Megaword Prime - "Overconfidence" is probably it. The team follows Ryan...even if he might be wrong.
animebookchic - It's not too concealed. We all know Commander Steele is backing the Panthers. But to what end?
Author's Note - "Deadly Force" is an interesting arc. Part of me is still unable to figure out where it's all headed, but with time in my universe slowly returning to normal, I seem to be able to somehow push forward. I can't wait for everything to finally return to normal...
Without my muse, I am nothing.
Theme Music : "Apocalyptic" by Halestorm
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 99 : "Deadly Force – Part IV"
"Ryan," Eric shouted over the com as he narrowly avoided a blast from one of the beasts, "the command ship just launched what appears to be three robeasts!"
"Avoid them for now and take out the rest of these fighters," Ryan replied. "Keep a close eye on them and try to gauge their weakness."
"Do you want us to contact the Bogart?" a female voice came over the com.
"Negative, McAllister," Ryan replied. "Until I give the order, no one is to contact the Bogart. The Commander sent us out here to do a job, and we're going to finish it." The ships continued destroying the fighters, and carefully avoiding the crossfire and physical attacks from the robeasts.
"Hold still so I can destroy you!" Soltorn shouted. "Sending puny Alliance ships to fight me? Where is your mighty Voltron?"
"It…talked?" McAllister said, puzzled. "Ryan, it's sentient!"
"Dammit, McAllister," Ryan shouted, "stick to the plan!" One of the other robeasts, sleek with spiked appendages swung and connected with one of the ships. It spiraled out of control, getting pulled down by Quantus' gravity.
"Dylan!" McAllister shouted.
"Hold it together, Amy!" Ryan shouted. He tapped his com. "Quantan Base, this is Panthera One requesting emergency response. One of our jets crashed on the surface. Send help immediately." He ended the com. "Let's make sure it doesn't hurt anyone else."
"Right," the others complied.
"Circle them and try to get them to fire on one another," Ryan shouted. "Focus fire on the ugly one commanding them. Looks like its eye is damaged. Focus on that." The ships flew in a loose formation, dodging the robeasts as they tried to line up to fire. Their lasers hit the mark, stinging Soltorn's scarred eye socket. She reeled back in pain, then angrily leaned forward as the scar began to tear.
"Any word from the panthers?" Captain Stebbins asked.
"Negative," the communications officer replied. "Sir! It looks like the enemy has just launched three robeasts!"
"Three?" Stebbins shouted, looking at the viewscreen closer. He observed the Panthers' attack, and one of them being hit and crash landing on the Quantan surface.
"Go to red alert," Stebbins replied. "They need our help, whether they requested it or not. Bring us about and take us in."
"Aye, sir," the officer replied.
Dariana's eyes widened as she saw an explosion in the near distance.
"Look!" she exclaimed. The team huddled at the window and saw the robeasts attacking, and one of the ships crashing into Quatus.
"I can't just sit here on my hands while those Drules get the upper hand!" Roxy said through gritted teeth.
"I second that," Tails said. "I'm going now, no matter what the captain says."
"I'm still in command, McGovern," JC said, "and I say we wait for Captain Stebbins to give the order." The com opened.
"Voltron Force, report to the launch area immediately!" the voice shouted.
"You don't have to tell me twice," Seth shouted, taking off running. The others followed, but Dariana lingered for a moment. She looked closely, squinting her eyes a bit.
"No….it's not possible…" she whispered. She turned and ran full force after the others.
The ship that crashed on Quantus had skidded to a halt, its pilot out cold. The fuel cells had been punctured, and the engine had ignited the leaking fuel, beginning to engulf them in flames. Within seconds of this, several clicking noises could be heard…and Tick popped out of the overhead console. Hanging by his front paws precariously, he looked down at the console below, then dropped down to it. He scurried up to one of the panels, his eyes scanning it meticulously. His tail whipped back and forth, then stretched, plugging itself into a port on the console. Moments later, the top of the ship opened, and the unconscious pilot was ejected from the wreck, landing carefully a thousand feet or so away by parachute. Tick scurried through the wreck in an attempt to escape.
