DocTomoe
Well-Known Member
Preface
In the heart of the Great Southern Nebula; the Lor cried out for the Empire to aid them, their plea based upon a treaty drawn in relatively recent history, their membership to the empire and their promised protection by the Star Army of Yamatai. The answer to the call came from the most unlikely of the great empire’s fleets; The Fifth Expeditionary Fleet, under the operational control of Taisho Motoyoshi Katsuko and the Motoyoshi Bakufu.
For the highest ranks of the Bakufu, this was an opportunity to prove the new resolve of this fleet, and for a chance to prevent the devastation set on Taiie from happening to Lor. Eighty-Three ships, and one of the Fifth’s Ioris under the command of Mitsuya Saito would be charged with the protection of billions as the evacuation of Lor would be commencing, time not within their favor as the Mishhuvurthyar are assumed to be planning on another strike.
This impending Apocalypse was not of a new experience for the Fifth Expeditionary Fleet, its people still mourning, Chujo Mitsuya Saito herself still grieving the loss of three of her seven children. The Task Force approached Lor, their emergence from hyperspace to be lead by the Draco Forward Scout Group, to be followed by the Yukari Assault Group, and then Himitsu and her two attached Carrier Groups.
It was time to grant the Lor their " Freedom of Apocalypse" (Jiyuu no Mokushi)
Over hyperspace communications Saito gave the orders to the DFG and YAG groups, "Forward Groups, Initiate hyperspace exit solution in the predetermined order."
Things had been calm since the entire group entered hyperspace. Ayako managed a few messages and a short drink for energy. The refreshing liquid gave her some confidence behind her voice.
"Make sure all power armor teams are ready for launch on our orders. For now they remain on standby in the bays." Ayako ordered, looking at her Operations controller. "Sensors I want full range on all spectrums. Start close and then move outward. CFS and Helm, ease us out on the solutions provided on my mark. Then make for spread pattern cross six. Communications contact the rest of the group once we're in, let's make sure we didn't lose anyone."
Looking at her readouts, provided by the ship through SLICS, Ayako took note of the coming exit. She squeezed both her hands and steeled herself for anything. "And, mark."
The Draco Forward Scout Group dropped from hyperspace with a sudden jolt. The four Nozomis quickly began to move after the exit, circling one another as the planet Lor rested off in the distance.
"Sensors, begin sweep and report status! Communictions?" Ayako started. The enlisted Neko at the Communications station gave a thumbs up to her commanding officer. Nodding Ayako looked on as a volumetric display manifested. The immediate area began to visualize, with sensor updates feeding in every second.
On the Irim Class Gunship YSS Atarashi, Chusa Sakemoto gripped the side handlebars of the tactical map table. It was standard procedures for crew to strap themselves in during a hyperspace fold but the Chusa will not allow himself to be caught sitting down if they were immediately attacked upon exit. After all, they were the first of the YAS to fold and are expected to secure the immediate area for the rest of the Irims to arrive.
Sakemoto knew that the Atarashi has dropped out of fold when a slight nausea left him, it was his body's natural indicator of space returning to normal. He quickly looked up to the communications officer for her report, the beach-head plan him and the rest of the Chusas ran through with Taisa Nao was broad enough to handle any adversary that may be waiting on the other side, but the wild card right now was the friendly scout group that jumped before them.
"We have contact with Draco group sir, no damages!" The operator shouted.
"Assume the formation!-" Sakemoto replied with an equal volume, near instantaneously without waiting for the Chusa to finish, the rest of his fifteen Irims first security group started arranging themselves in an expanding circle tangent to the general direction of Lor, ensuring that each Irim could fire its main cannon 'forward' without catching each other in the firing line.
"-Passive sensors!" The scouts that arrived earlier were still active, thus the Irims could have the luxury of not drawing attention to themselves by using active sensors to aquire firing solutions.
"Hai, Chusa! We have direct linkage with the YSS Draco. YSS Yukari arriving in T-Minus 10 seconds!"
"Hmmp." The Chusa mumbled. It occured to him that due to the literally last minute change of plans, the seven Irim command group will be passing right through the ring created by his forces. What an entrance worthy of a fleet parade, I hope that Tange Nao isnt trying to show off or something. Sakemoto tapped the handlebars as he waited for further events to unfold...
The Lor system was quiet, nothing but the anticipated allied civilian and military traffic, Saito observed through PANTHEON as the DFG and YAG emerged into real space. She folded her arms in front of her, commenting to herself; the calm before the storm-- I hear the hooves of your horsemen Melisson.
“Standby for exit from hyperspace, right behind the YAG.” She ordered, her operations officer acknowledging “Hai, Chujo.”
NH-12’s were emerging from stasis and flooding the armor bays; Himitsu was alive with action, the station’s defensive and offensive systems ready for emergence into real-space. One Hundred of the Lamia M2 wings (1,000 Armors each) were ready for launch, as well as two wings of Hyuga Fighters.
“Launch Bays ready Chujo.” Flight Control reported in, Saito said “Standby…” awaiting the all clear from DFG and YAG.
Tange Nao opened her eyes to look, and then she let go of the Katana grip. The screen in front of her showed no energy fluctuations in the area so it was safe to assume that no shooting or encounters has occurred. Not having to serve a support/backup role now that there are no hostilities, the seven Irim YAG Command group gently accelerated with the YSS Yukari on point to pass through the hole created by Sakemoto's group.
"Contact with the YSS Atarashi." A bridge crew broke the silence. A volumetric screen opened up on the center of the bridge with Chusa Sakemoto's visage displayed on it.
The Chusa saluted and immediately gave his report without being told. "Nothing to report, Taisa. No surprises here."
"Proceed as planned. Chusa." Nao confirmed. With a nod, Sakemoto's screen dissipated as the Neko returned to her chair with a small exhalation of breath. I should not be wishing for a fight... But how else can soldiers find a purpose?
The communications officer unknowingly interrupted Nao's train of thought as she announced the latest news. "Contact with the 2nd and 3rd security group. Assuming formation."
The 3rd and 4th were composed out of eleven and fourteen Irims respectively. As they assumed (correctly) that no fight was taking place, the 3rd formed a larger ring behind Sakemoto's 1st group, creating a cone shaped formation with Nao's seven ships as the tip to safely contain the SCG within it as soon as they jumped in. Meanwhile, the 4th threw formations out of the window and scattered themselves in pairs to serve as first response skirmishers.
Nao quietly observed her fleet as they flawlessly fell into position, she would had expected nothing less from her own men.
ON: Lor - Western Continent, Capital City. 18 Hours prior to the arrival of Yamataian forces.
The central Lorath city, which served as the staging area for the Lorath's reclamation of the surface of Lor, now was serving as the staging area for the Lorath's exodus from their home world. At least a billion Lorath had swarmed to this symbol of Lorath strength and hearth, which now served as a unifying point for the race.
Even the Helashio, whom were once kept restrained, or fenced off in wild reserves, were herded in the direction of the central city. Civilized Helashio went about tending to evacuees along with the Lmanel caste. The bounds of the city were expanded by fields covered with tarps and tents, and other makeshift shelters.
While the Lmanel went about tending to the evacuation procedures, the Fyunnen, and New-Tur'lista went about spreading a defensive line around the city, incase of an assault from the skies, or an uprising of Helashio. Sixty meter tall machines strode about the outskirts of the city, like soldiers who were posted on watch. Meanwhile, New-Tur'lista individuals went about setting up QnS made interdiction devices, and clusters of ZPE/Aether denial devices. Along with those defenses, were the typical shield generators, and various surface to air missiles and energy weapon batteries.
The Lorath were prepared to live by any means needed.
A stiff breeze rushed over the city, but it did not smell like it usually did, of soil and fields, it smelt of dust and smoke, the apparent result of so many people being packed into one city. In this breeze, Velor's robes fluttered and rippled as he stood upon a balcony of the palace. A frown was upon his face, but he tried to keep himself composed as he tore his eyes away from the chaotic cityscape, to look to his sister. "Harr'Ikke, it seems like our people are ready... they've come here, or they've placed their memories into storage for us to take with us... so I know they are ready... are we though?"
His sister, the Xiaah of the race, looked like her planet did. Destroyed and beaten. With a sigh she could no longer look at those swarming around the city like livestock and instead let her eyes fall to the ground. With a simple shake of her head, she spoke when she felt ready. "How can you ask me such a thing? Knowing the attachment I have to this planet, to the place we grew up? How can I leave this place...the place our parents helped to retake, after we finally settled. I will never be ready to leave brother." Her voice was dead and hollow, her own mind safely stored as well and tucked away with the others, something she had yet to tell her brother.
"We feel the same then, dear sister. I don't want to part with this world, our home. I don't want to abandon the dreams of our mother and father, and the ones who came before them. The only thing which keeps me from giving up, are those people out there, who don't want to sit down and let themselves be claimed by those beasts." Velor looked upon his sister with sorrow filled eyes, and a feeling of immense regret. Little did he know that his sister and himself shared the same secret which they kept from each other... how alike the two were.
"Then let us go and get ready, so we will be able to leave as quickly as possible. I do not wish to stay here any longer then we must to insure the safety of our people." With one last look at the scene spread out below her, Destiny turned and made her way back to her room which the stood outside of. With a sigh she just shook her head. "Sometimes I think it best had we stayed below the ground."
ON: Lor - Western Continent, Capital City. - Shortly after 5th XF's communication to the Xiaah.
It was mere minutes since the Xiaah received the communication that the 5th XF's fleet had departed, and would arrive within a matter of moments. The clock was ticking, and plans needed to be put into motion.
"It is time to go dear brother, gather your things." Destiny said aloud to her brother as she looked over the communication from the fifth fleet. Impressed by the aid given by the fleet, Destiny let out a little sigh. Things were looking up for her people.
"Don't forget your own." Velor said in return as he looked to his sister. "I'll send the communication to our carriers to begin to make landing rotations for picking up evacuees." Velor knew full well that each one of the stripped down carriers would be able to carry anywhere from 250,000 to 300,000 people whom were awake and conscious, but to push the number of evacuees per run to the maximum, orders had been given to put the evacuees into stasis the moment they went aboard. 61 carriers, 600,000 in stasis, it meant that 36,600,000 Lorath and Helashio would be able to escape the planet per trip, if there would be more trips. The High Priest could only hope.
Destiny nodded lightly, her own small group of Helashio waiting nervously in her room. They had packed everything she needed with her help, and had made sure to clothe themselves for the trip. In fact almost all Helashio had clothed themselves so as not to offend those aboard the ships that were sent to aid them. She had seen the numbers for their own fleet, but not for what the Yamatians were sending. "How many will we get in their ships?"
"I'm unsure, at least fifty thousand, if all of their ships are carrying full compliments of infantry. I wish that the Yamataians at their fleet depot worked faster, then we'd have those ships I ordered... but it seems the war has been quite a distraction for them." As Velor said this, he went about his last minute checks of various matters.
The Lmanel had completed a full sweep of the planet and had finished collecting DNA samples from every life form on the planet, and even those which had been excavated and were long extinct. The New-Tur'Lista had gathered all essential records, and made copies of all documentation in the Lorath libraries, the Fyunnen had prepared to defend until everyone was safe. Even the outdated STL ships the Lorath had maintained for ages had been loaded with valuable cargo and civilians.
While on the far side of the system, only a skeleton colony was present as the small colony of Lorath had made their evacuation into various cargo ships. The Lmanel and New-Tur'Lista which remained had began a ritual to mark this day as one of mourning.
Looking around the great hallways of the palace, Destiny's feet slowly returned her to the shrine she had always made sure to pray at every morning she could. The Garden of the Goddess stood deathly silent as it always did, it's doors opened wide. Whether or not her brother had followed was of little consequence to her, she had something she needed to do. Quietly as she always did, she slipped out of the soft soled shoes she wore and moved into the garden, walking past the low wall that rested at the top of the slight incline. Making a direct line for the small shrine, Destiny stopped as she finally stepped onto the white sand that ringed the pool. She kneeled down to the sand, taking a small tin full, before she did the same for the water, a small jar full of the clear liquid. She even got a small fish in the jar. But what would be the most trying was when she stepped down into the water. Drawing closer to the pedestal that held the statue of their goddess, Destiny let a small prayer echo from herself before lifting the statue. Lighter then it looked, she placed her tin and her jar in pockets and exited the pool and room with the statue. No foreign beast, not even a Yamataian, would have this relic.
Velor had been busy since the announcement of the evacuation... the Ki-F5 which had been given to them by Yamatai had been moved to the palace courtyard, where a Harvester cargo container had been fixed upon the hull, where various relics, documents, and other such items had been stored. The humble ship had also been granted it's old mobility, thanks to the QnS supplied TTD. The royalty, and a small crew would be able to make their escape, hopefully.
Velor went over a last minute check of the various systems of the palace, from the underground labs, to the communication system perched at the top of the palace spire. Everything was in order, he wished that things would be this orderly everyday. A mental command sent the full content of the palace's records into a cluster of computer nodes stored aboard the Ki-F5. He made his last steps out of his room, then made a quick backtrack as he snatched a small box from his bedside table, his father never would have forgiven him if he would have forgotten it.
"Shall we then?" Destiny asked of her brother as she watched him leave his room. The Ki-F5 ascended from the palace courtyard waited at the edge of the landing pad at the top of the tower. With a small sigh she gave the area one last look around.
Mother...Father...We will return someday. I promise. Lor's skies will once again be ours...
"Yes sister, we shall." As Velor spoke his words, his own thoughts echoed his sister's.
----
Above the planet, sixty-one stripped down Byakko class carriers moved into position to begin landing rotations to pick up the Lorath civilians on the surface.
Hundreds of TATC-001 Transport Ships darted between Lor and it's orbit as they picked up valuables, and evacuees from remote areas. Harvester ships went about rounding up precious cargo, LSDF troops, and even orbiting satellites.
While the evacuation procedures were carried out, the Lorath were forced to field a weakened defensive force, which was limited to TAEC-0005 units due to every other ship in the Lorath's possession being dedicated to evacuation.
The outdated scout ships were fitted with various alterations to make them combat ready within the small span of time since the SMX threat reared it's ugly head. Thin Neriumium plates were placed upon the hulls of some of these ships, others were fitted with a hardened stonethread composite which stood equivalent to carbon ring material. The ships were fitted with improvised weapons, from welded on missile tubes (some with 2GT yield AM missiles), to hot-wired white beam and positron beam emitters. Some of the more fortunate ships were fitted with the recent plasma beam emitter technology.
A group of ten of these poor-man's fighter ships moved alongside the 5th XF's group when they arrived.
A short range laser transmitted signal came from one of the ships, a message acknowledging the arrival of the fleet was sent, along with information regarding the locations of civilians, and various assets which were listed by evacuation priority. Also, the comm lines which would allow the fleet to communicate with the Royalty, the LSDF, and various other Lorath organizations.
“All clear given, they are ready for us Chujo.” Saito nodded, looking at the command table briefly, “Exit from Hyperspace.” A flash in the darkness, as the massive Iori emerged from hyperspace, the massive Star Army base, spewing nearly a hundred thousand Lamia immediately upon her return to real space, moment’s later two wings of Hyuga Fighters joining them. Himitsu came to a rest just outside of the planet’s orbit, PANTIES feeding information to Saito telepathically.
Communications were opened with the Lorath, as well as the other ships in the taskforce. The Lorath inventory was forwarded to the Iori’s logistics command center, and was being analyzed, and coordinated with the Lorath Officials.
Three volumetric screens opened before Saito, showing Nao, Ayako and Yuka respectively. “Time to get to work here people, -Ayako I want your scouts patrolling the southern nebula, you are our early warning incase the squid try to take Lor before the Lorath are evacuated. Nao I want the Yukari’s main group dedicated to the escort of the Lorath royalty once I invite them to join me here on Himitsu; the rest of your ships should break up into hunting groups-orders are to search and destroy any SMX vessels they encounter. Yuka, standby for insertion of your planetary soldier battalion, once we have clearance from the Lorath Royalty I want them on the planet. Keep this communication open permently so that we maintain constant communication. Orders will be updated hourly, as that tasks may change once we get this operation off the ground.”
Simultaneously Saito had Himitsu transmit the following invitation to Destiny:
With the honorable greetings on behalf of the Fifth Expeditionary Fleet and the Motoyoshi Bakufu, I request that the Lorath royalty accept an invitation to be our guests on the Himitsu Star Fortress. Himitsu is prepared to commit to accommodating one hundred thousand Lorath during this process, reserved primarily of course for your top officials, When you are ready for transport, please contact the YSS Yukari, which will provide you with escort to the base.
Signed,
Chujo Mitsuya Saito
Lor Theater of Operations, Commanding Officer
Himitsu Star Fortress
“Production Bays will be ready to begin production in a few hours; Logistics has also transmitted a priority order to Nataria Depot.” the Logistics officer reported to Saito as she reviewed the operational status of the task force.
"Main group?" Tange Nao raised an eyebrow at the Chusa next to her after Saito's volumetric image dissipated.
"Hai, Taisa." Chusa Sakemoto responded frankly to his superior's skeptiscim. "Much as you would like to have only the command group perform the escort, your mere presence as a Twelve might not be enough to convince them that they are in safe hands."
"I insist that the royalty would be in even safer hands if I had the bulk of my ships sweeping the area." Nao had a clenched fist on the table. "But my guess is that the Chujo would want the Lor to feel as comfortable as possible."
Sakemoto nodded, there were pieces of moon rocks within sublight drive distance to testify to Lor insecurities. "But we could do both, try to cover as much land as possible and assembling into a large group in the shortest time possible when the royalties arrive." The Chusa coughed once to clear his throat. "Giving both sides a piece of mind, Taisa."
Nao looked at Sakemoto again.
"I could use the both my First group and Za's Second group in the hunting party. I'll have Chusa Za operate closer to the coridoor between Himitsu and Lor so that his group can join yours to form a larger main group when the royalties arrive."
"As expected of you, Chusa Sakemoto." Nao agreed, Sakemoto was one of her brightest and fairest subordinates. "Following your plan, my Command group and the Third under Chusa Mihai will be the welcome wagon." Nao tapped her fingers on the table as she wondered if she missed anything other than the chance to fry some squids. Apparently nothing else. Exhaling in disappointment, she announced. "Return to your ship, Chusa. You are dismissed."
"Thank you, Tange-Taisa." The Yamataian noted the sigh from his superior, bowed and left the bridge of the YSS Yukari. Just before he left for the shuttle to take him back to his YSS Atarashi, the Chusa turned around to take a last look at Nao's general direction. Hang in there, Taisa.
With the area surrounding Lor secured, the Draco Forward Scout Group made one last pass around the Yukari and the Himitsu. The Nozomi's sensors rattled off to the other groups, giving them information about the current situation.
Ayako nodded to Saito's volumetric image. "Complying as we speak, ma'am. DFG making short jump to southern nebula rendezvous." Ayako turned her head to the CFS operator. "Make it so. Helm guide us to a good path. Comm, inform the rest of the group."
A chorus of ad-libbed responses verified the command bridge was indeed alive. Ayako smiled, happy things were as they should. The YSS-Draco lined itself up with a patch of open space. Behind it the Tenken, Kouka, and the Kaichou all formed up behind their lead vessel.
"Mark." Ayako order, a stern passion in her voice. The four Nozomi's blinked out of existence to the rest of the fleet. They reappeared a few short moments later, roughly 2 lightyears south of Lor. "Alright scan and spread out. Ganyu, take the Tenken and head southwest. Beware of the minefield. Shindo take the Kaichou and head southeast. Do not get too close to Bizranko. Maintain our stealth people, we're they eyes and ears."
"Moving to position." Taii Ganyu responded. Silently the Tenken broke rank and began turning from its core group.
"Alright, moving out." Taii Shindo called out, as he appeared to be actively typing something on the volumetric display. The Kaichou slipped from the rest of the group and began accelerating away.
"That leaves us, Eto. Helm, dual pattern bar two. Eto, you do the same." Ayako ordered with practiced ease. Her officer responded with a nod on the display. The two Nozomi's quietly rolled around each other once and then came to rest on the same horizontal plane, roughly a mile apart. "Group, commence stealth scan operations."
Upon receiving the offer, Destiny could not help but think it over. In the past taking up personal invitations and giving them to the Yamatians had netted nothing but trouble...The Hanako incident the most recent blunder. But what reason did she have to deny them this time? Besides these people seemed much more professional then the others she had encountered before, and they had come without to much begging and groveling. Maybe they were different.
"Brother, seems we have been invited to the main fortress that has entered our nebula. I know how you feel but we are going to accept. They seem different from the others."
She was about to act before she thought better of it. Looking to her brother she searched his face for a moment, before she let out a sigh. Destiny relayed the message to him in case he had not received it.
"What do you think we should do brother? She we accept their invitation. I think they are different..."
"To my understanding, not all of their people are the same... and the 5th XF has been kind to us, so it is only polite that we head over." Velor responded as he adjusted his robes while standing up from his chair aboard the bridge of the Ki-F5 which the siblings were using for their escape. "I take it we can dock our ships and make it a rather easy meeting, and it would be helpful to aid in directing them with the evacuation."
----
While Velor gave his approval to the meeting, the Lorath made QnS carriers made their decent into the Lor atmosphere. Sixty-one carriers descended upon the outskirts of the Lorath's capital city, landing in various clearings, fields, and plains. As soon as the carriers landed, the Lmanel placed in charge of directing the evacuation effort began to route Lorath citizens to the carriers according to Lorath traditional priority. Family leaders and children were first to be evacuated, soon followed by the rest of the family hierarchy.
While the citizens went about their evacuation, the LSDF continued their vigil, on the planet's surface, and in space. The LSDF's space forces made sure to pay attention to the Yamataian ships which had recently arrived, ready to follow the Yamataian ships lead at the first sign of trouble.
“DFG and YAG are in position. The Lorath have initiated the first phase of the operation.” Saito’s science officer reported, coming along side of her at the table. Saito was going over the inventory response from Nataria, nearly a million unarmed Kyoto’s were on their way from the depot. She said, “Logistics, coordinate with Nataria—they are sending their stock of decommissioned Kyoto’s for use by the Lorath, have our engineering teams ready to install the appropriate stasis units.”
“Tange Nao-Taisa…” Saito looked to the screen to the YSS Yukari, “Is the welcome wagon ready? When the Lorath Royalty ship clears the atmosphere, assume escort formation and bring them to Himitsu.”
It was unknown how Nao managed to stand up in the moment before Saito looked at her, but the Tange was not someone who would take things like orders sitting down.
"Hai, Mitsuya-sama." She responded with a full bow after her orders were received. As soon as the volumetric image dissipated, she re-assumed her upright stance and aura of authorithy. "Contact Chusa Sakemoto." She ordered.
Meanwhile on the YSS Atarashi, Chusa Sakemoto and Chusa Za were going over the hunting plans. The Yamataian was just removing the stylus from his pocket to draw the hunting zones when the screen fizzled to life, both Chusas automatically went into a salute with a loud "Taisa!" when Nao's visage appeared onscreen.
"That may be unnessesary, we are headed out now." She said briefly before she cut the comm without waiting for a reply.
"Ha!" Chusa Za replied to no one in particular before darting off to the shuttle to take her back to her YSS Ikuze with her long black hair tailing behind her, she had to hurry before the formations start but if given enough time to walk, she would have ran anyway.
Sakemoto frowned as his parter left the room, he may be a master organiser but Za was much better at thinking on the fly if they encountered any Mishus. Storing the stylus and turning off the tactical table, the Chusa looked at his communications officer and asked: "Has Chusa Za left the dock?"
"Hai, Chusa." Came the reply. ""Record time, sir."
"Mmm." Sakemoto murmured. "Have the First Security execute sweep manuver Diamond-Two in the Lor system. Individual ships and not pairs, we may be overstreched." He decided. "Prepare and fold on my mark."
"Hai, Chusa!" The officer responded and went to work, another bridge crew looked up from her console. "Fold drives charged and ready to go sir!"
Sakemoto paused for a moment to consider if there was anything not done. Oh, some kind of advice. "All right people. Dont miss, you do not have a second shot partner."
"Mark!"
Nao's screen showed Sakemoto's sixteen Irims disappearing from visual range. Content that her subordinates are doing their jobs, she turned to look at her own men.
"If Mitsuya-sama wants a show, we give her a show!" She porclaimed. Dropping one hand to the Katana handle, she ordered: "All ships! Double Parade!"
"Ha!" The faces of Chusa Za and Mihai flashed briefly on the bridge before the display returned to showing the Irims forming four long straight lines with a large gap for the Lor forces in the middle. The Parade formation was visually impressive, but hindered the forward and rear firing zones. Not that it mattered because the front and rear was only the Himitsu and the planet Lor, those are obviously not targets.
Using sublight drives, Nao's ships accelerated towards Lor to greet their guests.
Shortly after sending their reply that they would indeed join the commanders on the fortress. With arms and legs crossed, a small display came up to show a waiting escort for them, both of Lorath and Yamataian content. From the Lorath there waited a escort of space ready Bringers of Thunder, as well as a group of scout ships. Beyond them lay the Yamataian escort that had been ordered into place. As they broke through the atmosphere and into space, the Bringers of Thunder fell into formation which resembled a wedge almost, with the scout ships both in front and behind.
"Seems they were expecting us to join them brother. While I must admit it is nice to see something so professional...I still feel uneasy. Perhaps it is just from past experiences, but we can not forget the past..." Destiny said aloud to her brother, a hint of suspicion in her voice.
Saito was impressed with Nao’s little display, she watched as the Lorath ships carrying the royal family cleared the planet. She had been over past relations with the Lorath a dozen times, she knew of the blunders-her orders were to show the Lorath that not all of the Star Army was the same.
While she waited for the Lorath to arrive on the Iori she went over the details of the Kyotos inbound from Nataria. She would have them hold in the northern section of the nebula and enter the system a hundred thousand at a time. Sprites were being woken from stasis to perform the engineering on the vessels so that stasis units could be installed; the units were being produced in advance. Since Nataria had sent so many ships she also cleared the production queue for the base and awaited Katsuko to send the rest of the production order.
She opened a communication with the DFG, “How are things out there Ayako?”
Meanwhile Himitsu transmitted clearances to the Lorath ships to dock in Bay One. Orders were given for the Yukari to dock along with them, Nao could control her ships from aboard Himitsu for a short time while she escorted the Lorath royalty to see Saito.
The communication from Himitsu went through without any problem, and was easily processed by the computer aboard the Lorath Royal's Ki-F5. The small ship made it's approach to the lori as the formation around the vessel adjusted their course so they would not be in the way of the docking procedure.
Velor sighed softly as he thought about the situation, he held a hope that this meeting would go far better than those which took place before. "Sister, we're going to be docking soon... we should head to the airlock." Velor said as he stood up from his chair, while a volumetric screen before him displayed the lori and the docking port which their ship had been cleared to dock at.
When the Ki-F5 moved into the proper location relative to the docking port, it kept it's position to allow for the lori to extend it's docking tube, which the outdated Ki-F5 lacked. While the docking took place, a group of Lorath technicians kept an eye on the docking procedure to make sure that there would be no complications while the royalty were between vessels.
"Yes brother. I suppose we should head there now." Destiny nodded lightly, calling up a display for the whereabouts of Fate, her bodyguard. Seeing that the woman had docked on the Himitsu as well and was already on her way over to meet up with the royals.
"Fate will meet with us soon." Was all Destiny said as she held out her hand for her brother to take. The flight had given her time to think. She had not been a good sister lately, and it was time she began being the sister she should.
Velor nodded to his sister's words. "I'm glad that Fate has not decided to stay with the planet... you know how the Fyunnen can be about defending a position." As Velor spoke, he looked at his sister's hand as he suppressed a response that would be best discribed as supprise. I can't even remember the last time she offered her hand. Velor thought as he took her hand. Of course, unlike the traditions of their Yamataian neighbors, the Lorath tradition would involve his sister leading him along after their hands clasped together.
"I think... and hope... that this meeting is going to go as well as it seems that it will. I have a good feeling about this, but I can't help but to shake the anxiety that I tend to feel before these things." Velor smiled to his sister before speaking again. "But, as long as you're here, I feel that we have a hope."
"It only helps to lift my spirit that you said that brother...I am sorry." Destiny smiled to her brother, keeping her own take on the newest upcoming encounter to herself. She did not wish to jynx herself.
"They are stubborn yes, but they are reliable and caring. They do what they feel is best for our protection." It wasn't so much a scolding as it was just a gentle reminder, a tone of playful banter like they had once had together.
