Survivors, Monsters and Murderers

by jetangel02

Night Raid and the Jaegers are prepared to battle each other to the death. But are either of them ready to stand against one of the galaxy's deadliest species? Their best hope lies with a group of survivors from beyond the stars. War is inevitable and death is certain. Courage and trust are their best weapons against the Xenomorph plague. Rated M for language, violence and gore.

10. Chapter 9

To All Readers: Wow, it's already been a full year since I started the fic. I only regret that it took this long for this particular Chapter to come out. This Chapter is very special and important to me, because It's one of the few scenarios that I had always envisioned for years, and wanted to write it out. It's the sole reason why I started this fiction in the first place. Everything I've written so far was meant to lead up to this Showdown, that I always wanted to make happen. So I ask in earnest, for you all to leave a review, and give me your thoughts and feedback to the battle you're about to read. And lastly, this chapter and the next chapter are going to be battle chapters. You will learn what is going on with the Xenomorph prisoner in the chapter after that, I promise.

Disclaimer : I do not own any of the Aliens and Akame ga Kill! Franchises. Those belong to their respective owners.

Chapter 9: Justice

Hadley's Hope, South of the Empire

Esdeath held up an arm, and called to her Subordinates "Everybody, stand down!" All around her, most of the Soldiers and the Jaegers hesitated. "Why, Commander!?" Seryu argued "We have the Criminals in Our sights! Justice demands that We carry out their sentence, right here and now!" The General threw her a cold angry glare "I said stand down, Seryu! I'm not going to ask you again…" That got the amber eyed Jaeger to finally relent. Beside her, Koro whined in confusion as his user refused to order him to attack.

The rest of the Jaegers followed suit, and went through with their leader's order. Wave relaxed and stood at ease, but still retained Grand Chariot's black armor, in case this whole agreement went south. Kurome's weapons remain undrawn, though she kept one hand resting on Muramasa in its scabbard, and the other hand on the Revolver Pistol in its holster. She never took her eyes off Akame.

From up above, Run floated down beside his Commander. "General Esdeath. Are you sure about this decision?" he asked, while folding Mastema's wings against his back. "They're up to something. You know it, and I know it." He insisted. Esdeath nodded in agreement "Yes, Run. But the only way to find out, is to play along with this charade." She then leaned over to him "Once We learned enough about them, We'll plot out what to do next. In the meantime, We must not underestimate these people, like We did the Aliens. We're going to have to tread carefully this time." she admits. The winged Jaeger concurs, and kept his silence as he studied their adversaries closely.

Night Raid and the Colonial Marines stood close to each other, as they warily saw the Imperial forces around them stand down when the word of their General's order traveled throughout.

Hicks leaned towards Ripley, and murmured in her ear "Ellen. I hope you have some sort of plan…" The Lieutenant nodded "I do. But first, give me your helmet." The Corporal removed his helmet, and handed it over. Ripley then turned, and placed it on top of Newt's head to cover Spectator's headpiece "Ok, Newt. I need you to keep using your Imperial Arm, and learn everything you can from the Jaegers' memories. Start with their Leader, then move on to her Soldiers. Share with me everything you see, like you did when you showed me the Jaegers' encounter with the Aliens." The little girl made a childish salute, and activated Spectator's Insight ability. She then focused her Imperial arm towards scanning Esdeath's memories.

Ripley leaned towards Hicks, and murmured "Can you access certain systems on the Sulaco via the Dropship's controls?" The Corporal made a determined expression "I may need to have Bishop do a little tweaking. Why? What do you have in mind?" The Lieutenant looked around to make sure no one was watching her speak "I need you to do a manual override on some of the Sulaco's systematic functions, and rig it to where they're activated on a delayed timer." The Marine nods "Bishop should be able to manage it. But, We'll also have to figure out some way of letting him know, without alerting the others."

Ripley then shook her head "Newt's Imperial Arm won't affect synthetics. We're gonna have to be subtle about telling Bishop what we need him to do. Otherwise, the plan won't work. And We'll be as good as dead, or worse…" She leans back over to Hicks "I'll leave it to you to clue Bishop in on what We're planning for. Meanwhile, We'll be sure to keep Esdeath and her Followers distracted." The Corporal was uncertain "How do you plan to do that? And, who's We?" The Lieutenant made a slight grin and answered "You'll see…"

After taking a hard look, Run took notice of someone within Night Raid's group "Ma'am." he turned to Esdeath "Over there, next to Ripley. It's the little girl from that video archive record." Esdeath glanced at Newt, and smirks "So it is. It seems, she's survived the initial attack from the Aliens on the Colonists, all the say up go when Hicks' rescue team arrived." Wave overheard them, and gazed over at Newt. The little girl did indeed match the image from the recorded video. Albeit her clothes were mended, her hair is groomed, and much of it was hidden beneath a large Marine helmet she was wearing.

"Amazing. She managed to survive through all of this, despite her age, with no weapons or training." Wave commented admirably. Run nods in agreement "She would know a great deal about the Aliens and the events before the Colony's infestation. We should question her, as soon as we can, along with Lieutenant Ripley and Corporal Hicks." Esdeath makes a diabolical smile "All in good time, you two. First, let's see where this takes us."

Esdeath surveyed her army, as the word of her orders to stand down spread across the ranks of soldiers. When she saw that everyone had switched to standby, she turned to address Ripley "Okay! As you can see, my army has stood down. We have no intention of attacking." She demonstrated her assurance, by sheathing her rapier "There, you see? It's done. So, how would you like to proceed?"

Ripley also took a gander at the opposing army and the Jaegers in front. They all stood, looking expectantly at both her and General Esdeath. "Like I said before, I'll take you up to the Sulaco with me. You and one other Jaeger, while the rest stay here. I have no reason to think, you and your team would not attempt something treacherous. But, feel free to take as many Imperial Soldiers as you want." She then indicated the frozen Dropship "We'll need a moment to thaw out the Dropship. Take this time to determine which one of your Subordinates is going with you."

Esdeath considered Ripley's term "Very well. But I must insist, Night Raid stays here as well. I too have no reason to think neither of you wouldn't attempt to cross me." Ripley nods "Fair enough. But I'm taking one of them with us, to be sure we both remain on equal terms." Esdeath quietly nods and agrees.

"Hicks. Any ideas on restoring the Dropship?" Ripley asked the Corporal. Hicks grinned, and pulled out a Welding Torch from his pocket "I just need to thaw out the thruster nozzles. Then, all we have to do is to have Bishop switch the ship into defrost mode. That'll get the ice off of the hull and fuselage." The Lieutenant nods appreciatively "Good. Get on it, while I have a word with Najenda." She turns towards Night Raid's leader "I need you and the others to be ready for anything. You'll know when the time is right, when you see it." Najenda was still hesitant about this truce between themselves and the Imperials, but withheld her misgivings. She could not see any better alternatives.

"We'll be waiting." Najenda answered. Ripley nods and continues speaking "I also need Mine to come with us." Najenda was taken aback. "Why her?" she asked. Ripley explains "Because, she has an attitude and is outspoken. She'll play an important part to my plan. Without her, We're doomed." Night Raid's leader relents on her questions. She then looks over to Mine, and tells her "Go with them." Mine nods, and obediently walks over near Newt.

No one said anything, as they continued to eye each of their opponents with suspicion. Meanwhile, Hicks approached the ice covered Dropship, and ignited his Welding Torch. "Bishop." he spoke into his headset mic "I'm going to melt some of this ice off. When I do, I want you to ignite the engines, and set them to defrost. Do you copy?"

Bishop's voice crackled over some static ("Affirmative. Standing by.") Hicks took his lit Welding Torch, and held it against a frozen thruster nozzle.

While the Corporal labored to free the Dropship from the ice, Esdeath began to address her Subordinates "I want you all to remain standing by, and await my return." She then speaks with Run "You're in charge, while I'm gone. If something happens while I'm away, or I'm not back by noon, command my army to attack." She turns and looks back at Ripley, Hicks, and Night Raid "Wipe them out, down to the last individual, then secure the area, and continue the Alien hunt without me…" The winged Jaeger nodded dutifully "As you wish. But, Who will be accompanying you?"

Esdeath glanced around her "30 of my men will accompany me, and Seryu." Seryu looked at her Commander in response to her name "Ma'am?" The blue haired General waved the auburn haired Jaeger over, and took her aside by the shoulder "Listen to me closely." Esdeath instructed "Ripley and her group are definitely going to try something. So stay sharp, and be ready for anything."

Seryu answers with a salute "Justice is always vigilant, and ready to stand against Evil." Esdeath nods, and turned to look once more at Ripley's group.

Over at the Dropship, Hicks shuts off his Welding Torch, and spoke into his headset mic "Okay, Bishop. Give it a try." Over the radio comms, Bishop responded ("Right. Firing up the engines, now.")

Whrrrnnn! The air began to fill with the winding of turbines and jet thrusters, as the Dropship's engines began powering up. Bishop flipped a switch, and set the engines into defrost mode. In a matter of minutes, the enveloping ice began to thaw and come away from the hull and fuselage in large wet chunks. Underneath the thawing Dropship, Hicks stood by as the Dropship's loading ramp unfroze and opened freely.

Leone was the first to come charging down the ramp, assuming her Imperial Arm's bestial transformation. "Whoa! Hey!" Hicks called out, as he stood in her way "Stand down, Leone!" The bestial blonde then barked angrily at the Corporal "What the Hell, are you talking about!? Do you not see the enemy surrounding Us!?" Hicks maintained a calm face, and explained "We've worked out an agreement. There's no need for Us to fight." He then leaned close to her "Trust us, Leone. Let Me and Ripley handle this…" the Marine then beckoned for her to go and join the rest of Night Raid.

Lubbock and Chelsea slowly came down the loading ramp, to check out the situation. Lubbock had his Service Pistol drawn, and Chelsea was brandishing a Shotgun. When they both saw Leone deactivate Lionel and follow Hicks' directions, they followed suit, and rejoined their Comrades on the side. Like the Others, neither of them bothered with putting away their weapons.

Ripley observed the Dropship, and saw that it was finally cleared of ice. Hicks came walking up to her, and saluted "Bishop says, the Dropship is flight worthy. We can take off, at any time." The Lieutenant smiled appreciatively, and waves Mine and Newt over. She gives Najenda and the rest of Night Raid one final nod, as the band of assassins stood tense and ready for anything that might happen.

Ripley then turned around, and began waving over at Esdeath. The blue haired General nods coldly, and motioned for some of her Subordinates to follow her, as she came walking toward the Dropship. To Esdeath's right walked Seryu with Koro hanging off her shoulder, and behind both Jaegers marched 30 Imperial Soldiers in tight formation.

Ripley and Hicks led Newt and Mine up the Dropship's loading ramp. "Mine, take Newt and go get seated." Ripley ordered "Don't make eye contact, and don't talk to anybody. Just follow my lead and act natural." Mine hesitated at first, but made a small nod. "We're going to be fine." Ripley assured. The pink haired gunner took Newt by the hand, and brought her aside to a nearby pair of seats.

Down at the bottom of the Dropship's loading ramp, Esdeath walked up and stood waiting, with Seryu standing next to her, and Imperial Soldiers lined up behind them. "C'mon up." Ripley called down to them, and Esdeath led her Subordinates up the ramp and into the ship.

"Take a seat, and buckle in." instructed Ripley "Takeoff's going to get bumpy, and it won't do to have so many bodies being jostled around." She nodded towards Hicks who stepped into the cockpit, and settled into the co-pilot seat.

"Okay, Bishop. Prepare to lift-off." commanded Hicks. Bishop operated the pilot controls, and began throwing switches and pressing buttons "Roger…" he then spoke into his headset mic "Take-off procedures initiated." his voice sounded over the Dropship's PA speakers "All hands, please be seated."

Under Esdeath's direction, the Imperial Soldiers began taking up their seats, and secure themselves for the launch. Esdeath herself selected the foremost seat near Ripley, while Seryu holding Koro tight in her metal arms, sat next to her Commander. Finally, the last to sit was Ripley as the Lieutenant took a seat next to Newt with Mine on the far side.

All of the Dropship's occupants grew silent, as jet thrusters whined in growing intensity. After Bishop throttled the engines, the ship lurched, and powered against the gravity of its weight as it steadily rose above the ground.

Wave stood next to Run, as they both watch the Dropship lift off and climb steadily into the air before shooting straight up into the clouds. Both remained grimly silent, since neither of them knew what may occur next. Beside them, Kurome paced back and forth impatiently as she kept watch over at Akame, yet unable to do anything while under Esdeath's orders and the established truce.

Akame was also pacing back and forth, but more in assessment than impatience. She would only glimpse at Kurome occasionally. Other times, she studied the surrounding Imperial Soldiers. They were so many.

"Too many" Akame muttered admittedly. Her training and career as an assassin has made her into an extremely formidable combatant. But, she was hardly material for the vanguard, as her skillset was uniquely geared towards slaying high profile targets not an entire army. Especially one as big as Esdeath's, and with the Jaegers here to reinforce it.

Even with the whole of Night Raid at her back, the red eyed assassin couldn't say for sure if any of them could get out of this alive. Akame shifted her attention over to Najenda, feeling certain her Commander had come to the same conclusion.

Night Raid's leader scanned, and tried to determine the scale of Imperial fighting strength. By reputation alone, Esdeath's army was the stuff of legend, fabled as unbeatable and staunchly loyal to their General, no other army could contend with such a force. The few that tried, were ruthlessly steamrolled without effort. Now that very same army was staring them dead in the face, and only a handful of people stand in their way. Under normal circumstances, a squad of half a dozen would be hilariously outmatched by an army of several hundred-thousand strong. But, these aren't normal circumstances.

Several factors have deeply influenced this standoff. Ripley's last minute bluff had bought them more time, and prompted Esdeath and Seryu to remove themselves from the field. But at a cost, Mine and her Imperial Arm, Pumpkin had to go with them. And now Night Raid's best sharpshooter, ranged weapon, and their allies with their entire Colonial Marine arsenal are at risk of falling into the Empire's hands. From where they're standing, Najenda still couldn't see whatever advantages can turn the situation into Night Raid's favor.

