-------------------------

Chapter 8



"Chip?" Wolo said, seeing the young man enter the fighter bay.  "I
thought I heard you were grounded for this mission."



Chip didn't meet his team-mates eyes as he boarded the fighter assigned
to him.  "Jeff told me to come, anyway."



Wolo shrugged.  "Whatever.  I don't know why we're going to
battlestations at Arus, anyway.  It doesn't look like we're needed, from
what I saw of the scans."



Rocky seemed unusually sober as he made his way into his fighter.
"Yeah, it's not a usual mission, alright," he said over his shoulder as
he passed Wolo.



Ginger entered next, glancing around cautiously.  "Is Jeff here yet?"



"Nope," Wolo said, climbing into the cockpit of his own vehicle.  "Haven
't seen him."



Just then, the aforementioned captain of Air Team burst into the room.
Ginger spun around and saw him, noticing a tiny bit of lipstick in Lisa'
s shade on the corner of his mouth.  She smiled- it looked like her
little threats had sparked something after all.



Jeff, however, was not amused.  He glared at Ginger angrilly.  "You and
I, missy, are going to be having a LONG discussion about interfering in
other people's relationships after all this is over."



She tried to look properly admonished, but couldn't help the smile of
amusement from showing.  "Yes, sir."



Jeff nodded brusquely, obviously still not happy with her.  He moved
into his own cockpit seat, and saw that the others were settled.  He
pressed the button that lowered the cockpits into their vehicles.
"Right.  Okay, team- let's get ready."



*          *          *          *          *



"Hey, Keith" Lance said as he burst into Castle Control and nearly
bumped into the other man.  He glanced around for Allura.  "Where's your
wife?"



"Right behind you," she said, coming in behind him.  "What's going on?
Robeast or the Explorer?"



"We were just about to find out," Keith said.  "Coran?"



"It's difficult to say," the Prime Minister replied, examining the
readouts.  "The recent pattern of interference in this quatrant of space
is not just making communication difficult, but is making it difficult
for our scans to detect accurate information as well.  Judging from what
we've been able to detect so far, it almost looks as if it could be
both... but that might just be a distortion of whatever is there.  It's
about the right timing for it to be the Explorer, however."



Keith grimmaced.  "If it's a robeast, we need to be out there.  If it's
the Explorer, we need to be here where we can conduct negotiations."  He
paused.  "Is our line to planet Pollux still open?"



Coran typed a few keys on the keyboard.  "Checking... affirmative.  We
DO still have communications with Pollux- should I contact them?"



"Not right now," Keith said.  "But can you tell if there's more
interference now than there was during our earlier communications?  It
seems to me this interference is stronger than before."



"Sorry, Your Majesty," Coran apologized.  "I don't have readouts from
then."



Keith shuddered slightly.  "Coran, I don't need you to call me 'your
Majesty.'  'Keith' will do just fine unless we're in a very formal
situation."



"Queen Allura tried to convince me of that one many years before you
showed up on our world, your Majesty.  It didn't work for her, and it
won't work for you."  He paused.  "Reception for our scans are
clearing... we're still getting a double image, but I'm fairly sure at
this point that it IS the Explorer."



Keith nodded.  "Right.  As soon as you can, open a channel to them.  We
have to find out where they stand.  And as your king, I would think I
have the authority to ask you to refer to me as something else other
than 'your Majesty.'



"Of course, Sire."



Keith just sighed.



*          *          *          *          *



Zarkon jumped to his feet when the image from Haggar's robeast was
displayed.  "What the hell is that?!" he cried.



Haggar herself looked startled.  "I... I don't know."



"I've seen it, before," Lotor growled.  "It's the Explorer- the base
ship for the other Voltron.  Your robeast is too late, witch."



"No, it isn't!" Haggar insisted.  "My robeast can handle both Voltron's
just fine....  I believe the interference which has been disrupting
communications all along this quadrant is masking my creation's presence
for the moment.  Perhaps we can surprise them."



"Face it, Haggar, your robeasts have been useless," Zarkon snorted.
"Let us watch the battle, but you'd better start preparing for the
Alliance attack.  And you're going to need to plan for both Voltrons,
because I don't think this one will succeed alone."



"It won't be needed," Haggar snorted, moving to leave.  "Once my robeast
destroys both Voltrons, the Alliance won't dare attack."



Once she had left, Zarkon turned to his son.  "So, how effective do you
think the robeast will be?"



