I don't care what anyone else thinks, I like this show. Sure it takes forever for them to make a new episode, but it's a lot more dramatic. Oops, it's starting...

Oh boo-hoo, Float is making things all happy for everybody. I know what's really going on, but I really don't care.

Communications, send the following message to Lord Adon and encode it.
Greetings Lord Adon. We seem to have a common enemy now in the form of Emperor Float. I've gotten reports that he's been attempting to bring law and order to the galaxy, when it should be ruled by force! I have a few suprises in store for Float that should be delivered to him very soon. In the meantime, may I suggest we meet and discuss an alliance? Tacoman out.
Meanwhile, a crate is being unpacked inside Float's palace. Inside are a half dozen cute toys and a note talking about the Furbies. At the same time, a troop of mimes is making their way from the spaceport to the palace. These are the famed Diamond Mimes of Corinth IV

I have a dumb question. If the above message was encoded, why does it show up on my computer? It should show up as:

hhkjnbuik nb ub u b b b b u bub ui hui iubibbkjbffhbnb shfnyr th mn sy yr fjn ty n yt jn y j rty n yr n yrn yrn yr jn rw n wrt n rj yr j ytjtrjtrjtr jtr jtrw jt jt jtwjtewjte jte jt jtw jtw jt jtr jt jt jt je tw j t jh tr jyr t trbw5e h jw 45 h 6t wj tr jhtrh setrh

A purple portal opens behind the General. A man in black robes. He smiles. "Hello my son. I've come to ask you to join me. My armies have now gained dominance over three hundred universes. With your help my people can rule this one as well. Or rather, you'll rule it, with resources and aid from us. I think it fitting that father an son rule the mutliverse together, don't you?"

Oh yeah right, you think this guy actually wants to help you? Please. And he's supposed to be dead, unless his author didn't even read his own post. Tch.

Radagast turns to the Ignorer? "Dead? Exactly when did I aledgedly die you insignificant titmouse?!?" Radgast angirly throws an Acid Arrow at Ignorer's head.

(The Ignorer completely ignores the arrow, and it passes through his head as if passing through smoke. The Ignorer turns disinterested eyes on Radagast.)

Don't you have a convention to get to? Enjoy your fate.

(The Ignorer waves one hand, and Radagast disappears from the universe.)

That was strange... I wonder who the guy with the interesting offer was... and why did he call me "son?" I remember my father... he was a General, like myself... usually wore black...
As for the message... What was on the screen is a routine text version recorded by the computers of the ship. It is there as a record so that Lord Adon can't say we didn't send it. That remains unencoded so that we can read it.

Thrag oversees the unpacking of the Furbies. Scientists stand by, scanning the objects for dangerous materials. Thrag picks up one of the fluffy creatures, grimaces and throws it back into the box. Meanwhile, one of the scientists finds something on his sensor panel.

"Major Thrag, sir! I've found some sort of cloaking device around these creatures' inner machinery. I've managed to pierce it, and all our scanners are reading high-energy devices, weapons systems, artifical intelligence chips, targeting systems..."

Thrag, not waiting for another word from the scientist, pulls an extremely large weapon from his belt and launches an explosive projectile into the box of Furbies. The resulting explosion blows almost all of the creatures to shreds...all except one. The uninjured Furby, flung across the room by the force of the explosion, comes to life, quietly melts the cover off of an air vent, and scampers inside, deep into the palace.

The lone Furby explores the vents of the palace, eventually coming to what looks like a torture chamber. It spots a water torture device, stands under it, and turns it on. Meanwhile, the Diamond Mimes have arrived at the palace and are ready to put on a show.

"We are ready, Sire."

Bring in the Mimes!

The famed Diamond Mimes silently enter the throne room, glad in glittering diamond plates. They dance and prance in strange, mimish fashions, and pretend to be caught in invisible boxes and pull invisible ropes.

This is awful. Really awful.

"Yes, sire."

Who sent these clowns to us anyway?

"Um, it's from a...Lieutenant Burrito...Burritoman, sir. An odd name."

Burritoman? That...

The mimes abruptly switch from their placid expressions to expressions of, well, the closest expression I can think of is...hmm, probably psychotic homicidal rage, something like that. They pull out gleaming diamond blades from various places in their diamond armor.

I have a bad feeling about this. Remind me to send Tacoman a thank-you card.

