The mighty drake fell forward, shaking the ground as he landed on all fours. Turning his gargantuan head, he stared at me with one, cat-like, yellow eye. "Care to explain why the town is in shambles?"

"Better question is what are you doing here?" I countered.

Leaning back, he sat back on his haunches and crossed his arms. "I was on my way to meet Princess Celestia when we saw what was going on here. We thought we would investigate."

I glanced back at the two smaller dragons as they too, stood with their arms crossed. "Remember that clone I showed you?" I asked the ambassador as I turned back to face him.

He raised a curious brow. "I do."

"They're here!" Both his and the females eyes went wide as they looked towards each other in shock. "That Galleon that's taken up residence above the town is feeding this attack! And as of right now, we are struggling to keep control of the skies and the town!"

"What of the residents?" the female questioned, worry very evident, as she looked around the area.

"We have an evac. point due south of here!" I informed her as I turned to look at her. "We've been holding the Grineer at bay up until now, but I don't know how long we'll be able to hold out! If you assist us it would be greatly appreciated!"

The great drake hummed as he rubbed his chin in thought. "I have an idea… Ithaca, I need the crystal," he said to the larger female dragon. Reaching down and into a small -for her- satchel that she had tied around her neck, she pulled out a small, red crystal and handed it to the drake. Grasping it, he slithered past me and his charges and towards the end of the alleyway. I saw a red flicker as an image appeared. If it had been any other time, I would have liked to look at that.

"Yes my lord, it is I. We have a situation here in Equestria… An invasion my Lord… No, from the stars as I had told you… No my Lord, it is not by the off worlder, but his enemies… I have no idea my Lord… yes my Lord… Yes… Understood. Thank you my Lord!"

Grasping the crystal, he crawled his way back and relinquished the object back to Ithaca, who promptly stuffed it back into her satchel.

"His Majesty is dispatching his personal guard of Drakgoons as we speak, but it will be some time before they arrive here," he informed me.

"How long?"

"It will take half a day, maybe more…"

My eyes went wide. "Half a day!?" I shouted at him. "We don't have half a day!"

"I'm sorry, but even our best flyers could not get here faster!" he countered. I could hear it, there was nothing more we could do! "We have been flying for nearly two, they will strain to get here, but it will not be that fast!"

Fuck!

I stepped away and paced a little, running a hand over my helmet in exasperation. We needed reinforcements now! There was no way we could hold the town for that long. Even we as Tenno were not invincible. Many of us have died with that line of thought. Eventually, the Grineer will get tired of the death toll and deploy their heavy units. We would become overwhelmed and nothing we do will stop them!

"Young one," he said to me, grabbing my attention. "My Drakgoons, mate, and I offer up our services! Although this is not our war, this is our planet!" Lifting his arms, he punched his claws together. "And we will fight for it!"

Turning around, the other three wore the same look of determination. With my mind set, I turned back towards the drake. Just as I was about to open my mouth, Drax came running into the alleyway.

"Excalibur-"

All four dragons took up defensive stances, hissing loudly at the Dragon-class Warframe. In response, Drax roared as loudly as he could.

"What are you doing here hatchling?" the drake bellowed with a hiss.

Drax roared before responding. "I am not hatchling! I am over eight hundred years old!" He roared again to accentuate his point.

"Your stature says otherwise!"

I blinked and looked back at the still hissing twins. Drax was at least their height, if not a hair taller. "Okay! HEY!" I shouted at the pair as they pressed noses, growling at each other. Stepping in between the two, I pushed them apart. "Drax is one of my teammates!" I clarified. "He just happens to look a lot like a dragon." Stepping back, the pair continued to glare at each other. "Look, every second we stand here squandering, is another second the Grineer push the attack!"

"What do you want us to do?" the drake asked as he leaned back.

"We need to clear the skies!" I ordered. "The Liset will aid you in taking back the skies! We need to evacuate the rest of the town as well!"

The drake held up his right claw, clenched it, and slammed it across his mighty chest. "We are at your service. Drakgoons! To battle!"

"For honor!" the smaller female shouted.

"And glory!" the male shouted as well.