At best, 6 Imperial Arms users can stand against 3, but an entire army tilts the odds in the Jaegers' favor. By how much, Najenda didn't know, nor did she really have a way of finding out. All she could really determine, was her own team's fighting strength. Night Raid's leader looked over to her Subordinates, and saw that each were carrying a compliment of Colonial Marine weaponry, plus their own respective Imperial Arms. If Night Raid was to stand a chance at victory, their Commander will have to strategize their battle strength to their most highest efficiency.

"All right. Listen up, Everyone." Najenda addressed her Subordinates "We need to be ready, in case this all goes to shit." All the members of Night Raid looked up at their Leader, and stood at attention. Before she can discuss strategy, Najenda wanted to see what she has to work with "Let's do a weapons check. Show me what each of you are carrying."

One by one, every member of Night Raid presented their loadout of weapons and equipment. From Akame, she had her Combat Pistol with a handful of loaded clips. Tatsumi had his Pulse-Rifle with one extra clip, and his Shotgun with a bandolier full of shells. Susanoo had his own Pulse-Rifle and Shotgun, but didn't carry any extra rounds. Leone was bare-handed, with only her Imperial Arm, Lionel to rely on. Chelsea had the third Shotgun, and kept extra shells and a few grenades stashed within the compartment of Gaea Foundation. Lubbock only had his Service Pistol with a couple of clips tucked away. And finally, Najenda had the only Flamethrower with its valve showing more than ¾ of fuel remaining. Their inventory doesn't look promising. Even if the amount was triple, it wouldn't likely be able to match up against the opposing force.

With an inward sigh, Najenda did her best to allocate their firepower "Okay. Here's what We'll do. Lubbock, you're in charge of defense. If the Enemy attacks, they'll be coming from all directions. I want you to form a barrier with Imperial Arm, Cross Tails, and hold them at bay. Chelsea and Su will join me, in laying down suppressing fire." She then turned to the others "Akame, Tatsumi, and Leone. You three are to engage the Jaegers once they enter the battle. Akame will handle her sister, Kurome. Tatsumi, you take Grand Chariot. The last Jaeger is left up to you, Leone. So grab a gun, and get well acquainted with it fast." All around, her Subordinates gave affirmative nods, and began to take up positions. "And share whatever weapons you can spare, with the person next to you." She commanded.

Tatsumi unslung his Shotgun and bandolier, and offered them to Lubbock "Here, take these." The green haired defense operative accepted the offering graciously, and began prepping Cross Tails. Susanoo did the same with his Shotgun, and handed it to Leone "Here you go." The voluptuous blonde studied the firearm, before taking it, and began observing how her Comrades handled such a weapon.

Wave stared over at Night Raid's movements "Run, look what they're doing." Run glanced at the group of assassins, with curiosity "Interesting. It seems, they are preparing to battle Us." Wave was beginning to grow anxious "Shouldn't we do something, instead of standing around like this?" The General's Aide frowned with uncertainty "We have our orders. We don't attack unless the time is up, or they attack Us first." He then checked to make sure every Imperial Soldier held their position. "Besides, I can see most of them a toting Colonial Marine weaponry." he added "Those firearms are potent, and We have yet to know the scope of their damage capabilities. Let's not do anything rash, right now. Okay?" The black armored sailor nodded behind Grand Chariot's faceplate. He then turned to see if Kurome understood Run's instruction, but the teenage assassin made no response as she continued to pace and stare at her Older Sister. Her patience was starting to run out.

Above the Empire's Atmosphere, Outer Space

The UD-4L Cheyenne Dropship barreled out of the upper atmosphere of the planet, and cruise along through the fathomless expanse of space. Most of it's current occupants unbuckled their safety harnesses, and moved about the cabin freely. Many began taking turns looking through nearby windows and portholes to gaze in wonder and astonishment at the stars outside.

"Amazing!" Seryu called out, as she gazed and marveled at the stars outside. On her shoulder, Koro only whined. Mine looked out and the stars, and was also overwhelmed with awe "Wait till the Others get a load of this, especially Akame. I bet she'd flip out, after seeing all of this."

Esdeath too was caught up in the wonder of space travel. "Look at all of those stars. There must be so many other Worlds out there, but how many? I should ask Ripley." Nearby, Ripley checked to make sure no one was giving her any attention. Once she saw that the cost is clear, she turned towards Hicks in the cockpit co-pilot seat. With a nod, the Lieutenant signaled the Corporal to proceed with the plan.

Hicks returns the nod, and nudged Bishop by the shoulder. Once he got the Synthetic Android's attention, the Marine began typing a message on the HUD screen of the co-pilot controls.

To ensure no one would notice what Hicks and Bishop were up to, Ripley tried diverting all attention to herself, by clearing her throat and calling everyone out "If I can have all of your attention real quick. There's a couple of things we need to discuss."

Esdeath and Seryu turned their gazes towards Ripley, and so too did the Imperial Soldiers. When all eyes were upon her, Ripley indicated a nearby viewport "The first, yall need to know, is that Space is a very hostile and a very dangerous environment." she taps her fingers against the viewport's glass "No human being can survive out in space. Not without the proper equipment, of course." When the Lieutenant saw a lot of confused faces, she attempted to use layman's terms to explain "Space is deadly by it's name's definition. The vast expanse from outside creates vacuum which sucks and drains every form of air and moisture from any carrier that is not sealed air tight." To help get her point across, Ripley spoke more graphically "If anyone were to step outside of this ship, all of the air, blood, and bodily fluids will be forcibly ejected from every orifice of one's own body. You'll die a slow and unpleasant death, as everything inside your body is wrung out and imploded."

Seryu threw Ripley a suspicious glare "Why did you bring Us out to such a deadly place? Did you think you can use the surrounding darkness against those who stand in the light of Justice?" For the first time since the standoff at Hadley's Hope, Mine spoke directly to her "You're an Idiot! If we'd wanted you dead, we would have tried blasting at you, back on planetside." Koro snarled at the pink haired gunner, as his user stomped towards her with clenched metal fists "What did you say to me!?" Mine was about to draw Pumpkin in readiness, but stopped, as she sees Ripley step between her and Seryu.

"I wouldn't advice any acts of violence aboard this ship." Ripley warned, as she brandished her Pulse-Rifle/Flamethrower "The Dropship is sturdy, but it's not design to withstand onboard confrontations. A stray bullet or misdirected attack can rupture the hull, and We'd all he killed by the vacuum outside." Seryu stared at the three barrels of Ripley's combo weapon aimed point blank at her face. Suddenly, Esdeath appeared in front of her, and darkly shook her head.

In a pout, Seryu retreated towards the back of the cabin, while holding a whining Koro close to her. All around her, the Imperial Soldiers began exchanging nervous glances. Only Esdeath remained passive "We get it, Ripley. We damage this ship, or open it in some way, We all die…" Ripley gives the Jaegers' leader an affirmative nod "Now that we understand each other, I should ask that your men refrain from probing about aboard this ship." Over near the weapons cache, a few Imperial Imperial Soldiers and Seryu were staring hungrily at the Pulse-Rifles, Shotguns, and Flamethrowers stowed on their racks.

Radiating a cold burst of Killing Intent, Esdeath addressed her Subordinates "Nobody touch anything. We still don't know what does what, so let's respect the Lieutenant's wishes." With a groan of disappointment, Seryu and the others skulk back towards their seats.

When Everyone found their way back to their seats, Esdeath approached Ripley. "Tell me about the world you come from. Tell me about Earth." she commanded. Ripley was relieved that the General was willing to engage in a conversation. It would keep her distracted, while Hicks, Bishop, and Newt carried out the plan's preparation. But, something the General said threw off the Lieutenant. "How do you know about Earth? And, how did you know Night Raid and my people would be coming to the Hadley colony, beforehand?"

Esdeath only grinned maliciously "I have my ways…" she answers cryptically. Ripley didn't want to put up with any nonsense "I'm serious. Tell me what I want to know." Esdeath then frowned in annoyance "I've asked you first."

Ripley thought for a moment, and conceded. Talking about Earth wasn't going to put anything at risk. "Earth is a lot like your World here." she started explaining "It has forests and mountains, oceans and deserts as well. Though Earth doesn't have as many landmass, and it's moon, Luna is pale, not red."

Off to the side, Seryu began to scoff "How can your moon be white? I think you're lying to Us." Ripley rolled her eyes "Different mineral composition, most likely." The amber eyed young woman continued to challenge Ripley's credibility "How would You know that?"

"Because, I was born on it." Ripley replied in a matter of fact tone "For centuries, mankind on Earth had long since pioneered the stars, and settled on countless other worlds. We've expanded far and wide, since then." Esdeath was very much intrigued by this information. She wanted to know so much more, but must refrain a little, or risk revealing her intentions "Can you tell me where Earth is located?" Ripley only shakes her head "I can't. Not yet anyway. We need to get to the Sulaco, first. That is where the information can be obtained."

Ripley stepped over to an array of computer screens and controls "You can help Us get to the ship faster, if you'd provide some extra visuals for locating the ship." She indicated a few screens that were direct feeds from the Dropship's external cameras. "Right now, we're following a beacon signal which we have to zero in on. A visual reference would expedite the Dropship towards docking procedures." Ripley then pulled up a chair, and beckoned invitingly for Esdeath to sit.

The General glared at the chair suspiciously, but after a while, she took the seat. "What am I looking for, exactly?" she asked. Ripley grinned reassuringly "You'll know, when you see it." Esdeath frowned, but remained compliant, as she silently turned towards the camera monitors, and began scanning for anything not resembling stars or blackness of space.

"Can I help?" Seryu asked impatiently, and Ripley pulled up another chair, then waved over for the auburn haired young Jaeger to come sit next to Esdeath. "A few extra eyes should speed up our search." reasoned the Lieutenant. After Seryu and Esdeath set themselves to scanning the monitors, Ripley stood next to them so as not to arouse suspicion. Behind them, Newt sat in her seat, and activated her Imperial Arm, Spectator. Using Spectator's Insight ability, she began scanning into both Jaegers' memories and past experiences. Once she was done, the Little Girl then turned her Spectator towards the Imperial Soldiers around her.

After gathering and collecting as much personal information on her targets, Newt followed through on Ripley's prior instructions, and relayed her findings, by using Illusion Sight.

What Ripley saw filled her with horror and dread, and she began to inch away from Seryu, as the visions encompassed her view. ("First to see, was a young girl with sapphire eyes and long blue hair, giggling to herself, as she mutilated a small animal she'd been hunting, while it was still alive. The poor creature squealed in pain, as the shock and trauma finally ended its life. With a shrug, Young Esdeath bound up the body, and carried it with her. The next vision showed a still Young Esdeath walking along a path to a village, only to find the village completely in ruins, its inhabitants dead or dying. She approaches a mortally wounded man lying nearby, who lectures her with his final words, that this massacre was a part of nature. Only the Strong get to Live and the Weak die off.")

Ripley closed her eyes in disgust. When she opened them, the visions continued ("She now sees Esdeath imbibing a black substance from an ominous looking chalice. Shortly after, Esdeath clutched her head in pain, as an unseen force started to overwhelm her. A moment passed, and Esdeath regained her composure. On her bust, just above her cleavage, a black tattoo-like marking began to appear. The vison pressed on, as it displayed Esdeath using her newly acquired power over ice, to slaughter countless people. There was one showing Najenda covering her mouth in shock, as she bore witness to the aftermath of a recent battle which led to a village being raze to the ground. A few survivors were tied up and forced to watch the razing of their home, all the while Esdeath taunting them in order to galvanize their desire for revenge, and incite another war. Some time after, Esdeath ambushed an unsuspecting Najenda who was attempting to defect from the Empire, and join the Revolutionary Army. The attack resulted in Najenda losing her eye and arm.")

Ripley shut her eyes once more, hoping to let the visions pass, until she can look at something more palatable, after. She opened her eyes again, and saw she was wrong ("Atop a mountain of rubble, Esdeath stood smiling with satisfaction, as she managed to bury alive an entire army of northern warriors. The vision skips forward some time later, to show Esdeath sitting atop of what appears to be some sort of throne. At her feet was a young man bound in chains, and completely nude, eagerly licking at Esdeath's high heeled boots. Suddenly, Esdeath kicked her foot so hard onto the young man's head, the high heel stabbed right into the young man's skull, and killed him.")

Ripley can feel resentment and rage boil within her, as she witnessed Esdeath's ever worsening cycle of death and torment. ("She now sees Esdeath returning to the Capital, her commendation and reverence as a hero from the young Emperor, the General's conspiracy with Prime Minister Honest about using Esdeath's servants the Three Beasts to assassinate influential government personnel. She also sees the blue haired woman passing the time assisting those within the Torture Chamber, by teaching how to boil people alive slow enough to prolong their agony. Then, the subsequent formation of the Jaegers, and the abduction of Tatsumi.")

Just as Ripley was considering some way of shutting out the visions, she began to see more informative content. ("The Jaegers began their first assignment together, by launching an all-out assault on a bandit hideout. Next, was Esdeath spending an uneventful night sleeping with Tatsumi. Soon after, came Tstsumi's escape and Wave's punishment. Then there was the matter of dealing with a plague of new and strange Danger Beasts. As Esdeath and Run discussed the matter of the Humanoid Danger Beasts, she showed the General's Aide a particular flower capable of causing extreme pain when applied to an open wound. A random patrol had her crossing paths with Tatsumi once again, until they were both mysteriously teleported to an island full of Colossal Danger Beasts. During some time alone together, both shared each other's past. Until finally, a way back presented itself, and both of them returned to where they had met, while Tatsumi managed a second escape.")

"You guys find anything?" Ripley asked, while trying to act natural. She'd have to keep up appearances in order for no one to figure out what's she and Newt have been doing.

"No…" Esdeath answered promptly.

