animebookchic - Merla has always been quite calculating. This should turn out to be an interesting battle!

Author's Note - Without my muse, I am nothing.

Theme Music : "Octahate" by Ryn Weaver

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 123 : "The Fate of Delta Five – Part II"

Merla came onto the bridge of her command ship just as the communications station began to sound off.

"Your Majesty," the officer said, "there's an incoming transmission from the Halas."

"Just as I was expecting," she replied with a smirk. "Put it on screen." He did as she commanded. Binak came onto the bridge as well as the transmission began."

"Greetings," the Halassian officer said. "I am General Grom, in charge of Halas forces in the Delta System. I wish to speak to your commanding officer."

"I believe you mean me," Merla said nonchalantly. Already I sense his own arrogance causing tension. "But if you would rather speak to my subordinate, General Binak…."

"That will not be necessary," Grom replied. "I have a proposal for your forces, as we still seem to have a common enemy."

"You mean the Galaxy Alliance forces that have assembled the base on Delta Five," she replied. "I have noticed as well that they have wasted no time in harvesting the planet's resources."

"I want to make our intentions very clear," Grom said. "The planets in this system, and all of Yolon, are under the jurisdiction of the Halas. "We declare all rights to the mineral wealth of its planets, including Delta Five." He stared at her image on her viewscreen intently. "While the Alliance has constructed their base, the might of their forces, including the giant robot they used to defend it, have left the planet. We wish for you to assist us with eradicating these….Alliance. In exchange, we may be willing to bargain for resources you may need, if approved by central command."

"I accept your terms, General," she replied. "We will be more than happy to assist you in destroying the Alliance base, and all the humans within it. As long as you hold up your end of the bargain."

"You have my word," Grom replied. The communication ended. Binak came up to her excitedly.

"Your majesty," he exclaimed, "how do you know we can trust these monsters?"

"Do you think me a fool, Binak?" she snapped back. "The General made a critical error in his negotiations. He saw a woman, and his thoughts wandered into the realm of ridiculousness."

"You were able to read his thoughts?" Binak asked.

"Speaking to what he considers the inferior sex," she continued, "he let his guard down further. Their forces are small, but powerful. Yet they have reinforcements on the way, and plan to destroy us in the end as well."

"Then we should escape?" Binak asked.

"No, you idiot!" she snapped. "You know as well as I do the might of the Drule Empire. The might of the Second and Seventh Kingdoms combined would never fall! No, we will continue our mining operations on Delta Five, and continue to blame the whole thing on the Alliance! And once their base is destroyed….we turn on the Halas and destroy them before their reinforcements arrive."

"I understand, my queen," he replied, kneeling before her. "I will do as you command." She laughed silently, her thoughts loudly projecting her laughter through the echoes of space and time….

Alarms began to blare, causing the Senior Lieutenant currently in charge of the Delt Five base to spring to his feet.

"Sir!" his general reported to him. "The Halassian command ship has begun to move on a course for the base!"

"Are there any accompanying ships?" he asked. "Did we detect a reinforcement fleet?"

"No," the general replied, "but we picked up a small fleet of Drule ships on an intercept course with the Halassian vessel."

"I don't like the looks of this," the Lieutenant said softly. He looked at the viewscreen and let out a sigh. "Get the shields up to maximum, and have the men ready the magna laser. It looks like we may be in for it after all."

"Yes, sir," the general replied with a salute before leaving. The Lieutenant sat down carefully, still watching the viewscreen with great interest.

"It'll be a miracle if we make it out of this alive," he said quietly to himself.

"General Binak!" the first officer said. "We are almost in firing range of the Alliance base! What are your orders?"

"Queen Merla has ordered our remaining forces to attack at once," Binak replied. "The Halassians will supply a small squadron of robot fighters as well. Without Voltron, they won't stand a chance!"

"But even with the small forces we have," the officer asked, "what if their defenses are stronger than we thought?"

"Then we will play our ace," Binak replied. "With the raw materials we obtained from the planet below, we have constructed a weapon that will easily tear their puny base the shreds!" His eyes narrowed. "Open fire!" The ships began firing on the base, the shields barely deflecting the blasts from the lasers and missiles.

"They've commenced their attack!" the general said. "Shields are holding. The remaining crew is on the cannons and awaiting your orders." The Lieutenant let out another sigh.

"Take out as many of them as you can," he said through his teeth. He turned to the communications officer. "I want you to broadcast an SOS on all secured channels. I don't know if Galaxy Garrison can hear us, let alone send help in time, but….I don't know." The Magna Lasers rose from the shielding and began to fire on the oncoming ships. Drones were blown out of the sky, but swarms more would take their place.

"They're everywhere!" one of the crew commented. As they fired once more, the Halassian command ship got in a lucky shot, destroying the cannon, and the two men inside operating it.

"Their feeble weaponry is nothing compared to the might of the Halas!" Grom shouted happily. We shall rid this planet, and our territory, of these invaders once and for all!"

"How much longer before we arrive at Delta Five?" Jeff asked.

"Not much longer, Commander," Sparks replied.

"I just hope there's a base to return to," Jeff said, contemplating.

"I know it wasn't easy to decide to allow that detail to stay there," Christiane said, trying to reassure him. "You did the right thing."

"You think so?" he asked.

"You always do," she replied.

"That means a lot," he said. Alarms began to go off.

"Commander," Sparks said, "I'm getting a long range transmission being sent over all secure channels!"

"Where's it coming from?" Jeff asked, getting up from his chair.

"It's coming from Delta Five," Sparks replied. "It's an SOS! They're radioing for assistance!" Jeff clenched his fists.

"Sound the alert!" Jeff shouted. "On full engines, the Defender may not make it there in time. But I know who can."

"I'm on it, Commander," Sparks replied, sounding the alert.

"ALERT! ALERT!" Sparks' voice came over the intercom. "Voltron Force to the launch area immediately! All units launch and set a course for Delta Five!" Jenny gasped.

"You heard 'em," she shouted, "let's roll!" She ran from the lounge, Mai close behind. The others followed as well. They ran into the pilot chamber and sat in their seats. The platform rose quickly to the floor above, and one by one, the seats moved towards the launch area, locking into the loading modules, which were then lowered into the cockpits.

"Sea Team, ready!" Krik shouted.

"Land Team, ready!" Cliff shouted.

"Air Team, locked on and ready to launch!" Jenny shouted. One by one, the ships moved into position and took off from the launch area. "Let's show the Halas once and for all the true power of the Defender of the Universe!" Her voltcom glowed as all fifteen ships flew quickly ahead of the command ship, on their way to confront the threat to Delta Five.

"Do you think they'll be able to make it?" Sparks asked. Jeff kept his eye on the viewscreen as the Voltron Force disappeared from sight.

"They have to," he replied.

To be continued…