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A Change in the Winds
Arus
arus-dot-geo-at-yahoo-dot-com
Voltron and its characters are owned by World Event's Productions.
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Chapter 12
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# # # # # Triasian Attack Force # # # # #
Rolsin watched from his command ship as the Planet Arus came into view and
filled the screen before him. He smiled to himself seeing at how beautiful
this planet was. It reminded him of Triasus, a time before the wars and
conflicts between the different houses started up. Then it was his family
who took it upon themselves to illicit change on Triasus.
"That is odd."
Rolsin turned toward his brother who then approached him. "Scans of the
surface show that the Voltron Force were gathered in this area."
Rolsin looked at the map given to him by his brother. "They could have been
scouting," he stated. "Any word from Siaras?"
"Her last transmission stated that they were exploring an old area, once
called Mythrias," Relins stated. "Something about going to find the sixth
lion."
"Ah," Rolsin stated. "Something she created for her husband's giant
defender. No matter, we are prepared for their defenses."
"How should we approach Arus?"
"We will come in south of their main kingdom," Rolsin stated. "There are
some populated villages near there we can target. That should lure the
Voltron Force out of their dens. Send our fighters out in our planned attack
pattern. Attack so that we seperate each Lion ship out, unable to form that
robot. I want to see what these things can do on their own."
"We will head out in the third wave as scheduled?"
Rolsin nodded. "They will probably take care of our fighters easily," he
stated. "I want to separate their main lion, the Black Lion, from the
others. Incapacitate it if necessary."
"I will instruct our forces to do so."
Rolsin nodded. "I want to meet this so called commander of this rag tag
group," he stated. "The weakness to all things great is the man behind who
commands them all."
Relins nodded. "Our fighter craft is ready to leave at any moment," Relins
stated. "Risen and I will meet you in the hangar."
Rolsin agreed as he looked over the map before him. "Why the Drule
superemacy and Zarkon himself could not conquer this pitiful planet is
beyond my understanding."
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¦ ¦Keith, this is Katherine, can you read me?¦ ¦
Katherine let out a grunt as she looked at the viewscreen before her. They
hadn't heard from the Voltron Force all afternoon and any communications
they had been receiving were now jammed.
"No use," Shane stated. "There is something jamming our signals. No way to
get anything sent."
Katherine turned to the younger member of her team, though before she could
figure what to say, she watched as Princess Allura entered the Control
Center.
"Princess!"
Shane turned as the princess joined them. "What do our long range sensors
say?" was the first thing she asked.
"They're dead just as our radio communications," Katherine stated. "We have
been trying to contact you for the last hour. All communications went dead
after the Keith's last report."
"If our long range sensors aren't responding, then we'll have to assume that
something is on its way here," Allura stated. "Katherine, get your force
together, and take the Arusian fighter jets out. The Voltron Force will need
your back up just in case."
"What about our communications?" Shane asked.
"I'll work with Coran on trying to get something up so that we can keep in
contact with you out there," Allura stated. "We need to be prepared if we
are under attack."
"Well, we wont be in the Lions," Katherine stated. "Shane, get ahold of
Lianne and Teri, I'll meet all of you down in the hangars. Allura, I'll meet
with Captain Derin to get our fighter squad suited and ready."
Allura nodded. "Whatever you do, do not endanger yourself," Allura stated.
"The Lions will only need you all as backup. Stay alert as much as possible,
and do not be lured into any cat and mouse games. If this is a new enemy we
are up against, we have to be sure we know them well to engage in any close
combat."
"Princess, were you able to find the sixth lion?" Shane asked.
Allura slowly shook her head. "We'll have to worry about that later," she
said. "This will be the first major combat for our new fighters, so be
prepared."
"We will, Princess," Katherine stated. "Good luck."
"Good luck to you."
Allura watched as the two members race off. Allura turned to the control
center before her and raised for Coran to meet her there. She looked at the
viewscreen before her, wondering if they were about to encounter the force
that her mother had spent her life trying to protect Arus against. There was
so much she had not known about her and so much that she felt that she did.
