One Final Effort

One Final Effort is the conclusion to the V Osade storyline, leading to the final battle between the Unity and the Lykos Kinsman Republic. Vulf, an inter-dimensional traveling Toa of Psionics belonging to the Agency of the Olmak must lead her team fresh from the Siege of Metru Nui and the Void to, Exusia, the Lykos homeland and make her way into Yermo. Fighting against superior odds, Vulf must make her way to the centre of the Capitol in order to locate the leader of the Lykos Kinsman Republic: Polemistis, the Ultra Director and put an end to the Timeless Siege which has seen so much destruction made.

This is the last effort to stop what would otherwise be extermination, this is one final effort to end it all.

The Warmaster's Plot
The Councilroom, Metru Nui...

The large domed room whispered with echoes as the voices of several individuals spoke, the brightly lit chambers were helped only by the massive crater found in the dome. Black streaks and dots decorated the otherwise white pillars and the emerald floors, freshly added from a fierce battle that had only won a day or two earlier.

The chamber nonetheless was secured as much as it could be, as guards from a variety of species protected a select few that had been sitting in elevated thrones. Banners had been unfurled above the heads of each race they represented, singed or torn from the battle—but remained still despite the fresh breeze which had made its way through the hole in the dome.

They were incredibly lucky to even be able to reclaim this place, in the opinion of the Toa of Psionics that stood quietly on the left-hand side of the Turaga which had been chosen to be a representative of this meeting. The assault had nearly seen the destruction of the entire island of Metru Nui, and left much more of the life that once inhabited the industrialised land nearly extinct.

The Toa of Psionics, Vulf, had wondered how it could have ever become possible that such an attack could have ever been amassed; especially in the brilliant defence of the Line. The Lykos Kinsmen were indeed brilliant fighters and engineers, but being able to break the Line? It had become even more obvious that if the Line couldn't prevent a Lykos assault, then nothing could ever hoped to be manufactured to stop what the next siege would have in store.

Vulf looked around to the rest of the Councillors that had been gathered for the meeting. The Vortixx Councillor had been replaced by someone else, a sure sign that the Vortixx had lost theirs in the assault. The representative of the Dark Hunters was noticeably absent, and even the Mersion Councillor had been missing. Vulf's eyes moved over to the single Councillor that the the entirety of Unity had grown to either despise, or to fear. Surprisingly enough, despite being at war with the greater Republic—a revolutionary Lykos Warmaster known as Machitis had been granted the position as a Unity Councillor.

Machitis was a figure that Vulf had a difficulty of trusting, given his nature to be manipulative, threatening and a hard-barginer. The Toa of Psionics had to give Machitis credit, because despite his contempt for the other species in the Unity and his disdainful attitude with her: he had been a very hard-willed and determined individual. Machitis was successful in uniting the anti-Republic Lykos into a revolutionary group known as the Red Flags of Soyedmevos, and doing so was able to convince the Unity Council to promote him to a Councillor.

But the Warmaster was talented at blackmailing and manipulating the rest of the Councillors, and due to his promotion was given the greatest power anyone could hope to have in the Council: the veto. If he disagreed with any legislation, it could be counted on that he would veto it. The only way to successfully convince him to allow for a vote was to assist him in passing his own agenda, which made things only more difficult for the rest of the Councillors.

Reading the psionic energy in the room, Vulf could almost tell that the rest of the Councillors had wanted that attempted assassination plot to have killed Machitis. She looked over his burnt golden cloak, and the blackened armour and skin of his figure. Vulf had even noticed that one of his mandibles had been blown off, leaving only seven left. Machitis was lucky to have survived the Siege, but Vulf bargained that this would only make him more difficult to deal with. She watched as he fiddled with a metal cylinder, seemingly disinterested with the current conversation, watching his eyes as they turned to her. Vulf looked away quickly, and returned her thoughts to the conversation going on.

"Yes," it seemed as if the new Vortixx Councillor had spoken for the first time, Vulf finally finding interest there. "But what about the security of the Line? We are wide open to even more attacks now that the Republic has burned through our defences! It should be our priority to reinstate and secure our only shield against whatever the Lykos will throw at us!"

The Steltian Councillor replied almost immediately: "I agree. Before we refocus on repairing our factories and our weapons, I suggest we use whatever scrap we have left to build up the Line again."

"We need the factories to refine the metal for a wall that size!" Turaga Dume exclaimed, "our priorities should be preparing the factories and defending the Matoran so that we can then refocus on securing the Line, but until then—"

"The Matoran shouldn't be the priority here, what about the Vortixx and our technological developments? We should instead focus on the Vortixx, the Line, and then the Matoran!"

"Neither the Matoran or the Vortixx should be the concern here, fellow Councillors! We should just focus on the Line!" The Steltian spoke up. The room fell silent almost immediately, as Turaga Dume shook his head in disappointment.

