Nanoha passed the ball to Artoria, who flung it over the net towards the other side. Medusa moved swiftly to knock the ball back to Sakura who passed it to Signum who went in for an attack.

Hayate was still grinning ear to ear, carefully watching both at the game and the participants. The score was even.

And no points were ever made via the ball actually falling down. Artoria would launch a strong attack, Medusa or Signum would repel and pass to the back row and Rin or Sakura would counterattack furiously. Nanoha and Fate would catch the serve and return the attack until the ball would drop enough so they could pass to Artoria or Joan. Then these two would go on the attack once more and Signum or medusa would block.

All throughout, someone would overdo it, always by mistake and too much zeal. Sakura or Rin would put too much effort into strikes and inadvertently pit magic into the ball. Artoria would react so quickly she'd fill her strikes with magic. Signum would strike hard enough to unintentionally put magic in her serves. Fate would by reflex use her magical speed.

The score was -10 all around.

Hayate sighed and giggled as the children looked on with not a small amount of amazement. Nove looked on embarrassment. "Sometimes there's such a thing as being too good."

The score went down to -11 all when Sakura hit a hard ball aimed at a very eager Fate.

Vita clicked her tongue.

Hayate laughed with pure joy. "Such lovely holiday spirit."

The score went to -24 by the time Hayate finally called the game off.

"Alright ladies, I see we can't really relax like this. So-"

Suddenly everyone received a mental message.

"A massive object is exiting time space travel right at the other end of the lake. Repeat. A massive, unknown object is exiting travel space right at the end of the lake. It will be on top of you in ten minutes tops."

Nanoha's expression became grim. "Nove, Zafira, take the kids to safety. Everyone else get ready."

A shot rang out in the distance and in a millisecond a deadly projectile found its mark in Artoria's chest. But the king of knights wasn't phased and her her armor snapped in place to intercept the projectile as she grunted from the force behind the hit.

"To think you would attack by surprise inside a civilian area with children about. You'll not do that again!" She growled.

A second shot followed but Artoria deflected it with her sword this time. Nanoha, having finished her own preparations, took charge. "Artoria, could you catch those bullets for a few seconds. I'll blow away the rascal causing this trouble in a moment."

"Done."

The great shimmering black arrow of the Freya came into full view. The weapons took aim at the group's position and fired a massive volley.

Sakura and Rin jumped into action and threw up a huge barrier that caught every bit of energy unleashed. An extremely irritated Rin cried out. "Who the fucking hell does shit like this? You fuckers are going down!"

Sakura, no less irritated spoke more softly but with pure rage in her voice. "Nee-san, focus on the barrier, otherwise I'll give in to temptation and try and blow that thing up right now."

The ship unleashed another volley.

Karen Amsel dashed like a thunderbolt straight towards Hayate, aiming for her neck. Medusa jumped in, twisting like a great snake and slammed her knee into Karen's face with fury, driving the black clad swordswoman hard enough that she made a crater in the sand as she slammed into it.

A reign of projectiles fell upon the party from the opposite side. Shamal moved quickly. "Wind Shield!" the attack came to nothing but a very obscene expression emanating from a few hundred meters away.

Quin Grendel jumped towards Shamal from her flank but Signum and Agito were there to stop her. Signum stopped the blow then turned in a heartbeat to hit Quin from her flank. The Grendel swordsman caught the blow in her ribs, almost passed out and then flew away with a very foul curse.

Hayate, taking full command of what was going on together with Rein, began pinpointing the threats and assessing the situation. "All off world communication have been cut. The warning came locally. There are four direct threats and one command ship, probably. The ship is too large for one person to both command it and block the communication lines. Signum and Agito are on one swordsman, Medusa is on another. Sakura and Rin are covering most of us from the ship and the sniper. The sniper's changing position quickly. The barrage mage is getting ready to fire again. Right, Artoria and Nanoha, focus on the sniper. Get in close so we can avoid too much damage. Vita, Fate and Joan, you go after the barrage mage before they can shoot again. When we're done with them, move in against the ship. We can't have it fall out of orbit or it'll do an immense amount of damage."

"Know where she is Nanoha?"

"Sent an orb after her. I'll see you there."

The king of knights charged like a lion after its prey, Nanoha flying just as fast above her.

Maria was taken aback. "You're giving me an easier shot!?" She kept firing deadly projectiles towards Nanoha but Artoria managed to close the gap between them far quicker than Maria ever expected. She barely dodged Artoria's devastating swing and the force knocked Maria back into the nearest thick tree trunk. Still, Maria continued to fire at Artoria's head. None of her shots had any effect, only serving to make Artoria madder.

