The destruction of Crios VIII sent shockwaves at the news over the vid-com channels. Thee surrounding systems where in a state of shock and wondered who if anyone was safe. The loss of two billion wolves and wolftaurs was a devastating blow for The United Packs of Crios. A solarmonth had been put aside for mourning the dead.

The population of wolves and wolftaurs on Foxarn had decided to hold a celebration of the lives instead of mourning. Luna was Nightwalkers mate and was sitting in a chair in her home. He was wearing a black top as was the tradition.

"Luna are you ok?" asked Night.

"I'm fine, go be with your friends" replied Luna.

Luna's full given name was Luna Skye Sona Wolf. He was six foot three and a little older that night by a few days. The two had grown up together and had known each other for a very long time. It was obvious to their parents they would be mates.

"Are you sure Lyra will be ok, shi seemed very unsteady on hir feet" commented Luna as he shifted his weight.

"Well so would you be, after all she's use to a biped form. She found hirself thrust into a tauroid form body. There where a few unexpected changes, you'd be unsteady as well" replied Night.

"I'm going up to Scaran hill they are dedicating a monument to those who died when Crios VIII was destroyed. I'll be up there for a few hours" answered Luna.

"I'll be next door or in here. Tarin and Silver have gone shopping and left Lyra with a doctor, they are checking to make sure everything went well" replied Night.

"Alright I'll see you later then" answered Luna as he got up from the chair he was sitting in.

He quickly kissed Night and was soon out of the door.

The bounty hunter was waiting for Tarin and Silver as they came home from shopping. They were halfway there when the lioness sprang her trap. As Tarin came around the corner as he was talking to Silver. The Lioness swung out a arm and caught Tarin around the neck, her gaze quickly turned to Silver.

"Alright I know your probably packing a piece. Throw it away or foxy here get a new hole in his head" she commented.

Silver looked to se if she could take her but it was impossible. She was holding a K5 Mincron blaster in her right hand. It was pointing towards Tarin's head. She moved slowly and removed her blaster from it's holster on her right thigh. She threw it to the ground and then looked to the bounty hunter. Tarin struggled a little in the bounty hunter's grip.

"Bounty Hunter right, I can tell" commented Silver.

Yeah, come on I'm not that stupid, the hold out pistol as well. Your records say you carry one at least so lets see it. Normally you carry it behind you, just above your hips. Quite normally strapped to your back" replied the hunter.

Silver sighed and put her arm behind her back and brought out a second but smaller blaster. She threw it to the ground and after it followed two more blasters, several throwing knives and two auto detonators. They clattered to the ground and Tarin's eyes went wide.

"Quite the arsenal you have, good that's the lot, I know it is. You've just saved your foxy friend here. Now get over here" ordered the bounty hunter.

"Why, I don't have any guarantee you won't kill Tarin anyway" answered Silver.

"That's right you don't, but killing anyone isn't on the card for today or for this job. I have orders, no disintigrations, live capture only. Killing him won't bring me credits so why do it, waste of a blaster bolt if you ask me" said the hunter.

"You know Gal-Tech won't let you live. They will kill me, then you and Tarin. Oh Gal-Tech will pay you of course but you won't live long enough to spend it. Your a lose end and Gal-Tech won't permit any lose ends" replied Silver.

"I'm quite sure I can hide from Gal-Tech" answered the hunter.

"You don't get it, you won't leave their building. You should forget me and go live, because if you don't I can promise you, Gal-Tech will pay you for your services with a very quick and painful death" commented Silver.

"You think I should give up on five million credits?" asked the hunter.

"What if you get a billion credits and Gal-Tech still gets you?" questioned Tarin.

"Shut up, shut up both of you!" shouted the hunter.

The blaster in the bounty hunters hand wavered a little. Silver wondered if she had pushed this bounty hunter to far.

"...you think they would kill me?" asked the hunter.

"Without a doubt" answered Silver.

"Why don't you look around you, a planet's been destroyed and we're looking at a second galactic war. People like you will be needed, people will pay much more than a few million" commented Tarin.