"Nothing here." Seryu replied, with annoyance "It would help if you describe what We should be looking for."

Ripley tapped a monitor screen, and explained "Relax, these cameras have specialized sensors for picking up relevant objects. They'll mark and highlight the ship long before you get a chance to see it yourself. It's meant for your eyes not to work as hard and risk straining them."

"How boring…" Esdeath sighed, but she continued to look at the screen. The sooner she can get to the ship, the better she'll feel with things moving along.

Ripley makes a friendly smile, and resume facing a monitor screen, as the visions continued stream in her veiw. ("One day, she sees Esdeath sitting in a chair and staring admirably at an hand-drawn picture of Tatsumi. She was then approached by Run with new orders from the Prime Minister. The Jaegers have a brief meeting, before deploying on their mission. The vision jumps to the Jaegers encounter with Hicks and Bishop in the Dropship. After a brief diversion, the Dropship gets away into space, and the Jaegers continued south. The next vision showed the Jaegers riding a large flying Danger Beast into a ruined campsite. After an impromptu investigation, they turn up with a sole survivor of the Expeditionary Force. The lone soldier kept babbling on about an unstoppable crawling darkness that came for him and his comrades in the dark of night. He gave a vague description on the creatures' battle prowess, before taking his own life. The Jaegers maintained their search for other survivors and the creature that was described. Their search led them into an Alien Hive, where they stumbled across the remnants of cocooned Imperial Soldiers, and the swarm of Aliens that were bred from them. The Aliens attacked the divided Jaegers, which exacted a heavy toll on the group. Wave was hurt, Kurome was also injured and lost her Imperial Arm, Yatsufusa, Bols was subdued and impregnated, Seryu expended most of her weapons while her Imperial Arm, Koro was neutralized by a type of Alien Ripley never seen before. Esdeath battled another peculiar Alien strain, before facing the one that defeated Koro, and confronting the Queen. The onslaught greatly taxed Esdeath as she sustained minor injuries, and was briefly stunned by the Queen by some sort of intimidation. Esdeath tried to attack, but the Queen countered strongly, only to be foiled by a timely intervention from Wave and the Bird Wyvern. With the battle turning against her favor, the Queen escapes, and her brood abandon the Hive. The Jaegers regroup, and gather up a disabled Bols and Koro, before departing and destroying the entire Hive with Bols' Imperial Arm, Rubicante. The Jaegers return to the Capitol, and await the recovery of their Comrade. After inviting Bols' family for a visit, the Jaegers rejoice after witnessing Bols regain consciousness. They gathered for a large dinner feast, and watched in horror, as an Alien Chestburster erupted out of an unsuspecting Bols, only to be captured by a quick-thinking Esdeath. The Jaegers slip into pandemonium, as they saw firsthand the horrific and disgusting process in which Aliens are born.") Ripley's throat locked up, as she inadvertently beheld another victim gutted by an Alien offspring. Then, a horrible realization came over her. Assuming the Empire hadn't killed It, there may be an Alien dwelling inside the Capitol. And she had no doubt, the Imperials would try to study and exploit It, for their own dark causes.

Ripley, Hicks, and Night Raid will have to somehow have to find the Xenomorph harbored somewhere within the Capitol, and destroy It.

Unfortunately, the visions of horrendous events, haven't finished yet. But it seems Newt gathered all that was needed from Esdeath, because now she was relaying visions of Seryu's past instead.

Due to Seryu being younger, the visions were shorter. But, they weren't as pleasant ("There was a young Seryu standing vigil over a grave. Beside her, stood a large muscular man with a scar over his left eye socket. The large man draped his arm over Seryu's shoulder for comfort, as a sinister smirk formed at the corner of his face. Later, the man took Seryu under his tutelage and mentorship, conditioning her into a formidable fighter, and teacher her that Justice means serving the Empire, by destroying all who oppose it and its laws.") Ripley came to realize that the man was Captain Ogre, whom Najenda had described, and whom Tatsumi had assassinated.

"So, this was the bastard, who had corrupted Seryu, and twisted her moral views." Thought Ripley, as she snuck a look at the amber eyed young woman. "If her father had still been alive, would she have turned out differently?" Ripley didn't know enough about Seryu's father, but compared to Ogre, he couldn't be any worse an alternative. Seryu turned and caught the Lieutenant looking at her.

"What are you staring at?" Seryu asked. Ripley tried to look friendly, and replied "It's nothing. I was about to ask you to tell me more about yourself. Maybe about your family, perhaps?"

Seryu made as if she was about to speak at length, but stopped herself and turned back towards the view-screens "Not now. We still have to find the Sulaco. Don't distract me, until then." Ripley shrugged and turned away to look back at her own monitor.

The visions continued on ("Seryu slumped, as she heard the news of Ogre's death. When she learned that Night Raid was responsible, she angrily vowed that she would not rest until every member of Night Raid was exterminated. In time, she was introduced to a colleague of Ogre, who was known as Dr. Stylish. The Doctor offered to performed a few tests and experiments on Seryu, in the prospect of turning Seryu into a much stronger fighter. Seryu agrees, and underwent an experimental procedure where she was subjected to extremely painful body modifications. The procedure was completed, and Seryu was then tested for compatibility with a certain Imperial Arm. After the test, she was given charge over Koro, and the two of them became inseparable partners."

Ripley made a quick glance at Koro hanging onto Seryu's shoulder. She found it difficult to understand how such a small and unassuming creature could be considered a lethal weapon on par with other Imperial Arms. Her answer came soon enough with the next set of visions. ("In a chance encounter, Seryu and Koro met with Tatsumi for the first time. She introduced herself and her biological Imperial Arm to the green eyed fighter, before guiding him to his destination. Later on, she ambushes Mine and Sheele, while they were falling back after a mission. A major battle ensues, and Seryu had Koro transform into a large voracious beast. The fight raged on, with the members of Night Raid gaining the upper hand, until Seryu had Koro activate his Trump Card. The biological Imperial Arm changed from white to red, and grew even bigger and more savagely powerful. After letting out an overwhelming roar blast, Koro grabbed Mine with a large fist, and tried to constrict the pink haired assassin to death. Sheele intervened, and used her Imperial Arm to sever Koro's arms and free Mine. Sheele looked over her Comrade with a sense of relief, until a gunshot sounded, and a bullet struck her from behind. To the side stood Seryu, with a gun barrel protruding from her mouth, and her face dementedly warped. With Sheele stunned by her gunshot wound, she can only watch as Koro came at her with wide open jaws full of rows of cruelly sharp teeth. In one massive bite, the Berserker Imperial Arm tore Sheele in half, and held her upper torso in his mouth. Helpless to do anything, Mine looked on, as Sheele used Extase's trump card to distract the enemy, so that Mine could escape. Seryu began laughing hysterically, as Koro devoured Sheele completely until only a bloody Extase was left. Seryu continued laughing, and wept with pure joy after successfully killing a member of Night Raid and making the World a better place.")

Ripley's stomach churned with morbid disgust and hatred, then realized her hands were drifting idly towards her Pulse-Rifle's trigger. She hastily reeled in her arms, and kept them steady, hoping no one had seen what they did. When nobody said anything, she calmed herself, and steeled her resolve in going through with the visions.

The Lieutenant soon learned, Seryu's past actions had grown worse. ("After losing her arms in her battle with Sheele and Mine, Seryu was soon fitted with mechanical prosthetics by Dr. Stylish. The Doctor then developed and armed Seryu with a formidable arsenal that was dubbed the Judgement of the Ten Heavenly Kings. Soon after, both Seryu, Koro, and Dr. Stylish went on to joined the newly formed team of Imperial Arms users formally known as the Jaegers. Although, Dr. Stylish had perished after attempting to assault Night Raid by himself with only his personal fighting force to assist him. Seryu was once again distraught, after learn of the Doctor's demise, and she then grew to admire General Esdeath when the latter consoled her in her grief. During her tenure with Esdeath and the other Jaegers, Seryu went on fighting and killing anyone unfortunate to wind up as a target. Her victims ranged from bandits to civilians to whoever she suspected of committing any form of crime, whether they were innocent or not. Eventually, she began killing without bias, not waiting for any captured prisoner to be put on trial or given the chance to clear their own names. She'd either feed her victims to Koro, or butcher them herself.") This streak of carnage was almost too much for Ripley to bear, but what came next got her attention. ("The timeline finally caught up to current events, and The Jaegers set out on their second attempt to investigate the Valley where the Hadley colony was located. They arrive at the Colony, and immediately began their investigation. They soon discovered the remnants of Night Raid's camp, then proceed with exploring the Colony itself. Inside Hadley's Hope, the Jaegers ran into the last line of Operations' defense that Ripley and the Colonial Marines had set up to ward off the Aliens. The Jaegers became separated, and soon found themselves beneath the Colony sub-levels battling mutated Aliens, and a large Bestial Xenomorph. But, it was during such tribulations that they made a very important discovery…")

("Hudson!") Ripley mouthed in surprise, and she instantly covered her mouth to avoid giving away her surprise. Thankfully, no one noticed, and assumed she was just yawning. Her relief was compounded further with the revelation that Hicks' friend and comrade was seemingly still alive. From here on in everything else from the visions began to fall into place. ("The Jaegers manage to restore power to the Colony, then they went back to Operations and come to learn everything pertaining to LV-426, Hadley's Hope and it's Colonists, the Alien infestation and the fate of the Colonists, the Colonial Marines' failed rescue mission, and the Atmosphere Processor's imminent destruction. All of the facts were corroborated by the Colony archives, and Hudson's testimony. The Jaegers now knew everything they needed about the events happening around them in the past few days. They even chanced upon learning about the Dropship's intended return trip to Hadley's Hope. Once Hudson got wind on what's about to happen, the ComTech made a valiant attempt at warning Hicks, but was hit on the side of his head so hard by Seryu, that he passed out soon after. Seryu had intended to dissect Hudson, to ensure the ComTech wasn't parasitized by the Aliens, before she'd feed him to Koro. But, Esdeath interjected by insisting that Hudson may yet still be useful. She then had the Jaegers and her newly arrived army of Imperial Soldiers stage an elaborate ambush to catch the Colonial Marines and Night Raid off-guard. All they had to do was shut off the power to the Colony, and hunker down and wait within the cover of the surrounding forest wilderness. And their prey fell right into their trap, hook, line, and sinker.")

Ripley barely managed to stifle a wave of nausea, as she fought hard against her gag reflex. With all the death and destruction she'd seen done by the Aliens, it was next to nothing compared to unimaginable torment and suffering perpetrated by those she's brought aboard this ship. The visions shifted to those of the Imperial Soldiers and What they've committed in the past.

The vision was a jumble of recollections from different individuals. ("Imperial Soldiers swarmed into a small village, and they plundered and destroyed all they came across. One soldier ran the blade of a sword down an elderly man's mouth. Another impaled a youth with a spear. The last piece of the vision showed a trio of Imperial Soldiers kicking in a door to a small building. Inside was a young woman, with a little girl around Newt's age, clinging to her. The Soldiers grabbed the woman by her hair, and began to drag her away from the little girl as she screamed and cried while holding onto the woman's outstretched arm.") What came next, pushed a nauseous Ripley to her breaking point. ("The three Soldiers held the woman down atop a pile of straw, and began ripping away pieces of her clothing. The vision ended with the little girl sobbing by herself, while the three Imperial Soldiers began taking turns as they sexually violated the woman. They continued ravaging her again, and again, and again…")

Ripley immediately aimed her weapon at the trio of Imperial Soldiers she recognized from the vision "You Motherfuckers raped a helpless woman, in front of her daughter!" She primed the Flamethrower's igniter, and then she suddenly felt the hard tip of steel prick her from behind.

"What do you think you're doing?" Esdeath demanded, as she held her rapier against Ripley's back. Her expression more curious than surprised. Despite the deadly gesture, Ripley didn't relent her firing stance "Making these barbarous animals accountable, for what they've done."

Esdeath pressed her blade a little further to the point of puncturing the fabric of Ripley's jacket and the shirt beneath "These men happen to be loyal soldiers of my army, who obey my orders." Ripley turned around to face the blue haired General "Does that include the Rape and Murder of so many innocent victims?"

The Jaegers' leader smirked, as if she was asked something with so obvious an answer "Those who are victorious, deserve to enjoy having their way with their defeated adversaries. Such are the spoils of war and conflict." Ripley flinched at Esdeath's straightfaced response.

"You're a Monster." Newt spoke with morbid conviction "You enjoy hurting others."

"The Strong have the right to do as they will with the Weak." Esdeath answered "It is the Weak's own fault, for not having any strength to resist." Ripley felt hate and resentment well up inside her, as she listened to then sadist revel in her own Darwinist ideals "Like you would know what strength is. You prattle about, and flaunt your unnatural abilities, while remaining ignorant to the nature of What real power is."

Esdeath took that comment as a challenge, and instantly responded by conjuring an ice dagger, then held it mere centimeters from Ripley's eye. "I'm a Survivor. I overcome any challenges that lie before me. My strength grows, and my skills are honed, with every battle I fight. What better way to live, than always searching for my next quarry. And if no enemies remain, I'll simply make more by taking away the peace in their live, and therefore making them hate me and willing to do whatever it takes to kill me." Her sapphire eyes lingered over to the Dropship's camera monitors, then back "And I'll roam as far and wide as I can, to face my next prey. One that can actually defeat me this time."

The Lieutenant glanced at the computer screens as well, and came to realize what the General intended to do once she possessed the Sulaco. With a starship, the Jaegers' leader will continually hunt down and wipe out the Aliens, but she won't stop there. Once Esdeath kills all who stand in her war on this World, she can and will bring war to countless others beyond, maybe even Earth. She must be stopped at all cost. And if Ripley's plan come into fruition, the threat may yet be neutralized. So long as Ripley kept Esdeath's attention focused on herself.

