The Predator: A Bad Star

by Vakrian

When a family witness a shooting star, never in a million years did they expect it to be anything but. Yet when they come into contact with an Alien their world is turned upside down. Especially when the Alien turns out to be a yautja.. Trying to find a way out of his current predicament.. Now includes story arch two ten years later! STORY COMPLETE!

33. Chapter 33

Chapter 33: Where We're Going...

Ellida..

I watch in horror as some explosion of sorts knocks mom onto her back and sends her sliding across the floor, even with the armour system she isn't invincible that shield lasts only so long, I would know I used to stress test it so I knew how safe I actually was, needless to say once that shield goes, it is just a barrier between you and whatever is hitting you, yes it is bullet proof, it is stab proof, but it isn't explosive resistant.. I suppose there was always going to be a trade off. But still. I really wish she didn't go down. But mom is stubborn, if Yautja can't stop her. Then we don't stand a chance.. Though she should really listen to us more, we are her flesh and blood after all and in the back of my mind.. I feel she just wants that Wayne guy dead for what he did to her. Which I get, but.. Couldn't Z just rip his pancreas out in her name? A lot safer and way more of a message. Alas.. Here Kall and I stand on the bridge of a starship, watching it unfold in front of our very eyes.. But I swear.. If anything happens to mom, I don't care if I have permission or not, I will fly the Shadow's Wraith down there and help out. I know Kall will too. Against our mother's wishes. But somehow I think that new Yautja, this.. Wolf.. Will be the biggest help we need. I didn't spend too much time with him by any stretch of the imagination but the way Ghardeh and Z were around him.. Given his status.. Makes me feel a lot safer.. He is an ancient.. That must be a very high ranking and old Yautja who has seen many victories over his long life. He can't and won't fail. He's too smart and skilled for that especially against us humans.. And to think that I have been one of a few humans as well as Kall and mom, to see him.. And I've had the opportunity to meet one of his sons, Osh'ikeille. That was a highlight of my life. To meet Z's family. That was something..

All feeds go to static and i feel butterflies in my stomach.. I hope.. I damned well hope this task doesn't get anyone of my family killed.. I swallow and hold the comms button down to that Wolf's channel..

"Wolf can you hear me? Sorry to disturb your concentration but, I need to ask something of you if that's alright sir?" I almost stammer at the word sir. I realise he is.. Royalty.. Or close to being that of.. And I, a little runt human is interacting with him..

His comms pick up.

"State your request Ellida, you may not get another chance."

"Yes right away, I-I don't know who sent you but they knew you would be the best out there."

I lean into the comms terminal to speak quieter so I don't have people listening in.

"I don't trust Shane, the last, clone.. Tried to kill my mom before.. Could you do something for me? I could.. Pay you.."

"You wish for me to keep a watchful eye on the U'darahje once I reach the surface? Sei'i I will do that, If it brings you peace.. And I do not wish for.. Payment.. I'd sooner kill that Da'dtou-di c'jit for free.. I'll consider your request once I reach the surface, though the last part of the task is collectively destroying the main facility, lest to say either Ze'reikich'ja, Tet'va or even Ghardeh would not hesitate to kill any and all deceiving threats. Let us hope it doesn't come to that."

"I can settle for that.. Thank you for hearing me out, I know we don't know each other at all but you can blame Z for my confidence."

"Your boldness is refreshing, I will give you that, N'dhi-ja Ellida."

"Farewell to you N'yaka-de."

I heard his rapid clicking before he discontinued the comms feed. He found my bye attempt amusing.

I look at the view screen as we hover several hundred metres or so away from the frigate. Waiting like a Wuldren ready to pounce its meal.. Wuldren.. I miss those creatures.. In fact I miss Aurora as a whole.

When this is all done and good, I will go back.. Maybe see how the house is doing..

Ze'reikich'ja..

This planet is strange, on one hand life is thriving in the wilds, tiny birds, insects and lush greens arouse the eyes and ears. On the other.. The shield above creates a strange blue hue around everything.. And pleasantries aside the USM are here creating a bioweapon. The trees here have large thorns jutting out from the base of the tree, like a rose with its thorns. But if you were to fall face first into these spines, you will be facing certain death. I make my way across the grey-brown sludge. My foot falls making a muffled shluck shkucking as I move.

Also the scent in the air is almost.. Alpine-like.. Almost with a springtime scent. It is pleasant.

There is a very low humming and I begin to see ripples in the shield from where it is being generated..

"Ze'reikich'ja, Delilah along with Tet'va and I have reached the Comms facility. I count at least thirty targets, how goes the trail for the shield pylon?" Ghardeh asks over the comms, almost making me jump from the silent thinking of mine.

"Almost there, how did Delilah reach your craft?"

"I jumped, Shane and his team will meet us at the main objective, they are maintaining radio silence. Just in case. Though once we blow up these two objectives all hell will break loose." Delilah says with an almost dry laughing tone.

