Sorry it took a while to post, been overseas for a while.  Post up now.

Kitharsis rubs his chin as Jharm considers everyone’s questions. It appears that numbers are the problem. Combined with a large amount of the Seraphs leaving to assist with The Eye, they’ve now found themselves at a serious disadvantage.

Thoughts of The Eye still bring bitter memories. Kirtharsis knows it wasn’t fully his doing, the attack on the Companions and the Orkz, but he still felt guilty for it occurring.

Their numbers have dwindled since then also. Danyael has departed. And he hasn’t head of whatever happened to Cameron.

Anxious, he adjusts one of the many belts on his hips as Jharm continues his briefing. It seems that with the addition of Gulgrim and his Orkz, plus the Companions, there may be a plan of attack in their favor.

Veldanya would be ferrying them across the battlefield directly to one of these forts. She seems capable enough, but unproven. His own ship is sitting idly in orbit outside his home world. But the trip there and back would spend precious time. Let alone the effort it would take to summon enough crew mates to properly pilot the craft.

He clears his throat before speaking. “Jharm, what sort of environment are these forts located in? Forest? Plains? Perhaps, a desert?” He says the last hopefully.

“Either way, this is a solid plan. If Veldanya can fly as well as she puts on, we should be able to pierce through the Darkness’ defenses while Gulgrim and his boyz cause a ruckus.”

“The only other question I have is when do we get started?” 

The Seraphim listens as each of the Companions speaks up in turn, a scowl briefly appearing on his face as Soul Reaver finishes speaking and then Gulgrim steps in.  Jharm watchs the massive Ork stomp over to the war table and gesture about before finishing and then Kitharsis and finally the strange newcomer who goes by the name Phaerys speak.  Jharm is about to respond to all of them when he is interrupted by a chuckle from Vee.  The woman smirks as she slips a hand into the inside of her coat and pulls out a small packet, producing a thin small cylinder and slips it in between her dark lips. Then with a flick of her fingers a tiny flame appears on the tip of her index finger and she uses it to light the end of cylinder and with a slight wave of her hand the flame goes out before she takes a drag on what is revealed to be a cigarette.

"Well I must say, certainly an interesting bunch."

Her dark blue eyes turn towards Gulgrim.

"Especially you."

She then seems to pause for a moment as if thinking before Jharm steps in once more.

"Interesting indeed. That aside..."

He turns to look at Soul Reaver first.

"What is Darkness?  Simple, He is the anathema of everything the Light is, the same can be said for his people, the Shaitan.  They seek to eliminate the Light, escape from this plane and conquer and destroy all they encounter. As for the Lady of Light, no there is no way to find her, certainly not at this time.  The last great battle between Light and Dark ended in the Lady destroying the form of Darkness but she sacrificed almost her entire self to do so.  We could sense a sliver of Her escape from the plane with a final message telling us she "would return to us when the time was right."  Then with Darkness defeated for the time, we withdrew back to here to defend against the forces of Darkness until her return.  It was some time after that that we discovered that somehow the barriers that seem to keep either side from leaving this plane seemed to have weakened slightly allowing small portals to the Warp.  It was with that knowledge that I departed to try and seek Her out while the others maintained vigilance against any attacks from the Shaitan or indications that He was returning.  Clearly my efforts failed as I soon realized just how limitless the Multiverse is but in that time I others, such as yourself Soul Reaver, and decided that unless the situation here changed I would join with the Companions."

He then turns and begins to gesture at the shimmering landscape on the table as he continues to speak.

"As far as any sort of stealthy attack or assassination.  That was one of the first suggestions I made when we realized the truth that He was once more growing in power and drawing closer to coming back.  To put it simply, its impossible.  My decision to offer the support of the Seraphs to Camerons attack in the Eye of Terror turned out to be a poor decision.  It cost us many Seraphs, leaving our defenses here greatly weakened.  It was soon after this that the Shaitan began to move upon our defenses.  This was our first indication that He must be returning for there would be little other reason to attack otherwise.  Unfortunately due to our greatly diminished ranks, the Shaitan claimed victory after victory until we found ourselves where we are now.  With them in possession of the forts I mentioned earlier, it is all we can do to hold them where we are, let alone try to advance and retake lost ground.  That leaves everything from this first fort and beyond firmly in the hands of the forces of Darkness, and crystals erected within prevent my people from creating portals past their location, this basically prevents any sort of surprise attack to their rear while a nearby crystal remains active. "

He then turns back to Soul Reaver and that scowl flashes across his face once more briefly.

"So yes Soul Reaver, we thought about much of that.  I am unaware as to where your view of my people being...inflexible comes from given that outside of their arrival in the Eye of Terror, they have never encountered any races beyond the Shaitan, and you all are the first beings to ever set foot in this plane."

He turns back to the map as he moves on to respond to Gulgrims inquiries.