"Now remember brother, we must watch our manners and make sure to keep our elbows from the table. Mother and Father would both be very upset if our manners were anything but perfect." She giggled a little, nudging her brother a little as she indeed took the lead.
Meanwhile...
Chusa Sakemoto was still leaning over the tactical map, there were so little ships and so much space to cover. The denial of mutual support amongst his team because of the wide distances between the ships worried him, on top of lowering their chances of a proper kill, help may not arrive in time for a ship in danger. The tension was exacerbated by a red dot that suddenly decided to appear on the edge of the map.
"What is it?" demanded the Chusa.
"Its a... A Yui 4, no, Bellystabber sir! No IFF signals." His sensors officer was listening to his earphones and tapping furiously on the console to try to get a better resolution.
"Pirates." Sakemoto muttered, now he might have to reveal the position of his ship for the scum of the universe. No, they do not deserve it. "Gunnery officer! Navigation!"
Sakemoto waited for the obligatory 'Hai Chusa' from the bridge crews before he continued. "Give them the usual two torpedoes set to slow. Navigations, take us out of this zone before the torpedoes hit."
"Hai, Chusa." They both obediently replied.
"Oh and communications, not a word of this to the Taisa. I don't want her to get all excited over a mere pirate."
Back at the Himitsu
The YSS Yukari, Ikuze, Sadame, most of the command group and a few other Irims were docked at the Himitsu. Tange Nao strode out of the airlock unaccompanied to meet up with her Chusas. Further down the hallway waiting for her was the expressionless Chusa Za and the youngish and small Chusa Mihai. They were also both in formal whites.
"Taisa!" They both greeted her with a bow as she cleared the last airlock.
"Good job with the display." Nao commented. "It appears that I have to escort the Lorath Royalty even on this station, but we can spare one of you and most of the ships to help out Chusa Sakemoto."
"Chusa Sakemoto has laid out his plans to me earlier, Taisa." Za said in a dull voice. "You know that the both of us work best together, besides..." Za then turned to look at the perky and relatively inexperienced Mihai. "... I'm never any good at this diplomacy thing."
Nao simply had to nod to send Za running back to the YSS Ikuze. Turning to look at Mihai, Nao was confronted with a face that definitely looked hostile. Mihai I'm sorry. But do belive me when I say that you are still not ready yet.
"You!" Mihai said loudly while pointing a finger at Nao's face angryly.
"Me?" Nao responded by pointing her own finger at her own face quizzically.
"You are not going to meet royalty looking like that!" Mihai indicated while moving behind the Tange and giving her a push. "You are comming onboard my ship and I'm giving you a makeover, Tange Nao!"
Back to the YSS Atarashi
Five... Four... Three... Two... One. The red dot on the map flashed briefly before dissapearing. Sakemoto responded with an impassive "Hmmp."
"Chusa, the other Irims are reporting other unidentified ships on the edges of their zones. They are requesting orders to persue." The comm officer forwarded.
"Negative." Sakemoto answered. "Don't expand the theater of operations. We can barely hold this place as it is."
"Perhaps you need assistance, in the form of 27 additional Irims?" Chusa Za offered even before her volumetric image finished materialising. Sakemoto thought he saw a small grin on the sides of her lips. But it was obvious that there was a grin on him.
"You are a sight for sore eyes, Za." Sakemoto said, while imitating a gentleman's pose. "Ladies first."
Back to the Himitsu.
Nao tried to imagine how she looked like now. That ____ Mihai had a field day with my body. Nao belived that there is some powder on her face, polish on her nails, lipstick and her hair was tied in a bun held in place with a chopstick with a pair of bangs trailing down. At least this look is still practical as it is elegant. The last time she dragged me into that YSS Sadame of hers, I actually looked sexy-Oh dear it hurts just thinking of it!
Mihai was standing behind and to the right of the Tange, humming a tune innocently while waiting for the Lorath royalty to arrive through the airlock. Noting the Tange's discomfort, the small Neko assured. "Dont worry Taisa, you look great!" Mihai quipped while raising a thumbs up.
Quiet, that is the least of my worries now. Nao pretended not to hear Mihai's comments. The sounds of airlocks opening beyond the one they were waiting made Nao's ears prick up. Oh look, here they come now.
Himitsu / Ki-F5 Airlock:
Velor gave the proper instruction to the airlock to open to the Himitsu, the old Ki-F5’s configuration resulted in it appearing that the royals were standing on the wall of the ship, which relative to the Himitsu’s airlock, was the floor. Velor gladly allowed his sister to proceed ahead of him and handle introductions.
Lor's Surface:
The evacuation of the Lorath continued to proceed as planned and without a hitch other than an occasional dispute accusing obscure families of cutting before more prominent ones. Disputes of rank and file were quickly remedied through a reference to the planetary network, or through the quick intervention of one of the New-Tur’lista or Lmanel.
The gathering of the free range Helashio was an entirely different matter. At least five hundred million tagged free-range Helashio were being guided or shipped by ground vehicle to the capital city. Of these five hundred million, only a mere two or three million had any comprehension of what this kind of mass herding could mean. The lack of knowledge of the situation resulted in some levels of hysterics. Thankfully, the Lmanel assigned to this task were well trained in dealing with such situations, from simply separating the trouble makers from the bulk, to the use of tranquilizer darts, the rush of Helashio which could only be described as a herd made its way over the grassy plains surrounding the capital city.
The untagged and wild Helashio was a far more complex matter. Settlements which ranged from village sized groupings, to towns of a few hundred or at most a few thousand dotted the western continent. Through the years of the Lorath's control of the surface, each one of these groupings of Helashio were documented and mapped out, which allowed for platoons of Non-LSDF Fyunnen and Lmanel to proceed to these locations. Once the Lorath arrived, they began to round up the Helashio which needed to be evacuated, just the same as their tamed or tagged brethren.
Unfortunately, these wild Helashio had different plans. The able bodied males of these settlements began to mount resistance efforts against the Lorath evacuation personnel. Fortunately, the gap of technology between the Lorath and the Helashio provided the Lorath with the upper hand. Primitive firearms, slings, and even various improvised catapults and ballista were fielded against the Fyunnen and Lmanel, which were quick to retreat to their armored vehicles, where they would call for assistance from the LSDF and whoever else was available. The Fyunnen of these groups had to practice restraint, under normal circumstances they would have simply slaughtered the resistance forces of these towns, but they knew full well that they would have to take a soft hand to the situation considering that the Yamataians were involved with this operation. Even with the trouble encountered against the wild Helashio, the Lorath had not yet began their efforts to evacuate one settlement which they often considered to be the most troublesome to keep suppressed, the one and only Helashio settlement which was populated enough to be called a city which was situated on the eastern continent.
The eastern continent posed its own hazards, since the bulk of the Lorath which once inhabited the area had been either killed by the moonfall, or had been evacuated to the western continent. Along with the lack of friendly forces, the terrain was scarred beyond recognition, and still had vast quantities of toxic and radioactive hot spots... there was also the matter of abandoned Lorath equipment and weapons which were yet to be salvaged…
Above the planet:
"Nebula gas monitoring sensors have detected a quantity of displaced gases." A white haired Corporal reported from the sensor station aboard the 'Lek'ci', a Zahl class cruiser which had been monitoring the ground and space operations.
The report drew a sigh from the ship's current commanding officer, a Vice Admiral which had been pried from her comfortable rear-line command position. "Size of the distortion? I don't want to be worried about a comet or some sort of gravity distortion." she asked as she stood up from her chair, the red leather she wore instead of the standard LSDF uniform creaked as she moved.
"Judging by the displacement... wait, there is another displacement, much larger, an explosion of some sort." The Corporal reported as she watched the sensor monitor.
"It seems our Yamataian friends are busy without us." The Vice Admiral commented as she sat back down, she consulted the primary view screen which displayed a three dimensional image of the theater of operations. "They're spread quite thin..." she commented as she watched the blue dots on the screen move about, "Major Secc, send a message to the Yamataian ship coordinating their efforts, inform them that we are willing to assist in system-border skirmishes if needed, and that the other LSDF ships are also willing to expand their field of operations."
Fate was standing by the Airlock, repealed in a full suit of Red armor that was both over and under her normal clothing, though this armor was more cerimonial then combat worthy, in Fate's eyes anyway since it was mostly just red dyed leather armor with a single plate of metal bearing her clan's caste symbol over her chest. Turning her gaze to meet the royals, she raised her faceless helm and slid it onto her head.
"Lord, My lady." She stated simply as she took step behind them, her sword, also more cerimonial then normal rattled slightly.
Ayako rested her chin in her right hand. It was very quiet, both in the bridge and on the scanners. Taii Eto had reported back only a few minutes ago. Shindo and Ganyu were due to report in another fifteen minutes or so.
Looking to her command systems console. Ayako noted everything was still green and active. Then Saito's voice and a volumetric display of the Chujo appeared, driving Ayako from here own world.
"Yes, Chujo? Oh, yes." Ayako started and begin tracing here fingers across the command console. She sent all the available scanning information to the Himitsu. "As you can see, we've got nothing on the scope at the moment. But being this close to squid lands I would assume we'll see some more activity later on."
Ayako then forwarded any pertinent information from the rest of the group's ships to the star fortress. "How goes the evacuation and diplomatics?" Ayako asked, attempting to garner information as to what she was missing.
Obelisk rested just behind her teacher Fate, done up in her ceremonial armor much like Fate was. She was on her toes with so many smaller people around, not used to them nor to the setting or the situation. With a small sigh she kept her eyes on the floor.
As she heard the royals come through the door she dropped to a knee, her hand over her heart as she bowed her head. "Xiaah, High Priest." She said with both honor and reverence. She remained where she was until she got the cue from Destiny to stand.
Destiny smiled lightly as she saw the reassuring presence of both Fate and Obelisk. But not to seem rude to those that were sent to escort her, she addressed them first.
"Greetings, I am Xiaah Destiny, a pleasure to meet you." She gave them a small bow, smiling to them before turning to her brother. "This is my brother, High Priest Tomoe. The two beside you are the High General Fate, current warden of the Fyunnen household, and Princess Obelisk, heir to the Fyunnen household. They are both my bodyguards, so please allow them a little leeway if they become to protective."
Destiny chuckled at what she saw as a funny joke, hiding her mouth behind her hand as she bowed again. "And whom do I owe thanks too for my escort?"
"I am Taisa Tange Nao, one of the Motoyoshi Bakufu, and this is my ward Chusa Mihai. The pleasure is all mine, your highness." Nao responded with a bow with an angle slightly exceeding that of the one Destiny performed, as a person who climbed the ranks the normal way, Nao put her position as a subservent soldier first before that of a Tange.
"Your entourage are now guests onboard our humble Hotaru Starfortress." Nao continued after she resumed her full height. "We will make any allowances to ensure that your visit is as comfortable as possible. As your escort, do inform me if you require anything."
"Ah, I should not keep your highness waiting any longer. Right this way, please." Nao said as she turned to the side, backtracked once as so she would be closer to the walls and then lowered her head to indicate that the path would be down the coridoor. As soon as the Lor party would take their first steps, Nao would lead them down the coridoor to the lifts that would take them to NECTAR.
As Nao's aide, Mihai followed her superior's actions to the letter with an additional bow and "Pleased to meet you!" when she was introduced. She was warned earlier by Nao that her cheerful disposition was welcome as a collegue but not as a serviceman on serious business so she tried appear as professional as possible. She would stand on the opposite side Nao when the Lor were ready to move.
Shoi-san. Mihai telepathically transmitted down the coridoor to the Sub-Lieutenant in charge of additional guards. We are comming soon and Nao-sama says to accomodate for the bodyguards.
Uh, hai. Chusa. The Sub-Leutenant was momentarily stunned by Mihai's informal way of greeting him. The security officer took up his communicator and issued orders to his men. "All right listen up, condone off and close any irrevelant doors in the pathway leading up to NECTAR. Also, I only want half the guards to be in position. Too many guns, ours and theirs in the same place is just going to make everybody uneasy."
The Shoi didn't need to wait for an response. As soon as he closed the communicator, he could hear the sounds of footsteps running outside his command post as everybody got to work. As soon as the steps calmed down, he exited his room to take up position in the coridoor just opposite another guard.
Lor royalty.He thought as he straightened his uniform, adjusted his cap and kept his eyes peeled at the general direction they would be arriving from. Not something you see everyday.
When introduced, Velor bowed politely to the two who greeted him and his sister and smiled. "A pleasure to meet you both, Taisa Nao, Chusa Mihai.". Other than his greeting, he remained quiet and allowed his sister to handle most of the talking. He was glad that he did not have to conduct the typical diplomatic banter, it gave him the focus to observe and take in the sights of the Yamataian starfortress
Meanwhile, on the surface or the planet the combined force of the Lmanel and the Fynnuen were trying to evacuate all the helashio that aren't holed up in the city and trying to resist them. Most of the total population had been cleared out, with the city remaining. Notan grumbled at this development. "Stupid... these idiots are still clinging so hard to their freedom they don't understand that if they don't leave they're going to die." He muttered, petting his companion animal when one of the lmanel came in, panting a bit from running over from the Fynnuen encampment of armored vehicles.
"Sir, the Fynnuen are getting antsy and want to just sack the city...what should we do." The young Lor asked, sounding a bit alarmed.
"Hmm...have Autumn take her rats and infiltrate the city and report back to me on where their strongholds and weakpoints are within it." He said, sending the young messenger off to carry the message to the resident Lmanel who happened to be bonded with rodents.
Destiny smiled lightly to the others and took the first stride. She fell in behind the others and followed them, fully expecting both Fate and Obelisk to follow as she held onto her brother's hand.
"Are you taking in the sights brother? What do you think so far?" She asked her brother, eyes scanning around idly.
"Are we to have a tour first? Or are we to meet with your commanding officer now?" Destiny asked though in a gentle tone. She didn't mind either way, not quiet sure if she was ready, though positive she wanted to get it over with. She was still just as uneasy as her brother, yet she was still optimistic.
"I have orders to take your highness to my commanding officer." Said in a matter of factly way. Half a second later she received a telepathic *AHEM*. Looking out of the corner of her eye, she caught Mihai giving her a 'What do you think you're doing!?' glare.
"Chujo Mitsuya Saito is expecting you, unfortunately." Nao quickly continued, this time with a hint of dissapointment in her voice. The Tange paused for a moment here before blushing a little. "But I would be happy to show you around the station after the meeting if you want to~."
Mihai refrained from raising a thumbs up and from crying tears of joy.
Meanwhile, further down the road.
From the surface of the planet another transport came up to dock, the passenger on board was a representative of the Lmanel house that had been a bit late and missed the first ride up. Being lucky to get this one, the young woman sighed to herself as the shuttle docked with the station; Pyra had never been in space before and was awed by everything around her. Once it docked and things cleared and secured, she pushed the door open and stepped into the airlock, brushing her mid-back length emerald green hair over her shoulder and looked around with amber eyes. The young shamaness was wearing the traditional clothing of a lmanel, soft furs and leather. "Hello?" she asked shyly.
"Uh sir?" One of the Shoi's men voiced out from the communicator in his pocket. "There is a Lor ship docking at tube 1-31, could be more royals."
"What!" The Shoi exclaimed in reply while whipping out the communicator. "Take my place, I be right there in a moment!" The Shoi left his postition and accelerated to a run, the way Nao does things is to make sure that there is always a ranking person attending to any guests. Now that the Tange is busy and that Mihai too, he guessed that he did not have much of a choice.
The security officer and two additional guards reached the airlock just a few seconds before it opened, quickly wiping the sweat off his brow and standing at an attention. He thought the new arrival looked quite pretty but he quickly brushed it off, he still had a job to do. Snapping into a salute, he announced. "Welcome to the Himitsu Starfortress. I am Shoi Kazuma. Forgive me if I appear to be rude, but I have to verify your name." A pearl of sweat slid down his brow. "Security measures, miss."
The shamaness blinked in surprise at the sudden hustle and bustle around her as she got off the shuttle and blinked, the dyed red cluster of bangs falling over her right eye for a moment. "Oh, um it's okay." She said to him a bit quietly. "I'm sorry I'm late, there's been problems for our caste on the planet." she said. "My name's Pyra..." she said with a cute little smile.
"Oh... Its alright." Kazuma gulped, he quickly scanned the datapad containing the list of guests he received from his Lor counterpart. Pyra Pyra Pyra Pyra Pyra. Oh, there it is. "It says here that you are a representative of the Lmanel House." Kazuma confirmed before stowing the datapad and bringing out the communicator. "The meeting is this way, but your Queen would be there any moment now... Could we, um, run?" Kazuma knew that asking a guest to perform a physically exerting activity is pretty much heresy, but he thought Pyra would be in hotter waters if she was actually late for the meeting.
"Oh it's fine with me." Pyra smiled cutely at him. "It's perfectly okay, I'm actually used to running." The slender girl said and stretched her arms out. "But yes, we must hurry if we're already running behind, please lead the way." She said, tying her long hair back into a high ponytail to keep it from falling into her face.
"My apologies." Kazuma bowed before moving and directing Pyra down a coridoor. "This way." He made sure he was a few feet in front of the Lor as he ran. Raising his communicator, the Shoi issued further orders to his men. "One more comming through tube 1-31, clear the path!"
Meanwhile, on the YSS Atarashi
Sakemoto was very pleased, with Chusa Za and her ships around, they were covering a radius of almost 5 LY securely with a grand total of 40 Irims. The small pirate group that was operating in the area did not have a chance at all against the combined might of Empress Yui's finest.
On the tactical map there was a red dot sandwiched between two green ones, an obvious tactical advantage now that there were enough ships for each Irim to work in pairs. Sakemoto looked up to the screen to a fellow Irim Captain. "Shosa Hitomi, you have the first shot."
"Hai, Chusa." Hitomi responded short and crisply as her image disappeared. The other screen showed her Irim readying its main gun. "The YSS Mizumi has a positive lock on the Bellystabber! Its going to fire any second now!" Sakemoto's sensor officer reported.
All right Hitomi, show me what you've got! Sakemoto thought. Within seconds the energy levels was off the charts as the YSS Mizumi opened up with its Type-26A Anti-ship weapon and shrouded the entire area with light. The weapon was more than enough to wipe out the Bellystabber... Except it was not there.
"Bellystabber forced an FTL jump, sir!" The sensor officer explained. "Its still within range!"
FTL jump under interdictor fields? Ha ha, nice try. Enjoy your busted hyperspace module. "Its all over for him now, prepare the Type-26!" Sakemoto ordered.
"Type-26 fully charged, on your mark, Chusa."
"FIRE!" Sakemoto shouted. Within moments, the YSS Atarashi shuddered as it released its deadly blast. The Bellystabber, now unable to escape was caught in the wave and disintegrated into nothingness. Sakemoto was crossing his arms with a smug grin before the image of the wreckage was replaced by that of Hitomi's embarrased face.
"I apologise for missing, sir."
The Chusa waved Hitomi's worry away. "At least we got him anyway. Try harder next time, Shosa."
"Thank you sir." Hitomi's image dissapeared before being abruptly replace by that of Za's ever neutral face projected from light years away. "Your little exercise is scaring the fish away. Sakemoto. I can smell your gunpowder from here."
"Ho?" Sakemoto turned to face his collegue. "These are merely pirates, I'm giving my soldiers target practice so that they'll fare better against the much more difficult and dangerous Mishhu, my dear Za."
Za remained quiet for a few seconds before nodding. "I understand, Sakemoto. We both have our ways of doing things. Shall we talk about them over tea after the mission?"
Sakemoto was not suprised by Za's blunt invitation, he had accepted them a few times before. "Its my pleasure." He replied before Za turned off the screen, only to be replaced by another report by his sensor officer.
"Another Bellystabber detected sir! It has spotted us. It is moving away!"
"Yosh!" Sakemoto responded. "Have Hitomi get into position, we are on a roll today!"
Later, back at the Himitsu
Shoi Kazuma and Pyra arrived at the elevator to NECTAR in good time before the other Royals. Visibly breathing heavily and wiping off his sweat with a hankerchief, he looked at the Lor and explained. "This is the elevator to NECTAR where the meeting is held. Your Queen will be here soon and then you will join them to see Chujo Mitsuya Saito." He then took one last deep breath and stood in attention and in position. As though on cue, Nao's group was visible as they turned the last corner. "Well, here they are." He whispered to Pyra before turning to Nao with a "Taisa!" greeting.
Above Lor:
The Vice Admiral sighed as she watched the demonstration of the Yamataian’s firepower. She found it obnoxious that they insisted on taking care of every little threat. “I’m tired of sitting here.” She said as she crossed one leg over the other as she shifted position in her command chair. “If we’re going to be helping them, we need to make sure that we’re capable... set course for the skirmish zone where they are combating those enemy vessels. Inform scout ships sixteen through twenty that they will be covering our flanks.” With the Vice Admiral’s command, the Zahl-Class ‘Lek'ci' moved from it’s position, along with four of the modified scout ships, two carrying positron beam emitters, and two carrying antimatter missile launcher pods.
“Charge the white beam emitters and turrets. Load forward under-wing launchers with mixed missile compositions. Load rear launchers with multiple-warhead missiles. Inform the torpedo bay that they will be filling the 500’s, currently I want a multiple-warhead round chambered.” As the Vice Admiral spoke her words, the crew of the Zahl class ship dashed about and carried out her commands. Within the few moments it took for the Lek'ci to reach the skirmish zone, the ship’s weapons systems were fully active and ready.
“Pull to the eastern front more, give the Yamataians their space. Judging by how focused they are on that skirmish zone, there should be some of those bandits attempting passage around them.” The vice admiral looked upon a visual display monitor; she watched the nebula before their ship. As she watched, she contemplated, “Fire the multiple warhead torpedo from the central tube. Targeting, I want you to control the warheads. Give them a dispersal pattern forward facing. Detonate them two hundred meters apart from each other.” Within a moment of the Vice Admiral’s order, the central torpedo tube of the Lek'ci discharged a large round from its depths. The torpedo sped through the space before the Lek’ci, and as it approached the nebula ahead, the torpedo then separated into twenty warheads, which then flew into different directions into the dense nebula gasses. After they separated two hundred meters apart, they exploded into spheres of matter and antimatter induced light. Each of these explosions caused the nebula gas to be pushed aside or burnt away. A pair of the ‘Bellystabber’ class ships were robbed of their cover in the once dense gas.
“Scout ship wing, target enemy A, Targeting computer on target B, prepare to fire white beams.” The Vice Admiral ordered as she looked upon the enemy before her.
“Enemy ships firing mixed torpedo ordinance!” One of the sensor technicians announced.
“Countering with turret fire.” The red haired lieutenant beside her said calmly as he silently input a targeting order to the turrets through a neural interface device.
With a brilliant flash of light, the torpedoes which were fired by the Lek'ci’s target were vaporized mid-way through their route. The Bellystabber followed through with a burst from it’s primary weapon, the Combined Pulse Cannon. The bolt of energy ripped through the space between the Bellystabber and the Lek'ci. The round breached the forward shields of the Zahl-class, and impacted against the hull of the ship… only to cause the outer hull plate that it hit to be burnt away, but it was not followed by the typical black-out of the target ship’s systems.
The Vice Admiral scowled at the slightly troublesome target. “Fire the white beams, follow through with a barrage of 10’s from the front launchers. I want that ship disabled and the crew dead. Damage report!”
“Outer hull breached, mid hull intact, internal damage is minimal.” The engineer to her right announced. “Minor electronic shorts in the impact area, generators still online, neural processor system insulation absorbed the shock.”
“White beams fired, and missiles away.” The lieutenant at the weapons station announced as fifteen 10KT antimatter warheads were launched, as two brilliant white flashes of light streaked through the space which they soon were to cross through. The white beams then impacted with the Bellystabber’s shields, breaching them and punching two ten-foot-wide holes through the Bellystabber. As the brilliant white light cleared away, the fifteen missiles soon followed through the path the beams forged, finding their mark inside of the breaches created by the beams, resulting in fifteen separate explosions within the Bellystabber’s interior. Due to the low yield of the warheads, the explosion was not enough to blow the vessel apart, but it was enough to flash-cook the ship’s crew through x-ray radiation which easily ripped through the titanium and silicon construction of the pirate’s vessel.
The Vice admiral’s red painted lips parted into a malevolent grin. “Call a Harvester to this location; inform them to have their heavy nets at the ready. Thaw out fifteen of our Fyunnen and have them meet the Harvester in a pair of Ferryman. Inform them that they will carry out boarding operations to clear out any survivors.”
As the Vice Admiral handled the reaping of her target’s spoils, the four scout ships went about their operation.
“Posi-equiped ships, prepare to fire.” The group leader announced. “Missile ships fire and bring down those shields.” At the group leader’s command, two TAEC-0005 ‘Star Seeker’ type scoutships then burst ahead of the two positron beam equipped ships.
The two missile-ship’s engines were pushed to their operational limit as they closed the gap between themselves and the second Bellystabber at near the speed of light. The Bellystabber fired off a round from their Combined Pulse Cannon, which impacted both of the missile-ships, but was easily shrugged off by the vessels’ lack of Zero Point Energy reliant systems and their recent upgrade of andrium external plate. “Firing Missiles.” One of the pilots announced as the two ships released part of their payload of missiles from their missile pods, resulting in several impacts against the Bellystabber’s top-side shields, causing a rupture of the vessel’s shield coverage.
“Following through.” The lead ship announced as her and her partner ship conducted a high speed fly-by over the topside of the Bellystabber, as they approached they conducted several evasive maneuvers to evade the pirate vessel’s plasma weapons. “Do a barrel roll!” the wing leader called to her partner ship, as her partner barely evaded the plasma weapon discharge, the wing leader fired off her positron weapon, inflicting several direct hits against the Bellystabber. The positron beam easily sliced through the weak hull of the pirate vessel, resulting in the incineration of several pirates, and a breach of the hull of the vessel’s bridge, resulting in a decompression which effectively eliminated the pirate captain, and the ship’s command crew, leaving the Bellystabber dead in space for the time being.
“Ships sixteen through twenty reporting target neutralization, Lek’ci. Returning to position” The wing leader announced as she led her wing back to their position above the gas giant’s desert moon.
“We thank you for your support, we wish your hunts well.” The Vice Admiral responded. “Use the graviton beams to guide the damaged ships closer into our space and out of the skirmish zone. We don’t want our harvester to be in harm’s way.”
Meanwhile on Lor, outside of the Helashio city:
The rodents which were sent in as scouts into the Helashio stronghold made their return, reporting that there were several dozen tribal leaders throughout the Helashio city, and they also brought news of Lorath weapons which were found within the confines of the city, including what the rats perceived as ‘Giant metal people’.
As the rats made their report, the Helashio inside of the city began to feel empowered by the lack of force shown by the Lorath. One of the Helashio made his way to the top of a tower on the outskirts of the city, in his arms was a single missile tube which was most likely salvaged from a nearby evacuated Lorath encampment. With a shrill battlecry, the Helashio tribal warrior did as the book that he found with the weapon instructed him… he took to one knee and placed the tube upon his shoulder, he fixed the glowing box of light upon one of the metal boxes which contained the angry metal plated winged demons. He flicked his thumb over the metal covering of the tube’s firing trigger, then pressed his finger down upon the trigger, resulting in a single arrow of fire and smoke to be shot from the tube.
The low yield antimatter missile hit it’s mark, an APC carrying a squad of Fyunnen warriors. With a brilliant flash of light, the APC and the area of fifty yards around it were flash cooked by light and radiation as the missile collided and released it’s realitively small antimatter load upon the armor of the vehicle.
The loss of Fyunnen lives were the last straw for the restless platoon of Fyunnen who watched their sisters meet their end. “Bring the B.O.T squad forward, tell them to focus on the male targets and high value targets! Do not kill too many or the Lmanel will cry!” The Fyunnen commander called out to her platoon, finishing her statement with a mocking tone aimed at the Lmanel which were stationed not too far away.
Shortly after the Fyunnen commander issued her orders… the ground began to rumble, the reason behind the Bringer of Thunder’s name became clear as the Helashio’s buildings began to vibrate as the ground beneath them shook. This resulted in the level of hysteria behind the city’s walls carrying over into the realm of irrationality. A group of fifty Helashio tribal warriors charged out from one of the smaller city gates, they each carried older models of Lorath firearms which had not seen use since the retaking of the surface, even though the weapons were aged, they surely functioned as they used the old bolt action rifles against the Fyunnen troops stationed near the gate…
“Commander! Your orders?” One of the Fyunnen warriors asked as she ducked behind a pile of sandbags. As she spoke, a .308 round rang against the helmet of her full plate armor, but did not penetrate. “We also receive word that the Fyunnen on the far side of the city have deployed their B.O.T squad.”
