Authors note: alright, I've gotten this question far too many times at this point in reviews and even PM's so I'm setting this straight now. There are simply too many characters in Touhou project to be able to give them all ample screen time, and have it make sense. Not all characters will appear, and the best some may get is Cameo's.
and now we find out how badly everyone wants the Batarians to burn.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sol System, Earth, location unknown - October 4, 2142
"So, what do we have on Torfan?" Kaguya asked as she, Yukari and Hackett all stood around a holographic display table that was showing Shanxi, and the ever increasing fleet around it.
"A moon on the edge of the Terminus systems, orbiting a dead planet," Hackett said calmly. "It has been heavily mined and dug into, creating a massive anthill style cave system that pirate bands and slavers use as a base to service their ships, and as a place to start their attacks from."
"It is owned by any Citadel race or person?" Kaguya asked calmly.
"No, as it is in the terminus, even if it was owned, that ownership means nothing." Yukari said with a grin. "We can strike back at it without the Council being able to do anything!"
"They will probably tell us to stop or to reconsider," Kaguya said with a sigh. "Probably along the lines of us agitating other terminus groups or some other stupidity!"
"They could try, but it would be worthless if we're already attacking them!" Hackett said with a grin as he pulled out a tablet and tapped it a couple times."
"I agree. We can inform Flandre of the situation, after we've sent our forces to raid the moon," Kaguya agreed. "How are our forces?"
"Itching to strike back," Hackett said grimly. "About half the pirates escaped, and with them, a number of our people."
"So they did manage to kidnap people. How many?" Kaguya asked.
"Under a hundred, the young and elderly mostly, those either unable to get to the safe zones or that were too curious for their own goods."
"What forces are you planning to send to Torfan?" Yukari asked Hackett.
"Everyone who answered the call to Shanxi, as well as the Fifth, Sixth and Seventh main infantry, the Sixth and Seventh Red Eyes Corps, and every Blade Breaker available for a start."
"That sounds like overkill." Kaguya deadpanned. "Hasn't almost every operative near Shanxi said they'll lead forces as well?"
"Yes, but we're talking about sieging a whole moon. We are ninety percent sure the Batarian Hegemony instigated this for their own gain, but without proof we have nothing the Council will accept to do away with them. The moon is also going to be chaotic and filled with the galaxies trash, we'll need lots of boots on the ground to find the information we need."
"So what exactly is the plan for besieging this moon then?" Yukari asked as she looked to Hackett, who merely smiled.
"As I said, we're sending almost everything, though some forces and operatives are being asked to stay back to protect Shanxi, of course. To put it simply however, we will surround the moon with our fleets, destroy anything that tries to approach or leave, raid everything while killing every piece of trash there, and once we have the information we need . . ."
"Give the galaxy a show to not screw with us?" Kaguya suggested.
Hackett however shook his head. "No. Provided we find the information we need, we give the Batarian Hegemony a view of what may await them, depending on how they react, of course."
"And who will provide this show? Marisa, perhaps?" Yukari suggested.
"Maybe, I have not decided yet." Hackett said as his tablet suddenly beeped.
"Was that . . . "
"Yes, the fleets are almost ready. I must leave to lead them!"
"Then we will not keep you." Yukari said with a soft smirk. "I'll inform Flandre, so fight well, and get our people back."
"Count on it!"
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Let me get this straight? You would like permission to join the ground assault on Torfan?" Patchouli asked as she sat in her chair on the Philosophe's bridge.
Standing before her at perfect attention was Desolas, who had a stony expression on his face as he answered. "That is correct."
Patchouli sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose. "Those who study upon academy ships also act as that ship's crew. We will be joining the assault with the rest of the fleet, and asking this is like an army officer requesting to go join the air force the day before expected combat. Why?"
"The Batarians are the scum of the galaxy, and for centuries have been slaving and hiding behind cultural significance as their defence. The Council has never bothered to do away with them when they injure and hurt thousands of people every year!"
"Beside the one that organized the attack on Shanxi being a Batarian, we have no solid proof that they are behind it. That is primarily what this operation is for." Patchouli said as she reached over and plucked a crystal glass of tea off a table beside her and took a sip. "So I will ask again, why should I allow this when it is directly against the regular rules of studying upon my ship?"
