After the flash, Planet Saturn appeared behind the windshield. There were fifteen starships, moving over the rings of Saturn. Most of them were battle cruisers, except for the one at the center which should be the Hudson command ship. Patterson had mentioned the name of the ship to Tyger after the Star Guardian left Amazon. They were taking a break after they lost a colony in a hopeless battle.

“Hudson, this is the Star Cat unit,” said Jage through the com-link. “Requesting to come aboard.”

“Request confirmed,” said the captain’s voice.

On the left side of the ship, the hanger door opened. Jage slowly flew the ship into the bay and landed on the ground.

After the doors closed, a blast of white gas filtered the entire bay and cleared.

“Let’s go.” Tyger got up and followed his team to their cargo bay where the boarding door opened and the ramp touched the ground.

Tyger walked down the ramp with Kristy by his side until Admiral Patterson approached them. “Welcome aboard the Hudson.”

He turned to Kristy. “Dr. Grace I assume.”

Kristy nodded. “Yes sir, but I like to be preferred as Kristy.”

Patterson smiled. “So what do you got that can stop the invaders?”

“Yes.” Kristy opened her bag and took out the relic. “This is the thing we need.”

Patterson looked closely at the relic. “Really?”

“It is the only thing that can help us win.”

Patterson smiled at the relic. “It looks pretty.”

“Do you have a research center here?”

“Yes.”

“Then you wouldn’t mind if I use it to prove you its capabilities?”

Patterson shrugged. “It will not be a problem. The captain will allow any access here if it will help us stop the invaders.”

He turned to Tyger. “Good job for bringing her here.”

“How is the battle going?” Tyger asked.

Patterson rubbed his forehead. “It sucks. We are seriously getting our asses kicked. Those bastards already wiped out three colonies. They are like a spreading plague.”

“We can still stop them, Admiral. Whatever Kristy found, it should help us.”

Patterson sniffed. “It better be because humanity’s ass is on the line.”

***

Inside the lab, Tyger and his team watched the crystal pyramid floated into a glass tube on the panel. Two robotic arms, hanging from the wall, were shooting red beams along the tube, which was transferring data to Kristy’s computer.

On her monitor, numbers and words were flashing across the screen.

Red looked at the screen over Kristy’s shoulder until he rubbed his eyes. “Could somebody tell me what that thing is saying? If not, I will get a bottle of vodka to read it.”

Kristy placed her glasses on and stared closely at the screen. “This relic has an incredible power. It is like a nuclear EMP bomb, which could black out an entire planet.”

“WoW! Alien technology is awesome.”

Patterson crossed his arms. “How do we use it against the enemy ship?”

“It only activates when it contacts an energy field,” said Kristy. “If we shoot it close at the ship, we can take down the enemy’s shield.”

“How close?”

Kristy raised her hands up. “As close as possible.”

Tyger stepped toward Kristy. “I thought we only need to aim the relic at the ship. Is it supposed to shoot a light?”

Kristy shook her head. “Not all ancient descriptions are accurate. Perhaps the Ghuqors thought it would work that way. That is why they lost.”

Patterson beamed his eyes at Kristy. “Who the hell are the Ghuqors?”

“The original inhabitants of Amazon,” Maya explained. “They were one of the ancient races who defended themselves against the enemy.”

Patterson rubbed his forehead. “Well, I don’t have enough time for a history lesson. I don’t want to take a chance of losing another colony.”

“Then what other choice do we have?” Tyger asked.

Patterson crossed his arms. “Do you have an opinion?”

Tyger pointed his claw at the tube. “My team and I can bring the relic toward the enemy ship. It will be quick and simple.”

“But that will be suicide.”

“Our missions are always suicide, sir. Call us expendable, but we always get the job done.”

“I can fly like crazy,” said Jage as he pointed his thumb at himself. “None of those needle things could touch our new ship.”

The Star Guardian is also equipped with a sheath module,” said Maya. “It might not be practical, but it can be optional.”

Patterson sighed. “I guess it is our best shot. If not... I don’t even want to think about losing.”

“Admiral Patterson!” a speaker shouted from above after it clicked. “Can you please report to the bridge? We got an emergency.”

Patterson pushed his com-link. “On my way.”