S.P.E.C.T.O.R – [A Sci-fi space adventure with fantasy elements]

“I am unsure of the details, but the dragon has joined up with her squad, and they are flanking those Hepolisk bastards attacking the city.” The uniformed woman replied.

“That’s excellent news, Admiral. Have we received any news from the fleet and how it destroyed the communication jamming ship?” The emperor asked.

“Yes, Emperor, the fleet’s connection to the universal subspace network has been restored, so we are once again receiving real-time updates.

Apparently, an unknown mech appeared in the middle of the battle and started attacking the Hepolisk forces. It was that mech that destroyed both the communication jamming ship and the Hepolisk capital ship.” The Admiral replied as they explained everything that had happened.

“And a lone mech did all that? How is that possible?”

“The mech seems to be highly advanced; the Hepolisk forces are no match for it, even when multiple of them attack it together.”

“I see. What is happening up there at the moment?”

“Hepolisk transport ships appear to be trying to get in range to launch their drop pods, our forces and the unknown mech are currently intercepting them.”

“Good, it seems the space battle has shifted in our favour, and hopefully they can prevent any more Hepolisk drop pods from descending.”

“That does indeed seem to be the case,” The Admiral replied before advising. “Once the tanks have been taken care of by the dragon, I advise we launch a full counteroffensive and kill these damn snakes.”

“See to it, Admiral.”

“Yes, emperor.” The female Admiral saluted before turning and leaving.

Once he was alone again, the emperor sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose, mumbling, “I’m really not cut out to be a leader during times of war.”

“That won’t be a problem for much longer.” A cold voice suddenly said as a sharp dagger came out of nowhere and pierced the emperor’s skull, killing him instantly.

As the emperor slumped to the floor dead, a male Hepolisk that was much thinner and shorter compared to the ones Tephe had been fighting against appeared out of nowhere, holding the now bloodied dagger.

He quickly bent down and carved out the emperor’s heart before his reincarnation could begin.

After claiming its prize, the Hepolisk stored it away safely before once again vanishing into the shadows.

💫💫💫

“RROOOAAAARRRR.” Tephe roared in anger as she narrowly avoided an energy blast from the fourth and final tank.

Angrily, she took in a deep breath and spewed out a stream of white hot dragon breath that covered the tank, killing the two Hepolisks that were manning the secondary weapons.

Unlike with the first tank, however, Tephe didn’t stop spewing her dragon fire after killing them and just kept up.

In her anger at almost being hit by the energy blast, Tephe intensified the dragon’s breath and only stopped after she ran out of breath.

What remained of the tank after the dragon’s breath stopped was a melted pile of slag that glowed red as heat radiated off it.

“Hmph.” Tephe snorted as steam left her nostrils before she turned and went to help the Phoenix squad finish off the Hepolisk forces.

She glided over silently before diving down and pinning a Hepolisk beneath her claws, after which she bit down on it with her maw and, with a swift shake of her head, tore its body in two.

“Yuck,” Tephe remarked as she spat out half the Hepolosk’s body.

She swung her mighty tail and managed to catch two Hepolisks who were not able to dodge in time and sent them flying far into the distance, though it was unknown if they were dead or alive.

Two more of the Hepolisks took the opportunity to spit their acidic poison at her, however, she just ignored it since her anti-gravity armour protected her, and instead, she swiped a large claw at them and ripped their bodies to shreds as it passed through them.

With the final tank destroyed, many of the Phoenxes who had been defending the city flew out over its walls and started a counteroffensive against the Hepolisk forces.

The Hepolisks forces, who had once held the advantage of sieging the city and keeping the outnumbered Phoenixes trapped in their city, were now all of a sudden on the defensive, with many of them fleeing for their lives.

Tephe wouldn’t let a single one escape as she used her natural advantage of flight to easily catch up to any fleeing Hepolisk before either crushing them under her claws as she landed on them, tearing them apart as she swung her claws at them, or simply burning them to ash with her dragon’s breath.

