Via Pacifica: Olympia Sector
Arcadia City (planetary capital), 10:00 hours

Within the capital of the planet Arcadia, Commander Nessus restlessly paced about the grounds of the city's central foundry as he waited for a progress report. After his recent skirmish with the Odyssey Rangers, Nessus had been reassigned to the rear lines of Arcadia in order to attend to a special task given to him by the Imperial Exarch, Xerxes. It had greatly frustrated Nessus to be called off the main battle line to stand guard and supervise a project that was being finished here. The large Arcadian facility that was being used was responsible for smelting and fabricating large scale structures made of steel and other metal alloys. Although the place was normally used for constructing buildings and starships, the foundry had been repurposed to finish building a final component for Xerxes's dreaded Typhon Cannon. The massive power generator and reactor core that was being built required rare earth metals, like quadrium ore which had been mined from the planet over the past year. Although Arcadia held strategic significance, its rich deposits of quadrium ore had been one of the other major reasons for the invasion.

Nessus watched the small army of Imperial engineers labor over the warehouse-sized generator and he wondered how much more powerful it would make the colossal cannon that was already being constructed. Although he didn't speak it out loud, Nessus wondered if Xerxes was getting desperate now. The Exarch's campaign had largely failed at the battle of Elysium and the new Star League was now growing in strength, all while pushing back the Imperial gains made over the last year. There were rumblings back home that the Imperial Council was turning against Xerxes and that many others were questioning his ability to lead the military. No doubt Xerxes was staking everything on this new weapon to stop the coalition once and for all.

Amid the light of sparks from the welders, the clanging sounds of machinists, and the whirring of rivets being secured on the giant cylindrical reactor, Nessus was approached by a Dragoon officer holding a holo-disc, "Commander. Incoming transmission for you from Lord Xerxes himself."

The cyborg general took the disc from the trooper and stepped outside of the foundry to take the call in a quieter place. The image of Xerxes took shape and the Exarch looked impatient, "Commander? What news do you have on the reactor's progress?"

"From what I understand, the reactor will be finished within the day, my lord. We have a large transport carrier which arrived this morning to beam up the reactor once it's complete."

Xerxes grimaced, "Why can't they just beam it up now and finish construction en route to Imperial space?"

"The last batches of quadrium ore are being loaded right now," Nessus explained, "The engineers say that they need to time to stabilize the reactor, otherwise it may be too volatile for transport."

Xerxes's expression darkened before he gave another grudging nod, "Very well. Finish your job as fast as you can and return to Imperial space by..."

Nessus was suddenly distracted and he turned around when he heard some panicked shouts coming from his troops. One of their communications officers was relaying an alarming message, "Commander... we just received word. A fleet of Star League ships has just jumped into the Arcadian system. They're being led by the Alliance cruiser Odyssey, and they're moving to attack us!"

Nessus glanced up toward the skies and scanned the heavens until he saw the faint silhouette of several non-Imperial ships suddenly jump in. He cut off the comm-link with Xerxes and grinned in amusement. It looked like he'd finally get his battle after all. He hadn't thought the Rangers would be daring enough to attack Arcadia, but if they were here, he'd make sure the Imperial forces would stand their ground and be ready for them.

High above the blue green world of Arcadia, a fleet of Star League ships suddenly dropped out of warp-space and jumped into the planet's high orbit. Just at the edge of the planet's horizon, a large U'shan transport carrier and a small flotilla of escort ships hung in geosynchronous orbit over Arcadia's capital city watching in wide eyed shock as the Star League forces appeared and began to bear down on them. From the bridge of the Odyssey, Captain Raines watched as the Albion sortied a wing of star fighters while the Acropolis and the other allied vessels moved into formation. "This is Captain Raines of the ANS Odyssey. All coalition ships form up and prepare to engage."

As the ship went to battle stations, most of the Rangers stood at their posts on the Odyssey's bridge as the Alliance cruiser advanced and led the charge. From his station, Aaron gave a nod, "Captain, shields are up. All weapon systems standing by."

"We've caught the Imperials off guard but the enemy is sending a distress signal to nearby sectors calling for reinforcements," Hawa reported from her comms.

