Moonrise ✔ [Complete]

23 Return

A/N: Long chapter ahead. 2600+ words. I hope you enjoy!

Both Aegis and Saber Teams sprinted through the facility, swatting aside Iron Prophet soldiers who had all become a nuisance in a matter of seconds.

The facility alarm continued to ring, but now, a woman's monotonic voice speared through the chaos.

"All hands to battlestations," was the automatic command. "This is not a drill."

As the voice replayed over the speaker system, both teams made their way toward the operations room. The Iron Prophet had not yet reached that far into the base.

In the room, the large monitors displayed images of the Wobeck ship that hovered in the distance.

Several Beran soldiers and officials stood frozen, their faces stark white. Deiyu stood at the front with the general and the base director. He turned as Maeyune and Reo approached him.

For the longest moment, he appeared stunned from the arrival of the alien ship. His expression then molded to one of concern as he frowned at the blood covering Maeyune's stomach.

"Where have you been?" he inquired when she and Reo reached his side. Then to Maeyune, he asked, "Are you hurt?"

"How many Wobeck ships are there?" she interjected.

"Only one for now over Bera," he answered, and his eyes darkened. "Maeyune, there are two more approaching Suolan."

She felt her stomach turn over.

Gerothen was walking backward, his calm demeanor fighting to hide the terror in his eyes. "We did not see them coming..."

The director's voice trailed off, just as someone's shrill cry rose above all commotion.

"General!" a young woman shrieked. "The Wobeck ship is attacking!"

All eyes turned to the monitors. Small, black dots were seen dispersing from the large alien ship.

"Activate the shields, now!" General Soras snapped.

They all heard a sharp crack echo through the walls of the facility. Soon, a translucent dome descended over the base, its swirls of energy visible on the monitors.

Shortly after, the Wobeck aircrafts fired, and their plasma rays crashed against the shield.

Maeyune took a moment to comprehend the scene in front of her eyes.

The alien aircrafts continued their barrage against the base's shield. It was no illusion. The Wobeck were real, and they had truly returned.

Atop the base's perimeter wall, the anti-aircraft turrets fired. As designed, their short bursts of energy lasers pierced through the shield to return fire. Beran aircrafts departed from the base, and they passed beyond the shield unharmed.