1 HOUR EARLIER522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwIpVnaeUo
Lothar had just managed to free himself from his restraints.Their mistrust of him seemed a little more, for restraint to a chair had been included in his incarceration. Perhaps they had merely never seen a Scythan up close. The metallic silver complexion and gray obdurate eyes could be unsettling to some.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPa2IA6ZXHA
They had left him no guards however. Every person, able and capable, was needed to defend the town. An unfortunate mistake on the part of his captors. The years on Strato had given vast experience in such situations.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhzTXXMK7H
Now he had to find the device - and Mhyrsy. He sighed. Turns out reunions aren't always happy and teary eyed, after all. This one was pitiful. So much death had been visited on everyone.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQ9G2yhZ0m
She'd lost her father, he'd learnt, something he wondered why she never mentioned. Everyone in this little haven for scientists and engineers  had lost someone in the last fifteen years. Kin and kindred alike. Accidents, disease, expeditions and recently, incursions from debauched government projects.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJaVHsG2k7X
That one had left plenty of deep scars and a strong mistrust for outsiders. So on arrival they had been relieved of their possessions and detained separately. This despite the fact that she recognised some of the folk. Mhyrsy was adamant that he not struggle, so he didn't, although he knew things had just gone wrong.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xRhopUeqM
It was there that he waited until sirens began to sound. There was plenty of shouting. Then his guards were reassigned and he was left alone to free himself.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazHCYccmBD
The door would be more of a problem for his lock picking skills. He decided to opt for the one place he wasn't searched. His boots had a few inner cavities. One of them contained two putties which when mixed and then ignited made an extremely powerful explosive. It was one of a number of things he took when he fled Desqan's camp. He was also glad he kept an igniter in his boot. It had seemed silly at the time.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jV9JW4Xlk
He took his time adhering the explosive to the door, in a large enough ring for him to crawl through. Then he stuck a string and lit it before crouching as far away as possible. The blast took the entire door and left him covered in dust.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddC2hKnrXf
He staggered out, heading the way he had come. In the back of his mind he knew he was headed the right way. It was deeper than instinct or conscious knowledge. He was finally beginning to understand the reason.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBm0kyDeVyc
A FEW MOMENTS BEFORE THE BATTLE...522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8mqqnmCqN
“Uncle Ren, please” she pleaded. The tears were flowing now. “Everything I'm saying is true. They've been after us since we got back on Clato. And they want that device.”522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgowys9fD1
“Why?” Ren Larker countered. He was a big old man, in a wheelchair now with a few red hairs remaining in the mop of white he kept. They had the fondest memories together and without a mother she often ran to him for comfort. Now here he was accusing her of treason.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnHjKcvK9j
“What's so special about this thing? We can't even turn it on or activate it so that we see what it can do. 522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTageJG4JCf
“The hoard of militia you speak of somehow transformed into several federal brigades whose starships are orbiting this place as we speak. We've never even seen the markings of the other intruders and our sensors are picking up a ship of insane proportions. We don't think its even from this system.”522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmqDMbjTxs
He picked up the device and held it up.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RIPItn002
 “Even if this is the key to the raised podium, as you claim, its too late to go and try it. Your friends have already breeched the main antechamber. Not that I believe its even possible it works.”522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWTGoMYnUa
“I am the daughter of Avon Larker” she spat, rage manifesting at last “I could make energy weapons since I was six. I’m pretty sure my technical assessment is sound. If you doubt it then Let Lo prove it. They are intrinsically linked”522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlg3t1SvqiV
“Who? The Scythan?” Ren Larker was beside himself with incredulity, “Their kind are one reason we still have exiles in the first place. Had they done the right thing the System would be a lot different.”522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6ezL5whij
“He asked and I promised you’d help. When I really needed you, you were never there. I guess I lost you the moment father and I left.” All the bitterness poured into her soft spoken words. Words from a brocken heart.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxE25iZHwHR
He closed his eyes his face aged , pained and weary from years of bitterness, power, responsibility and hard living. “ I’m sorry Mhrysy, but I'm not letting one of treacherous blood out on the battlefield with a potential super weapon. You two just led the federal army, and who knows what else to our doorstep!''522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1ZjNbDVEW
She bit her lip tears threatening to shame her again “So am I Uncle Ren”522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7p8MDAhnDL
“Looks like I'll just have to take it myself.”522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dF6MEo7JX