Desolas swallowed, feeling Patchouli's cold gaze upon him, staring deep into his unflinching eyes. "Adaaya is going down to Torfan. How is this any different?"
"Adaaya is a ranking Bladebreaker, who came aboard to study and increase her wind magic, magic she uses explicitly alongside her melee combat skills. Technically she is on loan to me until she believes she has learned enough. You on the other hand, while a citizen of the Alliance, have no military ranking with us and therefore cannot make the same claims she can. So stop giving me excuses and answer my question. Why?"
"I believe I can do more as part of the ground forces than manning a gun on the ship." Desolas answered.
"And why do you think that?" Patchouli asked as she leaned to the side and rested a hand in front of her mouth, hiding a slight smile.
"If I man a turret on the ship the most I can fire from it is charges of electricity. Going through Torfans atmosphere, while meager, will weaken its effects. On the ground I will be able to utilize other weapons, and my silver magic."
Patchouli moved her hand away, allowing her smile to be seen by Desolas as she sat up in her chair, then leaned forward. "Tell me, Desolas. When you were learning how to manipulate metal magically, what did you start with?"
"Raw copper, then iron."
"And how did that go?"
"Relatively well, but not excellent. I tried using composites like steel to no avail as well."
"Who suggested to you that you use silver?"
"You did."
"Do you know why?"
"When you suggested it I did not. Later I did some research into it and realized the reason was likely because silver is less reactive than other metals, so exterior forces effect it less."
Patchouli let out a light chuckle. "As always your skills are significant, but your understanding is a bit lacking. Science only belongs in magic so far, and only when dealing with things such as MAGTECH Reactors. No, that is not why I suggested Silver to you."
" . . . .Then, why?"
"Silver is the most magically attuned naturally occurring metal in existence. Other metals can be very magical yes, but they are composites, formed or created from other metals and magic. Silver is magically attuned naturally. It accepts magic more easily, and with the right circumstances can also sever magic and other effects." Patchouli said before letting out a content sigh. "I will allow you to join the ground forces. Go speak to Adaaya and you can likely hitch a ride down with the contingent of Bladebreakers she's leading."
"Just like that?"
"Just like that."
"Then, why did you ask about my magic?" Desolas asked, clearly confused.
"I needed to be sure of a few things, had to confirm your will, before allowing it. Had you answered differently, I would not have allowed it." Patchouli said as she leaned back in her chair and took another sip of tea. "Is there anything else you would like to know?"
"No. thank you. I will speak to Adaaya immediately. Thank you."
"Good, then you're dismissed. Try not to die on Torfan."
"Of course." Desolas said as he bowed and left the bridge, allowing Patchy to smile to herself.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
0721 hours Alliance time, Torfan - October 5, 2142
Torfan was a moon that orbited a near-dead planet, devoid of any major resources, and of no interest to anyone. For centuries it had been a haven to pirates, slavers, criminals and lowlifes. When it was attacked all those who lived and worked from it took up arms in its defence. Fleets leaving it on raids was a common sight, but when a fleet of over six hundred ships leaves, everyone remaining would end up expecting great parties and celebrations to be held upon their return.
So when less than half of such a fleet comes back beaten and battered telling horror stories of the Alliance people were confused and worried.
A day later the Alliance came calling, with a fleet capable of rivaling the entire Hierarchy and the Council combined. Over one thousand ships surrounded Torfan on all sides. Most ships were just shy of Council designation dreadnaught class of a kilometer long, while a total of twelve ships dwarfed that by orders of magnitude.
Surrounding Torfan was the remains of the battered fleet, and around one hundred other frigates and cruisers. The Alliance opened fire on all of them without contacting a single one. Some tried to flee, others tried to fire back, but within a matter of minutes the ragtag fleet of ships was being torn to shreds, and Alliance frigates and transport craft began emerging from the larger ships, heading down to Torfans surface to begin their work.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Alright, everyone. You know our orders. Land on Torfan, kill pirates, and search for a Bashok Griths, his place of residence or anything of his that will lead us to information! Simple orders, so make sure you don't screw them up!" Adaaya called out as she stood at the front of a transport ship in her armour and gear.
