A/N: To prevent skipping around and causing unnecessary confusion, from now on each chapter will be focused on one group. There are three current groups out there: Allies and the TF team, Ana and Heather, and Willis and the mystery person.

Sleep was a rare thing for Arachne to have. Granted, she was mostly a robot, which didn't need sleep, but she was still a human, which did need sleep. Though she didn't acknowledge it, she did like sleeping which was not a result from pure exhaustion.

Which meant anyone who was unlucky enough to wake her from such sleep is essentially...fucked to say the least.

But that didn't stop two certain pranksters from doing the old whip cream on hand and feather prank.

"You do realize she's going to freak when we execute this right?" CV said.

"Who cares, she needs to lighten up some times." Jackie said, a somewhat devilish smirk on her face. "Now, feather her."

CV tickled her nose with a feather. She stirred slightly, but not enough to enact a proper response. He tickled her nose harder and this time it worked.

'SPLAT!'

"Ok run!" Jackie said as she teleported herself and CV out of the room. She did not want to be in the blast radius.

"JAAAAACCCCKKKKKKIIIIIEEEEE! YOUR ASS IS GOING TO BE HANGING OVER THE GODDAMN FIREPLACE WHEN I'M FINISHED WITH YOU!"


The others could see the hostility hanging over the breakfast table later that morning. They didn't know exactly what happened, but it had something to do with a very miffed Arachne, Jackie, and possibly CV.

Probably the only thing that kept things from going to hell was Skyla, who was sitting as a small blob with eyes on top of Arachne's head. "Boing, boing..."

"You know, I should ask what went on this morning," Red said. "But seeing how tense things are, I think I should stay silent."

"Good choice." Arachne said, pure venom in her voice.

"Honestly, I think you're overreacting at bit Arachne," Trinity said. "It's just a harmless prank, get over it."

"Uh sis, are you sure you wanna test her?" Red whispered.

Trinity turned to Red and lifted an eyebrow, as if mentally saying 'Really?'.

"I receive death threats on a daily basis." she telepathically said back. "I'm kinda apathetic to death right now."

"Danke Dell for zhe hospitality." Herman said as he got up from his seat. "However, I must take my leave."

"But what about-?" Dell started.

"Herr Dell, I know zhat Frau Ana and Heather are missing. However, I have a...better things to attend to," the German said. "It may sound selfish, but my days as a mercenary is pretty much over..."

"Um guys, you might want to check the t.v." Jackie said as she poked her head out from the living room.

The group hurried over to the living room and checked out what Jackie was talking about.

"Breaking news! Cities around the world are being laid to siege!" the anchorman said. "Reports say that several armed persons who appear to be knights with guns have invaded several major cities around the world. Militaries are scrambling to respond..."

"Aw crap..." Arachne said. "They found us."

"Who is this "they"?" Dell asked.

"You know how I told you we were attacked? Those guys are the ones responsible."

"But who are they?"

"Beats me, I would like to know as well."

Suddenly, something started to beep. Arachne reached into her pocket and pulled out a PDA-looking device. "Incoming transmission...hello?"

"Arachne? This is Admiral Thea of the S.S Juniper."

"Thea, oh thank god some of our guys survived," the spider said. "Do you know about the-"

"Yes, so far our scans have detected they came in from rifts. No signs of a cruiser yet, but we're taking no chances," she continued. "We're still critically damaged and we can't risk a major fight."

"Ok, where are you right now and how big is your fleet?"

"We're near the outer reaches of the planet, enough so the H-Choppers can get to the surface, but far enough so we're not detected. We have a comms and medical frigate and around five hundred in manpower."

"Not much, but will have to do."

"We already found a squad already. The Sharpshooters Officers as well as a...Logan Mundy?"

"Sniper?"

"Yes, they were supposed to head to your location but we redirected their transport back to the Juniper after those things started attacking." she explained. "A H-Chopper will be headed to your location now, Thea out."

Arachne put the device away and sighed. "Not even noon yet..."

"So, you guys were defeated by those things?" Julie asked, pointing towards the screen.

"Well, we were ambushed, and we were trying to get everyone to safety," Jackie said. "Fighting was only to protect ourselves. Fighting back was a lost cause."

"But aren't you-"

"-an all powerful being with limitless power? Yes, but we don't do the impossible."

"..."

"I suggest everyone should start packing," Arachne said. "This planet is going belly up."


Topeka, Kansas

"How the hell did they track us?" Jaz shouted over the gunfire.