"Fine, but we still need the factories prepared to refine the metal that we harvest."

"But if we do that," the Vortixx Councillor replied yet again, "then shouldn't we then focus on manufacturing a defensive fleet? Unity only has an six ships left, one destroyer, two galleons and three sloops. Other than that, we have nothing but cargo and trade ships. We need to reestablish patrol so that the Lykos don't sneak in anything that could be even worse than the siege."

"We have seven ships." Machitis finally spoke. Attention shifted to him nearly instantly, as the Warmaster continued to fiddle with the metal cylinder in his hand. The Steltian Councillor shot a glance towards Turaga Dume, who looked back only for a brief moment before returning attention to the Warmaster. "What do you mean, Machitis?"

"I mean our Vortixx Councillor is very bad at counting, Dume. Perhaps we should seek for someone the least bit experienced in these matters?" Machitis spoke with a slight grin. Vulf looked towards the Vortixx Councillor, who appeared to shake with anger as she nearly spoke out in protest. Turaga Dume was able to prevent this, shaking his head as she reclined back in her seat—muttering to herself. The Steltian Councillor was able to reply: "Well... neither I or the Turaga Councillor have heard of this either, Lykos Councillor. Can you explain this seventh ship to us?"

Machitis looked towards the Steltian Councillor, his gaze having an effect that made the Councillor shrink back in his chair. And Vulf understood why. The Lykos were absolute beasts in size compared to most other races, a head or two taller than a Toa already. They were well built in terms of strength and speed, enough to break a stone with their hands alone and to outrun most others. But alas, they were incapable of manipulating any elements or using Kanohi-masks, unless they be forged to fit within their armour.

"My ship, the Dancing With Blades. I have kept it in a hidden harbour in Mishria upon my arrival to the northern world. The Republic's own Flagship, following its and my own supposed destruction at the Battle of Daxia. It is in disrepair, but given refined materials it may be restored to its glory once more as a Lykos Weapon of War."

The room fell completely silent once more, as Machitis returned to fiddling with the object in his hands. Vulf was awestricken by such a statement. She knew fully well the capabilities of a Lykos Warship, as the weapons were capable of gutting other warships with a simple barrage and still have the armour to take many times that punishment. But the ships she had seen were only fast responding scouting vessels, and that only made her fear what a Flagship would be capable of.

"And you hadn't decided to share this with us?!" The Vortixx Councillor exploded with anger, slamming her fist into her thrones armrest. "Think of what we could have prevented if you had only thought of bringing it into action!"

Machitis smiled, as he cooly replied: "As I have said, Councillor. It is in disrepair. And quiet so, I like the way it looks when stowed in harbour."

About to speak again, Dume prevented the Vortixx Councillor by speaking first. "Well if you can spare your ship for patrol, it would be much appreciated."

"I am not going to let my ship be used to circle islands, Dume."

"Then what do you intend to do with it?"

"I intend to go to war with it."

Silence again. Vulf looked in awe at Machitis as much as everyone else in the room, as the Warmaster finally stopped working with the small object in his hand. He lifted it, so that all the Councillors in the room could see the cylinder. Machitis finally broke the silence, keeping the object raised in the air: "Our enemy nearly sacrificed their all in order to attack the Line and to try to destroy us. We were dealing with an army that was designed to win in either scenario."

"What do you—" the Steltian Councillor spoke.

"If they hadn't conquered us, they would have had a written testament of our strength. The Republic's intelligence gathering is much superior than our own, their devices are centuries, and their tactics well designed. We have, and will be dealing with a threat that is better suited for adapting to everything that we design against it. They want us to rebuild, fellow Councillors and in fact—they are counting on it." Machitis replied, looking around the room at everyone.

«Ad,» Machitis scoffed, "and you were nearly about to play into their hands."

Vulf questioned what the Warmaster had said, about to speak up herself before biting her tongue. She knew better than to speak out during a Council session, especially if not spoken to. But she wondered what Machitis actually intended to do having said the Lykos were expecting almost anything. Turaga Dume looked down at her, before seemingly knowing what to ask: "What do you propose we do then, Machitis?"

"We do what the Lykos know we won't be doing."

"Which is?" The Vortixx Councillor asked.

"We invade them." Machitis spoke, gesturing for his Honour Guard to retrieve the object in his hand. The Honour Guard took the object from his hand, as she slowly made her way to the centre of the chamber. The Warmaster watched her carefully, as the Honour Guard activated the object as a holographic display shot into the air. It formed the island of Exusia—the Lykos homeland—as it began displaying a number of Lykos letters.

Vulf read them carefully, glad that she was finally able to pick up on the language so that she wouldn't need others to translate for her.

''Our enemies fleet shall be guaranteed as significantly reduced. Given that we have dedicated the majority of our holiest of Fleets to exterminate those who believe not in the Road of Life, we shall be guaranteed victory even should they push us from their diseased lands. They shall rebuild only to be destroyed by another of our Fleets better prepared for their end. As they rebuild, we shall plot their demise again.''

