Ruby shuddered as she ran alongside the others. She hoped to God that nobody else suffered on this terrible ship; she dearly hoped that they'd be able to get to Eternity, A, and Zaeda before they endured fates worse than the four officers or the marines had. The Grotesnian woman's large ears picked up the sound of shuffling feet in the distance...very faint, but just light enough for her to hear.

Slayde noticed the twitching of Ruby's ears and gave her a questioning look. Ruby responded by picking up her pace, with which the captain nodded and focused on the path ahead. Ruby began to hear some muffled shouting accompanying the eerie shuffling. She could tell Amber heard it as well by the paleness that crept onto her face. The two women officers exchanged glances and gripped their weapons tightly in their hands.

Please, Lord, let no one else suffer... A grim look etched itself onto Ruby's face with this prayer.

Everyone except Ivalice tensed as they rounded a corner and spotted the shafts of bright white-light coming from the Med Bay door. Slayde, Amber, and Ruby readied their weapons as they approached the large room. Eternity's shouts were much louder now, and the group could tell there was definitely something horribly wrong as they reached the door.

Ruby heard herself and Amber gasp and Slayde mutter a curse. Her stomach lurched at the sight of the walking corpses, and instinct made her raise her arm and begin firing. Soon, Slayde and Amber were joining in....

(OOC: Hope I didn't rush anything for anybody but this might be the only good post I might be able to make at the present)

...25, only 25...

Retract the sheild and retreat! Slicer Positions!, A sent to the rest of his team. Quickly, that all moved , turning their feild so that if thy activatd the sheild, it would cross the pass of some of the monstoricties.
Ready... NOW!

The sheild extended, connecting from bug to bug, and going through everything in the way. Two tables and four corpses were cut cleanly through. The sheets started buring.
Spearpoint! Z, it's up to you! A called. Z nodded. 24 of the bugs huddled together, while the 25th ran towar the other end of the room. They activated the sheild, but the corpses were smarter than that. They dodged out of the way, and continued forward.One headed toward Z.

...24...

"What just happened?" asked one sentry, coming out of the relative safety of the corridor.

"Damn that bastard. He took away my fight! Grrr..." grumbled Bezarin as he glanced sideways, looking at a marine as if he wanted more killing. "I guess I'll have to settle for you people then..."

"Oh, sh-"

"That will be enough!" echoed a voice from down the corridor. In an instant, Bezarin grabbed his abdomen and dropped to the floor! The searing heat from within! Oh, the pain! He enjoyed it so! However, he knew that now, his ability to regenerate his cells so rapidly was lost!

"Bastard..."

"Bezarin, you have served your purpose," said Ray. "Bring him back to the containment unit!"

"Pain... You bastard, what does the device do, damn it?"

"It destroys a large number of the telomerase within your body, and controls electric signals to the glands producing telomerase. Hence, you will lose your ability to produce telomerase at a rapid rate, until I adjust the device to do otherwise."

"Heh... Damn you and your biology lessons," commented Bezarin as three marines dragged him back while two sentries followed with their SMGs pointed right at his head. That was exactly how threatening he was! Every time he passed by, marines would aim at him, just in case he got loose! "Bastards..."

With that, they continued down the corridor, back into the bowels of the ship for confinement.

"He would have been more useful if he weren't insane," commented Ray. "Damned moron."

They seemed to be gaining the upper hand...

But would they gain it fast enough, or would they all be dead before they managed?

Slayde gritted his teeth, firing into the heaving mass. BANG a head exploded...BANG one of the corpses was cut in two...

These were Humans he was fighting!

"What sort of sick place is this where the dead can't rest?" he groaned, "We should never have come!" He looked across at Eternity and A, still pinned against the wall by the advancing army. They were close to the door, but it was doubtful they'd be able to make it without being caught by the mob.

He just hoped to goodness his gun wouldn't run out of energy too soon...!

The room became very crowded when Ivalice charged in. Using his huge arms, he slammed part of the crowd against the wall, and with a huge backhand sweep pushed a large number of them back, away from Eternity. Whipping out his arm blasters, he launched a burst of fire.

But then, they began to attack him, swarming over him...there were too many! He was in the way, using his body as a shield to keep the zombies from reaching his allies. In their current state, they were able to injure his body!

Were the guard robot able to feel anything, he would have been feeling fear...and would hope that the others would sieze the opportunity and retreat, so that he himself could retreat...

Ruby abruptly stopped firing into the mass of bodies. The energy meter on her blaster was going down, which meant she didn't have many shots left! "Dammit!" Gritting her teeth she turned craned her head to try and see past the menacing zombies.

Holstering her gun she sidled up to Slayde and whispered, "Captain...I'm low on energy, so I have to save what little shots I have left...and I'm not sure how much longer we'll be able to keep this up!"

Slayde didn't even glance at her, "I know! Don't think I haven't thought of that myself!"

A few moments of silence pass between the two, with both of them concentrating on something, before Slayde asked, "Any ideas?"

Ruby turned her head to try and survey the room again. This time, however, a bright red caught her eyes...and she blinked in time to focus in on a fire-extinguisher! From where she was standing, it looked somewhat rusted, but still in good form. Turning back to the captain she saw he had been following her gaze to the corner to their right where the device was. His eyes showed uncertainty, but then he nodded.

"Go for it. But Ruby...be careful, please!" And then he turned back to firing.

With a small nod Ruby turned to Amber and muttered "Cover me" to the other woman officer. Amber looked questioningly at Ruby, but said nothing as the Grotesnian began inching along the wall, hoping not to distract the mob....

Reaching the corner, Ruby rammed her arms against the glass container, cutting herself in the process as the glass shattered. Ignoring the searing pain from the cuts she had received she ripped the fire extinguisher free of its confines. Suddenly a few shots fired right behind her, and the Grotesnian realized, startled, that she had indeed caught the attention of some of the zombie mob! Gripping the nozzle on the extinguisher, Ruby aimed it at the approaching corpses, hoping to freeze them in their tracks. At first, when she squeezed the trigger nothing seemed to happen....

IC:
"...finished data check, affirmative, there is a a chemical which you may find useful."
"Just get it!"
"Complying."
He floated over the heads of the mob and commented idly as he passed Ruby,
"Release the pin first,"
He disappeared inside a room and nearly got crushed in the hands of one of the dead, then returned with a jar held by two small mechanical arms.
Returning to Eternity's side he produced the jar.
"I must warn you it is highly flammable-"
"Yeah whatever," she muttered positioning herself, "Just come here."
Obediently floating within arms reah she opened up his compartment nd brought out a wire, she unscrewed the jar and held the wire over the liquid.
"Power up connector 4"
"I may remind you I am not connected to any-"
"Do it Zaeda!"
"As you wish."
A spark appeared above the liquid and suddenly the jar exploded in Eternity's hand, ignoring the minor burns of the metal she toseed the flamng liquid among the dead and then started punching them with her flaming fist.
She found that whatever she punched tended to catch alight, the cloth and flesh around her were soon ablaze.
"I think its time we got out of the room and put out my hand."
"A wise decision I do believe."
Eternity punched her way through the horde back to safety, leaving a flaming path behind her, soon she reached where Salyde and Amber were.
She turned back to see Ruby with the fire extinguisher and couldn't help feel a pang of longing as she collapsed outside the door from the painand smoke coming from her own hand...

IC:
"Eternity!" Amber still fired at the living corpses as they crowded round Ruby, but felt torn between helping one friend and another.
"Slayde! Can you help Eternity while I gve out cover fire for Ruby? Ivalice! Get over here you crazy robot get out of that mess! If you're not going to back out at least protect Salyde while he helps Eternity or something!" she glanced apologetically at Slayde for ordering him around but she was panicking, she glanced briefly at the ammount of ammo left in her gun and winced, she was running really low...

(OOC: This is going great all^^ To keep the story moving I'm gonna move things along a little now, but if there's anything else you wanted to slot in, feel free to do so. If the situation makes it impossible, then I'm sorry.)

Slayde just nodded and backed towards the door, still firing. As he reached the entrance he ducked out into the corridor.

Eternity was lay on the floor, her hand still flickering with flame! Slayde quickly whipped his jacket off and wrapped it around the hand, smothering the fire and putting it out, then he removed the cover again and examined her hand. It was a bad burn...it would need seeing to immeadeately!

The fire was really beginning to take affect among the corpses, thanks to their age and their dryness. Ruby finally got the fire extinguisher working too, and let out a massive blast of freezing foam at the army, knocking many of them clean off their feet! As they hit the floor they fell apart due to their fragile nature. The Bugs were doing what they could too, raising their shield to try to take out as many as they could...

The army was being defeated...

============================================================

Had it a mouth, it would grin. They were very resourceful.

It didn't matter...there were other things it could do. Suddenly it releaced control, dropping back into the shadows from where it came...

============================================================

Suddenly the remaining corpses dropped to the floor with a BUMB, like a puppet who's strings had ben released! The lights in their eyes faded, and they became motionless.

The ones still in the room looked around slowly, hardly daring to believe it was over!It was almost a minute before Amber shakily lowered her gun and Ruby put down the fire extinguisher. A slowly dropped the shield, his bug eyes still fixed firmly on the bodies.

Slayde heard the noise cease in the Med bay and poked his head round the door, blinking at the sight of the piles of bodies. "Thank goodness...!" he muttered quietly. Carefully he knelt down and picked up Eternity on his shoulder, bringing her back into the room and laying her down on one of the remaining beds. "Amber, Ruby, keep watching them carefully...if anything moves, shoot it!" he said, pointing to the mass of bodies, passing his own gun to Ruby.

He ran a hand through his hair nervously. "I would say let's get out of here right now, but Eternity needs medical attention right away. We'll start moving these bodies into the morgue and seal the door...that way we'll be safe if they decide to jump up again...A, can you and the other bugs do that while Amber and Ruby cover you? I'll start taking care of Eternity's hand." He glanced at Ivallice, practicly buried under the mountain of bodies. "I assume Ivallice will cover you too, although I'm not quite sure what he'll do like that." Finally he turned to the glowing orb hobering a little way above their heads. "Zaeda, Captain Halter said he'd finished decoding the Cruisader's message and had downloaded it to the Med bay's computer. I need you to locate and open that message...it may contain some clues as to what's going on here!"

============================================================

Irvine and his teammate were now some way into the mass of service corridors that surrounded the engine core of the Kirov. They moved expertly, covering each other and taking no chances. All the time they kept an eye focused on the scanner, looking for the energy reading that they had spotted earlier.

"Nothing." muttered Irvine. "Looks like we were wrong, boss...it was background radiation."

"Okay come on back." came Carmen's voice through the radio. "stay al...ough..."

Irvine looked puzzled. "Carmen?"

"Irv...om ba...o you rea...sten to..."

"Sir!" The other Marine tapped him on the shoulder, shining his light down the corridor. Irvine stared...

There was a figure there...only small...the size of a ten year old child maybe. It had it's back to them, it's head covered by a long grey cloak, and it appeared to be crying!

"Sir the scanner's going wild!" muttered the other Marine, looking down at the display. "With this much energy it's no wonder communications are getting interrupted!"

Irvine was staring at the figure picked out in the spotlight. This wasn't right...there were no children on board, and what was all the energy in the atmosphere, "conviniently" blanking out communications? "Weapons hot, stand by to fire." he muttered. Whatever was going on here, it was almost certainly dangerous, but it should be investigated, and the two burly marines would be able to handle one little child!

He stepped forward slowly, keeping his torch and his gun trained on the figure ahead. "Hey." he called. "Who are you?"