Both of them turned to look through the dark doorway. They hadn't heard his approach. Lothar extended his arm and the device glowed. It shot out of Ren's grip and landed in his palm.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LVfm0Sant
“I finally get how it works and what it does.” he said stepping into the light of the small room. The old man made to contact security but he just pointed it at him, his exprssion indicative of how bad that was. The old man refrained from it.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqV6Z2nI7TW
“This device and my mind are merged, somehow, thus enabling me to control it. I can manipulate energy and space and store it. Its more than just a weapon and the scope of its abilities are as far as my mind allows.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFIFD1oxVJ
“Now,” he said. “I need  you to get me into that chamber.”522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDaRr6cCIJ
“So you can kill us all?!”522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOcpwEJEd3
“I have a super weapon. Dont you think I should have killed you already. Frankly old man, I'm your only hope.”522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55Wu5BY0YF
"Besides" he added, a tad bit callously " the guys out there hate Scythans more than you"522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5aUtiRMTwJ
CHAPTER 5522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOTGHmawcY
Inquisitor Pai jumped off the gate barking orders and his alve tool already crackling with energy. 522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tKgZ4X4lx
“Gorn, Salahar get me that gate open yesterday and a clear path to the main control hub.” As he landed he evoked his Will, the mystical power of Titans. His naturally allowed him to control the flow of time around him.  Everything in his sphere of influence slowed down to near standstill. Then he struck with his alve tool.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSEAWDRcL0
“We need access to the old station control hub. By all means please calm any civilians and no casualties unless it can't be avoided.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbeF8YVU5G
“You two,” he said, indicating the two humans. “Take out all enemy units and secure the area. And try not to get in my way.” 522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3spquttUP
’savages to savagery!’he thought.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnowpilTHCx
“I recommend following that advice, also!” the old man quipped. He drew out a katana from his wooden cane. A few seconds later a huge gust of wind cut through the ranks of the aggressors. 522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc06BgWz7nK
The dark skinned human was also quick to jump into the thick of things. He came landing on top of a battle suit, his feet balls of fire. He left it in a puddle of molten slag and plenty of sparks. With blinding speed he thrust his spear forwards and a heart beat later appeared behind three adversaries. He didn't stop to listen to their screams as they all went down engulfed in flames.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpWhiL6Wj3
Alves are telepathic by nature. Their brains possess so much mental power and strength, they can literally manipulate their immediate environment. Alve tools were created to increase and make easier, the scope of their mental influence. Needless to say,bending light and sound was child's play - so too was impersonating the locals. That is how Gorn and Salahar reached the second blast gate.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlICjp0NJB
The Thalm sat down a small canister with a little box attached. Then he pulled out a portable console and tinkered with it some. A few seconds later a pale grey fluid rose out of the canister and poured out onto the ground.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfRw3CN37H
It kept on pouring out and expanding, seemingly disproportionate to the canister's small volume. Then it moved and filtered through the near invisible crack at the bottom of the closed gate.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIckSt9japw
“Nanocytes dispatched, Sir. Estimated time to open, 2 standard minutes.”522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwiwI2zN1Zw
“We have another problem"522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOv1tbcYQJW
That’s when they saw it, the target, plough through a mobile turret. He was wielding the Queens Alve tool like it was made for him, cutting a swath through the ranks of the aggressors.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAIPjhz7St
“That’s not her Majesty!” a surprised Salahar blurted out dumbly, and stating what everyone else already had a firm grasp of.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntfWigFxnO
“You’re the Organics Officer, Is that even possible?” the Thalm eyed her as though she ought to know, ”It shouldnt be possible right?” 522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOPGLY8PJg
She was saved from answering though, as Pai cut in through the comm-links.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrbnlDJjnj9
“Right now that’s the least of our problems” he barked. “Get me that door open! I’ll have to go with Salahar. Gorn you and the old man secure the target. He is on our side afterall. We need answers when all this is over.”522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88WoU4Pxdc
“Yes, sir. Gate opening in  just over one standard minute. I’m moving out “ Gorn gave Salahar a wink and signalled her to take over at the gate which was now flaking a substantial amount of dust. Then he turned and charged back into the action.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZFLirATDL
She took over the nanocytes and waited, until Pai appeared moments later, just as the grey fluid started pouring back into the canister.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAOQP1jle3
“Status ?”522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuloHYLh1cj
