Roll the dice, play your cards
Break the rules, that's who you are
Whoever said play it safe never played the game
Too many players but too many pawns
So many judges say what's right or wrong
Let them jump into the fire if they want to play - Deadly Game by Theory of a Deadman
The roar of weapon fire could be heard outside the palace as Raven, Starfire, and Blackfire returned.
Rushing towards them, "What's going on out there?" asked Nightwing.
"Some how," started Starfire, "Jake has called in friends, Altair and Daria."
"And a couple of others with veritechs are holding back that army," said Raven, "but I don't know how long they'll last."
Before Nightwing could ask how Jake pulled this stunt off, armored troops wearing symbols matching the ones on Red Wolf not the war bots they had been fighting, walked in.
Stopping in front of them, "I am Commander Metalo of the Zentraedi Micronized forces. We have been dispatched as ground forces to support the Tamaraneans. Who here is known by Starfire?"
"I am."
Saluting, "Ma'am, we await your orders."
Blinking, "What?"
"Ma'am," said the Commander, "I have orders that you are our commanding officer during this battle, and to follow your orders."
Close to panicking, she couldn't lead an army. She didn't know the order the guards to setup a decent defense without Nightwing and Jake. Maybe Nightwing couldn't control an army as it was.
"Sister," from Blackfire snapped Starfire out of panic, "What's wrong?" bringing Starfire's attention onto Blackfire.
A light dawned in her eyes.
Staring at the Commander, "My only order is to follow my sister's commands," said Starfire.
Everyone stared at Starfire. Then a few of the palace guards began shouting their disapproval.
Placing his hand on her shoulder, "Starfire, why?" asked Nightwing.
"She was always the better fighter," answered Starfire, "and that included tactics. I can lead no army, but I have faith in my sister," turning to Blackfire, "as of this moment, as ruler of Tameran, my sister's lifetime ban has been lifted permanently."
Shocked.
Gripping Blackfire's shoulder, "Sister, I wish to trust you. Can you lead our people to victory?"
Looking down lost in thought. Should she, could she. Everyone depending on her. She stared at Starfire with unsure eyes. Only seeing her sister's trusting and pleading eyes.
Snapping her head towards the Commander, "Get a squad to retrieve wounded and get them to a safe location off of the battlefield," ordered Blackfire, "and have to rest of your forces move in to support the Veritechs and start pushing them back."
When the Commander paused, "She gave you your orders," snapped Starfire, "now go!"
Snapping him out of it, "Yes, ma'am!"
Turning to a few men behind him, he motioned ordering them around.
As a new series of fire echoed outside, Blackfire looked at Starfire.
"Why are you trusting me?" asked Blackfire.
Smiling, "My place is Earth, not here," said Starfire, "And it's time to show our people where your place is."
Smiling , "Thank you," formed by Blackfire's lips.
A quick hug for her sister then she walked after the Commander issuing more orders.
As her sister went off, Starfire watched with a smile. She knew she did the right thing.
She had pretty much given the crown to the rightful ruler, her sister.
Outside the Palace, the Robotech and Zentraedi forces aided the battered Tameran army pushing back the war tanks. Veritechs were close to the war mechs in size with twice the firepower and half the speed, still ripped through line after line of the larger war machine tanks, leaving little in their wake. And the smaller human sized war droids survived the close explosions were left with the foot soldiers. So in short, they had no chance either.
Jake's fighter was out of ammunition like the others that he came with. They flew towards a base camp near a mountain, he saw large Mechs armed with missile and 20mm guns acting as sentries. As well as various ground troops and veritechs as extra support. A bit away was the landing zone. Drop ships brought troops and supplies, at least, they were not using the drop system that the HDC used during the Shadow War. MASH tents run by Altair and her fellow medical officers taking care of few that were wounded.
Coming in under the direction of the radio, he stopped removing and placing his helmet of the floor.
Grabbing ammo and the rifle from the backseat, he jumped out.
"Get this fighter fueled and armed," ordered Jake, "and get a spared pilot for this thing. I'm grunting it from here."
"Yes, sir."
