The forest floor had grown littered, littered with moving bodies. Many in army uniform, camou and all, guns to their sides, guns to their hands, guns to their backs. They moved in and out with simple shoves given to others in rags, the former warriors. Zombies stood in line, shot in the back of the head and put down by several in black clothing.

Several in white cloaks baring light sky blue stars scattered around in random pattern, all of different variety though. Some long like trench coats, others more akin to kimonos, some in simple shirts and pants. Then there stood Elise near the outskirts of it all in her own gear, sword sheathed, eyes and head turning in observance of it all. Truly there was a considerable amount of movement all around, some of which was now approaching.

“Not bad- Lieutenant,” came none other than the voice of Caldori.

Her form rotated to the left as eight came towards with a backdrop of soldiers as well as Elise’s own team from prior. Domino Squadron, that is who moved before her with their leader Tony at the head.

“Well well, my old friends,” she said with an exasperated tone.

The lot came closer until present only a few meters apart, silence drifting for not more than a hair’s length.

“Come with us,” Tony stated, the group moving onward right away once more.

As the eight pulled away heading off behind Elise, her own attention turned to follow with her feet soon carrying her across the forest’s surface. Sora and Caldori hung close with the rest falling in right around her.

“You have the devil’s own luck on your side, that or God is feeling very generous,” came the comment of one member.

“Yeah like, so you just jumped down behind them and said hi? What kind of crazy does that?!” barked another, though not angrily.

“I mean, it got me the answers that I wanted didn’t it?” she replied.

“Fair enough but still, as a Lieutenant and future squad leader, you can’t just play games youngling,” Tony called back with a slight turn of his head.

“I knew what I was doing, alright? Every step worked out rather nicely, even with that surprise arrival,” Elise called ahead.

“Keep telling yourself that,” he grumbled back.

“You wanna go then?”

Around another set of trees and brush there sat a new clearing that had been partially filled. Tents set up all along the perimeter, soldiers on the move, guards stationed along the edges of the make-shift base. The group fronted by Tony went ahead through the area beyond several soldiers as trucks pulled out, all heading for a tent, a large staging tent to be exact. With flaps drawn open and soldiers standing armed ready for conflict, they simply strolled on by and walked right in.

On the inside sat a large projection table, holograms of multiple individuals stationed around the table. Computers and other equipment lined the sides of the tents.

“-and that draws us to Sector M-1. The patrols in that area have been fighting a mix of zombies and undead at random for weeks. It’s always the same setup, marching like soldiers with a commanding unit mixed in so snipers can’t easily pick them out,” one spoke, one dressed as a captain of some military operation, not dressed as that of a Canadian Officer.

“Hmm...”

“Lady Bell?” a third spoke.

“Oh, sorry. I’m just thinking. We keep thinking these are potential attacks in the Yukon but realistically, there haven’t been any attacks here. Every time we find a battalion they reroute their forces to avoid us purposely, versus standing and fighting.”

“What are you getting at exactly?” the third questioned.

“What I’m getting at is that maybe we’re overthinking this. There have been countless attacks across the globe but so very few are in Canada itself. If you think about it a lot of the ones to the south, in America, are right along the border. I’m beginning to suspect that they are originating from here, not simply marching into position.”

“You’re proposing that Arkaza has his operation here in Canada then? But where exactly?” Wesley Ezdorth asked, his holographic arm extending out, pointer finger pointing at a map displayed on the table, “We’ve found units all across the different provinces.

“I think that obvious,” spoke yet another individual whose head turned to look at Wesley.

“Oh? Then do tell Drachen, do tell.”

“The Yukon is the most obvious point of origin if you think about it, or the Northwest Territories. I’d say the Yukon mostly because that’s where Azala and Arkaza had their central operation. It would make sense to keep things close to home, would it not? Easier to control, easier to keep an eye on.”

“So you’re proposing that they are manufacturing zombies in Northwest Canada, specifically the Yukon- and perhaps more specifically, around Emerton and the Vulfax Valley, correct Vulper?” Holly questioned.

“That is exactly it Miss Bell. I know the Hive and Arkaza seemingly hate one another but don’t forget they were working hand in hand, concentrating a lot of focus on this area so they could raid the Lightonian Temple of that area,” Vulper replied with a swift nod before turning back to the table.

“The Dharkanians and Arkaza wouldn’t be working together, they are enemies, you fool,” one of the others growled.

“It’d make the most sense though-”

“No, they are not working together. This Arkaza incident is totally separate. This has nothing to do with-”

“Vulper isn’t wrong,” came the voice of Elise, now approaching the table.

All eyes turned to meet her while the Domino Squadron behind her froze at attention. Elise continued forward, stopping at the edge, staring down at a zoomed in section of Vulfax Valley. Her eyes scanned it, then came a nod. Vulper simply turned his head and smirked slightly looking upon her.

“Elise?” Holly called.

“Ah, Lady Bakuuva,” another individual commented.

“Alright kid,” Wesley began, “What are you thinking?”

“You’re looking at it wrong. It might not be related to either, it could be related to one or the other, or both. If it’s centered around Vulfax Valley then you need to look to Azala’s actions.”

“Azala?”

“Mhmm. Azala was the bridge between Arkaza and the Hive, along with Shadow and the masked guy. We learned that much following that incident. Wouldn’t it make sense if they were still using him even in death?”

“How do you figure though?”

“Vulper and I would know this better than you guys but my fa- er, Azala, he in the last years of his life restricted access to several areas around the valley. There was so little reason for it but when you think about it, from the old saw mill to the old coal mines, it’d be easy to hide an operation like this one. Then they simply move the zombies from the area out to secret sites to ship them out across the planet.”

“Vulper, what say you?” Holly questioned.

“I have to agree with that suspicion honestly, it makes the most sense. He did close areas off gradually around the time the Pack that Arkaza took over started changing.”

“And there are some mines out that way, I know that from the old maps when I was told to plan that mission to destroy Vulfax- eh, sorry Elise and Vulper.”

“It’s all good Alice,” Vulper concluded.

“As I recall, he told us to quarantine the area due to a gnome infestation. He told us to avoid a lot of areas because of infestations but that one in particular was the worst,” Elise added.

Wesley’s hologram moved forward, his eyes dancing back and forth rapidly along with the simplest turns of his head, “Mmm… yes yes, that is exactly it. That is totally the sort of area that would attract Vampiric interest. Run down, hidden. That’s it.”

“Then I think we know what we must do General Ezdorth,” Holly replied, her attention turning back towards Elise and those behind her, “Domino Squadron and Team Vulfax will return to that area immediately with a large assault force. You will coordinate with General Ezdorth and secure that location.”

“Understood- Lady Bell,” Tony stated with a bow, followed by salutes from his team.

“Good. Then off you lot go.”

“I will await their arrival in Emerton,” Vulper chimed in just as his hologram began to fade away, the light cut.

One by one several others also began to dim away, the meeting now concluding seemingly. Elise and the rest of Domino Squad turned about, heading back out of the tent as only a few officers remained pointing at the map on the table, conversing with the rest. Passed the soldiers and off towards arriving trucks, soldiers on standby waving them over. Her eyes flickered, Elise’s face stiffened for but a moment and went at ease. After months, Emerton would be before her again at last.