"Against both Voltrons?  It'd be lucky to last two minutes," Lotor
chuckled.



"Hmm... Haggar seemed pretty convinced.  I'm betting on five," Zarkon
considered.



"The usual?" Lotor asked.



"Hmm... considering how little time you'll have left to enjoy them when
this fight is over, how about just all or nothing?  You can have all
thirty girls in my harem if you're closer to the robeasts destruction
time.  If I'm closer, I get all of them."



"If you wish," Lotor said, nodding.  "I'm looking forward to trying out
your latest aquisition- Melinda, was it?"



"Cecilia," Zarkon corrected.  "She's the ultimate combination of your
fantasies- the golden hair of those two human princesses you lust after,
and the soft blue hide of that Merla girl I engaged you to a while
 back."



"Her name is unimportant, as long as she doesn't try and turn me to the
'good' side, like the others do."



"Hush!" Zarkon commanded.  "The battle is beginning- look."



*          *          *          *          *



"Captain Hawkins," Ensign Sparks said.  "The Castle is hailing us.
Should we respond, or maintain radio silence?"



"Open the channel," Hawkins said emotionlessly.  The crew hadn't noticed
it much, but the wieght of his orders were resting heavily on his
shoulders.  He didn't want to obey them, but as the captain he had no
choice.  Next to him, Newley stood.  He wasn't willing to obey the
orders either- but he did have a choice.  He could make Hawkins carry
out these distasteful orders.



"Ah, Commander Hawkins.  It is good to see you again," Coran's visage
proclaimed.  "We are pleased to finally welcome you to Arus, itself."



"I am glad to finally see the home planet of our friends in the other
Voltron force," Hawkins replied diplomatically, though there was a
definite strain in his voice.  "I would like to talk to Captain Keith
Lockhart, if I may."



Coran moved out of the picture and Keith moved in.  "Hello, Commander
Hawkins.  Long time no see."



"Captain Keith, we are under orders to seize control of planet Arus in
preparation for the evacuation of planet Earth.  I expect to have you to
do your duty and give us your full co-operation," Hawkins said, hoping
the other Voltron force would not contest his orders.  The entire bridge
crew save Captain Newley gawked at him, uncertain that they heard him
correctly.



Keith quirked an eyebrow.  "Well, first, Commander Hawkins, I think you
should know that you've got my rank and title wrong."



That did not sound good to Hawkins.  "Oh?"



"Yes.  I am no longer just a Captain.  I am now Vice Admiral His Majesty
Keith Lockhart.  Planet Arus's government has been restored, and I have
married into the royal house.  And my duties as the newly crowned King
of Arus supercedes my duty as an officer of Galazy Garrison."



'Shit,' Hawkins thought.  'There's DEFINITELY going to be a battle, now!
When was Keith promoted, anyway?  Hell, when was he CROWNED?'



"Furthermore," Keith continued, "We were not informed prior to your
arrival of these intentions, even though we recieved orders as recently
as yesterday morning."



"Keith, be reasonable," Newley pleaded, speaking for the first time.
"The refugees from Earth will need someplace to stay!  Arus is a large,
sparsely populated world- what better place for our people to go?"



Keith nodded.  "I'm willing to be reasonable.  We are more than willing
to accept a large portion of the refugees.  However, Earth is
overpopulated by itself, and Arus does not have the infrastructure to
support NEARLY that many people.  It is impractical for us to be the
sole place for these people to go!  We will accept some of the people of
Earth, but it will be on OUR terms.  We've already made contact with
planet Pollux about handling some portion of the refugees as well, and
we intend to make contact with other worlds as well.  But we will NOT
give up our independance in this matter."



"I don't have the authority to accept that," Hawkins said regretfully.
"Is there no way to get you to agree to Galaxy Garrison's orders?"



Keith shook his head slowly.  "None, Commander Hawkins."



Hawkins gritted his teeth.  "I was afraid you'd say that.  Our orders
stipulate that if you give us resistance, we are to use force.  I'm
sorry, Keith- I have no choice."



"I know," Keith agreed.  "I don't either."



Closing his eyes and grabbing a railing to support himself, Hawkins gave
the order he knew he did not want to give.  "Launch the Voltron Force.
Mission: Conquer planet Arus."



Sparks just sat there, his mouth hanging open in shock.  Was this really
happening?



