Echo Part 11
Story by MagnumWolf2 on SoFurry
Bucky O'Hare (c) Hasbro
Four months have passed since the start of the feline Civil War, with the Hazard Corps and it's founder having been effectively put out of commission, the already deteriorating situation being made worse as the rebel forces have dealt significant blows to the UAC and Sisterhood as both find their fleets, militaries and assets being drained due to the sever attrition against the radical psionics. However three months into this, the toads have launched a new offensive themselves with stripped back versions of their equipment against both sides, effectively marking the beginning a full scale three-facing war. That being said, the UAC is quickly finding that replacing the great loses has become far harder with the loss of industry with a large part of the civilian sector having been converted to wartime use due to lack of preparation on their part, with the upkeep of current forces catching up, many wonder if they still even have a chance of survival let alone making it past this new conflict...
Jenny and Felicia are looking through a glass viewer at Adam being in a large machine, it looks like an mri machine but looks largely skeletal with a large memory stone on top of it, his head is inside the open space as pink and green waves cascade on him, his closes eyes twitching every so often, the two felines look to a holographic screen which is showing a very complex scan along with various graphs it it shows brain waves, stress levels neurological activity based on the brains electrical pulses.
Jenny looks to Felicia "We've been able to ease his brain activity through psionic therapy along with some mind exercises. He has shown great improvement after processing Willy's death."
The blue haired cat nods "I agree, given that we have slowly introduced several psi-medications has also aided in recovery we have seen both a decent recovery pace and improvement in brain wave projection.", she looks to her former master "Based on what we are seeing, he is fit to re-enter service."
Jenny brings her green eyes back onto the human "Maybe, but I think it's best if we maintain this at least for a few more days."
Felicia folds her arms "The Aniverse is collapsing all around us, we may not have a few more days."
Jenny hated to admit it, but Felicia was correct... true the human's condition has improved and his use of psionics has as well, though sending him back into the fray is still a mystery. Jenny reflects on the mental re-conditioning so that he is not to be as fatalistic as he was before... it's just a huge unknown. The older cat decides to get Adam out of the machine so that she can talk with him about sending him back out, Jenny leaves the room and Felicia accesses the computer and copies the data to an external drive.
The blue haired cat looks to see Jenny enter the room the human is in 'We have made strides in the psionic-extended control system, but even the core of the SIsterhood is starting to wonder where these resources are going... I know I said I would help the human develop this, I just don't know how much longer we have.'
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Jenny comes and gets me out of the machine and she leads me to the outside as she wants to take me on a walk to get some air and that she wants to talk to me about something. Being on Aldebaran these past few months with the treatments has helped me greatly as it's helped me reflect on past events, it took me a little while to say it... but the siege of Canis II had a massive effect on me, up until that battle dealing with an enemy force was straight forward with even the first major assault I had been a part of playing out like a traditional operation. The siege was nothing of short of hell as survival became a daily struggle and coming up with ways to fight back quickly diminished before creating the quick-build factories in the mighty bunkers underneath, I look back on those two weeks... at first I felt nothing but anger towards it, but now I have found something else about it, so many displays of heroism and acts of valor were shown during that time that it makes me proud of those I had fought alongside of. I founded the Hazard Corps out of spite, to try to destroy them just as they tried to destroy us... it seemed appropriate at the time given what was going on and fighting a rogue group of psionics seemed like the perfect stress test.
But now from what I hear, we are now surrounded on all sides and the UAC has lost a lot of ground....
Jenny looks to me "As you have heard, the situation has gone from bad to worse and with our forces aiding in several sectors we are stretched thin."
I look to her "What about the other Adam's? I think they would be able to turn the tide."
The cat shakes her head "We still have no idea where the toads took the shuttle craft.", her gaze goes towards the sky for a moment "The UAC is thinking of surrendering, but the Sisterhood is thinking of doing a last ditch operation against the toads to see if we can get the other versions of you on our side and whoever they work with for better or worse. The main issue is finding the the location of the stolen tech and figure out how we can quickly work with it."
"Sounds like a mission that requires my help, the Executioner can come in handy for this as it's electronic suite can be of great aid.", I raise an eyebrow "That is what you were going to ask me next?"
Jenny gives a sigh "I am, you have made good on working things out... I'm just worried about granting you clearance and something happens.", she brings an arm around me "If I do, please do your best to come home."
I put an arm around her as I know what she is talking about "I will, I promise."
