GRAND STATION HAS BEEN BREACHED!!!!

Photons emanated from the hexagonal mesh that conformed to Ippe's forearm. They collided into a hasty crimson to produce the alert that stilled for him. He glanced at the glow. The Supreme General hadn't moved far from the randomly created lake that got overwhelmed by the mysterious object.

Leaflet towered over him. As the flooding dwindled, a burst of power zapped through Ippe. His pupils flickered and his breathing stalled.

Ral wasn't nearby. He and the starcraft were far away from his leader, but he contacted him to say he was fine.

Ippe got up to puddles of water. He noticed Zartzs to his west. No foe bothered to face her as she floated a couple of centimetres from the ground. A yet-to-be-used secondary power prevented any challengers.

Sir. La contacted her Supreme General.

What?

The blue one finally give up. He say some scavenger village called Tallas give them the uniform.

The numbers on those uniforms were from the battle of Grassy Lengths. We lost a great elite soldier that day.

How come I never knew that? She didn't like being left ignorant of matters that she should know. It didn't sound like information that exceeded her rank.

Well, you never asked. Plus, I don't feel comfortable talking about it all that much. It's more or less an unwritten rule to do so.

So Mezamica Um kno...

Yes, he knows. This is not the time to discuss such a thing. Do you want to cause trouble?

Sorry, sir.

Just get the uniforms and keep them safe. I would like to talk to them personally.

Yes, bossman. I gone.

He pondered on how he could get to the top. This was when a nearby Rebounder round gave him an idea.

Hello, are the Rebounders operational? He was polite to the soldier on the other end as his eyes flickered so fast it became a consistent blue.

Sir, the shells are almost worn out but we using it to combat the intruder. You want us to fire at someone?

I want you to fire one close to me so I can ride it straight to Grand Station.

They followed his request. All that was required was to latch an arm onto it and hold on for the trip. He expected to race through the air but the shell seemed to compete with a snail for speed. The talisman hindered him with its surprising weight. Despite this, he kept his other arm deeply sunk into his makeshift ride. It would take some time to get into battle.

* * *

"Missy," The driver said weakly to the nurse. Even when they were carted off by the flood, they were always near to each other when it ceased. "You ever hear the legend of the Hospuk?"

"That old story? Haven't heard that in a long time."

"It wanted to be with he. I could see it." The driver had a strong assumption the famed creature wanted to join Ippe.

"I never see nothing." She shrugged.

"You sure?"

"Yeah. I'm sure."

"Could be my imagination." He scratched his bald head in confusion.

"What your name?"

"Roko. I drive hovercar."

"My name is Baba."

"Nice name."

"Thanks. Look a vacuum capsule and needleless medicine syringe for your abdomen." Baba had these in various sizes. The vacuum capsule resembled a scientific measuring cylinder where it was placed inside the wound to draw out lingering flares.

"You could apply it to me?"

"I could tell you how. I don't want nobody to see me physically helping you."

"Fine," Roko fumbled the capsule and the clear liquid-filled syringe before he applied it to himself under her direction to end the burning inside.

* * *

"Ees calling." A specialist in the war room was going to start the video call.

"Pull him up," DooDao commanded.

The big screen revealed Ees's true form. He was an adult Ehfnii in orange and over twice the size of a typical male. Above his lips was a Hitler-stache-his most valued feature; and it, with the rest of him, became furious.

Um, some dark skin dude. DooDao's response was overshadowed by a small broadcast playing in the corner of the big screen.

Ees took in the live feed. The stranger's hoodie was flipped back to display his black, nappy hair, thin lips, and slender nose. Where Ippe be? I just tried to communicate with him and he give me no response.

Sir, he caught up in battle.

But even so, I would've got a response.

Sir, the intruders are somehow related to Grassy Lengths. He knew that battle was an impactful one for Ippe.

How? Ees noticed that this event preceded his tenure in the Defence Force.

DooDao expounded on what occurred on that day for him to gain the necessary context and personal value for Ippe.

I see. I only hope he won't let his emotion get to him. The last time he let his emotions run wild over stuff like this, it wasn't nice. He then moved on to the heart of the discussion: the activation of the full security system.

But sir, even though it's installed, we did no testing yet.

I know that. But what better way to test it than in live combat?

His quarters inside the stem were disorganized. Tools, holographic blueprints, nuts and bolts, strips of metal, small-scale physical diagrams of inventions, and a few flare weapons were a part of his room.

An object shaped like a large mechanical pencil sharpener was not far from him. He stretched one of his tubes and slotted it in. His hook acted like a key, but instead of a twist, he yanked it to activate the system.

In bold letters, the system generated the words: THE FORTRESS IS ONLINE.

It did so above Grand Station and dissipated right after its formation. His best creation was activated and ready to protect the heart of the Defence Force.

THANK YOU FOR READING IF YOU REACHED THIS FAR. IF YOU LIKE THIS AND OTHER CHAPTERS, FOLLOW, LIKE, SHARE, COMMENT, AND ADD THIS BOOK TO YOUR LIBRARY FOR MORE BATTLES BEYOND. MAKE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY OTHER STORIES AS WELL.