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Keith brought the Black Lion to hover over the mesa that looked over one of
the many villages that were built near the Castle of Lions. Derche laid
quietly below, as its residents went about their daily chores.
"We should warn them," Keith stated. "I have a real bad feeling about this."
"Can you even communicate with the other Lions?" Zeya asked.
"All communications are being jammed," he stated. "There are four other
villages near here. If a force is about to attack us, they'll be in as much
danger as Derche."
Zeya breathed in deeply as she stood from where she was sitting.
"There is a way," she stated. "But you will have to trust me."
Keith turned to her as she came to stand behind him.
"What is it?"
"I used to do this with Lotor when we were younger," she stated. "The only
thing is that it opens up all your thoughts to everyone."
"At this point, its better than remaining in this blackout."
Zeya nodded as she closed her eyes then reopened them. She then rounded his
chair and kneeled just to the side of him, so that what she was about to do
would not interfere with his piloting. She placed a hand against his chest
and then laid a hand on the console before him. She closed her eyes and then
concentrated.
"Just speak normally," she stated. "Through the Lions, you will be able to
communicate with the others."
Keith slowly nodded. "Lance, can you read me?"
'' Keith ! '' he heard Lance's reply. '' How the ? ''
"Dont worry about that," Keith stated. "Listen, you wont be able to contact
Hunk or Pidge, but I am able to. The Villages of Roche and Izre are near
you, you must set down to warn them to take to the shelters."
'' Understood, '' came Lance's reply.
"Im currently over Derche. I will have Hunk and Pidge take care of the other
villages," Keith stated. "Hurry."
'' Roger, '' Lance replied. '' I'll rendeveaux to your are in 20 minutes. ''
"Good luck."
Zeya kept her concentration, as she kept open his contact with his
teammates. She fought back the urge to explore the minds he was
communicating with as with this ability, it opened those she was in contact
with, to her like an open book. However, as much as she fought against the
reading of the minds of the rest of the Voltron Force, his own mind opened
to her like a tidal wave.
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# # # # # Enroute to Planet Arus # # # # #
Anala stared at the view screen before her as the stars raced by. They were no where near Planet Arus, and she knew that it would take another hours time just to make it to the Azue Quadrant. Lemille and Sendrre stood with her as they looked upon the reports that were given to them by Lotor.
"If these reports are correct, the Triasians rely mainly on attacking with huge numbers," Lemille stated. "Like invading wasps taking over a bee's nest. Sheer number to overwhelm the forces of a planet."
Anala turned toward her. "If they rely on numbers, how can we go against them?"
Lemille met her gaze. "With such a sizeable force, that would mean large enough ships to transport them all," Lemille stated. "And of course, energy; power to fuel and run these ships. They probably attack to conquer, and take what they need as resources offered. If we can find a main transport ship and infiltrate it to find the weakness, we can probably find a way to disable much of their force."
Anala nodded as she looked over the reports. "It seems they are just moving from system to system, to conquer as much as they can. By the size of their force, it doesn't look as if they have any intention of returning to their home planet." Anala thought to herself. "What do we know about Triasus?"
"Not much had been related, since many have never been there," Lemille stated.
"I think we need to find out what is driving this force so far from their home system," Anala stated. "Maybe then it will make us understand exactly who they are, and why they are so intent on destroying other systems."
"We will have to take caution when we near Arus," Lemille stated. "Their force has a lead over us, and will proably be attacking. We do not want to get caught where we will be attacked in the process."
"When we near Arus, we will approach it from the far side," Anala stated. "Fly under their radars until we can get close enough to Altaire. Hopefully, there wont be much for us to worry about, but we will have back up before we approach."
"We will go ahead and research Triasus for you, milady," Lemille stated. "If we find anything, we will let you know."
Anala nodded. "Just pray that the Voltron Force aren't caught off guard."
