In the Winsdor moonbase, Strea, who was currently disguised as Lady, was busy talking with a count who was reporting some news about Mr Conductor. She listened, Strea did her best to match her sister's smile.
Count: M'lady, Conductor senior has been found and has officially returned to his Castle-Ship.
Strea: Excellent. I'm certainly pleased to hear that he's alright. Now then, have those new pests and traitors of the empire been extinguished yet?
Count: Unfortunately no. Though they are few, they are strong and have been getting more and more counts on their side by the day. So, that means we'll have to do a lot of executions.
As Strea heard this news, she sighed in dismay because the empire's man power was declining. As the princess ended the call, she sighed once more as she undid her disguise for she had no idea who these traitors of the empire would follow instead of her and Diesel 10. Meanwhile, back on earth, the Bright Star was back in America due to the S.H.R. 's allies there requiring assistance with defeating an imperial mech that's there. As Thomas, Timothy and the rest of the mech pilots boarded their mechs, a man in a green count's uniform was looking at the battle field ahead of him through a pair of binoculars. As he looked out at it, his lips curved into a smile when he spotted the Billinton brothers.
???: So, it appears we meet again your highnesses. (smiles and puts binoculars away) now then, I'll hope you both good luck here as I let THEM know I've found you.
And so as the man then hopped abo a cloaked Castle-Ship and flew away, all the mech pilots were in position and began their operation. As they got closer to the mech Timothy recognized the type of weaponry it had.
Timothy: hang about, those are laser blasters. Those lasers that it fires are so powerful it can even destroy within the atmosphere.
Percy: (over comm) Whelp, looks like we're not going to have air support on this one. So what's the plan Timothy?
Timothy: Well, while we draw its attention, Thomas will be using his left eye to give coradants to the Brighton Star who will have shots that will cause serious damage to the imperial mech here.
As the S.H.R. members then nodded and began to fire bullets and smoke grenades, Whiff brought Thomas to one of the skyscrapers and let him off at the stairs. Then as the S.H.R. mechs distracted the enemy, Thomas ran up the stairs as fast as he could until he made it to the top. Once there, Whiff patched him in to Captain Greasly's comm.
Thomas: Acoustic analysis,enemy coordinates. The target is at 29.951103 by -90.085579.
Gordon: (over comm) Coordinates received. The cannons are now on target, and ready to fire.
Thomas: commencing firing. Counting down, 5.. 4.. 3.. 2.. 1.
Then once he said one, the cannons fired and damaged the imperial mech slightly as the pilot made it leap in surprise.
Count: (as he made his mech dodge the next rounds of cannon fire) Cannon fire from a ship?! I refuse to let them beat me!
Then as the imperial mech then fired another lazer beam at the Brighton Star it almost hit the vessel. As the crew saw this they were a little startled.
S.H.R. member: Whoa! that was close! I'm surprised that it didn't even hit us.
Gordon: The effects of a beam weapon is that it can move in a straight line. if we're below the curvature of the earth we should be safe.
Henry: However, on the other hand, since artillery shells follow a parable due to the gravity, we can curve our shots over the horizon.
Gordon: Yes, but as long as we can locate our target.
And then, right as the captain then finished his statement, Thomas told them the next set of corrantes and then the Brighton Star, fired rapidly. As the ship then fired the next shot, the enemy count discovered how he was being targeted accurately and destroyed the laser comm dones. As the crew on the Brighton Star tried to find another way to get the enemy location, Thomas had an idea as he then hopped back into the hands of Whiff's mech.
Thomas: Whiff! fire some tracer rounds! We got to give the captain something to locate the target with!
Whiff: Not a bad idea. I'll do it.
And so, Whiff then fired some tracer rounds and the Brighton Star continued to shoot at the enemy again. Then as it was then about to shoot Timothy, who was down, the Brighton Star fired one last shot and the enemy mech exploded, killing the count inside. Meanwhile, as the S.H.R. finishing things up at the battleground, Proteus entered the room where Lady and her healing tank were being kept, to find Annie and Clarabel cleaning the glass. As they then turned and saw him, both of the twins bowed apologetically as they explained things to Proteus.
Annie: We're sorry Proteus.
Clarabel: We just wanted to care for her highness.
Proteus: (chuckles and smiles) No need to apologise you two. I understand your reasoning for coming here, and I too am worried about her. (walks up and places his hand on the glass) Though it may seem foolish and probably pointless, we must keep on hoping that Lady will one day wake up and return to her rightful place on the throne.
As Annie and Clarabel then nodded in agreement, neither the handmaiden or the prince knew that Strea was eavesdropping on them, scowling at what she heard. Then as Proteus then exited the room with Annie and Clarabel behind him, Strea quietly darted into the room where Lady was and looked at the keyboard which connected all the medical equipment to her. Then as she then pressed the keys, one by one Strea undid the equipment that was helping her sister recover, then as she got to the final key which kept Lady alive, she froze for a bit and looked at her sister as she spoke to her.
Strea: Alright dear sister, time to let go. (as her hand starts to shake) (in mind) Why am I hesitating?! this should be it, the moment where I make clear that the throne is mine.
As Strea began to wonder why she can't end her sister, she then remembered her original plan.
Strea: (in mind) Oh, that's right. I wanted to kill her AFTER she awakes.
As Strea then turned on the equipment again, she spoke to Lady again.
Strea: Sorry for this sister. But it appears that I will only be able to kill you when you're awake. (as she then turns heel and walks away) But until then, sweet dreams.
However, as Strea left the room, she didn't notice Lady's eyelids lifting to reveal her starry magenta eyes, before closing them again. As the real princess went back to sleep, Lady was starting to regain consciousness, still unaware how long the war has been going for. Meanwhile on a Orbital-Castle near earth, shielded from the raiders of both the empire and not, the count who saw both Thomas and Timothy in the battle on earth arrived in his castle-ship. As he then stepped out, the man and his wife who owned the Orbital-Castle greeted him.
???: Welcome back Count Westinghouse. Have you found the Brighton Star yet?
Count Westinghouse: Yes, your majesty, and, that's not all. Among the S.H.R. members who are serving aboard it, I've found two in particular, that are back on it and still fighting now.
??: And that would be...
Count Westinghouse: Your sons. Thomas, and Timothy Billinton.
As the man and wife widened their eyes in surprise, they were not expecting Thomas and Timothy to back on the Brighton Star after everything that had happened. As the man and his wife then discussed their next plan with Count Westinghouse, Thomas was in his dorm in the Brighton Star, sleeping soundly, until he was awakened by his left eye.
Thomas: (as he sat up) Argh! (to his implant) What the heck?! Why did you wake me up? (ocular implant beeps rhythmically) You picked up a signal? What kind? (ocular implant beeps a few times) An incryitic message. Can you decode it?
Then as the implant gave it's reply, it began decoding the message that it picked up. Then once it was decoded, Thomas's eyes widened as he read it.
Thomas: This is from... (gasps) I better tell the captain. (as he then entered the helm chamber) Captain Greasly!
Gordon: yes Thomas?
Thomas: My ocular implant just received an encrypted message from space. It's from my parents!
As the commander and the helm crew dropped their jaws, the captain's face went stern as he then asked Thomas another question.
Gordon: Did they give you coordinates?
Thomas: yes. I'll install them into the ship's navigational system.
As Thomas then typed in the corrdances that his parents sent him, he had his ocular make and sent a encrypted message back, to let them know that he and the Brighton Star were coming.
To be continued...