I did one last look around.
All the preparations had been made. All that could be done had been done. Now, the final obstacle awaited: defeating Hunhow, and getting back my Commander.
Those who would stand with me were already in posisiton for this fight - be they embers of the six major syndicates, Ostrons, Solaris, wayward Grineer/Corpus that had felt their current power struggles to be pointless in the face of the current conflict, or just ordinary Origin System inhabitants who didn't want to see their world end, all were here, ready to battle, as were a few wayward sentients who Zen'hurros had convinced to side with me. If we lost, well, I shuddered at the thought of what Hunhow would do to them.
I'd made a point of learning and memorizing the names of everyone who was fighting here...fighting to help me...fighting for me. If they died, it was on me, and the least I could do, if I won, was make some kind of memorial for them. And for that, I needed to know their names, as well as a few details about them.
To my surprise, all of Ostrons and Solaris had personal reasons to help me. All of the Ostrons had been recipients of my generosity - these were the people I had provided food for, whenever I had excess fish. As for the Solaris, they owed me for paying off their debts. And not in the broad sense. See, just prior to my meeting with Melissa, and all the hell that had followed, I had arranged a deal with Anyo to forgive all the Solaris of their debts. The payoff had been absurdly high - Anyo could literally lose everything else he owned and still have enough money to live in luxury from what I had paid him, but if it meant seeing people free from his wrath? Any price was worth that.
These people hadn't been freed by that deal.
These Solaris were the one's whose debts I'd bought from Ticker. I had paid off each debt individually for these fellows...and they were not going to forget that anytime soon.
Some of them weren't even ones I had expected to free from Anyo's greed - quite a few were dependents who had been brainshelved, left to rot in some room, alone, forever, or at least until their family paid off their debt. And now, because of me, they were free.
For that very reason, they would gladly fight, and die, for me. Because I had offered them something they would never have had otherwise - a future.
...Good god, that just made me feel worse about putting their lives on the line.
Still, I had to keep a straight face - now was not the time to go soft hearted.
Of course, there was one person I needed to chat with right now...
XXXXX
As I approached Melissa's location, the sound of her voice flitted to my ears.
The first thing that I was surprised by was that she was speaking in a language I hadn't heard of.
THe second surprise was that, even though I had never heard the language, I still knew what she was saying.
"And thus, great Shadow, I ask of you to give me the strength to see this battle through, to overcome the foes arrayed before me, and remain out of your realm, at least for now. If that is not possible, though, at least let me see this conflict's resolution. Either way, if thou decides my time is done, I shall go into your shrouded kingdom with grace.
As she finished speaking, I found my ROB kneeling in front of a statue of a shrouded figure, with four pairs of wings - one insectile, one avian, one chiropteran, and one pterosaurian in nature. Surrounding the statue were candles, and oddly enough, the statue was not carved from stone, but black crystal - Noctrul, to be precise.
….was she praying?!
"...Yes, I was."
...Sorry if that came out wrong.
"Eh, I understand. Surprised I believe in something higher than myself?"
….In hindsight, no - you weren't born a ROB, so I can believe that you have faith in a higher power that is Superior Firepower.
"Curious choice of words, but I digress. So, are you ready?"
Yes. "I do need to tell you something first."
"And that is?"
"I...forgive you...for putting me on this adventure."
"...What?!"
"You pretty much ruined my life, sent me on a crazy ride through the universe, and are indirectly responsible for this situation I am in because of sending me on this journey...but you've also offered me help, nursed me back to health after I was crippled in battle, shown decency toward my son, and stood with me when I was at my lowest...even if the last one was due to my actions."
I sighed. "I can't hold a grudge nw. So know that, if you or I should fall in the coming struggle...there is nothing you need to atone for."
"...Okay...but can I say something else?"
"Shoot."
"...I'm sorry."
"...YOu just wanted to offer an apology?"
"Yes. I was, quite simply, a bitch to you, and I'm sorry about it."
"...Well, thank you. Ready to win?"
