(continued from part 1)
--------------------------

  News of the capture of the Heir-apparent sent a shockwave throughout 
the new Saotome-Tendo Dominion, as it became. As only the Terra Combine 
stood in its path, the leaders resolved to declare war. 
  Backed by the resources of the former House Kuno, and the warrior 
people of House Saotome, the Saotome fleet plunged into Terra space like 
a knife into butter, border worlds absorbed by the Dominion quickly and 
without fanfare. The knife plunged further into the Combine until it 
reached planet Earth, the ancestral home of mankind, and the center of 
government of the Terra Combine. 
  Ukyo was disappointed, to say the least, when fellow captain (and 
mentor) Taro continued to report failure to rout the Dominion fleet. She 
was even more disappointed when Command decided to hold the Jade Dragon 
fleet in reserve, back in orbit over Earth, instead of at the front 
lines. 
  The political prisoner, Ranma Saotome, was kept isolated within the 
center of the Combine prison complex in Siberia. The heads of the 
Combine bickered over what to do with the Heir-apparent; while some 
continued to argue using him as an ace-in-the-hole (read: threaten to 
kill him to make demands), those with clearer heads (who were, 
unfortunately, in the minority) wanted to return him to the Saotomes, 
just to get the Saotome fleet out of Combine space before something 
terrible happens. 
  However, one day Ranma had a visitor. Ukyo stepped inside, flanked by 
Ryoga and Konatsu. 
  "What do you want this time?" asked Ranma. "I thought you hated me."
  Ukyo fidgeted with her gloves. "Apparently your wife and parents 
managed to rally enough support that the Saotome government has declared 
open war against the Combine." She started pacing around Ranma. "I don't 
know whether I should admire such an action, or condemn it, after all, 
they are doing this for their own benefit, not for that of the people." 
  "Ukyo," Ranma started, "just because we're on different sides, doesn't 
mean we can't still be friends." 
  "If you're trying to get out, that won't work, Saotome," countered 
Ukyo. 
  "It's not that, I mean," corrected Ranma. "I just want to spend time 
alone with you. To talk, that's all."
  Ukyo glanced over to Konatsu and Ryoga, who left the cell. "Talk."
  "That cold, hard exterior, Ucchan," Ranma began, "it's not the Ucchan 
I knew. Whatever happened to the happy girl that played in the streets? 
The girl that knew every street and corner, who knew everybody on the 
block, who helped the Heir-apparent find his way home after getting 
lost. The one who didn't care what I was, but cared about who I was."
  "That girl grew up, Ranchan," Ukyo replied. "And grew up hard. I can 
only guess how your life growing up must've been: the best food, the 
best clothes, the best house, the best service... everything you could 
ever want at your fingertips!"
  "It wasn't the same without real people to call friends," Ranma said. 
"There were those back home who wanted to get it good with me so I could 
do favors for them later when I became ruler. They weren't really my 
friends. When we toured the border worlds I met real people, people who 
didn't care about my heritage or my past. I met you, Ucchan."
  Ukyo sat down on the cold floor alongside Ranma. "Those were good old 
times, weren't they?"
  "For the first time in my life," continued Ranma, "I met someone who 
was more alive than the world, who had everything that made her happy 
right there. I thought, if only I could be like that!" 
  "I remember the dinner you invited me to, Ranchan," Ukyo said. That 
was the same night Ukyo helped the lost Ranma find his way back to the 
local governor's mansion, where Ranma was staying on their border tour. 
"I remember thinking, 'look at all this wonderful food!' Of course, such 
meals as that were probably normal to you, but to a poor girl like me it 
was a feast; I would've been lucky to get a loaf of bread all to 
myself."
  "Pop didn't want to take you back with us," Ranma said. "'After all,' 
he had said, 'what good would it do to have another pauper in the 
shining capitol city?'" Ranma remembered vividly the streets of the 
capitol, with not a single poor person in sight, all having been 
deported to the border worlds. The menial tasks were left to the 
far-more-efficient machines. 
  "Destiny's conspired against us, Ranchan," Ukyo concluded. "Perhaps 
some things weren't meant to be." She got up. 
  Ranma reached for Ukyo's arm. "I'm not going to ask you to let me go, 
Ucchan. But I must know: what's going to happen to me?"
  Ukyo showed a faint smile to her old friend. "You won't be executed, 
if that's what you're worried about. The higher-ups think you're more 
useful to us alive. As a hostage." For all the good it did the Combine, 
as I know the chances of beating back the Saotome forces were next to 
nothing so long as we hold their Heir-apparent. "To tell you the truth, 
if it were my decision you would've been released unconditionally a 
while ago." 
  "Because you want to protect your people, or personal reasons?" asked 
Ranma, humor returning to his eyes. 
  "Both," answered Ukyo. "Bye, Ranchan, whenever we meet again, in this 
life or the next."

