"Spector, are we ready to jump?" Stacey asked as she, Rowena and Aphrodite rushed onboard.
"Affirmative, waiting on your command, acting operator," Spector replied.
"Acting operator?" Stacey asked in surprise.
"Since the operator will not be aboard during this mission, authority falls to the next highest ranking crew member," Spector explained.
"Waiting on your command, Operator Granddaughter," Rowena said in a teasing tone.
"Shut up," Stacey replied, making Rowena and Aphrodite chuckle as the three entered the bridge.
[1000yearsofdeath (Earth): Ohhh, the 1st wife's in command. Kekeke.]
[Cybel (Argo Galaxy): Damn meatbag slavers.]
[Handsome3horns (Vinox 2): Oh, for fucks sake, just fuck off already.]
"Wow, I've never seen such a bridge layout," Aphrodite remarked as she looked around.
"It's definitely very modern looking," Rowena remarked.
[Imutroid (Argo Galaxy): Ship and bridge do not match any known design.]
"That's Adam's seat," Stacey said as she pointed at the seat in the very centre of the bridge before taking the one she had been using, while adding, "Feel free to pick any other seat you want."
"Looks like you've arrived," Adam's voice suddenly said through Spector's internal comm.
"Yup, we're ready to go," Stacey replied.
"Target destination: Sector Five, Kemel Galaxy, Spatial coordinates..."
"Target Time: Minus one second."
"Energy levels of experimental drive are reaching optimal levels."
[[Activating condition purple]]
[[Weapons systems offline]]
[[Shields to maximum]]
[[Energy output to maximum]]
[[Redirecting energy output]]
[[All hands brace for Time Jump]]
"Time jump commencing in five seconds."
"Four."
"Three."
A purple glow started to form around Spector.
"Two."
Lightning arced out from Spector, impacting the walls, floor and ceiling of the docking bay as well as objects within it.
"One."
"Zero. Initiating time jump." Spector declared just as it vanished.
[Imutroid (Argo Galaxy): Unable to compute what just happened.]
[Cybel (Argo Galaxy): Unable to compute what just happened.]
[Imutroid (Argo Galaxy): Optics indicate that the AI Spector suddenly changed location; however, that should be impossible.]
[Handsome3horns (Vinox 2): They time-travelled you, stupid machines.]
[Imutroid (Argo Galaxy): That explanation does not compute.]
[Cybel (Argo Galaxy): The meatbags at the Dwarfinian science directorate have determined that time travel is impossible.]
[Justiceistruth (Earth): They always use that quote?]
[Noobkiller9000 (Earth): Hey, at least they changed it up a bit this time.]
"Temporal analysis complete. We have successfully arrived at the target time and destination," Spector announced.
[Cybel (Argo Galaxy): Temporal analysis? The meatbags were telling the truth?]
[Imutroid (Argo Galaxy): AI Spector is capable of time travel? Even Mechatron is incapable of that.]
[Noobkiller9000 (Earth): Who is this Mechatron?]
[NonpareilRaphilia (Aaru): The leader of the Mechanoid race, though that's a loose explanation since it's more of a central hub that all Mechanoids are connected to.]
"Spector, try to locate them; they can't be far since it's not long since Becky sent us those coordinates," Rowena instructed.
"Scanning," Spector replied before adding almost instantly, "TISF Imperial Down located."
"Pursuit course," Stacey ordered.
"Affirmative."
"Are they still being followed?" Aphrodite asked.
"Affirmative, I'm detecting fifteen ships."
[HackerSu (Trillion): 15 ships to take down 1 ship? Seems a bit overkill, don't you think?]
[Lizziethetruepower (Palaxia): I guess they're just that serious about getting the job done this time.]
[OfficialMuriel (Aqua Primus): You suspect it's the same group that went after the Terran Imperial family.]
[Lizziethetruepower (Palaxia): I don't see who else it could be.]
[Beczontop (Imperial Down): 15??? Our sensors only detected 12.]
"Becky said there were twelve before, didn't she?" Adam asked through the internal comm.
"Affirmative, however, that's probably because the TISF Imperial Down's sensors are incapable of detecting the three medium-class heavy bombers using stealth tech," Spector replied.
"Stealth tech, you mean they are cloaked?" Adam asked in surprise.
"Negative. Stealth tech is the less effective and less expensive predecessor to cloaking tech. Normally, a military vessel like the TISF Imperial Down would be able to detect at least residual readings from ships using stealth tech once they get close enough; however, they are attempting to mask their signatures by staying close to the enemy's larger ships, whose power output masks their own," Spector explained.
[Beczontop (Imperial Down): Sneaky fuckers.]
[Imutroid (Argo Galaxy): AI Spector has impressive sensor capabilities.]
"So what's the plan?" Stacey asked.
"I thought you were in charge, acting operator," Aphrodite replied in a teasing tone.
"Shut up about that already," Stacey retorted.