I stop as I see the pylon, it reaches the clouds, I think I'm going to need a bigger explosion..

"I see the pylon. Moving on to assess points of entry."

Delilah..

"Delilah you will have to jump from the back of your craft then onto the Scorpion's hull, remain cloaked and use your hook shot to ease yourself into the ramp proper behind our craft. We will take you to the comms facility, see you in several moments."

Ghardeh says this like it will be a piece of cake, and like I've done this before.. I haven't.. I take a breath and look at Shane who shrugs.

"Don't look at me, I know better than to argue or contemplate rhyme or reason with her requests.. On you go Dee, watch your step." He says almost with a shaken tone as if he's trying not to laugh.

"Watch your mouth.. How about?" I retort with a huffy breath. He can shut the shit up, he isn't about to drop out of a ship.. I position to the back then open the airlock. As the door slams behind me I take several deep breaths.

"Don't worry Delilah, you won't plummet to your doom, we'll make sure of that."

"Not helping!" I say with an annoyed tone just as Tet'va says "That."

She snorts and then the comms end with a tinny bleep.

The airlock switches pressurisation then the doors fly across revealing the scorpion further back than I'd thought. I feel a slight panic and a tingling throughout my body. With a breath of shear dread I launch forward and jump engaging the boosters of the armour system at the latest second.. I let out a panicked exhale as I landed just past the scorpions cockpit. I can feel the resistance of gravity and air as Ghardeh slows down the ships trajectory.. Then I make my way over the Hull dodging small crevices and shield banks. When I then reach the ass end of the ship. I aim my tri-laser and look towards the front of the ship. I can hear the moaning of the ramp being lowered.

"OK, OK.. Three, two, one.." I jump back and fire the hook shot, it digs into the bulkhead to Ghardeh's left. Then I'm launched into the wall. She slams down on the ramp button as I stay clamped to the wall, like a baby woggy clenched to its mother like its life depended on it.

"Jebas, I wouldn't want to do that again.." I say letting out a laugh of fear.. To say I was shitting myself just then was an understatement and right now there's no way to check.. But here I am with my legs shaking.. Ghardeh just holds my shoulder and walks down the corridor to the cockpit.. We fly for several minutes when we see the silhouette of a comms facility. The dish is constantly on the move above the building making little incremental adjustments. Ghardeh scans the area to see thirty plus targets and presses the comms rune to get in touch with Z..

"Ze'reikich'ja, Delilah along with Tet'va and I have reached the Comms facility. I count at least thirty targets, how goes the trail for the shield pylon?" Ghardeh asks over the comms. There is a crackle then Z responds.. Asking how I made it to the ship, I tell him that I jumped and I swear I heard a slight huff of laughter. Probably because I was laughing, but also because he knows that it was one of Ghardeh's suggestions.

I also tell him that Shane is helping with our objective. Even though he's supposed to be heading for the extraction coordinates. We are landing a little ways off from the Comms Building and Ghardeh mentions that the Scorpion will be the extraction location. It isn't too far from the actual main building and if Wolf does his job properly then we won't get any reinforcements to worry about, though no doubt those drones will activate.

The ship lands with a quiet whir and moan, such a handy thing hush drives. They basically use the ship's thruster drive and convert the energy used to create a dampening field that lowers the volume considerably, it raises the temperature of the inside of the ship also as the energy is also built inside the core. No wonder some yautja appear clammy.. Thankfully we didn't use it long enough to become affected but I still like the idea of quieter thruster drives. I might ask Ghardeh for a schematic when this is all over. We head on over to the ramp of the ship when Tet'va pushes the ramp rune. It opens with a quiet whirring and immediately I see the cloak system active around the ship. Several trees to the right and left are distorted. Ghardeh walks past me and taps on her Sat Com.

"Ze'rei-te we are approaching the Comms Facility now. Will attack in several minutes."

There is a delay in his response when we all hear a disturbing gargle followed by a snapping sound. Shortly a shuffle as if someone had been dropped.

"I'm at the shield pylon, setting explosives now.."

Ze'reikich'ja..

While cloaked I make my way towards the shield pylon but stay at a safe distance while I scan the area to determine the best approach, there are several patrols and I manage to tap into their comms network. I look up at the massive pylon before me, I decide to attack the base of the emitter, I long jump onto the foundation of the shield emitter there is one human patrolling the section when my Sat-Com vibrates, it's Ghardeh just as she tells me they are almost at the comms facility I drive my wrist blade into the back of the human male and twist to the left causing a snap and a dying gargle, "I'm at the shield pylon, setting explosives now.."

I plant my explosive device at full yield in the centre. There is a vibration in my Sat-Com alerting me it is ready for detonation. There is a small contingent of troops and drones within the main module. I don't engage, I know they won't survive the initial blast. When I move to a safe distance I patch into the extraction team.

"How goes the situation at mother base?"