The transport was filled with nearly fifty Bladebreakers, all under her command and supervision. All of their armour had the same basic design, but was modeled or altered to fit each person's needs. Some carried guns, but all of them carried melee weapons on their persons. Swords, axes, lances, even scythes of all shapes and sizes. Some were clearly made of metal, and had edges finer than medical equipment, while others clearly were powered by magic or inherent abilities or skills.
Some had claws, other had wings, and some even had bodies completely different than others, but all of the Bladebreakers, whether they were Youkai, Lunarian or human all had one thing in common. They all had a glint in their eyes making it clear they were looking forward to what was to come.
After a few moments of silence, Adaaya let out a sigh. "Alright, question time."
Three people raise their hands immediately, and as soon as Adaaya nodded to one, they all put their hands down. "Ma'am, who's the scalefeather?" The human asked as he gestured to Desolas who was sitting near the front looking over his vambraces and their attached holsters, trying to ignore the question and the prior gazes he had been getting.
"Desolas is a close combat magician who will be accompanying our group for the length of the mission. And before any of you get ideas, he's more than capable of keeping up with any of you, so no screwing around when we're in enemy territory!" Adaaya said as she looked to the second one who had put their hand up, a Lunarian who was slowly sharpening a massive sword as large as he was.
"Will we have to keep an eye out for anti-ship defences to clear?"
"We will not be asked to clear any of them, no. If we encounter any anti-ship defences, mark it and send the location to the fleet. Hackett's flagship is organizing all fleet actions and they will likely bombard it out of existence. So don't get to close if you mark them!"
"One last question then, ma'am." a Youkai with spiraling horns coming off her head and a thin black whip-like tail asked as she twirled a pair of daggers between her hands. "What kind of defences can we expect planet side?"
"Torfan is less a moon than a massive fort with underground tunnel systems. On the surface, defences will likely be focused in certain areas, but once we get into the tunnels, we're not sure what defences will be like. Our primary foes will be Batarians, Krogans and Vorcha, as well as some Turians, Salarians and Asari. Unless they're tied up or caged, everyone is a criminal, so don't give or expect any mercy!"
"Heh mercy!" one person chuckled as a human leaned away from his seat and lifted his hands a bit, looking worried.
"I know we're here to save our own, but what are we to do if we encounter other races that have been enslaved or captured?"
The transport quieted down in an instant as everyone shut up to listen and hear what to do, worried expressions covering some faces.
"If the slaves attack you or seem like they're no longer there, put them out of their misery, otherwise mark the location. If it comes to it we'll have some people escort them to safe zones."
Many people, Desolas included let out quiet thankful sighs, just before a yellow light lit up the inside of the transport, and everyone could feel the transport shake and rattle as it went through atmosphere.
Everyone immediately began readjusting their gear as Adaaya, seeming far calmer, opened her wrist comp and smirked. "Alright, we've been given our immediate objective. There's a fortified hanger that will be not far from our landing zone. It likely repairs ships and has an entrance to the moons tunnels. We'll be taking that facility, and then heading underground. So as soon as the transport lands we move!"
Almost right after Adaaya said those words, the entire transport shuddered and its yellow light turned red, the doors on both sides at the front and back immediately opening, and letting in the sounds of combat.
Everyone ran out with weapons at the ready through the door nearest them, Desolas included. And as soon as he stepped out and felt shots striking his barrier, he knew the area was hot.
The transport had landed on the edge of what looked to be a salvage yard where dozens of broken ships hulls sat, uncaring about all around them. The facility in front of them, a simple two story building beside the salvage yard and another dock, with only a kinetic barrier covering the open dock from the elements. On the second level was a catwalk covered n pirates and criminals, all hiding behind makeshift barriers and firing their weapons down at the transport and its troops.
And none of them cared!
Gaining citizenship with the Alliance Desolas had come to know a number of things, one of which was the basic concept between each different faction in the Alliance's elite military forces. Red Eyes were spies, interrogators and saboteurs, Miko's were medics and support forces, Earthrazers were ground combat and artillery specialists, and Bladebreakers were melee combat specialists.
