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As Arinadia was doing her shift, the Mzeusian reinforcements arrived. Three large APCs rolled into the compound, moving into the midst of the Mzeusian activity before coming to a stop. The twenty-one soldiers got out, one by one, with the most senior of them approaching the Mzeusian officer who had come to welcome them. As Arinadia watched, the Thoonians moved about like bees whose hive had been disturbed. They glanced nervously at the military vehicles and the soldiers, going about their business with a newfound fear. She watched as the inspector came out of a building to gape at the reinforcements.

The new Mzeusians traipsed off as they were shown around, taking their equipment with them. One of them looked toward the Thoonian compound. He glared, looking fearsome in his military attire as he stomped away. A few of the Thoonians gathered by the fence, watching the new Mzeusian soldiers walk away. To her delight, Arinadia spotted Mikhail among them and unlike the others, his expression was not one of fear, no, his face was completely blank, as though he had shut down his emotions.

At lunch that day, the general spoke to the troops. "Alright you rowdy lot, as you know, you've got some new play-mates. You also know that the Thoonians have been doing some interesting things, and if they decide to make an attack here, we will be better able to fend them off. With the reinforcements that some of you saw coming in earlier today, we reckon we should be able to see off any Thoonain attempt at taking this outpost. The Thoonians will of course be more jumpy than usual, but just go about your business as normal and we should be fine. Now enjoy your tea."

With that, he walked out, leaving the soldiers to themselves. A tea-drinking game had already began between the new arrivals and the others and another group were trading stories of their time in the military. As Arinadia moved to observe an arm-wrestling contest, she couldn't stop thinking about Mikhail's face, utterly blank in between the other soldiers.

Her next shift was at night, in the same hut she had been in before. It was situated next to the observation room. If an attack was planned for tonight, her position would be secure, as the soldiers stationed there could easily support her. Mikhail would not be on a shift, unless the shift timetable had been changed again. She wasn't looking forward to the night, but she had to do her duty above all else. The knowledge that the compound was even more secure than before, comforted her, as the new arrivals were highly trained and would not be far away. Some of them were even on watch tonight, and given that they had just arrived, this meant that the general had complete confidence in them.

It was a few hours until her shift, and she spent it in the barracks, chatting to the new soldiers. When her shift arrived, she made her way from the barracks and over to the hut. The latch was stiff as her gloved hand gripped it. It slid back with a shudder, and she stepped inside, closing the door behind her. Flicking on the harsh bright light, she began to watch the Thoonian compound. All seemed still, except the occasional person walking around. This was no guarantee that nothing was being planned, so Arinadia remained vigilant.

As she sat there, she watched as a man came out of the barracks. He stood by the watchtower, cast a look up at it, and gazed out towards Mzeusia. Then, as he was looking back to the watchtower, he broke into sudden movement, gripping the nearest leg of the tower, climbing monkey-like up it, and leaping over the Thoonian border fence, propelling himself into the land between the two nations.