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“I think he knows why he wants to talk….” Anna facepalmed, uncovering herself, and getting dressed, “I called Red a whore… then again, I wasn’t in a great mindset from pure exhaustion…”

“You…you what?” Yellow responded as what Anna said hit her.

She knew Red(F) was quite flirty and slept around whenever she felt like it, though she remained loyal to her family. Calling her a whore was…quite a stretch.

Sensing that it would be best to leave Anna and Wolf be, Yellow left alongside her and stood far back while they met each other outside.

And what she witnessed was the worst kind of sibling fight ever, resulting in both Wolf and Anna growing badly wounded. Anna broke Wolf’s leg, only to be pinned to the ground by her throat as Wolf growled at her.

“You ever call Red a whore again, I will personally make sure your head goes on a spike.” Wolf growled, not letting go of her neck until she nearly passed out. They then both laid in the mud.

“Holy shit, bro… You love her that fucking much?” Anna asked.

“Fuck yeah, I do.” Wolf replied, “I’d go to hell and back for her.”

Hesitantly, Yellow approached the two of them once they’d finished their violent little quarrel, noticing that the SS trooper was off to a side watching them.

A tap of a haptic pad made her Caduceus staff expand, and Yellow dutifully healed them both. Wolf’s broken leg was also returned to normal as painlessly as possible.

“Have you two let it all out?” she asked.

Wolf and Anna both nodded, though both kinda glared at her for healing them.

“Why don’t you guys let us heal the old fashioned way?” Wolf asked, “Goddamn…”

Yellow sighed. She’d gotten that exact same question from a few of her patients before, most of them from civilizations without advanced medical biotech or nanotech.

“Would you rather heal slowly and fight while injured, or heal up quick and be in peak condition when you’re needed?” she inquired semi-rhetorically.

Most people would jump at the chance to be healed from injury a lot faster. It seemed Wolf didn’t.

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“I think he knows why he wants to talk….” Anna facepalmed, uncovering herself, and getting dressed, “I called Red a whore… then again, I wasn’t in a great mindset from pure exhaustion…”

“You…you what?” Yellow responded as what Anna said hit her.

She knew Red(F) was quite flirty and slept around whenever she felt like it, though she remained loyal to her family. Calling her a whore was…quite a stretch.

Sensing that it would be best to leave Anna and Wolf be, Yellow left alongside her and stood far back while they met each other outside.

And what she witnessed was the worst kind of sibling fight ever, resulting in both Wolf and Anna growing badly wounded. Anna broke Wolf’s leg, only to be pinned to the ground by her throat as Wolf growled at her.

“You ever call Red a whore again, I will personally make sure your head goes on a spike.” Wolf growled, not letting go of her neck until she nearly passed out. They then both laid in the mud.

“Holy shit, bro… You love her that fucking much?” Anna asked.

“Fuck yeah, I do.” Wolf replied, “I’d go to hell and back for her.”

Hesitantly, Yellow approached the two of them once they’d finished their violent little quarrel, noticing that the SS trooper was off to a side watching them.

A tap of a haptic pad made her Caduceus staff expand, and Yellow dutifully healed them both. Wolf’s broken leg was also returned to normal as painlessly as possible.

“Have you two let it all out?” she asked.

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“Wolf?!” Red(F) squeaked with surprise as she supported Wolf’s weight even as his face remained buried in her cleavage. She hurriedly brought him over to the couch, laying him on it. “Rest first, I’ll go get hypos…”

“Wait.. the GDI is sending military aid?” Wolf asked, “Well, this is new. I thought they had  declared neutrality…”

“Just FYI, you do realize that could provoke a counterattack, and the Hand can tune their shields and shielding to deal with your weaponry and shields, yes?” Wolf asked, looking concerned, “Something I discovered in battle.” 

He took her hand, and kissed her lips. It was a short but sweet kiss, showing he still loved her.

“I’ll rest up… and I’ll need to message Green to meet me in Hyrule.” Wolf said, getting up, and bowing to Red(F). Without another word, he left.

As it happened over the next few days, Fleet Admiral Green had indeed planned to take Second Fleet to engage the Scorpion’s Hand fleets. However, Wolf’s information had him reconsider.

Green met Wolf over at Hyrule, the severe-looking Fleet Admiral looking at him as he folded his arms behind his back. “Female Red told me about your information, Emperor. I’ve diverted most of Second Fleet to another system to await a unified Coalition armada.”

“Every member state’s sent a sizable portion of their own fleets. We haven’t seen a combined fleet this large since Coruscant. If those demons want to kill us all, I’d like to see them try.”

