Arya Sloane's Story

"Not sure." Taco told Shavi, "They hitched a ride. Apparently they don't have their own ride. Freeloaders." The Invictus soldier said, gesturing another over to help him remove his equipment. The bullet that Taco took and the fall seemed to have rattled him, it probably bruised his body.

He was clearly in pain every time he moved.

"Yeah, it's a mess." Preston told Genienne, "You'll be free to leave after Bones and her team take care of the hordes in outside the gate." Preston told the two unknowns, "Not sure how well you'll fare in the rest of the city, I heard there's criminals out there and some of these things are just wandering." The French-Canadian soldier said.

Preston looked around for Nina, the Serbian Soldier heading for The Palace's entrance. She was either going to yell at Stryfe or going to blow off some steam. Maybe both.

"Trouble in the city." A voice echoed through the heads of Arya Bones and her team of elite soldiers as they relaxed in their barracks at the Invictus headquarters. "Move to assist the authorities as quickly as possible." The voice continued.

Arya sighed quietly, closing the laptop computer she was using and getting to her feet. "Let's go, kids." The woman ordered, leading her team out of the barracks and into the rest of the Invictus HQ beneath the surface of Terra.

They expertly turned corner after corner until they arrived at the complex's armory. The team donning their dark orange uniforms and black armor. "What are we dealing with?" Sugar Bear, a bleach blonde member of the team, asked.

"Their seems to be airships opening fire and the main source of the disturbance seems to be a demon or vampire." The voice from before answered as the team continued grabbing weapons and strapping on their armor.

"Demon or vampire?" Arya asked, "You aren't sure?" She asked, "We're limited in our capabilities at the moment with how much we have to do due to Stryfe's goal of protecting Terra." The voice told Arya, "Understood."

"Banner!" Arya shouted, turning her attention to a hulking African-American man on the team, "Yes, sir?" Banner responded, "Get that bird ready, we're moving out." Arya informed the man, "Double time it, shorty." Arya said, clapping her hands to motivate the man to start going.

As Banner left the armory to get a helicopter, Arya and her team continued grabbing gear until they could barely anything else. "Let's move." With those words Arya and her team were on their way to the helicopter and in seconds of arriving at it they were ascending up out of a concealed entrance into the underground facility.

Moments later they were descending on the scene of the violence in the city. "Turn that megaphone thing and give it to me." Arya ordered as the helicopter hovered over the Terrans on the ground and their enemies.

"This is Arya Sloane of the Invictus' Elite Custodis Caeleste, we've got your back." She said to the Terrans, "That's bad for the rest of you not on our side." She added, her words meant for Alucard and the unknowns in the airship.

A man in a red hood stood amidst the panicking crowds of the massive Wing City. Obviously their fear is well placed from the amount of evil magic being portrayed by this enigmatic character. While he would appear to be only human, hid the signs of his physiology by retracting his wings. Though the Assassin's mission did not involve a character like this Blood King, it was obvious any attempt from here on would be difficult. Either his demon target has vacated the city by now, or worse may attempt to join this madman in whatever plot he has. The assassin known as Zephaniel walked passed the running mortals as human response divisions rose to the call.

It would seem these forces could handle what is coming. Though Zephaniel has his doubts, just by understanding the magnitude of evil that is pouring from this madman. He entered an alleyway as he began to scale the wall. He is climbing was quick as he reached the rooftop and gained better sight of the Wing City skyline. While he had his worries it seemed the combination of the Invictus, The Terran National Government, and the strange golden galleon in the sky, were confident in their skills to handle this situation. Either they have experience in such matters or are very brave. Though Zephaniel's conscience was getting the better of him. He hardly could turn away and follow his mission. Not with such evil spreading through out the city. Though if he doesn't turn away now the amount of negativity will be too overwhelming, so much so he wouldn't be able to tell apart from the Blood King or a Demon.

Following a course of action, Zephaniel ran across the rooftops. With the speed and grace of a cat, he effortlessly used his agility to scale down a building. He would trust his instincts and would purify whatever evil may come near, but overall followed what he assumed to be demonic energy. All the while hoping the Terrans could keep the chaos at bay with their shields.

Vladimar ripped the runeblade from the concrete in a blur of crimson. It's dark energies lashed at the emerald lightning and deflected the first blast. The second was met by a clash of his own blood red lightning that streaked across the roof.

He swung the blade to his side. It halted against the creature's throat. The Blood King's eyes glimmered with a concoction of betrayal, indifference, and malice.