"It's bad, there's more personnel here than predicted, we are moving Aquinox onto the craft as ordered but we don't have much time.. Sisko out.."

I nod once and patch through to Ghardeh.

"How goes the explosive emplacement Ghardeh? I'm all set here.."

Her biomask comes into existence in my left opti-shield window.

"Setting the final one down on the array, Then we will meet up at the indicated coordinates. By the time any action is taken we will bomb the facility with my Sat-Com ordinance it will be set to a one mile radius. And we must be precise."

"Making my way to the zone. Ze'rei-te out."

I make haste to my waypoint to the set zone for a regroup. Which proves difficult. Flying drones patrol the area emitting a high radon burst that seems to cause my cloak to distort.

"Z we have the Aquinox and have been given the target coordinates for our drop off point, we have created a false engine fault to fool the USM in thinking we need maintenance, we have 45 minutes to commit repairs before they send the drones in to make the repairs for us.. I hope you are close.. Sisko out."

I patch back through to Ghardeh.

"We need to detonate now.. Put the plan into action.. On my three.. One..Two..Three.."

I press my detonate rune as does Ghardeh.. I look up to see the pylon collapse as well as the shield fall away like little hexagons.. A transmission comes through.

"All hands! We are commencing our attack! Do you read?! Red alert!"

Ghardeh..

Delilah, Tet'va and I are completely concealed behind our cloaking fields as we move into the comms station, there are roughly ten targets all in all, I've never been one to attack without provocation so I sign for Tet'va, who is posing herself to strike to not give away our position. I slowly climb the building and place my remote explosive device on the crux of the satellite dish.

I move off as I contact Ze'reikich'ja.

We are now to move on to our main objective but not before setting off our devices in-sync causing two massive explosions.. We even see the shield pylon collapse under the stress of its integrity collapse. Followed by a yellow hexxed explosion from above. It is then we finally receive the Endeavours communications. The battle now begins in space, and ends down here.

We catch up to Ze'rei-te, when Shane patches in looking concerned.

"Z, Ghardeh.. We have a problem.. Our little surprise just alerted the whole base it is going into lockdown, I'm counting fifty plus drones activating and heading to each location. Our vessel is also being approached. I hope you get here sharpish. Out."

I look at Ze'reikich'ja and he nods signalling for me to head onwards to the transport shuttle.

"You go with her Tet'va, I'll send a signal once Delilah and I have set the final explosives at the main facility. It will be a high yield explosion so we must reach minimum safe distance and head back to the Tarei'hsan."

"this is Endevour! We have engaged the USM frigate and in heavy conflict, our aft shields are down and we are taking Hull damage, we have lost structural integrity on decks six through nine, Wolf seems to be doing a better job damaging the frigate, he is taking advantage of the vessels blind spots, though their unmanned fighter craft are doing the same to our ship. We'll hold out as long as we can but we can't use the site to site transport if we sustain much more damage if you become overwhelmed. There are too many craft to track but several vessels have made it to the surface. Be careful Xero out."

"Wolf, report old friend."

"My primary shields have failed but I still have secondary shields, weapons undamaged, I'm fairing better than the Endeavour. I have found several blind spots within the vessels sensor grid and attacking the weapons array as we speak. The Endeavour is trying to take out the deflector shields and main propulsion systems to effect. Both ships have sustained heavy damage." The feed shudders with a booming as he takes fire once more.

"This is surely exhilarating."

I nod and leave with Tet'va.

Following the trees and roots along with what appears to be weapons fire.

Ellida..

The whole ship shudders with a thunderous booming as the ship takes fire. After a short hail from Wayne Carlton announcing his retaliation, he opened fire. I'm thrown to the floor at one point when a torpedo hits the aft section and the shields fail.

"Report!" Xero shouts as he scrambles back into the captain's chair.

"Sir aft shields are failing, structural integrity is failing on decks six through nine, I'm receiving reports of casualties on those decks. Our aft weapons are still operational."

"Sir this is engineering, that last torpedo did a number on propulsion systems, the manifolds are beginning to buckle, I could reinforce them but it will take several minutes and it hasn't been done on the fly.."

"Xero with permission I know a few things about plasma manifolds I could help." Kaylum says holding onto the railing at tactical and ops.

"Vienna I'm sending down Kall to help. Get down there and give a hand but the instant I feel you are in peril return to the bridge.."

He nods and walks away with a 'Yes sir.'

I watch on sensors as Wolf's ship runs circles around the huge vessel picking at its shields like a Wuldren does to a Kratu back on Aurora.

I'm lurched forward as we take another hit.

Xero taps on his console with several bleeps his eyes snap to one of the crew to his right.

"Ensign get away from that terminal the conduits are about to blow!"

He moves away but not fast enough. He is launched from his station with burns to his hands and face.

"Medical emergency to the bridge!"

Xero shouts tapping his comms bracelet.

I walk over to the Conn as the ship veers off course.

