-COG octus canon. As stated by all COG citizens. Based on the concepts of Order, Diligence, Purity, Labor, Honor, Loyalty, Faith and Humility. That lead COG civilisation in hopes of finding a new age of peace and prosperity. Each of these concepts represented as one of the seven teeth on the gear that symbolises the COG as a whole.

UEC home world Equis

Light shines in through the ornately stained glass windows lining the rustic stone walls of the UEC capital. Draped from the ceiling of the council chamber hang the flags of each of the races that made up the original UEC that set out to face the fleeing old breed changelings in the stars. Delegates from each of the eighty UEC worlds have a seat here all seated in a circular formation facing the four thrones held by the four princesses. And beside which are the thrones of the dragons, gryphons, zebra, and neochangelings.

The supreme commander of the ninth fleet makes a gesture to the large tri pronged display before the council and three princesses. Her dragon scales glinting in the light as she gestures to the table prompting a hologram of the galaxy to appear.

The map is segmented into different pallets to mark different factions. The UEC marked in green expands out over five hundred light years, beside it and taking up much of the entire galaxy as they do not know the enemy's border the Lankys are marked yellow. And there smack between and surrounded by the Lankys the is the pitiful COG it being one of the only races to stand against the UEC.

“I recommend we send more ships to attack from the left flank of their empire. Our scouts and changeling spys report that their line is weak in this sector of space in particular.” The Zebra monarch’s voice is clipped perhaps portraying anger or agitation.

“No, my lord we can not.” My associate a fellow supreme commander, that of the third fleet says.

“For as you can see here sir....” The blue scaled dragoness began pointing a well manicured claw to a point to the galactic west of the presumed human border. “The western and eastern edges of cog space are controlled by the Lankys. And we just do not have the numbers to battle a lanky fleet.”

“Perhaps your fleet does not have the numbers to battle the mortal enemy of humanity but the fifth fleet we are among the mightiest…” The gryphon was cut off as a citan covered arm slashed the air.

“No,” King thorax cuts his hand through the air cutting off the gryphon. “The fifth fleet already cost the UEC several colony's. And with the red ships now normally aiding the regular black ships just two of their ships are normally enough to wipe out anything short of a designated battle group.”

“But my lord the Lankys claw ships are the ones that cost us the most to destroy, and with then staying near the COGs borders…” the third fleets supreme commander a graying buffalo spoke up.

A shadow falls over the chamber at the mention of the one enemy the UEC has yet to truly best in battle. In the sky above the castle a thin wire stretches up from the mountains peak the tether that links the capital to the orbital key.

“And you would throw ships at the claw ships in an effort to kill a single one. When even our hated enemy the cog were forced to ram one of their ships into a single one and detonate its core to destroy it?” The supreme commander 9f the seventh fleet, a male zebra says from his chair.

While all is being said, the normally calm tenth fleet’s supreme commander, an earth pony, just seems to stare at the hologram with slight worry “they are way to late..” he mumbles.

“Who is late Supreme commander?” The solar princess inquired leaning forward and addressing the earth pony.

“Several of my sub commanders and their ships have not reported in from the mission they were sent on some time before what happened princess.” the earth pony just sighs

“Perhaps they were intercepted between warp bubbles by the Lankys? We have had reports of several colony's going dark in that sector.” Princess twilight asked.

The earth pony looks at her replying “possible..but then again, maybe i am worried over nothing”

“If any of the command crews of those ships were backed up then perhaps we will find out if they are revived. But if not then perhaps they are simply delayed or not in communications range.” The lavender furred princess says leaning back in her chair.

It was then that the guard prime at the entrance of the chamber spoke. “All rise for Princess Luna, supreme commander Allikil Krykss of battlefleet six, and commander Polar acting commander of exploratory fleet twelve.”

“Greetings my lords.” Both the supreme commander and acting commander call out one doping his head and the other kneeling.

Heads turned and glares were leveled towards the silver and gold armored kleese. “Ah supreme commander Krykss was your campaign successful?” The solar princess asks taking an interest in her sisters chosen supreme commander.

“It was my league. The earthers fled and their world has been pacified.” Both he and Polar report continue as Princess Luna continues past him and to the throne beside her sister.

“Excellent, I am glad to see at least one of our commanders has shown some form of competence against the earthers.” Celestia comments as Krykss and Polaris reports come to an end.

