The Pony Marines had destroyed both the Ji'sha and the Bìnglieren command posts and also captured the communication tower. Any stealth unit that was on the field was rendered visible by the tower. Now the Pony Marines had fought their way to the citadel, where Shas'O Zhu and Zhi'zhe were holding.
"Target spotted!" Nule called, "Eliminate that xeno, siblings!"
"Your murderous ways condemn you to barbarity, Pony Marine." Zhi'zhe stated.
"Flame Warriors," O'Zhu yelled, "beat these ponies back! Protect Zhi'zhe at all costs!" The Flame Warriors fought hard and bravely, but were overpowered by the sheer strength of the Blood Phoenixes. Zhi'zhe quickly galloped into a corner with his bodyguards. The Pony Marines trapped him, killed his guards, and finally did away with him.
"All is lost." was Zhi'zhe last words before he dropped dead.
O'Zhu and Dau warriors in elite battlesuits landed near the Ethereal's body. "Zhi'zhe is dead." one of the Dau said in despair. "We cannot win."
"Fall back. Now." O'Zhu ordered as he picked up the body and jetpacked from the fight. All over the city, Dau troops were gunned down by Pony Marines. They could not fight back; all was lost to them.
"All forces, fall back." O'Zhu ordered, "Evacuate the city." More Flame Warriors were shot to death by marines as they tried to escape the city. "We will return Zhi'zhe to D'au for burial. There is nothing left for us here." The Great Tower of D'au deactivated and Dau transport ships took off and fled from the world.
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During the earlier Fillypeens Gulf Crusade, the Dau Empire had repelled the Solar Marines who landed on Cronus. In their assault on Elkonis, the Blood Phoenixes more than avenged the Solar Marines' defeat.
Much as the Third Company had during the battle of Marga Bonni on Tartaurus, the Blood Phoenixes Fourth Company fought its way through the streets of Elkonis one block at a time, pushing back at the Dau Flame Warriors and Gryphon carnivores with steely determination. The Dau Commander Zhu did manage, however, to cheat the Blood Phoenixes of one prize, namely the body of the Ethereal Zhi'zhe, which would undoubtedly have ended up under study in the Chapter Librarium and Apothecarion. As it was, Apothecary Rashet spent many days collecting the animal blood samples left behind when the Dau withdrew with the corpse of their slain Ethereal.