The Uli Rouge

[Craines]

((OoC: So, yeah, this one is another long one. But think about it; it's actually, like, three or four posts in one. I've just condensed them! You can thank me later =P -Harley))

Fiona looked around, extremely confused about what was happening. Why was there always something bad happening whenever she hosted a party?

"Julius, er, Mr. Kane, 'Lord Dark Star', yeah, whatever, I don't care WHAT name you want to use. I'll be happy to answer what is going on once I myself know. As for the invitation, well, I just wanted to see how you were doing. How everyone is doing, since the events of the Ska Ralla. However, well, that doesn't seem to matter anymore, since something big just happened. Okay? So please excuse me while I consult deSicev."

To her astonishment, as she approached a window, blast shielding covered it. The door was also hidden behind a sizable blast shield. She proceeded to a monitor where she saw robots rising from the ground around her villa and proceeding down the one mountain path. The shielding outside crackled as it was put into full swing. Fiona turned on her heel, where deSicev was waiting.

"Statement: Madam, defensive protocols have been initiated. It is not wise to stray from the safety of the lounge. Suggestion: It may be best if you return to the aforementioned section of the house. Statement: Do not mind the security measures outside. Explanation: Madam, a signal has been traced outside, as well as an artificial quantum singularity. Clarification: A black hole, madam. Addendum: Therefore, I have sent out those guards to ensure that whatever was stupid enough to come here to Gran Canaria and activate some bombs dies."

===

In orbit, the battleship Ska Feshir loomed menacingly, cloaked though it may be. A small craft had entered Gran Canaria, and had activated a pair of black hole bombs. General Artifice was not happy.

"Prepare to land the Apparition of Fear, commander. We will cleanse the Target's vicinity of these impudent foes, and bring fear to the C'tanlings! There will be retribution for this use of power!"

A shadow appeared next to General Artifice's chair. Twelve long, thing legs propelled the thing forward, and it spoke gently into Artifice's ear. "My people stopped using singularities once we perfected the Yrshimi laser. I do not believe that these humans could have discovered it without the proper stimuli."

"They have a drug. Cardamine, it is called. Genetically enhances the humans, lengthens their lifetime, but it slowly removes from them the ability to produce lymph. The humans have not studied the lymph system adequately to have found out this effect, however, and so they use it continually."

"Ah," the voice said, "so they have stimuli... Planet Malta... no, we never came here. It must be a naturally occurring plant. Nevertheless, we must discover who it was who recreated the singularity buster. That technology is of more danger to our purpose than if the humans gained cloaking technology."

"We will land the Feshir on the planet. Anything that dares defy us will be destroyed."

"Give him more time. My friend may be able to deal with them before we have need of interfering. As for now, Artifice, I must make use of my knowledge and find that C'tanling ship."

===

Sylvia heard the massive explosion and cried out in terror. She ran to Reggie, and hugged him in fear. "Reggie, I'm scared!"

"There, there. Sylvie, dear, we've been through worse. Trust me. Did I tell you the story of the Ska Ralla?"

"N-n-n-n-ooooooo..."

"Well, that rhyming name was a space station. It was MASSIVE! And we had to blow it up! With a PLANET! Oh yeah, it was awesome! Your mother, Eris bless her, got us into that mess, believe you me, but I got us out. Well, Mal, Dis and I. And Jes. Kane might have had something to do with it. Maybe even Rick. But your mother and sister? Nah, nothing."

"Hehe... sounds like Mom..."

"Oh yeah! You should've seen it!"

And so, Reggie began to tell Sylvia about the events of the Ska Ralla. Alan, Kate, and Spike all listened intently. XM tried to hack into the nanobots, to be rebutted continually. No one noticed the occasional drip of mercury-colored liquid around the edge of the little bubble the group inhabited...

===

In space, the Gammu representatives sped in, the battleship chassis glinting in the dual suns of Omega 49. As they reached Gran Canaria, however, they were seen by the Feshir. The battleship opened it's port side cannons, rolling the laser embankments out of their invisible nests. The massive armaments emitted dazzling array of colors as they fired into the Gammu troupe. No one on Gran Canaria saw, or even attempted to use sensors to detect it. No one looks directly into the sun on high noon.

The only thing to register the attack was Crystal Oni. And Crystal Oni knew not to mess with something that could dispatch the heavily armed Gammu people in a single broadside.

Oni attempted to contact Dark Star, to warn him, but the shield around the Uli Rouge was disrupting any and all attempts at communication. Adding that to the death of the assault units, Oni knew that there was a sudden paradigm shift. It went about ordering a few battalions of Phantoms to storm the villa. And if Lord Dark Star had been killed, the kinetic impactor stood ready to be activated, and to flatten the mountain into a pancake.

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