Disclaimer: Star Blazers is 2003 by Vorager Entertainment, Inc. Everything else is mine

Synopsis: The Yamato is held in check by an orbiting asteroid base, the same base the twins tracked their buddies to; Colleen has come up with a daring plan to free their shipmates and to do major damage so that the Yamato is able to complete her mission; Nova has an uneasy feeling about this raid.

Chapter 9

Opening Acts

In the now deserted map room, neither Sandor or Colleen had moved. She told him quietly, "I really wish you would stay here. You'd be better safe onboard than with me."

"I'm going with you." He walked to behind her and took the pointer from her hands. Dropping it to the floor, he then reached out and turned her to face him. Placing a hand on her slender shoulders, the chief gazed into the green pools of her eyes. "You and I have had very little time since that night before I left for Iscandar. Right now, I want to spend what ever time we have left." He smiled softly. "Even if it means we'll both be in danger. Besides, you really will need my expertise on this raid."

"But Sandor..." she started.

"Hush." He moved in closer. "We only have a little time."

"Sandor.." Colleen never got the chance to finish her sentence because Sandor's mouth was on hers, muffling all sound.

"Sergeant?" asked Kathleen as she slung a pack at the burly man, "What was going on earlier today when Sandor and Colleen were in your quarters?"

Sergeant Knox rumbled as he loaded the pack in the cargo bay of the carrier. "We were discussin' the updated rocket launchers and took an old one apart to see if it could be modified to current standards. We ain't got new equipment yet."

"I see," Kathleen nodded knowingly. She looked up from the loading sleigh at the busy hanger floor. Hardy was talking to Conroy over by Conroy's fighter, IQ-9 was rolling over from the door with Nova trailing behind, and a marine known as Rats followed the medic. Glancing down at the sleigh, she gave a heavy sigh, "I guess it's time to get into the bunny suit."

Knox smiled. "Say, where's your sister and Sandor?"

"Oh, they'll show." IQ-9 and Nova arrived at the boat. Kathleen made a sweeping bow, "Ah, welcome to the Raid of Your Life. Please take your seats and get comfortable, your hosts will arrive in a moment."

Nova made a face at the twin. "You remembered the medkit."

"Safe and sound, strapped behind your seat," Kathleen told her with a grand flourish. Nova groaned and began to climb into the boat.

Kat gave a nod at Knox, "I'll be right back," and trotted off.

Behind her, she could hear Nova asking Knox what had been going on for the past several hours. The officer grinned and, as she passed by Hardy and Conroy, a smirk came and disappeared.

Hardy jumped as she pinched his butt and glared after her retreating back.

"Ya know," he growled, "that girl needs a good spankin'."

Conroy laughed, "And you're just the man to do it. Right?"

"You can never tell," replied the lanky pilot.

Colleen and Sandor arrived together, chatting a few minutes later. She was dressed in the black Stealth suit, with her black hair coiled, plain and tidy on top of her head. Sandor carried her helmet and a box of tools. They waved to Conroy as they approached the troop ship. Everyone but Kathleen were all ready onboard as the pair walked on.

Hardy was running through the take off procedures as they got in. Not looking up from the instrument panel, he asked, "Where's Kat?"

"She was still getting dressed when I left," answered Colleen truthfully as she found her seat.

"And where have you been?" slid Nova in with a wink.

"Oh, around," the twin returned with a wink back. All eyes, human and non, then turned to Sandor, who quietly crossed his arms and looked off into space, nonpulsed.

"This should be interesting," muttered Rats at the interplay.

"Aw, shut up," snapped Knox, cuffing the man's shoulder.

At the last possible moment, Kathleen came roaring into the hanger bay, carring a large black bag. She slung it into a seat and it bumped Hardy's back.

"Hey!" He jumped in his seat. "What's this? Ya tryn' to get me killed?"

"Something extra," the woman told him with her head cocked and eyebrows raised. She clambered into her seat and buckled up.

"It's heavy." He pushed it back at her. "'Bout time you showd up."

"I had to finish gathering some things." Her tone was flippent.

Hardy turned in his seat and wagged a finger at her. "When this is over, I'd gona give you a piece of my mind."

"Really?" She gave him a challenging look, a light dancing in her green eyes.

"Can we go all ready?" suggested Colleen leaning forward and tapping Hardy's shoulder.