"Sir I'm turning the ship to intercept.. Entering flight pattern four Alpha.. Reema ready fore weapons and fire at these coordinates.."

"Sir?"

"Do as she says lieutenant.. She may have a trick up her sleeve.."

"I do sir, if we can stay behind the ship, we can out maneuver the vessel, this ship has a shorter trajectory circle than the USM ship, it is something Z taught me in my flying lessons.. Flying an explorer class vessel is roughly the same.. Just have to make some minor adjustments.."

I hear Xero laughing quietly.

The medical crew enter the bridge and use some kind of transport technology to take the injured crewman to sick bay.

We end up behind the frigate.

"Alright tactical.. Adjust your weapons to a modulating frequency and fire on these coordinates.

The damage won't be as catastrophic but it will give them more work to deal with.. Without their array they are blind.."

We are hit again.

A red laser hits the array wiping out the aft shield array.

"Endevour to Wolf, we have punched a hole in the frigates defence to the rear. Concentrate your attack force there."

"Sei'i." He replies.

We are hit several times, when there is a violent shudder.

"Our shields are failing, Commander we cannot take many more hits, it would be wise to retreat and repair the ship, we are at a disadvantage. If our warp core is hit it would be the end of this ship and crew.."

"Noted Lieutenant, but we're not giving up just yet.. Just a little longer."

There is a muffled crackle.. And I bring the ship about, a massive explosion rocks the ship, my console overloads and I hit the deck just as it explodes I can hear sparks and more conduits exploding.. Several more crew members are hit by conduit overloads.

"It is done.. The enemy craft and drones attacking the ship are offline.."

"But I'm not finished.."

We hear as Wolf patches in.

Carlton is still alive..

"I'm currently on the surface, did you really think I was that stupid to stay on the ship? And now I know who I'm up against.. Nice to see you again Delilah.. Feeling better I assume? You may have destroyed my ship but you haven't finished me just yet. I'll be seeing you shortly.."

He cuts off.

"Begin orbital bombardment-"

"No! You could hit my family! They have this under control.. Give them extra time."

I yell as Xero gives the order, how could he even consider that just yet? A bit too reckless.

"I will join the others as agreed, one last task is at hand."

We see his vessel shoot down a pod as his ship flies into the docking bay.

"Extremely good flying Ellida, you would make a fine helmsman."

"Thank you sir. It was my first time with a vessel of this size."

"I concur Ellida, I also commend your actions in our uncertainty you on your own instinct took the Conn and averted our demise, though you are not a part of this crew I shall add it to my report."

"Well if you have Lieutenant Cuvark's attention then that is a good sign. Kaylum, report back to the bridge. We are in the clear for now." Xero winks at me with a wide smile his needle teeth just showing through. But deep in my thoughts I sure hope Z and everyone makes it back up here soon. We see massive pieces of bulkheads and debris spread out along with the drone ships suspended and staying into debris or aimlessly scattering.

"Mom the frigate is finally down.. Was touch and go for a moment. Good luck taking out Wayne and that facility, see you when you all get back."

Delilah..

I nod silently as Wolf's drop pod lands several metres to our east, we all heard the explosion from down here, and saw several pods fall into orbit from the frigate, whatever that asshole is planning we are just about to throw a massive gyro spanner into the works. In fact I'm going to make sure I vaporise that son of a bitch, We have made it to the shuttle to rendezvous with Shane, he walks on out with his team of eight.

"Alright so Wayne knows we are here ready to muck up his operation, but the good news is he doesn't know where we are, or how many of us actually landed here but that makes our job that more difficult.."

"How so?" Wolf asks with that same tone of some kind of hatred.

"Well for a start he will have all his remaining strength garrisoned at the main complex, moreover he will have his drones set up at strategic locations."

"Not forgetting he can detect our cloaking technology." Tet'va says looking towards Wolf.

"Then we will need a diversion. Something worth investigating.." Ghardeh says, bringing up her Sat-Com.

"It would be best if we split up into two teams, Ze'reikich'ja, Delilah, Tet'va and Shane's team. You will wait for our diversion. Wolf, Shane and myself will cause the diversion. You will have little time to force your way into the facility, you will likely hit resistance but you must make it to the factory labs, from there initiate a sixty second explosive device and make your way to the Tarei'hsan. Endeavor, standby on that orbital bombardment, it may be necessary to hit my coordinates-"

"Ghardeh no! We can't do that! It is too risky!" Ellida shouts over the comms interrupting Ghardeh, she closes her eyes at Ellidas voice.

"Ellida your concern is noted but this is bigger than any of us, if we let anymore of that substance loose it will put others at risk. It has to stop here and those shipping routes."

"You understand that an orbital bombardment would wipe out that entire sector?" Xero responds.

"That's the idea.. Let us finish this." Ghardeh says with such conviction, such adamance, with such a finality to it.. It sets butterflies off in the pit of my stomach and I can see the objection in Z's body language..

Ghardeh already sees it and raises her hand gently to him.