  The Terra High Command met in the confines of its headquarters in 
Geneva. The heads of military were gathered here, along with Ukyo, Taro, 
Cologne, and Kuno, among others. 
  The Director of Military presided over the meeting. "It is a grave day 
for us all, as the rebel forces of the Dominion plunge toward Earth with 
frightening speed. Captain Taro informs me that they'll be here within a 
few standard hours." 
  Taro nodded sadly. "Border forces have cut their supply lines, but it 
appears that the Dominion doesn't care; obviously, they're putting 
everything at stake on Earth itself. We have reason to believe that the 
strike force consists of every ship in the Dominion fleet that isn't 
patrolling the border worlds." 
  Kuno said, "Those people upstairs whom you call leaders are still 
bickering whether or not to hand over the Heir-apparent to the Dominion. 
Had they done so before, this disaster would never have happened! By 
holding the Heir-apparent, the Dominion people became fiercer than 
ever." 
  Cologne voiced, "We were fools to believe the Combine could turn the 
tide of battle against the Dominion. If you surrender, we will go on 
fighting."
  "As shall we," the Director replied. "I don't intend to hand Earth 
over to the Dominion, but if any of you don't wish to fight, leave now." 
Nobody left. "All right, then, we shall begin. Captain Kuonji?"
  Ukyo stepped up and took the podium. "The Dominion justifies their 
attack by claiming a rescue mission for their Heir-apparent, but we know 
the truth of the matter. Since our esteemed Council has their hands tied 
behind their backs, so to speak, it is up to us to deal with the 
incoming fleet. Under recommendation by the Director, and with the 
recent losses at Beta Ceti, I 
assume the role of Grand Admiral of the Navy."
  Murmurs shot across the room. "The Dominion won't have Earth without 
heavy losses, I guarantee it. All available ships have been recalled to 
assist in the defense of Earth. With the ships we have available we will 
form a defensive perimeter around Earth. Nothing must to get through."

  After the meeting was ajourned, Captain Taro approached Ukyo. 
  "My protegee," greeted Taro. 
  Ukyo hugged her mentor. "It's good to see you again!"
  "It's good to see my protegee surpass her mentor," Taro congratulated. 
  "Yeah, but who knows how long I'll enjoy my promotion," Ukyo said 
grimly. "You know as well as I our chances of success." Damn those 
politicians upstairs. 
  "It doesn't matter," assured Taro. "History will remember us for what 
we do, and judge us accordingly. The most important thing to remember is 
to live and die with consistency; you should die the way you lived. I 
intend to die by my principles, and so should you." Taro stared at his 
chronometer. "I have to get back to the Minotaur's Eye soon. I'll see 
you on the field of battle."
  Ukyo saluted Taro, and watched her mentor stride off down the hall. 