"I am finished with taking part in the endless petty squabbles of these dogs." he retorted. "You address me by a name that no longer has purpose or meaning. Alucard was released from his service and I, Vladimar, rose from the ashes of his identity. I will no longer identify myself with the pathetic worms that profane the name of the Night. They bicker like Man and fight like beasts without restraint or self-respect."

"The Hellsings are either damned, dead, or forgotten." he continued. "My service and loyalty to their withered name has been severed. I plan to depart this failing world, but not before drenching my footprints with the blood of Man. One soul for each year of my enslavement, and then I shall shroud a new world with the banner of Wallachia."

The Blood King sneered in anticipation as the humans mobilized against his incoming onslaught. Their meager weapons would be futile however. They always were. Even as the Terrans formed ranks, the endless surge of boiling blood poured down from the skyscraper. Tendrils and spears shot forth like rapid demons, attacking randomly and indiscriminately at officers, civilians, men, women, and children. A dozen ripped through the windows of a nearby high school and lunged for any prey they could find. Several victims - faculty and students - emerged from the building impaled on the tendrils.

"Rise, my soldiers!" he waved his gauntlet over the writhing sea of boiling blood. "Rise from the depths of Hell and fly my banner once more!"

The tide of demonic boiling blood writhed and churned as it solidified. Ghostly ravenous faces emerged from the mass, reaching out for the living. Dark horsemen armed with pikes charged from the flood by the dozens. Infantry gripping muskets, machine guns, rail guns, and disruptors charged upon the Terrans - muzzles blazing. Armies of soldiers, mercenaries, demons, vampires, werewolves, and all manner of beings from every age since the time of steel and blade arose from the tributary of the Phlegethon. They came in hundreds like a pack of ravenous dogs or a legion of demons. Scattered among their ranks were the banners of a flaming cross and the standard of a striped shield. The spirits, familiars, demons, ghosts, or whatever manner of manifestation they were feared neither death nor banishment.

From his perch, the stranger looked down at the carnage already instigated by the Blood King. The cries of innocent human beings swelled over the writhing squeals of the summoned demons, filling the smoky black sky with the scent of blood and the chorus of death.

He shook his head. "Perhaps Alucard is truly dead, then," he almost sounded disappointed, "A shame. It was for his sake I held back and sought to reason with you." Silently, the stranger reached up to the blade poised at his throat, attempting to cast the tip away from his body with a single push. The hellish aura resonating off the gleaming metal did nothing to harm his hand, and the energy he spent trying to move the weapon seemed minimal, as if he were swatting a fly away. Still, Vladimar would feel the strength of an archangel backed behind the simple motion, and for a moment, he might have caught a bare glimpse of the stranger's raw, untempered power hidden beneath his ragged cloak.

He looked up at the vampire. Beneath the dark shadow of his hood, he wore a mask as white as snow.

"You should know, Son of Cain, that I cannot allow you to do this." He gestured to his sword. "The blade. Give it to me. There shall be no feast for you this night."

---

Back on the ground, the Terrans were engaged in a bloody struggle to contain the hordes of hell from escaping their perimeter. While the Svalinn had succeeded in holding back the raw wave of chaotic energies desperately trying to seethe forward into the city, it could not prevent individual 'tentacles' from escaping its dome, nor could it hold back the physical familiars who now poured out of the warp portal like bees from a shattered hive.

"HOLD THE LINE!" an Enforcer Sergeant called out, "HOLD THE LINE, DAMMIT!" A volley of aether bolts met the numerous, if ill-equipped, invaders with deadly results. The powerful manna-plasma propellant melted through body after body, every shot downing multiple attackers. Musket fire and crossbow bolts clanged against their body suits, harmless in single shots but deadly in numbers. As the volleys continued, pieces of their armor flew off in chewn-up chunks, worn away by thousands of attacks unleashed by potentially billions of enemies.

"Fourth squad, move up for melee support!" the Sergeant roared, "sixth and eight, hold back for concentrated fire! Keep the perimeter! They DO NOT escape this-GAHHH!" The Sergeant growled as a spear of wriggling chaotic flesh impaled a spot on his shoulder where his torso plating had been eroded away. With a grunt, he seized the spiky tentacle, unsheathing his knife and cutting the limb in half. "FUCK! Invictus, are you getting this? We need heavy fire support, NOW!" He cut the comm, shouldering his rifle and taking aim at a handful of civil war zombies, charging him with their bayonets.

