KathDMD - Things between Binak and Marth are about to heat up, and things are picking up. As for Dixie...her AND Ken are gonna get a stern talking to about their actions. But as I told you, there's so much more that's going on in Dixie's backstory. I'm not putting her career at risk, I'm putting her story in the limelight. There are a lot of good women that have ben torn down so badly by traumatic events that it turns their lives into something shocking and even perverse. There's a method to the madness, I promise.
Author's Note - Tensions are heating up as the Halassians and the Drules approach conflict!
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 109 : "No One Owns Her"
"What is that!" Marth shouted angrily.
"We were about to set down and begin operations as you ordered," the officer said, "but as you can see, a small fleet of ships that were following and attacking the Alliance ships is already here!"
"Should I open a channel, sir?' the communications officer asked.
"Negative," Marth replied. "Fire a warning shot. I want their attention." The command ship fires a shot that knocks out one of the Drule ship's aft cannons.
"What was that?" Binak asked.
"The Halassian ships are approaching," one of his lieutenants replied. "That shot took out one of our aft cannons."
"Their captain is toying with us," Binak said.
"Sir?" the lieutenant asked.
"Open a communications channel," Binak ordered. "Tell them I have proposal, and would like to speak to their captain." The officer did as he was told, then the ship shook again.
"I'm assuming that was their response, General," he said. Binak gritted his teeth.
"Launch the stinger jets!" he shouted. "I will not have them stop us while we wait for our reinforcements to arrive!"
"Did you fire another round at the vessel!" Marth asked.
"Yes, sir," the officer replied. "They are launching dozens of smaller drone ships. They are opening fire."
"This is the response I expected," Marth replied, rubbing his hands together. "They will show their hand sooner or later, and I vote sooner."
"Orders?" the officer asked.
"Launch the hyper-drones," Marth ordered. "I will not have them stop us while we wait for our reinforcements to arrive!"
"Dammit Hunter!" Jenny shouted as she stormed her way to the door to his quarters, finding it locked. "Commander Aki needs us in the air right now! What the flack are you doing in there?" The door finally slid open, and out stepped Ken, followed by Dixie, dressed half-assed and looking beaten to a pulp. "What the hell happened to you two?"
"Chess accident?" Ken asked. Jenny smacked her head.
"Both of you…." Jenny started to say, and then threw her hands up in frustration. "When we get back from this, I want to see both of you in Commander Aki's office. I'm not gonna have my teammates beating the piss out of one another just because you can't stand one another! Cliff has enough problems with Marvin and Hutch, and I for one am not going to tolerate it!"
"Yes, ma'am," Ken said softly, hanging his head.
"Sorry…Jenny…Sir…" Dixie replied softly.
"Good," Jenny said, confused. "Now pull yourself together and get to the launch area. And no bickering or fighting, you got that?"
"Yes, ma'am," they replied in unison, Ken favoring his right arm. Jenny stormed off, and the two looked at one another.
"So what do we do now?' Ken asked sternly. She gave him the meanest of looks.
"If you want to live through this," she replied, "you need to know something."
"What's that?" he asked. She stared him down.
"My full name is Dixon Marie Calla," she said. "I'm originally from Round Rock, Texas, just outside of Austin. I have two brothers and four sisters. I left home when I was fifteen, and been to hell and back trying to get to where I am. There's a lot more, but you're gonna have to do a lot more work if you want to hear it." She walked down the hall. He shook his head and limped after her.
"Do you see anything down there?" Cliff asked.
"No sign of the Halassian vessels at all," Krik replied. "It seems a lot more peaceful. I see no reason for the Defender not to land here. Are you picking up anything, team?"
"I don't see anything out of the ordinary," Shannon replied.
"It's peaceful," Mai said quietly. "I wouldn't mind spending some time in the deep."
"That's what SHE said!" Eddie shouted.
"Dude!" Chet shouted. "Bro! Lay off the sea chick, bro!"
"Oh," Eddie said, "sorry sea chick bro."
"It's alright," Mai replied. She sighed. "I wish Jenny was here to see this."
"Are you seeing anything on the surface?" Krik asked.
"Everything's clear here," Cliff replied. "It's strangely quiet."
