Thanks Horacio!
Horacio said:
Wow! That was simply genial
Heh, just you wait. Here's part four. I think I'll make everyone sweat for part five. Heh!
-------------------------------
Part Four - Unlikely Heroes
Just before Farhand ordered for the assault to begin, Elminster, Arassil and her Soldiers of Freedom arrived in Shadowdale at the foot of the Twisted Tower. The two guards in front of the jumped to attention and drew their swords. Then Elminster stepped out of the smoke that accompanied the Transport spell embedded into the Arcanum signet rings, an effect he wished had been left out of the design of the ring. The smoke was disgusting and tended to cling to a person.
"Hail and well-," Elminster didn't get a chance to finish. Powerful bolts of plasma energy scream down from the sky, impacting the ground all around them. The Twisted Tower shook, as several plasma bursts slammed into the ground several feet away.
"What the-" One of the guards moved out from under the tower to peer into the sky. Arassil knocked him down to the ground and ordered everyone to take cover.
"Damn, it's starting!" The half-dragon hissed, pushing the guardsman to the ground again, as he tried to stand. "I'd hoped we'd have more time!"
"Aye. Even I didn't think it would start this soon." Elminster watched as Dalesfolk ran screaming in every direction. A small family exited their home just before a plasma blot incinerated it. Others were not as lucky. "We have to protect them."
"Already thought of that," Arassil hunched over and sprinted across the open road deftly dodged fleeing Dalesfolk and deadly plasma energy. Elminster watched as she dove under a rocky outcropping where Bakner and Samuall had taken cover. She yelled something into Bakner's ear and he nodded his head, took off his pack and pulled out three large, metal cylinders. Samuall instinctively followed his older brother's lead and soon had his pack off removing three more cylinders. Elminster had seen these devices before and knew that Arassil was going to have the mechanists setup a perimeter defense shield around Shadowdale.
The two clasped hands for a second then each scrambled out from under the outcropping in opposite directions. Arassil waved her arm as a signal for Elminster, Caranarth and Marda to run across the road toward the outcropping. The two freedom fighters didn't hesitate but Elminster found himself unable to move. The two guardsmen remained huddled against the stone of helix-shaped tower next to him. They were terrified and surprisingly so was he. The old mage grabbed the guard closest to him, shaking the man.
"Pull yourself together." The guardsman's head was watching as bolts of plasma slammed into the earth all around them. "I need you to go inside and tell Lord Mourngrym to get out of the tower before one of these bolts destroy it. Not even its magic can protect those inside!"
"I don't understand," the guard was a little more lucid but still terrified. "What is happening? What kind of magic is this? Are the Zhents responsible for this?"
"No," the Zhents are not behind this. The Zhents are likely getting pummeled just like we are."
The guardsman raised an eyebrow and looked at the old mage like he was crazy. He didn't understand and Elminster didn't have time to explain it to him. "Just get Mourngrym out of the tower."
As if on cue, the double doors of the Twisted Tower opened and a force of Mourngrym's finest stood in the archway. Mourngrym stood in front in his finest armor. He had heard the old mage's words and looked Elminster directly in the eye.
"What in name of the Nine Hells is going on, Elminster?" The Lord of Shadowdale was in a foul mood but Elminster didn't blame him. Half of Shadowdale was already in ruins and the forest was burning all around them.
"Mourngrym," Elminster looked over his shoulder and saw that Arassil was setting up her command post and having Marda and Caranarth hollow out a bunker under the outcropping. She was setting up some sort of mechanical device that Elminster didn't recognize. "I don't have time to explain in detail. All you need to know for now is that a hostile force known as the Dragon Empire wishes to conquer the Dales. This Empire exists beyond our world and rules most of the stars visible in the sky at night. They are ruthless and will not accept surrender. I humbly suggest you and you're men find appropriate cover until my associates can get proper defenses setup against their weapons."
"I am not going to hide under some rock, old mage." Mourngrym looked at Arassil with a note of disdain and then unsheathed his sword with a flourish. "This is the only protection I need!"
The Lord of Shadowdale was stupid as a rock. Elminster had always considered the man a bit of a loose cannon. The Lord of Shadowdale ordered the two guardsmen to join the column and the entire company marched out of the tower with their heads down and shields raised. Elminster watched in horror as Mourngrym led his men out of full cover of the tower.
