Vector looked at his radar. He did not like what he saw. The green dots that represented allies were far outnumbered by the red dots that represented enemies.

"Vector, this reminds me of Mobius." Merlin said. "I don’t want to get blasted apart again."

"This is way different, Mer." Vector said, "We have the home field advantage. Send a distress signal. If there are any Terran vessels in this time period, they’ll respond."

"Signal sent." Merlin replied. "Incoming communication from a Tairez Empire fighter."

"Put it through." Vector said, "And list that fighter as an ally. It’s Lorel."

"Got it, boss." Merlin said.

"Vector, someone just arrived. A large mobile suit shaped like a dragon. There’s a massive wave of fighters converging on it. Please assist." Lorel said. "We might sway them to help us."

"What good will that do?" Vector said, switching on his afterburners, and heading for Lorel’s position. "We’re already outnumbered. I sent a distress signal, but I doubt it’ll be picked up."

Merlin skimmed across the landscape, targeting the occasional Viper on the way, flying itself while Vector talked.

"There’s a large weapons satellite orbiting above the Ragnarok. We might be able to use that." Lorel said, "It looks big enough to punch through it."

"I’ll check it out." Vector said. "Stay down here, and try to hold on as long as possible."

With that, Vector turned Merlin skyward, and headed for space.



Lorel was having a horrible time. Despite her piloting skills, there was no way she could dodge every shot that was fired at her, a result of the sheer number of people shooting at her. She thanked the gods several times that an Aurora had shields. She lined another Aurora up in her crosshairs, and fired, the green bolts of her turbolasers lancing out of her guns, and tearing through the shields and armor of the other craft. It exploded in a satisfying fireball, and fell to the ground. She came up on the mobile suit, and hailed it.

"This is Red Leader. Unknown mobile suit, identify yourself." Lorel said.

"This is StarDragon002, and Yoshi6400. Who are you?" 6400’s voice rang out over the radio.

"Leader of the Red wing of defenders." Lorel said. "Are you here to assist?"

"Yes." 6400 said. "If you’re a defender, why are you flying an imperial fighter?"

6400 failed to notice that it was the modified fighter he had seen at the Pentastar.

"It’s a long story." Lorel said, "Just list me on targeting as an ally."



Vector tore out of the atmosphere of Yoshin like a bat out of hell. He diverted his course to quickly do away with a lone Razorback fighter, and resumed his course on the way to the weapons satellite. When he saw the invasion force that was hanging over the planet, he almost instantly decided there was no hope. It was then that a turbolaser from the Pentastar tore Merlin in half. Vector quickly ejected, and he then closed his eyes and spat a steady stream of curses as his lifepod was reeled in by the Pentastar’s tractor beam. He had failed, and Yoshin was about to be overrun by Richter’s forces. Vector suddenly decided that he should have stayed in bed.







"There’s too many of—aggh!!" Lorel winced as the pained scream faded to static, and then cut out. He shields were dangerously low, and her fuel supply was just under half. She spat a curse, and pulled the control stick, aiming herself for Stardust City once again. She needed to refuel and recharge her shields. She flew towards the city, wondering what would become of this world.