1. Home

Elbryon woke with a start as his comm unit screamed at him with the newest information on the hive activities from iry and Arlina.

*All available pilots report to the Metana wormhole. Hive bastions have been sighted near our stations. Eradication of the hive in these sectors is of utmost importance to the protection of civilians.*

Not being anywhere near Metana, Elbryon didn't feel the need to break any speed records to get there, after all, hive management was something for the new recruits to deal with. Instead he pushed the button on the comm to let iry and Arlina know he had gotten the message and promptly rolled over and went back to sleep. Two minutes later his comm buzzed again this time it was a personal message from the ITAN commander himself.

"Elb! Are you coming to help us?"

"I wasn't going to, hell! I just get to bed after some rumbles out at the Sedina worm hole and was hoping to get some sleep."

"We could really use your help up here councilman. Something is going on with the hive. They are expanding very rapidly into sections of space that they would normally not be found."

"Can't we just get the new recruits to do it like normal?"

"They are all already out here! We need more pilots damn it I'm telling you something is up and there is hive everywhere."

"Alright, I'll make my way up there right now!"

"Good, contact Arlina or myself when you get to Jallik. We will have your orders ready by the time you get there."

"Aye, sir."

Still tired from his sparring matches in Sedina the night before, getting yelled at by the commander hadn't helped his mood any so Elbryon rolled himself upright in his cot and began getting into his flightsuit for the trip to Jallik. Elb made his way towards the hangar of the Corvus station just as he had done a million times before.

Away from any of the major nation borders Sedina was a haven for those who sought perfection in single combat as well as those that quested for the huge rewards trading with the lowlifes could garner. It was also a good place to find those that lived off the labors of others, the pirates. It had been several months since Elb had dealt with CLM on anything except exchangeing fire at the worm hole sector, but there we still a few that would stop him and start a conversation that would eventually lead back to the Globe and the huge treasure he had helped them find. He hoped today wouldn't be any different so he could have a reason to delay his trip up into the blue.

"Good day to you Elb." he heard as he opened the door to the hangar.

Thinking he had just hit paydirt he turned to see who had been talking to him, it was Elvis. "Hey Elvis, how's things in medicine these days?

"Oh! sadly not so good. I shot down Quirc yesterday, he caught me going after the hive in my rag."

"Mmmm, how are you doing with that? What with the hole No Killing thing you got going?"

"I am at my whits end, everyone tells me I did the right thing him being a pirate and all but it just doesn't sit right in my gut ya know."

"Well, I'm with them, I think you did what you needed to do don't let it bother you."

"Meh, well are you headed to the worm hole? Could you use an EMS escort while you're out there?"

"Way to change the subject Elvis." Elb beamed a big smile at the UIT "No actually but thanks the commander just gave me orders, I am to report to him when I reach Jallik. He's putting me on hive duty wiping recruits butts apparently."

"Ok, well when you stop back down don't hesitate to give me a buzz EMS is always available." Elvis extended his hand to Elb and the two shook.

Elbryon made his way down to the dock and jumped in an old Rev he had outfitted to cover alot of area in a hurry. It took a few trys to get the old thing fired up but when he finally did he was off and on his way to Jallik.

* * * *

"Admiral! It appears to be working, the itani are funneling out of Deneb by the hundreds as we speak."

"Good, alert or liason in Metana, tell him to keep going these dogs are never going to know what hit 'em."

"Aye! Aye! sir."

* * * *

Elbryon stopped quickly in Bractus to pick up the itani Xith transport on its way to Divinia.The transport had been getting intercepted frequently by ONE as of late so since he was on his way he would try to make sure it got there. Reports of Da Gu in the area gave him some hope that the long and boring trip to Jallik would turn out to not be so bad after all.

A call arrived from the pilot in the Orion transport vessel, "Your assistance is greatly appreciated Councilman, that toaster has been shooting us down every trip we try make up there."

"Well, I'll see what I can do. It has been a while since I've flown these lanes and from what I hear Da Gu is becoming quite good at what he does."

The response was slow in coming, "I have lost 3 good men today alone so I would have to confirm those reports sir."

