When Siri and I got back to the staging area, Grainne and Deanna snapped to attention, as did the Einherjar. Someone called out a warning that their War Leader had arrived, and in moments, I was presented with dozens – if not hundreds – of salutes from my troops. I returned the salute, and went to confer with my aides.

“Status report, Grainne.”

“Yes, ma’am. The strike force is equipped and geared up for a heavy assault. The insertion team is carrying heavy explosive charges, and both Deanna and I have the linked detonators. By the way, here’s your detonator, ma’am.”

“Thank you, Grainne.” I said. “Please go on.”

“We have 120 Einherjar, twenty of them in hardsuits and equipped with heavy assault weapons designed for boarding actions. The rest of the company is equipped for aerial dogfights and long distance ranged combat, to deal with any incoming fire from the Krell Warship, or in case they deploy fighter craft.”

“That’s great. How are the troops, Deanna?”

“Their morale is high, and we’re ready to go, War-Leader. They know this attack is important – and they’re ready for a fight. Some of them know its your second go around with these assholes, and they figure you must be charmed to have survived. Either way, we all want to get our people back before we blow their ship to pieces.”

I smiled – but it was a bit hard to tell whether it was my smile, Siri’s smile, or a mixture of both our smiles. It was genuine, but a bit feral. “Then let’s not keep them waiting. Assemble everyone on the staging area, and prepare for translation.”

Deanna nodded, and started issuing commands, and Grainne took a last look at some mission parameters and went to help her comrade. I couldn’t help but notice that they both had armor that covered far more than mine did – showing apparently that they were mid ranked valkyries at best. Not the newest, but not the oldest. Still, they looked like they knew what they were doing to Siri’s eyes, so that was good enough for me.

So, Siri... Just so we don’t look like complete idiots, we can translate this many troops with us, can’t we? I asked.

*Yes – although it is going to be taxing. If Grainne and Deanna aid us, it would be easier – but we won’t arrive in the correct positions for our attack plan – which may give the Krell time to react. I advise we take the hit and do it ourselves. Instead of teleporting us directly via the Bifrost, I suggest you open three portals – I’ll show you how – and have each of the three units walk through on their own. When we arrive – in position – and move to attack, we’ll be almost certain to take the Krell by surprise. It may stun us when we arrive, but I think we’ll recover quickly enough that it shouldn’t affect the mission.*

Okay, then we’ll do it that way. How in Hel do I open a portal, let alone three?

*Remember when we drew on the power within us to call the Bifrost and open a path to Asgard? It’s like that, but different. You need to see in your mind where you’re going – like the images from the mission briefing – and lock it in your mind, like we did on Asgard itself when we came here. That’s your beacon – to keep you from going off course. Once you have your beacon set in your mind, you call the Bifrost – but instead of flying within it, you push against it, until it pops open like a soap bubble – that bubble popping is the portal forming. There’s all sorts of science and physics behind it – but its a hell of a lot easier to call it magic and know it works that way when we need it to. I’m a warrior, not a scientist, after all. It’ll get us there.*

How are we going to survive in outer space? Does our armor act as a space suit?

*Yep! Got it in one! It also gives us enhanced manoueverability with our innate flight. We’ll need to manifest wings when we fly in space – they kind of act like solar sails and give us extra speed. We can still fly without them – but its a lot easier to steer and gain velocity when they’re revealed.*

Oh – okay. I replied. Would you mind doing the honors for the first portal, and show me what you’re doing – and then I’ll try doing the other two?

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*Sure thing, Sannyr!*

I looked over at the troops – Grainne and Deanna had most of them assembled. We were ready to go. I grabbed my new spear and sword – Siri’s fancy sword Draugrfing was also still with us. I could tell Siri was worried about it getting hurt in battle, but she knew it was thirsty for battle... She whispered it had been over five centuries since she carried it into battle. I couldn’t help but wonder who Helgi was, and how he could have affected Siri so much – but I kept my thoughts to myself. Whomever Helgi was, it was obviously a very private, personal memory. It’s not my business to pry, at least for now. Let her have some privacy.

I turned to the other Valkyries – and apparently in the short moment I had taken to think, they had finished getting the troops assembled and ready – for the entire troop was standing, waiting for orders. My orders. Gulp... No Pressure, I thought.

*Don’t worry, Sannyr. We got this.* Siri said, trying to encourage me.

Thanks Siri, I replied. I guess let’s do this. I steeled myself, and approached the troops.

“Greetings, brothers and sisters.” I began. “Our mission is to rescue our kidnapped brothers and sisters before the Krell can do worse to them and kill their hosts – and then destroy their ship and its weapon utterly. You’ve all been briefed by Grainne and Deanna... You know what we have to do. Do you stand ready?”

