Mark stood at the edge of the massive holoprojector in the command center of the Saiyan ship, his arms crossed over his chest. Anissa positioned herself closest to the controls, her fingers dancing across the interface as she brought up the schematics of the military installation in the Korrath Verge Sector, the image expanding to show the fortress-installation embedded in the hollowed core of the gas-giant moon where. Lucan leaned against a nearby console with a scowl that never quite left his face, his eyes flicking between the projection and Mark as if waiting for an opportunity to insert a jab, while Caulifla lounged on the opposite side with her arms behind her head. Kale sat quietly beside her sister, her hands folded in her lap as she avoided direct eye contact with the Viltrumites, and the elites clustered nearby.
Anissa zoomed in on the central structure, highlighting the layers of protection that surrounded it. "The installation features multiple defensive layers, including orbital turrets that can track and engage incoming vessels, ground-based anti-air emplacements scattered across the surface that number in the thousands, internal security systems with automated drones and kill zones designed to funnel intruders into ambushes," she explained as she rotated the hologram to reveal troop concentrations marked in red icons. "Intelligence estimates over fifty thousand battle-ready soldiers stationed throughout, all equipped with anti-Viltrumite weaponry."
She paused to let the numbers sink in before continuing, gesturing to three highlighted figures that appeared as sub-projections beside the main display. "The three commanders represent secondary targets, eliminating them will disrupt chain of command—Lord Protector Slug, the Super Namekian; Commander Terragon, the Petrosapien-Tetramand hybrid and The Exile, the New God. Our primary objective, however, remains the total destruction of the base beyond any hope of recovery, which will cripple their research and production into those weapons and sever their command node for the surrounding fleets."
Caulifla's grin widened at the mention of destruction, her fist pumping in the air as she leaned forward with enthusiasm that bordered on glee, the other Saiyans around her echoed the sentiment with nods and cheers that built into a brief wave of excitement rippling through the elites. "Hell yeah, blow the whole thing to scraps!" Caulifla exclaimed, her voice cutting through the room as she slapped Kale's shoulder lightly, drawing a shy smile from her sister while Fasha and Gine exchanged high-fives and Relish cracked her knuckles in anticipation. "That's what I'm talking about, let's turn that rock into dust and take those commanders heads as trophies on the way!"
Anissa raised a hand to quiet the outburst, her expression remaining composed as she adjusted the hologram to emphasize the outer barriers. "Before celebrations begin, consider their multiphasic shielding that envelops the entire station in overlapping fields generated from distributed nodes across the structure, which ensures that even if we disable one section, the rest maintains coverage over the vast majority of the facility and prevents easy penetration by our forces."
Mark uncrossed his arms and stepped closer to the projection, his eyes narrowing as he studied the shield patterns. "What about gaps in their defenses, blind spots in sensor coverage, or structural vulnerabilities we can exploit to minimize our exposure during the approach?"
Anissa nodded at the question. "Our best option involves deploying four suicide ships to target key power junctions in the grid, which could overload sections of the shielding long enough for our main force to breach."
Mark's brow furrowed at the term, his posture stiffening as he turned fully toward her. "Suicide ships?"
Anissa met his gaze without flinching. "They consist of outdated vessels retrofitted with unstable reactor cores that detonate on impact for maximum disruption, piloted by slave crews who guide them into the targets and ensure precision before the final collision."
Lucan chuckled from his spot against the console, his smile twisting into something mocking as he crossed his arms. "What's the matter half-breed, feeling bad for the slaves again?"
Mark's eyes hardened as he shook his head. "No."
The room shifted then, with Caulifla raising an eyebrow in curiosity, Kale glancing up nervously, the elites exchanging looks that mixed amusement and confusion, Anissa pausing mid-gesture at the controls. She then opened her mouth to elaborate on the tactical benefits, but Mark cut her off, "I said no." his tone leaving no room for debate.
She stepped toward him as she attempted to reason with him. "You must release these earthly moral constraints that hold you back, Mark, and embrace what it means to be a Viltrumite, sentiment has no place in—"
Mark's hand shot out before she could finish, his fingers closing around her throat in a grip that stopped her words cold, and at the same instant, he channeled his gravity manipulation to increase her personal weight by a factor of a thousand, the sudden force driving her knees downward with a crash that cracked the deck plating beneath her and echoed through the command center like a thunderclap. "I do not need reminders of what I am," he stated coldly. "And you seem to forget that I lead this mission, which means my decisions stand without question."