The Warmaster began to speak as the other Councillors finished reading from the display. "We are only allowed victory should we strike at them while they rebuild their own fleet. We are guaranteed only ruin should we wait for them to attack once more, with an army many times more powerful than the last. Do not underestimate their industry, they will have a working fleet within the next few rotations—and we will only have a portion of a wall!

"We cannot stall and hide in corners, and hope that we have a chance to break their assault once more. Because I can confirm it will not work! We have only once a chance to end our good struggle now, fellow Councillors. And this is the way it will be done!"

Machitis straightened himself in his chair as his Honour Guard returned to his side, taking the cylinder from her hands. He then kept his mouth shut, looking around to the Councillors. "What do you propose we do?" The Steltian Councillor asked.

"We take our ships, head to Exusia... and reclaim Yermo. Take it from the hands of the Ultra Director and end his war for our benefit." Machitis replied, looking to both the Vortixx and Turaga Councillors. "But we need to agree this is the thing to do. So I suggest we get it done quickly."

Turaga Dume shook his head and sighed, before looking back up to Machitis to give his vote: "As much as I would want to disagree, unfortunately I have been shown it is irresponsible to. I trust you will end this war for us, Machitis. Mata Nui only knows how many have already been claimed by it."

Machitis turned his head towards the Steltian, waiting for his vote as the Councillor finally gave in. "I am in favour with your plan, Warmaster. I just bid that you will be able to stop the Republic from ever being in the position to destroy us ever again."

All attention shifted towards the Vortixx Councillor, watching as her breath began to increase. Drawing in a breath, she closed her eyes as she uttered her response: "Fine. But please make sure that we will actually win this battle."

The Warmaster smiled, rising from his chair as Vulf watched in amazement as the Lykos announced his plan: "So it is then decided. Prepare the Unity's ships for combat, and reassign your greatest repairs to Mishria. We have a victory to plan, fellow Councillors. And your vote has just helped to realise that."

The Toa of Psionics shook her head in disbelief as the Warmaster exited the chamber with his Honour Guard, examining the rest of the Councillors before he headed through the great doors and out into one of the many hallways of the facility. Vulf knew that Machitis had been successful in getting other Councillors to vote for his propositions, but this one actually managed to go through without any noticeable threats or blackmail.

But the thought of invading the Republics own homeland had frightened her. The idea of heading to the motherland of this Universe's greatest threat, after witnessing all it was capable of would be enough to convince others not to do so. Turaga Dume placed his hand on her shoulder, as he talked quietly: "Best prepare your team, Toa Vulf. We will need every last warrior for this battle."

Vulf nodded her head, responding to the Turaga in an equally quiet matter: "Understood, Turaga Dume."

The Encampment, Metru Nui...

As Vulf approached the encampment, she found the scene to be as distressing as it had been only hours before she had left. The desperate complex had been set up on the burnt earth after the defeat of the Republic only two days before, as rubble strewn the scene added an equally unnerving edge to the ash scattered across the floor of the camp. The Toa of Psionics looked back up into the sky to find it grieving, the grey clouds over the camp looked to be near the point of storming. She looked back down to the ground, towards the camp that her and her team have been provided with. The red cloth had a few holes and tears in it, adequately repaired with mismatching patches which varied in colour.

In a metal crate next to the camp sat Vulf's largest ally, a member of the Red Flags of Soyedmevos sat on top of it as the crimson armoured Lykos went through with cleaning his heavy plasma rifle. He looked up quietly towards Vulf, before the Lykos closed the hatch which allowed the user to access the inner mechanics to it.

"Then so, Vulf?" The red-clad Lykos asked, "The meeting has progressed?"

"So," Vulf replied, "it has indeed, Yarvok. Where is the rest of our team?"

"Inside the shelter, I have imagined."

"Follow me, Yarvok. We have a matter to discuss."

Yarvok grunted, folding his massive arms before he fell behind Vulf quietly. Vulf always knew that Yarvok had been by far the largest Lykos she has ever met, being a head taller than most already. He was the most talented of the group in the ways of Lykos warfare. His heavy armour and its rugged condition spoke much of his past as a warrior for the Red Flags, a variety of patches of misshapen and discoloured metal not even belonging to the same set of armour. Vulf could say that they were hasty repairs made to make sure the armour would function properly, by the wearer had always preferred the term being 'modifications'.

Lifting the tent flap, Vulf stepped inside to the shelter as she looked around for the rest of her team. Counting over them, she found that she had one more Lykos, a Matoran and a Toa under her lead. She inhaled sharply, realising that they were all here. The Toa's attention snapped back to Vulf almost instantly, as a smile marked her greeting face. "Welcome back, Vulf." She said, as Vulf nodded her head to the young Toa.

