Hey there guys! Long time no see! *crickets chirp in the background* Well, sorry for the long period of silence (caused by a mixture of school and Writer's Block) But now I'm back and ready to continue. So sit back, relax, and try to bear with me. Enjoy!

"There are thousands of them! How are we supposed to defeat a force of that size? Mors won't save us from dying again! We're lucky he did in the first place." One of the Centurions of 1st Cohort stated. Several others in the room nodded vigorously.

"What do you suggest we do then? Surrender? Because we know how that will end! We've already lost five Legionnaires to them, and Percy and Jason left for Old Rome days ago! They can't help us." Another Centurion, this one from 3rd Cohort stated coolly. Many more Centurions nodded their agreement.
The argument had been going on for hours. When the enemy force had arrived two days before, Camp Jupiter had had no prior warning. If the army had attacked then, there would have been a bloody battle that would have ended in a draw. However, they had waited and received reinforcements, bringing their strength up to surpass that of the last army to assault the Camp. The Camp had received a few extra men and women from Rome, but was still severely outnumbered.

Reyna finally stepped in.

"We've been going in circles for hours now! All we can do is build up our fortifications around the camp and Rome. We can hold them, we have no other choice." She said, effectively silencing them all. Then she remembered another issue that had arisen. "Cindy, how is the man they found in the river?" She asked another of the Centurions. He had been the cause of much suspicion from the Lares and the more superstitious Legionnaires. They couldn't afford distractions now.

"He should be regaining consciousness sometime today, although I honestly don't know how he could have gotten here. The borders are guarded against mortals, dead or otherwise. He would have had to already have been in here unless he somehow magically-"

She was cut off by the sound of footsteps outside as another Legionary entered the tent. He searched the room momentarily before finding who he needed.
"Reyna, he's awake. He wishes to see whoever is in charge." He said uneasily.

"What's wrong?" Reyna asked.

"You'll see, trust me."

After a quick look around, all of the Centurions left the tent to return to their posts, leaving Reyna and the Legionary alone. She took a moment to gather herself after the meeting; it had been a very long day. She then turned to the Legionary.

"Take me to him. It seems we have a lot to talk about."

He nodded, and then began walking briskly toward the infirmary, nodding to those he passed and occasionally making remarks about the state of morale in the Camp. Everyone was scared and there were no illusions about how the coming battle would end.

"They all believe there is no hope. There isn't, is there?" He asked when they reached the entrance to the stranger's room. She was unprepared for the question but answered without hesitation.

"There is always hope Cody, we just have to hold out. We will win this." She spoke with confidence that she definitely didn't feel. He seemed to straighten up at her words, nodding slowly before leaving her to meet the patient.

Upon entering the room she came face-to-face with the stranger, a man that was maybe in his mid-thirties. Dark, short-cropped hair covered his head, along with a small amount of dark stubble covering his chin. He had tan skin that was marred by a few obvious scars on his eyebrow and cheekbone along with one on his cheek that glowed red like hot coals, like he had been on the receiving end of a red-hot blade at some point in his life.

He had been studying her since she entered as well, and she had the distinct impression of a wolf on the hunt, like he was simply waiting to strike. As she gathered her thoughts she looked him in the eyes and almost gasped; they were the color of freshly spilled blood and spoke of years of hard living and pain. They spoke of a man who had looked the Grim Reaper in the face and then gutted him with his own scythe. She noticeably shivered, and then he spoke.

"Like I told the last kid in here, I want to see your leader. I've been patient, but the costumed children are getting old. I suggest you bring me the leader of this facility before I burn it to the ground." He stated matter-of-factly. He had no qualms with using violence to get what he wanted; it was nothing new after all.

Not one to be easily intimidated, Reyna answered him calmly. "I am the leader of this... facility. One of my patrols found you in the river severely wounded. We were not sure you would pull through. I am Reyna, Praetor of the Twelfth Legion. We have treated you well; you would do well to remember that. We have enough to worry about without adding ungrateful patients to the list."

