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Dasher stood in the office, looking at Bane with a shocked expression on his face. The minister and friend, crossed his arms and squinted one eye as he said, "Bane dear, would you mind running that by me again. I don't think I understood you properly the first time." Bane chuckled and began to lay out his reasoning and plans, "Dasher it's this simple, we need to end this war with the scavengers and we need to end it soon. The longer this drags out, the more deaths we will have. We can win small battles but the war is a different matter. They have no problem with losing a hundred ships, to win a prize they are after. Numbers mean nothing to them and that's their main advantage. Hell, we don't even really know what they look like! We only have rumors to go on. So my plan is this, after this battle I will contact one of my people in the fox empire. We have long suspected their headquarters are there. I'll have us betrayed and captured, they will take us to their headquarters. We will then escape and make out way to the primary control room. Intelligence says that all ships are tied in to the central control grid. If we can get access to that we can destroy every ship at once."

Dasher nodded but pointed out, "And you called me crazy for going to save Bill? A suicide run you called it. I hope to hell you know what you're doing Bane because this could just as easily get us all killed." Bane nodded and seriously said, "Yes, you're right but Dasher, if we keep fighting this war what will we have left? Will we keep destroying planet after planet as they try to take them? If we do, at the end of this war what will we have to live on? Dasher this madness has to stop and all signs point to this being about us and not the empire." Dasher sighed and said, "Alright, let's assume you're right for a moment that this is about us. What makes you think that?"

Bane sat back and began ticking off reasons, "Well for starters, there's Sebastian. Every time we turn around, he is showing up. We know he is behind these attacks but he has often hinted that he is not acting alone, nor acting on his own will. I'm saying that if we remove the puppets, then perhaps the puppet master will step out of the shadows to take a personal hand." Dasher nodded and grabbed the table as the entire base shook violently.

Bane and Dasher raced into the control room, where Bane yelled, "Report!" Ron ran up to Bane, slightly out of breath. The fox panted out, "Bane, we had just finished getting everything online and six scavenger ships dropped out of subspace. They opened fire on the planet but the shields are holding. We have begun to return fire but the damage we are doing is not significant. We can hold them at bay but I'm afraid that's the best we will be able to do, considering the circumstances."

Bane gave a grim smile and said, "Well then, it's convenient for us that a draw is still a win. We don't have to win, we just can't let them win. Let's keep them busy as long as we can. Every moment that they are attacking us gives the capital time to prepare." Ron nodded and walked over to the power control station.

Bane turned to see Seamus standing behind him grinning. Bane blinked and said, "What?" The fox chuckled as he walked up and put his arms around Dasher and Bane as he asked, "So who fucked who?" Bane blushed bright red under his fur and Dasher chuckled. Dasher had forgotten the link Bane and Seamus had. That and the scent was strong enough to tell him something had happened but he wasn't aware of how it had happened.

Bane eyed his mate's body language. Seamus obviously wasn't upset at what had occurred. In fact, he almost seemed pleased. Bane chuckled and shook his head as he walked over to the radar control station while Dasher explained to Seamus what had happened.

Bane looked at the screen, showing that six ships hung in orbit like bad omens. The cannons were making an impact but it was a slow one. Bane walked over to his command chair and took his seat. Seamus stood beside him and Dasher excused himself to go take his position with the rest of his men. Nobody was quite sure how this was going to play out. While the shields were up they couldn't beam in and they couldn't land. Their firepower was massive but not enough to drain the shields by any meaningful amount. On the other hand, the cannons on the surface were impressive by any standards. The problem was, they were not enough to damage the attacking ships enough either. Bane began thinking on his training as a tactical officer. He got up and walked over to Ron's station to ask, "Ron, would it be possible to use the cannons to determine the frequency of their shielding? If we could find that, we could punch through." Ron gave his leader a sly grin and said, "I have the computer already using the feedback to calculate the frequency. I also have ours on a rotating random frequency so that they cannot do the same to us. Don't teach me how to suck eggs, I got this." Bane gave back a grin and clasped Ron's shoulder. One thing he always liked about Ron was that the foxy always handled loose ends. "Blame it on his being an engineer.", Bane thought to himself.

Bane turned to Seamus and as if he hadn't a worry in the world asked, "Dear, it seems we have plenty of time on our hands. Would you escort me in a tour of the base? I want inspect the troops." Seamus grinned and teased, "I bet you do! Down boy... and did Dasher pass inspection?" Bane blushed and hit his mate playfully in the arm. He said, "Not that kind of inspection!" Bane could hear Ron chuckling to himself. The wolf shook his head and said with mock sourness, "You two are impossible." Bane turned and walked out of the control room with his foxy mate in tow. Ron could handle things for now.

