Chapter 4 – Heart of the Lion and Trial by Fire
I don't own Voltron Legendary Defender. Just taking the characters out for a spin. The only characters I own are Maya the Zenoxian and Nimel the freedom fighter.
Thanks to Puff the Ninja for letting me bounce ideas off her.
Maya met Keith in the hall, "I heard that Commander Holt will be attaching Shiro's new arm today."
The Black Paladin nodded, "Yeah," he replied.
Maya couldn't help but notice that he was quiet, more quiet than usual. "Is anything wrong?"
Keith stopped in the hall, "We should talk. I've noticed that you've been getting some attention from James Griffin, the leader of the MFE pilots."
Maya shrugged. "I've got a lot of attention. I guess humans have never seen someone like me before."
Keith chuckled, "That's putting it mildly," as a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. He stuffed his hands in his pockets. "There's no easy way to tell you this but watch out for Griffin. He made my life here at the garrison hell. He took every opportunity to take a jab at me." He sighed, "I don't know if it was jealousy. And the way Admiral Sanda acted, well be careful."
Maya cocked her head as she stared at him, "What do you mean?"
Keith sighed again as he leaned against the wall. "I mean that James was a bully to the tenth degree. And everything he said to me, especially about my parents, well that's when I fought back. You could say he's part of the reason why I was kicked out of the garrison. I don't know if he's still the same way or not, but be on your guard around him."
Maya nodded. The pair continued down the hallway where they joined up with the other Paladins and Mai Shirogane as they stared through the glass as Shiro awakened from the anesthesia from the surgery to remove the Galran implant attached to his body and replace it with an interface that was Altean.
Commander Holt stepped toward him so Shiro could focus on a friendly face. "How are you feeling?"
"Good. I'm good."
"I'm happy to tell you we've successfully attached your new prosthetic arm. We need to power it on and make any final adjustments. We've outfitted it with the most powerful energy source Earth has to offer. It's the closest we could get to mimicking a Balmeran crystal's energy. It should generate enough power to operate most of it. The remaining power will be drawn from your body's electromagnetic field."
Maya watched in fascination as the new forearm rose and floated in the air. The fingers stretched, it rotated, and the hand curled into a fist. Pain shot through her head as Shiro screamed in the operating room.
Sam stared at the readout on the machine showing Shiro's vitals, "He's crashing! We have to shut it down!"
Mai slammed her fists on the glass, "No!" she cried.
Keith wrapped his arms around the smaller woman.
Allura without a word to anyone ran past them entering the OR. She leaped and grabbed the malfunctioning prosthetic. Holding it down she craned her head in Holt's direction, "Sam we need to remove the power source."
He got to his feet and rushed over pressing a spot on the arm. The cover to the compartment slid back. He pulled the chip out. Allura replaced it with the crystal from her tiara that she'd worn. The lid slid back into place.
It lit up with pure light. Shiro's vitals stabilized.
Maya's pain left her as Shiro's eyes opened. She followed the Paladins and Mai as they rushed into the OR.
Shiro's eyes opened, "What-What happened? I feel strange. I feel great."
Mai rushed over to him and wrapped her arms around her son grateful he was alive. She straightened up and on second thought she smacked him on his human shoulder, "Don't ever scare me like that again!"
Relieved laughter burst from the Paladins and Maya.
Commander Iverson found the Paladins in the OR. He carried a Cadet's uniform jacket. He cleared his throat getting their attention. "Admiral Sanda wants Maya to wear this," he said as he passed the coat over to Maya.
He turned to the others. "The Admiral has called for another briefing. She wants to know what you might have found from Sendak's memories."
Mai turned to face Iverson as her light brown eyes flashed with anger. "My son just got through with surgery, and she dares to call another so soon? You go tell that bitch that I said she can stuff herself into a rocket."
The Paladins had various expressions on their faces ranging from shock to smug satisfaction on Keith's.
Iverson's face flushed a bright pink. "I am sorry, but everything that's happened since the Kerberos mission was all her call."
Mai crossed her arms over her chest, "That I know, she's made a mess of everything. You and Commander Holt are better leaders than she is."
