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The crusade forces are nearing the target location, with the provided aid from Magnum and Elvo the knight orders have been upgrading their suits with the armor composition that the Order of Cerberus used, but only a small fraction of the suits have been outfitted with it due to limited materials. With deployment coming soon, the Albion's construction is complete and ready for combat but there is still speculation that the suits armor would actually do what the legend tells. Magnum himself wonders how all of this will turn out, the full extent of the enemy forces and more importantly where this will all lead to and if the tale told by the chest they had recovered... but the main priority was dealing with this cult, then they can worry about everything else. The fleets emerge from jump space, the site of a massive fleet getting their full attention, the smallest frigate to mighty battle cruisers marked with the curved seven and many other symbols, converted civilian ships also line the fleet, most notably mining ships outfitted with projectile weaponry. But what is behind the fleet really catches their attention, the structure is massive and cathedral like, it's vague oval shape being mostly gold with jewles plastered around it, scans show it is around 50 kilometers in length and roughly 30 kilometers at it's widest point.

The mystic is seeing all of this from a feed in his power armor "Elvo, what can you make of that station?"

The coyote comes up "It's exact classification is unknown, however I am detecting symbols on the structure itself, they match those found in the mystic lexicanium."

Magnum blinks at that, a vessel once belonging to the mystics themselves was now standing before all to behold, all while a blue star illuminates the void, examining it would have to wait though. Magnum gives the all clear for all forces to deploy, the launcher of the Howl of Silver opens as the systems of the Albion fully activate, the suits blue lensed eyes shimmering with the gold plates and a few moments later Magnum launches, the Albion baring it's powerful buster rifle as it holds an upgraded power sword in the other, the binders alight with blue energy as it zooms, Elvo's machine soon catches up and the Everglaive forces take formation. The cult forces quickly form their own lines, their armors and guns ready to fight the knights, just before the mystic can give the order to attack a frigate from Marouge's fleet zooms past everyone else.

Marouge opens a comm "LEN! Return at once!" as she stands firm.

The image of the bridge comes up to show the ship had been claimed, earning a horrified look from the vixen and getting everyone's attention, the seven symbol having been carved into the wall as Len stands side by side with a grey vixen and they recognize her instantly.

Marouge sneers "So, you took a hold of one my ships?! I should have shot you while I had the chance!"

Len steps forward "Nara has lead us to a new path, one where we can prosper!"

The mystic growls "You are such a fool! You have no idea what really awaits you!"

Nara smiles at his words "Ah, Magnum... you're still the same buzzkill that I remember." while crossing her arms.

Derra's voice comes through "You know this woman?!" as he looks to the mystic.

The mystic shakes his head "Not really."

The grey vixen sighs "You forgot about me?", she yanks off her charm "How about now?!" with a twisted smirk.

Magnum's eyes snap open as he feels the energy pulsing against his senses, his eyes turn into a glare "Kathleen! It is you who is behind this!"

Derra, Marouge and Poralla freeze at the mystics words... Kathleen? Is this the same Kathleen that Magnum had told them about? How is such a thing even possible?!

Kathleen laughs "That's right... and this time, I will win. My cults stationed here have been performing a ceremony to open a gateway into the landscape beyond, we plan on recreating the Vision of Consumption and with it, this universe will be ours!"

Len eyes the mystic "And you false idol, will be the first to be consumed!"

The slick vixen smirks "Sorry hon...", she slits his throat wide open "But, I need an essence I can get my hands on right now!"

Len looks to her in horror as he tries to seal the wound, but he soon falls down, Kathleen looks to someone off screen and gives the order for all ahead full. On that the ships engines ignite with more fire, chants from around frigate sound, crimson weeps from the hulls of the cult fleet as the frigate gets closer, the ship becomes consumed with red energy, putting looks of horror on the knights and Marouge's forces as screams of pain begin to erupt around the frigate while Kathleen laughs, the vixens body catches fire and explodes into the form of a jackal with brown fur with piercing brown eyes lined with red while razor teeth forms her maw as she gives this evil smirk.

Magnum raises his buster rifle, the targeting quickly going to the frigate, but the ship implodes as it's consumed with energy, absorbing the surrounding crimson as it heads towards the mystic vessel. The ball of energy however hits what looks to be an energy shield as for a few moments the gems on the mystic vessel blaze and greatly dissipate the energy before finally the energy bubble explodes and creates a small rift.