On the battlefield, werewolf, vampire, demon and long-dead mortal alike met the metal-clad warriors of the TNG with a viscous clash. Artificial Runestones, designed directly off of those mined from the land of Argwyll, provided significant antibinding protection against familiar swarms. Still, it was not enough. Their numbers were too great. One Enforcer was literally swarmed by an orgy of gremlins, the squabbling demons rushing over him in a wave and ripping his armor off in chunks. Another, who'd just won a firefight against a large squad of WW2 heavy machine gunners, turned from his victory only to be impaled in the chest by the viscous curved-sword of a Turkish Hussar. Looking ahead to the hell portal offered no respite. The waves kept coming. There was no end to these monsters.

Still, they fought. They held the line. But for how long?

She pulled away from him. "Sorry! I must go!" Kristen Leon vanished into a alley and ducked into a building.

High Orbit
POD
Whisper, Varden Fortress Class Capital Ship/Foxtrot Charlie Victor
Battle-station, Yellow Alert

Apis received the incoming transmission meant for the Invictus. 'Give me a visual EGO.', he thought and nearly instantly an overhead view of the scene was displayed for him. 'Move the fleet into position and reroute MMC02 and her two MBCs to the scene.' EGO gave an audible tone to confirm the command. The fifteen Varden ships that had remained in orbit until now started to move, all turning as if by a single command.

A moment later the communication chatter was broken. "Terran force this is Admiral Rye Apis of the VEF. Your target is being marked for precision orbital strike. Reinforcements are inbound. ETA is fifty microt. Defend marker. Danger close."

On top of a building, Kristen crouched low and pulled out her pistol to aim down the sites nearly fifty meters in front of the Terran line. She did not discharge her weapon. 'Marked!', she thought and that thought was transmitted to the fleet in orbit.

The worse of Zephaniel's concerns came full force. Thanks to the increased output of negativity, he has lost distinction of any evil force in the city. What's worse is the amount of damage this force is causing. With numerous beings rising from this miasma of evil he feared the cities defenders would fail. The Terrans were doing their best to hold their line of defense, but it was becoming obvious it may be a lost cause. Despite their weaponry the enemy's forces continued to come in droves. Eventually they will win through sheer numbers.

Zephaniel took it upon himself to help in what way he can. He saw the tendrils striking out at their prey. In defense of a group of civilians, he appeared. He summoned his blades and slashed at the incoming tendrils. "RUN GO!" He shouted at them. They ran as the tendrils were at least denied them. He managed to dodge and weave from their furious assault. All the while using his holy blades to cut and burn the evil tentacles. He managed to fend them off, but more were coming and attacking others. He hasn't the power to save them all. The best he could do is save who he can. Those near him in danger were protected in similar ways. Though it would seem the only to stop this is to maybe stop the one causing it. But this Blood King is shrouded in a negativity as great or even greater than any demon. He is a foe that will not be defeated easily. Hopefully a force or some champion may intervene to defeat him. For now Zephaniel concentrated on saving those nearby.

"... Another day in Paradise." A Female voice echoed through the CIC which was rather silent, and only slightly clamoring with activity.

"Jump Completed." Colonel Emerson reported as he turned to face the Admiral, the middle aged woman offering nod. "Got another Monster of the week again, fortunately I happened to be passing through. Danger close, break through the lower orbital bastions at full throttle, settle in above the city." She ordered, bringing up a large tactical holographic display.


"Coming Online, Grid One Seven Nine Carom One One Eight." A Lieutenant reported, and the Admiral nodded. "All hands, Action stations."

She grabbed the CIC railing, as the Gs pulled nd tugged ever so minutely at her and her crew's form. To the observers below, the chaos of the attack would be interrupted by a deafening roar, followed by a Crash and a flicker of light. There would be a massive form in the skies above the city, easily thirty kilometers in length. This massive, bulbous form approached rapidly, but though it appeared large, and close. The ship was maintaining an altitude of 80,000 feet above the ground.

Once it came to a stop, Admiral Whitcomb pulled up a tactical display, highlighting Alucard's form amidst the buildings and the chaos.

"Our entry has stabilized, initiating Hub control for all linked Aschen ground forces." The AI Said, engaging a large holographic display.

"Initiating Battlefield Control." The AI Added.

Once everything was settled, Whitcomb cleared her throat. "Get a regiment ground side, launch Apollo fighters." She ordered.