“Furthermore for the safe return of my aunt, and the revelation that supreme commander rarity has been captured I must… is something the matter supreme commander?” Cadence interceded before noticing the kleese suddenly appeared to be speaking to some pony over his radio.

“Urgent news my lords. We have just received news that the ship suspected to have captured supreme commander rarity had been sighted. I strongly recommend…”

“Go supreme commander. Take sixth, ninth, twelfth, eighth, and second fleets with you. Bring the element of generosity home Krykss. You are authorized to use any methods you deem fit. But if you fear you will not be able to return her alive, you will activate her killswitch and revive her aboard your ship.” the solar princess’s voice was commanding, leaving no room for second guessing or deliberation.

Beside her the three princesses nodded their head, followed by the council. “Supreme commander I have several deep cover changelings aboard that ship. Here is their activation code.” Thorax says before celestia voice calls out over the dinn.

“This council is adjourned. Commanders, dismissed.”

The kleese and other supreme commanders wrapped there knuckles against their chests in salute before moving out. Their destination Tearus.

It was hard to look at the empty armor and not imagine that it was somehow alive. Under the armor plating was an advanced endoskeleton that fit snugly over the body of the wearer. The entire endoskeleton was designed to work off of the various assisted servo-motors that tapped into the reflexes of those that wore the suit.

The armor was both a blessing and a curse. The advanced AI of the armor would allow for it to continue to function, and battle, after the wearer was knocked unconscious. The main issue of course was that the software would follow the commands given by the wearer, or by the commanding officer via the comm-link. If there was no other command it continued the last mission assigned until the mission was finished, or it was so badly damaged it could no longer function.

Each plate of armor on the endoskeleton was colored for the section it belonged to. And looking at it I saw how my own favored the old military green. The emblem on the shoulders of the armor plating showed my rank, Sergeant, and right below it was my unit. The helmet, designed to give normal view, infrared, millimeter waves, 3-mapping, sonar, night vision, and ultra, a collection of other relays that I've never used. The design keeps the potential head shot down well below three percent, and even those good enough to hit the visor are most likely not going to penetrate the helmet itself.

A clawed hand sails past inches from my face as throw myself backwards. Responding I turn quickly on my heel grabbing Charlotte’s pale outstretched hand and pivot back around releasing her at the apex and sending her shoulder first into Mii'ora. Moth bucket sounds an alarm and I turn in time to deliver a punch to Bra’tac’s side.

“Red Team base un-defended.” Spinning around I deliver a hammerfist to the back of the Mii’ora’s brothers head and raise my head to get a better look at the field.

Black team consists of what is left of the Apex predators and Valkyrie squadron. That means myself, Charlotte, Doll, Lynx, Amp, Big Dog, Hijack, Bender, and Wraith. When the word came that our section were scheduled for sim time to test out the new gear we just so desperately needed. I ran the idea of merging our teams to Char and she agreed.

Red team on the other hand is larger being made up of made up of Mii'ora, Bra’tac, Durge, Aryanne, Gutsy, Trombley, Levoy, Forbes, Watkins, Fick, Packers, X, SNAFU, and a new face i hadnt seen. A man in vanta black armor with midnight blue accents an Onyx guard marked just Marcus.

Coming back to the battle as Wraith’s marker apperes on my HUD and I duck as Bra’tac turns to counter attack. He moves and a shower of magenta blood erupts from where the top of the bull tymerians head had once been. The crack of the shot comes as I turn throwing my leg out catching Mii'ora off guard and kicking her legs out from under her. Seeing her opening Charlotte draws her side arm firing two rounds into my girlfriends chest. “Thanks Wraith, you're a lifesaver.”

“Don't mention it... Twentys you've got bad guys moving in from the north. Looks like the kleese, the ponys, Marcus, X and SNAFU up front. Other basics in back.” The newest Apex predator reports over the squad comm. Using the stupid nickname “Twentys” he had given me after finding my service number somewhere.

Beside me Charlotte nodes a look of determination visible through her transparent pilots helmet. Her armor isn't really armor, it is more or less plates attached to her already less than protective skin tight flight suit. A stark contrast to the new MOTH battle armor I wear.

The armor is denser than the older model still used by the regular troops. It's plates designed to defend against not just bullets and blades, but energy weapons and magic attack. It's under layer meant to spread out and disperse heat, meaning that the fine people at Misriah armor works finally knew about the UEC were using energy weapons and how poorly regular battle armor defended against it.

