The Vampyre materialized at his side, military uniform of the Sacred Battalion and apparently not an officer. John studied the face and chocolate brown hair for a name as another figure seemed to materialize and then cried out in distress from the ground. "Sergeant Vampyre Rachael of the Sacred Battalion assigned as your liason, Sir," Rachael introduced herself and without paying a mind to Claudia pushing herself up from the ground.  

      John reached a hand down to his mud splattered wife as he continued to take a measure of Rachael. The hand was left hanging as David, who John had failed to notice appearing, lifted Claudia into his arms and carefully brushed mud and snowflakes from the back of her skirts. "I think I'm starting to get over that invulnerable feeling we spoke about," Claudia said in a sigh.

      John opened his mouth to ask if she was well, meant to suggest then that these practice sessions may not be the best thing for the child inside her, but Rachael spoke before he could. "Your Sascha has intercepted messages that mean death for the Goth if we don't move now."

      "I heard, I'm sorry," John said. He shook his head in effort to bring clarity. Around them the remainders of camp were nearly struck and the vehicles were all nearly loaded. John had hardly known Claudia had gone off with David until they had returned just now, and it had all rather distracted him from duty.

      Rachael's presence and message told John all he needed to know about the meeting Claudia had taken with the American's commander. He called to Justin who stood not three meters away surrounded by his Peacekeeperes as they came and went from assignments. Two Americans were with him also. "General, if any of the vehicles are loaded send them on, there's no reason for all to wait in such a dangerous position."

      Justin called out orders to those around as well as those listening over communicator, instructing all his young Peacekeepers to direct fully loaded vehicles out of the way. Hansel and Rory fell into step either side of John as he walked toward Sascha's RV. "We should get you out of here, Leader," Rory said.

      "Always cautious, Rory, but the tribe here will all feel better if they see me wait until the last are safely underway. Is Alaric packed up?"

      "Yes, Leader, Alaric and all his family, they have offered help should you need it."

      "Find him personally, you Hansel, Rory can guard me if one of you must. Tell Alaric to get his family away."

      "Yes—"

      "Hansel, if he protests, tell Alaric he is the Leader should I fall. I need him safe right now, he has done enough. Only when that is done, go to Justin and ask he assign you to escort my wife Elonwey. I will take the hovercar when I leave."

      "Alaric will be Leader?" Rory asked as Hansel ran from them.

      John only gave a nod as they approached Sascha's RV. "They are in the other trailer," Adelle said as they entered. John saw she had her child and that Jayne and Erik were with her. "Do you need them here in order to leave?" John asked.

      "Patrick offered to help with some of the loading, we don't know where he is exactly, but we can't leave not being sure he has a ride," Erik explained for Adelle and quickly.

      John nodded again and searched the area. The vehicles were beginning to move. The two other American's were approaching, likely meaning to report to Rachael who still walked several paces behind wherever John moved. Otherwise the camp seemed replaced by the train of large vehicles. Quentin and Patrick were recognizable at a distance and with others were loading the last cargo into the vehicles shared by Karina, Vivianne, Elonwey, Gloria and Jeanette.

      John called up the open stairwell to Erik. "Start to move out, at least get into a safer position with the SB behind you. I'll see personally that Patrick and Sascha have a ride out if not with you."

      "Tell him to be careful," Adelle called.

      "I will," John promised. He saw that Rachael and Rory were with him still and jogged toward Karina's trailer.

      Their slowness and need came from the fact that though individually strong and independent women these five collectively carried with them an amount of communal gear and stores out of balance to their physical strength, so that every time the camp needed to be struck quickly they fell behind. As John approached, he saw Marek was also helping them. Now their tasks seemed done, with the securing of a trunk of the cookware on the roof of Gloria's trailer.

      "Patrick, if you run you can catch up with your ride, I sent Adelle and the others ahead to be sure they were safe," John said as soon as the other man faced him.

      Patrick gave a final look to those working with him to be sure he was not needed and with quick thanks left.

      John took Elonwey's hand. He kissed the back of her hand as she touched his face. "You have to go now, Elonwey. I've asked Hansel to look after you. I'll be in the hovercar."

      She gave a slight nod though her expression was sad. Karina called from elsewhere, "Hurry to the van, girl, we've no time for goodbyes, he's not going to forget you sooner than the rest of the tribe."

      Elonwey hurried at Karina's demand, disappeared around the other side of the gathered vehicles. Marek was left along with Quentin who excused himself them to further carry out his orders. John suggested going together to find the crew.

      The trailer pulled by the van Helen and Cyprian had previously shared rolled slowly along the forested path to the nearest road. As they ran for it John saw Joyce wave down Marek from the driver's seat of the van. As it stopped, Marek took her place.

      Joyce came to them at the trailer with nod to fellow Peacekeeper, Rory. "Justin's going to need as many of us as possible at the rear, so if you don't need Rory I'll get Ceci and we can go."

      "We'll take care of that, Joyce," Rachael spoke up. The look the young peacekeeper shot her was like fire.

      "At ease, Joyce, Our Lady made a deal with them, there isn't time to fight the Americans who are hardly enemies."

      "We stand when attacked and we stand so the rest of the Goth do not have to," Rory recited from their code and Joyce seemed to snap to attention.