Seamus turned to Bane once they were alone in the hallway and asked, "Alright Bane, what's really wrong? You never inspect the troops, in battle time or any other reason than ceremonial ones. I know you better than that and I can feel that you're troubled." Bane sighed and told his mate, "Seamus, even if we manage to beat them here, more will come and in even greater numbers. There's no end to this and no way out. We can prolong this, buy ourselves as much time as possible but the ultimate ending of this is inevitable." Seamus swallowed thru a dry throat and advised, "Then don't think about the ending of it, think about here and now. Fight today for your men and for me, worry about tomorrow when it comes." Bane gave Seamus a fond smile and he kissed his foxy love. The need to reaffirm his love, was shared by his mate. Seamus went limp in his wolf's arms, showing he submitted, whenever it was asked of him and making Bane wish there was more time. Bane growled a promise to the fox, "After this is over, I am taking you to bed and wearing you out. Until then, let's go." Seamus nodded with a smile and they headed to Dasher's position.

Dasher stood at his post, looking calm in front of his men. This was one occasion he had changed his usual hand to hand style, for a good blaster. Little was known about the enemy and he didn't want to risk his men's lives on a little showboating. He had positioned men at various intervals along the hallway, behind hastily thrown up barricades. If one position fell, they could fall back to the next. Ron had been good enough to install shielding that could be activated when needed. It was doubtful it would stop the enemy but it would buy them time.

He smiled as he thought of Bane. The wolf just simply took too much on his plate. Bane was a strong leader but a sensitive one. His people were suffering and he felt the full weight of it. Bane would not rest until his people were safe and Dasher knew that. He also knew that the wolf was simply pushing himself too hard. But that was Bane. The cheetah figured he would pull the trigger of a blaster, as his last breath left his lungs, snarling defiance to the end.

Bane walked with Seamus, holding his mate's paw. He didn't mind showing affection in public, for his mate. His empire was one of equal rights and tolerance for all. He had even found that many under his command found it comforting, to see the two of them together. It gave the wolf emperor and legend, a flesh and blood side too. Seamus was the first to speak up with, "Before you say anything, no I don't mind what happened between you and Dasher. I made it clear a long time ago, I don't mind you sharing your love with our friends." Bane admitted, "It just concerned me after it had happened, that I didn't ask you first. I know we have an agreement but I never want you to feel like I don't value you or always have you first in my heart." Bane stopped his mate and looked directly into the fox's eyes as he told him, "Seamus, I love you. More than the moon and the stars... You are my world and I want you to know that." Seamus smiled and hugged his mate and alpha. He already knew it and felt it through their shared link.

Bane and Seamus made their way to the first position on their tour. The soldiers instantly stood at attention, saluting their commander and emperor. Sensing that Bane was nearby, Dasher gathered up his men and fell back to the position. Bane chuckled to himself as he realized, he now had quite the crowd surrounding him. Bane looked over the men before him. They were of different species. Some were human, some were fox and there were a scattering of dragons among them. They were enemies by birth but brothers by experience. Bane had brought them together, so they were fighting side by side.

Bane smiled brightly and said loudly, "I want you to know that I am very proud of each and every one of you. We are facing impossible odds but with people like you behind me, we can't fail." Bane shook each and every one of the soldier's hands. He made sure to spend a little time with each of them who seemed to want to say something to their leader. He felt it was important to do, especially with the odds that were facing them.

Bane turned and looked behind him, to see Ron approaching with a tablet in his hands. Bane met Ron and asked, "What's wrong? I know that look." Ron cleared his throat and stated, "Bane, there's a massive energy signature headed towards us. Sensors show nothing but the energy output is massive. I cannot begin to guess what it is but it can't be good and it's definitely not natural. It will be here in a matter of minutes, if it maintains its' current speed." Bane nodded and said, "It appears they can learn and adapt. Start evacuation procedures. I want everybody off world now! I will go set the defenses on automatic, so the scavengers won't know we are gone. Ron, take Seamus and get yourself to the capital now. You two take command until I get there. I'll buy us much time as I can and be right behind you." Ron opened his mouth to protest and Bane held his paw up. He told his friend and lover, "Ron, for once I'm going to pull rank. Consider what I said, an order. You and Seamus, get out now!" Ron wanted to argue but the tablet sounded an alarm. Looking down at it, Ron told him, "Bane, we have ships incoming. It's Talon." Bane called out his thanks as he ran to the command center. Ron ran with Seamus to get off world, as ordered. He was being trusted to get Bane's mate to safety and he didn't dare fail.

The evacuation alarm sounded in the base and seconds later, Dasher ran into the room to stand beside Bane. Talon appeared on the view screen and Bane told him urgently, "Talon. you have got to get out of here now! Something big is on its way and I suspect it's a massive weapon of some sort. Whatever it is, your ships wouldn't stand a chance. We are evacuating the base and going to the capital planet." Talon nodded at the information and said, "We will run rear guard for any of your ships that make it out of orbit. Just make sure you get yourself out, Bane!"