---

Once the Reverence II Was situated, the Terran Military, the NPA, and the Invictus would be provided real time tactical feeds of the entire city as they were patched into the Aschen Battlenet being broadcast from the Reverence II Overhead. A moment went by and a trio of triangular shaped fighters shot out from the hangar decks, making a broad arc, they dove directly towards the center of the fighting.

"Varden Forces this is Harbinger of Piety Actual, Stand Down, We have this under control. Don't need you Varden playing Hero like you always seem to do, Let the grown ups engage." She said, changing the comms.

"Terran Forces this is Harbinger of Piety Actual, We got your back. You tag 'em we'll bag 'em."

The arcane airship that continued to fire a volley of lightning bolts at Alucard suddenly came to a stop and with that it began to change its course of action as the golden galleon began to turn its guns upon the building the vampire was standing on itself allowing the crew to change out the crystal munition they were using. Some of the crew of the airship began to open fire ahead of time as they fired missiles made of blue force at the building in hopes of downing it and the source of the tentacles.

"Search and Destroy!" Arden Maximoff shouted as he tossed his drink off to the side and pointed the end of his cane towards the vampire on top of the building only to allow his emotions to get the better of him as a large summoning seal appeared before his ship. "Search and Destroy Elemental of Water! Wash away this filth and bring me what remains!" With this the seal opened to the elemental plane of water and a vast ocean began to poor out only to be held together by four silver rings chained together by arcane runes and chains. Suddenly the great water beast began to wrap itself around the building while the missiles passed through it harmlessly destroying the structure it was slowly enveloping.

Meanwhile as the ships above did their things the vampire drow bellow began rushing Terran citizens out of the city using great speed and strength to move as many woman and children out as he could while the military did their best to keep the dark energies at bay.

"You heard the Terrans." Arya Bones shouted to her soldiers. In a clearly rehearsed and expert fashion the soldiers began to loop their wire ropes through the anchors on their helicopter and on their belts. "Double time it." Sugar Bear ordered, "Ready!" An Invictus Elite said loudly.

From each side of the helicopter soldiers leaned out, the only things keeping them from falling to their death being the cables they were attached to and faith in whatever god they believed in at this point. It probably helped some achieve peace of mind by knowing that the ropes were extremely durable.

The soldiers leaning out of the helicopter took aim with their assault rifles and rained down precise gunfire on the hordes attacking the Terrans on the ground. "Get some of those weird magic shields or something up." Arya ordered, the soldiers who weren't opening fire placing their hands against the inside of the helicopter and projecting a protective barrier on top of whatever low-powered shielding the aircraft already had.

"Sugar, Banner, come with me to assist the Terrans in ground combat." Arya said, "Between us and them, plus any local PD that show up, we'll be able to handle this." Arya assured her men, "That's if we can stagnate their numbers, and if this is the work of that Necro-Vamp, we won't as long as he's around and focused." Sugar Bear informed Arya.

The Invictus commander thought on it for a moment. It was probably too stupid, or crazy, to go after the guy creating the undead hordes they were facing without knowing anything about him. But, maybe it was just as stupid not to try to throw him off of his game if they had the chance.

"We'll take those things on the ground out." Arya told Sugar and Banner before leaping from the helicopter. Her two comrades followed suit, the three Invictus Elites landing lightly against the ground in the midst of their undead enemies as if they weren't just on the verge of free-falling moments ago.

"Open up the channels to the Varden and the Aschen." Arya ordered as she and her men began to engage the undead on the ground, Arya making use of her modified Mamba Pistol, combat knife and skill at not trying to be murdered to hold her own against her current enemies.

"Varden, Aschen, try not to get out of control with your ordnance. We want the city somewhat intact." Arya said over the channels, "We need someone to find out if that other airship is friend or foe and measure just how much they're going to be." She added, "See if you can ID the motherfucker causing this shit too. Me and my boys will try to engage them if we aren't dead." The Invictus Elite said.

"You always say stuff like that and it's not cool." Sugar told Arya, "I'm a combat pragmatic, what can I say?" The woman responded.

‘Who the frell takes a super capital ship into an atmosphere? Shliznat!’, he commented in his head. ‘The Aschen do.’, answered EGO as if it were an actual question. ‘That was rhetorical EGO.’, he answered back in thought. ‘Tell me the corvettes still have a firing solution.’, he thought and EGO answered. ‘The pilots are reporting that they still have a firing solution but it will be danger close on the Reverence.’