"I've known you so long that I can smell your objection Kch-tanu. But let us hope that it doesn't come to that bombardment."

He relaxes but not by much and just nods slowly with a vibrating clicking.

We split off into our teams and I finally set aside my apprehension of this whole ordeal. But I feel Z's hand on my wrist. There was a notion to it and I understood completely, if they hit trouble, his first priority despite Ghardeh's order is the safety of his mate, in normal circumstances I would feel some kind of questioning in my mind about our relationship, but I now understand that she has been his mate for over two hundred and fifty years. Something to which I could never hold a candle to.. It was his way of saying, if so be it. He would be sending me away from all this danger. He would rather I live with my children and take us back home. And it is something I deeply respect. I know him. He once told me that Nina used to have a saying and although it was meant for comical effect he always saw something definite about it. The greatest act of love is learning to let them go. Somehow I see the sense in that. And in this moment I fight back a lump in my throat. I swallow it down. If these are our final moments together.. I'll never forgive myself. So I make a silent promise. I'll make sure with all my ability that at least Ghardeh makes it back in one piece. She has to. Because something tells me if she doesn't, Z will never be the same again. I can't accept that.

Ze'reikich'ja..

There's too much at stake for emotions right now, but what Ghardeh just said shook me to the core, I will not leave her like before, I won't be ordered to abandon her again like Yautja Prime. This time if she falls. Then I will stay with her. I don't think I would recover if I truly lost her to these people. And once again my soft spot for my former kind is placed under strain. I'm beginning to show signs of Uzkielle's demeanor towards humanity, he despises them, and at this moment my own thoughts are following suit. How many years will it take for them to stop destroying each other and whoever else they fancy? It is getting notably harder to defend them. Such things I took for granted keeping my yautja side in check, but not anymore. Maybe now is the time to let go.

I take to the thorn based trees, and scout out ahead.

The Security team and Delilah stay close together, Tet'va jumps beside me and catches my shoulder.

"One moment Ze'rei-te, A word if I may?" We stop as Delilah walks on.

"If Ghardeh enters conflict and becomes overwhelmed, just go. No hesitation I will protect Delilah and the humans. Just long enough to complete the task."

"And what if we also become overwhelmed? What then? You forget we are the driving force of this operation, we are the ones setting the explosive. What help is it if I go to a diversions aid?"

"I am merely looking out for your wellbeing, I know how much Ghardeh means to you, that you thought she was dead while on Aurora. It would be beneficial to all of us if both of you made it out of this mess together. Not divided."

"She is the matriarch Tet'va, her word is law."

"That statement is flawed, she holds no authority here." Tet'va says with a hint of annoyance.

"She does, in here, and right now we have a task to complete, let's get to it." I say as I hold my chest.

We move ever onward towards the facility, suspicion arises as we don't find any resistance towards the perimeter, but then why would they if the enemy knew we were coming.

The air begins to grow stale. A clear sign we are close. I stop at an opening, and wrap around the tree. Delilah and the others stop just behind and below Tet'va and I.

There, not five hundred metres in front of us is the perimeter fencing and walls. Along with massive silos and chimneys, watch towers, and many many targets.. Most replaced by combat drones. Their standard armaments are modified rivet guns and their jackhammer fists..

So much for a mining operation.

"We are in position.. Attacking on your first strike Ghardeh.."

Delilah..

I feel like I'm vibrating with anxiety, this is the focal point of this whole mission. And I'm having second doubts seeing the opposition. That fucker has everyone here, from combat personnel to those drones, I look at my entourage, and they look equally doubtful. I frown.. No.. If I can take care of some alien being that I shot at 3 in the morning and survive all the trimmings of what came after, then this will be a cake walk.. I have a highly advanced piece of hardware. And two Yautja. We can do this..

"We've got this ladies and gents.. Pick your targets.. Don't stop firing until they are dead. And don't die.. Easy enough.."

I hear Z tell Ghardeh we are in position when she responds.

"Diversion is set, firing on my signal."

There is a blue bolt that hits one of the silos.. A massive explosion rocks the ground.. Another hits the second on the right.. An alarm sounds.. And we see the highlighted targets move off towards the explosions.

We hear Wayne over the facilities comms to find the trajectory of the projectiles as more hit the massive chimneys.

We take our chance and I literally hold my breath as my cloak holds. The circle rune slowly declining, damn it why can't it be unlimited like Z's version?!

We rush forward toward the facility, the rune declines faster and my cloak disengages to recharge the cell banks.. The entourage of security personnel stack up at the titanium double doors.. But Tet'va with three clicks holds her arm up tensing it as she balls it into a fist.

"I see three combat drones patrolling the corridor, and six oomans.."

I switch to technology mode and heat scanner, one in each opti-shield, and I nod.

"I see them too, could we climb the roof? If I can find a skylight I could carry out a surprise attack with Tet'va."