      "Forgive my anger, I am under control, Sir," she said addressing this to John, "was only thinking of the best defense."

      "The best defense is offense," Rachael said, "And if you ask me," Rachael said, "It wasn't out of line given your information."

      John shook his head and opened the door. Sascha was inside with Ceci and Miko. He spoke to them quickly, "Sascha, Miko, figure out how the crew is going to be spread for travel."

      "One of us has to stay in here," Sascha said.

      "Mikolaj, will you stay and keep track of these machines, warn us of further messages?"

      "Yes, Leader," Miko said sharply.

      "Then Sascha is with me, and Ceci until we see Justin about deployment."

      Miko just gave a nod as Sascha stood. Ceci hopped quickly to the ground, rifle slung on her back. As Sascha stood in the doorway, she said Claudia's name, before John could turn she was there. "Go on, all of you, I'll work here with Miko and make sure you are all informed," Claudia said. Miko seemed happier with Claudia there.

      Claudia turned back just a moment, looked right into John's eyes, "I nearly forgot. We're having a son."

      She was gone, the door shut and John thought, just like that, she says it just like that. A son, he had a son, it was more concrete, giving gender to the unborn child, seemed to make it much more possible and real.

      "Leader," Rory called. The trailer itself was gone by then.

      The sound of gunfire disturbed the moment. Rachael made a sound, something John thought was disgust or maybe uneasiness, "Directly east, under control for the moment, we should hurry to get everyone moving and across the river entirely."

      "Ceci, Joyce, seek out Justin. These three can ride with me I'll need them. We'll swing around to make sure your group has a way of escape."

      As the girls moved, John noticed two additional figures racing from behind, on either side. They overtook the girls and held them fast. John saw then they were Rachael's two American soldiers and Vampyres.

      "Let them go, Rachael."

      "I said we were taking care of this."

      "I said, let them go." He never turned to face her, just looked from Ceci to Joyce and back. Neither struggled physically, waited for a better moment to fight, for orders."

      "Claudia made a deal with us. You go when and where we say. We can't protect you if you send these children out against the following soldiers, especially now that there's this intercepted message that says the PU found evidence you Goth are harboring Vampyres on top of aiding the VC. The truth doesn't matter to them now."

      John turned finally to Rachael. Sascha and Rory watched her, tensed for an attack against her if the word was given. "The truth always matters. Call them off. You will get me to my car and send message to your HQ that the Peacekeepers must be free to fight if and when it is necessary. None of us are seeking that eventuality, but it is coming."

      Rachael frowned and made hand sign to the two Vampyres of the Sacred Battalion. John turned and saw his Peacekeepers were released. They ran even faster to make up for time lost.

      "That Ceci is just sixteen," Rachael said roughly.

      "I'd still trust her with my life," John said as answer. "I believe that car is back the way we came."

      As they fast-walked back through the forest the somewhat dented black van Daerick had stolen approached on a cushion of air then right before them fired air jets and settled on its underwheels. David was driving, called from the open window to them, "I'll drive you to the car."

      "No, please, drive on and see if any of my Peacekeepers need a vehicle, I'll meet you."

      "If you insist, Leader," David said and John could see the scowl and shrug through the windshield.

       The red hovercar was parked on its wheels with top up, kept quite empty now. John asked Rory to drive and sat in the back seat along with Sascha. Rachael, not speaking now, sat beside Rory, she fastened her seatbelt but then brought her gun to her lap.

      They swung around quickly, lowering the top even in the cold. Sascha opened the small storage compartment within the seat-back and removed several pair of goggles. They cut the wind while driving quite well they had discovered. John left his about his neck but Sascha immediately wore hers to better study her mobile and Rory wore his to drive.

      They came to the van David was driving as the smaller vehicles of the SB travelled in their same direction either side. Further ahead John saw a mixed group of Americans and Peacekeepers with their backs to trees or else on the ground all exchanging fire with approaching soldiers. "Rachael, how is it?" John asked.

      "It's both the group from the camp in the north plus a mix of two groups from the east, targeting us specifically now." She sounded upset again, as she had last time she reported her visions of the front.

      "Who are you linked to?" John asked.

      "Daerick," Rachael said.

      Rory lifted a communicator from his belt. "Justin asks if all the tribe has gotten away as it seems from there."

      "You can tell them they have, except for what Peacekeepers should be around here."

      Rory gave his answer to Justin through the device and then gave a nod as he returned it to its place. "He's signalling a retreat for all Peacekeepers," Rory called back, "Says they have their converted armored trucks camouflaged closeby and we're free to go."

      Three blurrs of movement steaked across John's view and he knew Dearick and his two children were heading to the van. He wondered if they had really been helping his people. As Angelo stopped just short of the black vehicle John saw he wore the same dark uniform, three color armband and beret of the Peacekeepers.

      "Rory, Justin let them in the Keepers?"

      "Them? Oh, yes, Sir, they had VC training in Vampire City with all the rest and experience as intelligence agents so when Vampyre Daerick offered his services and declared, General Justin swore them in."

      John was fairly sure they were not so well trained and experienced as he claimed, but they were hundreds of years old and willing to stay on their side, so he supposed them it was not such a bad thing. "Not David?"

      "No, Leader, David has made it clear he is not Goth, only visiting with the Lady."

