Cry Havoc

"What is it Master?" a guard asked as a previously unseen communication crystal lit up.

"Someone is invading the Sanctum on the Hatchworld. I need to check this out." The Master was confident this was little more than a false alarm, but no one invaded his sanctum on Hatchworld. Whoever it was would be dealt with swiftly and painfully.

Jaq waited in Deadwind Pass for prearranged signal. A signal flare went up the moment Moonwood K cell found the sanctum. And passing the signal from Shadowmoon Valley, to Terrokar, to Hellfire, to the Gate, to the Blasted Lands would take time. And nobody knew how much time was left to save whoever Lord Melchar the "illustrious Leader" of Moonwood had taken. If Lord Melchar was in fact even human, and this Jaq and the rest of the remaining mortal Moonwood agents began to doubt that fact.

All of the Moonwood cells now had "former" Twilight Dragonkin as their heads, and all of the mortals were ordered to stand down. It all seemed too suspicious. Jaq didn't trust it. She had trusted Arthas to restore her kingdom, and it had gotten her killed, and raised into this thing. But power was power and at least she was still human.

An attack on what were most likely 3 elite dragonkin guards would be difficult. Jaq wished she had more backup, but it took all of their remaining agents to set the signal. Jaq knew Lord Melchar was by far the most dangerous. The guards she could take a chance, but she wanted Lord Melchar out of the way. After what Lord Melchar did to Melin...

Jaq never trusted Melin anyway, besides he was old, powerful true, but old. He had probably reached the end of his useful and productive years anyway.

Jaq mounted her skeletal gryphon, hoping some backup would arrive to follow her, when Verloren of all people showed up. Great Jaq did not have time for another fight with her presumptuous daughter in law.

"Don't shoot me with another one of your Holy Shocks. I am still smarting over the last one you shot my way." Jaq hoped flattery might get her at least a semi-competent healer. She could survive longer in her tank gear and with a healer who wanted her daughter back at least as much as Jaq did, well the chance of success was improving.

"Give me one good reason not to kill you here and now woman. You sent Heart to cause trouble. You had a book with people both Ark and I knew, but mostly Ark knew, with no rhyme or reason to why you have it. You were against us getting married, everyone knew it. Let me tell you are too late. In the Wildhammer's way we are married for life. Ark is indulging me in getting married in the Shire's way so it will be smiled upon by both our houses. So if your behind her being taken as soon as I get her back you won't ever see her again because I will kill you myself." Verloren didn't even bother taking a breath she just said it all at once.

"I dont care what you think of me Verloren all I want is Ark saved from those monsters. I went to them to help get Ark separated from you. But it didn't work. I saw how close you were, so I started thinking of other ways to get her to join me." Jaq saw no point in attempting to deceive her. That was Arthas' way, Lord Melchar's way, and look what it had gotten her. Sure Lord Melchar seemed to have all the factions trying to curry his favor, but it was all starting to fall apart now. Jaq couldn't afford to have this allegiance fall apart. Where the heck was her backup, if they got delayed all Jaq had would be Verloren.

'Perhaps I should just tell her everything.' "I watched you from afar and saw the love you have for one another and for your guild. I witnessed it first hand. After all I was in the guild and around you both. Sure I tried to do my own thing and force my daughters to follow me. And I'm certainly not going to win any mother of the year awards for my treatment of my daughters or for years to come. But I am telling the truth, I had no part in Ark's being taken from you this time." Somehow this made Jaq feel better, not about the battle that fast needed to be done, but about her relationship with her daughter. The truth was freeing her from years upon years of lies.

"Look I even went to Lord Melchar, the one I suspect and still believe has her. Thats why I approached you and left the letter. That's why I came back to Stormwind this morning and left a note from a newsletter in hopes of you or Ben finding it and putting it together." 'At the risk of my own life' Jaq thought, but at this moment Jaq knew Verloren could care less about Jaq's life, and if they didn't get in and get out soon, they wouldn't be able to save Ark's life either.

"Now I see you are alone which isn't smart, because if I know anything about these guards, Ark is guarded by more then one, most likely 3. They have to have a way to come and go at will or people would ask too many questions. Moonwood operates in secrecy, a secrecy that I am afraid might be the death of Ark if we don't get moving." Jaq knew all too well Moonwood's methods, perhaps if she were in charge she could change them, but now that Lord Melchar viewed her as a simple mercenary that was not going to happen.

