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There were too few to cover so much terrain. The Templars had taken too many casualties and Dmitri hadn't brought that many with him. He had all of Russia to lord over as an Alpha after all.

Also, after the incident in the cave, Reiss was not willing to send out small parties anymore, even with Lycan support since the wolves had lost one in the mine's as well.

Instead, only three large and capable groups were sent to the areas that Curtis had marked for them all. There they swept as fast as they could, but progress was slow.

It was several hours before they found what they were looking for.

"It's definitely a hole," Emery said as he stood at the opening of the tunnel the enemy Lycan had used to escape the mine. It was large at about ten feet in diameter. Enough for two or even three Lycans to walk out side by side. That troubled Emery.

Originally he had believed that there had only been one or two Lycans in the cave, the ones in charge much like the single Lycan in charge in the Alps. However, the size of the hole indicated that there had been much more than one or two. It could have been a dozen. It could have been a hundred. It was impossible to tell just how many had escaped.

Emery had consolidated all of the parties together near the hole, setting up sentries with intersecting fields of fire. No surprises this time. He then reported back his findings.

"Standby," Reiss told Emery. "We're blowing the holes here. If there are any left at all in there, they'll Have to come out your side. If nothing comes out, blow yours as well."

"Yes, sir." Emery went about the business of setting explosives on his end of the mine.

About twenty minutes in, Reiss set off his. It wasn't a massive explosion that sent plumes of smoke and dirt. It was a very controlled blast that simply caused the earth above the mine to collapse into the tunnel of the entrances. It was still audible from Emery's position and he had his men at the ready for any potential stragglers to come out of the hole for a fight. None came. Both a relief and a nightmare. Where were the enemy Lycan.

True horror was not when your alone in the dark, it's when your not alone in the dark. Emery felt exactly like that. They were out there and they knew exactly where the Templar were. The opposite was not true. The enemy had alluded them constantly, inflicting casualties. Sure they lost hundreds upon hundreds attacking the train depot, but those were easily expendable and most likely expected casualties. Throw a massive wave and let it sweep over the enemy and weaken them, then pick off the stragglers. A brutally efficient strategy done with expertise. But who could do that.

It wasn't Fenrir. The stories of the fabled, but known to be real, Lycan was not one of cunning and deceit. He was brutal and unrelenting, stopping at nothing to win. Savage and barbaric. Nothing like what had been seen and with Ragnarok, Fenrir's promised return already upon the world, it would seem the Lycan had reliable commanders. All the more troubling.

Nothing came out of the escape tunnel and so Emery had it blown.

A gust of dirt flew out of the now sealed hole and settled. It was done. The mine's were no longer an issue. If there were more inside, they'd either have to try and dig or more likely suffocate down there. In time, the mine would be opened up and a proper investigation launched even if to simply recover bodies.

Emery wondered what the next plan of action would be. Do they return to The Vatican now after everything that had happened? His answer waited for him when he returned.

Dmitri shook his head. "A truce with you and your church is not possible." He was in his human form. Not as a sign as respect, but because Trevor, who normally did the human talking between them, was gone at the moment. He was watching over Kolya. He was moving his family closer to Moscow where it would be safer.

"After everything that has happened?" Reiss nearly shouted. Instead he pounded his hand against a tree. It hurt with the bark digging into his skin, but his anger easily covered it.

"We have a common foe," Emery who had returned just in time to hear the news, said. He felt a rush of anger. He felt the same as he did in the Alps. So many dead and it appears that it was going to be for nothing.

"A foe that is running rampant across my lands, threatening my pack," Dmitri said with a scowl and a snarl. "I will not commit anyone to your crusade when I need them to stay here and protect their family."

"What happens when everyone else outside is dead and you have no one to rely but yourselves," Reiss explained, nearly yelling.

The Lycans around Dmitri tended, ready to defend their Alpha if violence occurred. The Templar around Reiss did the same, gripping their weapons tighter.

Dmitri pounded his chest and gazed around at his pack members. "We have always taken care of ourselves. We had to after your church betrayed us and hunted us. You let the Inquisition spawn from your shadow and kill my brothers for centuries."

A few of the Lycans gave howls of agreements. They had only just gotten rid of the Inquisition and they had the Coalition to call upon for help as well. For many, trusting those humans was enough. They didn't want to put too much reliance on the beings that had nearly made them extinct time and time again. That was another reason why Dmitri was refusing the Templars. Too many of his pack did not want it. If he denied them, his position as Alpha may lose power and meaning.

Reiss shook his head in utter disappointment. "Then so many have died for nothing."

"You have my condolences," Dmitri offered. "Know that we will not leave as enemies and I too understand what it is like to lose brothers for no reason." The comment was double edged. He did feel empathy, but he was also commenting on the number that had died directly because of the Catholic Church.

The meeting ended there. It was obvious that further argument wasn't going to change anything and it was better to leave now while the tension was still manageable.

The Templars packed up what they could and were soon picked up by a convoy of trucks.

Curtis and Hadrian came along, more than happy to leave Russia and all of its horrors behind for good. They had no idea what the future held for them, but they believed that it couldn't get much worse.

Reiss feared turning in his report. He had failed his primary objective of securing an alliance and had lost dozens of good Templars in the process. In his mind, he could already see the Cardinals stripping him of his rank and privilege, casting him down to the lower throngs of the Order where he would serve for the rest of his life. That was the only punishment for such a failure.

Emery tried again to talk to Riven, but failed once again. He ended up in a separate vehicle along with Jerome who did his best to comfort him.

All in all though, the mood was a mix. They were all happy to leave Russia and return to the Vatican, but they were leaving as a defeated army. Ragnarok was here and no one was prepared. For now, the Templar were going to have to move forward with what they had and the Grand Master was going to make sure they had all they needed.