The figure answered, the voice of a young child. "I...I'm lost." he sniffed between sobs. "Some bad men came and...and took me away! They won't...l..let me out!"

"Kids aren't allowed on a millitery ship." retorted Irvine, taking no chances. "Turn around."

The child froze with fear as he spoke, but slowly he did turn around. Irvine steeled himself for the face that would be underneath the hood...

...the face of a young boy, streaked with tears, with a bruise on his cheek and a black eye! Irvine had expected it to be something else...something...unnatural!

"They hurt me!" moaned the boy. "They grabbed me and wouldn't let me go! Please...help me!"

Irvine was completely lost now! He had expected to be firing at the child...fighting for his life...but this...?

"We'll help you kid." he replied quietly. "But we need to find out how you got here."

"I...I don't know. I was playing and...and they came from nowhere...and...captured me! I couldn't get out! I pleaded with them but they...they wouldn't listen!" The boy broke down into sobs again.

"Who was it that captured you?" asked the other Marine, as puzzled as Irvine!

"Lots of people! I'd never...never seen them before!"

Irvine was at a loss! He decided to bring the child to Carmen...let her decide what to do. "Okay kid, come with us. We'll help you out."

The boy looked up. "You...you will? You'll help me?"

Irvine nodded, still not lowering his gun. "That's right. we'll take you to our commander and she'll try to help you out."

"You'll help me...? You'll release me?"

"Yeah."

The child's face suddingly grinned a wide, toothy grin. "You already have!"

"Sir, the energy readings just jumped off the scale!" exclaimed the second Marine, looking down at the scanner. A loud, high pitched whistling filled the corridor as Irvine looked around urgently!

The boy in front of them, still grinning, faded out of existance...

============================================================

Carman was fiddling with her radio. "Irvine, come in! Irvine respond!" This was bad! Something had to be wrong!

She turned and stepped over to the rest of the Marines, preparing to order them to investigate, when suddenly her radio crackled into life again...

...to the screams of terror of two voices!

"Oh good grief!" she exclaimed, running for the ladder up to the gantry, the other Marines close behind her! "Irvine, what's going on???"

Ruby nodded, taking a few shaky breaths to calm herself. Her nerves were rattling around inside her like corks bouncing off the walls! She didn't know if she could take much more of this, whatever it was!

"I'm going to be a very happy alien when this is over..." She muttered, passing Slayde to take up a better position.

He nodded, "You and I both."

As she moved a few beds down from Slayde and Eternity, Ruby tried to calm herself further by just taking in the looks of the room. In between each bed was a small table with cabinets, supposedly to keep medicines for the separate patients and to hold items like books while they recovered from whatever was ailing them. Some of the tables were covered in dust and grime, while others had dents on their one flawless metallic surfaces.

Ruby dragged her gaze from the objects in time to see Ivalice struggling to free himself of the corpses that covered him and pinned him down. The Grotesnian bit her lip, then began to make her way through the leftovers of the Cruisader's crew. Some of them were frozen solid or smoldering, courtesy of her and Eternity, but all of them were still disgusting! Ruby walked through them as if she was stepping on hot coals, trying her best not to touch them if she could. Once she reached Ivalice, she began kicking off the bodies in order to free the giant robot.

"Alright Ivalice..help A and his team bring the bodies to the morgue. If you see anything move, alert us immediately," Ruby ordered.

Ivalice nodded stiffly and said in monotone: "AFFIRMATIVE."

Ruby nodded herself, catching Amber's eye, and the two situated themselves behind the bugs and Ivalice. They watched silently as the others carried bodies to the morgue, doing so swiftly and without trouble. Ruby's finger ached from firing so many shots and she all of a sudden felt tired and weary. What had started out as a simple investigation had turned into a real terror-filled expedition!

"I'm going to have nightmares about this if I live, I just know it..." Amber muttered. The woman beside her nodded grimly.

"I'd be surprised if you DIDN'T have nightmares about something as horrible as this." Ruby shook her head and sighed, "We're all going to have nightmares..."

"..if we live!"

Remembering the officers, Ruby thought, Yes...if we live......

(OOC: Wraith, just FYI, if you look back at the first page you'll find that Eternity's arms are made of metal, so the burning wouldn't be anywhere near as bad as it otherwise would have been. Not up to me how much damage was actually done, though)

IC:

Ivalice set to the grim task before him. Now was not a time for hesitation, and work needed to be done. His huge hands carried the remains in large groups. This work didn't bother him, as it would most lifeforms, but he didn't show any particular respect for the bodies, either. There wasn't time, for one thing; too many bodies. To him, it was just oddly shaped cargo...granted, cargo that had tried to kill his crew only moments before.

His metallic body had significant damage, dents and cuts and the like. As he moved, he initiated a repair sequence, activating his 'nanite repair system'. The nanoscopic probes set out to do their work, and by the time he would be done with the bodies, he would be completely repaired. Now he just had to get back to the Quasar to resupply, for his nanite supply had run out...

(OOC: Oh yeah you're right Way! lol good memory! I wonder if even Gerbil remembered that one...?

Looking back at the description, it says "rebuilt using robotic parts", so I'm gonna assume that part of her arms are still organic. Hope that's ok Gerbil...if not let me know and I'll edit.)

IC:

On the bridge of the Kirov, the scanners bleeped for attention. Chekov answered it, and his eyes widened as he saw the readings!

"Captain, there's some kind of energy reading in the engineering section, and all the Marines lifsigns in the area are dissapearing one by one!!!"

============================================================

Down in the darkness of the engineering section, bodies littered the floor...Carmen, Irvine, everyone had been slaughtered!

One single Marine was left. Crased with fear, he was stood in the center of the room, turning and firing every which way into the darkness. "Engineering to bridge...engineering to anyone! Respond!!!" he cried into his radio. Static answered...the signal was being jammed.

Suddenly he heard a noise behind him. He spun round quickly, and was just in time to see a thin yellow mist, glowing with some kind of inner light, rush across the room towards him! Before he could move, he felt a warm, liquid sensation rush up his nose and down his throat...

Then the pain started, a heat, a burning, volcanic flame, searing away inside his body like a furnace! He screamed as he felt his internal organs liquefying...until he could scream no more...his lungs had melted away!

Yet for a few fatal moments he was still alive!

The nightmare wasn't over. The pressure started, pressing out against his rubs like the whole room had been decompressed! The pain was searing as his chest and stomach began to bulge outward, his ribs cracking under the extreme pressure!

In the last few seconds of his life, a new pain erupted through his body as his chest split open, tearing him apart like a rag doll! His body collapsed lifeless on the floor, exaclty the same as all the others, with the chest torn open, spine visable in the gap.

The yellow mist rose from the corpse, slowly, like a breath on a cold day. It hovered for a moment, swirling like a cloud, then started down the room, dissapearing into the dull grey sphere of the engine core. It had reached it's destination. Now, it waited...

============================================================

...until the time was right.

And there were other things in motion as well...

============================================================

The tall figure continued to step down the corridor, it's long strides propelling it forward at some pace!

It was nearing it's destination. It moved over to a ladder between decks and began to stiffly climb up it. After that, there were only a few sections more to Med bay...

============================================================

Slayde checked over Eternity's burns quickly. Fortunately her robotic implants were undamaged, but her organic parts were badly scarred! Quickly he grabbed some medical supplies from a storage coupbord nearby and began to administer treatment.

He had had enough experience in the medical field to know what he was doing, and he wuickly spread a concoction of chemicals onto the skin to take down any swelling and stop bleeding. This done, he strapped a small device to her palm, a little box no bigger than a wrist communicator, and activated it with a button on the side. Slowly the box powered up, giving off a barely audible hum as it surrounded Eternity's hand with an invisible magnetic field, finely tuned to stimulate cell regeneration.

There was nothing more he could do for her. He looked up at her face, but her eyes were closed. She was still out cold.

By now the corpses had been cleared away, and the floor was supprisingly clean, considering how many bodies had been lay on it. Since they had died a long time ago, the blood in them had long since congealed into a solid mass, and so hadn't run all over the floor as they lay there.

Slayde pointed to the control pannel next to the door of the morgue. "Seal it, before they come to life again!" He quickly moved over to the main door of the infirmary and pressed a button beside it, and the door hissed closed, locking with a loud CLANK.

He turned and took a deep breath, leaning back on the door slowly. For the first time in what seemed like days, there was a clam...a lull in the storm...

"Okay..." he started quietly, "...we'll download the decoded message from the computer and take that with us. As soon as Eternity wakes up we're getting out of here! Any objections?"

Why wasn't he supprised when nobody spoke up...?

"Zaeda, have you managed to locate the file yet?"

"Almost Captain."

Slayde nodded and raised his communicator to his lips. "Slayde to Kirov...Ray, prep your ship for immeadeate departure. We're leaving, and let whatever this god-forsaken ship holds to rot in space forever! We'll be heading back to the Quasar within ten minutes, over."

"Roger, Captain Slayde. But we have a situation here... Our marines' lifesigns are disappearing one by one! This is not good. There's something on the Kirov, and it's not good one bit... I'm not risking anything else. We're pulling out too," replied Ray. He then turned to Graham. "Graham, get the fighters back in here, right now." He turned to his security officer.

"I'm on it, Sir!" the man exclaimed, running to the PA booth. "All marines and security personnel, be vigilant! All non-essential personnel report immediately to the auditorium! Scatter yourselves; do not clump together!" Smart fellow. He was a quick-witted officer; he could always be depended on to take control of the situation when the security of the ship was at stake. "Good... Airlock personnel, seal it and disengage!"

The personnel complied, and instantly, the ship was full of activity. They would be taking all sorts of routes through the ship - past cargo bays, the engineering section, and the like. And even the containment area.

The containment area... What was there? Ray sat in his chair in deep thought, and he visualised himself there. First, there was Bezarin, in the highest level of containment. The containment unit he was chucked into was top-of-the-line. It was the only one of its kind, and was designed specifically to hold Bezarin inside.

But what about the rest? There were some strange creatures, and... Oh, no! There were Adnihilo inside the other units! They were there for research purposes, but this was not good at all. If there really were any other Adnihilo outside of the ship, then it would draw other Adnihilo to them as well, because of psychic signals being sent around. Indeed, this was not good.

"Can we jettison the Adnihilo?" asked Ray.

"Negative, Sir. Engineering section's cordoned off now. I sealed it with the blast doors; there's no way to reach containment and the cargo bays without going one hell of a long way, or through the service corridors."

"Damn. We might need -him-... Tell the marines to drag his containment unit on their way here."

"But Sir, is that wise?"

"We have no choice... He will be the only thing that could possibly stop the Adnihilo if they ever attack."

"...Yes. Yes, Sir."

OOC: Yeah I remembered, why else would I set her hand on fire? If she hadn't been metal I wouldn't have done it. What do you think I am? Crazy lol

IC:
Eternity groaned, easing her hand away, the pain was lessening though. Praying silently she would not find herself surrounded by the corpses of her fellows she opened her eyes...and relaxed.
"Hey Slayde, nice piece of equipment you've got on my hand."
She muttered, sitting up. She looked around and noted the activity of the bugs and Ivalice.
"If I were you I'd cremate that, in case it wishes to pester us again. Ashes can only do so much." She coughed before sitting up and examinging her hand more closely.
"That's the last time I play with matches she whispered to herself, fingering the mechanism...

Ivalice stood impassively, regularly scanning the region for threats. He was still on automatic.