"I've been where you are, have you heard of two bounty hunters known as Targeter and the silent blade?" asked Silver.

"Both vanished a few months back, some said they where dead but I don't believe that for a second" commented the bounty hunter.

"I'm the Blade and he's Targeter. We both got out while we could. I suggest you go home and think about things" replied Silver.

The hunter let go of Tarin who rubbed his neck as soon as she did so. She leapt over a nearby wall and there was a flash. Looking over the wall the two found a sheer drop of a hundred feet. She was totally gone.

"transporter beacon or arm band, I'd say" commented Tarin.

"Yeah I thought so to" replied Silver.

"Now what?" asked Tarin.

"We go home and see how Sunny, Night and Lyra are getting on, and the delivery of our food of course" answered Silver.

"So what we doing here?" asked a young Vixen sat near a large desk.

The Vixen's name was Salai Mason she was a Lt. Commander of a flight wing of fighters based on the carrier Diotto. She had just turned twenty. Her family life was nothing to speak of as she was estranged from her father. Next to her sat a older Cheetah female.

Debbie Chase, she was thirty four, she had risen to the rank of Commander and in a few years ready for a command of her own. She was for the moment first officer aboard the cruiser Adamant. Her family life was much better than Salai's. Her father was a starship builder and her mother a starship designer. She had two sisters who where older than her. In the next seat sat a young collie female.

Kala Thorn was twenty one and a orphan she worked her way up the command chain by shear hard graft and taking risks where others wouldn't. She now held the rank of Lt. Commander. She has thought about her parents and if she had any siblings the only clue she has is a gold half medallion on a chain around her neck.

"What are we doing here anyway? I sure don't know. I got sent here under orders of the captain of the Diotto" commented Salai.

"Me to except that admiral Elena James sent me" replied Debbie.

They introduced their introductions to each other. As they did so a large brown rabbit came into the room. She was not a fleet officer but a civilian scientist. She was wearing a white lab coat. The split at the back was well placed for her tail. She was also wearing a pair of glasses. Kala was very surprised as the drug Totexidemia could instantly correct the problem.

"Excuse me miss but why the glasses?" Kala asked.

"Oh sorry, welcome. The glasses, well I have a very bad allergic reaction to Totexidemia, so I wear glasses instead. I'm Tio Winters, do any of you know what happened when the first galactic war ended?" asked Tio.

"it was ended by treaty wasn't it?" asked Debbie.

"That's right but what wasn't told was a secret project started before the treaty was signed. That project was called Project Prometheus. It is why you three were ordered here" commented Tio as she sat down in a silver chair.

"Prometheus?" asked Kala.

"There was a carrier named Prometheus in the galactic war. It was sent to a fleet surplus yard in orbit of Calor IV just after the war ended" replied Debbie.

"That's correct, however this Prometheus is in five parts. It consists of a carrier, a massive bomber and three fighter craft. It was my fathers dream to see Prometheus completed. He did not live to see it" commented Tio with a sad sigh.

"So what is the Prometheus exactly?" questioned Kala.

"Prometheus is a complete strike force, you three will be the pilots for the fighters that make up it's battle system known as THORN. Your the very best, and that's what we need" replied Tio.

"Who is we?" asked Salai.

"I and professor Hagen" replied Tio.

A older siberian tiger male came into the room. He also was wearing a lab coat over some none fleet issue uniform. He looked to Debbie to be about fifty two.

"Thank you Tio, now your probably wondering why you three have been chosen hmm? Quite simply because each of you have shown you can do remarkable feats. Kala on her own rescued three cruisers from the Zelle expance. Not a easy feat in it's self because of sensor echo's and sensor shadows. Salai and her fighter wing won the battle of the Ki'Tan nebular, against overwhelming odds. Debbies history speaks for it's self. Star cluster and ribbon for the battle of Tiron II. Silver palm and star cross for the evacuation of Foran VII. Single handedly destroyed a Starion Carrier and refuelling station at the age of twenty, and all of that just before the end of the first galactic war. All of you have brought honour to yourself's and your squad mates and also carved out glittering careers. Your perfect for this project" commented Hagen.