Meanwhile, at Notan's position, a Lmanel scout made his report as his bonded companion, a small fuzzy feathered bird, perched upon his head. "A little bird tells me that our Fyunnen companions have began their approach on the city, what should we do?"
Notan thought for a moment, watching what was going on and getting the incoming reports from the rats and now this assistant who'd been watching what was going on from the air. The Fynnuen were always so hot headed and bloodthirsty but considering the tense situation it was almost understandable. Thinking quickly, he smirked. "Tell the Fynnuen to destroy any high places the Helashio can get into to snipe at us with what's left in the city. Act only in self defense and try to avoid too many casualties." he said. "We need to get these people out of here as peacefully as possible, even if it means putting them in the collars, how many do we have with us?" he asked.
"Currently, we only have five hundred with us. I'm sure we could have more dropped to us by cargo ship if you put in a request." The bird-bonded shaman said in response as he looked out to the city. "I'll try to get a message to them, but it may be difficult considering their focus on the battle." With that, the shaman broke into a sprint toward the nearest Fyunnen encampment, the same which had been dealing with the Helashio wielding small arms. When he would arrive, he would deliver Notan's report.
Fortunately for Notan, a part of his orders were already underway before he even spoke them. One of the Fyunnen Bringer Of Thunder had stood up from behind the hill it was laid prone behind. As it stood up, a large Gatling weapon came into view. The relatively un-advanced weapon was still a vicious beast, this was made apparent as the Bringer Of Thunder raised the weapon, the barrels then began to rotate, and soon a roar of thunderous sound, fire, and smoke burst from the barrels of the weapon. The gatling which was dubbed 'Devil's Fury' spewed hundreds of high explosive rounds into the city. With a flurry of explosions, dust, and smoke, the Helashio's tallest structures were torn to rubble, soon followed by the city walls and gates.
The Fyunnen's show of force pressured the Helashio into using one of the 'Metal people' they had found in one of the many abandoned Lorath settlements. A faint glow of a camera-eye shined through the smoke and dust of blown apart buildings, as the scorched black and grey Bringer Of Thunder stepped out from the wreckage, its movements were somewhat clumsy, but this could be expected of a pilot who learned from the pictures in a manual, and was learning as he went along. What the pilot could not handle, the B.O.T's computer did as it balanced the machine and kept it from falling. The Helashio pilot then made an attempt to use the B.O.T's Gatling upon the Fyunnen's machine, but was greeted with a series of loud buzzes, red lights, and warnings about friendly fire. The Helashio then dropped the seemingly useless Gatling weapon, and drawn an oversize blade from behind the machine. The blade ignited into a stream of plasma as the Helashio piloted the machine into a charge at the Fyunnen position.
"By the God be damned..." The Fyunnen B.O.T pilot cursed as she found that she was out of ammunition for her Gatling as she saw the Helashio piloted unit charge at her. She drawn her own massive blade which she wielded with one hand, while she held up a make-shift shield in the other hand... a cut hull section from the scrapped Nozomi which had been left by the Sakura during the Moonfall. The size was nothing more than a buckler, but it served it's purpose as the Helashio piloted B.O.T leaped at her, the stream of plasma and the solid blade impacted against the Zesuaium plate. The plate held up marvelously to the under-accelerated plasma.
The Helashio inside of the B.O.T began to swing the oversize weapon zealously, striking against the makeshift shield repeatedly. This blind assault was rash, but effective, it forced the Fyunnen pilot to keep her shield up. The Fyunnen did not intend to be pinned down without a fight though, as she fired her B.O.T's thrusters and slammed the shield against the torso of the opposing armor, forcing it to stagger backward. The Fyunnen then followed through with her own blade, which had been upgraded with a modern disruptive plasma stream strip along the sides of the blade. The disruptive plasma caused the air around the blade to crackle and burn as the Fyunnen swung the weapon with great accuracy, severing an arm of the opposing machine.
The Helashio pilot quickly ducked his machine down as he snatched the arm from the ground and fired the thrusters of his own machine, retreating back into the smoke and ruble of the Helashio city, the Fyunnen pilot then gave chase. To an observer, it would be apparent that such a conflict inside of the city would result in massive collateral damage. Even the Fyunnen group which gave their zealous order to attack considered standing by and waiting. They allowed the combatants to go farther into the city before they would make their move, this break in advance would present an opportunity to get a grip upon this platoon's actions.
Lor - Eastern Continent – Helashio City Stronghold
The Fyunnen Bringer Of Thunder made it's way into the smoke and dust of the battered Helashio city as the pilot pursued her prey, the stolen B.O.T piloted by a mere savage Helashio.
Meanwhile, outside of the city, the Fyunnen troops were in a gap between their advance, waiting for the large combatants to proceed farther into the city.
Feather was among the ground troops waiting for the B.O.T.s to clear more space for the troops to advance with minimal collateral damage to the infantry. A Fyunnen ran over to her, while she was looking through a pair of binoculars at the duel, as well as trying to spy Helashio resistance encampments.
"Ma'am." The trooper said with a slight bow. Feather responded with a slight wave of her hand. "One of the hound teams has found a collapsed length of wall that they think will be a good entrance, instead of waiting for the B.O.T.s to clear room."
Feather though on the information, "No, we'll wait here." She replied. "If we know of the hole, then they would too. It would be a terrific trap."
Surely enough, Feather's squad held their ground and waited... unfortunately, the other Fyunnen on the far side of the city were without orders to halt as they began their advance into the ruined side of the Helashio settlement. As they made their charging approach, they held their 'Hand Cannon' revolvers at the ready in one hand, while they each held their 'Searing Blade' sabers at the ready, a truly unique buccaneer type of battle stance, fitting for a raid.
Meanwhile, Notan was remaining where he was, listening to the incoming updates on the situation and how the Fyunnen were moving into the city and grumbled a bit. He knew how this could get out of hand once things got going; the warriors were always quick to retaliate when attacked. Thinking through the numbers he had with him he grabbed a radio to request more control collars be airdropped in for the Fyunnen to put on the more troublesome Helashio. It was almost time for the Lmanel to move in as well to start subduing the less rebellious ones. "Once those collars arrive, we're moving in to aid the Fyunnen, these Helashio need to be evacuated at any cost." he said to his messenger on hand. "Relay the message to their commander to make use of those when they arrive." He said.
When the request was sent in for a supply of additional control collars, an Lmanel operated TATC-0001 cargo vessel responded to the request. "Notan, we read your request and will conduct a fly-by drop of the requested collars. ETA is fifteen minutes, we need to adjust our orbit before decent." Apparently, Lmanel slave handlers all around Lor were having the same problem with a number of wild Helashio settlements. Prior to this evacuation, there was never a need to collar this many Helashio. Thankfully, the Lmanel were prepared for this unlikely situation...
"Drop them near the Fyunnen troops." Notan replied to the cargo vessel. "We have plenty here with us currently and relay the message to the troops on the far side of the settlement to make use of them and try to avoid causalities." he said over the radio.
"Will-do, may your hunt fare well." The Lmanel pilot responded as he closed the communication channel then opened one to the Fyunnen. "This is Lmanel cargo transport 'Submission', we have a shipment of control collars which we have been instructed to supply your squad. It is requested by Lmanel caste leader Notan that you utilize these collars to subdue the opposing force."
"This is Fyunnen platoon 'Heart Break', we receive your message." The Fyunnen communications operator responded as he sat in an APC at the rear of the lines. "Orders acknowledged, will attempt to relay..." The male operator sighed deeply as he closed the channel... he knew this would be difficult as he began to attempt to contact the platoon leader.
Feather tapped a finger to an ear piece she was wearing, true she lack a microphone to make it an actual radio, but it served when she need to hear, or overhear, communications between squads. Over hearing Submission and Heart Break, she learned the new mission parameters and also learned the engagement rules. "Hey," she said, turning to the warrior that told her about the wall breach, "Do we have any collars around here?"
"The only collars we have handy are the ones the Lmanel have, ma'am." The warrior said before a .308 round of ammunition impacted against the gauntlet of her armor, cracking the metal but being caught by the stone thread cloth beneath before it could penetrate into the flesh, unfortunately the impact broke the warrior's arm. "Damn it, can't we do anything other than sit here?!"
Notan gave the order to the Lmanel to move out and begin heading for city and move into position to infiltrate it while he waited for the Lmanel with her rodent spies to bring him the info on the layout of the city from what they knew.
Meanwhile, on the inside of the city. The city's inhabitants either hid inside of their homes, or were dug in behind rubble with salvaged outdated rifles. They made their attempt at a resistance and their attempt paid off as they took pot-shots at the Fyunnen warriors. Just enough to keep their heads down, which is until they began their advance. The first Fyunnen through the ruined city wall swiped her blade through the air, resulting in a plume of blueish plasma to wash over a trio of Helashio tribal warriors who attempted to engage her in melee combat. Nothing was left of them after the swing; this caused the armed Helashio to retreat farther into the city.
"Heart Break communications to Heartbreak Commander, we have orders to take prisoners." The male voice came over the communication line, but it was met by the sound of small arms fire, and plasma discharges. Apparently the same Fyunnen which went through the city wall first, and began to lay siege to the Helashio forces, was the same one who needed to receive the orders... little could be done to reach the battle focused commander by radio. "Heartbreak Comms to any Fyunnen who is listening, we need to inform the commander that we are to take as many prisoners as possible, repeat, inform the commander of our orders."
Feather ducked some and raised a hand instinctually from the gunshot. Glancing at the injured warrior, Feather's old resentments, which were long buried as a promise to an old dead friend, began to resurface. The slaves attacked her soldiers; they try to kill their betters. "Warriors!" Feather called as she drew her pistol, "We advance!" She called as she pointed at the entrance. She did hear the general request and decided to heed it. "If anyone comes in contact with members of Heart Break, inform them that the resistance must be contained! Wanton slaughter is not an option!"
"Yes ma'am!" The seven soldiers under Feather's command responded as they drawn their 'Stalwart Specials' from their slung positions. They then began to make their swift advance upon the city wall breach. As they made their charge, they took aim and fired at the Helashio rifle-men, but, they did not take kill shots. Instead, the magnetically accelerated needles impacted against the Helashio's old and outdated rifles, ripping them in two, or the needles tore through the Helashio's limbs, effectively disabling them.
Once things began to get going Notan and his Lmanel fell in behind Feather's force to collar the disabled the rebels and get them out to medical treatment so they could at least walk to evacuate. The ones who could were gathering up the Helashio that were too young to fight as well as the ones who were just too scared to fight. They were trying to show them they weren't doing this to hurt or kill them but to save their lives if they could.
As Feather's squad and the Heartbreak Platoon made their advance, the two Bringer of Thunder which were engaged in combat made their way to the center of the city as they made contact with each other once again. The Helashio threw the severed arm of his machine at the Fyunnen's B.O.T, which resulted in a rather audible 'CLANG' to sound through the city center. As the Fyunnen raised her shield to deflect the severed arm, the Helashio then leapt his stolen machine at the Fyunnen, tackling the red painted Bringer of Thunder against a stonework building, collapsing it to the ground. The two machines then began to struggle for dominance as the Fyunnen bashed her hull-plate-buckler against the head of the Helashio machine, inflicting rather formidable dents in the armor plate.
Heartbreak Platoon's commander continued her advance into the city, as her platoon followed behind her. A group of three Helashio took to a knee before the commander as they raised their rifles, took aim, and fired at her. The heavy red-painted plate armor the commander wore deflected the rounds easily; the .50 caliber rifles didn’t even make a scratch into the heart-shaped crest which was fixed upon the chest of the commander's armor. Again and again the Helashio fired, only to have their rounds deflected by the stone thread laminated armor. The platoon commander then closed the gap between her and the enemy... her free hand lashed out and grasped upon the skull of one of the Helashio, which she quickly crushed in her grasp. Two swipes of her blade was all it took to dispatch the other two. After dispatching the trio, she continued her advance upon the residential area of the city where the Helashio tribal warriors made their retreat to.
Feather and her troops continued their advance, ignoring and evading the B.O.T.s that continued to duke it out. Feather, herself, was showing restraint in her offensive, relying more on shock and scare tactics then out right combat. Whenever she squeezed off a round she always deliberately aimed too high or just away from her intended targets, if not aiming directly for their weapons.
Notan gave word to the ‘Risana’ (Lorath wolves) he'd brought to sniff out those that were hidden and call attention to them so the others could either subdue them or get them to safety. "Man I hate those B.O.T's when they're doing this, we have to watch out they don't bring anything down on our heads." He muttered.
Apparently, the bulk of the Helashio combatants were easily rattled by the advance of both groups of Fyunnen combatants, as they seemed to rush through the city center, also making an attempt to evade the two mechanical combatants which had returned to their feet again.
The Helashio pilot again made a retreat, which was soon halted by the Fyunnen B.O.T pilot who had enough of the little game... she, threw the oversized plasma blade at the back of the fleeing machine, resulting in a cleaving blow being made through the torso, and cockpit of the mechanical giant, thus neutralizing the threat. After dispatching the enemy, the Fyunnen pilot removed her oversize weapon from the vanquished armor before she made her way back out of the city.
A transmission came over the radio communications of the Heartbreak platoon, Feather's communication monitor, the Lmanel communications devices, and the Bringer of Thunder's comm line. "Cargo vessel 'Submission' to ground forces, we are making our pass. We will be dropping the cargo container in five minutes. Please be ready to recover the cargo."
"Good!" Notan said once he heard the communication come through. "That'll make this quite a bit easier." he said as his Lmanel had been running out of collars after applying them to most of the captures they'd gotten.
Feather listened to the update silently as she reloaded her handgun from the safety of a partly standing wall. With a click, she snapped the gun closed, looked over at her troops and nodded.
Continuing the previous trend, the Heartbreak Platoon's commander continued her advance, even as the Helashio piloted B.O.T fell to the ground not more than ten yards away from her. As she made her advance, she took aim with her revolver as she spotted the missile tube wielding Helashio which had killed her sisters in combat. He was perched upon a roof top, taking aim at the B.O.T which was leaving the battle. Her steady hand pulled the trigger of the weapon, resulting in a .50 caliber slug ripping through the Helashio's shoulder, thus causing him to lose his grip on the weapon. The impact also knocked him off balance as he staggered off the rooftop, plummeting to the ground below. Heartbreak's silent advance took her over the fallen Helashio who clung to life as he looked up at her. His dying gaze was met by the sole of the commander's rubber soled greaves as the battle focused commander stepped upon the Helashio's skull, smashing him like a bug beneath her stride.
The rats which Notan's forces sent to investigate returned with news of the Helashio taking refuge in the residential buildings, which also became burrows beneath the city... a situation which would take weeks, if not months, to clear up. Time which the Lorath did not have.
"Damn..." Notan cursed. "Wish Hebi was here, I'm sure her snakes could easily get them out of there in a hurry..." he thought for a moment.”We could possibly send the rats to get them out..." he mused.
Heartbreak's persistent advance surely brought her to the entrance of the residential burrows. The mound which served as the outer perimeter was bristling with Helashio tribal warriors armed with the old Lorath firearms. With a motion of Heartbreak's hand, her platoon then charged forward, their lighter plate allowing them to run ahead quickly. They charged directly into the hail of bullets, sprays of blood came from between the joints of several of the Fyunnen warrior's light armor before they collapsed, wounded but not dead yet. Even after falling, the warriors continued to claw at the ground in an attempt to advance. As her platoon charged the riflemen, Heartbreak made her way into the burrow, where she would surely continue her rampage.
"Cargo vessel 'Submission' dropping container now." The transmission sounded through the Lorath forces communications. Surely enough, the large and unattractive shape of a cargo transport passed over the city, and behind it a large container drifted lazily through the sky as it parachuted down, where it was caught by the Fyunnen Bringer of Thunder.
Feather and her unit continued their advance, finally coming upon the grizzly scene of Fyunnen having been gunned down by Helashio. "Capture those gunmen." She ordered as she then noticed a disturbance in the rubble around a burrow entrance, which was far larger then what a lightly garbed Helashio would cause. "You," she said, pointing to an Lmanel, who's bonded was apparently the rats, "Come with me, I'll need eyes in the darkness." She said, before quickly jogging into the burrow.
The Lmanel with the rats nodded and jogged after her into the burrow, the rats scurrying ahead and chittering amongst themselves, alerting them to terrain such as pits and the like. The others quickly moving to capture the gunmen, pinning them down and snapping the collar on them and sent them back toward the rear using the collars to control them to do so.
Feather's squad had little to no trouble making their way to the gunners, since a majority of them were already engaged in melee combat against the bulk of Heartbreak's squad which made it through. When Feather's forces joined the conflict, they quickly communicated the orders, which were followed as the B.O.T delivered the cargo container to just outside of the burrow.
The inside of the burrow was dark and cramped, except for a number of chambers which branched off from the main route. These chambers were lit aflame as the contents of them burnt to ash, apparently ignited by plasma fire. The path of destruction would paint a clear route as to where Heartbreak had traveled.
Feather, now running as best she could in the cramped tunnels followed the trail of destruction in earnest. "Let's branch off, I'll follow the fires, you try and heard whoever you find back to the others, okay?" She said, before running down one of the tunnels alight.
The young woman nodded and headed off in a different direction than Feather but send a few rats with her, at the very least they'd be able to communicate Feather's status back to her. The Lmanel carefully looked around, searching for new or hiding Helashio; the rats far ahead of her and chittering back to her, informing her to where the hidden were.
Feather's advance would lead her deeper and deeper into the tunnel complex. The ignited rooms seemed to be more and more recently set aflame, judging by the amount of the contents that were not burnt already. The flames lit the walls of the burrow, which began to bear decoration the deeper she went into the burrow. Apparently, Heartbreak was a veteran of this kind of campaign.
Only a few dozen yards deeper into the burrow, Heartbreak's advance brought her to a room which was decorated by elaborate stone and bone sculptures. Outside of this room, two Helashio tribal warriors lay dying as they bled from wounds inflicted by Heartbreak's unignited blade. Her warpath then brought her deeper into the room, where she found the assembled Helashio tribal council, seated around a fire, chanting some sort of incomprehensible prayer... a death chant. Heartbreak stood and waited for their prayer to finish... a chant she heard many times in her life.
Feather raced through the tunnels, eventually coming to the room with the two dying warriors. Looking up, she could just see Heartbreak at the other end of the tunnel. Standing, she drew her gun, then with a flick, opened the chamber and dropped the bullets to the ground. With another flick, and switching the grip, she reared her arm back and hurled the now empty, but still dangerously heavy, weapon at Heartbreak's back.
The dull clang of the weapon impacting against Heartbreak's plate sounded through the chamber as she turned to look at who had thrown the weapon at her. All that was visible of the woman were her golden eyes which were illuminated by the torches which were suspended from the walls of the chamber, with a glance over Feather's armor she spoke. "Fencer, what do you want?" She asked, her voice was not that of a younger warrior such as Feather, or even Fate... her voice was that of a woman who had seen battlefields for at least a hundred years.
"Orders were to capture the slaves alive." Feather said as she walked down the tunnel towards the elder. "You're violating that order." She finished with a slight head jerk towards the two fatally injured warriors.
"Who were the orders issued by?" Heartbreak asked as she turned her gaze back to the Helashio, who continued their chant.
"They were issued by command. We're to evacuate the people from the city, not eliminate them." She stated.
"Fine enough...now don't get in my way young one, just stay put." Heartbreak's words were calm and steady as she raised her blade again, just as the Helashio's chant finished. Heartbreak strode toward the group of elders, walking around the group seated in a circle around the fire, until she positioned herself behind the most elaborately clothed Helashio. An older woman clad in well crafted leathers, who wore a silken head wrap adorned with the skulls of various birds. Heartbreak began to mutter an incomprehensible series of flowing tones, Helashio speech. "You know it is your time to be judged?"
The Helashio tribal leader nodded silently, her sapphire blue eyes were stern and focused as she sat upright, and she tilted her head down bearing the back of her neck.
Feather watched. She was unsure what they were saying, but apparently it was important.
Heartbreak raised her blade, her armor making a dull clatter as it shifted to her movement. A shrill swish sounded through the chamber as Heartbreak swung her sword swiftly, but stopped it just as the edge touched against the Helashio's skin. "I let you live, your life and your tribe's lives belong to us. Just as your mother, and her mother's mother had agreed. Submit and be spared."
The Helashio woman began to sob as she heard the words spoken by Heartbreak; she heard these words once as a child when she first saw a woman, clad in armor much like Heartbreak's, storm into the chambers of her grandmother, the former tribal leader. "We will submit to your strength and your wisdom, do with us as you please." The Helashio woman said through sobs.
Heartbreak sheathed her sword as she looked to Feather. "I have done this many times before... she thinks that they will now be enslaved, just as her mother, and the mother before her were... they'll come peacefully." Heartbreak then strode around the group, and then made her way out from the chambers as her stone thread cloak gently swayed and shifted with her slow and steady stride.
The sobbing Helashio spoke a series of small sounding words to one of the tribal council which sat beside her who held a drum in his lap. After she spoke, the councilman began to play a gentle and somber beat upon the drum. As the sound resonated through small shafts which ran through the mound, the gunfire side ceased as the sound made its way outside. Drummers through out the city slowly began to play the same beats as soon as they heard the message get passed along, from drummer to drummer.
Feather blinked and watches the older warrior leave. She decided to follow along, scooping up her gun and the discarded bullets on her way.
Notan, following the rats headed into the cave while the Lmanel cleaned up the mess above and soon the muscular Lmanel taskmaster was in their presence, collars in hand. "This is for your own good." he said and put the collars on the tribal leaders. "We don’t want to see you to die nor your children's children which is why we're taking you all away."
The Helashio tribal leaders had no idea of the words which the task master spoke, but they submitted none the less... the last Helashio city had fallen, and before the sun would set, the city would be evacuated and the population would be moved to a proper pick-up zone for evacuation off of the planet.
Obelisk sighed as she read the up-to-date reports from the battlefield. Heartbreak was always vicious but she always brought results. And what they needed now were results. Looking to Fate she spoke loud enough that the others would hear as well, but not be rude.
"The city has fallen, they are being taken to a evacuation point now. Heartbreak brought the leaders to bring the others out."
The strain in Obelisk's voice was apparent, it seemed that the princess did not enjoy the older woman's tactics.
As Velor strode along with the group, he heard Obelisk's announcement. "Do not be concerned Obelisk. Heartbreak has served for a long time, and she knows what is needed to be done to achieve a goal. She does no more, and no less. Thanks to her efforts, there will be far less Helashio left behind to die to their own ignorance." Velor's words were blunt, but he felt he could be honest about such a matter with current mixed company.
Saito awaited her incoming guests, preparing herself mentally for dealing with the situation at hand. She had never really had much contact with outsiders, unlike Kotoku Sui she was not a xenophobe, but she was weary of the intentions of the newer members of the empire. The strongest worry however lay in the fact that they had contact with another fleet, past experience labeled the other fleets of the empire to be less than what she considered to be on task—Pisces was proof of that.
A volumetric window opened before her showing that the royals were close to NECTAR, she fixed her makeup taking out her compact-wanting to at least look her best. A few moments of primping and perfecting the snapped the compact shut and slid it back into one of the hidden skirt pockets.
Alright Nao, I am ready for them whenever you get up here.
***
On the outer fringes of the operational region, just outside the nebula the Draco commanded by Bando Ayako began to pick up disturbances from hyperspace, three Mishhuvurthyar Ghullfrashirv emerged briefly into realspace and then disappeared back into hyperspace, the rest of their group staying concealed within the depths, waiting for their reinforcements so they could make a push for Lor. An offensive was mounting; ships were being drawn from Bizranko and other nearby occupied territories.
Destiny nodded lightly to the announcement as they moved closer still to their destination. With each new hallway they entered, Destiny gave a short bow of the head to those guarding the hallways and doors, appreciative of their efforts to be professional.
"They are defiantly different then the Sakura group...they carry a greater deal of pride with them then the others did." Destiny said to her brother mentally while still looking around the area. Her eyes seemed to take in all those that were watching the procession.
"They're far more well mannered, that is certain. I can only hope their commanding officer is as welcoming." Velor strode with his sister through the corridors. He seemed to be observant, but his mind was elsewhere as he kept silent tabs on his people's efforts through a cybernetic link to the Lorath network. "Sister, the evacuation is going well. The Helashio settlements have been captured and the Helashio are being herded to evacuation zones. Our forces also stand at the ready to defend against any threats which may appear." He informed his sister, figuring that now would be a good time to relay the information, instead of troubling her during their meeting.
"Very well, once they are fully evacuated from the planet, all settlements, I want our people to leave as well. None shall remain on Lor."
She replied to her brother, positive it would be not only picked up and understood, but relayed by him as they continued to stroll through the halls, coming closer to NECTAR. After a few moments more they arrived at the doors to NECTAR and waited for them to open.
"Here we are...Is everyone ready?" Came a question in Fate, Obelisk and her brother's mind, questioning them to see if they were ready to proceed.
"Taisa!" Shoi Kazuma greeted his superior.
Nao merely nodded at her security officer, who then saluted the envoy and turned around to key in a combination code on the touchpad on the sides of the elevator. On cue, the elevator doors opened and the Shoi turned around again to snap back into position.
The Tange figured that she would not be seeing her security officer until the meeting was over so she delivered her evaluation on his performance as she passed him to enter the lift together with Mihai. "Well done, Shoi."
"Ha!" Replied Kazuma in a formal military manner as he stayed where he was.
Entering first and showing that it is not a trap, Nao and Mihai took positions to the sides of the elevator that will bring them up to NECTAR.
Meanwhile on the YSS Atarashi
Three extra red dots appeared on the edges of Chusa Sakemoto's map, although red dots has been appearing for quite a while for the moments before and he was wiping them off in the moments after, these ones were different as they faded away... But not before displaying "Mishhu" under them.
The Yamataian's eyes widened, but it was not only him that noticed it. Chusa Za's image appeared on screen. "Chusa Sakemoto." She said, awaiting his comments on the matter.
"It has begun, fall back and organize a defensive perimeter around Lor with their fleet." Sakemoto ordered, he was quite certain that the Mishhu would want to take full advantage of the situation on Lor. "I'll stay here and run skirmishing operations... The tea will have to wait, Za." He added candidly.
"Hai, Chusa." Za's image dissipated.
"Communications officer!" Sakemoto shouted. "Tell the commander of the Lor fleet that the Mishus are here and that he knows the defenses of his planet than I do, tell him to fall back and prepare, we'll buy them some time."
"Ha, Chusa!" Came the stock reply.
Here they come... The Chusa thought as he re-consulted the map and made the nessesary changes to the next course of action.
Destiny entered the elevator, sure that there was no trap set up even before the two neko stepped inside. Positive that her group would follow her in she looked to the two at the sides of the elevator.
"If I may ask, why so many twist and turns to get to the place of meeting? Why not just somewhere simple, a easy passageway to a dedicated elevator such as this? Even if it was a security risk, with so many armed guards as well as external defenses like the escort it must always have, it would be little risk yes?"
Destiny tilted her head. Sure the tour they had been given was nice, and she did enjoy being paraded around at times, but now she had more pressing matters on her mind.
"I agree with my sister." Velor said as his voice carried a tone of irritation. He appreciated the time and effort which went into such a greeting, and the marvel of the vessel's technology, but time was something that could not be replaced by pretty sights and electric lights.
Aboard The Lek'ci:
The Lorath Vice Admiral put on a rather calm but determined expression as she was informed by the Yamataian communications officer that the Mishhu are prepared to make an advance. The pirates were apparently the calm before the storm.
The Vice Admiral knew full well that she would have to issue a bulk of the commands to the fleet, considering that two of the highest ranking Fyunnen were aboard the 5th XF's ship. With a single gesture of her hand, the Lorath communications officer opened an encrypted laser communication channel at the Admiral's request. "Vice Admiral Jiecyom to LSDF and Fyunnen forces, both space and planet bound." Jiecyom's eyes looked over the data being shared by the Yamataian ships, her face never leaving the calmed state it was in.