"You still don't know What you're dealing with." muttered an exasperated Ripley, as she recalled how Ash had taunted her, Parker, and Lambert, back when the treacherous Android was at their mercy "The Perfect Organism." Ripley continued "Its structural perfection is only matched by Its hostility." She can see Esdeath was making an excited face "And you admire It, don't you?" The sapphire eyed woman made no attempt to hide or deny the insinuation. She would only smile insidiously and quietly nodded, before dissipating her ice dagger. "The Aliens and Their Queen were the only species to manage to hand me my only defeat. I will not rest until I grind every last Xenomorph under my heel."

"You're no different from Them, for They too are Survivors." growled Ripley "Unclouded by Conscience, Remorse, or delusions of Morality." She continued, knowing what she spoke of was the truth "I've seen all the horrible things you've done. Enough to know what you are. It's You and those who follow You, that are like a cancer to this World. Just like the Aliens."

"How dare you throw such allegations towards the Warriors of Justice!" Seryu snapped, completely furious by what Ripley was saying "By what proof, are you basing these claims on!?" This time, Mine chimed in "We don't need proof to back these accusations! Just ask any person from the slums or in the red-light district. They can easily explain what the Empire did to place them into a life of poverty and misery."

Koro snarled at Mine once again, but Seryu remained in place. "Justice doesn't answer to the lowly dregs of society." she replied with so much pride and arrogance. "Why should Justice take the words of Whores, and Thieves…" she then points directly at Mine "And Murderers." Mine refused to back down "Better to be loathed and despised as a killer, than be enthralled by one." She pointed her finger right back "We know every single atrocity, You and Your Comrades have ever committed. We saw You laughing and smiling with every kill You make. Just like Esdeath. Just like your Captain Ogre, and your pal Dr. Stylish." Seryu couldn't tolerate Mine's insolence any more "Koro!" she called to her biological Imperial Arm-

Ahem! Ripley made a light cough, and tilted the Flamethrower's nozzle in Seryu's direction. "Muzzle your dog. Or I'll vaporize you…" Ripley threatened, despite Esdeath's rapier still pointed at her back. "Drop your weapon, Ripley." Esdeath demanded "Or, I'll skewer you." The Lieutenant was more perturbed than afraid by the General's threat "What's wrong?" she asked "Afraid that your Jaeger underling will learn the truth about your precious Empire? For someone who revels in mass destruction and suffering, you sure like to keep it under wraps."

"You're one to talk…" countered Esdeath, as her sapphire eyes narrowed with cold suspicion "You're using an Imperial Arm, aren't you? That how you've managed to learn so much about Us." Knowing that the jig is up, Ripley nodded at Newt, and instructed her to remove Hicks' helmet from atop her head.

Everyone stared at the metal headpiece that rested on Newt's brow. Esdeath glanced at it for a moment before recognizing the item. "That looks like the Omnipotent Five Sights, Spectator. An Imperial Arm that grants the user the power of sights and illusions."

"Illusions?" Seryu spat out in anger "What were they doing with such an Imperial Arm?"

"It appears, they'd intended to use Spectator to gather information." Explained Esdeath in a mildly impressed tone "Everything We know or witnessed, would be laid bare for them to see. And then, they would use said information against us." Seryu turned to face Newt accusingly "So this whole charade was a farce, to begin with. They were setting us up this whole time!"

"Seryu." Newt pleaded "If you really do want to get rid of Evil Monsters and Bad People, then let me show you Who the Bad People really are." With a dark expression, Seryu slowly approached the Little Girl. "With this Imperial Arm, I can show you the truth about the Empire you protect." Newt continued "I can show you all the crimes and bad things that the Empire is doing-"

Slap! Newt was silenced from speaking any further, as Seryu struck a metal hand across the Little Girl's cheek "Keep your lies and your scandalous defamations to yourself, you miserable brat!" Newt was instantly holding her face, and sniffling hard as she tried not to cry out loud.

Mine began to charge at Seryu "You Piece of Shit!" Before the Genius Sniper could make two steps, Koro sprang in front of her, growling and gnashing his sharp teeth at her. Mine halted abruptly, not wanting to agitate the biological Imperial Arm any further, and risk being devoured. Seryu ignored Mine's reaction, and forcefully tore the Spectator headpiece off of Newt's brow. "That oughta keep you from playing your dirty tricks on us." She snarled, as she tossed Newt's Imperial Arm aside.

Ripley was appalled by the whole spectacle "What's the matter Seryu? Can't stand the idea that the people you work for and protect so zealously, were no better than the monsters you've been fighting? Are you that afraid to realize that you've been so gleefully butchering the wrong kind of people?"

"Be quiet." Esdeath glowered at Ripley "So, all this time, everything you've told Us before was a lie." Ripley returned the look "Not everything. I truly did wanted your help in destroying the Aliens, but I had to try and ensure that the Jaegers and the Empire wouldn't pose a threat to us." Esdeath made a sadistic smile "Well, you failed. You really had us going, by leading us on with your deceit. But now, I can see through your schemes, and I'll never fall for them again. From here on in, nothing you say can give me pause.

"Not true." Ripley retorted "I can't lie to you about your chances, but…" her expression turned to smug satisfaction "You have my sympathies."

Smack! Esdeath backhanded Ripley across the cheek, and sent the Lieutenant stumbling back. "Enough of your tricks. This Game is over. Now were doing things my way…" she raised her rapier, and aimed the tip towards Ripley's throat.

In the cockpit, Hicks climbed out of the copilot seat and reached for his Pulse-Rifle "Not going to happen…" Only to stop short, after seeing two dozen rifle barrels aimed straight at him from the Imperial Soldiers own guns. The Corporal eyed the firing squad cautiously, and lowered his weapon.

"Everything you do is futile." sneered Esdeath "Your ruse has failed, and you are all under my mercy now." She raised her sword, and held it close in front of one of Ripley's dark eyes "You're all going To suffer for this, and I think I'll start with you, since you seem to be the ringleader behind this whole thing." The tip of the rapier inched closer to the Lieutenant's left eye "I'll leave you with one of your eyeballs, so you can see what I'm about do to the Corporal and the Little Girl."

"It's Newt, you Bitch…" Newt muttered in a low voice, but Seryu heard her comment, and grabbed the girl by the collar of her overalls. "Here, Ma'am. Teach this insolent brat about respect!" Mine surged forward angrily "Don't you touch her!" all around her, Imperial Soldiers seized the pink haired sniper, and held her down.

Esdeath began to smile menacingly "I think my men deserve a reward, for watching my back." She then indicated Mine, with a nod "I want you all to Violate her, until you are all satisfied."

Mine immediately began struggling with all her might, as multiple hands continued to hold her down against the floor, while others began feeling along her body. One was roughly fondling her breast, another felt up her dress and slid along her thighs, and others were frantically tugging and tearing at the lacings of her clothes in an attempt to rip them off.

"Enough." Bishop spoke calmly, as he exited his pilot seat, and stood before Everyone "I must insist for you all to cease such despicable activities, at once." All eyes fell on the Synthetic Android, with mixed confusion, disbelief, and hubris curiosity.

"Or what?" Esdeath chuckled "You'll stop Us? What can an unarmed man do, all by himself?" Bishop was unfazed by her taunt. "I prefer the term Artificial Person myself." he clarified "I'm not like a regular human being. My physiology is carefully constructed by human hands. I'm a robot in a traditional sense. I have a higher constitution than a normal parson." Esdeath was amused "Hehe. Do you thing you can defeat all pf Us, all by yourself?" Bishop looked at her calmly "I will try. It is impossible for me to allow to be harmed, a human being."

Seryu clenched a tight hold on Newt "What kind of logic is that!? Are you saying, you're willing to hurt humans, to save humans!? Aren't you contradicting yourself!?" Bishop turned to the auburn haired murderess, and answered "My programming defines humanity as a sentient species of hominids originating as natives of Earth. Although, the people of this World are just like the humans from the Sol System, your origins seems to be solely of this World itself, and therefore nulls the qualifications to be defined as human. Especially you, General Esdeath. Your anatomy may be consistent with that of a human, but further analysis of your morphology reveals certain anomalies not found in other people. I suspect your Imperial Arm, Demon's Extract has altered you're body at a possible genetic level, and thus granted you some form of cryokinesis as a result."

Esdeath conjured an ice javelin from thin air, and left suspended and pointed towards Bishop. "Quite an astute observation. Now, how does that tie into the current situation?" Bishop then explained "It means, if you try to hurt my Comrades, I will try to stop you, and most likely be destroyed in the attempt." Hicks then explains the rest "And you will lose the only one capable of piloting this ship. You then won't have any way of maneuvering." He smirks "You'll either crash, or drift aimlessly through the emptiness of space. Without Bishop, this vessel will essentially become your tomb."

Esdeath's sapphire eyes narrowed. All around, her Subordinates looked between their leader and the artificial person, with uncertainty.

The tense silence was promptly interrupted by Ripley's chuckling "Hehe. Do you get it now? You harm either of Us, and You lose your one way of safely getting back home. You are no longer in your World. You're in Ours. And you have to play by Our rules." Esdeath's expression was lethal, but she withdrew her rapier away from Ripley's face. The General's sword was still pointed at the Lieutenant "You think you have us trapped. But, you're only prolonging the inevitable. I'm still in control here. Not you. And I'm still going to make you all suffer, once this is all over…"

Esdeath ordered Seryu and her Imperial Soldiers to gather up Newt and Mine, and place them next to Ripley. "As soon as we get aboard the Sulaco, my Subordinates and I will be the first to disembark. We'll be taking Ripley, Mine, and Newt with us to ensure Hicks and Bishop's compliance. If anyone tries anything, We'll butcher the three of them alive." Seryu pried Ripley's Pulse Rifle/Flamethrower from the Lieutenant's hands, and steadied the Flamethrower's nozzle towards Mine. Koro growled, and bared his sharp teeth at Newt as the Little Girl stared back unflinchingly.

"I want what you had once offered me, Ripley. So I'll be taking your ship, it's arsenal, and the Aliens' location." Esdeath declared. She beckoned for Bishop and Hicks to return to the Dropship's controls, which both quietly did. Esdeath glances back a Ripley, and smiles once more "Relax, Ripley. I'm not going to kill you all outright. After all…" she points to the cockpit window, and the stars beyond "I still want you to show me the location to your so-called Earth."

A loud beep sounded off from the pilot controls, and Bishop turned his attention to a small HUD screen "Sulaco detected, off our port-bow. Initiating docking procedures."

Out past the cockpit window, Everyone can see the growing silhouette of the Conestoga-class starship as it loomed within the blackness of outer space, waiting for its crew to return. Almost all of the Dropship's occupants including Mine, Newt, the Imperial Soldiers, Seryu, and even Esdeath stared in awe at the intimidating and battle hardened war machine, as it got bigger and bigger during their approach. The image of the U.S.S. Sulaco grew to the point where the entire view from the cockpit window was blocked by the Sulaco's massive hull.

No one noticed Ripley looking at Hicks, as the Corporal winked at her, and shut off a display screen that was showing a countdown timer. The Lieutenant nodded with grim satisfaction and quietly began to hum a tune to herself ("…you're my…lucky…star…")

A small portion of the Sulaco's belly opened, after a pair of large hydraulic hatches split and widened to receive its boarders. Clamps extended and cradled the smaller vessel, as the outer doors folded closed and the drop bay started to pressurize. Once pressurization was complete, a portal above split open to allow passage inside.

U.S.S. Sulaco, Outer Space

The quiet gloom of cavernous Hangar within the Sulaco was suddenly interrupted, as flashing white klaxons flickered and powered on, to announce the arrival of the UD-4L Cheyenne Dropship. A massive docking crane loomed overhead, as it maneuvered in place above the drop bay, and reached down to fish out the Dropship through the open passageway. The crane held the ship aloft, while the drop bay doors shut, then lowered the vessel onto the doors that acted as its landing platform. All of the corresponding machinery whined down, as they fulfilled the task of successfully docking the inbound boarding party.

Hicks and Bishop were forced back into their seats within the cockpits. Esdeath then had heir hands bound behind the back of their seats by tight-fitting ice cuffs. "This'll ensure the two of you don't go anywhere or try anything…" Esdeath announced "If either of you attempt to free yourselves, I'll kill the others." Both the Corporal and the Science Officer nodded in compliance. They both knew they couldn't put Ripley, Newt, and Mine at risk. They'll have to obey the enemy General, for now...

The Dropship's loading ramp lowered open, and most of its passengers disembarked. Ripley was the first one to step into the Hangar. Beside her were Mine and Newt. The trio were then accompanied by Esdeath, Seryu, and Koro, with the General pointing her rapier towards Ripley's back, the Subordinate doing the same with the combo weapon aimed toward Mine's, and the biological Imperial Arm growling threateningly at Newt. Behind them, the rest of Esdeath's Imperial Soldiers followed close in rank and file lineup.

The Jaegers' leader gazed all around the Hangar, to get the layout of her surroundings. Stacks of crates and boxes, both large and small cluttered about around the spacious area, accompanied by several dooly carts and hand trucks carrying half assembled ordinance and munitions. Lining along the walls were bulkhead doors the leading into separate cargo bays, elevators and turntable platforms that led onto separate decks, and an offshoot doorway to a fully stocked armory.

Seryu stood tense and alert "Where is this ship's crew? Why hasn't anyone come down her, to greet Us?" Esdeath held her rapier up at Ripley "Because, there's nobody up here. We're the only ones aboard this ship. Right, Ripley?" Ripley gave her a solemn smirk "That's correct. I was bullshitting about that part, too."

Esdeath prodded Ripley forward with her rapier. "Take us to the Bridge, show me how to control this ship. Or, I'll have Seryu blow a limb off of your Night Raid friend." Ripley didn't respond to her, and remained standing in place. Before the blue haired General can prod the Lieutenant again, the lights went out, and an electronic voice sounded out.

"Attention. Emergency. Gravity generator and main lights are currently offline in this sector. Initiating reboot. Please, stand by…"

"Now!" Ripley called out in the darkness, followed by the rustling sound of rapid body movement.