Magnum's glare doesn't break "All forces... on my mark!"

From the rift, massive chains of barbed wire come screaming out, wrapping around a cruiser and pulls it in as energy booms from it, while it's being pulled in, hordes of creatures come roaring out of various shapes and sizes, from gargoyle-like bests to formless masses of energy and everything in-between. The mystic can feel the energy of these creatures, it was revolting and sickening to him, fighting these monsters was always a task and one that was always a high cost... hopefully that changes today.

Magnum raises his sword "ENGAGE!!!"

From four fronts the crusade forces advances, the Order of Talos zooming as their powerful packs bring them into strike range, their most common weapons being power claws and plasma weaponry with few heavy weapons. The Sky Maws bring down a vicious strike of overwhelming firepower from autocannons and heavy machine guns as they wield industrial chainsaws and the Harpies of Inferno ignite the void with their special plasma flamethrowers and other incendiary weaponry, all while the supporting armies fill the void with lasers, missiles and cannon fire as fighters and bombers launch.

Za'vara looks out into the void as it becomes engulfed in chaos, the vixen sighs as she decides to put her plan into motion and so she moves to the chests location 'Almost there, just a little longer.', a thought comes to mind 'You can keep the hammer Magnum, all that matters in opening the gate.'

Some enemy power armors fire autocannons at the Albion, their rounds breaking up into nothing due to the field, the mystic smirks as he charges his beam attack, the maw of the suit forming the blue ball of energy and in a sweep destroys all of them, he fires the buster rifle and cleaves a cruiser in half, causing it to explode. The glare of the suit is highlighted by the explosions as the mystic gives a victorious laugh, the Albion had finally been completed and it was leaving it's mark with every second, he cleaves a passing suit in half and flies away as it explodes in fire.

The mystic turns his attention to the monstrosities coming fourth "Those equipped with the Cerberus plate, engage the demonic horde, the others can handle the cult forces! We must seal the breech and we need to do it fast!"

Derra and Elvo's machine join him, the hyena raises his sword "Lead the way Magnum, let's finish this!" as his squad forms up.

Including Magnum, twenty-five knights zoom into the fray, knights from the gathered Orders ready to seal this tide of madness and caste all before them into the maw of the underworld. One of the creatures swings a claw at Derra, the hyena decides to let the claw land as he wants to test the armor and the rumor, the claw lands, all it does as barely scrape some paint of as the monsters claws burns and evaporates, the monster roars in pain as it retreats.

The hyena cleaves the fleeing creatures as he gives a toothy grin "The legend is true! The armor hurts these spawn and renders them practically harmless!"

The wolf does a quick sweep with his buster rifle which evaporates at least ten of them "We still don't know the limits of the armor, don't rely on it too much!", he delivers a decapitating strike at a snake-like creature and fires his natural beam at golem creature which reduces it to dust.

Elvo's machine strafes a wide range of them, her shots hitting true "There is no sign of any ranged creatures or any baring weapons or armor, but I suspect there are on the way."

The chains come spewing out once more and begin to drag another cruiser into the rift, Magnum fires his buster rifle which hits and destroys the ship along with some of the chains which try to grab another nearby ship but he fires another shot which destroys that one as well.

Magnum growls "The ships closest to the rift are acting as offerings, we need to destroy them to help weaken it's grasp on our plane!"

The hyena fires a phaser which shreds an enemy bomber and detonates it's payload "In the name of the Everglaive their doorway will be sealed!"

A roar escapes the rift, a monster comes through, it's stature is around thirty feet tall, it's head is that of an alligator, wings of crimson colored bone with sickly green membranes, armor that is the color of slick black in, it's feet being hooves ending in barbed hooks of bone, it's weapon a mace looking like it's fashion from bone and tissue with jagged edges. It roars as it flies to the knights a knight from Talos goes to counter it, but the creature blocks his attacks from his claws before knocking him, the armor causing some damage to the monstrosity but not enough to deter it, the creature swings it's mace and smash through the knight as gore rushes out before the knights armor explodes.

Magnum glares "We have an Exalted-Class!"

The monster looks to the mystic and goes after him, Magnum opens the binders and zooms towards fiend, their weapons class, the creature forces him back but before it can give another swing the mystic quickly zips around and slices it's back open, the enhanced blade causing the armor and flesh of the other-worldly creature to burn into a sick green flame. The Exalted doesn't even flintch as it swings but the mystic uses the binders to create a quick grav-field which absorbs the blow and sends the mystic back, the quickly snap to the sides before rolling with the suit as it re-orientates and Magnum aims his sword at the abomination.

