Chapter Two

[Quantum Rain]

First topic message reminder :

As the forum auto-splits topics every 50 pages, the next topics will be named further chapters accordingly. This is chapter two, guys, KEEP IT UP!

Post.
POST.
POST!

---

Reeds just kept on whistling as guards and crew cleared out of his path. Eventually, he stopped at a door, the label addressing it as 'Science Lab 2A.' He smiled as he opened the door and Lae saw that the science lab was not small by any means. It was massive, in fact, taking up at least five rooms and two floors entirely on its own. It also seemed to host a massive range of equipment, some of which were entirely foreign to him. With all of the technology, equipment, and stores here, one could only wonder what Reeds' intention was with this lab.

He rolled the cart up next to two others and then proceeded to rummage around for a datapad. "Sit down, my fine lab rat." He said friendly still as he finally found his desired object, turning it own and turning toward Lae, a mischievous grin on his face.

[Wynn]

The two escorts moved in swift unison, rolling outside of Lae's reach and then slamming the blunt end of their staves on his back, catapulting him forward onto the roof as they turned to face their attacker. The other two escorts appeared on the other side, all equally spaced from each other. These were, by far, experts.

Lae would roll back and kick the other two back off the building, flipped off the building, and grabbed a ledge on the way down and kicked his way through a window and sprinted for the door of whatever room he had landed in. He slammed the door shut, sprinted down the hall and jumped through a window at the end, and crashed into the window of another building one floor down from where he had been. He continued to sprint, having begun to speed up even faster than he had before.

[Quantum Rain]

The two escorts fell down, but flipped in the air, their anti-grav boots being used effectively as they landed softly and took off after Lae, firing away. The other two escorts, as Lae could probably glimpse as he ran from one building to the next, were still on the rooftops, while the guards ran at either side. The only clear route was forward.

[Wynn]

The two escorts fell down, but flipped in the air, their anti-grav boots being used effectively as they landed softly and took off after Lae, firing away. The other two escorts, as Lae could probably glimpse as he ran from one building to the next, were still on the rooftops, while the guards ran at either side. The only clear route was forward.

Lae continued running down the hall of the building he was in. He punched out the window at the end, and stopped on the ledge, and jumped upwards towards the level he had been on before, broke in the window again, and continued running. He was running faster than the time he had run from the soldiers in the military base over three months ago.

[Quantum Rain]

The escorts managed to keep pace, amazingly. While Lae had no time to think of this oddity, Rain certainly did. "... These are not normal soldiers." He commented to himself, taking in the fact that not only were they brilliant, well-trained, and fast, they seemed to be a step ahead of Lae at every turn. The escorts on the roof tops seemed to be a small distance ahead of Lae, an interesting mistake to say the least.

[Wynn]

The escorts managed to keep pace, amazingly. While Lae had no time to think of this oddity, Rain certainly did. "... These are not normal soldiers." He commented to himself, taking in the fact that not only were they brilliant, well-trained, and fast, they seemed to be a step ahead of Lae at every turn. The escorts on the roof tops seemed to be a small distance ahead of Lae, an interesting mistake to say the least.

As they would continue across the rooftops, they would hear a window break, and another, just like before. They would jump onto a rather lengthy building that reached the end of the block. Once he reached the end of the building, he would have nowhere else to continue to, but the open city street.

[Quantum Rain]

The escorts were waiting for him on the rooftops, this much Lae knew, but the guards were already beginning to surround him, as the other two escorts were still following, firing away, ensuring that the guards knew exactly where to go.

[Wynn]

The escorts were waiting for him on the rooftops, this much Lae knew, but the guards were already beginning to surround him, as the other two escorts were still following, firing away, ensuring that the guards knew exactly where to go.

A while would pass, and no one would come bursting out of the window, but there would be no gunfire. Little did they know, Lae had picked up a small statue that was in the other building, and simply threw it through the windows. In the mean time, he had turned in the previous building, shut the door discreetly. He quietly opened the window, climbed out, and shimmied his way back the way he came. He dropped down into the alley, and jogged back to where he originally gone into a building, turned right, and walked off that city block while they were busy staying a step ahead of him. He jogged across the street and into another alley. He looked in a dumpster, found an old back pack and pulled it out. In a few short moments, he had taken the robes off and stuffed them into the bag, as well as all of his immediately visible equipment. He was now wearing civilian clothing: a hoodie and sweatpants. He would look like nothing more than some teenager that had stayed out past curfew. He just walked down the street with the backpack slung over his shoulder, and let his head hang down.