‘Corvette pilots load your crystals and target lock. Set the guns to discharge at .1 kalvo and cycle to provide a steady barrage and allow for cooling. Allow for aerial units in vicinity of area. Weapons free.’, he thought and nearly instantly that thought was transmitted to the other pilots. In unison eight Varden corvettes, kilometer tall ships deployed their guns. Weapon doors opened so that the armored turrets could set up and transverse to aim at the planet below. Mechanisms clamped the doors back down to provide added shielding for the guns as the loading systems for the hybrid munitions were backed away from the weapons’ loading apparatuses. Cyclotrons were switched off and lenses slid into breech and bore.

When the first corvette cycled its guns the display in orbit was wholly unimpressive. No massive beams of colored energy escaped from each of the thirty two paired four-hundred and six millimeter bores. On the ground it was a completely different affair as the atmosphere ionized above the city and the intense red beams buzzed the Reverence to hit the mass of evil below. Chaotic imps, demons, devils, and the nightmarish mishmash of chaos infused fleshy tendrils melted, turned to ash, and dispersed on thermal currents. Blood burned away, infusing the air with a stink. Larger tendrils and beasts were simply cut in twain, their wounds cauterizing instantly to prevent their bodies from rejoining the mass or regenerating. It was all to give the Terran line some breathing room. They would have it if only they could defeat those that they were already engaged in melee with.

The ground liquefied into a meter deep pool below the target area, turning into a mixture of molten metal, asphalt, liquid glass, and magma. The weapons were set to be just powerful enough to be effective in their current application. It was a precision strike and though the nearby buildings were exposed to terrible heat and electromagnetic pulses, they would receive more damage from the chaos that was already ensuing on the ground than from the orbital strike if nothing had been done.

Apis was watching the scene from above as the first corvette cycled its guns off to cool and the second started to fire immediately. The pilots were on point. Not a single shot missed the target area and no friendlies were hit, not even a unit in flight. Of course the term was used loosely when referring to the Aschen. Certainly the Aschen would complain. He expected it. ‘Perhaps next time they won’t get in front of my guns.’, he thought. 'Shift fire in source direction and cease on my command.', EGO transmitted for him.

The second corvette ceased firing only ten seconds in and the third did not begin. A transmission came across. It was one of the corvette pilots. 'The Reverence is now blocking our line of fire. The buildings are too tall to fire in at another angle. We have no firing solution. Target lost.', thought the corvette pilot on the closed communication network. Apis cursed. ‘Frelling Aschen! How long till the MCC and MBCs get on location?’, he queried. ‘ETA on MCC, MBCs, APDs, and SDs is forty microt. First Thon unit will be on site in twenty microt.’, EGO answered. ‘Relay to the MBCs to prepare to deploy their point defense turrets to the marked location. Relay to marker and Terran forces that defensive positions, and reinforcements are inbound but our big guns are blocked by the Reverence.’, he thought.

“We read you Invictus. Our orbital strike support capability is now blocked by the Aschen Reverence. Incoming defensive positions, reinforcement, and close air support. ETA is twenty microt, twenty-six seconds.”, EGO communicated.

'Rodger.', thought Kristen and adjusted her aim further forward and away from the Terran forces.

Shliznat - Combination that means shit head or stupid fuck.
Frell - fuck; sometimes a combination of "fuck" and "hell".
Kalvo - A Solari unit of energy.
Microt - A length of time equivalent to 1 and 1/3 Earth seconds.

Zephaniel watched as the battle turned out into full out war. Warships from above their heads fired their ordinance as the mass of evil was in the process of disintegration. What appeared to be a losing battle, shown a glimpse of hope that the tides will turn. Hopefully the source will be the next thing to be stamped out. In the meantime the Red Hooded Assassin helped those he could. All the while he saw a person whiz by. He saw Istzyr doing crowd control like himself.

Zephaniel using his own considerable speed caught up to the Drow. "Good to see more are taking a concern for the rushing crowds!" He yelled over the loud crashing and screaming of the battle overhead. "Anyway listen I believe we can accomplish more working together!" "I'm going to check the nearby buildings for survivors, can you manage the streets?!" Zephaniel asked. All the while helping the Drow herd as much of the nearby populace as possible.

The Reverence maintained it's position, and had begun establishing battlefield control to the Aschen Forces in the immediate area. The ship itself was not danger close to the surface, but was in fact perched at a comfortable altitude, just above Terra's ozone layer. Moving from 25 to 30km Above the planet's surface, the atmosphere at this altitude could obviously not support life, and the frigid air made traversing through gravity lift impossible.