Anissa knelt there without resistance, her hands limp at her sides as she stared up at him, her breathing calm despite the pressure, an undercurrent of something intense flickering in her eyes that she kept contained for the moment.
"Am I clear?" Mark asked, his grip unwavering.
"Yes," Anissa replied simply.
Mark released her throat and eased the gravity field, allowing her to rise slowly as the room watched in tense silence. Caulifla leaned forward with an intense gaze fixed on him, her grin fading into a focused stare that held more than just curiosity, while several of the female Saiyans mirrored the look.
Mark ignored the stares entirely, turning back to the holoprojector. "We will not use the suicide ships for this operation... I possess the capability to breach their outer defenses myself, though it will be draining and afterward may leave me vulnerable for a short period."
Caulifla straightened then, her intense look breaking into a thoughtful nod. "We can handle that drain part... I think?"
Mark glanced at her, his interest piqued despite the lingering tension. "How?"
Caulifla slapped Kale on the shoulder with enough force to make her sister jolt slightly, her grin returning. "Go on, sis explain it."
Kale fidgeted under the attention, her hands twisting in her lap as she spoke hesitantly while she avoided direct eye contact with Mark. "We... we can channel our energy into another person by focusing our energy and transferring it through contact, which temporarily increases their strength and stamina for a while, though it tires us out depending on how much we give."
Mark nodded appreciatively, meeting her gaze briefly. "Thank you, Kale... that sounds viable." He turned back to the group then, integrating the idea into the plan. "The Saiyans will provide the energy boost beforehand, allowing me to shatter the outer shields and create an entry point for our forces without sacrificing lives unnecessarily."
Lucan snorted from his position, his arms still crossed. "You really think you can pull that off, half-breed? Sounds like wishful thinking to me."
Mark met his glare, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "I could give you a personal demonstration again if you doubt it."
Lucan glared harder, his jaw clenching as he held Mark's stare for a long moment, but he said nothing in response, turning his attention back to the hologram instead.
Caulifla jumped in then, her excitement bubbling over. "Wait, is it the same move you used on me, the purple sphere thing that just erased my Galick Gun like? That was so cool! I mean, I poured everything into that beam, and you just flicked it away! We need more attacks like that in our arsenal."
The elites chimed in around her, their voices overlapping as Fasha leaned forward with a nod. "Yeah, imagine combining that with a full-powered energy wave could level fleets."
"Or layering it over a punch." Gine added.
Relish cracked her knuckles again. "I'd use it to take an enemies legs off then get in close for a finisher." Zucci and Parla nodded along, murmuring about adaptations to their own styles until the conversation threatened to derail completely.
Anissa cleared her throat loudly, drawing their attention back to the projection. "As fascinating as these speculations are, we must focus on what occurs once we penetrate the station and begin the assault."
"Once inside the three of us; myself, Anissa, and Lucan will each engage one of the commanders to neutralize them and prevent coordinated counterattacks, while the rest of you push toward the core systems."
Caulifla's grin faded into a frown, her arms crossing as she shook her head vigorously. "No way we're not sitting out the big fights," Caulifla protested. "Those commanders sound like real challenges, and my crew deserves a shot at them too, we didn't sign up to babysit grunts."
Fasha nodded sharply. "Yeah, let us at 'em whoever spots one first takes the kill." The others echoed the sentiment, Relish pounding a fist into the projector surface while Zucci and Parla voiced their support, turning the briefing into a brief uproar of demands.
Mark sighed. "Our main priority is destroying the installation completely, the commanders are secondary targets that we eliminate if opportunities arise, we cannot afford to chase personal glory at the expense of the objective."
Caulifla waved that away dismissively. "The low-class rabble can handle blowing up the base, let them swarm the generators or whatever while we take the real prizes."
Mark sighed again, recognizing the futility of arguing with her directly since he lacked authority over the Saiyan contingent and forcing the issue could fracture the alliance before the battle even started. "Fine here's the compromise, Anissa, you will lead the combined Saiyan and Viltrumite forces in a direct push to demolish the core infrastructure, focusing on power nodes and research labs to ensure nothing survives."