Running towards the command tent, he heard Starfire was in charge. Being in a veritech, his radio was connected to the RDF frequency and with the constant fighting, he couldn't change it over. Entering the tent, he blinked at the sight before him.
"Ma'am, enemy forces reported moving in from zone 7," called out a sergeant.
"Have the second and five infantry move to intercept," called Black as she stood over a large digital map of the planet.
"But the second just came off the front line," called the same sergeant.
Staring at him, "That's why the fifth is going with them," she replied, "and if you allowed me to finished, I was also going to say have artillery support open fire to lower the enemy's number and have air support stand by if they are needed."
Saluting, "Yes, ma'am," rushing off to relay her orders.
"Jake," causing him to look to the side as she came up and wrapping her arms around him.
Avoiding bashing her with his rifle in his hand, "Glad to see you too, Angel, you ok?"
Giving a small laugh, "Me, what about you?" pulling back a bit to stare at his tattered flight suit.
Shrugging, "Eh, nothing I won't walk away from."
"I take it you're here to take over," bring his attention onto Blackfire.
Watching her for a moment, he saw her lowering her head a bit. Depressed at the thought of losing her place yet again to someone else.
"No, I don't think so," sighed Jake.
Lifting her head for a look, "What?"
"Well, lets see," replied Jake counting of his fingers, "you were the first to fight against the army that had taken over your world. You took charge of an army that has led to pushing back a larger enemy army with very little experience in doing so. And you're also a rightful heir and I'm pretty sure your sister's forgiving personality is who put you in charge in the first place. So I think that me coming in a take a chance of ruining everything is a bad idea."
Looking him over, "Then why are you here?"
Smiling, "Where do you need me?" beside jumping into an ocean and drown.
"What do you mean by…" asked Blackfire when another sergeant came up.
"Ma'am reports coming of an artillery unit outside range of ours," he reported. "All air support units are either down for resupply or involved in other fronts and can't get away. What are your orders?"
Thinking for a moment, then glancing over at Jake, who shrugged, answering a silent question with, "I can take it out in twenty, just give me the word."
Returning her attention to the sergeant, "Get a fast transport for him," ordered Blackfire.
Stepping forward, "No need," said Raven taking Jake's hand in hers, "And consider it taken care of."
Without another word, black energy encased Raven and Jake then disappeared into the ground.
Watching them, the sergeant turned to Blackfire.
"Do you think they can succeed, ma'am?"
Smiling, "Yes," replied Blackfire, "so you might as well mark off that artillery unit."
From there, Blackfire went back to directing to army at her disposal, and with it, began pushing back ever harder.
Victory was so close.
On Val-Yor's flagship, things were not turning out well.
"The Armain fleet is pulling back into a retreat," called an ensign.
Another called out, "The Vomincon's have suffered heavy losses and are turning about to retreat as well."
"No," called out Val-Yor, "order them about and have them join together and follow attack pattern troy omega."
"No good, the Armain fleet just slipped into hyperdrive and the Hanus are following," called the first ensign.
"The remaining Vomincon have been destroyed," was called out again.
Since the arrival of the strange ships, the fleet of five thousand-warship fleet that Val-Yor had assembled was down to less then a hundred, and most that remained was in full retreat, even though Val-Yor had given no such order.
"That is it," called the captain of the flagship, "communications, send out our unconditional surrender."
"No," called Val-Yor, "we're too close…"
"To our own deaths you fool," replied the captain. "There is no victory today and I will not watch more people die for your hatred. Take him to the brig."
Two guards moved and took hold of Val-Yor.
"I will not go," he shouted, as he struggled, "we are to close to just walk away now. Bomb the planet."
"No," said the captain in a cold voice, "we will do no such thing."
Val-Yor growled and broke free of the guards and charged the captain. Only to be hit with a stun stick from behind.
Looking down on the once great hero, the captain sneered, "I would have you killed, but death would be to good for the likes of you," as Val-Yor was hauled off, "tell them we have detained the instigator and we are willing to turn him over to them if they are willing to spare us in return," said the captain to his communication officer, "And have the single remaining controller ship disable the ground forces. They are no longer needed."
As the communication officer did so, the captain could only pray that they would be allowed to live.
