Project - Prometheus Ch. 30

"Ma'am? What do we do with them?" one of the nurses asked her.

"Sedate them, then treat them. I want them in good health for later," she growled as she motioned for the staff to move in.

The Collective agents could have tried something, but they were in too much pain to bother. They tried fighting, but with so many people surrounding them, it was futile. They were soon knocked out and placed on operating tables as the staff got to work in treating their wounds.

Tayla moved to the entry point of the clinic, peering outside to see what was going on. There were few people moving around at the moment, but most of them were station security and some military personnel. For the moment, they were safe, and she turned around to go and take a seat. She would have moved, had it not been for her ex, Dr. Lilliana Vesper, standing in her way.

"So, this was the part of your life that you couldn't talk about?" Vesper mumbled.

"You're picking now as the time to talk about that? We're in the middle of a crisis here and you want to talk about our old relationship?" Tayla scoffed.

She shook her head, incredulous that Lilliana wanted to pick now to speak of this! She made to walk past her, but was shoved against the door by Dr. Vesper. Tayla had a rebuke come to mind and would have voiced it, but for Lilliana mashing her lips to Tayla's. She was shocked by the kiss, but soon melted into Lilliana's arms and kissed her back.

Tayla swore she felt Lilliana's tongue in her mouth, which sent a bolt of delight through the woman. Lilliana finally let the lieutenant come up for air, and the pair of them stared at each other. Their chests heaved and with the passion she saw in her ex's eyes, Tayla knew that as far as Lilliana was concerned, they weren't done.

"I'm asking, because I want my girlfriend back," Lilliana replied breathlessly. "I never knew that you were such a badass. I want to know it all. The good, the bad and the ugly."

"Are you sure? If you ask this, odds are that we'll have to stay together, no matter what happens," Tayla replied, worried that Lilliana didn't know what she was getting into.

"I wouldn't want to live my life any other way," Lilliana replied without hesitation. Tayla blinked rapidly, almost in full disbelief at what she was hearing! She gulped and then nodded.

"After this is over, we'll talk, I promise," Tayla told her.

"Over dinner," Lilliana agreed, leaving no room for argument or debate.

Tayla just nodded and moved to sit down while Lilliana went to assist the doctors with treating the infiltrators. Tayla breathed heavily as her mind whirled with what she just experienced. Of all the times she had been with Lilliana, she'd never seen that level of intensity from the woman. Though Tayla was a little apprehensive, she was willing to take a chance and see just where it would lead.

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"We have them both! The saboteurs have been apprehended and are being remanded to the brig!" Lt. Commander Williams replied, filling his wife in on what was happening.

"Well done, Lt. Commander! Secure them and then report back to your post! We will need everyone manning their stations if we are to survive this!" Ana Williams replied. "XO, report!"

"We've secured control over most of the second fleet, ma'am! There were attempted mutinies aboard almost every ship in the fleet and some fighters did get loose from The Dauntless," Maia reported.

"How many?"

"Twelve, ma'am. Four were vaporized, while three more have been rendered inoperable, by incoming fire from nearby frigates," the Commander told her.

"And the other five?" Ana pressed.

"They have found safe harbor aboard the Stalwart. Also, the Firelance, Saurtath and that other ship... the... Zahl'kres? Their crews were overcome, and they are moving into defensive positions around the Stalwart," Mae finished.

"Fuck! What about the third fleet?" the commodore questioned, already lamenting the loss of both frigates and the destroyer.

"Half the third fleet has followed the three turncoat ships into positions around the Stalwart, but they're moving defensively," O'Toole stated.

"Smart! Keep as many ships as he can and hope that enough will turn to give them an edge! What about the other half of the third fleet?" Williams queried.

"Any ship that hasn't sided with Saubath is heading in our direction, broadcasting their intent as friendlies. What are your orders?" O'Toole asked.

"They are to transmit a full account of everything that happened with attempted mutinies of their own ships. Transmission will grant them safe harbor with the second fleet, until a proper investigation can be launched," Williams ordered.

"Very good, Ma'am," Maia replied.

"What is the status of Security Captain Fitch and the reinforcements he's bringing to Veldhern station?" Williams asked.

"Checking now, standby," Maia replied as she did a check in on the shuttles. "They've broken the atmosphere and are redlining it to the station. ETA, fifteen minutes."

