1 HOUR EARLIER536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAnMQRDidE
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.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeR52BQZlo
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.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnFwAwyjfB
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.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7g7EaKZXw
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.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5aSULXDYSY
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.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrU07qP2MHH
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.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrhdW4KjMu
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.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGe0mHTCDU
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.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGN8pZpTgC
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.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQgY0p6f3M
A FEW MOMENTS BEFORE THE BATTLE...536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0pGK63FwQ
“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.”536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUDtKwLFUY
“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.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlJy9ClE6Q
“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. 536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnJof7EDXH
“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.”536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFbGxEqdlG
He picked up the device and held it up.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ576zBpaAPK
 “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.”536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PARk1zyx7
“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”536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6rjBzDcUk
“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.”536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocVUle2oZw
“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.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykMAbMfq9P
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!''536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLZj0bT9Eb
She bit her lip tears threatening to shame her again “So am I Uncle Ren”536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Y7brv3FPP
“Looks like I'll just have to take it myself.”536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsg0HiwmBf3
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.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2Sq6MK12W
“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.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaHir6vm4g
“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.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95Mk0SET10
“Now,” he said. “I need  you to get me into that chamber.”536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2n3bjtvO2U
“So you can kill us all?!”536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrwhEMxlSP
“I have a super weapon. Dont you think I should have killed you already. Frankly old man, I'm your only hope.”536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmB2qsqDtO
"Besides" he added, a tad bit callously " the guys out there hate Scythans more than you"536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsCziO1nch
CHAPTER 5536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEf9LjURsg
Inquisitor Pai jumped off the gate barking orders and his alve tool already crackling with energy. 536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOfevaP0al
“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.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVyIFeE5Gf
“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.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxz79QT39k
“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.” 536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8OqwR8f4i
’savages to savagery!’he thought.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkLpXAIFPd
“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. 536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeROfB4a6hw
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.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPbDPl2SyN
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.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpzx8qUW64
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.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgbdOf7jB5
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.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWxBF1Yub4
“Nanocytes dispatched, Sir. Estimated time to open, 2 standard minutes.”536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VYuzKi89b
“We have another problem"536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRA5R8zcMt
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.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIfz0ooZqK
“That’s not her Majesty!” a surprised Salahar blurted out dumbly, and stating what everyone else already had a firm grasp of.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZVgy3bGhg
“You’re the Organics Officer, Is that even possible?” the Thalm eyed her as though she ought to know, ”It shouldnt be possible right?” 536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WgeuoBLvJ
She was saved from answering though, as Pai cut in through the comm-links.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflZk50fqbu
“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.”536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZAG7a7w7k
“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.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZZUgR4Oyf
She took over the nanocytes and waited, until Pai appeared moments later, just as the grey fluid started pouring back into the canister.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRLOlnEdB7
“Status ?”536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPuiUzR3H5P
 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.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqN8zSqFXYI
“Open, Sir” she replied.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUM5sq3URHw
“By carving a hole through it? Why not open the entire gate? It will alarm whoever’s inside” he growled as they rushed in.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0qkFrvfkY
“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.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQSMj5Vt19
The interior chamber had been converted into a bunker refuge. Every vulnerable citizen was holed up here, fear stitched to their faces like embroidery.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SBvoi4H1G
“Quickly, initiate verbal communication” he ordered536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwiWvadrKm
“Already on it, Sir” she replied, donning an intricate piece of head gear and punching values into her mobile terminal pad. 536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGXLNlgjJ1
“ 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. 536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4r2QqckVOG
Salahar was good, though Organics officers generally were. A few minutes later she had everyone calmed down and was speaking in their native tongue.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzYUeyNlpD
“Can you find out if any changes were made to the old central systems”536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTNfp0bkM8
"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."536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtP1ICt7tmf
"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."536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05f7Edd0js
"No trouble." he answered, "Now come on!" and hurried off to the far end. 536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UG09SBy6n
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.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlAsZR6MoK
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.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQngzDdBnV
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.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NEixT8YMq
"Just goes to show you can't really trust locals." he mumbled.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnlsaDCg0j
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.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7xfbK9Jkr
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. 536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRvPhrbQ6e
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. 536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OryzUo7Ii
"At my count." he said, "Get ready to shove us through the moment the door goes."536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyuG3XmKYf
"Ready when you are, Sir." she responded, as she donned a pair of goggles in anticipation.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NJmwGWxb4
"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.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfjlsZIWlp
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.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlcT9UaSmc
 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. 536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALaa0PuRjn
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. 536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEePWlrhsH
"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.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNl3D5tErOA
"Inquisitor Pai. How may I serve?"536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUkSiFhX0n
CHAPTER 6536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0LQdpBJ16
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.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nMuQ3Y6a6
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.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXd3b4XyEeB
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. 536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUIBDprqkvF
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.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DyWLRLLpQ
"Captain, we are picking up an unusual energy signature at the target location."536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DLaptCtDx
"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. 536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwiA2fQIOM
Instead of the Astral Navy the central command had opted for the Terra Corps to do the ground work.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyMmBsZthk
"Yes Sir." the Fifth Mate responded. "I'm already sending it to the main display now."536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdU7GZFKKw
B217 looked up at the large screen which changed from the starship filled surroundings to the zoomed in aerial view of the target location.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMT1QouxNfz
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.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOgc7n9dbg
B217 had that all too familiar feeling of unease and his hackles rose, slowly.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡos5GccKUt5
"That is one large supercharged hole" someone said. "You could fit that League Frigate in there and still have room to spare."536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwS0paXLoN
"Is that what I think it is?" The Captain scrutinised the footage.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfwwoll0A4
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.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHrVswPX7K
"Damn." the Captain snarled "Fall back quick! I repeat full retreat now. With draw to the 300th peripheral! NOW!"536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgWtbsQnSK
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.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDV5Znf0Clr
 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.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGaZn4jJN2X
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.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwr1CghjDEu
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.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoBdrCApQQ
He didn't like where this was heading all of a sudden. He didn't like it at all.