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I woke the next morning to the sun coming in my window. The room was chilled,as it always was. I glanced around at my family. Ace and Helix were sprawled on their backs,wings limp at their sides. Dusk was curled up in his bed with a smile covering his muzzle and Tyson and Kayel were balled up together as they always were. I shifted my glance to Adelind. She was fast asleep and had a very light snore,her ears flopped lazily against her head. I gently nuzzled her awake.

"Morning my love",Adelind said softly and returning my nuzzle,"did you sleep well?"

"Of course",I replied smiling,"I always do."

Adelind laughed and lay on my back,placing her head on top of mine and curling her tail around mine.

"How did we end up together?" I asked smiling,"You are the most beautiful female I've ever laid my eyes on,you could have done better",I said looking up at her and into her beautiful blue eyes.

Adelind wrapped her fore paws around my neck,crossing them at my chest.

"Maybe so,"Adelind said softly,"but if there is a better male out there,I haven't heard of him,and after five kids and twenty five years,I don't want him."

"I could never love anyone else like I love you,and no one could ever love me as much as you do."

My mate pulled me into a deep,passionate kiss. The entire time we kissed,I pictured us back home when we were ten and eight,the first time we'd ever kissed. We were in the same cave we live in now,it was a beautiful,star and moon light windy night. It was the night we'd confessed our love for each other. You could guess that is was the best night of my life. After breaking it,we looked into each other's eyes.

"I love you Adelind",I said.

"I love you too Tyro",Adelind replied softly.

"I have to go talk to Nolan about Faline's Squad placement,think you can round up the team for me and make them half way presentable?"

"Yeah,Adelind said getting off my back and stretching,"yeah I can do that."

Reluctantly,I stood,after Adelind helped me into my gear,we kissed and I left for the main HQ. As I entered,I couldn't help but marvel at it. The floors were covered in a stone that was engraved to look like an old compass. There were two elevators in the back of the main room and a much larger one that Freals used to move from floor to floor. I stepped onto the elevator and went up to the fourth floor,where Nolan usually hid out. After stepping off the elevator,I walked down the hall to a door at the end,pushing against it to open it.

The room was covered in a dark red carpet and a large table sat in the middle of the room,covered in maps and other papers. Nolan was hunched over the table,his silver eyes firmly affixed to a single document. "

General Nolan Sir",I said in a loud voice,"permission to enter."

"No need to be so formal Major,"Nolan said smiling as he looked up at me,"you may enter"

I stepped into the room,the feel of the carpet on my paws was a new one.

"What've you got on your mind?",Nolan asked as I went to the edge of the table.

"I came to talk to you about squad placment of Faline Salanth,I want her in Raven so she's close to Taro."

"I was considering doing just that Major",Nolan replied shifting his gaze back to the folder,and then quickly looking back up at me,"I'm merging Talon into Raven squad."

"Can I ask why?"

"Well",Nolan said,"your teams work together so often,and you are so proficient on your missions,it's a waste of resources keeping you as seprate teams."

I was a field commander,not a base commander,but this made sense.

"So Faline,Shadow and Nina are joining Raven?",I asked curiously.

"Yes Tyro,Nolan responded picking up the green folder and tossing it at me,"and then there's this little matter."

I opened the folder.

"Toro?" I asked.

From what I could gather,he was a smaller,Feral Dragon,but his breed wasn't listed,was quite young,and that he was placed into the Draco Project on a recommendation by his father,which was new to me. I'd only heard of drafts into that project,and even HDR was only made available to people that had the right genes.

"The kid is only 13,Nolan began,he's a new Project Draco recruit,right out of basic,his entire team was killed off on his first mission." "Aslo",Nolan continued, growing more serious,"he was mated,with a two month old daughter and a pair of eggs,which he found dead when he returned to the USS Draco." "He was then moved to Fire base Charlie,somehow,he survived the firing squad."

I closed the file.

"His team was killed off on his first mission?" "This has Lung Wei written all over it." "Is the kid even mentally stable?"

"I don't know,Nolan said,"he sounded like he was in some very serious pain and very desperate when he contacted me."

"I'll do what I can,but I can't make any promises Nolan,i answered,"when are we going to get him?"

"That's up to you Tyro,Nolan replied, "get your team together and come by the command tent after breakfast,I'll brief you then." "That's all I need from you Major,dismissed."

I turned and left the HQ,going down to the runway. I found my team standing in perfect formation on the yellow stripe that went down the center of the runway. The Fearls had their front paws on the line while the Humans and Anthros had their feet on it. The kids were lined up in front of their parents,dressed in their team's fatigues and their ballistic vests. I did a quick head count and found the only one missing was Faline. I began to pace up and down the line,inspecting my friends.

"Now,I spoke to General Nolan about a few things,and he has told me that in light of recent events,he considered it the best course of action to merge Talon Squad into Raven."

Shadow began to stare daggers at me.

"Nina and I are joining Raven?",he asked with a surprised look and tone.