The larger female roared to the skies before she unfurled her mighty leathery wings and took to the air. Dropping to all fours, the twins slithered away as fast as they could out of the alleyway. The larger drake looked towards Drax with a look of disgust. I glanced between the pair.

"Drax, Ambassador, you two are going to retake the skies!" I smirked. Both of them stared at me in shock before they turned to glare at each other.

"Prove to me your worth hatchling, and I may think otherwise," the Ambassador stated.

"It is you who must prove self," Drax spit as he crawled onto the dragon's neck.

"Drax wait!" I said, halting the pair before they took to the skies. "Ordis, we need a weapon drop! Surface to air launcher!" All three of us looked to the skies as the Liset tore overhead, firing a drop pod from the bottom of the hull. The jet black, metal casing impacted against the ground, before it hissed, and the outer shell broke apart, revealing the launcher within. Grasping the weapon, I tossed it to the other Tenno. Catching it, he surveyed the weapon with a keen eye. "You got two barrels! Grab that latch on the left, lift to remove the spent canister, and load the replacement, then close!" I explained rather simply while enacting the motions with an invisible launcher. "Hold 'till lock, the missile with do the rest!"

Drax nodded as he shouldered the weapon, holding it with one hand. "Ve vill take back da skies!"

Unfurling his wings, the red drake took to the skies!

There was a loud explosion as a Grineer Dargin exploded in a plume of black smoke and orange flames and sent careening out of control. As they approached, Drax roared in victory as he watched the demolished gunship spun wildly out of control before impacting against the ground in a ball of flames.

"Drax!" the drake snorted as he was knocked from his victory roar. "You got a bogey on you your six!" Turning, the Warframe turned around and immediately spotted the gunship that had taken up chase behind the two dragons. The ship opened fire on the duo, forcing Drax to duck to avoid the gunfire.

"Hang on young one!" the Ambassador informed his smaller draconian passanger. Leaning back, the drake aimed for the ground, falling into a very steep dive. Sliding the launcher onto his back, Drax leaned forward and rested his body against his flight buddy. "Get ready!"

They dove.

The sounds of whistling screeched through the skies as they dove straight towards the ground like a bomb. Unfurling his wings, the Ambassador pulled back hard just before he hit the ground, landing hard enough to cause a mini earthquake. Drax dove from the back of the dragon's neck and landed with a roll. The pair roared as they each bellowed red hot flames from their ferocious maws, scorching any poor bastard within the immediate area. Lancers, Troopers, and other soldiers were burned to a crisp, flailing wildly as their armor did nothing but cook them from the outside. Spinning, the Ambassador used his mighty tail to whip a squad of Lancers high into the air.

Rearing back, the pair roared to the skies yet again.

With a leap and a flap if his wings, the drake grabbed Drax around the shoulders with one of his gargantuan claws and tossed him into the air and back onto his back. Catching a Dargin in his claws on the way up, the red dragon heaved the ship in a random direction, sending the out of control ship spinning into another passing gunship. Leaning back, Drax drew the launcher yet again, locking onto another ship.

An explosion caused the Warframe to jerk and reflexively grab his perch with one hand. Underneath him, the Ambassador jerked wildly, grunting as the impacting surface to air missile threw him off course. He screeched in pain as he was sent spiraling out of control and unable to reoriente himseld as Drax held on as best as he could!

"Shit!" the Tenno cursed as he was thrown violently into the air, spiraling out of control and joining his companion in freefall. Holding out his arms, Drax fell into a controlled descent. Below him, the dragon struggled to regain control of his wings as he statred to spin wildly. With a hard jerk, Drax felt something wrap around his leg as he suddenly found himself sailing horizontally through the air.

"Hang in there small one!" Looking between his legs, Drax locked eyes with the white female dragoness before he looked back towards the ground.

"I do not have much choice…" he pouted as he was dragged through the air by his ankle. Forced to watch the battle below, the white drake quickly garnered an idea. Reaching back, he grasped his launcher and reloaded the weapon. "Nyet! Keep going, I have idea!" Slamming the weapon closed, he took aim. "Serenity, danger close!"

