**I do not own Voltron: Legendary Defender (duh)
Following Shiro's order, the Vurellean base became abuzz with activity over the next day. Te-freya finally returned, this time with Te-osh, to prepare their troops. While the Kythran sisters and Korlis would take Vurellean soldiers and half of their rebel fighters to liberate one of the few remaining Galra-occupied planets behind the Naxzela line, Mari and Bozi would take the rest of their group to join Matt and Olia as they attacked the Teq Zaiforge cannon. Together with Ellosh, Mitsubishi, and Treble, Scarlett would hold down the fort on Vurelle in case any Galra forces showed up.
Blasters and swords were dispersed amongst the fighters and pilots. Ships were fueled and given a final inspection before they were cleared for battle. After the twenty-four varga mark, everyone gathered in the port as goodbyes and hugs were exchanged.
"Go kick some Galra butt for me," Scarlett said, giving Mari one last squeeze. "And take some deep breaths. Your head's full of too many negative thoughts."
Mari grimaced. She couldn't help it. They were going off to battle after all, and she'd be participating in her first real aerial skirmish. How could she not be nervous? Still, she did as the Utearen advised and tried to clear her head.
"I will," she promised, teasingly ruffling her feathery blue hair. "The base better not be in flames when I come back."
Scarlett squirmed at the touch and pulled away. "And you'd better come back, alive and in one piece," she said. A nervous grin pulled at the corners of her lips, but her eyes were deadly serious. "And the same goes for the Kintsugi!"
"Absolutely," Mari agreed. She climbed into the ship's cockpit and settled into her seat before giving her one last wave. "I'll see you soon."
Scarlett nodded. "See ya soon. Good luck, everyone!"
As the other pilots and fighters loaded into their aircrafts, she and the other onlookers stepped back as they prepared for departure. The Kintsugi hummed to life beneath Mari's fingers, the screens flickering on and displaying the coordinates for Olkarion.
"We're cleared for liftoff," Te-freya relayed over their comms, eliciting a unified response of "Yes, ma'am!" from her crew.
And with that, the Vurellean forces took off for their respective destinations.
The Castle of Lions was filled with rebel fighters as Mari led Bozi and their group through the halls. Olkari, Taujeerians, Balmerans, Puigians, Kythrans, and many more species alike had gathered to fight for freedom as the growing force that was the Voltron Coalition. She hadn't seen the Castle this full since their party on Arus. Speaking of the beloved planet, she spotted quite a few Arusians milling about, including…
"Mari-ko!" The bravest of the Arusian warriors hurried to meet her. "After many, many moons have passed, we meet again!"
He thrust out a hand to her and she bent down to shake it. "Hello, Klaizap," she said, her heart warming at the sight of her first alien friend. "It's great to see you again. How has everything been with your village?"
Klaizap beamed. "Everything has been well since you and the Paladins of Voltron helped us!" He proudly placed his hands on his hips before adding, "Now it is our turn to help you. We will fight the sky demons in the name of Voltron!"
"I'm glad to hear it," she said and she couldn't help but smile too.
Moving up to the bridge, Mari was greeted by more friendly faces. Kolivan and Keith were connected through a video chat once more, and Hunk, Lance, Pidge, and Coran were there, of course. Alongside them were Matt, Rolo, Nyma, and several other leading rebel officers.
"Mari!" Pidge squealed, running to meet her, and Hunk and Lance were quick to follow. The four shared a group hug before pulling back and grinning.
"Aww man, it feels like it's been forever since you left," Hunk said, a little teary-eyed.
"It's only been a few weeks, Hunk," Pidge reminded him, playfully elbowing him in the gut.
"I know. But I still missed her."
"You're really rockin' the rebel look," Lance commented, nodding in approval as he gave her a once over.
"It fits you," Pidge agreed.
Mari shrugged, feeling a little self-conscious under their gazes. "Thanks," she managed, unsure whether or not to take it as a compliment.
"Hey there, beautiful." The nickname ignited a spark of anger inside Mari's chest and she scowled as Rolo glided over to their little group. "Long time no see. Didn't expect you to be a fighter pilot now."