 Salahar pulled out her own slender Alve tool and pointed it at the huge slab of magna-steel the nanocytes had separated from the gate. The ray of energy she discharged shoved it well inside leaving a gaping entrance the size of a perfectly hewn doorway.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHEBDWasHC
“Open, Sir” she replied.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBWCsY5xh1
“By carving a hole through it? Why not open the entire gate? It will alarm whoever’s inside” he growled as they rushed in.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UJ9mA9W4B
“But not whoever is outside." She countered, " And you did say fast. This was faster. Besides, if our friends from the league realized...” her voice trailed off as they emerged on the other side.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0he7dqVEDd
The interior chamber had been converted into a bunker refuge. Every vulnerable citizen was holed up here, fear stitched to their faces like embroidery.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2GkNPmRWc
“Quickly, initiate verbal communication” he ordered522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8fXTZZIZR
“Already on it, Sir” she replied, donning an intricate piece of head gear and punching values into her mobile terminal pad. 522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MxVepOgLr
“ I’ll need a conversation to be initiated, so that my program can peg the lingual structure” she said as she moved forward trying for a gesture that said she meant them no harm. 522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FoTIAUJFn
Salahar was good, though Organics officers generally were. A few minutes later she had everyone calmed down and was speaking in their native tongue.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0LrzpCMD2
“Can you find out if any changes were made to the old central systems”522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWFfFF6o4Y
"This one." she said referring to an 'old beyond ancient' looking female, "She says she used to work with the Archaeological Research team investigating our previous civilisation. They did take apart a few of what they believed to be peripheral components in the main control lobby but everything though not reinstalled to its prior state was returned to Central Control."522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWQCx9DAoi
"We will, however have to deal with an energy shield and a rather thick steel door as the area was closed off and declared off limits."522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqCUBnqJa2
"No trouble." he answered, "Now come on!" and hurried off to the far end. 522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkbsrsWfIq
By the time Salahar had hastily collected her things and taken her leave of the old pair before her, the small and spritely Inquisitor was already disappearing through an archway.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGV1qmNhwu
They arrived at Central-Control in short order and found it sealed just as the Exiles had said. Their version of 'sealing' translated to magna-steel doors on all six portals reinforced with energy shields so strong you could fire a proton bomb at them and only a whistle would be heard on the other side.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhPNLwQAW3
Added to that was the Unauthorised Access security field which was something their informant had conveniently failed to mention. Pai had run into similar verions which is why he recognized it pretty early although not early enough to avoid it entirely.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUq0qiOX6aU
"Just goes to show you can't really trust locals." he mumbled.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rgvnxrdcW
It made for a rather tricky situation. Trying to leave, attempting a forced entry, failure to ID correctly and just plain standing there doing nothing within a preset time, would activate the field.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAzwModcpF
It could generate anything. Anything from electrical shock to extremely high gravitational fields. One never quite knew. Generally, that was the idea anyway otherwise one could disarm the field. 522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDil8dkqT6b
The pair pulled out their Alve tools. Pai let the mouth of the cross-guard come very close to the shield and Salahar used hers to generate a very strong energy shield of her own. It was spherical and so dark it was nearly opaque. 522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxeD8HMfg0W
"At my count." he said, "Get ready to shove us through the moment the door goes."522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYAHvyzMTr
"Ready when you are, Sir." she responded, as she donned a pair of goggles in anticipation.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DXUwJVkD0
"Three...two...one." Pai's Alve tool rapidly absorbed the shield energy. Most shields are designed to rapidly disperse and absorb the energy from anything they come I contact with, whilst also increasing their energy out put. Sadly none of them were ever designed with Alve tools in mind. If they have their energy drained too rapidly, they become unstable as they try to counter with increased output. They either fail and self destruct or simply switch off.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFEFJca2zY
This one exploded, and the blast, right down to the last piece of shrapnel, was sucked into the tool. He didn't pause. The alarm clarions were already ringing. The USF would activate in seconds. The beam of plasma he let loose seared a six foot hole clean through the 10" magna-steel doors.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6DNsFw9wU
 The molten slag was dribbling when Salahar let loose a sonar blast so power full it shoved their cocoon well into the chamber beyond. The slag dribbled down around them and splattered around the chamber, though thankfully not reaching the instruments. 522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYv9wVbxnnI
They looked back to see an ion beam the width of a medium sized table turn the floor cherry red as it went round outside,  quarantining. 522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgOAFcsPKQ
