Over the next few months, Arkos had a new golden age, rebuilding itself into a superpower once more. But r/CinderDidNothingWrong had not forgotten their old war.
"What in the name of Cinder's thighs are you thinking?" Laughing Fish asked, gills flaring. "Do you mean to bring the wrath of the Arkos Starfleet down upon us? They already have a dozen capital ships, and several more under construction. Their recruitment rates increase daily. We're lucky they haven't come to glass our planet already. And that's not even considering their considerable air and ground forces."
"I'm well aware of that, your highness," said Warlock Weeb, standing before the obsidian throne where the humanoid Great White Shark sat. "Which is exactly why I've come to you with this proposal. Eventually, they will attack us. And it will be when they are far more powerful. We need to strike now, while we still have a chance."
Laughing Fish looked down and put his hand/fin on the side of his snout, in lieu of a forehead. "They've already outgrown our military. We'd have to send everything we've got to even have a chance, and we'd still be outnumbered. It may be too late already. We should focus on improving our defenses and making it not worth it to attack us."
"If we want to continue spreading the word of Cinder," said Warlock Weeb, "they're going to attack us. And we don't have to send everything we have. We can adopt a strategy of guerrilla warfare. Send in two or three of our ships and destroy theirs one at a time while they're vulnerable. We'll whittle down their forces until they're smaller than ours, then we send in everything and crush them once and for all."
Laughing Fish sat up straight and thought for a moment. "Yes, that could work. Very well, I'll give you a chance to do this. Admiral Koanos?"
The admiral stepped out of the shadows from behind the throne.
"You were here the whole time?" Warlock Weeb asked.
Koanos ignored the question. "I still don't like you, Weeb," he said. "Or trust you, for that matter. So I will be keeping a close eye on you during this operation. But I'm willing to give you the chance to prove me wrong. And much as I loathe to admit it, you do have a point about stopping Arkos before they become too powerful."
"Thank you, I will not let you down," said Warlock Weeb, his face lighting up in a grin.
Laughing Fish smiled as well, showing off his hundreds of triangular teeth. "Excellent. We will get our other planet back. Go, and make Cinder proud!"
Soon after, at Arkos
Blue Whale King walked down the hallway toward his office. On one side was a row of tall church-like windows, giving him a view of the city and the wilderness beyond it. The small military base had grown into a vast citadel of skyscrapers, forming a city with a population larger than the total sum of their old housings on r/RWBY before Ship Survivor II. In order to protect the wilderness from disturbance, they had constructed a vast crystal dome over the city.
On the other side of the hallway, there was a line of portraits depicting some of Arkos's old leaders. Blue looked at each one has he passed by, trying to keep their legacy in mind as he worked to be worthy to be counted among them.
Arch Presbyter Mete-G - Died on the Homeworld in the Catastrophe
Grand Monarch Solora Goldsun - Died on the Homeworld in the Catastrophe
Blockade Admiral Nur Al-Jahan - Drowned in Ship Survivor I
Grand General Chaos Vulpix - Died in battle in Ship Survivor I
Admiral Dimension Defender - Betrayed the nation and was executed by the r/RWBY Mod Council
Air Force Captain F-Off Cinder - Shot down in Ship Survivor II
Navy Captain Brendan - Froze in ice water in Ship Survivor II
King Ace XXII - Died in the burning of Arkos's holdings in r/RWBY during Ship Survivor II
Well, at least Whale was more worthy than the traitorous Dimension Defender, whose unframed portrait crossed out with red paint was only there for completion's sake.
He reached his office at the end of the hall, where Cayde, Penguino, and Strike were waiting.
"I'd have thought you'd be the first to the meeting in your own office," said Vice Admiral Cayde.
"Then I wouldn't be able to make a dramatic entrance," said Whale, flaring out his purple cape.
His old trench coat was gone, replaced with a smooth white uniform. One side of his chest bore the Starfleet version of the Arkosian Emblem, designed by ExperiMetal Ideas, while the other had a Grand Admiral rank badge. Glittering golden epaulettes adorned his shoulders, while a combination plasma gun/retractable sword hung from his belt.
"So what was this top secret meeting for?" asked Lord Penguino.
"I've been wondering that, too," said Blue Whale King. "Couldn't this have been in your office, Strike?"
"Uh, no, Rosa and I left too much of a mess there."
"Lucky," said Cayde.
"Anyway, tell us please," said Penguino.
"Very well," said Strike Freedom. "I've found out who's responsible for the guerrilla attacks on the Starfleet. The ones that have damaged several ships and destroyed Captain Strawhat Erza's, leaving her stranded."
"Let me guess," said Whale. "It's the ones I suspected all along, but you and Wingnut vetoed going to war because we 'didn't have proof.'"