Anissa nodded in acceptance, her posture straightening as she visualized the role. "Understood."
Mark continued, pointing to Lucan next. "Lucan, you will engage Commander Terragon."
Lucan smiled then, a genuine one that showed his eagerness for the matchup. "Gladly I'll make sure he doesn't last long."
Mark turned to the elites last. "As for you cause as much structural damage as possible once inside, tear through their troops to create openings for our soldiers, and secure footholds that prevent reinforcements from regrouping."
They exchanged glances before nodding in unison, Fasha speaking for the group. "We'll do it as long as we get a fair shot at one of those commanders if we cross paths."
Mark agreed with a nod, and they delved into a few more details such as coordination signals for the energy transfer, fallback positions if the shield breach failed, and extraction protocols after destruction, finally wrapping up the meeting before he dismissed them. "That's it, prepare your teams and rest if needed; we launch in four hours."
The group filed out, Caulifla slapping Mark's back one last time with a grin while Kale trailed her, and the elites chattered among themselves about the upcoming fights. Lucan left without a word, his glare lingering on Mark until the doors closed behind him.
Mark remained by the holoprojector, his eyes fixed on the rotating image of the installation as he mentally reviewed the plan for flaws, he noticed Anissa lingering near the controls instead of leaving with the others. She stood quietly for a moment, her hands clasped behind her back as she stared at the same display.
Mark glanced at her after a few seconds. "Do you need something?"
Anissa did not respond immediately, her gaze shifting from the hologram to the floor as she gathered her thoughts. "I do not hold high expectations for this mission's success."
Mark chuckled humourlessly, crossing his arms as he leaned against the console. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."
Anissa shook her head slightly. "I am merely stating an observation." She walked closer to him then, stopping near the edge of the holoprojector, and positioned herself just within arm's reach as she continued.
"Oh?," Mark said as he turned fully toward her, his voice carrying a hint of sarcasm. "And what other observations have you made?"
Anissa stayed quiet for a moment, her eyes searching his face before she replied in a calm manner. "You have committed numerous errors since your arrival on Viltrum, allowing your pride to obscure your judgment."
"How have I done that..." Mark asked through clenched teeth.
"Openly declaring your lack of support for the empire and signaling your intent to betray it eventually," she replied casually
Mark uncrossed his arms, his expression hardening. "So what?"
Anissa stepped even closer. "You have accumulated many enemies already just from your actions on Earth alone, and alienating those who are not yet opposed to you ranks as the most foolish action you could take, you should focus on forging alliances and recruiting supporters to bolster your position."
Mark let out another chuckle. "To what end? I have no interest in remaining part of the Viltrum Empire."
Anissa tilted her head slightly. "You assume that decision rests solely with you, I know your wives possess considerable power, and your children will undoubtedly grow strong as well, but do you truly believe that you and your family could withstand the full might of Viltrum unleashed against you?"
Mark opened his mouth to affirm it, the word "yes" forming on his lips out of instinct, but he paused as the reality sank in... he was not foolish enough to ignore the empire's vast resources and numbers.
Anissa waited for the silence to stretch before she offered her advice. "My suggestion is that you cease pushing away potential allies and begin cultivating a power base, you already possess a solid foundation with your two Kryptonian wives, that demon companion, your father, and myself as supporters, but it will not suffice against the empire's collective strength. I recommend you attempt to secure the Saiyan princess as an ally, while she does not stand as the direct heir to their throne, her royal status carries influence, and she could prove valuable in any future confrontations."
Mark thought about her words for a moment, his mind turning over the implications of building a faction within the empire he despised. "I'll think about it."
Anissa nodded in return, turning toward the door. Before she could step through, Mark called out to her. "Why are you helping me?"
Anissa turned around slowly, her hand lingering on the doorframe as she met his gaze once more, she opened her mouth to reply, the words forming but not emerging, before she closed it again and walked out without a word, the doors hissing shut behind her.
_____________________________________
A comms officer burst out of the operations room on the lower decks of the military installation, his boots pounding against the grated flooring as he sprinted down the narrow corridor that connected the sensor arrays to the upper command levels, his uniform already damp with sweat from the tension that had built in the last few minutes while he verified the readings that now burned in his mind.