For the first time since I had lost my Commander, I saw Melissa give an absolutely vicious (and, in her case, fitting) smile. "Let's do this."
XXXXX
Soon enough, Hunhow came, Commander in tow. Desperation had forced him to use it as bait to pull me in, though he had taken the precaution of bringing a whole army of Sentients and progenitor machines with him as backup.
Not that it would help him that much.
"Where do you hide, False Tenno? If you come out now, your allies may yet be spared."
Well, time to make my debut.
"I doubt that. So, you've stolen my biggest stick, but you can't swing it well, can you?"
"I suppose you are correct...but that will change once you die."
"Who say's I am going to die?"
In front of Hunhow, a small turret activated. The sentient briefly aimed at it, before deciding to simply have my Commander stomp on it...at least until he noticed that I was standing on top of it.
"So, you want to die by your greatest weapon's hand?"
I smirked. "No. I'm taking it back."
Then I snapped my fingers (Which took more effort than one would think).
The turret whirred to life.
And then, my Commander went inert, as did the other progenitor machines in the area. Several of the planes promptly crashed.
Finally, I had found some use for the Artifacts...
After , of course, prepping my own forces to resist the Artifacts' effects...oh, and somehow, even though Hunhow had no face, he still had a surprised expression, which got even more pronounced when I fired off a blast of void energy at one of his shards.
Smiling, I gave the order: "ATTACK!"
Then I stared playing music, because why not.
I hope everyone else liked my selection.
AN: Soundtrack Start - 7734 By Sabaton, from Heroes - Bonus Tracks Album
XXXXXX
'...The Commander had a strange taste in music', thought the Solaris known as Mizuri. Still, she was not one to judge, at least not now. Now was the time for battle!
Something the Sentient below her only learned when she drove her blade through its core.
Beside her, another shard fell dead, a well paced hit from the Solaris known only as Rigsley tearing open its head.
The Dawn Of Time Breaks
See The Sun Rise To The Sky
The Wheel Of Time Begins To Turn
Today was the day of reckoning!
XXXXXXX
Deeper within the ship, a Tau Battle Line heard something advancing toward them. Turning, they found...a horde of soldiers in powered armor, some golden and wielding halbeards, charging side by side with lizards riding dinosaurs?!
But Then We Heard It
A Divine Voice Out Of Nowhere
Spoke To Our Hearts And Showed The Way
So shocked were the Sentients that they failed to react until the strange beings collided with them. By then, they were already being torn to shreds
Almighty Lord We Have Come To Your Hall
Do Glatem Live, Creator of All
Open Your Heart And You Will Find A Way
Paradise Calling And Answer You May
Falling Down!
One blue armored space marine threw a power axe into a Conculyst, tearing it in half. Before he could retrieve the blade, however, a battlyst fires on him, knocking him to the ground. Yet the shard would not claim its kill, for lightning suddenly flew into it, cooking its body to a crisp. A moment later, the red armored space marine wearing Egyptian themed armor lowered his hand, then ran over to help his brother up.
For a moment, the blue one eyed his comrade warily, before accepting the aid.
There had been a time when the Sons of the Cyclops and the Wolves of Fenris had known only distrust. For most, it has morphed into hatred. For these two, as well as their brothers that had also been caught in this universe, distrust had given way to brotherhood.
Now Your Soul Returns To Paradise
Hastily, the two rejoined the battle, each striving to get more kills that the other - competition was helpful, even between brothers.
Falling Down
Meanwhile, the Lizardmen were hacking into the Synthetic Battle alone, with a Carnosaur already tearing into the largest Sentient. Victory would be swift and brutal!
Double Seven Thorty Four!
XXXXXXXXXXX
As the fighting increased in brutality, a group of Esh-Kha charged into battle, tearing into the Sentient forces. Aiding them were several Prometheans, as well as drones the Commander has imbued with the power of the void, depriving the Sentients of their greatest strength.
Without their adaptability, the Sentients soon fell apart.
