Disclaimer: I don't own starocean and this is getting to be a drag.

Fayt awoke in the middle of the night. He was surprised to find himself in a bed with bandages around his body. He rubbed his eyes and took a look around the room. It looked familiar, with a desk, a plant and other recognizable objects. He was in castle Aquaria. His hand 'bumped' into a certain obstacle and when he turned to see, he almost jumped out of the bed.

Maria was sleeping soundly, head on the bed. She mumbled something incoherent. Fayt looked at her for awhile while he recollected his thoughts. That's right, the excutioners. He remembered beating one, but after that, he blacked out. Still, it wasn't silent in castle, as it would normally be. Something must be wrong. There was a soft knock on the door and it opened silently. Nel walked in. Though Fayt had not seen Nel for sometime, she still looked the same to him.

"I see you're awake."

"Yeah, what happened?"

Fayt rubbed his head and found that there was another bandage around his forehead.

"The excutioners are back, but in a greater force."

"I don't understand, all of the excutioners should have been deleted after the destruction of Luther."

"Yes, we all know that. That is what i am wanting to know."

Nel sighed. Maria woke up due to the noise. She rubbed her eyes as she looked up. Fayt smiled back at her.

"Morning."

Fayt said, though it was still dark. Maria's eyes filled up with tears and she finally broke, flinging herself onto Fayt.

"Hey! Maria! Dammit! I'm okay!"

"Don't you ever do that again, idiot!"

She cried. Perhaps this was one of those few times Maria had ever cried. Fayt sighed. It was already nerve wrecking to deal with one girl who fusses over small things, but to have two? Too much for him to handle. He gently stroked her head, running his fingers through her smooth hair.

"I won't, i promise."

"Really?"

"Yes."

Maria smiled and wiped her tears. She sat back down onto the chair.

"So, what is with all that noise?"

Fayt asked.

"War. The excutioners are approaching the castle walls. Already we have casualties."

Nel sighed. Albel walked in with his face twisted with anger. He had a bandage around his head and arm.

"Albel! What happened to you?"

"What does it look like, maggot? I got injured, that's what. And if i ever, EVER have to rescue your hides one more time, i swear to you i will-"

"Alright, Albel, that's enough swearing for one day."

Nel cut him off.

"Anyway, Fayt, were you coming here for any particular reason?"

Nel asked.

"Yeah, there's a war in the Genosis system right now. It's only a matter of time before it reaches this planet."

"We heard the warnings, worm."

Albel snorted. Nel slapped him hard on the back of his head.

"Anyway, we know, but we can't take any measures. Most families are not too sure on boarding any rescue crafts that were sent here."

"Looks like we have to make a stand here then."

Fayt sighed. He flipped his communicator and punched a couple of buttons. He was back into the 'netstream'. It took him longer than before but he managed to get everyone he was looking for.

"What's up, Fayt?"

"Look, Elicoor II residents will not budge so i need everyone here ASAP."

"Don't worry, we're already in orbit and locating your position. Transporting in five."

A couple of screens were cut.

"Hey Fayt! I got a couple of nice new models for you! My dad went trigger happy when i told him, he pumped everything you need into the top ten ships we have! Got one especially for you, man!"

"Great, how fast can you get it here?"

"With these engines? Within twenty four hours."

"Good, i'll see you here."

"Roger!"

Soon, after issuing commands, Fayt closed the communicator. He got up from the bed and got dressed.

"Are you sure you should be walking?"

Maria asked.

"We have to protect this castle."

Fayt simply said. At that moment, a blinding light filled the room as two guys teleprted into the room. One was kid who looked like ordinary more than anything and the other looked like a bouncer.

"Yo, Fayt."

"Fuin, Pyikon, nice to have you guys here. Where are the others?"

"Up in orbit. Awaiting transportation."

"And the equipment?"

"Up there."

Pyikon pointed up wards.

"Nevermind, Jino, Loji and Nyiko should be here within the next twenty four hours. But for now, this castle is under attack by the excutioners."

"Those buggy looking freaks? Ha, leave them to us."

Fuin, the ordinary kid said. Fayt picked these two because their hacking skills were just about good as their fighting abilities, which were very good.

"Ha, what can a bunch of kids do?"

Albel laughed. Fuin turned and face Albel, who stood about two heads taller. Fuin said nothing but made Albel trip and punched him in the gut within one second. Maybe he did pull a couple of hair out of Albel's head while he was at it.

"Damn!"

Albel tried to get up but Nel pulled him out.

"Don't worry about him, i'll go get him a donut."

Nel said, pulling the frustrated Albel out of sight. Donuts? Fayt scratched his head as he pondered on that word.

