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Duke Grendel ship shook. He grabbed onto his seat and stared at the front screen. The enemy ships were swarming in front of them. The large ion cannon on his ship destroy many of the Vvong battle ships but more enemy vessels reinforcements were coming their way.
Duke Grendel said, “Captain Shirel, when will the enemy reinforcements get here?”
“Soon, we don't have enough time to do a counter attack. What should we do?”
Duke Grendel said, “General Romo do you hear that?”
“Yes,” General Romo said. “We can fly into the Saturn’s rings. And try to take some enemy in there. We can fight in the asteroids.”
Duke Grendel said, “We need a distraction.”
General Romo said, “Get your ships into a warp jump. I’ll do something.”
Duke Grendel said, “Do it.”
They moved their ships into a phalanx position creating a shooting tunnel, destroying all the enemy ships before them. The other Vvong ships were still coming to their position. On their sensors, they were almost ready for the jump.
An explosion rocked their ships. Duke Grendel said, “What was that?”
Captain looked at her screen next to her. “General Romo has ignited some magical photons. His fleet was behind us.”
Duke Grendel looked at the screens at the front. General Romo was far away from them. The enemy swarmed around the magical photon explosions. They were too far away from him to help.
Captain Shirel said, “Duke Grendel, we have to leave now.”
He didn't like leaving General Romo behind. He was going to turn his ship around but General Romo said over the communicator, “Duke Grendel you must leave now! They enemy is regrouping. I will follow you.”
“Captain engage the engines, now,” Duke Grendel said.
The ships all moved at once toward Santurn’s ring. Duke Grendel saw the planet Saturn and the asteroid rings surrounding it.
Captain Shirel said, “Should we go in to our usual place?”
Duke Grendel recalled they had hidden inside the Rings of Saturn by the bigger side asteroids and also closer to the surface of the planet.
“Let’s wait for a bit,” he said.
He wanted to make sure if General Romo and his group of ships made it to this area.
“Scan the area. Check to see if General Romo is still alive,” he said.
The communication officer said, “We cannot tell, Duke Grendel. There is too much space debris.”
Duke Grendel said, “Plot a course into the rings. Get the smaller ships and wrecked vessels onto the surface of Saturn. We need to far away from the civilian ships.”
“Yes, Duke,” Captain Shirel said.
She gave directions to the navigator. They moved to the closest asteroid.
“How’s our shields?” He said.
“We are down but holding steady.”
The communications officer said, “Sir, we’re getting multiple worm holes appearing behind us.”
“Show me.”
The front main screen changed. It depicted the enemy Vvong ships arriving through the multiple hyper worm holes.
“Duke, look over there,” Captain Shirel said.
He saw General Romo’s ship breaking out of the hyper space. The ship was exploding in places. The Vvong ships continued to attack General Romo’s ship.
Duke Grendel didn't hesitate. “Get some ships to help them. Try to hail them.”
A few of his ships broke formation and raced toward General Romo’s ship.
The communications officer said, “They cannot respond yet. Their communications are offline.”
Duke Grendel's ship reached Saturn’s rings. A few of the smaller asteroids hit their shields. The ship shook a little. Some Vvong ships followed them inside the asteroid belt.
“Evasive maneuvers,” he said, “fire at will!”
***
CINDY WATCHED MERLIN and Lazarus disappear into the portal. She remembered that Lazarus promised her that he never left her again like back on Middle Earth, but she knew she had to let him leave. She moved closer to Grace and Royce. As soon as the portal ceased, time went back to normal. Coming toward them from the sky was a group of Vvong fighters.
Grace said, “Where’s Lazarus?”
Cindy sighed and said, “He’s with Merlin. Now, we have to do this ourselves. Move back-to-back everybody.”
Royce nodded, and he transformed into an Alpha Grog. He was taller than them and he scanned the sky. Cindy hoped Royce wouldn't leave them and fight.
Grace said, “Let's get closer to Stonehenge. We can find some protection there.”
She looked at the ancient site and notice something. Cindy felt power radiation off the structure. She wondered if they could tap into this power.
“Ok,” she said, “run toward Stonehenge behind the large rocks.”
They ran up the slope. Several Vvong creature flew at them. Grace lifted her hands, and the earth erupted upwards hitting the flying creatures. Royce also shot fireballs hitting the Vvong. But some of the beast instead of exploding sucked in Royce’s magic. Cindy forgot these creatures consume magic as food. Royce didn't slow down but shot another fireball at the creatures belly destroying it.
Royce said, “Be careful. Don't cast spells near the beast’s mouth.”
Cindy nodded. A creature flew down and stood before them. The Vvong’s large pincher hands swayed like snakes ready to strike. More insectile creatures landed around them. They stopped. Cindy felt Grace’s magic coming forth. Several large stone creatures appeared. It were stone gollums.
Grace said, “Defend us.”
The stone creatures were as tall as the insectile creatures and lumbered toward them. The stone creatures smashed a few of the incoming enemy. They ran up the slope and into the center of Stonehenge. The Vvong followed.