The two of us find a secluded spot, she brings me into a full hug and kisses my forehead. Slowly the two of us have been getting closer and I think as best I can tell we are both healing from what has taken place together, though I think it's also starting to become something more then that. I lay my head against her armored chest as I feel some fatigue setting in from the psi-machine, even with the new human compatible technology in place it does still ware on my mind and brain, but thankfully there is no feedback that causes any pain or harm. The feline brings her left hand to the side of my face and begins to pet my cheek with one of her fingers, I look to see those green eyes glancing to me as she lightly nudges the top of my head, she brings her right hand and grips my shoulder lightly.
The artificer gives me a faint smile "I can get use to this, with everything that's going on, this feels very nice."
I give a grin of my own "Yeah, I'm enjoying this too."
The cat gives me another kiss "You know, I originally stayed behind to keep an eye on you and make sure you recovered... but I think it's turning into something.", she brings my head up with a gentle telekinesis "How do you feel about it?"
I give some slow blinks as I ponder, true I have spent time with Jenny back on the Righteous Indignation and some shore leave but being with her like this and exchanging thoughts with her along with my emotions has been great as I feel like I could talk to her about anything and she'll listen to me like how I listen to her. I do have some feelings for her, I just don't know how to place them for the most part... but if she's asking if I want to go out with her, I wouldn't mind giving it a shot.
I caress her cheek with my left hand as I smile at her, she lightly grips my wrist as her eyes put on a more flirty twist as she gives a light purr, she leans her head a little and kisses my lips, her purr becoming a little louder as her right hand goes from my shoulder to my back. Our lips depart and I begin to pet her cheek as I look into those eyes of hers, the older feline brings her leg around me next... it is a little awkward due to the armor plates but this is wonderful.
Suddenly we hear an alarm, Jenny motions that we need to head to the council room, we run towards the palace and we meet up with Felicia and Katrina in the war room... the sight is very troubling.
The blue haired cat scoffs "A toad invasion fleet and ours is broken up and performing other operations.", she looks to her grandmother "Our obital defenses can hold them off but we don't know for how long."
The elder cat takes a step forward "We can win a ground war but they can just keep hitting us from orbit."
I glance to everyone in the room, a look to Felicia showing she is glancing to me... Katrina and Jenny are going to kill us, but it's now or never I reveal what we have been working on behind the scenes.
"We have upgraded the Executioner's design with some prototype weaponry and technology, it can deal with the toad fleet with ease."
Katrina and Jenny look to me instantly but Felicia speaks up "I've been helping Adam create a new psionic-based control system, one that in theory even non-psionics can use. You see by using data gathered from his training, the battle from months ago and his treatments, we've been able to work on the system and not just making our equipment compatible with his human physiology and brainwaves. But more importantly it'll allow more for psionic users control over great distance, thus this extended system is universal as it is largely based on existing drone technology and our already existing remote memory stone control circuitry.", she looks to me "The weapons pods and their attachments are already in place with the framework and data updated along with the upgrades to convert the ship into it's mkII version. Though it's all added a total of 500 tons to the design."
Jenny blinks "500 tons? That's almost forty percent of the crafts original weight!"
Katrina puts on a thinking look "I was wondering where some of our resources were going, but it is obvious the new design is untested and there is no time to revert it...", she eyes Jenny "Is he clear?"
The pink haired cat gives a nod "He is clear for service."
The elder eyes me "Get to your ship and deploy at once, consider yourself reinstated officer."
I give a salute "Yes ma'aam!"
On that the toad Air Marshal comes on screen "Attention furballs, this is the air marshal of the toad forces! You have only one chance of surrendering and I will not be merciless as we crush you felines into past. You have one our to comply!" with that the transmission ends.
I look to Jenny and Felicia "Since the craft is untested and all, I'll need some help."
Felica nods "Say no more." with a smirk with Jenny going "After this, we are going to have a serious debreif."
The three of us run to the hanger where the Executioner is being keep and it is a sight to see, the rear section is about three times larger as far as the engines are concerned, the wings now barring these large bays on either side with powerful engines of their own with the entire vessel up-armored... if she wasn't a beast before, she is now. We get into the ships bridge and get the ship online as I hook up the interface and put the helmet on which gives me a full hud as surrounding panels around the bridge turn on to show a 360 degree view of the outside, my memory stone activates as I get a feel for the new system, there is no feedback and I can feel through the nodes which allows me to feel the ship itself through my psionics.
Felica types a few commands in "We are cleared for launch."
Jenny brings up her screen "Executioner is green across the board."
I open comms "Executioner, launching for search and destroy operations!"