[Quantum Rain]

At first, nothing occurred as Lae passed by guard after guard, though at this point there were few civilians about, mostly sticking to the sidewalks and walking home as the military commanded. He was not clear of the storm yet, though, as all of the main exits from the cities were barricaded and locked down tight. One could also bet that those escorts would still be looking, and avoiding them would be a concern, disguise or no, taking chances like that wouldn't be the smartest idea.

[Wynn]

At first, nothing occurred as Lae passed by guard after guard, though at this point there were few civilians about, mostly sticking to the sidewalks and walking home as the military commanded. He was not clear of the storm yet, though, as all of the main exits from the cities were barricaded and locked down tight. One could also bet that those escorts would still be looking, and avoiding them would be a concern, disguise or no, taking chances like that wouldn't be the smartest idea.

Lae would look around at all the civilians walking home. He walked up to a random passer-by and talked in as much of a drunken tone as possible. "Hey, meester, whas the hubah about?" He staggered a little, and made sure to look as if he were staring at the spot ten feet behind the man.

[Quantum Rain]

--Hiigara--

The Hiigaran volley would find itself thrust back at their respective owners as a massive whirlwind of energy emerges from the center of the Primitus fleet. Then a beam lashes out, colliding with Sajuuk’s primary weapon, creating a deadlock. The energy from the lock lashes out everywhere, and grows in its wakes and eddies, destabilizing space around it, and expanding.

The Verusians return to the fight with a vengeance, however, as several ships reemerged and shot down most of the Hiigaran torpedoes and missiles that were redirected towards their former masters, and then proceeded to bombard the Primitus fleet. The ancient vessels responded with a massive volley of missiles and beam weapons of their own, as the Ultor in the center, creating that whirlwind in the first place, lashes out every now and then with wide-angle sweeping beam weapons at the Hiigarans. The Primitus compound shield, having already been in place, absorbs much of the damage that a normal Primitus would have suffered and died under.

---

--New Song--

In response, even more Primitus ships appear to engage the newcomers in equal fashion, intercepting them from engaging the carrier group, which then oddly teleports from one location on the battlefield to another. With capitals in the rear and cruisers up front, and thousands of drones emerging from them towards the enemy, the Primitus ruthlessly engage the Morrigi.

The Primitus engaging Roach continued their massive attack, splitting into smaller groups and suddenly disappearing, only to reappear in two separate flanks to either side of the w-shaped fleet and barraging them from the side, with even larger missile barrages and the typical beam weapon. Drones continue swarming from the front, while smaller groups branch off and engage any hostile strikecraft.

The Primitus fleet engaging the Turians do not allow the weakened vessels to escape, breaking into two groups, the main group continues engaging the main Turian force while the second forms a loose merry-go-round formation, surrounding the escaping Turians and destroying them as they try to flee.

The Ultor greets the incoming hostiles with a beyond massive wave of drones and small corvette like ships that they haven’t seen before, each with small torpedo launchers on either side and a primary, repeating energy cannon. The Ultor itself fires away its long-range beam cannons, still out of reach of the allies’ retaliation. The support ships slowly move outward as they orbit the planet, creating a line between the Ultor and the enemy ships.

As if luck would curse the allies, yet another Ultor appears, with a significantly larger support fleet. However, it remains towards the back of the battle, as if just watching. Furthermore, it seemed as if this Ultor was recently in combat, as several scorch marks and recently repaired wounds littered the hull. This Ultor was emitting a quantum wake just as the other is, which soon stopped at its arrival. The difference between this wake was that it was suddenly jamming communications from passing outside the battlefield. The allies were cut off now.

---

--Aves--

The Primitus capital ship lashes out with its final, charged attack. The massive, lethal beam of energy carves into the Spirit of Aves as the capital takes the heavy beating from the system’s star. The beam was specifically targeted at the ship’s engines; sending a massive jolt of energy through the ship’s systems, practically disabling most on the spot, save for low-key systems, such as sensors, view-screens, and basic life-support. What they would see, however, is a Primitus capital ship turning away from them and leaving, limping practically, if a ship could show such an action. After several minutes, it faded away into a quantum wake, leaving the ship alone, orbiting the planet.

[Fore Admiral Disayle]

--Aves--

*Ackbar lets out a screech of defiance as the beam hits the Spirit.*

Ackbar: FOR AVES!!! *And then the lights go out. Only a few consoles remaing operational and provide illumination.*

*For several tense seconds, the entire ship is quiet. The avians watch the crippled Primitus capital ship limp away, and then Ackbar shouts an order.*

Ackbar: REPORT!

Engineering Officer: Sir--all systems except basic power, life support, and sensors are out! We're dead in the air!

Ackbar: Can you fix it?

Engineering Officer: Maybe, Admiral. We have to restart the reactor!