Pulling the trigger, the unguided rocket sailed true, impacting against the ground in a plume of debris and searing hot shrapnel. Several Lancers were thrown from their feet from the impact. Those that weren't killed by shrapnel, sailed through the air, impacting against walls, each other, or shatteted through windows. The second one exploded not far behind the first, which severed the legs of one Lancer, sending his screaming form high into the air as he was thrown from the ground. A Butcher was thrown from his feet as well, shattering through a door with a meaty crack. One Heavy Gunner's weapon exploded, showering her with searing hot shrapnel that tore through her armor as though it never existed.

As he reloaded, the dragoness brought her arms back as she started to rock the smaller Warframe. "Get ready to grab something!" Slipping the launcher on his back, Drax went along with his swinging motion before she threw him forward. With a half a rotation in the air, the little drake clamped his hands tight upon impact, digging his claws into the back of the now airborne Ambassador's scales. The larger drake continued to climb high into the skies, catching a gunship by the turret during his ascension.

Back on the ground, an out of control gunship impacted the ground, exploding in a plume of smoke and debris, killing several Elite Lancers.

Turning, I took up cover behind a tipped over cart. "'Cal!" Lifting my head, I look behind me as Ember came running at me at full sprint. "I need a ride!" Catching onto her plan, I holstered my rifle and opened my shield. Dropping to a knee, I held the defensive tool over my head. Leaping into the air, Ember planted both feet firmly on the surface of my shield. Pushing with all my might, I heaved her into the air as I stood up.

Reaching out, she caught the turret of a Dargyn and held on for dear life. With all her might, he female Tenno grabbed the cannon with her other hand and started to climb. With the wind doing its best to tear her free, she planted both feet firmly against the hull of the craft. Lunging forward, she grabbed the pilot by the ankle and pulled him from the controls. With him plummeting towards the ground, she took control.

The engines roared as she took up chase behind the Liset. "Ordis, I'm coming up behind you in an enemy craft!" Taking up.position next to the Liset, Ember played wingman as the pair sailed through the skies.

Back on the ground, the smaller dragoness and I took up cover behind a dumpster that had rolled out of the alley slightly. I opened fire over the top as the pack of timber wolves charged forward with reckless abandon. I targeted any solder that wasn't dragged to the ground by the animals.

The dragoness hissed as she stepped out from where we were. "No!" I shouted, grabbing her by the tail. "Let them take care of the Grineer!" I clarified at her annoyed and confused expression. "We need to focus on the residents!" I ordered as I pressed my hand against her armored back and led her away. "Now that I think about it, I never got your name."

"Juwel, with a U," she greeted while holding out a claw. "My brother is named Zeitlos."

"Sounds German," I said as I accepted the handshake.

"It's Germaney!" she clarified. Just before we made it to a different street, I grabbed Juwel by the back of her armor, forcing her to stop. Just in time as well as a gargantuan boulder slammed into the ground like a bowling ball. Just when she thought it was clear, I had to pull her back again when she stepped forward. Juwel glared at me while I pointed towards the street with the barrel of my rifle. Watching, she recoiled back in shock as the crockodile slithered past before snapping his jaws around a Lancers ankle and performing a violent death roll.

"Excalibur, I am picking up multiple residences taking up refuge within Miss Twilight's castle," Ordis informed me.

"Got it!" I confirmed before turning to Juwel as we kept moving. "Residents in the castle!" She nodded before bellowing a series of flames at a nearby squad.

"Coming above you!" Ember shouted as the commandeered Dargyn rumbled overhead before Ember opened fire, providing us with necessary cover fire. Within minutes we were in the area and very close to the castle. I could see the castle, but the Grineer had the main street under lockdown with heavy troops.

I continued to put down heavy cover fire as we were quickly becoming overwhelmed. Heavy Gunners with Bombard and Elite Lancer support were pressing their attack!

"Pull back!" I order Juwel as she grabbed a Lancer by the arm, slamming him back first into the wall. Grabbing him by the helmet, she held him there, pinned, before she used her tail to slap the rifle from another's hands. Wrapping her tail around his neck, she pulled him forward and tossed him to the side. The Lancer landed with a roll as she turned her attention back to the one in her claw. Grabbing him around the throat with both claws, she began to squeeze and shake him violently as he palmed at her wrists.