      "Some visit," Sascha said, "but he is Sidhe and it is their way to not make themselves part of any worldly nation except to make alliances from time to time when convenient for them."

      John sighed. He knew Sascha had discovered she was one of the Sidhe but he also knew she was very much Goth. He sighed. "Well, pull back a way, Rory, we'll watch for our Peacekeepers then retreat further. "Anything from Claudia or Merideth, Sascha?"

       "She's fine," Rachael said.

      John shook his head as Sascha said, "Merideth and Alaric are at the lead and things go smoothly between them and the SB. They'll have us cross the Doubs then head generally west." 

      Not a minute passed, and it was clear all the Goth and American soldiers were falling back. On motor bikes and light jeeps they sped westward along with the armored trucks of the Peacekeepers brought out of the state of Germany. John called for Rory to move and the hovercar jetted around to run along with the allied traffic.

      It was not long before they had enemies following. The soldiers of Spain and Gaul had been too focused to stop and fight the Goth, but the associated terrorist groups were only focused on fighting the Goth and escort of elite American soldiers. "Claudia's tapped into their communications," Sascha shouted over the ambient discharge of firearms, "Looks like Pepe, mainly with the School and Rowan trailing just behind."

      John turned in his seat to look back over the rear of the hovercar. He could see clearly enough the following vehicles. "They're gaining," he said quietly.

       "Faster, Rory!" Sascha called over the wind and gunfire.

      John felt the hovercar accelerate, saw the distortion behind as jets fired compressed air. He lowered his head, flipped his crown off and laid it over one knee. He felt he was in the streets of Paris again. The crowd had been thicker and movement slower but the rest was much familiar. "Rory, call Justin, tell him to get snipers up in the trees to cover our escape as far ahead as he can."

       "Let me," Rachael said as Rory was lifting his communicator. They would have to trust she was doing so. John had no way of knowing when she employed telepathy.

      Rory activated his communicator, "Sergeant Vampyre Rachael is having the SB set up snipers to cover retreat, see what you can do to help the cause, John asks." He stowed the communicator again and focused on driving.

      The chase continued onto the proper roads and even as the last vehicles caught up to the larger body that had left earlier, more heavily loaded and generally less able to move quickly. The passed through a stretch of road heavily shaded by trees and shots echoed off the rocky land throughout the area as several vehicles behind were forced to swerve, wheels or drivers gone.

      John took Rory's rifle from the seat and aimed it behind.  There were several of the armored trucks behind and all had more maneuverable vehicles trying to sideswipe them from the road. John took aim at the tires of one, the movement of vehicles causing the target to sway in his vision, grill, tire, driver, grill again. John tightened up his hold on the trigger and focused on holding the gun in line with the wheels. He fired, the jeep behind spun from the road.

      The Peacekeepers just couldn't deal with these small vehicles, they were, with their very positioning, attempting to keep the heavier vehicles and armaments from passing them and reaching the vulnerable train of vehicles. Before John could suggest it, a squad of American bikers jumped from the forest ledge to the road between the hovercar and the trucks.

      The ledge was not so high above the road, but impressive enough an obstacle to moving vehicles of any size. Now the bike soldiers decelerated and put themselves in the dangerously narrow space between vehicles, taking out all the enemy light vehicles that came. Finally dropping back, just beyond the trucks, they dropped road spurs all along the way.

      The squad on bikes moved out just in time, losing at least one of their number to enemy fire before the first of the enemy ran over the spurs and punctured tires.

      "We'll still have to deal with the assault vehicles, they usually keep them equipped with composite or self maintaining tires," Rachael said. "With luck they'll see the advantage of stopping in Mullhouse to take on supplies."

      "While we press on all the less prepared," John said, knew he stated the obvious.

      Rachael gave a nod, seemed to be watching Rory. The hovercar was unusually high, vertical jets strained. Rory was pushing too heavily on the stick. "You're injured," John said.

      "It's not so bad, I'll get you to safety," Rory said.

      John glanced behind them, saw Sascha do the same. They were well above the road, the trucks almost had room to pass under them. In New York John and Claudia had ridden with a taxi driver who had passed anther vehicle overhead, it was against traffic laws apart from straining both vehicles. He spoke quickly. "I'm probably the best driver, pull him out of the way, I'll get the controls, You're some kind of doctor, aren't you, Rachael?"

      Without an answer, Rachael pulled Rory to her with both hands. John steadied himself as he stood up with a grasp on the back of the driver seat. He leapt quickly to the front and took the stick and then settling fairly hard against the seat felt the pedals come under control. He saw the road before them, the ominous van David drove, the American bikes and along the road pastures and distant vineyards.

      John decided he'd risk leaving the road, no real problem for the hovercar but it would give those still following a better shot at the vehicle they surely knew as his. He fired the port jets and eased back on the verts. A slight correction burn of opposite side front and rear jets and he was over the dead grass.

      A few more small manuvers and he was on the road again in front of the van. They hovered at a fair distance over the road, sped as fast as the surrounding traffic with a good space between them and the trailer they followed.

      Only then did John take his full focus from driving. Only seconds had passed, but already Rachael had Rory's jacket off. A pair of wounds matched either side of his left shoulder, not so far from heart or lung. Rachael was performing true pychic surgery, willing the blood vessels to attach again and seeking for stray shrapnel. A stitching device from her waist pouch closed the holes and then an ointment followed and finally clean bandage.