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Keith watched the view screen before him as each of his teammates reported in. They were successful in evacuating the five villages near the Castle of Lions to the caves and shelters nearby. He pulled up the Black Lion to hover near the Castle as the others joined him.
¦ ¦ Keith, can you read me? ¦ ¦
"Allura?" Keith stated as he heard her voice coming over the com. "You were able to restore communications?"
¦ ¦ You can thank Teri for that later, ¦ ¦ Allura stated. ¦ ¦ We still do not have any radar, but at least we can communicate. ¦ ¦
Keith turned to Princess Zeya as she slowly nodded and stood. She breathed in deeply as she came to stand behind him. "Thanks," he stated.
"I think it would be best if I return to the Castle," Zeya stated.
¦ ¦ I agree, ¦ ¦ Allura stated. ¦ ¦ Lance, you should also bring Siaras back to the Castle ¦ ¦
¦ ¦ The surrounding villages have been cleared, Allura, ¦ ¦ Lance's reply came. ¦ ¦ Keith, let's drop these ladies off? ¦ ¦
"Good idea," Keith stated. "Be on your guard. Stick together."
¦ ¦ Understood, ¦ ¦ Pidge and Hunk replied.
¦ ¦ Keith, if we are engaged in battle, what about Voltron? ¦ ¦ Pidge asked.
"Unless they pull a robeast, we will not form Voltron," Keith stated. "Just keep your cool. Dont fall into any trap or engage in dog fighting. We do not need to be hot headed jocks out there."
¦ ¦ Sir, would it be best if I keep guard around the Castle? ¦ ¦ Neive asked.
¦ ¦ Its alright, Neive, ¦ ¦ Allura replied. ¦ ¦ Katherine, Teri, Shane and Lianne will be providing back up here at the Castle. We got those new fighters to use, so we may as well get a full sense of what they are capable of doing. ¦ ¦
¦ ¦ Understood,¦ ¦ Neive stated.
Zeya then breathed in deeply. "Something's not right," she stated.
Keith turned to her. "What is it?"
Zeya shook her head for a moment and closed her eyes. "There's a stillness," she stated. She then opened her eyes and gasped. "Look out!"
Her warning came late as a sudden force hit the Black Lion, causing the ship to go into a free fall. Keith fought with his controls and he regained them and brought his Lion ship back up.
¦ ¦ KEITH! Are you alright! ¦ ¦ Hunk's yell came over the com.
"Yeah, fine!" he answered.
¦ ¦ What in all of Arus... ¦ ¦ Lance said over the com.
Keith pulled his Lion up into a hover and turned toward where Red Lion was facing.
"Oh my lord," Zeya stated as she looked at the screen.
Before them, the horizon was blanketed with thousands of ships as they made their way toward the Castle Of Lions. He then spied a group of ships that had broken off the from the iminent force, and deduced that one of those ships was one that fired upon him.
"Guys, dont exert yourself," Keith ordered. "Dont get cocky. WE have backup."
¦ ¦ Im sending out the fighter ships now, ¦ ¦ Allura came over the com. ¦ ¦ They will stay close to the Castle so you guys can take of business on the permieter. ¦ ¦
Keith slowly nodded. "Lance, you and Neive take the right flank of ships," Keith ordered. "Hunk and Pidge, you guys have the left. I'll take on those that get away from the pack."
¦ ¦ Understood, ¦ ¦ Lance stated. ¦ ¦ Without our radars, we will be doing this the old fashioned way. Just how I -- ¦ ¦
Keith quickly sat up in his seat as he watched as Lance's image disappeared from his view screen and saw the Red Lion loose altitude.
"Lance!"
¦ ¦ Keith, 2 o'clock! ¦ ¦ Neive's warning came.
The attack had begun, but Lance was not responding and Keith felt helpless as he watched the Red Lion fall toward the earth below. He had to decide quickly what he was going to do, and if he had enough time to do it in.