It was a young Toa of Light, by the name of Raskuyu. Vulf had always been intrigued by this young Toa, for her adaptability and her stubbornness. Raskuyu was kind, and generous to say the least and had an air about her that seemed to ease everyones nerves. Vulf remembers how Raskuyu as a young Matoran led the her and another team through the Forgotten Shores of the southern world, tracking down essential materials that the Lykos had been confiscating in order to forge sets of Kanohi-infused armour. There she was able to find the Mask of Light, and transform herself into a Toa of Light. She was relatively inexperienced for a Toa, but she had proved to be a vital asset from time to time.

"Thank you, Raskuyu." Vulf replied, looking to the other Lykos in the room.

He looked back at her and scoffed, before returning back to whatever he had in his hands. Vulf had been accustomed to this Lykos' irrational behaviour since the first day she had met him. Kvar was his name, and he was one of the most arrogant and self-centred individuals that Vulf had ever met. Once a message interceptor for the Lykos Republic, Kvar was captured by Machitis and Yarvok following their engagement with a Lykos Commander known as Predavis. He had softened to the opposition following having been fired upon by his own comrades. Vulf couldn't completely dismiss Kvar, as he had been able to help her understand the Lykos language. He was important for translating in a day and age where the enemies cunning was hidden through a veil of misspoken words.

Vulf finally looked at the last member of her team in the room: a small Ga-Matoran who was seemingly misplaced considering her size compared to the rest of the members of the team. Her name had been Elisis, a rather interesting and complex Matoran that had long served as the teams Chronicler. Vulf understood that Elisis was responsible for defeating a rogue Lykos Commander at her homeland, and had been before she met her a guide along the Road of Life: a path which escapees who had fled the Republic's destruction could find peace once more. Elisis wasn't the strongest combatant of the team, but she was still a capable one.

"Hello, Vulf." Elisis stated, looking over her shoulder as she detailed the ending of the Siege on a tablet. She turned around to face Vulf as did Raskuyu and Yarvok. Kvar who had his back still turned to the rest of the team was forcefully turned around to pay attention by the much stronger Yarvok. Kvar sighed, before he cast his gaze up to the Toa of Psionics. "How so the meeting, Heretic?" Kvar asked grudgingly.

"We have a plan of action now," Vulf quietly said, looking around the rest of the room before continuing: "But I am sure the details (of which there are few at the moment) need to be shared with you."

"What so are they?" Yarvok questioned, "And how so shall we act?"

Vulf drew in a deep breath, closing her eyes for a brief moment. Her team had already been through plenty following the Siege, and even before then the team had experienced the darkest horrors they could have ever bargained to face. The Void. Vulf never tried to dawn on the memories of the Void, with the screams of the prisoners and what the Lykos have done with those imprisoned there. Tortured, torn from their own bodies and trapped in the shell of metal skins that they then used to fight for the Republic's wars. She looked back up, and it was obvious to the rest of the team what she was thinking.

"We are headed down to the Republic." She finally replied, as the team seemed to contort their expressions into either confusion or disgust.

"You mean," Elisis asked, "we are headed to Exusia?"

"The Warmaster was able to convince the rest of the Unity Council to go along with his decision to invade Exusia. He claims that the Republic is already expecting us to attempt to rebuild our defence, and they were not considering the possibility of us invading them back."

Kvar scoffed, "Then we march to our deaths? Can the Council not even understand that Exusia is our best defended land? The shortsightedness of the Unity will be the death of us all!"

"The Republic must have put in all of the strength it musters to assault the Line!" Yarvok growled, "Should any know best, it would best be the one who worked as an actual Commander of the Republic, Kvar."

"Yarvok is right," Raskuyu hopefully said, holding her hands behind her back as she returned her gaze to Vulf. "The Warmaster has the most experience with the Lykos, and if what he said is true—we have an opportunity to end this war."

"But what if this assault fails?" Elisis finally speaks up, "Look, we have been fighting this war and we have seen terrible, terrible things. Remember what we saw at the Void? We are fighting our tortured friends now, people that lost their will because of the Lykos. We fail, and we will become them."

Vulf hadn't been willing to consider this point until now. But she remembered, O, how she remembered as the Lykos had extracted the organics and will of their prisoners before they forced them into the frames of robot warmachines. The organics screamed from the inside, trying to work against every movement that had been automated for them. She remembered what the Guardian of the Void—Likor—had told her: "It is the grandest hell I could have ever dreaded. I ask to move, but all I can do is scream. This misery I make others face, is from my failure. Fail no more anyone, fail no more what left there is to protect."

Vulf looked back to the rest of her team, as the silence that they made told her all that she needed to know: they were thinking back to the Void as well. She sighed, looking up to her team before she spoke again: "Maybe that is why we have to take this opportunity, Elisis. Because if we don't, we would fail everyone and everything that we have left. We saw terrible things at the Void, we have to take what we saw in order to understand what we need to protect."

