Chapter 3 - The Attack Begins
General Philippus was busy in the gymnasium training the Ambassador's two daughters in the basics of military fitness and strategy. These girls were from a very rich family back in their home country and lived in luxury. Everyone treated them well because they were Daitokujis - part of that Japanese business corporation that, thanks to their mother's expertise and their father's money – gave Earth its first light-speed vehicle.
However, the two young ladies were also Napolipolitas, and that side of the family had served the Cygnan Royal House as members of the military for the last hundred generations. When Philippus had told their mother that they would become fine soldiers, they were thunderstruck by the possibility. As they quietly discussed this with one another later, scuffing their pink patent leather party shoes in the dirt of Paradise Island and twirling their eighteen-karat gold charm bracelets round and round on their wrists, they decided to become warriors.
After sharing their desires with their mother – a soldier herself since the age of thirteen – Philippus had been assigned as their teacher. They were thin and slender with no muscle development to speak of, but their small jaws jutted with determination and they took on every challenge the Amazon warrior had given them.
Today's training, however, would be different. All of a sudden, all three felt the very earth shake under their feet. Philippus knew that some sort of trouble was afoot, and told the girls to run to the Palace as fast as they could and find their half-sisters Biko and Akana. Once they were outside Philippus cried, "Run like the wind, brave warriors!" just as some sort of flying craft shot over her head at idiot speed. The girls screamed and ran, and Philippus raced for the Queen's Great Hall.
As she arrived, she felt the Palace shake down to its very foundations, which was immediately followed by a series of massive explosions from outside. Both Aysha Napolipolita-Daitokuji and Deesha Dakina had experienced enough combat to recognize the sound of Cygnan ordinance. However, it was now the all-too familiar whine of Cygnan fighter craft that really got their attention.
"What in Tartarus' dark shadows was that?" exclaimed the Amazon queen.
A-ko looked up, discovering that she could see nothing. It surprised her for an instant, at least until she heard her father say under his breath, "Damned lead lined roof! I can't see anything!"
"That's the sound of Leptonian small-attack craft!" former Cygnan starship Captain Napolipolita-Daitokuji shouted. "I've been in enough battles to know that sound anywhere!"
No sooner had these words passed the alien's lips than Hippolyta's eyes narrowed. Her face grew dark as if a passing cloud had floated before it.
"Take them!" she shouted.
Within seconds, the Cygnan Ambassador and her aide found themselves surrounded by Philippus and a score of Amazon guards who bore drawn weapons.
Hippolyta was incensed. "I welcome you to my home - my people treat you like you as a Sister - and you pay us back by spying on us and by arranging this attack!"
Napolipolita-Daitokuji paled, horrified at the Queen's words and all they implied. "Your Majesty, I truly have no idea who is responsible for this attack! I only know that their weapons are of Leptonian make. And as for the rest – you must know that I would never spy on you, Your Highness!"
"Liar!" Hippolyta screamed. "I will personally take great pleasure in making sure that you pay for this treachery."
Aghast, Diana stepped forward. "Mother, please! Aysha and Dee would never knowingly take part in such a crime! If I am wrong in this, then let me be the one to bear the responsibility!"
Aysha knew at once that Diana was offering her own life for their behavior. Although she was both relieved and touched at the trust A-ko's mother had placed in both of them, this did not stop her from breaking away and rushing to the great hall's massive bronze doors.
She was stopped in her course by an Amazon guard, but only for a moment. A side snap-kick caught the very surprised Amazon on the side of her head, knocking her down. Napolipolita followed it with a punch in the woman's face, which had additional clout because of the brass-knuckle effect of the 23-carat diamond wedding ring she always wore. As other guards rushed to take the place of their fallen comrade, Deesha raced to her friend's aid. Diana quickly joined her.
Soon, a one-sided fight broke out among the two Leptonians and the Amazon guards. Although the Cygnans fought with bravery and skill, their chances for success were all but hopeless. Not only were the two women outnumbered, but also they found themselves fighting highly trained warriors with centuries of practice to back them up - not to mention that the weakest among the Amazons were still strong enough to lift up a ton over their shaggy heads.
This failed to stop Deesha and her former captain from continuing their all-but-hopeless battle.
"Aysha, why are you doing this?" Diana shrieked at her while matching an Amazon palace guard punch for punch.
"My children are outside in that Hell!" she shouted over the roar of the fighter craft and the massive explosions now rocking the Palace complex.
Hippolyta overheard her, and for the first time confidence in her conclusion wavered. What changed her mind within seconds had been the undisguised look of genuine shock and horror in the green-headed woman's eyes as she contemplated harm to her daughters and little son.
Still, a Queen had to be cautious, both for her own sake and for the sake of her people.
"Don't hurt them, but hold them," she ordered Philippus. She turned to the two Cygnans, now bruised and bleeding in spite of their heroic defense. "I'm sorry, Ambassador, but you and your aide are both my responsibility, at least until we sort out exactly who is attacking us."
A wounded Amazon now rushed inside to report. Diana immediately seized her. "What is going on outside?" she demanded.
"Small attack vessels are strafing anything that moves, Your Highness! Massive explosions are coming from high altitude. However, I can't see the mothership."
"What color are the small ships?" asked Dee.
"Red - dark red," the wounded soldier answered. "The color of blood!"
A chill fell over the small group as the import of what the soldier had said sank into their consciences.
Diana was the first to speak. "You know all about them, don't you Deesha?"