Deep down inside the circuitry, Ivalice sighed to himself as he worked on another fried circuit. "This is a mess. It's a pity to not be able to complete the mission properly, with Slayde giving up like that. Still, to sentimental humans, the price is too high, even if it means the survivors will have that much more money. Hmm...perhaps we can salvage the situation. Through the power of negotiation, and with the evidence we have, we might still get the money for discovering the situation! I will at least press for compensation...both to the crew and to the families of the deceased." Ivalice shook his proverbial head. "I must focus. I am almost done here. I've been out of touch with my brother units for too long; I don't know what has been happening. The situation could be bad if Ivalice2 attempts to kill Slayde...among other things."

Madame O and TT were still facing off. The battle had been pretty evenly matched. Stoic continued to help TT, the parasitic tentacles from Madame O's back keeping his attention. Stoic was straining to keep on top of the needle-shaped implements.

In a sudden burst of energy, TT and Madame O were thrown across the room! "Argh!" Stoic cried out as he grabbed his head! Negative energy snapped and popped all throughout the room!

Madame O landed on her feet, and stopped to observe Stoic. "I've read his bio. Does this mean he's going into 'Overload' mode?"

TT was very alarmed. "Oh snap! Yes, that's what it means! Stoic, meditate quick!"

Stoic clasped his four arms together, and began a small, continous chant. He hovered off the floor, his eyes closing as he struggled to control his emotions.

TT turned to Madame O. "If we continue to fight, he'll destroy this entire section of the ship!"

Madame O relaxed her combat stance. "Then let us let him regain control. Where and when shall we meet to continue this?"

"Down in a cargo hold, thirty minutes."

"Agreed."

As they walked down a corridor, Beige commented, "we are getting close to a console. Hmm? There seems to be a series of disturbances throughout the ship."

"...I was expecting an ambush by now. These guys are either very good, or those disturbances you're talking about have thrown them for a loop."

"I am detecting lockdowns of various sections of the ship. The airlock has detached."

Main stroked his chin. "Leaving? The situation must be bad!"

Beige pointed. "Look! There's the console!"

"Great! Let's get over there and finish this mission, and get outta here!"

Ivalice2 rolled back from a blow, sliding up to a crouch to block another blast! I-3 was fighting ferociously! Spikes from the walls shot out, and it was all Nova Star could to do keep from getting impaled! Morpheus had his hands full too, plowing through machine after machine!

I-3 roared in frustration! "Why must you be so bothersome!?! Well, I'll take care of this once and for all!"

I-3 jumped up high, and attached himself to the Core of the ship! Ivalice2 yelled in shock, "No!"

I-3 merged with the Quasar's computer! He now WAS the Quasar's computer! From all around, I-3 laughed! "Fools! I will crush you!"

Ivalice2 ordered out quickly, "Star, Morph, protect me! I'm going to try to stop him!"

Ivalice2 ran to the main console, and detached his hands so that his circuitry could interface directly with the Quasar!

Ivalice3's voice rang out in their comm, "The top priority now is to prevent Slayde and his crew from returning to the Quasar! If they get there, they will try to stop me! I must have enough time to control the Crusader!"

The marines readied their weapons, and the ones from the computer core and the bridge hurried through the corridors to meet up with the others at the Airlock! All 13 of them had their behavioral chips switched to 'teamwork', and 'protect area from all enemies'.

Ivalice3 was connected on the bridge and at the computer core. The only thing left was the engineering section, but the radiation levels were still too high for him to work properly there. Soon, all too soon, the filters would remove enough of the radiation, and then he could begin his master plan...

He cackles madly at the thought...POWER!

(OOC: Okay we're cooking now! Long post ahead...be warned!

The activity on the Kirov Bridge was interrupted as a large, muscular man with a red face came running into the room. Halter spun round, raising his eyebrows. "Peterson?"

The man saluted smartly. "Sir. I would have contacted you over the comm, but the system is still down throughout the engineering section." he replied in a deep voice.

"What's going on?" Peterson was the ship's head engineer...for him to come up to the bridge in a situation like this something had to be serious!

"Cap'n, I dunno what's going on here, but we can't leave." the burly figure said. "I heard the announcement. We found the ruptured conduit that shut down the engineering section systems and fixed it, and since then we've been trying to remotely restart the power core, but it isn't activating! I can't explain it!"

Halter narrowed his eyes. "So what are you saying?"

"I'm saying we can get life support and other systems in engineering back up on emergency power, but without the main reactor our engine power is limited to thrusters only, and that won't be enough to get us through the black holes...if we try to leave now, we're dead, sir!"

"And the reactior won't start?"

"Not remotely. I can't see any reason why it shouldn't start, but it just isn't responding! The only thing I can think of is going down there and taking a look myself."

Chekov stepped up behind Halter, a worried look on his face. "After losing the biosigns of the Marines in that area I don't think we can risk that Captain!"

============================================================

Just in time. It had assumed they would try something like that.

No matter, they had been stopped, and the others were about to be met by the messenger. Perfect.

Then suddenly, it felt the power surge as Ivallice 3 fused with the Quasar's systems, and the extention systems on the Cruisader flared into life!

This wasn't expected! It began to examine the new energy waves carefully, figuring out their structure and purpose. Slowly it's anger began to well up as the link steadily became clear.

The foolish creature! Control? Trying to take control? To capture???

The anger was boiling up like a volcano, ready to erupt at any moment...sheer, uncontrollable rage! AS IF WHAT YOU HAVE ALREADY DONE WAS NOT ENOUGH!!!

It began to draw power from the energy scources nearby...

============================================================

"You just relax, Eternity!" exclaimed Slayde, moving over to the bed and putting a hand on her shoulder. "You shouldn't be up!"

"Captain Slayde, I have the file you requested." called Zaeda from across the room. Slayde nodded and stepped forward, heading for the computer console.

"Maybe this will finally provide some answers..." he muttered.

He had not taken more than three steps before the air was suddenly filled with a hissing hum of machinery! He looked up, startled, as the lights in the room flickered and dimmed, and the systems, normally humming at a frequency too high to hear, dropped as though they were being drained of power!

He pulled out his gun...a now knee-jerk reaction. "What the hey...?"

============================================================

Halter was about to reply when suddenly the lights flickered and the computer systems all around the bridge began crashing. He looked around in shock. "What's going on???"

"Power drain!" replied Peterson, running over to one of the computer consoles and trying to opperate it despite it's crashing software. "Huge one...it's affecting every system on the ship, plus the other two!"

"Sir, my readings say it's coming from somewhere on the Cruisader..." reported Chekov, also opperating his controls. ""Exact triangulation is impossible...I can't lock it down."

============================================================

In the Quasar Engineering section, Ivallice 2 looked up from the console suddenly as the ships systems began shutting down around him. "What the hey...?" he muttered, inadvertantly mimmiking precisely the Human he was baised on.

Ivallice 3, inside the computer itself, was even more confused! It was a curious feeling...somewhat akin to pain for organic life forms, but different, drawing at him, tearing at his consiousness as though it were a rake, ripping at his psyche! He "gritted his teeth", locking down his position in the Quasar's computer core, and hung on, trying to figure out where the drain was coming from...

============================================================

You take my freedom...you take my life...

And now, you try to take what little I have left. You underestimate me! I have fought for my release, and I will not be defeated now!

No more...

No more!

NO MORE!!!

============================================================

The power drain abruptly stopped, and I-3 "stood up" in his nonexistant domain, surveying the "scene". He hadn't anticipated anything like that! What had caused it? Was something else linked to the computer systems of the ships...?

He felt it coming long before he saw it. The circuits tingled with electricity, and the whole core began to vibrate as it grew closer!

It was coming through the link to the Cruisader...almost blowing out the power lines as it thundered through the systems!

I-3 just stared in awe! It was the biggest power surge he'd ever witnessed! Someone...or someTHING...was fighting him!

He quickly burried himself in the computer coding, trying desperadely to create a barrier between him and the raging torrent of energy screaming towards him before it hit...

============================================================

Suddenly the Quasar Engine room erupted as every single power conduit in the area ruptured at once! Sparks and debris blasted across the room from all sides, and alarms began to blare out above the noise of explosions and fire! Ivallice 2 barely had enough time to duck as a massive bulkhead, over five tons of solid metal, was blasted clean across the large room, embedding itself in the far wall!

The ship rocked, straining it's moorings with the Cruisader and sending a thunderous tremmor throughout the decks, knocking everyone still onboard to their knees!

============================================================

The computer core "smoked" from the blast, lines of coding and software oblitterated and friedstill crackling with residual energy from the blast!

Ivallice 3 slowly stood, digging himself out of the wrekage and looking round. He reached out his systems towards the Cruisader, trying to sence if another attack was on the way.

He was fuming! His unseen assailent had caught him off guard, and nearly killed him! Whatever it was, it didn't like him taking control of all three ships...

He began to gether his coding, sucking on energy from the ship's core himself! NEARLY killed him...and nearly wasn't good enough!

If this thing wanted a fight...it would have one!!!

============================================================

Slayde stumbled slightly as the tremmor from the Quasar hit the Cruisader, albeit dulled considerably by the distance. "I don't like this." he muttered. "Zaeda, let's see that file quickly then get out of here!"

"I'm afraid the ships systems are still experiencing power drains Captain." replied the orb. "I'm unable to show the file on the console."

"Wait a minute." called Eternity as she slowly stood up from the bed, Amber moving over to her in case she needed support. She seemed okay without though.

"Zaeda, disconnect the console from the rest of the ship, and power it yourself." she continued, moving over to the group. "That way we'll get an uninterrupted transmission."

"He can do that?" muttered Ruby curiously, glancing at Eternity, who nodded in reply.

Zaeda seemed about to protest, but complied. "Very well...disconnecting...system is disconnected and powered."

The screen on the console flickered into life, and everyone in the room stepped forward, crowding round to see what it was displaying...

And immeadeately wished they hadn't!

The message was only short, a mere three minutes, but it was the most grotesque display Slayde had ever seen in his life! Crazed crew members fought each other visiously, clubbing each other with all sorts of improvised weapons! Others were being torn apart by some unseen force that seemed to invade their bodies and kill them from the inside out! It was complete chaos, and blood was running freely!

For one brief moment the wildly bucking camera focused in on something...a creature...grotesque, skelletal, surrounded by a glowing aura of yellow light...it was attacking the crew, bodily tearing them to pieces like stuffed dolls! Slayde almost threw up on the spot, but in horror he realised the creature was the selfsame one that they had seen in the service corridors not half an hour ago!

And throughout it all, an image of horror kept reoccuring...that of bloodied, mangled corpses...an army of them,...all with their eyes missing, replaced by a glowing yellow light shining from their eye sockets like beacons! They moved through the ship methodically, attacking anything and everything that got in their way, tearing them up with inhuman strength...

...and as they went, their dead, flat voices chanted in perfect, sickening necroharmony: "Release me...release me...release me..."

The clip ended and Slayde closed his eyes. The images would be with him for the rest of his life! "Zaeda, store it in your memory and never show anyone again, apart from our superiors back home." he grunted, his voice sounding hoarse. "After that, destroy it...completely."

There was silence for a moment...what could anyone say after a display like that??? Slowly A, stood staring at the screen wide-compound-eyed, muttered quietly: Can we get out of here now?

Slayde gritted his teeth. "Yes, we're going...now! Come on everyone."

He turned and strode across the room, making for the heavy door to the Med bay, trying, unsucsessfully, to banish the images from his mind! The lights still flickered on and off as the ships systems were drained of power...