"What of the status of Veldhern station itself?" Ana questioned.

"Many of the main zones are still in lockdown, but security does have a handle on all the major zones. There are pockets of resistance and there is a battle currently raging for the command center of the station," Maia told her.

"Fuck! If they get control of the command center, any progress made by security won't matter!" Ana griped.

"Hold on... Command has just received reinforcements!" Maia whooped.

"Who?"

"Lieutenant Hardick and his platoon, along with several crew members of the Darkstrider!" Commander O'Toole replied.

"I almost feel sorry for those fools who sided with the Collective!" Ana giggled "Almost!"

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"Damn! The Collective has the techs, guards, and brass corralled and pinned! We need to find a way to seize the advantage!" Hardick growled as they scooted to cover, while avoiding the incoming gunfire.

"What do you need?" Alex questioned.

"A distraction would be nice! Something to draw their fire while we move and get set up for a crossfire assault!" Hardick replied. Alex groaned, thinking about how they would cause a distraction, until he saw a mote of purple light dance in his hand.

"I have an idea!" Alex stated as he put his weapon and focused.

"Alex, are you sure that's wise?" Natalya worried, concerned about the possible repercussions.

"If we do nothing and these fuckers win, then what lengths do you think the Collective will go to, to have us in their arsenal?" Alex argued. Seeing no real rebuttal, Natalya nodded, but not before giving him a tonsil knocking kiss and a stern reminder.

"Don't get yourself killed."

"And miss out on making you my wife? Never!" Alex smiled.

He put his focus back into his power, calling to it, letting it suffuse his entire being. It was there, just beneath the surface of his consciousness, waiting to be let out. Now, instead of it coming to him on reflex, he was bringing it out willingly. He breathed in and out one final time before he opened his eyes, which were now pools of purple energy.

"Wha--" Hardick started, unfamiliar with what was happening. That was all he got out, before Alex stood up and called out, drawing the attention and ire of the Collective attackers.

"Hey, asshats! How about I give you something else to shoot at for a change?" Alex challenged.

Scoffing at the stupidity of the man, half the infiltrators turned their weapons on Alex, intending to gun him down. Alex gestured and made precise hand motions, calling the Aether to him. It answered, forming all around his hands in complex sigils and designs before it solidified. He then spread his hands wide and in front of him, a shield formed, stopping any bullets before they could reach him.

"What the fuck?!?" came the surprised reply of several Collective agents.

While they had seen personal shield generators stop bullets cold, that was maybe seven or eight shots before the field's integrity collapsed. This force field had stopped dozens of rounds cold and looked nowhere near ready to drop. It was only when they stared at the man who conjured it, more specifically, his eyes, that they realized they were out of their depth.

"Now!" Alex commanded, dropping the shield as the agents started reloading. Natalya, Jaesa, Hardick and the men he commanded broke cover, unleashing a torrent of fire on the Collective. Some agents were gunned down, while others dove for cover as they saw station security come at them, weapons blazing.

Taal'ani, however, was worked up into a lather that she had forgone the use of firearms. Several times, she had suffered nicks and near misses, which sent her into a frenzy. Because of this, she holstered her weapon and unsheathed her claws, preferring to engage her enemies at melee distance. More than ten Collective infiltrators had already died at her hands before they arrived at Command, and she just kept adding to that count.

The defenders of Veldhern station charged in, overtaking the Collective's positions. Some agents tried fighting back, but they were put down brutally. Seeing the fate of their counterparts, the infiltrators who were furthest away surrendered, not wishing to join their friends. Taal'ani rushed over, seeking to end to them, looking menacing with blood splattered all over her face and claws.

"Taal'ani, that's enough!" Natalya called out, catching her friend's attention, stopping her from throttling a man who surrendered.

"The bastard shot at us and has probably killed some of the folks here!" Taal'ani argued.

"Be that as it may, we need information and we can't interrogate a corpse! Stand down!" Alex commanded. Taal'ani grumbled but put away her claws as she was instructed.

"That's right, sweetie!! I'm important enough to keep alive!" the man sneered as he was apprehended and cuffed.