But that did not do them justice, nor did it show just how terrifying a group of them charging could be.
Each and every single one of them rushed right at the facility, firing guns as they ran if they had them, and simply running with gleeful expressions if they didn't. Some few criminals had been on the ground outside of the building, and as soon as a Bladebreaker neared them their fates were sealed. Swords swung through armour, hammers crunched bodies into pulpy masses, and claws tore limbs and faces off. In one instant death, in the next the Bladebreaker continued onto the next target, never stopping, never slowing, their weapons always moving as their bodies were.
Desolas felt a hand on his shoulder and looked to see Adaay standing before him with a grin on her face. She clenched her other hand, the bandages straining against her muscles as she patted him and took a step forward, her wings opening fully out. "Try to keep up, Desolas. It'd be sad for Patchouli to let you come down only to get left behind!"
Then with a flap of her wings Addaya was across the field, in the air above the balcony on the second level, and punched the balcony, sending the whole thing flying off the building with a shriek, landing in the junk piles with a crack. The criminals that had been on the catwalk itself were lucky if they had died when they hit the ground.
"Right, melee specialist." Desolas said to himself as he let out a breath and began sprinting towards the building, willing his blocks of silver out as two long and heavy metal blades. "Let's see if I can keep up!"
As he approached the building he noticed one Bladebreaker with a hammer strike the main door so hard it blew off its hinges, and before anyone could go in, Desolas leapt over their heads and into the buildings main work hall. The two massive blades of metal swung around in heavy wide arcs, taking deep cuts out of the walls and floor as they de-limbed and sent criminal bodies flying backwards and onto the floor.
A second later gunfire rattled overhead, lasers and beams cutting through pirates as others joined the fray inside, pummeling, slicing, hacking and dicing apart the bodies of those that tried to attack them. The pirates and criminals did not last, and few got off more than a handful of shots that all failed to do meaningful damage.
The entire fight took less than a handful of minutes, only a couple terrified, paralyzed or maimed criminals remained. With most of the pirates cleared out everyone began looking around for the way into the moons tunnels.
"Found it!" someone called out as a sheet of metal flew over Desolas's head and crashed into a nearby wall, and through it.
Walking over to the side Desolas saw many already gathering in front of the now door less frame, a deep dark stair filled tunnel going deep into the earth behind it, lit only by a small line of red lights overhead.
"Awfully dark in there." one person said lifting a large axe onto his shoulder as the sounds of combat within the building began to die down.
"Batarians have four eyes, and have arguably better eyesight than other races." Desolas said as his two metal blades floated closer to him and then reformed into their blocks in his holsters. "They also can see in dark environments better, hence the red lighting."
Numerous people all turned to look at Desolas, their expressions neutral, revealing nothing to what they were thinking. After a moment one of them smiled. "Alright, you kept up with our initial strike pretty well and got a few kills. I suppose we can trust that intelligence."
"There's no reason you shouldn't!" Adaaya said loudly as she landed to one side of the group, holding a bleeding Batarian by the head and dropping him to the ground. She planted a foot on his back to hold him down as she spoke to him. "I know you can understand me, so I'll give you one chance. A map of the tunnels below, and any places of interest. Hand them over and you get to live!"
"Fuck you, you slave bitch piece of-," the Batarian was unable to finish as Adaaya twisted her foot and splattered his entire torso across the floor like a spilled bucket of paint.
"Right, you heard him everyone. We're going down there blind so we'll use regular cave and tunnel tactics. Youkai with dark vision get in front and scout ahead, the rest of us will head down in exactly one minute as the main force!" Adaaya called out, a dozen nearby Youkai, all chuckling, stepped up to the doorway and bolted down into the darkness. Gone in seconds.
In that same moment everyone around began quickly looking over their gear, reloading their weapons and even doing some stretches. It was a surreal sight, one that Desolas had only seen with the Turian military. Sure, the Asari and the Salarians had skilled special forces, but he had only ever seen Turians look over their equipment so often!
"Something wrong?" an old man sitting on a crate asked Desolas calmly as he wiped the side of a rifle with a rag.