"The Lykos have nearly destroyed everything that we have, Vulf." Elisis replied, before drawing a sharp retort from Yarvok: "The Republic, not the Lykos."

"The point I think Vulf is trying to make is that we need to defend what we have left, Elisis." Raskuyu responded, as she reached out to put her hand on the Ga-Matoran's shoulder. "You've told me your story, how you managed to stop the destruction of that Matoran village?"

"Yes?" Elisis asked, interested as to why Raskuyu would try to be making this point as the Toa of Light continued: "You had to take back your village from a hostile force. Think of the Southern Continent, you protected your home. But now think of the rest of this world, what would you sacrifice to protect it all?"

Elisis fell silent, looking down to the floor before she looked back into the calming blue eyes of the Toa of Light. She nodded her head, a tear drawing down her Kanoni before she replied: "I lost my friend, Raskuyu... I just want to make sure that the Ultra Director will never be able to take away from anyone as they have taken away from me."

"Then what do you think? We need to do this to stop them from doing so to anyone anymore." Raskuyu replied, squeezing Elisis' shoulder in an attempt to comfort her.

"But what if we fail, Raskuyu?" Elisis asked, as Vulf introduced herself to the conversation once more. "Then let us make sure we don't fail, Elisis."

Yarvok kept his arms folded, quiet as the Toa and Matoran tried to settle the conflict between them. The large Lykos sighed, muttering in his own tongue as the Toa of Psionics picked up on what her team member said, "We fail and our salvation will be our destruction."

Kvar nodded his head, as the second Lykos retrieved a plasma pistol from one of the many crates inside the tent. "Then we head for Mishria, Toa and like-kin." Yarvok spoke. Raskuyu patted Elisis shoulder as the Toa of Light retrieved the Matoran's Chronicler Staff and handed it to her. Vulf watched as Yarvok picked up a crate and forced it into the hands of Kvar, who muttered quietly: "Prevent yourself from doing this, I bid thee!"

Vulf watched as Raskuyu moved past her through the tent, the Toa of Light resting her soft hand on the shoulder of the Toa of Psionics. Vulf returned the gesture, before making way for Yarvok, who lifted a large metal crate as he moved past Vulf. The Toa of Psionics looked back inside the tent, finding it nearly empty now—she closed her eyes and tried to think back to the good times the team had before. She closed the flap to the tent, looking back toward her team which had prepared their path for out towards the docks. Vulf sighed, before turning to set pace to join her team.

The Hidden Harbour, Mishria...

Within the moderate island chains, there was a break in the grey clouds to which light gleamed on the waves of the ocean which met the harbour found. The harbour had been very well concealed, hidden within a forested inlet which had only been enough to keep the large vessel stored there.

The green trees had reduced the visibility from both the air and from along the coast, leaving the impressively sized vessel only visible from the waters which led into the inlet. The dock which had been abandoned for several years had now begun to become a much more active force. Cargo ships had brought in a series of supplies which until this time, had been dedicated to fortify walls and other strongholds.

Artillery, reinforced armour plating and point defence turrets have been brought into the harbour to be installed into the massive metal behemoth which was the once Lykos Republic Flagship: the Dancing With Blades.

Red Flag Lykos have been active since the Unity's Council's decision to restore the vessel in order to provide the force needed for a scaled assault against the Lykos Kinsman Republic.

Among the Lykos were the finest engineers that Unity had to spare in order to ensure the reconstruction was progressing according to plan, as teams of Matoran, Vortixx and Mersions have begun to attach what appeared to be artillery to each side of the ship. Armour was being reinforced with the thickest sheets of protosteel available for the work. Vulf cast her gaze around the sight, spotting several teams of Unity species being organised for boarding both the Dancing With Blades and the other Unity ships.

Yarvok smiled brightly as he rested his gaze on the Dancing With Blades, seemingly lightening his step as he spoke with a great passion for the object. "There she rests, the Dancing With Blades!"

"By the Pantheon," Kvar mutters, adjusting the weight of the crate in his hands before he continued, "your Warmaster did indeed secure the Republic's Flagship!"

"A grand thing, is she not?" Yarvok replied, looking down to his Toa and Matoran compatriots beside him. Raskuyu was almost in a trance as she looked over the black and silver armour plating of the Lykos ship, watching as crimson symbols are painted over the hull and bow of the ship. Elisis looked up to the series of banners being rung up high into the sky, belonging to the Red Flags of Soyedmevos as they fluttered from the gentle breeze guiding itself into the inlet.

"You know the ship?" Vulf asks, watching as the second artillery piece is lowered into position on the deck of the ship. The Toa of Psionics found it odd that land artillery designed to destroy enemy fortifications was being added to the ship, was it possible that it was meant to be an assault platform from the waters to land? Vulf couldn't even try to answer the question for herself as her thought was interrupted by Yarvok.

