Really? Wow. I haven't been keeping track.

With a grinding shudder, the Cambion's massive engines gave the carrier a final thrust to put it into orbit. There was a silence, and then smaller transports began dropping away from the flagship, heading towards Carrotus' tranquil surface, and the outskirts of Carrotus City. In the dawn sky, the mirror-hulled transports were not even noticed, by the Carrotans at least.
As the transports landed quietly (for transports, that is) and the ramps extended, what they were transporting marched down those ramps to stand rigidly at attention.
The transports carried fifty soldiers each. There were ten transports, and as the last one emptied they rose back up into the air, heading for the Cambion once more.
Those who stood at attention were mostly Shellians. Vicious Snappers, flailerang-wielding schwartzenguards, brawny Tuff Turtles, even the occasional lizard stood assembled, mingled with the energy-charged shockbots, deadly Shockflyers, and a new, segmented robot that looked vaguely like a bizarre mating between a preying mantis, a scorpion, a spider, and a tank.
Irinn watched expressionlessly. The success of his most recent creation, the Imbara Frostar I, was one of the few things he had actually looked happy about. Eva's disappearance didn't really seem to bother him. Justiar stood next to him, worrying inwardly about Jazz's kidnapping.
Jheran came up beside them, Tephro his homicidal shadow, as ever.
"Your pet mage seems to have disappeared, Irinn," he said. Irinn shrugged.
"I don't control Chaos Hydra. Where are your Bloodflames?"
"Down there." Jheran gestured to where the mercenaries were joining Irinn's troops. The Bloodflames, mostly rabbits, were clearly less disciplined than the soldiers, but every one could fight like a demon, up to and including Tama, the communications officer.
"I don't like Chaos Hydra's absence," Jheran said finally. "We need the edge a mage will give us. Carrotus is a tough nut to crack."
"Chaos Hydra's presence is not necessary," Irinn said firmly. "Neither his nor Eva's disappearances will make any difference to this invasion."
Jheran looked away and shook his head.
"I hope not."

Radium bent over the Riveth, once more in rabbit form. The pulsing red-blue light that emanated from the firegem was the only illumination in the darkness that surrounded him.
He inspected the power that lay dormant within the crystalline structure of the Riveth. Satisfied, he withdrew for a moment and concentrated.
The furious thoughts of a thoroughly foiled Order Mage named Chaos Hydra could be dimly heard by anyone listening.
With a grin, Radium turned back to his work.

Jack checked the ammo in his blaster again. Firefox sighed.
"Jack, that's the fourth time in the last ten minutes that you've done that. I assure you that your ammo won't run away any time soon."
"What? Oh, right," Jack said absently.
Headcheese had attached herself to Wizard, who was trying to track the progress of Irinn's invasion forces. "Maybe a thosuand, all told," he said to no one in particular. Sasha brightened.
"Oh, is that all?"
Wizard eyed the winged rabbit, unable to tell if he was being sarcastic or not. Coppertop's entry stalled any comment he was about to make.
"Well, my fleet-footed friends, looks like you've got quite the storm brewing. Good thing I brought help," she said dryly as someone Jack assumed was Claw followed her in. Trailing behind was a figure Jack knew quite well, however -
"Basta!"
"Yeah," the scarred maroon rabbit said. "I hear there's going to be a fight."
"No," Shinyso said, "I couldn't have guessed." His tone was pure sarcasm.
"Really," Claw said, deliberately treating Shinyso's comment literally. "How odd. All the signs are there."
"You bet," one of the two ferrets who had followed Basta in said. Jack vaguely recognized the pair, though he couldn't remember their names offhand.
"It was SO obvious that I brought a little help along," Copper said. "You might need it."
Firefox eyed her suspiciously. "Just how much are you being paid for this?"
"Definitely not enough," she said. "Anybody know what we're facing?"
"I already said," Wizard said grouchily. "Close to a thousand."
"A thousand what, though?"
"Ehh ... mixed Shellians, shockbots, Shockflyers, some new prototype robot I've never seen before called the Imbara, and ... rabbits?!"
"Rabbits? What are rabbits doing in Irinn's army?" Jack demanded, turning from checking his blaster again.
"Irinn ...?" Copper's expression was quizzically expectant.
"Ah .. the mastermind behind Carrotus' most recent takeover attempt and Eva's kidnapping."
"Eva's kidnapping ... wait, I think I can guess."
"Okay, well, he's not the mage who nabbed Jazz. Oh, uh ... Radium stole the Riveth. He said you'd understand?"
"Sounds like Rad. Why am I not surprised?" Not waiting for an answer, she went on. "If he's got it, he's got it. There's nothing we can do now. I should have expected it. Have to trust him with it; he knows what he's doing."
"We hope," Lori muttered under her breath.
"We hope," Copper agreed. "So. You know Basta, that's Claw, and the duo behind me there are Shuriken and Sai Darkblade. And, of course, me."
"Right. Um ... "
"Hey guys, heads up," Wizard announced suddenly. "Troops entering the west side of the city. The CCSF* is already there, with some militia. You'd better get a move on."
"RIght. Thanks, Wizard. Okay, I don't suggest airboards because of those Shockflyers. We'll have to go on foot. Any suggestions?"
"Yeah," Shinyso said. "Use long-range weapons first. The less people in close combat, the less we lose."
"Good idea. In fact, that launcher of yours could come in handy, Acid." He was about to say more, but Wizard cut him off.
"You'd better go, like, now. The CCSF can't hold out for long."
"Okie. Headcheese, let go of Wizard's leg. The rest of you ... let's go."

*Carrotus City Security Force. Whee, acronyms! More coming up, too.