"In truth Gulgrim, I couldn't really say.  In case it is not evident, outside of winged Seraphs, there are no sort of aerial craft or creatures we possess, the Shaitan are similar in that regard to us and so at first glance I would say nothing is stopping you.  However, both sides utilize large crystals to cut down any winged attackers should they get too close and there are many of them situated on the walls of His fortress.  I am certain they would target your vessel should  you attempt to approach.  Can your krooza survive the attacks?  I cant truthfully give an answer to that either way but given that He is returning I have little doubt that he would direct his own powers through the crystals, making them far more powerful and deadly then they normal might be, as well as protect the walls against projectiles.  In truth i believe your air power would be of much better use at the front lines.  With its destructive might from above, as well as your Boyz fighting alongside my people we can push back the Shaitan, retake the forts and with the combined forces keeping the Shaitan occupied, we can directly invade the fortress and destroy the physical form of Darkness, preventing His return."

Jharm looks over to Phaerys.

"As for what weapons and tactics worked against them.  First and foremost keep in mind the last time He was defeated, our Lady was present.  The battles, and the war itself was far more...equal I suppose you could say.  Steel and magic back and forth, after many years I would say it came down to there were more Seraphs then Shaitan present, leading to basically the opposite of what we are in now.  It was soon after that that Light and Darkness faced off against each other and well, I already explained what happened there.  The presence of the Companions, and Gulgrims Orkish hordes I believe will give us the strength needed to directly assault the forts, replace the crystals with our own and subsequently assist with pushing the front line back and closer to Him."

The Seraphims eyes suddenly seem to glow a bit brighter before he quickly turns back to look at the war table.

"Wait a minute.  That could work perhaps."

He looks up and his gaze shifts between each of the Companions.

"A surgical strike on each fort.  Gulgrims forces providing air and ground support while Vee flies us in on her ship.  We gain access to the fort, fight our way through and destroy the Crystal.  Then I can create a portal to start bringing forces through to defend the fort, not only cutting off the Shaiton in the area from receiving any close reinforcements, but allow my own people to potentially attack from relatively behind.  There is risk involved though.  Basically being dropped into the middle of the Shaiton forces, taking and holding the fort until enough of my own people can arrive to defend it, and then move to the next one.  As I said before, I have little doubt that we will only face the regular forces of the Shaiton within those walls.  They most assuredly will have elite troops within and perhaps even one of their leaders, especially after we take the first fort."

Vee perks up at this suggestion, taking a a long drag on her cigarette and exhaling.

"Wait a minute, you want me to fly us in that close?  Didn't you say earlier that those places have crystals designed to take down winged attackers and likely would be used to target any ships?"

"Yes, but Gulgrims aerial forces can provide cover as well as much more dangerous targets as they can not only likely destroy those same crystals, but also will most certainly be raining death down on the Shaiton forces below.  I cant exactly say how durable those crystals are when matched against starship weaponry.  Both sides utilize siege weaponry and can eventually destroy the crystals but it was never a quick or easy thing to do while they were also returning fire.  I can't say how the strength of starship weaponry will fare against them."

The woman takes another pull on her cig.

"Well I suppose you are right, certainly sounds risky...but I'll be damned if I let some stupid crystals compete with my piloting skills or the prowess of the Aisgeim.  Besides, given the appearance and rousing speech of our green chum here, something tells me these um...."Kroozas" can not only take a punch but give 'em in return."

Jharm nods and turns his attention back to the others.

"There we have it, Gulgrims Orkz can join with my people on the frontline and do what they do best, while we all, alongside the Orkish armada and the Aisgeim, strike and take possession of each fort, holding it until reinforcements arrive and then we move on."

He looks around, waiting for the Companions responses to not only the answers he provided but the plan now submitted before them.

Phaerys calmly stepped through the portal, particularly intrigued by the feat of opening one right by where they stood, from across dimensions. On the other side, Jharm was there to greet them. The Ataran felt little about this man as they had only met very briefly once before, but Soul Reaver and Kitharsis held respect for him. That was enough for Phaerys to have some grasp of his character, and so he returned the greeting with a slight bow.

Of course, it was not for nothing that they were all gathered here. Jharm wasted no time in elaborating further on that, as well as explaining what they were up against. A matter of ensuring that this Darkness entity did not escape this dimension.

Soul Reaver still had a few further questions for Jharm, many of which had likewise crossed Phaerys' mind. And Gulgrim – whom Phaerys had also last seen on that ramshackle starship of his – proved to be more than the brash, brutish creature he appeared to be. The Ork's own forces would no doubt be a useful asset, too. The only question was whether they would be enough in the battles ahead of them.

When Phaerys found a moment to get a word in himself, he stepped forward to speak his piece. "I concur with Soul Reaver. A war of attrition would likely result in defeat, given the current disadvantage," he addressed Jharm. "Permit that I ask one additional question: what weapons and tactics have proven effective in the last engagement? If a diversionary attack is viable, perhaps it would allow for a separate assault behind enemy lines."

Gulgrim would like to remind everyone that 'Kunnin' is right there next to 'Brutal' when describing orks, but everyone forgets the first when thinking about the second.