"Oh, no." Desolas replied as he looked at the man and his rifle. The rifle was clearly a pulse rifle by its design, but that same design was strange, far more open than the few pulse rifles he had seen since getting Alliance citizenship. "Your rifle, it's an older model, right?" Desolas asked as he walked over, hearing Adaaya verbally berate someone nearby. Something about chipping their sword.
"Oh, Jessie? Yes, she is. A damn good one too." the man said as he stowed his rag and offered a hand to Desolas. "Zaeed Masssani."
"Desolas Arterius." Desolas replied as he took Zaeed's hand and shook it, having long since gotten used to the gesture. "I thought almost all Blade Breakers preferred melee or shorter ranged weapons. Aren't pulse rifles a bit too range focused?"
"Normal pulse rifles yeah, but Jessie is special, an old model that didn't sell well. She's designed in such a way that the pulse has an extremely low magnetic field strength. As soon as it hits a target it splashes the energy forward because of that lack of strength, making it akin to an old style shotgun. Only with energized acid and electricity." Zaeed explained with a grin as he flipped out a long combat knife that had no point. "I do have Clarisse here though as well. Can't be too careful after all. . . . What about you?"
"Pardon?"
"Ah, forgive me, I should be more specific. You're the alliances first Turian citizen, and a Mage, so are those metal blades you formed your only weapons for close range? If so, I'd suggest you not go in the tunnels with us. Blades of that size will be a detriment, not a bonus."
"Oh. No, I'll be fine." Desolas said as his blocks of silver slipped out and formed dozens of small knives that hovered near him. "I can freely change their shape to whatever I need. I also have electricity magic and my claws if I need them." Desolas stated as he showed Zaeed his small, but still no less sharp claw tipped fingers.
"Hmm, didn't know your kind were naturally armed. I'll have to remember that."
"You don't need to. Few Turians use them, even in melee combat."
"Why not?"
"Training. Turians are trained in use of weapons, guns and short knives. Its ingrained in us unless we take special unarmed combat training, and most don't, preferring to train more with their rifles."
"I see. You're a wellspring of information."
"Alright everyone, in we go. Let's get to the killing already!" Adaaya called out as everyone began running down the tunnel, herself included as she led the pack.
"Alright, you know Bladebreaker tunnel tactics or commands?" Zaeed asked as he began walking over to the doorway .
"Adaaya gave me a once over in the shuttle." Desolas replied as he followed, forming his silver into a quartet of long thing blades that slowly circled him.
"Then follow me. It'll be tight down there, and our signals that the Youkai will have put on the walls can be, difficult to see." Zaeed said as he pulled his knife back out and held it in his hand, while using the back of the same hand to hold the underside of his rifle barrel. "Let's go spelunking!"
"Right!" Desolas replied as the two of them entered the tunnel last, following the bare wisps of the people in front of them down into the dimly lit darkness of the moons insides.
Heading down the tunnel it was not long until the pair passed over a dead Batrian, his body sliced vertically in half and bleeding out upon the ground. Above his body on the wall was a small glowing red dot, and further down in a small alcove another, telling of a body on the ground.
"Red dots tell of body obstacles to watch for." Zaeed explained quietly as the pair reached a split in the tunnel. Both tunnels had small green markers in them, but the one on the right had numerous small blue markers a well, with only a handful on the left tunnels. "Blue markers are used to tell later parties which way most people have gone."
"So we go left then as fewer went that way. " Desolas said as a statement insteado f a question, earning a nod from Zaeed.
After a few more tunnels, turns and forks, the pair finally came to a fork with only one tunnel having reinforcements gone through it, and promptly went through the other.
After a couple moments of silently moving, they began hearing the sound of gunfire ahead of them, and then came out of the tunnel into a massive lit cavern. In the back of the cavern was a large building covering in weapon turrets, firing points and lookouts, and below, hiding behind sparse rocks, barely whole boulders and tunnel entrances was the majority of the Bladebreakers, stuck under an unending hail of mass accelerator gun, turret and cannon fire that looked to have wounded at least a handful of people. The exit from their own path however was a simple overhang where a dead Turian lay slumped against the wall, and crouched against the rock watching the events below unfold, was a woman in black clothing.