  Ukyo reclined in her command chair, watching the viewscreen as the 
Saotome Dominion fleet returned from hyperspace into realspace. The 
Combine fleet was deployed in an array about Earth, nothing must get 
through. 
  The newly-promoted admiral checked a datapad by her armrest. Major 
Ryoga Hibiki and his marines lay waiting to repel boarders, if 
neccessary. Otherwise, Hibiki and his marines had another task. Kodachi 
Kuno and her Black Rose squadron held pattern around the Jade Dragon. 
Kodachi retained her needle-shaped medium fighter, a design shared by 
only two other fightersin the squadron, the others made up of different 
designs. Kuno and his force of Bronze Phoenix star-mechs hung silently 
nearby, waiting for battle. Not far away were the remnants of the 
Joketsuzoku fleet, under the command of the heir, Shampoo, who in turn 
was under Ukyo's command. Mousse formed the 
command of his White Swan wing of fighters nearby Shampoo's ship, the 
Pride of Joketsuzoku. 
  And of course the heads of government, including Cologne, waited below 
in Geneva for the outcome. Politicians still bickered in their seats, 
with an outcome not likely in the forseeable future. 
  In a cell in Siberia Ranma Saotome rotted, waiting for the inevitable 
end, one way or another. 

  The first of the Dominion warships entered realspace just outside 
Earth's orbit. Soon it was followed by several more warships, each 
launching smaller fighters from their bays. 
  Ukyo's lips curved into a malicious grin. Konatsu, her aide, scrambled 
to her side in panic. 
  "Sir, engage the enemy?" asked Konatsu. 
  "No," replied Ukyo. All eyes turned to the officer in surprise. "The 
arrogance of the enemy is their weakness. Watch, and learn."
  Dominion fighters surged ahead of the slower warships. They passed 
several unarmed satellites unconcerned, heading straight toward the 
Combine fleet. 
  It was a mistake. 
  Concealed within the depths of the satellites were several 
high-powered anti-ship weapons, which made short work of the approaching 
fighters. 
  The celebration on the Jade Dragon's bridge was short-lived as a swarm 
of warships entered realspace. Ukyo maintained her composure, and pushed 
a single button. 
  Had the Dominion fleet exited hyperspace well out of Earth's orbit, 
they could've performed sensor sweeps before heading in; standard 
Combine Navy procedure for invasions. The scanners would've detected the 
stealth fields of numerous tactical nuclear weapons, designed to 
detonate at the touch of a button. The proximity of the enemy warships 
to the space mines caused several shockwaves to glow across their 
shields, then through to their armor. The Dominion warships were far 
from crippled, but were shieldless. 
Some even lacked weapons batteries in certain locations. 
  "Order all squadrons to break and attack," commanded Ukyo. 

  Kodachi's Black Rose squadron, made up of medium fighters, escorted 
the heavy bombers of the Catoblepas squadron toward the oncoming 
Dominion warships. The bombers would make a torpedo run on the warship, 
but needed about twenty seconds for the torpedo to match shield 
modulation. However, since the shields were temporarily burned-out, that 
was no longer necessary. All the bombers needed now was cover from enemy 
fighters. 
  "This is Catoblepas Leader, ready and arm torpedoes!" Kodachi heard 
over the commlink. 
  "Incoming fighters!" shouted another. 
  Kodachi thumbed on her commlink. "Black Rose squadron, do not engage! 
Stay with your escorts!"
  Had the squadron been her usual team, they would've complied without 
hesitation. But, since only two survived previous conflicts, the rest 
were made up of green Combine pilots, who barely listened to Kodachi. 
Three broke off to engage the Dominion ships. 
  Damn, Kodachi thought. Damn those green pilots! 
  She reached for the commlink and opened a channel to the rest of her 
squadron. "Alright then, Dervish and Thorn are with me, delta formation! 
The rest of you, STAY with your escorts!" Time to save some greens.
  "Copy, Black Leader!" replied Thorn. 
  "Time to open a can of 'whoop ass!'" Dervish cried.  
  Kodachi and two other fighters broke from the rest of the squadron in 
a triangle pattern, Kodachi at point, the other two behind. Together the 
three fighters chased after the three green fighters. 
  The three greens were reduced now to a mere two as they engaged six 
heavy fighters. Both were panicking over open frequencies, something in 
which Kodachi punished if it happened within her veterans' circle. 
Dominion heavy fighters, armed with beater weapons and power plants than 
medium fighters, pummeled shields. 
  Kodachi opened a frequency to the lead enemy fighter. She taunted, 
"Hah! Six heavies against five mediums? Sounds fair to me! 
Ahahahahahahaha!!"
  Without waiting for a reply, Kodachi and her two companions opened 
fire. All three lines of fire converged on the lead fighter, crippling 
its forward shields until it peeled away armor. Thorn and Dervish 
rotated in a circular pattern about the axis fixed by Kodachi, dodging 
fire as they dished their own. The first enemy fighter burst into 
flames, then exploded. 
  Kodachi identified the stray green fighters and opened a channel. "You 
two'd better stick with me! Extended delta formation!" 
  The two greens complied, and joined in the rotating triangle behind 
and to the side of Thorn and Dervish, extending the triangle further. 
Together the five craft engaged the remaining Dominion fighters as a 
flying wedge. 