At the same time, vents all around the throne room open, and hords of Furbies start pouring out. Some of them are the cute furry little things, but others now look like dangerous reptilian creatures. All of them are carrying weapons that have obviously come from the palace's weapons stores. Meanwhile, Tacoman is watching the action from his fleet
Soon. Soon they will have Float at their mercy. And then the Furbies will invade the rest of the city... Hmm.. maybe they should invade the city anyway...

Float watches as the Furbies pour out of the vents. The Diamond Mimes also pause in their attack to watch the strange sight. The Furbies' internal programming directs them to attack the first armed force they see. Float and his advisors have no discernible weapons, while the Mimes are extremely armed. The Furbies leap onto the Mimes, which attack in turn. The parent Furby hangs back, commanding the Furby forces. Soon the throne room is a cloud of diamond shards, flying fur, and weapons fire.

The lead Furby rechecks its programming and realises that they should be going after Float, so it directs the remaining Furbies to attack him. Meanwhile, storm drains and fountains across the city erupt with Furbies in their reptilian form.

Meanwhile, aboard the Zerstorung, the Lord Adon was watching the chaos in the throne room with interest.

You see Admiral? Sending those Diamond Mimes to Float was a stroke of genious. The best thing is that we made it seem like Tacoman was behind the attack. He will think that both attacks came from the same place.

Admiral Strahd: "Of course, My Lord."

Suddenly, the Emperor's Elite Guard pours into the throne room. The room is soon chaos, and explosions erupt from every corner. The palace shields are raised, and Tacoman's and Adon's video feeds go blank. Now all they can do, is watch, and wait...

16 hours later, every holo-comm channel is overriden by a transmission from Terrios Vector Prime. The transmission is immediately displayed on Tacoman and Adon's command screens.

We interrupt your regular holo-vid to bring you this SPECIAL REPORT. This is the Empire News Network. I'm Blink Nostrum.

The Empire has now formally announced that Kyros H. Float, Emperor of the Collected Human Expansion, is dead. Attackers of unknown origin stormed Imperial Palace early today. The Emperor's Elite Guard fought bravely, but an explosion decimated the Emperor's throne room, destroying everything inside. It is determined that skilled assassins posing as members of the elite Diamond Mime Guild, as well as an unknown form of animal-cyborg weapons platform, attacked the Emperor during a private reception at approximately 1023 this morning.

The question is now, where will the Empire turn to for actual leadership? The Emperor left no heir, and members of the Imperial Staff are forbidden by law to seek the throne. The newly reconstituted Imperial Senate will hold formal elections in 6 week's time, after the Emperor's funeral. For now, the Imperial Staff has announced a 2 week memorial period commemorating the Emperor's death. All non-essential industrial, commercial, and military activities have been placed on standby. The Staff requests that citizens remain at their residence and maintain order, given the ceasing of defense and police actions.

This has been an ENN Special Report. We now return you to your regularly scheduled holovid.

Open a channel to Lord Adon.
Well, well Lord Adon. It looks like our combined strength worked. It would appear that our battle for power is on again.
Tacoman to the science team, have you been keeping track of the the Furby situation?
Chief Scientist: Yes we have, General. It would appear that one of the Furbies had gotten his hands on a fusion bomb, which went off when the Furby was hit. There also appears to be swarms of Furbies, in both the cute form and their transformed form, still inhabiting the palace and roming the city itself. We could get them to take over the place for you.
Tacoman: Do it.
Scientist: Aye sir.

Piker sits in his captain's chair studying one of the many reports he's had to look over since Float became Emperor, missing the old days. Suddenly, the transmission about Float's death comes in.

Well, this could be very good, or worse than we can imagine.

Saturday morning in Imperial City. Three days since the Emperor's death. Traffic is light, most of the gravcars on the lanes being official vehicles and resource transports. The cloaked figure we know only as "Decker" leans against the First Bank of Empire building, just two blocks down from the massive Imperial Palace. He seems to be watching the palace, paying no attention to the vehicles and pedestrian traffic. The powerful shields still stand, in sparkling protection around the imperial residence. Decker hums a little tune, and checks his chron. He continues to watch, and occasionally, he looks up at the sky. Waiting...for something.

