Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait, I decided to take a temporary break. Thanks to scriviner for editing help.
''Hyperspace travel completed. We have arrived in Space Sector 2828.'' The Dalek's ring reported. The Red Lantern and Dex-Starr now emerged right at the outskirts of what was traditionally recognized as Vega system territory. Here he would accomplish the last stages of his search.
The Dalek had travelled all over the galaxy, going to various planets who were renowned for their cloning technology. The Glaxsians, the Torr, the Vashelf. Now he sought the last race on his list, the Psions, a cold emotionless race renowned for their expertise in the genetics.
The Psions, according to his ring, had been created by the Guardians of the Universe millions of years ago. They were then exiled to the Vega system by the Guardians in hopes that they would learn something of empathy. Obviously that hadn't worked. Of course, the Vega system has its own dangers. For many thousands of years it had been one of the few places in the galaxy completely free from Green Lantern jurisdiction, up until recently when the Guardians rewrote the Book of Oa in order to fight Larfleeze.
Here Green Lantern authority was still weak compared to other sectors. Only two Green Lanterns have been selected very recently to manage a group of local warlords and pirates nations who lacked traditional respect for the Lanterns. That and the Vega system had its own police force. Vril Dox of Colu has established L.E.G.I.O.N AKA the Licensed Extra-Governmental Interstellar Operatives Network as a rival to the Green Lantern Corps. He policed this section of the universe with his own rules.
''WE MUST PROCEED DEX-STARR! FOLLOW ME TO THE PSION HOMEWORLD!' the Dalek Lantern commanded.
''Meow.''
A single ship exited hyperspace outside of planet Rann and promptly moved into the traffic lanes. It was one of the small merchant ships that commonly frequented this part of the galaxy. Right above Rann there were a thousand others just like it.
Thus the ships attracted no special attention as it passed through L.E.G.I.O.N customs and was allowed to move and dock into the planet below. The pilot of the ship thanked the flight controllers before doing exactly that.
The massive, blocky grey ship then settled down on one of the many landing ports on Rann. Customs officials stood and watched as a single ramp extended from the ship and a humanoid figure in black robes walked down.
The customs official looked the man over, noting the pale grey skin and the blonde hair. He looked almost Rannian. The official paused to check the man's credentials before nodding and smiling at the man.
''Welcome to Rann, is this business or pleasure Mr. Tremas?''
''Business,'' said the man who called himself Tremas as he gave a cold smile.
Faress Karrek sat on the command throne of the Narsta, one of L.E.G.I.O.N's patrol vessels. He watched the sensors pick up the figures of two Red Lanterns moving into his jurisdiction. They had just exited a hyperspace tunnel into the Vega system.
Previously Vril Dox has used robot troops to enforce peace and order on his client worlds, but those mechanical policemen had been fallible. They had been subverted and reprogrammed for use against him. This time, Dox used living soldiers, recruited from L.E.G.I.O.N's various client worlds. Karrek himself was a former veteran in the Rannian army who signed up for opportunity. ''Justice for profit.'' The recruiting posters said, and now here he was.
He never expected to face Red Lanterns. Dox was rather clear on his hostile stance towards the Green Lanterns, Karrek couldn't imagine that he would tolerate the presence of a pair of Red Lanterns here at all.
''Open fire.'' Karrek commanded.
The blast struck the Dalek's shields, but they held. Dex-Starr yowled in the void as he too was struck by the blasts, briefly spinning away before he righted himself. The Dalek then turned to face the new threat.
His sensors detected it as a L.E.G.I.O.N patrol vessel. The Dalek was familiar with the basic history of the mercenary peacekeeping organization and its founder's hostility towards the Green Lanterns. It was no surprise that the vessel had fired on the Red Lanterns.
''ATTACK DEX-STARR! EXTERMINATE L.E.G.I.O.N!'' The Dalek shrieked, swooping in, forming weapons constructs as he promptly started blasting at the ship, crimson rays targeting the shield generators and weapon systems.