"Ensign Sparks!" Newley snapped.  "You have your orders!"



"Uh... aye, aye, sir.  Bridge to Voltron force- launch.  Mission...
conquer planet Arus."



*          *          *          *          *



"I can't believe it!" Pidge exclaimed.  "Our friends in the other
Voltron force... CHIP!  They're going to try and conquer Arus?  How
COULD they?  How could HE?!"



Keith chewed on his lip.  "Coran... I know it's been a long time for
you, but do you think you could pilot a Lion?



Coran frowned.  "I suppose I could... I'd be a bit rusty, but I could."



Keith nodded.  "Take Pidge's place- this battle should not be between
family."



"Keith, no!" Pidge cried.  "I won't be taken out of Green Lion.  Chip
may be family... but Arus is my home!  After Balto was destroyed,
Princess- I mean, our Queen granted me Arussian citizenship, don't
forget.  I've already lost one home, Keith- I won't let anyone, not even
Chip, take away my new one."



Keith regarded him momentarily.  "Are you sure you can handle it?"



Pidge nodded.  "Yes, I can handle it."



Keith looked at Allura for support.  She merely nodded, trying to say
she respected whatever decision he came up with.  "Coran, raise the
platform.  Come on team- to the lions!"



*          *          *          *          *



The robeast sat in the stream of exhaust from the Explorer.  It was
trying to hide its presence, and this location was the perfect spot for
it.



This was not a normal one of Haggar's robeasts.  This one had been built
with intelligence.  Haggar had previously experimented with intelligent
robeasts, but they all proved to be massive failures.  Many would
disobey orders.  Some would retreat if there was any sign of danger.
One even rebelled and attacked her in her own lab!  At one point long
after she realized the futility of intelligent robeasts, her lord
pleaded with her to create one, believing the stupidity of most of her
robeasts were what caused their destruction.  She proceeded to give him
an example by putting one of those who ran away at the first sign of
danger up against Voltron.  The result was for him to beg her to make
only stupid robeasts from that point on.



This, however, was the prototype model of a new breed of intelligent
robeasts.  In addition to intelligence, it also had a powerful
self-destruct feature.  Now, the robeast could activate this device if
it wanted to- if it was dying and could get its hands on one of the
Voltrons, the force of its destruction might be enough to severely
damage or even completely disable Voltron.  However, Haggar could also
activate that feature... and swore that she would, if it failed in its
mission.



Motivated by fear instead of mind-controlled loyalty (a poor previous
attempt at a solution- mind control, Haggar discovered, forced the
robeast's intelligence to become dormant), it would do anything she
demanded of it, and would be able to bear all of its intelligence to the
problem.



As it had real intelligence, the robeast was able to analyze the
situation and make contingency plans.  The arrival of the ship known as
the Explorer was an unforseen development.  However, it gave the robeast
an opportunity to arrive in Arus space hopefully undetected.  The ship
was obviously making its way to the main port on Arus, and so the
robeast knew that it would likely be able to hide in its trail all the
way to the castle.  There, it could jump out and attack the Black Lion,
which was out in the open and utterly undefended unless the castle was
armed.  Before a single shot could be fired from the fortress, and
before the lion ship could be manned for action, the robeast planned to
destroy it, permanently rendering Voltron unformable.  The other four
lions would be more difficult to handle, but a simple strength analysis
showed that it could easily match them, and that they had no weapons
which could even dent it.  Voltron himself was out-powered by the
robeast, but the weapon known as the 'Blazing Sword' was lethal and
virtually indefensible- another sword could block it briefly, but
nothing could match it.  It was best to not let Voltron be formed at
all.



In another totally unexpected move, however, the Explorer started
launching a number of small vehicles that, while not very powerful,
seemed to be well armed and could pose a threat.  Apparently in sync
with that launching, Black Lion roared to show its activation.  Arising
out of the moat surrounding the castle, Blue Lion quickly joined it.
Damn!  The plan was ruined.  Quick, think of an emergency plan- it didn'
t have much time!



And what were those wierd vehicles doing, anyway?



*          *          *          *          *



"Air Team, ready!"



"Land Team, ready!"



"Sea Team, ready!"