Ackbar: Do it. What about damage?

Engineering Officer: We're banged-up pretty much everywhere, sir, but the bow and midships are in worse shape. Armor's compromised on multiple decks and we're venting atmosphere in a lot of places. The main cannon took some damage, but thankfully the...whatever happened, it was mostly superficial. What was that, anyway, Admiral?! And why isn't Aves a charred husk from that solar flare?

Ackbar: I don't know, Officer. We may never know; stay focused on getting the ship moving again. Get any living avians out of the leaking areas and then seal them off. I have something I need to take care of. Deck Officer--you're in charge until I come back.

Deck Officer: Sir.

*Ackbar flies off of the bridge, consulting his PDA as he goes.* Ackbar: Lieutenant Bularr...Lieutenant Bularr...Lieutenant Bularr...

*The hawk has to fly slowly due to the low lighting in the ship, and many times he has to take detours when confronted by a blast door, signalling a compromised area of the ship. However, his PDA slowly leads him towards Bularr's location...into a completely pitch-black corridor. He lands and starts walking down it, calling as he goes.*

Ackbar: Bularr?

*No response. The Admiral keeps walking, occasionally looking at his PDA. The device indicates that Bularr is a few dozen meters directly ahead. Ackbar proceeds, and despite knowing that he is alone down here, the feathers on the back of his neck inexplicably begin to prickle. He procures a flashlight from a pocket on his uniform and turns it on, but it is short-ranged and the darkness beyond the beam begins to form strange, fearful shapes. The creaks and groans of the ship begin to sound like voices muttering just at the edge of his hearing.*

*Then, as Ackbar nears Bularr's location indicated on the PDA, he stops dead. The voices have grown louder, and he can now hear what they are saying. They speak in something that sounds like ancient Raptorian, and what they say is terrifying familiar...*

Voices: Soft One...

Ackbar: Who dares?!

Voices: You cannot fight us forever, Child of the Undeserving. The next one...will be ours.

*Just beyond the light's range, several bright spots appear in the darkness, multiplying until they fill the corridor. They vary greatly in size and shape, and with a start, Ackbar realizes they are eyes. As they appear, a crescendo of agony begins to start up. He shivers, but angrily shouts at the thing.*

Ackbar: Enough--you have no power here!! Begone!

Voicee: The day will come when your people will cease, Soft One. And you will be powerless to stop it...

*The eyes, voices, and agony fade, replaced by silence. Ackbar keeps going a few more meters until he arrives before a closed blast door, and lying in front of it, Bularr's prone form. Immediately, the hawk rushes to his side.*

Ackbar: Bularr...? Bularr! Lieutenant, wake up! *No response.* LIEUTENANT BULARR, GET ON YOUR FEET RIGHT NOW--THAT'S AN ORDER--*The hawk flips on his comm device.* I need a medic down here, NOW!

*There is nothing else left to do but sit in the dark and cradle the unconscious sparrowhawk's head in his wing to keep it elevated. A quick glance at his PDA confirms that Bularr's vitals are positive, but beyond that the device cannot tell.*

*Suddenly, the lights snap back on, causing Ackbar to jump in fright, and then he hears beating wings coming down the corridor. A hummingbird medic accompanied by a droid assistant hurries onto the scene. The hummingbird flits around Bularr.* Ackbar: Well?

Hummingbird: I have to take him off your hands, sir. He needs to go to the medical ward. We can help him, now that power is back.

*Ackbar hestiates, and then nods.* Ackbar: Very well. I'm most likely needed on the bridge again. Contact me immediately on priority channels if his condition changes for the worse.

Hummingbird: Will do, sir. *She presses a button on her tiny PDA, and the droid reaches down, hoists Bularr into its grapplers, and then follows her down the corridor and out of sight. Ackbar spreads his wings and flies away as well, but not before taking one last glance down it. A sound reaches him--a low, menacing growl just at the edge of his hearing--but nothing else happens. Shooting one last glare in its direction, he continues to the bridge.*

*Frenzied activity greets him.* Ackbar: Someone give me a sitrep!!

Deck Officer: Sir, we restored power to the ship, but we're in serious need of repairs and resupply. If we have to fight another Primitus ship in this state, we're going to be destroyed!!

Ackbar: Get us underway to Aves City. We can repair and resupply there. Comms--get me General Ironbeak.

Comms Officer: Calling him now, sir!

(Seconds later) Ironbeak: Finally, there you are. I've been trying to hail you for a while now! What happened up there?

Ackbar: We heavily damaged the thing...with a little help. But it got away. And it'll probably repair itself back up before long. At least we saved Aves. What's the situation on your end?