Strike scratched the back of his head. "Uh well, it's true that we didn't have proof, but now we do, so…"
"I knew it!" Blue Whale King exclaimed, standing up and slamming his hands on the desk. "r/CinderDidNothingWrong is behind this! I'll go assemble the fleet at once." He started to march out of the room, but Cayde grabbed his cape.
"Wait, don't you want to know what the proof is? We should at least hear Strike out."
"Agreed," said Penguino.
"Fine," said Whale, walking back to the desk and sitting down. "What is it?"
"We have a defector," said Strike. "He came to us today, while you were visiting the shipyards. He has a lot of valuable intelligence."
"Where is he? Cayde asked.
"Waiting outside in the other hallway," said Strike.
"You brought him all the way in here, instead of a holding cell?" Penguino asked. "Why?"
"All our holding cells are full of criminals in solitary," said Strike.
Whale sighed. "If you're brought him this far, you might as well bring him in here so we can interrogate him."
Strike went up and opened the door opposite from the one Whale entered, and in stepped a familiar old foe.
"You're the defector?" Whale asked.
"Hello again," said Also A Pun.
"What made you come over?" Cayde asked. "And what are your plans now?"
"When we bombed Neon City in r/fnki, I felt horribly guilty, and couldn't bring myself to fire on innocent civilians. I liked the word of Cinder, I thought she was a fine goddess, but I realized I could not condone what my fellow followers were doing. When Ship Survivor II started, I left in the chaos. I've been spying on them ever since."
"What took you so long to tell us, then?" Whale asked.
"I was on the run. While I was able to get information, they were always able to block my way here or throw me off course. Until now."
"What's their plan?" Penguino asked. "How can we counter it?"
Also A Pun explains what we learned earlier in the chapter.
"Their capabilities outside their fleet are very limited," Pun continued. "If you destroy the fleet, they will be powerless to attack you again for a very long time. r/CinderDidNothingWrong will have to swear a non-aggression pact to avoid your wrath, and we will have peace."
"Destroy their fleet?" Strike asked. "Seems a bit extreme. Is that really necessary?"
"Yes," said Blue. "They're relentless. They destroyed Strawhat Erza's ship, killing thousands, and drove her back to the Discord Galaxy. From what Pun told us, they would have killed her, along with everyone aboard all the other ships they attacked. We need to stop them once and for all."
"Harsh as it is, I agree," said Cayde. "We won't have peace until they can no longer attack us. I look forward to spending more time relaxing with my friends, uninterrupted by these attacks."
"Well said," Penguino replied.
"My brother, Also A Gun, died in the fall of Remnant Orgy Without Jaune, at the start of Ship Survivor," said Pun. "It was an Arkos Air Force missile. But I don't blame you. I blame the cult we both got roped into. They need to be declawed before they get anyone else killed."
"I'm sorry," said Strike. "We'll stop them."
Just then, an officer burst into the room. Everyone jumped and turned toward the disturbance.
"Lieutenant Jackson Creed," said Strike, "you can't just burst into a classified meeting!"
"Apologies, commander," replied Jackson, "but we've received an urgent distress call. Captain RedWhiteBlue Mage's ship was ambushed just outside our system. He's retreating this way, but his ship is badly damaged. He needs help."
"Speak of the devil," Whale growled. "I'll deploy the fleet immediately. What's not in the shipyard for repairs, anyway."
"Right behind you," said Cayde, and they both went to the teleporters.
"I guess we'd better go too," said Penguino, "but I have a bad feeling about this." He and Strike went to the fighters.
In space, a few minutes later
"All right everyone," radioed Blue Whale King from the bridge of his ship, "now's our chance to stop these marauders once and for all. Captain Mage, what's your status?"
"I'm within visible range of the planet, with four enemy capital ships in pursuit. I only have two out of six engines functioning, and no shields left. I can't hold out much longer."
"Over there, Admiral," said a navigation officer, pointing out a window.
"I see them," said Whale. RedWhiteBlue Mage's ship was distant, but growing nearer. True to his word, it was in bad shape. Many craters marred its surface, some of them gushing smoke and flames. Four ships of different sizes pursued it, but they had little damage of their own. Three of them were slightly smaller than Mage's ship, but the fourth was much larger.
"I recognize their flagship," said Whale. "That's the Arc Furnace, all right."
"Orders, Grand Admiral?" Cayde asked, radioing from his own ship.
"All ships, move to engage the enemy, and cover Mage's retreat. We outnumber them two to one, so they won't stand a chance. Once Mage is behind the planetary shields, we'll surround the enemy so they can't jump away."
"We're right with you," said Strike. "All fighters, follow my lead. We're going to attack the enemy fleet from behind. Each squadron will attack a different ship."
"I won't let you down," said Penguino.
"Nor I," said Gastly Taipan, Commander of a third squadron.