At a look from Wolf, Green only returned it with a cold emerald stare. “I’ll give it to you straight, Emperor. Nothing good ever seems to come out of these supernaturals, especially these demons. Coruscant taught me that. It taught us all. It’s us or them, and we can’t afford to lose.”

“The Scorpion’s Hand and the Hellfire Club are not to be underestimated, Admiral. I’m sure you realize that.” Wolf said with a nod, “Even with this force, they can still slip away. Demons have powers beyond what you know. They are the epitome of unpredictable. We didn’t expect the Hand to attack so quickly. Nor in such numbers. Its almost as if they expected us.”

Wolf looked around.

“We have to be very careful what we say. What you have told me could’ve been heard. Spies are everywhere. Admiral Yellow already had an assassin try to kill her.” Wolf said, “I’m not going to lie, but you may have endangered that fleet… or even Eden.” 

Green, for his part, merely rolled his eyes. “Didn’t mention the system name, did I? Space is large enough that they’ll have to search for pebbles in an ocean to find just one of the member fleets.”

The iron-gazed male suddenly paused, then looked to Wolf again, this time much more coldly. “Either you’re a psychic or those demons can read minds. The Minerva system’s under attack. Scorpion’s Hand vessels are approaching the system, and the EDF along with Coalition battle groups is intercepting.”

Another pause, as Green seemed to receive live updates.

“Demonic readings detected, they’ve authorized full escalation. Local system-scale nullifier field raised and at full power. Sector alert level raised to Adorior, Fifth and Ninth Fleets responding, Battlegroup Omega inbound…”

---

Over at the edge of the Minerva system, the skirmish was still ongoing.

A reconnaissance flotilla had been sent ahead of the main battle fleets, along with a single nullifier-equipped vessel, under full stealth.

The combined Coalition battle groups and the Eden Defense Fleet spread out across the entry vector, forming what was known as the Absolute Line. They were to stop the Scorpion’s Hand fleets at all costs, not allowing any hostile ship through.

If even a single Scorpion’s Hand vessel reached Eden, despite the system nullifier field being up, everyone would die.

“If I were psychic, I wouldn’t openly broadcast my thoughts. Even then. Must’ve read yours. No matter.” Wolf said, “C’mon, allow me to show you the pride of the 1st Shock fleet.”

———————————–

The Scorpion’s Hand Fleet had formed a wedge formation, designed to smash through the defensive line in front of them. Lasers, ray guns, mass drivers, etc, were firing near nonstop as both sides fought for control. Fighters were dogfighting constantly, with many of the Coalition fighters having trouble with Vulture Droids.

“Sir! We’re detecting ships incoming, BEA signals!” A comms person yelled to the admiral in charge of the defence fleets, “They’re coming in with a Superdreadnaught!”

Within moments of that statement, several BEA ships, including the massive Wolfsbane-class Superdreadnaught and several Star Destroyers came out of hyperspace, blaring the Davy Jones theme music from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies as they opened fire on the enemy vessels with their mass driver cannons, turbolasers, ion cannons, concussion missiles, and the Wolfsbane’s superlaser.

————————————–

“Sir, our shields can’t hold against that Superdreadnaught.” An officer said to Captain Czar. The mechanical warlord sent his hand through the man’s skull, watching as the body dropped dead on the floor.

“It has been an honour, but today is not the day I die.” Czar hissed, summoning a portal, and disappearing just as the Wolfsbane’s superlaser smashed through the hull of the Titan-class Superdreadnaught Kronos’ Fury.

To seal the deal, the rest of the Scorpion’s Hand ships were obliterated when several Relay Gun shells fired all the way from Eden’s Orbital Ring impacted them.

Sharp flashes of light blossomed like fireworks as elements of the Initiative’s Fifth and Ninth Fleets dropped from FTL, using wide-area antiproton beams to further cleanse the area where the Scorpion’s Hand ships had been, until not even a speck of debris was left. Barely a second later, the feared Battlegroup Omega joined in the fray as they glided around the battle zone.

Coalition fighters returned for repairs, harrowed by the now-destroyed vulture droids. They’d had trouble indeed when holding off the fighters, but the droids would have been wiped out with ease if they’d entered the range of the various beam-based point defense systems every Coalition ship had.

The Vulcan in charge of the Eden Defense Fleet, Vice Admiral T’Deri, hailed the BEA forces. “This is Vice Admiral T’Deri to the BEA. We are grateful for your assistance, but remain vigilant. The Delphi Array is picking up signature remnants consistent with a recently-formed portal. Human sized. It is likely that the officer leading this hostile fleet has successfully escaped the destruction of his flagship.”

