KathDMD - You know there IS a lot of room in the cockpit of those lions, at least when they were depicted in Voltron Force. Standing room even! I like that Sven and Len still have chemistry, but am geared to show off Romelle, the Freedom Fighter. As for Brown...he's smarter than we're all thinking. ;)
Megazord Prime - The top brass is being manipulated! But watch as it all unfolds!
Author's Note - I'm actually putting together the Gladiator Force episode as I write this note. Might want to check that out, as it leads into next week's episode!
Theme Music : None
Disclaimer - Voltron and all associated characters are the property of WEP. Space Marshall Lenora Hawkins and associated characters are the property of KathDMD. Admiral Lysette Fabrere and associated characters are the property of selena devargo.
Episode 87 : "Crisis Core"
Chaos enveloped the chambers on Planut Carnus as the Drule High Coincil convened once again. King Bhorn stood up, and there was silence.
"As you know," he said, "I have called you all together for a purpose. While we have been relatively passive in regards to Koronith's advances of the Galaxy Alliance homeworlds, we must become more active in its aspirations, or else the Supremacy itself my fall."
"I see how a direct attack on Planet Earth would be a killing blow to the Galaxy Alliance," Viceroy Throk said, "but how can you expect such an attack to be even remotely successful? We have tried in the past to infiltrate their ranks, and even sent an armada against their defenses, and they were able to repel them, even without the help of Voltron!"
"Voltron will not be a problem, Throk," a voice boomed from the entrance. "With the forces scattered, and their Earth force indisposed, their defenses will be weaker." Lord Kanji approached the table. "Combined with our allies on Earth, we have the opportunity to crush the heart of the Alliance, and for once, score a decisive victory in this war!"
"Is it really a war though, my lord?" Skath asked. "The other kingdoms of the Supremacy have had little to do with the skirmishes between the Alliance and Korronith."
"That, Skath, is going to change," Kanji said, looking him dead in the eye. "The former leaders of this empire allowed our own homeworld to fall into oblivion. And for what? For selfish glory! Not the glory of the Empire! That is not what being Drule is about! The Viceroy here is fortunate I am not using his skull to eat my breakfast out of!" Throk took a step back, bowing his head.
"Is it true what we have heard about the Fourth Kingdom?" Skath asked. Kanji nodded.
"General Soltorn took a calculated risk," Kanji replied, looking over at Bhorn. "A risk that I am sure she will not repeat." He looked back at the Council. "The planets in the Supremacy claim to act as a unit, yet we are constantly plotting against one another! I will no longer stand by idly and watch the empire our forefathers built come crashing down because our enemies have us divided! Are we fools to believe in our own unity? Even our bretheren that have seemingly turned against us are conflicted! They yearn for the Drule Empire to become whole once again! And by the will of the First Emperor himself, by the blood of the Old Ones, I will make this Empire whole once more….even if I have to destroy you all to do it." The Council members began to mutter amongst each other. Bhorn stood up slowly and looked at Kanji.
"What would you have us do, my lord?" he asked. Kanji took a deep breath.
"Everything I command," he replied. Kanji turned and left the meeting room. Bhorn turned to the rest of the Council, and they all began to argue amongst one another. As he walked down the hall, a figure joined him.
"They still appear divided, my lord," they said. Kanji continued walking, the figure following close behind.
"It is of little concern," he replied. "I will unify the nations….with or without the Council's blessing. May their souls find the mercy I shall not grant them."
JC and Roxy walked carefully up to the door to the Hawkins' triplex. JC tried the door.
"It's locked," he said. "What now?"
"We improvise," Roxy whispered back. She raised her right hand and a small gun appeared in her hand. When she pulled the trigger, it fired up like a cutting torch. The lock heated up and melted, the door popping open. They walked inside and saw the place deserted.
"No sign of the Space Marshall, her husband, or the twins," JC said. "And it looks like they left in a hurry."
"No sign of a struggle," Roxy said. "They planned to leave."
"The trail is cold then," JC said.
"Not necessarily," Roxy replied. She walked over to one of the chairs and found a loose hair. She tapped her voltcom and placed the hair on a tray that popped out. She tapped another button. "McGovern, are you able to analyze this hair sample?"
"Geez!" Tails said, sounding spooked. "Warn a girl before you're gonna buzz in like that! Let me see." There was a minute of silence. "I only have limited access to Garrison information, but I was able to determine that cute little grey hair is from the head of Commander Stormclaw."
"Wow," Roxy exclaimed.
"I told you we were giving him grey hair!" JC replied.
"Pipe down!" Roxy shouted back. "How long ago was it dropped?"
"I'd say within the last twenty-four hours," she replied.
"That means it's possible they could have a huge head start," Roxy muttered. "Is there any way to track them?"
"Sorry, Roxy," Tails replied. "There's at least several hundred thousand people in the New York area, and I couldn't tell the Space Marshall from a bum on the street."
"Well we have to think of something," Roxy said. Just then they turned to see the TV playing a report.
