* Date: January 24, 2183

* Time: 10:00 AM

* Location: Class V Dreadnought Oblivion Throne Room

''We're not done yet...''

''...Kaynian!''

Tale declared as he summoned Sarroth. Activating his back propulsion system along with boosting himself with magic. The returned Ghost sprinted to meet his opponent. Going so fast that his movements were akin to a blur. Gripping the elven blade spirit, Tale performed a thrust at the recovering alien. A loud clang echoed as Sarroth collided with the two energy sabers of the Warmaster. The Kaynian saw the approach of the operative and crossed his energy sabers to block the incoming thrust. Afterward, the Warmaster pushed the Ghost back a few meters before charging forward. Riasing his energy sabers up high before performing several slashes and strikes at his opponent.

''Perish, demon!''

Roared the Warmaster as he unleashed a barrage of attacks. Meanwhile, Tale dodged, weaved, and blocked the incoming slashes and strikes as he waited for an opportunity to show itself. And it wasn't long until the opportunity was given to him. The Kaynian performed a thrust aimed at the Ghost's skull. Luckily, Tale was fast enough to dodge the attack before raising his fist imbued with magic and delivering a left hook at the Kaynian's visor. The Ghost's fist landed, sending the Kaynian Warmaster crashing.

''Argh!''

The alien yelled in pain as, without his energy shield, he felt the raw impact of the Ghost's powerful punch. However, the Warmaster wouldn't let pain keep him down as he rose up before launching himself at the operative again. Tale held his guard up as the enraged Kaynian delivered the first strike. Reacting quickly, the Ghost blocked the strike. However, the Kaynian would use his other energy saber to thrust at the returned Ghost. Tale's reactive energy shield flared as the Warmaster's thrust landed a hit. Seeing an opening, the alien would continue and rush the recovering operative.

'Son of a- Ack!'

Tale uttered as he felt another blow delivered by the Kaynian. A clean slash connected with the Ghost's energy shielding. Thus weakening its durability in their fight.

'Master!'

Screamed the blade spirit as she witnessed her master on the back foot. However, it wouldn't be long until the Ghost devised a maneuver. Teleporting out of harm's way, Tale appeared on the right side of the alien, thrusting Sarroth at its shoulder before disappearing and reappearing on the left, delivering a slash at the mid-section of the Kaynian Warmaster. The alien gasped in pain before he was launched.

''Ha- Ack! Hahaha! Never have I met a more appropriate enemy such as you!''

The Kaynian stated as he rose up. Beaten and broken, the alien stood his ground, holding tightly his energy sabers in each hand. In the time that Tale had confronted the Warmaster. West, Nomad, and Bishop were given ample time to recover from the psionic crushing dealt to them. Their weapons were aimed at the ailing alien as they saw its broken body and armor.

''You're race will perish!''

''Not until you're Arc does!''

Responded the returned Ghost as he stood tall with Sarroth at hand. Staring at the Kaynian Warmaster, the Ghost saw its unyielding resolve in the face of death. He was outnumbered and outgunned. Strangely, the Warmaster reminded Tale of himself.

''You dare demon...''

''...You are nothing! Your race is nothing! Do you truly think that just because you were birthed by the Deities, it makes you capable of killing our Arc?''

The Warmaster asked, waiting to hear the Hero of Eldrant's explanation. Never in the history of the Kaynian race, except for the Deities, had any race been capable of killing a Kaynian Arc.

''When your race appeared ten years ago, it resulted in the deaths of billions. Never shall we let what happened on Pluto, Mars, and Earth happen again...''

"...If saving Earth and her people requires us to kill your Arc, then so be it."

Hearing the response from the operative, the Kaynian was enraged beyond reckoning. His psionic power raised in quantity in his body as he circulated it. A crimson-red aura flared as the Warmaster prepared to attack the Ghost Team. His body, albeit damaged and beaten, was not giving up yet. Thus, he could still potentially kill the operatives onboard the Oblivion.

''Then let's find out, demon!''

The Warmaster stated before he rushed the returned Ghost. With energy sabers in each hand, the alien struck the Ghost. He was barely visible to the advanced sensors and senses of Tale to pick up, and by then, the Hero of Eldrant realized what had happened. The energy saber was already connected to his stomach, both energy sabers cracking his energy shielding and Sarroth's magic shield.

