---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Srettia seductively licked her lips, kissing her way back up Michael's heaving chest and caressing his core as she pressed her face into his neck, nibbling on the soft flesh as the fire settled in her belly. "You didn't have to do that." Michael breathed out, gently running his hand around Srettia's back as she snuggled into him. "No." She responded, pushing her face into his neck cautiously so that her horns wouldn't interfere with her snuggles. " But It's rather exciting to watch your face, and the taste is adequate." She stated happily." The feeling of magma burning the back of my throat and sliding down to my stomach, though... That can keep me satisfied all day." She continued, savouring the feeling. "Far be it from me to stop you. I don't know a single man who wouldn't enjoy being woken up like that once or twice in his life." Michael replied with a grin, continuing to run his hand along Srettia back. Pulling her face away from Michael's neck, Srettia gazed at his cheerful face with a grin. "Well, I will continue to do so as I have achieved my goal this morning." "Oh, and what was that?" Michael returned, happily ruffling Srettia hair with his free hand. Srettia let her tongue peek out from her lips with a smile as if to signal her coming answer. "You were anxious... Stressed? I'm still not perfectly sure when it comes to Terran pheromones. But I'm glad you're feeling better. It makes sense why your fleet allows pairings to me now. It is quite easy to destress a Terran male." Michael wrapped his arms around Srettia and squeezed her tightly as he lost himself in thought. "Yeah... It's a lot, you know? Its been days... A week? Since I was appointed captain of a ship and we're already at a warzone and about to deploy. I just didn't expect all of this to happen so quickly, so thank you. Thank you for looking after me." "I am your mate. It is my job to take care of you while you carry out your duties." Srettia affirmed, biting down on Michael's neck. Michael winced at the bite and returned the favour, kissing the top of Srettia head. "We need to get washed up and prepare. The operation is in eighteen hours." Srettia rolled off Michael with a grin and walked towards the washroom, picking up her oil and grinder along the way. "You can enter that death trap. I will wash like a proper lady." She replied, sitting herself on a stool and picking up a cloth. Michael followed suit, only walking past Srettia and into the shower, starting the water as he grabbed the soap. "You know, they never used to have showers on ships. You had to go through decontamination or use baby wipes. They said it was a waste of space. Some still think it is." He rambled on, stepping into the cleansing waters. "I tried it remember. I nearly died the first time. And the second time, once I got out of the warm water, I got cold as soon as I started drying off. It's no fun." Srettia complained, continuing to oil her cloth and wipe her scales down. "Besides, oil makes my scales shiny. Water sucks and should only be drank warm." The two continued their playful bantered as they cleaned themselves, taking a few minutes to themselves before moving to the kitchen for a meal. Michael with his meal of oats, fruits and eggs. Srettia, with her plate of meats, having been annoyed into ordering some fruit to go on the side to apparently keep her healthy. Though secretly, she enjoyed that Michael cared for her health so much. "Well. Once we walk through the door, it's back to business. We're seventeen hours until operation now." Michael stated, waiting at the door for Srettia to finish fastening her shirt. Srettia walked up to Michael and placed a hand on his chest, tasting the air as she entered his personal space. " Do you need another... What is it called again?" Michael laughed and pulled Srettia into a hug. "No, it's fine. Thank you, though." "You will not kiss me? You only did it that one time, is there something wrong?" Srettia asked, keeping back her laughter. "I'm not falling for that trap. I know a kiss translates into inviting someone to have sex for your people. It was one of the first things I looked up when I was figuring out what was okay and what wasn't." Michael replied, tightening his grip as Srettia pushed her face into his. "Kiss me like a Terran then. It's a sign of affection, is it not? And I find it rather pleasant." Srettia shot back, stretching her neck in an attempt to steal his lips. Michael relented and leaned forward to kiss the needy female, moving a hand to her lower back and another to support her head as he did, holding the gentle kiss as Srettia moaned into his lips. Reluctantly separating from Michael's lips with a lustful sigh, Srettia softly ran her hand down his chest before straightening her back."Yes. I like this very much." She breathed out, parting from his embrace. "I would like this to be a daily ritual from now on." Michael nodded in return, opening the door and walking out into the hall. "Sure thing Acting Sub-Lieutenant." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yirphayen finally awakened from its rest state, letting out a chime of confusion as the location known as the bridge was abuzz with noise. "Hello, carbon forms of Terran and Aasteran formation." "Hello, Yirphayen." Jack responded, walking over to the stirring Eaenhreph. " Are you energized finally?" "Yes! Thank you. This position is excellent for providing me with energy." Yirphayen answered with a delightful song, finding that his comfy mesh and foam chair had built-in lamps designed to supply him with energy. Jack bobbed his head in a way he hopped Yirphayen could see and walked back to his chair. "That is good to hear. I was worried when you did not awaken after our first day in orbit." Yirphayen observed the surrounding area, slowing coming to realize where it was and letting out a song of distress and fear as it began to muster energy in its core. "We are surrounded! WE NEED TO FLEE! NOW!" It chimed in terror as the bridge crew looked at it in confusion. Jack instantly appeared in front of Yirphayen, raising his hands in an attempt to calm the being. "It is okay, friend. They can't see us. We are perfectly hidden here as long as no one sends any outbound signals." Yirphayen continued to watch the enemy carbon form ships, slowly noticing that they were indeed ignoring its current position and continuing on their way. "I do not like our location." It chimed out in distress. "I know." Jack replied with a soft voice. "But there are people who need our help, so we must be brave, okay?" Yirphayen sang in acknowledgment and sunk into its chair, soaking up the energy in case it would need it in the future. "I will try." It replied as the door opened and Michael walked onto the bridge. "Status." He ordered, walking over to his couch and sitting down. Steven sent a few pictures and videos to the main display and began pointing out his findings. "Three ships have left the surface and entered orbit. All three have fifty to three hundred Voktlix aboard. The ships are currently heading to the station as we speak." "Shit. Anything else?" Michael asked, watching the video of the ships struggling to break the planet's gravity. "Yes. I've been watching the station. It is indeed a repair facility, but it's also some kind of slave pickup station. Some larger Briolb ships came into the system and took a few hundred before leaving again." Steven replied, putting the picture of the larger ships onto the display. "I have calculated their trajectory and possible destinations. One destination is a large asteroid belt. The other two are stars." Jack added. "That belt. We need to go there after this. If it's their home, that will solve a lot of problems." Michael stated, adding the data to his report. As time wore on and Michael continued to sit at his position on the bridge, going over the incoming reports from each station as they prepared themselves for their first operation. Though there were a few hiccups, mostly on the finalizing of Akiah's role in the operation, the preparations did complete smoothly, allowing the soldiers a short rest before dropping onto the Voktlix home planet. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- General Basthin stood at the edge of the wall, looking out at the invading force with pity and despair. Though he knew the days of this great city he had called home for over forty years was soon to end. He would make sure the enemies, ones who came from the stars, would feel the wrath of Voktlix. "How's the powder looking, Sergeant?" "Not good, Sir. We're out of solid shots as well, only canister and explosive shots left." The terrified female reported. "Hold off, artillery. The next attack won't break our wall, but the one after might. We'll use our remaining powder on the aliens as they swarm through the breach." General Basthin stated, deciding to walk down the rampart and observe his remaining forces. "Do you think we can win, General?" The female asked, fidgeting with her tail in fright. "That's a brave question... No. I don't think we can win." He answered back honestly. "But we will kill as many as possible so that another city will have less to fight." "Of course, General! I am willing to do whatever it takes to save our people!" She replied, holding her musket tightly. 