"Kill Them!" Esdeath roared, as she stabbed in front of her. Seryu instantly obeyed, and pulled the trigger to the Pulse Rifle, and Koro does likewise, by chomping down with his enlarged jaws. As soon as the lights were turned off, they came back on, and all three assailants realized their targets weren't in front of them. They had disappeared.

"Where in the Hell, did they go!?" Seryu ranted, as every Imperial looked around in confusion. Only Esdeath was the one to look up, and found where Ripley, Mine, and Newt went. They were sitting atop the Dropship's docking crane, and out of reach. "Up there!" Esdeath yelled, and all of her Subordinates began aiming their weapons upwards.

"Stay down, and hold onto something!" Ripley urged at Mine and Newt, and they both complied without question.

Bam! Kabam! Rat-ta-ta-ta! Shink! Shink! The entire Hangar rang out with the noises of rifle fire and hurled ice javelins. The projectiles sailed up at hiding trio, and passed harmlessly over the cover of the docked Dropship and its adjacent crane. There was no chance of a straight shot reaching its target.

"Get down from there!" Seryu spat, as she worked the pump-action to the Grenade Launcher Ch-chk! Esdeath then hastily froze the weapon in Seryu's metal arms "Don't use that! You could damage the ship!" she then pointed up at the metal crossbeams along the Hangar's ceiling "Find a way up there, and flush them out!"

With a scowl, Seryu slung Ripley's frozen combo weapon, and called out to her biological Imperial Arm. "Koro! Number 4!" Koro then clamped his large mouth on Seryu's left arm, and replaced it with the Hook Shot.

Using her now equipped Hook Shot, Seryu sent a grappling hook onto an overhanging girder along the Hangar's ceiling. She then began to reel herself up to a better vantage point, with Koro hanging tightly on her shoulder.

"Spread Out!" Esdeath commanded her Soldiers "We need to find a better line of sight, to get at them." The Imperial Soldiers obediently began to fan out, under their General's orders. But, much to their surprise, they've found themselves floating slowly off the floor, and bobbing aimlessly through the air. "Get your bearings! It's only weightlessness." Esdeath assured, as she conjured ice, and froze her legs in place on the Hangar floor "I'll make some ice, to provide leverage."

"Too Late…" Ripley growled, as she wrapped her arms tightly around Newt and a cluster of pipes and cables in front of them. She turned aside, and made sure Mine was doing likewise as well.

In the middle of Esdeath's group of Imperial Soldiers, a large hatch on the floor retracted open to a cautionary alarm. Esdeath and all her Soldiers turned around to observe this new development with surprised curiosity. The hatch itself had fully opened revealing a compartment leading further down below. Inside was another hatch surrounded by yellow claxon lights, and a set of words written in bold lettering "OUTER DOOR. KEEP CLEAR."

Suddenly, the alarms intensify and the claxon lights glared brightly, as the Outer Doors began to part. Wooosshh! The small opening immediately began to vent atmosphere, as it grew more and more.

"Eeyaaa!" "Arrgghh!" "Wahhh!" Imperial Soldiers began to scream in panic, as one by one, the vacuum of space would pull them through the passage of the Loading Lock, out through the opened doors, and into the dark fathomless Void.

Many Imperial Soldiers struggled to hold onto whatever anchor they can find, but as the forceful vacuum of venting atmosphere intensified, more and more Soldiers continued to be swept up and sucked out into the blackness of Space.

Only Esdeath remained where she stood, since she cleverly froze her feet onto the solid foundation of the floor. She looked around for any way to reseal the Outer Doors, but was forced to deal with flying debris of various cargo and equipment being thrown around her by the turbulent vacuum of venting atmosphere. One such items, a semi-assembled missile laying on its maintenance trolley, came sliding over towards Esdeath's position.

"Oh no, you don't…" Esdeath muttered, as she began to focus on her abilities "Mahapadma-" Despite her abilities freezing everything in place of the Trump Card's radius, the outside influence of interstellar Void continued to suck out all loose debris. The missile came ramming its way into Esdeath before the Jaegers' leader could react. Wham! The sapphire eyed woman staggered back with the wind nearly knocked out or her, as the tip of the partially assembled missile rammed into her gut. She glanced down at her legs, and saw the force of the debris had knocked her loose from her icy foothold. She tried to freeze any of her limbs against whatever hold she can find, but the vortex of vacuum kept her away from any purchase, as she practically flew towards the wide open hatch of the gaping Outer Doors.

Esdeath had only an instant to think, before being thrown out into the vast emptiness of Space. "Space. Vacuum. Air-Tight…" without hesitating, the General instantly covered herself in a ball of ice. She was well out past the Outer Doors, and now drifted through the infinite darkness of the Void, yet she continued to concentrate on making her ice ball larger and thicker around her. Her idea had worked.

Above the Empire's Atmosphere, Outer Space

Esdeath looked up, took a moment to study her surroundings. Above her, was the ever shrinking shape of the Sulaco, as she continued to plummet further away from the ship. Below her, she can see the massive body of the World she had just left when boarding the Dropship with Ripley and Company. Everywhere else around her, were the bodies of dead or dying Imperial Soldiers. They had all been ravaged by the unforgiving conditions of Outer Space. Their mouths were wet from spewing up gallons of their own blood. Their eyes had been popped out of their skulls by the sudden loss of pressure.

From the safety of her ice ball, Esdeath stared out in disbelief at the last remaining Imperial Soldiers struggling to stay alive. They were the three, whom Ripley had began hostilities with, on account of their rape of a woman from the Ban Tribe. Their Commander looked on as the last three Soldiers entered into their final spasms and convulsions of their bodies releasing the life within them to pass on into the darkness.

With nothing she could do for her dead Subordinates, Esdeath turned away from the carnage, and looked back up at the now distant Sulaco. She wanted to get back up there, somehow. She wanted to end Ripley and her Comrades' lives with her bare hands, for what the Lieutenant had done to the General and her Soldiers.

Then, something else got Esdeath's attention. The face of the planet below, was rapidly getting larger. She was beginning to descend into atmospheric re-entry. Knowing what will come next, Esdeath concentrates every ounce of her strength into focusing her ice powers towards maintaining and reinforcing her ice ball, to keep it from melting in the heat of re-entry…

U.S.S. Sulaco, Outer Space

"Loading Lock sealed. Gravity restored to Hangar. Lights restored to 65 percent capacity."

After the electronic voice finished speaking, Ripley, Mine, and Newt began to carefully climb down off the docking crane and along the side of the docked Dropship.

When they finally reached the bottom, both Ripley and Mine searched around them for signs of any remaining Imperials.

"I think We got them all." Ripley announced. Mine then looked up, and suddenly shoved Ripley out of the way. Crash! Something came down hard against the floor where Ripley had once stood just a second ago. Ripley, Mine, and a startled Newt looked up to see Seryu kneeling down atop a large dent in the floor made by her kicking heel.

"What have you done to General Esdeath!?" Seryu inquired hatefully. Unfathomable rage boiled within her as she stood up and turned towards the shocked trio. Koro drop down beside her, with his sharp teeth glistening, as he growled maliciously.

Ripley was the first one who spoken up "I did what no one else could do." she answered in a satisfied tone "I killed General Esdeath. Your Leader is history…"

With tears streaming down her contorted face, Seryu bellowed out to her biological Imperial Arm "Koro! Smart Gun!" Koro enlarged his mouths once again, and clamped down on Seryu's entire upper torso. When he opened his jaws back up, Seryu was unveiled to be completely outfitted with a Smart Gun assembly including its harness, tracking eyepiece, stabilizing arm, and the weapon itself.

"I'm going to make you suffer for this! Justice must be served! Esdeath will be Avenged!" Seryu screamed hysterically.

Ripley began to inch sideways, while calling out to her "Take your best shot! That's all you're good for, you Pussy!" Seryu trained the Smart Gun on an unarmed Ripley, while the latter glanced sidelong at Mine and Newt and whispered "run…" both girls got the hint, and quickly ran for cover. Newt dropped down beneath a maintenance opening under the Hangar's grated floor. Mine ducked behind a secured pile of cargo boxes and loading crates.

Realizing at the last moment of their attempt at escape, Seryu fired the Smart Gun at where Mine and Newt had once stood Boom! Boom! Boom! The shots went wide and ricocheted elsewhere deep in the Hangar.

While Seryu was distracted, Ripley made for the Cargo Bay section, and ran with all the speed she can muster. Seryu cocked her head aside, and realized much to her fury, she had been directed to misfire.

"Koro! Rip her to shreds!" Seryu roared, and the biological Imperial Arm obeyed by charging after the fleeing Ripley. The Lieutenant crossed underneath the Cargo Bay's thick and heavy door, and slammed her fist against the door control button. Vvrrnn! The sturdy reinforced door came rumbling down and thudded close, effectively blocking Ripley off from a pursuing Koro and the rest of the Hangar. Bam! Bash! The biological Imperial Arm bashed himself against the unyielding bulkhead door, as Ripley stepped away and looked around for anything she can use against her enemies. "There's gotta be something in here! Something, I can use to bring that Monster down…There!" She spotted her solution standing in the center of the room. She then hurriedly climbed into it, and strapped herself in.

Bash! Bash! Kyuahh! Koro continuously beat his large fists against the door to the cargo bay, refusing to give up the chase for his designated target. Until Seryu called him back "Forget that wicked woman, for now!" she pointed at a floor grate "Find the Little Girl, and bring her to me! That'll surely draw Ripley out to us."

Koro obediently stepped away from the bulkhead door, and stalked along the hangar in an attempt to locate Newt beneath the floor grating. He can see the Little Girl scurry beneath him past the steel mesh of floor paneling. With a menacing growl, the biological Imperial Arm grabbed at the grated floor paneling, and yank it out from under him. With a massive hand, he tried to snatch at Newt as she narrowly evaded him by crawling further down the floor partition. They kept up this game of hide and seek, until Koro pulled out the last panel, and reached out for a cornered Newt.

"Come out, you Evildoers, and face your Judgement!. Or, I'll have Koro devour the girl!" demanded Seryu. Koro's fingers inched closer to Newt, and the Little Girl let out a scream.

Vvrrrnn! A low rumbling sounded throughout the hangar, as the cargo bay doors slid up and slowly retracted open. Behind the bulkhead doors was Ripley. She was buckled within the operating frame of a large mechanized exo-suit. The bulky machine was colored an industrial yellow, stood on two hydraulic gyro-stabled legs, and had large vice-like claws on each mechanical arm that work as clamps for loading cargo.

Whrrvvv! Ripley activated the controls to the Power Loader, and stomped out through the cargo bay door towards the hangar, where her onlookers watched in surprise and bewilderment. Once she got clear of the bulkhead doors, the heavy equipment driver stood there, gripping hard on her controls, and wearing the enraged expression of a protective mother. "Get away from her, you BITCH!" Ripley called out from the confines of the Loader's titanium safety cage.

Koro reared up, and faced her threateningly, as Ripley spread the Power Loader's arms out in readiness.

Seryu eyed Ripley, with a stunned expression. Then her expression grew more twisted with intense hatred and blood-thirst "Koro! Prey!" she commanded, and the biological Imperial Arm launched himself at both woman and machine, jaws wide open and spinning horizontally.

Slam! Ripley brought down the Loader's left arm, and hammered Koro down to the floor. Gyuahh! Koro picked himself up, Wham! and was knocked aside, when the Power Loader threw him another blow. The biological Imperial Arm was sent careening over a pile of boxes Crash!

"Koro!" Seryu screamed out in shock But, to the auburn haired murderess' relief, Koro regenerated from his injuries, and stood back up. With confidence growing, and body charged with adrenaline, Ripley yelled out from within the Power Loader safety cage "C'mon!"

Furious with the gesture, Seryu bellowed at her biological Imperial Arm "Koro! Pulverize!" Egged on and goaded, Koro charged at the Power Loader with renewed fury Gyaoh! His fists became a flurry of punches as he came at Ripley, with the intent of smashing her and the machine into pieces.

Bracing with anticipation, Ripley extends the Loaders vice-like claws in front of her Whrrr! and seized the attacking Koro Crick! Gyuahh! The Power Loader stood rigid, as it grasped the biological Imperial Arm by his throat and left arm.

"Koro!" Seryu called out as she watched both Monster and Machine grapple with each other. Whrv! Ripley manipulated the controls, and tried to have the Loader's claw pull off the monster Imperial Arm's head. Koro reacted fast, by holding the Power Loader's arm in place with his free hand Clinch! And now both combatants stood deadlocked.

"Stay strong, Koro! I've got you covered" Seryu hefted the Smart Gun, and engaged the tracking display. Only one target reticle appeared in range, as it highlighted Koro's body, but none other would show for locking onto the Power Loader or Ripley in it.

"What the hell is wrong with this gun!?" Seryu snarled "Why isn't it working properly!?" She began shaking the weapon in frustration, then turned at the sound of footsteps behind her. "It's because you don't fully understand the Smart Gun's specifications." Mine answered, as she approached from the cover behind the stack of loading crates "You shouldn't simply pick up any weapon, and expect that it would automatically begin working for you."

Seryu swung the weapon around, and aimed towards Mine "I salvaged this mighty weapon, and repurposed it for the cause of serving Justice! I even received instructions on how to use this Smart Gun, from that worthless Criminal, Hudson."

Mine cocked an eyebrow "Who?" The amber eyed murderess then grinned insidiously "Oh, that's right. You don't even know, because no one's ever told the Villainous Night Raid or their scum consort Colonial Marines." She then chuckled maniacally "Hehehe…We captured one of Hicks' Comrades, while investigating the ruins of the Hadley colony." Seryu then quoted "Private First Class, William Hudson, A08/TQ1.0.41776E3. A Combat Technician of 2nd Battalion Bravo Team." Her face then began to warp "We brought him back to camp, and We made him spill out every single detail about the Aliens and the Colony." She traced her hand along the white writing on the side of the weapon "He even shared every detailed information about Marine weapons and technology, including how to operate this Smart Gun."

