The War of Old Grudges and New Wounds (Completed)

[Vetega]

New Ixis

Klaxons blared as the Community PA system came online suddenly.

"Failure is always imminent when humans are involved. " a deep voice boomed.

Izon frowned and took a step towards Aridani. The man brought his finger closer to the detonator. Izon stopped.
"Don't move Red King. My so called 'master 'does not control me. Nevertheless, your situation remains the same. I may die here, but my people will fight to the end. VETA will destroy this world, so that a new one may rise from the ashes like a Pheonix. "
Izon grimaced.
"VETA will be defeated. " Aegis said as he appeared.
He glanced at his counterpart and smiled.
"Your newest avatar is intriguing AVA. "
"AVA and AEGIS. The two beings who are on par with myself. We three are united at last. Locked in a struggle to save humanity. My plan is coming together nicely. I'm sure you'll figure it out eventually. " the voice chuckled.

Aridani glanced at Izon, who was looking at Aegis sadly. They both knew what was coming next. VETA would destroy this city with or without Aridani. The fallen leader pressed the button. A new alarm sounded.
<<Hammer Down Protocol initiated. 5 minutes to self destruct. Warheads activated. >>

[Page]

"You think that position is one of the Haktivan teams?" Koria asked Sal. It was the first potentially friendly sight the two paratroopers had seen for hours. They weren't the only ones then - their battle group had 8 and hour earlier, but fierce fighting with the enemy block by block had cut their numbers down.

Sal peaked out from behind the wrecked semi truck they were taking cover behind, and realized a second too late that was bad decision. A gunshot hit and clanked against his helmet, which was blown clear off and rolled away. Sal fell back in shock and ran his hand across his head. He was alive and well.

Koria picked him up. "Sal? Sal?! Give thanks to your ancestors you are alright. That could have been your head!" she shouted, looking towards the helmet with a hole torn through it now back behind him.

Smiling, Sal raised the back end of his rifle over the cover and shouted as loudly as he could "don't shoot! We're Pagian airborne troopers, we're friendly!" He stood up and raised his hands - he saw the silhouettes of the Haktivans but their faces were shrouded in shadows.

"We're going to walk to your position now, there's two of us!" he told them. Sal and Koria walked into the building they were occupying and noticed a mess of Arcadian bodies outside. They had been busy.

The Haktivans gazed upon two Pagian soldiers - one tall and muscular man with a buzz cut and a jacket covered in dried bloodstains, who had an unsettling trophy of 8 ears of fallen enemies impaled on his dagger at his hip. The woman had two thick brunette braids hanging out from under her helmet which was still strapped on. She a youthful face and a warm expression, though that face was covered in dirty and ash and it was clear she hadn't seen a mirror in awhile.

"Good to see you guys" Koria stated. "Seems you've been fighting well. We'd offer you ammunition but I'm not sure if it would match. I'm Private First Class Adrina with the 46th Airborne, but you can just call me Koria. This is a Sal, he was..." she hesitated, not sure if introducing him as a former member of the 5th Company, which briefly attacked Haktiva under false pretenses, would cause animosity.

Sal took over for her and said "I was a marine with the 5th. I'm sure you've heard about the tragic skirmish we had. But I am very proud to say I also fought alongside your comrades at Kirava, and we claimed victory there. I volunteered as a pathfinder, and here I am.

Oh! That reminds me, I couldn't have forgotten this. If you know a SPECTRE named Max, his wife told me to tell him that she's alive, the children are safe and, did I forget this..." Sal rambled. "YES!" he shouted after a moment. "She wanted me to tell him that is he is a bad spy. It was supposed to be a joke."

Not too long after they finished introducing themselves, they heard a voice accompanying warning sirens:
"Hammer Down Protocol initiated. 5 minutes to self destruct. Warheads activated."

"We are the living dead" Sal stated grimly.
"Maybe we can get underground" Koria said with fading hope in her voice.

--------

AVA, without explanation, dissolved her form and then began to assemble herself again in the shape of a very lifelike projection. She told Ryyth "I have records of all that happened on the Icewraith. I would give comfort to Izon at this hour of his imminent death."

The projection showed two young men aboard the Icewraith, one laying in a hospital bed and one sitting down by him. Tristan's voice was saying "You pulled through. Dr. Sari left you an attendant, but I made him take a break. The way I see it, I ran up to get you so I may as well stick it out to the end... not the end end, you're not dying or nothing. I'm no good with words like Daniel, grew up in a little Cordenz range town, parents threw me out last year. Probably best thing, I think I would have died in the war if I stayed, instead Daniel gave me something to live for. Sorry I talk too much, first thing you said to me."

