Chapter 11: The GF Fleet
Laguna
was very displeased with all that was going on.
Samus
and Houston got away, and helped Miss Gentes escape to the Federation Outpost,
and the GF Fleet would be here soon.
Ridley was strongly trusted and
neither Samus nor Houston were against the Federation in any kind of civil war.
But all that would mean nothing in a
few hours, since his hypersonic drills were pounding away at the Great Atlantis
Seal. And the great chozo suits would be available to him. Not only that, but
nuclear missiles would be available to his pirate fleet, and they would rule
over all Federation forces.
Samus and Houston couldn't stop them
now, they were shipwrecked out in the middle of the ocean, and the polar
krakens would have them for an evening meal.
* * * * *
The
traffic going in and out of the Alpha Centauri Station was beyond
comprehension. The traffic director was fired and a professional communications
officer was put in his position. He too, had a field day.
About
a thousand separate fleets clustered together in random formations, mixed
together. Keaton had his flagship The Excalibur, all repaired from the
Kihunter attack, and added a lot more shields and auxiliary power systems to
keep him in the battle longer (after that mishap during the Kihunter attack.)
The chozo, with their powerful ships,
now more numerous than ever, volunteered to lead the assault against the
pirates, since they had an axe to grind with them after all the years of
pacifism and destruction the pirates gave them. On top of that, the pirates had
threatened and injured their lead warrior, Samus Aran.
Gul'Gen was on his new
capitol ship, Tiamat, now bristled with more weapons and shields than
any Federation battle cruiser in existence. Several other races had their own
uniquely built ships with technology familiar to their planet. Gul'Gen knew
that the battle would not be quick, since the pirates were weak, but
formidable. Gul'Gen hoped that they would get there in time.
* * * * *
Hours
later, the massive GF Fleet had moved out of the current solar system, and
moved into the nearby system where Acuar was. The billions of ships in the
combined fleet were overall slow, but powerful. Though their best warriors were
far ahead of them. A faint red creature hosting one passenger passed through
the atmosphere of Acuar long before pirate defenses knew what was coming. War
was at hand.
* * * * *
Samus
and Houston waited on the top deck of the wrecked ship and watched the sky and
horizon for any sign of the Federation Fleet. Samus was awake, and Houston took
his time as he napped in the morning light.
"They better get here soon, Laguna'
work should be almost done by now." Samus said, worried about the threat Laguna
and his pirates posed after they obtained nuclear technology forbidden by the
Federation.
Houston woke up, complaining clumsily.
"Hey…where' the pancakes? Oh…it wasn't a dream…crap. Did the GF Fleet arrive
yet?" Samus shook her head, "No, and Laguna's work on the Great Atlantis Seal
should be almost done by now." Her voice grew to a whisper.
"What is it?" Houston asked.
"Ssshhh." Samus hushed him and
listened to her surroundings.
She
had heard something, and that something was unnatural for a planet like this.
What
she heard was a woman's scream, a faint and growing scream. She looked up and
saw something she'd never see in a million years.
Miss
Gentes, screaming at the top of her lungs, whooping like a cowboy, with her
'yee ha's and 'giddyup's. She was riding the back of Ridley, who smirked at
Samus as her came in for a landing on the wrecked ship.
"HEEEEY, SAMUS! WASSUP?!" Miss Gentes
yelled.
Apparently,
Miss Gentes' personality had changed since she got to meet Ridley, who took a
liking to her interest in himself, also.
"What in the Milky Way galaxy are you
doing here?" was all Samus could say for her thoughts. Ridley smiled and let
Miss Gentes climb off him.
"We
knew that Laguna was nearing the breaking of the seal, and we decided to come
with you, since our duty was on the ground where we belonged, not in the sky
where everyone has the same chance of dying. Besides, you need us, Samus. I know
you do." He let out another familiar biting cackle and allowed Miss Gentes
with the welcome.
"Okey dokey, Samus, we're gonna move
on over to Atlantis to bust up Laguna and his goons. We gotta hurry, he'll be
done within minutes."