Elvo detects a huge energy spike on the Howl of Silver, one she doesn't recognize where the chest was being kept, she opens a screen into the room to see the chest is gone, on a hunch she does a scan and no one is onboard the ship... Za'vara is missing and there is nothing that indicates she took a shuttle or anything. That would have to be dealt with after clearing these horrors out, but the fact she managed to get off the ship without the coyote noticing sends a chill up her digital spine.

The Exalted roars and goes after the mystic as Derra and his squad focuses on the smaller creatures with Elvo focusing on bombers and fighter, all while the fleets fired upon one another. Poralla and Marouge while trying to stand firm, they feel helpless to a degree... they are seeing forces that made a mockery of the Orders and their knights, on their viewers they saw that horror crush that knight like they were nothing but a mere pest even with the added upgrade to the armor.

The weasel looks to the fox "Is there anything we can do?" as she holds her hands together.

Marouge sighs "Sadly no, all we can do is deal with the fleet and what enemies come our way. It's up to the knights now and for them to accomplish their mission.", she looks to her fiance "This is what they train for, this is what they do, they'll see this through until either they are the vanquisher or the vanquished." her gaze goes to the viewer "They lead by example, they are the ones who take the brunt of the attack and ask for seconds as they crush the enemy beneath their powered greeves. That being said they are not foolish, they know what they can do and what they can't, that is why they often work with others, that is why they are willing to work with people like us and Magnum. And that is why so many praise, fear and respect them, they fight the creatures of darkness we would never see, they stand stalwart among the stars and are bastions of willpower as they face kingdoms and superpowers. They know they are mortal, they know they will likely die in combat, but they face it resolute and without fear.", she raises a fist "And we will honor them by bringing our called guns to bare as we fight alongside them! It is thanks to them our kingdom still stands, let's show them that their sacrifice for us wasn't for nothing, all guns..." she swings her arm "FIRE AT WILL!!!"

The beam cannons of the vixens fleets fire, their gunners being inspired by Marouge's words, their attacks strike home as frigates find their shields overwhelmed, missiles destroying the enemy craft, soon light cruisers face destruction as the larger ships are finding it harder and harder to deal with the knights and their allies.

The Exalted swings it's mace, the mystic delivers a kick, the suit stopping the swing and forcing it back, Magnum charges his beam attack and readies his buster rifle, he fires both at once, the creatures does dodge to avoid total destruction but it's left arm and wing are obliterated, it comes screaming at the wolf, he backs off, catching the creatures swinging with a quick deflect from his power sword. The creature regenerates it's lost parts as it gives a hungry look, Magnum silently curses the beast, the creatures of the Exalted-Class are among the hardest creatures the mystic has ever faced, they are a very uncommon sight but when they do show up, they lead the hordes and are difficult to fight due to their durability and sheer power... what's worse is that every one of them is different with this being the fifth one Magnum himself has faced.

The creature makes it's voice known "Feasting on your flesh will be the best delicacy I will have ever dined on, I am Ra'karo'zx and I will have your bones!" sounding fluid and organic as slight gargles can be heard.

The mystic shivers at the thought for a moment "Very well glutton, but I think you'll find that I'll make you choke!" as he readies his sword.

The two go at each other once more, the mace and sword deflecting blows as wing and binder moves them, the mystic firing beam attacks that miss due to the creatures incredible speed for it's size, the mystic knows he needs to find a way to deliver the killing blow. He glances to his binders and gets an idea, he zooms as the complex devices open, the other-worldly being swings, the mystic avoids it but the binders twirl in opposite directions, the gravity units locking Ra'karo'zx in place as the mystic charges his natural beam and readies the buster rifle, the monster becomes stunned as the mystic unleashes the power of both attacks, the attacks also strike the rift itself, sending powerful bolts in all directions and it begins to rave. After a few moments Magnum ceases his atatck, the exalted is gone and the rift is now out of control.

Elvo sends her voice "The opening is unstable now and it's signature is fading, I estimate it'll close in about five minutes."

Magnum zooms as the binders reset "Keep up the attack, we're almost there!"

From the collapsing rift, Kathleen's brown eyes peer into the battle as she growls "Enough hide and seek!" and bursts through the rift, her jackal appearance wearing a white shirt and jeans but torn to shreds as her digits end in rending claws painted red as her eyes glow a hateful red.