  Kuno waited in his star-mech as the Dominion fighters broke past the 
satellite defense batteries. Star-mechs were specially-designed for 
space combat. Unlike standard 'mechs, star-mechs had better propulsion 
jets, but not nearly enough to replace the function of actual fighters 
in battle. Of course, their weapon loadout made them a plus anyway. 
  This particular 'mech had a similar sloped-down cockpit resting on two 
legs like Kuno's old 'mech, but the similarities ended there. There were 
no missile launchers on this 'mech. The 'arms' of the mech carried two 
energy weapons each instead of one each, two of those weapons being the 
deadly particle projection cannons. Mounted on top of the 'mech was a 
hugemachine gun; sometimes old-fashioned weapons worked better than 
energy weapons. Of all the 'mechs Kuno was offered, this one in 
particular appealed to his taste and combat style; it was an older 
model, but experts in 'mech combat praised this one as a marauder in 
battle. 
  Kuno's 'mech, along with the rest of his squadron, stood atop the 
armored plating of the Jade Dragon herself-- effectively mobile turrets. 
He watched his scanners as the Dominion fighters approached the Combine 
capital ships. It was time to join the battle. 
  "Bronze Phoenix squadron, prepare to engage the enemy!" Kuno cried 
into the commlink. All at once, every single 'mech ignited their jets, 
and catapulted into the void to the oncoming enemy. Kuno fired off 
several particle beams of death to greet the enemy. 
  From behind Kuno and his 'mechs the weapon batteries of the Jade 
Dragon fired, shooting lasers that cut through the fighters like a knife 
through bread.  

  The battle seemed to fare well for the Terra Combine. Konatsu was 
already ready to celebrate, but Ukyo was not. 
  "What troubles you, sir?" asked Konatsu. 
  "They're holding out, they've got to have more than this," Ukyo said. 
"Either they're trying to soften us up, or this fleet's just bait...."
  She watched the tactical display. The Dominion forces appeared to be 
pulling out. Several of the Combine ships left their positions to 
pursue. 
  "Who is that, and get me a link to him!" Ukyo ordered Konatsu. 
  "It's Captain Hikaru Gosunkugi, sir. Putting him through."
  The image of Gosunkugi appeared on Ukyo's viewscreen. "Come on, 
Admiral! We got them on the run!"
  "Get back here, you idiot," Ukyo snarled, suddenly realizing the 
danger, "they're luring you away!" One of the oldest tricks in the 
book....
  Someone shouted from behind Gosunkugi, "Sir! We're detecting massive 
jump gates forming around us...!"
  "Oh shiiiii...." Gosunkugi screamed, then the transmission went blank. 
  Ukyo didn't have time to contemplate Gosunkugi's demise. She opened 
channels to the ships surrounding Gosunkugi's previous guard position. 
"Close up that hole in the array! Nothing gets through!"
  But the defenders were too slow to act as the Dominion reinforcements 
plunged through the defensive perimeter left open by Gosunkugi. The real 
battle just began. 