Juwel grunted when the second Lancer wrapped his arm around her neck and put her into a headlock. Releasing the first Lancer, she lifted her left arm and elbowed the second in the side, forcing him to release her. Turning, she lifted her right leg and grabbed the second Lancer by the helmet with her foot and pulled him forward before she slammed him against the ground. With a ferocious hiss, the dragoness snapped her jaws around the first Lancer's helmet, crushing his screaming skull within.

Releasing the corpse, she lifted her leg with the other Lancer still in her grasp and proceeded to stomp him violently into the ground. She did this several times before he finally went limp.

Nearby I opened fire with my Lex.

"We have to leave! We have to leave now!"

Bullets and missiles impacted and exploded all around us as the corner of the building exploded, showering the two of us in debris. "Pull back to the clock tower!" I fired the last two rounds from my pistol, cracking two Lancers in the head. We turned, running from the advancing onslaught before they could overwhelm us. We ignored the bullets impacting off our armor as I reloaded my pistol and rifle accordingly.

"Everyone!" I shouted over the comms. "We're pulling back to the clock tower! Ordis, we need heavy weapons!"

An explosion went off above us before I heard the roar of an out of control Dargyn. The ship impacted against the street, shaking the ground violently as the ball of flames impacted against the side of a home and smashing the wall in, setting the building ablaze. Ember landed with a roll before she opened fire with her Braton.

We didn't make it to the clock tower and were forced to take up cover near Town Hall. The remaining dragons came to our aid as Serenity and a number of residents took up refuge in City Hall. The Grineer had really pushed the attack now.

"Ordis! We need arch-guns!" I shouted at him.

"Weapons inbound!"

Across the way, Drax had landed somewhere along the line and leaned against his wall as he reloaded his Boltor. "Drax!" I shouted, grabbing his attention as I holstered my rifle and pointed to the sky. "Catch!" Looking up, he followed my lead. Holding our hands to the skies, the Liset roared overhead and dropped its payload. With two sonic explosions, I grunted as I caught the heavy weapon with both hands, lifting it high, as the four barrels of the Grattler extended. Drax did the same as the Imperator unfolded. Stepping out, we lined up our sights…

And opened fire.

The Grattlers explosive flak rounds exploded, sending shearing hot shrapnel in all directions as the Imperators heavy rounds punched holes through anything in its path. The gun shook in my grasp as its quad-barrels wracked the weapon violently.

"Serenity!" I shouted as I stopped firing. "Get them out of here!" I ordered as I resumed firing. "Drax, Ember, Juwel, Zietlos, keep evacuating the town! Ambassador you and your mate cover the skies! Serenity with me! Pull back to the farm!"

I stopped firing, pulling back to cover the civis as we made another frantic sprint to the farm. Behind me, Ithica and The Ambassador grabbed fist fulls of debris, chucking them as makeshift weapons as the twins charged forward, torching anything that got in their path. Once we made it to the farm, Big Mac was nowhere in sight. Opting to just lead everyone towards the train, that's what we did. Unfortunately, we were forced to follow the ever increasing trail of blood…

Within minutes we reached the train.

As Serenity aided the injured aboard as I hefted the Grattler to the top of the first car. It clattered loudly next to the Conductor, who paid it nothing more than a glance.

"How goes the fight?" he asked as I climbed onto the roof.

"Were getting there," I informed him. As he turned to face me, he was about to say something when his eyes went wide. Turning around, I saw what he was looking at.

Grabbing the Grattler, I pointed it towards the attacking gunship. I just held the trigger, emptying the weapon as the Dargyn opened fire on the train. I could hear the screams through the top of the train that accompanied my heavy fire. The attacking ship continued to advance through the heavy flak.

Within seconds, the ship exploded, flaming out the back as it proceeded to lose control. By some strange miracle, not a single round hit the train. All of us watched as it sailed overhead before we lost sight as it crashed into the orchards.

"Once this thing gets moving it's nothing but a massive target," I said mostly to myself. "Ordis, I need the tripod for the Grattler!"