Magnum blocks her attack with his sword "You are always so hot headed, you are no match for my Albion! I have foiled your plans before, this will be no different you little wretch!" with a glare and baring his teeth behind his helmet as his voice gains a growl.

The jackal laughs "You may defeat me, but what happens when I finally win?! You can't beat me forever, I am a being of raw energy and emotion now, while your body ages and will become frail with time mine won't and every time we fight I learn more and more about how you fight and what you've crafted! I tormented you when we both were flesh, I still torture you even now... that means I'll more then likely torture you in the afterlife as I force myself upon you!" her sharp teeth forming an evil smirk.

Magnum snaps at her last few words, he forces her back and smashes into her, keeping her in place with the grav-field, they are heading towards the rift at great pace "I'll shove you back into that hell with me if it means this ends! ONCE AND FOR ALL!!!"

Just before impact the rift goes away and they go on board the massive mystic vessel, Magnum let's go of his sword, grabs the demonic female by her neck and smashes her into a wall, delivers a hard punch, he quickly holsters his buster rifle on the left binder and hits her again, kneeing her slamming her into the ground with his fists joined, he grabs his sword as she slowly rises and gives a quick swing through her torso, releasing crimson energy. The jackal begins to laugh as she slides down the wall, her body starting to fade, those eyes look at the armored wolf.

Kathleen reveals her teeth "Magnum... you will never be rid of me! Our battle will last for an eternity, until the end of time itself."

The jackal finally fades away, the wolf becomes more relaxed, the area lights in a tealish color as it seals the craft and a breathable atmosphere suddenly registers, Magnum decides to have his helmet fold in and he advances as he reacquires the buster rifle, signalling the others he's investigating the ancient relic with Elvo and Derra saying they can handle the remaining forces. The vessel is gold with marble white floors, teal lanterns light the hallway, delicate fountains made of glass in ornate and intricate designs, he begins to wonder if this was how all mystic vessels were designed and what purpose such a vessel of it's size would serve, this rivaled the largest stations in size and there are no signs of it being a military installation. Up ahead is a platform, he stands on it and sees a console with various holographic button written in the mystic language, thankfully Za'vara had been teaching him his races language, he sees one labeled 'Gate Control', his curiosity gets him and taps it. The platform moves at great speed, passing through portals and crystalline barriers, eventually he makes it to from what he can tell the center of vessel, the platform stop and he keeps moving, the wolf sees up ahead a massive mechanism of mirrors and chains with someone standing in front of it...

Magnum exclaims "Za'vara?! What are you doing here?" stunned at the sight.

The vixen looks to him with a smirk as she reveals she holds the chest "Ah Magnum, I have enjoyed our time together... but here is where we part ways."

The wolf scowls "What is going on fortune teller!?" as he readies his weapons.

Za'vara gives an amused laugh, she was quite amused by his display "What's going on is that my mission will finally be complete... after a thousand years of searching, I have found the key and for that you have my thanks."

Magnum freezes "A thousand years....?", he sighs "Enough of your games!" and fires a shot from the buster rifle.

The vixen raises her right hand as the gold on her body glows, a portal opens and absorbs the shot, earning a stunned look from the mystic, the expression making her put on another look of entertainment.

Za'vara sighs "You are not the first mystic to appear since our race left this plane, you are only the most recent. I am a mystic fox, we are the time wardens and gate keepers of our race! I remember when I came through, I searched this vessel for any way to activate it but to no avail so I eventually sent a distress signal to see I can be evacuated as I wanted to keep my powers a secret. A fleet did arrive but by that time I had found an old ship, the vessel you call the Hunter of the Damned and used it to head to the red star, I used a boarding pod to head to the fleet and I ended up on one of their destroyers... I feel bad for them as I aged them to dust but I needed to remain hidden, I aged the rest of the fleet but one had hanged back and tried to flee so I overloaded the engines as it jumped... little did I know you would find where it went."

Magnum just stands there, the aged fleet was finally explained, it wasn't the cults doing at all, it was the vixens standing before him who had carried it out "You are cold blooded murderer!"

The vixen scoffs "Please hon, you are one to talk... your record isn't clean either.", the chest opens, a golden plate with a bronze 'R' floats out as she tosses the now empty box "We have returned and this time we are not going to go away!" and she flings it into an empty port.