Sage nodded in agreement from her panel, "The commander is right. Long range sensors show a number of U'shan vessels responding. ETA is ten minutes."

Raines tensed and kept his eyes on the battlefield, already planning his next moves, "Understood. Let's not waste any time then. Rangers, prepare to join the landing parties in the capital. Engineering, give me as much power as you can muster here."

"Sir, there's a large transport carrier just sitting there," Aaron announced in confusion looking over his monitors, "It doesn't seem to be carrying anything right now."

"Beam cannons and rail guns, focus fire on the escort warships first," Raines answered, "We'll clear a path for the rest of our fleet and worry about that transport later."

The battle commenced outside and the Odyssey opened up with a blistering hail of fire on the U'shan fleet while the Rangers left their posts and headed for the cruiser's hangar where Skyler had her ship waiting to go. Once the six had piled onto the Lusty Scoundrel, Skyler punched the throttle and took off towards the planet. Amid the exchange of energy cannons and torpedoes being fired, the Scoundrel evaded the volleys and raced to join the other landing craft which were being sent down in waves toward the capital. From the viewports of the Scoundrel, the Rangers held their breaths and watched the large alien transport carrier looming overhead as they passed underneath it and Skyler took her freighter into a steep dive toward the planet to get clear of the battle.

"Bloody hell," Skyler cursed as the Scoundrel cleared the transport but came under fire from the last two enemy escort frigates floating nearby. Her ship rattled violently as the Scoundrel's shields absorbed a pair of hits and deflected a third. A warning siren sounded alerting her to her vessel's shield strength as she made another evasive maneuver and gritted her teeth, "Come on girl. Don't quit on me now."

To the Rangers' relief a flight of Alliance fighters swooped in and bombarded the U'shan escorts before rolling clear. The Valkyrie starfighters of Zephyr Squadron doubled back and made another attack strafing pass while Lt. Sterling's voice came in over the comms, "Thought you folks could use a little hand. Good luck down there Rangers! Save a few targets for us."

"Thanks Lieutenant! Give the Albion our regards," Keith smiled in relieved gratitude as he replied to his former shipmate.

"We're not out of it yet," Skyler warned everyone, "We're entering the atmosphere above the capital now, so hang on to your skivvies."

As the Scoundrel lit up in the skies like a burning comet and began to enter the atmosphere with the other troop transports, the coalition fleet battered its way through the first line of the Imperial space defenses over Arcadia. The Odyssey rumbled as it took a hit and fired back at an U'shan destroyer. Hawa looked up from her secondary command console and called over to Dominic, "We've breached the enemy line and the transports are away. Shields are holding."

Raines nodded and looked toward the enemy ships in orbit, "What I don't understand is why the enemy isn't moving. That transport and its escorts aren't trying to evade us."

"Maybe it's a trap?" Tiah piped up from her Engineering station.

"Captain, a new ship has just jumped into the system," the replacement Tactical officer called over, "It's the same scout ship we saw at Laguna."

Raines frowned, "Kharon... what's he doing here?"

"Captain, the scout ship is hailing us," Hawa interrupted before opening the line.

As the battle raged, a video window popped up in a corner of the forward viewscreen with none other than the rogue, Ash Dael. "Captain Raines. We meet again."

The Odyssey's shields shook under another hit while Raines growled, "I hope you have something important to say Kharon. As you can see, we're a little busy at the moment."

The former U'shan general nodded as he steered his ship toward the enemy transport, "Oh, I do Captain. I've got intel about what's going on here and a warning to your Rangers about what they're getting into."

"Then you know what that transport carrier is for?" Hawa asked as she split her attention with her work at her battle station.

Ash nodded, "Yes. The Imperials are going to be transporting something large to that carrier. In the capital is the final component to Xerxes's Typhon Cannon. They've used Arcadian resources to construct a massive power reactor in the capital's main foundry, the final one of four generators."

"You would know, wouldn't you?" Raines sniped back with a dark grimace, "We can't let that carrier leave the planet. If that super cannon becomes fully operational, we're all dead."

"Quite right Captain. That's why I suggest we destroy the transport here and now," Ash said cutting the line and feeding targeting information to the Odyssey.