He weaved through a group of technicians carrying equipment crates, his shoulder clipping one of them hard enough to send a tool clattering to the ground, he shouted a quick "Sorry!" over his shoulder without slowing down, his breath coming in quxik gasps as he dodged a maintenance drone that hovered too low in the pathway. Further along, he nearly collided with a squad of soldiers jogging in formation toward the armory, his elbow bumping the lead trooper's arm as he squeezed past, drawing a loud "Watch it, idiot!" from the man who glared back but kept moving, while the officer stammered another apology that trailed off as he rounded the corner and hit the lift controls with a frantic slap of his palm.
The lift doors opened after what felt like an eternity but was only seconds, he jammed himself inside, hitting the button for the bridge level repeatedly until the car ascended with a whine. When the doors parted at the top, he bolted out again, navigating the final stretch of corridor and pushed on toward the doors of the bridge that slid open at his approach after a quick security scan.
He stumbled into the bridge, a vast chamber lined with consoles and holographic displays that monitored every inch of the installation's defenses. At the heart of it all stood Commander Terragon, a hulking figure with crystalline skin that shifted like living diamond under the lights and four massive arms crossed over his broad chest. Beside him, Lord Protector Slug sat in a reinforced chair that creaked under his weight, his dark green skin smooth and unmarred as he observed the room in silence, his antennae twitching slightly at the intrusion.
The comms officer skidded to a halt in front of them, snapping to attention with a salute that trembled from his exertion. "Sirs... urgent report from sensors... I ran as fast as I could..."
Commander Terragon turned fully toward him as a deep rumbling laugh escaped his throat, the sound echoing off the bulkheads. "Whoa there kid take a breath before you pass out," he said, clapping one of his four hands on the officer's shoulder with enough force to make the man wince. "What's got you running like the station's about to implode?"
Lord Slug remained seated, his arms folded across his chest as he waited without a word.
The comms officer swallowed hard, standing straighter as he delivered the news. "Long-range sensors have detected two large vessels entering our detection perimeter, approaching at high velocity on an intercept course with the installation."
Terragon's laughter faded into a grin that showed his jagged teeth, his four arms uncrossing as he leaned in closer. "Two ships? Spit it out who are we dealing with? Pirates? Some rogue faction thinking they can nibble at our edges?"
The officer shook his head quickly. "No sir, the signatures match known profiles... one Saiyan battle cruiser and one Viltrumite enforcer vessel, both armed to capacity and showing no signs of deviation from their path."
Terragon's eyes lit up then, and he threw his head back with a triumphant bellow that filled the bridge, his massive frame shaking with excitement as he pumped two fists in the air while the other two slapped the console beside him. "Finally! I've been cooped up in this floating rock for months staring at screens and drilling grunts with no action, no bones to break!" He spun toward the crew, his voice rising to a roar that made several officers jump in their seats. "You hear that, everyone? It's time for battle, the Viltrumites and Saiyans coming to play! Get those guns hot we're gonna give 'em a welcome they'll tell stories about in whatever hell they end up in!"
The bridge crew responded with a mix of cheers and nervous whooops, as alerts began to sound, but Lord Slug raised one hand slowly from hi. "Calm yourselves all of you," he stated, his antennae straightening as he addressed the room before turning his gaze to Terragon. "Even a Viltrumite warlord would find it impossible to simply punch through our defense grid the multiphasic shields will hold against direct assaults, and our weapon arrays will reduce their ships to debris before they close the distance."
Terragon's enthusiasm deflated slightly, his shoulders slumping as he whirled on Slug with an annoyed grunt. "Boring... you're always so damn boring, Slug! Sucking the fun out of everything with your 'shields this' and 'grids that' we've got enemies knocking, and you want us to sit pretty behind the shields? Let 'em come I say, give me something to smash!"
Slug's expression remained impassive, his fingers drumming once on the armrest. "Complain all you want Terragon, the Exile placed me in command while he rests in stasis, and you will adhere to protocol whether it excites you or not."
Terragon grumbled louder, pacing a few steps with his four arms gesturing wildly. "Protocol... bah! We've got the best defenses in the sector, sure, but where's the glory in letting machines do the work? I didn't sign up to babysit a fortress! I want to crack skulls, feel the fight!"