"Roger." Hardy powered up the transport and they taxied off the Yamato. Outside, the Black Tigers ran waiting and screening patterns until they caught up and then the whole group took off together. The Yamato began to maneuver in order to provide more cover for the attack.

Commander Rikias was pleased with himself. He was successfully keeping the Star Force from reaching Telezart. His latest communique from the Empire had basicly told him to keep up the good work, that Prince Zoldar was pleased. Therefore, it was a very big surprised when his breakfast table began shaking and an aide ran into the room with a wild look on his face.

Rikias was all ready half way out of his chair as the aide snapped a salute and blurted, "Sir! We're under attack!"

"What!" growled the Commander. "That is impossible." The ground shook again making both men stagger on their way out.

The aide, staying up the the Commander told him, "Their main guns have begun firing at this base and their fighters are engaging our forces."

"This is coming from that ship?"

"Yes, sir." Now the alarms were wailing, red lights flashing in the corridor and another blast could be heard and felt.

"Have our fighters been scrambled?"

"Yes, sir."

Out the door the pair flew to the courtyard in front of this building. The dome overhead rattled as they got into a groundcar waiting there. Rikias ignored the salutes as he jumped in. "What's our defensive strength?"

"At full capacity, sir."

"Good. Have you informed the Empire?"

"Yes, sir." A hesitation. "Sir?"

"Yes?"

"What about the prisoners, sir?"

"What about them?"

"What should we do with them? This attack could be a cover for freeing them, sir."

"Hogwash. They aren't that smart. Besides, they could never get through our ground cover." The ground shook again as the car ran into a tunnel, raining debris down upon them.

At that moment, Hardy was landing the troop carrier behind a set of hills to the right of the gate and out of sight of the base itself. Once they were down, Colleen stood and addressed the other seven. "Here's the game plan folks. Once we get to the wall, IQ-9's going to give me a boost to the top. Once there, I'll take care of any guards and let the rest of you in. When we're inside, we'll split groups, one set for the prisoners, the other to carry out any acts of sabotage you want. Everyone got it?" There were nods all around. "All right. We've only got an hour." She paused and caught everyone in the eyes and held them there. "Good hunting."

The base was ablaze with lights, the roar of fighter planes taking off, explosions rattling the ears, concussions reverberated in the ground, the scream of Astrofighters as they dived in for the kill.

As the group headed for the wall, it dawned on Colleen that they could sneak right under the guns and they wouldn't be noticed. The nearest tower was too busy defending itself and the gun placements were all pointing up, straffling the over head fight. The enemy would probably never think to check the plain below their walls. She chuckled to herself as she watched the Black Tigers dive again, wondering just how many points Conroy was going to give to to whoever blew the tower up.

At the base of the wall, the twin turned to IQ-9. "Ready?"

"Ready and willing," report the device. It cupped its claws as she srang nimbly on them, the suit power making it possible to jump a little higher and lighter than she would have had she been in a regular suit. Into the air she went and landed on the top.

The group stayed huddled at the base waiting for the gate to open. After what seemed like an eternity, the door opened and a black suited figure beckoned them to come in.

"The place is pressuized," she told them as they trooped into a small antechamber, "but at the rate they are taking damage, I don't think it's a good idea to take helmets off."

"I agree," stated Sandor looking at a device in his hand.

Rats and Knox were exaiming the bodies which lay to one side. Across the chamber was another door and Knox nodded to it. "What's beyond that?"

"A small courtyard, then a wall and another gate," came the answer. The ground rumbled causing everyone to pause.

Colleen gestured. "We've got to get into the other building. There we split. Kat will take half to make mischief, my half to get the Despriz crew." She happened to see her twin pull something out of the black bag she had carried in with her. "Did you have to bring that?"

All eyes snapped to Kat, who calmly finished stringing a sinister black compound bow. Kat reminded her sister, "Remember what Grandfather Wantoka said, 'A warrior should find a weapon that their's alone'? This," she shook the bow, "is my choice of weapon."

"A gun is faster," commented Knox, unconvienced.

"But this is more deadly." Kat pulled a quiver full black feathered arrows out and selected one. She showed the Marine the arrowhead. "All these arrows have herculean tipped arrowheads. There's nothing they can't tear into."

"No wonder that bag was so heavy," Hardy told her.

