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Marlena was aghast at the death of the dwarf Mage, but she didn't say a word.
The elven Queen turned toward Marlena and recognition dawned in her eyes.
Duke Volterus said, "I have not betrayed you, dear Queen. You should have heeded my advice. The Vvong is powerful, and we should have joined with them. I will only ask you this one more time. Do you give the order to surrender?"
The Queen stood straighter. "No."
So be it. All that will now happen is on your head. The Vvong will destroy you and this sorry space station."
Duke Volterus sneered at them all. He placed his hand on the green stone. Yellow hot light shone all around the Duke and a thunderous noise erupted within the chamber. The yellow light disappeared. Duke Volterus was gone.
Eastros said, "Marlena, Captain Grendel, you're here!"
Marlena released her magic. "Queen, you need to start the Hive's defenses."
The Queen smiled. She swooned and almost fell, but Fergun somehow jumped through the carnage in the room and grabbed her.
The Princess spoke. "Sorry, I should have seen my brother was corrupted..." Her voice trailed until almost a whisper.
"Marlena is right,” Eastros said. “We need to get the fleet back and start our defenses."
With Fergun’s help, the Princess moved to the broken remnants of the table.
"By my decree, I give Captain Grendel all the power of the General of the Fleet and powers that bestow a High Council member."
He bowed to her. A golden chain appeared around his neck. The Princess fell in Fergun's arms.
General Grendel gathered himself. Marlena could see it.
"Eastros, can you take the Princess to the hospital?" He turned to Fergun. "Get your fighter pilots ready. I will be there after some time. Give Marlena your communicator."
Fergun saluted General Grendel and gave Marlena a small device. Marlena watched as Fergun ran out of the chamber
"What am I supposed to do?" Marlena asked.
Her father looked at her for a brief few milli-cycles. He looked torn. "I want you to find your mother. I don't trust Duke Volterus."
Marlena said, "Where are you going?"
"I'm going with Fergun," General Grendel answered.
"You're not flying a small craft?" she said.
"First, I have to contact the fleet, and the only way is to take a ship out there."
"What about the Hive defenses?" she said.
"You have to command them. You are now an interim commander of the Hive," General Grendel said. He placed his medallion over her head and around her neck.
"Father, you don't have to do this? Have Fergun fly you," she said.
"I am a great pilot. And Fergun will be next to me piloting his ship. I will be fine."
Marlena felt panic rising up inside her. "But what if the ship's laser shoots you."
"Well," he said, "you will have to be careful. Find your mom after you get the defenses up. You can command the defenses through the Holo-screens."
General Grendel handed her a communicator. "Find a central Holo junction and turn on the defenses. It should be easy."
They ran out of the building. Marlena saw Eastros talking to a few guards. They were helping the Queen out of the room. The floor shook and a loud explosion echoed along the street outside.
The Vvong ships started streaming out of the larger battleships; Marlena saw the scarlet red lights of the enemy through the windows. General Grendel pointed to a cylindrical box. They ran up to it.
"Give me the medallion," General Grendel said.
He placed the medallion on the surface of the box. A Holo command nodule glowed.
"This is General Grendel. Start the Hive's defenses by my authority. Marlena will be the commander in my stead while I will fight the Vvong Ships."
She saw people running from the buildings and moving toward the large guns stationed at the ends of the Hive space station. The magical shield came forward as it enveloped the whole space station. Marlena was surprised how fast the defenses started. The battle guns started to shoot bright lasers at the Vvong ships.
The small enemy crafts hit the shield and exploded. Marlena and her father ran in the direction of the hospital. She knew the battle was just the beginning, and understood the Hive's shield could withstand a lot of firepower, but to defeat the Vvong? They needed their fleet back. And Marlena also understood the Vvong had other means to bring down the shields.
Her father turned to her and gave her a big hug. "Take care of yourself, and no matter what happens we will always be with you. Take care of your mom."
Marlena didn't like the way her father was talking as if he was not coming back.
She said, "You will return. I will cover your back. But now we have to go."
Looking upwards, Marlena saw the Vvong spidery looking spaceships were attaching themselves to the Hive's shields. Her communicator was beeping. Her father nodded and ran in the direction of Fergun's flight crew.
Marlena touched the communicator. "Yes."
A frantic male voice answered. "Commander, our shields are being drained."
Marlena said, "Shoot all the enemy ships attaching to the shield. These invaders eat magic. We need to kill them before they bring down our defenses. I'm going toward the headquarters now."
"Yes, commander," the voice said.
"Who am I speaking to?"
"This is Lieutenant Russell Cross."
Marlena wasn’t sure if she could trust this person, but she had to know. "Lieutenant, do you know Dr. Grendel?"
"Yes," the Lieutenant said.
Marlena started walking toward a set of stairs. The Hive's Headquarters was located in the middle of the Hive. "Is, Dr. Grendel alive?"
"Yes, she is alive. Your mom is fine. She is still in the hospital."
"Thank you, Lieutenant, thank you."
