Ivanov flew over the shield, examining every inch of it with his eyes, while the other aircraft flew behind him, not knowing the way. After a few minutes of flying, Ivanov shouted with excitement, "I found it!"

"Where?" Ares asked nervously.

Ivanov pointed his finger toward the middle, directly above the city. There was a large gap. Ares ordered him to descend through it immediately. He began to descend, and the other aircraft followed him. They entered the city and headed west, where the human population was concentrated. Ares took out a small strip, pressed a button on it, and a holographic screen appeared above it, displaying many menus. He pressed the call menu and began to speak. "General, can you hear me?"

After a few seconds, the General's gruff voice came through with its distinctive accent. "Yes, I hear you. Where have you been, Ares? I was worried about you. I tried to call you, but your phone was out of service."

"I'm sorry about that, I was in big trouble," Ares replied with emotion. "Now, listen to me carefully. We are heading your way, but we are in robot aircraft, so don't shoot at us."

"In robot aircraft!" the General replied in an agitated tone. "What do you mean by that? And how did you get their aircraft?"

"It's a long story, I'll tell you when I arrive. For now, tell your soldiers to let us land."

"Alright," the General said, bewildered. "I'll do that right away."

Ares hung up, then looked at Sairi. "When we get down, you and Ivanov will go look for the rest of our companions. You must find them quickly because we will need to add their strength to ours. Meanwhile, I will tell the General everything, get some answers, and make a war plan with him, or without him, depending on the answer he gives me."

Sairi nodded without saying a word. And so, after a few minutes, they finally reached their destination and were received by some soldiers at the landing strip. After all the aircraft had landed, their doors opened, and everyone disembarked with broken spirits and extreme terror evident on their faces. One of the soldiers said to his comrade with apprehension as he looked at them, "What is this? I see in their eyes those who have escaped death several times."

Ares immediately went to the General's tent, panting, feeling extremely tired. The General handed him a cup of tea, some pastries, and water. He devoured them without hesitation to silence his hunger. After he finished eating, he began to tell the General everything that had happened and saw the General's features change to horror and panic, he and the other commanders around him, upon hearing this story.

"Were you hiding all this from us?" Ares said to them with anger and reproach.

Everyone swore that they did not know anything about what was happening. They had been told the story that the president and his entourage had told them.

"And where is the president?" Ares said nervously.

"He's in one of the shelters on the west coast where all the civilians are hiding," the General said, thinking. "But he's in a large shelter befitting him, and he has heavy security around him."

Ares frowned. "I want to meet him to get the full story, ask about the real reason that brought us here and the elaborate deception that made us think we were still on planet Earth. And I will see if Gaia's words are true or not, and we will act on that basis afterward."

"To meet him, you must get his permission first," the General said in a gloomy tone.

"I don't have time for this nonsense," Ares interrupted him angrily. "Show me where he is, and I'll go to him."

The General looked with confusion at the commanders around him, then pointed to his location on the three-dimensional map placed on the table in the middle of the tent.

Ares transferred the data to his tablet, then crossed his arms over his chest. "I'm going to him now. Tell me, did you carry out the plan as we agreed?"

The General paced the room back and forth slowly, then swallowed. "Yes, I have recruited everyone who can carry a weapon, formed the army, and prepared everything. But from what you have told us, I do not think this army will be enough to destroy the army you have described to me."

Ares turned to the General and arched his eyebrows. "Sir, as long as we are still breathing, we will fight. We will not allow this madman to destroy and enslave us, we will not allow humans like us to deceive and enslave us. We are one race, and we must unite and become one hand to continue in this life. Enough deception and enough misleading of our minds. I am going now to this wretch sitting on his chair, moving us as he wishes, and believe me, I will make him confess everything. And the most important thing, don't forget to protect the towers. If the towers are destroyed, they will swarm us from every direction, and we will be utterly defeated."

The General smiled and patted him on the shoulder. "Good luck. I'm leaving now to complete the preparations, as it seems it will be a long night."

"Wait a moment," Ares said, stopping him. "I've only found two of my companions. Somewhere in the city, there are five others waiting for someone to show them the way. That's why I'm sending the two I've found to look for the rest. Who better than both of them to find those who are like them on this strange planet? Now, I want you to give them a car and a thermal detection device like the one you gave me."

The General sighed, his shoulders weighed down by Ares's requests. "You ask for a lot, but given our circumstances, I will provide you with everything you want."

The General began to give orders to his men. After he had finished, he turned his gaze to Ares. "Alright, where are your two companions so I can give them the equipment?"

Ares said sarcastically, "I think you'll recognize them when you see them."

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