[i]Their approach went without assault, as the gates that lead out of the garrison would creak, gears grinding as they would then open and make way for whomever was departing. Five cavalry horses, each rider other than their leader armed with automatic rifles, though they had not taken to drawing them upon Halkwind's forces just yet.[/i] [i]Leading the group, two on their left and two on their right, was a figurine heavily cladded within plating befitting of a leader, though directed fire would certainly make short work of even such armoring, no matter what it was made of. These Trayven had acquired some materials, indeed. Dark violet weaves of a purple material draped the individual's shoulders and waist, while a large broadsword was kept to their side. Their face was hidden by a simple black helmet, one that belonged to a knight, and the visor of which covered their face. Though there was one thing for certain: this person was big, least beyond six feet tall.[/i] [i]As the five horses came to halt outside of the safety of the barrier, the one in the lead would hop off of their steed, before taking a gloved hand to flip up their visor. That revealed a woman, scarred from battle and wear, yet still youthful to a degree. Gazing red eyes studied the approaching forces, while tangles of dark purple hair were kept hidden by the helmet. She seemed to be leading this operation, and thus awaited.. some sort of conversing, to declare peace.[/i] [i]Thought it was a cocky move, no doubt. Stepping out, with no protection nor means of defense. Either she underestimated them, or simply understood them.[/i]

[i]The fact that he’d be approached by a legitimate horse cavalry made Sidewinder feel a whole lot better. Assault rifles and horses were hardly a match for main battle tanks, halftracks bearing both autocannons and miniguns, and power-armor clad troops. Nonetheless, his action was not to be hostile nor instigating, at least no more instigating than bringing an entire armored column into the area. The approaching force was moving in a proper formation, personnel carriers to the inside, heavy armor outside, although Sidewinder’s command halftrack led the column, more or less a status symbol. The horses were dwarfed by the approaching vehicles, the meeting almost reminiscent of the Polish Army meeting the Third Reich’s Panzer Divisions. The woman who had leapt down to see the approaching force was greeted with the full roar of a mechanized battalion pulling towards her position. Soldiers wearing various types of advanced exosuits and carrying varying weapons could be seen on the inside of the column, along with the gunners atop each of the tanks. Sidewinder himself was visible with his upper torso out of the hatch of his command vehicle. Arriving at what was essentially a roadblock, his vehicle stopped, the rest of the column halting behind him.[/i] “Well boy do I think you and I are gonna get along!” [i]He shouted over the roar of the halftrack’s diesel engine, his face hidden beneath his mask, his robotic arm atop the minigun before him.[/i]

"I hope so!" [i]She responded, nodding her head towards Sidewinder. Isabella thought of him as something of a leader of the operation, or at least the one whom lead this detachment into the Dojo's grounds. The rest of the cavalry force remained behind, with units kept on the rooftops of buildings and within specific buildings themselves. Though they didn't seem to want the imposing look, nor to start a battle, they took precautions nonetheless.[/i] "Did the Rubi's give you guys some trouble? Thought I heard some chatter, nothing much though. My apologies!" [i]"Rubi's" likely referred to Rubicon, and their initial response to Sidewinder's arrival. Isabella figured that anyone who drove right into town was either friendly for a time, or setting up something, so she assumed both and went to playing nice. For the time.[/i] "Isabella Trayven. Commanding officer of the Trayven forces here, nothing much. We gonna have some big dinner and negotiate or whatever? Or are we making things quick, here 'n now? Personally, I'm fine with either."

“Well sweetheart, I ain’t no national defender no more, but I can tell ya that with Rubicon and us stickin’ around, you might wanna take a look at what I have to offer. You know the last time anyone rode horses into battle was the damn Second World War? You might wanna look at an upgrade!” [i]Friendly enough, but something about him screamed shifty. He was a mercenary. He was also advertising for goods. Business was what this was. Pure business.[/i] “Yeah, your big roided-up supersoldiers tryin’ to look all tough. All the Rubis like that?” [i]He asked, remaining up on the gun of his command vehicle.[/i]

"Most of them are, yeah. They're better under the sheets and pulling triggers than negotiating, though I'm usually no different than 'em." [i]Usually. Isabella could try playing that terrible game of lies and politics - she hated it, truly, swinging a sword was simpler - but she knew Rubicon to be more.. blunt, than the Trayvens, about their law and order.[/i] "We've got tech too, courtesy of Rubicon and some dumbasses in Khalosh - the horses are just for show, though a cavalry's still hella cool, effective when we're not fighting modernized assholes. Still, I like the sound of upgrades."