Tacoman: is the fleet repaired?
Ops: Aye sir. Fleet is 98% operational. All new improvements and advancements have been integrated into the ship.
Tacoman: Set a course for Terrios Vector Prime.
Helm: Aye sir.
With a flash, Tacoman's fleet heads towards the planet.
Tacoman to chief scientist, send a transmition to the Furbies... tell them to invade the city now.
Scientist: Yes sir.
On the planet, hundreds of Furbies pour out of the Palace, the sewers, and anywhere else they've been hiding. They gather, weapons ready, and ready to hold the city for General Tacoman.

Admiral Strahd: "General Tacoman's creatures are invading the city, my Lord. He obviously intends to have it captured for his arrival.

Of course. We should send our own "welcoming committee." Launch the weapons.

Admiral Strahd: "You don't mean?"

Admiral Strahd was caught in Lord Adon's steely gaze. He bowed his head.

Admiral Strahd: "Sorry, my Lord. Launching the weapons."

Hundreds of pods detached themselves from the Zerstorung's hull towards Terrios Vector Prime.

Piker watches from the bridge of the Firewalker when Adon launches the pods.

He's got to be kidding; Lt. Tryto, open a channel to Lord Adon.

Adon appears on the viewscreen. Piker swallows as he prepares to speak.

Adon:Yes, Captain?
Piker:My Lord, aren't using those kind of overkill?

The gathered Furbies start chatting with each other
Furby one: There's something approaching...
Furby four: Yes.. Look in the sky.. pods of some sort.
Furby leader: Some of you stay and fire at all the pods you can, the rest of us will party in the city.
With that, hundreds of Furbies wander through the city, firing and destroying as they go, yelling:
GLORY TO GENERAL TACOMAN!
Meanwhile, Tacoman's fleet approaches the system
Good, the Furbies are doing their work. What's this? Lord Adon is firing pods of some sort...Magnify... Not those pods! Helm, increase to top speed!

Of course not, Captain. Make no mistake, I want that planet and nothing will get in my way. Those pods will keep Tacoman off of the planet until we get there. And then, we will crush Tacoman and take the planet.

A voice intruded over the transmission.

Voice: "My Lord, the pods are in place."

The pods entered the atmosphere, leaving trails of fire behind. Once they got into the lower atmosphere, they broke up, discharging their cargo: a giant bio-mechanical humanoid fighting machine. Each one landed smoothly on the planet.

Admiral Strahd: "They have made landfall. Field strength at full, and power reserves should hold out until we get there."

One of the giant robots stood up after landing, as several Furbies came out of hiding. The eyes lit up as the Furbies attacked. Unfortunately, the Furbies hit an energy field that the robot was generating around itself. The field destroyed all the Furbies they came in contact with.

General Tacoman's battle fleet, and the warships under the Dark Lord Adon slowly approach Terrios Vector Prime. When they reach weapons range of each other, they hesitate, and then...

Three things happen, right after the other.

A strange transmission is broadcast on all frequencies.

"Let's give our guests a big Terrian hello!"

A MASSIVE force-shield shimmers into place around Terrios Vector Prime.

And, the entire Imperial Navy drops their cloaks and begins firing on the two enemy fleets.

A new transmission appears on the viewscreens of Tacoman and Adon's flagships. Emperor Float sits on his throne. He is not in the best of shape. Glittering bandages cover his left arm and an ugly scar runs along one side of his face. Nevertheless, he smiles at the two powerful warlords.

Good morning, gentlemen. The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated. I'd advise that you surrender immediately, just to save me the problem of salvaging the remains of your fleets. As you can see, with my Restrainer cruisers stationed around the edges of this system, there is no escape. However, I doubt that you will capitulate, so...may the best man win.

Near the edge of the system, the Firewalker and the rest of Adon's reserve force sit waiting. Suddenly, a large group of Imperial ships appear, including several Restrainer cruisers, aggressively firing on the smaller reserve force. Several ships are quickly destroyed as the surprised fleet is battered by enemy fire.

All ships, return fire, prepare to regroup and try to take out some of those Restrainers, even if we have to go with them!

Ops, fire all weapons at the ships. Is our version of Float's secret weapon operational yet?
Ops: It seems to be sir.
Good. Fire all weapons, including the secret weapon.
Tacoman to the science lab, I think it's time to unveil another Furby trick. Give them command Alpha station 42 tango
Scientist: Aye sir.
Tacoman: Also, transport any remaining Furbies in your lab to the various enemy ships. Set several of them to explode, and others to mature into their final forms as soon as they are transported aboard. Place them in vents, Jefferies tubes, and other hiding places.

