Nike

393 AC - We approach in close formation, making good use of the updrafts. I keep an eye on my squad, especially the new recruits who only joined the Tagmata recently. They're in position, despite the youngest one's somewhat shaky command of her wings. But she'll arrive safely. We use the thick cloud cover as much as we can to avoid attracting the Leviathan's attention. And the closer we are, the more the monster's massive size becomes apparent. Its dark eye is fixed on the transport barge, and its beak pecks at the liquid sphere the ship is dragging behind it. I clench my teeth. We'll need to act quickly. Zephyr and half of my marines fly off towards the other ships so they can steer them away from the monster. And as for us…

I swoop towards the Leviathan's head, followed by the rest of my intervention squad. I retract my wings to go into freefall… Desperate times call for desperate measures. I trace the Heka signs, and she leaps out of the verses I write for her – Nike and her wings of victory. Like a comet, she rips through the clouds, and we follow as she enters the Serpent-Eagle-Leviathan's field of vision. The monster is suddenly much more interested in our procession rather than the ship, especially now that the goddess has lit her flame and is shining brilliantly, like the tip of an arrow sparkling in the sun. The Leviathan beats its wings to chase after us. We've done it – we've grabbed its attention.

In Greek mythology, Nike is the goddess of victory and triumph. She is the daughter of the Titan Pallas and the Oceanid Styx. Her brothers are Zelus, Bia and Kratos, who represent zeal, force and power respectively.

ZHEN