Plasma bolts slammed into the earth near the soldiers, as they started to spread out to assess the damage to Shadowdale. A plasma bolt came down amongst them and three of the men were incinerated. The remaining soldiers scattered for cover and Mourngrym dropped his shield and ran back towards the Twisted Tower. A plasma bolt landed a few feet behind him and the force of the impact knocked him off his feet.
Just as Elminster was sure the Lord of Shadowdale would be incinerated, Arassil ran through the chaos of plasma fire and fleeing soldiers and picked the Lord of Shadowdale up with one hand. She ran back under cover with the man draped over her shoulder. Once under the outcropping she again signaled to Elminster to cross the road. The old mage knew he'd never make it without magical aid and activated his ring.
"To Arassil." The mage appeared next to the half-dragon in a puff of smoke.
Arassil coughed and waved her hands in the air. "Yuck, did you have to use the ring."
"Elminster, what is that thing?" Mourngrym was still lucid but his manners failed him. Arassil growled at him. She didn't like being referred to as 'that thing'.
"This is Arassil. She is a half-dragon. And I suggest you be more polite Mourngrym Amcathra. She saved your life."
The Lord of Shadowdale considered himself a tolerant man and flushed at his lack of etiquette. He stood and brushed himself off. Then he bowed with as much flourish as he had used to draw his sword. "I am sorry. Thank you for saving my life."
"You're welcome," Arassil shook her head in disgust. "Now don't do that again or I'll shoot you myself."
Elminster smiled, as Mourngrym look of apology changed to one of shock. No one spoke to him like that except his wife. He was about to retort when Elminster laid a hand on the man's arm. "I'm sure Lord Mourngrym regrets his actions and will not put any more lives in jeopardy."
The words were for Mourngrym, not Arassil. The Lord of Shadowdale hung his head knowing he should have listened to the old mage. " Elminster, this Empire is too powerful for Shadowdale to resist. We can't fight this kind of magic."
"Don't be so sure," Arassil continued to assemble the device she was working with just as Bakner and Samuall both appeared together running for the bunker. The two brothers dove into the makeshift bunker just as a plasma bolt slammed into the top of the Twisted Tower. The top half of the structure exploded and bits of debris came down all around them.
"Damn, that was close!" Bakner coughed, as smoke billowed into the bunker. "Sammy, you ok?"
"Piece of cake, dude!" Samuall slapped his brother on the back. "Arassil, the energy field rods are in place. It won't protect the entire town but it will have to do."
"Yes," Arassil flipped a switch on her belt and the energy blasts stopped hitting the ground around them. "Caranarth, check the field strength."
"It's got enough power for at least two of this world's solar days. It won't be long before the Empire realizes we're here."
"I know."
"So what's the plan, chief?" Samuall wasn't known for his etiquette but then neither were any of them. "The four of us can't stop an entire planetary invasion. We don't have any air support or ground forces. And these backworlders aren't going to be much help. We don't have time to train them even if we did have the weaponry."
Arassil took Samuall's words in stride. She expected the question to be asked and had been preparing her answer for some time. Longer than any of them realized.
"You're right, we don't have time to train them. But then again we won't need their help. The
Victory is hiding in the system behind Toril's sun. We have three Saber-class corvettes to support her and an entire ground regiment on a ship called the
Deva Wing."
"Where did you get three corvettes and this other ship? Not even you have those kind of personal resources." Caranarth didn't like being kept in the dark by his commander.
"They aren't my ships. I discovered that Gulokas had found out about Toril and that it would only be a matter of time before the Empire came here. Toril is too valuable to lose. I learned of a militant group starting up in the Outlands called the Freedom League. The ships belong to the League."
"You should have told me." Elminster hadn't even suspected there were starships in Amaunator.
"Your pain in the House had to be genuine, my friend. If anyone had suspected the truth the Arcanum would have voted to remove Toril's seats in the House and Syrath would have been dismissed as chancellor. "
"And Syrath agreed to this?"
"He doesn't know anything about it. The League is not sanctioned by the Arcanum. I am leaving the Arcanum and joining the League."
"You're not serious." Elminster counted Arassil as one of the few allies he had in the council. "The council needs you."
"Please, the council is full of back-stabbing charlatans and spineless diplomats. They will never stand against the Empire unless cold, hard reality is shoved down their throats. I plan to do the shoving!"