Mari clenched her hands into fists at her sides. "And I didn't expect a bounty hunter to join the coalition," she retorted, a wry smirk gracing her features. "I'm surprised to see you've turned over a new leaf."
Rolo chuckled and wisely backed away. "Dang. Still spicy as ever."
"Rolo, Nyma, and Beezer have all been doing a lot to help the coalition," Matt piped up, coming to his defense. He held out a hand to Mari, continuing, "It's great to finally meet you in person. Shiro's told me a lot about you."
Her irritation dissipated as she shook his hand. "You too, Matt."
He beamed and she silently noted that he looked even more like Pidge in person. He gestured to a canine officer across the room. "This is Captain Olia. She'll be leading our fleet to Teq," he introduced their commanding officer as she approached.
"How are ya, pup?" Olia grinned, revealing a row of sharp teeth. "Pleasure to have a seasoned Voltron fighter in our ranks for this mission."
"The pleasure's all mine," Mari replied and she glanced at Bozi and their crew before adding, "We're ready to follow your lead, Captain."
The din of chatter immediately hushed around them as the doors to the bridge opened and Shiro and Allura entered. The princess joined her teammates' sides, her eyes glittering as she smiled at her returned friend. Shiro stood on the helm platform in the center of the room, facing the loyal people who had gathered before them. His eyes scanned the crowd, softening for just a moment as he found his sister and the paladins amongst the sea of faces. He activated the map of the Empire and turned to address their audience.
"Friends and allies from across the universe," he said, his voice ringing loud and clear across the bridge. We've come together to take on the Galra. This is our chance to turn the tides of this war. We're more prepared now than we've ever been." He paused, taking a deep and steadying breath. "Let's do this."
His declaration elicited a round of determined battle cries from the band of rebels, and as he stepped down from the helm, several clapped him on the back. He really was Shiro the Hero, their beloved leader of Voltron.
The last vargas before their assault ticked away. The Blades had departed and were on their way to Senfama. Matt and Olia's fleet were ready to take off. Rebels laid in wait on Galra-occupied planets, ready to claim them for the coalition. And Pidge and Hunk were ready to kick the plan off by hitting the Vantax Five relay station. The moment Allura sent out a coalition-wide broadcast as a final rallying of the troops, it was time to begin.
"Be careful and stay safe."
The words echoed inside Mari's head, Shiro's parting words to her before she'd taken off in the Kintsugi. "The same goes for you, too," she had said, ignoring the hollow sensation building in her chest. "Good luck, out there."
Her heart raced as she flew alongside the rebel ships inhabited by her comrades, reeling in the Kintsugi's speed to match their slower pace. She inhaled and exhaled deeply in an attempt to calm herself and shove away the flurry of worst-case-scenario 'what if' thoughts that flooded her mind. Her grip on her controls was so tight, her knuckles were turning white, and she unclenched her fingers to loosen them up. The Quintessence Ring glowed dimly in the darkness of the cockpit, a calming reminder that the other bearer was still wearing his and was alive and well.
The Castle's signal to begin their attack arrived just as Teq's Zaiforge cannon came into view.
"You guys ready for this?" Olia asked her team over their comms, and she was met with mixed levels of enthusiasm.
"Yes, Captain!" Bozi and Matt dutifully replied.
"Ready as we'll ever be," Rolo said, not even bothering to hide the unease in his voice.
"Alright then," Olia said with a half-hearted chuckle. "All ships form up and begin attack!"
Galra fighters swarmed from the cannon, rapidly rushing to meet their attackers. "Here they come!" Olia warned just as their enemy pelted them with firepower.
The rebel ships split up to take them on, thinning out the horde that had been unleashed upon them. They ducked and weaved to escape their pursuers until they found the right moment to shoot the enemy fighters. Explosions rang out all around them on both sides as ships were blown to smithereens. Adrenaline rushed through Mari's veins as the Kintsugi's targeting system activated. Golden dots locked onto the Galra ships and she pulled the triggers as they came into range. The Kintsugi's blasters released beam after beam of golden energy, blowing up the sentry-operated ships one after another. It became a routine of target and fire, target and fire, target and fire, until a sudden turret blast shot from the Zaiforge structure nearly clipped the right wing of the Kintsugi.