Just as Jaq thought maybe Verloren would go with her the guild rode up. Jaq more than anyone else knew there wasn't time to answer questions now. She set a purple flare. Her team had not yet arrived, and a purple flare meant there was trouble, all the Draenor teams would converge on Lord Melchar's sanctum and delay him as much as possible. Jaq hoped the Moonwood cells combined could occupy Lord Melchar long enough. Now she was the only one who was on the extraction team, and now she knew her backup wasn't coming. It was supposed to be a simple snatch and grab. A simple run and gun with no time for anyone to notice. That wasn't going to happen now.

Motokume started barking orders, now this was a woman Jaq liked. Assertive, certain, and even when she was wrong she simply picked herself up, evaluated her situation, and moved on. Well if this wasn't going to be a snatch and grab there were worse people to have in charge. A couple of worgen were arguing about something or another. Animals, her daughter could be dead by now and they were having a stupid argument.

Finally Verloren, of all people, called them to action. "I just want my mate back in my arms, there will be time for yelling later, when I have her back and I know she is safe."

Verloren and Motokume briefly discussed strategy, and a gnome led them to a specific cave. Well this took time out of the process, if they were in the right location that could shave precious minutes. Perhaps they could succeed.

A murloc, they were placing their faith in a bloody murloc, and a gnome! If this went wrong...

And now Prime was questioning Jaq's loyalty. Great just great, Jaq bit her lip. 'Just shutup Jaq and make sure we kill them before Melchar gets back.' Verloren wanted Jaq where she could see her, that was fine, as long as they killed the guards, Verloren could get Ark out and it would be a simple snatch and grab, just more like a full raid snatch and grab with dead guards.

Verloren tried to nudge her way ahead. Jaq reached out and grabbed Verloren's shoulder. Jaq pointed to the dragonkin guards. Ver was making some bizarre gesture. Before Jaq could say they needed to control or stun one or two Prime had Deathgripped a guard. "So much for dogs being among the more intelligent animals." Jaq thought aloud before she thought better of it. She deathgripped another guard, and a cat druid stunned the remaining guard.

Verloren ran ahead. Jaq had her hands full, but at least there was backup. This group was impressive, coordinated. They acted like a team, seemless and integrated. Perhaps Jaq had underestimated them after all. The healers and damage dealers were starting to back out.

"This is no stun and run. These guys won't quit if they know who you are. We have to make a stand here and now." Jaq turned her quarry and she was back to back with Prime. Well at least Prime wasn't trying to back out. "We have to kill them before Lord Melchar returns. I am not sure how much longer my team can hold him off."

"Who the heck is Lord Milker?" Moto asked over the sound of the battle.

"Kill now, questions later, fair enough?" Jaq asked.

"Oh there will be questions later, but I am wondering if we should keep one of these guys alive, Jaq." Moto responded.

"Moto if Lord Melchar is who I think he is, Jaq's right, these guys need to die." Prime said.

"I never thought I would hear such sense from an animal." Jaq whispered over her shoulder to Prime, she intended it as a compliment.

"And I never thought I would agree so much with a selfish, greedy, bigoted bitch, but there you go." Prime responded, as the two worked together to keep the three dragonkin busy while the others did the real work of damage.

***

A world away Pluvalion, back in his dragon form was watching a full raid on the last of the loyal Dragonmaw. The last still loyal to Deathwing that is. Lady Sinestra would not be pleased, and he still had duties to Deathwing for now. He entered the fray. Defending Dragonmaw Fortress and Netherwing Ledge, but why did this attack have to occur now, and why here. His Sanctum, except for the initial alarm was largely undisturbed. The force just seemed to move in a circle, around and around.

'Were these Moonwood agents?' Well Pluvalion assumed that was lost to him now.

After an hour of hard fighting guerrilla style warfare, the attacking forces seemed to dissipate, with no rhyme or reason. No eggs were missing that Pluvalion could tell. This was why mortals needed to die they were senseless.

Lady Sinestra was at Pluvalion's sanctum when he returned. "Yes young one, we know of your little dalliance. Fear not, Lord Deathwing is forgiving of what he is unaware. Just don't fail him in your duties. This little raid might have broken some of your future siblings. See to it that this does not occur again."

Well Pluvalion's plans would keep for now.