"Well get that old rust pot moving and I will try and keep the lane clear ahead of you as best I can."

Elbryon engaged the jump engine and entered Pelatus a good 5 minutes before the xith convoy and the sector was clear so he relayed the ok to come on through to the Orion pilot. As he waited for the convoy to jump into the sector Elb kept watch on his monitors for any evidance that Da Gu or any other ONE pilots were entering the sector. Nothing, it was silent except for the hum of the Rev's engines. The convoy cleared their jump and began thier course adjustment to Edras. Elbryon had already gone ahead and notified the Orion that the sector was also clear but make sure you plot an alternate course as this region had 2 ion storms currently running. Again Elb monitored his systems to see if anyone came into sector except the convoy and again he saw noone. He thought to himself, "I guess be ready he must be waiting on the other side in Edras." Elbryon engaged the jump engine again and made his way into Edras space, nothing.

"Oddly enough pilot, this area is free of toasters as well. You should be clear the rest of the way I doubt that any of them would be daring enough to sit at the Jallik worm hole what with all those fancy new turrets the government just built."

"Thank you councilman, I apologise to have taken up your precious time when obviously it was not needed this time."

"Oh don't worry about it I was on my way up here anyways, have a safe flight the rest of the way."

With that Elbryon broke off the group and made his way to the research station in Jallik where he contacted iry.

"Alright grumpy I'm here what do you need me to do?.....iry?....you there?"

Not entirely worried about not getting an answer, after all iry was up here fighting the hive with all of ITAN's new recruits he was probably answering all kinds of questions like ""How do I shoot"" and ""Why can't I get her shields down"", so instead Elb tried Arlina.

"Arlina, I've just arrived in Jallik iry said you had something for me to do?"

"Ah, finally, yes we do."

"Well for shit sake tell me what it is so I can get it done and be on my way."

"Home there get yourself a hive hunter and start clearing the hive from there to Metana, notify myself or iry when you have cleared each sector and keep an eye out for anything different about the hives actions."

Elbryon let out a slight chuckle, "Hive? Here? You have been pushing paper for too long Arlina, there is no static hive in Jallik or even Divinia for that matter. I should be there shortly then."

"This is no laughing matter councilman read the reports itani space, as a whole, is being overrun by the Metana hive. NOW DO WHAT I ASKED!!"

When Arlina raised her voice Elb decided he better not press the issue any further. He brought up the reports of hive infestation on his hud, to his amazement nearly 13 sectors in Jallik were showing hive presence and the closer you got to Metana the numbers just kept growing. The sheer number of bots that had to be out there was astonishing, to be able to cover that much space so quickly there had to be millions of them.

"I'm on it Arlina, I will keep you informed. Sorry for being naive I did not know."

"I'm just frustrated I didn't mean to snap it's just something is going on and I don't know what it is."

Elbryon made his way up to his apartment and got his things situated on the bunk before makeing his way back down to the space dock for his first, of what appeared to be many, missions against the hive.

"ITAN Councilman Elbryon requesting immediate departure."

"Request granted pilot"

Elbryon launched from the station and made course adjustments that would take him to his first objective, a small infestation near the planet.

* * * *

"We made it through to Jallik Admiral. Your plan worked flawlessly."

"You expected it not to?"

"Da Gu was nowhere to be seen as expected and that stupid itani Elbryon escorted us right into his home turf."

"Good, the fools aren't even aware that we are in there space. Continue with your present course, I will have one of my contacts "meet" you in Divinia and take the cargo the rest of the way."

"Shouldn't I just take it? I mean I've gotten it this far already why risk....."

The transmission had been cut short as the Orion transport vessel was split in two by a pair of Serco Gaurdians waiting inside the worm hole. As quickly as they appeared they were gone cargo in hand.

2. Behind the Lines

The two Serco gaurdians made their way through Itani space, paying no mind to the countless defense turrets that had been set up at the worm holes.

"It would appear that the intel we recieved is still valid not a single turret has even targeted us."

"That's good for the Itani the Admiral has in custody, we need his reports to be correct or this whole operation will be for not. Now keep the chatter down we need to drop these blueprints for the assault bots off at the SMV Ola so she can continue pumping out more hive bots then get back to GR for the second part of our operation."