Hawa blinked in surprise, "What the? Kharon's opening fire on the carrier. He's going for their shield generators!"

Everyone on the bridge watched in surprise as the rogue scout ship acted on its own and attacked the enemy transport. It swooped in and unloaded a pair of torpedoes at close range which scored direct hits. As Ash came back for another pass, he fired with pin-point accuracy at the taxed generators and destroyed them in a cloud of fire.

"Now's our chance!" Raines called pointing ahead and giving a shout, "All weapons target that carrier! Forward torpedo launchers volley fire, full spread!"

No sooner had Ash's ship swooped clear, the Odyssey opened up with a searing barrage of cannon fire and proton torpedoes. The storm of weapons fire tore gaping wounds into the vulnerable hull of the transport ship. As the Odyssey roared by taking glancing hits from the escort ships, the enemy carrier listed to its port side as secondary explosions blew out chunks of its hull and ripped more pieces off the superstructure. Moments later, the carrier erupted into a spectacular fireball and shook the morale of the whole U'shan formation.

The bridge of the Odyssey gave a subdued cheer as Hawa called out, "Direct hits registered. Enemy transport carrier has been destroyed!"

"Nicely done, Captain. We worked well together just now," Ash smirked as he radioed in one more time, "Now if you'll excuse me, I've got things to take care of down below."

His scout ship quickly peeled away from the battle and sped toward the surface of Arcadia as Raines growled in frustration at the mercurial rogue, "Wait, Kharon! Where are you going? Damn! That guy is a slippery eel if I ever saw one!"

"Should I radio Zephyr Squadron to intercept?" Hawa asked but Tiah interrupted and waved her arms with an alarmed voice.

"Captain! Enemy reinforcements have just arrived from neighboring sectors and they're led by a battleship! We've got another fight on our hands."

The captain glanced over toward the planet and then to the fresh wave of new U'shan warhships which had just arrived, "Negative on the Zephyrs. Helm, bring us about and move to intercept. Signal the rest of our fleet to regroup and meet the enemy. We'll deal with the Imperials up here and hope the Rangers can take the capital down below. Let's not let them down."

"Aye sir," Hawa nodded grimly as the Odyssey circled back and took a few precious moments to try and recharge its weapons and shields. As the two fleets regrouped and moved to attack each other, Raines called over to his second in command.

"Commander? Relay Kharon's message to the Rangers about the reactor core. Tell them that is their new priority target... let's get to work."

Meanwhile on the planet surface, the invasion was already underway as coalition forces exited their transports and began to battle a regiment of U'shan Dragoons for the capital city. Upon getting the breaking news from Captain Raines, the Rangers left the Scoundrel and oriented themselves toward the main foundry instead. As they strapped on their helmets and flak armor, Aaron waved his team forward, "All right everyone, let's capture that reactor core. The Imperial transport might've been destroyed but we can't take any chances."

"If you're going to be retaking the capital of my home, then you're going to need a guide," said a familiar voice from nearby. Everyone turned a looked in surprise as Princess Sera approached them along with a handful of royal bodyguards. Moments later, another handful of Arcadian volunteers were beamed down from the Acropolis.

"Princess? What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be on the Acropolis?" Qua'lia asked in concern.

"Your captain has things in hand right now," Sera answered as she produced her sun globe, "Right now, my place is here... with you and my people. They need to see that their rulers have returned and are willing to stand alongside them to retake this planet."

"Now that's our badass princess we all know and love," Rin cheered while Geordi shrugged with a sigh.

"Seems like we've really rubbed off on her, haven't we?"

Aaron grimaced but gave a resigned nod. It's not like the Rangers could really stop her if they wanted to. "Okay then. What are we waiting for? Let's get moving."

By now, fierce firefights had already broken out in the city between Imperial Dragoons and the Star League troops while the sounds of battle echoed through the capital. Sera and her fellow Arcadian guards guided the Rangers and helped them navigate a quick path toward the Main Foundry located at the edge of the industrial district. Once they had reached their destination, they could see a large warehouse attached to greater building where many large steel products were forged and manufactured. As they approached, a hail of plasma streaked at the allies and raked the ground causing everyone to dive for cover. Keith ducked behind a large shipping container and sprayed return fire with his heavy rife, "Well... if Imperial troops are here, then we've come to the right place."