"Spector, out of Rowena and Aphrodite, who is more compatible with controlling the micro-fighters?" Adam asked.
"Scans show that Aphrodite's neural implant is more advanced and therefore more suitable for micro-fighter control. I estimate that she should be able to control up to six micro-fighters simultaneously," Spector replied.
"Naturally," Aphrodite replied proudly.
"Six?" Adam asked in surprise before adding, "That's double what I could originally manage."
"That means that your current neural implant is more advanced than Adam's original one," Rowena stated in surprise as she looked towards Aphrodite.
"Jealous at how amazing I am?" Aphrodite boasted.
"Not really, I'm just surprised that you have tech more advanced than Adam's," Rowena replied.
[DeverinianLordMalacoss (Deverinian 9): That is indeed rather surprising.]
"The operator's original implant was a basic model he was provided to ensure the success of his mission; it was never meant to be used long-term. The current one he has is capable of controlling twelve micro-fighters simultaneously," Spector explained.
"Ohhh, that makes more sense," Rowena replied.
[Superherofangirl (Earth): I was getting worried there that the universal pornstar was more impressive than the streamer.]
[1000yearsofdeath (Earth): Well, she is more impressive in certain areas. Kekeke.]
[Puntanghunter69Ver2 (International Space Station): Right.]
"Alright then, Stacey, you're on the weapons as before, Rowena is piloting and Aphrodite controls the combat drones," Adam stated.
"Copy," Stacey replied.
"Leave it to me," Aphrodite proclaimed.
"Fine by me, but what about you?" Rowena asked before asking, "If you can control twelve micro-fighters simultaneously, shouldn't you be in charge of them?"
"I will naturally be remote piloting Spector Unit Six," Adam proclaimed.
"It has a remote pilot function?" Rowena asked as she and Aphrodite gaped in shock.
"It's already fixed?" Stacey asked in surprise.
[Beinglittleisnotadisadvantage (Strathorp 7): Hold on a second, did he just proclaim that he's going to remote pilot his mech?]
[NonpareilRaphilia (Aaru): Yes…. yes, he did.]
[Whitehorn (Darah 5): So I wasn't the only one who heard that.]
[Cybel (Argo Galaxy): I think the meatbags' illness has damaged his brain.]
[Imutroid (Argo Galaxy): I'm inclined to agree with you.]
[Gunlovergirl (Earth): Is there something wrong with that?]
[Beinglittleisnotadisadvantage (Strathorp 7): Well, yeah, because of the advanced nature of mechs, we have never been able to successfully control one remotely.]
"Yeah, like I told Tephe before. I need to enter virtual reality in order for me to control Spector Unit Six remotely," Adam replied.
"So you're not going to only remotely operate it, but from an entirely different sector?" Aphrodite asked in disbelief.
[Noobkiller9000 (Earth): They're certainly getting hung up on this.]
[HackerSu (Trillion): With good reason. Weapons developers and militaries have attempted in the past to sync VR control to a real mech; they have never been able to get it to do more than the most basic movements.
They have even tried incorporating virtual reality mech games that have extreme realism, such as Space Rogue, but they were still unable to make it work properly. ]
[LadyErkath (Alastor): HackerSu is right. The basic manoeuvres performed by mechs under VR remote control made them unsuitable for combat as they were essentially nothing more than target dummies for the enemy.]
"That's the plan," Adam replied before asking, "So you three good to go because we are quickly approaching the rear of the ships chasing the Imperial Down."
[Imutroid (Argo Galaxy): The time delay between information being sent from Fenix Nest in Sector Eight to the Kemel Galaxy in Sector Five is too great. Data analysis shows that there is a ninety-nine percent chance the mech in question will be destroyed within the first minute of combat.]
[Cybel (Argo Galaxy): The meatbags' plan will never work. I look forward to his miserable death.]
[AlamoMatador4thewin (Earth): Wouldn't saying you're looking forward to something emphasise emotion?]
[Cybel (Argo Galaxy): It's a term of phrase I have often heard you meatbags use.]
"Here, they come," Stacey suddenly said as she saw on the viewscreen six of the enemy ships turning to engage them.
💫💫💫
"Captain, unknown vessel detected approaching from our rear."
"What? Where did they come from?"
"Unknown captain, we have only just picked them up on sensors; they must have somehow masked their signature before."
"Useless idiots, it must have been stealth tech. Identify the ship."
"Ship registration comes back to the E D F Zero Zero One dash Spector."
"How lucky, that's the ship the organisation has taken an interest in acquiring."
"Orders, captain?"
"Send six ships to intercept the Spector and do what is necessary to disable it. Under no circumstances is it to be destroyed."
"Sir, might I remind you that our orders are to do whatever is necessary to destroy the Imperial Down and kill Princess Tessa Terrana, that includes eliminating any ships or personnel that interfere."
"I'm aware of that; however, there is also a standing order to acquire that ship if given the opportunity. Now carry out my orders."