The Vice Admiral then spoke her orders in Lorath "Your orders are to assume defensive positions, prepare our long range M/AM missiles. Planet bound forces, prepare for small armored unit engagements. Ground artillery, prepare launchers with subspace-field equipped antimatter missiles. B.O.T units, follow armor neutralization procedures. Infantry units, prepare missile launchers. Space forces, remain in constant motion when the enemy advances, do not allow your wings to become isolated from the fleet. Attempt to neutralize enemy carrier and capital ships that are slow moving. Let the faster Yamatai forces deal with gunships and smaller. Space B.O.T and properly equipped vessels, when the enemy's shields are down, place a 'Sourcian Miracle' unit on their vessel, be sure units are configured properly to prevent fratricide. Ground forces, prepare to deploy the 'Sourcian Miracle', planetary range only, and not within the evacuation zone."
With another gesture of her hand, the communication channel was shifted to a laser communication to the Himitsu, requesting that it be forwarded as needed. "Yamatai forces, this is Vice Admiral Zealous, I have ordered our forces to assume defensive postures and to target slow moving combatants. We request that your faster warships deal with fast moving combatants such as gunships. We will be launching large numbers of antimatter missiles, please warn your ships moving between the enemy and the planet to be careful of missiles in transit. Do not concern your ground support forces with terrain outside of the capital city and evacuation zone, it is for your best interest. Also, do not linger near enemy vessels which have had their shields dropped, we will be deploying a weapon that we would like to keep quiet about in case of unwelcome ears. Also, on behalf of our forces, we would like to wish you good hunting. Keep us safe, and we shall do the same for you. Vice Admiral Zealous closing comm line."
Aboard the Himitsu:
As Velor stepped into the lift with his sister, not long after speaking in his aggravated tone, he found that there was another topic of aggravation to be addressed as his cybernetic communications implant informed him of the recent defensive development. "We must hurry, no more time for delays... Sister, there is communication chatter about the Mishhu approaching. Our forces have taken defensive positions and have began to mobilize the Ambassador's weapon system. There is also word of the Ambassador successfully making it off of Lor, but she requests information as to where to go."
Once the natives had been rounded up and made to evacuate and things calmed down with the evac continuing. They were slightly behind schedule because of the issue of having to deal with the insurgents and the hidden Helashio in the tunnels. Notan was sitting in a transport reviewing the information collected by the lmanel that were just completing their genetic sampling of all the species on Lor. He was quite pleased with the number of species they'd been able to document so far but that ws still an ongoing process to organize all the data. "Good that's going well enough..."
ON: HOTARU
Looking in a volumetric display, Katsuko fixed her appearance before she turned it off...confident that not a single hair was out of place, she issued a very simple telepathic command.
Send them in, please.
Destiny gave a bow to the escorts as she stepped out of the lift with her brother in hand. She had a air of regality around her that seemed to command attention and loyalty as she locked eyes with Katsuko. Immediately she knew who it was that was in charge. Obelisk wasn't much further then a few feet behind the royal siblings.
When the lift doors opened and the royalty stepped out, the larger of the two guardians of the royalty followed behind, her gaze ever watchful. The leather armor clad woman looked about the area with a vigilant gaze, but she kept a leash on her usually short fuse, knowing full well her Xiaah would not approve of a false alarm.
Surely enough, Tomoe followed along with his sister's lead as he remained silent and allowed his sister to handle whatever relations would take place. He kept his peace until he would be needed for anything his sister on an off chance could not handle.
Katsuko stood, in respect for the ruler, but she was certainly the one in charge on this fortress. She gave a nod of respect to the group, offering them all seats. "Please make yourselves comfortable. We have much to discuss...as you are likely aware, I am Taisho Motoyoshi Katsuko, Commander of the Star Army of Yamatai's Fifth Expeditionary Fleet."
Destiny dipped into a bow and as she stood back up, smiled widely. At her hip hung a plushie in the form of Katsuko, a confident smirk on her face. It seemed that Destiny had been awaiting this meeting and as she sat, placed the plushie in her lap. "Greetings, Taisho Motoyoshi Katsuko. I am Xiaah Harr'Ikke Destiny Tur'Lista, as I am sure you are already aware of. To my side is my brother, High Priest Tomoe Velor Tur'Lista. Behind myself are my two bodyguards, High General Sen’yhty Fate Fynneun, current warden of house Fyunnen, and her student Lumuham Lrnec'cdyn Obelisk Fyunnen, Princess of the Fyunnen household." As her name was spoken, Obelisk made sure to bow.
Fate bowed slightly, though she kept quite.
"Simply call us by our middle names... it is our tradition for dealing with those of other species, so Destiny and Tomoe would suffice for my sister and I." Tomoe bowed as he smiled softly at Katsuko. His mostly white hair fell over his shoulder. as it fell, it would be apparent that along a braid, there was only a hand full of strands of blue, which were hidden in the depths of crimson red strands.
Katsuko looked at the plushie, and let out a rare soft smile, before returning to her respectful and businesslike manner. "I understand, and I welcome you to Hotaru Star Fortress, if you have not been welcomed already...now. How go your peoples' preliminary evacuation efforts?"
Tomoe gave his sister a glance, curious if she'd handle the task or if he would have to.
Destiny looked to her brother and after a moment gave a small nod. "They are going well. I will have my brother forward you all the information you need."
"It is thanks to your fleet's abilities that we are doing so well." Destiny added in at the end.
Tomoe felt that it was his turn to speak and he thought on the subject for a moment before speaking. "Our defense forces have constructed a long term perimeter; our own carriers have managed to evacuate our VIPs and several hundred thousand civilians. Additional assistance will be needed if we are to evacuate more individuals. If not, we can settle on evacuating just neural storage devices. Overall though, everything is in order and there have not been too many set backs... but I do hear from my forces about skirmishes on the edges of the perimeter?"
Katsuko nodded, looking serious for a moment. "Yes, the Mishhu have a bad habit of attacking at the worst possible time...but we had assistance defeating them...an alien ship using anti-Aether weaponry managed to disable them; a ship matching the description of one that the YSS Ravisher and a civilian salvage vessel both encountered. Needless to say, this matter is one of great concern, if the vessel turns on us...though I have been informed of a potentially more critical situation. I have been told that the vessels you purchased from the Star Army have been stolen by a former House of the Lorath. Can you tell me a bit about this?" Katsuko was dead serious at this time...not glaring at the royals, but her grey eyes indicated great focus.
Again Destiny nodded to her brother, giving him the floor to speak. This was what he was here for, to give Katsuko this type of information.
"Several million KS worth of ships; carriers, support ships, flagship class, and some warships... the Occhestians were sketchy about the deal. The information we have on the fleet that is most reliable are the satellite visual scans which were unhindered by the armor which your ships use. It was a rather sizable group, sizable enough to cause the 1st XF to be frightened into not assisting us."
Tomoe explained as he looked somewhat grim at the thought. The sheer memory of the Occhestians made a part of him deep within his soul feel an ache like one would feel after losing a child or a spouse.
Katsuko's grey eyes hardened even further at this news... "...I can recall them on a whim, as long as MEGAMI is functional...do you want the occupants conscious, or gassed and imprisoned? What we do with them is up to you, but that many ships being lose in the hands of a potential enemy is too difficult to ignore. ESPECIALLY with the current state of affairs...and what is this about the 1st XF not being willing to assist? Can you elaborate on this please?"
Tomoe gave a soft nod to his sister, a signal for her to take up the subject.
"I asked Taisa Ketsurui Hanako to retake the ships on the authority of the Yamatai Star Army. She was unwilling, saying there were too many ships and not enough to help her. As for the occupants...Drop them off on some planet. They are to be unharmed, but unconscious. Make sure the planet is livable on." Destiny's eyes were just as hard as Katsuko's as she spoke about the Occhestians. Inside she felt no pain for those that had abandoned them.
Katsuko's glare was the only outward sign of her displeasure, but it was enough... "...I formally apologize for her lack of action. It is not as simple for her to recall them as it is for me, due to the difference in rank, though the option of contacting me was indeed open to her...her experience is limited to combat and low-scale administration. She...may not have considered the possibility of simply ordering the ships to return. She is a combat captain, not a Fleet Commander, and while capable in her role, she needs...experience before moving into other territories, in spite of her potential and exemplary record. I will personally attend to this matter, though I have to select such a world to strand them upon...do you care if the Mishhu locate them, or should we provide them the protection of a quarantine world?"
Destiny shrugged a little and tilted her head to the side. "It matters not to me."
Tomoe decided to speak up quite quickly. "No, no Mishhu. I do not want the enemy to gain the secrets held in their minds. I would like to place them somewhere that an eye can be kept on them, until we find a time to deal with them in a traditional method."
Katsuko nodded, and quickly issued the order...and somewhere is space, gas vented into the ship's air circulation systems as the ships began to turn around, headed for the Katsuko Nebula... "Understood...the vessels are on their way back, and their occupants should be unconscious within seconds...in the meantime, I will be willing to loan you additional Kyoto-class vessels to assist in the evacuation process.'
"That would be much appreciated, thank you for your kindness and your execution of your duties." Tomoe gave a soft bow of his head. "I'll inform the ground forces of additional carrier support."
END
Aboard The Hotaru
Katsuko nodded, and pulled out a file of sorts...
"Now...as for where you will go, we currently have an expedition underway to the galactic East...we have yet to locate a world for you to live on, but given the frequency of life in the universe, I am certain some form of real estate will turn up for your people...we are looking for a world similar to Lor, in a naturally protected section of space, and preferably one compatible with your animal and plant life. In the meantime, your people are likely to remain in stasis with Hotaru Star Fortress, where they can best be defended. Does this meet with your approval?"
Destiny nodded her head, a genuinely warm smile spreading over her face. "It more then meets our approval. We are gracious for this help." Destiny let out a small relaxed sigh and shivered a little.
Katsuko noticed this, and wondered if it was a physical or...emotional reflex.
"...What is wrong? Is the air too cold in here or...are you feeling for your people?"
"For my people. I am sure you have felt this way before? Scared that your people were on the verge of destruction only to realize that they would be safe." Destiny looked up to Katsuko.
Katsuko nodded a solemn look on her face.
"All too recently...of course, not all of them were safe...Taiie is still fresh in all of our minds, and we do NOT want that incident to repeat itself."
"Taisho Katsuko, I was curious if we'd be able to be permitted a temporary command center so we may issue orders to our troops with greater ease? My neural implant is only able to direct so much without giving me a splitting migraine." Tomoe stated as he glanced to his sister.
Katsuko nodded, understanding.
"Very well...did you want a mobile center or one within Hotaru...and do you wish to have a Neko crew to assist you?
Tomoe glanced to his sister with an expression which seemed to ask for her opinion, and then his gaze went to Fate in much the same manner.
Fate remained silent for a moment after Tomoe gave her a questioning look, but her eyes narrowed slightly at the mention of nekovalkryja assistance. "My opinion has no weight in this matter my lieges." She stated simply, "if it were not for the betrayal we would not need such assistance."
Katsuko waited for Destiny's opinion...
"I would prefer were the command center aboard the Hotaru. In this way we will be able to better coordinate our attempts." Destiny nodded a little and watched Katsuko.
Katsuko agreed, giving a curt nod.
"I will set up an office for you and lend you any support you require."
"We give you our thanks... and I'd like to know more about the enemy on our perimeter? From the information that is getting passed around, I'm a little concerned that we've been missing some important news while en route to our meeting." Tomoe looked a bit worried as he spoke his concern.
"It is difficult to tell how many there are due to their movements, but they seem to be waiting to see how we will proceed. They could move forward at any time, so we much move swiftly."
Katsuko said, displaying a screen showing sensor output, showing appearing and vanishing vessels on the edge of sensor range...
"Sorry to be so insistent... but I do worry for our combined forces." Tomoe nodded as he looked over the sensor read out. "There is not much we can do though until the civilians have been evacuated. So, how are we to traverse the nebula? Will we be using your hyperfold or transposition technology?"
Katsuko thought a moment... "We will likely fold in...Get as many ships in as fast as possible, and take as many evacuees as we can before they can respond. Our departure method will depend entirely on the Mishhu, but it is likely that we will have to fold out."
"If that is the case, then it may be problematic... a large number of our ships are lacking fold drives." Tomoe frowned slightly as he began to compile the rather large number in his mind.
"I understand. in that case, I will instruct some, if not most, of the vessels with weaponry to stay behind and escort your vessels, should it be necessary for the Kyotos to escape...I suggest, however, upon using our Kyoto-class vessels wherever possible."
Above Lor
It was a starry night on Lor...but those who looked at the night sky would see something interesting...one by one, flashes of light occurred above the planet. These increased in frequency quite abruptly, and within a matter of minutes, the stars in the sky had appeared to have doubled...
"This is Taisho Motoyoshi Katsuko to Lor. The evacuation vessels have arrived. Requesting permission for systematic landing and evacuation."
The LSDF personnel on the ground consulted their sensors and passed along permissions from one group to another, eventually routing a communication to the Lmanel, asking if they were able to continue evacuations as planned.
One of the Lmanel on communications received the message and read through it quickly and passed it along to the squad commanders and Notan. They'd quickly go through and take stock of their situations and sent replies back saying that 98% of them were. One or two squads were still rounding up the remaining Helashio but it wouldn't take too long.
The LSDF quickly received the message and sent a reply to Katsuko. "We're clear for receiving evacuation support. There are some stragglers, but they'll be done rounding up the loose ends soon. Landing clearance approved, follow the guidance beacons down to the city outskirts. Evacuees and vital materials will be routed as needed."
The ships signaled back that they would send the first wave of ships to pick up evacuees. The remaining vessels stayed in a massive and carefully orchestrated orbit over Lor's land masses, a majestic sight over the war-torn world. It looked as if Lor was studded with shining silver-white gemstones. A select few of the vessels glowed various shades of red, entering the atmosphere before landing and beginning to process the people.
It was a rather quick and easy matter to deal with giving routing orders to the Lmanel which would handle moving the civilian population; the hard part was moving the Helashio population in a timely manner. "LSDF to Lmanel group assigned to Helashio suppression and movement be warned that your final destination is not to be in city, but on the outskirts. The Yamataians will be taking your cargo aboard their vessels. New-Tur'lista in charge of cryonic storage, distribute yourselves to the Yamataian ships and begin distributing doses of cryonic storage drugs at a faster rate. Fyunnen forces, continue to watch the skies, and escort your neural data pod to either one of our or the Yamataian carriers."
The Kyoto-class ships continued in wave after wave, systematically evacuating the world, and assisting in placing the evacuees in the newly constructed stasis pods. Above the planet, at the outer edges of the mass of ships around the world, several carriers and gunships remained as sentries to protect the world and the ships which surrounded it.
"No problem." Notan said in reply to the LSDF force, he didn't like the Yamataians still but they were better than the rest they had encountered. The subordinate Lmanel were gentle, if it could be considered that, herding the Helashio toward the cargo ships they were to evacuate from. Notan would come back to the LSDF. "Hey, where are the Tur’lista at anyway?" He asked, having been curious as he hadn't heard or seen them in a while.
Surely enough, the Lorath and Helashio's evacuation was carried out in a swift and efficient manner, as efficient as evacuating a few billion people could be. Notably, there was a considerable lack of Fyunnen leaving, but there were several large neural storage pods moved to the Yamataian Kyoto and Lorath made Byakko carriers in place of the Fyunnen, who appeared to be digging in for a fight which they longed for.
Finally, those vessels which could not make the jump on their own obtained assistance as they moved to the vicinity of Himitsu Star Fortress...with a nod from Saito-Chujo, the Iori-class Star Fortress used its TDD system and vanished toward Hotaru...
This flash of light was the last in the sky, as the battered planet and its brave warriors were finally left to the hands of fate...
Mature Content In Tiny Text, Audience Discretion Suggested.
ON: YSS HIMITSU
It had been a short while after they had seen to their fleets, and even longer after the meeting with Taisho Katsuko, but her race was safe. They would live to seen the dawn of a new day, if on another planet. But that was fine...they would endure this exile just as they had endured the last exile...but Harr’ikke still had something to do. Hand in hand with her brother still, Harr’ikke sighed and turned to look at him. With a dismissive wave to Fate and Obelisk, the two siblings were soon in the hallway by themselves.
"Dear brother...see me to my room? I am rather tired and I would like to turn in early..."
“Of course my sister.” Velor was also rather drained, he looked a tad more pale than usual, but other than that, he seemed to be quite optimistic with the situation at hand. He knew in his heart that his people would survive, and he’d be sure to see his true home once more within his life time, but for now, all there was for him was the present and his sister, considering that most of his people were in stasis.
He followed his sister into her quarters and stood with his hands clasped before him. “Quite a day it has been.”
"Indeed...It would take a good deal to make it any more extraordinary now wouldn't it brother?" Harr’ikke seemed to be torn between something, yet her mind was shielded from her brother.
“There is not much that I can think of short of the Goddess herself coming to guide us to our rightful destiny that could make this day anymore extraordinary.” Velor responded as he looked upon his sister, curious as to what was on her mind.
Harr'Ikke wore a little smirk on her face as they neared the room she had been given. While it wasn't anything like the palace of Lor, it was still nice and very accommodating for herself. With a small yawn she looked around the room, nodding to the Helashio who came to help her undress. "Brother, stay with me for a little? I could use a comforting presence..."
“Certainly my sister, I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be.” Velor responded as he found a chair and sat himself upon it. He leaned forward and restrained the urge to grumble about chair backs causing trouble for his wings.
"I meant...a little closer..." Oddly enough Destiny did not dress in her night clothing. She had kept her back to her brother, her wings hiding her body as she waited for him to come closer. A visible shudder ran down her spine.
With the look of his sister, and the words which came from her, a small conflict arose inside of Velor’s mind as his cheeks blushed brightly, but his eyes seemed to sadden slightly. Before his foolish mind could argue with his heart, he got out of the chair and made his way to his sister. His heart beat in his chest, the sound drummed in his ears as he placed his arms around his sister’s waist and held her from behind, embracing her in his grasp. “I... I wish I could hold you in my arms like this... while standing beneath the stars of our home...”
Destiny shivered at what he wished for, a small pained smile coming to her lips as she turned to him, pressing herself into him softly as she peered into his eyes. "In a short while we will, for wherever you and I are, that is where home is..." Harr'Ikke smiled a little and softly pressed her lips to his, wrapping her arms around his neck as the three Helashio stole out of the room silently. They were alone now, and in the small room it made everything seem all the more intimate.
When her lips touched against his, Velor could not help but to feel a wash of the greatest joy he felt in his life. What was in their past was their past, the future didn’t matter, for the moment, he had his sister and that was all that mattered. After they broke from their kiss, with the little breath Velor had, he spoke in a soft whisper; “I love you, now and forever, no matter what may happen.”
"As do I my brother...I will love you no matter what." Harr'Ikke smiled lightly at her brother's proclamation and pressed the kiss again, this time a little more insistent as she let out a sigh as she broke it. She was slowly moving both herself and her brother to the bed.
Velor’s lips became a smile; even as they kissed he could not help but to express his joy as he moved with his sister’s lead to the bed. Along the way, he willed his hand away from his sister so he could untie several of the knots which held his robes together. As they reached the bed, the robe he wore hung loosely over his shoulders. He leaned close and placed a kiss of his own upon his sister’s lips as he let her guide him along.
Harr'Ikke felt the back of her legs hit the edge of the bed and as she did, she slowly lowered herself down to sit on the bed. Nervous now, she swallowed a little as she looked up to her brother for a hint at what she should do next. She was still inexperienced after all...
This drawn a warm smile from Velor, a brotherly smile more than a smile of a lover. “Dear sister...” He said in a soft and amused tone as he put his arms around her and held her close as he remained standing at the edge of the bed. “What does your heart tell you to do right now?”
Her heart at the moment was beating faster then she had ever felt before. With eyes downcast to the floor, she tentively reached up to cup where she had felt up Hanako. She had always known deep down that her brother and she were different in many ways, including anatomy, but it still felt odd to cup his privates. Rubbing softly she looked up to hi eyes for approval.
He continued to smile softly as he felt his sister’s touch. Just the touch alone was enough to make his heart feel much like his sister’s. “Continue going with your instinct.” He encouraged as he tugged at his robe, pulling it from his shoulders and letting it fall to the floor, causing him to be fully exposed to his sister. He knew this would be her first time looking upon him in such a fully disclosed manner.
Harr'Ikke's blush came full scale as she saw her brother finally fully disrobe. Besides being the first male Lorath she had ever seen disrobed, something felt different about it being her brother that she had first seen. With a tentative lick, she flicked her tongue out to rub against the head of his manhood, a soft like that was still unsure of what to do.
“Take your time... explore... get comfortable with it.” Velor advised as he watched his sister. The touch of her tongue against him made his breath come faster to him, the excitement of the sensation made his mind swim. His hand made its way to her head, where he gently began to caress her hair, and from time to time stroke the edge of her ear.
The stroking of her ear seemed to do little for her as her tongue did indeed explore, first a few more quick licks before they gradually turned into longer, much more dedicated licks that ended up taking in the entire shaft of his manhood, getting it a little wet with her saliva. Harr'Ikke again looked to her brother for approval.
“Mm, it feels good... your instincts are serving you well.” Velor said in a near whisper as his caressing touch moved down to her cheek, and soon to her neck which he began to caress softly.
Harr'Ikke's ears tilted down against her head as she heard her brother. After a few more licks and she soon became brave. Opening her mouth slightly she allowed just the tip of his manhood to enter her mouth, licking it as she held it in place, not daring to let it go in any further just yet.
Velor let out a soft purr of approval as he felt her mouth upon him. As she held his manhood in her mouth, she could feel the flesh throbbing as it stood ready to be taken into her.
Harr'Ikke slowly allowed more and more of his manhood enter her mouth until about half of it was within her warm mouth. With a small shiver Harr'Ikke felt a warm feeling growing within her body.
“Do you like what your instincts are telling you?” Velor asked, curious how his sister felt about what she was doing. Curiosity even seized him as the pleasure of her mouth burnt like a fire up his spine, and his heart beat like a dozen war drums.
Harr'Ikke could only nod as she began to slowly move her head back and forth, taking in more of him with each stroke. The warmth was starting to rise to a burning sensation that seemed to awaken something a little more primal within her.
“Mmm... My dear sister... that feels wonderful.” Velor let out a soft groan of pleasure as his hand found its way behind her head. His gentle touch caressed her softly, before he instinctively began to place a gentle pressure to guide her and encourage her.
Harr'Ikke continued her efforts, slowly making herself bob her head back and forth before she finally pulled her mouth from around the shaft. "Brother...Please I need it in me...I'm burning up please..." Harr'Ikke's gaze seemed almost primal as she shivered every few seconds, her expression one of pleading.
“Dear sister, I want you to crave it even more so, I want your instincts to be the only thing left in your mind.” With that comment, Velor gently placed his hand on his sister’s shoulder and laid her onto the bed. He then knelt on the bed beside her, his hands then moved to her chest as he began to squeeze and rub her breasts, and soon he placed his lips upon her nipple and he began to suck upon it. He apparently wanted her to crave it as much as she possibly could.
Harr'Ikke, already panting with her need gasped aloud at the sudden sensation, shivering all the more as she closed her eyes and simply lay there, soaking in the emotions that flood through her.
Velor continued his pleasuring of his sister, his finger tips played over one of her nipples, while his lips clung to the other while he sucked upon it. As he felt her shiver beneath him, he felt that he should make it all the more better, an instinctive drive above all else told him this as he began to reach out with his mind, his touch going beyond just her flesh, but to the very nerves which felt the pleasure. He instinctively used his telepathic ability to stimulate each nerve he touched to feel more pleasure than what could ever be accomplished by even the skilled of hands or mouths.
Harr'Ikke gasped aloud at the sudden jolt of sensation, slipping into a rapport with her brother that allowed him to feel what she was feeling, and vice versa. It was a unique experience she had never felt as she let another shiver overcome her body.
Velor could not help but to release a groan from deep in his throat as he felt the shared sensation, his sister’s feelings were truly intoxicating as he felt his own lust and hers meld together. He could feel her wants and his own, and her his. The throbbing length of flesh beneath his waist ached to give his sister what she desired, as he felt her body wish the same. He could not tell if it was his own desire or his sister’s which drove him to move from beside her and stand at the edge of the bed once more. He grasped his sister’s legs in his arms, raising them and spreading them apart to reveal his sister’s womanhood. With their combined lust driving them in a sort of primal bond which went beyond description, he moved his hips forward, slowly pushing his length into her womanhood.
"AhhhhHHH!" Harr'Ikke called out as she felt a splitting pain, threatening to tear her in two as she felt her brother enter her. Half way in though the pain melted together with the pleasure as she lifted her hips to meet her brother's shaking with desire now as she rolled her hips a few times. After a moment she arched her back and sucked in a deep breath, becoming a little better accustomed to his size.
As Velor pushed himself into her, he could not help but to also lean forward while bracing himself against her legs, the surge of sensation which washed over his sister washed over him as well. The painful pleasure guided him to move his hips just right to cause his sister the least pain possible, but as much pleasure as possible as well. Once she became used to the feeling, the pleasure which he felt drove him to begin to move his hips at a steady pace to get her used to the sensation, and him as well. “Yes sister... you feel wonderful.” The words came out with an oddly amusing double meaning, which was lost to him at the time.
Harr'Ikke on the other hand didn't have the capacity for words as she felt each and every thrust two fold, pleasure shooting shivers up her spine each time he entered her. With a cry of pleasure she felt something ripple through her body, causing her already tight passage to tighten even more so.
Velor felt each sensation pile on top of each other as he began to move his hips a little faster. When the ripple of a sensation washed through him, it took a sizable portion of his self control to keep himself from being carried away by the feeling. Instead he kept moving his hips, nursing that feeling which rippled through his sister, urging her to have yet another.
Harr'Ikke gasped as she felt yet another wave of pleasure building up behind a damn, this one seemingly much more intense then the one before as she began to groan in pleasure, her body shaking with the restraint she used to hold her feelings back.
As Velor felt the feeling build inside of his sister, he began to feel his very own feeling which matched hers, the combined feelings drove him to move his hips with a primal lust which caused him to drive his manhood into her with powerful thrusts which produced a series of sloppy and perverse sounds as their flesh met with each thrust. As he drove himself into her, his own groans of pleasure escaped his lips as he looked upon his sister, savoring the sight of her caught in the same pleasure as him.
The sight he would see would be Harr'Ikke arching her back in her final release, her voice high pitched as she let out a screech both verbally and telepathically as she broadcasted her emotions outwards for any who could feel them, her own self tipping over the edge as a tidal wave of pleasure washed through each nerve in her body, causing her to lock up for a moment in a nerve overload of pleasure.
The very same feeling washed over Velor as he released what could only be described as a roar of pleasure as he thrust his hips and drove his manhood into her very depths. The feeling from his sister and himself combined as he felt the first climax of his own wash over himself, which triggered a rush of his semen to be pumped into her, soon followed by another climax which was his sister’s, which caused yet another rush of semen, soon followed by a combination of the two, which resulted in him filling her to the point where it leaked out from around his flesh which fit so snuggly inside of her. The reason for a male Lorath’s capacity for three orgasms in a row became apparent as he slumped against his sister, his throbbing length of meat still inside of her as he placed a kiss upon her lips
Harr'Ikke's body stayed arched in its position for a few more moments before she finally loosened up and fell back to the bed, shivering in pleasure. After a few seconds she slowly came back to full awareness as she looked around, panting in exhertion from what they had just done. Rather then say anything though, she simply wrapped her arms around her brother and drew him in, keeping him embedded inside of her as she slowly drifted off to sleep.
Velor felt much the same as his sister, if not the exact same as eased her legs down. Soon his arms were around her as he nuzzled close against her. The warmth of their bodies together eased him to sleep as the sound of their heartbeats brought a warm smile to his lips. Something deep inside of him finally felt right; even as they moved light-years away from the land they knew and loved.
"Attention all remaining ships of the YAG, the Himitsu has moved out- I repeat the Himitsu has moved out." Chusa Sakemoto spoke over the fleetwide comms of the ships under his command. A few cheers can be heard over the other channels but most of his men including Chusa Za retained their figthing composure. "Initiate phased retreat."
Through the anti-interdiction field created by the rear guard, the damaged ships of the YAG hyperfolded first followed by the bulk of the main figthing force. Checking that no one was left behind, Sakemoto remained with the rear group to activate one last scanner burst before folding themselves, away from the now empty shell that was the planet Lor.
After a short while a single message was transmitted on both hyperspace and subspace frequencies, from an unmarked and until now unnoticed remote sensor probe located 15LY due east of Yamatai. The message was primarily addressed to the 5th XF. Though it was encrypted, its access level was set so low that anyone with the rank of warrant officer above, in any of the fleets of the SAoY, or in the LSDF could access it.