The two Serco continued on to the rendezvous with their temporary home on the Constellation Ola only to be spotted entering Eo by one of ITAN's newest recruits Rikkus who had been working his way to Jallik.

"ITAN recruit Rikkus spotted sir! Shall we engage?"

"You stop him. I cannot chance a lucky strike by the dog to my ship if ITAN gets a hold of these blueprints while we are in their space it could damage the whole plan and I will not be the one who has to tell the Admiral about it. SHOOT HIM DOWN!!!"

* * * *

Rikkus had only recently aquired the licences that had allowed Arlina to approve his requests to help with the current hive situation that was developing in their home system. He flew an IBG fitted with dual neutron blasters from Deneb on a course to meet with Elbryon in Jallik. He had been anxious to meet the councilman he had heard so much about around the recruit barracks.

As Rikkus began preparation to jump out of Eo his proximity warning chirped twice notifying him that there were two pilots inbound. Not having ventured out of his home systems he just assumed it to be another convoy moving essential materials from the further reaches in Divinia and Jallik to Deneb but this time it was not. What Rikkus saw coming through the worm hole was two Serco military gaurdians.

"Recruit Rikkus reporting two Serco gaurdians in Eo space. Request course of action."

"Stay clear Rikkus the defense turrets will take of them don't worry."

"That's just it sir, the turrets are not firing on the Serco!"

A long pause followed his last statement until finally he heard iry come over the comm, "What do you mean the turrets aren't firing?"

"Exactly that sir, the Serco are flying right next to the turrets...wait...one of them has broken off and is headed this way!"

"Do not engage recruit, I have just entered Eo and am on my way. I will handle the invaders!"

Rikkus didn't hear the last bit of what iry had said the sound of neutron fire tearing into his IBG muffled the warning. The gaurdian moved with great speed but even in the hands of the new recruit the IBG was faster. Finally, no longer listening to iry spout orders over the comm and his attention fully on survival Rikkus spun the IBG around to face the vulture. The two pilots exchanged rounds of neutron fire but the vulture was clearly gaining the upper hand as the lightly armoured IBG began to show signs that it was taking heavy damage. Rikkus completed a full roll and ended up with the vultures vulnerable underside directly in his line of fire so he fired, 5 direct hits spun the vulture out of the way. He was just coming around for a second pass when his proximity sensor went off again. Not knowing that the second Serco had already left the area he assumed that he had come back to help finish Rikkus off but it was iry who showed up.

* * * *

"I am clear. ITAN commander iry has just left my sector hold that recruit off until he gets there."

"Yes sir but can't I just kill him and be done with it?"

"No! We need this done as we planned..*Eo Denfense Turrets Coming Online*...You have done well you will die with Honour."

* * * *

Rikkus had managed to maintain a good distance between himself and the Serco so he was able to keep the Serco busy until iry could get close enough to help him.

Iry had closed to within 1700m when the turret launched its ordinance at the Serco fighter. The explosion caused Rikkus to tumble out of control for 30 seconds and in the short time it took him to recover iry had made it to the scene.

"Rikkus! I told you to let the turrets handle that Serco! I thought you said there we two of them! That ship is military property and your assignment is to be with Elbryon. The money it takes to fix it will come out of your personal account."

"There was two sir and the turrets weren't wor...."

"I saw the turret shoot down that Serco and if there were two the other one probably got shot down by one as well. Now enough of your fanciful tales. Repair your ship and report to Elbryon in Jallik."

"Aye sir."

Rikkus made his way to the nearest station to get the repairs done on his IBG as iry had instructed and began to make his way again to Jallik and his meeting with Elbryon.

* * * *

"It was a success Admiral. ITAN commander iry entered the sector just in time to see the turret shoot him down. I don't think they believe the recruit and will not look for us. I am minutes away from docking with the Ola and I have your blue prints with me."

"Good, report to the manufactureing deck immediately we can get started changeing out the parts and be under way."

"Aye, Sir."

* * * *

"I know I saw what I saw. I just can't explain it."

"We'll figure it out lad just get here so we can be on our way I have a few secrets to show you."