"So you use your fingers to fire?"

Maria grinned. "Fuck you bitch!" She shouted as she unleashed four projectiles aimed squarely at Artoria's head. Artoria made to deflect them, but the projectiles exploded and Maria used the small moment to start getting away.

"Hoop bind!" Maria's attempts to flee were cut short as Raising Heart trapped her handily, tying her up with two extra binds for her hands as well. "What the fuck?! Dammit, dammit, dammit!"

Still smoldering, Artoria planted her sword into the ground right next to Maria's head. "Be grateful we're showing you mercy."

"Go fuck yourself!"

Karen jumped up from the crater and looked for Medusa and Hayate. Long before she could see the second, Karen glimpsed Medusa moving like the wind to strike her again. It was all Karen could do to block the attack with her Dragon Sword. Even like that, the former servant pushed her back a long way from Hayate and managed to entangle Karen's sword with her chain. As Karen tried to untangle her sword, medusa gave an almighty pull, dragging her through the sand face first, then kicking her in the head with enough force to knock Karen out.

Signum and Agito slammed into Quinn one more time. Even though Quin managed to strike back with her sword, Signum parried and blew the sword out of her hands. "Yield!"

Quinn looked at her with amazement, anger and terror. "Kill me!"

Signum's eyes widened. "What?"

"I've disgraced my style." Quin continued. "The black hound was never supposed to fall. Kill me!"

"Killing a defeated and unarmed opponent would be a disgrace for me. Show some dignity and be silent!" Signum snarled.

"They're part of the Eclipse clan I think." Agito said as she looked at Quinn. "They're a bunch of battle maniacs that put their whole lives into fighting and their Belkan techniques. The women inherit those techniques and only a man that can beat them gets the right to make children with them. But there's something more important. One of those families had a cursed ship. I'm guessing that behemoth over there is it."

"What kind of curse?" Hayate asked up with alarm.

"A really bad one that activates when the family gets beaten up good. If the owner's family is threatened, the whole line of ancestors will get angry and come join the fight. I don't know any more than that because these guys were trouble even way back then."

Belle Amsel gritted her teeth as she desperately tried fixing her sights on one of the three targets chasing after her. Joan should've been the easiest mark but she was moving in such a pattern that Annabelle couldn't even start aiming. As for Vita and Fate they were moving towards her flanks and any move to face either would've exposed Belle to the other.

"These bitches! God dammit!" Annabelle loosed a volley going in all direction as she continued to withdraw. The momentary halt, however, allowed Vita to move in behind her and plant the business end of Graf Eisen right in the middle of Belle's back. Annabelle gasped in pain and loosed yet another volley against all three attackers, but to no avail as Joan moved in swiftly and cut Annabelle's weapons to pieces before hitting her in the face with the hilt of her sword. Belle barely kept her footing till Fate chanted. "Lightning Bind!" With that Annabelle stopped fighting.

The four attackers were brought to a very concerned Hayate. "Listen, we can work this out another time. Right now I want to remove the danger your ship poses to the civilians in this area. What are the specifics of this curse?"

Annabelle gave a menacing grin. "Let me go and I'll tell you. You guys fight good."

"Later, perhaps in a fair match. Right now I'd like to stop your ship from hurting anyone."

Karen, her face in much better shape than it should have been, snorted. "Then you'd best let us go. Our little sister will blast this whole planet to kingdom come if you keep us like this. There's no way to move anyone off planet either."

Agito turned to Hayate. "No point in trying to reason with them, Hayate. These people were notorious way back when for having a one track mind. It's fight or die with them."

Vita scowled. "Sure glad we never met these guys in worse circumstances."

"Think you can take me on your own bitch?!" Annabelle sneered.

Hayate looked at her, unfazed. "Quite the attitude they have. I'm guessing they're upset about the registry. We can work that out later."

Just as Hayate was about to continue, a big communication window opened up above them. Stella Amsel appeared on it, a pissed off expression on her face. "You bitches let go of my sisters or I'll blow you all to kingdom come! And then I'll blow your Space Time Bureau to bits too!"

Hayate spoke mentally to Sakura and Rin as the woman made her threats. "You guys good?"

"More than good. We've got her wavelength down. She's not going anywhere or doing anything." Sakura replied.

Fate stepped forward. "Good afternoon. We'd like for this encounter to end peacefully if possible. I'm sure we can reach an agreement."

"Get fucked you big chested cow!"

Fate frowned, at first with disappointment, then with apprehension as a very displeased Nanoha began to speak. "Children shouldn't talk like that."

"And dumb bitches shouldn't trample on people's freedom!"

"That's right Stella!" Karen shouted from behind them. "Better a single second of living upright than a lifetime of bending down."

