There was a commotion throughout the passageways of the NAC's lost flagship as hundreds of newly enlisted troopers struggled with one another to get a view of the many viewscreenes lining the walls. Inside of the station one could be forgiven for making the connection to an old earth send off celebration during the second world war. When people would line the streets and docks to see the soldiers and sailors going off to war.

Streamers, confetti and raucous cheering echoed throughout the streets as the former slaves on Galavant station watched the massive ship that had come to their aid disconnect its umbilical and begin to slowly drift away.

“Hyperspace engine charged and awaiting your command general.” The Tymerian who was operating the helm this duty shift said.

“Very well, open a fleet wide channel.”

“Your on sir.”

“All hands this is the general, Galactica is about to jump for the first time and into presumably hostile territory. We are low on the fuel we will need to make it back home in once peace. This might be our only chance to get this fuel unless we can find some help out here. I expect everyone to do their best and give me one hundred and ten percent, lets make it home and show our family's that galactica and her fleet is still in the fight... All hands Action stations.”

Cutting the channel with a hand motion I took a seat and strapped in. “Anything you want to say sir. I mean this is technically the first real hyperspace jump in human history.” Barron's XO asked him.

All around heads were not turning in his direction. After all his crew was to well trained for that, but he could tell they were listening in. “Alright this is for the record… Hold my beer.”

With that the residents of Galivant station and the watching crew of Galactica looked on in awe, as the space in front of the ship crackled with electricity before it suddenly burst into a swirling whirlpool of cloudy bluish light that sucked the massive ship into its maw before disappearing just as suddenly as it appeared.

“Mister Fallon do you think you can control that thing when we get out there?” I asked the MOTH who was working as the tactical operations director for this duty shift.

“I have been talking to her for a while to get ready for this mission skipper. In reality i'm more of a back seater, the only reason i'm there is because her original… pilot i guess would be the best term died in the last battle, and they don't have the ability to grow a new one. On top of that it can't transform anymore, do to the damage it took so its stuck in inmomorebesde. Besides it does all of the flying itself. I guess i'm just glad the physical controls aren't that much different from an atlas, since most of it is verbal.” The man explained, as he did so I couldn't help but be impressed by the intimidating armor he wore.

As a stark contrast to the rest of the bridge crew with the exception of the SI guard who wore standard SI battle armor. Bridge officers wear regular vac suits incase the bridge loses decompression during a battle. Fallon however has on the new MOTH armor, its smooth glossy black contour and perioticly flashing visor painted an image I wouldn't want to see in a dark alley.

‘Attention all hands stand by for sudden deceleration. Exiting hyperspace un three, two, one, transition.’ The generals voice said through the oneMC. On the display the swirling blue tunnel of subspace warped before dissipating and being replaced by a vast star field with a large orange and white gas giant hanging in the lower left hand corner.

“Alright sir, the last fighter is in the bay, and the Flayed are in. We are ready to proceed with the mission.” One of the deck officers said tearing my attention from the lizard lover.

“Very well, Helm take us out, disengage umbilical.”

“Aye sir, disengaging umbilical.” There was an audible clang across the hull as the Galactica unhooked from Defiants hull. ‘Defiant this is mother bird, you are in the green, door is open, free to disembark.’

“Affirmative Mother bird, Defiant is leaving the nest.”

‘Copy that Defiant, Mother bird has eyes on, superstructure clear… you are go for acceleration, Good hunting defiant.’

“Alright, miss Kr’nel, three second burn, two G sustained.” I said eyeing my tactical display which showed the gas giant we had creatively dubbed as BG616-6k. The massive super jupiter gas giant projected a magnetic field that hopefully would shield us from detection by ant ships in the star system and hopefully the planetary system as well if anyone was out here.

There was a claxon before the high G maneuver was done and I was smashed into my crash couch as I watched the small chevron of the Defiant move away from the large triangle marking the Galactica. “Helm kill engine and run silent. Navigation layin a course for the fourth planet in the system.”

“Course laid in, on your command captain.” The ensine working the navigational commands said from her post.

I eyed the screen warily, before drawing in a breath. “Begin jump prep.”

“Aye sir. Beginning jump sequence.”

“Coil is charged, vibration is low. Spinning up L-drive.” Another more raspy voice called out.

“Wavelengths are stable… coordinates locked. Ready to jump on your command.”