"We'll worry about that later, lets start up all protocols for this. Hopefully they didn't mess with the core and the visual feeds." He walked up to one of the terminals and plugged in his Alve tool into one of the sockets.  Central Control lit up and the AI welcomed him.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGYbxRWCtP
"Inquisitor Pai. How may I serve?"522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvlZubYxxC
CHAPTER 6522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPduh4DTNzC
B217 was seated in the bridge of the TPSS Cosmo monitoring events on the ground  and general scene. Both Flems and Clole had insisted that he make the trip and see to matters in person, particularly, seeing to it that the Fellowship got its hands on the device first.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyk34i5DAT
So far nothing had gone as planned. He still had no word from the two remaining mercenaries he had dispatched for hours now. His contingency measure wasn't the conversational type either. That one only contacted you when the job was done or he didn't.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjbuUZ9xPM
To make matters worse, the delegation from the League had come along in four warships plus a massive frigate. Their massive manpower and heavy artillery quickly took control. That hadn't mitigated the blood bath down there however. 522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJr50shrnJN
The fierce resistance and technological expertise displayed by this exile society defied all intel yet gathered, both from and outside the holocast. His report would most fervently recommend an upgrade to the existing Droid monitoring and holocast system. They didn't know enough about these exiles. At this rate the threat to the federation would be nigh unimaginable.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJA87MkGZvI
"Captain, we are picking up an unusual energy signature at the target location."522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡywrfRJp9Bb
"Get me a visual" he barked. Captain Lolvin Boys was a veteran with one of the finest reputations in the new army. He was on record for completing some of the most daring and difficult missions. Today him and his crew were on standby however. 522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkJdhrYAjZ
Instead of the Astral Navy the central command had opted for the Terra Corps to do the ground work.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2iJJY8i5d
"Yes Sir." the Fifth Mate responded. "I'm already sending it to the main display now."522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvqaPLCJ40
B217 looked up at the large screen which changed from the starship filled surroundings to the zoomed in aerial view of the target location.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfkXloVekm
The far part, of the valley from where the mercenaries had reported entry, had turned into a huge glowing red pit. The dust was still swirling from all the soil disruption that had just occurred and what looked to be smoke --the kind that appears as something slowly chars-- rose from its depths.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGD25Dvl3D
B217 had that all too familiar feeling of unease and his hackles rose, slowly.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQM1jnm5laH
"That is one large supercharged hole" someone said. "You could fit that League Frigate in there and still have room to spare."522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0C9aDAmjuJ
"Is that what I think it is?" The Captain scrutinised the footage.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPixygtiFeG
Then the hole started to push out, moving the earth around it as if it were a handful of clay. Chunks of soil fell off its outer frame revealing a tube shaped pillar of steal pointing to the sky. Then the glow intensified and the inside of the gargantuan barrel became blazingly white as it aligned itself in their direction.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEuerVtDn7
"Damn." the Captain snarled "Fall back quick! I repeat full retreat now. With draw to the 300th peripheral! NOW!"522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7FszmHtVf
They were too slow, and were saved merely because they weren't the ones targeted in the first place. Rather the awe inspiring League frigate less than half a standard mile away, was completely engulfed by a blinding white ray that shot well beyond the 300th peripheral Boys’ ship was attempting to retreat to.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrqg6AzRuB
 The frigate vanished in the glare of blinding light and detonated, that same instant. So much for the famed League energy shields. The Navy starship, in mid retreat, barely escaped the blast that reduced the huge frigate to near cosmic dust in a matter of seconds. The damage to its outer hull was more than healthily considerable and several of its thrusters were either down or gone by the time they drifted past the 300th peripheral orbit.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgdSXC4eKG
The ray relented not in its onslaught as it swept away in a swathing arc of blinding light, from where there had been a frigate mere seconds before, onwards to obliterate a number of lesser Starships - both League and Lowman - too slow to evade and too slow to retreat. This task it  diligently performed with an ease and effortlessness that was both spectacular and dreadful to witness.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0tSXtTqIL
B217 was surprised to know a part of him still thought rationally. Thoughts of the now palpable mess with the League. Or possibly worse than that, the incalculable ammunition all this had just handed to the enemies of the state. It had exposed new technology that the federation was very vulnerable to and now everyone would want to get their hands on it, or it's developer.522Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVD3QaAnq3x
He didn't like where this was heading all of a sudden. He didn't like it at all.