It was not the homecoming Maye expected. Dollet, through the viewing screen of the transport ship, was far from welcoming. Fortunately the early rain had stopped, leaving the air crisp and biting. The instructors on the top of the foreword transport ship stood in a loose circle, eyeing the radio tower veiled in haze atop Dollet’s rocky outcrop."I used to play there, as a kid."

They each turned to the eldest amongst them. Jacqueline, a feisty duellist nearing her forties who had been raised and still lived in the lower streets of the town. She remained chipper and spritely despite the years.

"Was it even built then?" Maye jested.

She darted a glare at him, stuck out her tongue, and turned back to their objective. Each of the transport ships carried a similar unit of the garden’s more seasoned veterans. Some carried soldiers, ready to lay down supporting fire and plant charges in case the remnants of Galbadia’s dissenters had procured heavy weaponry. Even from this distance, the rusty hulk of the X-ATM092 was an ill omen.

"Everyone clear on their mission?"

Maye nodded. His cheeky grin faded, replaced with a calm smile and a glimmer of intent. Their objective was to breach the barricades.

"Then we will rendezvous in the hotel plaza once the defences are breached."

"Killian, can you sense anything?" She turned to the youngest of their unit.

The diminutive mage moved to the front of the ship, peered over the rail, and took a deep breath of open sea air. What she lacked in physical strength she made up for in intuition and a talent with magic that drew the name Little Sorceress. One only her close friends used without reprisal.

"Nope." She shook her head. "Which means we’re going to be in trouble the moment we land?"

Maye sighed. He rested one hand on the hilt of his blade and tapped his ear comm. with the other. "First Wave launch. Second Wave begins boarding in four minutes. Be prepared for heavy infantry resistance." He caught Killian’s gaze, and they exchanged a wink.

The transport darted ahead, gentle waves broken beneath a long, threatening bow.