  Mousse's heavy fighter weaved through the swarm of Dominion craft. 
What remained of his White Swan squadron was now battered, as they took 
the full brunt of the frontal assault. 
  Over the comm-channel Mousse heard, "Oh my god! They're torpedoing the 
Pride!" 
  Mousse checked his radar, and sure enough, a full torpedo spread fired 
off at the main Joketsuzoku battleship. Shampoo's ship. 
  "Shampoo, I'm coming my darling!" he cried, leaving the squadron 
behind in the wake of afterburners. Silently, Mousse cursed whoever it 
was that was supposed to take out the bomber squadron. 
  The torpedoes were getting closer. 
  "All available power to engines, including shields!" Mousse shouted at 
the computer. The speed of his fighter increased significantly as laser 
blasts punched through the hull. 
  The torpedoes were almost within shield range. 
  Mousse flew faster and faster, ignoring the explosions around him. His 
glasses cracked in a sudden blow, blinding Mousse with shards of glass. 
But he didn't need his eyes anymore. 
  Mousse let out a war cry as his fighter crashed through the torpedo 
spread. 

  Shampoo stood staring out the window from the bridge of the Pride, 
watching the torpedo spread make its way to her ship. Then, without 
warning one of her fighters drove itself into the spread, detonating the 
warheads and sparing the Pride from destruction. 
  Shampoo turned to the tactical officer. "Identify that craft!"
  "Sir!" the female officer replied, "that was Mousse's fighter."
  Mousse. Stupid goose had to be a hero. He died a hero. 
  "Sir?" the officer said to Shampoo. The captain hadn't said a word for 
a long time. Or what seemed a long time. 
  "Divert all power to weapons," ordered Shampoo. "Take all of them down 
with fiery death!"

  If it hadn't been for that damned Hikaru, Ukyo'd be in control of the 
situation. Now things were getting out of hand. 
  She watched the tactical grid with disgust as more and more Combine 
blips faded away from the screen, and more and more Dominion ships 
appearing. Once the toe was in the door, it would cost dearly to get it 
shut again, Ukyo knew. Perhaps the cost was more than the fleet could 
offer. It was one problem with being on the defensive. 
  Ukyo stared in horror as the blip that represented Captain Taro's 
ship, the Minotaur's Eye, vanished. She bit back the tears as her mentor 
died in battle. He died the way he lived, just as he wanted. 
  The ship rocked as Ukyo stood oblivious to her surroundings. 
  "Incoming torpedo spread!" warned Konatsu. 
  Ukyo snapped back from her thoughts. Now wasn't the time to mourn.  
  "Sir!" an officer cried. "Our countermeasures have been exhausted!"
  "Brace for impact!" Ukyo yelled furiously. 
  The Jade Dragon rocked once again, this time more violently than 
before. Bridge crewmen were sent flying, some dying before they hit the 
ground from explosions. Fire erupted on the bridge. Ukyo was thrown from 
her position.
  Konatsu rushed to replace the dead helmsman as Ukyo gathered herself. 
  A transmission burst through the confusion. "This is Admiral Ritecourt 
of the Saotome Dominion flagship Crazy Horse. Combine vessels, you are 
ordered to surrender to the Saotome Dominion. Failure to do so will 
result in your destruction."
  "In hell," Ukyo spat under her breath. She half-expected one of the 
blood-relatives of Saotome to be on the flagship, but it seems they were 
all too-cowardly to lead the assault themselves. 
  She glanced over at the comm officer. "Tell the marines to drop on 
Earth, as per pre-instructed orders. We no longer need them. We're not 
going to go down without a fight."
  Ukyo stood before her seat, the blood and sweat trickling down her 
face. She watched silently as the marine dropships descended toward the 
surface. "All weapons forward! Target the flagship, the Crazy Horse!" To 
Konatsu she barked, "Full speed ahead!" 
  The officers on the bridge stared at their captain as if she were mad.   
Konatsu looked back at Ukyo in alarm. "Full speed?!"
  "Ram them, dammit!" Ukyo snarled. "No one destroys the Jade Dragon but 
me!" 
  Konatsu nodded in understanding. "It has been an honor to serve under 
you, sir!" He stood, and withdrew the blaster he held at his side. 
Taking aim, he shot at Ukyo. 
  Ukyo never flinched. She looked over her shoulder, to an officer 
standing behind her, holding a weapon in his hand, pointed at Ukyo's 
neck. Konatsu's shot hit the officer right between the eyes. Ukyo's lips 
curved into a smile as she watched the life drain from the treacherous 
officer's eyes. 
  The master of the Jade Dragon nodded to Konatsu, who returned a 
salute. Loyal to the bitter end. 
  Konatsu returned to his seat and punched in the proper sequence. The 
Jade Dragon lurched forward at high velocity. 
  Ukyo sat back in her command chair. All eyes were busy at their 
consoles. "All available power to forward shields, engines, and weapons! 
We won't need life support where we're going." 
  "Yes sir!" cried an officer. "Not enough power for forward shields, 
but enough to hurt them!" The Jade Dragon accelerated faster than before 
as the fire from the ship's batteries intensified. 
  "Jade Dragon, cease your present course immediately!" Admiral 
Ritecourtordered, almost pleaded, as he realized the intent of the Jade 
Dragon. 
  Ukyo walked to the communications console herself, and replied, "I AM 
the Jade Dragon, and I hunger for you! Stare into my gaping maw, and 
know that you behold Death incarnate!" She opened the comm-channel to 
broad-band frequencies. "For duty, honor, and loyalty! Burn in the fires 
of honor and justice, you bastards!" 
  Damn all Saotomes to Hell. Ukyo stood on the bridge, a stone sentinel 
to the inevitable doom before her, never flinching, eyes open. She 
stared death in the face, and was enjoying every minute of it. 
  Konatsu had just enough time to stand from his seat to meet Death with 
open arms. My honor is my life....
  The Dominion flagship Crazy Horse couldn't get out of the way in time. 
  Oh, the light, Ranchan! If only you could see it with me.... 