He coughed into his hand, "That might be why she's given Lieutenant Shirogane a promotion to Commander and placed the Paladins and Maya under his command."
Shiro sat up and stared at Iverson, "She couldn't have. She's the one who said that Maya wasn't military."
Iverson shook his head. "I have no idea what's going on in her head. I just came to deliver the message. She wants you all there on the double."
Maya glanced around finally noticing someone was missing. "I haven't seen Nimel around. Where is she?"
Iverson gazed at the Zenoxian, "She's teaching some classes on rebel combat tactics."
Maya glanced between him and Shiro, "Why can't I do something?"
As Shiro stood he gazed at her, "We'll talk about this later. Admiral Sanda doesn't like to be kept waiting."
Mai folded her arms over her chest and glared at Iverson, "I don't give a rat's ass what the bitch wants. She can wait until hell freezes over for all I care."
Shiro gazed at his mother shock clearly on his face. He'd forgotten how fierce she could be, "MOM!"
Keith lost it as he doubled over in laughter pointing at Shiro. Lance and Hunk were beside themselves in mirth. Pidge just stared at Shiro. "Now, I know where you get it from. I thought Keith was joking,"
Shiro's face reddened. He'd forgotten the times where he'd gone on a cussing spree at the Galra.
Mai stared proudly at everyone in the room. "He's an adult now."
Allura and Pidge stood at the end of the conference room's table closest to the large screen. Pidge cleared her throat quickly to cover the snigger that came to mind over Shiro's mother's outburst about Admiral Sanda earlier. Calmed down she started, "We've learned so much from Sendak's memories."
Allura took over, "We discovered his methods for taking over planets like Earth. Sendak constructs armaments at key strategic points around planets. This gives him the ability to control enormous swaths of territory. He uses the armaments as deterrents to prevent any uprisings and to control conquered populations."
Veronica spoke up, "Based on data from Commander Holt's micro-satellites, cross-referenced with resistance intel, we've ascertained that Sendak built six massive structures on Earth. We never knew what they were being used for until now."
Hunk asked, "They're the weapons? What's stopping us from blowing them up?"
Admiral Sanda leaned forward, "We don't have enough firepower to do the jobs. And even if we did, there's a good chance those facilities contain civilians. We can't just go in blind."
For the first time since his return to Earth Shiro agreed, "Admiral Sanda's right. That's why we should infiltrate a base and gather intelligence first."
Veronica gazed at her computer screen, "The nearest base is fifty-two klicks south of our position."
Shiro asked, "What's the terrain like?"
Veronica clicked a button on her personal computer. "The region around what we'll call Base One is a complex urban environment. Our route will take us through highly patrolled areas. It'll be hard to keep proper surveillance of our surroundings due to all the structural damage."
Shiro clicked a button on his screen. "Then I suggest we form two teams, a ground unit that will attempt to infiltrate Base One and get eyes on whatever's inside, and a sniper team that observes from a higher position, covering the ground unit and providing some visibility."
Veronica nodded, "Use communications sparingly. Stay on the move, Keep an eye on the timing patterns of the patrol drones. Pidge, Keith, Allura, Maya and Griffin your ground unit. Hunk, Kinkade, Lance, and I will be sniper support."
Admiral Sanda jumped to her feet, "Absolutely not! That creature," she pointed at Maya, "is not going on this mission."
Shiro and the other Paladins jumped up out of their seats. "Must I remind you, Admiral," Shiro began, "You made me her guardian. Maya has skills that no one here has."
Sanda growled, "Very well." A gleam came to her eye. "Mr. Griffin, if she so much as acts like she's contacting the enemy you have my permission to shoot to kill."
Keith doubled up his fists as he leaned forward ready to spring, "You can't do that!"
Sanda smirked, "I just did."
Keith said, "Approaching target location."
Veronica's voice came over the comms, "Copy that, ground unit. We've got eyes on you."
Maya, Keith, Pidge, Allura, Kosmo, and Griffin entered a tunnel that led down into a sewage area under the city.
