KathDMD - You know there's only one space mouse Dariana trusts! And I do believe you may be right about Ryan...smart bag comment and all. ;)
Author's Note - Without my muse, I am nothing.
Theme Music : None
Disclaimer - Voltron and all associated characters are the property of WEP. Space Marshall Lenora Hawkins and associated characters are the property of KathDMD. Admiral Lysette Fabrere and associated characters are the property of selena devargo.
Episode 97 : "Deadly Force – Part 1"
Five black, stealth-looking ships landed carefully outside one of the South Gate hangars. Several figured left the confined of the gate's guard house and walked towards the ships.
"These are the ones you sent to Dradin?" Lenora asked. Commander Steele nodded his head.
"The finest of the graduating class," he replied with a smirk.
"And you said they were able to locate the children and Maria?" she asked.
"Located and returned safely," Steele said confidently. "Like I said, Space Marshall, these men are the best." The cargo doors of one of the ships opened up, and Ryan escorted Maria out, carrying the twins. They approached the trio, and handed one of the children to Jon. Lenora gave Maria a hug, and gently kissed the twins on their foreheads. She turned back to Ryan, now standing at attention next to Commander Steele.
"I guess I have you to thank for this," she said to Ryan.
"May I present to you the leader of the Panthers, my son, Ryan Steele," Steele said.
"Your son?" Len asked.
"It's an honor to finally meet you, Space Marshall," he replied, still standing at attention.
"Likewise," she replied. "You brought my family back to me. The Galaxy Alliance owes you a debt of gratitude….and I as well."
"It's just another mission for this team, Lenora," Commander Steele said. "I haven't seen a better team of pilots since watching Commander Aki and his Voltron Force in my final days before retiring. It's refreshing to have a team so adept at missions against the Supremacy."
"You do know about Project Defender, don't you?" she asked.
"The cadets flying the jets Graham commissioned to be built?" he asked. "Yeah, I've heard of what they've done. They're tough, but are still not as experienced as my men. They spent their whole term at the Academy training for things like this. You're Voltron cadets are still wet behind the ears."
"They've done a lot for this planet and the entire Alliance," Lenora said.
"With all due respect, Space Marshall," Ryan interjected, "no one is trying to put down what the Voltron Force has done for the Alliance. I think what my father is trying to say is that they haven't undergone the amount of training and discipline we have. They've had a taste of what it's like out there in the field, and that's great. But some things you can't just learn on the fly."
"Ryan," Steele said, "take your team and meet back at OPS. I'll join you shortly for a debriefing."
"Yes, sir," he replied, giving him a salute. He walked off, his team approaching him from the ships and following him towards the main campus.
"I appreciate you sending your men to assist," Lenora said, looking Steele in the eye. "Don't mistake my line of questioning as a sign of ungratefulness."
"Not at all, Lenora," he replied. "I think of you and your team as family. We've all been through a lot. I almost feel like it's my job to look out for you. I think Matthias would have wanted it this way." He placed a hand on her shoulder and smiled. He turned and walked away, heading back towards campus. Lenora looked at Jon, holding their child and watching Steele walk away.
Roxy was the first to storm into the apartment. She picked up the nearest pillow and whipped it across the room in anger as hard as she could.
"Argh!" she shouted. "I can't believe Space Marshall Hawkins would send those degenerates to do our job!"
"Believe me, Roxy, I feel ya," Seth agreed.
"We don't know for sure who sent them, Rox," JC said.
"Dude," Seth replied angrily, turning to face his Force Leader eye to eye, "he flat out said the Space Marshall sent them."
"I can't imagine her doing something like that without notifying us," JC said. "Come on, guys, there has to be a logical explanation."
"A boatload of flacking snart," Roxy spat. "That's what."
"You need to listen to JC," Dariana said. "Seth, I don't know who sent them, but they were there with the best of intentions. I know they will deliver the Space Marshall's twins home safely."
"It doesn't help that we were undermined by our own leaders," Seth replied.
"Hear anything from Tick?" Tails asked, flopping down on a nearby chair.
"Not yet," Dariana replied. "Like I said, Seth, I wouldn't let them out of my sight without some insurance. Tick will make sure everything's on the up and up. We'll know what happened soon enough."
"I sure hope so," Seth said. JC's com beeped, and he tapped his voltcom.
"Grend here," JC said.
"Grend," Lystette said, "assemble your team and meet me and Commander Stormclaw in the Control Room for a debriefing."
"On our way, Admiral," he replied, turning off the com. "Guess the rest will have to wait."
"Aw man," Tails griped. "But we just got here!" They all got up and left the apartment, headed back to the main building.
Ryan paced back and forth in front of his team. He looked over at them, a stoic look on his face.
"You did a good job out there," he said, "but it was a bit sloppy. You let those guys get the win. That's not why we're here."
"Yes, sir," one of them said.
"Eric," he said, walking up to that guy, "you need to keep focused. The strategy you came up with to take down that robeast was brilliant. But we can't allow some simple cadets to fudge things up for us. We have a reputation to uphold."
"Understood," Eric replied.
"The next time we get a mission," he said, still pacing, "we need to be the ones to finish." A scurrying echoed through the room, but none of them noticed. "I will not have some other team cleaning up behind us! That's not who we are!" Tick climbed a control panel and kept out of sight, appearing to be listening intently as they spoke. Before Ryan could utter another word, however, Commander Steele walked in.
"A fine job you did out there," he said, walking up to Ryan and his team. "You went in there, and did what you had to do. I'm proud."
"Thank you, sir," Ryan replied. "We didn't need the Voltron Force there following us though."
"Voltron is the backbone of this organization," Steele said. "While the cadets chosen for Project Defender aren't exactly top of the line, their ships, and the mighty robot they form, are. If you plan on being the best in the galaxy, you need to be better than that." He turned to look Ryan dead in the eye. "Respect is earned, son. Remember that."
"Yes, sir," Ryan replied.
"Now," Steele continued, "Admiral Fabrere, Head of Garrison Security, has filled us in on a possible threat to Quantus. The Drules are always after the lazon shipments coming out of there. I have no doubt the remainder of Commander Kala's forces have their eyes on the next shipment coming out of there." He began to pace. "They think we're still recovering from our last battle. We need to show them that we are always prepared." He turned quickly and shot a look at Ryan. "There is NO downtime."
"Yes, sir!" the five shouted.
"Get your few hours of sleep now," Steele said. "You won't be getting much on this mission." He turned and walked away.
Commander Kala turned to her current second in command, her usual look of disappointment on her face.
"I'm surprised Lord Kanji hasn't come for all of our heads by now," she said, "especially after our defeat on Dradin. Now set a course for Quantus."
"Quantus?" he asked. "Commander, the fleet has been whittled down to…"
"I know damn well how small our fleet is," she snapped. "But we have to take that chance. Another shipment of lazon is scheduled to leave Quantus soon, and I will not stop until we have claimed every last cubic centimeter for the Supremacy!" Just then, she was interrupted by the doors behind her opening. She turned to look, and her eyes widened as the form stepped through the doors.
"Might I suggest a slightly different strategy," the all too familiar voice said, flanked by two Drule Lieutenants. "One that will not only secure this precious lazon shipment…." He picked up a nearby datapad and held it in the palm of his right hand. "…but crush the Voltron Force once and for all!" His cybernetic hand closed around the datapad, easily crushing and mangling it into a ball of warped metal. A sly grin appeared across his face as the Lieutenants flanking him dropped to their knees in reverence….
To be continued….