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Lance grabbed at his neck as he fought to control the Red Lion. He could feel the taught wire digging into the flesh of his neck as it only tightened.
"Rolsin was right to see your Voltron Force trust a total stranger."
He fought to find the breath he needed, but the force of the garrote around his neck only tightened the harder he tried to fight it. Then, finding the strength he needed, Lance let go of the controls to the Red Lion and with his feet, forced the controls into the console before him. Using the leverage he created for himself, he pushed back on the seat, which also caused the Red Lion to go into a nose dive. He hoped that the G-force created by the sudden force would stop Siaras from choking hte life out of him.
It was what he needed. The wire around his neck loosened and he was able to grab hold of her arm that held the simple weapon and used his feet to finally bring the Lion up from its dive. This caused Siaras to fall back toward the back of the compartment as he pulled the weapon from around his neck and gained control back of his Lion. He quickly looked back and saw that the young girl was slowly trying to get back to her feet. With a grunt, he pulled Red Lion into a hover, but was caught off guard as an enemy ship came bearing down on him.
¦ ¦ Lance, move! ¦ ¦ Pidge's cry over his com came.
Lance let out a groan as he had to put his lion into a dive again, to avoid the cross fire from the enemy ship heading toward him. He spied an area of forest that he knew well enough and dove his lion below the tree line. That caused the pursuant ship to bring its own attack to a halt as it tried to avoid the forest trees. This gave Lance his advantage as he puleld back on his controls and roared out of the forest to bring his Lion about to confront the attacking ship.
He spied the ship in his view screen and made quick notes about its design.
"Now, let's just see what you can do."
Lance pushed his controls so that he started toward the enemy ship. Though the fighter moved in such a manner, that caused Lance to swing his Lion around as the enemy pulled out of its maneuver to set up for another attack.
"What in blazing hell?"
Before he could dwell on it, he watched as 7 more fighters joined the one that was dogging him. Soon, they broke off into three groups and initiated their attack on his ship. Lance reacted quickly as he pulled his Lion up, heading toward the sky above him so that he could put a large lead between him and the fighters.
However, speed was not on his side as a group of fighters caught up with his ship and began firing. He dodged their attacks as best as he could, looking back to see Siaras being thrown around in the cockpit as he fought his controls as well as dodged lazer fire bearing down on him. At this point, he could have cared less for her safety as she had tried to kill him only moments before.
"Damn these guys are fast."
He quickly looked at his view screen to see his teammates in similar situations against the fighter ships. The eight that were now challenging him were already giving him a handful, and to see the thousands more on the horizon, he knew that their work today would be more than anything they had encountered before.
The eight ships began their attack on the Red Lion once again. Lance breathed in deeply as he pulled his gloves off and took hold of hte control again.
"So, if you guys want to play dirty."
He then activated his weapon system and targeted the first 2 ships he saw. "Well, Keith told us not to play games," Lance said to himself. "Well, let's just see how you guys like it for real."
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Rolsin, Relins and Risen stood on the top of a mesa that overlooked the land below them. Rolsin watched as the five lion ships confronted his forces, studying them as they took down fighter after fighter. The Arusian fleet were having their fair share of combat as they took care of any ships that came close to the Castle of Lions.
"They do fight better than any we have seen before," Risen commented. "However, a little sloppy."
Rolsin slowly nodded. "How many of the second wave have we lost already?"
"A quarter," Relins stated. "First wave was completely wiped out."
Rolsin nodded. "Not many could take on that many ships and survive," he stated. "Any signs of weakness you can detect?"
"They are fighting as well as they have since the start," Risen stated. "However, the pilot of the Red Lion ship is becoming more agressive the longer the battle wages. The Blue Lion is working well with it however, serving as backup."
"And the others?"
"Yellow and Green are handling the fighters fine, but the Yellow one, is a little slower in reacting to quick attacks," Risen stated. "From observing, it seems that the Lion itself is based more for strong attacks. A total opposite of its Green counterpart."
