"We will have to drop you off on the outskirts. You will have to get into Verulos on foot. And you will have to be in civilian clothing. You will also have to leave all your gear. As soon as you get in contact with Ulmara Rael, let us know, and get control of these new missile tanks. Once that's done, you will have to contact us, and we will come pick you up, and destroy the factory. Then we will get out of there. If all goes well, all 4 tanks will be ours, and we will all leave with minor casualties. That will make fighting the Tudor much easier", Admiral Roledar said. "Another thing. They probably will not have bio scanners active. If they do, we will be able to divert their attention from you for a time. But be ready for anything", Halsur added.

...

Kaleor, Ralea, Luran, Tailen and Akala put away their gear, and exited the gunship. They walked towards the city, not too fast or too slow, careful to keep some distance between each other and their hoods down.

The guards glanced over them briefly, but let them go. Once safely within the crowd, they headed towards a quieter part of the city. All over, they saw wanted posters. Their faces, as well as that of Durial, were plastered on billboards, the doors and walls of buildings.

"This way", Luran said, turning into an alley.

He activated his radio, and contacted Rael.

"This is Luran. I, Ralea, Kaleor, Tailen and Akala are in Verulos. We need to access the new missile tanks. Can you redirect the security so we can come in without too much disturbance?" "I will try. But be quick about it."

"The hangar is this way", said Kaleor.

They moved toward the hangar, staying under cover. After 10 minutes, the building was in sight. Kaleor looked through his binoculars, and saw all 4 missile tanks, their massive missile launchers poking out over the other vehicles. There were only 11 guards patrolling the perimeter, instead of the standard 30.

"We have the missile tanks in sight. Be ready to provide cover", Tailen said into his radio. "Copy that. There are several Tudor warships over your position. We will distract them and send in cargo ships", Admiral Roledar replied.

Tailen gathered air into condensed spikes, and hurled them at the guards. By the time they realized something was off, it was too late. All 11 collapsed, and the group quickly moved toward the building. They took some of their weapons, and belted them on. Once inside, they got into the tanks.

"Tailen, Akala, press the green button to your right, and push the gold lever forward. As soon as we exit the hangar, pull the black lever up and back to aim, and press the red button on your left to fire. Then, we will go find Rael, and go back here for pickup", Luran said.

The tanks moved forward, out into the open. Overhead, the rebel fleet was locked in battle against the 2 Tudor battleships and 5 destroyers. A burning fighter crashed near them, the explosion shaking the missile tanks.

Tailen, Luran, Kaleor and Ralea aimed the main guns at the Tudor warships, and golden plasma beams and missiles exited the barrels. A few crashed into fighters and bombers, and a few more were intercepted and destroyed by cannons, but the rest struck home. Two of the destroyers were severely damaged, and a passing rebel cruiser knocked them against each other, disabling both ships. Another destroyer was surrounded by three of the cruisers, and swiftly taken down, along with a squadron of fighters.

The battleships turned to aim their heavy cannons on the tanks, but the cruisers blocked their view, locking them away, while the corvettes and the frigates dealt with the last two destroyers. The way was clear for the cargo ships. Already, the four vessels were heading for the ground, escorted by several fighter squadrons.

Tailen, Akala, Ralea, Luran and Kaleor exited the missile tanks and Luran contacted Rael. "They are picking us up. Give us your coordinates", he said into his radio. "I am near the marketplace", Rael replied. The call cut off.

They followed her directions, moving quickly.

They heard gunfire, and spotted the engineer behind a stall, engaged in a standoff against several Tudor soldiers, a few more lying next to them, dead or dying.

Suddenly, 6 Inquisitors appeared. Tailen distracted them with a blast of wind and lightning. Luran stayed to reinforce him and Akala, while Kaleor and Ralea ran to help Rael.

The engineer herself shot two more, and the other three fell to the former Inquisitors' swords. "Thank you. I was running low on ammo", Rael said. "Do you have all the schematics?" Kaleor asked. "Yes. Now let's hurry. We have to destroy the hangar, factory and the lab."

Tailen's radio beeped.

"The missile tanks have been loaded, along with their other vehicles in that hangar. We are picking you up now", came in Admiral Halsur's voice.

"About time, sir. We are about to be overrun", Tailen replied, as he evaded several darts and a steel net.

The newly arrived Tudor battalion and tank platoon surrounded them, and the now 10 Inquisitors kept them firmly on the defensive.

Tailen saw Kaleor locked against two of them, clearly outmatched. The Tauron leapt over his foe's strike and sent her into a disabled tank with a gust of wind. He rushed to Kaleor's side, and killed one of the Inquisitors with a lightning blast to the head. He and Kaleor attacked the second Inquisitor together. Alone, neither of them would stand a chance, but together, they overwhelmed him, and Tailen slew him with a shoulder powered cut to the chest.

"Thanks", Kaleor said. Tailen only nodded, too tired to speak.

A rebel gunship lowered to the ground, and soldiers rushed out. Their machine guns took out swaths of the approaching Tudor troops, and the fighter squadron above them pelted the tanks with missiles and Gatling guns, destroying most of them. The distraction allowed Ralea, Luran, Akala, Kaleor, Tailen and the engineer to get to the gunship safely, and the vessel lifted off. A few of the fighters were shot down, but the rest made it back to the fleet, which was battling a newly arrived Tudor battle group.

Once everyone was safely onboard the flagship, the fleet, now down to 4 cruisers, 7 corvettes, 4 frigates and 290 fighters and bombers, retreated, leaving behind several badly damaged Tudor vessels, and the remains of the hangar, factory and the lab. All four missile tanks had been secured, along with other military equipment, and the Tudor had been deprived of the best engineer, and the one weapon that could potentially turn the tide of the war, in favor of the Rebellion.