  Kodachi watched as the Jade Dragon plunged into the Dominion flagship. 
The fireworks were spectacular. 
  The Kuno girl's fighter shot off more energy bursts at her opponent. 
In no time flat her opponent's craft was ripped to shreds. Kodachi flew 
through the explosion at full-speed, letting the shields soak up all the 
damage. Suddenly, one large chunk of debris slammed into Kodachi's 
fighter. The shields couldn't take the impact; all about Kodachi 
computer systems shorted-out or exploded outright. 
  "Damn, that was one hell of a boom," noted Kodachi to herself. 
  It was about that time Kodachi's fighter was nearly helpless; wires 
dangled from exploded panels, sparks flew, weapons malfunctioned, 
shields failed. And the hull was getting punched up to hell. Ejection 
was simply out of the question, as the mechanism was shot. 
  They all knew the fight was hopeless. They all knew the risks. They 
knew they weren't going home. The most dangerous enemy was one that had 
nowhere to run. Kodachi was one of them. 
  "If I'm going to go down, I'm taking the bastards with me!" she vowed. 
  Kodachi turned on her commlink, broadcasting on all frequencies. With 
one hand on the flight stick, one on the commlink, she cried, 
"AAAAHHHHAAAAAA, AAAAAHHHAAAHAAAAAHAAAAAAAA!!!"
  The light blinded Kodachi as she cried out maniacally. 
  Kodachi rammed her ship into the engine section of one warship. The 
chain reaction it caused sent shockwaves throughout the ship that ripped 
it apart from the inside. 

  Little did Kodachi know that her interference in the comm-frequencies 
screwed-up communication on both sides, with larger losses on the 
Dominion side as a result. Kuno knew what Kodachi was doing when her 
laughter burst from every frequency. 
  So, I am the last of the Kuno line, Kuno thought as he watched his 
sister plunge to her fiery doom. The phoenix was reborn in fire, perhaps 
it was time for Kuno to do the same. We live and die together, Kodachi 
had said. I'll see you shortly, dear Sister. I promise. 
  As his star-mech accelerated at the nearest warship with guns blazing, 
Kuno shouted over the commlink, on all frequencies, "For House Kuno! We 
die for honor!" 
  It was indeed Kuno's finest hour. 