The command is transmitted to the Furbies on the planet. Groups of Furbies gather together, melt into each other, and combine to form larger Furbies. These Furbies then begin to grow, until they're incredably huge, with all systems to match. Meanwhile, dozens of Furbies are being transported to the various enemy ships.
Open a channel to Emperor Float.
Greetings, Float. You'll not escape me this time. I managed to construct a copy of your secret weapon from various sensor readings we took the last time we met.

Launch everything. I want every suit in space. Establish a no-fly zone around the ship. Anything that gets within weapons range that is not part of our fleet dies.

Several different types of Mobile Suits poured out of the ships in Lord Adon's fleet. Some were still in fighter mode, attacking anything that gets close. Others were in robot mode, heavily armed with several different types of missiles and energy weapons. The various Mobile Suits surrounded each ship ins a sphere, leaving no safe angle to attack.

Meanwhile on the planet, one of the giant Furbies attacked the now equally sized bio-mechanical robot. The Furby and the robot locked armed as each tried to overpower the other. Both were in a stalemate since neither one had a strength advantage, but then the Furby produced another weapon on a third arm. A high powered energy weapon managed to punch a hole through the armored shoulder joint, and through the biomass below the armor, completely severing the left arm.

The bio-mech howled in pain and then kicked the Furby while holding on with it's remaining arm. The Furby's arm was torn off and the Furby was sent flying into a building. The bio-mech picked up its severed arm and the arm reattached itself to the torso, leaving a hole burned through the armor, and trail of yellow fluid from the wound as the only signed that there was ever any damage.

The bio-mech charged the Furby and was shot through the chest by the Furby's energy weapon, but it didn't slow down. The bio-mech tried to tear the Furby apart, but it self detonated. When the explosion cleared, a portion of the city was gone, but the bio-mech was unharmed, save for a hole in the armor where the Furby shot it.

The bio-mech looked over the cityscape and started walking towards the palace. All over the planet, others were having battles with the bio-mechs and they all had similar results.

The Emperor's Command Center. The displays show the battle in orbit, and on the surface. Float watches the consoles emotionlessly.

Thrag?

Major Thrag, now mostly composed of cybernetic elements after the throne room attack, steps forward.

"Yes, Sire?"

It's time. Implement Operation F.

"Yes, Sire. All stations, broadcast code message on wide frequency."

"Channel open, Major."

"Dah...Doo......Dey."

Every Furby, everywhere, starts to chant "Dah Doo Dey". They cease fighting Float's forces and begin to attack General Tacoman. Instantly, Tacoman has hundreds of traitor Furbies dismantling his command ship!

Thrag! Are the Anti-Polymorph Shields in place?

"Yes, Sire."

Good. Bring up the reserve Divisions from Moon X. I want them to drive a wedge here. Adon's spread his battlesuit squadrons too thin, their flanks are unprotected. I need the Quantum Kamikaze fighters positioned in the middle of Tacoman's fleet. Then have them uncloak, and send them into the engines of Tacoman's battle cruisers. Now, as for these biomechs...have you ever heard of nanobots?

Rumblings and explosions start occuring on Tacoman's ships as the Furbies attack
Comm, open a channel to all Furbies!
Dey...Dey...Doo...Sorg
On the ships, the Furbies told to explode shed their hair and skin, revealing the mini-nukes and photon torpedos underneath. They explode, taking vital parts of the ships with them. Other Furbies on the ships release hords of nanobots. The giant Furbies stop attacking Tacoman's ships and begin attacking Float and Adon's ships, firing ship destroying weapons. On the planet, several Furbies stop fighting and their stomach compartments open, revealing an explosive. They speak, saying:
HI, I'M AN ANNOYING TALKING FURBY BOMB! I WILL EXPLODE IN 30 SECONDS!
29....
Tacoman: Good, good.. now, release the fighters and both the regulation and mini-battlesuits. All ships, fire. Raise shields.

Admiral Strahd: "Sir, Emperor Float's forces are flanking our fighters, and the Bio-mechs are reporting that the Furbies are about to explode!"

Use the cruisers to take the heat off of the fighters. And open a channel to the bio-mechs, quickly.

Most of the Furbies had at least one bio-mech nearby. The bio-mechs reached into the Furbies' open stomach compartments and tore out the bomb. Then they through the bombs strait up. Most of the bombs actually made it into orbit and they were headed towards General Tacoman's ships.