Seryu began to cackle hysterically "Ahahaha! Hudson was so afraid of dying, he told Us everything he knew, just to save his own skin." She stopped her laughter, and steadied the weapon "Not, that it made any difference. I still dealt with him in the end! The same way I've dealt with that friend of yours with the glasses. She made an excellent snack for Koro, so will You! Ehehe..."

Mine was unfazed by the revelation. She only made a disgusted expression, and spoke "You know, during Our brief moments in each other's company, I've learned a lot about you Seryu Ubiquitous." The auburn haired young woman listened closely, as the pink haired teen explained "You talk about serving Justice, yet you blindly trusted Captain Ogre and Doctor Stylish without realizing they're the ones who were Evil. Same was your precious General Esdeath, whom you idolized. Her crimes and heinous acts were beyond horrible, but despite all that, you still obey her unquestioningly. You even struck Newt, when she tried to show you the truth about all the Evils the General's committed. You would assault little children, just to cover up all the Empire's atrocities and misdeeds. And, that twisted laugh you've just made, it was no different than that of an evil sadistic maniac."

Mine held her hand out, and pointed accusingly at Seryu "You're a Bad Person, who enjoys hurting others, and would relish any excuse to do it. Just like how Newt described your General Esdeath and her ilk. It's no wonder why you admired those kind of People. You're just like the rest of them, a killer, power-hungry, and amoral. Which aspect appealed the most? Having everything, while leaving nothing for others. Or is it because it's so easy to fold, and take the path of least resistance, by doing what you're told." Seryu was about to retort, but Mine cut her off by continuing "You don't serve Justice! You only serve yourself, by siding with the Strong as they prey on the lesser, meager individuals, while you yourself turn a blind eye and deaf ear to all of their suffering." Mine's eyes narrowed "And, you'd purposely forfeited your moral integrity and even your body, in pursuit of more power and strength. All because you can't stand being on the losing side, in a World where Might makes Right. You'd rather win at any cost, and gloss over your ill-gotten victories as some vindictive crusade towards the noble cause of serving Justice, or divine providence."

Seryu glowered, as Mine continued to speak condescendingly "You're Insane. And a Coward. And a Liar. You may not be Night Raid's target. But, for the sake of the World, You must perish..."

"Are you feeling better, now that you've let all that out?" Seryu asked mockingly "You seemed to have forgotten, I'm the one holding the gun." She steadies the Smart Gun, and reached her finger towards the trigger "Evil is so foolish…" Seryu pulled the trigger. Click! And nothing happened.

"Huh!?" Seryu was confused, as she tried pulling the Smart Gun's trigger once more Click! But to no avail. The weapon won't fire, so long as it's pointed towards Mine. "What's wrong with this stupid gun! Why won't it shoot!?"

"Heh…" Mine made a smirk "I guess, Hudson didn't tell you about the IFF Recognition Software that was programmed in each of those weapons." She held up a hand, and indicated to a small green accessory on her wrist that resembled a wristwatch "Each one of these devices has a special chip, that prevents friendly fire from a fellow Marine's weapon." she explains "So long as I wear this, that Smart Gun can never be used to harm me."

"Rahhh!" Seryu angrily ripped hard at the Smart Gun harness' release strap Clatter! The weapon came away, and fell to the floor instantly.

"I don't need that useless piece of shit weapon, to complete your Judgement!" Pop! Seryu's mechanical arms came away, and popped right off, revealing a gun-barrel attached to each stump of her arms. "I still have these to rely on!" Seryu reveals her mouth gun, and aimed all three gun barrels at a startled Mine. "Is that?…!" the pink haired assassin immediately dove for cover behind the loading crates, as the auburn haired murderers yells out "Justice Execution!" Kabam! Bam! Bam! The shots rang out within the Hangar, as two rounds tore past Mine, with a third narrowly grazing her on the side.

"Hngh!" Mine grunted, as she rolled out of Seryu's line of sight. She then quickly stood up, while nursing the bleeding cut from where the bullet scratched her. Any closer, and she would have ended up bleeding profusely from a deeper wound.

"Come out!" Seryu demanded "You can't hide from Justice! You can only sit and cower, while I eventually purge your Evil from the face of this World!" Behind the stack of crates, Mine climbed up over them, and risked a glance at Seryu's position.

"Good. She's keeping her attention diverted towards me and not Ripley. I just need to keep her distracted…" Looking down from atop the cargo pile, Mine saw Newt come out from beneath the floor, and hurried straight up the Dropship's loading ramp. Before Seryu could notice the fleeing little girl, Mine picked up a nearby supply box, and flung it down towards Seryu, yelling "Come and get me!" The crate came flying towards Seryu's face, but the accurate Jaeger shot it once, and made it explode into a mess of scattered food packets.

Seryu followed up her counter, and sent a barrage towards a perched up Mine which forced her to duck back behind the pile.

Meanwhile, back over at Ripley and Koro, their stalemate continued until the biological Imperial Arm raised his right fist away from the Power Loader's arm gripping his neck, and began raining blow after blow against the Power Loader's safety cage. Clang! Clang! Clang! Ripley's teeth rattled and jarred, as each impact sent a shockwave throughout the operating frame.

Realizing she was at a disadvantage, Ripley worked the controls, and forced the Power Loader into shoving away the biological Imperial Arm. Koro backed away, and growled menacingly, satisfied that his ploy had worked out.

Not wanting to give the biological Imperial Arm any moment of respite, Ripley frantically swung the Loader's arms at Koro, hoping to connect another blow. But the Power Loader's movements were too one-dimensional and easily predictable, as Koro bobbed and weaved around the machine, dodging each attack with anticipation.

Seeing that it was getting her nowhere, Ripley let up on her futile assault, and watched Koro, as they both stared each other down.

As Koro continued to size her up, Ripley stole a glance around the Hangar, in search of anything else for her to use to her advantage. To her left, she spotted the loading lock hatch where she had managed to send Esdeath and her Imperial Soldiers out into the blackness of space. That hatch can open again via remote from the Power Loader's controls, but she decided against it. "That trick can only work once." she reasoned "I'll have to use something else…"

To her right, Ripley noticed the loading hooks on an overhead service crane that was used for retrieving heavy freight containers from the far side of the cargo bay. Seeing it was her only other option, Ripley thumbed the controls, and activated the crane. Its claws and hooks retracted and flexed, as it processed the remote commands Ripley was sending to it, using the Power Loader's controls.

After receiving its orders, the crane zipped along its spoke at high speed, as it followed through on Ripley's instruction.

"Koro! Stop wasting time, and eat that woman already!" Seryu commanded, as she shot apart another box Mine had threw at her. This crate blew apart as well, and sent medical supplies scattering everywhere this time.

Koro parted his jaws, and displayed rows upon rows of his sharp teeth towards Ripley. Kyuaahhh! In a predatory growl, the monster Imperial Arm surged towards Ripley and the Power Loader, with his mouth gaping wide open.

Ripley reacted in time, and brought the Loader's arms out front, and spread its claws open as much as they could. Snatch! The Power Loader managed to catch both of Koro's arm, and held the ravenous Imperial Arm at bay.

Undaunted by this sudden hindrance, Koro stretched his head and neck as far out as he can, to bring his mouth closer to Ripley, and manage snap his jaws around the solid bars of the safety cage. Chomp! Clang! The safety cage successfully kept the biological Imperial Arm from biting off Ripley's upper torso, but the bars were starting to groan in protest, as Koro continued to exert as much force as he can towards his bite.

Ripley looked around her in horror, when she sees Koro's cruelly sharp teeth began to inch closer toward her, as the safety cage began to bend under the tremendous pressure of Koro's bite attack. Fortunately, the Lieutenant had one more card to play.

Flipping off its safety cover, Ripley reached for the switch to the Power Loader's onboard welding torch, and flicked if on. Pffsshhh! A stream on fire shot out from within the welder's nozzle, and began to burn away at Koro's face.

Gyuahh! Koro squealed in pain, as his face began to slowly burn off from the welder's flame. He tried backing away from Ripley, in the hopes of getting away from the torch, and try to recover from his injuries. But, Ripley worked at the controls, and the Power Loader tighten its vice-like claws, in order to restrain the biological Imperial Arm, and keep him from escaping Whrrr! Crunch! Gyuahh! Koro squealed once more, as his attempts at an escape proved useless, and his face continued to burn.

Almost half of Koro's face was burned away, when Ripley noticed a small round, red-colored orb embedded within the monster Imperial Arm's flesh. "What is that?" Ripley wondered in surprise.

Over at the stack of loading crates, Mine risked a view from cover, and noticed the red hue of the gem-like orb. "Ripley, that's the core! Go for the core, and destroy it!" she called out urgently. Kabam! Mine ducked in time, just as Seryu sent another bullet her way. Seryu looked back over at Koro, and saw the predicament he was in. "Koro! Use your Trump Card! Go Berserk Mode!"

Koro's eyes began to savagely twist and warp, as he began his transformation. His fur began to turn blood-red, his muscles began to increase in ripples and density, and his overall size grew larger than before. After his change is complete, the Berserker Imperial Arm widen his mouth again to the point of nearly tearing up his cheeks, and emitted a powerful roar blast. Graoohhh!

Ripley's ears rang from the point-blank hit of the sound based attack. Thankfully, her time as a Flight Officer and later a Cargo Dock Worker, made her accustomed to the similarly loud noise in front of her, and has most likely given her tinnitus. Her experience with large scale sound blast later expanded, recalling the times back then when she heard the same intensity of such a sound, from when she set the Nostromo to self-destruct, and her small shuttle/lifeboat the Narcissus had to outrun the devastating blast radius. Also, from when she tried to escape the Atmosphere Processor after rescuing Newt, with multiple explosions happening all around the overloading Processing Station.

Undeterred by the overwhelming sound, Ripley looked on, and noticed the Power Loader was being knocked back by the force of the roar blast. As the Machine staggered backward, Koro managed to slip out of its grasp, and free him hands. He immediately reached out, grabbed the welding torch mounted on the Power Loader's safety cage, and with an effortless yank, he tore out the welder from its bracket.

Ripley steadied the Loader, and looked up in time to see a massive red fist shoot out towards her. Wham! The operating frame jolted tremendously, after taking a straight on punch from the Berserker Imperial Arm. The Power Loader trembled and jarred, and Ripley within nearly bit her tongue. She looks on in panic, as Koro once again threw another punch at her. This time, she threw up both of the Loader's arm, to dampen the blow, and took another hit. Wham!

"Ugh!" Ripley grunted, as she struggled to maintain balance. Even as Koro rained down blow after blow against her. Each hit becoming harder than the last.

"Death, by Beating!" Seryu called out in frenzied malice, before turning back to resume her hunt for Mine.

Wham! "Urgh!" Wham! "Uwaa!" WHAM! "Argh!"

"He's killing her!" Mine remarked, as she observed the brutal onslaught from the safety of her perch. "I gotta do something! I can't let it happen again…" the pink haired gunner grew angry and frustrated with herself, as she watched in utter helplessness, the same as she was back then, when she had watched helplessly as her friend Sheele lost her life to that same abominable Imperial Arm and his demented wielder.

The Koro finally let up on his barrage, as Ripley hobbled back to find that she and her Machine have been forced into a corner.

The Power Loader was in bad shape. Kzzzt! Kzzzt! Random sparks of electricity arced out from damaged lines and wires. Small stacks of smoke began to vent from various joints and servos. The controls to Loader's right arm was moving sluggishly, while the left arm wasn't responding at all as it hanged uselessly to the side of the operating frame. Ripley peered out from behind the twisted metal of the safety cage's mangled bars. It wasn't going to hold anymore. One good blow might be enough to break it apart. Koro must have understood it as well, because he was once again opening his jaws wide, to attempt another bite. This time, not even the Power Loader's defenses would be adequate enough to repel the Berserker Imperial Arm.

Then, above the middle of both Monster and Machine, the service crane returned from its errand, carrying a bulky freight container it had winched up from elsewhere in the cargo bay. Its task complete, the overhead crane waited on its spoke, with its heavy burden poised for release at any given order.

Ripley eyed the container above, and readied her left hand to press the button to the crane's controls, to drop the cargo on her command. "C'mon! Wait are you waiting for? Do it!" Ripley demanded, as she noticed Koro's hesitation. The Berserker Imperial Arm gazed up at the crane, then at the freight hanging above them, and observed what might happen if he came under it.

"Kill me! I'm right here! Do it now! Kill me! C'mon!" Ripley screamed, hoping to goad the Monster into finishing her. Koro took one last look at the crane above, and began to sidestep around it. To Ripley's frustration, the Berserker Imperial Arm came along the side carefully in an attempt to avoid the crane.

Ripley fumbled at the controls, desperately trying to readjust the crane's position. But Koro had already caught on, and made sure to stay clear of the overhead railing of the crane's transport spoke. Which had him moving right underneath the bulkhead doors to the cargo bay.

Without hesitation, Ripley jabbed at the controls to the cargo bay doors. The massive doors came rumbling down on an unsuspecting Koro. The Berserker Imperial was so intent on avoiding the crane and its hanging cargo, that he failed to notice the closing door as it slammed down hard on his head like a makeshift guillotine, pinning him down by his neck. Crash! Graaooohhh!

Seryu turned to see what happened, and let out a scream "Koro!" She was just about to rush over to him, until a small crate hurled into her back. Bam! She turns back around to face a smug Mine who was holding up another box and was readying to throw. "Forgot about me already? I thought, you were going to render Judgement on me personally?" Mine said mockingly. Seryu growled in pure hatred, and resumed firing at the evasive sniper. Kabam! Kabam!

The Berserker Imperial laid flat against the floor, with the cargo bay doors resting above him. Only his head was visible, as the rest of his body was obscured by the cover of the bulkhead door. He tried to place his arms in front of him, and force his way out, but his massive body couldn't slip through easily underneath. And he knows, if he pulls his head out from the other direction, the door would completely shut and effectively isolate him from Seryu and her enemies. He will have to try to wedge his whole body forward, and try to lift the cargo bay door off of him.

