[b]Aif Dreadnought Debris Field, Federation Space[/b]
Blue argon plasma streams trailed behind the freighter as it moved through the debris field, shaking off dust using its shields. Crimson negative mass flowed out of the warp ring as the ship vented what little propellant it had left, carrying as much as it could to the [i]Yamadai[/i]. The crew looked out at the dagger-like vessel before them, laying cracked in half inside a dust field as it had for thousands of years. They couldn't help but feel honored, knowing that their new ship was made of scavenged materials from that once-great warship.

Finally, the new warship came into view. It was just as beautiful as Admiral Spoor had described, a pristine white hull held two warp rings on spokes at each end. Giant turrets lined the hull, and point defense systems lined both warp rings. The bow had no bridge, and instead held a lined cavity; the new Antiproton Beam Lance. Fighters were safely held within a spherical capsule in the middle of the hull, and a dozen other shuttles converged on the giant ship, carrying its crew aboard.

Keloush stepped into the great warship, no gravity holding his feet to the floor. It was a feeling everyone was used to, most vessels had no gravity rings, and instead used specialized drugs to keep muscle and bone mass in check. The familiar hissing of negative mass being transferred through pipes was heard, every starship left back home giving up their only way back home to allow the [i]Yamadai[/i] to carry Lakfakalle into a new golden age. Or so they hoped, for if the mission failed, then the Federation would have no hope for survival. What's worse, the LCF relations with the Equestrian Empire could easily lead to hostilities with the Collective, and a lone ship would seem an easy target.

Of course, that's why the [i]Yamadai[/i] existed, to fight off entire fleets with little to no support. Their orders were clear: Warp to Nikolien, release the nanobots, protect them at all costs while they created automated mining platforms, fuel refineries, and of course habitats. With no habitable worlds left in the system, they didn't need to set any resources as off limits, they could just let the nanobots loose and allow them to construct until the shutdown signal was sent.

"Captain Keloush!" Called another Abh, running up to him with her uniform coattails flapping behind her. "XO Telshanyu, reporting! The [i]Yamadai[/i] is fully fueled and prepared for the jump to Nikolien, fighters are fueled and ready for electromagnetic-assisted launch, turrets are locked for FTL transit! The crew is ready, we will depart on your order!"

"We waste no time." Keloush replied "Shields to maximum, put all the negative mass we've got into the warp rings. The fight for survival waits for no one."

"Understood, Captain!" Telshanyu walked towards one of the lifts, speaking into her armband communicator. "Shields up, maximum warp. Chart a course for the Nikolien system, combat stations."

[b]Imperial Flagship[/b]
Fairlan and Emily followed Robert, firing at any Imperial soldiers they came across. Finally, they reached the bridge of the starship. The door had only two guards, taken out easily by a few shots from Emily's pistol. Fairlan held up his assault rifle, pointing it directly at the door.

"We ready for this?"