      Rory settled back against Rachael wither her arm falling over his shoulders to hold him. When John glanced to them again he saw Rachael traced Rory's torso in bloodless fingers. There had been blood a moment ago. "He's like those girls," Rachael whispered, "he wouldn't even be old enough to drive in America and yet, like all the Goth, he fights with such a heart..."

                      †               †               †

      It was snowing again when they halted to regroup and decide on course. John flipped the crown back onto his head as he left his car. Rory walked at his side, wearing his jacket by one sleeve only. Rachael moved ahead and called greeting to her commanders. Those above her in chain of command were J.J., Michael the Vampyre, Captain Vasquez, and finally LC Gates, or Rege as he insisted when his enlisted soldiers were not about. Then there were the officers of the other company of the SB, Captain Mulder, and the two Vampyres Sonya and Camille among them. As usual, Walker was close by Rege, being in charge of the HQ staff and personal assistant to Rege.

      Claudia had already joined them, as had Alaric. Now the remaining Elders of the Goth were coming: Patrick, Adelle, Elzbieta, Miko, Merideth and Louisa; Elonwey with Karina and Vivianne close behind, Sascha just behind John, then Justin with his higher ranked Peacekeepers, Sammy, Quentin, and Ceci.

      John noticed Hansel hovering at the edge of earshot and gestured for him to come. He could see Rory was hurt. "Karina, Vivianne, You may want to look to Rory later, he took a bullet wound. Rachael patched him up," John said. Sensing Rachael was going to speak up again John said, "not that I doubt Rachael is a qualified physician."

      "Did you lose any?" Rege asked.

      "Took wounds is all," Justin answered.

      Rege made a slight nod, "We lost one of our bikers, Private Wills."

      "I'm sorry," John said automatically, but he didn't really feel responsible. Much of this could have been avoided if Shade had not given the Sacred Battalion orders to halt the Goth. He brushed a snowflake from his lashes. Everyone looked tired. Elonwey was watching him expectantly. Alaric looked almost angry. Claudia seemed silent and distracted again.

      "From what the crew can tell me I think we should move somewhat north, don't you agree?"

      "For now," Rege said and his tone made it clear he was to give the orders.

      "Claudia, news?" John called to her.

      She pulled her red cloak around her but said nothing. Miko spoke for them, "Cyprian made the announcements, but it hasn't made a difference. The damage is done. They believe we betrayed them and took sides with the VC. The VC stopped holding back at all, just tore through the rear of the EL armies as they withdrew. They blame Goth for the losses; they say so in their own news sources."

      "Disappointing," John said, "But there is little we can do. It can't be undone. Our Guard had no choice but to defend Goth, as I promised. The VC being resistant to our weaponry was foolishly unforseen. But I can't imagine things would have gone better if we had made efforts to build an arsenal of anti-Vampyre devices or use them."

      "They did everything I dreamed," Claudia said then. She meant the VC.

      "The footage was pretty spectacular if bloody," Miko confessed.

      "Angel fought herself."

      "Still is," Rachael said.

      "Doesn't do much for us, get a grip!" Rege called out. "Goth was supposed to have no enemies, to be nuetral pacifists, well that only works so long as it's believed; whether you really are or not makes little difference. And the VC are certainly supposed to be our allies, as are the DG, but what it really seems is both our number are caught in a crossfire. If we make a miscalculation at all, we'll be hit by someone. We could be hit with friendly fire before they know it."

      "Our mission within France was timed to happen before all this," John said flatly. "Now both France and Gaul will soon be one large field of battle. I suggest moving to our state of Belgium, we might be able to seek out refugees from Paris or find you reinforcements...maybe your own superiors will give you new orders seeing how things have changed."

      Rege spoke quietly with Walker for a moment. "We can't leave you until such time you are inside Goth, it's been made clear. And we won't be finding reinforcements along the way. All the other American battalions have their own orders, I can't say what."

      John shrugged. "Stuck together then? Let's hope we find a path into Belgium. I understand even this won't be easy. There have been scattered forces from both Union and Estates Liberte throughout France, since its government fell, experience tells us we can intercept enough data to place many, but never all."

      "We'll pool resources from now on," Rege said as if he were ordering this. Right now John had no reason to fight him.

      "First thing I've noticed is that fuel is not easily come by here. We passed through villages and towns this afternoon where not even a ghost lived. There's no petrol been distributed for some time. Food will be easy to come by only so long as the winter doesn't make hunting too difficult...and that includes blood."

      "We have food rations," Walker said.

      John shrugged.

      "We've a tanker as well, it will have to last until we set up a supply line to the coast," Rege said.

      "Pepe's in the Vosges," Sascha offered.

      "So we'll head northwest through Alsace and Champagne, hoping to avoid them," Alaric said.

      "Acceptable," Walker said. "We'll take up a formation with the campers and supply vehicles with line of armored and assault vehicles to the right. Light vehicles can ride to the left and scout positions ahead."

      "Got it," Alaric answered.

      "We'll stay from the major roads for now," Walker announced, "for now we will travel directly north and pick up the rail and follow it toward Paris. The trains have been out completely for some time and there will be a level causeway to travel along. Hopefully we won't be noticed, for even the smaller groups will be able to have much larger forces to our position with a call, whereas all our allied forces are concentrated elsewhere."