"Yes,you heard me right Captain",I said smiling,"welcome to Raven guys."

The others gave Shadow and Nina a welcome before quickly glancing back at me and Faline,who was now standing beside me with her black mask covering her face.

"Now,I want everyone to welcome our newest soldier,"Faline pulled off her mask,"Faline Salanth."

"FALINE?!"Rolland gasped,"what are you doing here!?"

"I could ask you the same thing Rolland",Faline said smiling,"how have you been?"

"Doing the same freaking thing for the last forty plus years of my life,it feels great to be a field soldier again."

"Well I'm happy to hear it,Faline replied going to Taro's side and nuzzling him. Rolland glanced at them,smirked and then turned back to face me,as did all the others.

"Nolan has a mission for us,I said looking my friends over,"we are to rescue a Project Draco recruit named Toro,the kid has been through some very serious trauma in the past week,Nolan will brief us after breakfast,so let's go eat."

"Race you",Ator said smiling at Nina.

"Oh yeah right",Nina said as she and Ator took off for the mess hall.

"She must really be a paw full,I said smirking and looking at Shadow.

Shadow laughed as he picked up his son and placed him on his back. Kayel started to ball at this,so Shadow picked her up and put her on his back as well and she instantly quieted down as she and Taro began to play with Shadow's vest.

"They are going to be mates someday",I said smiling,"mark my words Shadow."

Shadow gave me a toothy grin and I could't help but laugh. When we arrived at the mess hall,both Ator and Nina were panting.

"So who won?" Shadow asked going to Nina's side.

"He did",Nina said panting and smiling,"but barely."

"Yeah right grandma,"Ator said,"I won by a long shot and you know it!"

"Excuse me?" Nina grwoled,"I'm only twenty five!"

"Yeah",Ator smiled,"and I'm sixteen!"

Nina and Ator began a short growling match before breaking into laughter. We entered the mess hall,took our usual spots and began to eat. As we ate,I noticed Nesenth walk in,what was he doing away from the hatchery? He walked up to a purple and gold female and a red an blue male and handed them an egg that hatched in his mother's paws. Both dragons began to cry tears of joy at the sight of their newborn cub.

"Remember when Ace was born?" I asked turning to my mate.

"Yeah,of course I do,"she said leaning against me lovingly,"it was the best day of my life."

"You two are so good together",Shadow cracked.

Nina thumped him on the top of his head. Shadow looked at her.

"What?" he asked in a high pitched voice,"what I do?"

Nina rolled her eyes and went back to her food. Shadow looked at his Dad.

"Don't look at me,Taro said smirking,"she's your problem."

Faline rolled her eyes and leaned against him. Soon,Vanlith was leaning on Ator,Vez on Val and Cora on Sozenn.

"Everyone but me",Rolland complained,"why don't I have a mate yet?"

Ator laughed,"join the breeding program",he said,"I told you that you'll find a nice female quick."

Rolland gave Ator a dirty look and then went back to his meat. I couldn't help but laugh. After we finished our food we stood and went to the command tent. Nolan was standing with Hudson and our human friends.

"Alright Raven,Nolan said placing a green folder on the table along with several large maps,"I got a mission for you guys."

'What's the job,Sozenn asked.

"I'm sending you guys into an empty Russian vilage to retrieve a Project Draco recruit by the name of Toro."

Nolan threw a picture of a blue and red dragon on the table.

"The drone we have in the area has a confirmation on his location",Nolan rolled out a large map. "This",Nolan said pointing to a small house,is where he is hiding." "Intel also has confirmation of a RDS hit team moving in on his location." "It is absolutely imperative that we get to him first,he may have valuable lintel on RDS activity,and possibly a lead on Lung Wei's location."

"When do we go,I asked. "An experimental V-22 is waiting,Nolan said,"It is equipped with stealth tech,so make sure you bring it back,and if you can't,destroy it,I don't want Resistance tech falling into enemy hands."

"Sir yes sir,we replied in unison.

"Then get going guys,Nolan said,"that's all I need from you."

We turned and exited the command tent. As we neared the landing pad,the experimental V-22 began to come into view. It was three times as long as a usual V-22 with six engines and was jet black with long,slender rotor blades.

"Cool",Ator said smiling.

As we stepped into the V-22,I couldn't help but note the increased space and storage. We all found a comfortable places to lay as the V-22 began to spin up.

"Listen",Faline said,"It's not making any noise."

I perked up my ears to see if I could hear something,but couldn't,Faline was right,the V-22 wasn't making any noise at all.

'How is it that the Resistance has advanced battleships,aircraft carriers,drones,stealth V-22's just generally better equipment and troops than the military we fight?" Tess asked laying her head on Syralth's shoulder.

"Because they betrayed all the people who make the stuff",Sozenn said.