Bane nodded grimly as he terminated the connection. Bane walked over to the weapons station as five more scavenger ships dropped out of ftl, taking up trajectories into the orbit of the planet and opened fire. Bane sat down at the station, his paws dancing across the keys. He called out over his shoulder to Dasher, "Dasher, you have to get out of here. I'll hold the scavengers here and detonate the omega bomb, just before the energy signature gets here. I'll take out as many as I can and maybe I can make a difference." Dasher stared in shock and growled, "Like hell you will. Get your ass up let's get of here!"

Bane turned to Dasher and told his friend, "Dasher, you have speed on your side but that signature is only moments away. I'll never make it, even if I run. Go, I'll buy as much time as I can and set the bomb off at the last moment. Maybe I can take enough of the bastards with me, to make a difference. "

Dasher shook his head and sat down in the chair beside Bane, causing the wolf to growl slightly. Dasher smacked Bane on the nose and scolded, "Will you stop that? I submit to you only because it's my pleasure to do so. We both know I can take you at any time. I can also carry you. We will make it!" Bane looked up at the view screen as a massive asteroid appeared on screen, above the planet on a collision course.

Bane sighed as his communicator buzzed in his pocket. He took it out and activated it, hearing Seamus' voice come over the speaker. The fox called desperately, "Bane, Dasher where are you? We still have men coming through and you need to come on now!" Bane smiled as a tear ran down his face. He said as calmly as he could, "Seamus, we both knew that someday, I would get myself into something that there was no way out of... I want you to know that I love you. You're in charge now. Keep the empire together."

Bane set the communicator down, words came across it. Orders and counter orders from the capital. As people began to try and co-ordinate actions. Somebody had snatched the communicator from Seamus, who was screaming in the background.

This wasn't how Bane wanted to end things but he had been forced into this position. Bane was damned if they were going to win. If they did, it would be over his dead body! The wolf snorted at the gallows humor, looked down at the console and typed in his id and password. He set the timer for thirty seconds and sat back. Finger over the commit key, he looked at Dasher and told his friend painfully, "I've given you thirty seconds to escape. I suggest you get moving."

Dasher stood up and looked grim as he said, "Not only willing to throw your life away, you are throwing mine away too? Since you don't want it, I claim your life, Banehallow Ascendo!" Dasher held his paw out and called, "Come to me!" A light appeared above the cheetah's paw and faded, showing a crystal sphere in its place. "You're right Bane, I do need to get moving and so do you.". Dasher looked at the crystal and called, "John? I need you, my love. Send me a portal to you. I will be bringing a guest." Bane looked in awe as the stone pulsed red. The cheetah used his speed to come up behind Bane and wrap his arms about the surprised wolf. Using pressure points in Bane's throat, Dasher cut off the blood flow to the brain and Bane passed out with barely a struggle. He threw the limp form over his shoulder as the room began to distort. Dasher hated doing this to them all but he had no intention of letting his friend die. Taking a deep breath, he heard a shout of alarm behind him and a black paw grasped his shoulder. Dasher was determined and powered thru, dragging the black cheetah with him and stepped thru the shimmering circle of distortion. It closed as the end of their tails went thru.

Seamus stood in the gate room of the city. He was waiting and hoping that somehow, his mate would appear on the receiving pad at any second. He dropped to his knees as the gate cut off. He screamed out loud, as though his soul had been torn in two! He could feel Bane being removed from this universe. He screamed with agony as tears flowed down his cheeks. His mate and his best friend had just been killed! Ron knelt down beside his friend and wrapped his arms around Seamus. Bane had been his closest friend but Seamus had been his mate. Giving the grief stricken fox a strong hug, Ron stood up and turned to the group of soldiers standing behind him. He said, "I want this city on red alert. I want defense points set up at every level. We will be their next target so move like you have a purpose!"

Ron sighed and squatted back down with Seamus again. The fox was just sobbing violently. He would be no help in his current state. Ron wished he could carry Seamus to bed and curl up with him. They both needed time and company to work thru their losses. Wanted to but couldn't. Bane has trusted them to carry on and he was going to honor his friend. Calling out for a medic, Ron told them to sedate the fox and place him in bed with someone to watch over and protect him. Seamus barely noticed the injection, going limp as the drug hit him. Watching the medical crew load Seamus up on a gurney, Ron sighed tiredly. So much had happened yet so much was left undone. The enemy would soon be on their way with everything they had. How many survived the detonation of the bomb, he wondered. The answer could spell victory or defeat. Ron sent out orders and told them to call him, 15 minutes before projected arrival. He would tend to Seamus and take a couple of hour's downtime himself. Feeling the weight of responsibility settle on his shoulders, he wondered if he could hold up half as well as Bane had? Ron left that question unanswered, walking out to join his only remaining friend. All he could do was the best he could and focus on everything else later.