BANG

Slayde jumped, stopping in his tracks, as a large dent appeared in the door ahead! Despite his attempts to keep a level head and serious demeinour, he nearly screamed! The others, who had been following, crept up behind him, staring at the door wide eyed!

"Wh...what was that...?" whispered Amber shakily.

BANG
BANG

Two more dents appeared in the door, and the metal creaked as it tried to hold against whatever power was on the other side! Slowly the group began to back away, their eyes fixed firmly on the door ahead!

Ruby voiced all their thoughts. "It...it's like something...is...out there, trying to...get in...!"

IC:
"Zaeda can yu tell what's out there by scanning? Accessing camera files, anything!"
"Processing..."
She looked around and cautiously picked up the chair she'd been using before as a club...

IC:
Amber clutched the gun she held tightly in her hands, pointing it fearfully at the door, "Do you think it's..whatever we saw on the the clip?"...

"I don't know..." muttered Slayde, "...but we're about to find out...!"

The door was looking the worse for wear, it creaked after every hit! Slayde was shaking, but he tried to put on his bravest voice as he muttered: "Ready everyone..."

CRASH the door collapsed, dropping to the floor with a CLANG! Immeadeately a large figure strode forward, stepping over the fallen doors as it moved into the room. It stopped, surveying the small group from an imposing height, it's wide shoulders and huge frame almost silluhetted against the flickering light of the corridor!

Slayde's mouth opened and he nearly dropped his gun in shock! "Z...Zoran???"

The massive officer's eyes came to rest on Slayde as he spoke, and Slayde spotted the teltale signs...

He had no eyes...

His eye sockets were empty...

Glowing with a bright yellow light...

"No..." continued Slayde, raising his gun again and gritting his teeth. "...not you."

"Captain Slayde." The voice was Zoran's, but different, amplefied and distorted, a thunderous rumble that echoed round the room! "You have been warned, yet still you refuse to co-operate. You will comply, or you and your crew will die!"

Slayde was still shaking, but his fear was slowly being replaced by anger! "Zoran was one of my best friends!" he retorted. "What have you done to him? Is he dead?"

"Release me!"

Slayde narrowed his eyes. "You kill the entire crew of the Cruisader...you slaughter half my crew and that of the Kirov...you threaten us and use our dead instead of letting them rest in peace!!!" His anger was beginning to show in his voice. "And then you expect us to follow your ordwers, whatever they are??? Not a chance! Whatever you are, you're staying here, on this ship, while we leave! " He gritted his teeth, speaking through them. "We aren't going to release something that doesn't deserve to live!"

"Release me!" The words were spoken slower, with a somewhat more ominous tone! Zoran's fists clenched and his body tensed!

Slayde shook his head defiantly. "Not a chance...not after what you've done!"

"Then die!" The massive figure suddenly strode forward, raising his hands above his head! The group dived out of the way as his hands dropped right where they had been standing in a crushing blow, denting the metal floor!

Amber had fallen over as she dodged, and Slayde quickly reached down to help her up. As he did so, he lifted his gun in his other hand and sent a searing blast of energy at Zoran's corpse!

The body didn't even flinch as the shot burned right through his shoulder, causing a clear hole from front to back! Amber stared in horror! "We can't even hurt him?"

"He's dead, he doesn't feel pain!" exclaimed Slayde wildly. He began to pull Amber towards the door as Zoran straightened up and began to turn towards them, his glowing yellow eye sockets focusing on them.

As he ran he called to the others: "Zoran was incredibly strong anyway, and this thing has enhanced that! We can't fight him! Let's get out of here!"

They needed no second bidding! As quickly as they could the group ran forward, making for the exit. Zoran spun round, reaching out a hand towards them, but a lazer blast erupted from behind, burning through the arm and distracting the creature!

Ivallice's cannons were still working...that was a good sign!

(OOC: Way, you wanna try that idea we were discussing over IM? If so, go for it, but if you'd rather not, just try to get out of there lol)

Ray sat in his chair as the lights blacked out. Even the main reactors were being shut down. Perhaps the engineers didn't want to risk a meltdown... But now, only God knew what was going on down there.

"Generators," commanded the first officer. Instantly, power returned, supplied by the generators near the CIC. They would last for a while, and would have to do for now.

=======================================================

"Okay, big guy... We've got orders to take you along," said Neil, a well-known deep-voiced ruffian. He grabbed the side of the containment unit, which was more like a high-tech coffin than anything else, except it was made of particularly strong material. "All right, you hold the other side. The three of you stay on point."

With a great heave, they lifted the containment unit, and hurriedly made their way down the corridor, lit only by the torchlights on their right shoulders. Where were the emergency lights? No matter... They had to go through there now, but they had to go through the longer route because Engineering was sealed off by the blast doors.

"Let's move it! Go!"

(OOC: Wraith, if you mean my guy fighting Zoran, then you got it. If you meant something else...you'll have to remind me ~_^;;; )

"Slayde, get the others back to the Quasar ASAP! I'll handle this!" It was Ivalice's voice, and it was his normal voice!

To emphasize his point, Ivalice retracted his cannons and charged forward, pinning Zoran to the wall, for the moment. The strength of his opponent was tremendous! Ivalice knew exactly what Zoran had been capable of before, but this was much more, just like the zombies...

At the same time as titan wrestled with titan, Ivalice threw a portion of his mind to reconnect with his other selves...

He had prepared well for this moment, his mind surging rapidly into multiple tasks. He was working on making the Quasar's internal systems an adequate defensive ground against his opponent, a veritable mine field, and also began to mend some of the damage done. He felt access to the Kirov, and began stretching his influence there, working on subverting the ship to his will, repairing damage when he could. The radiation in the Engineering section of the Crusader was finally waning, just enough for him to begin to access the entire system. He sent out probes to determine the whereabouts of his foe, and he was preparing various kinds of attacks for when he found it. With the power of the Quasar, and portions of the Crusader, behind him, he could suddenly do all these tasks at the same time and hardly lose any efficiency!

Beige whispered, "I've completed the link."

"Good, then let's get out of here! I don't like how things are going over here..."

"What was that?!" Nova Star shouted, immediately after the attack!

Ivalice2 was still working on breaking through Ivalice3's firewall, and was still connected. "It doesn't matter, it seems Ivalice3 has stopped attacking us. Morpheus, Nova Star, get the engineering crew out of that cage and out of this section of this ship! I'll continue to deal with this!"

The other two complied, hurrying to do their task.

Ivalice2 felt the presence of Ivalice, and immediately accepted his link. He transferred all the relevant information to the situation, and Ivalice was rapidly analyzing it.

"Got you!" exclaimed two sentries as they pinned a startled Major Main to the ground. Another trained his submachinegun's sights on Beige, his finger at the ready.

One of the two sentries on top of Major Main held his gun to his head, while the other locked his legs in a rather painful hold, illiciting a grunt.

"We were waiting for you," said a fourth sentry, shining his torchlight right in Major Main's eyes. "And you were stupid enough to fall for this! Let's see what you put there..." He made his way to the console, wondering what they had done. The other three sentries remained vigilant, ready to react to anything that might happen next.

Major Main looked at Beige, as if trying to tell her to do something about the situation...

Beige shouted, "Don't hurt him!"

Main looked up at her, expecting her to go postal on them...but she didn't.

Beige had already weighed the options. She could take them out without any critical damage to herself, but most likely she wouldn't be able to protect Main in such a case. Main was tough, but a bullet...he couldn't even try to evade in his current position. She didn't want to consider any option that would get Main killed.

Main closed his eyes, knowing what stopped Beige. All this time with him, and she still didn't have enough guts to...

The marine checking on the console didn't find anything obvious. It took a second look to see that anything had changed. It appeared as though they had accessed the design spec files of the Kirov, and they were being tranferred over to a private server on the Quasar! It was a piece of cake to stop the transfer, and even destroy the files already sent.

...but what he didn't know was that it had been a ruse set by Ivalice3. Now that he was in the system, he had set that up as a cover for him. He knew that even if they did notice his very well hidden program, secretly linked with his other parts throughout the ships, they didn't have the skill or power to fight him now.

Main opened his eyes. "Hey, listen, we were just following orders of a robot, but he didn't tell us to die for that data. We surrender. We won't be any trouble."

"Heh, you sent files over to the Quasar, eh?" said the sentry. "Well, that's easy to take care of." With a few presses, the transfer was immediately halted and the files deleted. "All right... Let's go. Cuff 'em."

The sentry holding Main let go and snapped a collar around Main's neck. "Here you go, buddy. Bomb collar. We'll take it off if the Captain says so."

Main sighed, and he was brought to his feet as they were prodded by gun barrels.

"Move."

The duo complied, and the sentries brought them down the dark corridors of the Kirov...

=======================================

Ray sighed as he sat in his chair. When would this end? Why and how did it even start? Why did it have to come down to this? He didn't want to lose any more crew, or the ship. Too many questions were in his head, and there were too few answers. He clenched his fist, audible cracks ringing loudly through the bridge, which was quite silent at the moment. "Blast it all..."

CRASH!

Ivalice was thrown against the far wall! He moved up quickly, and he and Zoran exchanged punches! Their mighty hands grappled, and for the moment they were in a deadlock.

His scanners registered that Slayde had led the others out of the room, and were making their way back to the Quasar. Taking this opportunity, Ivalice spoke, "I don't know what you are, but I want to know one thing: how do we 'release' you? It's not something our kind is familiar with, and if you could explain it, maybe I could help you..."

He was ready. Having established a foothold in every ship, he now set in motion this part of his new plan. "All-out assault!"

Power rippled through the ships, mostly unnoticed by the crews. A weak but wide wave of energy led the way, and when he found his target, he threw everything he had into the attack!

The Defenders of [the fake] Nexus City gathered, with one exception...

"Where's Judge?" TT asked. Floating next to her was Stoic, bordering on deep meditation.

"The plan was that he would take out that Badguy fella." Morpheus said.

TT gestured back the way she had come. "We had our hands full with the one on the bridge. How about Ivalice3?"

Nova Star shook her head. "He has become one with the ship. We were unable to stop him. Ivalice2 is fighting against him as we speak." She took an authoratative stance and ordered, "Morpheus, go find Judge and make sure he is alright. TT, stay with me and we will fight this Madame O."

Morpheus glanced over at the four-armed hyena, Stoic. "What about him?"

"Stoic will remain here until he is ready to help us. Defenders, go!"

Morpheus took off down the corridor, transforming into a cheetah, and TT and Nova Star left Stoic in the hall, entering the large and empty cargo bay to fight with Madame O again.

Ruby's mind was reeling as she dashed out the door after Captain Slayde with Amber, Eternity, Zaeda, and the bugs were hot on her heels! No one wanted to stay in one place for too long, and right now Ruby felt as if she could never stop running. Her arms were shaking and she had to concentrate so she wouldn't stumble, she was that scared! In her head she was screaming and sobbing all at once, frightened for herself and her comrades...and deeply disturbed by the footage Zaeda Six had showed them.

How could something so horrible occur...? She asked herself, not sure she could take the truth anymore. Ruby briefly turned her head away from the others to compose herself.

Once she was sure she had gained enough control over her numbing emotions Ruby lengthened her stride to catch up with Slayde. She noticed he was just as scared as she was and was somewhat glad.

"What else could go wrong...?" SHe heard Slayde mutter, glancing back.

"Let's hope nothing else will..." Ruby replied, her voice beginning to shake. "I don't know how much more of this I can take!"