"Very wise to pair the two lions together," Rolsin noted. "Hot headedness with a cool demanor. Quick with the strength. Their commander knows his teammates very well and the Lions very well."
Rolsin looked toward the sky and watched as the Black Lion took out several fighters and then met with another attack force.
"I think we can send in our last wave," Rolsin stated. "We have enough to study their tactics?"
Risen nodded. "Save for meeting each pilot in person," he said. "Shall we proceed with our strategy?"
Rolsin nodded. "The Black Lion is mine to confront," he stated.
"What of Siaras?"
Rolsin shrugged as he put his helmet back on and started his way back to his ship. "If you see her, kill her."
"Understood," Risen stated as they headed toward the command ship.
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Keith watched the view screen before him, keeping eye out on his teammates and watching the Arusian fighters take on the ships that got too close to the Castle. He watched as the Blue and Red Lions took out the ships closest to him while the Yellow and Green Lions took out any fighters that got too close to any of the surrounding villages.
"Its almost never ending," Keith said to himself. He turned back in his cockpit to see Zeya holding on as best as she could while strapped into a seat. "Is there anything you can sense about these fighters?"
"Beyond they are piloted by robots?" she asked. "They are being controlled, but its very systematic."
Keith nodded as he looked back the screen before him. "Its like they are testing us," he stated.
"Or testing you," she stated.
'Damn it,' Keith thought to himself. He watched his view screen again as Neive took out another set of fighters as Lance gave chase to three others. 'They were playing us.'
"Hunk, Pidge, pull back," Keith suddenly ordered.
¦ ¦ What! ¦ ¦ Pidge answered.
"Pidge, you and Hunk help out the fighter defend the Castle," Keith ordered. "I'll have Neive and Lance join you as soon as they are done with their group."
¦ ¦ Keith, what is it? ¦ ¦ Hunk asked.
"I should have seen it from the beginning," he stated. "They are testing us, to see the strengths and weakenesses of each Lion."
¦ ¦ Then we should just finish these guys up, so they know not to mess with us! ¦ ¦ Hunk stated.
"No, this is just a small taste of what we are going to see," Keith stated.
Keith then spied a couple of fighters and brought his Lion around to dispatch them both. He pulled his Lion around to face Green and Yellow.
"Pull back to the Castle," he ordered. "I'll help Lance and Neive clean up. If my hunches are right, they will not send any more fighters if we are unwilling to engage them."
¦ ¦ Understood, ¦ ¦ Pidge replied.
"Just set yourself to defend, do not engage unless forced to," Keith ordered.
With that, Keith watched as the Green and Yellow lions dispatched another group of fighters before turning to head toward the Castle to stay on its perimeter. He then pulled his Lion around as another group of fighters headed toward Red and Blue Lions. Just as he approached them, a set of fighters appeared and engaged his lion. He swore under his breath, for not anticipating a move, and pulle back on his controls to climb higher into the sky. The fighters followed suit, breaking off into two groups.
Keith acted quickly as he took out two fighters as two others came in from his starboard side to initate their attack. Quickly he took out the the two just as three others fired upon him. He dodged the first barrage of lazer, but was hit on his port side by another set. The jolt cause him to push down on his controls as he worked to dodge the last two fighters that were waiting for his next move. He fired upon then, taking them out just as the three fighters who followed him, fired again. He dodged their fire and pulled up on his controls.
Just as he came about to take out the last three fighters, a sudden jolt hit his Lion broadside. He pulled on his controls again as the three fighters dodged the oncoming blasts. As he reared his Lion around, another broadside blast knocked his instrument out, sending his lion into a free fall. Keith fought against the controls as best as he could, but all power to them was lost.
"Zeya, brace yourself!" he yelled out.
He gritted his teeth as he fought the controls as the top of a neaby mesa came into view. If he couldn't pull the Lion up, he feared that his descent would take him straight into the mountain side.
tbc
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