'Ack!'

Tale yelped in pain as he was launched to the opposite end of the throne room. Being flung so fast that Bishop, kneeling and aiming with his anti-material rifle, couldn't even process the returned Ghost's silhouette. When the elite sniper saw his comrade, it was already too late. The two Ghost Operatives suffered as they collided with one another.

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

''Tale! Bishop!''

Nomad shouted as he witnessed the outcome of the Kaynian's attack. However, neglecting the alien combatant would leave him open to an attack. The Warmaster rushed the occupied Ghost, and a red flash occurred before he thrust his right hand with his energy saber, landing on an energy shield. The shield faltered, allowing the alien's weapon to pierce Nomad's left shoulder. Pain erupted on the operative's body as the energy saber penetrated through armor, skin, muscle, and bone. However, instead of screaming in pain, Nomad screamed in defiance.

''ARGH! YOU ALIEN BASTARD!''

Before the Warmaster could even react, Nomad quickly pointed the barrel of a shotgun at his face and fired twice. Two four-gauge slugs exited the barrel at hypersonic speeds. Without an energy shield or armor, the alien suffered a gruesome injury. The first slug penetrated through his chest, and the second punch through his neck. However, the Kaynian Warmaster wouldn't fall yet as he pulled his energy saber before kicking Nomad in the chest with a psionic-imbued kick. The operative crashed on the wall once more, now knocked unconscious. Meanwhile, watching one of his subordinates suffer at the hands of the Warmaster. West stared at the alien with pure hatred.

''Merci, increase my psionic output!''

[But commander, you're body! You're past you're prime!]

''I don't care! Do it!''

[U-Understood, initiating maximum psionic output!]

Heeding her partner's command, Merci amplified the commander's psionics tenfold, giving him a similar psionic reading to Tale, though not on equal terms. Crouching down. West's body flared with blue psionic energy as he propelled himself to meet the Kaynian in battle. Seeing the alien heal his injuries using his psionics, the commander pounced. With rifle in hand, West unleashed a barrage on the preoccupied alien as twelve-point seven-millimeter rounds struck the broken armor plating of the Kaynian Warmaster. Before the alien could react, his legs buckled, and he was brought to his knees, absorbing damage from the agile Ghost Commander of Sword and Shield. In the Warmaster's weakened state, it was nearly impossible for him to track the commander as he circled around and attacked.

''I'll make you regret ever hurting my Ghost Operatives!''

West shouted as he continued his attack. However, the Kaynian soon regained his resolve and, using the last ounce of his psionics, created a shockwave with a kick to the ground. The floor shattered, making it difficult for the Ghost Commander to orient himself mid-attack. Seeing an opening, the Warmaster rushed the commander. Throwing away his other energy saber, he focused his remaining strength on the remaining one. Moving at high velocity, the alien caught the Ghost off guard, leaving him vulnerable. A thrust to the chest shattered the shield and pierced the armor, penetrating through. West coughed up blood inside his helmet, obscuring his heads-up display.

The commander saw the alien in front of him. Its armored face was shattered from their previous attacks, and its body was broken and mangled. The energy saber deep in his chest had made him numb. However, still had the strength to hold on despite the major wound dealt to him. His vitals were rapidly declining, and if that didn't change. Then, the commander's life would be in danger. Luckily, help was underway. On his heads-up display was a message from Sarroth, Tale's partner. It only said one thing. ''Hold the Kaynian in place.'' Thus pushing his body forward. The Ghost Commander placed a hand over the energy saber and kept it deep into his chest. Seeing the sudden action of the commander, the Warmaster was perplexed about the recent development.

''Are you mad, demon?''

''Ugh! Call me what you want but at the end of the day...''

''...It's your grave!''

West stated as he held the alien close to him. Although he had no clue how one of his subordinates would come to his rescue, he trusted that it would happen, no matter the cost. The commander's trust in his fellow operatives would be rewarded as flying between his and the alien's face was the elven blade spirit. After harmlessly passing by them, a sudden psionic energy erupted from the elven blade spirit.

''Sarroth, switch!''

Looking at the entrance of the throne room. West saw Tale bursting with psionic energy, and in an instant, he disappeared and appeared in his place the blade spirit. Meanwhile, beside him and the alien appeared the Hero of Eldrant instead of the elven blade spirit. Tale and Sarroth switched places in an instant. The returned Ghost had his right fist raised up, imbued with magic. Arks of energy erupted from the operative's fist as he readied to deliver the final blow.