IC:
Amber followed the others in a kind of daze, feeling hollow inside by the events, it was almost too much...but only almost. Gradually she shook herself out of the numbness and the circling thoughts and found to her surprise she wasn't afraid. Too numb with shock, too ablaze with anger, too dark with sorrow.
I'll make you pay, even if all I have to do is live and keep everyone else alive to spite you...

(OOC: I'm really sorry, everyone, for my dissapearence. I was half way through updating RPs on Saturday when my internet imploded, and it's only just been fixed now! Sorry for the delay, but now I'm back and ready to rock )

IC:

Zoran let out a deep, almost animal growl of rage! "Not familliar?" he replied menacingly. "It is you that are responsible in the first place!"

Another pile-driver punch sent Ivallice flying across the room, collecting medical tables on the way and slamming them into the wall! He dropped to the floor with a CLANG, then promptly stood up again, once again advancing on the massive crewmember.

"We are not aware of being responsible for anything." he replied evenly, blocking more attacks and delivering one of his own, knocking Zoran into the air and dropping him onto a computer terminal with a CRASH. "We will need more information."

Zoran stood up too, a deep gash on his forehead, but no blood was coming out. His blood had probably congealed by now. The figure lunged forward again, apparently not bothering to answer the further question...

============================================================

It wasn't unnexpected...he had guessed it would have something to do with it...

I3 was monitering the ripples from the energy wave, locating his hidden foe...and the echo was emminating from the Cruisader's Engineering section!

He "grinned" as he released the energy surge he had been building. Let's see how you like this!!!

============================================================

The energy blasted into the systems in the room, blowing out power conduits and frying circuits! Energy sparked and crackled over the massive engine core as...

============================================================

...the creature convulsed as the power hit it! Pain blasted through it's body and it let out a crazed, inhuman screech...

============================================================

The lights in the corridor flared to blinding, and a deafening screeching noise filled the air! Slayde barely even flinched this time...he simply shielded his eyes from the glare and continued striding along the corridor, his jaw set.

"Almost there..." he muttered as he came to the doorway to airlock number one and opened it. He quickly jumped down from the low gantry and moved over to the thick outer door.

"Let's go everyone...spacesuits, now!"

The rest of the crew needed no second bidding! They quickly retreaved their suits and sealed themselves in. As they did so Eternity turned to Slayde. "Captain, what about Ivallice?"

Slayde took a deep breath. "There's still a little time...let's just hope..." His voice trailed off, and he turned back to the airlock, opening the door into the decompression chamber. "Inside, quickly!"

They entered the room, a little cramped in the confines, and the atmosphere vented. The outer door of the ship opened, and Slayde stepped forward onto the gantry between the Quasar and Cruisader...

Suddenly there was a flash, and sparks flickered for a second by his feet, before being eaten up by the vaccum! Quickly he dived back, taking cover behind the lip of the outer door! "What...???"

"Ivallice's Marines!" exclaimed Ruby, peeping carefully round the door. "They're in the decompression chamber over there and shooting at us!"

Slayde was about ready to blow! His voice was strained as he replied: "Everyone stay back." He lifted a hand to his helmet, adjusting his radio, then called: "Slayde to Ivallice Marines, stand down, repeat, stand down! It's me and the rest of the crew!"

============================================================

The lights flared on the other two ships as well, and the unearthly scream filled the air! On the Kirov, the Marines moving the containment unit paused and looked around, supprised.

"Come on." called the commander, bringing them back to reality. "Let's move while we have light to see by!"

============================================================

The surge was painful, but not much more than a nasty scald. Slowly the pain subsided and sanity returned.

And with it was rage...even moreso than before...

That was it...they had just proven themselves.

From now on, there was no mercy!

It reached out once again to it's areas of effect. This threat from the Quasar was powerful, but not powerful enough to pose a significant danger. It began to send out pulses of energy down the power lines, aiming for the links...the spots where the enemy's hold was weakest.

This was war.

And in the meantime, weakening the enemy somewhat would make things easier. It reached out towards the Kirov...

============================================================

In the Kirov's engine room, the power readings in the main reactor flickered, then slowly began to build. The reactor core stirred, beginning to spin slowly as power began to flow once again.

The energy began to rise...higher and higher...

"Sir! Energy levels are spiking!" exclaimed the engineering officer. "Power is returning, but it's way too fast! The reactor's going at 120% power!"

"WHAT?! 120%?! That'll destroy the ship!" exclaimed Ray. "Damn it, what is going on?!"

Murmurs echoed through the bridge, and worried officers cast glances of worry at each other. How was this going to turn out? They didn't want to die, and Ray knew that.

"Sir?" The officer looked at him, his eyes pleading for an answer to the unsaid question. What would they do now?

"Stay calm... And pray."

========================================================

The marines lugged the containment unit through the corridors, determined to make it to the bridge at any cost.

"This thing weighs a megaton!" complained one of the marines as he walked onwards. "My back aches like hell!"

"Shut up and move it, marine! We're almost there!" the leader scolded. "Only a few more minutes. We'll make it!"

"Well, isn't this just peachy...?" Ruby muttered beneath her bread, leaning tentatively against the wall and momentarily closing her eyes.

If she wasn't so numb with shock she'd have taken her blaster and used what little shots she had left on those damn marines! What were they thinking? They weren't supposed to guard the Quasar from its own captain! Ruby opened her eyes in time to see Eternity narrowing her eyes and asking, "What the heck is going on?"

"That's what I'd like to know!" Slayde replied, waiting for a response from the marines.

Ruby just stood there, trying to think straight. Every other memory or thought was filled with a piece from that disturbing footage which made relaxation wishful thinking. All the blood, all the gore, all the sights she had seen on the Cruisader she knew she'd carry with her to her grave! Ruby knew it would be a long time before she'd ever get a decent sleep again...

IC:
Eternity leant against the wall shook slightly, this was just so frustrating and frightening at the same time, possible escape only inches away only to get shot at by your own marines.
"Zaeda do you have any way of knowing what's ahppened to Ivalice?"
"Checking...yes one functional scanner and visual relay unit...he is still fighting what's left of Zoran."
"Can you talk to him or something."
"Checking...one functional machine for this operation, badly damaged due to the fight. You could possibly use it for a few moments."
Eternity turned to Slayde.
"Captain, could I tell Ivalice to come back now, we're pretty much stuck here 'till the marines quit shooting us, he could come here, maybe he could tell them to knock it off."

Slayde was silent for a moment, the light in the helmet of his spacesuit illuminating his face...a mask of indecision.

"If Ivallice was to come here, then there'd be nothing to stop Zoran following him." he muttered slowly. "I don't like it at all, but...Ivallice has sacrificed himself to save us...if we were to then get ourselves into trouble once again, what would his sacrifice have been for?"

A blinked his large eyes. But we're already in trouble, and we didn't ask for it.

Slayde sighed and nodded.This was one of the things he hated about being a Captain...was it moral to order one crewmember to die to save the others?

"If we can deal with this alone, there may still be time for Ivallice to runto the airlock and shut Zoran into the ship." he muttered quietly. "We should save the life of the communicator for that." He looked around slowly...a plan was beginning to form in his mind!

"A, can you and the other bugs put up your shield to block the attacks?"

Yes, we could, but this room is too cramped.

Slayde gingerly looked round the lip of the door again, staring at the open gantry connecting the ships. Maybe...

"Okay I have an idea." he said, turning back to the others. "It's risky, but I think it's our only option. A, you and the other bugs dart out there and put up a shield straight away...your movements are quick, so hopefully they won't hit you. We'll lay down cover fire, then when the shield is up, one or more of us will go out and climb underneath the gantry. We should be safe from attack there."

"Captain if we were to miss our footing we could go floating off into space!" exclaimed Ruby, raising an eyebrow.

"It's a risk we'll have to take." replied Slayde. "I don't think we have any other options. Once whoever goes is on the underside of the gantry, the Bugs will follow them. Head over to the Quasar and move across the hull to the other airlock...get in that way. Once inside, they could liberate this airlock for whoever was left."

"Who gets to go?" asked Amber, looking from one to the other of the group. Slayde looked around a moment, then pointed at her and Ruby.

"Eternity's hand is still injured, so it'll have to be you too. We'll lay down cover fire for you both when you go. A, you and the other Bugs follow them once they're on the bottom of the gantry." He stepped back from the doorway, allowing the others to get into position for their attack. "Go on my mark." he continued. "I'll try calling them once more, and if it doesn't work, be ready."

He activated his comm again. "Slayde to Ivallice Marines, this is an order! Stand down and retreat, repeat, stand down!"

Ruby nodded her head, her fingers twitching nervously at her side. It frightened her that if she or Amber lost their footing they might go drifting off into space! But again, she was not about to defy her captain's orders. However, Ruby knew she would feel much better being able to use her own blaster as cover fire, but she also knew that that was very unwise. By doing that she would surely fall and float away.

I have to trust my crewmembers and captain...

With that, Ruby blinked and turned her head so that she was staring down the dim corridor they had come from. She would be glad to leave this awful place behind, though she knew she couldn't do the same for the memories branded into her mind...

(OOC: Heh heh...the RP Guild was in its death throes, and Wraith had vanished, so everything I was involved in had ground to a halt. As such, I decided it would be safe to leave it alone for a while. Imagine my surprise when I come back, more than a week later, and find out that Wraith came back a week ago. Speaking of which, I found that it's almost impossible for me to get online during holiday. Apologies, all, for my absence.)

Ivalice mentally sighed as he was thrown back again, hitting the wall with another CRASH! He opened up his arms, and unleashed a volley of energy blasts, then rapidly closed them to engage in melee again!

Talking didn't seem to be working very well, but as it took him no effort, Ivalice continued to try. "Was it turning on the Crusader's computer core? Is that what woke you? Was it the original crew of the Crusader that trapped you? Please, answer me, and I might be able to help you! I don't mean you harm, but I don't know what we have done that has hurt you!"

They each were taking turns laying down fire. One of the ones resting glanced at the comm. "Hey, how long are we gonna ignore him?"

"Ivalice3 told us to keep them from getting back onto the Quasar, but he didn't say anything about the comm. I guess we could talk to him, and it wouldn't hurt anything."

The one taking the break picked up the comm. "Hey, howya doing, Captain? No can do, bossman, we aren't going to 'stand down'. Under orders from Ivalice3 to keep you away from the ship. Sorry."

The one who was talking on the comm was hit on the head by another marine, who harshly whispered loud enough so that Slayde could still hear, "you idiot, don't tell him who's giving us the orders!"

"Oops, sorry."

In the meantime, Morpheus had been making good time, running at full tilt as a cheetah. As he approached the Quasar-to-Crusader Airlock, he shifted back into his human form, and activated a button on his suit. "Just in case," he thought.

The button activated a special space suit function which surrounded him, which was a flexible suit that could function in space just fine, and still maintain him in almost any form. To a certain degree, it would also auto-repair damage to itself, as it was designed for him to be able to fight in space.

Morpheus himself wasn't expecting a fight, but he wanted to be ready, in case things went badly.

Both to his surprise, and to the surprise of the Team 2 Marines, he opened the airlock door behind them and came through! "What the-?"

Several of the Marines turned and opened fire, shouting in confusion! "Being attacked from behind!" "I thought the area was secure!" "Hold your ground!"

Morpheus immediately moved, transforming into a kangaroo and giving a mighty jump, out of the way of the initial barrage of confused fire. Bouncing from another section of the wall, he transformed into a gorilla, and made a pass by a marine, punching him hard and slamming him against the floor!

