Belzi stepped into the command tent, eyes sharp and movements practiced. With a long pole, she reached out and moved the silver star labeled 1st Company from the staging area to its new position—Topoc Hill.
"Runner Belzi," came the curt voice of Legion Commander Terok. He stood over the central operations map, arms folded. "We don't mark repositioning until confirmation. No guesses. Arrival only."
"Captain Ironheart and First Company are already in position," Belzi replied, calm but firm.
Terok raised an eyebrow. "Already? You're sure?"
Belzi's eyes shimmered red. "Confirmed." Her gaze went glassy, slipping into a trance. From high above Topoc Hill, the white wings of her Harrier swept over the ridgeline. The view was hers. The badge attuned to Cane lit up in her vision, unmistakable. "Scouts setting up a perimeter. Tents already coming out of the packs."
Terok watched her for a long moment. Then he nodded once. "Good. Move the marker."
She already had.
"New orders for First Company," Terok said to his adjutant, his tone shifting from observation to command. "Relay to Runner Belzi when ready."
Belzi saluted, already anticipating the next move.
Terok turned back to the map, his fingers brushing lightly over the edge of the Zuni border. This was it. The long-awaited offensive had begun.
The Zuni Empire would commit fully—a final push, all-in. His own orders were clear: hold the line.
What they didn't know—what only he and the King were privy to—was the rest of the plan.
Fury Legion's debut would be a trial by fire, not just for its soldiers but for the future of the entire war. Four Zuni legions were marching. If the line held, if they bought enough time, the main Alliance army would break through on the far coast and strike at the Zuni capital.
A gamble of epic proportions.
But as Terok looked toward Topoc Hill and the glowing sigil hovering over Cane's position, he allowed himself a rare moment of belief.
"Come on, Fury," he whispered. "Show them who you are."
The slim runner darted through the forest, cutting a path of her own making. Her capped hair bounced with each step, but her stride never faltered. Every few meters, she vanished—only to reappear a hundred meters further along. Sometimes she took only three strides before resetting.
Overhead, a white harrier shadowed her progress, wings spread wide. Occasionally, the runner's vision merged with her familiar's, allowing course corrections in real time.
Though she hadn't matched 1st Company's breathtaking pace, Runner Belzi reached Topoc Hill in just under a quarter hour.
Cane looked up from the map table as she approached. "How was the trip, Runner Belzi?"
She wiped her brow with her sleeve and handed him a metallic message tube. "New orders, Captain."
Cane read it quickly. "The rest of our battalion is reinforcing 2nd Bat. We're to hold this hill—and respond aggressively to any contact."
Fergis raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that a contradiction? Hold position, but also hit back hard?"
Belzi, standing at ease, observed the exchange silently. "Need clarification, sir?"
Cane shook his head. "No need."
HOOAACH.
Pudding landed with a flutter, perching neatly on the makeshift roost Cane had placed near the command table.
Belzi blinked at the massive falcon-owl hybrid, visibly impressed. But she held her tongue. "I'll return to the TOC, then."
"Wait," Cane said, glancing at Fergis.
He gave a short whistle.
Tazi emerged from the shadows, silent and towering. The shadow wolf's smoky-gray fur rippled like smoke. She padded to Belzi's side, matching her eye level.
"You've got a Shadow Wolf?" Belzi asked cautiously.
"Two," Fergis replied. "Tazi, take her back."
Without hesitation, the wolf bolted south. The first jump alone covered nearly two miles.
Belzi clung to Tazi's fur, wind whipping at her face. Jump after jump blurred the world around them. She laughed breathlessly. "Okay… maybe I don't hate this."
They arrived at the TOC moments later. Belzi tumbled off with a wry smile, patting the wolf's flank.
"You're amazing. Want to stay with me?"
Tazi huffed once, turned, and vanished into a ripple of shadow.
"So that's a no…" Belzi muttered.
Back on Topoc Hill
Raymi jogged over. "Captain, camp's secure. Scouts are roving, ravens are up."
"Excellent," Cane said. "Where's your brother?"
"Yavo's reinforcing the mess perimeter."
"We'll move Mess into the spatial construct. Have him report to me when ready."
Raymi nodded and disappeared into the bustle. Teek arrived a heartbeat later.
"Captain, we've got incoming." She tapped the map. "Enemy battalion—split into three prongs. All converging here, ETA just before sunset."
Cane's hand moved instantly, marking their approach with charcoal. "Platoon leaders and sergeants. Now."
A few minutes later, the tent filled with leadership.