They heard Lance's voice through their helmets, "Drone patrol ahead." Keith put a hand to Kosmo's back, and the wolf stopped.
Once the drones passed, they continued. As they traversed through the tunnels, they came out into what was once an underground tunnel for traffic which was near Base One. They moved as close as they could get without alerting the guards. They crept behind a broken wall. Keith said, "This is as close as we're gonna get. Pidge and I are going in."
Griffin replied, "Negative. The route's obstructed. It's too well guarded."
Keith ignored the cadet. "Lance, you ready to cover us when we get inside?"
"Ready to go."
Maya almost laughed at Griffin's expression as the wolf, Keith, and Pidge disappeared in front of them."
Allura by way of explanation said, "It's a cosmic wolf."
Griffin said, "I've got to get me one of them."
Kinkade came over the comms, "I've got movement to the north. Drones are closing in on your positions from an adjacent alley."
Maya readied her chakram.
Allura said, "We've been spotted."
Kinkade replied, "Hang tight." He took out three drones, but that drew the attention of the sentries to their position.
Maya stood and threw her chakram and ducked back behind the wall. The chakram cut through three of the closet sentries. She timed it perfectly. She stood again and caught the weapon. She ducked back down behind the wall.
Griffin glanced at the weapon in her hand.
Maya smirked as she replied, "Let me guess, you need one of these too?"
He nodded. As more sentries began to arrive, he directed his comment to the sniper team, "I think you guys made them angry."
Veronica replied, "I've got five hostiles minus the three Maya took out."
Between Kinkade and Lance, they took out the other five sentries.
Maya smiled as she heard Veronica needle her brother about Allura.
Allura spotted another group of sentries heading their way, "Lance, Kinkade, more sentries incoming."
Maya threw her chakram taking out three more sentries, but the destroyed machines were replaced by three more.
They kept fighting until Veronica detonated the chaff which thankfully screwed up the sentries and drones ability to zero in on their targets. Veronica spoke quickly, "Rendezvous at your cruisers. We only have a couple of minutes until the sentries gain vision again."
Keith, Pidge, and Kosmo appeared behind Griffin, Allura, and Maya. "Let's move out," the Black Paladin said.
Back at the garrison, they returned for another briefing. Maya glared at Admiral Sanda. A thought came to mind that maybe the reason the Admiral distrusted her so much was because of her height, but if that was the case not many of the garrison people were put off by that. But she'd rectify that problem when she could so she wouldn't freak out anyone. As far as she knew no one had said anything about her shapeshifting capabilities. Sanda would consider her a threat then.
Pidge stood at the head of the table in front of the giant screen on the wall and brought up the image of a weapon that Maya recognized as did the other Paladins and Coran. "Sendak has built Zaiforge cannons. Our intel indicates the cannons were just completed. They could launch at any time."
Iverson asked, "What exactly is a Zaiforge cannon?"
Keith replied, "Planet killers. If these cannons launch and are fully charged, Sendak will be able to destroy Earth in seconds."
Veronica glanced around the room, "So what do we do?"
Keith knew what he had to say next would ruffle some feathers, but it had to be addressed. "Ideally, we attack all six bases at once, allowing them no time to stage a counterattack."
Admiral Sanda replied, "That's not possible."
Keith gazed at her, "If we had our Lions, it could be. We'll have to find another way to retrieve them since the ship we rode in on crashed."
Sanda seemed to be deliberately trying to start an argument. "Your Lions are orbiting another planet. There's no way to get you to them. Plus there are only five Lions."
Shiro replied, "MFE's would need to attack the sixth cannon."
Griffin spoke up for the pilots, "We'd love to, but they don't have that kind of range."
Coran interjected himself into the conversation, "There should be enough faunatonium to boost the MFE's to the sixth base and back."
Pidge replied, "That's great, and all, but Admiral Sanda has a point. We can't get to our Lions."
Maya felt Shiro's thoughts, but she tried to concentrate when she felt eyes on her. She looked up, and Griffin winked at her.
Shiro stood getting the entire rooms attention, "You don't need to go to them. They'll come to you. As Paladins of Voltron, you can connect with your Lions. They will come."