      "You could call in a strike," Claudia said.

      The Americans collectively scowled at her for this. "We have been asked not to. Their plans must be kept secure, we're out of contact for the time being," Rege answered.

      "Until when?" Claudia asked.

      "Until I say so, Lady Claudia," Rege said finally.

      "Let's just get moving," John said. He sighed, thought he had sounded sharper than he meant. He found Elonwey slipping her hand into his.

      "Come ride in the trailer with me, I've made you dinner."

      John nodded silently as Alaric came to him. He no longer looked the slightest bit upset as John had thought before. Rather Alric embraced John.  "We all need you right now. Get some rest."

      John kissed Alaric's face. "Thank you," he whispered.

      "Take these," Alaric said, passed to John a bundle of his own belongings, most noticeably his dressiest few jackets and his field glasses and communicator.

      John looked up as Elonwey led him to her vehicle. Claudia was walking toward Sascha's RV, taking Sascha herself and Rachael. She said nothing, but he didn't either. Just as she looked away John heard the voice within his mind, "I love you still."

      John walked with Elonwey into the RV. Gloria and Jeanette were taking taking shifts driving, one keeping the ther company. John supposed they might also have arranged for him to be alone with Elonwey.

      "It's not much, we try to conserve even while we have plenty, in case we run low on food...but there is stew and a sandwich and plenty of snow-water." John looked over the nearby table, folded out from the wall between two small seats. The top was covered in a lace cloth and the food was as Elonwey described.

      "It's perfect," John said, "I really don't remember when I ate last." He sat facing the rear entrance and immediately started on the sandwich of cheese and sliced beef. Elonwey sat across from him, had set a bowl of stew for herself. As he ate, John looked around. The interior was very much a place belonging to women. The usual plastic paneling had been covered in decorative papers, some floral and elsewhere reproduced medival tapestries, both deep reds, blues and greens. There were throw pillows everywhere, fringed or trimmed in cord or else being embroidered by the women. Plants hung from the ceiling in baskets and flower pots sat near windows. A bench littered with fabric scraps sat near a sewing machine fastened to a fold-out desk.

      "Don't worry," Elonwey said. The trailer turned and accelerated with the van and John guessed they had found the tracks.

      "Hmmn?"

      "Don't worry, John, you got us this far. You still give us hope. You just need to rest now. The Americans will be dealt with; we're all sure they will come around or simply let us do as we wish."

      "You think so?" John asked.

      "Of course." Her face glowed. Elonwey believed in him. It occurred to John that he had rather asked to be believed in but had forgotten. She bent and lifted something from the pile of things Alaric had left with them. "He looks like you," she said and it was the saint Kit had crafted. "It's meant to be Casimir, ja?"

      John nodded as he ate his stew.

      "I have something to show you," Elonwey said. She went to the sewing area and lifted a white cloth. John could tell there was a design on it. "I made it," Elonwey said and holding it up John could see that the square cloth was embroidered with the image of his sword with point heavenward and circling the lower part of the blade was the crown of thorns. He was no expert in needlecraft but the number of colors of thread used and the small sections of color used in the design made him think it was very good work.

      "It's beautiful. What is it to be?"

      "I haven't decided, Jeanette is always thinking of your jackets, she goes on so about you wearing the right thing and making us proud and her work. But I thought maybe a pillow, or framed hanging, maybe even a fabric insert for a chair back."

      John nodded, "the chair sounds interesting, more useful if it is to be for me, but whatever you like, Elonwey, I'm sure it would be fine."

      She smiled.

                      †               †               †

      Adelle and Patrick had the curtain drawn behind the front seats and Maureen was staying in the care of Elzbieta with Rozz and Li'l Alaric, so Claudia had a good amount of privacy where she rode along with Sascha and Rachael and of course Jayne and Erik. Sascha and Claudia allowed Rachael to look over their own maps, those they had kept and marked with every known position of the various EL forces over the past several years of the war.

      So far as Claudia could tell, for Rachael was as good at blocking her mind as hiding emotion in her body language, Rachael was impressed with their work. Claudia was tempted to let Rachael in on other projects, all for the satisfaction of seeing her impressed, but she was quiet. Rachael was both American soldier and Angel's child. Angel had been the one to suggest the conspiracy of sending David to sway Claudia and the Goth with her.

      Claudia went to the small refrigerator. Here she kept a bottle of blood for herself, Sascha didn't mind. Claudia took out two glasses this time and poured the thick cold blood into both. Now she tried a trick Daerick had recently been trying to teach her. Claudia concentrated on the molecules within this blood speeding. She visualized the microscopic structures, imagined their movement accelerating.

      It worked. Claudia almost cried out she was so pleased. The glasses felt quite warm to the touch, and the blood had been chilled very soon after collection. It would be warm and fresh tasting. She turned with a grin. "You must drink with me, Rachael," Claudia said and held one glass toward her.

      "I can't." She wanted it, hard to hide that, Claudia was learning for herself, the desire to partake of blood could be strong.

      "I insist, don't make me feel I am rude or inhospitable, please drink."

