Vanishing Claw decided one day to find out just how far Oliver had advanced as a warrior and lost brutally in a sparring situation. Even with new ligaments, he couldn’t keep up with Oliver who had taken his training to heart and gained all the experience he needed to beat one of the best. Now only Netul gave any challenge and sparring between them drew everyone for never had a human seen someone who looked like one of their own press a Creelin into a corner, let alone a Zeelin elite warrior. Oliver won seven out of eleven matches and each time bets were made and a ring formed to cheer them on. Renee was most vocal for she loved men fighting, especially her man. It really turned her on and sex was always great afterwards.
Twice in the following days Nova and the others surprised the cubs who marked a territory eighty five kilometers north of the underground city. Sadly one Liger cub already died. Viper venom. Nova’s surprise attack wounded four, before his daughter managed to take control and fight back while protecting the wounded. Each of the attacks gave valuable life lessons. Be ready at all times. Still, they were all well fed and were hunting more effectively than when they were sent away to fend for themselves in the wild. And they were growing fast.
Then at last it was time. Discussions and planning were over.
It was time for action.
Oliver, Renee, Netul, Stone, Satellite, Visor, Steven, Sparky and the Pride stood on the huge bridge and nerve center of the Imperial dreadnaught Gaia. They were watching the subspace rainbow spiral and the countdown timer drop to sixty seconds. Fifty nine. Fifty eight. And so on. Final checks were being shouted across the room, general quarters were called and all ship guns were manned. Oliver mentally checked Rose was safely watching over his cherished daughter. Renee did so too, changing her black battle armor white because she was part of the Medic team going in. Emperor Coleson stood in the room’s center, calm and quiet, but gripped his emerald Star-saber for an added anchor.
The new teleportation disruptor orb sat gripped in Oliver’s hand, thumb at the ready to activate. The room silenced in tension when the counter hit twenty seconds. Then ten.
At zero the swirling rainbow winked black as they reached empty space between two distant solar systems. Long range scans fired the moment they exited subspace and lifted shields. It came back and a woman said “Dreadnought seven hundred fifty thousand kilometers to our starboard. Heading, Ten degrees. Incoming FTL signatures detected. Our fleet is incoming. Net to surround the enemy ship established in ten minutes. Five faster than projected.”
Oliver activated the device and the orb turned bright orange before vanishing from his hand and reappearing out randomly in nearby space. He found he could teleport small objects without going along for the ride.
“The Dreadnaught is raising shields. Won’t have time to disable their engines before they’re up and our net tightens.” Another said as the ship turned to face the same direction as the quarry. “Enemy ship has increased sublight engine output… and movement detected at the carrier platforms. Fighters are being boarded for combat.”
“Soon as we get a clear line, fire on the engines regardless.” The Emperor commanded.
“Enemy weapons powering up and targeting us. Estimated time to fire sequence, ten seconds.”
“Show them the new shield output we got and gain most firepower on us so the armada can deal with the fighters and form the net. Launch our fighters and have them fly out behind us and come around so they don’t get hit in the crossfire.” Grand Admiral Nathan commanded.
Like a hornet’s nest being struck, sleek, jet-like space fighters began pouring from docks along the sides of the Gaia and flew in combat formation towards the rear of the enormous imperial ship, staying inside the brilliant blue barrier before spewing out like an umbrella at the rear. They headed seemingly backwards though direction in space was relative. Long streams of plasma showing their sublight engines were in full effect to gain speed and engage to take up the slack of the still incoming armada.
A wide range holographic image and message was directed across the nearby space for a light year in all directions, hacking all receivers for an urgent transmission. “This is your Emperor. Markeese Coleson. Those aboard the illegally created dreadnaught are hereby ordered to surrender and stand down. You follow Carter Chandler and have abandoned the primary principals that have united the Empire for a thousand years. If you surrender immediately you will be spared. If you attack…” The cannons of the enemy ship near twenty percent larger than the imperial one opened fire, hundreds of cannons on the bulky carrier loosed blindingly bright streams that impacted the reinforced barrier of the still turning imperial sailboat. “So be it.” Emperor Coleson’s placid expression hardened. “You’ve made your decision and have shown your vile hand.” The communications turned off. He turned and said “Do as you will.”