Slug ignored the rant, turning instead to the crew. "Activate all outer defense perimeters immediately bring the orbital turrets online and calibrate for high-velocity targets. Prepare countermeasures for any suicide vessels they might deploy, and divert power to the shield nodes to ensure full coverage during the engagement." The bridge sprang into full activity then, officers relaying orders through comms while displays updated with green readiness icons.
One of the bridge crew members, a young sensor technician with shcoked eyes fixed on his console, swiveled in his chair suddenly. "Sirs, the enemy vessels have accelerated and jumped back into hyperspace they're pulling away from our outer perimeter markers, but their trajectory suggests they're repositioning rather than retreating entirely."
Commander Terragon paused in his pacing. "Hyperspace again? What, they scared already? Keep tracking 'em don't let 'em slip the net."
Lord Slug leaned forward slightly in his chair, his antennae twitching as he processed the update without visible reaction. "Maintain full sensor sweeps and prepare for multi-vector emergence, Viltrumites and Saiyans do not flee."
A few moments passed in relative quiet, broken only by the occasional ping from a console or a relayed status from lower decks, until the same technician bolted upright again. "They're here!!! They've dropped out of hyperspace right outside our primary defense envelope!"
Alarms blared immediately, red lights flashing in sync with the klaxons that signaled imminent threat, the crew snapped to full alert as stations updated with real-time feeds from external sensors.
"Show them on visual," Lord Slug commanded, the nearest operator comply without hesitation, and brought up the main holographic display in the center of the bridge where the two ships materialized in crisp detail, the Saiyan cruiser and the Viltrumite enforcer vessel flanking it.
Lord Slug studied the projection for a second. "Are they within weapons range yet?"
The gunnery officer checked his readouts quickly, shaking his head as he responded. "No, sir they're holding at the edge of our maximum effective range."
Slug nodded. "Target both vessels with primary batteries and fire the moment they enter optimal range do not wait for my confirmation if they accelerate."
"Aye, sir," the officer replied, relaying the order through his comm link to the turret crews scattered across the installation's surface.
Commander Terragon cracked his knuckles with two of his four hands, his massive frame vibrating with barely contained energy as he stared at the display. "Come on, you cowards get in here so we can start the real fun."
The tension built as the ships inched closer on the hologram, crew members exchanging glances while they waited for the range indicators to turn green. "Sirs... something's happening on the enemy vessels, there's activity on their outer hulls."
"Be more clear, man," Commander Terragon shouted, whirling toward the technician. "What kind of activity? Weapons charging? Boarding pods launching? Spit it out!"
The technician zoomed in the display with trembling fingers, highlighting figures emerging from airlocks on both ships. "It's... personnel exiting the ships directly into space, a single Viltrumite leading the way, flanked by over a dozen Saiyans who are following in formation, all flying toward our shields."
Lord Slug frowned deeply, his brow furrowing as he leaned closer to the hologram, his mind racing through possibilities while he watched the small group approach. 'What are they doing,' he thought silently, his antennae straightening in alarm as he considered the implications of such a bold move against defenses designed to shred fleets... were they suicidal, or did they possess some unknown advantage that could bypass the multiphasic fields entirely? The question lingered in his mind, unanswered, as the bridge crew held their collective breath and waited for the intruders to make their next play.
...
Mark floated in the cold vacuum of space, while Caulifla hovered close beside him with a wild grin that showed through the transparent faceplate of her breathing apparatus. A dozen other Saiyans flanked them in a loose formation, each one equipped with similar compact masks that supplied oxygen. The installation loomed ahead like a jagged metallic tumor embedded in the moon's crust.
'Hey Mark, you gotta come up with a name for that attack of yours,' Caulifla's voice echoed in Mark's mind as she punched the air lightly, her black hair floating in zero gravity behind her apparatus.
Mark rolled his eyes, glancing at her sideways while he scanned the shields for the optimal strike point. 'Why do I need to do that? It's just an attack, names don't make it hit harder.'
'Every Saiyan names their signature moves,' she shot back as she flexed her gloved hands. 'It's what makes 'em look cool to everyone else. You wanna blast through that shield in complete silence?'
