Space Odyssey: Spectre-Chapter 522: Unlucky Thirteen V

It had six tails that were more like tendrils as they whipped through the air. Each time one flinched there was an explosion of air as they broke the sound barrier. They were leaving a black mist that quickly faded wherever they moved. At least it looked like black mist at first but seemed to actually be space itself. The creature’s body was the same dark shade that seemed to shimmer like a dark purple or like space when it moved. Its body was covered in scales and fur, with the scales covering the thinner and more vulnerable areas like the legs, neck and top of the head.

The creature’s head had slits going from the base to the snout. Four of those slits were visible and almost seemed to be bleeding with a black goo. The black goo dripped onto the ground and started burning through the ground of the ship. The creature’s eyes were difficult to focus on. They almost seemed like voids in space that would only grow with time. He had to shake his head to stop looking at them.

When he did he looked at the creature’s four legs. Each one had claws that carve out the metal beneath it. On its forward most legs there was an extra appendage that seemed more like a dexterous thumb that the creature likely used for a variety of purposes.

He might not actually need to be here. Because the creature was fully focused on General Ariel. Apparently it recognized its enemy. As Jace slowly moved away he decided to just watch what would unfold instead of participating.

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"Landing." Crystal announced as his mech slowly slipped into the hangar. There was enough room for his mech with the other two that were already in there. It slipped seamlessly through the atmospheric barrier which seemed similar to the one aboard the Elysium.

As he landed he heard a distinct hum and his mech alerted him that his mech’s feet were magnetically sealed to the floor of the hangar. "What the hell...?" Crystal frowned as he double checked that it was not him. But a moment later the hangar door began closing. "Sol and Colvert, is this you?"

"Negative." Sol answered.

"Nope. Looks like we triggered an automated trap of some kind. I... can not stop it from here. I am going to have to get out and access one of the terminals in the hangar." Colvert answered as they heard him grunt like he was moving around in his mech.

"Wear your space armor. No telling what else there is in store for us." Crystal told him.

"Yeah I know." As Colvert began preparing to step out of his mech. Crystal looked around the hangar to see what else was in here and scanned all of it with his mechs systems.

One of the first things he spotted were an array of mechs and space craft that came from both the Holy Empire and the Circle of Yuri. He had fought a few before because of the border skirmishes that they used to have with the Crystoph Federation.

Beyond that, there were also a few of those mechs that he fought outside. But they seemed to be in the middle of being built. Like the Mortella planned to mass produce them or something.

Then there was the ship that was mentioned being spotted in the briefing. It was a thinner ship with a single glass pod near what must be the front for the pilot. It was shaped like a cross with the shorter end being the front and the edges being sharper. There was almost no space for an engine or anything else.

But after his mech scanned it he realized that the weapon and propulsion system were the same thing. Hidden along the edges were tiny engines that doubled as weapons. Those allowed it to fly and the pilot inside was what determined which direction it would move. He made sure to make a record of it, along with the modified mechs.

"Shit!" Hearing Colvert curse was not something he really wanted to hear. Crystal turned his toward Colvert and focused on him. Seeing he was still crouched by a panel but there were now a few Mortella holding weapons on him. They were not appearing on his sensors. But he quickly activated his mech’s security system. Electrifying the hull of his mech which sent a few Mortella flying off his mech that he had not even noticed.

He then quickly aimed his small weapons at the Mortella holding Colvert hostage. Then he could hear Sol grunt over the channel before focusing on his mech and watching as he was pulled out of his mech. He pulled his sidearm but before he could do anything a sword slipped through his throat and a burst of blood spewed out of it all over his Mortella attackers.

Crystal fired a laser that destroyed the Mortella and Sol’s remains. "Damn." He cursed as he realized he was in a stalemate with the Mortella. Colvert was being held hostage and he was in turn holding the rest of them hostage. He was not confident he could fire before they could kill Colvert. He also knew that he needed Colvert because his mech was not able to successfully send a message outside of a ship. He was stuck here until someone else came.

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Cain watched as Ignius marched into the room. There were a few scorch marks on his body but he otherwise looked fine. The others were still aiming their weapons either at him or the door behind him.

"Woah! Hold up, I am your allie remember!" Ignius reminded them as he held up his hands. "Colonel Jace ordered me to come and disable the ship’s power systems."

"Really?" Cain would roll his eyes if he could. "Because that was definitely not part of the original plan."

Ignius flinched. "Original Plan? I thought that the plan was to search the ship to salvage as much information as possible before destroying it."

"No, that is just what we told everyone because of the chance of a traitor like yourself being present." Cain answered, he was still hooked up to the ship as he was breaking in and taking complete control of the ship systems.

Bang! Bang! Zuumm!

Several gunshots and lasers being fired could be heard as the rest of them began firing on Ignius for a moment but stopped a moment later as a red round shield was around him. "Haa... acting like a human loving moron was draining. I suppose it is time to stop the charade." He slowly grew in size as he discarded the weapon he was using and his hands turned into claws and his body became noticeably more armored. "Kill them!" He ordered and several Mortella emerged from the hallway and ran forward.

Most of them dropped as the others fired upon them. But one of them got close enough to tackle Gene before the Shinobi slashed it through the head, disabling it. But Ignius leaped forward focused on Cain, clearly intent on tearing him into shreds with those razor sharp claws.

But as he did he suddenly stopped and spun around as his shielding broke and he had to block the attack from K as she leaped at him with her karambits slashing through the air. There was a heavy metal on metal noise as they made contact before Ignius opened his body’s mouth and then a heavy fire launched out of it. K only moved back and to the side to dodge it with the intent of launching forward again. But suddenly she was hit in the chest by his metal tail and sent flying through the air before slamming into a wall and falling to the ground.

As Ignius looked around at the others who now seemed more hesitant. "Who is next?" Ignius demanded in a voice that was far different then the one that it was using before.

"His shielding cannot stop explosives and it cannot stop something from slowly moving through it." Cain told him his analysis but was more focused on completing his task. He almost had access to what he needed.

Valkyrie launched forward, drawing a sword she had at her side. She blocked the first attack from his claws and then jumped over the tail before striking his side and creating a dent in Ignius’ armor before moving out of the way of the flame breath. But then her sword was smacked out of her hand by the tail. Then she felt several pounds lighter before she was smacked through the air and slammed into something before going unconscious.

Shinobi was more shocked as he watched Ignius slice right through her arm before sending her flying right into him and sending both of them flying back, crashing into a wall. He tried to get up but stopped himself as he could feel a piercing pain in his back. Reaching back he found a protrusion in the wall had penetrated his armor. Then he watched in horror as Ignius marched toward Cain.