"About time someone came down here. I was worried I'd have to break this stalemate myself!" she exclaimed, her voice sounding far happier than the situation below would make one expect.
"Aw, it had to be you, didn't it?" Zaeed complained as he crouched behind a rock to one side, looking down on the scene below.
"Oh come now old man, you missed me!"
"Uh, you two know each other?" Desolas asked as he crouched down at the tunnel mouth and looked over the base, noting that the turrets and gun emplacements were firing in alternating bursts to conserve their heat buildup. A surprisingly intelligent tactic for Batarian pirates.
"Unfortunately, yes." Zaeed said with a sigh. "Goto here is a Youkai with the unfortunate mental problem of being a serious kleptomaniac. Almost every Bladebreaker that lives, and many Red Eyes, has had something stolen by her."
"Not everyone. There's no way I'm trying to steal anything from Miss Konpaku or Hinnanai, even I'm not that suicidal."
"I said ALMOST! Anyway, what's the situation, besides being bad down there?"
"Bad pretty much sums it up. All the tunnels but this one lead down to the main cavern below, and the pirates were ready. Must have had a trip line someone pulled. They have the forces pinned by their turrets, and even Lady Shepard is having trouble advancing." Goto said as she pointed down below, at Adaaya who was behind the furthest ahead rock, swatting cannon fire away from her, defending an injured Youkai behind her. "With the little amount of cover, the guns need to be deactivated, or we'll get nowhere."
"I assume you have a plan?" Desolas asked carefully.
"Yes I-," Goto stopped as she looked to Desolas. "Oh, you're the Turian. Huh, who'd have figured. Kasumi Goto, Ghost Youkai thief and Bladebreaker scout."
"A pleasure, but the plan?"
"Ah yes. If you looked to the side over there, there's a section of the base that juts out. I could run down the cliff face her to get to it, but without a distraction there's no way I'll get to the power conduit to blow those guns without being seen. But now that you're here-."
"You want us to wall run down a cliff face and land on the enemy battlements and hold them off?" Zaeed asked with a growl, clearly not liking the idea.
"Well sure, if you want to just hold them off, I'm sure you and our magician friend can kill quite a few of them, right?"
"Alright fine, where's the conduit?" Zaeed asked impatiently.
"Top of the battlements, right in the middle, between the two really big guns!"
"Great."
Desolas gazed at the buildings defences, the separate lines of guns and had a realization that made him smile. "Could you get in the base and cut the power to the whole base from inside?"
"Well, I could. But that would take longer, and those guns need to be dealt with quickly.
Zaeed looked at Desolas's gaze and followed it, smiling a second later. "I see what you're planning. Shall I escort our little saboteur then and leave the battlements to you?"
"Please do. I'll deal with the guns, just get the doors open, and the lower, smallest gun turrets turned off." Desolas said as he stood up and began stretching his legs and arms, the small veins of his armour slowly beginning to glow with more intensity.
"What? . . . Oh, magician. Right then, have fun!" Goto said as she got up and dropped off the ledge, quickly followed by Zaeed.
As Desolas looked down and saw them nearing the building he smiled. It was time to truly let loose, like he hadn't been able to in a long while!
"Phaeston, Spirit of creation. Creol, Spirit of the forge. Gashalv, Spirit of storms. By your names I bring devastation to the land, and tear the life from my foes." Desolas said as he ran at the cliff face and jumped.
Because of a Turians legs and the way they were shaped, they were good at sprinting and jumping, but no normal Turian could simply jump the thirty meter distance to the building, or land without any difficulty. Only magic made that possible.
A nearby Batarian was the only one to notice Desolas's landing, and brought his rifle up to fire. But with a quick glance Desolas's silver shot out of its holster like a bullet at the Batarian. He fell to the ground will a dull thud, a small but clean hole in each of his four eye sockets.
Seeing that no others had noticed him Desolas willed all of his silver ingots out. Two ingots formed long wide blades, easily twice his own height each, while the other two split apart and formed two dozen shorter blades. A moment later arcs of electricity began jumping between them, and he rushed toward the guns, and the small army of Batarians manning them.