      Rachael took the glass into her hand slowly and with slight bow in thanks. She did not drink however, just looked into the glass and took in a breath through the nose. Claudia drank. It was quite decent deer blood so far as she could taste. Rachael forced a smile then took a hesitant sip. Her eyes closed. It was rather what Claudia hoped for.

      "I'm so glad we can share. If it had been someone else, like Daerick, I would have felt awkward thinking I was expected to share my own and being the more newly turned, but I see you aren't like them. It's the least we can do really...you never asked for the assignments you've been given."

      Rachael licked at her upper lip then opened her eyes. "I'm a soldier, good soldiers don't seek assignments."

      "But you were once a rather more highly ranked officer."

      "Still, a soldier, I help where I am instructed to help."

      Claudia shrugged. She sipped from her glass. She turned and Sascha was rolling her eyes. She felt warmness in her belly that was more than ordinary digestion. He baby appreciated the beverage too. Claudia would have smiled but where she stood now she had an excellent view out the side windows at the local scenery. They should have been passing through a region heavy with vinyards but apart from the areas of light snow the ground was black. Entire vineyards had actually been set aflame, no telling now if it was a purpose or accident during battle. Champagne prices would skyrocket, probably already had.

      "Look at it," Claudia said to draw the others to what she saw, "It's all like this, isn't it? France, just destroyed?"

      "Yes," Rachael said, "already there is a large mountain of rubble at Alfortville the call Tell a Paris."

      "And all these ghost towns? Where are the people? Dead?"

      "We know many people have died," Sascha said.

      "Perhaps they are in hiding, the survivors," Jayne suggested.

      Claudia shook her head. She stroked her belly through her gown. "I suppose it is similar to what was happening in Poland? The mass migrations from occupied cities and shortage of goods, only Poland is nearly all freed now while France continues to suffer. There really is no government to negotiate with. Anyone could claim it."

      "Why don't we?" Erik asked.

      Claudia pondered. "Can it be that easy?" Whoever claimed France would them have to defend as well as rebuild and they would absolutely need the support of any remaining citizens of France. "I suspect Gaul claims that it is now theirs, only the Union never recognized the government of Gaul after the split from France...but they haven't properly recognized Goth either so I wouldn't go on their word."

      "You are the only one of us who was French," Sascha pointed out, "you would have to seek out the French people for their support, if it were ever to work."

      "And now that we mention it, this sounds very much a reason Shade would not want us in France. Would the Union want Goth to claim France and declare it neutral territory as well and therefor keep all armies out on threat of war when they were planning their own maneuvers within France all along?"

      "I doubt it," Rachael said defensively.

      Claudia looked to Sascha and then Jayne. She didn't look at Rachael. "I don't. The more I think of it the more it makes logic. Am I mad, Sascha?"

      "There is a certain logic," Sascha said, "Perhaps we should check with our informants?"

      Alex of course, their pet name for the mainframe. But if Shade with his political advisers in Alexandria had really planned this all then he would have been sure it was even more secret than the secrets Alex kept. "Later," Claudia said with purposeful light tone. "But I do believe it a strong possibility that we've stumbled upon Alexandria's motives. I wonder if the Sacred Battalion would feel hideously used if we could prove it."

      "It changes nothing," Rachael said. She placed her empty glass within the small sink. "We were ordered to keep you from your plans because it was what Alexandria wanted. It doesn't matter why. I'm not a politician and neither is Regen."

      Claudia rolled her eyes. "You know, we never had anything against America. John is American and Justin too; we never had anything against the Union either. I've met Shade, he's a good man...or I thought so. This whole war, it's been too drawn out and political, too much back and forth. I wish I could get the truth out of everyone. It's like we've all been manipulated from the beginning."

      "By whom?" Sascha asked, "I do see that it's been a horrible war and only now is the Union fighting as it should have...but it's not clear to me, the rest."

      Claudia thought. "Well, let's consider that."

      "From the positioning on the most current maps it would seem the VC is purposely drawing attention to themselves to draw attention from what the Darkling Guard and American forces do in France," Erik said.

      "It does seem like that," Sascha agreed, "But why? Why suddenly fight better? It's clear from the news footage."

      Claudia shrugged slightly. The VC were fighting better, it was like they took the advice she never directly gave. It was also true they were in many separate video recordings while the masses had no idea a million DG were moving into Normandy. "Jayne, contact Merideth over mobile. Tell her of our suspicion and ask if she can get a theory out of Alaric or Justin."

      Jayne agreed with a polite nod. She sat and began typing out her message. Claudia looked out the tinted window again. There were armored assault vehicles alongside them, not what she would have chosen to escort the Goth and beyond towns and cities, roads and more burnt out farms and vineyards. She shook her head. "Maybe I can try again to get some information out of my father," Claudia sighed, "I haven't even told him what David has done...or that I am pregnant."

      "I'm sure he understands how you are occupied with running a nation," Erik said with plenty of good spirit.

      Claudia smiled. She turned to Rachael. "I wish you would trust us. You don't have to be Goth, just be open toward us. I'm sure if you tried you could use your link with Angel to answer so much of our questions to save lives."

      "I don't think she wants you to know, Claudia. I have nothing against you, personally, but you can't seem to understand what I need. I need you to stop trying to use me while you accuse others of doing it. Why should I give to you secrets trusted in my by Angel or my commanding officers?"

