A procession of Automatons marches down 1st Avenue from the loftier heights of haute housing. Walking in front of the march is a lone old man. The old man grumbles at the need to walk instead of drive, but the steely blank eyes of the Automatons remind him of the need for a little exercise from time to time.

The old man takes the time to glance up at the United Nations building as he and his otherworldly retinue drift past. Once clear of the U.N. and where 42nd Street meets 1st Avenue is where one finds the northwest corner of the Robert Moses Playground. Walking past 42nd, the old man makes his way to the next left, East 41st Street.

Once past the athletic field, the old man turns and enters the property home to the Queens-Midtown Tunnel Ventilation Building. The fencing proves no barrier as the old man simply uses magic to phase himself through it while the Automatons dismantle those portions in their way behind him. The Automatons enter the ventilation building behind the old man.

Getting onto an elevator, the old man produces a key which when turned reveals a button unseen to those without the eyes necessary to perceive. Pressing it, the old man and a collection of dolls descend some distance into the bedrock under Manhattan.

Once the doors open on the destination floor, the old man and attending Automatons find a young man waiting for them. The person waiting wears the standard issue black suit of the Magic Men, but this particular one lacks the other gear. The young man's hazel eyes are uncovered and show surprise at the scene in the elevator.

"We received word you were arriving sir and with more than just yourself." The young man peers at the Automatons, "Are these . . ."

"The forces of Hell itself? Yes." The old man answers, "Where's my wife?"

The young man blinks then responds, "Where she always is, sir."

"Good, take me to her."

The young man nods, turns, and leads the way down the corridor to the old man's wife's room. Through the pale lit halls, everyone makes their way soon to stand outside a door. The door is unmarked and unremarkable. The young man uses a key card to unlock the door and the old man sees the flash of a defensive spell deactivate.

The old man enters his wife's room unannounced. The room itself is kept dimly lit, and the old man walks up to the hospital bed housing his wife. At this point she is more machine than human, more fel magic than pure soul but she still breathes. The old man does not let his wife die.

"One of our kids is coming to visit soon, and I wanted to be by your side when it happens." The old man tells his wife. He receives no response, only the steady machine assisted breathing breaks the absolute silence.

The jump through Jamaica Station was uneventful, with the servitors on watch there directing Elanor to lead her crew to Elmont. Upon reaching Elmont the five warriors of the Central Sun with their three Human charges quickly get ushered into the adjacent parking lot for Belmont Park.

Once reaching the servitor assigned to handle their arrival, Elanor asks, "What would you have us do?"

"We have two different missions, and we must ask you to provide one of those under your command for us here. The rest of you will head north to the Merchant Marine Academy."

Elanor winces, "Give up one of my own? For what purpose?"

"We need someone to look after the Human magic users we're gathering. You will need their magic as soon as we can integrate it into our own systems. Your mission up at the Merchant Marine Academy will fail without Human magic."

Elanor nods, "I understand."

Elanor turns and looks at the other four. She scans each and every face and makes her decision, "Liv, you stay behind and work with our forces here developing our capacity to utilize Human magic."

Liv acknowledges the order, taking the three Humans and shepherding them eastward towards Floral Park at the direction of a servitor. Elanor turns to the remaining three under her command and then to the servitor directing her forces, "When do we leave for the Merchant Marine Academy?"

"The first group of fighters heading up that way leave in the next few minutes, you'll be with them."

Elanor accepts the order and taking direction from the servitor she with Nora, Blanche, and Bernice move to the southwest corner of the Belmont Park parking lot. Gathering near the on-ramp to the Cross Island Parkway, a large collection of soldiers of the Central Sun mill about, waiting for the order to move out.

A servitor breaks off from the gathered bunch and greets Elanor as she and her crew arrive, "We're glad to have you with us Ma'am."

"Who's in charge of this operation?" Elanor asks the servitor.

"You will be, Ma'am. You are the highest ranking of all of us and with the most combat experience."

Elanor frowns, "This is ad hoc."

"Everything is ad hoc."

"This won't do."

Elanor moves towards the gathered group of soldiery and raises her voice with magic, the booming sound turning all heads all at once, "Who among you knows what is your mission?"

Non answer. Elanor's eyes grow dark. She whispers to herself, "This won't do."

Elanor leaves the assembly of fighters and finds the first servitor with which she spoke. She says, "What is the nature of my mission? I must know if I am to lead it."

The servitor glances away for a moment before locking eyes with Princess Elanor, "You must overcome Hell itself and stop the resurrection ritual the Human Underworld now looks to conduct."

Elanor stares back into the eyes of the servitor, "I'll need far more than what you've given me to do that."

"You have everything we can spare. We will get you the Human magic you need, but you must be in place to assault Hart Island when that time comes. Please get your command organized and on the road to the Merchant Marine Academy as soon as possible, preferably right now."

Elanor maintains the locked gaze for a long moment before breaking away and returning to the assemblage near the on-ramp.