"Apollos are away." The AI Reported to Admiral Whitcomb, whom offered a nod. "Are the men to their Dropships?" She inquired and the AI Promptly nodded it's response. "They are making final preparations for departure as we speak." The AI Added, just then a flickering alarm blared, and a single lieutenant turned to face the Admiral. "Sir! Varden ships are powering their weapons!" He called out, and the Admiral growled. "Typical." She said, then shouted out to the weapons officer and the AI in one sentence. "Shields double top, bring us about." She ordered, and then she turned to the Weapons officer.

"Prepare to return fire!"

It was then the incoming ordinance fired from above buzzed past the Aschen ship. The intense heat and ionized atmosphere expanded outwards, fluctuating against the shields of the Aschen ship, which rippled out across the hull. The Varden's danger close shot managed to register as a hit to the ship's AI. With residual energies dispersed by the Reverence's Shields, it would make for a spectacular show, the white sphere of light around the Aschen ship rippled outwards from the grazed hit. But the Aschen would do more than complain.

Topside Turbo-Disruptor turrets came to life, moving up from their armored recesses and traversing to bear aim to each of the Varden Corvettes in orbit. It didn't stop there, but two armored doors opened up to reveal a pair of recesses, Missile silos. Mechanical actuators moved into position, and loaded a pair of 500Mt Anti-Capital ship Fusion warheads.

"Turbo Disruptors, and Missiles primed and ready to fire." The AI reported, but it of course didn't stop there as batteries loaded with Plasmic Torpedoes, and a singular energy projector traversed near the upper bow of the ship. Every Turret, missile battery, torpedo bay, and heavy gun on the topside of the Aschen ship bore aim at the Varden Corvettes.

"We have a firing solution." The AI reported, and Admiral Whitcomb nodded. "Commence fire."

The massive engines engaged, and the ship pushed forward while her AI guided weapons began to open fire, sending a sustained salvo of Turbo-Disruptor shots up towards the Corvettes that opened fire. These were followed up by the two missiles launching, with Self-guidance running in Autistic mode, Jamming or hacking the missiles would be impossible.

The Heavy guns cycled, and discharged their beams upwards towards the collection of Varden ships. Indeed the incoming weapons came in such intensity and number that repelling them all with shields and armor would be impossible, and the ships would find themselves facing certain destruction at the hands of the massive Reverence below, which was now gunning forward, and rapidly climbing in altitude to come about, and bear it's far more lethal weapons into the fight.

As the Reverence climbed and engaged the Varden, five Condor dropships emerged from her hangar bays, deploying a pair of Marine regiments to the ground to assist in the engagement. They would arrive in five minutes.

The AI monitored the situation, and then reported to the Admiral. "We will be in orbit in one Millicenton. I've flagged all nearby fleets to begin emergency intercept course. I've forwarded footage and a report to the Fleet Admiral and the Chairman. President Kane will be briefed on the attack." The AI Continued, and Whitcomb nodded. "It was clear the attack was directed at us, therefore we will respond in kind."

Vladimar glared furiously at Paragon. His eyes resonated with a deep aura of blood red. "Then your blood shall open the gate of my passage..." he growled. The vampire king vanished in a blur and reappeared at the other end of the roof. He lifted the large runeblade in both hands and gripped it in a battle stance. "Much has happened since last we met, Paragon. To underestimate me can be fatal... Only a man can hope to destroy me. So tell me, demon. Are you a man, monster, or dog?!"

The Blood King looked upward as the floating warship further darkened the sky. He attempted to reach out to the body and mind of Arden Maximoff. Vladimar channeled his rage and the demonic energy that flowed through him, attempting to boil the precious life blood within the man. Black cystic pustules would form across his body before exploding with highly contagious and deadly plague onto the other crew members.

As the battle intensified below, the victims captured by the tendrils were lifted high above the city. They carried them over the army and up to the central skyscraper where the Blood King stood. Other tendrils lifted large pikes, formed from broken street lights and poles, and thrust them into the roof. Finally, the tendril-spears attempted to impale the prisoners on the pikes. In ancient days, they would have been set on top of the pikes to die a slow painful death as they were slowly impaled through their nether regions. However, they were in the midst of battle. Every second counted.

The blood flowed from the impaled dying victims towards the center of the roof.