But perhaps the most noticeable difference in the armor is the helmet, which seems to be a compromise between the bug suit helmets, and the the regular ones. It’s somehow both bulky and sleek posessiong a tapering slited black visor that that stretches from eye to eye dipping slightly at the bridge of the nose.

“Got it. Big dog, Charlotte, Doll with me. Bender, Amp, hijack, take the rest of valkyrie and flank around. Take their flag and get it back, hurry before Mii'ora and Bra’tac respawn. Wraith your on over watch. KTF, Hooyah?”

A resounding “Hooyah.” comes from the markers on my HUD Before another pilot and a second suit of MOTH battle armor comes barreling around a stony corner. With a nood Big Dog and I scoop up the pilots, bound over to an outcropping and set them down before turning leveling our gatts towards the approaching red icons. With luck we will be able to catch red team in this small canyon. “Stay behind me charl.” I send to her over our private channel.

“Oh i'm Right behind you Fally.” she says. glancing over my shoulder I see she has literally decided to get behind me, using my power armored bulk as cover as she levels her imperial smg on the gully entrance. The damn thing is so small and fragile I could probably break it over my knee if I wanted to. Why the Nordic Empire insists on using such overly engineered shit I will never know.

But then again my bucket is no better, I mean why the hell do I need to know the manufacturer, model, crew count, barrel length, and bore of an equestrian Manticore main battle tank. When the damn things could just say for example “tank” and get the same general effect.

“So, I heard we got a data drone through the alcubierre node after the majority of the fleet left the system. Got a lot of new gear for our 3ds and a shit load of mail. Anything from your folks?” I ask the woman using me as a shield.

“My ma’ma and pa’pa want to know when you will come back for a visit. They haven't seen you since you graduated your combat controller school six years ago. You know they want to know when we are going to do something with our eggs, sperm and that embryo we have frozen on Io.”

“Yeah well it is kinda hard to get back to earth at the moment. Plus your mom and dad are owner and CEO of the third largest company on earth. With Weyland-yutani, and Misriah armory, being just above them. They have better things to do then worry about some wannabe belter PRC rat from Pittsburgh 13. Besides I wouldn't be a good parent I'm a piece of shit, and a damn freak.”

“Do not talk that way about yourself Fally please you are more than some PRC rat. Avery, you fought your way to where you are, from the PRC, and to the belt. And when you were old enough you enlisted, and stored your sperm like the COG expects. You would make an excellent parent” She says gesturing wildly and placing a hand on her chest.

“Maybe But the only reason the COG wanted me to store was because my dad didn't qualify. Gran got the medal of honor before the lanky war and that marked me. And what about Mii'ora?” I say feeling myself get slightly upset.

Ever since the old UN damn near lost earth and the human population was dropped to a twentieth of its one hundred billion the new COG that rose afterward took more of a spartan policy. Apparently in some rad zone that used to be somewhere in the NE called Sparta or g
reece or some shit the strongest warriors would be often be paired with the strongest/healthiest women. It was an assurance that the strongest would survive, but the problem with the system is that it makes romantice a bit hard.

“Miia is a big girl Fally. And you know your mom and my parents wanted us to pair after we met. They were so happy when you got me out of that PRC and back to the embassy when we were kids. They approached your mom after the NE demanded that my parents find me a pair. Imagine the chances of finding you when they did, a kind boy who I actually got along with and liked. I've wanted to spend my life with you since we were young Fally, and you really hurt us when you went out to the belt. Fally I...” Charl says her voice small towards the end Movement catches my eye and I tune out her response.

Aryanne and Gutsy burst through the entrance dressed up armored NAC riot gear instead of battle armor, without the greaves or boots. The riot gear because the COG doesn't trust Equestrian defectors with true battle armor, and do to their inability to put on foot were meant for humans. The two of them bound forward diving behind a rock before either of us could down either of them.

“Alright Here they come. On my mark.” I say cutting off whatever Charlotte was saying. The others start to come around the corner now and when everyone is in our killzone we open up.

My M66 barks and kicks in my arms while my bucket deadens the report of Char’s SMG as it spits out rounds by my head. X, SNAFU, and Marcus dive into cover instantly returning fire. Rounds tear up at us and I instinctively throw myself backwards covering Char with my battle armor as pieces of debris rain down on us.Charlotte looked quite upset and embarrassed under me. Her purple eyes eyes gazed up at me, I could see the hurt in them, I needed to say something.