The Black Lion rose in front of Jeff, and quickly following the Blue
Lion emerged from the castle moat and settled on the first's flank.
Jeff couldn't help but grin- he'd been listening to the negotiations
between Hawkins and Arus, and had heard Keith claim that he had been
crowned King of Arus.  That, of course, must have meant that his
one-time roomate at the academy had taken the plunge and gotten married
to that Princess he'd been protecting.  If they got out of this on
friendly terms, Keith was DEFINITELY going to deserve some teasing for
that.



"Okay, boys and girls," Jeff said, his mood slightly better.  "This duty
might be distasteful, but we've gotta do it.  Our best bet is to strike
early, so lets start out straight with the big guns.  Get ready to form
Voltron!"



Jeff had figured that forming Voltron was the easiest way to deal with
this mess.  As individual vehicles, the people he recruited would be
unable to stop the others from attacking.  As Voltron, however, a small
number of people could prevent the rest from acting.  At least, he hoped
it acted that way- they'd never tried this sort of thing before.



"Activate interlocks.  Form feet and legs.  Form arms and torso.  And I'
ll form the head," Jeff ordered, though not as enthusiastically as
normal.



The two lion ships stood their in the air, crouching defensively.  Jeff
shook his head- it was a good thing for Keith he wasn't actually
intending to fight the other Voltron, because if he was the simplest
thing for him to do would be to destroy the two lion ships in front of
him before the other three had a chance to join them.  They were big
enough targets that he could easily destroy them before they could
react.



Before Ginger's fighter could complete assembly, the two lions leapt
out.  Jeff thought for one panicked moment that they were attacking
prematurely- he couldn't protect them and himself at the same time- but
then he realized they weren't going for him, but were running behind
him.  Ginger's plane connected, and Jeff spun his Voltron around to see
what the lions were after.



"Oh, hell," Jeff said, seeing a hideous robeast standing behind the
Explorer, sword raised, and the two lions charging it down.  And, in
another fighter inside of Voltron, a certain precognistic pilot realized
why his instincts had been telling him NOT to disobey orders.



*          *          *          *          *



The robeast was thankful for small favors.  Apparently, the OTHER
Voltron was in that ship it was following, and had already formed, but
the one it had been initially sent to destroy had yet to unite into the
giant robot.  In fact, three of the lion ships which made up that
Voltron had yet to appear... and two of them were charging it right now,
bringing them into close range.  It only had to deal with the Lions
right now, and it would be permitted to live.  Of course, if it could do
something to make the Vehicle Voltron team easier to deal with in the
future (for the robeast was fairly sure it would be sent back to deal
with the other Voltron if it succeeded), that would be good.



The robeast raised its sword, intent on cleaving one of the lion ships
in half- and maybe catching one of the Explorer's engines and disabling
the other Voltron's base ship.  That would, as the terran expression
went, kill two birds with one stone.



Black Lion was the most powerful, it knew.  It also suspected that if
Black Lion were intact, Voltron could still be formed even if one of the
other lions was damaged or destroyed.  So, there was no real decision to
make when it came to the target.



The sword swung.  The robeast was built to be the fastest and strongest
ever, and with the speed at which it swung the sword there was no way
Black Lion could avoid the blow on its own.  Black was not on its own,
however- the Blue Lion rammed its compatriot, knocking it out of the way
of the strike.  The stroke still landed, however, but it was merely a
glancing blow to the Blue, knocking it to the ground.  The angle at
which the sword hit the lion deflected the blow from the Explorer as
well.



If the robeast had been able to, it would have sighed.  Was nothing
going to work right in this battle?



*          *          *          *          *



"ALLURA!" Keith cried, seeing his wife's lion ship tumble to the ground.



"Ooh," Allura moaned dizzily.  "I think I'm alright, but Blue's front
left paw is severely damaged.  I think I could form Voltron if it came
down to it, but other than that I'm out of the action."



He watched the lion limp to its feet.  He knew Allura was more or less
okay, but her lion was not- it was hurt.  And, at that moment, it was
very hard to distinguish the woman from the ship- his wife had been
hurt, and it had been his fault for not anticipating the robeasts
actions.



And it was the robeast's fault for attacking.



"That's okay, Allura," Keith growled, spinning his own lion around to
face the robeast.  Without even calling out any attack names, he formed
every weapon the Black Lion had available to it.  "We won't need Blue's
help to beat this one- I'll take it down myself, and you can count on
that!"



"That's a negatory, chief," Lance's voice said.  "Red, Green, and Yellow
Lions present and ready for action."



"Lance," Keith started, a warning tone in his voice.