“Do it.”

“Three… two… one…” The operator said as he drew what looked like a glowing red key from one console and slid it into another in one smooth motion before twisting the key. “Jump.”

“Damn that kleese. Who does he think he is keeping my fleet here.” Supreme commander Rarity lamented as she paced the deck of her bridge.

At their stations the various techs, and bridge officers worked scanning the area around the planet sweeping large sensor cones across vast sections of space. “Well I'm glad we're here first, if the humans show up it means We can show Krysk what we're made of.” A newly revived rainbow dash said from spot near the commander's chair.

“Woah!” A sensor tech called out, the mare nearly jumping out of her chair.

“What is it?” the calm voice of sub commander Polar called out over the din of sudden the commotion.

“I-I don't know sir, the scope is showing a massive neutrino burst two million kilometers from our position.” The sensor tech said as her superior came over to lean over her shoulder to see the scope for himself.

“Hmm… It could be worth checking out. Supreme commander, I suggest we dispatch a Corvette to search the area...”

“No.” Rarity interjected slicing a hand through the air. “We will go ourselves, tell the fleet to hold position, take us to those coordinates.” The unicorn commanded before proceeding to her station.

“Right away ma'am. Setting course, estimated arrival time… four standard hours.” the sensor operator said as the ship lurched slightly as it lumbered towards the position neutrino burst was detected.

“Valkyrie one-one Stand by for launch.” The flight operator said from inside of the control deck of launch tube three.

“I copy, Ice queen beginning final checks…. Check is good.”

“Solid copy ice queen, cats got the ball. Call it, go no go.”

“Cats, Calling it, go for launch.” I said calmly as I watched the man in the control capsule give me one final go signal. One open palm held vertical with two fingers of the other hand touching it. And In response I gave it a thumbs up, before knife handing a hand forward.

The support robot in the launch tube gave me another hand signal before folding its left forearm behind its back and dropping to a knee to point its right hand with two fingers extended towards the end of the launch tube. In response I goosed the engine and braced myself before the magnetic catapult launched me from the NAC stealth ship.

After exiting the Defiant I set my fighter to fly in a holding pattern as Doll, vixen, and Lynx, were launched from their launch tubes. Meanwhile I watched one of the ships freight elevators open before a lanky flayed fighter in its infantry form rose up to stand on the ship's surface. ‘Iceman, and Shiraui. Requesting permission to disembark.’

“Permission granted Iceman. Free to disembark.” With that the Flayed's organic jetpack and leg thrusters flared laughing it into space trailing a faint line of pink sparks in its wake.

“Iceman in the air. Valkyrie squadron let's proceeded to the mission area.” I said watching the previously damaged flayed maintain formation with my squadron. Shiraui had been damaged in the Tearus system, and had been damaged even further in the battle for galimare. As such the alien construct had shed most of its now useless avionics leaving it as a kind of organic space mech.

“Icequeen, Iceman.” Avery said as his face appeared appearing on a display on my console.

“Icequeen copies, go ahead iceman.” I responded as I fired my maneuvering jets, vectoring my course towards our mission area. ‘Lights are green, Im proceeding to my station.’

“Roger Iceman. Clear to proceed.”

‘See you there ladies. Shiraui lets go.’ Avery said as he disconnect the tight beam connection. Through my panoramic display I watched the flayed burst ahead of or formation. “Understood. Jumping.” Shiraui said in a creepy childish female voice before she suddenly flashed out of existence.

“That guy’s fucking weird.” Lynx said in a tight beam to Doll, Vixen, and I. “I mean who would willingly crawl into a flayed. Its like he doesn't know its a damn Lanky, or doesn't care.”

“Well, I bets it has something to do with those nanites. Did you hear they can't reproduce the effect in the lab? Or maybe the UEC did something to him when they had him in that lab.” Doll responded as both Doll and Lynx's faces appeared on my display.

“Well i hear, he's some kind of pervert who likes lizards. Have you heard he actually proposed to that tymerian on his team? Uugh, that's disgusting.”

“Hey, Lynx maybe you should lay off the guy. You know he's like the captains best friend or something.” Doll said in a warning tone.

“What, that guy? There's no way, he's a fucking loser. I mean sure he's hot but that's about all he's got going for him. Besides he’s a PRC hood rat, and the captains the heiress to the Dunois community.”