Ironbeak: The invading forces are all destroyed. They just...vanished into puffs of smoke. I wouldn't believe it myself if I hadn't been tearing one apart when it crumbled to dust under my talons. And I know I'm not that strong.

Ackbar: You what?

Ironbeak: We just couldn't hold them back--there were so many of them...they did things to our forces that made me sick. They breached my command center, killed dozens of my best soldiers, and were about to kill me even as I tore at them...when they suddenly turn into mist around me. When I emerged, I found that the same thing happened across the entire planet. It's strange, though--a large amount of natural disasters happened throughout the battle, but not one of them resulted in an avian casualty. The most amazing of them came when I was leading my airships against a much greater number of their own when a volcano, long-dormant, suddenly erupted underneath them, destroying enough of the airships that we won that fight.

Ackbar: Very interesting. I guess we just got very lucky.

Ironbeak: Agreed. Now that there's no need for evacuation, we're returning those civilians who still have homes to those homes. As for the rest...we may have to build a few new cities, sir.

Ackbar: We'll do what needs to be done for our people, Ironbeak. I'm bringing the Spirit back to Aves City for repairs and re-armament. Convene the Junta--what's left of it--and meet me with Addrson and Dr. Fallah. We have to start planning our next move.

Ironbeak: Got it, sir. I'll be there, even if I have to fly the distance myself. Gotta use these wings for something, y'know!

Ackbar (chuckles): I'll see you.

*The Spirit limps back to Aves City, where it docks at one of the many floating platforms. Swarms of repair bots settle on the ship and set to work, while repair airships begin replacing compromised armor sections. Those dead of the crew are recovered if possible, identified, and noted so that Ackbar can write the letters of consolation to their families. Meanwhile, Ackbar flies out from the ship, towards the Government district, where the Junta awaits him.*

--Hiigara--

*Dozens of Hiigaran ships are destroyed, but the Exiles do not falter. They answer the ruthless Primitus attack in kind, keeping up their windmilling momentum of attacking the ancient destroyers. Karan stops firing Sajuuk's weapon and once again opens up FTL windows to devour the Primitus's missiles, releasing them into normal space inside the Primitus fleet so that they smash against their respective owners. She then jumps straight through the shield, putting herself in the middle of the entire armada, and strikes the Ultor from behind with a devastating blow of the Progenitor warship's main weapon. Drones pour out of Sajuuk's mass to attack the Primitus armada, and its conventional weapons fire in all directions at the ancient marauders. Before the Primitus can react, Karan jumps Sajuuk again, this time above the Ultor, repeats the process, and then does it again. After this third time, she jumps out of the armada while the Hiigarans attack with renewed force.*

--New Song--

*The Morrigi lead by the leviathan microjump as well to pursue the carrier group, once again surrounding it and pounding it from all sides. To prevent their would-be attackers from distracting them, the second Morrigi group splits itself again--the cruisers continue assisting Roach, while the monolithic dreadnoughts attack the new Primitus arrivals. The monoliths present a solid, unified wall of ships to the marauders that is not broken anywhere near easily as they fire their lancers in a single, massive blast and move to surround the newcomers.*

*The Morrigi cruisers assisting the Free Peoples counter-flank the groups of hostile vessels to the side of the W-shaped fleet, and use their point defences to busily take down the enemy missiles. Meanwhile, the swarms of Morrigi drones battle away at their counterparts.*

*The turians are saddened by the destruction of their retreating comrades, but take the opportunity to surround the ships engaging them and cut them off from their own fellows.*

*Meanwhile, Soban's Dreadnought launches its own drones in response to the huge wave of incoming strikecraft.* Soban: Those corvette-like things--attack them! They're the biggest threat! *As he says this, the Progenitor drones swarm over the corvettes, attacking them mercilessly with plasma cannons. The Morrigi promptly do the same, while both groups' ships rely on their point-defences to deal with the weaker drones. The Dreadnought fires its Phased Cannon Array directly at the Ultor, seemingly to get its attention. The Morrigi also fire their lancers at the support ships, while the Rachni's beams continue to lacerate them from below.*

*Then [censored] hits the fan as the other Ultor arrives.* Soban: [censored]...not again...get a transmission back--

Comms Officer: Sir! Long-range comms are down; we can't contact anyone outside the system!

Soban: Where's the disturbance originating from?!

Sensors Officer: Best we can tell, sir, it's from that new ship that just arrived.

Soban: Keep firing! There has to be some plan!

*Then, Tiamat contacts him through Quetzalcoatl.* Tiamat: Songleader Sha, I have a plan.

Soban: Let's hope it's a good one--[censored]'s getting worse up here all the time!!