The chaos was instantaneous and total. His large blades swung in wide arcs, crashing into the gun emplacements and either cutting through them neatly, or simply bludgeoning them off their supports and into others. The smaller blades went after any Batarians and pirates that Desolas neared, slicing and hacking them to pieces with brutal efficiency. And all the while arcs of lightning tore out, striking pirates at random, leaving those that lived terrified and shocked.
Many of the guns were destroyed in seconds, while those that remained tried to target him, giving those below the perfect opening.
Laser fire, beams, and pulses flew through the air suddenly grabbing the pirate's attention as the Bladebreakers surged forward. The gun emplacements tried to return to their first targets, but were far too slow. Blades of all forms, claws, teeth, magic and death all washed over the battlements, and in the same moment, every gun turned off along with most of the buildings lighting.
The cavern became a glowing red pit filled with the cries and death throes of those within.
In the darkness Desolas moved his blades closer to him to not accidentally strike his allies, and was suddenly beset on by a pair of Turians, glowing omniblades coming off their arms. One struck before the other, thrusting his blade forward, while the other came right after leaping into the air and swinging down at Desolas's head. Desolas dodged the first blow and willed one of his large blades into the air, catching the Turian mid jump and sending him flying out against a dark wall. The resulting sound told him the Turian was pulped on contact.
The remaining one then suddenly formed a second omniblade over his other arm and lunged forward, alternating his strikes again and again hoping to get though. Each strike was blocked by one of Desolas's smaller blades. And each strike he blocked he willed another free blade to strike back, cutting into the Turian pirates armour just enough to break through, but only enough to inflict shallow cuts past the plates.
"You've got skill, but it's wasted among pirates," Desolas commented as he blocked another strike and decided to knock the pirate back, smacking him with the broad side of a half dozen blades at once.
"Wha- ,you, you're a Turian? Serving these monsters!" The pirate spat out in disgust as he panted heavily, leaning against the wall he was thrown into.
"I'll take the Alliance over slavers any day, scum!"
"Hey, it's a job like any other not like-," The Turian pirate stopped suddenly as both of Desolas's large blades swung about chopping into his body and the rock behind him. As they pulled away his head and shoulders, and his torso, all fell to the ground disconnected from his legs and the rest of his body.
Letting out a sigh Desolas looked round through the darkness, just as the base's lights suddenly lit up to blinding brightness.
The building itself was in a sorry state, both due to his action on its battlements, and the action of others within and without. Blood dripped from every inch of the building, and sheared metal sat like razors waiting to kill. Not a single pirate seemed to be alive, and most were in numerous pieces making it difficult to tell how many there actually were.
Walking over to a hole in the roof Desolas could see some Bladebreakers puzzling over a console, but before he could drop in and help his omnitool, and every Bladebreaker's wrist comp began beeping.
A moment later they found out why as a message came out of everyone's tools at once. "All forces on Torfan, the objective has been secured and found. All forces are to immediately disengage and retreat to pick up points for immediate extraction. Repeat, all forces disengage and retreat for extraction!"
"Alright you heard the boss. Lets get out of here!" Adaaya called out, more than loud enough to be heard by everyone. "Let's move it, our job is done!
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
General Steven Hackett stood upon the bridge of his flagship, the Sol Class Battlecruiser Cataclysm, staring out at the moon that his forces were tearing through. As the highest ranking military man in the Alliance, and the heads of its military, the entire operation, and the one that would come next were under his command.
"Your moon now looks like a ball surrounded by needles ready to impale it, wouldn't you agree, Mr. Griths?" Hackett said as he slowly turned to Bashok Griths, the Batarian responsible for the attack on Shanxi, now being called the Skyllian Blitz by the pirates for some god's forsaken reason. He was kneeling on the floor, his hands chained behind his back as his capturer stood on the ceiling above him, holding a pair of laser pistols right at his shoulders.
"Go kill yourself, you human piece of- arrghh!" Bashok roared as a laser skimmed his shoulder, the smell of burning flesh quickly becoming apparant as his capturer grinned above him.
"Next time I'll shoot your kneecaps out!" she exclaimed, shaking her black and red hair about with a vindictive smile.