“Charlotte, after she died I felt like my whole world fell apart. I went out to the belt because i felt like I needed a place to put things back together again. After she passed I felt like I would never feel safe again… but the Dounis… you charl, you made me feel safe.”

With a pained grunt I roll off of Charlotte and raise my rifle over the edge of the rock I’m using as cover. Opening a gun cam window I spot Big Dog basically baseball pitch a fragger down into the riven. “Fragger out!” Harris shouts over squad comm. The throw was quite good actually. It sailed straight into Trombley helmet. The five inch grenade slammed into his helmet like a missile making him lose his balance and fall on his face.

The special ops mark 12 fragmentation grenades or “fraggers” are different to the ones the basics use. Instead of a single detonation our fraggers send out shrapnel in every direction on the first pop. Then a secondary fragmentation device is launched into the air to detonate sending more shrapnel to saturate the area. The entire process takes less than a second but damn is it effective. With a wicked grin I duck back behind cover and pull my own fragger from my grenade loops. “Fragger out!”

Boom, boom! The first grenade goes off seconds before my own fragger hits the dirt and explodes with its own duel explosion. A shot rings out and I poke my head out in time to see Gutsy’s left leg explode at the knee mid stride. The entire box is slick with blood, Durge being the main cause for us using two grenades lays on multiple pieces around the canyon. His green blood mixing with the crimson and brownish blood of Aryanne, Forbes, Fick, Perkins, and most of Red team. “I've got no eyes on Marcus.”

“I think I see…” Doll calls our pointing at something before a bolt of crimson light spears through the air and strikes her in the sternum. The bolt blasts straight through her armor and out of her back, leaving a smoldering three inch hole in her chest. She coughs blood onto her visor before two more bolts hit her finishing her off and making her fall to the ground like a sac.

“Woah what the fuck was that!?” My visor darkens as a second crimson bolt comes searing past my bucket before I see Marcus emerge from from behind a rock. His onyx guard armor is slick with blood as he levels a strange looking rifle at me.

It's matt black finish exaggerating its boxy design. A regular looking butt stock connects to a rectangular body the size of a standard carbine with a reflex sight. The magazine is standard loading ahead of the trigger guard. And the battery? jutts off at an angle giving the whole thing the look of a futuristic but boxy M-4.

‘What is that!’ My thought is quickly answered as my armor takes the ruby bolt in the breast plate. The force of the blow knocks me off of my feet and flat onto my back narrowly avoiding three more bolts that tear through where I had just been.

Lifting myself up with my elbows I saw that my new legionnaire breastplate had need dented. Glowing yellow slag rolled off in large beads to sizzle on the ground. With a hiss of pain I rolled onto my stomach half crawled half sprinted behind the rock charl was using. “Avery are you okay?!”

“I've got a…” Wraith called out as I turned to look at him. But before he could finish his sentence a ruby bolt sailed straight into his bucket, right where the slanted visor dipped slightly for better peripheral vision. The shot seared straight through the armor glass visor and out of the back. “Shit, Fallon I'm almost out.”

“Alright Harris, I've got it. He can't hit what he can't see so we chaff-smoke and get some fraggers in there.”

“Damn it Fallon you are always trying to get me killed. This dude's onyx guard he probably won't let ‘em get that close.” Harris interjected as I link my view to Harris’s gun camm in time to see Marcus snatch Aryanne’s struggling bleeding form from the ground one handed. She cries out as the black armored man turns using her as a shield to block several rounds from Charlotte's submachine gun.

His blaster barks out sending several more bolts searing into Charlotte. She staggers back as four of the bolts hit her searing through her thin armor. “Shit, now it's just you and me Harris.”

“Don't remind me.” a Csmoke sails over Harris’s rock and a second latter my one Fragger adds its twin detonations to the smoke. Taking a deep breath I take a step and vault over the rock sliding down the wall of the riveen

Glancing over to the other canyon wall I see Harris sliding down, his jump jets firing to keep him upright and deliver a boost of speed. Liking the idea I emulate his technic and five seconds later we are in the smoke. But just as I begin to see the silhouette of Marcus the message sounds ending the game. “Black team… Flag captured.”

The world goes black as the simulation ends and the pod clam shells open. As it opens I am blasted by the keening as it rushes back into my subconscious like a wave before subsiding. I wince in pain at the sudden sensory overload as I crawl out of my pod.