"Alright, we're going on the offensive!" Bakner high-fived his brother and started checking his gear. The other members of Arassil's Soldiers of Freedom started digging in for the long haul.
Elminster and Mourngrym stared at each other, each wondering what this Freedom League could possibly do against the Empire.
* * *
Command Madden watched the assault begin through the hovering Vid-Screen in front of him on the bridge of the
Deva Wing. They needed to get moving but had still not heard anything from Arassil. The half-dragon captain of the
Victory had told him that she would send him the data the small fleet would need to take on the Imperial forces. Shield codes, weapon schematics, personal details, etc.
The half-dragon's spy on the
Basilisk had prevented the runnerships from spotting the small fleet behind the system's sun by providing the exact sensor settings and frequencies used by the scout ships. It was this same spy who would supply the information needed to bring down these jackals. Of course, Arassil's spy would land on the planet's surface with the rest of the section ships before the fleet attacked. Madden knew that the fleets four ships would barely be a match for this Imperial battleship let alone two Hammerhead-class drop ships.
The Freedom League was supporting this operation at the behalf of Arassil. It was the only way to convince the half-dragon to join the League. In reality, the League needed her almost as much as she needed them right now. The Victory would be the first cruiser added to the fleet. Madden was sure that others would follow if they could take out the Imperials. Madden had been one of them once. A captain of an Imperial battleship, his family had been so proud. Then the Red Age began and his people began to suffer under the tyrant Mezzenbone. He finished his last Tour of Duty, cashed his pension and left for the Outlands. He had not looked back since.
The Qesemet should have continued to rule the Empire. But no, they handed Mezzenbone the keys to the Empire without even a thought and now people everywhere suffered because of it. He had come out of retirement to send those scaly bastards a message they would not soon forget. Commander Davis Madden was the Freedom League. It had been his plan, his goal and his resources that had led them to this day. Of course, he shared control of the League with the League's Directorate but in a fight they would always turn to him.
"What is taking so long?" Madden was not a patient man. He couldn't understand why Arassil hadn't contacted him yet. Had she or her spy been captured. He didn't want to even think about the possibility. "Lieutenant Railer, an update on the current situation!"
The dwarven officer punched several buttons at his station and touched the tactile interface of his monitor. "The battleships design is unique Commander. The main plasma cannons have separated from the ship and have placed themselves in geo-synchronous orbit over the main continent of the planet. Several of the larger cities have been targeted so far. The planet hasn't any defenses, they are being wiped out."
"I'm not waiting any longer."
"Might I remind you sir, that is a Imperial battleship out there. Not to mention the drop ships. Without the proper shield frequencies, they will blow us to atoms."
"I know Railer," Madden strode to the front of the bridge, turned and addressed the bridge crew. "However, this is what you all signed on for, too kick some Imperial scale. We can either sit here all cycle and watch them blow this world into nothing or we can give 'em some payback!"
The bridge crew raised their fists in union and cheered. Lt. Railer smiled and nodded his head. "Aye, sir."
"Alert the fleet. We're going in."
* * *
Kelemvor appeared at the center of the City of the Gods in the Mulhorandi City of Skuld. Several priests fainted at the site of the Death God, while the rest ran away shrieking in fear. Kelemvor didn't give them a second thought. They weren't dead yet.
"Kelemvor," the Death God had known he was there before the Avatar of Horus-Re had spoke. "I was expecting you."
"So you know what has happened then? You know that Ao has betrayed us to this Empire from the stars?"
"He betrayed you and your fellow pantheon members, Kelemvor. Not the Mulhorandi."
Kelemvor shifted his Avatar so that the two gods now faced each other. True, but the fact remains that this Empire is posed above us about to rain death down upon the people of Toril. All of them, Horus-Re!"
The Avatar of the Mulhorandi greater god looked down upon his people who had know gathered around the two gods at a respectful distance. Their fear of Kelemvor was nothing compared to the awe they felt towards Horus-Re. Several of the priests were praying on their knees trying to fathom what was happening in front of their eyes.
"You may have a point." Horus-Re felt the presence in his mind but his stare gave away nothing. "The Gods of the Mulhorandi will stand with you Kelemvor. We don't have much of a choice if we are to keep our followers safe from these invaders."
Kelemvor would have been more suspicious if he hadn't seen the Mulhorandi God look upon his followers with so much love. "You will not regret it."