      "Because..." Claudia sighed, "I need to know who I'll be protecting my child from when the war is over. And besides wanting to protect him, I can see changes coming for all the world and the Darkling." Claudia closed her eyes just a moment. She reached for David. "Please tell me if you know of the reasons behind these political and military movements," she said to him without speech, "Please tell me if having been in Alexandria or having contacts with the Sidhe has given anything to you that you can give to me." There was no immediate answer.

      "Claudia, Merideth is going to send word if any of the Elders can help."

      Claudia nodded to Jayne in comprehension. "Perhaps it's just that after so many years of hiding and being forced to be the ones to assimilate, no Darkling really wanted to see a war that became them against humans or to really use their abilities against Humans en mass. The largest uprising of Darkling in known history was the taking of the Red Jacks, everything else was done rather peacefully and without magics."

      "Say that were true," Sascha said after, "Perhaps Shade dreaded giving the orders for Darkling military forces such as the VC and DG to take on the purely human forces of the EL. I'm sure advisers told him that this might just prove the EL's point, that all Darkling are violent and dangerous. But maybe after seeing what fighting on their level brought, Shade changed both policy and orders to his forces? Say he and all the higher officers and officials of the Union, Human and Darkling gave permission for a new phase of war, one in which nothing was held back, all preternatural abilities were employed."

      Claudia nodded. This was fitting with what they knew. "Just a simple change of mind."

      "And whether it was because you stood a good chance of rallying the remaining French citizens to you or because he wished to protect you Shade gave the order for the SB to stop us."

      "Yet here we are, in the midst of these new assaults."

      Sascha nodded. "I'm sure Patrick knows more of the stories of the Sidhe than I do, actually being of the tribe, but from what little I do know, I can imagine that those Sidhe who are known only as influental part-angelic Darkling of the Union would easily be able to give some order that would cause a million Darkling to put on the red and black and march through a tunnel into Normandy. And I can believe that they would be more inspired and more able to win fighting with magics and inherent strengths rather than taking up firearms or riding armored vehicles. I know this: the Sidhe, as well as the general partangels, have a relationship with nature that Humans barely understand. They can certainly do more damage being allowed to call up spirits and cast shamanistic spells that turn nature against men, than being given any technological weapons of mass destruction."

      "This would be motive enough," Claudia said with gesture to the ruined scenery, "I can't imagine Faerie would approve of such destruction of the land, nor such pollution as has been done all around Paris."

      Now Sascha nodded and looked out the window. "A simple change of mind. The EL pushed them far enough, to the point they could not justify holding back, and they will pay."

      "Don't you think?" Claudia asked as she looked at Rachael from the corners of her eyes.

      Rachael nodded.

      "Claudia, there is a message," Jayne called. She continued as Claudia moved toward her. "Justin had Peacekeepers move alongside the various vehicles to share news with the Elders. Karina noticed something, she says if you wonder about the motives of the Darkling suddenly fighting better, in particular the Faerie among the DG, remember that it will shortly be the feast of Samhain. Halloween, Claudia."

      "Of course, an apt time to summon Daejinnim to aid them and to bring others over from the other world," Sascha remarked.

      Claudia scanned the text. Karina conveyed that and more, knew her Darkling history as well as Pagan religion. Shade himself usually held a grande ball each Halloween which all favored Darkling were invited to. "It's not a week away," Claudia said, "where could we be by then?"

      Sascha leaned to her own mobile. "Could be in Paris if we tried. I don't know if we want to make for Belgium. If the DG are planning something big within a week they'll be spreading out from Normandy and anywhere north of Paris will only put us in their probable path, besides, they'll be flushing out all manner of refugees and EL substations along the way. Refugees we can try to help, but we don't want to be in the path of desperate terrorists."

      Claudia nodded agreement. "Then we go to John with this theory, explain to him why situations have been changing. And we present out case to Gates, make him understand that none of us want to become an obstacle to the approaching DG."

      "I'll tell him for you," Rachael said.

      "Really?" Claudia asked.

      Rachael nodded. She was unreadable. "I've heard what you said. I'll tell him of your theory."

      "Then I'll just tell John," Claudia agreed.

                      †               †               †

        The sun was up but John could barely hear a bird chip, "Good Morning." It seemed the dismal ruined landscape had chased out animals as well as people. He lifted his right arm to pet Elonwey's hair, long and silvery, like Claudia that way. She stirred from sleep then, only to shift slightly and settle down again facing the window. John's arm was freed, and he propped his head in his left hand and looked out the window. Their curtains had been open, but without lights inside no one could have seen them overnight.

      The train was stopped obviously. Outside, looking to the right side, John saw movement between the rows of vehicles. Closest to him were Peacekeepers, Justin, with Sammy, and Ceci. Natural they should take up watch near his sleeping place. They greeted someone and then John saw Karina and Claudia step into view. He couldn't hear their conversation through the glass, they were too distant and quqiet.

      "Claudia," he said as she looked through the window at him. Or had he called to her before she heard and looked?  When he had left Joy he had really thought himself done with Vampyres.

      "Vas?" Elonwey asked.

      "Outside. Claudia's outside. They are going to come tell me something."

      Elonwey said nothing. John saw only the three Peacekeepers without. He heard the door open behind him. He pulled the loose bedsheet over himself as he sat up. Karina and Claudia were both inside. It was an odd smile Claudia wore as she looked past John.