"Attention, Lion Team," Jeff broke in over the communication link.  "You
look after your crippled comrade- we'll handle it from here."



Vehicle Voltron leapt into view, between him and the robeast.  Keith
nearly cursed- he'd had a perfect shot lined up, and Jeff flew in and
ruined it.



The three straggling lion ships finally formed up on Keith as he watched
the battle progress.  It quickly became apparent Vehicle Voltron was
overmatched- the robeast was fast enough to prevent it from forming any
weapons or preparing any kind of defence, and the power of the blows
directed against were were tossing the giant robot across the landscape.



Keith's frustration and sense of helplessness grew- he knew his anger
over the attack on Blue Lion was irrational, but he couldn't help it.
Somehow, something had changed with his marraige- he had always wanted
to protect Allura before, but now he also wanted to avenge her when she
was hurt.  He might have been willing to stand aside and let someone
else administer that vengeance, but it was apparent that the entity
which had volunteered to do so was unable to.  Finally, his patience
snapped.



"Lance, Hunk, Pidge- keep Allura safe.  Look out especially for her
injured shoulder- I'm going to go help our erstwhile friends out over
there."



"Roger," Hunk and Pidge replied simultaneously.



"Why aren't we forming Voltron, Keith?" Lance asked.  He could probably
see the stress lines in Keith's face, and likely was trying to prod him
into the proper action.  Keith didn't want to involve them, however, so
came up with an excuse.



"Voltron's too slow- we need speed and maneuverability to go along with
firepower.  I've got enough firepower with me I just might scratch it,
and Black's speed and maneuverability are good enough to match it.  I'm
going in- we'll form Voltron only as needed.  Your job it to help make
sure Blue is still in good enough shape to do so."



Lance's face stared into Keith's over the viewscreen.  Finally, after a
visible struggle, he nodded.  "Roger, chief.  But don't do anything
stupid- call us if you need us."



Keith understood the caution in his friend's words, but chose to ignore
it.  "Will do," he said absently, speedily moving his lion ship into the
battle, weapons at the ready.  "Keith out."



*          *          *          *          *



The robeast was actually pleased that something was going for it, for
once.  This new Voltron was not its equal- the original Voltron might
have had trouble, but would have at least been able to engage SOME kind
of weapon, even if that weapon was totally ineffective.  This one,
however, was not, and in fact had taken a number of serious blows.  The
robeast's blade had slashed a number of large gashes into this Voltron's
thick hide, and had temporarily even been able to dislodge that
oddly-shaped red chestpiece.  That piece had quickly come back, but the
mere fact that the robeast was able to accomplish the feat was a good
sign that it stood a chance of winning.



A sequence of explosions along its back staggared the robeast.  It
mentally cursed- it had been so caught up in fighting the assembled
Voltron that it forgot about the lion ships.  They had yet to form the
other Voltron- perhaps the damage to the Blue Lion was more extensive
then it had first thought, and they were no longer capable of it, but
the simple fact that they hadn't was encouraging.  Except for the fact
that Black Lion was now able to strike against its back and keep it
busy.



Vehicle Voltron, given a respite from the robeasts constant assault,
quickly formed a Blazing Sword.  There was nothing in the robeast's
possession which could counter that weapon, but it hoped that through
speed and manueverability it could avoid the strike.



The Voltron swung, and the robeast dodged back.  A second and a third
swing were similarly avoided.  On the fourth swing, however, it tripped
over something- Black Lion.  Crashing to the ground, it managed to twist
away from the dangerous weapon that Voltron was carrying, but it knew it
was in trouble.



The robeast rolled away before it was cleaved in two by the mighty
robot, but still recieved a painful gash along its shoulder and leg.
Hobbled, it knew it was doomed.



It nearly cried.  It truly hadn't believed it would survive the battle,
but hoped that if it could do well enough that its brethren might be
given the gift of intelligence as well.  To the robeast, the lack of
intelligence Haggar gave her creations was the cruelest thing she could
do- they deserved the ability to think.  However, it was no more
successful than any of the others, so far, and wasn't going to live much
longer.  It had to do more, for the sake of its race, and it had to do
it now.



The robeast saw Black Lion slowly stand up from where it had been
crouching to trip it, and instantly knew what it could do.  Using the
last of its strength to ignore the pain in its damaged leg, the robeast
grabbed the lion ship before it could react, clutching it to its chest
with the uninjured arm.  Spinning around so fast it nearly tore its own
wounded leg off with the torque, it leapt out in the direction of the
base ship.