Izon watched himself from ten years ago, speaking back to him, his voice heavy with the burdens he was unloading.
" ...I have to marry two of my best friends. Their love makes me feel left out, which reminds me of growing up in the time of my father's rule. Oh god now I'm rambling. We both talk much."

The scene changed. Izon was now standing and Tristan was holding him in his arms tightly. Tristan spoke again. "I used to wonder when the hard times would end. Now I just like to think, we can endure anything, so long as we have someone who means something. I think the people inside that afterstone want you to not feel alone anymore." They kissed.

Ryyth wished her ethereal form could hold Izon.
The next recording that played was somewhere in New Ixis, that was war torn and burning then just as it was now. Ryyth realized this was through her own eyes - which AVA recorded when she first tested astral projection by linking AVA's consciousness to her own.

"Your father must be proud of you now. If his soul is inside that stone giving you the strength to fight, he must have been a warrior himself. I've never seen anyone so naturally belonging to a battlefield as you are." Tristan said, taking Izon's hand in his own.

AVA vanished. Ryyth turned to him and said "Izon, it's because of what you said to me earlier that I think, if we survive this, Daniel and I can finally have what we always wanted. You have been the best friend I could ask for. And you and Tristan raised the best man to rebuild the Federation."

She glared at Aridani, who still could not see or hear her. She almost wanted to say 'finish him' but it didn't matter now.

[Haktiva]

"MAIN BATTERIES, OPEN FIRE! BLAST THEM INTO OBLIVION!", Admiral Zackery shouted. The guns on all of the ships under his command turned their guns to the Arcadian shore, the massive shells creating huge pillars of sand and ash upon impact.

Inside the assault crafts, the lights went green. The Marines transports disembarked , hundreds of them rushing towards the coast through the maelstrom of the battle at sea.

The constant clanging of bullets impacting on the hull of the vehicles was almost maddening, but that moment was fleeting compared to what awaited the Marines beyond their armored chariots.
"MOVE! MOVE! MOVE!", Shoko shouted as the rear door opened up. The squad poured out of the assault vehicle just like the hundreds of other Marines on the Vetegan beach. The smoke screen from the vehicles helped, but it could only do so much in the face of the wall of enemy fire that they faced.

"Devra, get up on that dune and blast that MG, the rest of you, covering fire!", Shoko shouted, her eyepiece highlighting the Arcadian position. Devra did as he was told, charging through the hail of bullets towards the lowly sand dune, The rest of his squad delivered fast and accurate fire at the MG nest, the Arcadians that were brave enough to man the weapon were shot in moments. He dove onto the sand belly first, rocket at the ready. Time slowed down as he held his breath, tightened his grip, and fired.
The rocket hit home, bits of concrete, metal and flesh flying everywhere. Devra smiled at his small triumph and stood up to meet his squad as they ran towards him. Suddenly, his breath left his lungs, a great pain enveloping his chest. He looked down and saw the blood seeping into his uniform, one lucky shot is all it took. Devra looked back up at his squad, the younger ones looking at him with shock. He smiled back at them, Shoko nodding in reply. Devra collapsed to the sand, his blood, as well as that of many of his comrades in arms.


Spitter broke down in laughter at the news about his wife, a few tears in his eyes. Zen and Alex looked on in confusion, but the girls smiled, happy for him. "Well that's certainly interesting", Sohara said. She stood up and walked over to the dining room table, which had now become the battlefield map. The rest of the Spectre joined them, as well as the Haktivan paratroopers and the two Pagians.
"According to our scouts, as well as these two showing up, the landing have begun", Sohara said. "Now the Marines are acting as the spear-point for the rest of our forces. Once a beachhead is established, the Arcadians will pool most of their forces to eliminate it. Our job is to hit the arcadians from behind and wipe them out", Sohara said.
The Haktivans nodded in confirmation.
"But what about that 'Hammer Down' protocol, I'm guessing that mixes things up a bit", Miranda put in.
"We haven't been informed of what that is, but I imagine our Pagian friends know", Sohara said, turning to Sal and Koria.

[Page]

"It means your friends have done such a good job that the Arcadians are about to capitulate. The bad news is they would rather level New Ixis first." Koria said. "We were prepared for this possibility. They weren't supposed to tell us. But one of the generals felt guilty and warned us right before we left that it was very likely we wouldn't come back."

