"It's always like this. They come out of their tunnels outside of a workshop, then make a hole in the dome," Metalmouth said to Ace.

"But I can't figure out why we never can find the tunnel. They're never wearing arctic gear, so it has to be close to the hole."

A soldier came in through the hole and reported to the colonel.

"Nothing, sir."

"Damn," Metalmouth swore. "Look again. They couldn't have just disappeared."

Ace didn't say a word. He turned to walk out of the room, hiding the knowing smile on his face as he did so.

Chapter 3 The Underground

COME ON! MOVE! MOVE! MOVE!" Kip shouted as the elves hurried past him in the tunnel.

At almost four feet tall and very broad at the shoulders, Kip Stonehammer was quite large for an elf. In fact, his square jaw and deeply set eyes, he would have passed for an extremely short human if it hadn't been for his pointed ears. Even his weapon of choice was bigger than that of his fellow soldiers, who were mostly armed with submachine guns and a few light rifles that had been sized down; Kip armed himself with a full-sized M-16 with a grenade launcher mounted under the barrel.

A familiar, much-despised elf dressed in Kelly green skipped merrily down the hall among the other soldiers. Lucky was chattering away in his ridiculous Irish accent, telling everyone around tall tales and outright lies about his exploits in the latest fight.