I'm not going to let him blow up the city. Have the bio-mechs secure the palace. Use the Torus suits pull back to a defensive position. Use the Virgos to cover them.

Far from the large battle at Terrios Vector Prime, Piker's backup fleet is being slaughtered by Float's larger fleet's assault.

Commander Shimmer: Captain, we must retreat and rejoin Lord Adon!
Captain Piker: No, we haven't lost yet. We're going to have to destroy their command ship.
He points to a map of the battle.
Here, this ship seems to be the flagship. Order every ship to head for the middle and try to split them in two. Hopefully, if we destroy this ship, some will be thrown into disarray and we will have an advantage. I want these ships to protect us during the run.
Shimmer: Sir, if we send most of our fleet to the middle of their force, they may close in on us and wipe us out. We may not have enough ships to stop them.
Piker: It's a risk we'll have to take, transmit the order and engage.
Piker's force, except for a few ships, all fly toward the middle with almost all of their weapons firing at the enemy command ship. Ship after ship in Piker's fleet is obliterated, but the command ship is also taking heavy damage. Finally, in a brilliant flash of light, the flagship explodes, taking out several other ships from both ships as well. The Firewalker and several other ships punch through. The attacking fleet scrambles into disorder.
Piker: Report!
Tactical Officer: We've suffered heavy damage. We lost 7 destroyer, 9 cruisers, 5 heavy battleships, and the Icestorm, our main support ship. But we're almost evenly matched with Float's attack force now and they're out of order.
Piker: Good, all ships, fire at will.

General Tacoman to all ships and Furbies in my fleet, initate an EMP at my command.
Now!

Before the communications officer can send the order, thirty armored soldiers of the Elite Imperial Guard materialize on the bridge of Tacoman's flagship. The commander of the company raises his fistgun and blasts the communications console to pieces.

"I don't think so. General Tacoman, you are under arrest for high treason. Resistance is futile, we control your ship. Surrender or die.

I don't think so.
Tacoman presses a button on a console next to him and beams away. He and his bridge crew materalize on a massively large battleship positioned just outside the system
Tacoman to all ships and Furbies currently in the battle, initiate self destruct. All ships at the edge of the battle, proceed to our hiding place.

"Emperor Float!"

Yes, Major?

"Our tactics are working, Sir. Lord Adon's fleet is outpositioned. The Furbies and biomechs on the surface are being destroyed as we speak. But General Tacoman is escaping!"

Are the Quantum K fighters in place?

"Yes, Sire."

Detonate.

Near every major ship in Tacoman's fleet, small fighters uncloak. They immediately explode, crippling the engines and tearing major hull breaches in the armor. Purple beams erupt from Terrios Vector Prime's three moons and blast Adon's battle cruisers. They immediately begin changing...

Comm, send the following message to Float and encrypt it...
General Tacoman to Float, I wish to discuss terms with you. If you agree to let me live, I will round up Adon and his fleet so that they may be destroyed. Also, I would be willing to destroy all the Furbies on the planet. Tacoman out

This is Emperor Float. If your intentions are genuine, have your command ship enter orbit around Moon X. I have no reason to trust you, but if you uphold your part of the bargain, I will let you depart.

General Tacoman to my fleet, cancel self destruct and go after Lord Adon. Helm, enter orbit around Moon X.
With that, Tacoman's fleet move around Adon's ships, firing and pinning him between the ships and the ship Tacoman is currently on orbits around Moon X

Float too sends his fleet, no longer concerned with Tacoman, after Adon. Methodically, Adon's battlesuits and ships are blasted to pieces. Soon, Adon's flagship is left, and despite Piker's fleet coming to assist, its shields are blasted away.

2500 members of the Elite Guard beam onto Adon's ship simultaneously. A full 500 storm the bridge, where Adon's crew resists bravely. Adon summons his powers and crushes one Imperial Guard after another, but he cannot defend himself forever. He breaks his concentration and tries to beam himself away, but one guard gets a bead and fires...

Comm, open a channel to all Furbies.
Deep... Dorp...Doga..Der
With that, the giant Furbies on the planet begin melting into piles of organic and mechanical substances. In the science labs, Furbies are also melting. One Furby realises what's happening, sets the dimensional transporter, and enters it. A scientist goes to investigate and discovers that the Furby set it to a dimension home to "KILL," an organization in which Tacoman's equivalant is a cyborg killer.