The message was simple and direct, in text only.
In the heart of the Great Southern Nebula; the Lor cried out for the Empire to aid them, their plea based upon a treaty drawn in relatively recent history, their membership to the empire and their promised protection by the Star Army of Yamatai. The answer to the call came from the most unlikely of the great empire’s fleets; The Fifth Expeditionary Fleet, under the operational control of Taisho Motoyoshi Katsuko and the Motoyoshi Bakufu.
For the highest ranks of the Bakufu, this was an opportunity to prove the new resolve of this fleet, and for a chance to prevent the devastation set on Taiie from happening to Lor. Eighty-Three ships, and one of the Fifth’s Ioris under the command of Mitsuya Saito would be charged with the protection of billions as the evacuation of Lor would be commencing, time not within their favor as the Mishhuvurthyar are assumed to be planning on another strike.
This impending Apocalypse was not of a new experience for the Fifth Expeditionary Fleet, its people still mourning, Chujo Mitsuya Saito herself still grieving the loss of three of her seven children. The Task Force approached Lor, their emergence from hyperspace to be lead by the Draco Forward Scout Group, to be followed by the Yukari Assault Group, and then Himitsu and her two attached Carrier Groups.
It was time to grant the Lor their " Freedom of Apocalypse" (Jiyuu no Mokushi)
Over hyperspace communications Saito gave the orders to the DFG and YAG groups, "Forward Groups, Initiate hyperspace exit solution in the predetermined order."
Things had been calm since the entire group entered hyperspace. Ayako managed a few messages and a short drink for energy. The refreshing liquid gave her some confidence behind her voice.
"Make sure all power armor teams are ready for launch on our orders. For now they remain on standby in the bays." Ayako ordered, looking at her Operations controller. "Sensors I want full range on all spectrums. Start close and then move outward. CFS and Helm, ease us out on the solutions provided on my mark. Then make for spread pattern cross six. Communications contact the rest of the group once we're in, let's make sure we didn't lose anyone."
Looking at her readouts, provided by the ship through SLICS, Ayako took note of the coming exit. She squeezed both her hands and steeled herself for anything. "And, mark."
The Draco Forward Scout Group dropped from hyperspace with a sudden jolt. The four Nozomis quickly began to move after the exit, circling one another as the planet Lor rested off in the distance.
"Sensors, begin sweep and report status! Communictions?" Ayako started. The enlisted Neko at the Communications station gave a thumbs up to her commanding officer. Nodding Ayako looked on as a volumetric display manifested. The immediate area began to visualize, with sensor updates feeding in every second.
On the Irim Class Gunship YSS Atarashi, Chusa Sakemoto gripped the side handlebars of the tactical map table. It was standard procedures for crew to strap themselves in during a hyperspace fold but the Chusa will not allow himself to be caught sitting down if they were immediately attacked upon exit. After all, they were the first of the YAS to fold and are expected to secure the immediate area for the rest of the Irims to arrive.
Sakemoto knew that the Atarashi has dropped out of fold when a slight nausea left him, it was his body's natural indicator of space returning to normal. He quickly looked up to the communications officer for her report, the beach-head plan him and the rest of the Chusas ran through with Taisa Nao was broad enough to handle any adversary that may be waiting on the other side, but the wild card right now was the friendly scout group that jumped before them.
"We have contact with Draco group sir, no damages!" The operator shouted.
"Assume the formation!-" Sakemoto replied with an equal volume, near instantaneously without waiting for the Chusa to finish, the rest of his fifteen Irims first security group started arranging themselves in an expanding circle tangent to the general direction of Lor, ensuring that each Irim could fire its main cannon 'forward' without catching each other in the firing line.
"-Passive sensors!" The scouts that arrived earlier were still active, thus the Irims could have the luxury of not drawing attention to themselves by using active sensors to aquire firing solutions.
"Hai, Chusa! We have direct linkage with the YSS Draco. YSS Yukari arriving in T-Minus 10 seconds!"
"Hmmp." The Chusa mumbled. It occured to him that due to the literally last minute change of plans, the seven Irim command group will be passing right through the ring created by his forces. What an entrance worthy of a fleet parade, I hope that Tange Nao isnt trying to show off or something. Sakemoto tapped the handlebars as he waited for further events to unfold...
The Lor system was quiet, nothing but the anticipated allied civilian and military traffic, Saito observed through PANTHEON as the DFG and YAG emerged into real space. She folded her arms in front of her, commenting to herself; the calm before the storm-- I hear the hooves of your horsemen Melisson.
“Standby for exit from hyperspace, right behind the YAG.” She ordered, her operations officer acknowledging “Hai, Chujo.”
NH-12’s were emerging from stasis and flooding the armor bays; Himitsu was alive with action, the station’s defensive and offensive systems ready for emergence into real-space. One Hundred of the Lamia M2 wings (1,000 Armors each) were ready for launch, as well as two wings of Hyuga Fighters.
“Launch Bays ready Chujo.” Flight Control reported in, Saito said “Standby…” awaiting the all clear from DFG and YAG.
Tange Nao opened her eyes to look, and then she let go of the Katana grip. The screen in front of her showed no energy fluctuations in the area so it was safe to assume that no shooting or encounters has occurred. Not having to serve a support/backup role now that there are no hostilities, the seven Irim YAG Command group gently accelerated with the YSS Yukari on point to pass through the hole created by Sakemoto's group.
"Contact with the YSS Atarashi." A bridge crew broke the silence. A volumetric screen opened up on the center of the bridge with Chusa Sakemoto's visage displayed on it.
The Chusa saluted and immediately gave his report without being told. "Nothing to report, Taisa. No surprises here."
"Proceed as planned. Chusa." Nao confirmed. With a nod, Sakemoto's screen dissipated as the Neko returned to her chair with a small exhalation of breath. I should not be wishing for a fight... But how else can soldiers find a purpose?
The communications officer unknowingly interrupted Nao's train of thought as she announced the latest news. "Contact with the 2nd and 3rd security group. Assuming formation."
The 3rd and 4th were composed out of eleven and fourteen Irims respectively. As they assumed (correctly) that no fight was taking place, the 3rd formed a larger ring behind Sakemoto's 1st group, creating a cone shaped formation with Nao's seven ships as the tip to safely contain the SCG within it as soon as they jumped in. Meanwhile, the 4th threw formations out of the window and scattered themselves in pairs to serve as first response skirmishers.
Nao quietly observed her fleet as they flawlessly fell into position, she would had expected nothing less from her own men.
ON: Lor - Western Continent, Capital City. 18 Hours prior to the arrival of Yamataian forces.
The central Lorath city, which served as the staging area for the Lorath's reclamation of the surface of Lor, now was serving as the staging area for the Lorath's exodus from their home world. At least a billion Lorath had swarmed to this symbol of Lorath strength and hearth, which now served as a unifying point for the race.
Even the Helashio, whom were once kept restrained, or fenced off in wild reserves, were herded in the direction of the central city. Civilized Helashio went about tending to evacuees along with the Lmanel caste. The bounds of the city were expanded by fields covered with tarps and tents, and other makeshift shelters.
While the Lmanel went about tending to the evacuation procedures, the Fyunnen, and New-Tur'lista went about spreading a defensive line around the city, incase of an assault from the skies, or an uprising of Helashio. Sixty meter tall machines strode about the outskirts of the city, like soldiers who were posted on watch. Meanwhile, New-Tur'lista individuals went about setting up QnS made interdiction devices, and clusters of ZPE/Aether denial devices. Along with those defenses, were the typical shield generators, and various surface to air missiles and energy weapon batteries.
The Lorath were prepared to live by any means needed.
A stiff breeze rushed over the city, but it did not smell like it usually did, of soil and fields, it smelt of dust and smoke, the apparent result of so many people being packed into one city. In this breeze, Velor's robes fluttered and rippled as he stood upon a balcony of the palace. A frown was upon his face, but he tried to keep himself composed as he tore his eyes away from the chaotic cityscape, to look to his sister. "Harr'Ikke, it seems like our people are ready... they've come here, or they've placed their memories into storage for us to take with us... so I know they are ready... are we though?"
His sister, the Xiaah of the race, looked like her planet did. Destroyed and beaten. With a sigh she could no longer look at those swarming around the city like livestock and instead let her eyes fall to the ground. With a simple shake of her head, she spoke when she felt ready. "How can you ask me such a thing? Knowing the attachment I have to this planet, to the place we grew up? How can I leave this place...the place our parents helped to retake, after we finally settled. I will never be ready to leave brother." Her voice was dead and hollow, her own mind safely stored as well and tucked away with the others, something she had yet to tell her brother.
"We feel the same then, dear sister. I don't want to part with this world, our home. I don't want to abandon the dreams of our mother and father, and the ones who came before them. The only thing which keeps me from giving up, are those people out there, who don't want to sit down and let themselves be claimed by those beasts." Velor looked upon his sister with sorrow filled eyes, and a feeling of immense regret. Little did he know that his sister and himself shared the same secret which they kept from each other... how alike the two were.
"Then let us go and get ready, so we will be able to leave as quickly as possible. I do not wish to stay here any longer then we must to insure the safety of our people." With one last look at the scene spread out below her, Destiny turned and made her way back to her room which the stood outside of. With a sigh she just shook her head. "Sometimes I think it best had we stayed below the ground."
ON: Lor - Western Continent, Capital City. - Shortly after 5th XF's communication to the Xiaah.
It was mere minutes since the Xiaah received the communication that the 5th XF's fleet had departed, and would arrive within a matter of moments. The clock was ticking, and plans needed to be put into motion.
"It is time to go dear brother, gather your things." Destiny said aloud to her brother as she looked over the communication from the fifth fleet. Impressed by the aid given by the fleet, Destiny let out a little sigh. Things were looking up for her people.
"Don't forget your own." Velor said in return as he looked to his sister. "I'll send the communication to our carriers to begin to make landing rotations for picking up evacuees." Velor knew full well that each one of the stripped down carriers would be able to carry anywhere from 250,000 to 300,000 people whom were awake and conscious, but to push the number of evacuees per run to the maximum, orders had been given to put the evacuees into stasis the moment they went aboard. 61 carriers, 600,000 in stasis, it meant that 36,600,000 Lorath and Helashio would be able to escape the planet per trip, if there would be more trips. The High Priest could only hope.
Destiny nodded lightly, her own small group of Helashio waiting nervously in her room. They had packed everything she needed with her help, and had made sure to clothe themselves for the trip. In fact almost all Helashio had clothed themselves so as not to offend those aboard the ships that were sent to aid them. She had seen the numbers for their own fleet, but not for what the Yamatians were sending. "How many will we get in their ships?"
"I'm unsure, at least fifty thousand, if all of their ships are carrying full compliments of infantry. I wish that the Yamataians at their fleet depot worked faster, then we'd have those ships I ordered... but it seems the war has been quite a distraction for them." As Velor said this, he went about his last minute checks of various matters.
The Lmanel had completed a full sweep of the planet and had finished collecting DNA samples from every life form on the planet, and even those which had been excavated and were long extinct. The New-Tur'Lista had gathered all essential records, and made copies of all documentation in the Lorath libraries, the Fyunnen had prepared to defend until everyone was safe. Even the outdated STL ships the Lorath had maintained for ages had been loaded with valuable cargo and civilians.
While on the far side of the system, only a skeleton colony was present as the small colony of Lorath had made their evacuation into various cargo ships. The Lmanel and New-Tur'Lista which remained had began a ritual to mark this day as one of mourning.
Looking around the great hallways of the palace, Destiny's feet slowly returned her to the shrine she had always made sure to pray at every morning she could. The Garden of the Goddess stood deathly silent as it always did, it's doors opened wide. Whether or not her brother had followed was of little consequence to her, she had something she needed to do. Quietly as she always did, she slipped out of the soft soled shoes she wore and moved into the garden, walking past the low wall that rested at the top of the slight incline. Making a direct line for the small shrine, Destiny stopped as she finally stepped onto the white sand that ringed the pool. She kneeled down to the sand, taking a small tin full, before she did the same for the water, a small jar full of the clear liquid. She even got a small fish in the jar. But what would be the most trying was when she stepped down into the water. Drawing closer to the pedestal that held the statue of their goddess, Destiny let a small prayer echo from herself before lifting the statue. Lighter then it looked, she placed her tin and her jar in pockets and exited the pool and room with the statue. No foreign beast, not even a Yamataian, would have this relic.
Velor had been busy since the announcement of the evacuation... the Ki-F5 which had been given to them by Yamatai had been moved to the palace courtyard, where a Harvester cargo container had been fixed upon the hull, where various relics, documents, and other such items had been stored. The humble ship had also been granted it's old mobility, thanks to the QnS supplied TTD. The royalty, and a small crew would be able to make their escape, hopefully.
Velor went over a last minute check of the various systems of the palace, from the underground labs, to the communication system perched at the top of the palace spire. Everything was in order, he wished that things would be this orderly everyday. A mental command sent the full content of the palace's records into a cluster of computer nodes stored aboard the Ki-F5. He made his last steps out of his room, then made a quick backtrack as he snatched a small box from his bedside table, his father never would have forgiven him if he would have forgotten it.
"Shall we then?" Destiny asked of her brother as she watched him leave his room. The Ki-F5 ascended from the palace courtyard waited at the edge of the landing pad at the top of the tower. With a small sigh she gave the area one last look around.
Mother...Father...We will return someday. I promise. Lor's skies will once again be ours...
"Yes sister, we shall." As Velor spoke his words, his own thoughts echoed his sister's.
----
Above the planet, sixty-one stripped down Byakko class carriers moved into position to begin landing rotations to pick up the Lorath civilians on the surface.
Hundreds of TATC-001 Transport Ships darted between Lor and it's orbit as they picked up valuables, and evacuees from remote areas. Harvester ships went about rounding up precious cargo, LSDF troops, and even orbiting satellites.
While the evacuation procedures were carried out, the Lorath were forced to field a weakened defensive force, which was limited to TAEC-0005 units due to every other ship in the Lorath's possession being dedicated to evacuation.
The outdated scout ships were fitted with various alterations to make them combat ready within the small span of time since the SMX threat reared it's ugly head. Thin Neriumium plates were placed upon the hulls of some of these ships, others were fitted with a hardened stonethread composite which stood equivalent to carbon ring material. The ships were fitted with improvised weapons, from welded on missile tubes (some with 2GT yield AM missiles), to hot-wired white beam and positron beam emitters. Some of the more fortunate ships were fitted with the recent plasma beam emitter technology.
A group of ten of these poor-man's fighter ships moved alongside the 5th XF's group when they arrived.
A short range laser transmitted signal came from one of the ships, a message acknowledging the arrival of the fleet was sent, along with information regarding the locations of civilians, and various assets which were listed by evacuation priority. Also, the comm lines which would allow the fleet to communicate with the Royalty, the LSDF, and various other Lorath organizations.
“All clear given, they are ready for us Chujo.” Saito nodded, looking at the command table briefly, “Exit from Hyperspace.” A flash in the darkness, as the massive Iori emerged from hyperspace, the massive Star Army base, spewing nearly a hundred thousand Lamia immediately upon her return to real space, moment’s later two wings of Hyuga Fighters joining them. Himitsu came to a rest just outside of the planet’s orbit, PANTIES feeding information to Saito telepathically.
Communications were opened with the Lorath, as well as the other ships in the taskforce. The Lorath inventory was forwarded to the Iori’s logistics command center, and was being analyzed, and coordinated with the Lorath Officials.
Three volumetric screens opened before Saito, showing Nao, Ayako and Yuka respectively. “Time to get to work here people, -Ayako I want your scouts patrolling the southern nebula, you are our early warning incase the squid try to take Lor before the Lorath are evacuated. Nao I want the Yukari’s main group dedicated to the escort of the Lorath royalty once I invite them to join me here on Himitsu; the rest of your ships should break up into hunting groups-orders are to search and destroy any SMX vessels they encounter. Yuka, standby for insertion of your planetary soldier battalion, once we have clearance from the Lorath Royalty I want them on the planet. Keep this communication open permently so that we maintain constant communication. Orders will be updated hourly, as that tasks may change once we get this operation off the ground.”
Simultaneously Saito had Himitsu transmit the following invitation to Destiny:
With the honorable greetings on behalf of the Fifth Expeditionary Fleet and the Motoyoshi Bakufu, I request that the Lorath royalty accept an invitation to be our guests on the Himitsu Star Fortress. Himitsu is prepared to commit to accommodating one hundred thousand Lorath during this process, reserved primarily of course for your top officials, When you are ready for transport, please contact the YSS Yukari, which will provide you with escort to the base.
Signed,
Chujo Mitsuya Saito
Lor Theater of Operations, Commanding Officer
Himitsu Star Fortress
“Production Bays will be ready to begin production in a few hours; Logistics has also transmitted a priority order to Nataria Depot.” the Logistics officer reported to Saito as she reviewed the operational status of the task force.
"Main group?" Tange Nao raised an eyebrow at the Chusa next to her after Saito's volumetric image dissipated.
"Hai, Taisa." Chusa Sakemoto responded frankly to his superior's skeptiscim. "Much as you would like to have only the command group perform the escort, your mere presence as a Twelve might not be enough to convince them that they are in safe hands."
"I insist that the royalty would be in even safer hands if I had the bulk of my ships sweeping the area." Nao had a clenched fist on the table. "But my guess is that the Chujo would want the Lor to feel as comfortable as possible."
Sakemoto nodded, there were pieces of moon rocks within sublight drive distance to testify to Lor insecurities. "But we could do both, try to cover as much land as possible and assembling into a large group in the shortest time possible when the royalties arrive." The Chusa coughed once to clear his throat. "Giving both sides a piece of mind, Taisa."
Nao looked at Sakemoto again.
"I could use the both my First group and Za's Second group in the hunting party. I'll have Chusa Za operate closer to the coridoor between Himitsu and Lor so that his group can join yours to form a larger main group when the royalties arrive."
"As expected of you, Chusa Sakemoto." Nao agreed, Sakemoto was one of her brightest and fairest subordinates. "Following your plan, my Command group and the Third under Chusa Mihai will be the welcome wagon." Nao tapped her fingers on the table as she wondered if she missed anything other than the chance to fry some squids. Apparently nothing else. Exhaling in disappointment, she announced. "Return to your ship, Chusa. You are dismissed."
"Thank you, Tange-Taisa." The Yamataian noted the sigh from his superior, bowed and left the bridge of the YSS Yukari. Just before he left for the shuttle to take him back to his YSS Atarashi, the Chusa turned around to take a last look at Nao's general direction. Hang in there, Taisa.
With the area surrounding Lor secured, the Draco Forward Scout Group made one last pass around the Yukari and the Himitsu. The Nozomi's sensors rattled off to the other groups, giving them information about the current situation.
Ayako nodded to Saito's volumetric image. "Complying as we speak, ma'am. DFG making short jump to southern nebula rendezvous." Ayako turned her head to the CFS operator. "Make it so. Helm guide us to a good path. Comm, inform the rest of the group."
A chorus of ad-libbed responses verified the command bridge was indeed alive. Ayako smiled, happy things were as they should. The YSS-Draco lined itself up with a patch of open space. Behind it the Tenken, Kouka, and the Kaichou all formed up behind their lead vessel.
"Mark." Ayako order, a stern passion in her voice. The four Nozomi's blinked out of existence to the rest of the fleet. They reappeared a few short moments later, roughly 2 lightyears south of Lor. "Alright scan and spread out. Ganyu, take the Tenken and head southwest. Beware of the minefield. Shindo take the Kaichou and head southeast. Do not get too close to Bizranko. Maintain our stealth people, we're they eyes and ears."
"Moving to position." Taii Ganyu responded. Silently the Tenken broke rank and began turning from its core group.
"Alright, moving out." Taii Shindo called out, as he appeared to be actively typing something on the volumetric display. The Kaichou slipped from the rest of the group and began accelerating away.
"That leaves us, Eto. Helm, dual pattern bar two. Eto, you do the same." Ayako ordered with practiced ease. Her officer responded with a nod on the display. The two Nozomi's quietly rolled around each other once and then came to rest on the same horizontal plane, roughly a mile apart. "Group, commence stealth scan operations."
Upon receiving the offer, Destiny could not help but think it over. In the past taking up personal invitations and giving them to the Yamatians had netted nothing but trouble...The Hanako incident the most recent blunder. But what reason did she have to deny them this time? Besides these people seemed much more professional then the others she had encountered before, and they had come without to much begging and groveling. Maybe they were different.
"Brother, seems we have been invited to the main fortress that has entered our nebula. I know how you feel but we are going to accept. They seem different from the others."
She was about to act before she thought better of it. Looking to her brother she searched his face for a moment, before she let out a sigh. Destiny relayed the message to him in case he had not received it.
"What do you think we should do brother? She we accept their invitation. I think they are different..."
"To my understanding, not all of their people are the same... and the 5th XF has been kind to us, so it is only polite that we head over." Velor responded as he adjusted his robes while standing up from his chair aboard the bridge of the Ki-F5 which the siblings were using for their escape. "I take it we can dock our ships and make it a rather easy meeting, and it would be helpful to aid in directing them with the evacuation."
----
While Velor gave his approval to the meeting, the Lorath made QnS carriers made their decent into the Lor atmosphere. Sixty-one carriers descended upon the outskirts of the Lorath's capital city, landing in various clearings, fields, and plains. As soon as the carriers landed, the Lmanel placed in charge of directing the evacuation effort began to route Lorath citizens to the carriers according to Lorath traditional priority. Family leaders and children were first to be evacuated, soon followed by the rest of the family hierarchy.
While the citizens went about their evacuation, the LSDF continued their vigil, on the planet's surface, and in space. The LSDF's space forces made sure to pay attention to the Yamataian ships which had recently arrived, ready to follow the Yamataian ships lead at the first sign of trouble.
“DFG and YAG are in position. The Lorath have initiated the first phase of the operation.” Saito’s science officer reported, coming along side of her at the table. Saito was going over the inventory response from Nataria, nearly a million unarmed Kyoto’s were on their way from the depot. She said, “Logistics, coordinate with Nataria—they are sending their stock of decommissioned Kyoto’s for use by the Lorath, have our engineering teams ready to install the appropriate stasis units.”
“Tange Nao-Taisa…” Saito looked to the screen to the YSS Yukari, “Is the welcome wagon ready? When the Lorath Royalty ship clears the atmosphere, assume escort formation and bring them to Himitsu.”
It was unknown how Nao managed to stand up in the moment before Saito looked at her, but the Tange was not someone who would take things like orders sitting down.
"Hai, Mitsuya-sama." She responded with a full bow after her orders were received. As soon as the volumetric image dissipated, she re-assumed her upright stance and aura of authorithy. "Contact Chusa Sakemoto." She ordered.
Meanwhile on the YSS Atarashi, Chusa Sakemoto and Chusa Za were going over the hunting plans. The Yamataian was just removing the stylus from his pocket to draw the hunting zones when the screen fizzled to life, both Chusas automatically went into a salute with a loud "Taisa!" when Nao's visage appeared onscreen.
"That may be unnessesary, we are headed out now." She said briefly before she cut the comm without waiting for a reply.
"Ha!" Chusa Za replied to no one in particular before darting off to the shuttle to take her back to her YSS Ikuze with her long black hair tailing behind her, she had to hurry before the formations start but if given enough time to walk, she would have ran anyway.
Sakemoto frowned as his parter left the room, he may be a master organiser but Za was much better at thinking on the fly if they encountered any Mishus. Storing the stylus and turning off the tactical table, the Chusa looked at his communications officer and asked: "Has Chusa Za left the dock?"
"Hai, Chusa." Came the reply. ""Record time, sir."
"Mmm." Sakemoto murmured. "Have the First Security execute sweep manuver Diamond-Two in the Lor system. Individual ships and not pairs, we may be overstreched." He decided. "Prepare and fold on my mark."
"Hai, Chusa!" The officer responded and went to work, another bridge crew looked up from her console. "Fold drives charged and ready to go sir!"
Sakemoto paused for a moment to consider if there was anything not done. Oh, some kind of advice. "All right people. Dont miss, you do not have a second shot partner."
"Mark!"
Nao's screen showed Sakemoto's sixteen Irims disappearing from visual range. Content that her subordinates are doing their jobs, she turned to look at her own men.
"If Mitsuya-sama wants a show, we give her a show!" She porclaimed. Dropping one hand to the Katana handle, she ordered: "All ships! Double Parade!"
"Ha!" The faces of Chusa Za and Mihai flashed briefly on the bridge before the display returned to showing the Irims forming four long straight lines with a large gap for the Lor forces in the middle. The Parade formation was visually impressive, but hindered the forward and rear firing zones. Not that it mattered because the front and rear was only the Himitsu and the planet Lor, those are obviously not targets.
Using sublight drives, Nao's ships accelerated towards Lor to greet their guests.
Shortly after sending their reply that they would indeed join the commanders on the fortress. With arms and legs crossed, a small display came up to show a waiting escort for them, both of Lorath and Yamataian content. From the Lorath there waited a escort of space ready Bringers of Thunder, as well as a group of scout ships. Beyond them lay the Yamataian escort that had been ordered into place. As they broke through the atmosphere and into space, the Bringers of Thunder fell into formation which resembled a wedge almost, with the scout ships both in front and behind.
"Seems they were expecting us to join them brother. While I must admit it is nice to see something so professional...I still feel uneasy. Perhaps it is just from past experiences, but we can not forget the past..." Destiny said aloud to her brother, a hint of suspicion in her voice.
Saito was impressed with Nao’s little display, she watched as the Lorath ships carrying the royal family cleared the planet. She had been over past relations with the Lorath a dozen times, she knew of the blunders-her orders were to show the Lorath that not all of the Star Army was the same.
While she waited for the Lorath to arrive on the Iori she went over the details of the Kyotos inbound from Nataria. She would have them hold in the northern section of the nebula and enter the system a hundred thousand at a time. Sprites were being woken from stasis to perform the engineering on the vessels so that stasis units could be installed; the units were being produced in advance. Since Nataria had sent so many ships she also cleared the production queue for the base and awaited Katsuko to send the rest of the production order.
She opened a communication with the DFG, “How are things out there Ayako?”
Meanwhile Himitsu transmitted clearances to the Lorath ships to dock in Bay One. Orders were given for the Yukari to dock along with them, Nao could control her ships from aboard Himitsu for a short time while she escorted the Lorath royalty to see Saito.
The communication from Himitsu went through without any problem, and was easily processed by the computer aboard the Lorath Royal's Ki-F5. The small ship made it's approach to the lori as the formation around the vessel adjusted their course so they would not be in the way of the docking procedure.
Velor sighed softly as he thought about the situation, he held a hope that this meeting would go far better than those which took place before. "Sister, we're going to be docking soon... we should head to the airlock." Velor said as he stood up from his chair, while a volumetric screen before him displayed the lori and the docking port which their ship had been cleared to dock at.
When the Ki-F5 moved into the proper location relative to the docking port, it kept it's position to allow for the lori to extend it's docking tube, which the outdated Ki-F5 lacked. While the docking took place, a group of Lorath technicians kept an eye on the docking procedure to make sure that there would be no complications while the royalty were between vessels.
"Yes brother. I suppose we should head there now." Destiny nodded lightly, calling up a display for the whereabouts of Fate, her bodyguard. Seeing that the woman had docked on the Himitsu as well and was already on her way over to meet up with the royals.
"Fate will meet with us soon." Was all Destiny said as she held out her hand for her brother to take. The flight had given her time to think. She had not been a good sister lately, and it was time she began being the sister she should.
Velor nodded to his sister's words. "I'm glad that Fate has not decided to stay with the planet... you know how the Fyunnen can be about defending a position." As Velor spoke, he looked at his sister's hand as he suppressed a response that would be best discribed as supprise. I can't even remember the last time she offered her hand. Velor thought as he took her hand. Of course, unlike the traditions of their Yamataian neighbors, the Lorath tradition would involve his sister leading him along after their hands clasped together.
"I think... and hope... that this meeting is going to go as well as it seems that it will. I have a good feeling about this, but I can't help but to shake the anxiety that I tend to feel before these things." Velor smiled to his sister before speaking again. "But, as long as you're here, I feel that we have a hope."
"It only helps to lift my spirit that you said that brother...I am sorry." Destiny smiled to her brother, keeping her own take on the newest upcoming encounter to herself. She did not wish to jynx herself.
"They are stubborn yes, but they are reliable and caring. They do what they feel is best for our protection." It wasn't so much a scolding as it was just a gentle reminder, a tone of playful banter like they had once had together.