The Wheel Kept Turning
Ages Came, Time Passed Us By
We Lived In Perfect Harmony
Joining them were a variety of ferocious technocyte beasts and other organic monstrosities, which began to ravage the Synthetics
But Then It Happened
Our Ranks Decreased Rapidly
But Now It's Time For Our Return
All over the ship, vengeance was served!
Once We Were Numerous
But That's Long Ago
We Are No More Double Seven Three Four
We Last Two United And Two Became One
One Hundred Eleven, They Perished As One
Falling Down!
As the Syntheitcs floundered, Progenitor War Machines charged into the fight - the ones the one known as Flame still controlled.
Now Your Soul Returns To Paradise!
Falling Down!
Without numbers to drown out that firepower, the Sentients stood no chance.
Double Seven Thirty Four!
XXXXXXXX
Everywhere I looked, my forces and Melissa's made short work of the Sentients. Not surprising, really - my trip through the void had not only provided me with void powers, but also bettter knowledge forvusing void derived technology - something I had exploited before this battle.
I dicked to avoid an aerial foe's attack, before cupping my hands. A moment later, and I lifted Melissa into the air, where she tore the shard to pieces. Hell yeah!
A moment later, and the female ROB threw a chain at me, which I caught, allowing her to hurl me toward my Commander.
As soon as I landed, I sent a hack through.
Hunhow may have stolen my greatest weapon, but he wasn't going to keep it, and had been forced too far back by my forces to defend it.
Time to get it back!
Almighty Lord We Have Come To Your Hall
Do Glatem Live, Creator Of All
Open Your Heart And You Will Find A Way
Paradise Calling And Enter You May
Falling Down!
It was funny, seeing the mighty Hunhow looming so surprised. Really, he hadn't thought this completely through.
Now Your Soul Returns To Paradise
Falling Down!
Instantly, I felt Hubhow's decencies within the Commander crumble - already strained, my attacks tore them to pieces.
Double Seven Thirty Four
Falling Down!
At least, my Commander was mine again!
Now Your Soul Returns To Paradise
Falling Down!
AND HUNHOW WOULD NOT TAKE IT FROM ME!
Double Seven Thirty Four!
XXXXXXXX
For a moment, Hunhow stared, dumbstruck. Then he calmed and moved to address me.
"Well, it seems I have lost the Commander...oh well."
"You're taking this defeat awefully well."
"Who says I didn't have a backup plan?"
A moment later, and a new Sentient Fleet appeared in orbit, apparently being led by...Natah.
Well, shit.
Quickly, I ordered my forces/allies to bunker down - enemy reinforcements had been expected, but not this soon. Still, we could hold out as long as the enemy fleet wasn't too big-
Then a second fleet showed up, and this one was a Grineer force.
...Oh joy.
Predictably, the Galleons opened fire on fleet, scattering it. Meanwhile, several ships took up positions above my ship and fired off drop pods. Deciding to be sporting, I let the first set of pods drop, revealing a squad of Lancers and...was that KREL?! What was he doing here?... And Sage too?! WTF?!
"So, False Tenno, we finally meet", spoke a familiar, and unpleasant, voice.
"So it seems," I replied. "Are you leading this attack?"
"Much as we want to, no."
"Then who is-"
"I am leading, master!" Intoned another familiar voice as Tylos appeared on a screen on my HUD.
"What are YOU doing here?!"
"Helping you! You have led us to battle in some many encounters! NOW WE MUST SUPPORT YOU! ATTACK!"
Overhead, a large warship split in two after a particularly well aimed shot from one of the UFOs I'd designed in Spore.
My attention returned to the Grineer. "Who got you to help?"
"A living shadow showed up in our palace, vandalized the room, used our jesters as juggling balls, and said it would eat if we didn't go where it told us and offer to help you."
For a moment, I was quiet, but the I turned my head to the right. Sure enough, Wally was there, smiling.
"Did you do that?"
"Yes," he replied. "It was funny."
"Did you do something that might get the Corpus involved in this fight?"
"Maybe."
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AN: Read and Review! This is Flameal15k, signing off!