"Operative Seija, please control yourself. He needs to live at least until we get some answers out of him." Hackett said calmly as he took a step forward. "Now then, you don't need to answer that question, but you do need to answer my next one. Why did you organize the attack upon Shanxi?"
"Fuck you!" Bashok spat out, his face bruised and one of his eyes stuck shut with a slash mark across it.
"I'm asking you a question, and it would be appreciated if you answered." Hackett said with a glare.
"Kill yourself, human. Your whole race will be nothing but slaves!"
"For your Hegemony, of course." Hackett said with a chuckle when he was Bashok's expression. "We've already hacked your omnitool and your computer terminal. We have all we need, I just wanted to hear it from your own lips."
"What, that's impossible!" Bashok exclaimed as he realized he had just been played for the heck of it!
"No, not impossible, really. Your encryption was strong, but Seija inverted it, so it was little trouble for my techs to crack." Hackett explained, a grin forming on his lips. "We have all the proof we need, both of who payed for the attack, and of your connections to the Hegemony. And with those connections, we now have cause for war."
"Fool, you cannot declare war on the Hegemony. We are a Council race, and you'll be declaring war on the whole council if you do!"
"Oh yes. That is, unless they let your race go. After all, if we show them proof that the Hegemony has been paying pirates, and sending their own people out to masquerade as them to kidnap people for slavery. . . . . . Well, I wonder how they will react." Hackett asked with a smirk as he brought up his wrist comp and began tapping it.
"Admiral, all forces have retreated from Torfan in better than estimated time!" someone on the bridge called out.
"Excellent!" Hackett exclaimed as he looked at Bashok for a moment before smiling vindictively. "Watch this. . . This is Admiral Hackett to all ships. Our forces have succeeded in their objectives and have left Torfan. It is of no further use to us. To keep the danger of future attacks down, all ships are to open fire at will upon Torfan!"
Within seconds of giving the order his own ship shook as searing lights of lasers, the burning streams of beams, and the flares of missiles began soaring down toward Torfan. These shots were joined by shots coming from every ship surrounding Torfan and in moments the shots began colliding with the moon, flashing and exploding and burning through its limited atmosphere.
"You cannot do this!" Bashok screamed in rage. "There are people down there, my people, and thousands of slaves! You'll damn your entire race to war with the whole of the Terminus systems!"
"I think not. This place is not technically in the Terminus systems and if no one leaves it to report what we've done, no one will know immediately. Besides, I doubt your Terminus warlords would pick a fight with us when we're completely willing to destroy their planets to prove our point!" Hackett shot back as he walked up to a console. And pressed a button. "All battlecruisers and dreadnuaghts are now authorized to fire Earthbreaker warheads. Crack the whole moon open!"
"Wait, what?!
"Did you think I was going to stop with just bombing the moon when you have underground bases throughout it?" Hackett asked coldly. "No, I'm removing this moon from the whole system. Its barely habitable, and inhabited only by criminals and pirates. This is doing the galaxy a favour!"
A second later a chain of flashes lashed away from Torfan, and looking past Hackett through the ships window, Bashok Griths could see the moon break into massive fragments and split apart even as more ordinance began to shatter its fragments.
"Send the order to all ships to reform the fleet. We're moving on to Hegemony territory. By the time Ambassador Flandre gets to tell the Council we should be halfway there. It's time to show the Hegemony what happens when you provoke the Alliance!" Hackett commanded.
Bashok Griths stared at the shattered moon, and quickly began understanding Hackett words and his meanings. Only one word came to his lips, and he screamed it at the top of his lungs, hoping against hope that somehow the Hegemony would hear him.
"NOOOOO!"
Codex
Earthbreaker warheads - Specially designed warheads only carried by battlecruisers and some dreadnaughts, Earthbreaker warheads are drill tipped missiles filled with a non-nuclear magical explosive charge that creates a shockwave like effect equal to a twenty five megaton nuclear explosion. The shockwave is designed to rip through the crust of a planet and force a tectonic reaction. It takes many of them to destroy a planet, but just a couple can devastate landscapes by the reactions they cause. Despite their designed intention, they are mostly used as anti-capitol ship warheads, able to crack the very frame of large ships. Because of their large size and expensive production costs, most ships only carry two, and more are produced only when some get used.