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The Scourge Wars
A Brief Stop

A Brief Stop

After nearly three years of hurtling through the all but empty void between galaxies, my group of nine starships finally exited their jump on the outskirts of CG-08623. Finally we were approaching the answers we wanted. Now I just needed to find Julio in this dense mess of planets.

"Sir, I'm recieving data from the galaxy's relay system," Benjamin said.

"Send it to Cai," I told him. "He'll be able to divide it between the other Cybers as needed."

"Sir," he acknowledged me before turning back to his console.

"Navigational data recieved," Micheal said. "Do we begin to follow the coordinates for it?"

"Not yet," I told him. "We'll wait until Cai's had a chance to go through the data and can tell us where in the taken planets Julio's forces congregate or go back to often. That's the chosen capital world."

"In the meantime," I continued. "Send word to the other Galaxy-Jumpers. I want them to gather up and prepare for the coming trip. Best we're all together for this."

"Sending messages," Micheal said. "Standing by for further orders."

I guess the academies were upping their standards with who they trained for Paladin positions and they were finally listening to my gripes about new recruits not responding whenever they were spoken to on starships. That or Benjamin and Micheal were a cut above them all from the start.

As the rest of my super-massive starships entered a minor orbit around us, Cai went through decades of data from Julio's people while in this galaxy and determined the most likely place for him to be. Without any more fanfare, we set off for the planet he'd chosen.

"This is it?" Sarah asked as we entered the orbit of the planet CG-08623-YS-HP-002; Julio's chosen capital planet for his campaign. I had to agree with her question. This planet was a desert world with oceans that constantly evaporated and then rained back down. That constant weather cycle was hell to experience and likely the reason that any vegetation on this world was a strange variety that could float in the water and rest on the sand. The temperatures were murder themselves without the weather.

"Well let's get a shuttle ready and get down there to figure out the answer to that question," I said. "We'll also figure out more about where Julio is if he's not here."

"I wouldn't live here if I could help it," Sarah said as Bunny nodded in agreement.

"Whatever you two," I sighed. "Sarah, you're in charge here while I'm gone. Bunny you're with me. Micheal, Benjamin; keep the light on for me."

As they all saluted and acknowledged my orders, I turned and began to make my way to the armory. This might be a visit, but something told me I'd want my armor down there.

"I should have worn my armor," Carrie griped again as we approached the door of the bubble-dome that had been built to keep everyone dry and safe from the changing temperatures. It was raining at the domed city we'd touched down at.

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"I'm glad that I followed the Demigod," Bunny said cheerily. "That looks like it sucks."

"What was the first clue?" Carrie asked with as withering a look as she could give while soaked to the bone from the rainfall.

"Easy ladies," I said. "I need you both paying attention while we're in here. This whole thing is giving me the creeps."

"Don't know why," Carrie said. "Everything looks fine enough."

"I can't explain it either," I said. "Maybe it's just the planet itself."

As we entered the airlock, Bunny and I removed our helmets while Carrie exclaimed happily before practically bouncing over to a curtain with extra clothes on shelves with it.

"Just give me a minute," she called before changing.

I shook my head before looking around at the place we were in and searching for anything different or out of place. I didn't find anything before Carrie was back.

"Okay, let's go," she said walking out in a new uniform ranked for Principalities.

"Try not to let the new rank go to your head," I teased her as I opened the door. "Principalities have so many responsibilities, you know."

"Ha ha," she deadpanned. "Don't forget who made up most of those responsibilities."

Chuckling, I stepped out of the airlock into the the domed city that Julio's people had made to protect themselves from the climate of this world.

"I kind of want to explore," Bunny said looking around at the barracks and training ground for the Nephilim that lived here. "I've never seen a world that we've built like this on."

"That because most worlds like this one are avoided by everyone but Scourge and natives," I said. "Come on. Cai's got the location of the person in charge."

"Not Julio?" Carrie asked as she squeezed more rainwater from her hair.

"Nope," I said. "According to his file here, he's at the front for something. Ichika's here though."

"Oh great," Carrie smiled. "I've missed Haruna. It'll be great to see her."

"I'll give you a minute to catch up with her," I promised. "We'll have to leave soon though. We are on a schedule of our own."

"I know, I know," Carrie said. "Haruna's never been one to send letters and updates like Kyouka and Matt. Julio's as scatter-brained as you sometimes, so I'd not surprised that he hasn't sent anything either."

"I'll be happy to meet another one of the originals," Bunny said. "You're all pretty unique, not like soldiers at all."

"That's because none of us signed up for soldiering," I told her. "I didn't hide what we were doing from anyone, but I was also the only one who knew from the start that this wasn't going to be more militant Starfleet."

"Starfleet?" Bunny asked curiously.

"Fictional organization that united multiple alien races in a coalition of explorers, scientists, and researchers," I explained. "Try looking up Star Trek some time. Old series but had a massive following."

"Excuse me," a man's voice brought us out of our conversation. "Who are you? Impersonating an officer is grounds for imprisonment."

Flanking him were a few others in armor and obviously on police duty today.

"I'm Demigod Rickshaw James," I told him. "These ladies are with me. I trust you'll escort us to Principaility Ichika's office?"

"No," the man said pulling out a pair of handcuffs. "You're coming with me. Reproduction of the Demigod's armor is illegal. False identificaiton is illegal. Finally, impersonating an officer is illegal. Turn around, before I make you."

"Cai, I want this man's name." I said to my Cyber. "Then I want his supervisor's name. Finally, I want the names of these people beside him."

"I have them," Cai said.

"We'll start with flagging them all enough to get Ichika's attention," I said. "After that, we'll move on to demoting them all by one rank."

"How long shall I wait before demoting them?" he asked as the man that had been speaking snapped a collapsible baton into form with one smooth motion.

"Two minutes," I said before turning my attention to the man. "Attack me and you will be spending the rest of your career with the Nephilim Army scrubbing toilets with your own toothbrush."

With a sneer the man swung his baton. Guess someone really liked the taste of cleaning chemicals.