Tiamat: We will hurl the force of our voices at these demons of steel. It will disrupt their own song and let you call for help. But your time to do this will be short. Do you comprehend?

Soban: Loud and clear! When will you do this?

Tiamat: Soon. You shall know when it happens.

Soban: Roger--comms! Prepare 2 transmissions: One to the avians and the other to Hiigara! HURRY!!

*Then it is down to waiting. Things get worse and worse and worse. Hundreds of allied ship are destroyed, despite all their best efforts. Then, just when everything seems lost, a great wave of pure force suddenly rolls up from the planet itself: the ultrasonic and telepathic scream of an entire world's worth of Rachni. The scream is so great and powerful that it warps the very fabric of space and time. The force hits the entire Primitus fleet, but it is aimed in particular at the two Ultors, roaring into them like the very hand of fate itself.*

[Roach]

After sustaining some losses Roach teleports his entire fleet surrounding the Primitus once again showing two can play at that teleporting nonsense though this breaks roach's battle meditation momentarily as he has to stop for nourishment to continue.

Roach greedily devourers several large pieces of jerky and an apple before returning to his battle meditation.

"Dawson."

"Yes sir?"

"Signal admiral Janeway to prepare herself she will soon have an opportunity to enter the battle. And consolidate our forces we need to support each others efforts."
Roach's battered rag tag fleet maneuvers into a Position were it can provide support to as many allied vessels as possible. Free Peoples strike craft and point defense systems continue to decimate Primtus drones and missile volleys with impunity. Scores of defender missiles and flak burst fill space looking almost like a fireworks display also thousands of small platforms drop from Free Peapoles support ships all of them contain a single vacuum sealed tank and four anti aircraft guns the brave free peoples cavalry open fire with their powerful cannons in a storm of Mithril sabot rounds and contracted capital ship fire two primtus cruisers are knocked out though it costs the free peoples fleet a dozen cruisers destroyed and several damaged heavily enough that they have to be pulled out of the fight. Dawson watches as ships wink off the display some utterly destroyed others to damaged to continue fighting but the crews are rescued by powerful transporters on a massive medical center hiding clocked in an asteroid belt near New Song.

[Quantum Rain]

--Hiigara--

The Ultor reacted deftly, obviously aware that Sajuuk would do something like this. It was annoying, to say the least, when Sajuuk was deadlocked with the Ultor's beam weapon again, and the compound shield held more tightly to its masters than Karan originally thought. The missiles would find themselves lost in space as a jamming field was put up by the armada, preventing any future FTL windows to open as they start rotating with the Hiigaran's, firing away at them.

(Sajuuk will still be able to FTL, due to its origins.)

---

--New Song--

The Ultors were not expecting this. Their shields hold, though, valiantly, but they are rocked to their sides, as the quantum wake flickers. Though it is still impossible to call in reinforcements, comm transmissions are allowed for a brief period of time, until the Ultor's recover from the scream. Once they did, however, the jamming came back stronger than before, and the first Ultor opened fire on the Hiigarans and the planet below, launching odd-shaped pods mixed in with missiles and beams. The support ships hold under the fire, unleashing their own volley at the enemy, as the drones sweep around and flank from either side, still significant in numbers despite losses.

The Primitus ships respond by suddenly disappearing, only to reappear as one massive group of ships surrounding the second Ultor. The carriers were still in the back of the group, while capitals in the middle, and cruisers in the front. They were slowly advancing towards the combined enemies, and this time, if they connected, it would be a blood bath, no matter how many ships the Primitus may have lost by now.

Many minutes pass with this standstill, the Primitus slowly moving to engage the allied forces, while the first Ultor ravages the planet below. It stayed like this, with no more reinforcements to call on, and no one to communicate with on the outside. It was in this moment that a massive wave of energy erupted from the far end of the battlefield, at the edge of the distortion field the second Ultor put up. They could visibly see time/space distort into a vague wormhole of some sort. Then another wave erupted, and the wormhole slowly took shape. Then another, and another, until it was fully formed.

What emerged were several thousand ships, their design vaguely similar to the Primitus armada, but there were many differences. It was a fleet made up of several different kinds of frigates, several cruisers, some capitals, ten heavy capitals, and the largest ship in the center, a massive dreadnought of some sort. They were advancing forward, the wormhole still open as the distortion was permanently bypassed it seemed. (New fleet consists of four thousand ships in total.)

[Fore Admiral Disayle]

--Hiigara--

Karan: Keep fighting, guys! I've got a plan!