The next pod to open next to me was Miiora’s the light from inside of her pod shining dully off of her freshly shed and oiled scales. She let's out a small snort, whipping her head before turning to exit her pod. “Sorry about… you know.”

“It is forgiven my love, Bra’tac and I were trying to do the same to you after all. But I do wish you would simply give my brother a chance, to prove himself in your eyes.” her words were calming but I felt a ting of anger at the implication.

“He tried to kill me Miiora, and I ca…” I The sound of heavy footsteps draws my attention from Miiora and I see the onyx guard Marcus standing with his helmet tucked under one arm.

“Fallon, You and Harris are coming with me. Oh and before I forget the skipper told me to give you these.” His voice of clipped an order not a question and his eyes shimmer a deep blue as his implant activates.

My pdp buzzes as he walks away and I glance at it feeling Miiora press her head to my shoulder careful not to stab me with her horns. Opening my incoming message I see a set of three chevrons bottomed by an arc of three four pointed stars. My heart soars and I let out a cheer kissing Miiora on the snout before shooting up and following Marcus.

NACS: Galactica

“Takumi What can you tell me about the second object we received from that played fighter? You told me you’ve made a breakthrough.” General Barron stood on the bridge of his ship. Around him the bridge teamed with life as the vac suited bridge crew worked.

“Well sir the object is giving off Ibstine radiation. And we believe the blue shifting is a result of a very localized alcubierre field produced within the machine… And I think I have lost you.” The chief scientist on board said seeing the captions blank stare.

“A bit yes.”

“Alright, so the regular alcubierre nodes we use are wormholes. They are fixed in almost every star system like a giant web allowing us to move from one node to another…” the doctor began her explanation in as laymen terminology as she could. “Yes I understand that. It is what allowed us to travel out as far as we have.”

“Exactly. Well this device creates it's own alcubierre takion field. The jump if you will, those flashes the flayed used were instantaneous travel. Essentially allowing the user to move from point A to point B without traveling through the normal space time. It allows for functional speeds faster than light, without actually going faster than light a bit like a scaled down alcubierre node.” she paused allowing barron to catch up before continuing.

“General relativity states that the presence of gravity bends and warps space. And this device creates an intense electromagnetic field directly ahead of an object, then the field is modulated to... pull the field across the ship. Let's say that our ship would create a field that warps and folds space ahead of it, not just locally but over the trajectory of the entire jump. It will pass the warp over itself, attaches itself to the other side of the fold, and there you have it a spacetime jump.

“Indeed they are. I am sending you data on the second device we received from that lanky ship, to see what our 3D printers can make of it. As well as some astrological data we recovered from that UEC base before we nuked it, see what you can do.”

Suddenly an alarm began to ring out and when Barron turned to see what it was a member of the bridge crew disabled it. “Airlock alarm malfunction. Seems to think there is something in aft airlock six but I'm not seeing anything.”

“Damn new ships. Better send maintenance crew to check it out.” the exo orders.

So far the Galactica which had apparently been named after a ship from some old science fiction network show from the early twenty first century had been exemplary. ‘But this is still a shake down cruise.’

https://youtu.be/rdS9iq9-Kps

“Docking pads are extending…. Manitoba reports green, moving to dock. Donnager, moving into position…” the sensor, and comms men said with their eyes glued to their readouts.

“Excellent, maintain tight beam communication with the participating ships. Sensors any noise in the system?” Barron said stepping over to the tactical display. With a gesture holographic showed the entire system in detail. Each of the nine ships in the battle group were clustered around the Galactica in a defencive pattern.

“Three meteors will pass by the planet in three hours.” The sensor tech spoke, pointing out the irregular shaped objects on their slow parabolic orbit.

The ship shuddered as the first of the large ships touched down on the docking pads. On the exterior the huge nine hundred meter annihilator class siege breakers Manitoba, and Donnager were attached. Massive clamps extending from above and below the Galactica's port and starboard pods that reached out locking to several of the struts that ran along the exterior of the ventral hull of the two ships. Dragging them in and hugging then to its hull like a pare lampreys.

Next came the six hundred meter Leathy class siege breaker James Holden, and Belters Pride. The smaller eight hundred meter long ships touched down near the aft of the massive mile and a half long ship, before doors opened near its drives swallowing the ship into its bulk before closing.