Reiss was secretly elated to hear that the Grand Master had left, but only for a short time. He left because he felt that his help was needed, that all of the Templars in the field wasn't enough.

"We don't know where he went," The Cardinal sent to meet with Reiss said with a stern voice that hid his panic. "We couldn't stop him. How could we? He only answers to the Pope and God."

"No clue what-so-ever?" Reiss asked. They were still at the airfield, but there was no concern about being overheard. It was owned by the Church and was location just outside of Rome. It was beautiful with olive trees just outside the fence and a vineyard juggling the hills surrounding the area.

The Cardinal shook his head. "Took his guard and went. He said that he would let us know if he succeeds in his mission."

"The pope was okay with this?" Reiss asked as he walked with the Cardinal away from the plane that had carried him from Istanbul to Rome. The rest of his men were taking trains and busses. Reiss had wanted to get the dirty business of his report out of the way and therefore expedited his travels. "He just let the Grand Master up and leave."

The Cardinal stopped walking, in part due to his aching bones and partly to look at Reiss and gave a conversation face to face. "We both know the Grand Master has full unquestioning support from the pope and all the ones that came before. But, yes, his holiness gave his blessing."

"And what exactly is the mission that the Grand Master has taken upon himself to complete?"

The Cardinal shook his head. "We only know that he went out with a purpose and a fire in his heart only God could grant. I've no doubt that it is important for the Grand Master does not idly leave the pope's side."

Reiss thought of the few times in history a Grand Master entered the field. Of course they had led armies during the Crusades, before they had become an integral part of the Catholic military. After the official disbandment of the Order, then the Grand Master assumed the role of protector and advisor to the pope. There he would stay for hundreds of years. However, there were mentions of absences with no descriptions. It was the well known secret that these undocumented times of history were when the Grand Master had left the Vatican to attend to matters personally. It is not written why they did so, but drastic changes to Catholic policy and altering of world events merely hinted at what they were capable of.

"My understanding was that you came here in the hope of talking to the Grand Master?" The Cardinal asked.

"Yes, about- about my failure in Russia."

The Cardinal didn't say anything, as if waiting for more details, but Reiss remained quiet.

"I see," the Cardinal finally said. "We already know some of what happened, but more details await once the survivors are questioned."

Reiss winced at the word 'survivors.' That told him that there was the belief that the mission had ended in enough of a tragedy to warrant such labeling.

"If details are true, then I must say that only the Grand Master can make a decision, yet he is not here." The Cardinal began walking again, forcing Reiss to chase after him. "Until his return, you are not to leave the Vatican. That had already been decided some time ago."

"I understand," Reiss said, feeling his stomach drop. He was being taken away from field command. He might as well have been a Company Sergeant now. That's what it felt like.

"Your men will be taken care of. Since there are so few, they will be split to reinforce already existing outposts and garrisons."

Now they were stripping him of his soldiers, his brothers, leaving him bare. It was the worst they could do to him without the Grand Master. The Cardinals were indeed growing bold in their stakes on the Templar Order, taking more and more authority while the pope and the Grand Master had their backs turned. How long until they petitioned and voted to strip the Grand Master. They surely would have long ago if this Grand Master wasn't so beloved by his Holiness. It was only that friendship that and the pope's understanding that allowed some form of independence of the Templars from the Cardinals.

Reiss said nothing. He simply followed behind the Cardinal as one by one, his privileges were stripped. Even Riven, his second, was being given to Emery, who had fallen under the radar now that the Cardinals had a bigger scapegoat to focus on. Reiss just hopes that the Cardinals did know what they were doing, because at times, Reiss did not think so. He had faith in God, not so much in the mortals here on Earth. The awkwardness and seething rage that was sure to come from Riven when she learned of her new assignments.

Next, after being thoroughly stripped of authority and privilege just shy of being excommunicated, the conversation went to Curtis and Hadrian.

"What are your thoughts on the... uhh..." The Cardinal struggled to find words to describe Hadrian and Curtis. Personally the Cardinal saw them as an unholy creation of man's greed and longing to achieve godhood, but the official position was in support andante Cardinal had to respect that. "Hadrian?"

"Yes, Hadrian," Reiss nodded silently. He was almost dragging his feet in the dirt as he walked. "I have high hopes for him, however there was no opportunity for any actual viewing of his capabilities."

"I see," The Cardinal tucked his hands into his sleeves. "I'm sure that we can test his strengths and weaknesses once he arrives. And what of the man, the extra?" The word came out slow and almost maliciously. This Cardinal was definitely showing as much of his personal opinion without actually saying it as he could.

"He is timid in the field, but has a good head on him," Reiss spoke truthfully. "He can think quite logically. I have witnessed it myself."

"I see. I see," The Cardinal said. "Not everyone is a warrior. I'm sure he will find a place for himself here."

The two finally reached the edge of the airfield where a black sedan was waiting for them. The driver, a large and solidly built man with a close shaved head and a cross pinned to the collar of his black on black suit, waited patiently by the driver side door.

Reiss opened the door for the Cardinal and then followed in as well.

When he got to the Vatican, he went to his old office where he found new orders for him. He was to head the grounds crew. Bush trimmers and lawn mowers. It was a job that even a senior squire could easily be trusted with. What did the previous holder of the job think when he was told that his job was being taken by a senior Turcopolier. Rumors were bound to spread quickly.

Reiss sighed and quickly flipped through the pages of the folder. It just told him what he needed for the job. Muster reports and lawn care schedules. Absolutely a waste of his abilities. He was a soldier. Then again, his duty was the Catholic Church and those deemed worthy to dictate God's people. If this was where he was to be, then so be it.