"«Aj», young blood of kin. Our vessel is a voyage as powerful as time and steel's influence! It sails well, and its power is beyond compare! Lo, there be the platform's station upon all I have stood!" Yarvok exclaimed, supporting the heavy create for a moments notice to gesture towards what had appeared to be a plasma cannon. Vulf examined the design of the cannon, thoroughly impressed with it.

"Powerful, you say?" Raskuyu asked, looking over the same cannon that Vulf and the others had been examining.

"Very much so." Yarvok replied, "it moves as that of 40 knots, the armour was and now is twice a yul—a third a metre in the measuring of that your kin. Cannons of which burn the sky, and if permitted—this our artillery shall bring more than just destruction of sky and earth!"

"Powerful indeed," Elisis mutters, "so what happened to it before? Why does it need repairs?"

"Not much power behind it, that it seems." Kvar replied.

"The battle of which we claimed your land, this which you call that of Daxia. It was dragged under that water of which your kin may command of, but alas, it was spit out of it as we approached this which you call that of Mishria. Still a piece, not ever destructed." Yarvok growled in response.

"So it was sunk, then?" Raskuyu then asked, holding her hands behind her back as she continued to look around the frantic harbour.

«Aj.» Yarvok muttered. Vulf smiled as the Lykos grudgingly accepted that the mighty vessel had once been sunk in combat. "Well it is still very impressive, Yarvok." Vulf replied, reaching up to pat the shoulder of the Kinsman.

"I'm sure that the Ultra Director would fancy reclaiming it from the bottom of this our ocean," Kvar spoke in a stark manner, "it was after all his own flagship, mind you know."

"Indeed, I have heard the same thing." Vulf replied, "Think he'll be upset to know that we stole his ship from him?"

"I think it would be a great surprise," Elisis answered, "and I hope it will be enough to defeat the Ultra Director."

Reaching a part of the compartment loading dock, Kvar and Yarvok rested their crates in line with the other materials being prepared to move into the cargo hold. Two Red Flag guards looked over them with an eye of suspicion, as one removed a strange device and ran it over the two crates which were put before them—scanning them for any materials which could destroy or damage part of the ship. The second looked over the weapons that the team had.

It spoke in clear Lykos, "Hand us your weapons, nothing offensive shall be held by anything but Red Flag!"

"What did it say?" Elisis asked, holding on to her Chronicler Staff—eyeing the Red Flag guard with suspicion. Raskuyu pulled the two light blades which she had sheathed on the sides of her utility belt as she handed them to the Lykos. "Don't loose them." She spoke, as she walked slowly past the rest.

Yarvok joined her, as the two Red Flag guards recognised him as part of their order. Vulf looked over the two Lykos, as they locked eyes on her. The Toa of Psionics knew they probably wouldn't recognise her gauntlets as a threat, considering they matched her Olmak-infused armour. Her preferred weapon were these gauntlets, as they were a step up in terms of the the rest of the armour sets the Agency of the Olmak have ever provided.

These gauntlets allowed her to channel her elemental energy and to shape them into anything she would need whilst in combat. Knives, shields and energy projectiles could be formed if she channeled her elemental energy properly. Instead, she drew what had once been the choice weapon of the first Lykos Commander she faced: Predavis. The plasma blade was highly detailed, marks that looked like feathers etched into the metal plating. Vulf handed the blade to the Lykos, who pulled it from her grasp and set it onto a weapon rack along with Raskuyu's blades.

They looked next towards Elisis, who held onto her Chroniclers staff as the Lykos muttered a phrase: "Give unto me your weapons."

Vulf looked towards the Lykos, trying to think of what to reply. Slowly, she uttered in Lykos: "Have her keep this staff."

The Red Flag guard smiled with what seemed to be with malcontent: "She bears a weapon still, lo, her dagger."

Vulf looked down to Elisis, gesturing towards the knife the Ga-Matoran had in her possession. The Matoran looked up, hesitant at first, before she finally drew the knife and handed it to the Lykos. The second Red Flag guard was dealing with Kvar, who was unwilling to relent his plasma pistol. Vulf shook her head, before she walked over to Yarvok and Raskuyu.

Yarvok shook his head upon Vulf's arrival, "You have spoken wrong."

Vulf looked up to her Lykos companion with confusion, before the Kinsman explained: "You spoke: «Ebah eis linna sotrudniki», when thou should speak «Ebah eis pitaeae sotrudniki»."

"O. I see." Vulf replied, looking back to Kvar who finally had the plasma pistol yanked from his possession. He stormed over to the rest of the group in anger, "They allow you to that your weapon!"

"But see that I am a Red Flag, you cannot." Yarvok replied.