Without further explanation, Miss
Gentes hopped back on Ridley, and Houston stared at Ridley, wondering if the
dragon would tolerate his next passenger. He got on and Ridley didn't even
flinch. Samus was about to get on when Ridley taunted her.
"Now don't slip off with those frail
bones you have…" then Samus interrupted.
She gave him the finger and retorted,
"Trusting those old wings are healthy enough provide you still are up to the
challenge of fulfilling the strength of your race…" Ridley breathed a little
fire in front of her.
"Enough already, get on – I'd never
imagine myself giving Samus Aran a piggy back…" Samus got on and kicked him in
the lower spine and Ridley sped off in pain. All along the surface of the
water, a loud mix of cowboy jeers and yelling was heard for miles. Some say it
struck fear into the hearts of the pirates…
* * * * *
Keaton's
war had started, and what a splendid little war it was; complete with enemy and
allied flagships swarmed by fighters and cruisers. The Battle of Endor in
the galaxy far, far away was nothing compared to this.
Keaton's ship was recognized by the
pirate fleet and was attacked headlong for several hours. The pirates seemed to
have an endless supply of ships that kept getting stronger and stronger.
"GF Squadron A-2, try to see if you
can handle that pirate Dreadnaught cruiser. A-3 and A-5 help them out
too."
"Affirmative Excalibur."
"Excalibur, reports indicate
that the pirate's flagship has appeared with 4 Dreadnaught Cruisers, and 8 Leviathan-Class
Battlecruisers, we could use some assistance…" The channel was broken.
"Sylkis Primus Squadron to Excalibur,
we will offer our whole fleet to volunteer, we are in the back lines and want
to avenge the deaths of out people…" Keaton spoke in, "Affirmative Sylkis
Squadron, show them what you got." Keaton was busy working on the channel with
his own ships.
"Keaton!
The Torizo fleet is badly crippled, they are requesting cover behind our
fleet…here is a…" The channel went silent with an explosion quieting the last
starfighter squadron the GF Fleet had.
"Anyone with fighters not getting
enough action! The GF Fleet greatly needs starfighter cover immediately! I
repeat we need starfighter cover immediately!" the foreign military officer on
the ship was asking for support on twelve different channels.
Keaton had more to worry about than
his own ships. Twenty Federation Fleets from foreign planets had been crippled
and stood in the outskirts of the battle to pick off pirates while they
recharged and repaired their ships. The Chozo performed the best, only half a
squadron destroyed, and their capitol ships deftly escaped several Omega
Missile screens from the enemy. And they were getting a high kill score too.
This time, a second intergalactic war
had started and was raging over the watery world of Acuar. The defense of
keeping nuclear technology hidden was in their hands, or else the galaxy was
doomed.
Chapter 12: The Great Seal
The sky of Acuar was lit up by ships both GF and pirates blanketing the planet's exosphere. The afternoon had arrived, and it seemed like mid-day.
Ridley was clearly enjoying fighting
against his old officers, as they did not want to. He was teaching them the
difference between right and wrong. They would pay for their ambition.
Samus and Houston slowly made their
way to the heavily defended elevator to the landing port mile beneath the
surface. The floating docking bay was covered with barricades and pirates,
Samus enjoyed clearing them out like a hot knife through butter, just like the
years on Zebes.
Houston wasn't nervous, but seemed to
be wasting his ammo on the slightest change in tempo. By the time he reached
the elevator, he had 100 Missiles and 20 Super Missiles left. Samus had all of
her ammo supply full.
Miss Gentes was yelling and frequently
charged pirate barricades madly… and succeeded! Her fiery rage in battle made
her impossible to hit. And her exceedingly high supply of missiles made her a
problem for Laguna's forces.
"Ridley, come on! We have an opening
in the pirate lines! You can eradicate your former officers after we get this
job done!" Samus yelled at Ridley, occupied with a heavily armored space
pirate.