“I share your sentiment, Vice Admiral, and we’re picking up those readings as well.” Wolf said, turning to Admiral Green, “Czar escaped…. Damn it…”

Wolf walked out of the bridge, going towards his personal fighter. Getting inside, Wolf left Yumi.

“Admiral Green, I will rendezvous with you again in Hyrule. I have business in Eden, as well as a message to send to the Coalition’s High Council. We must reconvene together to plan the next move.” Wolf said, “If we don’t plan this next move… We may end up going blindly into a trap.”

————————————

As Wolf approached Eden, he sent a friend-or-foe code to the fleet surrounding the planet to confirm he was friendly. He sent the same code again down to the Planet’s security, getting the landing pad coordinates, and then making his way to the Admiralty, where he stood before the other Admirals.

“Captain Drake Czar was the one behind the attack.” Wolf said to the council, noting the stirs of discomfort upon the name’s mere utterance, “He escaped… Meaning he’s on the loose.”

“I suggest we reconvene the Coalition council, so as to plan our next move together. That way, we don’t blunder into a trap.” He said, “While we may have the nullifiers, that doesn’t mean we can just charge in. The very threat of demonic forces is something we need to deal with… But we can’t do that if we don’t plan.”

The Admiralty had grown uneasy upon Czar’s name being mentioned, though some of them also stiffened with concealed anger.

“Captain, or by now former Captain, Czar has been struck from all service records and is now marked as a traitor to the Initiative. He’s no longer a citizen of GDI, and since his defection we have put a kill-on-sight order on him.” Fleet Admiral Crystal said tightly.

Red(M)’s voice was low and deadly as he considered the events ahead. “We’ll convene the Coalition, yes. Officially, Wolf, this will be our position on these demons.”

He leaned forward, the rest of the Admiralty looking at him, then at Wolf. “Their complete and utter annihilation, or failing that emancipation, will be our utmost priority. The Scorpion’s Hand fall as well, but the threat of the demons comes first.”

Wolf nodded in response to what was said, the ghost of a smile on his lips.

“That is my position as well, admiral. Convene the Coalition in three days. That will allow us to enough time to regroup and prepare for anymore incoming attacks.” Wolf said, “As well as conduct surgical strikes on areas that could serve as potential Hand staging areas. We want to regroup ourselves, but not let them regroup.” 

Over the subsequent days, GDI was shaken up like never before.

The attack on Eden, though ultimately averted, was bold enough to warrant serious discussion across the entirety of Initiative society as to how to respond.

The vast majority of GDI’s population were sick and tired of the repeated conflicts against Bouzaculan supernaturals, which history had already proven desired nothing more or less than their complete and total extinction.

Yet they couldn’t be on the defensive forever, and neither could they simply stay out of matters now that the war had come to them.

Brief, shadowy sightings of the mysterious and powerful Black Angels near Scorpion’s Hand worlds had also unnerved many amongst the Coalition who’d witnessed the recordings of the attempted Great Raid years ago.

Only a very few skirmishes had broken out at all, all of which resulted in brutal Scorpion’s Hand defeats. Even demonic assistance and demon-magic attacks seemed to do absolutely nothing against their sinister night-black hulls.

If war broke out, there was no telling which side the Angels would support. Or if they would attack both for their own purposes.

Surely the Scorpion’s Hand and their demonic allies knew that, at least?

At this given moment, Wolf and Yuki were both visiting the Reds – specifically Red(F) and Shiori. Their son, Takeshi, was also with them, having a nap in one of the chairs.

“He sleeps a lot…” Yuki moaned in disdain, “Why must he sleep so much…”

“Yuki… You know he often has late night shifts when he’s one the job…” Wolf said, “You should’ve let him stay on the ship.”

“He needs to actually take some stable work, not be a bloody fucking ronin…” Yuki said.

Shiori’s sister, Hanamori (often just shortened to Hana) came in then, plopping herself down in Red(F)’s lap.

The purple-haired daughter snuggled deeper into her mother’s warmth, and Red(F) smiled softly as she then looked to Wolf and Yuki. Beside her, Shiori was preoccupying herself in the schematic of what appeared to be a rifle of sorts.

“Things are getting restless, Wolf. The people don’t want a war, not when it’s the fourth time GDI’s faced a supernatural foe. Red’s working with the Executive Council now, pushing forward a lot of contingency plans. They’re all worried to death that we really will lose this one.”

Red(F) stroked Hana’s head affectionately as she spoke, finding comfort in how her daughter enjoyed the headpats.

“You said the Scorpion’s Hand was afraid of fighting us, Wolf. What changed?”

“Czar happened.” Wolf said grimly, “If they have him on their side… they have no fear….”

Even Wolf seemed afraid. It wasn’t hard to tell on his face. His jaw was clenched, and every now and again, he’d tense up. Breathing in, he looked to Red(F).