Hunk looked up, "From Saturn?"
Shiro turned toward him, "From anywhere. You've been training for this since the very beginning. Each of you has forged a bond with your Lions. Tap into it."
One of the officers at the table scoffed, "Sounds like a fairytale. Your talking about machines. How are machines going to come to Earth?"
Lance glared at him, "They might be machines, but you don't understand, they're also sentient." He leaned forward in his chair, "Our Lions did come to us when we were lost in space."
Keith added, "And Red saved my life numerous times."
Allura thought about it for a moment, "Yes, it's possible." She looked up at Shiro, "So we'll call the Lions to meet us here."
Pidge tapped her fingers on the table, "We'll need the element of surprise. The Lions will have to rendezvous with us at the bases."
Hunk made a popping noise with his mouth, "Yeah that will catch the Galra off guard. I mean assuming our Lions respond to our calls. What if they don't come?"
Shiro replied, "They'll come. And when they do, you will strike and destroy all six cannons simultaneously before they can be launched. And when the job is done, you can form Voltron and finish off Sendak and the rest of his forces."
Griffin took a step forward, "My pilots can transport four of you to the Galra bases before heading out to the sixth canon."
Veronica added, "I'll bring Lance to Base One. It's the closest, so I can do it by ground."
Shiro replied, "It's settled then. While Veronica drops Lance at Base One, the MFE's will each fly a Paladin out to a base. The Paladins should reach the drop zones at the same time the Lions arrive. Then the MFE's will head to the sixth base. We'll launch a coordinated attack on all six locations at once."
Maya joined all the Paladins on the tarmac. She hugged them all, "You are my family," she said as moisture gathered in her eyes. "Return safely."
"We will," Keith replied gently. "Take care of Kosmo for me."
A giggle bubbled up out of her, "You've finally accepted him as Kosmo."
Keith shrugged, "Maybe, but he'll listen to you and Romelle."
Maya watched as the MFE's and Veronica's cruiser all left the base.
Shiro wrapped his human arm around Maya's waist and led her back inside the garrison's command building. Once inside the command center, he set her down in an empty seat as he contacted the team. "Paladins, our window of opportunity is razor thin. With the element of surprise, we'll have the advantage. Good luck."
Maya focused on Lance. He was the most vulnerable. She jerked, the movement caught Iverson's attention. "What's going on with her?"
Shiro gazed at Iverson, "She has an empathic connection with Keith, Lance, and me."
Iverson nodded he gazed at the main screen, "Four of the five Paladins have reached their drop zones. Just waiting on Lance."
Shiro stared at the screen, "Lance, where are you? Can you hear me?"
Maya gasped, "The Galra attacked Lance and Veronica."
Shiro knelt in front of her, "Are he and Veronica okay?"
Maya smiled at him, "Yes, the Red Lion has arrived."
Iverson chuckled, "That's a nice skill to have."
Shiro shook his head. "No, it's a double-edged sword. If they're in pain, she can feel it." He didn't mention how she'd more than likely felt him die in his battle with Zarkon. He didn't want to think about that and pushed the memory to the back of his mind.
Iverson announced, "We have all Lions! It worked!"
Maya stood up as they listened to communications, "No! No, the Galra knew."
Shiro came to the same conclusion as Sam Holt stood off to the side. "They were ready for us!"
The Zaiforge cannons fired and Keith ordered the MFE's to return to the garrison. He ordered the Paladins to form Voltron, but they were caught in the beam from all six cannons.
Maya stumbled and collapsed between Shiro and Iverson. "They're alive but knocked out," she reported to her guardian.
Sam asked, "Where did those shots come from?"
Coran replied, "The Zaiforge cannons. Sendak was ready for the attack the entire time. How?"
Commander Holt looked around but didn't see who he was looking for. He asked the junior officer Curtis who was operating the nearest station, "Where is Admiral Sanda."
"Sir, she's been gone since our mission briefing."