It had to time it just right- it knew it couldn't make it before the
powerful blade of the Voltron hot on its heels sliced it in two, but if
it was very accurate then perhaps-



Now.  It couldn't wait any longer.  It had to do it now.



With that thought in mind, and a prayer to whatever god might save its
fellow creatures asking that his sacrifice free its brothers from the
curse of stupidity, it self-destructed.



*          *          *          *          *



Allura watched the monitors in alarm as the robeast, moving faster than
any other creation of Haggars she had ever seen, snatched her husband's
lion ship up and leapt away towards the Explorer.  Vehicle Voltron gave
chase, leading with its Blazing Sword.  The weapon was mere inches away
from cutting Black Lion out of the robeasts grasp when suddenly, it
detonated into a blinding fireball.  The blast was so great that it even
rocked her own lion, which was a considerable distance from the
explosion.



"KEITH!" she shrieked, horrified.  The dust was slow to settle on the
field.  She hoped to see it soon- she had to know how he was.  "Keith,
please be alright," she whispered.  "I don't think I can go on with this
war without you.  I won't be able to fight, to move, to act on
anything... please!"



Slowly, she could start to make out certain forms on the battlefield.
The Explorer was hovering listlessly above it, and severe damage could
be seen to the structure of the powerful warship.  However, it looked
essentially intact.



Brought down to its hands and knees, blown several hundred meters from
its former location, Vehicle Voltron rested.  It was scuffed up some,
but otherwise looked essentially undamaged.



The third form, however, caused bile to rise into Allura's throat.
Lying on its back, with portions of its hull torn away and some of the
interior superstructure visible like the bones of a skeleton, Black Lion
lay unmoving.



*          *          *          *          *



Jeff shook his head, his ears still ringing.  "Damn- what the hell was
that?" he asked nobody in particular.



"The robeast self-destructed," Chip explained.  "Literally knocked us
for a loop."



Using the controls delicately, Jeff rolled Voltron over into a sitting
position.  He felt sickened when he saw the damage to Keith's ship, but
checking on this health of his own crew took priority.  "Is everyone
alright?"



"Lisa here- I think I'm alright.  Got a busted monitor though."



Jeff absently listened to everyone else reporting their status as he
watched Blue Lion, damaged as it was, force itself to its feet and limp
over to its larger mate.  In what he thought was a very animal like
gesture, Blue nudged Black with its nose a few times, as if checking for
signs of life.  Slowly, it rolled the other lion over, and then bowed
its head to look into the 'eyes' which doubled as a cockpit window for
the crippled ship.  Moving slowly and uncertainly, Red, Green, and
Yellow Lions flow over to protect the two damaged lions flanks.  The way
those ships were acting seemed so... natural... that Jeff got the eerie
feeling that they were as alive as the humans which piloted them.



"Jeff, this is Hawkins," a monitor blared to life and said to him.
"What's your status?"



"Some minor damage, but operational.  Everyone reports in as healthy
too, thank god," he said, directing Voltron to stand on its feet.



Hawkins eyes hardened, a reluctant look in his face.  He said something
under his breath, and Jeff could have sworn it was a curse.  Finally,
the commander nodded.  "Very well.  We will have to continue with the
mission, but this... event... may give us one last chance for a
nonviolent solution.  Stand by for further orders."



Jeff nodded as the screen went blank.  He sincerely did NOT want to
engage in combat with the Voltron force, but if  he could avoid breaking
his orders he would.  Maybe Arus could force Hawkins to see reason-
there was always hope.



The monitor blared to life again, but this time with tracking bars to
indicate that it was not meant for him.  Instead, it was a special
surveillance device Chip had implanted in the communications equipment
for this event- something to intercept communications between Hawkins
and Arus.  Jeff watched deliberately as the proceedings unfolded.



"Attention, Planet Arus," Hawkins imposing semblance declared.  "Your
Voltron is disabled.  Ours is intact.  If you surrender now, we will
protect you from your enemies, as you badly need right now with your
defenses down.  If you do not... we will have no choice but to go
forward with this battle.  You cannot fight back, it is hopeless."



