The Savage Brawl [Round 5: Battletopia]

Originally posted on MSPA by Dragon Fogel.

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"How did we advance this quickly?"

High Admiral Sla'thuin glared at the pilot through compound eyes.

"I don't know, sir," she replied nervously. "It appears we were transported by an outside force."

"I don't trust anybody who does me a favor and won't at least leave a note," the High Admiral grumbled. "Nonetheless... We're here. And we have a mission. I may not like the fact that some unknown party wants us to do it faster, but we can't exactly abort the mission on that account."

He paced thoughtfully up and down the bridge.

"But we should proceed cautiously. This could be some sort of trap, somehow."

"Yes, sir. Proceeding to the municipal leadership structure."

An ensign suddenly spoke up.

"Sir. We have a report of potential hostiles approaching one of our saucers."

"Onscreen, Ensign."

The main viewscreen displayed an extremely pale human with bizarre-looking wings carrying a skeleton in a robe, with a mechanical arm.

"This does not match our scouting reports." The High Admiral's mandibles clicked together thoughtfully. "Humans have shown no capacity to fly under their own power. Engage the hostiles, capture for study if possible."

"Yes, sir. Transmitting orders."

***

"I believe they've spotted us," Rar noted. "That round craft just fired some missiles."

"How can you tell from this distance?"

"Cybernetic eye." Rar pointed his arm towards the still-distant missiles and fired a laser blast, destroying one and knocking the others off course with its blast.

"Conceal us," the lich said to his minion.

And then Ziirphael was gone.

"I tried, but I'm afraid I can only conceal myself," Ziir's voice said from nowhere.

Konka Rar cursed his luck.

"Land, then. We'll need a new plan."

***

"They retreated?"

"Yes, High Admiral. Perhaps they were merely reconnaissance? Their strange appearance may have been intended to intimidate their foes; it would likely be unsettling for other humans."

"Hmm." The High Admiral mused on the ensign's theory. "I'd still like to study them. Send a team to locate and retrieve them at once."

"Yes, High Admiral."