Within seconds the Liset roared overhead. Holding my right hand to the sky, I caught the large tube of metal before smashing it against the roof of the train. The three legs extended out and punching through the thin metal and terrifying anyone inside. Lifting the arch-gun, I locked it in place before turning towards the stallion.

"You think you can work this thing?"

He glanced at the gun. "I'll do whatever you need me to do!"

I stepped aside and began going through the motions. "Remember to lead you target so they fly into your fire." I pointed at the simple anti aircraft sight. "There's your sight, put the cross on target and you'll hit it!" I grabbed the handle where the trigger was located. "Trigger here, hold and she'll fire." Grabbing the second handle I gave it a yank backwards. "This'll reload the weapon. Got it?"

"Yes sir!" he confirmed.

Grabbing the adjuster on the tripod, I dropped it low enough for the stallion to reach. Reaching up, the stallion grasped the firing handle and pointing the weapon to the skies. Jumping down from the top of the train, I grabbed my rifle. Nearby, Serenity exited the train car.

"I feel sick," she said in a disgusted tone. "I feel so bad for them…"

I glanced back at the side of the car. In the windows, it was a frenzy. Ponies were screaming, sobbing, or moaning in agony. Not to far down I could see the doctors frantically working on the injured, as well as the uninjured helping those that needed it.

I sighed. "I know what you mean."

"Do you feel like this is somewhat our fault?"

"If it's anyone's fault it's mine, but I'm not sure how," I admitted. "They tracked me here somehow." I turned to look back at my partner. "Come on." Leading her back towards town the two of us started running. "Ordis, population count."

"There are roughly two million-"

"Ponyville you… silly cephalon…" Didn't want to offend him to much. That disgusting crack in his casing was not doing anyone any favors.

"Oh… One hundred and fifty one remaining!"

I groaned.

The gunfire continued to persist, followed by errant explosions. Bodies littered the streets both of the dead and dying. Pools of blood filled cracks a low points. My foot splashed loudly in one of these pools of blood and water as I ran back into the fight. Taking up cover against a wall, I fired around the corner, covering the charging pack of timberwolves. The beasts disappeared around a corner which lead to numerous screams of terror, followed by shearing metal and gutteral growels.

As I pulled back from firing to find a better position, something landed at my feet. It was to big for a grenade, but just as, if not more lethal. It was the spent saw blade of a Miter saw-gun. The six bladed hunk of steel was a very clear indication of what was in the area. Around the same corner that the timberwolves had disappeared around, I could hear the clanging of said weapon, along with the hiss of Ignis flamethrowers. I peered around the corner and watched as the wolf pack fled in fear, yelping their agony as two of them stumbled over each other and were shredded to pieces by several Miter blades. Another came careening around the corner doused in flames. The fourth limped towards me and around the corner as I covered its retreat.

Leaning against the wall, I could only stare at the poor animal as it lay at my feet, panting and bleeding. "Get out of here," I said softly. The animal turned its ferocious head up at me before it stood up on shaky legs. Limping towards the street it poked its head past me and towards the squad that were examining the three corpses. With a guttural growl, the beast mustered up its remaining courage and charged.

An Eviserator turned, firing his Miter at the animal. Each saw blade struck true, tearing bits of wood and blood from the creatures form but it continued forward, tackling the clone and tearing into his exposed face. One Lancer stepped forward and emptied his gun into the animals side. The wolf wailed in agony before clamping its jaws around the Lancers wrist, dragging him to the ground and slashing at his neck.

A Scorch trooper stepped forward and fired his ignis, bathing the wolf in hellish flames as its wooden body was engulfed in fire. The animal whimpered in agony but with one last burst of adrenaline, tackled the Scorch mauling the clone to death before collapsing into a pile of burning sticks and debris.

This was like this all over town.

The croc tore its way through the town, dragging a Lancer by the ankle out and into the main street for all to see. With room to maneuver, the creature started to roll, slamming and slapping against the ground as the poor soldier was nothing but a rag doll in the animals lethal jaws. Bones broke and flesh tore as the animal dismembered the Lancers leg from the knee down. Tossing the limb into the air, the croc slammed his bone crushing jaws around the leg and orientedit within his maw as he swallowed it whole.