"I don't know!" Bates shouted back.

It started as a normal day for the three gym teachers. But it slowly spiraled out of control as several knight-like figures emerged from blue colored portals within the school with guns and started shooting anything that moved.

Jane had already escorted the students to safety while Jaz and Bates handled the knights. The two hid behind a metal shack that was on the track, bullets pinging off the structure.

"No rocket launcher, no explosives, and you don't have your gun," Jaz said. "Fists?"

"Actually...frisbee?" Bates asked as she held up a couple of discuses and some shotput balls. "And bowling?"

"Good thinking. Now get angry."

"One step ahead of you." she said as her eyes turned red. "And don't feel bad if you start getting behind old timer."

"You funny." Jaz said with a chuckle as she picked up a shotput ball.

The two women ran out of their hiding spots and flung their improvised weapons at the knights. Their amped up strength made the projectiles extremely dangerous and both hit with devastating force. The discus sheered through the body of a knight while the ball shot through another.

The two continued their barrage until their ammo ran out, which then they resorted to using their bare hands to finish it. They easily took down the remaining knights with a barrage of supercharged punches and kicks.

"I-I think that's all of them," Jaz said as she wiped the sweat from her head.

"Oh thank god," Bates said as she dropped to a knee. "I ran out of juice."

"Just practice with it, maybe one day it'll stay."

"Yeah...right."

Jaz kicked a gun towards her. "C'mon, we gotta get Soldier."

As she picked up the rifle, the whirl of an engine could be heard. The two looked up and saw a Space H-Chopper above them. It hovered for a bit before landing. A hatch opened and a Allied soldier came out and saluted the two.

"Officer! Commander!" he said. "Transport for two."

"Wait, how'd you know where we are?" Jaz asked.

"Your PSDs has a tracking device in them. We gotta go now!"

"Ok, Jaz get Soldier." Bates said.

"Who's Soldier?" the soldier asked.

"A friend." she said with a smile. "And someone we can use."


The mood was very somber in the Conagher wasn't easy for Dell or Herman to take in the fact that they had to leave their home behind. It was a hard fact to swallow, but nevertheless they had to go along with the flow.

"Just vhen I get my medical license back, the world has to end," Herman mumbled as he went over his belongings. "I curse fate for this!"

"Hey, Doc! Ya have your Medi-Guns still?" Dell asked as he went though another box.

"Ja! But only the original one, the others are back in Germany." the doctor said as he pulled the iconic Medi-Gun and its backpack out. "Vhy?"

"Well, ah assume we still gonna need some firepower..."

"Ah, yes. Of course."

Arachne walked past the two before stopping. "Oh Medic, one thing, please do not bring any organs with you. Thank you." she said before continuing on.

Herman groaned and started to take out several jars out of his bag. "Zhey were just in case..."

The Lythans stood watch outside while the rest of the group packed anything they needed for the flight. The three were back in their battle gear and ready to fight anything that came at them. Trinity stood on the roof with her rifle, scanning the sky and the horizon, while Red and Jackie waited on the ground.

"You two do really have to get involved." Jackie said.

Red leaned on her war hammer. "Look Jackie, no one screw with our friends. NO ONE. Besides, me and Trinity need a bit of a challenge, you know what I mean."

"Fine, just saying. You two have always craved action anyways."

"Yup, something inherited from dear ole Dad. To bad he's up to...rather unpleasant things instead of spending time with his family."

The two stood in silence for a few minutes when Trinity broke the silence.

"Transport incoming," she said as she looked through the scope. "Relay it to the others."

"Copy that," Red said as she went inside.

The two watched as a green colored H-Chopper appeared from the sky and slowly landed in front of the house.


"Bloody hell...now that's something you don't see every day." Logan said as he peered out a window and saw a perfect view of the Earth.

"Ah yes, the view is quite something I must say." Stanley said. "I appreciate it just as much, though I would appreciate it more if we weren't fighting."

The two Sharpshooters were aboard the S.S Juniper, currently waiting for other rescue transports to return from the planet.

"Say, where are we anyways?"

"We are on the S.S Juniper. One of four, well, three, battle cruisers that the Allies have. They're basically the spaceship version of battleships to put it in perspective."

"Wow."

"Yes, though our cruisers may not be exactly up to date, they still pack a punch." Stanley looked at a PDD he had. "Hm, it seems some of the transports have returned. Do you want to see who came?"