Kvar was about to reply, before there was a booming cheer coming from down the harbour. Vulf and her team instantly turned to face the noise, as she spotted the Warmaster standing above the rest of the Red Flag crowd, as he spoke with a loud and ferocious tone: "We stand here this day, my fellow Kinsman to mark that which centuries blood has been broken to form this that our Republic—a ruined Republic—may be formed to keep our Paketo's peaceful, and to make this our path to prosperity!

"But this will has been violated by this, the most abominable and the most ill-sanctified! That our broken Ultra Director—that which is Polemistis—has dared to enslave us his people and ensure that our destruction come, that he may climb our corpses to enforce his will! We shall stand this no more, for the Red Flags of Soyedmevos have formed once more to break an Empire! To free this, you people!

"We march to Exusia this day to take back that which is ours, to seize which has been built upon the bones of our ancestors! We shall break this, our fallen Ultra Director—and upon his grave—build a new Exusia, that we may construct a new Yermo!"

The Lykos crowd cheered, as did Yarvok. The massive Red Flad Lykos threw his arm into the air in the form of a fist as to cheer. Raskuyu clapped gently, and Kvar and Elisis stood still. Vulf folded her arms, nodding her head as she agreed with Machitis for what seemed to be the first time. It was indeed time to end this conflict, and free this universe from the misery it has forced others to experience. She looked back to a finished Dancing With Blades, seeing the vessel which would bring Unity the victory it so desperately needed.

It wasn't a time for celebration, but it was indeed nearing one.

Yermo, Exusia...

The capitol of Yermo for the first time in months had been gifted with but a few clouds and the sunlight from above. The metal structures gleamed in the sunlight, reaching high into the sky as the streets below were covered in the shadows of these structures.

The streets and foundries below were busy constructing the weapons of war, and busy were the marching guards who were checking the progression of the construction of these weapons. But the largest building—the Superstructure or Supercapitol—stood in the centre of Yermo. It reached high into the sky, cutting through the clouds as the sun gleamed on the top of the structure—the silver top radiating to appear as that of a second sun.

From within the structure, the open window allowed the rising sun into the Council Chamber. The light spread across the dark interior of the chamber, as it danced across a holotable—a variety of Lykos in seats wrapping around the table. From the head of the table, the gravity throne was rotated around to face out of the window. The Ultra Director clasped his hands together as his fellow Directors conversed.

He had been uninterested in the conversation following the development speed of vehicular weapons, nor had he been too interested in the conversation about the development of new War Colleges in the land of the Second Paketo—the one he had terminated for the treachery and betrayal of one of his former Directors: Zilotis.

"Perseverance and honour shall bless all," spoke the Director of the Honour Guard, tapping the holotable as he turned his head towards the back of the chair for the Ultra Director.

"My Ultra Director? Shall you gift us with your input for the development of these War Colleges?"

Polemistis rotated his gravity throne to face the rest of his Directors, looking along the table as he reclined into his chair and sighed afterwards. "I imagine what could been said, has been said. We have our focus clear, and I believe that we shall be seeing a rising generation of warriors."

The Directors nodded their heads, in unanimous agreement with their Ultra Director. The chamber was silent, and the Director of Armour attempted to speak up before Polemistis motioned for him to be silent. The Director nodded his head, as the Directors returned their attention to Polemistis.

"May I ask," Polemistis started, "what news may we bring from the latest of our Timeless Siege? How happens the assault of our enemies capitol?"

The Director's chambers fell dead silent in response to the Ultra Director, no one willing as they usually are to answer his question. He raised his gauntleted fist to rest his head on, keeping his elbow locked to the armchair. Time dragged on as no one dared to respond, and this angered Polemistis. He dropped his hand to the armrest of his throne immediately, tapping his fingers across the control console of his throne.

"Shall no one tell me?" He asked again. The silence continued, and Polemistis shook his head in disappointment. He closed his eyes and shook with his temper, as he looked back up to his Directors and exclaimed: "So you shall fail me?!

"These years we have been playing a gambit! I have had to lead our Republic through the tragedy of it all, through our lost commanders and through their lost sisters and brethren! In order to drive this plague from our land, I sacrificed our wellbeing—and when I ask—when I command you to win me this one battle, the one battle we must succeed to finish this Siege... you fail me."

The Directors in the Council appeared to shrink, as they hid their faces from the wrath of their Ultra Director. Suddenly, the Director of Airships—the Flotskya Director—finally motioned, as she drew the attention of Polemistis to her. He knew well of Mayraka, the Flotskya Director and her loyalty to him. He motioned for her to speak, as she looked to the rest of the Council before continuing: "We have indeed failed, my Ultra Director. We managed to break their Line, and assault their capitol... but they managed to force us out, and for that I have failed you."

Polemistis looked at her cooly, as he sighed before he replied: "«Nada», you fail me not. For you can speak, and tell me of what I have asked."