"Right, off to the meeting room."

Fayt said, pushing aside side thoughts. Fuin and Pyikon nodded and followed after. Maria followed behind, still worried about Fayt's health. The castle hallways were chaotic, rubble and wounded everywhere. With not enough beds, medics were resorted to healing in the hallways. Fayt spotted some Federation personals but he highly doubt that they were armed fighters. Most look like medics or suppliers. The town's people were over crowding the church as sermons were going on.

"There is no God."

Fayt muttered.

"But it is always good to have some faith in something that we believe in."

Maria said, walking next to him. Fayt smiled.

"Yeah, i guess your right."

They made their way up the stairs and into the meeting room. Strategists and generals from both the Aquarian army and Airygylph were inside, arguing and planning. When Fayt walked in, everyone stopped and looked at them. Albel walked up to Fayt, with a donut in hand.

"Took you long enough, worm, you make the calls since all these here are good for nothing."

Albel took a bite from his donut. A flying kick came crashing against his head and Albel flew towards the wall. He slammed head first and got it stuck in a hole in the wall he made with it. Nel got up and dusted her clothing.

"Well, like he said, but not that drastic. We will commence the attack soon."

"What's the status of the situation right now?"

Fuin asked, stepping forward.

"For now, we have them outside the gates, but it's only a matter of time."

"What of Crosell?"

Fayt asked, wondering about the giant dragon that aided them before.

"He knows of the situation and is inbound for the castle. He and his flight will attack from the rear."

Woltar said, stepping up.

"Estimate of the enemy?"

"Fifty thousand."

Nel said.

"Whoa. Pyikon, call the guys."

Fuin said. Pyikon nodded and flipped his communicator open.

"Yeah, we heard and we're not blind you know. On screen now."

Pyikon's communicator switched screens and showed an overview of the gates. It was like watching ants trying to climb over a rock. Soldiers were fighting from the watchtowers and from the walls but many were falling. Airdragons of the Dragon Brigade rained fireballs and arrows from the sky but even the excutioners could fly.

"Right, i need as many men as you can spare down here, minimum crew on the 'Loeinguard'. Charge up the main cannons and prepare to fire. Arm all systems."

Fuin commanded.

"Roger, equipment type?"

"All. Bring 'S' type first."

"'S'! Er.. alright. Locking onto coordinates. Teleporting in two, one."

A blinding light filled the room as four fighters appeared with large cases in their hands. Among the fighters, there was one girl with long grey hair and bright green eyes. Quite beautiful too. Another was a boy with short green hair and hazel coloured eyes. The other two were hulking giants with not much hair.

"Meet, my squad leaders. Karin Loid, ranged specialist, Hyujin Setsar, special tactical squad, and those two are Gin and Jin Koli, front assault team."

Fuin introduced them.

"Squad leaders? Then where are the rest?"

Maria wondered.

"Outside."

Fuin pointed at the window. As they peered out, being teleported were about sixty youths, all armed to the teeth. Loaded with plasma rifles, to giant beam cannons. It was like looking like a crazy computer game gone wild.

"Right, here's the plan. Karin, get your team to the highest point. Support and coverfire."

Fayt ordered. The girl nodded.

"Hyujin, your team must make it to the back of the enemy lines. The rest of us will breach a hole in their defence, use that window to go. Loeinguard will fire in the center of the enemy army five seconds after Hyujin's team has gotten through."

Hyujin nodded and the person on the recieving end of the communicator onboard the Loeinguard comfirmed the orders. Fayt turned his attention to the rest.

"Woltar, how many men are available?"

"About five hundred."

"Black, storm or Dragon?"

"All."

"Alright, take to the skies and give us some cover. Nel, take your team and aid Hyujin. Albel, you're coming with us."

Fayt had a plan all written up in his head already. Everyone in the room felt impressed by his quick and precise decision. Even Albel, who got up from the floor, nodded.

"Right, we start in ten minutes. Let's go."

AN: Natural born leader my ass. Okay, the name Karin is something i picked up from shadow hearts covenant. I wrote a fic for that one once, but i got flamed quite badly and never touched it again. This Karin is different, but the name is about the same. Karin and Kiran are the two names i love to use in my fics, so if you ever see them, you might want to check who the author is. Just kidding, anyone can use them. Karin from shadow hearts covenant and Kiran from Kira from Gundam Seed and Gundam Seed Destiny. Note that though i am a guy, i tend to favour woman having power. Maybe it's the influence from my family. I'm the only guy, having one older and one younger sister. Mother's side, cousin like 70 girls. Father's side, 90 cousins are guys. I don't know, so don't blame me if any guys feel offended.