“Just because he came from a PRC doesn't mean anything. Besides that hoodrat has the medal of honor.” Doll says coming to Averys defense as I force myself to take a deep breath to calm down.

“Well I think Veteran Fallon isn't that bad. Besides he's a Moth, they don't let just anyone become a moth. Their literally the one percent of the COG, next to the onyx guard. Besides he is hot, and i've seen him around with that tymerian on green deck. They make a cute couple. So lay off Lynx let the man do his thing.” Vixen said finally adding her two sense to the conversation.

Lynx let out a puff of air before responding. “Fine then, lets ask the captain. Icequeen. What do you think?”

“I think you should stop talking about things you don't understand Lieutenant, focus on the mission. Before you really say something you'll regret.” I fumed before cutting the connection before I lost my cool.

“So Shiraui, what have we got in the area?” I asked as we basically teleported to our assigned position in space. “Nothing at the moment, but that could change. I am detecting elevated distortions and what could be a hostile pattern at these coordinates.” She said as she highlight a section of space on my HUD.

It's weird in here, everything in this cockpit is organic and fleshy like a womb. Not the wombs the ATLAS-3's use but the actual human kind. There's veins and arteries in here and there is a steady thrum almost like a heartbeat somewhere.

“Master I am detecting elevated brainwaves. Are you in distress? Would you like me to tear this lanky apart from the inside? Though if t may say that, that would be counterproductive to our current mission.” Armor said helpfully from his spot in the cockpit behind me. Barron had insisted I bring one of the combat robots with me just incase Shiraui decided to do something to me, like it would help is she just crushed me inside of her cockpit.

“Yes thank you Armor. No I don't need you to kill Shiraui shes fine. Its just weird in here.” I said as I shifted in my seat as Shiraui maneuvered around silently.

“OH im sorry, I had no intention of causing you any discomfort.” The lanky construct said as I saw a hand come up to its chest, in a very human, very unnerving maner.

“No... its fine Shiraui don't worry about it.

“Oh ok then..”

“Hey armor how about some music? It's gonna be a long few hours.”

“Very well master, what would you like me to play?”

“Something old, I've always liked the classics.” I said stretching my arms in the semi spacious cockpit. “I have never heard classical human music before. The human my original placenta was based on didn't have any memory of it in his DNA.”

“That's just criminal. When I was coming up in the belt this old rockhopper introduced me to this stuff on a salvage operation.”

The music began to play from my buckets speakers and out of Armor's chassis. “Now this is music Shiraui, not like that new shit today.” I said as I started to bounce my leg in tune to the rhythm.

Eyeing the instruments I circled a point of interest for Shiraui and my cockpit view panned over as she moved her head in that direction. On another screen I saw 3d image of her form repositioning it self as she used tiny puffs of gas to maneuver. Before half of her faceless head slid away to reveal a large eye like lens.

The image of the point i had circled zoomed in revealing it to be an earent cloud of stellar gas. With that crisis averted, Shiraui recovered her eye and began to pann her head around in a slight swirling pattern. On impulse I checked the air and saw the air inside the cockpit was breathable.

‘Whelp don't need this for now.’ I thought to myself as the music changed before reaching up and pressing the seals on my bucket taking it off and letting it drift beside me on a tether. The air in here is kind of humid, but comfortable… weard.

Watching the screen I reached into the supply case they had fitted into Shiraui's cockpit I pulled out a nutrient slush from the container. As I sipped the strawberry ish flavored slush the song changed and I felt the seat below me shift slightly.

It was subtle a clockwise and counterclockwise motion worrying something was wrong I glanced at Shiraui's diagram, and saw that she was making the movement herself. Swaying both her hips and arms back and forth slightly as we used both the rigged and her own passive sensors to scan the area.

“Like the music huh?” I asked the strange lanky. This thing acted a lot different from the other flayed in the fleet. It might be because she lost her placenta as she calls it. That might have caused her to mutate and become more independent, but that's just a guess.

“Oh yes, very much. It is quite stimulating. It appears your fellow humans have arrived.” She said cheerily as she panned her head around to watch the four gungnirs of Valkyrie squadron coast past almost ten kilometers away.

The next few hours passed with the two of us talking and getting to know each other. Occasionally I would ask her a question she didn't know and she would fidget in a kind of cute way before she would tell me she didn't know. Or she would ask me something I couldn't tell her and I would have to be that asshole and steer her in another direction.