A Butcher charged the animal slashing at its rock hard hide, barely chipping at its thick stone skin. The creature reacted accordingly, nearly folding in half as it lunged towards the Butcher. It hissed, jaws wide, revealing its glistening, dagger like teeth to its aggressor. While distracted, the animal grunted when something landed on its back and forced its jaw shut. Two more landed on its back, forcing it into the ground in an attempt to render it immobile.

The animal began to thrash about to try and break free from its captors. Its tail slapping loudly at the ground, knocking up a dust cloud as it took the three Lancers for a brutal bull ride. It hissed in anger once it freed its mouth before the beast used its mighty head to gain the angle it desired.

It rolled.

The dust only became thicker, shadowing the croc as it took one poor Lancer for an even more brutal ride. Metal and rock banged loudly against each other as the Lancer was forced to hang on, but was ultimately crushed underneath the beasts weight. When the rolling came to a halt, the croc cracked its tail across one of the standing Lancer's knees, shattering both kneecaps upon impact. With its prey within reach, the croc clamped its jaws around the screaming clones form before shaking violently.

Receiving a kick to the head, the beast shook even more violently, smashing its skull against the second Lancers shin, breaking the limb and forcing it to bend at an awkward angle. Releasing the body within its grasp, the crockodile lunged at the Butcher like a shot from a gun and with an audible snap, clamped his jaws around the Butchers wrist, dragging the screaming clone to the ground.

Tearing the Butchers limb from the rest of his arm, the animal swallowed it whole before lunging forward yet again, clamping his vice like jaws around the soldiers torso, shaking him violently enough to shatter his ribcage.

Upon seeing his comrade getting eaten alive by the strange, rock like creature, one Trooper charged forward and placed his foot on the back of the animals head. Before the crocodile could fight back, the Trooper let loose with both barrels. The croc hissed and roared as the impact rounds bore their way onto the animals skull. The Trooper continued to fire until his drum went dry. By then, the crockodile was dead.

Near Town Hall, the manticore impaled a Lancer through the spine with its scorpion tail, lifting the clone into the air and throwing him. The animal roared as it pawed several more Grineer with enough force to render their metallic armor useless. One clone was knocked from his feet, landing with a grunt on his stomach. Panicked, he frantically tried to crawl away and get away from the vicious beast. Slapping another aggressor and throwing him across the street, the Manticore reared back and crushed the crawling clone with both paws, snapping his spine.

The animal roared…

The crack of a sniper filled the air as the bullet tore through the Manticores skull, killing it on impact. With a meaty thud, the Manticore’s corpse landed, laying unmoving in the center of the street. Still unsure, several Lancer’s approached the corpse, guns at the ready should the animal try to attack. Poking the creature’s mighty head with the barrel of his rifle, the clone leaned back and looked towards his comrades. They looked to him in return before they looked back at the body. The Lancer that poked the animals body leveled his Grakata and emptied the entire sixty round magazine into the corpse, splattering blood all over his armor.

The Jaguar pounced, tackling a Lancer, dragging him through the street by the shoulder. Adjusting his mouth, the jaguar sank his fangs into the Lancer’s helmet, crushing his skull within. Releasing the oozing helmet, the Jaguar targeted another Elite Lancer standing in the center of the street. With a growel, the cat charged forward and towards it pray.

The black cat yelped when a blade came down across the back of his neck.

The feral cat was thrown from its feet, rolling across the ground and towards the feet of the waiting Lancer. With blood seeping from the wound, staining his black fur in red. Propping himself up, the cat turned its head towards the Lancer.

Five gunshots rang out, echoing off the walls of the local buildings.

Like an out of control train, the Grizzly charged forward, using her mighty form like a plow, crashing through anything that got in its way. Lancers, Butchers, and Troopers were sent flailing, crashing into walls, stalls, wagons, and anything within the immediate area before she came to a sliding halt. Rearing up on her back legs, she roared at the top of her lungs. A Scorpion accepted the challenge, charging forward with her weapon held high. She didn’t even get to swing before she was slapped by the mighty paw of the bear with enough force to shatter the Scorpions ribcage.