'We are about to attack a heavily fortified station,' Mark replied, his mental voice carrying a hint of exasperation as he gestured toward the glowing barrier. 'Why would it matter if I look cool?'
'Sure, think that way... if you wanna look like a punk,' Caulifla teased, her grin widening as she bumped her shoulder against his mid-float.
Mark sighed inwardly, shaking his head but deciding it wasn't worth the argument. 'Fine, if it'll shut you up. Now get ready,' he told them all more seriously, his tone shifting to command as he addressed the group through the link. 'Channel your energy on my mark.'
The Saiyans nodded in unison, their auras beginning to flare with a pale blue light that illuminated the space around them. Caulifla cracked her knuckles and closed her eyes, her body tensing as raw energy built within her, while Kale beside her mirrored the pose. The elites joined in seamlessly, their energies crackling as they poured everything into the buildup. The dozen low-class Saiyans added their own contributions, their combined might forming a visible corona that linked them all to Mark at the center.
'Now!' Mark commanded, and the Saiyans unleashed it all at once, streams of energy flowing from their outstretched palms directly into his body like rivers merging into an ocean. Mark felt the surge hit him immediately, a torrent of power that electrified every cell, his muscles swelling with strength as his veins glowed faintly under his skin, the influx making him clench his fists to contain it without exploding outward prematurely.
He held his hands out to both sides then, palms facing away as he channeled the combined energy into his gravity manipulation, blue light coalescing in his left palm while red ignited in his right. The spheres grew rapidly, expanding from fist-sized orbs to massive constructs the size of entire ships within seconds.
Mark gritted his teeth as he brought his hands together slowly as he forced the two opposing spheres to merge. It was energy-intensive beyond anything he had attempted before, it was always hard as he was essentially compressing two fundamental opposites into a single unstable entity that defied natural laws, but he had never done it at such a scale before and his arms were shaking from the strain as sweat beaded on his forehead, the power threatening to tear itself apart if he lost focus for even a moment. The spheres finally collided with a deafening crack that reverberated through space as a shockwave, fusing into a massive purple orb that crackled with volatile energy.
Caulifla's eyes widened behind her mask, her mouth agape as she watched the creation unfold. 'Holy crap, that's insane look at the size of that thing! You're really packing some heat, Mark!'
Mark ignored the commentary as he condensed the sphere with great effort, his hands pressing inward as if squeezing an invisible force, the orb shrinking from ship-sized to the dimensions of a small ball that fit in his palm, the compression making it denser and more unstable, veins of energy pulsing brighter .
He held his hand out then, the purple sphere hovering just above his open palm, as he started to rotate it at high speeds.
'Purple Technique: Absolute Void.'
He then fired it forward with a flick of his wrist, the sphere launching at supersonic speeds that left a trail of distorted space in its wake, streaking toward the installation's shields like a comet.
Caulifla crossed her arms, watching it go with a skeptical tilt of her head. 'How's that tiny thing gonna bust through their defenses? It's no bigger than an energy blast, I hit you with bigger during our spar!'
'Just wait for it,' Mark replied calmly, his arm still extended with his palm open, fingers splayed as he tracked the sphere's path mentally.
The orb struck the multiphasic shield and passed theough without immediate explosion, the barrier rippling around it like water disturbed by a pebble. Mark closed his palm quickly into a fist then, and at the exact same instant, the purple sphere expanded to nearly twice its original size before condensation, ballooning outward in a violent eruption that tore through the station with a soundless roar in the vacuum, the energy unraveling the multiphasic fields layer by layer until they shattered completely.
Caulifla's excitement hit like a wave, and she launched herself onto Mark's back, wrapping her arms around his neck in a rough hug while her legs hooked around his waist, her laughter bubbling through the mental link. 'That was freaking awesome! The name's pretty cool too.... not as epic as my Galick Gun, but I respect it. You gotta teach me how to make one of those!'
The station's shields flickered and died across the entire section, and a massive chunk of the outer hull, nearly a quarter of the installation was erased in the blast's radius, the rest of the debris venting into space alongside.
'Signal the attack."
(AN: So here we are boys at the start of the battle which will be an intense one. I'm also playing around with an idea that I might introduce, but I'm not really sure about it. I think it might be good for the final battle with Thragg. Anyway hope you enjoyed."
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