**Jasmine's Log, Supplemental**
**Verdant, over Albion**
**Rothgard Fall plus 16 days (estimated)**
Wings race the gathering storm.
Thunder from the heavens.
Steel and fire split the sky.
Jasmine urged Verdant higher, the lesser forest dragon's powerful wings cutting through the crisp high-altitude air as they flew northwest toward Blackthorn Keep. The wind was cold and sharp at this elevation, carrying the faint scent of pine from the distant Black Spine mountain range and the metallic tang of approaching rain. She kept her course direct, eager to deliver her uncle's guarantee to Lord Blackthorn and begin the long process of moving her people to safety. Every moment counted; the fleet still waited at anchor, and every delay meant more suffering for the refugees who had placed their lives in her hands.
But the sky ahead was darkening rapidly. A storm was brewing fast, heavy gray clouds rolling in from the west like an invading army, lightning flickering ominously within their depths. The air grew thick with moisture and tension. Jasmine frowned, scanning the horizon with practiced eyes. Diverting around it would add precious time she could not afford, but flying directly into it with Verdant would be dangerous for both of them—the dragon's wings were powerful, but lightning and violent updrafts could prove lethal.
"We go north around it," she decided, leaning forward to speak close to the dragon's ear, her voice steady despite the urgency. "Stay clear of the peaks. We cannot risk the storm." Verdant rumbled in acknowledgment, a deep vibration she felt through the saddle, and banked north, bringing them closer to the towering wall of the Black Spine mountain range. The jagged peaks loomed larger, their snow-capped summits gleaming in the fading light like the teeth of some ancient beast. Jasmine kept her eyes on the clouds, calculating the safest path while her mind raced with thoughts of the fleet still waiting at anchor and the fragile hope she carried for her people.
Then it happened.
A massive boom erupted from everywhere at once, a deep, bone-rattling thunder that seemed to shake the very air around them and reverberate through Verdant's scales. Jasmine's head snapped up, searching for the source. Behind them, bursting through the clouds like a monster born of storm and steel, a massive Condor Heavy Shuttle emerged. Its heat-resistant coating glowed a fierce, angry red, radiating heat like a furnace as it barreled forward, just barely transonic, leaving thin white trails in its wake that lingered like scars against the sky. "Verdant—dive!" Jasmine shouted.
The dragon reacted instantly, folding his wings and plummeting downward in a sharp, controlled dive. Jasmine clung tight as the world spun, the massive shuttle roaring past overhead with terrifying speed and power. The wake turbulence hit them like a physical blow, nearly tearing her from the saddle and sending Verdant tumbling for a heart-stopping moment. The dragon fought to stabilize, his wings flaring wide as he pulled out of the dive with powerful strokes, muscles straining beneath her.
In the cockpit of the Condor Heavy Shuttle, the pilot barked, hands tight on the controls as the massive craft shuddered through the thinning air. "Shit—dragon at twelve o'clock! And there's someone on its back—looks like a woman!" The co-pilot swore under his breath, eyes locked on the threat display. "Confirmed. Female rider, human features. They dove hard to avoid us. No hostile intent detected, but that was too close," he exclaimed. "Condor one to base," the pilot reported on the radio. "Unidentified dragon rider, female, approximately two kilometers behind us. We nearly ran her over. She's following now."
Jasmine swore in Elvish, a sharp, ancient curse that cut through the wind. "What in the name of the ancestors was that?!"
She twisted in the saddle to watch the enormous craft continue its descent, heading straight toward a lush mountain valley where faint structures were barely visible in the distance. Her heart pounded. Those were not natural formations. They were buildings—human buildings, advanced and orderly. "Follow it," Jasmine ordered Verdant, her voice tight with urgency. "We need to see what this is."
At Shire Base, alarms were already wailing as the shuttle's approach was tracked. VS-22 Jackals whined to life on their pads, scaled-down fusion torch hybrid engines spooling up with a rising scream. Marines in full armor sprinted to gun emplacements, visors down, weapons hot. Captain James Nolan, just returning from the Grand Oak meeting with dust still on his boots, strode onto the command deck, face grim. "Intercept mission," he ordered, voice cutting through the chaos. "Non-lethal only. Get eyes on that dragon rider immediately." He turned to A.L.I., standing beside him, a wry smile touching his lips. "When it rains, it pours." A.L.I. met his gaze with a calm nod, the infinity insignia at her collar pulsing once. "Agreed, Captain. I'll coordinate the response."
The dragon banked sharply, wings pumping as he pursued the massive shuttle. Moments later, a sleek Switchblade fighter streaked by, its extended forward-swept wings and gold-tinted cockpit canopy gleaming in the light. It shot past them with breathtaking speed, stunning both Jasmine and Verdant, then arced around in a wide, graceful turn to take up position behind her, keeping a safe distance while clearly shadowing their every move.
Before she could react, two VS-22 Jackals rose from below, their fusion torch hybrid engines roaring as they approached and hovered on either side. Their weapons were ominous, barrels tracking her every move. The roar of their engines was deafening, the downdraft from their thrust buffeting her and Verdant violently. Then a directional sonic emitter cut through the noise and wind, transmitting in clear, authoritative Trade Tongue:
"Do not use any weapons and follow us to land, or you will be fired upon." Still in shock, Jasmine nodded quickly. The Jackals maneuvered smoothly—one taking position to her left and slightly behind, the other to her right and forward—escorting her toward the landing pads. In the center of the complex loomed the giant shuttle, its massive cargo door wide open like a leviathan's maw, ready to swallow anything that entered.
As they descended, Jasmine's breath caught at the sight of Shire Base unfolding beneath her. The valley had been transformed into a vast, orderly settlement unlike anything she had ever seen. Wide landing pads formed a grid of dark composite, marked with glowing guide lights that pulsed in precise patterns. Rows of permanent housing blocks rose in precise formations, their concrete walls still fresh and pale against the golden grass. Hydroponics domes gleamed like giant crystal eggs, green life visible inside under artificial lights. Solar arrays tracked the sun on the southern slopes, and in the distance, a towering geothermal plant sent faint plumes of steam into the air. The scale was staggering—clean, efficient, and undeniably powerful.
The escort brought her down toward the main landing zone. Verdant flared his wings at the last moment, landing with a heavy but controlled thud beside the towering Condor Heavy Shuttle. The downdraft from the gunships whipped her cloak as they hovered protectively overhead. Jasmine dismounted slowly, heart hammering, one hand still resting on Verdant's scaled neck for reassurance. The dragon remained alert, wings half-spread, ready to defend her if needed.
On the ground, she was immediately surrounded by fully armored Marines and Delta forces, visors down, their faces hidden and faceless behind reflective helmets. Weapons were held ready but not raised. The tension in the air was palpable, the scent of ozone and hot metal thick around her. From the circle of armored figures, A.L.I. walked calmly forward and stopped a few paces away.
"Welcome to Shire Base," she said clearly. "Who might you be?"