Oliver nodded and laid a hand on Netul’s shoulder. “We’ll be back soon.”
“End this, My Friend.” Netul couldn’t come. He was denied intervening in human on human battles.
Renee mounted Sparky and vanished before everyone else grabbed hold of Oliver and they all reappeared down several levels where the Elder Hunters and the Rangers, the elite secret organization that are only used by the Elders to protect the whole Hunter organization from collapsing or being unlawfully mistreated. The lazy and relaxed atmosphere vanished upon their arrival. Vanishing Claw had his shortsword ready and his blue eyes turned entirely the same color. Talon carried her two double edged weapons, her eyes glowing a little dimmer and were crimson. Scythe carried a battleaxe like Stone. Thirty Hunter Elders arrived in time for the assault and eighty eight were Rangers.
Only Steven, Visor, Stone, Breena and Satellite joined the elite team because they’ve become Queen Renee’s personal guard. They were no longer part of Hunter command, but remained part of their society. Emperor Coleson convinced Vanishing Claw to do this and was readily agreed upon. A queen needed guards indefinitely and Renee only trusted those five with her life and none objected because they liked her. And Steven was all too ready to jump aboard just to make sure Sparky’s life never got a day of rest.
“Got the schematics of the enemy vessel, Brother?” the powered up Vanishing Claw asked as his helmet and others were being activated.
No longer did the tablet Oliver carry for over a year work the same after he integrated it into a space altered pocket built inside the Valek. It was the same principal with Renee’s small box that carried many of her mobile field lab equipment. The same one she used when they left to go make Isabella.
Connecting to the Valek, he brought forth the retrieving program and an opaque crystal a sixteenth its original size arose from the top and projected a large, slowly spinning three dimensional representation of what they faced. Metal rather than wood was highly uncommon for ships as large as the Dorgenox and above in size. Interstellar craft so large needed to be alive because they could heal, repair themselves and were lighter overall. Requires less maintenance and easy to maintain with basic needs of water and soil. Psionic energy easily powers artificial light so they were naturally more self sufficient. The ship’s commission must have taken many centuries because that much metal and weaponry couldn’t be easily overlooked in a span of decade or two. No part of the ship had a weakness to fly in without getting hit by one of the great cannons. It looked like an overgrown Zero Ball’s oval leather ball with a rifle stock at the rear to hold the gigantic engines eight kilometers long and three times as wide. Forty thrusters were engaged, trying to propel the bulk out of a forming net made of interstellar ships and Marine fighters to trap them.
“Renee’s memory from Ten K were accurate.” She was bored out of her mind for days sitting with Grand Admiral Nathan and other ship captains revealing what she stole from the memory of the corrupted abomination. Oliver pointed. “My micro-drones are seeing the cargo area nearest the primary power hub completely empty. The Emperor’s distraction is working, but the power source and generator are also shielded.”
“Doubt it’ll stop you.” Talon said smugly and Renee slapped her back approvingly.
Oliver couldn’t help liking the delicate circlet she always wore in public. It complimented her vibrant red hair and freckled ginger face too well. “No, it won’t. but the area is clear.”
Vanishing Claw said conversationally in the private room because everyone had heightened hearing. “Listen up. Remember, our goal is to cripple the ship and capture the three targets. Rangers, knock out anyone you see and kill if you cannot crack their mental defenses. And never leave Queen Void’s line of sight. She’s our only Medic for all sixty of us. Two hundred meters is her Valek’s limit. Do not go beyond. Form up a lattice so you do not burn yourselves out. We’ve all gorged on Beast brains for days so we should be much stronger than this rabble, but do not take chances.” Pep talks didn’t work on Hunters, they lived for combat and action. No one go anxious or cheered. They focused on the task at hand.
