presence alone toughens up their clone biology. Making the other Drakoshi more durable to damage, increases their healing factor so the damage they do take becomes mitigated and it increases the intelligence of the surrounding Drakoshi.

Emoth are pretty dumb on their own, with headlong charges, but when a warlord turns up. They become heavily trained war machines. Using shock and trench warfare. Never mind actually already smart Drakoshi like the Dinnac, they become a serious threat when one of their warlords appear. The change is quite fascinating in theory, but we of course do not want that to happen."

"That is actually our second purpose on the planet." Aeteos jumped in. "If we get a whiff of a strong Drakoshi, it’s our job to play assassin."

"OH!" Rhapso suddenly yelled. "That reminds me. Pheebs, you are going to need to call in a reinforcement. I’m going to join Apollo with Nerissa after this mission."

The Praetorians stopped for a moment before turning towards Rhapso. A silence lingered for a moment before Phoebe spoke.

"Ok. I’ll call in Polymede. She should fit into the kill team’s synergy in your absence." Phoebe spoke before turning to me. I could feel her gaze piercing through my armour "Curious... Though I suppose a Sentinel with two Praetorians accompanying him will improve Phalanx morale. Apollo, be careful with this one. She isn’t as... Quiet as Nerissa."

"Why do I feel like you just insulted me?" Rhapso interjected. "Phoebe?"

...

A couple hours later, the six of us were crouched atop a ridgeline. Below us was the ammo depot. The place was a mini fortress. No walls, fortunately. But sentry towers with powerful weapons and a shit ton of Drakoshi were present.

It still looked freshly set up. I was looking at all the entryways to the camp. It wasn’t going to be easy to get inside that’s for sure. However I was quickly distracted.

"Look, the east end of the camp. That’s the entrance to the subterranean cave system." Aeteos spoke and I followed his finger.

Drakoshi were coming in and out of the cave, carrying crates of purple crystals. I heard Phoebe let out a breath of relief.

"Looks like they are mining the close stuff first. The Praedoxite will be a few miles underground. Though the fact they are in there calls for heavy stealth. Nothing survives."

I began to prepare my mind right away for the upcoming battle. The best point of ingress. The slope down from where we are seemed the best bet. There were less weapon emplacements on this side right now. Plus the downhill charge will give us some momentum for when we engage in the melee.

’Hmm, I wonder how I am going to keep up with-’ A hand suddenly touched my shoulder. Looking up I was suddenly passed a grenade launcher? With a belt fed backpack. I then looked at the rest of the group.

"For clean-up after Nerissa gives the big blast." Phoebe explained.

"The big blast?" I asked, putting on the backpack, but my question turned rhetorical as I turned to Nerissa. In her hand was what looked like a massive rocket launcher. Only the rocket’s head was sticking out of the weapon and I had a really good idea what was inside.

My shock must have been apparent as Nerissa turned to me. "No, I couldn’t use this weapon the other day. We don’t have clearance to use tactical nukes in close proximity to Phalanx. In fact, we don’t have permission at all. Heavy stealth has its benefits.. Now, I advise you to get down. It might only be a two kiloton bomb, but the blast is quite intense."

Within the second she said that, Nerissa aimed and fired upwards. I immediately heard a whistling in the air as the Tactical Nuke! Began to fly through the air.

I wasted no time and got behind the ridgeline. Diving behind was more accurate. The other praetorians did the same. They then proceeded in clicking the buttons on their armour, moments later domed shields began to form around them. Just as I was about to bring out my shield, Phoebe t grabbed me by the shoulder and held me close as she proceeded to touch the buttons on her armour to do the same.

The dome hastily emerged around us and a few moments of whistling later the sun dropped onto the surroundings, the ground rumbled at the impact and of course all I could hear was.

*KABOOOOOOOM!*