"Now remember brother, we must watch our manners and make sure to keep our elbows from the table. Mother and Father would both be very upset if our manners were anything but perfect." She giggled a little, nudging her brother a little as she indeed took the lead.
Meanwhile...
Chusa Sakemoto was still leaning over the tactical map, there were so little ships and so much space to cover. The denial of mutual support amongst his team because of the wide distances between the ships worried him, on top of lowering their chances of a proper kill, help may not arrive in time for a ship in danger. The tension was exacerbated by a red dot that suddenly decided to appear on the edge of the map.
"What is it?" demanded the Chusa.
"Its a... A Yui 4, no, Bellystabber sir! No IFF signals." His sensors officer was listening to his earphones and tapping furiously on the console to try to get a better resolution.
"Pirates." Sakemoto muttered, now he might have to reveal the position of his ship for the scum of the universe. No, they do not deserve it. "Gunnery officer! Navigation!"
Sakemoto waited for the obligatory 'Hai Chusa' from the bridge crews before he continued. "Give them the usual two torpedoes set to slow. Navigations, take us out of this zone before the torpedoes hit."
"Hai, Chusa." They both obediently replied.
"Oh and communications, not a word of this to the Taisa. I don't want her to get all excited over a mere pirate."
Back at the Himitsu
The YSS Yukari, Ikuze, Sadame, most of the command group and a few other Irims were docked at the Himitsu. Tange Nao strode out of the airlock unaccompanied to meet up with her Chusas. Further down the hallway waiting for her was the expressionless Chusa Za and the youngish and small Chusa Mihai. They were also both in formal whites.
"Taisa!" They both greeted her with a bow as she cleared the last airlock.
"Good job with the display." Nao commented. "It appears that I have to escort the Lorath Royalty even on this station, but we can spare one of you and most of the ships to help out Chusa Sakemoto."
"Chusa Sakemoto has laid out his plans to me earlier, Taisa." Za said in a dull voice. "You know that the both of us work best together, besides..." Za then turned to look at the perky and relatively inexperienced Mihai. "... I'm never any good at this diplomacy thing."
Nao simply had to nod to send Za running back to the YSS Ikuze. Turning to look at Mihai, Nao was confronted with a face that definitely looked hostile. Mihai I'm sorry. But do belive me when I say that you are still not ready yet.
"You!" Mihai said loudly while pointing a finger at Nao's face angryly.
"Me?" Nao responded by pointing her own finger at her own face quizzically.
"You are not going to meet royalty looking like that!" Mihai indicated while moving behind the Tange and giving her a push. "You are comming onboard my ship and I'm giving you a makeover, Tange Nao!"
Back to the YSS Atarashi
Five... Four... Three... Two... One. The red dot on the map flashed briefly before dissapearing. Sakemoto responded with an impassive "Hmmp."
"Chusa, the other Irims are reporting other unidentified ships on the edges of their zones. They are requesting orders to persue." The comm officer forwarded.
"Negative." Sakemoto answered. "Don't expand the theater of operations. We can barely hold this place as it is."
"Perhaps you need assistance, in the form of 27 additional Irims?" Chusa Za offered even before her volumetric image finished materialising. Sakemoto thought he saw a small grin on the sides of her lips. But it was obvious that there was a grin on him.
"You are a sight for sore eyes, Za." Sakemoto said, while imitating a gentleman's pose. "Ladies first."
Back to the Himitsu.
Nao tried to imagine how she looked like now. That ____ Mihai had a field day with my body. Nao belived that there is some powder on her face, polish on her nails, lipstick and her hair was tied in a bun held in place with a chopstick with a pair of bangs trailing down. At least this look is still practical as it is elegant. The last time she dragged me into that YSS Sadame of hers, I actually looked sexy-Oh dear it hurts just thinking of it!
Mihai was standing behind and to the right of the Tange, humming a tune innocently while waiting for the Lorath royalty to arrive through the airlock. Noting the Tange's discomfort, the small Neko assured. "Dont worry Taisa, you look great!" Mihai quipped while raising a thumbs up.
Quiet, that is the least of my worries now. Nao pretended not to hear Mihai's comments. The sounds of airlocks opening beyond the one they were waiting made Nao's ears prick up. Oh look, here they come now.
Himitsu / Ki-F5 Airlock:
Velor gave the proper instruction to the airlock to open to the Himitsu, the old Ki-F5’s configuration resulted in it appearing that the royals were standing on the wall of the ship, which relative to the Himitsu’s airlock, was the floor. Velor gladly allowed his sister to proceed ahead of him and handle introductions.
Lor's Surface:
The evacuation of the Lorath continued to proceed as planned and without a hitch other than an occasional dispute accusing obscure families of cutting before more prominent ones. Disputes of rank and file were quickly remedied through a reference to the planetary network, or through the quick intervention of one of the New-Tur’lista or Lmanel.
The gathering of the free range Helashio was an entirely different matter. At least five hundred million tagged free-range Helashio were being guided or shipped by ground vehicle to the capital city. Of these five hundred million, only a mere two or three million had any comprehension of what this kind of mass herding could mean. The lack of knowledge of the situation resulted in some levels of hysterics. Thankfully, the Lmanel assigned to this task were well trained in dealing with such situations, from simply separating the trouble makers from the bulk, to the use of tranquilizer darts, the rush of Helashio which could only be described as a herd made its way over the grassy plains surrounding the capital city.
The untagged and wild Helashio was a far more complex matter. Settlements which ranged from village sized groupings, to towns of a few hundred or at most a few thousand dotted the western continent. Through the years of the Lorath's control of the surface, each one of these groupings of Helashio were documented and mapped out, which allowed for platoons of Non-LSDF Fyunnen and Lmanel to proceed to these locations. Once the Lorath arrived, they began to round up the Helashio which needed to be evacuated, just the same as their tamed or tagged brethren.
Unfortunately, these wild Helashio had different plans. The able bodied males of these settlements began to mount resistance efforts against the Lorath evacuation personnel. Fortunately, the gap of technology between the Lorath and the Helashio provided the Lorath with the upper hand. Primitive firearms, slings, and even various improvised catapults and ballista were fielded against the Fyunnen and Lmanel, which were quick to retreat to their armored vehicles, where they would call for assistance from the LSDF and whoever else was available. The Fyunnen of these groups had to practice restraint, under normal circumstances they would have simply slaughtered the resistance forces of these towns, but they knew full well that they would have to take a soft hand to the situation considering that the Yamataians were involved with this operation. Even with the trouble encountered against the wild Helashio, the Lorath had not yet began their efforts to evacuate one settlement which they often considered to be the most troublesome to keep suppressed, the one and only Helashio settlement which was populated enough to be called a city which was situated on the eastern continent.
The eastern continent posed its own hazards, since the bulk of the Lorath which once inhabited the area had been either killed by the moonfall, or had been evacuated to the western continent. Along with the lack of friendly forces, the terrain was scarred beyond recognition, and still had vast quantities of toxic and radioactive hot spots... there was also the matter of abandoned Lorath equipment and weapons which were yet to be salvaged…
Above the planet:
"Nebula gas monitoring sensors have detected a quantity of displaced gases." A white haired Corporal reported from the sensor station aboard the 'Lek'ci', a Zahl class cruiser which had been monitoring the ground and space operations.
The report drew a sigh from the ship's current commanding officer, a Vice Admiral which had been pried from her comfortable rear-line command position. "Size of the distortion? I don't want to be worried about a comet or some sort of gravity distortion." she asked as she stood up from her chair, the red leather she wore instead of the standard LSDF uniform creaked as she moved.
"Judging by the displacement... wait, there is another displacement, much larger, an explosion of some sort." The Corporal reported as she watched the sensor monitor.
"It seems our Yamataian friends are busy without us." The Vice Admiral commented as she sat back down, she consulted the primary view screen which displayed a three dimensional image of the theater of operations. "They're spread quite thin..." she commented as she watched the blue dots on the screen move about, "Major Secc, send a message to the Yamataian ship coordinating their efforts, inform them that we are willing to assist in system-border skirmishes if needed, and that the other LSDF ships are also willing to expand their field of operations."
Fate was standing by the Airlock, repealed in a full suit of Red armor that was both over and under her normal clothing, though this armor was more cerimonial then combat worthy, in Fate's eyes anyway since it was mostly just red dyed leather armor with a single plate of metal bearing her clan's caste symbol over her chest. Turning her gaze to meet the royals, she raised her faceless helm and slid it onto her head.
"Lord, My lady." She stated simply as she took step behind them, her sword, also more cerimonial then normal rattled slightly.
Ayako rested her chin in her right hand. It was very quiet, both in the bridge and on the scanners. Taii Eto had reported back only a few minutes ago. Shindo and Ganyu were due to report in another fifteen minutes or so.
Looking to her command systems console. Ayako noted everything was still green and active. Then Saito's voice and a volumetric display of the Chujo appeared, driving Ayako from here own world.
"Yes, Chujo? Oh, yes." Ayako started and begin tracing here fingers across the command console. She sent all the available scanning information to the Himitsu. "As you can see, we've got nothing on the scope at the moment. But being this close to squid lands I would assume we'll see some more activity later on."
Ayako then forwarded any pertinent information from the rest of the group's ships to the star fortress. "How goes the evacuation and diplomatics?" Ayako asked, attempting to garner information as to what she was missing.
Obelisk rested just behind her teacher Fate, done up in her ceremonial armor much like Fate was. She was on her toes with so many smaller people around, not used to them nor to the setting or the situation. With a small sigh she kept her eyes on the floor.
As she heard the royals come through the door she dropped to a knee, her hand over her heart as she bowed her head. "Xiaah, High Priest." She said with both honor and reverence. She remained where she was until she got the cue from Destiny to stand.
Destiny smiled lightly as she saw the reassuring presence of both Fate and Obelisk. But not to seem rude to those that were sent to escort her, she addressed them first.
"Greetings, I am Xiaah Destiny, a pleasure to meet you." She gave them a small bow, smiling to them before turning to her brother. "This is my brother, High Priest Tomoe. The two beside you are the High General Fate, current warden of the Fyunnen household, and Princess Obelisk, heir to the Fyunnen household. They are both my bodyguards, so please allow them a little leeway if they become to protective."
Destiny chuckled at what she saw as a funny joke, hiding her mouth behind her hand as she bowed again. "And whom do I owe thanks too for my escort?"
"I am Taisa Tange Nao, one of the Motoyoshi Bakufu, and this is my ward Chusa Mihai. The pleasure is all mine, your highness." Nao responded with a bow with an angle slightly exceeding that of the one Destiny performed, as a person who climbed the ranks the normal way, Nao put her position as a subservent soldier first before that of a Tange.
"Your entourage are now guests onboard our humble Hotaru Starfortress." Nao continued after she resumed her full height. "We will make any allowances to ensure that your visit is as comfortable as possible. As your escort, do inform me if you require anything."
"Ah, I should not keep your highness waiting any longer. Right this way, please." Nao said as she turned to the side, backtracked once as so she would be closer to the walls and then lowered her head to indicate that the path would be down the coridoor. As soon as the Lor party would take their first steps, Nao would lead them down the coridoor to the lifts that would take them to NECTAR.
As Nao's aide, Mihai followed her superior's actions to the letter with an additional bow and "Pleased to meet you!" when she was introduced. She was warned earlier by Nao that her cheerful disposition was welcome as a collegue but not as a serviceman on serious business so she tried appear as professional as possible. She would stand on the opposite side Nao when the Lor were ready to move.
Shoi-san. Mihai telepathically transmitted down the coridoor to the Sub-Lieutenant in charge of additional guards. We are comming soon and Nao-sama says to accomodate for the bodyguards.
Uh, hai. Chusa. The Sub-Leutenant was momentarily stunned by Mihai's informal way of greeting him. The security officer took up his communicator and issued orders to his men. "All right listen up, condone off and close any irrevelant doors in the pathway leading up to NECTAR. Also, I only want half the guards to be in position. Too many guns, ours and theirs in the same place is just going to make everybody uneasy."
The Shoi didn't need to wait for an response. As soon as he closed the communicator, he could hear the sounds of footsteps running outside his command post as everybody got to work. As soon as the steps calmed down, he exited his room to take up position in the coridoor just opposite another guard.
Lor royalty.He thought as he straightened his uniform, adjusted his cap and kept his eyes peeled at the general direction they would be arriving from. Not something you see everyday.
When introduced, Velor bowed politely to the two who greeted him and his sister and smiled. "A pleasure to meet you both, Taisa Nao, Chusa Mihai.". Other than his greeting, he remained quiet and allowed his sister to handle most of the talking. He was glad that he did not have to conduct the typical diplomatic banter, it gave him the focus to observe and take in the sights of the Yamataian starfortress
Meanwhile, on the surface or the planet the combined force of the Lmanel and the Fynnuen were trying to evacuate all the helashio that aren't holed up in the city and trying to resist them. Most of the total population had been cleared out, with the city remaining. Notan grumbled at this development. "Stupid... these idiots are still clinging so hard to their freedom they don't understand that if they don't leave they're going to die." He muttered, petting his companion animal when one of the lmanel came in, panting a bit from running over from the Fynnuen encampment of armored vehicles.
"Sir, the Fynnuen are getting antsy and want to just sack the city...what should we do." The young Lor asked, sounding a bit alarmed.
"Hmm...have Autumn take her rats and infiltrate the city and report back to me on where their strongholds and weakpoints are within it." He said, sending the young messenger off to carry the message to the resident Lmanel who happened to be bonded with rodents.
Destiny smiled lightly to the others and took the first stride. She fell in behind the others and followed them, fully expecting both Fate and Obelisk to follow as she held onto her brother's hand.
"Are you taking in the sights brother? What do you think so far?" She asked her brother, eyes scanning around idly.
"Are we to have a tour first? Or are we to meet with your commanding officer now?" Destiny asked though in a gentle tone. She didn't mind either way, not quiet sure if she was ready, though positive she wanted to get it over with. She was still just as uneasy as her brother, yet she was still optimistic.
"I have orders to take your highness to my commanding officer." Said in a matter of factly way. Half a second later she received a telepathic *AHEM*. Looking out of the corner of her eye, she caught Mihai giving her a 'What do you think you're doing!?' glare.
"Chujo Mitsuya Saito is expecting you, unfortunately." Nao quickly continued, this time with a hint of dissapointment in her voice. The Tange paused for a moment here before blushing a little. "But I would be happy to show you around the station after the meeting if you want to~."
Mihai refrained from raising a thumbs up and from crying tears of joy.
Meanwhile, further down the road.
From the surface of the planet another transport came up to dock, the passenger on board was a representative of the Lmanel house that had been a bit late and missed the first ride up. Being lucky to get this one, the young woman sighed to herself as the shuttle docked with the station; Pyra had never been in space before and was awed by everything around her. Once it docked and things cleared and secured, she pushed the door open and stepped into the airlock, brushing her mid-back length emerald green hair over her shoulder and looked around with amber eyes. The young shamaness was wearing the traditional clothing of a lmanel, soft furs and leather. "Hello?" she asked shyly.
"Uh sir?" One of the Shoi's men voiced out from the communicator in his pocket. "There is a Lor ship docking at tube 1-31, could be more royals."
"What!" The Shoi exclaimed in reply while whipping out the communicator. "Take my place, I be right there in a moment!" The Shoi left his postition and accelerated to a run, the way Nao does things is to make sure that there is always a ranking person attending to any guests. Now that the Tange is busy and that Mihai too, he guessed that he did not have much of a choice.
The security officer and two additional guards reached the airlock just a few seconds before it opened, quickly wiping the sweat off his brow and standing at an attention. He thought the new arrival looked quite pretty but he quickly brushed it off, he still had a job to do. Snapping into a salute, he announced. "Welcome to the Himitsu Starfortress. I am Shoi Kazuma. Forgive me if I appear to be rude, but I have to verify your name." A pearl of sweat slid down his brow. "Security measures, miss."
The shamaness blinked in surprise at the sudden hustle and bustle around her as she got off the shuttle and blinked, the dyed red cluster of bangs falling over her right eye for a moment. "Oh, um it's okay." She said to him a bit quietly. "I'm sorry I'm late, there's been problems for our caste on the planet." she said. "My name's Pyra..." she said with a cute little smile.
"Oh... Its alright." Kazuma gulped, he quickly scanned the datapad containing the list of guests he received from his Lor counterpart. Pyra Pyra Pyra Pyra Pyra. Oh, there it is. "It says here that you are a representative of the Lmanel House." Kazuma confirmed before stowing the datapad and bringing out the communicator. "The meeting is this way, but your Queen would be there any moment now... Could we, um, run?" Kazuma knew that asking a guest to perform a physically exerting activity is pretty much heresy, but he thought Pyra would be in hotter waters if she was actually late for the meeting.
"Oh it's fine with me." Pyra smiled cutely at him. "It's perfectly okay, I'm actually used to running." The slender girl said and stretched her arms out. "But yes, we must hurry if we're already running behind, please lead the way." She said, tying her long hair back into a high ponytail to keep it from falling into her face.
"My apologies." Kazuma bowed before moving and directing Pyra down a coridoor. "This way." He made sure he was a few feet in front of the Lor as he ran. Raising his communicator, the Shoi issued further orders to his men. "One more comming through tube 1-31, clear the path!"
Meanwhile, on the YSS Atarashi
Sakemoto was very pleased, with Chusa Za and her ships around, they were covering a radius of almost 5 LY securely with a grand total of 40 Irims. The small pirate group that was operating in the area did not have a chance at all against the combined might of Empress Yui's finest.
On the tactical map there was a red dot sandwiched between two green ones, an obvious tactical advantage now that there were enough ships for each Irim to work in pairs. Sakemoto looked up to the screen to a fellow Irim Captain. "Shosa Hitomi, you have the first shot."
"Hai, Chusa." Hitomi responded short and crisply as her image disappeared. The other screen showed her Irim readying its main gun. "The YSS Mizumi has a positive lock on the Bellystabber! Its going to fire any second now!" Sakemoto's sensor officer reported.
All right Hitomi, show me what you've got! Sakemoto thought. Within seconds the energy levels was off the charts as the YSS Mizumi opened up with its Type-26A Anti-ship weapon and shrouded the entire area with light. The weapon was more than enough to wipe out the Bellystabber... Except it was not there.
"Bellystabber forced an FTL jump, sir!" The sensor officer explained. "Its still within range!"
FTL jump under interdictor fields? Ha ha, nice try. Enjoy your busted hyperspace module. "Its all over for him now, prepare the Type-26!" Sakemoto ordered.
"Type-26 fully charged, on your mark, Chusa."
"FIRE!" Sakemoto shouted. Within moments, the YSS Atarashi shuddered as it released its deadly blast. The Bellystabber, now unable to escape was caught in the wave and disintegrated into nothingness. Sakemoto was crossing his arms with a smug grin before the image of the wreckage was replaced by that of Hitomi's embarrased face.
"I apologise for missing, sir."
The Chusa waved Hitomi's worry away. "At least we got him anyway. Try harder next time, Shosa."
"Thank you sir." Hitomi's image dissapeared before being abruptly replace by that of Za's ever neutral face projected from light years away. "Your little exercise is scaring the fish away. Sakemoto. I can smell your gunpowder from here."
"Ho?" Sakemoto turned to face his collegue. "These are merely pirates, I'm giving my soldiers target practice so that they'll fare better against the much more difficult and dangerous Mishhu, my dear Za."
Za remained quiet for a few seconds before nodding. "I understand, Sakemoto. We both have our ways of doing things. Shall we talk about them over tea after the mission?"
Sakemoto was not suprised by Za's blunt invitation, he had accepted them a few times before. "Its my pleasure." He replied before Za turned off the screen, only to be replaced by another report by his sensor officer.
"Another Bellystabber detected sir! It has spotted us. It is moving away!"
"Yosh!" Sakemoto responded. "Have Hitomi get into position, we are on a roll today!"
Later, back at the Himitsu
Shoi Kazuma and Pyra arrived at the elevator to NECTAR in good time before the other Royals. Visibly breathing heavily and wiping off his sweat with a hankerchief, he looked at the Lor and explained. "This is the elevator to NECTAR where the meeting is held. Your Queen will be here soon and then you will join them to see Chujo Mitsuya Saito." He then took one last deep breath and stood in attention and in position. As though on cue, Nao's group was visible as they turned the last corner. "Well, here they are." He whispered to Pyra before turning to Nao with a "Taisa!" greeting.
Above Lor:
The Vice Admiral sighed as she watched the demonstration of the Yamataian’s firepower. She found it obnoxious that they insisted on taking care of every little threat. “I’m tired of sitting here.” She said as she crossed one leg over the other as she shifted position in her command chair. “If we’re going to be helping them, we need to make sure that we’re capable... set course for the skirmish zone where they are combating those enemy vessels. Inform scout ships sixteen through twenty that they will be covering our flanks.” With the Vice Admiral’s command, the Zahl-Class ‘Lek'ci' moved from it’s position, along with four of the modified scout ships, two carrying positron beam emitters, and two carrying antimatter missile launcher pods.
“Charge the white beam emitters and turrets. Load forward under-wing launchers with mixed missile compositions. Load rear launchers with multiple-warhead missiles. Inform the torpedo bay that they will be filling the 500’s, currently I want a multiple-warhead round chambered.” As the Vice Admiral spoke her words, the crew of the Zahl class ship dashed about and carried out her commands. Within the few moments it took for the Lek'ci to reach the skirmish zone, the ship’s weapons systems were fully active and ready.
“Pull to the eastern front more, give the Yamataians their space. Judging by how focused they are on that skirmish zone, there should be some of those bandits attempting passage around them.” The vice admiral looked upon a visual display monitor; she watched the nebula before their ship. As she watched, she contemplated, “Fire the multiple warhead torpedo from the central tube. Targeting, I want you to control the warheads. Give them a dispersal pattern forward facing. Detonate them two hundred meters apart from each other.” Within a moment of the Vice Admiral’s order, the central torpedo tube of the Lek'ci discharged a large round from its depths. The torpedo sped through the space before the Lek’ci, and as it approached the nebula ahead, the torpedo then separated into twenty warheads, which then flew into different directions into the dense nebula gasses. After they separated two hundred meters apart, they exploded into spheres of matter and antimatter induced light. Each of these explosions caused the nebula gas to be pushed aside or burnt away. A pair of the ‘Bellystabber’ class ships were robbed of their cover in the once dense gas.
“Scout ship wing, target enemy A, Targeting computer on target B, prepare to fire white beams.” The Vice Admiral ordered as she looked upon the enemy before her.
“Enemy ships firing mixed torpedo ordinance!” One of the sensor technicians announced.
“Countering with turret fire.” The red haired lieutenant beside her said calmly as he silently input a targeting order to the turrets through a neural interface device.
With a brilliant flash of light, the torpedoes which were fired by the Lek'ci’s target were vaporized mid-way through their route. The Bellystabber followed through with a burst from it’s primary weapon, the Combined Pulse Cannon. The bolt of energy ripped through the space between the Bellystabber and the Lek'ci. The round breached the forward shields of the Zahl-class, and impacted against the hull of the ship… only to cause the outer hull plate that it hit to be burnt away, but it was not followed by the typical black-out of the target ship’s systems.
The Vice Admiral scowled at the slightly troublesome target. “Fire the white beams, follow through with a barrage of 10’s from the front launchers. I want that ship disabled and the crew dead. Damage report!”
“Outer hull breached, mid hull intact, internal damage is minimal.” The engineer to her right announced. “Minor electronic shorts in the impact area, generators still online, neural processor system insulation absorbed the shock.”
“White beams fired, and missiles away.” The lieutenant at the weapons station announced as fifteen 10KT antimatter warheads were launched, as two brilliant white flashes of light streaked through the space which they soon were to cross through. The white beams then impacted with the Bellystabber’s shields, breaching them and punching two ten-foot-wide holes through the Bellystabber. As the brilliant white light cleared away, the fifteen missiles soon followed through the path the beams forged, finding their mark inside of the breaches created by the beams, resulting in fifteen separate explosions within the Bellystabber’s interior. Due to the low yield of the warheads, the explosion was not enough to blow the vessel apart, but it was enough to flash-cook the ship’s crew through x-ray radiation which easily ripped through the titanium and silicon construction of the pirate’s vessel.
The Vice admiral’s red painted lips parted into a malevolent grin. “Call a Harvester to this location; inform them to have their heavy nets at the ready. Thaw out fifteen of our Fyunnen and have them meet the Harvester in a pair of Ferryman. Inform them that they will carry out boarding operations to clear out any survivors.”
As the Vice Admiral handled the reaping of her target’s spoils, the four scout ships went about their operation.
“Posi-equiped ships, prepare to fire.” The group leader announced. “Missile ships fire and bring down those shields.” At the group leader’s command, two TAEC-0005 ‘Star Seeker’ type scoutships then burst ahead of the two positron beam equipped ships.
The two missile-ship’s engines were pushed to their operational limit as they closed the gap between themselves and the second Bellystabber at near the speed of light. The Bellystabber fired off a round from their Combined Pulse Cannon, which impacted both of the missile-ships, but was easily shrugged off by the vessels’ lack of Zero Point Energy reliant systems and their recent upgrade of andrium external plate. “Firing Missiles.” One of the pilots announced as the two ships released part of their payload of missiles from their missile pods, resulting in several impacts against the Bellystabber’s top-side shields, causing a rupture of the vessel’s shield coverage.
“Following through.” The lead ship announced as her and her partner ship conducted a high speed fly-by over the topside of the Bellystabber, as they approached they conducted several evasive maneuvers to evade the pirate vessel’s plasma weapons. “Do a barrel roll!” the wing leader called to her partner ship, as her partner barely evaded the plasma weapon discharge, the wing leader fired off her positron weapon, inflicting several direct hits against the Bellystabber. The positron beam easily sliced through the weak hull of the pirate vessel, resulting in the incineration of several pirates, and a breach of the hull of the vessel’s bridge, resulting in a decompression which effectively eliminated the pirate captain, and the ship’s command crew, leaving the Bellystabber dead in space for the time being.
“Ships sixteen through twenty reporting target neutralization, Lek’ci. Returning to position” The wing leader announced as she led her wing back to their position above the gas giant’s desert moon.
“We thank you for your support, we wish your hunts well.” The Vice Admiral responded. “Use the graviton beams to guide the damaged ships closer into our space and out of the skirmish zone. We don’t want our harvester to be in harm’s way.”
Meanwhile on Lor, outside of the Helashio city:
The rodents which were sent in as scouts into the Helashio stronghold made their return, reporting that there were several dozen tribal leaders throughout the Helashio city, and they also brought news of Lorath weapons which were found within the confines of the city, including what the rats perceived as ‘Giant metal people’.
As the rats made their report, the Helashio inside of the city began to feel empowered by the lack of force shown by the Lorath. One of the Helashio made his way to the top of a tower on the outskirts of the city, in his arms was a single missile tube which was most likely salvaged from a nearby evacuated Lorath encampment. With a shrill battlecry, the Helashio tribal warrior did as the book that he found with the weapon instructed him… he took to one knee and placed the tube upon his shoulder, he fixed the glowing box of light upon one of the metal boxes which contained the angry metal plated winged demons. He flicked his thumb over the metal covering of the tube’s firing trigger, then pressed his finger down upon the trigger, resulting in a single arrow of fire and smoke to be shot from the tube.
The low yield antimatter missile hit it’s mark, an APC carrying a squad of Fyunnen warriors. With a brilliant flash of light, the APC and the area of fifty yards around it were flash cooked by light and radiation as the missile collided and released it’s realitively small antimatter load upon the armor of the vehicle.
The loss of Fyunnen lives were the last straw for the restless platoon of Fyunnen who watched their sisters meet their end. “Bring the B.O.T squad forward, tell them to focus on the male targets and high value targets! Do not kill too many or the Lmanel will cry!” The Fyunnen commander called out to her platoon, finishing her statement with a mocking tone aimed at the Lmanel which were stationed not too far away.
Shortly after the Fyunnen commander issued her orders… the ground began to rumble, the reason behind the Bringer of Thunder’s name became clear as the Helashio’s buildings began to vibrate as the ground beneath them shook. This resulted in the level of hysteria behind the city’s walls carrying over into the realm of irrationality. A group of fifty Helashio tribal warriors charged out from one of the smaller city gates, they each carried older models of Lorath firearms which had not seen use since the retaking of the surface, even though the weapons were aged, they surely functioned as they used the old bolt action rifles against the Fyunnen troops stationed near the gate…
“Commander! Your orders?” One of the Fyunnen warriors asked as she ducked behind a pile of sandbags. As she spoke, a .308 round rang against the helmet of her full plate armor, but did not penetrate. “We also receive word that the Fyunnen on the far side of the city have deployed their B.O.T squad.”