      "I take it you've news?" John asked.

      Claudia stepped closer and then sat at the edge of the bed. Elonwey looked over her shoulder at her. "Forgive me, I feel heavy," Claudia said. She looked very pregnant, large enough to give birth shortly when she was not nearly five months along. John felt something like dread when he looked at her belly.

      "We think we have discovered something, and it is important, only we don't have real evidence, or our evidence is not concrete."

      "What is it?"

      Claudia explained with detail. She and her crew with help from Karina and the Elders had pieced together very probable sounding history and motives for the actions of the Union over the course of the war. "You really think the reason they stopped us was fear we could claim France?" John asked. This was what their theory suggested.

      "Nothing makes more sense." Claudia continued, now explaining that they thought the most recent maneuvers of the VC were not only in keeping with this proposed change in method but were timed to distract from the movements of the DG and American's in France. As for the million Darkling of the Guard gathered throughout northern France, Claudia and Karina agreed with the rest that they were to sweep the EL south as soon as the VC forced them west. Whatsmore, the soon approaching date of Halloween would mark their full rejoining of battle.

      "I understand...but what of the Swiss and Russians? They are the ones staunchly loyal to the Pope."

      "The Swiss are in Switzerland," Claudia said. They tried to fight a war north, but we were the main force in altering that plan and the VC then showed them that they are not safe except in their homeland, in the mountains. They might try to back up their allies in Gaul, or they may try to take Vampire City by going south, but neither effects us now, not really. As for the Russians, information is less available, but I personally believe the jets in Orchid's hands may yet be employed. I have heard from my friend Victoria, in Cairo and she speaks of movements of troops throughout the Arab League countries focused toward the Mediterranean and around the Black Sea."

      "That would mean that Alexandria has somehow convinced those countries to join the war against the Russians who occupy all the Balkan region?" John mused.

      Elonwey turned about and watched Claudia. John lifted her left hand and kissed her fingers. She wore a silver ring engraved with pattern of thorns. Claudia's smiled seemed forced just then. She did smile and said, "That's my guess. The Cresent, as it were, has, since founding of the Union, been very loyal publicly. They do enjoy some amount of revenue from Karachi and Alexandria being Haven Cities. It's possible the High Lord reminded them of past ages when Russia bullied their countries. Or he may have worked through more subtle contacts. Obviously, I'm more knowledgeable about the tribal and ethnic motivations of Europe but Victoria seems to understand the mentality of those Arab League countries. It could be the Religion card was played, but for the Enclave of Israel all the Cresent and Arab League is Muslim. The majority of Darkling who live there are also Muslim."

      "Historically there were a number of wars fought in Eastern Europe and the Balkans over religion. It's not a move I can approve of really, instigating the followers of Islam to a Jihad in order to achieve a victory over the purely political enemy of Russia."

      "Religion is all your area," Claudia said.

      John nodded. "What I recall is that the Crusades, the wars fought by Vlad Tepes against Byzantium, The discordant battles of the turn of the 21st century and the wars of the 22nd century in same region were all fought over Islam versus Christianity, with the scattered ethnic enclaves that followed one religion or another just making the drawing of borders more difficult."

      "I see," Claudia said in a sigh, "Not the best thing to start up again."

      John shrugged, "Not our doing, but it does sound like something that could make Russia retreat from Europe." Later for wondering about the opposite side of Europe. "So, these proposed motives and plans of the DG?"

      "We think it best to not be travelling northward during that time. We're likely to be caught in a crossfire if not accidentally targeted," Claudia said with a nod.

      "And Gates?" John asked.

      "Rachael went to talk to him," Claudia said, "though I believe what she is saying is more like, 'they discovered the entire plan, now what do we do?'"

      "You think they knew?" John asked.

      "I think they knew part of it and Rachael was shocked by the rest. She is very good at controlling her expression. She seemed confident Rege would allow us to go into Paris instead. Really, nowhere is safe. It's as if Shade knew, if we were here now, we would be in danger. But if allowed to go into France earlier, as we planned, we might have found enough of the French to put together a government and declare Goth, thus making it difficult for the Union to stage a war on our land."

      "I see," John agreed. Timing had been everything. Earlier they could have done so much good. Now they were as much in danger as any surviving French, and that was considerable. "Do we know how things fare in Paris?" John asked quietly.

      "There are survivors. We can be there in a few days," Claudia said. "But any infrastructure of government or transit has been wiped out. We can't be sure how much of the large historical buildings were taken out either during the Day of Bombs or the following riots. Rather, so much of the city was damaged that even standing buildings sometimes fell later as result of weakening or had to be torn down for similar reasons. The Americans aren't much on details. You were there. The shockwaves alone felled huge stone and concrete buildings, and the falling debris took out others."

      "We'll see soon. I understand they have at least been clearing obvious debris, the Americans."

      Claudia nodded. The door at the end of the trailer was knocked upon. "I think it may be Walker," Claudia said, "Because I can't really tell who it is."

      Karina opened the door. It was in fact Walker. He greeted them with a snort nod. "As soon as your people are ready to move we will continue toward Paris," he said then left immediately.

      John was relieved, but Claudia seemed downright giddy. Evidently, she was pleased to have gotten her way.