Ripley stood there, and watched in relief at the trapped Monster. Her relief as short-lived however, as Koro already began making a tremendous effort in lifting the heavy door off his neck. His hands had found purchase on the grated floor, and had started to push-up with all his might.

"This bastard just won't quit!" Ripley muttered, watching in disbelief as the cargo bay door began to slowly open back up.

"Ripley! The Head! The core is inside the Head!" Mine called out again, before ducking back behind some crates to avoid Seryu's gunfire. "Stay still. And let me shoot you!" roared Seryu.

Koro looks up at Ripley, with ravenous, frenzied eyes, and continues to slowly lift up the heavy bulkhead. Ripley pressed various buttons, as she began typing instructions into the Power Loader's controls "Reduce power flow to the legs, by 50%...Cut all power to the left arm…Now divert all remaining power to the right arm's claw…" The vice-like claw began to spin and rotate faster and faster, with its motor whining loudly as it operated under excess power Whrrv-rrv-rrv-rv-rv-rv!... The clamp itself began to blur, as it kept on turning with increasing speed, essentially becoming a makeshift drill.

Realizing what Ripley and the Power Loader were about to do, Koro struggled desperately to get himself clear from beneath the cargo bay door.

Too late

"Hrraaggghhh!" With a vicious snarl, Ripley plunges the Power Loader's spinning claw into the Berserker Imperial Arm's broad face Schluck! Rip! Shred! Squelch! Chunks of flesh came away, as the drilling claw bore deeper into Koro's cranium. In no time, the whole of Koro's body began to dissipate in a cloud of steam and smoke. All that remained was a red jewel-like orb held up and steadily suspended by the Loader's vice-like loading clamp. With nothing holding up the bulkhead door, it came slamming down hard in a resounding Thud!

Seryu turned around to investigate the noise, and looked on in time to see Ripley in the Power Loader holding up Koro's core, as the Machine crushes the orb itself between the vice-like claw. Much to her shock and horror, Seryu watched in stunned disbelief, as Ripley threw down the shards of the shattered core, and stomped it underfoot with the Loader's hydraulic leg. Crush!

"KOORRROOOO!" Seryu screamed at the top of her lungs, and watched in growing grief and rage, as Ripley made the Power Loader stomp a second time Thud! Afterwards, there was nothing left of Imperial Arm, Hekatonkeires, but a pile of red dust.

Seryu's face began to twist and warp with murderous rage, as she watched Ripley still looking down at the powdered remains of Koro's core. The heavy equipment operator was unaware of the auburn haired murderess taking aim from behind with her mouth gun…

Kabam! Ping! The bullet ricocheted harmless, as it bounced off of the Power Loader's metal chassis. As long as Ripley remained inside the confines of the Loader's operating frame covering most of her body, no indirect ranged attack can hit her. Save for a point blank shot from the front.

"That trick won't work this time, you fucking Psycho!" Mine taunted, but Seryu ignored her, and charged towards Ripley and the Power Loader, for a frontal assault.

Suddenly, someone stepped out of the shadows behind the stacks of cargo boxes on the side, and stood right in Seryu's path.

Seryu took aim at the figure standing in her way, and immediately lowered her weapons, as her surprised expression flashed with recognition "Father?"

The man Seryu was addressing, was tall, had short auburn hair, wore an Imperial Officer's uniform, and a handsome face with a trimmed mustache. He stared at the confused Jaeger, with a stern but caring expression. And then abruptly, his expression became disgusted and hateful ("Wretched girl! How could I have raised such a despicable, ignorant daughter?")

Seryu was shocked by the man's vicious outburst "What are you saying, Father?" Mr. Ubiquitous responded to her question, in a tone of pure loathing ("I'm saying, how can my own Flesh and Blood become a pervasive murderer of innocent people and decent folk?") Seryu could not understand why she was being admonished "What do you mean? I'm making the World a batter place, by serving Justice, and getting rid of all the Evildoers. And how are you alive? Captain Ogre said you were murdered by some evil criminal, on your way home."

Suddenly, a voice called out from the shadows ("Ha! You were actually gullible enough to believe that horse shit.") A large muscular man with a scar over his left eye socket, stepped into view, and stood next to Seryu's Father.

Seryu instantly recognized the scarred man. "Captain Ogre! You're alive!" she exclaimed. Her former mentor ignored her surprise, and continued ("Your Father was one tough Son of a Bitch. Even when I was stabbing him from behind, the bastard still had it in him to do this to my eye.") Ogre then pointed at his scar.

"Captain Ogre, what are you talking about?" Seryu couldn't believe what she is hearing "You said my father gave his life, for the sake of upholding Justice. You said, he was murdered by a lowly criminal whom he was investing and was eventually caught and executed." Ogre grinned and his remaining eye blazed evilly ("And that was all you wanted to hear. You didn't bother to ask, who exactly killed your father, and why did they do it.") He then rubbed his chin thoughtfully ("Well, seeing as I'm already dead and have nothing to lose, I'll come clean, and tell you the truth. I killed your father! I murdered him in cold-blood, and framed an innocent man to cover my tracks.")

The words were heard clearly, but Seryu remained in disbelief "That's not true! You would never do something so horrible!" Ogre kept grinning ("I would, if it meant saving my own skin. Your father learned that I was taking bribes from shady men who had less than savory means of doing business. When he found out about my dealings, he set out to turn me in to our superiors. But, I eliminated him before that could happen.")

Seryu was still not convinced "I don't believe it! You were the one who taught me what Justice is. It means, punishing all of the Evildoers who oppose the Empire." This time, Seryu's Father roared at her ("That is not what Justice is, You Fool!") Beside him, Ogre stopped smiling and concurred ("Wow. I'd never thought you'd be so fucking shallow, in thinking that was all there is to it.")

Another voice spoke out from the shadows ("Come now, you two. There is no need to be so harsh on poor little miss Seryu here.") A tall man with black haired streaked with white, and wearing glasses and a lab coat, stepped into view ("After all, a Weapon doesn't need a reason to kill. It just needs a stylish excuse, to be unleashed upon others in absolute carnage. That's why Seryu came to me, seeking more power. Because nothing is more stylish, than having the strength to brutally slaughter you victims!")

"You're wrong, Dr. Stylish!" Seryu countered "I'm not a Weapon! I'm an Ally of Justice! You partnered me up with Koro, and entrusted me with the Judgement lf the Ten Heavenly Kings, so that I may purge this World of all Evil!." Dr. Stylish just shrugs ("A fake ideal to a pretentious cause, with a wrong assumption. You and your weapons were only meant for one thing, to kill the enemies of the Empire. That's why you were well taken care of, and groomed by Ogre and myself. You have a natural talent for killing, nothing more.")

("That's correct, Dr. Stylish.") a woman's voice sounded out, and Esdeath appeared out of the gloom ("That's why Seryu participated in the Doctor's experiments. She wanted to be strong.") Behind her, stood Wave, Run, Bols with a large bloody hole in his chest, and Kurome.

("Because, that's what Justice is.") continued Esdeath ("The Strong get stronger, by killing the Weak.") Ignoring the impossibility of her teammates being aboard the Sulaco, Seryu deigned to argue "No! I wanted to become strong, to protect the Weak from Evil! I joined the Jaegers, so that We may serve Justice, and fight Evil together!" Wave berates her, with an angry tone ("Wrong! The Jaegers were formed with the sole purpose of killing whoever the Empire tells Us to kill! You were assigned to join, because you wanted the opportunity to indiscriminately murder without right or reason! Like a rabid dog off a leash, and without a muzzle.")

"Justice means doing the right thing." explained Seryu "It is the right thing to do, to obey Empire, and kill all who oppose it.

("Is it right, when a school full of innocent children were raped and murdered?") Run asked ("Is it Justice, when the Empire's local magistrate covered up the crime, and refused to find the culprit, just to save face?")

"The Empire would never turn a blind eye and look the other way, when a crime happens!" Seryu insisted.

("Is it right for the Empire to have burn entire villages to the ground, on suspicion of harboring diseases or rebels?") asked Bols ("Is it Justice, when I reduce countless men, women, and children to ash, while I go home, and live happily with my beautiful wife and loving daughter?")

"Evil infects all people and places!" argued Seryu "Those who purge Evil, earn the right to live in happiness and prosperity."

("Is it right for me and my Big Sis to be sold into slavery?") Kurome asked ("Is it Justice, for the Empire to purchase us in secret, and brutally train us to be ruthless assassins?")

"It is a privilege, to be called upon to serve Justice in the name of the Empire!" Seryu explained.

("Really?") asked another female voice, then Akame walked out of the shadows near Kurome, and held her Little Sister's hand. Behind her stood Tatsumi, Najenda, and Mine.

("Is it right, for the Empire to separate Kurome from me?") Akame asked (Is it Justice, when the Empire brainwashed my Little Sister, then injected her with toxic body-enhancing drugs and chemicals as part of an experiment. And keep her dependent on more drugs, to ensure her loyalty?")

"Justice requires everybody to be in peak performance and condition, to better serve the Empire!" reasoned Seryu.

("Is it right for the Empire to turn away able-bodied men and women who left their home village to join the Military, and save themselves from poverty?") asked Tatsumi ("Is it Justice, for country folk to be left wandering the street, and let the wealthy lure them into their homes to be tortured and killed?")

"If you weren't allowed to join Our ranks, then you are Evil and unworthy to serve Justice!" Seryu declared.

("Is it right for members of the Imperial Army to pillage and destroy an entire foreign tribe?") Najenda asked ("Is it Justice, for Imperial Soldiers to rape and murder women and children, because their sadistic General lets them?")

"Those who live outside the Empire's influence, and deny its greatness are Evil!" Seryu spat "They deserve to suffer horribly, and die pitifully, you traitor!" She aims her left armgun at Najenda threateningly.

("Is it right, for people to hate others who are different?") asked Mine ("Is it Justice, to bully and mistreat a poor lonely girl, for having foreign blood in her veins?")

"Anyone who's parentage aren't from a decent Imperial Citizen, are more than just Evil." cried Seryu "They're Freaks! Abominations, that need to be exterminated!" She aims her right armgun, and made ready to fire.

Suddenly, a woman with glasses, and purple colored hair and dress, stepped out of the shadows, then stood in front of Mine. ("Just in time.") Sheele spoke, as she made ready to shield Mine with her own body, which already had a large bullet hole in her back and out her front.

"You!" snapped Seryu "How can you be alive!? Justice was served! You should be dead, devoured by Koro, and dumped on the Palace's front lawn!"

("Is it right, for some coward to shoot another person in the back?") Sheele make a face of pure loathing ("Is it Justice, to act so righteous and pious, when you used the reward money to fund the research and development of you weapons. And then, use what's left to purchase a new uniform, while people continue to starve in the streets?")

"Justice demands, that all resources be used to destroy Evil, and make the World a better place!" retorted Seryu.

Sheele maintained her loathsome expression, then she gestured to the side ("Tell Them that…")

Seryu looks at the shadows, and sees more people coming out.

The first was a skinny little girl, and a smaller skinnier little boy. ("You executed our mother, for selling her body to feed us.") said the little girl ("Is it Justice, for me and my little brother to die of starvation?")

Before Seryu can answer, another couple appeared. They where two middle-aged men. ("The local garrison gang-raped my daughter!") the first man spoke. Then the second man followed ("They did the same to my young wife! And you've set that Wretched Beast on us, when we tried to defend our loved ones!")

More people continued to walk out of the shadows, and started to surround Seryu.

("You killed my whole family, on suspicion that we were aiding the Rebels!") ("You brought me straight to the Palace, when I wanted to make a formal complaint about the Police. They threw me into the Torture Chamber, where your Commander had me boiled alive!") ("I was kidnapped, and coerced to work with a band of thieves. You mercilessly cut me down, without giving me a chance to prove my innocence!")

They encircled Seryu, chanting accusations that grew in volume. Seryu tried to cover her ears, but her armguns couldn't shut out the noise. She could only listen, as the voices around her began to shout in unison.

("MURDERER!") ("HYPOCRITE!") ("IGNORANT PSYCHO!") ("FUCKING BITCH!")

"Rrraaahhhh!" Seryu's face grew warped and demented "Shut Up, All of You!" she took aim with her weapons "SHUT!" Kabam! "UP!" Bam! Bam! "Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!" Kabam! Bam! "You're Dead!" Bam! "You are all DEAD!" Bam! Kabam! "Dead People do not talk!" Kabam! Kabam! "You do not talk, because you are dead!" Bam! Kabam! Bam! "You are DEAD, and I'm ALIVE!" Bam! "I'm alive, because I serve Justice!" Kabam! Bam! Click! "I AM JUSTICE!"

"No…" This time, only Newt stood in front of Seryu. "You're a MONSTER. The kind who looks like a person, but does what Monsters do. You work for the Bad People, and kill the Good People."

Face still twisted and warped, Seryu aims all her weapons at a defenseless Newt. Click! Click! Click! Seryu's horrid face returns to normal, as she realized she's completely out of ammo.

"And now, You're going to see what a Monster should look like…" Newt stepped back into the shadows, and Seryu immediately sensed something else stood there.

"Wha…!" Before Seryu could figure out what was happening, That something else stomped out of the shadows where Newt once stood.

SHREEE! It cried a soul-rending shriek, as It faced down towards a petrified Seryu. The auburn haired murderess' amber eyes widened, as her reasoning gave way to sheer terror, once her mind registered what she was seeing.

The Alien Queen drew Itself to full height, towering over Seryu, as It began to stomp towards her.

Then Seryu screamed "Eiyaaaahhh!" Still screaming, she aimed her weapons, and tried to open fire Click! Click! Click! Ignorant to the fact that her weapons are empty. Desperate, Seryu kept firing dry in the futile hope of repelling the Creature.

The Queen continued Its approach, taking long slow stomps towards the frightened, helpless Seryu. Shreee! With another raging shriek, the Queen raised a large clawed foot high above Seryu's head, and made ready to stomp down hard.