“I’m not going to lie, Red, its been a while since I’ve faced demons of this magnitude.” he said, “So long, really, that I don’t know what to do.” 

“Good thing Takeshi’s squadron took out that dreadnaught.” Yuki said.

“I also believe that attack was retaliation for coming to our aid.” Wolf said, “The Hand and  the Hellfire Club wish to isolate us…”

The Coalition assembled upon the planned time, virtually as was tradition.

Naturally, the Scorpion’s Hand situation was the first thing to be brought up. The current Federation President, the Vulcan Suvaak, was the first to address Wolf.

“Emperor, the Hand’s involvement with the organization you call the Hellfire Club concerns us all severely. Coalition history has proven that any conventional engagement with demonic or any supernatural forces is, to put it lightly, immensely costly and outright suicidal.”

An aged Primarch Victus, still the leader of the Turian Hierarchy all these years later, also looked at Wolf with a steel gaze. “President Suvaak is correct, though his words are an understatement. Emperor, I cannot stress to you how vital it is that we do not enter another bloodbath like Coruscant. Even with the nullifier technology developed by the Galactic Defense Initiative, it merely forces the Hand into a conventional engagement.”

Suvaak nodded gravely. “Indeed, Primarch. Emperor, while the Federation is normally accepting of many different and diverse races as well as beliefs, we cannot co-exist with those demons. Regrettable though this line of logic is, pre-emptive destruction of these demons is a high priority. Our magic-using allies cannot hold the line forever. If we fail to stop these demons, untold trillions may perish. And that is completely unacceptable.”

To one end, Red(M) stood silently, merely watching the discussion play out.

“The supernatural forces we face are not unique to my area.” Wolf said, “It’s one thing to seal them away, but totally another to destroy. You can’t destroy demons, not permanently, at least.”

“However, there is a few things I would like to mention. Despite how powerful these demons may seem, this is actually their weakest state. They’ve been summoned from their realm, where they are strongest.” Wolf said, “The Hellfire Club wouldn’t dare try to make deals with demons unless those same demons were summoned first.”

“I’m not going to allow anything but a conventional engagement, seeing as how the demonically enhanced weapons and shielding works.” Wolf said, “I’m sure you’re aware the Hand can attune their weaponry and shielding to that of any one faction… But only one faction at a time.”

“Once they’ve attuned their weapons and shielding to one faction, they’re doomed if another one comes in.” He continued, “Nullifier tech isn’t needed in that case, given how things work. If I would suggest anything, it’s this: keep all engagements to a 2:1 ratio. 2 or more of our factions’ armies against that of the Hand. It won’t nearly be as suicidal as you might think.”

“Furthermore, I would also like to point out there is a way to reseal all the demons within Bouzaculan space, and lift the cloud of eternal night that allows the undead to roam freely on my homeworld.” Wolf said, “I would’ve proposed researching the Scorpion’s Hand tech and reverse engineer it to make a hard counter that would make the 2:1 engagement ratio unnecessary, but SOMEBODY had to go and vaporize everything from the last battle before my science crews could go and collect the wreckage.”

Of course, that somebody was the GDI, and Wolf was glaring at the GDI councilmen assembled. His glare was like ice, and even the most hardened of their ranks felt a shiver go down their spines. One does not simply

Of course, most of those councilmen were only playing up appearances. They’d formerly served against the very worst of the Resurgence’s forces back in the 2450s before leaving the military and taking up civil service.

Wolf glaring wouldn’t faze them, but if it made him think it did, they were willing to play along.

It was then that Red(M) spoke up. “With all due respect, Emperor, the risk of demonic incursion from possessed fragments of Scorpion’s Hand technology was deemed extremely high. Destruction was deemed the utmost priority. Providing the enemy a direct conduit into our most secure zones is foolish.”

He sighed. “That being said, we are willing to study any other remains of their arcanotech. But only under complete quarantine and isolation protocols.”

The Borg Queen, her hologram a pulsing emerald green, raised a hand slightly. “If I may, Fleet Admiral, I would like to address the issue of the Hand’s adaptation. My own Collective was known for their capability to adapt to incoming weapons and technology, assimilating them for our own protection and use.”

The cyborg pseudo-monarch gazed at Wolf, her serene gaze somewhat unsettling. “Our military strength is second only to the Galactic Defense Initiative Navy. Our past engagements with Scorpion’s Hand forces, though fleetingly rare, has shown that we can achieve a stalemate. If the Coalition is willing, the Borg Collective will be the tip of the spear. Our forces will distract them while other members engage. This 2:1 condition Emperor Wolf suggests can thus still be fulfilled.”