Sal then said "Fortunately your forces on the beach will survive, so will all the ones out in the wilderness. I don't think the range extends that far. But the city is going to be consumed from the center. Our position is, likely right on the fringes of the kill zone. So, we can run for it, and there's no guarantee we'll get out in time, or we can find an entrance to the underground. I'd say we have about four minutes - to escape, not to decide."

[Haktiva]

"I'd imagine that the sewers are too shallow", Alex said.
"Probably", Zen said.
"If it weren't for the fact these were WMDs I'd say let the Arcadians wipe themselves out", Miranda said.
"Didn't you get most of the civilians out already?", Alex asked.
"Most, but not all. And considering our penchant for mega-cities, there's still a lot of people left", Ashley said. The Spectres nodded.

"We need to get word to the Marines, they might break through too quick", Alex said, his voice tense. "Corporal, get them on the horn now!", he said, pointing to the radioman.
The soldier saluted and began dialing rapidly.
"Seriously, you locals have to stop with the nukes", Sohara said, annoyed.

[Page]

Sal lit a cigarette calmly as the Haktivans sent out their warnings.
"We are resigning to fate then?" Koria asked.
"I don't want to die running" Sal said. "And I've never gotten to smoke a cigarette with the certainty that I would never suffer health consequences for doing so" he joked, and took a deep drag which he then exhaled through his nose.

"They stopped the enemy from annihilating us with centrifuge before. Maybe King Daniel will use that superweapon again - the EMP that fried all their weapons" Koria said, still rationalizing a chance to live.
"Maybe" Sal said. "It's in the hands of our leaders now."

Koria told Spitter "I will pray that the Goddess continues to protect your wife and children."
Sal snuffed his cigarette and sat down on the floor with Koria.

[Haktiva]

"If I've learned anything in my life, God only cares for us when we die", Spitter replied. The other Spectres nodded in agreement, even Alex and Kirimi.
"Philosophy aside, I really don;t like sitting on my ass while all the fighting is going on out there", Alex said.
"Learn to be patient kid", Zen said in a somewhat mocking tone.
"With all do respect, fuck you", Alex replied, the slightest trace of a grin on his face.
"First me and now the sergeant here", Ashley said, approaching the young man. "You seem to be a glutton for punishment", she said.
"What? I don't-... You-... Hu?", Alex stuttered, confused. He shot looks to his fellow Spectres for help. All except Kirimi grinned, they were enjoying themselves at the new blood's expense.

[Page]

"If my commanding officer were here, I'd tell him 'fuck you' too" Sal said with a huge grin. "Not like he could court martial me in the after life."

[Haktiva]

Ashley turned to Sal, Smiling as she put her hand on Alex's head and pushed him to the floor. "I wouldn't speak to hastily if I were you. There's no way for the living to know what's on the other side", she said.
"Bitch", Alex groaned under his breath.
"Oh you're going to be fun", Ashley said, turning back to the boy, kicking him in the side.

[Page]

"Very true" Sal said.
"But if we're going to die in three minutes, it is best to know what want of this world. I had my cigarette, but I think that poor kid you abuse would rather kiss that beautiful young lady with the sniper rifle who probably almost blew my head off."

Koria laughed and said "Now that's an unfair accusation. And sexist. It is more like a man to shoot at everything that moves."

[Haktiva]

"I have no idea what you're talking about", Alex groaned. Ashley laughed a bit and turned back to Sal. "That was one of the paratroopers, if it was me, we wouldn't be speaking right now", she said with an evil grin.
"A-Ashley is from the East. By-By blood there are no better shots in the world", Kaede said.

[Page]

"Haktivans: good at war, terrible at convincing denial" Sal said, directed at Alex.

[Haktiva]

"You calling me a liar?!", Alex shouted, jumping to his feet.

[Page]

"Calm down, both of you. These might be our last minutes on Earth and this is how you want to spend it?" Koria lectured.
"Alex is just unhinged because his officers fuck with him, which they only do with the intention of toughening him up, right?"

[Haktiva]

"Well that and its really funny", Ashley said, the other Spectres nodding in agreement, except Kirimi.
"Plus most Haktivans want to go out fighting, even if it's with eachother", Alex said. Again, all except Kirimi nodded in agreement.