"What about us? we are sitting ducks here!" One of the other aliens says with a concerned look about him.

"That is why I will remain idjit.. Tet'va, Delilah go." Z says with a nod, finally he is realising I'm not so skittish.. Sort of….

Ghardeh..

I fire several bolts with pinpoint accuracy hitting my marks with the destructive force of a siege cannon. Wolf and I along with Shane are to hold this point for as long as we can while Ze'rei-te and Delilah blow that place to atoms. My pattern of attack is briefly stopped. A memory hit me like a punch from Ra'zele who stands just to my right in front of me.. Everything seems to slow down, he as if in slow motion turning to look at me..

We can only watch as Shane rams his wrist blades into the buildings edge with a wrist blade set protruding from his chest. As Ivan.. The human that captured us those many cycles ago fired loaded wrist blades at Shane who at the time was winning the fight.. I remember Uzkielle throwing his Combi-stick impaling Ivan..

"Ghardeh.." A deep guttural voice snaps me out of it. Ra'zele tilts his head to the right looking right into my eyes.

I inhale and my casters re-allign.

"I'm fine, something caught me off guard.. Continuing attack.." I fire once more seeing one of the chimney stacks collapse, Wolf throws out his serrated whip and cloaks. As do I.. They are coming, Shane gets to cover loading his pulse rifle.

"We'll make it out of this right?!" He asks earning a snort from the ancient. "Face your death with some courage Shane.. You aren't here to grovel.. Get to it U'darahje.."

"Damn it Wolf! I'm not an abomination, I didn't choose to be created! I'm captain of a Starship damn it! Show some god damn courtesy!"

"Now is really not the time Shane!" I growl with a low trill.

Having his head removed because of his outburst gets us nowhere especially when Ra'zele already despises Shane. Shane bobs his head from around the thorned tree and recoils back.

I see them also.. Drones. Here we go.. I take my sword and a thought hits me, what I wouldn't give for Ze'rei-te's explosive hydraulic fired wrist blade gauntlets right now.. They would blow these automatons to scrap. I set several mines down which cloak.. And as a precaution I've already planted my bomb in case we hit trouble. Chances are more will come, but again we are only here for several more minutes.

Shane aims his rifle and holds fire.

The drones move ever closer we can hear their whirring joints and thumping heavy feet on the damp mossy ground.

I slowly shift my sword into a reversed grip. Then once they move closer until I'm right above I drop.. There are six drones.. Shanes aim was impeccable, he shot two drones to my right disabling their sensor networks and hit the chest panels knocking them offline. He shoots at the third as it runs at him.. By the time I ripped the head from my target leaking blue and black fluids all over my hands and front. Ra'zele ripped two in half with his Serrated whip. He severed their heads, with one stomp of one head and simply grabbed the second and threw the head into one of the thorned trees impaling it.

"That was crude but effective.." Shane says wiping the sweat from his forehead but is cut short by clattering of pulse rounds hitting his tree.. Ra'zele and I cloak once more separating.. One of the soldiers looks directly at me and opens fire.. Ah yes.. I had somehow forgotten they have technology that allows them to see through our cloak.. Why didn't the drones see us? Nevermind.. No distractions. Shane fires again before reloading his weapon. He hit several when my casters blew holes in them. I'm using a fine beam particle accelerator which fires a faster bolt at 50% less bolt mass. Still devastating to organic flesh. And Armour alike. The ancient threw a defensive network around our perimeter and once the humans enter it they are diced up into chunks.. But are rendered useless once they have been used once.

I am hit by a projectile.. Then another as I was caught off guard.. Something feels wrong.. Corrosive? Caustic? I'm not sure.. But it feels like my skin is being melted.. It seers.. I try and block out the pain when drones move in behind the second row and flank.. Come on Ze'reikich'ja.. Where are you?

Ze'reikich'ja..

As I hear a smashing of protective glass from above us, I move up to the doors cloaked and pull one side open to see Tet'va and Delilah in combat. I ram open the second door when the team move in. Opening fire with their pulse rifles.

There is a droning alarm as the facility is under attack. The USM drones and armed personnel are killed and destroyed.

"Nice of you to join us Delilah! You've still got some fight in you! Come to destroy this facility? You do realise that most of our shipment has left the hangars right? Hahaha! You actually thought we would keep it here conveniently for you to just destroy?! What is this an action movie?! They are gone! All that resides here is personnel and a few dead heroes.. Oh don't worry.. I sent most of my forces to that little diversion.. Three against two hundred? I love those odds! But that just leaves you, your alien sex toy and your little small team.. Oh you can destroy this facility if you like.. Go on.. I'll just press this button.. To evacuate all non important personnel.. Then we can begin.. Because I'll tell you the end of this story, Delilah.. All of you.. Won't make it off of this planet.. You will all be an epic footnote on my boot.. Because I'm going to stamp you out.." I ignore the blatherings of Wayne.. As I see him.. Underground in a bunker, with a one way access tunnel for escape, with several vehicles. I look at the security team.

