Introduction
This was it.
This was the moment they had been waiting for, ever since they had first heard of Spectra. The moment they had been anticipating since G-Force first went into action three years before.
The moment they had been furiously preparing for over the last thirty days.
G-Force was about to end the war… one way, or the other.
It had all begun just over a month ago, when Federation Intelligence had received some disturbing news from one of its agents. Apparently The Luminous One, frustrated with Spectra's lack of progress in obtaining resources from other worlds, had decided to change its approach. Zoltar had been ordered to follow a new 'scorched earth' strategy, and to that end Spectran scientists were on the verge of launching a weapon capable of destroying the atmosphere of any planet… including the Earth. Once the atmosphere was gone, the planet would become unlivable and billions of people would die, all so Spectra could then rape the remaining planetary husk for its underground resources.
Chief Anderson knew that if Zoltar managed to get his hands on this weapon, all hope would be lost. And so, with a heavy heart, he commanded G-Force to do the unthinkable.
They were ordered to assault Spectran Military Headquarters, find the weapon, and destroy it. Barring that, they were to destroy The Luminous One. They were to carry out their mission at all costs.
Fortunately the Federation's agent had warned them in time. They had had a few weeks to prepare before the weapon was scheduled to be ready. The team had gone in for intensive training, implant re-programming, and intelligence briefings. 7-Zark-7 had worked round the clock (barely stopping for his customary ten second oil breaks… which actually only took ten seconds now) and had developed a new cloaking technology and autopilot mechanism for the Phoenix. At least they would be able to approach Spectra undetected and all five G-Force members could disembark, sending the ship into orbit to hopefully await their return. The Federation scientists had also improved the team's individual weapons, making their explosives and charges significantly more powerful.
So far, everything had gone according to plan. The team had managed to download a virus into the Spectran computer system, destroying the design schematics of the weapon. And now, the five G-Force members were concealed in the heart of the Spectran Empire, just outside of Zoltar's inner sanctum. Keyop and Tiny were wounded, but their injuries were nothing that prevented them from continuing on with their mission.
Mark concentrated on controlling his breathing. His body wanted to surge with adrenaline and burst forth, screaming a battle cry as he flew into combat with his enemies. But he used his implant to suppress those instincts. In the middle of the Planet Spectra, stealth was their best approach. They could hear Zoltar speaking.
"Oh, Luminous One!" he crowed, "Spectra's victory is at hand! The Atmospheric Destructor Weapon is nearly complete. Tomorrow we will finish the final tests and then…"
"Then you will finally finish what we began so long ago…" sneered the alien entity. "We should have taken this approach years ago. Attempting to conquer other planets and preserve their peoples was obviously a grave error on your part."
"Yes, my Leader." agreed Zoltar, "Why go to the trouble of ruling a planet when we can just eliminate it? I am eager to begin our final attack."
Jason's fists clenched around his cable gun and he gritted his teeth. To hear those… monsters… discussing cruelty on such a massive scale made his blood boil. Princess had tears rolling down her face, but she maintained her look of grim concentration. Keyop and Tiny remained focused, stoically ignoring their wounds.
Finally, Princess gave the go-ahead. Taking one last look at the readout on her hand-held scanner she nodded curtly.
The Federation's research had been able to determine some crucial facts about the alien entity known as The Luminous One. This included the ebb and flow of its powers based on the position of the Planet Spectra relative to its suns. Apparently the radiation from the suns affected the alien's abilities.
Princess had been monitoring Spectra's suns ever since their arrival, and now was the time when The Luminous One's powers were weakest.
"All clear, Commander." Princess looked Mark directly in the eye, knowing that it might be the last time she ever did so.
The Eagle acknowledged the Swan with a grim smile. "Then let's execute our plan."
He nodded to each team member in turn, connecting with everyone. Then he took a deep breath, and slipped into the room.
The Commander saw a full platoon of goons around the room. Intent on the conversation of their leaders, they never noticed the entrance of their greatest foes. Stealthily, Mark threw his Birdrang around the room, knocking out four guards. It was only the thumps as their bodies hit the floor that alerted their comrades. Immediately three more guards were struck by feather shurikens to the throat, as another three fell victim to a yo-yo strike. Keyop and Tiny engaged the remaining six guards.
Unfortunately the noise of combat alerted Zoltar to the presence of the G-Force team.
"G-Force! Here? On Spectra? You fools! You shall never leave this planet alive!"
Reacting in his usual cowardly fashion, Zoltar slammed his hand on a control panel, causing a force field to move slowly across the room. It would effectively cut Zoltar and The Luminous One off from the fighting.
If it worked as intended. Mark, Jason and Princess immediately dashed toward Zoltar, making it past the force field before it finished closing. They could see Keyop and Tiny finishing off the remaining guards as they were separated from their comrades.
"You foolish mortals!" admonished the Luminous One, "You shall never escape! All you have done is to seal your own doom."
"Somehow, I just don't consider a Great Blue Chicken to be even vaguely threatening." Jason quipped to his friends. Mark and Princess couldn't help grinning.
"I think the Condor is right." Mark said, "This is all just talk. We'll see what you are capable of without your legions of goons."
He didn't notice the subtle changes that the bird-like alien's appearance was undergoing, but Princess shouted a warning.
"Mark, look out!" she screamed.
But it was too late. The Eagle tried to dodge the light beam that the Luminous One emitted from his eyes, but was unable to do so. Crying out in pain, he clutched his helmet with both hands as Jason and Princess ran to help.
Zoltar cowered behind his leader, gleefully shouting insults at his enemies.
"Your unbelievable arrogance shall be your downfall!" the Spectran Leader cried. "You will never be able to defeat The Luminous One!"
Another beam struck at Jason, and he too fell screaming to the floor, grabbing at his helmet, his face contorted in pain.
Princess shuddered to think of what could cause the Condor to feel that much agony. Realizing that she had nothing left to lose, she looked frantically around the room. Her analytical mind noted that the control panel behind which Zoltar was hiding was of a different style and construction from the rest of the room. Taking a chance, she threw her yo-yo toward the panel, setting off the charge just as a third beam of light hit her.
The Swan screamed in agony, but it lasted only until the panel exploded.
Zoltar, his instincts for self-preservation as sharply honed as ever, managed to throw himself clear of the blast just in time. The Luminous One, being unable to move, was not so lucky. The alien's body, such as it was, shimmered and disintegrated into a million pieces before dissipating into the air.
"No! My Lord! Do not leave me…." wailed Zoltar, reaching out to the vacant screen where his master had been, only seconds before.
The entire military complex went dark as the power died, only to be replaced seconds later by dim emergency lighting. The force field vanished.
There were sounds of chaos and confusion as the guards in the complex evacuated their headquarters. Tiny and Keyop grabbed Zoltar as he tried to exit the room.
"Owl to Federation Forces!" Tiny said into his communicator. "We have captured Zoltar. The Luminous One has been defeated. Strike now!" It wasn't long before the sounds of gunfire echoed through the building as Federation troops attacked the base.
Meanwhile, Keyop ran to his fallen friends. They were all unconscious, although they seemed to be alive. Hopefully they could hold on until help arrived.