Shiro called out, "Paladins, are you there?" Static answered him. "Paladins, do you copy? Keith? Anyone?" Static was his only response. He gazed at Sam, "Commander Holt, what weapons do we have available?"
"Fusion Cannons, but the fleet is out of range."
"What about the MFE's?"
"The mission depleted their power. They're changing now."
Coran gazed at the former Black Paladin, "Shiro, even with the MFE's, Sendak has an entire fleet."
"We need to get them back! We have to do something. What about the Atlas?"
Sam replied, "We've had little success launching it."
Shiro called out, "Veronica, monitor the fleet. Let us know if there are any changes."
"Yes, sir."
Shiro looked to the others, "Come on, let's get that ship off the ground."
Shiro looked at Coran, "Anything?"
Coran frowned, "Not yet. We can shut down all essential systems and use an external source to fire one engine."
Sam shook his head, "We tried that. It wasn't enough power."
Coran replied, "What about the crystals from the MFE's?"
Sam asked, "You think that will work?"
Coran replied, "Actually, no, scratch that. Far too small." Coran thought for a moment, "You don't happen to have any Nunville, do you?"
Sam asked, "Nunville?"
Maya reached into her pocket and pulled out the medal they had awarded her after Zarkon was defeated when Shiro disappeared. It had a tiny crystal in it. She held it out to Coran, "Would this help?"
Coran shook his head, "It's a nice thought, but we need a crystal at least a hundred times larger than that."
Veronica came over the comm, "I'm detecting movement from the Zaiforge cannons."
Iverson asked, "Where are they headed?"
"Based on our projections… They are converging above our location!"
Shiro gazed at Coran, "Even with all the power we've allocated to it. The particle barrier will never hold against a Zaiforge cannon."
Coran snapped his fingers together, "Wait, that's it. We can direct power from the shield generators to the Atlas."
Sam replied, "The base would be unprotected, but it's possible. And it might work."
Shiro asked, "How much time do we have before the Zaiforge cannons arrive?"
Veronica replied, "By our calculations less than two hours."
"We have to hurry."
Sam closed his eyes agreeing silently with Shiro's plan of action. His eyes opened, "Veronica transfer all data from mission control to the Atlas."
"Yes, sir."
Sam turned to Iverson, "Get all personnel aboard this ship immediately. Even noncombatants."
Iverson saluted, "Yes, sir!"
Shiro turned to Maya, "Help direct the noncombatants aboard. Especially my mother."
Maya saw others salute. She lifted the correct arm and saluted him, "Yes, sir."
She ran through the Atlas, a smile pulling at her lips. Finally, she was doing something. She had specific people to look for besides Mrs. Shirogane. There was Lance's family and Mrs. Holt.
Maya being taller than the average human saw Mrs. Holt and waved at her as she saw Lance's family who looked a little lost. She approached Colleen Holt, "Go on board. Commander Holt has someone waiting onboard to show you where to go."
As Colleen moved up the ramp, Maya saw Shiro's mother behind the McClains. Maya hurried over and pointed to the ramp where crates were being carried up the ramp, "We need to get you on board," she told the McClains.
Lance's father gazed up at her, "Your Maya. Lance has spoken of you."
Maya's cheeks grew hot. "Lance has talked about of all you the whole time we were in space. He missed all of you so much."
Lance's mother smiled in return as she got her family gear.
Mai approached where Maya stood. Maya turned to face the much smaller woman. "Mrs. Shirogane, I'm to make sure you get onboard."
Mai rolled her eyes. "My son and his good intentions. Sometimes he worries too much." She strode past Maya and walked up the ramp.
Maya saw Nimel in the press of people, "Nimel," she waved. "Help me get all these people on the Atlas, okay?"
Nimel nodded.
Sam's voice came from engineering, "We're all set. I'm ready to divert power from the barrier generators."
Coran replied, "Copy that. We're ready to receive."
Sam replied, "We've got it. It's charged."
"Shiro asked, "Is everyone aboard?"
Iverson replied, "The garrison's cleared. We're all in."
"Prepare for launch." Shiro pointed Maya to a seat behind Iverson.