Another window appeared, this time with Lola Grendel in the middle of it. "Hello Combat Force 9 members. Even though you've captured my sisters that doesn't mean much. We were happy just to knock you guys out, but we'll also settle with destroying your headquarters. Someone was kind enough to provide the coordinates for us. Unless, of course, you release our sisters and end this nonsense registry."

Nanoha raised her chin defiantly. "The registry is there to prevent people being harmed by the undead. It's there to protect innocents from being hurt. It isn't there to take away your freedom or traditions."

Maria and Karen snorted with contempt while Annabelle shook her head and Quint grit her teeth. Belle spoke up. "You people could never understand the tradition of the Eclipse knights. We answer only to ourselves and our bloodlines. No king or any other master will ever rule over us. Death is a far better fate. If you want this to end, you have to kill us. You guys fight good, that shouldn't be a problem."

That last bit really had the gift to annoy Hayate. "That's enough of that." She covered the prisoners' mouths with yet another bind. "I need two people guard these four. Joan, Medusa, do you mind?" Both nodded. "Goof. The rest of us will focus on bringing that ship down. Sakura and Rin will give us the appropriate wave length for our attacks. Any questions?" None were asked. "Good. Our objective is to stop that vessel with the least possible trouble. First step is going in."

Artoria spoke up. "Why not destroy it from a distance, here and now?"

"There are two people at least on that ship. And if I know Belkan products, and I do, it almost certainly has some kind of fail safe or self destruct device that'll do a huge amount of damage if it's destroyed. It'll activate as soon as you fire that magical sword at it." Hayate replied.

"Damn!" Artoria cursed.

"We'll blast a way in and find a path to the control room. I trust Shamal and Sakura will be able to deactivate the ship. Then, we can properly dispose of it. The rest of the team has the mission to protect them from whatever threat might be inside. I'll remain here to coordinate and manage any teleportation needed. Move out!"

Nanoha, Fate, Vita and Signum, in unison with Agito, Shamal, Sakura, Rin and Artoria charged towards the great battleship. Artoria moved on the water every bit as fast as the others flew. The ship continued to fire at them as they moved closer, but Hayate's shields stood firm.

They reached the area right bellow the ship in no time. Even with fire still pouring down upon them, the group got organized in a moment. With a shout of "Riot Blade!", Fate activated Bardiche, thrusting her blade into the ship and cutting her way into a hallway. Everyone flew in with Artoria being carried by Nanoha.

"Raising Heart, engage wide area search for the main command post and anyone who might be on this ship. Sakura, if you can start an analysis on the ship directly, that would help greatly." Nanoha ordered.

"Yes, my master."

"Give me a few moments."

Sakura touched the wall with her hand and focused intensely. Her expression turned to disgust, then grief and, for a moment, she looked about to cry before Rin took her hand.

"What's wrong, Sakura?"

Sakura drew a breath, visibly holding back tears. "I'm sorry. It reminded me of something horrible. This ship is horrible. It's made of human remains and magic circuits."

Signum was taken aback, but Agito not so much. Vita just spat. "This is so much more than bad taste." She paused. "Don't tell Hayate I did that." Nanoha and Fate said nothing while Shamal added her hand to Rin's.

"Master, structure is heavily morphed and twists upon itself. The corridors change structure and direction constantly. I advise inflicting damage until resources are exhausted or main power source is found." Raising Heart reported.

"Any human signs?"

"Nothing. Possibility that those commanding ship are also in danger."

Sakura shook her head. "That's not the case. This thing won't touch the Eclipse knights. We need to find the core. The corridors may move, but the core cannot. However, I cannot find it by just touching this wall. The control room is the same."

"Very well." Nanoha nodded. "Raising Heart, look for two areas that the ship does not want us to find."

"Acknowledged, my master. Estimated time is 15 minutes. Multiple incoming hostile entities detected."

Vita raised Graf Eisen. "Here comes the welcome party."

Artoria readied her sword. "Best not be rude to them."

Signum gripped Laevatein. "Indeed."

Fate twirled Bardiche. "Be safe, everyone."

The moans of long rotted away throats echoed in the corridor. Instead of a wave of enemies however, a shower of projectiles flew towards the group. Shamal and Rin moved to erect barriers and blocked the attacks. Sakura joined them as well. "No point trying to find out more. The ship will not tell me. And we must not get separated."

Nanoha nodded in agreement. "Indeed. Once Raising heart finds the target areas, I'll blast us a way through to them. Until then, I am in your care."