The big woman nodded. "Of course I do. Only the Shakanar paint their ships blood red. They must have a heavy cruiser in high orbit! If they follow standard Shakanar attack procedure, troop carriers will soon arrive to seize a beachhead. Then and only then will the main ship land, unloading the whole army!"
"Artemis - Philippus!" shouted the Amazon queen. "Ready your troops to push back the invasion!"
They saluted, and rushed off barking orders to their warriors.
Another huge blast rocked the island, knocking Hippolyta off her feet. However, she never hit the ground because her son-in-law had suddenly appeared to catch her, just in time. As she got to her feet, he now asked, "Your orders, Your Majesty?"
"For you, alien - none. Amazons fight their own battles!"
"But - family helps family!" he answered right back.
An implosion bomb once again rocked the Palace as Diana cried, "Mother! Please!"
Napolipolita grabbed the Queen's wrist. "You must let him at least save the children!" she pleaded, her nose and mouth still bleeding.
Hippolyta quickly scanned the women's faces. No matter her own personal beliefs or resentments, she knew where her duty lay, and to whom she owed it. She turned back to her son-in-law. "Can I trust that you will take care of the mothership in high Earth orbit?" He nodded instantly.
"The fighters are mine!" her daughter interrupted. She turned to face the Man of Steel. "I guess we'll have to cancel our rendezvous tonight, my love!"
He gave her a wry smile. "Only delay!" he replied, and kissed her hard.
After each had exacted a promise from the other that each would be careful - a promise both knew deep in their hearts might not be kept, in spite of their best efforts - he was gone, with the taste of his love still on his lips. The last Diana and the others saw of him in that split second was the flash of his red cape as he smashed himself through the roof.
Diana instantly prepared to follow him when A-ko suddenly appeared at her side.
"I'm ready to go, Mama!"
"Not with me, you're not!" she retorted.
"But - " A-ko protested.
"What I need from you, young lady, is your solemn promise to stay here and protect your little brother and sister, and to get them and our other friends to safety!" Diana then pointed. "That statue of Hera along the wall - twist her left hand, and a panel will open to a corridor that will safely take you and the others to our rooms. Of all the walls in the Palace, those are the thickest, and the best and safest place to be at a time like this!"
A-ko nodded, kissed her mother, and rushed off to where Biko and C-ko stood, holding her brother and sister. Biko's two young half-sisters stumbled in, panting and wide-eyed.
As Dee and Aysha quickly exchanged some words in Leptonian, the girls rushed up to their mentor Philippus, bearing spears in hand. The girls saluted and stood at attention, eagerly awaiting her orders to join the desperate fight outside.
Philippus smiled down at them, saying kindly, "You must stay behind, my two young immortals!"
"But we can fight!" said Shiiko.
"We're not afraid," added her sister.
Much to Philippus' surprise, she now realized that these two young girls had become more to her than pampered youngsters in need of guidance. She now knew that she had developed a real affection for these two little zaibatsu princesses, who had perhaps in their own way become the two daughters she never had, and never would have.
"Of course, you're not afraid! I knew that. But I need my two best and bravest warriors to stay behind right now, to help protect the others!"
The two half Japanese girls stood slack-jawed, awed at the very idea that they might be capable of protecting their mother and their "Auntie Dee", both seasoned warriors.
Philippus stood straight. "Who else can I trust with the protection of my Princess's children, as well as your own friends and family?"
At this, Shiiko and Mitsuko audibly gasped, marveling at the fact that they would also serve as the protectors of the little twins. Snapping to attention, the two girls commonly referred to by their half-sisters as "those two little puffballs" now saluted and said as one, "To hear is to obey, our General!"
They saluted once more for good measure (still dazzled by their sudden induction into the Pantheon of Warriorhood), smiled, and then rushed off to join Biko, C-ko, and the Kent children, who were presently making their way across the Great Hall where A-ko was waiting for them.
As soon as the superpowered redhead reached the statue of Hera, A-ko twisted its hand. A panel in the wall opened instantly, just as her mother had told her, and revealed an empty corridor.
Holding little Jon in her arms, Biko now told his big sister, "You know what, Bubble Butt? Next time you go on one of these family get-togethers, don't ask me along for the ride!"
Grinning, A-ko gestured as if to take her baby brother from Biko's arms. Biko suddenly turned so that her side faced her friend. "If we do run into any trouble, Red, you can't deal with it with your brother in your arms!"
Shiiko shouted, "Will you get a move on? Mitsuko and I want to get back in time to get in on the fighting, and we can't do that until we know you're safe!"
"Do you, now?" Biko announced, preparing to send the side of her foot into her baby sisters' little rear ends, forcing them into the corridor and to relative safety. She whispered to A-ko, "I have to make sure these two brats are safe. I only wish I could get Akana and Kir to safety so easily!"
"I'm sure Mom or Pop will find them," nodded A-ko, trying her best to comfort her friend. She pushed Biko by the shoulders into the newly-revealed corridor.
Next through the secret panel went C-ko, still carrying little Lois. C-ko Kotobuki was small and not very strong, but her ire was up at whoever had commenced this cowardly attack on her friends and countrywomen. Now doing her best to cheer up her friend, the little blonde added, "A-ko's right, Biko - I'm sure that her parents can find them quicker than anybody, including us!"
With that, the small party stepped into the corridor; seconds before the panel slid shut behind them, Biko announced, "I swear I will never leave home without my Akagiyama biosuit, not ever again!"