Winter - Part one: Night Warden.

Four

There were three Templar Vulcan gunships in the air, one of which was loaded with modified shells containing Helix, headed to Gloomina, waiting for Vox orders. Another gunship was being led by Dunek, the war priest. His cargo was two of the Helix infected vampires It was headed to the area outside the docks where the Hall and his squad captured the prisoners. The other was Tailing Vox who was in his own strike jet and headed towards the citadel to meet with the High Chancellor. The ship that was following Vox had the remaining two vampires on board who were infected. They were all still suppressed with the collars which only Vox had the override for. Prior to leaving on this mission he had changed the override code and only gave it to Captain Askari, one of his Guards.

Knight Captain we are approaching the Gloomina, we can see the Red Mountain. came a communication from one of the Vulcans, followed by a transmission from Dunek We are also in position. Gloomina was a military Coven stronghold built into a huge red mountain. It was nick named the Red Fort for that very reason.

Strike teams, activate stealth and do not act until my command. You will lose stealth once you begin the attack so be prepared for resistance. Leave none alive. Let the Helix do its job then eliminate all who remain in the Coven. Responded Vox. Like the Stalker, the Vulcan also had stealth capabilities but they were far more limited.

Knight Commander we are engaging stealth and will release the package on your orders advised Knight Captain Terrell who was leading the ship following Vox. He was holding position just outside the citadel.

Good. I will proceed with my meeting in the company of the High Chancellor, once you have delivered the package make way to the rally point at the border wall and remain in stealth. I must issue my orders to Dunek. Vox reached for the central console of his jet and opened a private Channel with Duneks ship.

Dunek, come in. This is Vox

Knight Commander, your orders.

I just want you all to know that you have each played a pivotal part in my plans for the future of humanity. You will not be forgotten. Your deaths will be avenged. Vox out

Dunek, we have lost control of the ship! Shouted the panicked pilot. Nothing was responding and the ship started venting fuel and there was nothing that the crew could do to stop it.

Dammit Vox! You traitorous bastard! Screamed Dunek as the reality of what was happening was gripping him.

Suddenly there was a soul piercing cry from the rear compartment of the ship.

Bridge! We have a problem! The vampires are out of containment! Im on my way up. We need to get off this ship! shouted a Scribe from the cargo hold.

No! He will lead them right here! Shouted the War Priest. Captain, seal that door! Dunek pointed towards the cargo bay, trying to keep calm and conjure some sort of solution.

I cant! The controls arent responding! The Captain ran as fast as he could to the door to manually override it, but he was too late. Dunek loaded his pistol as the door opened and the scribe came running through. He didnt make it too far before one of the vampires leapt through the air and pinned him to the floor. The impact caused the scribes rifle to fire and the shell hit the control console of the ship. It completely lost main power and began to fall. The war priest and pilot began firing on the vampire who was currently shrouded in Templar blood as he was tearing apart the helpless scribe. They both emptied their entire magazines into the vampire whose lifeless corpse fell parallel to that of the scribe. If Dunek was to die today then it certainly would not be to one of his own creations.

The second vampire began slowly walking through to the bridge but that wasnt the only problem as the co-pilot was frantically trying to open the escape hatches but with no luck as the ship continued to fall. We are going to crash! Brace for impact! The ship plummeted and smashed into the ground half way between Garnecia and the docks, erupting into a ball of flames with thick black smoke bellowing high into the sky and thick clouds of dust spreading wide from the impact of the crash.