''For Earth and her people...''

''...Die! Kaynian!''

Screamed the Hero of Eldrant as he gave all of his power in one punch. His fist made contact with the alien's face. The kinetic and magic force was enough to sever the Warmaster's head from his body. The alien's body would fly at the trajectory of its head as it cackled with psionic residue. A loud thud echoed throughout the throne room as the mangled body of the Kaynian lay motionless, void of its red color now turned into gray. Seeing the corpse of the Kaynian Warmaster, the commander turned to see Tale.

''Well done, Tale.''

* Date: January 24, 2183

* Time: 10:05 AM

* Location: UGS Iowa Bridge

Meanwhile, outside the Kaynian super capital, the First and Third Fleet engaged, firing everything they had at the alien dreadnought. For thirty minutes straight, the fleets have unleashed hell cannon strikes and nuclear torpedos. However, the damage done to the super capital has been minimal thus far. Even without its energy shielding, its enormous size made it quite a challenge to destroy. However, progress has been made. The most recent damage done by the First and Third Fleet was their combined drone crafts' effort to shut down their main engines. Rendering it immobile, leaving the Kaynian dreadnought unable to counterattack due to its inability to turn its broadsides.

''Queen, what's the charge of our hell cannons?''

[Super-type hell cannons charge at ninety percent.]

''As soon as Iowa's hell cannons are ready, fire away.''

[Understood, admiral.]

Hedding her admiral's orders, Queen immediately went to work to prepare another hell cannon strike from Iowa's two cannons. All around the bridge, officers did their work as they relied on orders from the fleet. Although unable to move or counterattack. The combined firepower of the two A.F.E. fleets isn't enough to damage the massive vessel.

''Fleet Admiral, drone squadrons forty-two, fifty-five, seventeen, and the ninth have been eliminated by the Kaynian dreadnought's point defense lasers.''

Informed the communications officer, and Arthur couldn't help but curse at the predicament of losing another batch of drone craft squadrons. However, he didn't have the time to complain. He had a fleet to command and an enemy to destroy.

''How's our recent bombing run on the Kaynian super capital?''

''Reports state that the outer hull of the dreadnought has been breached by several nuclear torpedos from the torpedo bomber drones and torpedos from our destroyers.''

''Good! Concentrate our nuclear strikes immediately. Now that we've cracked the hull of the Kaynian Dreadnought. It wouldn't be long until we destroy it.''

''Right away, admiral!''

Going to her duties, the communications officer went off to rely on the order of the Fleet Admiral to the rest of the fleet. Meanwhile, the X.O. of the Iowa appeared over the admiral's terminal. This could only mean one thing. The supercarrier's hell cannons were primed for firing at the Kaynian vessel.

[Fleet Admiral, hell cannons one and two are charged...]

[...Initiating firing in three, two-]

Queen stuttered, and Kingstone noticed his X.O.'s sudden stop. However, it would only be a few seconds before the A.I. got to her senses.

''Queen?''

[Apologies, Fleet Admiral, but I have just detected four Ghost I.F.F. signals outside the Kaynian super capital.]

''What!''

Exlaimed the Fleet Admiral as he accessed his terminals and found the four Ghost Operatives that had just jumped off the Kaynian dreadnought. Staring quietly at the screen, Arthur was surprised to see the Ghost Team again.

''Why haven't I been informed of this?''

[Unknown, admiral. However, I suspect this covert operation was ordered by the deceased Vice Admiral of the battlecarrier, Yorktown. The question is, why would Abraham Gaft send them inside the vessel?]

''We'll soon find out.''

Kingstone stated as he eyed the I.F.F. signature of the Ghost Team, Sword and Shield. Noticing their descent into Eden's atmosphere as their energy shield flared. Luckily, the MK60GV3 Power Armor is rated for atmospheric reentry.

[They're descending into Eden's Mesosphere and rapidly falling.]

The X.O. stated this as she displayed a hologram of the Ghost Team's descent into Eden. The question was, where were they going since most cities in the Western Sphere of the planet had been taken over by the Kaynians?

''What's their tractiontory?''

[They're headed to Punic City.]

To Be Continued.