Meanwhile, at Notan's position, a Lmanel scout made his report as his bonded companion, a small fuzzy feathered bird, perched upon his head. "A little bird tells me that our Fyunnen companions have began their approach on the city, what should we do?"
Notan thought for a moment, watching what was going on and getting the incoming reports from the rats and now this assistant who'd been watching what was going on from the air. The Fynnuen were always so hot headed and bloodthirsty but considering the tense situation it was almost understandable. Thinking quickly, he smirked. "Tell the Fynnuen to destroy any high places the Helashio can get into to snipe at us with what's left in the city. Act only in self defense and try to avoid too many casualties." he said. "We need to get these people out of here as peacefully as possible, even if it means putting them in the collars, how many do we have with us?" he asked.
"Currently, we only have five hundred with us. I'm sure we could have more dropped to us by cargo ship if you put in a request." The bird-bonded shaman said in response as he looked out to the city. "I'll try to get a message to them, but it may be difficult considering their focus on the battle." With that, the shaman broke into a sprint toward the nearest Fyunnen encampment, the same which had been dealing with the Helashio wielding small arms. When he would arrive, he would deliver Notan's report.
Fortunately for Notan, a part of his orders were already underway before he even spoke them. One of the Fyunnen Bringer Of Thunder had stood up from behind the hill it was laid prone behind. As it stood up, a large Gatling weapon came into view. The relatively un-advanced weapon was still a vicious beast, this was made apparent as the Bringer Of Thunder raised the weapon, the barrels then began to rotate, and soon a roar of thunderous sound, fire, and smoke burst from the barrels of the weapon. The gatling which was dubbed 'Devil's Fury' spewed hundreds of high explosive rounds into the city. With a flurry of explosions, dust, and smoke, the Helashio's tallest structures were torn to rubble, soon followed by the city walls and gates.
The Fyunnen's show of force pressured the Helashio into using one of the 'Metal people' they had found in one of the many abandoned Lorath settlements. A faint glow of a camera-eye shined through the smoke and dust of blown apart buildings, as the scorched black and grey Bringer Of Thunder stepped out from the wreckage, its movements were somewhat clumsy, but this could be expected of a pilot who learned from the pictures in a manual, and was learning as he went along. What the pilot could not handle, the B.O.T's computer did as it balanced the machine and kept it from falling. The Helashio pilot then made an attempt to use the B.O.T's Gatling upon the Fyunnen's machine, but was greeted with a series of loud buzzes, red lights, and warnings about friendly fire. The Helashio then dropped the seemingly useless Gatling weapon, and drawn an oversize blade from behind the machine. The blade ignited into a stream of plasma as the Helashio piloted the machine into a charge at the Fyunnen position.
"By the God be damned..." The Fyunnen B.O.T pilot cursed as she found that she was out of ammunition for her Gatling as she saw the Helashio piloted unit charge at her. She drawn her own massive blade which she wielded with one hand, while she held up a make-shift shield in the other hand... a cut hull section from the scrapped Nozomi which had been left by the Sakura during the Moonfall. The size was nothing more than a buckler, but it served it's purpose as the Helashio piloted B.O.T leaped at her, the stream of plasma and the solid blade impacted against the Zesuaium plate. The plate held up marvelously to the under-accelerated plasma.
The Helashio inside of the B.O.T began to swing the oversize weapon zealously, striking against the makeshift shield repeatedly. This blind assault was rash, but effective, it forced the Fyunnen pilot to keep her shield up. The Fyunnen did not intend to be pinned down without a fight though, as she fired her B.O.T's thrusters and slammed the shield against the torso of the opposing armor, forcing it to stagger backward. The Fyunnen then followed through with her own blade, which had been upgraded with a modern disruptive plasma stream strip along the sides of the blade. The disruptive plasma caused the air around the blade to crackle and burn as the Fyunnen swung the weapon with great accuracy, severing an arm of the opposing machine.
The Helashio pilot quickly ducked his machine down as he snatched the arm from the ground and fired the thrusters of his own machine, retreating back into the smoke and ruble of the Helashio city, the Fyunnen pilot then gave chase. To an observer, it would be apparent that such a conflict inside of the city would result in massive collateral damage. Even the Fyunnen group which gave their zealous order to attack considered standing by and waiting. They allowed the combatants to go farther into the city before they would make their move, this break in advance would present an opportunity to get a grip upon this platoon's actions.
Lor - Eastern Continent – Helashio City Stronghold
The Fyunnen Bringer Of Thunder made it's way into the smoke and dust of the battered Helashio city as the pilot pursued her prey, the stolen B.O.T piloted by a mere savage Helashio.
Meanwhile, outside of the city, the Fyunnen troops were in a gap between their advance, waiting for the large combatants to proceed farther into the city.
Feather was among the ground troops waiting for the B.O.T.s to clear more space for the troops to advance with minimal collateral damage to the infantry. A Fyunnen ran over to her, while she was looking through a pair of binoculars at the duel, as well as trying to spy Helashio resistance encampments.
"Ma'am." The trooper said with a slight bow. Feather responded with a slight wave of her hand. "One of the hound teams has found a collapsed length of wall that they think will be a good entrance, instead of waiting for the B.O.T.s to clear room."
Feather though on the information, "No, we'll wait here." She replied. "If we know of the hole, then they would too. It would be a terrific trap."
Surely enough, Feather's squad held their ground and waited... unfortunately, the other Fyunnen on the far side of the city were without orders to halt as they began their advance into the ruined side of the Helashio settlement. As they made their charging approach, they held their 'Hand Cannon' revolvers at the ready in one hand, while they each held their 'Searing Blade' sabers at the ready, a truly unique buccaneer type of battle stance, fitting for a raid.
Meanwhile, Notan was remaining where he was, listening to the incoming updates on the situation and how the Fyunnen were moving into the city and grumbled a bit. He knew how this could get out of hand once things got going; the warriors were always quick to retaliate when attacked. Thinking through the numbers he had with him he grabbed a radio to request more control collars be airdropped in for the Fyunnen to put on the more troublesome Helashio. It was almost time for the Lmanel to move in as well to start subduing the less rebellious ones. "Once those collars arrive, we're moving in to aid the Fyunnen, these Helashio need to be evacuated at any cost." he said to his messenger on hand. "Relay the message to their commander to make use of those when they arrive." He said.
When the request was sent in for a supply of additional control collars, an Lmanel operated TATC-0001 cargo vessel responded to the request. "Notan, we read your request and will conduct a fly-by drop of the requested collars. ETA is fifteen minutes, we need to adjust our orbit before decent." Apparently, Lmanel slave handlers all around Lor were having the same problem with a number of wild Helashio settlements. Prior to this evacuation, there was never a need to collar this many Helashio. Thankfully, the Lmanel were prepared for this unlikely situation...
"Drop them near the Fyunnen troops." Notan replied to the cargo vessel. "We have plenty here with us currently and relay the message to the troops on the far side of the settlement to make use of them and try to avoid causalities." he said over the radio.
"Will-do, may your hunt fare well." The Lmanel pilot responded as he closed the communication channel then opened one to the Fyunnen. "This is Lmanel cargo transport 'Submission', we have a shipment of control collars which we have been instructed to supply your squad. It is requested by Lmanel caste leader Notan that you utilize these collars to subdue the opposing force."
"This is Fyunnen platoon 'Heart Break', we receive your message." The Fyunnen communications operator responded as he sat in an APC at the rear of the lines. "Orders acknowledged, will attempt to relay..." The male operator sighed deeply as he closed the channel... he knew this would be difficult as he began to attempt to contact the platoon leader.
Feather tapped a finger to an ear piece she was wearing, true she lack a microphone to make it an actual radio, but it served when she need to hear, or overhear, communications between squads. Over hearing Submission and Heart Break, she learned the new mission parameters and also learned the engagement rules. "Hey," she said, turning to the warrior that told her about the wall breach, "Do we have any collars around here?"
"The only collars we have handy are the ones the Lmanel have, ma'am." The warrior said before a .308 round of ammunition impacted against the gauntlet of her armor, cracking the metal but being caught by the stone thread cloth beneath before it could penetrate into the flesh, unfortunately the impact broke the warrior's arm. "Damn it, can't we do anything other than sit here?!"
Notan gave the order to the Lmanel to move out and begin heading for city and move into position to infiltrate it while he waited for the Lmanel with her rodent spies to bring him the info on the layout of the city from what they knew.
Meanwhile, on the inside of the city. The city's inhabitants either hid inside of their homes, or were dug in behind rubble with salvaged outdated rifles. They made their attempt at a resistance and their attempt paid off as they took pot-shots at the Fyunnen warriors. Just enough to keep their heads down, which is until they began their advance. The first Fyunnen through the ruined city wall swiped her blade through the air, resulting in a plume of blueish plasma to wash over a trio of Helashio tribal warriors who attempted to engage her in melee combat. Nothing was left of them after the swing; this caused the armed Helashio to retreat farther into the city.
"Heart Break communications to Heartbreak Commander, we have orders to take prisoners." The male voice came over the communication line, but it was met by the sound of small arms fire, and plasma discharges. Apparently the same Fyunnen which went through the city wall first, and began to lay siege to the Helashio forces, was the same one who needed to receive the orders... little could be done to reach the battle focused commander by radio. "Heartbreak Comms to any Fyunnen who is listening, we need to inform the commander that we are to take as many prisoners as possible, repeat, inform the commander of our orders."
Feather ducked some and raised a hand instinctually from the gunshot. Glancing at the injured warrior, Feather's old resentments, which were long buried as a promise to an old dead friend, began to resurface. The slaves attacked her soldiers; they try to kill their betters. "Warriors!" Feather called as she drew her pistol, "We advance!" She called as she pointed at the entrance. She did hear the general request and decided to heed it. "If anyone comes in contact with members of Heart Break, inform them that the resistance must be contained! Wanton slaughter is not an option!"
"Yes ma'am!" The seven soldiers under Feather's command responded as they drawn their 'Stalwart Specials' from their slung positions. They then began to make their swift advance upon the city wall breach. As they made their charge, they took aim and fired at the Helashio rifle-men, but, they did not take kill shots. Instead, the magnetically accelerated needles impacted against the Helashio's old and outdated rifles, ripping them in two, or the needles tore through the Helashio's limbs, effectively disabling them.
Once things began to get going Notan and his Lmanel fell in behind Feather's force to collar the disabled the rebels and get them out to medical treatment so they could at least walk to evacuate. The ones who could were gathering up the Helashio that were too young to fight as well as the ones who were just too scared to fight. They were trying to show them they weren't doing this to hurt or kill them but to save their lives if they could.
As Feather's squad and the Heartbreak Platoon made their advance, the two Bringer of Thunder which were engaged in combat made their way to the center of the city as they made contact with each other once again. The Helashio threw the severed arm of his machine at the Fyunnen's B.O.T, which resulted in a rather audible 'CLANG' to sound through the city center. As the Fyunnen raised her shield to deflect the severed arm, the Helashio then leapt his stolen machine at the Fyunnen, tackling the red painted Bringer of Thunder against a stonework building, collapsing it to the ground. The two machines then began to struggle for dominance as the Fyunnen bashed her hull-plate-buckler against the head of the Helashio machine, inflicting rather formidable dents in the armor plate.
Heartbreak Platoon's commander continued her advance into the city, as her platoon followed behind her. A group of three Helashio took to a knee before the commander as they raised their rifles, took aim, and fired at her. The heavy red-painted plate armor the commander wore deflected the rounds easily; the .50 caliber rifles didn’t even make a scratch into the heart-shaped crest which was fixed upon the chest of the commander's armor. Again and again the Helashio fired, only to have their rounds deflected by the stone thread laminated armor. The platoon commander then closed the gap between her and the enemy... her free hand lashed out and grasped upon the skull of one of the Helashio, which she quickly crushed in her grasp. Two swipes of her blade was all it took to dispatch the other two. After dispatching the trio, she continued her advance upon the residential area of the city where the Helashio tribal warriors made their retreat to.
Feather and her troops continued their advance, ignoring and evading the B.O.T.s that continued to duke it out. Feather, herself, was showing restraint in her offensive, relying more on shock and scare tactics then out right combat. Whenever she squeezed off a round she always deliberately aimed too high or just away from her intended targets, if not aiming directly for their weapons.
Notan gave word to the ‘Risana’ (Lorath wolves) he'd brought to sniff out those that were hidden and call attention to them so the others could either subdue them or get them to safety. "Man I hate those B.O.T's when they're doing this, we have to watch out they don't bring anything down on our heads." He muttered.
Apparently, the bulk of the Helashio combatants were easily rattled by the advance of both groups of Fyunnen combatants, as they seemed to rush through the city center, also making an attempt to evade the two mechanical combatants which had returned to their feet again.
The Helashio pilot again made a retreat, which was soon halted by the Fyunnen B.O.T pilot who had enough of the little game... she, threw the oversized plasma blade at the back of the fleeing machine, resulting in a cleaving blow being made through the torso, and cockpit of the mechanical giant, thus neutralizing the threat. After dispatching the enemy, the Fyunnen pilot removed her oversize weapon from the vanquished armor before she made her way back out of the city.
A transmission came over the radio communications of the Heartbreak platoon, Feather's communication monitor, the Lmanel communications devices, and the Bringer of Thunder's comm line. "Cargo vessel 'Submission' to ground forces, we are making our pass. We will be dropping the cargo container in five minutes. Please be ready to recover the cargo."
"Good!" Notan said once he heard the communication come through. "That'll make this quite a bit easier." he said as his Lmanel had been running out of collars after applying them to most of the captures they'd gotten.
Feather listened to the update silently as she reloaded her handgun from the safety of a partly standing wall. With a click, she snapped the gun closed, looked over at her troops and nodded.
Continuing the previous trend, the Heartbreak Platoon's commander continued her advance, even as the Helashio piloted B.O.T fell to the ground not more than ten yards away from her. As she made her advance, she took aim with her revolver as she spotted the missile tube wielding Helashio which had killed her sisters in combat. He was perched upon a roof top, taking aim at the B.O.T which was leaving the battle. Her steady hand pulled the trigger of the weapon, resulting in a .50 caliber slug ripping through the Helashio's shoulder, thus causing him to lose his grip on the weapon. The impact also knocked him off balance as he staggered off the rooftop, plummeting to the ground below. Heartbreak's silent advance took her over the fallen Helashio who clung to life as he looked up at her. His dying gaze was met by the sole of the commander's rubber soled greaves as the battle focused commander stepped upon the Helashio's skull, smashing him like a bug beneath her stride.
The rats which Notan's forces sent to investigate returned with news of the Helashio taking refuge in the residential buildings, which also became burrows beneath the city... a situation which would take weeks, if not months, to clear up. Time which the Lorath did not have.
"Damn..." Notan cursed. "Wish Hebi was here, I'm sure her snakes could easily get them out of there in a hurry..." he thought for a moment.”We could possibly send the rats to get them out..." he mused.
Heartbreak's persistent advance surely brought her to the entrance of the residential burrows. The mound which served as the outer perimeter was bristling with Helashio tribal warriors armed with the old Lorath firearms. With a motion of Heartbreak's hand, her platoon then charged forward, their lighter plate allowing them to run ahead quickly. They charged directly into the hail of bullets, sprays of blood came from between the joints of several of the Fyunnen warrior's light armor before they collapsed, wounded but not dead yet. Even after falling, the warriors continued to claw at the ground in an attempt to advance. As her platoon charged the riflemen, Heartbreak made her way into the burrow, where she would surely continue her rampage.
"Cargo vessel 'Submission' dropping container now." The transmission sounded through the Lorath forces communications. Surely enough, the large and unattractive shape of a cargo transport passed over the city, and behind it a large container drifted lazily through the sky as it parachuted down, where it was caught by the Fyunnen Bringer of Thunder.
Feather and her unit continued their advance, finally coming upon the grizzly scene of Fyunnen having been gunned down by Helashio. "Capture those gunmen." She ordered as she then noticed a disturbance in the rubble around a burrow entrance, which was far larger then what a lightly garbed Helashio would cause. "You," she said, pointing to an Lmanel, who's bonded was apparently the rats, "Come with me, I'll need eyes in the darkness." She said, before quickly jogging into the burrow.
The Lmanel with the rats nodded and jogged after her into the burrow, the rats scurrying ahead and chittering amongst themselves, alerting them to terrain such as pits and the like. The others quickly moving to capture the gunmen, pinning them down and snapping the collar on them and sent them back toward the rear using the collars to control them to do so.
Feather's squad had little to no trouble making their way to the gunners, since a majority of them were already engaged in melee combat against the bulk of Heartbreak's squad which made it through. When Feather's forces joined the conflict, they quickly communicated the orders, which were followed as the B.O.T delivered the cargo container to just outside of the burrow.
The inside of the burrow was dark and cramped, except for a number of chambers which branched off from the main route. These chambers were lit aflame as the contents of them burnt to ash, apparently ignited by plasma fire. The path of destruction would paint a clear route as to where Heartbreak had traveled.
Feather, now running as best she could in the cramped tunnels followed the trail of destruction in earnest. "Let's branch off, I'll follow the fires, you try and heard whoever you find back to the others, okay?" She said, before running down one of the tunnels alight.
The young woman nodded and headed off in a different direction than Feather but send a few rats with her, at the very least they'd be able to communicate Feather's status back to her. The Lmanel carefully looked around, searching for new or hiding Helashio; the rats far ahead of her and chittering back to her, informing her to where the hidden were.
Feather's advance would lead her deeper and deeper into the tunnel complex. The ignited rooms seemed to be more and more recently set aflame, judging by the amount of the contents that were not burnt already. The flames lit the walls of the burrow, which began to bear decoration the deeper she went into the burrow. Apparently, Heartbreak was a veteran of this kind of campaign.
Only a few dozen yards deeper into the burrow, Heartbreak's advance brought her to a room which was decorated by elaborate stone and bone sculptures. Outside of this room, two Helashio tribal warriors lay dying as they bled from wounds inflicted by Heartbreak's unignited blade. Her warpath then brought her deeper into the room, where she found the assembled Helashio tribal council, seated around a fire, chanting some sort of incomprehensible prayer... a death chant. Heartbreak stood and waited for their prayer to finish... a chant she heard many times in her life.
Feather raced through the tunnels, eventually coming to the room with the two dying warriors. Looking up, she could just see Heartbreak at the other end of the tunnel. Standing, she drew her gun, then with a flick, opened the chamber and dropped the bullets to the ground. With another flick, and switching the grip, she reared her arm back and hurled the now empty, but still dangerously heavy, weapon at Heartbreak's back.
The dull clang of the weapon impacting against Heartbreak's plate sounded through the chamber as she turned to look at who had thrown the weapon at her. All that was visible of the woman were her golden eyes which were illuminated by the torches which were suspended from the walls of the chamber, with a glance over Feather's armor she spoke. "Fencer, what do you want?" She asked, her voice was not that of a younger warrior such as Feather, or even Fate... her voice was that of a woman who had seen battlefields for at least a hundred years.
"Orders were to capture the slaves alive." Feather said as she walked down the tunnel towards the elder. "You're violating that order." She finished with a slight head jerk towards the two fatally injured warriors.
"Who were the orders issued by?" Heartbreak asked as she turned her gaze back to the Helashio, who continued their chant.
"They were issued by command. We're to evacuate the people from the city, not eliminate them." She stated.
"Fine enough...now don't get in my way young one, just stay put." Heartbreak's words were calm and steady as she raised her blade again, just as the Helashio's chant finished. Heartbreak strode toward the group of elders, walking around the group seated in a circle around the fire, until she positioned herself behind the most elaborately clothed Helashio. An older woman clad in well crafted leathers, who wore a silken head wrap adorned with the skulls of various birds. Heartbreak began to mutter an incomprehensible series of flowing tones, Helashio speech. "You know it is your time to be judged?"
The Helashio tribal leader nodded silently, her sapphire blue eyes were stern and focused as she sat upright, and she tilted her head down bearing the back of her neck.
Feather watched. She was unsure what they were saying, but apparently it was important.
Heartbreak raised her blade, her armor making a dull clatter as it shifted to her movement. A shrill swish sounded through the chamber as Heartbreak swung her sword swiftly, but stopped it just as the edge touched against the Helashio's skin. "I let you live, your life and your tribe's lives belong to us. Just as your mother, and her mother's mother had agreed. Submit and be spared."
The Helashio woman began to sob as she heard the words spoken by Heartbreak; she heard these words once as a child when she first saw a woman, clad in armor much like Heartbreak's, storm into the chambers of her grandmother, the former tribal leader. "We will submit to your strength and your wisdom, do with us as you please." The Helashio woman said through sobs.
Heartbreak sheathed her sword as she looked to Feather. "I have done this many times before... she thinks that they will now be enslaved, just as her mother, and the mother before her were... they'll come peacefully." Heartbreak then strode around the group, and then made her way out from the chambers as her stone thread cloak gently swayed and shifted with her slow and steady stride.
The sobbing Helashio spoke a series of small sounding words to one of the tribal council which sat beside her who held a drum in his lap. After she spoke, the councilman began to play a gentle and somber beat upon the drum. As the sound resonated through small shafts which ran through the mound, the gunfire side ceased as the sound made its way outside. Drummers through out the city slowly began to play the same beats as soon as they heard the message get passed along, from drummer to drummer.
Feather blinked and watches the older warrior leave. She decided to follow along, scooping up her gun and the discarded bullets on her way.
Notan, following the rats headed into the cave while the Lmanel cleaned up the mess above and soon the muscular Lmanel taskmaster was in their presence, collars in hand. "This is for your own good." he said and put the collars on the tribal leaders. "We don’t want to see you to die nor your children's children which is why we're taking you all away."
The Helashio tribal leaders had no idea of the words which the task master spoke, but they submitted none the less... the last Helashio city had fallen, and before the sun would set, the city would be evacuated and the population would be moved to a proper pick-up zone for evacuation off of the planet.
Obelisk sighed as she read the up-to-date reports from the battlefield. Heartbreak was always vicious but she always brought results. And what they needed now were results. Looking to Fate she spoke loud enough that the others would hear as well, but not be rude.
"The city has fallen, they are being taken to a evacuation point now. Heartbreak brought the leaders to bring the others out."
The strain in Obelisk's voice was apparent, it seemed that the princess did not enjoy the older woman's tactics.
As Velor strode along with the group, he heard Obelisk's announcement. "Do not be concerned Obelisk. Heartbreak has served for a long time, and she knows what is needed to be done to achieve a goal. She does no more, and no less. Thanks to her efforts, there will be far less Helashio left behind to die to their own ignorance." Velor's words were blunt, but he felt he could be honest about such a matter with current mixed company.
Saito awaited her incoming guests, preparing herself mentally for dealing with the situation at hand. She had never really had much contact with outsiders, unlike Kotoku Sui she was not a xenophobe, but she was weary of the intentions of the newer members of the empire. The strongest worry however lay in the fact that they had contact with another fleet, past experience labeled the other fleets of the empire to be less than what she considered to be on task—Pisces was proof of that.
A volumetric window opened before her showing that the royals were close to NECTAR, she fixed her makeup taking out her compact-wanting to at least look her best. A few moments of primping and perfecting the snapped the compact shut and slid it back into one of the hidden skirt pockets.
Alright Nao, I am ready for them whenever you get up here.
***
On the outer fringes of the operational region, just outside the nebula the Draco commanded by Bando Ayako began to pick up disturbances from hyperspace, three Mishhuvurthyar Ghullfrashirv emerged briefly into realspace and then disappeared back into hyperspace, the rest of their group staying concealed within the depths, waiting for their reinforcements so they could make a push for Lor. An offensive was mounting; ships were being drawn from Bizranko and other nearby occupied territories.
Destiny nodded lightly to the announcement as they moved closer still to their destination. With each new hallway they entered, Destiny gave a short bow of the head to those guarding the hallways and doors, appreciative of their efforts to be professional.
"They are defiantly different then the Sakura group...they carry a greater deal of pride with them then the others did." Destiny said to her brother mentally while still looking around the area. Her eyes seemed to take in all those that were watching the procession.
"They're far more well mannered, that is certain. I can only hope their commanding officer is as welcoming." Velor strode with his sister through the corridors. He seemed to be observant, but his mind was elsewhere as he kept silent tabs on his people's efforts through a cybernetic link to the Lorath network. "Sister, the evacuation is going well. The Helashio settlements have been captured and the Helashio are being herded to evacuation zones. Our forces also stand at the ready to defend against any threats which may appear." He informed his sister, figuring that now would be a good time to relay the information, instead of troubling her during their meeting.
"Very well, once they are fully evacuated from the planet, all settlements, I want our people to leave as well. None shall remain on Lor."
She replied to her brother, positive it would be not only picked up and understood, but relayed by him as they continued to stroll through the halls, coming closer to NECTAR. After a few moments more they arrived at the doors to NECTAR and waited for them to open.
"Here we are...Is everyone ready?" Came a question in Fate, Obelisk and her brother's mind, questioning them to see if they were ready to proceed.
"Taisa!" Shoi Kazuma greeted his superior.
Nao merely nodded at her security officer, who then saluted the envoy and turned around to key in a combination code on the touchpad on the sides of the elevator. On cue, the elevator doors opened and the Shoi turned around again to snap back into position.
The Tange figured that she would not be seeing her security officer until the meeting was over so she delivered her evaluation on his performance as she passed him to enter the lift together with Mihai. "Well done, Shoi."
"Ha!" Replied Kazuma in a formal military manner as he stayed where he was.
Entering first and showing that it is not a trap, Nao and Mihai took positions to the sides of the elevator that will bring them up to NECTAR.
Meanwhile on the YSS Atarashi
Three extra red dots appeared on the edges of Chusa Sakemoto's map, although red dots has been appearing for quite a while for the moments before and he was wiping them off in the moments after, these ones were different as they faded away... But not before displaying "Mishhu" under them.
The Yamataian's eyes widened, but it was not only him that noticed it. Chusa Za's image appeared on screen. "Chusa Sakemoto." She said, awaiting his comments on the matter.
"It has begun, fall back and organize a defensive perimeter around Lor with their fleet." Sakemoto ordered, he was quite certain that the Mishhu would want to take full advantage of the situation on Lor. "I'll stay here and run skirmishing operations... The tea will have to wait, Za." He added candidly.
"Hai, Chusa." Za's image dissipated.
"Communications officer!" Sakemoto shouted. "Tell the commander of the Lor fleet that the Mishus are here and that he knows the defenses of his planet than I do, tell him to fall back and prepare, we'll buy them some time."
"Ha, Chusa!" Came the stock reply.
Here they come... The Chusa thought as he re-consulted the map and made the nessesary changes to the next course of action.
Destiny entered the elevator, sure that there was no trap set up even before the two neko stepped inside. Positive that her group would follow her in she looked to the two at the sides of the elevator.
"If I may ask, why so many twist and turns to get to the place of meeting? Why not just somewhere simple, a easy passageway to a dedicated elevator such as this? Even if it was a security risk, with so many armed guards as well as external defenses like the escort it must always have, it would be little risk yes?"
Destiny tilted her head. Sure the tour they had been given was nice, and she did enjoy being paraded around at times, but now she had more pressing matters on her mind.
"I agree with my sister." Velor said as his voice carried a tone of irritation. He appreciated the time and effort which went into such a greeting, and the marvel of the vessel's technology, but time was something that could not be replaced by pretty sights and electric lights.
Aboard The Lek'ci:
The Lorath Vice Admiral put on a rather calm but determined expression as she was informed by the Yamataian communications officer that the Mishhu are prepared to make an advance. The pirates were apparently the calm before the storm.
The Vice Admiral knew full well that she would have to issue a bulk of the commands to the fleet, considering that two of the highest ranking Fyunnen were aboard the 5th XF's ship. With a single gesture of her hand, the Lorath communications officer opened an encrypted laser communication channel at the Admiral's request. "Vice Admiral Jiecyom to LSDF and Fyunnen forces, both space and planet bound." Jiecyom's eyes looked over the data being shared by the Yamataian ships, her face never leaving the calmed state it was in.