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The toad invasion fleet is moving into position, the designs resembling those the toads had begun with at the wars start, but even at glance it is easy to see these are different modals. The the body of the ships are still round but the bridge is angular with diamond-shaped view ports towards the front with square windows to the outside, the ships weaponry have remained unchanged though to help ease production even more there have been even more cutbacks, for starters the power systems have been constructed to give less output due to their cheaper construction but this more streamline approach does increase production as it uses less materials though trials do prove that they are still reliable, the engines have suffered a similar fate with having less thruster output and the secondary systems that were not needed for the vessel to function were removed entirely... much to the dismay of those who watch Toad TV. In terms of sensors and comms, these were left unchanged as they were designed from the get-go to be mass-produced and any cutbacks would make them virtually unusable, this means that now the ships were no-thrills workhorses with next to no crew comfort.
The Air Marshal is looking at the feline world with an already accomplished grin on his ugly face, he gets into his command chair "Only half an hour left, if they are smart then they'll surrender.", he sees Frix waving at him "What is it?"
Frix types a few commands into his terminal "Our sonar is picking up something coming from the planet."
Marshal growls "What? Impossible?!"
Frax types a few keys "Bringing it up now!"
Various screen on the bridge show a decent-sized vessel heading towards them, Frax confirms that the vessel is a partial match to the one that wiped out the rebel forces of Canis II but it has been extensively modified.
Frix looks at his c.o. "That thing is moving three times faster then the report says!"
Marshal gives a growl "No matter, blast it into space dust!"
The fleet arms it's weaponry and opens fire, the energy shields of the ship easily absorbing the baster cannons, the vessels wings do something insane, the large masses fly off the wings and form weapons on their own as they zoom with the craft with a few blaster shots revealing they have shields as well. The ship itself fire a barrage of missiles as plasma weaponry fires, the two detached bays begin to fly around the toad fleet, firing fusion weaponry which bypasses their shields and blows through them, either resulting in disabling the ship, outright destroying it, or even sheering the vessel in half. The attacking ship fires it's nose fusion cannons in a strafing run and obliterates a supply ship, firing a few plasma shots at the Marshal's vessel.
Frix shields his face as his console sparks "We just lost main power and port stabilizers!"
Frax types a few commands "A third of the fleet is already lost, what kind of ship is this!", he looks to the Marshal "Air Marshal, we won't last long against this thing!", another vessel close by explodes and rocks their ships "That just knocked out our senor array!"
The Marshal hates to admit it, but this vessel is more then capable of completely wiping them out "Launch a surrender flare and contact that ship at once! All weapons cease fire!"
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The command ship launches a bright flare and so I have the Executioner stop and have the weapon pods return to clamp back onto the wings, this is the Executioner in it's true form, the pods may have been delayed but the now we have the whole package.
Jenny looks to me "They are hailing us."
"Put them through." with a nod as I get an idea I look to Felica "Jam all their long range communications."
The toad Air Marshal comes on screen "We surrender! Just stop shooting... w-we'll comply!"
I give a sharp glare "This is Officer Adam of the Aldebaran forces, it has come to our attention that you have captured my shuttle. Where did you take it?!"
The Marshal gives a shake before freezing "I-I have no idea what you are talking about."
I sharpen my glare as I have the pods detach and begin to circle his ship "Let's try this again... where is it? I know your rank and that you are linked with the Empire's secret projects, now where is my shuttle?! I will not ask again!"
The Marshall stammers for a moment "Okay okay, I have the data right here! Just take it and let us go!" and he quickly types a few commands.
Jenny looks to me "Data received, loading data into nav systems and sending it to Aldebaran."
The Marshal gulps "Can we go?"
I give a smirk "Yeah, but I can't risk you squawking... not yet anyway." and I have the transmission end "Firing emp!" the ship becomes enveloped in electricity and fires out in all directions, catching the entire toad fleet and the ship slowly begins to drift as their lights cut in and out "Contact katrina, tell her we are heading to that location and that we are going to need reinforcements if they can be spared, we're going!"
Felica cries out "I'm with you Adam, we can handle a few toads!"
Jenny eyes me, she nods after a few moments "Ready on your mark." with a bit of an uneasy smirk.
I have the pods come back "Let's crook us some toads!" and activate ftl.
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Irene runs over to Audrey "Master! Our spy has just shared with us the location of the humans shuttle!"
Audrey gives a smirk "Excellent, Zelren's post was chosen well for her." she looks around "We're heading in with this station alone, it's all we need to capture that location."
Irene shrugs "The human is en-route there as we speak and he seems to have a new ship to call his own."
The older cat laughs "So what? There's no way he match this station in it's capabilities, heck we can rival whatever is left of the loyal forces with arguably just this vessel."
Irene doubted the latter portion of her masters words but fending the human off should be easy enough, she sends orders for everyone to prepare for ftl as she relays the co-ordinates to the navigator.
To be continued...