*As Sajuuk's drone swarms continue to ravage the Primitus armada from the inside, the Hiigarans adopt a more coherent strategy. Still continuing their circular motions, the Exiles' vessels pound the compound shield with steady kinetic cannon and plasma burst fire to prevent it from regenerating, punctuated by ion-beam blasts every few seconds or so to weaken it further. Their PD weapons fire exploding flak shells that wreak havoc on the Primitus drones, and the defenders switch from launching fusion torpedoes at the ravagers to a different type of torpedo, with cluster warheads, that targets the drones as well. Hiigara itself launches more missiles--though at a much-reduced rate due to its rapidly-fading stockpile--and the planetary defense platforms contribute fusion torpedoes and ion-beam fire of their own. Instead of sending them into FTL, Karan simply phases the warheads out, in a plane where the ancient marauders cannot follow, until the very last second so they can impact against the compound shield. At the same time, power readings from Sajuuk begin increasing at an exponential rate.*

--Aves, Aves City, Government District--

*Ackbar lands outside the floating building where the Junta has convened. Ironbeak, Dr. Fallah, and Addrson await him just inside the doors, before the meeting chamber. Addrson sports a bandage on his left foot, causing him to limp somewhat awkwardly as he runs toward Ackbar.*

Addrson: Sir, sir! I'm so happy to see you!

Ackbar: What, Addrson, did you think I was dead?

Addrson: By Aves, Admiral, when I saw the giant flash in the sky, I feared the worst. But here you are...what happened up there, then?

Ackbar: We won...but it wasn't a decisive victory. That thing smashed the Spirit up pretty badly, but we damaged it enough that it retreated. By Aves, though, I wish we could have destroyed it. Before long, it will probably have fixed itself back up and be back for more. Thankfully, though, I've just put the Spirit in for extensive repair and rearmament, so it won't take us down without a harder fight next time. What's that on your foot about?

*Addrson ruffles his feathers, embarassed.* Addrson: Well, Ackbar, those...things were approaching the evacuation area I was in--somewhere north of Apterus, I think--and a soldier near me took a hit. Before I knew it, I had run over, grabbed her weapon, and was firing away alongside the surviving soldiers. I guess I helped buy enough time for the evacuation to complete, and a gunship picked me up with the surviving soldiers. I then realized I'd been shot in the foot.

*Ackbar and Ironbeak both nod, impressed.* Ackbar: That was good of you, Addrson. I'm proud of your for showing such courage.

Ironbeak: Not bad for a secretary. *He gives the trumpeter a friendly cuff, causing him to stumble slightly. Ackbar suddenly appears concerned.*

Ackbar: Just...be a little more careful in the future, please.

Addrson: I promise I will, sir.

*Ackbar now sets his eyes forward.* Ackbar: Alright, let's go see the junta. Dr. Fallah, I'll speak to you in the meeting.

Dr. Fallah: Admiral. *They follow the hawk into the junta's meeting chambers, and then almost run into him as he stops cold. Barely one-third of the generals sit on their perches or daises, and most of those sport bindings of some kind or other. The rest of the posts are filled with unfamiliar avians.*

Ackbar: What...where is the rest of the Junta?

*A cassowary sporting a bandage around most of her head and over one eye speaks up from her dais.* General Carron: Half of them are dead, sir, and their seconds have come in their place. The rest are in comas or half-comas from their injuries and their seconds came as well.

Ackbar: Very well. *He takes his place on the high perch, while Ironbeak stands on a guest one and Fallah and Addrson run up to balconies on the upper level of the chamber.* Greetings to you all. Today we have suffered a terrible attack. Dozens of our best leaders and millions of our people are dead...including the Third Colony Fleet.

*Gasps echo through the chamber. Ackbar goes on.* Yes. But we must continue to strive.

*One of the stand-ins speaks out.*

Second: What do you suggest, Admiral?

Ackbar: We must go forward--continue our efforts to go to the stars. The Primitus have been stopped for now, but they will be back. Despite its setbacks, our first joint mission with the Hiigarans was a success; we extracted data that will prove vital to the coming war effort. The Hiigarans will bring this data back to us as soon as they can.

Dr. Fallah: Admiral, would it be possible to recover any of the wreckage of the Primitus ships or constructs for my scientists to research? If we had a way to study the enemy, I believe we could find a way to defeat them more easily.

Ackbar: I wish, Doctor, but all traces of the invaders have vanished. The wreckage simply crumbled into dust and left nothing behind.

Dr. Fallah: Very well.

Ackbar: As I was saying...the war will come, whether we like it or not. We must be ready; we must continue our alliance with the Hiigarans. Yes, many avians will die if we do...but if we don't, our entire ra--

*Suddenly, Addrson interrupts.* Addrson: I hate to interrupt, Admiral, but the Hiigarans have just sent a transmission through the priority channel.

