Chapter 6: Maskirovka

Maskirovka is the sixth chapter of The Mazkertis Paradox. In this chapter:


 * Caiaphus and Ricochet have their first encounter with Mazkertis.
 * Kakamu arrives at the meeting of the dignitaries on Saskana and leaves with Nadle to find and recruit Zev Raregroove to their cause.
 * Captain Eurobeat shows Strika that HYDRA has betrayed her.
 * Groups of HYDRA (Figlio, Eos, Hassan, Lalli Cain, and a footsoldier), Great Beings (TPK, Black Phantom, Straxus, and IG-88), and Knights of the Keruvim (Axalara, Perseus, Coro, Spotter, and Moe) allied forces to go Shinar-Karana to retrieve the Keruvim to use against Mazkertis. Predictably, the groups turn on each other and a mighty battle ensues.
 * Mazkertis attempts to recruit Drepp to his cause, but fails. Instead, Raziel approaches the wizard and pledges to serve him in order to prevent F-Klak's dark future from ever coming to fruition.
 * President James Howard is killed by an unknown assassin on his home planet of Malchior IV.

Characters

 * Axalara
 * Black Phantom
 * Blackout
 * Caiaphus
 * Captain Eurobeat
 * Coro
 * D-Klak
 * Drepp
 * Eos
 * Figlio di Armechio
 * Hassan (Dominion service)
 * President James Howard
 * IG-88
 * Kakamu
 * Klak
 * Lalli Cain (Ezekiel Carter)
 * Malygos
 * Mazkertis
 * Moe
 * Nadle
 * Niflheim
 * Perseus
 * Raziel
 * Ricochet
 * Rokubungi Gendo
 * Spotter
 * Straxus
 * Strika
 * TPK
 * Ynot

Trivia

 * The term Maskirovka refers to the Russian military doctrine of deception that developed from the start of the 20th century. The title is meant to reflect the deception tactics employed by various characters, such as Black Phantom, Figlio di Armechio, Lalli Cain, and the mysterious assassin, within the chapter.