Kathleen simply smiled wordlessly as she pulled the quiver on over her suit.

"Since," Colleen gave her sister a wicked look, "you seem to be better at getting into trouble than I am, you take Hardy, Knox and Rats. The rest of us will find the prisoners. Meet here in," she paused to glance a wristwatch on her suit, "thirty minutes."

"That's cutting it short," commented Kat. "Okay guys, lets go." She dove for the the opposite door with the three males hot on her heels. As the officer ran, she pulled and notched an arrow in her bow, pulling it slightly back.

Watching them leave, Nova remarked, "Kat's crazy you know. I can't help but feel sorry that we've turned her loose in here."

Colleen giggled. "Yeap." The ground rattled again as something blew up near by. "Let's go."

At the next gate, the foursome who went first was able to over come the guard who were there. The building split there and one bunch went one way, the other stopped to check the computer there before trotting towards the prison.

When Colleen's group found the prison, it was a blocky building near one of the outside walls. Here the flashes of explosions lit the sky giving them a chance to see the guard towers surrounding the building. They ducked as yet another torpedo crashed into the ground, rippling the air with the concussion of the blast.

"This is strange," comment Sandor with a frown, "it's as if they don't care about their prisoners."

"They probably don't," answered Colleen grimly. "I think a little sleeping gas in their air vents will remove the threat of guards in the towers."

Nova nodded and reached into her pack for the conisters of sleeping gas. She gave one to Colleen and the other to Sandor then kept one for herself.

The twin turned to IQ-9. "Where are the air vents?"

The sturdy red robot's sensors went to work, analzing the structure in front of them. The yard was lit up again by laserlight and the missle strikes by the Yamato's guns. The Tigers were now working on the sting-rays that swarmed above. From where the group was hiding, they could see the new sting-rays appearing from somewhere so they knew that there had to be several hangers that had not yet been destroyed. IQ-9 beeped after a few minutes. "There are two vents. One above the roof of the prison, on the far side and the other down at ground level."

Pointing at Nova and Sandor, Colleen sang out, "You take the low road, I'll take the high road."

Elsewhere in the complex, Kat, Knox and Rats were creating havoc as they went. The Comet Empire soldiers were fighting fires that srang up in places deep in the corridors, while others fell prey to the threesome. If it looked important, the threesome blew it up. They cut the lines of communication within, further frustrating the other side.

They had paused, to catch their breath, when Knox noticed an opening from which the sting-rays were issuing out of. He tapped Kat on the arm. "Let's shut them down."

She gave him a nod and they started off, trying to run on the the constant shaking ground.

With the guards peacefully sleeping, breaking into the prison was child's play. Colleen wondered about the base's apparent lack of security as simply shot the lock off the heavy grey doors. Inside was a short corridor leading to another door, only this corridor had several one-way windows which looked into a large room with a bank of couch like seats up the the ceiling, that the Intelligence office estimated at twenty feet. She stopped the others from going down this corridor, not trusting it. She tossed a small ball down the corridor and, when nothing happened, the group headed down the corridor.

At the final door, Colleen made short work of the lock and threw it open.

Facing her, hands firmly crossed, stood a stout figure of a woman, probably about age fifty, with short silver grey hair, with a green Earth Defense Command uniform on and Commander's stripes on her sleeves. When she spoke, her voice resembled a low foghorn, ""Bout bloody time O'Flanagon!"

"Commander!" Colleen shot to attention. Just then another siren split the air.

"Wat 've ya two know now?" The Commander began to gather the crew together who were in the cell with her. They were crouched as if ready to fight as she told them, "Ey! Cool it! O'Flanagon's 'ere ya lads."

"I haven't done a thing ma'am," started Colleen. She clicked her suit's comm unit. "Kat! What's going on?"

Sandor in the meantime explained to the Commander of the DeSpritz about what was going on. The Commander stood thin lipped as she listened to him before nodding. They turned just as Colleen shook her head sadly and made her visor go open so they could see her face. "My sister's group has hit a snag near one of the hangers."

"Figures." The Commander's voice was flat. "Tell that bloody fool of a chit to git out 'o there, 'ead east, and find us at the 'anger there."

"The hanger?" questioned Sandor.

"I doubt we'll fit in ya boat," laughed the Commander. "Ye Star Force people, 'ead back to ya boat. We'll get out a 'ere just fine."