Once, into about our second hour she asked to feel me. Now some have called me an idiot and like and idiot I thought ‘That was a weird but, im sitting in a lanky right now so were way past weird at this point. So fuck it how bad could it be.’

“Sure.” I said to the lanky fighter. Now that was probably the stupidest thing I've done in a while. What happened next wasnt something I would be forgetting any time soon.

Shiraui said “Ooh thank you so much.” as her image made an oddly excited motion before the cockpit constricted around me. The walls pressed into me and small glowing caterpillar esk “feelers?” began roaming around my body and armor, Fucking nasty. Then all of a sudden just as I was about to draw my knife and start slashing they withdrew and the cockpit returned to normal.

“Thank you again Mister Fallon.” She said before continuing to relay messages, conduct passive scans, and sway in her odd little dance.

I actually fell asleep the for part of the third hour as Shiraui and Armor talked, and by the fifth hour I had finished my third nutrient slush and tossed it aside to float the around the cockpit as Shiraui and I sang along to the song that was playing.

“There are walls and there are bridges!
But no problems when you're free.
An adventure past the horizon aaalways beckons me! Never say die, Iron Eagle, Nothing's forever, now or ever, Never say die, Iron Eagle
Never look back, never say die!” We both sang quite badly, as her swaying became slightly more noticeable. But just as the guitar riff started something seemed to catch her eye just as I caught the anomaly on the screen as well.

“Shiraui send a tight beam to Charlotte and the Defiant. Uec super destroyer and minor escort, on ingress. Count… Zero-two hours until it's able to detect the Defiant.” I said quickly before tossing my slush behind the seat and slipping my bucket on.

“Understood. Beaming now.” She said before pivoting to face the Defiant's position. “Defiant, this is Shiraui from team three, we have detected two enemy corvettes one enemy escort ship inbound. Along with two squadrons of fighters, with a super destroyer in the rear.”

‘You are at the extreme edge of our sensor envelope. We've had them on our scopes for a while and are running silent, we were only just able maneuver the dish in your direction. Icequeen do you have the data?’ Defiant beamed back to Shiraui who then relayed the message to Charlotte.

‘Affirmative, recon data secure. Ready for rtb and retasking.’

‘Alright, Valkyrie and Shiraui return to Defiant.’ As the transition cut off I felt Shiraui flip us around before being slammed back into the organic seat. Watching the screens I saw Charlotte and her people flipping their fighters around and burning back toward the ship.

As we sped towards the Defiant's position a dark thought crossed my mind and I turned in my chain to adress Armor. “Armor, at our maximum acceleration will we be able to reach Defiant in time?” I asked I linked into his UI with my implant.

“Please hold pilot….” The OS said as I began seeing simulations running. Each of them showed that Shiraui was more than fast enough to reach the Defiant. But the Gungnirs just didn't have the time to get to the turn around point and decelerate to the Defiant before the fighters caught up with them.

“Iceman to Defiant, Valkyrie squadron will not be able to make the rendezvous before the Uec fighters can intercept them. Please advise.” I sent to Defiant making sure to send the data packet containing the simulations as well.

Several minutes passed as the message traveled the distance and several more for the reply to come back. During which time a pit grew in my stomach as I watched the red triangles marking the UEC fighters drawing closer and closer.

‘Iceman, Defiant actual. New orders. You and the other Flayed are to regroup and delay the UEC advanced party until Defiant can take in Valkyrie squadron and successfully jump away. After you detect our jump you are to jump back to Galactica as well.’

“... Understood.” Was all I could say as the message played. I thought they could just fire some missiles or something but I guess that just shows how much I know about space combat.

Pressing an organic button I activated the L-com connecting directly into the synapse of the other flayed and their “Pilots”. “Flayed flight, this is Iceman, regroup on my position new orders just came in. Transmitting now.”

As the message went out I felt and saw Shiraui fling her legs out in front of her firing her thrusters at half to decelerate. “Iceman what are you doing maintain formation!” Charlotte yelled as came to a violent halt.

“Orders from top, i'm staying to make sure you guys get back. Get your asses to the defiant so I can get the fuck out of here.”

“What that's suicide! I can't believe..”

“Look, Im backed up, as long as Armor survives to let them know I died I can be revived. Hall ass.” I said before cutting the connection.