The Death God's Avatar left the mortal plane for the Outer Planes to prepare his followers for the conflict to come. Horus-Re heard the voice in his head and greeted it with reverence.
"Yes Centurion, I understand." He had lied to the Death God about helping the other people of Toril but it had been the truth when he had said that the pantheon didn't have much of a choice. "No choice at all."
The new Aspect of the Father and the Judge strode towards the masses of Skuld proclaiming the new era that was about to be heralded in for Mulhorand and its people. "The Empire has handed us the world."
* * *
Captain Farhand was pleased with the progress of the bombardment. Dozens of cities burned or had been completely vaporized. Of course, Farhand knew that he had to leave the main cities still standing if there was to be anything left to build upon after the invasion. One of the larger cities on the coast was vital to that region and would be the new Imperial capital. Maybe the Emperor would allow him to rename it.
"Sir, sir-" one of the crewman had been trying to get his attention for over a minute.
"What is it?" Farhand didn't like to have his thoughts interrupted.
The crewman was visible nervous as he held out a datapad to his captain. "A energy shield has been raised over one section of the forest lands these people calls the Dales. It is strong enough to stop any bombardment."
"Impossible!" Farhand grabbed the datapad and skimmed the report coming in from sectional ship firing on that target. "They are not supposed to have any sort of advanced technology!"
Farhand was fuming and threw the datapad across the bridge. "Why wasn't I told of this sooner?"
"But sir, the report just came in moments ago."
Farhand did not abuse his crew but his half-drow heritage took over and he drew his rapier and skewered the man where he stood. He wiped the blade on the dead man's uniform and ordered two soldiers to take the crewman away.
"Does anybody else want to test my patience today!" The bridge went silent. They had never seen him like this. Even Elgan was speechless. "Now, I want someone to find a way through that energy shield. Throw everything we've got in that sector at it until it is gone. Turn the ship and prepare to fire the main gun."
The crewmen jumped to do their captains bidding. None of them wanted to be the next one to taste the reinforced edge of Farhand's rapier. Centurion felt its captain's rage and was pleased. He would make a fine priest of the Destroyer someday.
"Sir!" One of the crew yelled out from the other side of the bridge. "We have ships coming in from sector 27."
Farhand couldn't believe his ears. He ran across the bridge to the far end where he could get a better look in that area of space. The crewman hadn't been lying. Four starships appeared out of the glare of the sun with nearly 40 interceptors.
"Damn it!"
"They are locking on sir!"
"Raise shields. Forget the planet, turn the ship around and move to intercept. Have our interceptors move in and engage the incoming hostiles. I'm ordering the second wave assault on the planet. Tell the drop ship sectionals to land and turn those weapon platforms around into a defensive grid above the planet."
The bridge crew followed his orders like a well-oiled machine. Soon the weapon platforms were in place and the interceptors moved out to handle this unknown factor. This was not going as planned at all. He was alone with one battleship against four starships. Yes they were smaller but there was a cruiser and carrier, as well as two smaller corvettes out there. He was outgunned but he refused to accept defeat. This was, after all, an Imperial battleship.
"Load the torpedo bays and prepare to fire."
Several plasma bolts bounced harmlessly off the
Centurion's shields.
"All bays loaded, Captain." Elgan stood near fire control ready to signal the crewmen to fire the forward torpedoes.
Captain Farhand gave the order to fire just as the drop ship sectionals descended into the planet's upper atmosphere.
* * *
Hadrhune watched in disbelief as fiery bolts of energy descended from the heavens. He knew what they were even as the populace of Shade panicked. Several of the more powerful bolts had come down directly into the Shadow Sea around Shade but the Imperials above could not lock on to the city, as it moved further north. He had watched, as half the Dalelands had been destroyed. Of course, he didn't really care about Dalesfolk but he was worried about the House of Mystra.
Hadrhune was a shade who had been born on the Plane of Shadow. He was a child of the true Empire of Shadows. The Shadow Dragon Emperor would have to be told that the Empire had come to Toril. It had been the Emperor's plan to seize this world and move it into the Plane of Shadow like Hadrhune's ancestors had with the planet Lorestin during the last Age. Also called Shade now, the planet had returned triumphantly to the galaxy with over 10 percent of its population transformed into shades. Hadrhune had been born on Lorestin while it existed in the Plane of Shadow and that world was as more his home, then this city that now stood perilously on the edge of being conquered by the Dragon Empire.
