"Underground shelters?" The man nervously pondered for a moment. "No, we have nothing of the sort. The chapel hall and inner castle walls are the refuges during war, but I am afraid they may no longer be safe! We are used to enemies from the land and seas. Never had we expected ships from the sky!"
----
Blackwing Commander Vlak Gjinn of the Skyward Division clasped his scaly claws behind his back, flicking his reptilian tail back and forth as he watched the other two airships move into position from the deck of his own vessel. Tjed offered no resistance at all as the mammoth cannons were trained upon the filthy mammals below. He'd only need to give the word and this miserable city would be wiped into non-existence.
He wasn't a large Lizard Man by any standard. Those mindless bruits were given their run as ground generals in Gorus' Subterranean Division. But here in the much smaller Skyward Division his brilliant strategic mind was actually recognized, and he had earned enough respect to control a fleet of airships. Though he didn't quite feel comfortable serving under a non-lizard, a mammal no less, he had to admit he would probably be nothing more than a field lieutenant under Gorus' or even the late Jayce's strength-rules-all doctrines.
"Commander, the High General approaches."
The lizards upon the deck bowed as the black blurs approached, flying right up to the deck. The Commander stooped to one knee.
The entourage of Velkens landed on the ship deck, their glances cold and hard. They were tiny things compared to the massive lizards.
"My lord," Commander Vlak began, "give the word, and we shall be rid of this city forever."
Virmir boldly stepped up to the scaly airship commander, his tail indignantly waving behind him.
"Commander, you will not fire unless I explicitly tell you to. Is that understood?"
"Yes, sir."
"Furthermore, your soldiers will not attack the humans unless attacked first."
"Forgive me, my lord, I thought we were here for an extermination...?"
"I do not recall giving you permission to question my orders." The fox retorted coldly.
"Apologies... permission to speak freely?"
"Denied."
The lizard's eyes went wide. Virmir ignored him and spun around, pointing to the Velkens lined up behind him. "Anslem, Helix, Renard..." his eyes scanned the stiffened faces for a moment before falling on the newcomer, "... Riuki, you four will guard the south city gate. No one may leave or enter."
"Yes, my lord." the three veterans said in unison. They jumped right off the ship, hooking downwards and speeding towards the front gates of Tjedon.
Virmir turned back towards the lizard commander. "Commander, you will deploy your men and infiltrate every corner of the city. This is an occupation. You will only kill those that resist. Is that understood?"
"Yes, my lord..."
"Excellent. We will be watching..."
The remaining seven Velkens darted into the air, forming a wide circle high above the airship. Vimir extended his hand.
"Give me the ship's voice projector."
One of the lizards scampered off and returned with a glowing green stone. "Merely speak into this, my lord."
Virmir took it and shot 200 feet above the airship, stopping when he could see the entirety of the city below.
"Citizens," the silver fox's voice boomed throughout the whole valley. "Your king is dead, and Tjed now belongs to the Dark Empire." The bottoms of the airships opened, and Lizard Men parachuted out, landing in the streets by the scores. Wyverns emerged from the decks and began circling. "The city is now under martial law. Cooperate, and this transition will be made as painless as possible. Resist, and you will be killed."
----
Draven leaned back.
"I have reason to believe he is gaining interest in them once more. My sources indicate that he explicitly sent one of his High Generals on a mission to obtain the second one that is now in his possession. Perhaps collecting the rest for him will remind him of his former obsession. Of course, he may send minions out to try to take them from us, but Jayce was his strongest warrior, and with him out of the picture, we shouldn't have much trouble beating back whatever he sends until he decides to show his own face..."