Stepping out from the shadows, came a Drahk Master.

His left arm was clad in thick armor while his right hand was unarmored. The armor covering his left arm connected to the full head and shoulder cover that ribbed its way from back to front, ending with four antenna sticking out the front of the helmet, one of them broken. Across the left side of his chest, three little orbs rested on his armor. With a point of his armor clad arm, four Drahk clones charged forward.

Landing back on all fours, the Grizzly roared at the four attacking dogs. When the first Drahk was in reach, the bear clamped her bone shattering jaws around the neck of the dog clone. Another in the pack, sank it’s vicious fangs into the animals leg. The bear growled in pain, dropping the limp clone in its mouth before rearing back, lifting the still attacked dog into the air. Angling herself, the 500 pound bear landed atop the second Drahk, caving in the hairless animals ribcage. With a slap of her paw, she dug her claws deep into the flesh of a third Drahk, mortally wounding the beast. The final Drahk had the mentality to duck under the strike aimed for its head.

Lunging forward, the Drahk used its lengthy tusks to cut at the bears left leg. The razor sharp tooth tore deep into the bears flesh, taking a substantial piece of meat from her body. With a painful roar, brone cracked and shattered as the bear clamped her jaws around the neck of the Drahk before tossing it with enough force to dent a dumpster.

Several gunshots tore through the air, impacting the side of the Grizzly, knocking the wind from her and tearing into her internal organs. Wheezing, the bear limped away and out of sight from the gunfire.

I was resting against a wall with my hand on my knee as I let my shields recharge. When I heard grunting and deep breaths, I immediately raised my rifle and pointed down the alley. But I slowly lowered my rifle when I saw the brown, grizzled body of the bear as she wandered around the corner with her head hung low. I watched as she limped her way towards me before her legs gave out and she landed hard. I could see the blood oozing from her open wounds. Holstering my rifle, I dropped to a knee and ran my hand over her head. She looked to me, barely able to keep her eyes open.

“Thank you,” I said softly. “For everything… rest easy.”

She struggled to keep her eyes open before they closed for the last time as she let out her last breath…

I gave her one last pat and said a soft thank you before I stood up. Grasping my rifle, I turned around. We still needed to get to the castle and evac the remaining third of the town on the northern side. We were losing ground and losing it fast. Each time we had to escort how ever many we could get to, the Grineer would take a block. We’d normally be able to work around this if we didn’t need to evacuate the town.

But I was determined to get everyone out.

“Excalibur,” Ordis said over the comms. as I decided to head towards the castle. I looked towards the skies. The Ambassador and his mate sailed overhead as they chased after a pair of gunships. “I have detected drop pods dropping from the Galleon.”

“Drop pods?” I questioned in confusion. “Well who the hell are they dropping!?”

The resounding explosion was deafening as I was thrown from my feet. I landed on my back staring at the green, metallic hunk of metal buried deep into the dirt. Two more landed next to the first, shaking the ground upon impact as well. Like a shot from a gun, the access hatch shot off from the side of the pod. I curled up when the thick, metal door banged against the ground next to me.

A chill ran up my spine.

A metallic foot stepped out from inside the pod as the owner began to manifest himself out from the shadows within. Clad in thick brown armor standing nearly two feet taller than me, the demonic looking Grineer clone wrapped his gloved hand around the access hatch as he stepped out from within. Amalgams of flesh and metal, the mutant shook the earth with each step. The former marine was built for killing. Suffering from a rare mutation, his combat potential was unparalleled by all but his two brothers.

“I want to play with these ones!” his voice was disgusting, demonic in nature, a mixture of two voices mashed into one.

“Are we sure these are the targets? They seem so… inconsequential,” the second said with a wheeze as he came into view. His shield thick as a Galleons hull, built to withstand even the biggest of bullets.

“SSShiny little pppretty things, you Tenno are!” the third said with a raspy voice and an evident lisp as he grasped his Hek shotgun.

Out of all the Grineer, why did it have to be them!?

“The Grustag Three…”