The next thing Adon feels is the sensation of cold. His senses begin returning gradually. The cold seems to expand to include the concept "wet". Somewhere in the fog of his brain, some neuron associates concept "wet" with concept "water". The brain centers that correlates quantity links with Broca's area, the seat of language, and turns up the word "drop". A cold, wet, drop of water. Things gradually become clearer, and the sensation is locallized. The center of his forehead. Suddenly, sound comes back to him.

"Welcome, Dark Lord. So glad to have you with us."

Adon, with the gradually returning features of his cloudy mind, idly realizes that his sense of sight is not returning as it should. Several microseconds later, he realizes that his sight is working perfectly, it is the room that is dark. Another drop falls, splashing onto his already wet forehead. Another sense returns, one that some psychologists call the "human sixth sense", that of discerning what position the limbs are in without visual confirmation. Drip. Adon notices that his arms are stretched above his head, and his legs are folded rather uncomfortably under him. Drip. He tries to relieve the uncomfort, only to realize he can't. His arms and legs are bound. Drip. Finally, as all his faculties return, one remains unreachable. His dark powers. Drip.

"I took the liberty of fetching a small, rather cute animal from the Imperial Zoological Gardens. It has the amazing ability of blocking your Dark powers. If you ever possibly get the chance to escape, let me reassure you that despite that fact that General Tacoman and I are still mortal enemies, he will be as eager as I in hunting you down. The system is COMPLETELY closed to outward travel. And this prison is completely secure. I took the liberty of reading 100 •••••• Mistakes to Avoid while Building a Super-Secure Prison. Enjoy your stay."

CLANK!

Drip.

Drip.

Drip.

Light years away, the remnants of Adon's fleet warp away from Terrios Vector Prime. Piker stands by his chair, staring impassively forward. In his chair is Admiral Strahd, rescued from the Zerstorung before it was captured, perhaps destroyed, no one was certain.
Piker: Well, Admiral, we lost. We lost the battle and our leader. You're in command now, Admiral. Should we attempt to go back and rescue him.
Strahd: He may not even be alive, Captain. I will make a decision by the end of the day. I will be in the ready room if I am needed.
He heads to the Captain's ready room as Piker takes the chair.

Emperor Float tiredly ascends the ancient staircase from the dungeon beneath the Palace, and walks into his Command Center, where he collapses into his chair. He sighs and rubs his eyes.

I was never meant to do this, I'm no Emperor...

"Sir?"

Oh, Major Thrag. I'm reflecting on the events of the past few days.

"Yes, Sir. Do you want the complete casualty list?"

Ohhh....might as well. No putting it off. Go ahead.

"In the space battle, 1 carrier, the Nevermost, 3 battleships, the Cirus, Veran, and Kiden Marr. 8 destroyers, 13 scouts, 45 gunboats, and 453 fighters."

Ugh, total losses?

"8,804 dead. 15,312 injured."

Wonderful.

"On the surface, twenty major cities attacked, including Imperial City. Three bank headquarters destroyed, three-hundred factories, ten ammunition dumps, three ports, one spaceport. Twenty-two-hundred private buildings and homes. 65,407 dead. 453,394 injured. Good losses, for a full attack on the homeworld."

Good, Thrag? GOOD?

"Well, sir, we had enemy forces on the surface. We were not prepared..."

I want this ended, Thrag. The old Empire was built on a foundation of pain, terror, and death. No more. As long as I live, I will tear down the old Empire and institute concepts that may well be alien to our citizens, peace, prosperity, and happiness. General Tacoman is still out there, and he is waiting to bring us down. The Empress is out there, and some of our military may still be loyal to her. We must be on our guard now, more than ever. And if my efforts are doomed, I will give the people at least a taste of freedom. A hint of a better life. So hopefully, if we are destroyed, our ideal will live on. If the citizens of the Empire learn how good their lives can be, they will never again submit to a warlord like Tacoman, or a totalitarian dictator like the Empress.

There is also another way our plans will work. If we can colonize, and spread the human race beyond what the Empire can easily control, we can make sure at least some people can live in freedom. Let's put this to work, Major.

"Yes, sir."

Admiral Strahd sat down at his desk and pressed a few buttons. The entire room went dark, except for a pool of light around the desk area. Near by, another desk appeared in another pool of light. The person behind the other desk was none other than Fleet Admiral Vong aboard the Zerstorung's sister ship, the Dark Tide.

The time we have feared has arrived. Is there anything that we can do?