[Vetega]

Izon dropped his sword. He fished out the shining Pearl necklace given to him by Ashley. Aridani began to run away desperately. But he wouldn't make it. This was the epicenter.

"My life was hell until I met him. All of you. You all changed me in so many ways. I could have ended up like Aridani, but I was anchored. I lived a full life in only 28 years. Now everything will be left to you and my son. I've had Aegis download a file to David. Make sure that he looks at it. " he replied.

He walked over to a pile of rubble and slowly sat down. He winced in pain. The wound was a mortal one. He would have died either way. He smiled as tears of happiness flowed.

"Ryyth, I think I'm at peace. Finally. It's wonderful. "

<< 10 seconds to detonation. 9. 8. 7. 6. 5 .>>

"Win this war. And live. Goodbye my friend. "
<<3. 2. 1. Detonation. >>



Astraeus

The entire ship shook violently. Every window blew out simultaneously. Jackson ducked as shards of glass whizzed through the air.

New Ixis

Izon nodded to Aegis, who promptly disappeared. He was blown off of his pile. The last thing he saw was a pale blue light. The multiple warheads underneath the Complex had detonated simultaneously. The initial blast knocked over every skyscraper. Then, the wind receded and lashed out. The clouds formed over the city. A thunderstorm erupted. The secondary blast radius extended for nearly 15 miles in every direction. Then, the sphere of energy began to rotate. Creating a massive explosion of force, therefore knocking over any other standing buildings.

The fierce winds would rip through the city, into the docks, over the beach, and straight into the bay. A rogue wave formed and slammed into the Arcadian Armada from behind. Jackson stood up in time to see it heading for the Coalition Fleet.
"Brace for impact! " he yelled.

The wave slammed into the Astraeus, caused circuits to overload. The ship rose up and was nearly tipped over from it's stern. Then, it came crashing down. David glanced at the burning city. New Ixis was simply gone. All that remained was the area surrounding what used to be downtown. The familiar four towers no longer existed, and the last stockpile of the world's most powerful weapons was no more. His cell phone buzzed. He looked at the file. The x was no longer there. He felt dizzy all of a sudden because he knew what it meant. His entire family was now dead. His staggered back to the wall and slid to the floor. Amid the yelling and the shouts of the injured, one could faintly hear the scream of a young man who felt more alone than ever.

Uru'baena

VETA was pleased. Despite all that had occurred, his plan was still on schedule. He monitored news frequencies around the world. Other nations were readying their forces, because everyone had seen the bright light in the south. And they'd lost contact from New Ixis.


New Ixis crater

Aegis appeared once more. He looked around, but could see nothing through the fire and smoke. Something flashed. He floated over to it. It was a single pearl. Next to it was a shard of a sword. Since Aegis was technically invisible, he could not retrieve the items. He logged it in his database. They would come get them later.

"Despite everything we've been through, I actually enjoyed being your AI. "Aegis said sadly.

He turned and disappeared.

[Page]

Astraeus

Ryyth flashed awake and fell to the floor. The officers in the room up to help her when the impact of the blast blew out the windows and knocked all of them down. She staggered back up in pain, but she only thought of David right now.

It didn't take long for Daniel to rush in. He embraced Ryyth, who held on to him tightly.
"He's gone, Daniel. Izon... he's gone. I stayed with him until the end."
She had never in her life cried in the presence of others, but she did now and Daniel continued to hold on to her, closing his eyes and not wanting to see what remained of New Ixis.

"Where's David?" she asked, trying to force herself back into action though still extremely upset.
"Still aboard, somewhere. We'll find him and make sure he wasn't hurt" Daniel answered.

"We need to find him now!" Ryyth yelled. "I - I promised Izon he would see his last will and testament, AEGIS is going to send him something and I need to, he doesn't deserve to be alone!"

She was shaken; sharing consciousness with Izon when he died, she just had done something no human in history had ever done before - experiencing death.

"Leave. All of you. NOW." Daniel said sternly to all the men in the command center, some still getting on their feet after the blast. They hurried up and left. Daniel continued to comfort Ryyth. He looked up towards the sky, and said as if talking to Izon "My people will honor your name for ten thousand years, my friend."




On the deck of Astraeus, where soldiers carried the injured down to the medical wing, Ashley ran up after Alison. The two had been well below deck when the impact happened, but Alison's first instinct was to go see what happened, and Ashley's worst fears were realized as she saw New Ixis obliterated.