Inside the warehouse, Nessus moved to go assist his guards when a new transmission came in from Xerxes. The U'shan Exarch spoke in tense voice, "Commander, I've just been told the transport ship has been destroyed in orbit. Your new orders are to have the engineers excise the reactor core and prepare it for transport. Reinforcements will arrive to beam it up and return it to our space."

"Negative," Nessus answered with a growl, "There's going to be a change of plan."

Xerxes blinked in momentary shock, "What was that Commander? What is the meaning of this?"

"I'm tired of running and I'm tired of your cat and mouse games," Nessus answered tersely, "You've already failed in your campaign my lord, and all you can do now is delay... hoping this cannon will save your reputation. My troops and I will no longer be pawns in this game."

Xerxes fumed, "Do you know what you're doing? You're committing treason to the Empire!"

"No Xerxes, it's you who have betrayed us and cost us so many lives with your incompetence," Nessus answered as he approached the reactor core's main control panel and began keying in commands. "I am going to force the Rangers and the Star League into a decisive battle here, one way or the other."

The Exarch ground his teeth angrily, "What are you doing to the reactor Nessus?"

"Making sure that even if the Star League wins this battle, we will deal them a severe blow and protect the Empire."

With that, Nessus cut off the communicator and finished his work at the panel. Once that was done, he armed his weapons and made his way outside for what he hoped would be a final showdown with the Odyssey Rangers. Upon stepping outside, he saw the six Odyssey Rangers and a contingent of Arcadian royal guardsmen pushing their way through to entrance of the foundry. The Rangers' special weapons were already drawn as they drove back the retreating line of Dragoon guards. Geordi blasted several of the enemy troopers backward with his bowgun while Keith lashed out using his energy flail to sweep aside swaths of foes that remained. Sage's yellow tinted boomerang blade tore across the battlefield clipping several more guards before they were thrown away by the psychic gravity waves emanating from Princess Sera's sung globe.

As the princess enveloped her allies in a protective field of the energy Aaron, Qua'lia, and Rin used their melee weapons to deflect plasma bolts away from their allies while they advanced. Everyone stopped when they saw Nessus emerge to confront the Star League raiding party. The few remaining Dragoons fell back while the Rangers all regrouped and took fighting stances to shield Sera. To their surprise, the U'shan cyborg commander seemed more amused than anything to face them.

"You're too late Rangers," Nessus laughed, "There's no way you can can win here. The Exarch has already called in reinforcements to crush your little fleet above the planet. And don't even think you can beat me either. One way or another, we're all going to die today."

"This guy has completely lost touch with reality," Rin said in bemusement leveling her bident in a menacing way, "The circuitry in your cyborg head is fried. The only person who's going down is you!"

Nessus shook his head with a deranged laugh, "No, Green Ranger. You misunderstand. I'm going to risk everything to destroy you and your allies today... including the planet."

"What the hell are you talking about now, you walking can opener?" Keith demanded.

The U'shan field commander gestured toward the foundry, "As we speak, I've activated a self destruct sequence on the cannon reactor. It's only a matter of time before the quadrium isotopes become unstable again and cause a chain reaction."

The Rangers and their allies all froze in shock for a moment before Aaron turned to Geordi, "Geo?"

The Eltarian Ranger considered it for a moment and felt his stomach drop, "If that reactor is as big as he says... it's possible the blast could crack apart an entire third of this planet."

"An extinction level bomb," Sage gasped in horrified agreement while Sera covered her mouth in fear.

Aaron leveled his sword as distant thunder was heard from the battle raging in the city, "We're not going to let that happen Nessus and we'll start by putting an end to you first."

The cyborg commander locked and loaded his laser cannon tonfas and activated the force shield around his armored suit. He took a ready stance and flexed his bio-mechanically enhanced joints, "The clock is running down Rangers... but you're more than welcome to try."

The Rangers responded by reaching for their morphers in unison, hoping this would be the last time they'd confront their monstrous foe as they were engulfed in a powerful burst of brightly colored energy, "Odyssey Morphers, lock in! Stellar Shift!