"Garrison officials are still investigating the North Gate where the incident occurred," the reporter said. "No one knows who was with Commander Stormclaw at the time of the attack. If anyone witnesses him or his accomplices, please contact Galaxy Garrison headquarters immediately with all information." Roxy turned off the TV.
"Sounds like the Space Marshall made it out the North Gate," JC said.
"But where did she go from there?" Roxy asked. She tapped the voltcom again. "Tails, let's assume the Space Marshall and a small party left through the North Gate. Where do you suppose they would have gone?"
"If I had to make an educated guess," she replied, "I'd say they would have headed for the outlying suburbs. Possibly a certain building with a decent size landing area."
"Spill it, McGovern," JC interjected. "Why so accurate?"
"Because my sensors are picking up radiation consistent with a certain vessel we've encountered before," Tails replied. "One resembling a certain king of the jungle?"
"Can you track that radiation?" JC asked.
"No," she replied. "But there are leftover traces near the building I'm referring to. Feeding the coordinates to Roxy now."
"Thanks McGovern," Roxy replied. She looked up at JC. "Come on. We need to get out of here. We're soon going to be just as much the Garrison's Most Wanted as the Commander once they report we went AWOL." The two of them ran out of the apartment.
"I don't think sticking around on Earth is a viable option at this time," Mike said sternly.
"I spent quite a bit of time hiding when Wade seized power," Len replied. "To me, running isn't an option."
"It's not so much running as it is regrouping," Lysette said.
"She's right, you know," Lotor said, stepping into the room. The hairs on the back of Sven's neck stood up, and he softly cursed in Norweigan. "For many years I watched my father's brainless plans. What you need is a strategy. What you need, Space Marshall, is time."
"And time is something we have little of," Len replied. "As secluded as this place is in relation to the Garrison, it'll only be a matter of time before the Council comes looking for us here."
"That is why I made a little arrangement," a voice came from the hall. They all turned to see Stasia walk into the room.
"Stasia?" Mike said.
"Hello, Mike," she said with a smile. She looked back at Len. "I've arranged transport for you and your colleagues. Perhaps once you have reached a place the Council cannot reach, you will have all the time you need."
"The question still remains," Mike said, "what do we do once we are out of the Council's reach?"
"We plan, Commander," Len replied. "We need to do to them what they're trying to do to us. We need to find a way to turn the people's fears back on the Council. I'm not sure which one of them is behind all this, but the sooner we reverse the damage, the sooner the snake will come out of hiding."
"You don't think Wade might have something to do with this, do you, Len?" Mike asked.
Wade carefully walked down the hallways within the prison, Dhaz close behind. He came upon the door to main engineering, and he stopped, turning back to Dhaz.
"The controls for the Void Generator are behind this door," he said. "I have no doubt that Cloak is in here waiting for us."
"I still don't understand who he is," Dhaz replied with a frown.
"You'll understand shortly," Wade replied. He keyed codes into the door, and it slid opened. The two walked in, and the door closed behind them.
"The area seems deserted," Dhaz said. "What luck."
"It's far from deserted, Lieutenant," Wade said, squinting his eyes, and carefully searching. Suddenly, Dhaz was knocked off his feet. Wade felt a swing coming and skillfully rolled forward, avoiding it. He turned, standing in a fighting stance, watching Dhaz try to get to his feet, only to be knocked down again.
"What is happening?" Dhaz shouted as he fell to the floor.
"I see you, old friend," Wade said.
"I may be old," Cloak shouted from the nothingness," but I'm not your friend!" Cloak ran at Wade, and Wade instinctively pulled up his arms in defense. The two fought, and Dhaz tried to stand up, and saw Wade punching the air and instinctively dodgine something that apparently wasn't there.
"What is it?" Dhaz asked.
"The enemy," Wade replied, hitting Cloak with a lucky punch to the gut, sending him flying backwards, forcing him to become visible for the moment.
"Leave this place!" Cloak shouted. "There's nothing here you need!" He became invisible again. Dhaz ran at where he was, but began to get beaten senseless. Wade turned and his eyes widened. He took off running. He swung and smashed a panel. Cloak knocked Dhas down again with an uppercut, causing his nose to bleed, then turned to hear the click of something.
"Checkmate," Wade said, pointing high-powered laser rifle at Cloak's head. He pulled the trigger, and the shock sent Cloak's lifeless body flying across the room, bouncing off the far wall, then to the floor. Dhaz got up off the floor as the rifle disappeared into the device on Wade's forearm.
"What is that?" Dhaz asked.
"When I governed Galaxy Garrison," he said, "I had Cloak working on mass producing the weapons cache that was loosely based on voltcom technology. This is one of the things I came for."
"One?" Dhaz asked. "What the hell is the other?"
"This," Wade said, walking up to one of the main panels and keying in some codes. He connected the cache up to the panel, and the whole room shook.
"What's happening?" Dhaz asked.
"If I'm correct," Wade said, "Voltron's demise." He looked over at Cloak's lifeless body. "And thus ends the last of the Xyans." Parts of the Void began to move and reconfigure…transforming into a giant robot.
…And he shall lay to waste all he sees…..