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There was a sudden roar, a crack of thunder, but louder than any heard before. The soldiers whose helmets had been damaged during the battle clasped their hands to their ears suddenly as the noise was too much for them to handle. Glancing skywards, they saw a mass of black clouds, much like rain clouds, but far larger, denser and thicker than normal. Moonshadow looked up at the stormclouds from the precipice her command post was built upon, and scowled. She closed her eyes and focused her mind, using her mind's eye to analyse the disturbance.

Far above the surface of the planet Ka'eth-Uhl, a massive space station was orbiting, maintaining a geostationary orbit above the site of the battle raging on the surface. Aboard the station was the commander of the enemy force, the Draconic War Leader Kahlain. Moonshadow concentrated her mind's eye on Kahlain, attempting to breach the psychic defences he maintained. She was surpriised however to find his neural defences were down - she had free access to his thoughts. Why would he allow such a mistake during battle? Unless he wanted her to see, to know what he knew.

With a gasp of shock, Moonshadow saw what Kahlain wanted her to see.

The weapon on board the station was active. And what's more, it was fully operational - the power contained within could tear planets in two, and it was pointed right at them.
And Kahlain was gloating, so confident in his success, he didn't care if Moonshadow saw it.
The roar of thunder had been an atmospheric disturbance caused by the weapon charging up - soon it would be ready to fire. Moonshadow had no time to lose. She reached for her Comm-Link and called the command centre.

"General Moonshadow to Central Command. The weapon is active! Repeat, the weapon is active! The Draconians are looking to use it here. The invasion was a diversion to bring us in - they're going to annihilate the planet! Get Loupgaros, Llywellyn and Durash here now. I need their help! Over!" She yelled urgently down the microphone.
"Please confirm, General - CombInt* advised that weapon completion would not be for another 20 cycles. Over." Came the reply. Moonshadow growled in annoyance and frustration.
"Confirmed, Central. The storm clouds are being caused by the weapon charging up. I made contact with War Leader Kahlain's mind - the weapon is confirmed active and ready to be used. Over."
"Very well. Confirmed, General. They are en route to your location. Over."
"The weapon needs to focus on an area where the surrounding land is weak, like a fault line. I believe they are going to use the weapon to attack the gorge. There are frequent earthquakes there. Send them there, and I will meet them. Over and out."
"Confirmed General. Over and out." Moonshadow clicked off the Comm-Link, and turned to face her second in command, Darkstar the wolf.

"You are in command until I return. If I return, that is."
"Do not speak that way, General. We shall be victorious - I am certain of it!" Darkstar said proudly, but in his eyes the fear showed.
"I thank you for your confidence, dear friend, and I thank you for all you have done over the years, but I need to destroy that thing in orbit or all we have done will have been for naught."
"Very well, General. It has been an honour to serve with you." Darkstar replied, snapping a salute. Moonshadow returned the salute, and turned to face the direction the gorge was in. Spreading her wings, she charged and leaped off the edge of the precipice she was stood upon, flying off into the distance where her friends would be waiting.