The shields of the LEGION patrol vessel flared for a few moments before the overwhelming power of the Dalek's blasts tore through its weapons systems, tearing off weapon mounts and gutting the shield generator systems.
Then the Dalek swooped in with the intention of boarding. A cutting laser construct formed as the Dalek proceeded to create an entrance in the armored bulkheads before swooping in. Air howled out as various pieces of equipment and some L.E.G.I.O.N soldiers followed. The Dalek flew past them and pressed it's plunger to another access hatch. After a few moments it overrode the lock and entered the corridor.
In the hallways, L.E.G.I.O.N soldiers in combat armor and wielding plasma blasters rounded the corridor. One of them, a sergeant in a red-marked helm, pointed at the Dalek. Plasma blasts impacted the Red Lantern's shields, but they held.
Meanwhile the Dalek's battle computers squired targets and it's gunstick was raised.
''EXTERMINATE!''
Dex-Starr curled up on a blood-soaked console as the Dalek moved past it. Both he and the Dalek had proceeded to clear the ship of the L.E.G.I.O.N soldiers that had attacked them before they got to the command deck.
The Dalek shoved aside the burnt corpse of a Rannian before pressing his plunger into the command console. He had originally planned to head towards the nearest Psion Habitat-Lab, but having a little extra information couldn't hurt.
After several moments, he hacked into the ship's database and extracted what LEGION knew about habitat Arc-6. It was one of the private science labs that the Psions maintained in the Vega system. It was commanded by a science-General Hallor. Allegedly, it specialized in cloning.
Exactly what the Dalek needed then.
''COME DEX-STARR!'' the Dalek commanded as the two Red Lanterns promptly blasted their way right out of the bridge, corrosive crimson fire burning aside the bonded armor plating. Outside the Dalek hovered forming another weapons construct.
''EXTERMINATE!'' he shouted before blasting the entire L.E.G.I.O.N ship to ashes and wiping out all evidence. When that was completed the Dalek paused and turned around.
''RING, PLOT COURSE TO SCIENCE-LAB ARC-6!''
''Complying.''
Vril Dox steepled his fingers as he looked over the holographic data-streams in front of him. Here, he directed L.E.G.I.O.N operations on over a hundred client worlds. His brilliant Coluan mind processed data faster than any human as he took in the latest reports and news.
One did catch his notice. One of his L.E.G.I.O.N patrol vessels had gone dark. Another patrol vessel however, had more luck in spotting it.
''Here it is sir, I decided to pull back rather than engage two Red Lanterns.'' The Branx Captain told him.
''I see.'' Vril Dox stroked his chin. What were two Red Lanterns doing here bedsides random slaughter? He had no proof that one of his patrol ships was destroyed by them, but Dox guessed that was the case anyway.
''Should I call in the rest of the squadrons and deal with them sir?''
''No,'' Dox shook his head, a plan already forming in his mind. It was a rather simple plan actually. ''We wait and watch for the moment. In the meantime ''leak'' news of the Red Lanterns to our local Green Lanterns.''
''Yes sir.'' The Captain nodded and his holographic image faded. Then his console displayed a report that Lobo had entered the system. Dox paused before taking that piece of information in. If his guess was correct they soon would have a bloodbath.
''Interesting.'' Dox muttered. Lobo was here so soon? He had heard thast Lobo went temporary missing after a recent tussle on Earth. His reappearance in the Vega system when these Red Lanterns had reappeared might not be a coincidence. Perhaps he could find a way to use Lobo…
''Patch me through to his bike.'' Dox commanded his computer system.
''Complying.'' After a moment Lobo's holo-image appeared at his computer console.
''Dox, I figured you'd come coming as soon as I snuck into your little playpen.'' Lobo chuckled.
''Ah yes, quaint as ever Lobo. I however noticed you have come here at the same time as some of my patrols spotted a couple of Red Lanterns.''
''You spotted them?Did one of 'em look like a cheap tincan?'' Dox caught a note of interest in Lobo's voice.
''Of course,'' Dox plastered on a fake smile. ''Now if I may put forth some advice…''