Slayde had no idea what was going on over there, but the confusion left only four of the marines trying to shoot at his group.

Major Main was concerned at the sudden change in the condition of the ship. He watched carefully for an opporunity to strike, but the Kirov guard were diligent.

Beige, on the other hand, was thinking how strange it was that frisbees and flowers start with the same letter, but have completely different uses...

(OOC: lol I was wondering where you'd got to Way^^ np man...welcome back )

IC:

It continued to fire bursts of energy at the weak points of Ivallice 3's link...it seemed to have the robot on a wrong footing!

So intent on the energy, it almost didn't notice the action at the airlock...

Suddenly it realised what was happening. No, they couldn't be allowed to leave!!!

============================================================

Zoran was still saying nothing. He and Ivallice were evenly matched...so evenly matched that neither could get the better of the other!

Then suddenly, after a mighty punch, Zoran paused, his featureless eyes focused on the robot.

Ivallice, who had once again been knocked backwards, quickly recovered his footing and stepped forward again, but he was completely unprepared for what was coming next...!

A loud hum of energy filled the room, growing in pitch and volume quickly! Zoran clenched his fists in front of his chest as his fingers began to glow with a powerful yellow light, then, as Ivallice stepped forward, he quickly opened his palms, thrusting his hands forward as if to push the robot!

Light lept from his palms, flashing over the clockwork titan and slamming him backwards into the wall, far harder than before! Yellow electricity crackled across his metal skin as the smell of burning circuits filled the air! Ivallice let out a high, robotic screech as the energy thundered through his body, then, slowly, he collaped to the floor with a CRASH, leaving a huge dent in the wall where he had hit it!

Zoran immeadeately turned and left the room, moving quickly down the corridor the same way that Slayde and the others had gone! Thin whisps of smoke trailed from his hands, the palms of which were burned black with energy, although it didn't seem to bother him.

Ivallice was still running, but the bolt had caused damage! Slowly he hauled himself to his feet...

============================================================

"Ivallice 3???" repeated Slayde, blinking. "What the...?"

Suddenly the noise of chaos erupted over the radio, and he looked round the doorway once again to see the confusion at the other end of the gantry! He couldn't tell what was going on, but it was something big!

This was their chance! "Okay go, now!" he called quickly. He and Eternity laid down cover fire while the Bugs quickly scuttled out of the doorway and set up their shield, then he motioned to Ruby and Amber to set off...

IC:
Amber took a breathe and with a glance back at Ruby climbed out under the cover fire and started climbing. Clinging to the metal for dear life.
"I never imagined when I signed up that I would ever be in this situation." she mutered, looking up at A and his team of bugs as they got in position...

Ivalice2 managed to sneak through I-3's firewall defenses, and entered the world of energy. He immediately took evasive action, as a stray burst narrowly missed him! There was a conflict going on here, and it was making everything dangerous! Moving quickly, Ivalice2 began exploring, looking for his wayward brother to stop him in this mad quest.

Ivalice2 was amazed to see that I-3 didn't seem to be concerned with his presence. Surely he knew the system had been infiltrated? Whatever made his luck so good, Ivalice2 intended to take full advantage of it...

Ivalice picked up a medical table, and carried it with him as he ran a quick diagnostic. "Heh, glad I prepared defenses this time, so that my system wouldn't shut down again."

There was still significant damage, but he wasn't down for the count just yet! He decided to retreat to the Quasar, for repairs and to plan a new strategy. He had gotten a good idea of conditions on the Quasar from Ivalice2, but he would have to be there himself to gather his forces and stop the infighting.

As he picked up his pace, he noticed that he was following Zoran, which meant..."no!"

Ivalice charged at full tilt down the corridors, hoping he could catch the enemy before it reached Captain Slayde!

The Defenders were facing off against Madame O. Before the fighting could begin, however, a rumble shook the ship, and sparks flew from the lights above again! Nova Star had been floating above the ground, so she was the only one who didn't scramble to hold on to something! Holding out an energy-charged hand to point it at Madame O, she demanded, "Enemy, what have you done?"

Madame O got to her feet. "That wasn't me!"

TT looked at her machine arm scanners. "It's gotta be Ivalice3! There's a lotta power flowing between the ships!"

Madame O relaxed her battle-ready position. "Then...perhaps we should call a truce?"

Nova Star's eyes narrowed, suspicious. "Why should we trust you?"

"It won't do any of us any good if the ship is destroyed while we fight down here! Look, just come with me to the bridge, and let's find out what we can together. Alright?"

TT powered down her sonic cannon, converting it back into an arm. "Just until we figure out what's going on, and what we can do."

(OOC: This RP seems to be slowing, so I'll intro the next main plot point here^^ long post ahead, be warned XD )

IC:

Out on the rim of the calm area, more of the Kirov's fighters were patrolling. They had just recived the order to withdraw, and were preparing to head back to base when:

"Sir." called Whitehead into her communicator. "I'm picking up three blips on the scanner...very faint, but they're there!"

Wing leader Kelly looked down at his controls. "Yeah I'm getting it too...loks like they're headed this way, and quickly!"

Whitehead adjsted her scanner. "I'm channeling some engine power through the scanner relays to increase their range, see if we can tell what they are. Linking to your computers too...hold on."

Kelly watched his screen as the computers linked and an image slowly faded into view. His skin went white, and his eyes widened almost to the point of falling out of their sockets!

"This...CAN'T be good!" he exclaimed in a breathless voice. "We have to get back...now!"

============================================================

The Bridge of the Kirov was frantic...everyone was running around trying to stabalize the power increase desperately!

"Try reducing the gain on the power transfer manafolds!" exclaimed Peterson as he crosswired some circuits underneath one of the consoles. "Let the secondary systems bleed some of the power away!"

Halter was stood beside him. "Talk to me, Peterson!" he muttered. "What are we looking at?"

The engineer shook his head, still fiddling with a circuitboard under the console. "If we can't stop this, we could blow up within twenty minutes!" he replied tensely.

Suddenly Chekov called from across the room: "Captain Halter!" There was a note of urgency in his voice that made Ray hurry as he moved across the room towards him, and his face was ashen! Graham ran over too.

"What's going on?"

"Sir, one of our fighter wings just radioed in...they say they've detected three silluhettes in the Dead Zone, closing on our position fast!" replied Chekov, almost stammering! "They sent us a visual immage..." He pressed a button and the screen in front of him flickered into life...

Halter froze, his jaw wide open. Graham swore under his breath.

There on the screen, siluhetted against the light pouring into the black holes, their shapes clearly recognisable, were three Adnihilo warships!

"ETA?" muttered Halter, his voice hoarse.

"About...fifteen minutes sir!" replied Chokov, his hands shaking as he opperated the controls!

Ray stepped back from the screen and put a hand on his forehead, trying to think clearly. This couldn't be happening! "Get me Captain Slayde." he muttered quietly. "He needs to know too."

============================================================

The Bugs had set up their shield, and Amber and Ruby were carefully clambering over the edge of the gantry to the underside, making sure to choose their handholds carefully.

Slayde's radio suddenly crackled into life. "Halter to Slayde, Halter to Slayde, come in!"

Slayde pressed the button on his helmet again. "Reading you Captain. What's going on?"

"We have a situation here! We're getting an enormous power increase from our reactor...we don't know where it's coming from! If it doesn't stop soon, we could explode!"

Slayde blinked. "If the Kirov explodes so close to the other ships it would take us all with it!" he replied. "Captain, get all your crew onto the Cruisader and cast off! Let the black holes deal with it!"

"That's not all." replied Ray. "We've just detected a small fleet of Adnihilo warships headed this way! They must have been tracking us for a long time, and now they're attacking!"

Slayde shook his head. This just kept getting better and better! "What do you know, wish for something enough and it comes true!" he remarked wryly. "What do you recommend we..."

His words were cut off as Eternity, sat on the other side of the door, suddenly raised a hand, pointing back into the aitlock control room behind them! There was a thick door into the airlock, locked tight shut, but there was a window in it, at about head hight, and through the window two glowing yellow eyes regarded them coldly!

"Oh snakes!" Slayde groaned as Zoran's head dissapeared from the window. "If he tries to open that door the entire ship will decompress!" He spoke into his radio again. "Captain Halter, we have a situation here as well! I'm going to have to get back to you!"

He switched his radio off, picking up his gun."We're in trouble!" he muttered to Eternity quietly. "We can't get in there without going past him, and if we go outside the ship those Adnihilo warships may see us!"

Eternity looked round at him suddenly. "What about Ruby, Amber and the Bugs?"

"Oh dang, yeah!" He flicked his radio on again. "Slayde to Ruby and Amber, come in please!"

"Reading you Captain." came Ruby's reply.

Slayde once again peered round the lip of the door as he spoke, but the other crewmembers were nowhere to be seen. Apparently they were already on the underside of the gantry, maybe even at the Quasar now. "Listen, there's three Adnihilo warships headed this way! We can't afford to be outside the ship when they arrive, or they may wipe us out! Either come back to the Cruisader or get yourself into the Quasar quickly!"

There was a pause, as though Ruby was holding back from saying something momentarilly, but then her voice, supprisingly calm for the situation, came back: "Understood sir. Ruby out." She must have been hiding her feelings...if she felt anything like how Slayde felt now she would feel like screaming!

Slayde turned back to the inner door of the airlock, looking for any more signs of life, but he couldn't see any. Had Zoran gone? Surely not!

He glanced over at Eternity hesitantly. "Any ideas...?"

============================================================

There was a new prescence!

Similar, yet different to the other...it seemed to be simply observing...

It reached out electrical feelers from the bubble it had woven to protect itself, feeling down the power lines towards it's foe and the newcomer. Maybe it could be used as a distraction...

Suddenly it pulled back, as though scalded! An unusual energy reading in the coding it was about to pass through! It was well hidden...it had almost missed it! It was only because the computed system had lain untouched for so many years that it detected the change.

A trap! A mine, set to detonate when enough energy passed through the system, shorting out the entire camble and sending shockwaves back to the scourse!

Very clever...and very insolent! At every moment it's hatred for it's adversary grew stronger!

But maybe these could be used to it's advantage...

It reached forward with one of the most delacate of energy tendrils, skirting past the mined circuit gingerly. The shockwave was set to desperse in whichever direction the mine was triggered from, meaning if it was triggered from the other side, it would attack it's foe, not it! It couldn't trigger it itself...the wave would follow the tendrils and reach it...

But maybe...if it could influence the newcomer...who didn't know about the mines...

============================================================

Ivallice 3 was still buisy reaffirming the links with the other ships. With so much power to tap, I2 knew it would be suicide to attack him directly!

The robot looked around from his hideout in the air circulation system's computer on the Quasar. I3 had secured himself very well! But one question remained...who, or what, was he fighting?

And now, as he looked around, he felt a small flow of electrons, a power signature that he didn't recognise...something...strainge...

It was coming from the Cruisader! He had to investigate. Gingerly moving out of his hiding place and setting off down the power lines, he began to follow the energy trace like a string, looking for the scource of the power.

It was weak, but setectable...

"How the hell did they get here...?" muttered Ray to himself, removing his peaked cap and pulling his hair backwards before donning his cap again. "Not good... Not good at all..."

"Sir! What should we do?" asked Chekov, still intently looking at the scanners.

"Do all that we CAN do! Pull the fighters back into a tighter ring around us! We cannot lose this ship; it's all we have to call home!"

"Yes, Sir, but..."