Smaller doors opened along its hull now as four more ships were brought into position. These the much smaller and older belter made hammerhead cruisers Astrid, Normandy, Fred Johnson, and Matayo. Slowly the missile laden linebackers lumbered into position. Their escort of corvettes and destroyers closing and docking with their mother ships.

Before long the hammerheads like the much larger annihilator class ships and along with the three ex-Uec ships the Glimmering Wake, Shining Star and Black Arbitrator were wither docked to the hull of the Galactica. Or In the case of the three equestrian ships docked into bays usually used to hold frigate and destroyer class ships.

Finally three of the larger hangers opened allowing the two ghost ships Defiant, and Valiant that had been trailing the Galactica entrance.

“Final ship is... locked.” The hull clanged as the Valiant settled into its cradle, and powered down its engines. “Power status?” Barron's exo Adama asked.

“Power levels rising. Bringing it to screen now, beginning syphon.” with a wave of her clawed hand the myrialos sent the display to the holotank in the center of the bridge where the ships AI avatar “caught” it.

“Levels within safety margin and rising. 150… 180...200… and rising in the green” Adama began before the AI cut him off. Displaying several red signals emerging from the shadow of the fourth planet in the system.

“Holy… count seven three hostile Mark's inbound. Mostly super and regular destroyer class as well as several of their smaller cruisers and corvettes on heavy burn ingress.” The tactical station reported a tinge of fear in his voice.

“Someone must have tipped them off that we were here sound the one mc, bring us to combat stations. And redeploy the docked ships…” alarms began to blare from the system's station as sparks began to fly and the console burst into flames.

“Sir we can't disengage the clamps, or open the doors. The controls are locked out!” He says tapping ferociously at her screen.

“General we have reports of shots fired on deck twenty-eight.”

“Get us a visual now!” Adama shouted. The image they saw shocked them to the core. A mass of newbreed changelings in full battle armor were exchanging fire with a security team. And farther back behind a bulkhead he could see a squad of marines as well as an onyx guard and judging by their battle armor two MOTHs had joined the fight the latter three armed with only side arms.

“Damn it sound the alarm.”

“We cant sir the system is down, we’re locked out. Working to restore internal systems now.”

“They timed this didn't they… get us back online yesterday private.” Barron says from his command chair. Eyeing the tactical plot he watches as the six picket ships from Galactica’s battle group break formation and move into a protective posture. Before beginning a hard burn toward a mid way point between the his stricken ship and the incoming armada.

“Comms get me hardline comms with the externally docked ships, and doctor Takumi we might still be able to get into this fight.”

“What the fuck am I supposed to do with a fucking side arm!?” The slide locks back on an empty magazine forcing me back just in time to avoided another salvo of flechettes from the infiltrators.

My PDP buzzed and with nothing better to do I took a step back fishing the pad from its leg pouch. Pressing accept on the connection request I release the pdp and let it float in the air I reloaded my side arm just as an image of Miiora appeared. And judging from the speed the lights were buzzing past her she was obviously hauling ass. “My-Sergeant we have reports of a fire fight on the Galactica, we are on the way with a contingent of Manitoba's marines… Avery I…” with that the image fizzed and cut off.

“Fuck they're jamming externals.” My proclamation is met with general anger from the marines a d annoyance from my two fellow pod-heads.

“Alright that's it. You two on me we cant do much with our side arms their up armored. We need something with a little more bite… Marines cover!” Marcus shouts tossing his useless side arm aside.

The marines let loose with a wall of gel rounds, forcing the changelings back into cover. Given our window three three of us disengage our mag boots and kick off down a side hall.

As we floated along using the various protrusions on the walls and ceilings to propel us we soon came face to face with three infiltrators. The changelings were no doubt expecting to find marines when they rounded the corner. But instead they were met with the one percent of the one percent of the COG military an Onyx guard, and two MOTHs. Exoskeletons cracked and throats were slashed as we dispatched them and moved on.

We found our destination two decks later a special forces armory. When we entered we were met with a helldiver platoon and a MOTH team as well as a full onyx kill team. But instead if being intimidated we immediately set to work raiding the place for anything we needed.

“Put that down, take an N-4 some charge packs, a few fraggers and a get yourselves a bucket. Tac-link shows multiple decks are engaged around the brig so that's where we are going. But we cant get there through the way we came, so we will have to loop around. Lets move.”