As I watched Valkyrie squadron sailing off into the black three white flashes appeared revealing the other three lanky fighters as the light from their jumps dimmed down.

Taking a deep breath I felt Shiraui turn around as she and the other Flayed formed a diamond formation. With an exhale I felt the nanites boil and began to see brilliant red fireflies fluttering in my peripheral vision. “L-drive charged mister Fallon. Please Stand by.”

Then came the keening loud and piercing like nails being driven into my ears. But unlike before I was able to manage the noise, sift through it and activated my implant. “I'm ready to take control whenever you need me to Shiraui. Armor, what do you think?”

“Four flayed against fourteen UEC fighters, and three UEC corvettes? I would say your chances are low master.”

“Sure Shiraui. Armor can we jam their communications when we arrive? It might give us an edge if they can't communicate.”

“Affirmative pilot. With Shiraui's help we should be able to properly interrupt their transmissions, however I do not possess the proper jamming packet.”

“Um mister Fallon can we listen to some music again? The other flayed's placental pilots are...”

“That's it Shiraui. What about radio music, will that work?

“It might work Master, I predict an 20 to 40 percent increase in our survivability should it work. Fuck it, lets have some fun with it.”

“Alright, let's do this people.” as I rested my hands on the sides of my seat I saw Shiraui retrieved her weapon from its hooks on her back. The large blaster weapon was essentially a larger version of the N-4 I use in my day job. As Shiraui lacks the racks and organic ordnance pods used by her brethren the crew chief saw fit to outfit her with something else so she could rely on something besides her spike cannons.

“We understand and acknowledge the Iron pattern.” the Flayed sayed as one before we disappeared in a flash of light.

“There it is again mistress, that makes two Neutrino… wait three bursts.” The sensor operator said from her station.

“Commander, incoming communication from recon flight leader. They have made contact with four unknowns.” Came the voice of the communication officer.

“Put it on the screen.” Rarity ordered as the operators sent the image to the window. Upon seeing the image the supreme commander shuddered. Three of the dreaded lanky fighters were floating out in space ahead of her small flotilla.

At their center was another of the fighters unlike its brothers it lacked the black coloring and armor plates or bulky weapon ports. Instead this creature possessed a glossy bone white hide with pink and glowing red veins highlighting its feminin frame.

It's forearms were still topped with the distinctive organic ordnance launchers it's kind used as ranged weapons. But perhaps the most curious part of the creature was the weapon it cradled in its hands. It a matt black weapon, its blocky yet sleek appearance and distinctive shape gave it away as of earther make.

“Communications alert the reconnaissance scene they are to advance towards their original target. If the report was true I think we have found our lost earthers. Helm full reverse return us to the planets orbit and tell the fleet, I want them on full alert.”

“Right away.” The helm said before the floor began to rumble as the ship began to turn slowly turn back towards the fourth planet.

“Ma'am sending the message to the fli….Gah!!” The operator began before the communication channel began to blare with white noise.

“What is that!” Commander Polar shouted as he covered his ears trying to drown out the sudden and violent screeching noise.

“Something is trying to get… into our communication network!” The comms officer yelled as on the screen the three lanky fighters fired six of their glowing red jellyfish like missiles towards the fighter screen.

Instantly the fighters broke off to avoid the missiles but do to their close proximity two of them crashed into one another as. “Stay on…” was all the flight leader was able to say before all lines of communication went dead.

“Hello, Clops and calebs, and thank you for tuning in to DJ Fallon and the fresh tunes! We hope you enjoy earth's classical hits.” A familiar voice called out over the channel.

“Fallon? Isn't that the guy you captured a little while ago Rarity?” Rainbow dash asked Rarity who ground her teeth. “Yes, I was told he and those with him had escaped. But how did he get the tartarus off I wander… unless....” her line of thought was cut off as music began to blare out of the speakers.

‘Oooooo’

As the music began the four lanky contacts on the screen seemed to fall backwards before their engines ignited sending red and pink sparks into space behind them. In their wake several of the fighters broke formation to follow the lankys.

‘It's just a ball of dust! Underneath my feet, It rolls around the sun, doesn't mean that much to me!’

“Damn it!” Rarity shouted at her advanced formation slamming her palm into her command chair. And as she watched the bone collapse lanky slammed its claw into the cockpit of a cocatrice fighter.