"This will be fun, old friend," said Futtlescish, who'd also been promoted to Squadron commander.
Whale's blue flagship had already started to move when he was giving the order. The other six ships that weren't out for repairs followed his lead, while the fighters zoomed ahead.
"Vice Admiral Cayde T. Spade, moving to engage."
"Captain Maldevinine, moving to engage."
"Captain NinJonic X, moving to engage."
"Captain Falcon Lord, moving to engage."
"Captain Stormzx, moving to engage. Ave Imperator!"
The ships flared their engines, closing most of the distance between them and their wounded comrade.
"Move around Mage's ship and close formation with it behind," Blue ordered. "Open fire on the enemy! Don't hit any of our fighters."
"We're already behind them," said Strike. "You needn't worry about us."
"Though we're having a rough time with their shields," said Penguino.
"Hang in there," Taipan replied.
While the fleets started exhanging fire, a new voice came in over the radio. "Such a basic strategy. I had hoped for better, but what more can I expect from someone who declares himself a Grand Admiral with only half a dozen ships?"
"You can't even count. Even if you were right, it would be enough to defeat you, Cinderian scum. I have many more ships under repair and under construction. This is nothing."
"How rude," the voice replied. "You haven't even asked my name."
"To whom do I have the displeasure of speaking? In fact, I would like to hear the names of your captains as well. That way, I'll know whose names to put on our list of kills."
"I am Admiral Koanos of the Ember Fleet," said the voice. "I have known about you for some time, Blue Whale King. At last we finally meet."
"I'm General Warlock Weeb. Surprise bitch, I'm here to take my planet back!"
"I am captain Rayen Raven. No matter what, at least we have our original planet. Imagine that!"
"I'm Slip Snap the War Boy of White Knight," said the fourth enemy captain. "I'm here to wreck the place with my army of clones!"
"For that, Rayen, you die first. All ships, concentrate fire on the source of Rayen Raven's signal! Maximum extermination!"
"Gladly," said Stormzx. "As you command, it shall be done! Ave Imperator!"
"You don't have to say that every time," said Falcon.
"Whale, don't let your emotions get the best of you," said Cayde. "We're not supposed to enjoy killing."
"Took the words right out of my mouth," said Strike.
"That's still an order," said Whale. "And we agreed that they need to be destroyed."
"Very well," said Cayde, and ordered his crew to join the rest of the fleet in concentrating fire.
"You can't defeat the Cinder Gang!" Rayen shouted.
"Not much longer," said NinJonic.
A moment later, the shields on Rayen Raven's ship fell, and each shot from the Arkos Starfleet left a molten crater in the hull.
"I'm pulling my squadron out," said Futtlescish, who was assigned to attacking that ship. "The target's going to blow at any moment."
"Good work," said Strike. "Help my squadron attack the flagship, we need extra firepower here."
"As entertaining as this has been," said Koanos, "it's time we wrapped things up here. Weeb, time to see if your plan works. Give the signal. Raven, retreat."
"Gladl- I mean yes, Admiral."
"No, don't let them get away!" Whale called, but it was too late. Rayen Raven's damaged ship turned around and jumped into hyperspace.
"Agent Wizzard," said Warlock Weeb, "the time has come. Execute order 69."
"It will be done," said RedWhiteBlue Mage, turning his flaming wreck of a ship around. "For Arc Furnace."
"Captain RedWhiteBlue Mage," said Blue Whale King in an eerily calm voice, "what the hell are you doing? As your Grand Admiral, I order you to return to your previous course and bring your ship to the planet for repairs."
"My apologies, Grand Admiral. I do like Arkos, but Arc Furnace is a far sexier Ship. As my penance, I too will die here. Goodbye." His ship's remaining engines lit up to full brightness, accelerating toward Whale's flagship.
"Stop! My crew, take evasive action!"
"Whale NO!" shouted Cayde, grabbing the steering wheel from his helmsman. "I won't let you die here, my best friend!"
With Cayde's superior quartermastering skills, his ship flew into a sharp maneuver in a small space, putting it in between the kamikaze missile and Blue Whale King's flagship.
"Cayde, NO!" all of the Arkosians shouted, but it was too late. Mage's ship hit Cayde's so fast that the former was only a blur, vanishing in a flash of light as it struck the target. Both ships exploded in a massive fireball, damaging the rest of the fleet. Cayde T. Spade was no more.
"Brilliant job," said Koanos. "Warlock Weeb, you're forgiven. All ships, retreat." The Arkosian fighters scattered as the enemy ships turned around and jumped away.
Blue Whale King slammed both his fists on a control panel, smashing it like an aluminum can. Half the lights on the bridge went out, and the radio stopped working.
"That's the final straw," he said, dropping his voice to a low murmer that no one else could hear. "I'm going to destroy their planet."