The seat landed with a thud hard enough to finally rouse the pilot. As he opened his eyes, he watched the ship explode. He could barely open his right eye, and felt a trickle of blood coming from the corner of his mouth. He wiped it, carefully shook, then held his head, and looked back at the burning wreck.
"How did I eject?' he asked himself. He tapped his com. "Ryan, this is Dylan. I'm down." There was no response at first, then a different voice came on the com.
"This is Sergeant Fatoma from the Quantan Supply Base," the voice said. "My rescue crew and I have a fix on your location, and are on our way to assist you."
"And the others?" Dylan asked.
"They're still fighting the Drules," Sergeant Fatoma replied. "The base is trying to give support, but it's not looking good." Dylan let out a sigh. He remained preoccupied as a faint ticking could be heard nearby, and the scraping of something scurrying up the chair he sat in.
"Amy…."
"Insert Keys!" JC shouted. The team placed their keys into their Voltcoms. They glowed as the engines powered up. "All units, launch!" The jets shot out of the hangar and into space, making a beeline for the robeasts. "Maintain a tight formation."
"JC," Dariana said, "one of the robeasts….it looks like….like the one we fought near Hydra."
"What?" he asked. "It can't be. Tails, run a scan." A moment went by before he heard a response.
"It's not a robot, JC," Tails replied. "That thing has Drule biorhythms." His eyes narrowed. "JC! It's eye is opening! The scarred over socket! It's opening! And the Panthers are in the blast radius!"
"Seth!" JC shouted. "Swap formation and use maneuver barricade."
"Already ahead of ya, boss," he replied, plugging his Voltcom into the console.
"Puny insects!" Soltorn shouted as the scar began to tear. "Witness the power of the Drule Supremacy!" As it opened, the jets flew past the panthers, Blue in the line of fire as the scar opened. A beam of intense power fired, then deflected off the shield generated by Blue. The scar closed and the jets split up and regrouped.
"Voltron Force!" Ryan shouted. "Stand down! This is our fight!"
"You're flacking welcome!" Roxy snarked.
"Get your men out of here!" JC ordered. "This robeast is the one that helped take out Hydra! Let us handle it!"
"I have my orders, Lieutenant!" he shouted back. "Stand down!" JC cut off the com.
"Cheeky blit," Tails snarked.
"He doesn't understand the danger of this situation," JC replied.
"Look out!" Dariana shouted as the other two robeast converged on Black. The Panthers fired, and it provided enough distraction for JC to escape.
"That was close,' JC said.
"I think maybe we should form Voltron now," Dariana said. The rest of the team nodded.
"Activate interlocks!" JC shouted. "Dynotherms connected! Infracells up! Megathrusters are go!"
"Let's go Voltron Force!" they all shouted. They flew off in wing pattern, but switched to star formation as the energy field took hold.
"Stop them!" Soltorn shouted. "Stop them from forming!" The remaining Panthers tried to fire on the robeasts, but they ignored them and headed straight for the Voltron jets.
"Form Feet and legs!" JC shouted. "Form arms and torso!" The robeasts fired at the jets, but the flame and ice blasts deflected off the energy field.
"Smash through it!" Soltorn ordered. "Destroy it!" The robeasts crashed into the field and stopped in their tracks, being electrified, and repelled backwards.
"And I'll form the head!" JC shouted. Voltron arched back, and the energy field exploded, the shock wave hitting the three robeasts with enough force to push them backwards slightly. Voltron's eyes lit up with power, then turned towards the trio.
"Now it's on," Roxy said, cracking her knuckles, the trio staring them down.
"And now," Wade said, carefully watching it all from the bridge of the command ship, "they will witness the power of Xyan technology." Wade then did something he rarely did during a battle….he smiled.
To be continued…..