The tiger padded from where he stood and then looked to the four.

"Come along, there is something I want to show you" called Hagen.

Tio, Debbie, Kala and Salai followed Hagen into another room. The room was full of consoles and a few tables. There where four massive transi-steel windows. The room looked out onto a truly massive hanger. All of the base was within a massive asteroid in a undisclosed area of space. The inside of the asteroid had been carved out with atomizer devices. Outside of the room was a massive carrier. On it's deck was a massive bomber and attached under it where three large fighter craft. There was to Debbies eye at least two hundred furs of various species all over the carrier and the floor of the launch bay.

"Nearing a launch time?" asked Debbie?

"Yes a few hours" replied Hagen.

"A few hours to launch, why didn't you tell me?" asked Tio.

"Things went out of our control, I got a direct order from the President this morning. He said that the Star Confederation is in grave danger. I had to bring everything forward" replied Hagen.

"I see, I understand he was right to do that. How long do we have?" asked Tio.

"Five hours at maximum" commented Hagen.

"Five solar hours, we best get stated right way. We'll need to bring the massive anti-grav on line slowly. It's not that much time really!" exclaimed Tio.

"Thankfully we chose a normal controls configuration for the fighters. We best get started then" commented Hagen.

Outside of the Valran System sat the massive Imperial Alliance cruiser. The massive ship was launching smaller carrier craft which in turn launched their fighters. To each carrier there where eight fighters. On the bridge Commander Mala watched as the collection of ships took up their positions. Their target was the listening/security fighter station on Valran XII. This was three outer most planet into the system. With it's destruction a huge gap in the subspace sensor net could be exploited.

"How much longer Captain?" asked Mala.

"Fifteen centons commander. Everything will be ready. Already we have circum-navigated the enemy sensor net" replied the Captain.

"Excellent, you did leave a calling card after the last attack?" asked Mala.

"Of course commander, we captured one of the fighters. We made sure it pilot knew who we are. The Imperial Alliance will be a feared name" replied the captain.

"Most excellent, you will let me know when the attack is ready" replied Mala.

"By your command" answered the captain.

"Does anyone know much about this Imperial Alliance?" asked Salai.

"I don't know of any Imperial Alliance, and I know there aren't any computer records" replied Debbie.

"Does anyone even know what they look like?" asked Kala as she shifted in her seat.

The three were sat down on a large bridge. They where in the bomber on the deck of the Prometheus. A few last things where being connected or fixed.

"Some sort of bald monkey I'm told. The do look like use but very little fur but for the top of their heads. They have a very short muzzle if at all and no tail. I do wonder how they keep balance to walk" replied Tio.

"But why such a scale of destruction?" asked Kala.

"I don't know about that, I honestly don't" answered Tio.

"We fight for our homes, our loved ones and the Star Confederation. It's what we all join the starfleet for" replied Debbie.

Kala and Salai nodded at that. Then they continued with their training.

"Are all carriers in position?" asked Mala from the bridge of the cruiser.

"All ships are in position, we have taken them completely by surprise" answered the captain.

"Then let the attack begin immediately" commanded Mala.

"My you command" replied the captain.

"...and captain Hunter" said Mala.

"yes Commander?" asked Hunter.

"Make sure the base is totally destroyed, you understand?" asked Mala.

"Of course Commander, the base is to be totally destroyed. I understand Valran XII is well within range" replied Hunter.

"Then see to it's destruction" replied Mala.

On Valran XII a small image was caught by the sensor net. It wasn't very big but one of the officers Captain Shaw wanted a closer look, he put it up on the viewer.

"That's some sort of warship, maybe carrier. Red Alert an invasion is imminent" announced Shaw.

"Captain I have multiple tracks incoming, over two hundred plus plots, fighter class" announced a Ensign at a sensor display.

"Can you detect any capital ships?" asked Captain Shaw.

