Wind City has fallen, her failure was still echoing in Maya's mind. First, she found out about Tori, one of the children in her and Uncle's care, smuggling weapons. Due to Tori's greed people lives were in danger, and Maya felt the need to right that wrong.
She tried to warn Bowman, leader of the organization, Guards of the Seven Winds. However, she managed to get a few seconds before the attack began. Bowman sacrificed himself to buy the rest of the Holy Guard time to escape.
Maya had fought through the graveyard, mowing down countless undead. A new companion, Corgan, a member of the Holy Guard and a skilled swordsman. He guided them to Armstrong, his hometown, which the found in ruin. They still managed to find supplies for Layla, the new leader of the Holy Guard.
Rain pouring over them as they fight through the graveyard once again. Maya shot a burst into another zombie, and it drops. Honestly, these zombies were more of a bothersome hindrance than an actual threat. Even Grubb wasn't having any trouble taking them down.
Then Maya noticed a man sitting on top of one of the buildings. He was just sitting there, no concern for the weather or the undead. She was about to call out to him, but after a flash of lightning, he was gone. With no sign of him being there, Maya kept her mouth shut.
A few hours later, after learning about the need for passports, they made their way to South Farm. They immediately noticed the Chosen soldiers standing by the gate, but there was no sign that they were actually paying attention to anyone passing through the gate. Maya was sure that as long as they didn't interact with them, then there wouldn't be any problems.
After speaking to the locals, they found a monk pretending to be a merchant. A quick conversation with Corgan had revealed the monks had built a tunnel to smuggle people out. Through the tunnel that entered the city library. There they secured some passports and began the preparations for Shell Five.
...
Khan, with one swift motion crushed a flying skull. With the amount of free time he had, Khan decided to walk around the graveyard on Shell Three. It had proven to be a simple endeavor, since his movement wasn't restricted.
His mind however was on Layla. The Holy Guard was weak and scattered. Honestly, he hadn't decided whether to capture Layla now, or wait till she was more organized and crush her resistance when it was at full strength.
Right now, Doskias's forces were hiding near Shell Four. Just waiting for Ankara and Jinnam to wipe each other out.
A zombie tried to lunge at Khan, but he sidesteps it and delivered a decapitating strike with his hand.
Perhaps now is the time to attack Shell One. Gunner's fleet is there but they're currently scattered. Zagara has created a stable hive, from what he could tell. It was a technical loophole that allowed Zagara to build the nest.
While have a small influence over her, if she turned against him, well, he wouldn't know until she did. Currently however, Zagara was enjoying Shell Seven, its hazardous environment was proving beneficial to her brood. She currently waiting until Ankara and Jinnam start shooting at each other before she completes her task of taking Shell Seven.
Technically that conflict should start at any time now. He left the graveyard by way of his Shadow Nexus and returned to his Shell One base. Drop Ships were ready to ferry his soldiers to the capital city. His fighters and tanks were ready for any armaments they might run into.
Through his perk Khan watched the first shoot get fired. Then he signaled his forces to begin. The Chosen capital will be in conflict with the hour. A slight sigh left Khan's mouth. A small annoyance caused by the fact he didn't have a proper air force.
The problem was that the smallest ship he had access too was a sword class frigate. At 1.6 kilometers it was roughly the same length as an Imperial Star Destroyer. Powerful, intimidating, a single ship could wipe out almost any military force by itself. However, due to the unique way this planet is setup, it could never reach beyond Shell One.
Another thing annoying Khan was the feeling that he was forgetting something, or someone. As the first ship made landfall and began unloading its troops, Khan let out a sigh. Whatever it was it would come to him eventually. For now, it was time for conflict.
...
Alisa was the emperor's daughter, so she had come to understand her position had its dangers. So, when the capital suddenly found itself under siege, it was something that she knew could happen, but never expected it too. Or at least, not by anyone other than that heretic Doskias.
They were caught by surprise when the mysterious army appeared. With their heavy, blood red, armor that Chosen weapons were proving to be useless against and weapons that were cutting down her father's forces like they weren't anything more than paper dolls. Even their juggernauts could do nothing but slow them down by a few seconds. Alisa had received reports that the civilians were being rounded up for some as of yet unknown purpose. Alisa was currently making her way to her father's throne room, hoping to convince him to flee.
Another soldier showed up to report that the enemy would be breaching the palace doors at any moment. The sudden shaking and sound of an explosion confirmed the report. Then the soldier reported that they might have identified the leader. The description told to Alisa, confirmed that the leader wasn't Chosen and probably wasn't working with Doskias. After all, Doskias was too much of a purest to allow an outsider to trample Chosen forces to such a degree that his own position would be under threat.