Ackbar: Patch it through!

*After a few moments of silence, Soban's voice makes itself heard.* Soban: Admiral Ackbar, we're in deep [censored] here! You have to help us--there's a [censored] huge Primitus fleet here and we can't hold out forever! The coordinates to our location are included in this transmission; HURRY! *A burst of static.* SON OF A [censored]! They brought--*And the transmission ends. Total silence reigns through the chamber.*

Ackbar: ...Generals, I regret to announce that I must leave you once again.

*The stand-in from before objects.* Second: But, sir--

Ackbar: There are avians onboard the Hiigaran ship. I will not let it be destroyed and so let even more of our people die.

*The avian falls into shocked silence, and Ackbar flies out of the Junta's chamber. Within the hour, he is back at the Spirit of Aves, which is nearly fully repaired thanks to the diligent efforts of the dockyard crew. Soon after that, the massive vessel departs Aves and blasts into FTL.*

--The World of New Song--

*By sheer chance, the Spirit of Aves arrives right on the tail of the newcomers. Ackbar stumbles as explosions begin to rock the ship almost immediately.*

Ackbar: Start firing on anything that matches Primitus signatures! *He scans the battlefield for a few moments.* [censored] me, this is a mess. Comms--find Soban's ship and get me to him!

Comms Officer: No need, sir, he's hailing us!

Ackbar: Patch him through, then!

Soban: Ackbar. You're a sight for sore eyes.

Ackbar: Lovely. Can you tell me exactly what the hell is going on here?

Soban: A [censored]-fight, that's what. There's not a lot of time to explain--can you move your ship between the big motherfucker and the planet? The big one closest to the planet?

Ackbar: Alright. I'm not sure we can take the beating, but we'll do it. Navigation--full speed to engines! Take us between the large ship closet to the planet and the planet itself! Gunnery, open fire on that thing when you're in range! *The orders are received and carried. As the ship starts moving again, Ackbar presses Soban.* So really, Soban, what's going on here?

Soban: Long story short, Toktha's people and I followed the Primitus ships here to find them attacking some people we've never seen before, so we decided to help. We're all friends for the moment, if only because there isn't a goddamn chance of survival otherwise!! I don't know about these new ships you followed in, do you?

Ackbar: I have no idea about them.

Soban: I'll talk to them; just protect the planet!

*The Spirit of Aves soon positions itself between the Ultor and The World of New Song. As it does so, it opens fire with a merciless array of energy bolts, while its PD beams begin destroying the missiles and pods as best they can. The Rachni's beam weapons also continue raking the huge Primitus vessel's shields.*

*Meanwhile, as the unlikely allies begin responding to the radical changes in the situation, Soban hails what appears to be the lead ship of the newcomers.*

Soban (Basic): Attention newly arrived ships, this is Admiral Ferin Soban Sha of the Hiigaran Daiamid! Do you come as friends or foes? ...please tell me as friends.

[Quantum Rain]

Lae would look around at all the civilians walking home. He walked up to a random passer-by and talked in as much of a drunken tone as possible. "Hey, meester, whas the hubah about?" He staggered a little, and made sure to look as if he were staring at the spot ten feet behind the man.

The man looked at the kid with a combination of confusion and disgust, and just kept on walking. One of the guards did notice him, and walked toward Lae. "Hey, you! Curfew was two hours ago!" He yelled out at him, walking towards him, but on alert in case the drunken teenager decided to run or anything.

[Wynn]

Lae would look around at all the civilians walking home. He walked up to a random passer-by and talked in as much of a drunken tone as possible. "Hey, meester, whas the hubah about?" He staggered a little, and made sure to look as if he were staring at the spot ten feet behind the man.

The man looked at the kid with a combination of confusion and disgust, and just kept on walking. One of the guards did notice him, and walked toward Lae. "Hey, you! Curfew was two hours ago!" He yelled out at him, walking towards him, but on alert in case the drunken teenager decided to run or anything.

Lae thought quickly what he should say in response.

If i use the drunk act on him, ill probably be taken in for minor-in-possession, then they'll see just what my possessions really are...

"Im sorry, sir, i know it's late. I was actually just on my way home." Lae was acting sober now that the other man had left. Dont tell him more than you have to. He thought to himself.

[Quantum Rain]

The guard looked at Lae, confused. "Where were you during those two hours, kid?" He asked, having thought for sure the kid was another drunken teenager, but then he suddenly turned up sober. The guard was cautious now.

[Wynn]

The guard looked at Lae, confused. "Where were you during those two hours, kid?" He asked, having thought for sure the kid was another drunken teenager, but then he suddenly turned up sober. The guard was cautious now.