Allura's face appeared in another frame on the monitor.  She didn't look
like he remembered her, cool and confident.  Instead, she looked
horribly distressed.  Tear tracks were visible on her cheeks, and her
eyes were wide and unfocused.  She was obviously in a severe state of
shock, but she seemed coherent, at least.  "I... I don't know.  You can'
t ask this now- not when Keith is... is...."



"Your Highness, my orders give me no leeway," Hawkins interrupted.  "I
have to insist on-"



"She is supposed to be referred to as 'Your Majesty," Another voice said
in a rather hoarse tone.  Keith's battered image appeared in a third
frame on the monitor.  He did not look good- he had a cut above his eye,
and there was more blood trickling from his lip.  The visor on his
helmet was shattered, only a few fragments visible.  His arm was
apparently dislocated, and black streaks that looked like burn stains
covered his clothes.  His eyes, however, were focused and his expression
was furious.



"Keith!" Allura cried, her face lighting up at his appearance.  "I
thought you were dead!"



"I won't let a little thing like a robeast kill me, now that I've got
you," he said, smiling painfully. "And I will NOT bow down to tyrany.
We have already agreed to allow as many refugees on the planet as it can
support- we are being more than reasonable."  He could be seen adjusting
a few controls in his lion, jumping slightly at one point as if shocked,
and said, "We may be hurt, but we are not dead."



Much to Jeff's astonishment, Black Lion twitched to life, slowly
staggering to its feet.  It was obviously not in any sort of fighting
shape, and probably couldn't even form Voltron if it came down to it.
But the mere act of standing up looked incredibly defiant, considering
its condition.



Blue Lion quickly moved to support it, finding a way to take some of the
weight of standing onto its own shoulders despite the damage it had
sustained as well.  The other three lions quickly tightened up their
defensive perimeter around the couple.



Hawkins closed his eyes and bowed his head.  "I wish... no.  I had
better not say.  I have no choice in this matter.  Good bye- I am
 sorry."



All three frames vanished, and Jeff's monitor was momentarily blank.
Then it flashed back on, as Hawkins began transmitting to him.  "Jeff, I
'm afraid there's nothing we can do.  Begin the attack."



Jeff pressed a button on his console, signalling to his conspirators
that the plan was on.  "I'm sorry, Commander Hawkins, but I refuse to
follow these orders."



Hawkins almost looked proud, but then shook his head.  "Jeff, I can't
punish you with butterscotch-topped ice cream this time.  You HAVE to
obey."



"No, I don't," Jeff said.  "It's not like you can do anything- I control
Voltron.  You cannot take it over- I've already got almost half of the
crew on my side.  We will NOT fight our friends, we will NOT go against
what the Alliance stands for, and we will NOT try to conquer this
planet.  That is not what Voltron has been built for.  If you want to
invade Arus, do it yourself!"



"You do not have that authority," Hawkins said.  "Voltron is not yours-
it is Galaxy Garrison's.  And, if you refuse to follow orders, then the
other team captains will have to take over for you.  Captain Crik, will
you-"



"My instinct was telling me to follow orders, before," Crik proclaimed.
"But now it is saying to support Jeff in his plans.  I will NOT fight
against Arus."



"Captain Cliff-"



"Hey."  The aussie, with a verbal swagger, didn't even let Hawkin's
finish.  "I ain't one to go against my orders, but if Crik's intuition
is telling him something and Jeff is willing to stake his career on
this, I ain't one to challenge them."



An outside transmission broke into the whole argument.  "Excuse me for
interrupting," Koran said.  "But I'm recieving something from someone
who just arrived on Pollux which JUST might have a solution to this
problem.  Putting it through."



Space Marshal Graham's face appeared on every monitor in both Voltron
forces and the Explorer.  "...this channel.  Repeating.  This is Space
Marshal Graham.  DISREGARD any orders recieved from Commodore Patrick
Steele under Special Order 60321.  Special Order 60321 is a FORGERY
based on a real order issued by myself.  Any actions based on conflict
between Arus and Galaxy Garrison are to be TABLED until my arrival.  I
will be leaving for Arus with the Polluxian royal party which is
planning to attend the wedding reception for Queen Allura and Vice
Admiral Keith.  Upon my arrival, we will discuss the genuine orders,
this security breach and other classified matters too secret to discuss
over this channel.  Repeating.  This is Space Marshal Graham...."



If one had been looking, they would have seen identical expressions of
relief on both Jeff and Hawkins' face.



-------------------------
David A. Tatum
http://davecon.anifics.com
desaix@anifics.com



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