"Alison, go back to the safe room downstairs" Ashley told her daughter breathlessly as she caught up to her.
"But mom-" Alison protested.
Ashley frowned. She knew her daughter's desire to be up here was one of real concern. She knew Alison felt helpless. But she didn't want her to see this.

Two Lykiar agents took notice of her and saluted her.
"My lady, what can we do for you?" one asked.
"Take my daughter back to our quarters please, immediately."

Alison sighed and followed the agents back down. She glanced back at the remnants of New Ixis one last time. She wanted to be near Daniel again, but she had no idea where to find him - not that the agents would let her wander off again anyway.

Meanwhile, Ashley found David. She didn't have to ask - she knew.
"Izon sheltered me 10 years ago, when my parents and brothers were murdered, before I even knew Daniel was still alive. I know what you are feeling right now. And I know there is nothing I can say right now, but - we're here. I'm just so sorry."

She noticed the cell phone in David's hand. Izon's image.
"Is that Izon's... I will leave if you want me to."

[Vetega]

"Don't leave. I can't be alone. "David whispered.

He pressed play.

'This thing on? '
'Duh. 'Aegis's voice replied.
Izon rolled his eyes.
'Anyway, whoever is watching this, which would most likely be David and Ashley first, obviously I am no longer here. While death was not in my plan, I still prepared for it. As soon as I realized Aridani had gained access to The Vault, I knew there would only be one way to kill him. It saddens me that I won't be able to be there for you during the troubling times ahead, but David you will never be alone.

Daniel, Ryyth, Ashley, Rayborne and countless others will always be there for you to help you lead your people into the future. '
'You forgot me. ' Aegis said impatiently.
'Oh yeah, you've also got the most stubborn AI in history. ' he said with a laugh.
'Stubborn?!'
'Shut it you. Anywho. David listen to me, I apologize from the bottom of my heart for everything I've put you and Tristan through. Know that I will always love you. Tristan will always love you. Your Auntie Ryyth will always love you, and she'll slap you upside the head whenever you undress her with your eyes. ' he stated with another chuckle.

Even Aegis was laughing in the background.
'Hold the camera still Jackson! 'Izon barked.
The camera moved even more. Izon stood up, and the two wrestled. Aegis was laughing harder now. Izon grabbed the camera just as alarms came on in the background.
"Looks like it's time to start. I know you're hurt and angry, but I want you to remember me from this video. Happy. Laughing. I knew what I was getting into kid otherwise I wouldn't have taped this. Live a long life, give me lots of grandchildren, and cheer up dammit. I love you son. This isn't goodbye. We'll meet again someday. '

He stuck out his tongue and David actually laughed through his tears. Then the video stopped.

"He knew he was going to die. " he muttered.

Aegis appeared.
"He told me not to tell you anything, otherwise you would have been the first to know. I'm sorry. "

"Don't apologize. You were following orders. " he replied.

He slowly stood up. Jackson was looking at him sadly. He had known the whole time. David suddenly hugged the man. He separated himself and looked out the shattered windows. A warm wind flowed into the bridge.

"This looks expensive. " he said finally.
A collective sigh was released. Aegis smiled. David didn't. He was in shock now. His face was emotionless. The tears did not stop. Despite being adopted, he actually felt genuine love for Tristan and Izon.

[Page]

Daniel and Ryyth joined Ashley at David's side right at the start of the video. Ryyth put her arms around David's chest; she was still crying for Izon as well. She didn't want to look him in the eyes.

"I was there with him until the end, using the astral projection device. His last words were that he was at peace now. He died at piece. And Aridani died running like a coward."

Daniel looked out and saw that the first Pagian ships were making landfall. Hundreds of tanks and tens of thousands of troops were pouring out on to the beach, ready to slaughter.

"The Arcadian resistance here will be snuffed out by sundown. And the last of their WMD stockpile was surely incinerated in the hammer down attack. Izon has put victory withing our grasp" Daniel stated.

[Vetega]

David watched the landing with no emotion.
"Victory, yes. But at what cost. The remnants of the enemy fleet have fled the battle. The enemy ground forces will try to leave the city from the rear. They will fight to run away. " he said.

Jackson nodded. Federation ships were joining the Pagians with the landing.