He stared at her for a moment with an amused look on his face.

"Okay 'Praetor', I'll play nice for now. I don't suppose you could return my equipment could you? And would you mind telling me what planet I'm on? I need to get to the nearest communications outpost to signal my crew to pick me up."

"Planet? What are you talking about? This is Earth. Last I checked, we haven't gained the ability to colonize other worlds yet. Last I heard, it would be years before it would be possible." Reyna said, suddenly becoming confused.

"Don't fuck with me kid, where am I?" He said as he tried to rise out of his bed, only to fall back clutching his side in pain. Why did he still hurt? Medigel should have had him up and about already. A small worm of doubt began working its way into his mind. "What year is it?" He asked quickly.

"It's 2010. We are in the United States of America, near the west coast."

"Impossible, that's impossible. I-I- How could this have happened! I don't-" A look of utter hatred and loathing crossed his face, causing Reyna to reflexively grab her weapon. He didn't even notice. "Harbinger! That must have been some kind of portal! He sent me back in time so I couldn't fight him anymore. That means that the galaxy is lost- or will be." He had begun talking himself quietly, although she could still hear him faintly.

"I think you should lie down and get some rest." Reyna said slowly as she backed up to the door. "I'll come back later; we can talk then, when you're feeling better."

He glanced at her as if suddenly realizing she was still in the room with him and then replied. "You're probably right. I'm not fully healed anyway. I wouldn't last through anything in my current state. Oh, can you have my equipment sent to me? It seems that it's all I have left." He asked, his voice quiet as he processed this turn of events.

Reyna hesitated before nodding slowly. The man thanked her and she turned to go.

"Wait!" He called as the door closed. He held out his hand to her when she returned. "Commander Alan Shepard; I would like to offer my services to you when I am fully recovered. I'm sure you'll find that it's an offer you won't regret accepting." He said, a strange light flashing in his blood-red eyes. It seemed his moment of hysteria had passed.

As Reyna sat in her place that night, contemplating the situation while the others ate their meals in silence, she began to wonder how they would be able to survive against the enemy force, let alone defeat it. While they weren't being led by another giant, they still outnumbered them at least five-to-one and were receiving a steady trickle of reinforcements every day. They would have to do something soon or there would be no hope for any of them. As these dark thoughts circled in her mind she became aware of a long, bleating tone from the darkness outside the camp. After moments confusion she realized what was happening.

"War horn! Get formed up into your cohorts now! The camp is under attack! Prepare to march against the enemy!" She shouted to the soldiers before her as they scrambled for the exits to retrieve their equipment. As the last of them left the room she turned to her own arms and armor, dressing herself in her war garb with practiced, if hasty, ease. Upon exiting her tent she found the five cohorts formed up and ready to march, their Imperial Gold armor shining in the days fading light. Most of them looked shaken while others looked absolutely calm, as if resigned to their fates. Reyna frowned at this thought and realized she should say something. She took up position in front of them, seated on her pegasus so that all could see her.

"Men and women of the Twelfth Legion! Across the Little Tiber awaits our enemy! They dare to show themselves here after the last army to face us was utterly annihilated. Many of you feel that it is our turn to fail, our time to die. That will not happen here, not so long as we draw breath. They will regret the day they rose from Tartarus. Are you with me? Will you help me turn the tide against these monsters that would destroy our very way of life?" She watched them quietly, waiting for a reply as she studied each of them. Fifth Cohort was the first to respond.

"Praetor, we will die for you! Lead the way!" The other Cohorts quickly took up the call, heartened by her words of encouragement.

"Lead us, lead us, lead us!" The entirety of the Legion roared as one.

Reyna was silent for a moment before replying confidently, "Then follow me! May Mars smile upon us this night!" She shouted as she wheeled her pegasus around and took to the sky. As one, the Legion charged after her into the night.

Well, there it is. After a few months of nit-picking, it is finally out. R&R to let me know what you think!