*
Centrapolis Police Headquarters The Centrapolis Police Headquarters’ conference room was packed with officers, Ravagers, some of the heroes of Centra, and even had some of the notorious Blue Steel Gang present awaiting their orders on their continued fight against the hordes of undead.
“Atten-hutt!” an unknown soldier barked as Corporal Aegis walked into the conference room and took his position behind the podium located in the front of the conference room.
“At ease gentlemen. I am not going to beat around the bush with any of you as time is of the greatest importance. We have received a satellite communiqué with data that provides a substance that might turn the tide of this war. The lead bio-scientist has named it “The Essence” and he believes that it can enhance certain attributes of the possessor…I am not going to sugar coat anything gentlemen, we are losing Centra at an alarming rate and the two moons are all but gone to us. It is imperative that we stop the advance now! In your briefing docket, you have your orders…happy hunting and may the gods be with you!” Aegis announced.
The conference room started to empty as the occupants filed out and Aegis muttered to himself, “May the gods have mercy on our souls.”
**
After the conference room emptied out, the Vagabond Priest cautiously brandished his sidearm and studied the room intently as if he felt like something did not belong. “Come out vile creature and show yourself.” Shepard stated to what appeared to be an empty room.
“Vile is only a matter of opinion priest and I suggest you hold your tongue before I cut it out!” The ghastly bounty hunter Gheist replied. “Do not concern yourself because I have already acquired the plans for your feeble attempt at slowing the tide of war. Pathetic actually…you Centrans are willing to sell your lives for mere moments in time…foolish if you ask me.”
“No one asked you. Now foul beast…prepare to die!” exclaimed Shepard as he leapt into action. The Vagabond Priest blasted Gheist with a spinning back fist that caught the ghastly bounty hunter by surprise. After Shepard dropped a somersault leg drop on Gheist, he uncorked a vial and sprayed a liquid toward his opponent. As the liquid made contact, it smoldered and bubbled Gheist’s ghastly white flesh.
The specter screamed in agony and now was intent on evading the Vagabond Priest no matter what the cost. Gheist frantically tried to fight back but what can be assumed to be holy water was eating away at his skin.
“It ends here Gheist! You will no longer be any use for Murdok and I hope you are tormented for the rest of eternity,” Shepard calmly chanted as he soaked a silver stake with holy water, “EGO expello thee, turpis phasmatis absum!” He slammed the silver stake into Gheist’s chest and the Bounty Hunter’s death throes tossed Shepard into the wall behind the two.
Gheist stood motionless for a moment before his body erupted into a thousand pieces spraying blood and sinew throughout the conference room. Shepard clambered to his feet, wiped his face off, and walked out of the building.
He held a communicated device next to his ear and told whoever was on the other side that the cat was out of the bag and that the plan needs executed sooner than expected.
***
Ravager Sentry Class Malo’Kyrmn On the Ravager Sentry Class Malo’Krymn (loose translation: Redemption) command deck, Nicodemus sat in the Captain’s chair waiting for the inevitable. His mission was to deliver Aegis’s assault troops to Centra Minor to stem the assault from Paganax’s Tribesmen on the war torn continent. However, in the back of Nicodemus’s mind, the Ravager Supreme Commander was hoping that turncoat Rankor showed his pathetic backside.
“Estimated time of arrival to Centra Minor is 10 deckons sir.” Stated a smaller sized Ravager stationed next to the helm. Suddenly the smaller ravager became panicked and yelled to Nicodemus, “Sir, the Mothership has came out of jump on starboard side closing at 50,000 kilometers.”
Nicodemus snapped as if second nature “Sound Battle Stations and inform the Centrans that they’ll be dropping hot.” Almost instantly, the command deck glowed red and the alarm sounded throughout the Sentry Class warship.
“Weapons contact…weapons contact…” another Ravager barked nervously and almost instantly, explosions rocked the Malo’Krymn. Nicodemus was sitting in the Captain’s chair contemplating whether to extract revenge or continue the mission.
“Helmsman, bring around to port and full power to Centra Minor…I want us there before we are blown out of the star system! Guildsman…as soon as we are close enough to the drop zone, inform Aegis I will hold that traitorous Rankor off as long as possible…” The Sentry class warship veered to port side and its’ thrusters ignited but everyone on board knew that they were no match for Ravager Mothership R’alshyd and they planned to sell their lives dearly.
Moments later, the Helmsman notified Nicodemus that they were close enough to the drop zone that they could drop the Centran force but with a little turbulence. “Guildsman, release the drop pods and tell them they need to hold on tight.”
On the outside of the Sentry Class warship, hundreds of drop pods began to disembark from the Malo’Krymn docking bays.
“Weapons contact…sir, the Mothership is bearing its weapons into the drop pods!” barked one of the Ravagers on the command deck.
Nicodemus without even hesitating calmly replied, “Helmsman, put us in the way of the weapons fire. We will have to withstand the worst of the attack or the assault force will be destroyed before it even reaches the surface. Captain of Arms, prepare to be boarded…if it’s a fight they want, a fight we will give them.”
****
The Ravager Mothership came aside the smaller Sentry Class warship and the intruder alarms were sounding all over the Malo’Krymn. The traitorous General Rankor was surrounded by his most experienced and trustworthy warriors as they prepared to “bodyslide” to the command deck of their prey.
“Inform everyone that there will be no prisoners taken! They were given the chance to join our cause but has chosen to side with the humans.” Rankor barked as his assault team disappeared and reappeared on the command deck of the Malo’Krymn.