"One capital ship, on extreme sensor detection. it doesn't scan correctly. It's far to large for a cruiser but reads like one. Mean tonnage is impossible" replied the Ensign.

"Commander Granger, you have command. We best get some fighters up while we can. Sound battle stations, all hands to battle stations. Activate the defence grids" ordered Shaw.

Not long after Shaw gave his commands and had left for the figter launch bays came the first wave of Imperial fighters. They came in low firing at the bases installations. The first thing they targeted was the shield generator. The bases automatic guns opened fire sending ruby red laser fire away from the base in all directions. A few beams connected with fighters and blasted them into seething balls of plasma.

The shield generator was hit by several laser torpedo's from the fighters and the generator exploded into a huge ball of fire. Two of the large auto guns nearby exploded into flames also. Nearly all the first wave of Imperial fighters had been annihilated. However parts of the base where faring not much better fire control had long been destroyed.

The second wave of Imperial fighters came in, they started to aim for the gun emplacements. A chain of bright explosions ripped along one side of the base. A few fighters launched from figter bays and stated to destroy incoming imperial fighters. A much larger force made it's way towards the Imperial cruiser. The cruiser opened up with a barrage of it's twin laser cannons and other emplacements mounted all over the ship. Several of the leading figter exploded as the lasers struck them. Nearly all of the base was either destroyed or on fire as the automatic distress call started to send out it's urgent call for help.

Captain Shaw was piloting a fighter craft that was attacking the cruiser when suddenly a blue-green beam of light struck his ship. It started to haul the fighter into a hangerbay.

Tarin and Silver had been home a few hours. Lyra had found a house that was suitable to hir and the two helped hir buy it. They had used credits from Gal-Tech funds laundered through a smaller star bank on Foxarn VI. They had also bought hir a small bakery.

The two had found a message waiting for them to report to the cities space port. There a shuttle waited for them. Both where skilled at engineering and Sliver somewhere in her past had been trained in medical treatment. Nightwalker had promised to look after Lyra and makes sure shi was alright. As soon as Tarin and Silver had boarded the shuttle it left for a much larger ship in orbit. It was headed for a secret location. It arrived with two solar hours to the Prometheus's launch. Both would be technicians on board the bomber.

"Much longer till launch?" asked Kala from operations seat of the bomber.

"Just under a solar hour" replied Tio.

"Not much time, how long till we get to the Valran system base?" asked Debbie.

"At hyperwarp about just over a solar hour and a half" answered Tio as she checked some readings.

"Are the engineers we need on board as yet?" asked Dr Hagen.

"Yes Doctor Hagen, there's four aboard. You have their files next to you".

"Ah here we are, thank you Tio" replied Hagen as he picked up a small electronic pad.

"All systems are green across the board. Ready for launch" commented Salai.

"I still think we are not ready yet. The bomber is only ninety percent complete. We should have had the time to complete it" Tio said as she buckled herself into her seat.

"We didn't have any choice remember that Tio" replied Hagen.

"Ten minutes to launch, all stations report in" announced the bases com system.

"Soon to launch then, you buckled in yet Silver?" asked Tarin from his seat.

"yes all set you?" asked Silver.

"Fine, go through you engineering check. We'll be ready by then" replied Tarin.

Time went over, the bomber was already locked down to the deck by several massive clamps. The Prometheus was ready and would launch on time.

"All hands evacuate the hanger bay, launch crew to stand-by. Open outer bay doors, decompression to vacuum in three minutes" announced the base com system.

The people in the hanger bay soon left, air pumps removed the air into massive recycling tanks. The massive anti-grave plate and the ship came on-line. Two massive deck mounted blast boosters slipped into place as the inner hanger bay door slid out of the way.

The Prometheus exited the base and went over to it's fusion drives, and then left the gravity well of the asteroid. As soon as the ship cleared the system it leapt to hyper warp. A rainbow of light surrounded the ship before it vanished.

The Prometheus entered the Valran system and slowed to it's sub-light drives. As it did so the bomber on the deck was released from the securing clamps. On board where Debbie, Kala, Salai, Tio, Dr Hagen, Silver and Tarin.

