As the ramp descended from the battleship's airlock, Emperor picked up his hammer and strode to about 30 meters from where the base of the ramp should land. Smiling jovially, he gestured grandly for them to come down. "Welcome to System Central Station, home of the System Users and final bastion against the Theriope!"

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Ice looked at the man standing in what looks like one of those steampunk cosplays seen at conventions. This one, however, was taken to another level. Something about the man's welcoming stance worried him. In fact, he couldn't put his finger on what it was, but a lot of things about this large empty docking bay worried him. "Captain, there might be something wrong here."

"Human, I think you might be right. There should be a crew of hundreds here. Some of them should be in the docking bay. Where is everyone?" Captain Drake looked around one of his four hands dropping to the boltor at his waist. He nodded to Sergeant Brigham who casually placed a hand in the pocket of his dress uniform.

Ice looked at the captain's hand nervously caressing the boltor and quietly asked Raven to send the D.O.Gs to the top of the ramp. The Captain motioned for him and Sergeant Brigham to fall in and greet the man in front of them. The closer they got, the more nervous Ice felt. He could smell the man. It was like nothing Ice had ever smelled before. Oil and … something else.

As they grew nearer to the man Ice looked at the cannon mounted to his shoulder and at the hammer carried casually over the other shoulder. The man looked perfectly at ease. However, Ice could feel a palpable tension from the man, like he was ready to lash out at any second.

When they reached the man, Captain Drake snapped to attention and saluted. "Reporting as ordered, sir."

"You must be the vaunted Captain Drake? Reports say you're a good Captain. Solid. Reliable. Relax, such formality isn't necessary here." The man looked at Ice. "They call me Emperor. Although I still prefer to go simply by Clockwork. You must be the new User."

"Ice, I am sensing an invasive signal trying to disable me. Be careful." Raven warned him.

Ice held out his armored hand for the man to shake. "So I'm told. All of this is a little overwhelming to be honest."

Clockwork laughed. "It's been so long since we had a new System User. You have to be very careful shaking anyone's hands. Everyone here is … Fragile." He took Ice's hand in a firm hold. The armor on both men screeched at the contact, causing the other to flinch.

"I noticed that." Ice glanced back at the formation behind them. "Perhaps dismissing the crew would be good?"

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

"Oh no… I want them where I can see them. Perhaps I will even have them for a feast." Clockwork chuckled as if making a grand joke.

"Ah well… I am going to get my ship unloaded. If that's not a problem?"

"Should be alright. Why don't you take Captain and Sergeant here to help you. I'll show the rest of the crew to the Mess Hall. I'm sure they must be hungry for something besides ship food."

Without another word Ice turned and walked away, Captain and Sergeant following him. After they were far enough they wouldn't be heard, Ice looked at the captain as he spoke. "I can't put my finger on it but something is very wrong here."

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Ducky watched as Ice's combat drones left the Nano Forge and fretted about his new friend. "I'm sure he will be alright but he's not as tough as Alanna was and she still died." He spoke to himself. He ended the sentence with a quack as he ruffled his feathers.

He was just finishing the emergency fuel cell connection when he heard voices and footsteps as someone entered the ship. He checked the internal camera and immediately rushed towards the main airlock.

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Ice staggered as Ducky hit him at a run. The nano mallard had reformed and seemed to have gained weight. "Easy Ducky. Were getting the ship out and into the station's docking bay. I want to be ready to make a getaway if we have to."

"About that Captain. We barely have the fuel to keep the systems running or fire the guns once or twice. We won't be going very far if we have to flee."

Captain Drake stepped forward. "You are more than welcome to use some of the battleship's fuel. It shouldn't take much to fuel this old heap."

Ducky gave the Captain the side eye. Ice knew the nano mallard was considering whether or not to stab Captain Drake."Your fuel isn't compatible with the Nano Forge. We need Enzyme fuel."

"That's illegal!" The Sergeant blurted out, then realizing what he'd done had the good grace to look embarrassed. "Enzyme fuel is reserved for the Automaton Dreadnaughts. This destroyer can't run on it. That would be absurd!"

"You do know this is System Warship Nano Forge right? It was the 8th most powerful ship to ever leave the Shipyards of Artemis 1. Crewed solely by nano constructs and owned by Alanna the Amazon and her AI Alice the Weapon Forge."

Sergeant sputtered for a second before lapsing into silence.

"The station should have a stockpile of enzyme fuel. I'm sure we can fill this ship multiple times if we had to. I'll send a communication to the supply officer and have some requisitioned." The captain stepped away for a few minutes and spoke into the air. Waited. Then spoke again. When he returned his face was pale. "None of the crew are responding. Something is happening."

Ice nodded. "I wondered how long until a red flag boss would appear. I don't think we can take him. I don't know if it was his armor or his own strength but." Ice held up his armored hand silently; the armor had cracks in it where it had barely resisted Emperor's grip. "We need to get the fuel and leave. Do either of you know where it is stored?"

Sergeant and Captain both looked at him like he was crazy. "I am not abandoning my crew!" Captain began furiously.

"I know that." Ice interrupted. "I meant we all need to leave. I'll get the fuel while you round up your crew. Get them on your battleship and off the station as soon as you can."

Captain eyed him for a moment before nodding. "I think you're right, but what do we do about Emperor? He is a hero of the Empire, not to mention, he controls more military might with his Automaton Dreadnaughts then the entire Imperial Navy."

"I don't know." Ice said, shaking his head slowly. "But we can't do anything if we stay here."

"You're both being absurd. This is the safest place in the universe. I'm sure the crew is fine. Just because one or two officers didn't respond means nothing!" Sergeant, once again, burst into the conversation.

"I used the all hands code and you didn't receive a message, Sergeant. That means we are being jammed. The only reason to jam the signal is during combat. But yes we should check on the crew before we pan…"

A voice blared over the ship's intercom interrupting the captain’s plan."Ice, I thought you should know. I am going to test you. However, you have brought me many tasty morsels, the finest meal I've had in years. Abandon Captain and Sergeant, and you might survive but I promise I will kill you if you don't. I have disabled the battleship. And my scans show you're out of fuel. Come and fight me. Don't be a coward like the others."

Both the captain and the sergeant turned ghost white. "The rumors were true." Captain whispered horrified.