Just tell him what a highschool kid might have been doing. "Okay, look. I cant say exactally what i was doing, for the sake of decency. I will tell you, however, I was with my girlfriend, and I lost track of time. Can we just leave it at that?"

Good thing he doesn't know me at all...

[Quantum Rain]

The guard looked suspicious still. He pulled out a small, pocket-able device, and then held it out to the kid's face. "Breathe on this." He commanded of Lae rather sharply. More than likely, it was an breathalyzer of some sort.

[Wynn]

The guard looked suspicious still. He pulled out a small, pocket-able device, and then held it out to the kid's face. "Breath on this." He commanded of Lae rather sharply. More than likely, it was an breathalyzer of some sort.

Lae raised an eyebrow at fist, then did as he was told. He breathed as long as he would have to to have the device read the alcohol content.

[Quantum Rain]

The device beeped almost immediately. The guard looked at its report, then back at the kid, still suspicious. The device read well below the legal point of drunkenness. This further perplexed the guard, but he re-pocketed the device and sighed. "I had better not find you out late a second time." He said, not really having anything to charge Lae with.

[Wynn]

The device beeped almost immediately. The guard looked at its report, then back at the kid, still suspicious. The device read well below the legal point of drunkenness. This further perplexed the guard, but he re-pocketed the device and sighed. "I had better not find you out late a second time." He said, not really having anything to charge Lae with.

"Wont happen again, you have my word." Lae replied. He began walking away. I have to duck away until morning, i wont stand a chance with a curfew in effect. Lae walked down the road, and turned and walked into a hotel when he was sure that the guard had left him alone, he walked in discreetly, yet casually, hoping to sneak in unnoticed.

[Quantum Rain]

There were only two attendants, both busy gossiping to eachother about today's recent events, not paying any attention to the kid, provided he hid well enough.

Meanwhile, the guards and the escorts outside continued combing through the city, and every now and then, entering homes to search for the assassin. Meanwhile, in the alleyway that the commander died in...

He woke up, with a severe headache and several wounds that would normally kill a human. Fortunately, he wasn't human. Thank the five for that too! Though he had to admit, that kid had a hell of a punch in him. As he slowly got up, one of the earlier escorts ran in to report to him. He just waved him off, holding his head due to the severe headache. He didn't care about the assassin, what he cared was getting to his room and sleeping through this resounding pain in his head and body. He slowly limped home, the escort following patiently and loyally.

[Wynn]

There were only two attendants, both busy gossiping to eachother about today's recent events, not paying any attention to the kid, provided he hid well enough.

Meanwhile, the guards and the escorts outside continued combing through the city, and every now and then, entering homes to search for the assassin. Meanwhile, in the alleyway that the commander died in...

He woke up, with a severe headache and several wounds that would normally kill a human. Fortunately, he wasn't human. Thank the five for that too! Though he had to admit, that kid had a hell of a punch in him. As he slowly got up, one of the earlier escorts ran in to report to him. He just waved him off, holding his head due to the severe headache. He didn't care about the assassin, what he cared was getting to his room and sleeping through this resounding pain in his head and body. He slowly limped home, the escort following patiently and loyally.

Lae crouched walked up to the counter, and peeked over it. While they were looking the other way, he leaned over the desk, grabbed a keycard, and ducked back behind it. He crept past it, and went for the stairwell across the lobby from the entrance. Once again, he made sure the attendants weren't looking, then opened the door, stepped into the stair well, then closed it quietly. He looked at the card to see the room number and floor. He then walked up to the third floor, went into the hall way, and walked down to his room. Inside, he threw his bag into a closet and fell onto one of the beds.
"I didnt drink, but im sure as hell going to feel like i have a hangover in the morning..." He muttered to himself.

[Quantum Rain]

The commander slumped onto the chair, a towel to his head where it was cut open, rather deep. He had to curse this human skin he was forced to wear. All this sickly red stuff really got in the way of his trying to think, and not to mention the pain. It was quite more severe than he is used to in his old home. Of course, despite the pain, he had to wonder why the boss assigned him this position... It was annoying to think about it, mainly because it caused more pain in the end, but damned if he couldn't stop.

And then a black, shadowy figure appeared on the other side of the room. It needn't speak or introduce itself of course. "You are worse of a bastard than I am, to have an assassin sent after me." The commander said simply, loosening his arm by rolling it in circles. The figure remained still, unmoving. "Oh yes, you want your damnable report. Of course. Here's your report: he kicked my [censored]." The figure still remained. "... [censored] you too." Then he sighed. "Alright, alright I'll explain. Damn, persistent [censored]..."

[Sponsored content]