Fleet Admiral Vong: "There are three surviving bio-mechs on the planet that can be regenerated. I recommend that we set them into 'B mode' and let them avenge our Lord!"

Admiral Strahd slammed his fists down on the desk.

NO! We want to capture the planet, not destroy it.
Fleet Admiral Vong leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms.
I will keep it in mind as a last resort, but I would rather rescue our Lord. I will keep that option in mind. Do you have any agents planet side?

Two hours later, Admiral Strahd stepped out of his office.

Send orders to the fleet. Set out for our construction yards. We must rebuild our fleets and prepare to avenge Lord Adon.

Sunday, Noon in Imperial City. One week since the Battle of Terrios Prime. Most of the working-class in the city have a half day off, so great crowds of people watch Lord Adon's captured command ship, the monstrous Zerstorung, being towed into the military section of Imperial Spaceport. The crew long since removed, and defense systems long destroyed, the empty hulk is slowly tugged into a docking bay, for analysis and refit.

Decker watches all this with interest. He has a sarcastic grin on his face, but underneath he is just a hair below furious. He mumbles to himself, a nervous habit that years of experience has failed to cure him of.

Crazy, idiotic Council of Superiors...have no idea what changes this pretender to the throne is making...catastrophic deviations...can't just sit and wait...must do something, soon...

Tacoman is standing next to Float, as a guest of the Emperor. Tacoman turns to Float and says
By the way, who was that man pretending to be you, and where have you been all this time?

Several buildings away from the palace, a sniper set up his weapon. He used a special sensor-scope that allowed him to see through most of the walls in the palace. He lined up the cross-hairs on the device that was preventing him from seeing inside the prisoner's area and fired. A neutronium slug was accelerated to near light-speed by the rifle. The shot traveled several miles through buildings and armor plating without slowing down until it hit the jamming device, utterly destroying it.

At the same time, a transporter activated in the vast network of ship debris that was still in orbit around the planet, beaming Lord Adon out of the prison and onto a small, high-speed transport that was also discuised as ship debris. The transport lept into high warp as soon as the passanger was aboard.

Meanwhile, the sniper set down the weapon and an internal phaser activated, vaporising the sniper rifle. The sniper took the stairs down to the street level, and as he walked, he pulled off his face mask to reveal that he was really a she. She stepped out onto the street and vanished into the crowd.

Alarms blared in the throne room. The huge stone wall behind the throne slid away to reveal command consoles and display screens. Major Thrag runs into the room, and Float turns to him before he can answer Tacoman's questions.

An attempt?

"Yes, Sire. It was executed beautfully. The sniper discovered our frequency modulation and managed to punch through the shields to hit the false jamming device."

Are you tracking the escape transport?

"Yes, sir. That part of the plan, too, is masterful. It found a weakness in our blockade, and managed to get through. Of course, they won't get far..."

A tone rings. The planet's sensors lock onto an event several light-years from the system. A display screen flashes into life, showing the retreating transport, moving far faster than any Imperial ship could easily catch. Suddenly, a cicular blip engulfs the sensor dot, and both disappear.

Good job, Thrag. I want more of these cloned Adon-Bombs created and distributed around the planet. Send a few off-system as well. I can't believe they thought I would keep Adon in a place they could ever find him.

Float turns to Tacoman.

We shall have to talk later, General. I will uphold my part of the bargain. You and the remains of your fleet are free to go. I would advise you leave soon, for my hospitality has limits.

Admiral Strahd slammed his fists onto his desk.

••••!

Fleet Admiral Vong looked up towards Admiral Strahd.

F.A. Vong: "You can still implement my recommendation."

No. If he is still on that planet, he will surely die.

F.A. Vong: "He's probably dead already!"

Admiral Strahd stood up at his desk.
We don't know that! I will not risk Lord Adon's life in that manner.
Admiral Strahd sat down.
There is only one person who can possibly find Lord Adon now. You have command of the fleet until I return, but you are not allowed to use the B Mode option without my permission.

Fleet Admiral Vong stood up and saluted.
Fleet Admiral Vong: "Yes, Sir. I wish you luck on your mission."

Then Fleet Admiral Vong, and his desk vanished, and the room lit up. Admiral Strahd knew that this was probably his last chance to find Lord Adon alive.