Llewan had been worried about the Zhents conquering the Dales. He hadn't the heart to tell her what he suspected the real danger was. He had suspected the truth when he had been drawn out on the balcony of the High Telamont's throne room. Now, with the plasma bolts, it was definite. Toril would fall to the Empire. Hadrhune had heard of very few worlds that successfully resisted the Empire and most of those had developed technology, as well as magic. Toril had little technology regardless of what the faithful of Gond believed.
Hadrhune had tried, once again, to get the High Telamont to shift the city back to the Plane of Shadow. But not even the threat of the Dragon Empire snapped the cities mad ruler out of his own little world. Hadrhune loved the city of Shade but he wouldn't die for it. The planet of Shade was his home, as was the Plane of Shadow. However, if he left Toril to its fate to soon he would be humiliated and probably be sent back to the Planet of Shade to live in squalor. That he would enjoy less then dying here. Besides, this city had more tricks then just shifting place to place. Not even the Shade Emperor knew its true secrets.
Hadrhune would gather those in his confidence together and teleport to the very interior of the city where its secret control center was hidden. The dampening shield that hid the powerful technology there had obviously prevented the Imperials from detecting the plasma cannons and shadow strikers. They would not surrender Toril to the Imperials without a fight.
Then, all of a sudden, the plasma bolts stopped raining down on the planet's surface. Hadrhune looked skyward and noted that several landing ships were descending towards the planets surface. Hadrhune raised an eyebrow. It was to soon for ground forces. Something had happened. Regardless, they were landing with at least one vessel coming down in the area of Anauroch known as the Sword.
The shade man thought of the Bedine living there. He smiled at the thought of the nomads riding against Imperial Legionnaires with swords and shields. Then he thought of the possibility that the Legions would convince the Bedine that they came in the name of their god. Hadrhune's smile turned into a scowl. Of course, that's what would happen. That's why they were landing there. The ruse had worked before and the Bedine would become slaves of the Empire before they even knew what was happening. Hadrhune didn't have any love for the Bedine, or the Dragon Empire for that matter. What he had loved was Mystra and it was these Imperial bastards that had killed his Goddess. She hadn't been an Aspect of the Magus but she had been loyal to him regardless of his morality.
"You decided to land in the wrong place!" Hadrhune shifted to the Plane of Shadow and then swiftly moved to the secret control facility. He started the sequence that would activate the facility and the city's defenses. The Shadow Adapt then spoke the words to activate his follower's Teleport remotes. "It is time."
A dozen citizens of the city of Shade appeared in a circle around the control room. The lights of the secret chamber stayed dimly lit, as not to blind the eyes of the shades. "At your command, Hadrhune."
The shades were well trained and spoke in unison.
"Take you battle stations, the Dragon Empire has come to Toril and I plan to send them to their room without supper." Hadrhune's voiced echoed through the cavernous facility.
The shades each took a station and the lights shut off altogether. A three dimensional holograph of the continent of Faerûn appeared in the center of the chamber. Hadrhune and his fellow shades each put on a Comm headset. The shadow spoke the voice command for all of them to hear. "Anauroch sector, sub-sector 12."
The holographic image shifted and loaded the area known as the Sword. The shades had been using the sensors to gather data all over Toril but the data on Anauroch sector was already substantial - population density, resources and possible threats. The scholars of Candlekeep would be envious of the information the shades had already gathered. Powerful sensors, computers and data gathering probes, in less than a year accomplished what took them centuries.
"Show me all hostile Imperial vessels in this region." The shades sat silently, as the main computer did all the processing work by interpreting Hadrhune's voice commands. Two red blinking dots appeared in the holographic representation. "Hmm, more than one. This might actually be challenging. Have they detected us?"
"No Hadrhune." The shade nearest to him spoke the words. The shades knew not speak unless spoken to. Discipline was very important to the Shadow Empire.
"Excellent! Open up weapon hatches 5, 6 and 7. Bring the plasma cannons and missile launchers online."
"Missile launchers armed an ready, Hadrhune. Plasma cannons at 70% and rising." Red lights began to flash throughout the chamber and the alarm sounded. "They have detected our energy signatures. One of the ships is moving in to investigate, no active weapons or shields."