A second hand made a motion, coming from the Director of Special Operations—the Verkhov Director. Polemistis looked towards him, and knew him to be Spetvedka. Spetvedka had been a good ally to Polemistis throughout the entirety of the Timeless Siege, open with council with him as he protected the Ultra Director even during Zilotis' betrayal. "My Ultra Director, I can second with what Mayraka has said. We find that they were weak, but they had been prepared for our assault. We managed to exhaust their industry and most of their armour, but with what they had left—they managed to force us out."

"My pilots managed to find that their is a counter-Republic organisation as well, the members of which are Lykos," Mayraka continued, pausing—as if reconsidering—before she continued: "A group known as the Red Flags of Soyedmevos."

"The Red Flags of Soyedmevos." Polemistis repeated, before he looked around to the rest of his Councillors. "Fantastic. And the rest of you stay silent."

He looked over the Council once more, before he applied his hand over his face as if to hide his disgust. "Then this, my Council, shall be the last time we meet."

"My Ultra Director!" One of the Directors exclaimed, trying to grab the attention of Polemistis before he continued, "our strategy was set for victory even if we were pushed out of their territory! We significantly weakened their force, and were ready for a second strike!"

"You left us vulnerable!" Polemistis hissed, slamming his fist on the armrest of his throne. "Even if we can produce another Fleet of Seas, it will be several months! Shall you use the hammer, when we have the precision of the blade?! You have failed your title, you have failed your Republic and most importantly: you have failed me!

"Now you shall pay for your failures, you shall redeem this doomed Republic with your deaths! You refused to admit your faults, with the exception of our Verkhov and Flotskya Directors! I forgive whom I may, but shall you conceal your failure, I shall have you pay dearly for it!"

Polemistis motioned to his Honour Guards, as they approached the Directors with the exception of Mayraka and Spetvedka, and seized them. A few struggled to be escorted outside of the chamber, as those who did indeed struggle were struck already with a plasma blade.

The Director of Tanks nearly fell to the floor dead, and the Director of Seas was significantly wounded in the fray. One Director of the Honour Guard tried to break free, believing his influence of the Honour Guards to be stronger than the Ultra Directors, but in the end was stabbed in the back by one of the Lykos he trained. Their blood spilled across the scene—those who struggled—as the blood boiled hot from touching the plasma of the Honour Guards blades.

"Take them to the world, my Honour Guards." Polemistis commanded, "make them examples of this Republic's failures."

Mayraka and Spetvedka sat in their seats still, petrified with what they saw. Mayraka looked up to Polemistis with specific horror, as he waved his hand—dismissing this. "We shall find stronger Directors, ones more capable than this lot of animals. You, Mayraka and Spetvedka shall remain. An example of why this Republic remains strong."

He rotated his chair around to face the outside world, the sun still gleaming inside the chamber of the Councillors. "You are dismissed to return to your duties." Polemistis replied, as he heard the shifting of the chairs and the steps that led them outside of the chamber. The grand doors behind him closed with a mighty sound, as the Ultra Director motioned for his Honour Guards to leave the chamber as well. The door closed a second time, followed by silence.

He slammed his armrest again, the console recognising this as the window before him was barricaded to relieve the room from the bright sunlight. The artificial lights turned on, as the Ultra Director removed his helmet and held it in his hands. He shook physically with pain, frustration, confusion and fear. Pain from the betrayal of his Directors.

How could they fail him? How could they keep this vital thing a secret from him? But not only the pain of this betrayal, but it was the pain of his betrayal. How could he fail them, his Republic? Was he not strong enough to lead? Was his power he once held starting to weaken?

Polemistis was told he would accomplish many great things from the prior Ultra Director, change the path of the way that they would function and how they would survive. A better future.

His frustration was understandable, but in his position of power he should have been capable of successfully ending this war. He was angered that his Directors were unable to channel his powers to defeat their enemy, to destroy and end this conflict for good. But he was also confused by this. Confused as how he could allow himself to do this great wrong.

The Ultra Director had just slaughtered nearly all of his Directors out of anger. He was confused how he could before this, allow for beings just like him to be broken down and turned into mindless machines.

The Khodka would never allow him to do this, it would never permit him to treat these beings like animals. But at the same time, the Khodka commanded for the destruction of all impure things in the sight of the Pantheon, it commanded him to win this great struggle. But what is this contradiction? This unearthly contradiction!

Polemistis shook as he considered all this things. The hurt. His frustration. His confusion. And for the first time in decades, in the quiet and loneliness of his chambers he wept.

He didn't know what was to follow. And it made him afraid.

From the Heavens to the Earth
TBW...

Characters

 * The Unity and the Red Flags of Soyedmevos
 * Vulf (Protagonist)
 * Raskuyu
 * Elisis
 * Yarvok
 * Kvar
 * Machitis
 * Turaga Dume


 * Lykos Kinsman Republic
 * Polemistis (Antagonist)
 * Mayraka
 * Zilotis (mentioned)
 * Spetvedka