As the landscape darkened to near pitch black, Shenestra continued along at a steady pace. Not far behind the small group of Mystans and their artificial construct guardian, she stalked them until they reached the outer perimeter of the settlement. Observing as the yet unidentified automaton dispatched any wild construct that came to near. Suddenly he stopped in a curious fashion, yet after a moment it proceeded along with it's charges and their droids, and more curiously the hostile constructs did not give chase. In fact they seemed to wonder back and forth as if pacing before some unseen barrier. Shenestra quickly realized that this was likely the work of a ward many of the larger outer Mystans settlements of used for their own protection. Designed to keep out anything hostile, which often comprised of the constructs that wondered the waste. Wasting little time Shenestra circled around to a larger stand of broken rubble populated by metal skeletal remains of countless machines. While in the wraith realm, Shenestra could not affect the physical world, just as it could do her no real harm. The barrier however would need dealing with in the material realm if she was to pass through it without alerting the Mystans within. The cloak dissolved around her with a thought, bringing back color and proper sound to the world around her once more. She could now feel the cool night wind blowing from the south, and discerned that with the acid clouds above, few stars could be seen, and the red moon of the planet was waxing crescent in its lunar phase. Making for a particularly dark night, save for the few lights left on in the small settlement ahead. Working quickly she activated her wrist gauntlet, scanning the unseen barrier ahead. He visors gave it a see-through kind of lighting effect, almost like glass or ice. Moments later, hacking into the barrier with the essence of the gauntlets trapped spirit, Shenestra found a series of codes that translated to the correct frequency in which to bypass the barrier without alerting a soul. In moments Shenestra was through, none too late as a particularly large construct happened upon her hiding place while hunting in the dark. It halted at the edge of the barrier near the spot she had passed through. Leaving her to mildly wonder how they could still see in the dead of night. While her wraith gate charged for the present time, Shenestra easily passed through the shadows of many broken fragments of Mystan technology still littering the edges of the camp. Ever careful of any alarms or other forms of security, she reached the walls unmolested. The encampment was circled by a wall standing some 18 feet high. Mystan guards armed with 'wands' wondered the walls walkway which was conjoined with varies watch towers. The wands they possessed were a mix of technology and magic, in common Technomancer fashion. What they could and would fire was anyone's guess. Such was the deadliness of such weapons in they could surprise one foe with brilliant jets of freezing ice, or subtle but powerful missiles of magical force. Shenestra was in no mood to discover what each guard could unless if given half a mind to do so, and waited until a gap appeared in their patrols. Counting off the seconds in her head, she raised her gauntlet of her left arm and a kind of whip sprung forth. The single claw like hook at the end pierced the surface of the wall just under its top edge. With all the dexterity of a spider, Shenestra ambled her way up as silent as the wind. Then wait for an oblivious guard to walk by her while she waited just below. Then sprung over the edge of the wall, rolled to the other end, and glided over the rail. Just a few feet behind the Mystan, who himself had not heard a thing. From then on the hard part had ended, but now was the most critical and difficult segment of her objective. Orbital surveillance beforehand of the camp had revealed a major buildup of energy, arcane in nature, being centered in the western edge of the settlement. An overlay map appeared as a part of her HUD within her visor, using her current position on the south end of the small township. She made her way through back alleys and avenue narrow walkthroughs. Training coupled with years of experience allowed her to remain hidden from watchful eyes. In minutes she had reached a rather large building compared to the many others she had come across thus far. He map revealed it too be the source of the power spike. Thus leaving little doubt it was the source of the settlements shields. Once they were shut down, there would be little standing between the settlement and the hordes of blood thirsty constructs outside. In the confusion soon to follow, is where her comrades were to abduct key Mystans. Skilled masters of Technomagic. The building was well guarded, of course it would be, but those standing guard were fairly lax, unsurprising. None had dreamed of an outsider sneaking herein to sabotage the settlements primary source of power and protection. Still there were many, and it took time and patience to bypass the security measures. Shenestra reached the inner chambers of the building, gaining access from abandoned underground passages, likely linking to old long forgotten bunkers. Passing through the halls she continued to dodge patrols with increasing difficulty. After all she had no wish to dispatch any and possibly give away her presence too early. She lacked her primary cloaking device, but still possessed her optical camouflage. In time she acquired access to a vent that led her to the inner chambers, looking through steel grates. Shenestra discovered the room was full of all kinds of overly large cables, wires, pipes, or pillars containing or wrapped in all three. Silently as possible Shenestra opened the grate, leaving it hanging open by one screw. She fell to the floor landing in a crouch. In the middle of the room were three small crystals levitating, or perhaps suspended in a field between two larger pillars. One connected to the ceiling the other the floor. Two burly Mystans stood sentinel, one one each side of the crystals and their pedestal. Each armed with a wand, up close they looked lie nothing more than mere pistols. Though of very queer make, for their design was almost absurd. Still she did not doubt their deadliness. Hiding behind a pillar, she observed that they both had their backs to the crystals, watching their end of the room. She stooped low a hand on the pillar as she closed her eyes, focusing her mind. Suddenly she sprang into action. She came from the east end of the room, thus approaching from their sides. There were two entrances in the room, and each were looking at their respective entry points. By the time they noticed her coming from another location entirely it was too late. A bolt of nether struck the one on her right in the back of the neck; he gave an odd sigh then collapsed to his feet. The other one whirled around with admirable speed, leveling his pistol wand, his larger than normal eyes widening even further with surprise. She never give him time to pull the trigger and release whatever spell was stored inside. In a blur of motion, blood splashed from a now open ugly wound around his throat, he fell back clutching at his neck in a vain attempt to stop his life blood from pouring forth. Shenestra retracted her whip back into her gauntlet. Then raised her right arm, the wrist crossbow there still steaming nether from recently firing, and aimed it at the crystals. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- All around the settlement power died, as light winked out entirely from every home or house. The watch towers went dead, as their spotlights become lifeless, from beyond the walls on the outskirts of the encampment, the unnatural howl of construct beast could be heard. As they hungrily swarmed toward the walls and the settlement within.....