And I can feel it coming in the air tonight, oh Lord

Well I've been waiting for this moment for all my life, oh Lord

I can feel it coming in the air tonight, oh Lord

Well I've been waiting for this moment for all my life, oh Lord, oh Lord

Well I remember, I remember, don't worry, how could I ever forget

It's the first time, the last time we ever met

But I know the reason why you keep your silence up, oh no you don't fool me

Well the hurt doesn't show, but the pain still grows

It's no stranger to you and me

Phil Collins - “In the Air Tonight”

“...despite the continued bombardment of the planet, we could not penetrate the shield protecting the machines bunker,” Commander Xeemvois reported. “We will continue to saturate the area, but based on what we have observed, I doubt we will see any significant change.”

“What the hell is powering that thing?” Admiral Otxoa asked.

“I have been speaking to several scientists within the Fleet,” Nassat answered, “and several of them believe it may be Zero Point Energy, somehow using the planet itself to create a massive Casimir Effect to power it.” He gave an embarrassed shrug. “Do not ask me to explain any further. I am not a scientist. But given how well the shield is withstanding our weapon’s fire…”

“So it is a powerful energy source,” Jiyazh Ghuuyaz interjected. “If we cannot defeat it with the weapons we have at our disposal within the fleet, how then are we to rid ourselves of the machine menace?” He looked at the others gathered aboard Chiron...given the simmering feud between him and Otxoa, it was the closest thing they had available to neutral territory...and shook his head. “I know our prisoner stated that the bunker complex was only accessible on the ground, but even if it was being truthful, it stills begs the question of how?”

“Something tells me the only way we’ll learn the answer to that question is to go down there and find out,” the Admiral stated. “General Nassat, is your team ready?”

A dark shadow passed across his face. “Without more information, the only answer I can give you, Admiral is that they are as ready as they are going to be.”

She nodded grimly. “It’ll have to be good enough then. Assemble your team and…”

Nassat cleared his throat, interrupting her. “Given the situation, Admiral, I will lead a force to the surface to set up a perimeter around the anomaly. It is all but assured the machines will attempt to stop us. If that is so, I intend to be ready for them.”

The others all stared at him. “I can’t say I’m fond of that notion, General,” Otxoa replied, “putting yourself at risk like that.”

“Admiral, we have all been at risk since we arrived in this system...and losing Admiral Matevosian proves that nowhere is safe,” he said at last.

A pall seemed to hang over the room at the mention of their deceased commander. Given their situation, they could not hold so much as a memorial service. Perhaps when all of this was over.

The Admiral considered Nassat’s words before giving him a nod. “Very well,” she agreed. “I’m still not thrilled about it, but…”

“...not so fast,” the Dhyaksh interjected, earning him a dirty look from Otxoa. “Given what may be down on the surface, the technologies to be discovered, I will only agree to this plan if there is also a Khonhim presence on this mission. After all,” he said with a feral grin that no one confused with good humor, “it is still our planet.”

An awkward silence followed the announcement until the Admiral responded. “And just who are you planning on sending on this mission?” she inquired, before muttering something under her breath.

He gave her a look that would have melted butter. “Why, I intend to follow General Nassat’s fine example, and lead the Khonhim contingent myself.”

She shook her head, still muttering. “I think this is where I make a comment about there being no fools like old fools, but since it won’t make one goddamn bit of difference anyway, I won’t bother.”

“How charitable of you,” Jiyazh said coolly.

Otxoa fixed him with a hard stare. “Just make sure the rest of your people understand who’s in charge up here,” she shot back, “since you’re so determined to take part in this.”

“They will answer to you, Admiral,” he replied. “I will make certain of it.”

She shook her head once again. “Damned idiots,” she hissed at them both.

Tango inspected the twins with a jaundiced eye, before shaking her head. The rest of the Wrecking Crew lounged nearby, more than happy to let her take the reins on this one as she walked a slow circle around the young Saurotaurs, looking for anything she could use to down check either of them. Unsurprisingly, she found nothing.

“Last chance to back out,” she said. “There’s no shame in saying you’re not ready...especially when it’s true.” She planted the barb deep and waited for a response.

Chechla met her gaze without flinching. “We have not changed our minds, Tango,” she answered. “My brother and I both volunteer for this mission.”

“Even knowing it’s likely to get you both killed?” the human fired back.

Taichist nodded. “Even knowing that.” He and his sister shared a brief look before he continued. “We have no wish to die, Tango, any more than you do. But the very beliefs that brought us here have not changed.”

Tango sighed and looked away. “...gear up then,” she mumbled, before turning to Musashi. “Load ‘em up,” she ordered. “They’re young, and they’re built for it.”

“Copy that,” he agreed, waving the pair over, as he started hauling out equipment and ammunition.

Watching the team prep, Tango unsnapped the long black case and flipped it open, revealing the deadly looking sniper rifle within. Her fingers gently caressed the sleek barrel, the precision optics, before hefting it from its container and working the action. Crisp and clean.

“One last job, baby,” she whispered, as she began prepping.

Shuttles launched from the hangar bays, forming up over the planet as they gathered while a squadron of Copperhead fighters flew escort. The LZ was about as prepped as one could hope...given the amount of ordnance dropped on the site it looked like a moonscape. The journey was a short one, measured in minutes, and as the landed shuttles began disgorging their passengers, the fighters remained overhead, ready to fire on anything that moved.

The perimeter was dug into place, weapons mounted and manned, supplies delivered in case of a siege, while Admiral Otxoa’s Task Force surrounded the planet, high above the ionosphere. With the rest of the enemy fleet still out there, it was up to her to keep them from interfering. The machines hung just out of range, observing what was taking place, but as yet had taken no further action.

Both on the ground and in space, the allied fleet was digging in for the long haul.

General Nassat stepped out of his shuttle to find Jiyazh Ghuuyaz already waiting for him, his four arms clasping his as the Khonhim threw back his head and laughed.

“Just like old times, is it not?” the Dhyaksh grinned, as the Saurotaur glimpsed his children disembarking from another shuttle with Tango and the others.

“...not exactly,” he mumbled, his thoughts a million kilometers away as they moved to inspect the boundaries of the LZ.

Jiyazh turned and followed his gaze before shaking his head. “All these years, and I still do not understand you,” he sighed. “You should be proud of the choice they have made.”

“I wish I could be,” Nassat answered, as they both stared at the massive hemisphere of energy shimmering in the middle of their cantonment.

“Any thoughts on how we breach that?” the Khonhim asked.

“Not yet,” he responded. “The scientists and engineers are getting set up to study it as we speak. Hopefully, their investigations will bear fruit.”

“Bah,” the Dhyaksh growled, “I grow weary of these games. How I long to just smash something!” he prodded Nassat.

The Saurotaur sighed. “I am certain we will find something to slake even your taste for adventure soon enough,” he said.