Ridley looked hurt and reluctantly
knocked out his old captain and flew over to the elevator where Samus and the
gang was stationed.
They quickly closed the door before
the pirate forces could reorganize and target them in one spot. Surprisingly,
everyone fit into one elevator.
Everyone's
minds were on Laguna. That bastard. How dare he threaten the universe and cause
such conflict within the Galactic Federation! He will be dealt with easily…if
he doesn't get the lost technology first, that is.
The door opened when they reached the
ocean floor, and they opened fire on anything in their way.
* * * * *
Keaton's
job was almost over with, since the Chozo ships did most of the killing, and
the rest of the fleet ganged up on the capitol ships of the pirates.
Then the sirens blared in his face.
"Keaton! Our shields have taken a critical hit! As a matter of fact, we have no
shields! What do you want to do?! We have energy for an all-out attack or…"
Keaton had decided.
"Repair the shields and reroute the
energy to keep the auxiliary shields in line until then."
Minutes
later, Keaton's existence was threatened; over 300 fleets withdrew due to
extensive damage, and the surviving fleets were getting the brunt of the pirate
attack.
Then a sight for sore eyes came into
view.
Rick
Riefke's personal frigate flew into the battlefield.
Rick
Riefke was a former GF Special Forces commander, and had built a sturdy battle
cruiser of his own. With Omega Missiles and Plasma Cannons junctioned with
Power Bomb canisters. His heavy shielding create by gravity wells protected him
from almost any pirate weapon, and his uniquely allowed nuclear reactor engines
made his ship the fastest and most maneuverable in the galaxy. It looks like he
wanted a piece of the action.
"Good Afternoon, Keaton! Looks like
you could use some help.
Allow me with the honors of that Pirate Flagships?"
Keaton
looked relieved and scolded himself for forgetting to ask Rick to join them in
the battle. "Sure. You are not under my command anymore, you may do as you
wish. For your comfort, you will be paid for this battle."
The tone in Rick's voice lightened
immediately, "Yes Sir!" And then his ship took a mad dive straight towards the
Pirate flagship. He admired Ridley's vigor in the Kihunter attack, and fired
everything he had directly ahead of him. Several pirate cruisers tried to block
his attack run, but then they were quickly blown up with all of Rick's weapons
blowing through their shields. He flew right through the explosion and his course
never faltered. He made it to the pirate flagship and his ship's nuclear
reactor faltered due to the ship plowing through the enemy shields. Then the
entire flagships exploded with shielding overload, and just like Ridley had a
year ago, Rick flew in and out of the explosion unscathed.
"Yeeeeehaaa!!! That should help out a
bit! They're all yours Keaton. I'll take on these bigger ships for yez."
Keaton silently blessed Rick for his
commitment to the GF Fleet.
Now they could start landing ground
troops for the final invasion.
* * * * *
Samus
switched her arm cannon to HYPER as she melted the front gates clean off their
hinges. Ridley was bashing pirates together and making pirate barbecues out of
the ones that escaped his tail. Houston and Miss Gentes toured the interior of
the city and reported that it was clear of any military installation. They had
done the job penetrating Laguna's defenses, now all that stood in their was
himself. A dragon, two bounty hunters, and a foreign but violent diplomat could
take him on easily.
When
they reached the bottom of the city, Laguna was at the Seal floor itself and
just in time for the fireworks.
The Seal opened with toxic gasses and
water pouring out the other end. Laguna was not affected with his suit on and
dove into the fray and fell downwards into the abyss. Apparently, he was not
taking any time off to chat with Samus.
"WAIT!! Laguna, it's over!!!" Samus
yelled in vain.
"Don't panic guys, I'll get you caught
up with that whacko."
Ridley
said calmly as he grabbed everyone in his claws and flew them into the
crystallic pillar that lead to the very bottom of the abyss. Where it lead,
they would find out and finally destroy Laguna and his intentions.
So they dove into the void with high
hopes, that Ridley could fly faster than gravity. So he would have to show off
to them.