Small arms fired erupted and the traitorous Ravagers tore through the defenders until they reached Nicodemus and his bodyguards. General Rankor spat in Nicodemus’s direction and scoffed that the Supreme Commander was his alone.
Rankor lunged at Nicodemus but was caught in a Ravager Gut Buster before Nicodemus followed suit with a Commander Clothesline! Rankor was down but not out as he blasted the Supreme Commander with a front face DDT and even cracked Nicodemus’s helmet after he whacked it with a rifle butt! “I grow tired of your antics…” Rankor stated as he condemned Nicodemus with GUILTY OF TREASON before ordering his troops to throw the fallen foe into the stockade for further questioning.
As Rankor’s goons picked up Nicodemus, the Supreme Commander moaned that Rankor would not win this fight and he is dooming his followers. Rankor looked at Nicodemus and coldly replied, “My name is General Rankor…and no one is doomed here except for you! You will be tortured and not allowed to die until I deem you worthy to die!”
***
Centra Minor As a result of the premature drop of Aegis’s troops, a majority of the drop pods were destroyed by the Ravager Mothership or they landed dab smack in the Tribesmen of Primus’s invasion force. Although this was not exactly as planned, it wreaked havoc within the ranks of the invaders and most definitely would be beneficial for the Centrans.
Esperanto noticed that Grovel was tearing up some of the Centran security force and quickly went to intercept the humanoid! Grovel must have smelled the WestWorld native because Grovel landed a running forearm that dazed the Esperanto and Grovel went on the offensive quickly! After a Fallaway Slam, Grovel nailed him in the head with a brutal kick but Esperanto fought back with The Painkiller! After a Hair of the Dog, a DEAD MAN’S HAND, and after smashing Grovel with the elixir, the Tribesman was no longer a threat for now and Esperanto reinitiated his assault on the regular members of Paganax’s troops!
On the outer edges of the battle, Warfare and Trench were locked up with the duo identified as Krypt and Jakyll! The SWAT Team was easily disposing of these two as Trench used several DOUBLE ARM DDT and METAL RAM RODS on both members of Darkness Falls! After Warfare used a Centra Spinebuster on Krypt for good measure, the Centrans turned their attention to the other invaders.
Aegis’s drop pod landed in the general area of Paganax and his bodyguards and his contingent did not fair very well! Aegis quickly moved to engage the Heathen Chief and the armed combat went back and forth, for what seemed like eternity! Aegis managed to catch Paganax in CORPORAL PUNISHMENT but the Heathen Chief battled back with a PAGAN VOID and would toss Aegis aside with a Face Smothering.
The battle for Centra Minor was mixed indeed…
**
Abandoned Ore Mines at Calydorian Lance At-Las looked at what used to be his right arm but now is a robotic attachment from the elbow down! He thought to himself that he would not be here if it were not for the rescue that his colleagues staged and looked to repay them with his service. He was accompanied by Rouser and a small scientific entourage to determine where this mysterious “Essence” was located.
After several hours of scanning the area, the lead scientist informed At-Las that the “Essence” was located approximately 1600 feet below the deepest mineshaft and that it would take an explosion of immense proportion to uncover some of the borgumite (the hardest substance ever discovered on Centra) from around it. At-Las asked whether or not they could drill through the borgumite but the scientist explained that is exactly why the mine had become abandoned…they could not get through the element with a drill.
Suddenly scientists came running out of the mine fear stricken, and plague ridden undead shortly followed. The undead are led by the tandem of Corporal Tek and Cremator and slowly the scientific contingent were becoming fodder for a feeding frenzy!
At-Las and Rouser sprang into action but were shortly enveloped by the mindless hordes of the plague zombies! The two heroes fought valiantly and finally cut a swathe of destruction to Resurrection! However, Cremator was waiting for them and locked At-Las in a Straightjacket Hold and Corporal Tek applied the ANTILIAN RUINS that put an end to the conflict.
A distraught Rouser slung At-Las over his shoulder and hightailed it off to the nearest Centran city leaving Resurrection to control the Calydorian mines.
**
Ruins of Antilia “The Essence” was all that Ventross cared about this time around…no revenge…no distractions…however, when he arrived at the sight where everyone believed the “Essence” was located on Antilia, The Harvester of Souls was already bending over to retrieve it!
Ventross sprang into action as the Harvester must not retain the prize and crashed into Murdok’s chest with a knee to his chest! The Ravager maliciously attacked Murdok with a Ventross Vivisection and even went for SEVERED TIES but Murdok would not go down!
Murdok countered a knee lift with a neck breaker like move and went for the kill with a Head Spear Takedown that busted open Ventross! “The plague shall consume this planet and the Ravagers will fall in line like my little lap dogs!” Murdok stated as he grabbed Ventross and executed POWER OF THE PLAGUE before a blue glow surrounded the Harvester of Souls….
“I can feel the power of the essence…ahhh; I will become unstoppable in this war!” Murdok replied almost in an orgasmic state of mind. The Harvester turned and left the limp body of Ventross on the rock he laid on and clambered into a nearby shuttle to return to Ground Zero.
As the shuttle lifted off the ground, Ventross noticed a meteorite crashing towards Centra and the Ravager thought to himself that in the Ravager mythos meteorites are harbingers of doom. Before he passed out, he wondered if it meant Centra were doomed or Murdok’s crusade…
*