When the helicopters and Aschen fighters soared through the air, the writhing mass of chaotic boiling blood and undead reacted. Pillars and tendrils shot into the air in an attempt to smash or disorient the helicopters. A musket shot snapped from somewhere in the flood and a blue streak of light zigged, zagged, and darted over the battle. It charged at the choppers with murderous intent as it attempted to pierce its hull. The object would circle back around again and again until the vehicle dropped from the sky. Then it moved on to the next one until they all fell into a crumbled heap.


The undead continued to swarm even as the Invictus landed on the battlefield. Though the retaliation against Vladimar's legion intensified, their numbers continued to swell. It was an endless flood that churned them out by the hundreds. However, a single cloaked figure strode amidst the living chaos. He was like a stagnant stone against the raging river. Vladimar's familiars charged passed him, ignorant or indifferent to his presence.

"His name vas once Alucard." he said as he approached Arya. "A vampire. Zee ultimate vampire - arguably zee first and most powerful of all our kind. Take note of zee banners of Wallachia and zee fachion of how zee blood sacrifices are impaled at his feet. You battle one of the fiercest, cruelest, and powerful men in all of human history. Alucard was a monster created to destroy monsters, but now he has been severed from both master and purpose... So now he has cast away the identity and created himself anew."

"He cannot be killed or defeated." the strange figure continued. "This hordes are an extension of himself. They are a part of him as he is a part of them, and what you see here today is only a fraction of the forces within the Blood King's fortress. The harder you fight back, the more people will die - and that will only strengthen him..."

From silence, with no signature on detection radar or sonar. As if it wasn't even there, the great red warship, The Huntress, pulled from the shadows of nothing, it's green eyes gleaming, and it's jaw parted in what could only be assuaged as a grin of fiendish intent. Battle was to be joined, and the predator of a thousand stars was eager for it.

"the party started without me, awww...." Melanie storm muttered in the blackness of the ship. "well, I'm here now.. Time to have a good time."

And with that, the ship roared forward to the front lines, it's forward gauss guns bombarding ship after ship, with no distinction for faction. It would tear through shields and armor as though they were little more than tin foil. It's terrorsome visage would be the last thing many a crewman would see.

The dragon's head would open it's jaws and scream, the air would fill with the sound of a hawks hunting call, followed by a very hyper voiced Storm "IS THAT THE BEST YOU GOT!"

-"So tell me, demon. Are you a man, monster, or dog?!"-

"All this and more, beast," Paragon turned, glowering at the Blood King, his dark cloak fluttering in the smoggy breeze, "and in the name of every blameless mortal killed by your hand long before their time... for every innocent soul unjustly claimed by your insatiable hunger... I will stop you."

With these words, Paragon reached into his cloak, unveiling a magnificent blade, every bit as bright as Vladimar's was dark. It glowed with the soft, celestial ambiance of the full moon, a bright and shining star amid the hellish epicenter of the Blood King's horror.

"The Night demands justice, Vladimar," he stepped forward, blade brandished, his words writhing into the vampire's ears like serpentine whispers, "so come to it. Come and face the Dark."

---

Back on the ground, an NPA Sergeant overheard the mysterious stranger's words with Arya.

"Well what the hell are we supposed to do then?!" he growled, "STOP fighting it?!"

Still, there was no arguing that the ensuing conflict was only making Vladimar stronger. With every man killed, the chaotic blood wave pulsed higher, groaning against the psionic boundary of the Svalinn with wretched yearning. It was the Svalinn, the TNG-sanctioned energy shield constructed from the wills and minds of mortal Terran heroes, that kept the full power of the Blood King's "level zero" attack at bay, allowing the hordes of hell to be released only in small waves, rather than the tidal frenzy that it ought to be. If that shield failed, there would be very little hope left for the city.

Luckily, with the arrival of Invictus, Aschen and Varden support as well as the continued efforts of many brave and valiant heroes, the defensive line formed against Vladimar's horde was solidifying. Shaky still, but far better than it was. Despite this, the situation remained dire. Every drop of blood spilled only increased the power and energy of the invaders. If the defenders were to have any hope of winning the day, they needed to cut off Vladimar's "food supply".

"Admiral Whitcomb, Warden-Admiral Apis, do you copy? the Sergeant commed into the two ships high above the city, "I need IMMEDIATE evacs of all civilians in the area. If those floatin' hunks of metal have direct ship-surface beam transport abilities, that'd be fuckin' dandy." He tapped at a holo-screen on his arm. "I'm uploading the coordinates of the seven most populated buildings in the vicinity. Get them out, get them safe."