"Fusion drives on-line, power reactors on-line. Bringing impulse drives to power" commented Debbie.

"Weapons systems on-line and green across the board" announced Tio.

"Sensors on-line, all sensor pallets active" advised Salai.

"That's great, just engineering left and we're ready for action" replied Dr Hagen.

Hagen touched a control on the chair he was strapped into.

"Engineering here Bridge, go ahead" commented Tarin over the com.

"Status report" replied Hagen.

"Engineering clear across the board, all auto repair systems ready, status clear" replied Tarin before the com went off.

"All right let's see how this Imperial Alliance like to be on the receiving end for a change" commented Tio.

"All right I know we all want to get some pay back for Crios VIII and the Valran base. Let's do our jobs and there will be plenty of time for pay back" replied Hagen.

"Power to Impulse drives, now on-line. Impulse manoeuvring thrusters at you discretion" replied Tio.

Thank you Tio" replied Hagen.

"Best keep a eye out for enemy fighters then" replied Debbie.

"Of course" replied Tio.

"Commander Mala, we have picked up a large ship entering the zone" said Captain Hunter as he looked at a visual display.

"What type and has our guest been shown our ways?" asked Mala from the command chair.

"It reads as a large bomber, but it has a unusual configuration. As for our guest, he has been very helpful. In fact I am sure we control him, that cyber implant was a interesting idea" replied Hunter.

"How is our fighter complement?" asked Mala as she checked something on the command chair's right arm.

"Fighter wing one suffered ninety five percent loses. Waves two and three are still complete, one third of our carriers where destroyed by the bases auto-guns. At most we can launch one hundred and fifty fighters. Most would be under computer control" replied Hunter.

"What if we add our reserves?" asked Mala.

"Two hundred fighters. I would like to say that the Imperial Master, would not be pleased with our lack of progress" commented Hunter.

"Launch all fighters immediately" answered Mala in a raised voice.

"By your command, we should not forget our true mission. To find the person or object code named 'Jade'" replied Hunter.

"Do not presume to tell me my duty or mission, Captain Hunter" replied Mala.

Hunter had already turned around and had ordered all fighters launched to meet the incoming bomber.

Several large carriers launched from the cruiser. Their fighters where attached in a downwards position. The fighters launched and made their way towards the bomber.

Hagen was watching a screen that showed the fighter positions.

"Front and port phaser cannons, open fire" he said gently. Behind him his tail moved very slightly hardly noticable at all.

From the front of the bomber two large cannon slid out and four bright beams of red light screamed through the darkness of space. The first wave of fighters where caught by the beams and one after the other exploded into debris.

The debris field was scattered as the other fighters came onwards.

"All batteries open fire, forget that, fire at will" Debbie, Salai and Kala get to the fighter and launch immediately. I and the others will handle the bomber" announced Hagen.

The chairs that the three sat on slid back and down three sperate tubes. They slipped behind some control consoles and locked into position. The controls where several surfaces of touch controls and a joystick. The three large fighters launched from under the bomber. They quickly joined up and transformed into a large figure.

"Let's go...let's give them what for, for Crios VII" announced Salai.

"Let's get this show on the road, with the old one two!" exclaimed Kala.

"Alright, lets go get them" replied Debbie.

Two massive cannon's rose out of the figures arms and with a flash and pulse of yellow beams they worked over the fighters and carriers. One by one they exploded under the yellow beams. Soon Mala was ordering what was left to retreat. The bomber it's self lined up on Mala's cruiser and opened up with it's most powerful weapon Super Impulse. The cruiser took a direct hit and there where signs that it had been badly damaged.

"Take that! Guess you'll be going the body shop to fix that now eh?" exclaimed Tio.

Outside all the Alliance ships where gone. Debris floated through space or span here and there. Dr Hagen looked out to the destruction.

"Have the fighters return, as soon as they are aboard set course for the base. We best not forget this. We have just won a battle, not the war. The Alliance will be back, we can count on it" commented Hagen.