Weapons charged and everyone now could make their eyes glow aside from Sparky and the neo-animals. But beneath Sparky’s tactical black armor covering all except the wings, his whole body glowed green in anticipation.
The display of the enemy dreadnaught vanished and the crystal vanished back into a pocked of space inside the Valek before bare hands and teeth touched him. Only Renee didn’t need to hold on. She touched Sparky’s neck where a joint in the plates allowed for enough of a gap to touch hard scale. Oliver and everyone vanished. She counted to five and followed, bringing Sparky along.
Disorientation lasted barely a moment as the large group found themselves in a dark supply room with tall cases filled with whatever supplies were needed. Already Oliver’s smooth helmet was on and he drew the cutlass and shield, taking the lead. Vanishing Claw at his side.
Closed metal doors opened after one of the Ranger’s hacked into the door’s controls. Oliver said via the com “Teleportation successful. We’re all aboard, Markeese.”
The Emperor replied. “We’ll keep them distracted and give you time. Once you get the packages, get out. We’ll handle the rest.”
“Aye aye.” He tapped his ear again to cancel transmissions.
The door opened with a hiss and a startled passerby collapsed when a Ranger shot forward and laid a hand on the man’s forehead and bound his hands in cuffs that prevent Psionic use before tossing him back in the area they were vacating, all of them turning invisible like Renee.
Sleek armored Ligers led the swift and silent charge down a large corridor showing signs leading to the primary power room. Their speed and keen senses allowed Oliver to telepathically show what they saw to Renee who in turn showed everyone around her and a flying Sparky. No one ran, it would have made noise. Everyone flew except the felines.
The doors to the power station were guarded by two men, but Sparky deceptively made them think that they saw no one. It was difficult even for him, but it lasted long enough for the Ranger’s to subdue them.
“Elder’s, I can’t hack in.” the Ranger said not a moment before flashing red lights and a siren wailed above the door. “Fuck, they know we’re here now.”
“No time to be subtle then anymore.” Oliver lifted his hand, made a squeezing motion and suddenly the door was crushed into a large ball, unable to resist his overwhelming force.
Six Elders stood guard as the rest ran in to see the enormous container holding all the ship’s primary power reserves connected to the distribution relay that powers all the ship’s functions. The container was similar to the Dorgenox’s and Renee knew Chandler had patterned it after her father’s design, theft of intellectual property. Even the relay had too close a resemblance. It was merely enlarged for the copious power requirements. The room was humming with energy collected from everyone aboard for fuel.
A hearty blue shield enveloped the system, but again was no match for a Solarian powerhouse. The indigo shield was suddenly infused with so much power it turned white before being thrust forward. Barrier’s clashed and blue buckled. Vanishing Claw used a free hand to loose a sphere half as large as himself and the resulting Kinetic Blast irreparably destroyed the hub.
The effect was instant. Without multiple redundancies to take up the slack, the entire ship went completely dark for several seconds. Artificial gravity turned off as well before backup power kicked in. Throughout the ship people were injured when gravity jerked them back underneath.
Without main power, all non-vital power was shut down.
The Emperor said from the Gaia’s bridge “They did it. Shield’s are down. Target the engine relays for pinpoint severing. We’ll need them intact and repairable later. Destroying the engines entirely is unacceptable. You know where I’ll be. Admiral, you’re in command of the bridge.” Nathan nodded and began shouting orders and the cannons aboard changed output from heavy impact to drain shield power into laser precise for cutting.
“Time to leave, boys!” Elder Javelin called as a squad of a hundred strong came running and firing as soon as they were spotted even while invisible.
Camouflaged Ligers, pretending to be metal debris waited in the hallway till the group passed and attacked from behind. Chaos lasted mere moments as the more experienced Hunters and Pride killed them all except four. Their wounds were serious, but Renee stabilized them in passing. They were out of the fight and of no further danger.