Cane pointed at the eastern edge of the hill. "Ritzo—you're anchoring our fallback. You dig in like a tick and don't move. Davon, stay close and guide him. You've got fortified defensive positions, keep them."
Ritzo—young, fresh-faced—nodded earnestly. "Yes, sir."
"They're gambling," Cane continued, gesturing to the split forces. "Three attacks, three directions. They're counting on being able to surround us. Not a bad strategy."
Teek tapped the central approach. "Middle group's the key. If we hit a flank, this column will rush to reinforce."
Cane nodded. "But they're bottlenecked here—narrow pass. If we strike one of the flanks, hard and fast before they clear it, they'll be too slow to help."
"That'll buy five minutes," Teek said. "Maybe less."
"Then we make every second count." Cane stood straight. "Prep your units. We leave before their scouts can see us move."
Yavo approached with a burly corporal in tow. "This is our Mess Chief, Corporal Tunder."
Cane gave the man a once-over. He looked exactly how an army cook should: solid, grim, and already sweating. "We're setting you up in the spatial construct. No mingling."
Tunder nodded.
"I'm expecting two hots a day," Cane added. "Morning and evening."
"Sir, standard fare during combat is one hot," Tunder replied evenly.
Cane snorted. "You're working in paradise. Two hots. Understood?"
Tunder saluted crisply. "We're ready to move."
A few minutes later, Cane brought the food squad into the Ringworld. He set them up along the shoreline in a secluded area, far from any other personnel or activity. After confirming the placement, he slipped away with a thought—appearing at the cottage to speak briefly with someone—before returning to the camp.
When he arrived, the rest of 1st Company stood ready, formed up clean and silent behind Fergis.
Without a word, Cane brought them into the Ringworld.
Moments Later – On the Hunt
Moxie and Tavi loped ahead, Cane flew low with Pudding, riding the wind through short rift hops. They arrived at the ambush site in minutes.
1st Company took position, slipping into the dense foliage. Camouflaged. Ready.
Stealthed and eyes glowing amber, Cane scanned the treeline until he sensed movement. He dropped his link with Pudding. "Yes?"
Teek knelt beside him, her voice quiet and serious. "Captain, we're in place. I recommend a fallback in case that center group reaches us mid-fight."
"It's already handled," Cane whispered. "We're going in hard. Full strength. No second chances."
Six Miles West – The Pass
Three hundred Zuni soldiers rode in formation through a narrow pass, black armor trimmed in silver, lightning-strike emblems marking them as Thunder Battalion—the spearhead tasked with seizing Topoc Hill.
As they neared the mouth of the valley, a lone figure stepped into view.
A slim woman with short dark hair and pale skin raised her hand.
Behind her, boulders rose like giants.
With a silent gesture, the barrage thundered down the hillside, setting off landslides as the valley trembled. Dozens of soldiers vanished beneath the earth's fury, horses screaming in panic.
Chanzi: Now.
The psi-casters of the Magi Academy revealed themselves. Dozens stood exposed—arms extended—and hundreds of rocks surged into the air. The precision was surgical. Brutal. Merciless.
Three hundred entered. Barely three dozen crawled out, fleeing with shattered minds and shattered ranks.
Back East – The Real Fight
The enemy flanking group approached Topoc Hill in tight columns. Six across, horses in perfect step, armor clinking faintly.
FURY!
Flame and fire burst from the trees.
Up and down both sides, 1st Company, eyes and swords scorching flames and blazing inferno—erupted from hiding. Screams of men and beasts vanished beneath the roar of fire and chaos.
Horses reared and bolted, riders thrown or crushed. Fire washed over the formation.
The first line of Fury troops stepped forward, drawing sword and shield, kneeling as the second line advanced past them.
FURY!
A second wave of flame engulfed the unburned center. What had been a cavalry column turned to ash and screams.
"ADVANCE AND ENGAGE!" Cane's voice cut through the chaos.
He merged with the ringworld, drew his blade, and tore through a knot of soldiers. One slash—three bodies fell. Heads bounced on scorched earth.
Melee followed—brief, decisive, overwhelming.
The enemy cracked. Most were killed retreating, many without ever striking back.
1st Company's first battle was over in under five minutes.
Aftermath
Fergis pulled the commander's satchel from one of the beheaded. "Teek! Every corpse. I want intel—maps, orders, even letters home."
"Understood." She relayed the orders as Fergis approached Cane.
"What about the center group?"
Cane grinned. "What center group? I gave our academy friends something to do."
Fergis laughed. "So there's probably no group then."
"Probably not, get a status report check for wounded."