The Vice Admiral then spoke her orders in Lorath "Your orders are to assume defensive positions, prepare our long range M/AM missiles. Planet bound forces, prepare for small armored unit engagements. Ground artillery, prepare launchers with subspace-field equipped antimatter missiles. B.O.T units, follow armor neutralization procedures. Infantry units, prepare missile launchers. Space forces, remain in constant motion when the enemy advances, do not allow your wings to become isolated from the fleet. Attempt to neutralize enemy carrier and capital ships that are slow moving. Let the faster Yamatai forces deal with gunships and smaller. Space B.O.T and properly equipped vessels, when the enemy's shields are down, place a 'Sourcian Miracle' unit on their vessel, be sure units are configured properly to prevent fratricide. Ground forces, prepare to deploy the 'Sourcian Miracle', planetary range only, and not within the evacuation zone."
With another gesture of her hand, the communication channel was shifted to a laser communication to the Himitsu, requesting that it be forwarded as needed. "Yamatai forces, this is Vice Admiral Zealous, I have ordered our forces to assume defensive postures and to target slow moving combatants. We request that your faster warships deal with fast moving combatants such as gunships. We will be launching large numbers of antimatter missiles, please warn your ships moving between the enemy and the planet to be careful of missiles in transit. Do not concern your ground support forces with terrain outside of the capital city and evacuation zone, it is for your best interest. Also, do not linger near enemy vessels which have had their shields dropped, we will be deploying a weapon that we would like to keep quiet about in case of unwelcome ears. Also, on behalf of our forces, we would like to wish you good hunting. Keep us safe, and we shall do the same for you. Vice Admiral Zealous closing comm line."
Aboard the Himitsu:
As Velor stepped into the lift with his sister, not long after speaking in his aggravated tone, he found that there was another topic of aggravation to be addressed as his cybernetic communications implant informed him of the recent defensive development. "We must hurry, no more time for delays... Sister, there is communication chatter about the Mishhu approaching. Our forces have taken defensive positions and have began to mobilize the Ambassador's weapon system. There is also word of the Ambassador successfully making it off of Lor, but she requests information as to where to go."
Once the natives had been rounded up and made to evacuate and things calmed down with the evac continuing. They were slightly behind schedule because of the issue of having to deal with the insurgents and the hidden Helashio in the tunnels. Notan was sitting in a transport reviewing the information collected by the lmanel that were just completing their genetic sampling of all the species on Lor. He was quite pleased with the number of species they'd been able to document so far but that ws still an ongoing process to organize all the data. "Good that's going well enough..."
ON: HOTARU
Looking in a volumetric display, Katsuko fixed her appearance before she turned it off...confident that not a single hair was out of place, she issued a very simple telepathic command.
Send them in, please.
Destiny gave a bow to the escorts as she stepped out of the lift with her brother in hand. She had a air of regality around her that seemed to command attention and loyalty as she locked eyes with Katsuko. Immediately she knew who it was that was in charge. Obelisk wasn't much further then a few feet behind the royal siblings.
When the lift doors opened and the royalty stepped out, the larger of the two guardians of the royalty followed behind, her gaze ever watchful. The leather armor clad woman looked about the area with a vigilant gaze, but she kept a leash on her usually short fuse, knowing full well her Xiaah would not approve of a false alarm.
Surely enough, Tomoe followed along with his sister's lead as he remained silent and allowed his sister to handle whatever relations would take place. He kept his peace until he would be needed for anything his sister on an off chance could not handle.
Katsuko stood, in respect for the ruler, but she was certainly the one in charge on this fortress. She gave a nod of respect to the group, offering them all seats. "Please make yourselves comfortable. We have much to discuss...as you are likely aware, I am Taisho Motoyoshi Katsuko, Commander of the Star Army of Yamatai's Fifth Expeditionary Fleet."
Destiny dipped into a bow and as she stood back up, smiled widely. At her hip hung a plushie in the form of Katsuko, a confident smirk on her face. It seemed that Destiny had been awaiting this meeting and as she sat, placed the plushie in her lap. "Greetings, Taisho Motoyoshi Katsuko. I am Xiaah Harr'Ikke Destiny Tur'Lista, as I am sure you are already aware of. To my side is my brother, High Priest Tomoe Velor Tur'Lista. Behind myself are my two bodyguards, High General Sen’yhty Fate Fynneun, current warden of house Fyunnen, and her student Lumuham Lrnec'cdyn Obelisk Fyunnen, Princess of the Fyunnen household." As her name was spoken, Obelisk made sure to bow.
Fate bowed slightly, though she kept quite.
"Simply call us by our middle names... it is our tradition for dealing with those of other species, so Destiny and Tomoe would suffice for my sister and I." Tomoe bowed as he smiled softly at Katsuko. His mostly white hair fell over his shoulder. as it fell, it would be apparent that along a braid, there was only a hand full of strands of blue, which were hidden in the depths of crimson red strands.
Katsuko looked at the plushie, and let out a rare soft smile, before returning to her respectful and businesslike manner. "I understand, and I welcome you to Hotaru Star Fortress, if you have not been welcomed already...now. How go your peoples' preliminary evacuation efforts?"
Tomoe gave his sister a glance, curious if she'd handle the task or if he would have to.
Destiny looked to her brother and after a moment gave a small nod. "They are going well. I will have my brother forward you all the information you need."
"It is thanks to your fleet's abilities that we are doing so well." Destiny added in at the end.
Tomoe felt that it was his turn to speak and he thought on the subject for a moment before speaking. "Our defense forces have constructed a long term perimeter; our own carriers have managed to evacuate our VIPs and several hundred thousand civilians. Additional assistance will be needed if we are to evacuate more individuals. If not, we can settle on evacuating just neural storage devices. Overall though, everything is in order and there have not been too many set backs... but I do hear from my forces about skirmishes on the edges of the perimeter?"
Katsuko nodded, looking serious for a moment. "Yes, the Mishhu have a bad habit of attacking at the worst possible time...but we had assistance defeating them...an alien ship using anti-Aether weaponry managed to disable them; a ship matching the description of one that the YSS Ravisher and a civilian salvage vessel both encountered. Needless to say, this matter is one of great concern, if the vessel turns on us...though I have been informed of a potentially more critical situation. I have been told that the vessels you purchased from the Star Army have been stolen by a former House of the Lorath. Can you tell me a bit about this?" Katsuko was dead serious at this time...not glaring at the royals, but her grey eyes indicated great focus.
Again Destiny nodded to her brother, giving him the floor to speak. This was what he was here for, to give Katsuko this type of information.
"Several million KS worth of ships; carriers, support ships, flagship class, and some warships... the Occhestians were sketchy about the deal. The information we have on the fleet that is most reliable are the satellite visual scans which were unhindered by the armor which your ships use. It was a rather sizable group, sizable enough to cause the 1st XF to be frightened into not assisting us."
Tomoe explained as he looked somewhat grim at the thought. The sheer memory of the Occhestians made a part of him deep within his soul feel an ache like one would feel after losing a child or a spouse.
Katsuko's grey eyes hardened even further at this news... "...I can recall them on a whim, as long as MEGAMI is functional...do you want the occupants conscious, or gassed and imprisoned? What we do with them is up to you, but that many ships being lose in the hands of a potential enemy is too difficult to ignore. ESPECIALLY with the current state of affairs...and what is this about the 1st XF not being willing to assist? Can you elaborate on this please?"
Tomoe gave a soft nod to his sister, a signal for her to take up the subject.
"I asked Taisa Ketsurui Hanako to retake the ships on the authority of the Yamatai Star Army. She was unwilling, saying there were too many ships and not enough to help her. As for the occupants...Drop them off on some planet. They are to be unharmed, but unconscious. Make sure the planet is livable on." Destiny's eyes were just as hard as Katsuko's as she spoke about the Occhestians. Inside she felt no pain for those that had abandoned them.
Katsuko's glare was the only outward sign of her displeasure, but it was enough... "...I formally apologize for her lack of action. It is not as simple for her to recall them as it is for me, due to the difference in rank, though the option of contacting me was indeed open to her...her experience is limited to combat and low-scale administration. She...may not have considered the possibility of simply ordering the ships to return. She is a combat captain, not a Fleet Commander, and while capable in her role, she needs...experience before moving into other territories, in spite of her potential and exemplary record. I will personally attend to this matter, though I have to select such a world to strand them upon...do you care if the Mishhu locate them, or should we provide them the protection of a quarantine world?"
Destiny shrugged a little and tilted her head to the side. "It matters not to me."
Tomoe decided to speak up quite quickly. "No, no Mishhu. I do not want the enemy to gain the secrets held in their minds. I would like to place them somewhere that an eye can be kept on them, until we find a time to deal with them in a traditional method."
Katsuko nodded, and quickly issued the order...and somewhere is space, gas vented into the ship's air circulation systems as the ships began to turn around, headed for the Katsuko Nebula... "Understood...the vessels are on their way back, and their occupants should be unconscious within seconds...in the meantime, I will be willing to loan you additional Kyoto-class vessels to assist in the evacuation process.'
"That would be much appreciated, thank you for your kindness and your execution of your duties." Tomoe gave a soft bow of his head. "I'll inform the ground forces of additional carrier support."
END
Aboard The Hotaru
Katsuko nodded, and pulled out a file of sorts...
"Now...as for where you will go, we currently have an expedition underway to the galactic East...we have yet to locate a world for you to live on, but given the frequency of life in the universe, I am certain some form of real estate will turn up for your people...we are looking for a world similar to Lor, in a naturally protected section of space, and preferably one compatible with your animal and plant life. In the meantime, your people are likely to remain in stasis with Hotaru Star Fortress, where they can best be defended. Does this meet with your approval?"
Destiny nodded her head, a genuinely warm smile spreading over her face. "It more then meets our approval. We are gracious for this help." Destiny let out a small relaxed sigh and shivered a little.
Katsuko noticed this, and wondered if it was a physical or...emotional reflex.
"...What is wrong? Is the air too cold in here or...are you feeling for your people?"
"For my people. I am sure you have felt this way before? Scared that your people were on the verge of destruction only to realize that they would be safe." Destiny looked up to Katsuko.
Katsuko nodded a solemn look on her face.
"All too recently...of course, not all of them were safe...Taiie is still fresh in all of our minds, and we do NOT want that incident to repeat itself."
"Taisho Katsuko, I was curious if we'd be able to be permitted a temporary command center so we may issue orders to our troops with greater ease? My neural implant is only able to direct so much without giving me a splitting migraine." Tomoe stated as he glanced to his sister.
Katsuko nodded, understanding.
"Very well...did you want a mobile center or one within Hotaru...and do you wish to have a Neko crew to assist you?
Tomoe glanced to his sister with an expression which seemed to ask for her opinion, and then his gaze went to Fate in much the same manner.
Fate remained silent for a moment after Tomoe gave her a questioning look, but her eyes narrowed slightly at the mention of nekovalkryja assistance. "My opinion has no weight in this matter my lieges." She stated simply, "if it were not for the betrayal we would not need such assistance."
Katsuko waited for Destiny's opinion...
"I would prefer were the command center aboard the Hotaru. In this way we will be able to better coordinate our attempts." Destiny nodded a little and watched Katsuko.
Katsuko agreed, giving a curt nod.
"I will set up an office for you and lend you any support you require."
"We give you our thanks... and I'd like to know more about the enemy on our perimeter? From the information that is getting passed around, I'm a little concerned that we've been missing some important news while en route to our meeting." Tomoe looked a bit worried as he spoke his concern.
"It is difficult to tell how many there are due to their movements, but they seem to be waiting to see how we will proceed. They could move forward at any time, so we much move swiftly."
Katsuko said, displaying a screen showing sensor output, showing appearing and vanishing vessels on the edge of sensor range...
"Sorry to be so insistent... but I do worry for our combined forces." Tomoe nodded as he looked over the sensor read out. "There is not much we can do though until the civilians have been evacuated. So, how are we to traverse the nebula? Will we be using your hyperfold or transposition technology?"
Katsuko thought a moment... "We will likely fold in...Get as many ships in as fast as possible, and take as many evacuees as we can before they can respond. Our departure method will depend entirely on the Mishhu, but it is likely that we will have to fold out."
"If that is the case, then it may be problematic... a large number of our ships are lacking fold drives." Tomoe frowned slightly as he began to compile the rather large number in his mind.
"I understand. in that case, I will instruct some, if not most, of the vessels with weaponry to stay behind and escort your vessels, should it be necessary for the Kyotos to escape...I suggest, however, upon using our Kyoto-class vessels wherever possible."
Above Lor
It was a starry night on Lor...but those who looked at the night sky would see something interesting...one by one, flashes of light occurred above the planet. These increased in frequency quite abruptly, and within a matter of minutes, the stars in the sky had appeared to have doubled...
"This is Taisho Motoyoshi Katsuko to Lor. The evacuation vessels have arrived. Requesting permission for systematic landing and evacuation."
The LSDF personnel on the ground consulted their sensors and passed along permissions from one group to another, eventually routing a communication to the Lmanel, asking if they were able to continue evacuations as planned.
One of the Lmanel on communications received the message and read through it quickly and passed it along to the squad commanders and Notan. They'd quickly go through and take stock of their situations and sent replies back saying that 98% of them were. One or two squads were still rounding up the remaining Helashio but it wouldn't take too long.
The LSDF quickly received the message and sent a reply to Katsuko. "We're clear for receiving evacuation support. There are some stragglers, but they'll be done rounding up the loose ends soon. Landing clearance approved, follow the guidance beacons down to the city outskirts. Evacuees and vital materials will be routed as needed."
The ships signaled back that they would send the first wave of ships to pick up evacuees. The remaining vessels stayed in a massive and carefully orchestrated orbit over Lor's land masses, a majestic sight over the war-torn world. It looked as if Lor was studded with shining silver-white gemstones. A select few of the vessels glowed various shades of red, entering the atmosphere before landing and beginning to process the people.
It was a rather quick and easy matter to deal with giving routing orders to the Lmanel which would handle moving the civilian population; the hard part was moving the Helashio population in a timely manner. "LSDF to Lmanel group assigned to Helashio suppression and movement be warned that your final destination is not to be in city, but on the outskirts. The Yamataians will be taking your cargo aboard their vessels. New-Tur'lista in charge of cryonic storage, distribute yourselves to the Yamataian ships and begin distributing doses of cryonic storage drugs at a faster rate. Fyunnen forces, continue to watch the skies, and escort your neural data pod to either one of our or the Yamataian carriers."
The Kyoto-class ships continued in wave after wave, systematically evacuating the world, and assisting in placing the evacuees in the newly constructed stasis pods. Above the planet, at the outer edges of the mass of ships around the world, several carriers and gunships remained as sentries to protect the world and the ships which surrounded it.
"No problem." Notan said in reply to the LSDF force, he didn't like the Yamataians still but they were better than the rest they had encountered. The subordinate Lmanel were gentle, if it could be considered that, herding the Helashio toward the cargo ships they were to evacuate from. Notan would come back to the LSDF. "Hey, where are the Tur’lista at anyway?" He asked, having been curious as he hadn't heard or seen them in a while.
Surely enough, the Lorath and Helashio's evacuation was carried out in a swift and efficient manner, as efficient as evacuating a few billion people could be. Notably, there was a considerable lack of Fyunnen leaving, but there were several large neural storage pods moved to the Yamataian Kyoto and Lorath made Byakko carriers in place of the Fyunnen, who appeared to be digging in for a fight which they longed for.
Finally, those vessels which could not make the jump on their own obtained assistance as they moved to the vicinity of Himitsu Star Fortress...with a nod from Saito-Chujo, the Iori-class Star Fortress used its TDD system and vanished toward Hotaru...
This flash of light was the last in the sky, as the battered planet and its brave warriors were finally left to the hands of fate...
Mature Content In Tiny Text, Audience Discretion Suggested.
ON: YSS HIMITSU
It had been a short while after they had seen to their fleets, and even longer after the meeting with Taisho Katsuko, but her race was safe. They would live to seen the dawn of a new day, if on another planet. But that was fine...they would endure this exile just as they had endured the last exile...but Harr’ikke still had something to do. Hand in hand with her brother still, Harr’ikke sighed and turned to look at him. With a dismissive wave to Fate and Obelisk, the two siblings were soon in the hallway by themselves.
"Dear brother...see me to my room? I am rather tired and I would like to turn in early..."
“Of course my sister.” Velor was also rather drained, he looked a tad more pale than usual, but other than that, he seemed to be quite optimistic with the situation at hand. He knew in his heart that his people would survive, and he’d be sure to see his true home once more within his life time, but for now, all there was for him was the present and his sister, considering that most of his people were in stasis.
He followed his sister into her quarters and stood with his hands clasped before him. “Quite a day it has been.”
"Indeed...It would take a good deal to make it any more extraordinary now wouldn't it brother?" Harr’ikke seemed to be torn between something, yet her mind was shielded from her brother.
“There is not much that I can think of short of the Goddess herself coming to guide us to our rightful destiny that could make this day anymore extraordinary.” Velor responded as he looked upon his sister, curious as to what was on her mind.
Harr'Ikke wore a little smirk on her face as they neared the room she had been given. While it wasn't anything like the palace of Lor, it was still nice and very accommodating for herself. With a small yawn she looked around the room, nodding to the Helashio who came to help her undress. "Brother, stay with me for a little? I could use a comforting presence..."
“Certainly my sister, I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be.” Velor responded as he found a chair and sat himself upon it. He leaned forward and restrained the urge to grumble about chair backs causing trouble for his wings.
"I meant...a little closer..." Oddly enough Destiny did not dress in her night clothing. She had kept her back to her brother, her wings hiding her body as she waited for him to come closer. A visible shudder ran down her spine.
With the look of his sister, and the words which came from her, a small conflict arose inside of Velor’s mind as his cheeks blushed brightly, but his eyes seemed to sadden slightly. Before his foolish mind could argue with his heart, he got out of the chair and made his way to his sister. His heart beat in his chest, the sound drummed in his ears as he placed his arms around his sister’s waist and held her from behind, embracing her in his grasp. “I... I wish I could hold you in my arms like this... while standing beneath the stars of our home...”
Destiny shivered at what he wished for, a small pained smile coming to her lips as she turned to him, pressing herself into him softly as she peered into his eyes. "In a short while we will, for wherever you and I are, that is where home is..." Harr'Ikke smiled a little and softly pressed her lips to his, wrapping her arms around his neck as the three Helashio stole out of the room silently. They were alone now, and in the small room it made everything seem all the more intimate.
When her lips touched against his, Velor could not help but to feel a wash of the greatest joy he felt in his life. What was in their past was their past, the future didn’t matter, for the moment, he had his sister and that was all that mattered. After they broke from their kiss, with the little breath Velor had, he spoke in a soft whisper; “I love you, now and forever, no matter what may happen.”
"As do I my brother...I will love you no matter what." Harr'Ikke smiled lightly at her brother's proclamation and pressed the kiss again, this time a little more insistent as she let out a sigh as she broke it. She was slowly moving both herself and her brother to the bed.
Velor’s lips became a smile; even as they kissed he could not help but to express his joy as he moved with his sister’s lead to the bed. Along the way, he willed his hand away from his sister so he could untie several of the knots which held his robes together. As they reached the bed, the robe he wore hung loosely over his shoulders. He leaned close and placed a kiss of his own upon his sister’s lips as he let her guide him along.
Harr'Ikke felt the back of her legs hit the edge of the bed and as she did, she slowly lowered herself down to sit on the bed. Nervous now, she swallowed a little as she looked up to her brother for a hint at what she should do next. She was still inexperienced after all...
This drawn a warm smile from Velor, a brotherly smile more than a smile of a lover. “Dear sister...” He said in a soft and amused tone as he put his arms around her and held her close as he remained standing at the edge of the bed. “What does your heart tell you to do right now?”
Her heart at the moment was beating faster then she had ever felt before. With eyes downcast to the floor, she tentively reached up to cup where she had felt up Hanako. She had always known deep down that her brother and she were different in many ways, including anatomy, but it still felt odd to cup his privates. Rubbing softly she looked up to hi eyes for approval.
He continued to smile softly as he felt his sister’s touch. Just the touch alone was enough to make his heart feel much like his sister’s. “Continue going with your instinct.” He encouraged as he tugged at his robe, pulling it from his shoulders and letting it fall to the floor, causing him to be fully exposed to his sister. He knew this would be her first time looking upon him in such a fully disclosed manner.
Harr'Ikke's blush came full scale as she saw her brother finally fully disrobe. Besides being the first male Lorath she had ever seen disrobed, something felt different about it being her brother that she had first seen. With a tentative lick, she flicked her tongue out to rub against the head of his manhood, a soft like that was still unsure of what to do.
“Take your time... explore... get comfortable with it.” Velor advised as he watched his sister. The touch of her tongue against him made his breath come faster to him, the excitement of the sensation made his mind swim. His hand made its way to her head, where he gently began to caress her hair, and from time to time stroke the edge of her ear.
The stroking of her ear seemed to do little for her as her tongue did indeed explore, first a few more quick licks before they gradually turned into longer, much more dedicated licks that ended up taking in the entire shaft of his manhood, getting it a little wet with her saliva. Harr'Ikke again looked to her brother for approval.
“Mm, it feels good... your instincts are serving you well.” Velor said in a near whisper as his caressing touch moved down to her cheek, and soon to her neck which he began to caress softly.
Harr'Ikke's ears tilted down against her head as she heard her brother. After a few more licks and she soon became brave. Opening her mouth slightly she allowed just the tip of his manhood to enter her mouth, licking it as she held it in place, not daring to let it go in any further just yet.
Velor let out a soft purr of approval as he felt her mouth upon him. As she held his manhood in her mouth, she could feel the flesh throbbing as it stood ready to be taken into her.
Harr'Ikke slowly allowed more and more of his manhood enter her mouth until about half of it was within her warm mouth. With a small shiver Harr'Ikke felt a warm feeling growing within her body.
“Do you like what your instincts are telling you?” Velor asked, curious how his sister felt about what she was doing. Curiosity even seized him as the pleasure of her mouth burnt like a fire up his spine, and his heart beat like a dozen war drums.
Harr'Ikke could only nod as she began to slowly move her head back and forth, taking in more of him with each stroke. The warmth was starting to rise to a burning sensation that seemed to awaken something a little more primal within her.
“Mmm... My dear sister... that feels wonderful.” Velor let out a soft groan of pleasure as his hand found its way behind her head. His gentle touch caressed her softly, before he instinctively began to place a gentle pressure to guide her and encourage her.
Harr'Ikke continued her efforts, slowly making herself bob her head back and forth before she finally pulled her mouth from around the shaft. "Brother...Please I need it in me...I'm burning up please..." Harr'Ikke's gaze seemed almost primal as she shivered every few seconds, her expression one of pleading.
“Dear sister, I want you to crave it even more so, I want your instincts to be the only thing left in your mind.” With that comment, Velor gently placed his hand on his sister’s shoulder and laid her onto the bed. He then knelt on the bed beside her, his hands then moved to her chest as he began to squeeze and rub her breasts, and soon he placed his lips upon her nipple and he began to suck upon it. He apparently wanted her to crave it as much as she possibly could.
Harr'Ikke, already panting with her need gasped aloud at the sudden sensation, shivering all the more as she closed her eyes and simply lay there, soaking in the emotions that flood through her.
Velor continued his pleasuring of his sister, his finger tips played over one of her nipples, while his lips clung to the other while he sucked upon it. As he felt her shiver beneath him, he felt that he should make it all the more better, an instinctive drive above all else told him this as he began to reach out with his mind, his touch going beyond just her flesh, but to the very nerves which felt the pleasure. He instinctively used his telepathic ability to stimulate each nerve he touched to feel more pleasure than what could ever be accomplished by even the skilled of hands or mouths.
Harr'Ikke gasped aloud at the sudden jolt of sensation, slipping into a rapport with her brother that allowed him to feel what she was feeling, and vice versa. It was a unique experience she had never felt as she let another shiver overcome her body.
Velor could not help but to release a groan from deep in his throat as he felt the shared sensation, his sister’s feelings were truly intoxicating as he felt his own lust and hers meld together. He could feel her wants and his own, and her his. The throbbing length of flesh beneath his waist ached to give his sister what she desired, as he felt her body wish the same. He could not tell if it was his own desire or his sister’s which drove him to move from beside her and stand at the edge of the bed once more. He grasped his sister’s legs in his arms, raising them and spreading them apart to reveal his sister’s womanhood. With their combined lust driving them in a sort of primal bond which went beyond description, he moved his hips forward, slowly pushing his length into her womanhood.
"AhhhhHHH!" Harr'Ikke called out as she felt a splitting pain, threatening to tear her in two as she felt her brother enter her. Half way in though the pain melted together with the pleasure as she lifted her hips to meet her brother's shaking with desire now as she rolled her hips a few times. After a moment she arched her back and sucked in a deep breath, becoming a little better accustomed to his size.
As Velor pushed himself into her, he could not help but to also lean forward while bracing himself against her legs, the surge of sensation which washed over his sister washed over him as well. The painful pleasure guided him to move his hips just right to cause his sister the least pain possible, but as much pleasure as possible as well. Once she became used to the feeling, the pleasure which he felt drove him to begin to move his hips at a steady pace to get her used to the sensation, and him as well. “Yes sister... you feel wonderful.” The words came out with an oddly amusing double meaning, which was lost to him at the time.
Harr'Ikke on the other hand didn't have the capacity for words as she felt each and every thrust two fold, pleasure shooting shivers up her spine each time he entered her. With a cry of pleasure she felt something ripple through her body, causing her already tight passage to tighten even more so.
Velor felt each sensation pile on top of each other as he began to move his hips a little faster. When the ripple of a sensation washed through him, it took a sizable portion of his self control to keep himself from being carried away by the feeling. Instead he kept moving his hips, nursing that feeling which rippled through his sister, urging her to have yet another.
Harr'Ikke gasped as she felt yet another wave of pleasure building up behind a damn, this one seemingly much more intense then the one before as she began to groan in pleasure, her body shaking with the restraint she used to hold her feelings back.
As Velor felt the feeling build inside of his sister, he began to feel his very own feeling which matched hers, the combined feelings drove him to move his hips with a primal lust which caused him to drive his manhood into her with powerful thrusts which produced a series of sloppy and perverse sounds as their flesh met with each thrust. As he drove himself into her, his own groans of pleasure escaped his lips as he looked upon his sister, savoring the sight of her caught in the same pleasure as him.
The sight he would see would be Harr'Ikke arching her back in her final release, her voice high pitched as she let out a screech both verbally and telepathically as she broadcasted her emotions outwards for any who could feel them, her own self tipping over the edge as a tidal wave of pleasure washed through each nerve in her body, causing her to lock up for a moment in a nerve overload of pleasure.
The very same feeling washed over Velor as he released what could only be described as a roar of pleasure as he thrust his hips and drove his manhood into her very depths. The feeling from his sister and himself combined as he felt the first climax of his own wash over himself, which triggered a rush of his semen to be pumped into her, soon followed by another climax which was his sister’s, which caused yet another rush of semen, soon followed by a combination of the two, which resulted in him filling her to the point where it leaked out from around his flesh which fit so snuggly inside of her. The reason for a male Lorath’s capacity for three orgasms in a row became apparent as he slumped against his sister, his throbbing length of meat still inside of her as he placed a kiss upon her lips
Harr'Ikke's body stayed arched in its position for a few more moments before she finally loosened up and fell back to the bed, shivering in pleasure. After a few seconds she slowly came back to full awareness as she looked around, panting in exhertion from what they had just done. Rather then say anything though, she simply wrapped her arms around her brother and drew him in, keeping him embedded inside of her as she slowly drifted off to sleep.
Velor felt much the same as his sister, if not the exact same as eased her legs down. Soon his arms were around her as he nuzzled close against her. The warmth of their bodies together eased him to sleep as the sound of their heartbeats brought a warm smile to his lips. Something deep inside of him finally felt right; even as they moved light-years away from the land they knew and loved.
"Attention all remaining ships of the YAG, the Himitsu has moved out- I repeat the Himitsu has moved out." Chusa Sakemoto spoke over the fleetwide comms of the ships under his command. A few cheers can be heard over the other channels but most of his men including Chusa Za retained their figthing composure. "Initiate phased retreat."
Through the anti-interdiction field created by the rear guard, the damaged ships of the YAG hyperfolded first followed by the bulk of the main figthing force. Checking that no one was left behind, Sakemoto remained with the rear group to activate one last scanner burst before folding themselves, away from the now empty shell that was the planet Lor.
After a short while a single message was transmitted on both hyperspace and subspace frequencies, from an unmarked and until now unnoticed remote sensor probe located 15LY due east of Yamatai. The message was primarily addressed to the 5th XF. Though it was encrypted, its access level was set so low that anyone with the rank of warrant officer above, in any of the fleets of the SAoY, or in the LSDF could access it.
The message was simple and direct, in text only.