[Haktiva]

"What. The. Fuck?", Shoko said, pushing herself up from the sand and rubble that had engulfed her position. She looked upon the devastation that laid before her. The rest of her squad joined her, some cut up and bleeding, all covered in ash and sand.
"What was that Ma'am?", one of them asked.
"Foreign desperation", Shoko replied.
"Heeeey!", a runner shouted. She ran up to Shoko's position, panting. Got word from Command, we need to circle around and cut the Arcadians off before they can escape", she said.
"Right", Shoko said. The runner left and ran towards the other Marines, spreading the word as fast as she could, the EMP was interfering with the comms so this poor girl had to run miles to get the word out to her comrades.

[Page]

"Sal... are you there Sal?" Koria called to him. Soot and ash had gotten into her eyes and she couldn't see. She felt around and then finally landed her hand on his uniform. "Sal?!" She moved her hand up his neck. There was no pulse.

Koria began trying to rapidly blink to regain her eyesight. It burned, but she began to catch glimpses of Haktivans, some of them apparently having survived two.

She tried to stand but collapsed on the ground. She felt a deep laceration on her leg.
"Help me, please" she called to the Haktivans.
She placed her hand on Sal's still chest and said, referring to the Arcadians "It's our turn now, fuckers. You're all going to burn." But she gritted her teeth in pain, the shock was starting to wear off.

Beachhead

The Pagian troops flooded the outer reaches of New Ixis, supported by one hundred tanks and even more artillery units which began to mercilessly shell the fleeing enemies.

The Arcadian troops seemed to be fleeing aimlessly in every direction trying to save their own lives. There was no doubt, this was an hour of allied vengeance, and the Pagians slaughtered the desperate enemy with righteous fervor.

[Vetega]

Astraeus

David looked on, still in shock.
"Weapons are online. Engines took some minor damage. Communication is down entirely. "
David glanced at Jackson. The captain nodded.
"Target what's left of the city. Destroy any Arcadian encampments. Halt their retreat. Do we have CAP? "
"Negative! Enemy air units from inland are assisting the retreat. "
"Make it their last mission. "David said clearly.

Jackson paled slightly. David wasn't known for doing this so easily.

"Aye. Kill them all. "

The damaged Supercarrier turned to port. All her gun and missile batteries turned North towards the inferno that was New Ixis.
"Fighters strafing the beach! "
"Another group of fighter bombers inbound. "

The bridge shook as allied fighters roared into action at sea level. The Dark Riders were among them. They made a sharp incline and fired. The ship's AA guns started to pound away, while all other large guns slugged their ordinance towards the city.

Beachhead

6 troop carriers made landfall. Each one offloaded a thousand marines and 50 Zeus Heavy Battle Tanks. They ran to join to fighting. This was no longer urban warfare as there were no buildings left for 20 miles to hide in.

[Haktiva]

The Spectres and most of the paratroopers had survived the blast. Kaede heard Koria's calls for aid and stumbled over. She treated the wound as if she was in a trance, her pack being able to survive a nuclear blast and the some.

Alex woke up with Ashley on top of him. "Ow", he muttered.
Ashley stirred on top of him, smiling when she woke up. "I might just forgive for this", she said. Alex groaned in reply, pushing her off.
"Anyone else okay?", Alex asked looking around. The rest of the Spectres rose from the ashes, battered and bruised, but alive.

[Vetega]

Uru'beana
Badlands

Vagros stood in the Core Chamber.
"Your commanding officer is dead. New Ixis is decimated. Yet my plans are unhindered." the voice boomed.
"This is incorrect. I am not your puppet VETA. I am my own man. My brother will end you." he replied.

The voice laughed.
"Your brothe is dead. The Red King has fallen at his seat of power."
Vagros staggered back as if dealt a blow to the chest. His eyes grew watery, but he didn't cry.
"Damn you VETA. You will be stopped." Vagros said angrily.

"They can try. Silly man, you speak to me as if I am your equal. I am a god. My power is absolute."
"An AI with a god complex? That's new."
"Silence."
The lights in the room turned red. Vagros pulled out his datapad and began typing commands.
"What are you doing? You've disconnected from my mainframe."
"I am going to make it easier for the Coalition to end you. I'm ordering the Arcadians to stay and fight at New Ixis. They will die there. All that will be left will be you and your stronghold here in the old city. You will have around 12 million men here. The last of the Arcadian military. I fight to the end." he explianed with a smile.

VETA roared with anger. Vagros dropped the datapad and made a run for it. VETA sent out a kill order for Vagros almost immediately.However, after being banished curing the Lorian Rebellion, Vagros knew the old city likethe back of his hand. He easily stayed undetected and made his way to the safe house he set up outside the city.