As the final Hepolisk surrounding the city was defeated, the Phoenixes cheered loudly while Tephe raised her head to the sky and roared triumphantly.

“We did it, we won.” One of the Phoenix squad cheer happily as the Phoenix squad stood triumphantly among the Hepolosk corpses while catching their breath.

“We did, and it was all thanks to your help, Tephe,” Revi said happily as she turned to her.

“Hehe,” Tephe laughed with slight embarrassment while rubbing her snout with her claw as her body suddenly started to shrink.

Revi and the other members of her Phoenix squad watched in surprise as Tephe rapidly shrank and transformed back into her humanoid appearance before her helmet retracted, revealing her appearance.

“What about those bastards that escaped?” Tephe asked.

“They will be hunted down over time, as long as the Hepolisk fleet fails to send down any more drop pods or worse land transport ships and shuttles, there wont be any problem.

“Don’t worry about that, Adam will take care of their fleet,” Tephe said confidently.

“You have great confidence in this man that isn’t even from the known universe,” Revi replied.

“Well, of course, even in my time, he is undefeated in combat,” Tephe said proudly as she puffed out her chest.

“Hehe, why do you sound so proud about that?” Revi asked with a chuckle.

“Why wouldn’t I be proud of my friend?” Tephe asked with a confused tone and look as she tilted her head to the side.

“I suppose you’re right,” Revi replied with a knowing smirk before asking, “How long do the two of you plan to stay?” 

“I don’t know,” Tephe replied while shaking her head.

Revi was about to reply when her mobile phone type communication device suddenly sounded.

She pulled it out of her pocket and, after seeing who was calling, flipped it open and answered it.

“Admiral, I’m happy to report that all Hepolisk forces sieging the capital have been routed. Most have been killed, and the ones that fled we will hunt down.”

“Is something wrong, ma’am?” 

“Dead! But how?” Revi asked in shock as tears welled up in her eyes.

Tephe and the other members of the Phoenix squad were shocked to see the abrupt change from the previous smiling and happy Revi to this sad one that had tears in her eyes.

“Those fucking vipers.” Revi hissed angrily.

“No ma’am, I wont be returning yet, I plan to hunt that fucker down.”

“I don’t know, ma’am, but I will figure out a way,” Revi growled before abruptly ending the call.

“Is something wrong, leader?” One of the Phoenix squad asked.

“The emperor is dead,” Revi replied with a hard look after wiping away the tears in her eyes.

“What? How?” 

“It seems he was stabbed in the back of the head and then had his heart removed so he can no longer go through the rebirth cycle. It is believed to be a member of the Viper division since only they are stealthy enough to be able to infiltrate the palace.

“Viper division? How did one of them get here?” 

“One or more of them must have come down in the first drop pods.”

“I’m sorry to hear about the Phoenix emperor,” Tephe said solemnly before asking, “What’s the viper division?”

“They are a bunch of Hepolisk assassins that report directly to the Hepolisk leadership. They specialise in stealth and assassination. They have the ability to camouflage themselves so perfectly that you would think it was stealth.” Revi explained.

“How do you plan to find this Hepolosik viper if you can’t see him?” Tephe asked.

“I don’t know,” Revi replied while shaking her head before adding, “But I can’t just let the bastard escape after what they did.”

“Leader, let’s hunt that viper bastard down.”

“Yeah, let’s go.”

“No.” Revi replied, adamantly before ordering, “Your orders are to assist our forces in hunting down the other Hepoisk snakes that fled, leave that viper to me.”

“But…”

“No buts, move out.” 

“Yes, leader.” The Phoenix squad saluted before reluctantly turning and leaving.

“Are you not going to join them?” Revi asked as she saw Tephe was still standing beside her.

“Nope, I’m going with you,” Tephe replied.

“But…”

“No buts, I’m not your subordinate and I don’t have ot listen to you, besides I bet Adam knows a way for us to track the Hepolisk down.” 

“Really?” Revi asked hopefully as Tephe nodded.