Chapter XI

5 Kilometers Outside Blitz Team HQ,
Planet Zi

Bit Cloud wiped the sweat off his eyebrows, anxiously waiting for the enemy to climb down a huge egg-like vessel. Three strange Zoids got out, the one on the center was a tall, humanoid robot that was clearly the leader of the enemy unit. It sported two large-bored cannon as its arms and a menacing grin on its face. The one on its left was the sniper that took out Leena and Jamie the other day. The last one was similar to Nikolai's zoid, with a round cockpit and two oversized missile launchers on its side.

"Naomi, the smallest one is a hell of a sniper," Bit said over the comlink. "It took out Leena and Jamie in less than 5 shots. If worse comes to worst, take it down quickly or we'll be in trouble."

"I got it," Naomi lined up her gun at the enemy's torso. "I studied its moves. It has one crazy marksmanship but it doesn't move as agile as the others. I think I can do it."

"Good. Brad, cover the one that looks like a cat. I'll deal with the humanoid robot. Leena, Jamie, is the POW doing fine?"

"He's fine," Jamie replied from the truck. "How are we going to cover the bruises? Remember that they would kill Doc Taros if they notice we didn't treat him nicely."

"I don't know, Jamie," Bit sighed. "I'll just play it by ear." He switched his comlink to general frequency and hailed the enemy, "This is Bit Cloud from Blitz Team. I have Nikolai on the truck, along with his Zoid, per our deal. Let me see your end."

Bit's speaker crackled with Doc Taros' voice, "Good job, Bit. I am fine. Just do what they want and get me out of this mess."

"Not so fast, freebirth," Darien interjected. "I see that you bring Nikolai's Timber Wolf. Show me Nikolai."

Just as Bit was trying to outsmart the aliens, the ground shook. Five missiles busted out of the ground and struck Liger Zero right on its legs, peeling off some armor. The Liger roared in confusion, trying to track the new assailants when another set of missiles blasted from underground and almost knocked its head. Two more soared out of the ground and almost hit Brad, but Brad quickly brought his Command Wolf to safety.

"Damn! Backdraft's Warsharks!" Bit yelled. "Brad, Naomi, hit the Backdrafts before they scare the aliens away!"

"It is clear to me that you never intend to honor your own words, freebirths!" Darien yelled. "In that case, I do not have to stay true to my promise. Dropship command, provide long-range battery and smite everything in sight!"

"No! No! They are the Backdraft!" Bit cried out. "We have nothing to do with them! Dammit, don't do anything to Doc Taros!"

But it was too late. The giant egg-like vessel launched a saturated missile, beam, and ballistic strikes to the ground. Tons of sand, dirt, pebbles and rocks were tossed up to the sky as the missiles dug into the Warshark's refuge. Two metal sharks jumped out of the ground, dodging the missiles. The vessel torched them in the sky. The Warsharks spun several times in the air before slamming hard into the ground.

Two other Warsharks surfaced out of the ground and bit the legs of the humanoid Zoid in the center. Their teeth sunk deep into the armor, dangerously threatened the delicate strut beneath it. The humanoid Zoid turned to the right and blasted the Warshark gnawing at its right foot. The Warshark exploded upon impact, killing the pilot instantly. The small sniper Zoid stretched its right arm and fired its massive gun at the Warshark clinging on the big Zoid's left foot. A powerful explosion followed suit, turning the Warshark into a fireball.

The two remaining Warsharks jumped out and pumped out their cannons and missiles in desperation, but Brad quickly fired up his cannons. Dozens of cannon rounds eviscerated the Warsharks. They reeled back to the ground as charred hulks. But before Brad could take a deep breath, dozens of red dots appeared in his radar, rushing toward his position with lightning speed. He inspected his radar, and the signature of Stormsworders leapt into his eyes.

"Pierce!" Brad screamed. "Bit, we got problem! I think the Backdraft is trying to kidnap Nikolai! The Warsharks are just diversions! Pierce is leading the main group to snatch Nikolai!"

"That's impossible!" Naomi exclaimed. "How do they know about Nikolai?"

"I don't know, but somehow they know!" Brad yelled. "We have to take them down... fast!"

"Leena, Jamie, get Nikolai out of the truck! Now!" Bit screamed and aimed his shock cannons at the Stormsworder horde. "Star Commander Darien Kerensky, we are not your enemies! Those Stormsworders are your enemies! They are trying to get Nikolai! Turn your guns at them and shoot them down before they get your man!"

Dozens of missiles, ballistics and energy bolts leapt to the sky, peppering the Stormsworders as it descended. Fireballs blossomed with every Stormsworder taken down by the curtain of fire. The Backdraft Stormsworders return fire, gouging layers of armor of the egg-like vessel, spreading burning splinters all over the place. But the vessel's thick armor shrugged the attack, and both the Blitz Team and the aliens worked together to shoot down as many Stormsworder as possible.

But there were just too many Stormsworders. The leader pierced the ballistic defense and grabbed Nikolai with its feet, just as Jamie and Leena escorted him out of the truck. Brad and Naomi fired their guns to shoot it down, but the Stormsworder quickly soared to the sky. Another Stormsworder dipped down and snatched Leena.

"No! Leena!" Bit slammed his feet on the pedal, bringing Liger Zero to a furious sprint. "Liger Zero, fire shock cannons!"

The Liger Zero roared and fired the shock cannons, ripping the right wing of the Stormsworder. The Zoid spiralled in the air before grazing the ground. Liger Zero snatched Leena from the Stormsworder's claws and took her to safety before the Stormsworder exploded in a brilliant fireball.

"Leena! Are you alright?" Bit asked, fret was imminent in his voice.

"I'm okay!" Leena shouted her response. "They took Nikolai, Bit! What will happen to father?"

"I don't know. Naomi, knock down the Stormsworder that got Nikolai!"

But the Stormsworder was already too far for Naomi to shoot. The rest of the Stormsworders retreated and turned away from the battle. Bit realized that he was in a very disadvantageous position, so he quickly opened communication channel with the alien, "Star Commander, we tried our best, but we are overwhelmed by the Backdraft. Don't hurt Doc Taros, please! We can talk about this situation."

But the aliens retreated into the egg-like vessel, then a minute later it blasted off and flew into the sky, leaving pillars of smoke behind.