"I have a job for you, I'm sending you coordinates to an escape tunnel.."

"Already on it.." Ellida says.. Followed by a rocking explosion.

"You motherfuckers.. So captain goes down with the ship huh? Well.. I'll do this myself.." We hear over the Comms of the facility. We entered the main assembly line for the Aquinox, the main area for creating it which seems eerily quiet, obviously a trap.

"Delilah, come here.. Place your charge in this vat, I'll place mine elsewhere.. Don't worry about the chain reaction, we'll be long gone.."

There is a door that opens. Revealing Wayne Carlton he wears a generic black and grey Battle Dress Uniform with Dark gun steel grey boots, he wears a combat helmet armed with a assault rifle of some kind it looks similar to what Delilah has. He also was followed out with a handful of drones.

"Ah.. Happy reunion at last! Look at you in that fancy alien outfit.."

She goes to rush him but I hold her arm.. I see several invisible lasers in front of him.. A trap.. Wired to invisible explosives around the room.. But they don't extend the whole room.. Just his entrance..

"The last time we met, I gave you a taste of my medicine, well, I surely thought you'd die.. But then I didn't anticipate the Yautja's medical prowess.. By the way.. You disappoint me Yautja, I thought you all were supposed to be this feared race of hunters that lived for the hunt? You.. You are weak, insignificant.. A waste of matter to which you were created.."

"You are wrong.." Tet'va says..

"Oooh.. She speaks.. Hmm hmm hmm.." He sneers.

"You underestimate our kind a great deal. Your opinion of us is irrelevant. You are simply stalling so that we fail. I would rather remove your tongue.."

He smiles and nods.

"That's the spirit but.. You see I have the upper hand.. You are here, your friends are out there.. Probably dead by now. And you.." He points to Delilah who hasn't said a word.

"Owe me for one ship and a facility.."

His drones enter attack formation.

Before Wayne even brought up his hand to fire his weapon, a blue bolt of mine blew his arm off.. He shouts with a pained yell.

He didn't realise that all this time I had an invisible lock on his hands.. Delilah and the team take cover behind the venting struts and operating sides. I make a scan.. Only six drones are present, he really did send everyone to Ghardeh's location..

"Xero! How many forces are currently ongoing to Ghardeh's location?" I ask as I take to the second floor.

"A mass is converging.. The diversion is already falling back.. What do you suggest?"

"Bombard the converging force.."

"But the shockwave will hit both you and Ghardeh's team.. With you inside-"

"Do it! I'd rather her worry about whoever she is dealing with, not another one hundred plus reinforcements!"

"Pa let us use the Shadows Wraith! We could pinpoint and it would be less destructive!" Kaylum says with extreme concern..

I shake my head. "Preflight will take too long, do it now!"

"That's an or-r! We are heavily outgunned! Ghardeh! get dow-" Shanes comms make an explosive boom as something explodes nearby..

"Very well.. Tactical, target these coordinates. Latitude Minus five five one mark four point seven Longitude Plus eighty seven mark two point four."

"Coordinated targeting locked, torpedoes one and two are armed at one quarter yield commander.."

"Fire.."

Ghardeh..

I fire my two plasma sidearms in rapid succession as I finally gave in to Shane's pleas to fall back, red hot rivets flash past me, Ra'zele is leaping from the trees firing his twin casters giving me cover, how he hasn't been shot yet is astonishing but he is furious that we are buckling to the enemy, but I reminded him of something Danny used to say to me, retreating isn't the same as running away. But I guess Wolf isn't much fond of Danny's advice or his insufferable jokes.

I see a huge force bearing down us, and I begin to think this diversion was a bad idea, I've put all of us in the most immediate danger..

That is until I hear the option for bombardment, I agree completely.

Shane gives the order to fire when I catch something to my right.

"Ghardeh! Get down!"

Too late a warning.. A massive explosion rips my Shields and I'm sent flying to the right. My hearing a muffled ringing. My vision impaired.

I look up to see a blue jolt turn a rocketeer into a red mist.. Shane fires his pulse rifle, the muzzle glowing red as it overheats. I get up, when I see two automatons lumber towards me.. Two bright flashes hit the ground followed by an orange shockwave.. The torpedoes.. I am sent careering towards a thorned tree, but luckily I manage to miss the huge impaling spines by a metre or so. I get back up when from my right I'm grabbed by an icy metallic grip. And slammed into the stagnant water. Bubbles and a driving force hit me.. I'm slammed into the bottom and held, I thrash around trying to grab a weapon.. My caster unfolds with a muffled watery whir and just as I fire I let out a watery roar as I feel two stabbing pains in my chest.. Into my heart and an exit puncture.. I feel myself being forcefully lifted out when I catch a glimpse of Ra'zele on the machines back forcing it to launch me from it's javelin and turns its attention on the target on it's back, but Ra'zele was faster and twists the head off before throwing a plasma grenade into its chassis.