"Just because you're breathing doesn't mean that maiming isn't off the table. Utter another word without being questioned and I'll let Taal'ani here castrate you," Alex threatened. Taal'ani just grinned and unsheathed her claws once again, showing she was more than willing to follow that order. The man whimpered and kept his mouth shut, not wanting to lose his manhood like that.

"Remind me to never piss off a Fel'caan woman!" Hardick remarked as he directed his soldiers to restore order to command. Natalya snorted a laugh, as did Alex, thinking the Lieutenant hit the nail on the head with that one! The barricaded techs and officers in the center were coaxed out of the cluster of offices. When they came out, they were relieved to see that their attackers were dead or in cuffs.

"Who is the ranking officer here?" Hardick called out, hoping that there was still a semblance of command.

"That would be me. Lt. Commander Royce, at your service!" a human man replied, stepping up to salute him.

"Do you know how to run this place?" Hardick questioned.

"Somewhat. I was fifth in line to command here and I was still learning the ropes," the man replied.

"Well, you're going to need to learn fast! The station is still in disarray and we need eyes and ears out there, if we're going to take it back," the lieutenant stated.

"Roger that! All right, everyone, back to your positions! We've got work to do, let's go!" Royce's voice boomed. At once, everyone scrambled back to their positions, heading back to their consoles and checking the feeds of the various zones.

"Please tell me we still hold the docks!" Royce muttered.

"I can confirm that we do, sir! Looks like Commander Callista and her soldiers have completed a sweep of the area. There were some troublemakers and infiltrators in the area, but they were swiftly dealt with!" one of the techs, a Nauc'turi woman, replied.

"Casualties?"

"None, sir! Some of these... Sentry-bots, were damaged, but they are still fully functional!" the woman told him, as she was listening to the Commander on the other end.

"Sentries? Are Inari Sunara and Priya Patel with Commander Callista?" Alex queried.

"Lt. Commander Sunara and Gunnery Sergeant Patel are in command of these... Sentries and have assisted the Commander admirably! Commander Callista is awaiting further orders," the woman said, glancing in Royce's direction.

"Have half her men fan out and start retaking the zones heading into the station, one by one. We will need as many strategic zones captured if we are to have a chance at turning this cluster fuck around," Royce commanded.

"Sir! We have a problem!" another tech, a Takharian man, called out.

"What is it?"

"We have ships that have been identified as Collective ships that are making a beeline for the transports that hold our reinforcements!" he said, his voice taking a terrified edge.

"Fuck! Are the transports within range of the station's cannons?" Lt. Commander Royce asked.

"Negative sir! It will take them ten minutes to get within range and the enemy ships will have them in seven!" the tech stated, knowing the situation was hopeless.

"Commander Royce? I would advise you to redirect Lt. Commander Sunara and Gunnery Sergeant Patel back to the Darkstrider! If they can get aboard and launched, they might be able to reach the transports before the intercepting ships do!" Alex told the man.

"We can't lose the support of the Sentries they command!" Royce said, making a snap decision.

"The Sentries can be tasked to accept a temporary Commander in times of crisis," Jaesa supplied. "Have Inari and Pree establish a temporary command with Commander Callista!"

"Sound strategy! Tahlkanti, relay the order, double time!" Royce barked. The Nauc'turi woman nodded and soke into her headset, sending off the order. He only hoped that Sunara and Patel would get to the transports in time!

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"Pree, check to be sure the docking clamps are clear!" Inari yelled as she raced to the cockpit, the doors sealing shit behind them. She jumped into the seat and powered up the Darkstrider, the ship roaring to life. Forgoing preflight checks, Inari put full power to the engines and waited for all clear from Priya.

"Clamps are clear!" Priya shouted from the tactical console.

"Hang on!" Inari shouted as she put the ship in reverse and gunned it out of the docks. She put half the engines on full forward thrust, while leaving the other half in reverse. The Darkstrider spun like a top, doing a full one-eighty degree turn on the spot. Inari then put full power to their thrusters and charged out of the bay, chasing down the intercepting ships.

"Give me a count, love! What are we dealing with here?" Inari asked.

"Hold on..." Priya replied, as she was doing a check of the holographic radar. "Two frigates, half a dozen corvettes, and double that in fighters!"

"This is going to require some fancy flying! Handle the guns! I'll do what I can to keep us alive!" Inari told her girlfriend.