Click! Click! Seryu continued trying to open fire, too panicked to do otherwise and get out of the way. As the giant foot came down, Seryu made another scream "Eeyaaa!-Huh!?" and gasped in surprise, as she felt herself being tackled to the ground.

Seryu looked up, and realized that the Alien Queen had disappeared. And on top of her was a viciously pissed Mine sitting on top of her and pinning her down.

"What-!" Thwack! Seryu's question and confusion was cut off abruptly, as Mine threw a hard punch across her face. "This time, You get Yours…" Mine snarled darkly, as she forcefully plunged her hand into Seryu's mouth "No more Tricks. No more Gimmicks. No more BullShit!" Mine's fingers grasped what she was reaching for, and with a mighty heave, she tore out the barrel to Seryu's hidden mouth gun.

Cough! Arguh! Seryu started sputtering blood from her mouth, after the hidden weapon was destroyed. Whack! She then felt another fist collide with her face, as Mine punched her once more.

"Grrr! Hngh!" Seryu tried to get up and retaliate, but the Genius Sniper had positioned herself on top where her legs straddled Seryu's sides and kept the Jaeger's arms pinned down beneath Mine's knees.

"This is for Sheele!" Mine roared, as she threw another punch into Seryu's face Pow!

"This is for Newt!" Slap! "This is for Ripley!" Wham! "This is for every single despicable atrocities, You've ever committed in the name of Justice!" Whack! Wham! Thwack! Pow! Whack!

By the time Mine had finished her barrage of hits and punches, her fingers and knuckles were swollen and bloody. And Seryu was worse off, patches of purple bruises and welts peppered along the majority of Seryu's face, her nose had been broken flat, jaw was partially dislocated, one eye had swollen completely shut, while the other's amber colored pupil swam in its socket wildly, as its owner experienced the tremendous amount of pain that accompanied such wounds. Much to Seryu's credit, her high threshold for pain kept her from passing out.

"Mine, are you alright?" Newt asked, as she stepped toward the pink haired gunner, and helped her to her feet. Mine stared down at her fingers, and answered "I think so. I let my feelings get the best of me, and it made me snap." With effort and a slight amount of pain, she balled her hands into fists "Though it's her lost in the end."

"Kah. Hah. Hah hah. Ah-hahahaha!"

Mine and Newt turned aside, and saw that Seryu was laughing maniacally.

"Justice never loses." Seryu spoke hysterically "Evil will always be annihilated." She then bit down hard on something Click!

"Judgment of the Ten Kings, Final Number. Chakravartin's Furnace of Five Hells."

Mine and Newt stood alert and confused by what Seryu was saying.

"15 seconds left…" Seryu announced.

Mine suddenly understood what was going on "No! A Suicide Bomb!?" Seryu grinned insidiously "This is the Ultimate Evil-Purging Weapon that I've received from Dr. Stylish. As long as I have this in my head, I won't lose!"

Newt activates Spectator, and peered at Seryu's skull. "There! I see it!" Mine immediately began to reach down "We have to get rid of it! Hurgh!" she strained to move her fingers, but they had gone numb and weren't responding. "Dammit!" she growled.

"It's futile!" Seryu crowed triumphantly "With those injuries, there's nothing you can do!" she then continued laughing "Your execution by explosion has already been decided! I'll take this whole Ship with me! Just die, cowering in fear!"

Whrrrvvv! Right beside Seryu, Ripley brought the Power Loader's heavy leg down on Seryu's pelvis Crunch!

"Gugh!" Seryu gasped, as her lower abdominal region had been utterly crushed by 3 tons of exo-suit. "You will never harm another soul, Ever Again!" Ripley snarled, as she operated the Power Loader's controls.

Whrrrvv-rrv! The Power Loader's right arm lowered over Seryu, Its vice-like claw rested atop of her upper torso Whhrrvv! Squelch! And tore Seryu in half from her midsection.

Seryu's face was contorted in traumatic anguish, as the Power Loader held up her mutilated body. "Get ready to join your Commander…" Ripley growled. Then, she operated the controls, and guided the Machine into stomping along the side of the Hangar.

"Wha-What are you doing!?" Seryu demanded, as she wiggled her disabled arms trying to free herself from the Power Loader's grip.

"Putting You on an express elevator to Hell." Ripley answered. Seryu looked around, and saw what the Power Loader was stomping towards. Near the edge of the Hangar, there was a small hatch that was labelled

CAUTION.

WASTE DISPOSAL.

KEEP CLEAR.

"No, Wait!" Seryu screamed, as the Power Loader came further towards the disposal hatch "Wait! Wait! I said, WAIT!"

The Power Loader's claw lowered, and brought Seryu in front of Ripley in the safety cage.

"Please…" Seryu begged "I don't want to die in a place like this!"

Ripley looked at her for a brief second, then she pressed a switch on the Power Loader's controls. And watched, as the small hatch promptly slid open.

"Going down…" Ripley retracted the Loader's claw, and dumped Seryu square center into the opened hatch. The hatch then quickly shut closed, and a suction noise sounded out as the disposal chute jettisoned its contents. Seryu was thrown out into deep space.

Above the Empire's Atmosphere, Outer Space

Seryu's mouth shot open, as gallons of blood erupted from it and every other orifice of her eviscerated torso. She tried to shriek in agony, as her eyes were forcibly popped out of their ocular cavities, and when every one of her remaining organs, including her lungs, had imploded. She drifted through the vacuum of the Void, suffering in silence. Save for a faint sound of ticking from the explosive device installed in the back of her head, as the bomb counted down to its final seconds.

As the explosive began to detonate from behind her asphyxiating brain, Seryu's last thoughts lingered within her dying mind.

In space no one can hear you scream.

U.S.S. Sulaco, Outer Space

BOOOMMM! The Sulaco shook and rocked violently as the ship withstood against the growing radius of the blast. "Hang on!" Ripley screamed, as Everybody aboard held onto each other for balance and safety. A loud alarm blared through the multitude of PA speakers throughout the ship, accompanied by an female electronic voice

"Attention. Emergency. Proximity detonation detected beneath the ship's prow. All personnel must report to immediate battle stations, and deploy countermeasures. Will the Executive Officer please report to the Bridge, for damage assessment."

Bishop came running down the Dropship's loading ramp, and made a bee line towards the nearest elevator that can take him to the Bridge. Hicks followed after, and went over to check on Ripley, Newt, and Mine.

"Are all of you alright?" The Marine asked with concerned. Newt gave him a thumbs up while she remain clinging onto Mine. The pink haired gunner simply nodded, currently at a loss for words by their close run in with death.

When she finally spoke, only one word was uttered as Mine pointed out a finger "Ripley…" Hicks turned around towards the downed Power Loader, with growing urgency "Ripley!?" The Loader was on its side, with its back and power unit facing the worried trio. "Ripley!" Hicks called out again. The Corporal then ran over to the others side of the machine, in fear of the Lieutenant's condition.

"Ellen!" Hicks called out more urgently, as he reached the front of the fallen Power Loader's operating frame. Much to his relief, he found Ripley laying on her side as she struggled to undo the tangled harness that had her pinned behind the Loader's mangled safety cage.

Hicks unsheathed his knife, and approached the trapped Lieutenant "Hang on. I'll cut you out."

In a moment, the Marine managed to slice away at the last strap, and Ripley dropped free from the operating frame. With Hicks lending her a hand, the Lieutenant awkwardly climbed out of the confines of the Power Loader's compromised safety cage. "Thanks, Hicks." Ripley said in gratitude, as they both stood up arm in arm.

Newt came running toward them, then threw herself into Ripley's arms. Mine followed afterwards, and she stared at Ripley in complete awe. Afterward, the Genius Sniper gazed at the fallen Power Loader, then at the pile of red dust that was once a Berserk Koro, and finally at the lower remains of Seryu's body. There wasn't much left of the pretentious Ally of Justice, everything above the waist had been completely ripped off. The legs were all bent and partially flattened, and nothing above the waist remained except for a pool of blood and entrails. "Amazing…" she whispered, then she began to blink back tears. Finally, after so long, her friend Sheele had been avenged.

"Thank you, Ripley…" Mine murmured. Ripley looked up from embracing Newt, and responded "Did you say something, Mine?" The pink haired gunner shook her head, and answered "It was nothing." she then looked once more at the Power Loader. The mechanized exo-suit wound up severely battered, after combating Koro's Trump Card 1 on 1. But even then, thanks to Ripley's resourcefulness, the Machine and its driver carried the day, and still managed to deal the coup de grace on the devious Seryu before her treacherous suicide bomb detonated and nearly took out the ship and everyone onboard. Mine's gaze strayed over towards the closed Loading Lock, then she recalled Esdeath, the Empire's strongest, and her Soldiers getting sucked out the hatch's outer doors, thus sealing the General's fate.

In mere minutes, two of Night Raid's deadliest Enemies had met their ends at the hands of some unemployed Space Trucker and her child companion. And Ripley didn't even have an Imperial Arm of her own, yet she stood against two of the Jaegers, and prevailed.

"Not bad, for a Civilian." Mine declared admirably. Ripley just grinned and replied "I wouldn't have done it without you, Mine. You really had my back."

"From now on, I always will…" Mine whispered quietly. She then continued to give congratulations "You saved Us. All of Us. Both, You and Newt." She walked over to Newt, and embraced her.

"Save the applause, until after We help the rest of Night Raid." replied Ripley.

("This is Bishop. Do you all read me down there?)" Bishop's voice sounded in the Hangar, from the PA system network throughout the ship. Hicks pressed the mic of his headset close to his mouth, and responded "This is Hicks. We read you, Bishop."

A minute had passed, until the Synthetic Android continued speaking ("If you can make it up here, to the Bridge. There's something I need to show you." Hicks made a nod, and beckoned for the others to follow him as be made his way towards the elevator "Roger. We're on our way."

The doors to the bridge part, as Hicks, Ripley, Newt, and Mine walked through, and entered the Main Operations Center of the Sulaco. Mine stared around in wonder, as she eyed the various computer systems that are tasked with maintaining the ship. "Wait, till Night Raid gets a load of all this…" Mine thought, as an excited smile formed on her lips. The smile faded quickly though, as Bishop stood before them, and brought up an image displayed on one of the large computer screens. The image showed various numbers, letters, and technical readouts. All of the displayed information were colored an ominous red.

"What are we looking at, Bishop?" inquired an anxious Ripley. Beside her, Hicks skimmed over the information on screen, and shook his head with a sigh "It looks like, we've lost more than hull paint from Seryu's bomb explosion." He then turned towards Bishop "Tell them…"

Bishop took a moment, and began to explain "That explosion did more damage to the ship than anticipated." He points at the data on screen, and continued "While the force of the blast was severe, rest assured, the Sulaco hasn't suffered any significant damage thus far. Hull integrity remains unbreached. Power supply, operating systems, and life support were unaffected. And orbital trajectory remains on its current nominal course."

Impatient for the bad news, Ripley muttered a demand "So what's the kicker? What kind of problems are we facing?" Bishop referred back to the data image, and clarified "Certain weapon systems are not responding. Namely, the ventral mounted Rail Gun, and Laser Batteries. They must have been damaged and knocked offline by the explosion from Seryu." That got Ripley holding her chin, and thinking seriously. Hicks was doing the same, as he studied the damage assessment.

Mine was confused "So, what does it all mean?" Hicks turned to her and spoke dryly "It means, we've lost our capabilities for orbital bombardment." Ripley looked up from her brooding, and asked "Is there anything left, that we can still use?"

All eyes turned on Bishop, and he promptly explained. "There are still the missile launch tubes. They're located towards ship's front dorsal portion, and still remain operational." Ripley was skeptical "Why do I feel, there's a But coming on?" Hicks was the one to answer her "Our arsenal mostly consist of anti-ship missiles. We don't necessarily carry anything that can make a orbital strike on a planetary target." Ripley persisted "What about the Nukes?"

Hicks shook his head, and deferred to Bishop. The Synthetic Android typed instructions on a nearby keyboard, and brought up an image on another screen. It displayed a tactical readout with some restricted signs glossed over the information. "There's a small complication in that regard." Bishop explained "Our Nuclear Arsenal remains under lockdown by a PAL system, as per military regulations. And only Lieutenant Gorman had the necessary clearance to disengage the PAL, and authorize a launch."

Disappointment began to overwhelm Ripley, until Hicks spoke up "But there is a way to bypass that issue." The Corporal turned back to Bishop, and prompted him to continue. The Science Officer spoke some more "I can interface with the Ship's Mainframe, update it with correlations from our recent events that have transpired while away from the Ship, and get it to transfer authorization over to our next in command, Corporal Hicks."

Ripley began to look hopeful "How long is that going to take?" Bishop looks at her, and shrugs "It varies. The amount of time the Mainframe can spend deliberating, could take hours or even days." Ripley's shoulders slumped. Beside her, Mine fidgeted "I still don't get it. What are you all talking about?" Hicks got her attention and clarified "It means, apart from the time it takes to repair the bottom Rail Gun and Lasers, and unlock the strongest weapons in Sulaco's arsenal, this ship won't be able to besiege the Empire, or wipe out the Aliens, any time soon."

Mine listened carefully to Hicks' revelation. She then stared down at her feet, and tried not to be feel aghast. "So, that's it?" she said admonishingly "Is there nothing you can do to help my Comrades?" Hicks snorted indignantly "I didn't say that…" he walked over to a different computer terminal, and typed on the keyboard. When he finished, he turned around and got everyone's attention "I've initiated the Dropship's automatic refueling cycle. Until it's finished refueling, we'll have till then to load it up with as much firepower as the ship can carry." He calmly grasped Mine by the shoulder, and began to lead her down to the Ship's Armory. "If Imperials got you down, there's only one thing you can to. Send in the Marines."

Chapter 9 : End

Thank you for reading. Please leave a review, and any feedback really helps me stay focused and dedicated. If you have any questions, let me know with PM. And if you like the story, please tell a friend. Next chapter, another ferocious battle ensues, as an Otherworldly Force demonstrates overwhelming powers against an Unprepared Foe.