Yes, Emperor. And If I may offer the services of my fleet in the future?
With that, Tacoman beams away to his fleet, which departs for his base

Admiral Strahd and his small escort arrived in orbit of an uncharted planet deep in the unknown areas of space. Lord Adon had discovered it during his expeditions in the Unknown Regions. It was also left out of all the reports on the area. Only a select few knew of its location, Lord Adon, (then) Captain Strahd, (then) Captain Vong, and the fleet's navigator. The navigator met with an unfortunate accident not long after the expedition forces returned to port.

Admiral Strahd alone took a shuttle down to the cracked and scarred surface, landing in a deep chasm. He left the shuttle wearing a space suit to protect against the toxic atmosphere.

In a cave, not far from where Admiral Strahd had landed, there was a curiously carved archway. When Admiral Strahd stepped through the archway, he suddenly found himself in another place all together. He unlatched the helmet and kneeled down near the center off the room. In the center of the room, a floating form of a human appeared and spoke.

Floating Figure: "Why have you returned to this place?"

I have come here because my Lord Adon has vanished. I'm begging you to find him. You have always had a link with him ever since you showed him how to use his powers. You are our last hope.

Commander Shimmer: Well, we could try to just pass off as people doing business on the homeworld.
Captain Sancheta: If Float discovered us, we'd surely be killed.
Piker: Look, the first thing we have to worry about is getting on that planet. In order to do that we will need a ship that will look just like any old freighter. Can we get one?
Shimmer: Probably sir.
Piker: Then do it. It's a good thing Tacoman or Float decided not to pursue the fleet. They may have been able to destroy us for good.

The large floating figure looked at Admiral Strahd.

You are willing to pay the price to find Lord Adon?

Admiral Strahd: "Yes, yes I am."

Excellent. Lets begin.

A bolt of purple lightning erupted from the figure, bathing Admiral Strahd in electric fire. The Admiral screamed in pain, not so much because of the physical pain, but of the mental torture that the Figure was subjecting him to. After what seemed like an eternity, the torment stopped and Strahd fell to his knees with little puffs of smoke rising.

Do you still want to know what I know?

Strahd: "Yes! Tell... me... please..."

The Figure responded by restarting the torture, only twice as strong as the last time. This time when he stopped, Admiral Strahd lay on the floor, with smoke rising from all over his body. He lay staring blankly at the roof of the cavern, with a thin trickle of blood comming from his ears and nose.

Stand up, and I will tell you.

Admiral Strahd attempted to stand up, while the Figure taunted him. Eventually, he managed to get to his feet.

Admiral Strahd: "N-now... tell.. m-me... W-where... is... L-Lord... A-A-Adon?"

I don't know.
Admiral Strahd looked like he was about to burst into tears.
I can tell you this though. He is still alive, and he is not on the planet.
Admiral Strahd turned to leave.
Wait! You might want this.
A space suit appeared in the air next to Admiral Strahd. Strahd looked down at the smoldering remains of his space suit and then back at the figure in discust before pulling off his old suit and putting on the new one.

Right before Admiral Strahd stepped through he arch and into the toxic environment, the Figure spoke once more.

I hope we can have another one of these 'chats.'
Admiral Strahd stepped through the arch with the Figure's laughter echoing in his ears.

A small beat up freighter approaches the spaceport of a planet on the edges of the empire, a place where Float has little influence, and things aren't quite so good as on Terrios Vector Prime. The freighter lands in the capital's very old spaceport. Three men get out, rent a vehicle, and head to a small bar in the downtown area. They enter the bar and go their separate way. One of them heads to a table that has where a man in his early thirties with blonde hair is sitting. The standing man sits. He takes the his hood off. It‘s Piker. The other man speaks
Man: So, what do you want now?
Piker: I need to get me and a group of four other people onto Terrios Vector Prime.
Man: Ha, yeah right, get real man
Piker slips him some paper credits
Piker: 300
Man: Okay maybe I can, but it’ll cost ya a little more than this
Piker: how much?
Man: 20,000
Piker: 5
Man:16
Piker: 7
Man:13
Piker:10
Man:12
Piker: deal
Man: I’ve got all the information that you need on this PADD. You’ll be merchants selling scrap metal with a little business on Terrios. The ship is in Section 4 Bay 7. The Talon. You got IDs and all that?
Piker: The best we could get.
Man: Well then, your set, good luck Shawn, you’ll need it.
Piker: Thanks, my friend. You’ll get the money when I get back. If I don’t, give them this.
Piker throws him a PADD, joins the other two men, and leaves the bar. An hour later, the Talon lifts off