'INCOMING!!' General Basthin quickly ran to the spot he knew the enemy would advance from and sighed. "They have no tactics, no formation, no plan. They just continue to shoot at the same spot. I am ashamed we will lose to these invaders." "We may lose, but our people will survive, General!" Came the quick response from the eager female. Basthin chuckled and patted her on the shoulder. "That's very brave of you. If my two wives wouldn't kill me for suggesting it, I would advise they interview you for being my third wife." "That's a generous offer, Sir. But I already have a wife and husband." She replied happily, forgetting the sound of the laser drilling into their wall. "That so? Good for you." He answered, watching the loosely grouped aliens randomly shoot their small ray guns into the wall as their wheeled ones continued to fire on the same position. "What a bunch of lunatics." He spat. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- "We'll be in position to enter the atmosphere in three minutes, Captain." Srettia stated, swiping her hands across her console. "All stations Green. All troops Green. Operation Green. Everything is in Order Captain." Commander Soto declared, continuing to speak to his troops through his station. "We have not been detected." Jack said, pretending to look over his console. "Entering atmo in ten seconds," Srettia stated, beginning her countdown. Michael responded by tightening his harness and closely watching the active stations, not wanting to miss any urgent requests as the operation continued to advance in a positive direction. "Status on drop?" Soto maintained coaching Ankiah as the ship continued the voyage to its destination, letting her know that the time to drop was rapidly approaching and that no matter what, she could not miss her departure window. Ankiah, fully linked and ready in her mech, trembled with both terror and excitement. Her mech, equipped with shoulder-mounted air bust plasma mortar, a wrist-mounted Vulcan rail cannon and wielding a particle caster, was what she considered death incarnate. However, the time ticking down in front of her was terrifying. "I can do this." She whispered to herself. "I am death. I am destruction. I will save my people." She continued, taking in a deep breath as the countdown reached one minute, and the runway opened to extend its length. "Babe!" Antigone shouted over her come. "Get in your position. You're ready." Ankiah moved her mech into its launch position, ignoring the crushing wind as she stepped onto the edge of the runway. "I can do this..." She said again, as the countdown reached ten seconds. Michael watched closely, holding his breath as Srettia counted down the arrival time. "Five, Four, Three, Two, One. Mark!" Srettia stated, stealing a glance at the waiting mech on the runway and cheering as it jumped out of the view of the camera. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- General Basthin sighed as the attacking army began to once again run out of power for their ray guns and began to slowly and randomly start gesturing in frustration at the wall. "We are fighting children." He mumbled out as the large-wheeled ones fired another volley into the damaged portion of the wall. "Sir! THE WALL!" His Sergeant screamed as a small hole was punched through. "Curses! LOAD CANISTER SHOTS AND AIM FOR THAT HOLE!" Basthin quickly ordered, running down towards the firing team. "I WANT EVERYONE ON THAT HOLE NOW!" General Basthin flinched as a loud roar of triumph was finally heard from the enemy machines. Quickly he turned and ran to the edge, nearly falling to his knees as the entire camp of aliens began charging the wall. "I WANT EVERYONE ON THAT HOLE NOW!" He commanded again, watching in terror as tens of thousands of aliens charged the position. Turning to run and join his team, General Basthin was blown back into the opposite side of the wall, as a solid beam of blue energy burnt a massive line between the city and the attacking army. Hazily pulling himself to his feet with the help of his Sergeant, General Basthin stumbled towards the wall, leaning against it for support as the sting of dust and heat blew into his face. "What... What's that?" He muttered, looking at the massive being standing between his city and death. "I.. I don't know, Sir. But it's facing the aliens. Perhaps the forest guardian has finally blessed our city?" The young female replied, getting down onto one knee. "I do not believe in gods. That is a weapon." He replied back, watching as the so-called god took a step forward and raised an arm. "Though I do believe it is not hosti-" He barely managed to finish his sentence when a loud clack smote his ears as the beings forearm opened to reveal what he knew to be a weapon. The general watched curiously as the being took an odd stance and the weapon began spinning. Spinning so fast, the dust blew away from its body as the being dug its feet into the ground. The sound from the weapon was something General Basthin knew he would never forget. A constant thundering meshing together to create a loud scream. Wherever the being pointed, dust, craters and black mist would appear as it tore through the attacking force with the ease of a child stomping a small insect. "I do believe that is a god Sergeant." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------