"Don't worry. Graham, get them closer to us. As for the power... I have an idea. Weapons officers, see if you can control the energy weapons. If so, fire! Batteries, shoot the Adnihilo warships; turrets, shoot at everything BUT the Crusader and Quasar and our own fighters!"

Graham immediately went to do as he was told, and Chekov kept his eyes on the scanners while the weapons officers attempted to get as many online guns as they could to focus on the ships. Soon, they would have more problems than they could deal with... Their numbers were insane. Every one of those ships could produce several more and send them out, often as expendable scouts or suicide ships.

Their massive numbers were always a problem. Ray sighed. First the Crusader, and now them. How could this happen?

She was scared now. She'd been scared for quite a while; now she was terrified. What in space was going on? Everything was spinning out of control, and Ruby felt it was all she could do to control her shaking fingers long enough to find good footing. It amazed her how calm her reply had sounded...even to herself!

"Ruby! What should we do?" Amber asked, voice shaking, not able to turn around and look at her comrade.

"I..I don't...." What should I do? she asked herself, knowing that if she was to make a decision it had to be quick. Getting to either ship had to be fast, as they might just be caught by these Adnihilos! Even though she couldn't see her face, Ruby knew that if Amber could turn around her eyes would be on the Grotesnian.

So what now? It's the Quasar or the Cruisader Ruby, make up you're mind! Biting her lip, Ruby slowly reached up to touch her communicator, hurrying inside to make a decision.

And then, like lightning: "Captain Slayde, I'm on my way back. No way am I leaving you in that Hellhole, sir."

Amber turned her head ever so slightly, "...Ruby..?"

Face hard, Ruby replied, "I don't know about you, but I'm going back...No telling what might happen in the next hour, but I think it's safe to say it's going to be big. I'd feel safer if I was...guarding the captain. You can come if you want to, or you can make your way back to the Quasar. Make your choice now, Amber: Follow me or keep going."

The Grotesnian started turning around ever so carefully, keeping her comm-line open in case Slayde wanted to reply. As she moved, she waited for the other officer's decision...

(OOC: Sorry...busy week. Didn't mean to neglect the RP)

Ivalice2 was creeping forward slowly. If he could learn about I-3's enemy while avoiding detection, he might be able to use the knowledge to his advantage...maybe even take out two birds with one stone!

I-3 looked up from his work to see his radar screen flashing! With a quick glance at it, he saw what had happened: something had triggered his mine field - on the inside! He hadn't considered the possibility. With the blasts arcing inward, they would hit each other, causing a chain reaction of such magnitude that not even his access to the power of the ships could protect him! He had made a fatal miscalculation, and now he was paying for it...

BOOOOOM!!!

Ivalice screeched to a halt just outside the airlock area for the Crusader/Quasar. He scanned around quickly, and found that Zoran hadn't gone through. But where was he? Ivalice was concerned about the power of the being in the Crusader, but what could he do at this time? He weighed his options rapidly.

What helped him make up his mind was the sudden surge of power from the Quasar, and the sudden lack of Ivalice2 and Ivalice3! They were...gone. If he could have, he would have wept. With their deaths, the controls of the three ships were now free, except from the grip of their unknown enemy, who was surely laughing with glee at his success. Ivalice clenched his fists in a sign of anger, which he was beginning to feel the slightest bit of it. He was outraged! But he kept his mechanical cool.

Opening a comm to his three teams, he ordered, "All units, this is Ivalice. Any previous commands you have had are now void. You will now defend the Quasar with everything you have! We must not lose that ship, at any cost!"

He opened a short-range comm to Slayde. "Captain, I am well, but have lost track of our foe. I regretfully must say that my malfunctioning brother Ivalice3 has disabled my controls to the Team 2 marines, so they will no longer obey my orders. All is not lost, however; they will be an excellent front line against the first Adnihilo wave. Now, what would you have me do?"

Morpheus looked up, and saw Judge floating in space, not far from the Crusader and Kirov. He shifted into a kangaroo and made a mighty leap, escaping the fray. "I hope this works..."

He jumped off the side of the Crusader, at an angle where he would pass right by Judge and be heading straight for the Quasar ship bay. He regretted he couldn't stop the marines, but he couldn't leave Judge out there helpless while the Adnihilo were coming! He moved fast, hoping he wouldn't be too late...

***

On the bridge of the Quasar, Madame O, TT, and Nova Star had arrived and gotten the quick version of what had just happened. Then, Ivalice's message came through. Madame O took charge. "Right, we need to move fast, figure out their paths, charge up the weapons, and get ready to detach from the Crusader!"

(OOC: Okay this RP seems to be slowing down, so to try to rekindle interest in it, I'm calling for a roll call. If you are still interested in this RP and want to see it continue, post an affirmative. I hope nobody wishes to leave, but if this is the case then I won't stop you.

About the story...we are a good way through it now, and there are some major developments right around the corner, so this seems a good time to pause and make sure we're all here^^ There isn't much left, but what there is is (I hope) very exciting, and will reveal all^^

So Who's with me for the final few chapters? "> )

OOC: I AM, DAMMIT. I've been waiting for you people to post. >> XD Vic here, for those unfamiliar with this alt.

(OOC: I reckon it is obvious I'm still in.

Apologies if parts of my last post were inconsistent or unclear. I have been almost constantly tired for the past couple of weeks, making it hard to concentrate properly.)

(EDIT OOC: As of DEC 14/15 2005, I will be unable to make regular visits here, for an undetermined (and probably large) length of time. As such, my involvement in this RP must stop. I apologize for any inconveniences this may cause, but I have no choice in this matter.

I might be able to scrounge up enough time to post here, as there's no way I could dump my character load on Wraith. I'll try to keep tabs, but I can't promise anything.)

(OOC: I majorly want to carry on with this as well, but without SL, Gerbil, Ferret and Silv it's gonna be really tough, and if Way isn't going to be able to make it often that may make it even harder.

I'm still up for keeping it going if we can though...here's hoping some of the others will return soon, and we may be able to pick up where we left off.)

(OOC: *pants* Present! My apologies, all! School's kept me busy, as well as the holidays and this dang cold that's been plaguing me for about a week and a half. I'm extremely sorry I haven't been able to get a decent post in.

As for who's willing to continue...you can count me in Wraith! I really love this RP and can't wait to see what's around the corner! However, I won't be posting for a few days; still have some schoolwork to concentrate on before break. I'll drop a post or two next week or so, soon as I can!

A'ight now...just checking in with you guys. Letting you know I'm still on board. ^^ Will try to post soon!)

OOC: No probs SL, I know what it's like to be rushed off your feet and ill :">

Now we just need to hear from the other three...

Ok, we'll see if we can continue this^^ We are quite close to the end, but there's a lot more action to go before then!

I'll make a post in the next few days to carry on the main story. Vic, keep up the good work and post as regularly as you like lol. SL, no worries, and welcome back^^ Good to have you back with us. Way, it's a downer you have to go man, but try to get on whenever you can^^ And Silv, Ferret, Gerbil, feel free to come back as soon as you can^^ We'll keep your characters in the story until you return.

EDIT: (OOC: Ok let's get going again^^)

IC:

"Wait...you're saying Zoran isn't there now?"

"Yes sir."

Slayde once again looked towards the airlock window, but still he could see nothing. "Okay, stand by. We're coming back in." He glanced across at Eternity. "As soon as the others get back here, let's get back onto the ship!"

It was only seconds later that Ruby, Amber and the Bugs appeared once again in the outer airlock doorway. Slayde and Eternity quickly helped them in, then activated the compression cycle of the airlock. The outer door slid closed, and a loud hissing became audible as the atmosphere was pumped in.

A moment later the group stepped back into the large circular room outside the airlock, detaching their helmets and looking round. Zoran was nowhere to be seen.

Ivallice stepped up to them, saluting smartly. "What are your orders, sir?"

Slayde had been thinking hard during the compression cycle. Whatever was on the Cruisader was a major priority, and he would have been much happier if he knew exactly where Zoran had got to, but right now they had bigger fish to fry! No matter what happened inside the ship, the incoming attack force could quite easily obliterate it from outside!

"We need to get to the bridge!" he replied wearily. "Try to activate the weapons...defend ourselves from the Adnihilo. Ivallice, you have anyone on board the Cruisader you can trust? Tell them to man the weapons there too! We need to batten down the hatches and try to weather the storm."

He set off moving immeadeately. "Come on everyone...let's move!"

============================================================

Chekov was staring at his screen, urgently providing a countdown of the enemy distance. "Eta of Adnihilo, 3 minutes!"

Peterson stood up with a snarl. "I don't believe it! I've tried everything I can possibly think of! There's just no reason for this power surge!"

"We've got to stop it!" exclaimed the first officer. "We can't lose the ship!"

Peterson looked round, his face crestfallen. "Sir...we've already lost her. She's gonna blow in less than ten minutes, and we're out of options! We have no choice but to evacuate to the Cruisader!"

"2 minutes!"

"You can't be serious!" retorted Halter, staring incredulously at Peterson. "Jettison the core...anything!"

"I already tried it sir!" replied the engineer. "The controls are jammed, but I don't know why. I'm working in the dark! There's no reason for any of this happening, but it is!"

"One minute! Hold on tight!"

============================================================

It reveled in the free systems. Freedom! They had tried to stop it, but it had prevailed!

It reaffirmed it's pathways throughout the ships, repairing any damage that could interfere with it's plans. Beutiful...just beutiful. Now it could concentrate once again on the matter at hand!

It began to reach out once again to it's points of attack, detecting where everyone and everything was...what was happening..

BOOM!

============================================================

The ships rocked as the powerful plasma bolts thudded into the side of the Kirov, tearing massive holes in it's outer hull! Shadows fell across the three ships as they thundered past, slowing up to come around for another run. The gun batteries and fighters from the Kirov fired, but the damage to the organic ships was neglegable!

(OOC: The attack is just beginning! I'll leave it open her for if anyone has any ideas^^ I do have an idea for the main attack, but I'll bring that in in a bit...)

Impossible... How did they become this strong?! The hull... Damn it! Ray sighed. This ship wasn't what it used to be. It had taken quite a few beatings in the past, but now, it was to destroy three organic ships by itself. Previously, he had 51 other ships to command. Now, the Kirov was alone.

"All of you... Prepare for internal combat. Sentries, marines, watch the doors. Release Bezarin on my command," said Ray as calmly as he could.

"But, Sir... Is that wise?" asked the first officer.

"We have no choice. They've already breached the shield and the outer hull. Soon, they'll be ripping through the rest of our armour and tearing right through the blast doors. Bezarin is our only way of keeping them off our throats."

In response, the fellow nodded. There was no way to outdo the Adnihilo in terms of numbers. They outnumbered the human race itself 15 to 1!

"God help us..."

"Sir, here they come!" reported Chekov as the entire ship rocked. There was momentary silence and suspense. Seconds later, there were faint, sporadic clangs against what seemed like the metal of the hull.

Clang, clang, clang...

They got louder and louder... And there were more clangs... Soon, it seemed as if dozens of claws were tearing away at the hull at once!

"Open the containment unit," commanded Ray. "Quickly!" The marines did so, opening Bezarin's containment unit. Various locks were released, and the coffin-like object was opened. Bezarin climbed out of it, stretching his limbs. "Bezarin... You know what to do."

"Yes, of course... Wahahahaha!" replied the fellow, laughing insanely. He then sprinted into the corridor, his laughs echoing throughout.

"I have no idea how the hell he does that..." muttered Chekov.

