Killstorm was decidedly annoyed. The Battlecrabs that had got past the Enrager Mk2s (and past the right-flank-most Hammer of Hatred whose unfortunate last-minute shots missed so badly) had torn into the fortifications and necessitated the judicious use of [i]Transmute Matter to Antimatter[/i], sufficient to deplete her mana at least below the point she could cast [i]Gate XXV[/i], if not [i]quite[/i] entirely. Thus, they were stuck here for at least another eight hours while she meditated.

Her irritation was only slightly levened by the amusement she gained from Voidslay's wide-eyeglowed shock at the complete fluke coldbeam rifle shot that had actually hit at exactly the right point to astonishingly take one down outright. Stab's incredulity and numb shock was something that, Killstorm would be able to remember more fondly once they were out of this mess.

(Captain Fleshslicer as clearly finding it more amusing than Killstorm, he hadn't stopped shaking with periodic bouts of silent laughter.)

She wasn't angry with the rcompatriots (both the Hammer of Hatred's platoon commander, the tank commander and gunner had each called her seperately to apologise for letting them through - poor Grishkar )Third Trooper Griskar Skullcrusher, who'd she known for fifty years since she'd seen the hobgoblin's potential herself) - was feeling particular wretched. But these things happened; she was just annoyed at the situation in general. She wasn't best fond on having to be the lynchpin of the entire operation, not just of her own group (which included a lot of friends, old and new), but the Aotrs presense in the system entirely.

Killstorm scowled as she located a suitable quiet spot, with a couple more troopers assigned as guards and three Hunter Drones left from one of the groups that had been savaged. At least she wouldn't have to use the Crypt; the personal shelter was designed mostly to keep you dry and out of the elements, but was not big or especially comfortable - certainly not compared to Killstorm's large fluffy over-sized double bed back in her quarters. (Despite her lichhood, Killstorm still like to buryherself in a coccoon of quilts.)

Vivisector would redeploy and get ready for the inevitable next attack, and was co-ordinating with Velinkar in case they did need an emergancy exit. But here she was, having to go out of the loop for eight hours. At least, she mused, if they lasted that long, it might give the admiral a chance ot get some of those anti-magic systems up, and they might be able to get a drop on the Azura.

	*	*	*	*	*	*

Among the things brought along by the reinforcements was something Velinkar had not enrtirely expected - their one and only inside source of information on the Azura, one Boldness. Apparently, she convinced the High Command sufficiently to sned her along where she would be better placed to carry out her elimination of the Furnace Knight. Velinkat had quietly a single Murder on reserve (with some additional troops) in case Boldness did need a transport or assult ship, though he'd not told her that. She was, ultimately, a bit of a valuable resource and with Killstorm down on Tanshin I, he wanted to hold Boldness in reserve in case the ground forces did run into another one of those Azura leaders.

The first thing he'd asked was for his aides to share with her the offer that the Azura diplomats had made, to get a more informed opinion. He'd outlined to them that the Aotrs were not, obviously, going to trade out their technology at any price, but to see if Boldness herself could see any exploitable weakness in the current Azura set-up that could be used to both her own and their advantage.