The doors to her father's throne room in front of her she began to open them, when suddenly an explosion from down the hall told her that the enemy was almost there, and she didn't have a lot of time left.
The guards began to fire their weapons, and Alisa sealed the door. There were other ways out of the throne room. She found her father sitting on his floating throne. She asked, "Father, will you not flee? The enemy is almost here."
Her father answered, "I am the emperor, it is my duty to face this threat. But I need you to take this." He handed her an object, Alisa asked, "The Imperial Seal? Why?" Before he could say anything, the doors burst opened. Four armored soldiers entered; their guns ready to fire. That was when she saw him. The man that was described as the leader. He carried no weapon, yet he still filled her with a sense of danger.
He looked at her father and said, "The Holy Chosen Emperor, I presume. I'm actually impressed that you didn't flee nor are you cowering in a corner."
Her father responded, "As the emperor, I must maintain the dignity of my people. Am I correct in assuming that you are the one in charge, and that you have no ties to the heretic Doskias?"
The man said, "Correct on both counts. Let me introduce myself..." He looked thoughtful for a moment then he said, "Once upon a time I gave a man I had no respect for a name as empty as his dreams. You, however, will be given something more real. I am Khan Dovak."
Her father then said, "With the pleasantries out of the way, I believe we have one last piece of business to deal with."
Khan nodded, then put his hand to his chest, and a sword appeared in front of him. In one swift motion, Khan pulled out the sword, closed the distance between himself and her father, and stabbed him with such force that both him and her father were now on the other side of the room.
When she saw the end result, Alisa involuntarily yelled out, "Father!" Khan turned to her, acknowledging her for the first time. He was silent for a moment, and then he said, "Ah! Alisa, daughter of the emperor. I knew I was forgetting something important. You and I need to have a very important discussion, and how that discussion ends will depend on you."
He then said, "But! You have a funeral to arrange first. We can talk after that, don't disappoint me by trying to run away." Then he left. Alisa wasn't sure what to think, this man had killed her father, but he didn't drag it out or make a public display out of it and he is giving her the opportunity to give a proper goodbye.
Doskias would definitely never have allowed that. One of her guards limped in, apparently a single explosive round was used, the blast had turned the targeted soldier to a red mist and the resulting force had sent the rest flying leaving them unconscious and most with broken bones. The closest ones were left either dead or in a coma.
But in any case, they had lost, with the civilians rounded up and her father's forces were routed if they didn't accept that then Doskias could show up declare himself the new emperor. So, she would have no real choice in these upcoming discussions. She turned to the one who could still stand, and said, "After you get treated try to find Lord Gunner, if he's alive find out how much of his forces remain. Please go, I need to make arrangements for my father and everyone else who died today." The soldier saluted and left.
Alisa was nervous, if the reason Gunner's forces didn't help was because they had already been decimated, then order to protect the people and her father's legacy she would have to accept whatever Khan wanted. A voice in the back of her head suddenly whispered, 'would that truly be a bad thing, after all he was far more respectful then Doskias would've been, and he's not bad looking either.'
Alisa found herself flinching at the sudden thought. Did she really just think that the man who killed her father was attractive. In the brief interaction they had did he do something or did she really have some twisted desire for him. Alisa pushed those thoughts aside. She had arrangements to make.
...
Khan was sitting in what looked like the palace library. Gunner only had a small contingent of soldiers in the city, so his forces were largely still intact. It was no surprise when it was discovered that Gunner was gathering all his forces to retake the city.
However, Alisa had made contact, putting a stop the Gunner's plan. The mass funeral was being held right now. Alisa with Gunner at her side would either head here or they would try to flee. It was common knowledge that Gunner was pushing for them to flee. But Alisa was adamant that they attend this meeting.
Khan did have contingencies if they tried to flee or if Gunner tried to kidnap Alisa. Either way this was going to turn out in his favor. Especially with Alisa being influenced by his Corrupted Love perk.
He then got a message from Zagara, General Campbell was making preparations at the lab, and Ankara's capital was surrounded. Their time of hiding on Shell Seven was almost at its end.
Khan then got another message stating that Alisa and Gunner were on their way to his location. Everything was falling into place. Khan didn't lie to Alisa, it would be her choice how this meeting ends, whether as his consort who would still have a say over the fate of the Chosen or as his bedwarmer whose only purpose was his satisfaction.
While Gunner may either keep his forces and serve him or he would die then and there. Neither option was mutually paired.