I stand up to see my body silhouette glowing pulsing red signifying massive internal bleeding and death inducing wounds. Followed by a warning rune. The edges of my hud pulse red with runes flowing downward.

I reload my sidearms. And aim at several humans when I see Shane stand in front of me and opening fire. He looks at me with a look of concern and approaches me. "Ghardeh, you are mortally injured.."

I hear distant weapons fire, and I blink as I fall forward.. Ra'zele catches me and gently lays me across. The sound of fighting moving away. I can see Delilah, Ze'rei-te, and the security team opening fire on more of the forces. I find it hard to breathe.

Ze'reikich'ja..

I see Wayne trying to crawl away as we take care of the forces. Tet'va lifts him up and tilts her head. "No Tet'va.. I want him.." Delilah says with a frowned angered expression. She clicks and with deliberate force throws him across the floor at Delilah's feet.

"How do you like me now Wayne? You worthless piece of shit!" She flies a clawed boot into his stomach. "I want you dead.. I want to put every round into you! But the truth is I won't! I'm making sure you spend the rest of your miserable existence in a brigg.. You can rot in hell. Security, send him to the Extraction site, Tet'va go with them. If he tries to escape, rip a leg off.."

She grabs Wayne and he laughs earning a punch from Tet'va.. He looks at his right stump which was his hand.

"How can I escape with one hand? And you haven't won, there will always be someone else to replace me. I'm just the first in a long line.."

"Enough of your rhetoric or I will remove your tongue.." Tet'va says with a hard shove.

We take the remaining six security personnel and make our way to Ghardeh. I can't raise her on comms. "Wolf, what is the situation? I can't raise Ghardeh on comm."

He is in a tree, firing his caster and plasma pistol. "She is not doing well.. I must go, one of the machines has just sent her underwater.. Hurry.."

He cuts comms.

"Let's pick up the pace, things are getting dire-"

"Pa! Ghardeh has just been mortally wounded! Screw this we are coming down in the Wraith!"

"Inadvisable Kaylum! Your mother gave us direct orders to keep you safe!" I hear in the background from Xero.

"Delilah!" Xero shouts as if asking for help. They must've left the bridge..

"Let them come.. They may be able to take some pressure off of the trio."

"Very well.. Jessen, open the hangar bay and give them permission to launch.."

"Aye sir."

Xero cuts comms and Delilah holds my forearm.

"She'll be fine, she's been through worse.. Hasn't she?" She says with a gentle reassuring tone, it didn't help, I feel my heart pounding, my whole body begins to vibrate, not again.. Please not again..

"Ellida once team one has secured the Scorpion, have it dock in the Shadows Wraith then land the ship as close as you can.. Time is of the utmost urgency."

"And not a moment too soon, we are picking up another vessel on sensors, they'll be here any minute.." Xero says over comms.

We make haste to Ghardehs position, along the way we see dead bodies and limbs, along with destroyed drones. They have fought well. I see more enemies who must've escaped the blasts of the torpedoes.

I unlock my casters and fire, along with a bullet storm of plasma rounds from the team. A plasma bolt from Wolf misses an enemy and hits a tree to my right blowing a hole into it, it groans falling onto the putrid ground. Leaves shaking and rustling with a hushed hiss.

The USM soldiers look behind and Delilah boosts forward smashing him into a tree.

I aim my arm mounted caster and switch it to flechettes, the motor vibrating then bleeps with a click. My crosshairs locks and I fire at another target when I see a soldier running at me from the left.

He pumps his shotgun and fires. I'm hit once, but he pumps again. I grab the weapon and break both of his arms and smash the weapon into his head smashing his helmet and breaking his neck. He falls forward. I see another soldier grab one of the security personnel, I throw the shotgun smashing it into his back then arming my ejectable wrist blade. A cyan laser paints his back as he turns around and his face is met by one of my jagged blades as it impales him through the nose.

"Thanks sir!" The young ensign shouts getting up and scrambling as the final targets are downed.

I make my way to the trio with Delilah.. Ra'zele has Ghardeh laid over with her holding her chest.. A bright fluorescent green trickling down her armour. Leaving a forming puddle. Just to Ra'zeles left knee.. I can't feel my legs.. And I feel faint. Not like this.. Not here.. Of all places..

Author note: Hello people! This took way too long to write, I wasn't happy at first again with the original iteration but this chapter was also hard for me to write. I hope you are all staying safe, unlike our hero's and heroine's! One more chapter to go.. With an epilogue and this will mark the end of this story.

REMINDER! Ra'zele or Wolf as he is also known, along with Nina and Danny Le'Blanc and Osh'ikeille in the next chapters are characters from Werewolfbleu's Can I Keep Him? And Look Nina an Alien! We are still very much talking and braining ideas! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you haven't guessed. The next one may be quite sad. See you in the next one! I'm already on it! Thanks for reading peeps! Stay awesome!