More flying brought more conflict. Usually the surprise of spiky armored cats, neo-animals, and Hunters were enough of a shock to hold the crew off long enough to be incapacitated without much fuss. Others were silenced forevermore in death.
“This the place?” Talon asked, her swords zapping with electricity as Oliver looked up at the ceiling of a junction in the hall as Hunters threw up barriers holding off rifle fire easily.
“Yes. Thirty floors above is the place we’re going. Chandler and the two women are running… and just sealed themselves in a panic room with five shady looking others and he’s screaming at them.”
“Can you hear what they’re saying?”
“No, my micro-drones can’t pick up sound vibrations. Merely visual, but I’m recording it. Have a lip reader figure it out… my drones detect poison filling the cabin and hallways… and… oh you fucking bastard.”
“What?” She asked the question everyone was listening to.
“It’s more than poison. The air itself is laced with nanites programmed to rapidly break down Hunter armor and flight-suits so if the poison doesn’t kill you… the Keptl spores will.”
“What the fuck is he so obsessed with the Keptl for?”
“It’s why I kicked him out besides letting civilians die. He had an unhealthy obsession with the Keptl.” Vanishing Claw swung his blade, releasing a slicing wave that cut approximately fifty men completely in half when the front line ducked and the rear couldn’t respond. “He wanted us to try to splice the ability to evolve like the Keptl. Have a hard shell over soft flesh, grow claws. That sort of thing. He said we were weak, needing to rely on metal armor. I should have killed him back then, but because he didn’t intentionally break our code, I could do no more than banish him.”
“Olly, flash me the data and I’ll neutralize the poison and spores. You do something about the nanites.” Renee said and an instant later her chip received the file, opened it and began looking at the poison makeup. “Nasty stuff. Whoever created the poison sure knew what he was doing. Too bad he’s a pussy.” Her mind found a way to neutralize it and said “I need a human ovum!”
“Take mine.” Talon offered and unlocked her breastplate to show off a hard abdomen. The Elder didn’t ask why Renee didn’t use one of her own. It didn’t matter either. She would regenerate more eggs even with a frozen fertility cycle.
The Valek cut through the flesh without any discomfort, harvested an ovum and Renee modified it and added some specialized hormones. She created the same poison the egg would feed on and changed the cell to rapidly divide at an astronomical rate. It would have a short life though. Less than two hours. “I
’m done, Olly.”
“Same here.” He tossed her a glass vial reconstructed from the rubbery heel of a dead man’s shoe. Manipulating matter took energy, but changing one substance to another wasn’t so difficult as it once was with Stephanie’s high heel shoe and transforming it into crystals. She looked inside and saw tiny particles like the finest sand and knew they were nanites. She dropped the four droplets worth of antidote in the mix and returned it.
It vanished via teleportation up into the hallway laced lethally and broke apart as soon as it shattered on the floor. Right away the vial’s contents began propagating. Cleaning the air of all harmful matter.
“Time to make an air-shaft up.” Oliver said. “It’ll take fifteen minutes for the hallway to be rendered safe enough till we can get to the controls and get the microbe scrubbers to clean the neutralized spores out.”
“As a last resort we’ll send the air out in vacuum and rip the panic room with us.” Vanishing Claw added as cracks formed a circle in the ceiling before being ripped down and set aside. A twenty meter wide hole so Sparky can come up too.
With elevators shut down as a non-essential waste of power in a ship tinted red, they made their own way up, attacked from beginning to end.
Four floors up Oliver said “This must be he teleportation room.” Because a large dais was surrounded in glass, able to send anything that could fit inside. The room was packed by frantic people who threw arms up as soon as Hunters started pouring in. There were dozens more undergoing construction, but only one seemed fully operational in the stadium size room. They couldn’t figure out why it wasn’t working because it had its own power supply. Three Rangers broke off and subdued those resisting. A mere touch knocked their opponents out. Their telepathic training much more powerful than a normal person.
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