The projectiles failing at their job, a row of fighters moved forward to attack directly. Charging in with deadly determination, the long dead warriors aimed for the creators of the shield. But it availed them not, as attacks came from behind the shield, smashing the undead.

"How long can you keep that up?"

"As long as it takes. We are not front line fighters but we can make sure you conserve your energy."

Back on the ground, Hayate had been informed of the nature of the ship. "That's quite a terrible thing. When this is done I'll have a long talk with the family members."

She looked at the four prisoners still tied securely between Joan and Medusa. Karen and Maria looked her straight in the eye while Belle looked oblivious and Quinn looked to the ground.

"I don't think this will take much longer."

"Master, two locations found, their geometric center has been entered into the targeting system." Raising Heart announced.

"Good, aim for the one that will affect the structural integrity least." Nanoha said.

"Target set."

"Exceed Mode." Nanoha aimed her great magical device towards the indicated target and loaded several cartridges. Pink magical energy gathered in a circle. "Divine Buster!" Nanoha cried out.

The great pink beam of magical energy flew through the walls of the ship, pierced its target and flew clear past the outside of the ship. A great wide breach remained behind it.

"Everyone move! Now!"

The hole through the walls had already begun to close up, even as the undead attacking them started to withdraw. The team moved like the wind up through the path created by Nanoha. Fate stood close to Nanoha and eyed her with concern. "Please don't push yourself Nanoha. I can clear the path to the second place."

Nanoha smiled at her. "Thank you Fate. But we may need you on the front lines. I can handle a few more of those."

They were fast enough that the guards couldn't even fire at them as they moved. When they found their destination, it wasn't the main control room.

Upon a great stone pedestal, green and gray with time and age, stood a tall woman, resembling Karen in appearance but with more noble features, stood as silent as a statue. She looked as young as Karen, but something about her was terribly off. As they arrived and the wall closed in behind them, the figure opened its eyes and spoke.

"Good afternoon. I am pleased to see so many have made it into my chambers, after such a long time of receiving half dead offerings."

Artoria jumped in front of Nanoha. "Beware, this creature is in no sense human!"

The woman cackled. "Oh dear, as if that wasn't obvious. This ship is heading for your beloved headquarters. Ironic that your consumption will give me enough energy to ward off any pitiful attempts at defense."

An impenetrable darkness began to fill the room, threatening to swallow the party whole. It stole the light, the sound and air. However, Nanoha lit up Raising Heat, joined by Fate with Bardiche and Artoria with Excalibur as Sakura with Rin raised their magical power, shielding the others.

Drawing a belabored breath, Signum spoke for the group. "Thank you, Rin, Sakura." Shamal gave Sakura a look of gratefulness and pride.

Sakura smiled at them. "No need to thank us. The least that we could do." She turned to her sister. "Nee-san, I know how to kill this thing, but I need to focus on catching her. Can you handle this alone?"

Rin smiled. "Not a problem." She grunted.

Shamal joined her, followed by Vita, Signum and Agito. "You're not alone."

A bone chilling cackle rolled through the small pocket of light surrounding the group. This didn't discourage Sakura in the least and she continued looking for their foe.

"Raising Heart!" Nanoha shouted.

"Acknowledged, my master. Hostile entity scan commenced. Entity is changing position erratically."

"Don't let her fool you, Nanoha." Sakura said, her eyes fixed at a certain patch of darkness. "She hasn't moved."

"Raising Heart?"

"Master. Complex cloaking program deciphered. Target identified and located."

Nanoha nodded. "Hoop Bind!"

An inhuman scream echoed and the darkness started to fall back onto the figure still standing on the pedestal. Sakura moved forward and reached with her hand to touch it. The ancestor moved quicker and stopped her hand before she could reach.

"Bardiche! Riot Blade!"

Fate stabbed her golden weapon into the chest of their enemy in the blink of an eye. The woman faltered.

"Now Sakura!"

Sakura pushed forward and touched the ancestor. She began to scream, still with malice and menace, but desperation began creeping in.

"We need daylight, now!"

"Raising Heart!"

"Yes, my master."

The ancestor began to struggle even more intensely, threatening to escape completely from the bind. Rin joined in with Sakura. "You're not getting away." She growled.

"Divine Buster!"

The almighty attack went through the walls of the ships and opened a path to the outside from whence the light of day came in. The next moment, a terrible howl filled the room and every corner of the land for dozens of miles around. The ancestor burst into flames, continuing to howl as a nauseating miasma assaulted the senses of all those present. Even having withdrawn quickly, Fate and Sakura almost wound up vomiting from the reek. Any activity of the ship stopped and a long, mournful moan echoed throughout and around it. But within the howls of inhuman agony a cry could be made out. "Master. Help me, master!"