"Nah, you can go on ahead. I kinda like the view."

"Ok, the hanger is just down the hall if you want to go."

Logan nodded.

Meanwhile...

Two H-Choppers landed in Hanger 1, the main hanger of the S.S Juniper. Several H-Choppers along with some Helios were docked as well and were being prepped in case they needed to be airborne.

The first Chopper had the Teufort group while the second had the group from the eastern United States.

"Ayy, is that the toymaker I see?" Tavish asked as he went over to Dell. "And the spider-lady as well, yeah?"

"Nice to see yah again Tavish," Dell said. "You too Jeremy."

"Ah, Demo. Scout, nice to meet you again. Though I hoped we would've met under different circumstances."

Along with the Allied members, Kaori, Lily, and Logan Brady, Tavish had brought his blind mother and Jeremy had brought his mother as well.

"Tavish! Where are we? It's very noisy!" Mrs. Degroot said.

"It's nothing mum." Tavish said with an eye roll.

"Doctor Stormburg? Doctor Brady?" an Allied soldier ran up to them. "Our Med-bay is overcrowded, and we need as much medical personal to tend to the injured."

"On it." Lily said. Brady nodded as well.

"I'm coming too!" Herman also said. "I'm a doctor!"

"Uh, no you ain't," Jeremy said.

"He is," Dell said. "He got his medical license back."

"Ja! It is wunderful, isn't it, mein friend?" Herman said as he followed the two out of the hanger.


"How much longer till the last two transports arrive?" Thea asked.

"About five minutes," a Techie replied. "They're in the lower atmosphere and hauling ass as we speak."

"Good, the faster they get here the better. I really don't like where we are right now."

"Me too, especially since those bastards have invaded the planet below."

Suddenly a large explosion rocked the ship. Thea looked up and saw the coms ship in flames. "Shit!"

"Admiral! Coms ship has been destroyed! Multiple bogies inbound!" a soldier reported.

"Impossible! Our cloak is active. They shouldn't be able to detect us." the Techie said.

"Get our fighters in the air and put all power in shields and engines," Thea said. "Be ready to jump as soon as the H-Choppers land."

"On it!" the soldier said.

Thea turned to the Techie. "Get me to the pilots now."

"Patching you through."

"This is Hawk 1!"

"Hawk 2, what is it command?"

"ETA, NOW!"

"Two clicks and closing Admiral! We're giving them all we can!" Hawk 1 replied.

"You two better haul ass right now! We've been spotted and the coms ship had been destroyed," Thea said. "Fighters are going to give you two cover."

"Roger! Hawk 1 out!"

"Affirmative! Hawk 2 out!"

Back in Hanger 1, the mercs were talking about what happened in the past few years. However, one thing was more funnier than the rest.

"You freaked out when you saw what?" Tavish asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I'm telling you! It-it it's like a monster! I-I can't describe it, but is that how babies are made?" Jeremy sputtered, recalling the disgusting thing he helped Lily with just the other day.

"Oh, delivering the kid." Dell said with a chuckle. "It's something...ah must say."

"But it was like...eeeeeww. Is that how we're born?"

"Yes, it's quite the beauty isn't it?"

"Beauty?! Are you insane?! It-it was like a MONSTER, how da hell is that beautiful!"

Dell was about to reply when an alarm went off.

'This is not a drill! This is not a drill! General quarters! General quarters! All fighters scramble to intercept enemy fighters! General quarters! General quarters!'

"Shit, we've must've been spotted," Jackie said. "Trinity, Red can you two lead the mercs to somewhere safer?"

"Got it. This way folks." Trinity said.

Back at the bridge...

"Fighters are currently engaging the enemy." a soldier reported. "We're taking losses though."

"How much longer till they arrive?" Thea asked as she looked at the holo-table which displayed the battle. "Our fighters won't last long at this rate."

"They just landed. Fighters are landed back as well." a Techie said.

"Good, jump now."

"Where?"

"ANYWHERE BUT HERE!"

"Understood, locking down the hanger."

'BOOM!'

Thea looked up and saw the medical frigate explode into multiple pieces. It had been hit directly in the bridge and a chain reaction started, causing complete destruction of the ship.

"We need to go!"

"3...2...1...jumping."

A rift opened in front of the S.S Juniper and it launched through it before closing.


A/N: What? Two chapters within a couple of days? Witchcraft?!

Anyways, it is time for the story to take off and actually go somewhere. Here we go!

Till next time,

-D.W