"We have to take out those defensive turrets!" Olia instructed. She, Bozi, and several other rebels made a beeline for the side of the cannon and fired, only for their shots to bounce harmlessly off a forcefield.
"Captain, there's no way we can get through those shields!" Matt exclaimed and Olia grunted in frustration.
"All crafts, fall back!" she barked, and their ships obediently retreated to a safer distance.
Suddenly, the entire Zaiforge cannon sparked and a purple ball of energy accumulated at the tip. It grew bigger and bigger and bigger until in a flash of white light, it released a massive laser beam at their fleet. The rebels were given no reaction time. The blast was upon them in less than a second, destroying a third of their forces in an instant. Mari's blood ran cold as Bozi's terrified screams rang in her comms before they were abruptly cut off, his ship exploding right before her eyes. He had just been there, alive and piloting. And in the blink of an eye, he was just…gone.
"Blades, we're in trouble! What's the status of your cannon?" Olia shouted, her panic-stricken voice snapping Mari out of her stupor. "Blades!"
There was grunt from the comms before Keith, breathy and rushed, replied, "Copy, Olia. We're en route."
The rebel ships scattered as more Galra fighters chased after them. They swung around asteroids, making tight turns and threads in the search for cover, but the enemy always found them. Devastating blasts from the cannon's turrets and the cannon itself carved away at the rocks, forcing the rebels to keep moving lest they get incinerated.
"The Senfama Zaiforge cannon is ours!" Mari almost didn't hear Coran's report as an explosion had the Kintsugi spinning out of the way. "Naxzela attack is underway."
"We can't take this fire for long!" Olia growled, furiously searching for a solution to turn the tables and acquire their own cannon.
"See if the Blades can use their cannon to take down the shield," the robotic voice of one of her comrades, an android named N-7, suggested.
"Copy that!" Matt affirmed.
"We need to find cover, now!" There was a tense pause as their Captain assessed their surroundings. "All ships form up and get behind that large asteroid," she finally instructed, and the remainder of her fleet rushed to do as they were told.
With their backs to the gigantic space rock, they released a wall of firepower upon the encroaching Galra fighters, keeping them at bay. The Zaiforge cannon released another blast and it slammed into the asteroid, drilling into the surface and rapidly cutting it away. The intense heat and vibration of the laser just beyond the layers of rock still protecting them made the rebel ships quiver and quake. Pure stubbornness drove Mari as she furiously continued to destroy fighter after fighter, but no matter how many fell, there was always another to take its place. They were cornered and on the brink of being defeated. The cannon's blast would reach them at any second now and she grit her teeth in fear as she braced for obliteration.
"Incoming!" Keith suddenly shouted over the comms, just as a Zaiforge cannon beam streamed towards Teq's cannon. It landed a direct hit on the shield, shattering it on impact and leaving it open and vulnerable for attack.
"Shield's down, Captain!" Matt exclaimed, followed by relieved whoops from several other rebels. Mari let out a heavy sigh and nearly sagged in her seat. It was no time to relax though, not when they still had a goal to complete.
"Alright! Let's get control of that cannon!" Olia prompted, and she led their ships straight for it.
The turrets were destroyed and they overtook the cannon hangars. Matt and Olia led the rebel charge into the facility, blasters blazing as they took down sentries and Galra soldiers alike. They burst into the central control room where they immediately subdued the commanding officers. While Olia and her crew rounded up their prisoners at gunpoint, Matt took over the base's controls.
"Cannon acquired!" he relayed to all their units. He glanced at Mari and nodded to the targeting system to his right that would fire the cannon. "You ready to create some fireworks?" he asked, an excited light gleaming in his eyes.
She stared at the controls before hesitantly grabbing the joysticks. "You sure you trust me handling this much firepower?"
Matt almost laughed. "Pidge said you shot the head off an entire robeast! I know you can handle it."
"Zaiforge cannon base is ours!" Coran reported over their comms.
"Ready to provide the Taujeerians with cover," Keith pitched in.
"The Teq cannon is ready to provide backup," Mari confirmed and Matt hurried to find her enemy targets to wreck to assist their allies on the ground.
"Copy that," Coran noted. "Coalition, you are clear to begin!"
**Check out my tumblr to see some cool art: pufftheninja