“Aye!” a hundred and some voices cried out, some nervous – but all eager for battle.

“Then I shall open the way.” I turned, and walked to an open part of the staging area – large enough for the three units to walk side by side, and began opening the first portal. “Grainne, this portal is for you and your team.”

“Yes, War Leader!” She replied. “Get ready, men!” Grainne called to the Einherjar.

Siri took the lead this time, summoning the power of the Bifrost from the raging power within our veins – until I and the area around me was surrounded in rainbow light – and then took her new spear, and drew in the air a circle about ten feet in diameter, and pushed... and suddenly, the circle of light was popped – and all that was left was a rainbow circle, with the void of space on the far side. Through the portal, I could distantly see the Krell ship – and the surface of the moon. It was utterly dark – the moon blocked the sun’s light – so I’m not exactly sure how I could see, but I figured that was either one of my Valkyrie or Asynjur powers I hadn’t figured out yet.

Why aren’t we being sucked out of here into space from the vacuum, Siri?

*It’s easier to say magic. I can try to explain later, but as I said, I’m not really a scientist.*

Nah, this is fine, I thought. My turn now. I moved to Deanna’s unit and opened her portal next – and it was draining – like a sense of fatigue that left you feeling weak, but not unable to do what you must. It would be inconvenient, but it shouldn’t be too bad, just like Siri said. When that portal was done, I moved to my strike force, and opened the third portal. All three portals stood open, and the three strike forces were waiting for the order.

This was the moment. Siri and I were ready. I turned to the troops, and yelled. “All together! For Asgard! For glory! For our brothers and sisters! Death to the Krell! Attack!”

We poured through the portals into the depths of space, screaming battle cries!

* * *

I charged through the portal, followed by my unit, into the void of space... before I could even notice, whatever life-support systems in the armor activated and protected me and the others from the chilling cold, lack of air and pressure, and presumably cosmic radiation as well. Pretty cool!

Siri borrowed my voice and barked commands. “Soldiers, deploy wings and disperse, operation Alpha one! Insertion team, on me!” As she did, I felt glowing wings of golden light emerge from my shoulders – I could feel them! – and suddenly, I was far more manueverable. Siri, temporarily in control, led the unit closer. “Grainne, Deanna, lead your troops into medium range, full dispersion, and try to take out their point defence. My team will push them towards the gravity well of the Moon, and we’ll put plan B into motion as soon as the Krell are fully engaged with your teams.”

Grainne’s and Deanna’s voice from the ether – some sort of magical sending, rather than a radio, I think – replied. “Understood, War leader. My Odin watch over you.”

“Thank you, and you too, sisters. Sannyr out.”

*Sorry Sannyr – I felt it was better to manuever the troops and give the orders, at least until you know more about what to do. I won’t seize control like that again, unless I have to.*

“It’s all good.” I said quietly. “You at least know what you’re doing. I’m green, and virtually untested. Do what you have to, to bring our people home, okay?”

*Okay.* Siri replied, but I want you in control unless I need to be.

Gulp. "Okay." No Pressure. Right. I turned to the unit. “Team A, press the attack, and keep yourselves dispersed! Team B, press the attack until the other units fully engage their point defence, and then stick close to me for an attack run!”

A chorus of “Aye’s” came back to me, and I readied my Spear as we swept towards the Krell Ship.

I’m not sure how fast we were flying, but the distance was falling rapidly – and a moment later the Krell ship seemed to detect us! It manuevered to bring its weapons to bear, but before it could do so, Grainne’s team opened fire with some long-range weapons, and small explosions and blasts started appearing on the hull of the Krell ship – and then Deanna’s team engaged too. Siri whispered we were about to be in range any moment.

“Press the attack as soon as we’re in range, and keep the heat on until Team B and I get inside. After that, go to Evasive plan Delta and keep them busy! Sigmund, while I’m gone, you’re in command of the team.” The senior Einherjar nodded, and took command. Siri had informed me of some of the non-coms in the Einherjar. and Sigmund was one of the most senior Einherjar, and had centuries of battle experience. He would take care of my people.

Explosions and laser bursts started appearing on the Krell ship like tiny roses of fire blooming on their hull – and then the Krell fired back – lances of laser light reached through the void of space, burning anything in their path to ash, and small missiles launched from their missile tubes, only to be detonated by our counter-fire. For some reason, they had yet to fire their symbiote-destroying weapon. I wasn’t sure why, but I’m not one to look a gift horse in the mouth!

“Team B, on me!” I called, and then swept in for the attack. “For Asgard!”

Battle was joined!