On the planet surface, the battle was finally over, after nine hours of fighting. The Robotech forces had Val-Yor in custody and were bringing him down to the surface. The remain 84 ships that had once been under his command had fled for their lives.
And other then the building and ground itself, not many Tameran people died in the battle. 138 Tamerans and 115 combined human and Zentraedi lost their lives. The wounded combined totaled 302 which was not many considering it was combined Tameran, Human, and Zentraedi.
Occupants of the main city returned after most of the dangerous weapons had been removed and began looking for the thing they had once called home.
Watching from a surviving balcony at the front of the palace, Starfire's arms crossed as if they were cold. This is the worst she has seen after any fight, and it involved her people.
Feeling arms wrapping around her, she stared into the masked eyes of Nightwing.
"Are you ok?" he asked.
Smiling, "I am fine," moving closer enjoying his loving embrace.
"Star, what's wrong?"
Sighing, "I just can't understand how people could do things like this. Tameran has done nothing to others, yet we suffer."
Tightening his arm around her a bit as a tear came to her eye, "I don't know Star, I wish I could give you an answer, but I really can't."
Before she could ask anymore, a guard came in.
"Empress, your people are calling for words of wisdom from you."
Nodding, she followed the guard.
Left alone, Nightwing only hoped she could remain strong for her people and more importantly, herself. At this point, he doubted she would return to earth with him.
Love and marriage, love and marriage
It's an institute you can't disparage
Ask the local gentry
And they will say it's elementary
Stepping onto the platform to deliver words to her people to try and brighten her people's sprites if just a bit, she looked over the hundreds of people before her. They quieted themselves when they saw her wearing the purple crown that symbolized her as ruler.
"My people of Tameran," she started though it was tough for her, "today, we have face many losses, but proven to the galaxy that we are not as worthless as we are seen. We have beaten a hero that sought to destroy us and who had the support of massive fleets and large armies, and we still won,"
Looking away as her people cheered, not sure as how to continue, she saw the small smile on her sister's face. Looking back over her people, waiting for silence, she made a decision that changed things.
"Though I may have been ruler of our people, I was not the one who you should be giving credit to our victory. That alone goes to my sister, Blackfire. Had it not been for her mind for tactics or her role as leader that had not been given to her, we would no longer be here. And I have stated before, this is the place of my birth, but it is no longer of my home. I shall be returning to earth with my friends, and once again, I will be leaving Tameran under one who will be a leader that will go into our history as one of our greatest."
Without another word, she turned. Approaching Blackfire, Starfire removed her crown.
Placing the crown on Blackfire's head, "My sister, I crown you, Empress of Tameran," she said with a smile.
In complete shock, Blackfire went from a banished criminal trying to frame her own sister, now being crowned ruler of a world by her sister. That didn't happen often.
"But," she said until the roar of cheers began, scaring her a bit more.
The crowd of Tameran people cheered louder then when Glafore got crowned. A chant of Blackfire had begun. They were cheering for her. Blackfire was in a state of complete shock and awe, until a hand touched her shoulder.
Looking into the eyes of Jake, "Time to take your place," he said, "now that you've found it."
"No, just got back on the right track," returning her gaze back on her sister, who smiled and moved to where Nightwing stood, taking his hand in hers with a smile on her face.
Moving forward causing the crowd to go quiet, "Thank you, everyone," she said still not fully believing, "I realize that I may have made mistakes, but knowing you support me is all that I need to continue on. I will make you proud as Empress, and together, we will rebuild and grow, and we will together as one, show the galaxy that we will no longer be taken likely as a race or as a people."
The cheer erupted again.
Looking over her shoulder at her sister again, who was smiling back, she saw her hand still held Nightwing's hand remembering how close they had been during the whole ordeal. Suddenly, an evil smiled grew on her lips.
Focusing on the mass of people before her, "Before I leave and we begin the rebuilding of our homes and of our world, I have an announcement to share with you regarding my dear sister."
Looking back over her shoulder, grinning at the Titans's confused faces especially Jake's, "My sister is to be married to the Earthman, known as Nightwing, tomorrow night."
The crowd erupted into cheers. At least, she didn't need a shotgun, yet.