"But ma'am..." started Sandor protesting weakly.

"I outrank ya." She turned to Colleen. "Well?"

"They are on their way ma'am."

The Commander gave a curt nod. "Good. Now, let's move out."

The crew of the DeSpritz was, at most, thirty people left out of the original hundred when they spilled out into the corridor. But they were also a very angry bunch of people as the soldiers of the Empire found out. For the time being, the personnel from the Yamato were carried along for the ride. By the time, the bunch reached the hanger on the far east side, they had left a path of destruction in their wake.

Here was when the Stealth suits went to work and the group from the Yamato could watch in enjoyment as the twins made short work of subduing what resistance there was. When it was all clear, one motioned to the DeSpritz group, who rushed over and swarmed over one of the larger ships in the hanger.

The Commander meet them on the ramp. She jerked her thumb over her shoulder, "Go with 'em lasses. We'll catch up. There's a large cannon on ta other side. Nock it out."

"Aye, aye." They saluted and sprinted to where the Star Force group waited.

"I can't believe it," stated Rats shaking his head in disbelief, "they are stealing one of the enemy's ships. "

"Why not?" snapped Knox. "Serves 'em right."

"How they going to get past the Earth Defense?" asked Rats as the group trugged away.

"We've got codes," Kat told him over her comm. "Shouldn't be a problem..."

They were thrown to the ground when the gun opened fire.

Onboard the Yamato

"Incoming missile!" Eager yelled. "Fourty degrees off port!"

Mark gave a grunt as he hauled the ship to her side. The bridge was awash in light as the missile missed by inches.

"Damn!" swore Wildstart. "Where did that come from!"

"Planet side," Eager told him.

"Are the Tigers back on board?" The Deputy Captain asked Homer.

The communications operator listen on his headset for a moment. "Yes! They are refuling!"

"Get me Conroy."

"Aye, aye." A few seconds later another shot sailed close to the ship and Mark again made the corrections to keep from getting hit.

"Conroy to bridge."

"Conroy, get your squad back out and knock out that gun," Derek told him.

Before the pilot could answer, Homer franticly waved his hand in the air. "Getting another message Wildstar! It's coming from a ship boosting out of the area."

"Play it."

"Yamato, Yamato, this is Commander Erica Brand of the DeSpritz. We are in command of an enemy vessel and are making our way out. We've left a force to deal with that gun. Safe hunting Yamato. Despritz out."

"Is our group still on that base?"

"Yes sir.

Another shot and Mark muttered something under his breath while he dodged again, his brow beginning to sweat.

"Radio them and let them know the DeSpritz people got out."

On the base

Shaking her head to clear it, Nova rose from the ground to check the others. The rest were in various states of regaining their senses and she could find no one hurt.

"What the hell was that?" asked Knox bewildered.

"That damn gun," Kat told him. "Our commander said this base had one."

"Now we have to knock it out," Colleen added.

"We can't." Sandor shook his head. "Our time is almost up."

The two black suits turned to each other for a moment before making a decision.

"Let's go."

They never saw what hit them only that Rats disappeared in a blaze of light. They all dove for cover with Colleen and Kat operating their suits, Sandor, Knox, and Hardy ended up against the wall of the prison. Nova shrank up beside the open door with IQ-9 right behind her. The open space between this and the next wall was awash with light.

"Where are they?" shouted Knox, over the explosions in the ground before them.

Searching the sky between the blasts, Hardy picked out the fighters first. He snapped a couple of shots off while yelling, "There!"

"Where's the Black Tigers?" asked Nova from her place.

"Refuling," came a voice to her side causing her to jump. The suit became visible as a shimmering shape. The familiar voice of Kat spoke again, "Colleen's gone to the roof. She's going to blow the hanger."

"Is she nuts?" questioned the Marine in between shots.

"Nope, it's to give us a chance." The suit paused when one of the ships exploded and the gun ripped again. "We've got to get back to the ship. She'll catch up."

A furball of a fight was broiling overhead when the group started from their cover to the outerwall. Here they found it had been reenforced and had to fight their way out. More than one fell with a black arrow sticking out, while Nova did her share of damage, shielded by IQ-9 as the men kept a fierce barrage going.

They were almost to the outer gate when the ground rumbled again, throwing them again to the ground while the hanger blew off the face of the asteroid.