"Piece of cake," Hadrhune turned towards his fire control team. "Let it get a little closer then incinerate the thing. As for the other one, lock on with the launcher. Make sure you have a good lock. We wouldn't want any stray missiles coming down in Cormyr now would we."
"Yes, Hadrhune."
* * *
A moment before…
"Lander 29 to lander 6, check your scope. We have some strange energy reading coming from the northwest. Check it out." The voice came over the Comm bringing Disan out of his stupor.
The Imperial pilot yawned and tapped his Comm channel button. "It's probably just a dormant volcano, Taggs. Leave me alone and let me drop of the grounders. This tub is like a slow slug to nowhere when it is so heavily weighed down."
Taggs was a career Imperial pilot and could be such a pain in the ass sometimes. He just couldn't leave well enough alone.
"Shut up and do your job Disan, don't make me order you." The two pilots were friends but Disan had the misfortune of being lower in rank than his friend. "Remember what happened to Chambers?"
"Alright, alright." Disan rolled his eyes and took the drop ship sectional off autopilot. The human pilot changed course and mapped out the shortest route to the energy fluctuation showing on his display. The colossal sectional flew like a lame duck with so many people on board. He heard men shout and complain as the severe tilt in the ships path dumped them around. The pilot twisted and turned a few more times just to tick them off even more, as he pasted over a small mountain range. "Damn grounders."
Beyond the mountains a land-locked sea covered in mist came into view. Disan stayed well above the dark water, it reminded him of the seas of Levinthal 9. The water was eerily calm and Disan felt a shiver up his back. "I don't like this. I don't like this at all."
Then he saw it. A huge, floating city rising out of the mist above the water. Disan had seen magic before but not like this. "Cool, I wonder if they like visitors. Take me to your leader and all that."
Disan tapped his Comm channel button. "Disan to Taggs, guess what I found?"
"Just tell me you little twit."
"Come on, it's more fun if you guess."
"Buddy, don't make me come over there." Taggs had that tone in his voice. He wouldn't report Disan or anything but playtime was over. "I've got grounders unloading right now. Now give me a threat assessment."
"I found a city that wasn't mapped on the charts. And guess what, it floats."
"Well, the high ups missed something. This could look good in our dossier."
"Taggs," Disan noticed the energy reading getting higher. "We may have a problem. The energy being put out by the city is way too high, even for a floating magical one. There's tech here somewhere. Oh, crap!"
Two plasma bolts hit the sectional dead on and Disan tried to swerve the ship to avoid the next volley. His Imperial training took over and he activated the sectional's shields and barked into the Comm. "Lander 29, I am under attack! I have incoming weapons fire. Two plasma cannons, this city is packing."
The shields stopped the next plasma bolt and another missed his port side. "Lander 29, please advise."
"Easy Disan, you're ok. Retreat to my position and unload your grounders. The last of mine just got off. I'll cover you."
Disan dipped his sectional lander towards the water and skimmed the surface. Plasma bolts hit the water on both sides spraying his window. One bolt grazed the ship's stern and he noticed one of his stabilizers was gone. Then his display beeped at him and he knew he was under weapon lock.
"Oh crap, Lander 29 the city has missile emplacements and I have been locked on to. Deploying countermeasures." Disan banked the sectional to the left, while his countermeasures went off above him. Three missiles homed in on the countermeasures and exploded in a blast of energy. "That was close."
He didn't see the fourth missile until it was too late. The explosive device impacted the back of the lander and Disan heard the soldiers scream in the back. The ship's engines started to overload and an elemental shock wave ripped through the ship. Disan looked up to see Lander 29 take three direct missile hit and explode in front of his eyes. Taggs was gone.
He instinctively tightened the straps on his chair, pulled the ejection lever. The entire front half of the ship exploded upward and then chair rocketed up into the sky. Disan hung their looking down on a alien world for what felt like forever then gravity pulled the chair towards the earth and the motion activated the parachute strapped to the pilots back. The chair fell away in the dark sea below and Disan's chute opened. The lander pitched out of control and went down near the shore of the sea, erupting in a huge fire cloud, as it hit the ground.
Disan thought of Taggs and his family - his wife and his two girls - as he guided his chute down near the mountains ringing the water. Disan fought back the sadness he felt swelling up inside. He couldn't believe Taggs was gone. Then he remembered what his friend would always say when things didn't go the way you planned. "This was not in brochure."