"Should we land for a visual?" Cinda asked.
"I don't see why not," Cliff replied. "Rocky and Wolo are keeping an eye in the skies. We should be alright." The Land Team Vehicles set down on the surface near the coast. The team climbed out of their ships and took a look around.
"Would you look at that," Huth said. "It's so quiet, you wouldn't have known we fought a battle here not even a day ago."
"It does look quiet enough to set the command ship down," Marvin added. Cliff tapped his Voltcom.
"Commander," Cliff said, "we've done some preliminary scans, and have found it safe enough to land and begin construction."
"Great job, Cliff," Jeff replied. "Cadet Owens just launched with the rest of the Air Team. They are going to continue patrol while we land near the shore. Unfortunately, materials we have for construction is scarce, but we have the manpower to at least set up a small base of operations here."
"Jeff," Cliff said, "if the Keegan twins are correct, we may be able to use the raw materials here on Delta Five to construct the base."
"Great idea" Jeff replied. "We'll begin our descent now. See you guys within an hour." The com ended.
"So, what are we doing while we wait?" Modoch asked.
"Just keep an eye out for trouble, I guess," Cliff replied. "It's peaceful, but it always seems to be the case that when things are this quiet, trouble's brewing."
"About time you guys showed up," Rocky said, jokingly.
"Where were you guys anyway?' Wolo asked.
"We'll discuss it later," Jenny said, cutting off Ken and Dixie. "Right now let's keep in a tight formation and keep an eye out for any sign of the Halassians." She saw her com light up. She pressed a button. "Yes, Commander?"
"Jenny," he said, "we're bringing the command ship down to land near the shore to perform repairs and to begin construction on the base. While doing so, long range sensors picked up something on the far side of the planet. I want you to take the Air Team there and check it out."
"Will do, Commander," she replied. The com ended. "Alright team, stay with me. We're going to check out a disturbance."
"Are we sure the Halassians don't have a claim to this place?" Wolo asked.
"Not at all," Jenny replied. "There's no sign they have tried to settle, mine, or even set up a base on this planet. If they are fighting us over it, there must be more to it than we know."
"I have a theory," Ken said. "What if the Halassians are like the Drules? I mean, what if they aren't settlers, but conquerors? I've read the logs from missions the original team performed back in the Near Universe, and the Empire back them had motives that seem to fall in line with the actions the Halassians are making."
"I can't say the thought hasn't crossed my mind," Jenny replied. "But until we can prove that theory, that's all it is."
"You gotta admit," Rocky said, "the aggressiveness of those guys make 'em look like the Drules."
"Why is Dixie so quiet?" Wolo asked. Dixie's blood boiled and went to speak, but Jenny cut her off.
"Just focus on the mission, team," Jenny said.
"I'm seeing something on the scanners," Ken said, pushing buttons frantically. "It looks like the Halassians are in the air fighting….the Drules?"
"Sir!" one of the officers said. "We're picking up additional ships approaching!"
"Put it on the screen," Marth ordered. The screen came up, and his eyes widened. "It's those blasted Alliance vessels! Open fire on them immediately!"
"But sir," the officer asked, "what about the ships that are attacking us?"
"Divert some of our fleet away from them!" Marth ordered. "They are merely a diversion apparently! I want those Alliance ships grounded at all costs!"
"Yes, sir!" the officer replied, keying in commands into the console.
"These outsiders continue to try my patience!" Marth shouted between his teeth. "Once the new weapon arrives, we will eradicate the lot of them!"
"General Binak!" the tactical officer shouted. "The Halassians have broken off their attack!"
"Why?' Binak asked. "I don't understand."
"Scanners are picking up the Voltron Force!" the officer replied.
"So that's their issue," Binak said, scratching his chin. "Have they launched additional ships?"
"Negative," the officer replied.
"Well, then," Binak said with a smirk. "As the old saying goes….the enemy of my enemy is my friend." He turned to face Tactical. "Release the robeast."
"But sir," the officer said, "Queen Merla said….."
"I know damn well what she said," Binak snapped. "I'm making a tactical decision. We need to convince the Halassians that we are their allies. And if we're lucky, we'll destroy the Voltron Force in the process!