"Yes, ma'am!" Priya replied.

Inari kept the speed cranked up to flank, pushing the Darkstrider's engines to their limits. She was catching the frigates coming up on their aft. They sensed she was there, and they slowed down and started turning. Inari knew they were looking to slow her down, so she wouldn't reach the transports in time. She scoffed and had Priya load the torpedo tubes, prepping the ordinance.

"Fifty percent power, Pree. I want them disabled, not destroyed," Inari told her.

"Copy that. All four frontal tubes are loaded and ready to fire!" Priya told her.

"Fire!"

The projectiles launched out of the ship, homing in on their targets. Inari kept up the speed and wove around the frigates with a complex spinning maneuver. She sped past the ships as they took direct hits from the torpedoes the Darkstrider had launched. The shockwave from all four torpedoes detonating was enough to knock out the shields on them both. Inari was grateful for the advanced engines on the Darkstrider, which allowed them to clear the shockwave, though just barely.

"Damn hon! That's some amazing flying!" Priya enthused.

"We're not done yet! Sight in those bastards when they're in range and fire at will!" Inari barked.

Priya focused back on the tactical console and brought up the gunnery chair before getting seated. Once she was in, the HUD came alive and displayed her targets. They were all far away, but Inari was closing in on them, and fast! Priya kept her eyes on the fighters, as they were the ones she'd have to take down first. Ninety seconds later, one of the corvettes slid into range and she opened fire.

"C'mon!" Priya gritted as the concentrated fire from the Pulsar cannons whittled down their shields.

Seconds later, the shields dropped, and laser fire peppered the corvette. Whooping in triumph, Priya sighted in her next targets, a pair of fighters, and opened fire. In seconds, she sent the pair of ships careening towards the planet below, powerless. As Priya took aim at her next few targets, they broke off their assault on the transports to focus on them.

"I'd say that we've got their attention, love!" Priya yelped, firing at whatever ships came into her crosshairs.

"That's exactly what we need to do! Keep them off the transports, so they can dock with the station!" Inari said as she dipped and dodged, pulling out every maneuver she knew to stay alive.

"That's another pair of fighters disabled!" Priya exulted.

"Wish we could just blow the bastards up!" Inari grumbled.

"Only if we have no choice, love! Remember, ships are expensive!" Priya reminded her.

"I know! I know!" Inari grunted as she put the ship into another series of spins. A good deal of the incoming laser fire sailed harmlessly past them. Some shots were direct hits, but the shields held, keeping the women aboard alive.

"These guys are really starting to get on my nerves!" Inari yelled as several fighters danced in, landing several direct hits, before flying out of range. "Shields?"

"Fifty-seven percent! These guys know their shit, babe!" Priya squealed in alarm.

"Commodore! Ma'am, can we shoot to kill? We're getting pummeled out here playing nice!" Inari squawked.

"Withdraw to the station's effective cannon range! The transports are safe now!" Williams informed them.

"Mission accomplished, love!" Priya cheered.

"Thank God!" Inari sighed as she gunned it to the station, outrunning the attacking ships. "How many did we shut down?"

"Seven fighters, two corvettes and one of the frigates," Priya answered.

"I thought we hit them both!" Inari huffed.

"One of the frigates must have recovered its power. It's headed back towards the turncoat fleet," Priya grumped.

"Not on my watch!"

Inari turned the ship and locked in the escaping frigate, searching for any discernable weak point. It was hobbling along, going maybe one third of its top speed, which made Inari smile. A slow-moving target was always easy to get the drop on. It appeared that its speed was hampered, as it wasn't going any faster, despite the Darkstrider closing in on them.

"Love, what are you doing?" Priya squeaked, as she saw that the Hades Cannon was powering up.

"Just making sure they don't get away," Inari said as innocently as she could. The moment they were at maximum range, she fired the weapon. The incandescent beam of the Hades Cannon brightened up space as it passed through, neatly cutting through the engine housing of the frigate. The frigate lost all power and then just drifted, propelled by the inertia of its now dead engines.

"You know, a couple of torpedoes would have done the job," Priya told her slyly.

"Really? Huh. Didn't think of that," Inari commented off-handedly.

"Uh-huh. You just wanted to fire the big honking gun," Priya accused.