A sandy haired mage whistled as he looked up at the lumbering dreadnoughts slowly gaining ground.  The speed meant that it would still take a while to get to their position but it was almost an inevitable force, like the rising and setting of the sun.  The mighty Vaimese empire had conjured this monstrosities of metal from some deranged genius mind.  The Belisians had nothing in their fleet that could match these machines.  Still, they were not a kingdom which was known for backing down from a fight.  Indeed, the bravery of their knights was known to all, even the most junior Veimese.  Despite their superiority, this would not be an easy fight for the Empire. 

Tobi whistled again as he adjusted the straps of his jump pack and walked towards his assigned dragon mount.  The Shooting Stars had been given the task of support casters on a squadron of knights that would try and break through and try to take over one of the Dreadnaughts.  Captain Evander had grown red with suppressed rage and then white as he had also been assigned to one of the mounts.  

The sounds of the battle being raged very close to their location came in waves as the wind carried the din of war into the midst of the small squadron.  There was maybe about 30 of them.  They had been hastily assembled and their experienced ranged from old veteran knights to those whose armor was still shiny and new.  The young mage gave one last look at the horizon and their goal and approached the semi-circle of gathered men and women.  

[color=ed1c24]“Ok lads…oh and ladies” [/color] The old sergeant smiled apologetically.  His handle bar mustache twitching as he addressed the group.  [color=ed1c24]“Ok, the mission is simple.  You and your mage partner will break through in any way you can.  Our goal is to capture one of those big hulking metal buckets I believe it is called the Imperator and give them a taste of their own medicine.  Not much to it just don’t get killed, kill many of them and get that ship.  Easy peasy.  Alright, mount up I’m getting older just standing here.” [/color] The older knight winked at the faces around him.  It was obvious this was not his first mission and he honestly did not care if it was his last. 

Tobi sighed, he wished that Arn could be here.  The rest of the squad was looking squeamish.  Their Master Mage calm demeaner would do wonders about now.  Still the only thing that the young lad could do was give a silly thumbs up to his friends who just smirked and shook their heads at his antics.  

It was not long until he arrived to bronze colored wyrm.  The Knight riding it seemed as young or younger than him.  Probably a squire who had just been promoted.  [color=0054a6]“Man, shitty time for a promotion.”[/color]  The young mage whispered under his breath as the younger knight turned.  Long flowy hair and bright blue eyes met his.  [color=0054a6]“Great, the one time I meet a hot chick and we about to die.”[/color]  He muttered under his breath as the lady knight approached him.  

[color=ec008c]“You are my support?  Hello, my name is Alexa Brightwind.”[/color]  She extended a mailed glove.  Tobi clasped it in his own and gave it a hearty shake.  [color=0054a6]“Thobias Taylor.  Yes, I am going to be the one covering your behind and at least I can say it’s a nice one.”[/color]  He smiled wide.  The lady knight gave him a glowering stare.  [color=ec008c]“You dirty punk.  If we get back alive, you will take lashes for speaking like that to a knight.”[/color]  

Tobi raised his arms up in apology.  [color=0054a6]“Listen, I could not help it. It is not often I get to ride into battle on a beautiful dragon with a beautiful girl.  If we make it back, I will gladly take those lashes but my statement stands.”[/color]  Alexa slit her eyes but said nothing.  [color=ec008c]“Come on then, the sooner we finish this mission the sooner you can get strung up.”[/color]

It was not long before the rest of the squad was prepped and ready.  Perhaps he was seeing things but he noticed that the man at the head of the formation seemed to have limped over.  Why would they send injured people to the front?  Perhaps they needed all the help they could get.  The young mage mused. 

The signal was given and with a jump and flap of wings, the squadron set of on their suicide mission.  The skies providing an impressive background of flashes of lighting illuminating everything but the dark silhouettes of the dreadnaughts.  The Imperator, flying higher than the others was their destination.   Even through the wind blowing in his face Tobi managed to whistle.