  Ranma watched as the door to his dark cell opened, revealing Major 
Ryoga Hibiki, of the late Jade Dragon. 
  "Come here to gloat?" Ranma speculated. 
  "No, I'm under orders from the admiral to make sure you don't die," 
Ryoga replied. 
  "Ucchan's doing?" Ranma said in surprise. "Why?"
  "She wanted to make sure you lived to see the next day," explained 
Ryoga. He handed a datapad to the prisoner. "She recorded her final 
message here. You have five minutes to look it over before I come back." 
With that, Ryoga stalked out of the cell.
  Ranma looked at the datapad curiously. Then, with a shrug, he turned 
it on. The image of Ukyo appeared on the small screen. 
  "Greetings, Ranchan," Ukyo said. "By the time you hear this, I'll be 
with my ancestors." Ucchan... dead? "It appears that your Saotome 
government have won. Know that I lived and died by my principles, for 
the people I serve. Never forget that, old friend." She halted for a 
moment. "I have one favor to ask of you, one I'm sure you'll carry out. 
When it's time for you to take the throne, remember the people. Always 
remember that the government exists to serve the people, my friend. I 
wish things were different between us; I've come to forgive our pass 
differences, perhaps you can do the same. You don't know how tempting 
your offers to defect were, just so I could be with you! See you, 
Ranchan, wherever we meet again, in a place without wars to tear us 
apart." 
  The message was short and to the point, just like Ucchan. Ranma held 
the datapad tightly, silently mourning the loss of his friend. She's 
right, I will do her this one favor. 
  It was then Major Hibiki returned with a group of marines. The marines 
picked Ranma up off the floor unceremonially. They followed their leader 
as he marched down the hall, enter an elevator, and descend several 
floors before stopping. Ryoga lead the marines and their captive to yet 
another cell, far below the surface. 
  Why am I not surprised? Ranma thought to himself. 
  The marines tossed Ranma into the dark cell. Ryoga called, "This is 
for your own safety." 
  Even in death, Ukyo held quite a bit of power, Ranma thought as the 
cell door slammed shut. 

  Major Ryoga Hibiki left a small squad just outside the Heir-apparent's 
cell as he made his way to the compound's single entrance. Dominion 
marines may arrive at any moment, and Ryoga was itching for battle. 
  As he strode down the corridor Ryoga reached for a stim-pack. 
Producing the pencil-thick pack, Ryoga jabbed the needle end of the stim 
into his arm, letting the drug flow in his veins. The stim-drugs 
gradually did a great deal of harm to one's system as a cost for 
heightened awareness and strength, but now it didn't matter. Ryoga knew 
he was going to die. 
  The major made his way to the entrance of the prison compound, 
shouldering a heavy bazooka before approaching the officer he left in 
charge. Saluting, Ryoga said, "I assume the batteries and barricades are 
in place?"
  The officer returned the salute. "Yes sir! Twelve heavy laser 
batteries facing the projected direction of assault." 
  "Good," Ryoga replied. "If it's a fight the Dominion wants, they'll 
get one." Heavy laser batteries seemed like overkill in a defense of 
such an insignifigant building, but Ukyo insisted on the finest of 
defenses. Ryoga intended to use them, and use them well. He estimated at 
least three marine contingents would go down before the compound's 
defenses were broken. 
  Another officer approached Ryoga, out of breath. "Sir! Dominion 
landing craft sighted to the north!"
  Ryoga nodded. "This is it, men! Get to your posts!" 
  Ryoga intended to fulfill the admiral's dying wish. 


(concluded in part 3)
------------------

"That's my story and I'm sticking to it."--JMS, creator of Babylon 5. 
"If you go to Z'ha'dum, you will die."--Kosh, Babylon 5.
"Jump. Jump now!"--Kosh, Babylon 5, making some sense. 

--Razorclaw X


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