Liasson corporal: Mii’ora

“Durge, get that door open.” The human known as Fick orders and with a nood and a “Yes” the large Zaltule warrior cast of the kleese braced two powerful arms on the locked hatch. “Where's the artificial gravity shouldn't it be on?” Forbes asks jostling his breastplate. As Levoy jostled the left paldron of his battle armor.

There was a table ripping noise before the bulkhead door separating the air locks and the rest of Galactica slid open. “First and second squads on point, fourth and fifth hold the airlock. Third squad move to engineering, hold that junction.”

Shots and dull thuds rang throughout the passageways of the ship as we advanced. And for several minutes we progressed through the various decks of the ship without encountering anything. Then as we rounded a corner and finally saw the changelings as a hail of flachettes from another corridor cut them to pieces.

“What the fuck was that? That was dope?” Trombley asked no one in particular before an onyx guard touched down, followed by two MOTHs my HUD marked as “Iceman” and “Big Dog”. The behind them the small cape like skirts hung from the backs of their belts under their jump jet nozzles flared out in the null gravity.

“Freeze!” Fick calls out as we round the corner leveling our weapons in the direction of the three males. In response the three took a single step back and seemed to almost blend into the grey bulkheads.

“Drop your weapons basics or we’ll lay your asses out.” The one marked “Iceman” retorted in a cold tone giving me pause. It seemed to be my suiter, but with my helmet on and the information that changelings were the perpetrators of this attack I could not rule anything out.

Ahead of us the three men seemed to be holding their own conversation judging by the light body language. But even as they spoke their weapons and focus never left our squad and I could almost feel the stare of the one that could be my love on me.

A shot rang out then hitting “Iceman” square in the chest and sending him flat onto his back. But that was all they needed, and soon we were pinned down by the two remaining males. That is until a three red bolts of energy flew from around the corner striking the males in their chests. Curious and wary we held our position and watched as three more males matching the three that had just been dispatched appeared, the ends of their strange carbines still smoking and breaking of ozone.

Then this new “Iceman” stepped on his doppelgangers chest getting a roar of pain from the changeling. This new Avery simply took his rifle one handed leveled it at the helmet of the other and shot him in the face. The entire helmet of the changeling shattered in a shower of green blood and broken ceramic.

The three then began gesturing to one another with what I believe her suiter calls better hand signals. The onyx guard gestured “Iceman” who rose a hand to our group. Holding up a thumb and two meaty fingers before making a circular motion with his wrist and closing his fist.

In response Trombley took a step forward his firing arm still holding his saw to the three. Michael's left arm rose with all but his ring finger splayed open before closing all but his ring in index digits with a sweeping motion. “Wolashi beltalowda?” Trombley asked

“Kemang the hell are To?” The voice of my suitor called out in response.

“Fighting ninth, milowda're here to fight. Hey koyo To show milowda your arm kay?” The two moths seemed to mill this over before a wordless command from the onyx guard made them lower their weapons. The “Iceman” slowly lifted his left hand and unclipped the gauntlet letting it slowly drift away.

The group let out a collective sigh of relief when we saw the grey and faded ice blue of my loves bionic. We now confirmed friendly we all lower our weapons as Fick steps forward. “Lieutenant fick twenty six royal terran infantry. Squad Fallon, and squad Perkins reporting. What's the situation LT. Colonel?”

Without responding the onyx guard gestured her suiter over. “Changeling infiltrators, have taken control of the detention center, flight ops, and the docking collars. No doubt they are either attempting to evacuate our prisoner or kill it. We will not allow that asset to escape .”

“Marcus, contacts have breached the detention block. Half are suspected moving to the entrance to green deck. From there they will have a straight shot at aft hangerbay eight” Her suitor spoke up.

“Then we hit them before they get to green deck. You basics think you can keep up?”

“We've got your back.” Fick says before an alarm begins to blare as red strip lights begin illuminating the walls.

“Miia stay frosty alright. If you get killed then who the fuck am I supposed to marry then?” My love sent me over a private channel before swapping out the box on his rifle with another. She stared at her suitor for a several moments before what he had just said struck her. “Hold did he ju…”

“Kill team, Let's move.” Orion calls out cutting her off before the 1mc began to blare.

‘General quarters, general quarters. All hands report to action stations. Attention all hands, report to action stations. Be prepared for sudden acceleration.’