Meanwhile, another NPA Enforcer, hunkered behind a chunk of thrown-up concrete, was making a separate call to Fort Veritas. "Veram actual, do you copy? This is Strike Four, requesting immediate requisition of Tetris operatives and Sixth Legion to contact point. Air support is needed. Requesting a bombing run from V-88 prototypes along designated coordinates..."

The forces of order continued to make their stand against the tides of chaos, fighting them with their weapons, machines, fists, powers and honest human courage.

Istzyr was perplexed at the angelic assassins offer only to chuckle and stop for a moment to consider what was all going on. The act of war was upon every mind in this entire city and yet here stood someone who also was here to help the fleeing and the damned. "Well I suppose that will work out just fine for now." Istzyr then smiled revealing his white fangs a bit while waving on those who were still running.

It was up upon the golden galleon that everything and just about anything could go wrong as Arden took a step forward only to suddenly fall to his knees as he felt the presence of his target breaching his mind like it was nothing but a stroll in the park and it was through sheer will power alone that Arden dismissed the conjured water elemental with only a moments notice. With every moment that seemed to pass pain began to flood the sorcerer's senses and the screams of his crew members did nothing for his moral other than send him into yet another fit of emotions. "You think you can decimate Arden Maximoff!" His voice seemed to echo throughout the city as he raised his cane high into the air allowing the energies he controlled to flow through him to sever the connection and in hopes stagger his opponent.

In the mean time as ships were getting hit on both sides the golden galleon began to turn tail for the crew that remained protected had only one thing on their mind and that was to survive and fight for another day.

Zephaniel watched as The Drow gave a verbal response. He noticed the fangs but wouldn't pay anymore mind to it. Even though the enemy they face is a vampire, it doesn't mean all of them are the enemy. Especially since Istzyr is taking the time to save those he could. Zephaniel nodded, "Good." With that he quickly launched himself into the nearest building. He could already tell that the masses have stampeded their way out. Of course there is always some stragglers. Using what he could of his abilities he searched for anything live or evil within. As suspected some have yet to leave the building.

Zephaniel entered a stairwell and with quick speed ran up the stairs. As he entered the floors of interest he would find a variety of trouble. He found some victims trapped under rubble. Using his angelic strength, he saved those pinned. Some where rather stubborn and were afraid to leave. Zephaniel did his best to convince them that leaving was for their own good. During his mission he would also encounter some of the negativity that affects some of the residents. Usually stemming from some of the loose tendrils. Zephaniel would attack those he came into contact with, as the white light would burn and repel the invading tentacles. After which he healed and purified those still surviving. Thanks to his help he was able to secure more lives and lessen The Blood King's victims. Still much more work was needed to be done as more buildings appeared to be in rough shape. He would exit the building to repeat this process once more.

The Huntress shot towards the nearest ship, the Aschen Reverence. As it barreled to it's target, it's forward weapon bank shifted from gauss autocannon to the Sentinel Missile. The missiles would fire off, heading for either side of the reverence, before detonating into a large black sphere, from which thirty foot galvanized Ionspears would be fired at the reverence. The EM field produced by the spheres gave the spears a puncturing capability against shields, and the speed at which they moved allowed them to pierce even the most heavily armored surface.

Melanie smiled, switching back to the autocannons and firing once more at the reverence, the woman didn't care that there was panic in the streets below, she did not care there was a demon seeking escape from it's prison. She didn't care about any of that, all she wanted was to fight, and fight she would, using The Huntress as her body she would destroy everything she could reach, until there was nothing but ash and smoke.

As she thought this, the Machwave destroyer cannon mounted below the ships body began to charge, a nimbus of blue energy gathering around it. The weapon would fire a three hundred ton Holotium slug with the force of a hundred nuclear reactions all focused down the barrel of the gun, it was a weapon with a single purpose: To finish anything with a single strike.

"I've spent three fucking eternities waiting for a decent bit of entertainment, so please, don't let this end too quickly!" She shouted, the madness apparent in her voice.

As the Huntress sailed through the skies firing indiscriminately at it's surroundings, and especially up into the Aschen Ship. Melanie would likely find her missiles ineffective as they impacted a strange white distortion high in the skies.

Adjacent to the chaos, a strange ship seemingly made from light shimmered into existence. With a strange space-time distortion, the Huntress would find itself contained by a strange shimmering barrier of energy. Inside which her ship was suspended in a strange ether.

Adjacent to Melanie, a strange shimmering being appeared besides her. Zee had intervened on the attempted attack.

"This is not the place to test your skills. Please depart in peace."