We all laughed. It was a six hour flight to the AO and there was nothing to do but rest,and we all needed the sleep. One by one,we began to fall off. Taro and Faline were the first to go,followed by Shadow and Nina,then Syralth,Tess and Mnerloth,and then Rolland,Ator and Sozenn. Adelind let out a yawn and leaned against me.

"I love you my boy",she said trailing off.

I smiled,Adelind used to call me that all the time,this was the first time I'd heard it in a while.

"I love you too,I said nuzzling her.

She smiled and fell asleep. I looked at her,lay my wing over her back and placed my head over her neck before falling asleep myself.

I was stirred around ten hours later by Issac shaking me awake. Normally,I was exhausted after such long rides,but I was refreshed and ready to go. Whatever they had done to this V-22 had smoothed the ride out. I stood and exited the V-22,stepping into the dark Russian night. My friends were already waiting for me. Issac cracked a glow stick that filled the area with a dim blue glow. He then lay out a map.

"According to intel",Hudson said quietly,"Toro is holed up in this house." He pointed to a house at the end of the town. "There's only one way in and out,Hudson continued,"the entire village is surrounded by hills."

"Wyatt,Rolland,Val and Mnerloth,I want you here,here,here and here,I said pointing to spots on the map.

"Faline,you,Vez and Tess will be guarding the V-22 be..."

"If you say because were females",Tess snapped,"I'm going to knock your teeth out!"

'I was going to say because you girls are the quickest on the triggers."

"Oh",Tess said her expression of anger fading,"sorry?"

I laughed,"Just let me finish my sentence from now on."

"Yes sir",Tess said her smile returning.

"The rest of us will be approaching the village. I want complete quiet guys,I said. "Raido's down low,surpressors,everything,now let's do this."

After going through a final equipment check,the snipers crept of and we went down to the village. Our black combat fatigues allowed us perfect concealment in the night. As we entered the village, We crept into a shadow between a house and the hill.

"Split off,I ordered,"I want these houses sweeped and cleaned of any threat." Sozenn,you,Syralth and Taro take the houses closest to the entrance,Ator you,Hudson,Trent and Logan take the houses in the middle, Shadow,Nina,Adelind and I will go recover Toro.

With that we split off,the others taking their objectives while Shadow,Nina,Adelind and I crept along the edge of the hill. We slipped into the house where Toro was hiding,donning our night vision ad we did so.

"Night vision makes it to easy",Nina said in a whisper as we searched the house.

After about a minute and a half,we located Toro. He was curled up in the corner of a back room with a wool blanket over him. His Mk-19 weapons vest lay beside his ruck. He had a small fire going in a hole in the concrete foundation of the house. His neck was loosely wrapped with bloody gauze and I could see one of his paws was broken.

"Toro"I said aloud. He jumped awake,I could see the fear in his eyes.

"It's okay,Adelind said softly,'were with the Resistance,were here to help you."

Hearing her talking seemed to calm him down.

"Who are you?" he asked frightened.

"I'm Major Tyro Serelath,I said softly,going from a soldier,to a Dad. 'This is Captain Shadow Salanth,First Sergeant Major Nina Salanth,we are here to help you,but you have to let us."

"Toro looked us over.

"Okay",he said with a bit of a whimper,"let me pack up."

Toro quickly stuffed his blanket back into his pack and then Adelind helped him into his vest and slide his pack onto his sides. We quietly slipped out of the house.

"Everyone,i called,"HVI retrieved,what's your OS?"

"We finished our sweep",Taro called,"waiting at valley exit."

"Sweep concluded,"Ator called,waiting with Taro."

"Rodger,i called. We crept along the edge of the valley,finally coming to the exit.

"Took the scenic route huh?" Taro asked as we made our way back to the V-22.

The other's were already waiting for us. We borded the V-22 and once again found places to lay as it began to spin up. In the light of the cabin,I got a good look at Toro.

He was a skinny,Jungle dragon. He had the same crest that Sozenn did,with Val's icy white eyes. He had dark brown markings going down the back of his neck,his back and tail and his horns were chipped. His neck was covered in badly done field dressings,all of which were covered in blood and dirt.

"Trent",I said,"help the kid out."

Trent gently pulled off the field dressing and began to stitch closed the twenty plus bullet holes in Toro's neck and chest. As the flight dragged on,we all let sleep take us over.

We were pulled awake by the V-22 touching down at Romeo. Nolan was standing there to greet us with the same tired look he had the day we arrived.

"Good job soldiers,he said congratulating us,"get out of that gear,go clean up and then hit your beds,youv'e earned it."

We all shrugged off our gear,got baths and then went back to our barracks. We said our good nights and then entered our rooms. Adelind and I fell into our bed as Nesenth walked in with Ace and our kids in tow.

"Thank's Nesenth,I said yawning.

"No problem,he replied smiling,"I love kids."

He then turned and left. Ace and the cubs fell into their beds with loud thuds. I pulled Adelind close to me.

"I love you",I said beginning to trail off.

"I love you too",Adelind said kissing me.

After a few minutes of laying there,we fell asleep.