"He's clinically insane. He has no need for explanations," responded Ray. He turned to a sergeant. "You, secure the airlock connected to the Crusader. Move!"

"Yes, Sir! Okay, you heard the captain! Ten volunteers!" yelled the Marine. Eleven of them automatically stepped out to follow the sergeant, but the more, the merrier. Off they went to secure the airlock...

OOC: Umm... yo, I'm a friend of 'Wayfarer'. He told me to 'post' this up while he is, uh, 'unavailable', so here it is, from a document he had prepared for this.

"In your last post, Wraith, there are a couple of spots where you mention a ship. It seems to me like you meant to refer to the Quasar and the Kirov, but in both places you put the Crusader. Not trying to nitpick, just pointing out an observation which might affect my post."

IC:

Ivalice kept his scanners on full power. It is a pity I don't have any of my teams on board the Crusader, and I cannot access my auxilary equipment, but I can manage by myself. That is to say, with careful planning, I should be able to manage. But...I've never fought a species like them, and while I wouldn't be so concerned if it was just the Adnihilo, there's that other opponent as well...

He transmitted strategic orders to his crew on board the Quasar. He was able to put his tactical mind to good use, perhaps for the last time. "Captain," he said as they ran, "I have the capacity to control the Crusader's weapons remotely, once we access the bridge. They can be set to function constantly, even if I am destroyed."

"That's not gonna happen, Ivalice!"

"Sir, with all due respect, I have the lowest priority. I am a non-organic lifeform, and as per code #3175-"

"I know, I know..."

"Regardless, I will do everything in my power to protect you and your crew, even if it means...situation: the Adnihilo have launched soldiers. My marines have engaged the enemy."

The baker's dozen were putting every weapon in their arsenal to good use. Plasma halberds, grenades, lazer whips, and even their gel-coated shields came out. The continuing rain of fire came from their standard guns as well.

The battle became more intense when the Quasar began to process of separating from the Crusader!

Madame O gave the regular crew orders, and then took Nova Star and TT with her to meet with the rest of Team 1. Madame O shouted orders as they ran down the hall. "Nova Star, as the only member of our team able to survive in a vacuum, get outside and prevent them from getting in! TT, join Morpheus in the launch bay and keep them from entering there! Stoic and Judge, I'm putting you on standby (as Judge is still unconscious and Stoic still doesn't have full control). I'll go to the main airlock and keep them from boarding!"

As they walked, Beige reached a hand to her head and winced. She didn't slow down, though she would have dearly liked to stop and rest. "The ship...she's in pain...she can't hold on much longer!"

Main glanced sideways at her, but otherwise didn't move, aside from keeping his steady pace. He knew she could 'feel' the condition of any machine that was within her range. If she said something was going to happen, it was going to happen, of that he had no doubt.

Beige looked desperately to their captors. "Please, you must evacuate the ship! I can get several dozen people out, if you'll let me help! Just, please..."

(OOC: Hi...uh...Way...well, kinda? Good to hear from you again bud^^ I see what you mean, re-reading my last post. There was one spot where I mistyped lol, namely:

Quote:

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Ivallice, you have anyone on board the Cruisader you can trust?

---

should have been "Quasar", but you got it anyway, so no probs lol. Thanks for pointing it out, I'll be more careful in the future.

And glad to see you're still with us, man, even if it's somewhat unconventionally^^

One more point, I'm afraid I can't remember, and I can't find the place: Did we think up a name for the Kirov's First Officer? I can't help thinking we did, but I'm not sure. I'll put one in here, but if anyone remembers, let me know and I'll edit.)

IC:

As the Warships thundered past, a haze, somewhat like a cloud, began to ooze from the back of the ships like a liquid, sentient, intelligent, moving of it's own accord! Chekov, still at his station, cried out: "Sir! Here they come!"

A swarm! A massive swarm of the insectoid beasts! Millions of them, decending on the three ships like rain, their tough shells gleaming in the light from the nebulae surrounding them!

The Adnihilo had arrived!

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Madame O was the first to notice the abnormallity. As she raced towards the airlock, she glanced out a nearby window as she ran past, staring in horror at the cloud, but then she paused, blinking in supprise!

"Hey...is anyone else seeing this???"

Nova Star, already outside the ship, was looking on too, staring in amazement at the cloud as it shifted and pulsated, steadily descending on...

"Yeah, I see it! They're going for the Kirov only! Looks like they don't care about us!"

Sure enough, the swarm was making a beeline for the Millitery ship, apparently ignoring the Quasar and Cruisader completely! Only a scant few, a tiny percent of the group, were drifting towards the other ships!

Morpheous, looking out through a launch bay window, spoke into his own radio. "You think this is a permanent thing, and they'll leave us alone?"

"We can't take that risk." Madame O tore herself away from the window and continued to run down the corridor. "More than likely they're just settling a grudge, and when they're done we'll be next! Stations, everyone!"

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The Cruisader shook slightly as the Quasar's docking clamps disengaged. En route to the bridge, Slayde felt the tremmor and paused his headlong dash.

"That felt like..." He spun round to Ivallice. "Are your lot taking my ship???"

"Sir, to stay docked during a battle like this would be suicide! We'd be sitting ducks!"

"Yeah but...!" Slayde bit his lip. Ivallice was right, to keep all three ships joined would make them easy prey for the warships outside! It didn't make him any happier about his ship leaving without him though!

"One good thing about this..." muttered Eternity, looking round. "Our old "friend" doesn't seem to be bothering us any more!"

Slayde nodded, suddenly struck with a thought about their mysterious opponant on board the ship. What had happened to it? And Zoran too...where had he dissapeared to?

He was brought back to the present by a series of metallic clangs as something outside impacted on the hull! "Uh oh! We may have company! Keep moving everyone!"

There were only a couple more corridors to the bridge, and it was mere seconds before the small group arrived! Immeadeately Slayde charged over to the weapons console. "Okay Ivallice, get to work! We'll cover you from anything that's inside!" He pulled out his gun and knelt down next to the console, raising the barrel to point right down the corridor. As he did so, he glanced down at the weapon. "You're getting far too much use on this mission." he muttered sourly. With a quick hand signal he motioned to the other three to take up positions on either side of the entrance...

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"Enemy ships are coming around for another pass, Captain! Enemy troops are crawling all over the hull...breaches in multiple sectors!"

"Power levels at 135% and rising! Core breach in five minutes!"

"Captain! We need to evacuate, now!"

Halter looked up at his first officer, his face unreadable. "We cannot...lose...the ship!"

"Sir, we've already lost the ship! All we can do now is save the crew!"

"We are the last line of defence! We have to stop them at all cos...!" his sentance was cut off by a sharp fist to the mouth, sending him sprawling to the deckplates.

"Captain, I'm sorry, but I have no choice!" Grahams spun round, adressing the rest of the bridge crew. "Sound the evacuaion! Get everybody onto the Cruisader, quickly! All of you go, NOW!"

Peterson stood up from the pannel he was working on and ran over. "Sir, what about you?"

Grahams met his gaze evenly. "I'll un-dock and get the ship a safe distance away before it blows. Peterson, Chekov, take Captain Halter with you!"

Peterson seemed about to protest, but instead he saluted smartly and moved over to Halter, who seemed to be in a daze, just coming round from the blow. Chekov pulled his radio equipment from his ear and turned in his seat, making to stand up...

BANG...sparks showered across the room as a power conduit ruptured, sending debris in every direction! Chekov, directly next to the blast, let out an agonised shriek, before collapsing to the floor, blood pouring from a deep gash in his head!

Grahams ran over to him, kneeling down beside his prone form. He grabbed his neck, checking for a pulse...

Peterson, lifting Halter's arm onto his wide shoulders, saw the first officer's face as he slowly stood up and stepped backwards, his eyes fixed on the crewmwmber's motionless body...

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Outside, the three Warships circled, their massive, organic forms turning back towards the three ships for another pass! The two leadships began to accelerate once again, their weapons locking on the Kirov, but the third slowed, coming to a stop on the ruim of the calm area around the ships!

Slowly, it's large, black carrapice began to split. The side of the ship began to ripple, to bulge out like a balloon, as though forming a shape...

...a recognisable shape!

Another ship. As the line between the old and new ships became more prominent, the outer shell of the Warship at the join began to tear apart, like an amobea splitting in two!

Soon, there would be four ships rather than three!

The two attacking ships raced forward again, blinding blue lights forming at their noses as their plasma weapons charged! The lightning fired, and two more massive holes were torn in the Kirov, this time on the side nearest the Cruisader!

As the ships roared past, the Kirov's fighters and guns spoke, blasting away at the tough hulls of the alien vessels! Most did minimal damage, but one bolt in particular struck the engines of the second Adnihilo ship! The rear end of the vessel was torn in two, and liquid, not unlike dark green blood, began to pour from the wound! Slowly the ship began to spin as it's propulsion was cut!

The other ship was far from finished though! As it passed over the three Human ships, a large black sphere detached from it's underside, blasting downwards like a missile! The sphere impacted on the rear docking clamp holding the Kirov to the Cruisader, bursting on impact, and instantly the clamp was coated in the Adnihilo's deadly corrosive acidic compound! The metal melted like butter as the alien substance ate away at the struts, and the ship lurched as the docking clamp lost connection...

============================================================

This was not planned, nor wished for.

Whatever those ships were, they were obviously a threat and needed to be delt with!

And right now, it was not in the mood for games!

============================================================

Slayde, Amber, Eternity and Ruby sat quietly, their eyes focused on the corridor in front of them. By now they too had realised that the brunt of the attack seemed to be directed at the Kirov, but they had used internal sensors to determine if any Adnihilo had boarded the Cruisader, and sure enough, some had!

The worst part of it all...was the waiting...

"My modifications are almost complete Captain." said Ivallice, breaking the silence as he continued to work on the weapons system. "Weapons will be opperational any moment."

Slayde nodded. "Good." He sighed and glanced across at Ruby, who hadn't looked round at Ivallice's words. She must have been feeling the same as all of them were, but her devotion to duty was amazing! All four of his companions had been exceptional!

"If we ever get out of this, you four are getting a twenty year trip to the Alpha Centuri Pleasure Colonies, all expences paid!" he grunted. "You...you're doing well, everyone." It sounded so hollow, so...unsufficient!

It seemed to mean something to them though. All four looked round, and Amber, Ruby and Eternity smiled slightly. "After this, I think I'll need it!" replied Ruby, shaking her head.

Slaude grinned...unbelievable he still could in a situation like this, but there it was...and nodded. "No kidding!"

"What's that?"

Slayde looked up. Amber had been looking at him, but her eyes had shifted...now she was looking past him, out the massive panoramic window of the bridge! Slayde spun round, looking...

A light, blindingly intense, getting brighter every moment! A bright white-yellow glow, about 3000 meters ahead of the ship, floating in space, steadily getting brighter and brighter, bigger and bigger, with each passing second! It wasn't connected to any of the ships, nor the Adnihilo Warships...they had slowed their attack, apparently as tranfixed by the light as the Humans wre!

"I...I don't know...!" It made no sence...what could it possibly be...?

Unless...

Suddenly a loud screech echoed down the corridor ahead of them, forcing them to turn away from the light and focus on the shadowy corridor. "Get ready...they're coming!"

(OOC: SL, Way, Ferret or Gerbil, feel free to continue here, but bear in mind that only a very small ammount of Adnihilo are on the Cruisader atm. Still, they wouldn't be a pushover. Everyone remember to refare to Vic's descriptions of the Adnihilo earlier on if they want to put them in^^)