The Atlas started to rise, but it lost power and sank back to the cradle that held the giant warship. Shiro whispered, "No."
Sam railed as he complained to himself, but it was heard on the bridge. He'd forgot to close the communication channel. "I've built a ship that's useless. It would take the power of several super-massive black holes to get this hunk of junk off the ground."
Coran brightened, "That's it! Why didn't I think of this before? Of course! Black Holes! Infinite mass!" He said as he reached into the uniform jacket he wore and pulled out the diamond created from the destruction of the Castle of Lions. "It was always right here!"
A smile began to tug at the corners of Shiro's mouth. "Commander Holt, you're going to want to see this."
Sam held a portable scanner in his hands, "The energy coming off this is incredible."
Coran replied, "The crystal was created after the destruction of the Castle of Lions. It's an amalgamation of the Quintessence Field collapsing from the infinite mass and Altean magic into this tiny thing."
Sam replied, "We need to get it hooked up to the Atlas immediately." The floor opened, and a chamber came up out of the floor. "This is where I originally planned to place a Balmeran crystal. It serves as the brain of the Atlas. We're gonna have to figure out some way to accommodate for the difference in size."
The crystal on its own volition flew into the container. Instantly power flowed throughout the ship.
Sam's mouth dropped open, and he shook his head in disbelief. "I can't believe it. It's amazing."
Veronica turned in her chair, "Subsystems are fully powered."
The dark-skinned man sitting across from Shiro said, "Megathrusters are go!"
"Veronica, Monitor the radars, let us know what you see," Shiro ordered. "Commander Iverson, I need you on the large weapons, Maya on the small weapons. And Coran, get the helm."
Coran stood up straight, pride in his stance as he saluted enthusiastically, "Yes, Captain!"
Shiro stunned gazed around meeting gazes with the bridge crew. Sam stood behind him, "The bridge is yours."
Shiro's lips upturned as his dark gray eyes held a glint, "We could use an engineer."
Sam saluted, "Yes, sir."
Veronica said, "Captain, the Galra fleet is directly over the launch pad."
Shiro thought quickly and made a quick decision, "MFE Squadron, we need you to clear a path. The Atlas is powered and ready for launch. Crew prepare for launch!"
Griffin replied, "Welcome to the battle, IGF Atlas! Clearing a path for you now!"
The Atlas rose up into the air from its Earthly tethers.
Shiro said, "Iverson, how are the weapons systems coming?"
Iverson replied, "Still working on them."
Veronica turned in her chair, "Sir, Sendak appears to be positioning to strike from above."
Shiro nodded, "Shields at the ready."
"Yes, sir."
Iverson said, "We have an ionic discharger online."
An almost feral grin came on Shiro's face. "Lock on that cruiser. Fire when ready."
The big gun on the Atlas fired taking out the cruiser Shiro indicated.
Veronica called out, "Galra cruisers are taking up positions around us."
The Atlas was rocked from several hits from the Galran warships.
Sam's voice came from engineering, "We have a problem in the main engine! The dynotherm connections are weakening."
Shiro said, "Commander?"
Iverson replied, "I'm hitting them with everything we've got, but there are just too many of them."
"Sam, what other weapons does this ship have?"
"I'm not sure. Once we added the crystal, this ship gained abilities I never imagined."
Veronica called over her shoulder, "We've got incoming. Wait they're friendly!"
Coran nearly whooped in joy when he reminded himself. He was a royal advisor. "The Lions! They've escaped!"
Maya smiled.
Cheers went up around the bridge as the Lions attacked the Galra ships surrounding them.
Coran cried out, "Ah! Excellent!"
Shiro couldn't keep the joy out of his voice, "Paladins, welcome to the fight! Let's go take out Sendak's cruiser."
Pidge's voice was heard over the comms, "Wait! We're still on that ship! Well, our bodies are."
Shiro smiled, "Amazing," he whispered. "We got ourselves some breathing room. Let's make it count."
Maya turned toward her guardian, "Midrange guns have come online."
"Fire!" Shiro ordered.
Several fighters were taken out along with a couple of cruisers.
The battle continued to rage on.