The plate erupts in teal energy as the structure comes alive, gears and chains move as what sounds like organs begin to play, the sheer scale having his full attention.

Za'vara begins to step towards him "There is now just one thing left for me to take care of.", she points to him "I have seen your fate and now I must ensure such a future doesn't happen, we can do this the easy way or the hard way." and she folds her arms.

The wolf fires his beam attacks but the fox smiles as her markings glow, the beams fading before they reach her buy mere inches, Magnum stops firing as he stands there in shock, he had never seen anything like this before. He sends a violent gust of wind but she reduces it to a gentle breeze, he sends blades water only for it to evaporate with the same thing happening to shards of ice.... nothing is making it's way to her.

The vixen laughs playfully "This is so adorable!" while waving it off as she begins to walk towards him.

Magnum begins to shiver, he can feel the fear coursing through him, a fear he hadn't felt since... he quickly says into his comm "All units prepare to retreat!" and begins to fly back as he seals his helmet.

Za'vara yells in amusement "YOU CAN RUN BUT YOU CAN'T HIDE!!!"

The mystic follows the path the platform took to get here, the vessel is changing but into what he didn't know, but he soon exits the ancient vessel to see the destroyed cult vessels, he looks to see the mystic relic changing shape, massive wings extent out the side as mirrors and what look to be turrets emerge all over it, on top of it a massive teal ball of energy forms.

Magnum calls into the comm "Za'vara is a mystic fox and she's taken control of the vessel, all forces fall back at once!"

The teal ball shoots to the blue star and consumes it, turning it into a portal, ships begin to emerge, some matching the station but most don't, so far they aren't firing but the crusade fleets heed Magnum's words and begin to jump out, having retrieved their forces, but the Everglaive ships and Marouge's fleet decide to stay, Magnum makes it on board the ship, his suit being removed by special drones as he runs to the bridge and hops into the command chair, giving everyone the all clear to jump. But Za'vara has the station open fire on the Howl of Silver with these teal beams, the two fleets take pot shots as their ships begin to launch.

Magnum panics "ELVO! COMMENCE JUMP!"

On that a beam hits the ship, sending sparks throughout the ship, alarms blare as the ship becomes rocked by the impact, the shot passed through the shields with ease and obliterated the armor plate... it makes his hair stand on end at the thought.

The coyote is now panicking "Guidance system is scrambled! I can't stop the jump sequence!"

The mystic sighs "Then we go no matter what, we'll deal with whatever awaits us... but anywhere is better then here!"

The two fleets and Magnum's ship enter jump space, the Everglaive and Marouge's battle-group join the other fleets, but the Howl of Silver is no where to be seen, everyone tries to get a reading on the Howl of Silver's signature and jump pattern and find nothing. Silence grips the gathered forces... Magnum and Elvo are now missing and even though the cults have been dealt with, now they had another faction to deal with all together, the Mystic race has now returned and this fact alone will have a ripple effect across the galaxy if not the universe, but their technology is far more advacned then anything they have at their disposal or seen with even the tech Magnum has shown seeming ly primitive by comparison. Some are wondering if the mystic is now dead given the damage inflicted on his ship, however the Everglaive counter, stating that Magnum would have many fail-safes in place should the Howl of SIlver sustain so much damage, what ever the case it doesn't change the fact they have no idea what has happened to him and Elvo and with no trace of the Howl of Silver to be found, all they can do is speculate.

Poralla is looking at the stars in her quarters, her eyes caked in tears as she continuously looks around, Marouge sees the sight of her partner, she goes over to her and joins in looking out, both concerned for their friends.

Marouge gives the weasel a gentle kiss "Hon, I'm sure Magnum and Elvo are alright. If they can fight the horrors of space they can do anything."

The weasel begins to cry "I hope so, I hope our friends are alright."

As for Derra, he looks onto the void as his bionic eye simply glares, he raises a sword "Magnum... Elvo... may the ghosts in the machine give you safe return."

..................................................

Fire erupts across the Howl of Silver as alarms continue to blare, drones are constantly activating to put the fire out and try to isolate the damage, Elvo frantically trying to keep the stabilizers and power systems going while Magnum has an iron grip on the controls and trying to maintain the ships course, if the ship doesn't keep it's path true, in this state the ship can shred itself against the broadband of energy or even explode.

Elvo calls out "We are nearing the exit!" as she keeps trying to maintain the ship.

Magnum closes his eyes for a moment, he opens them back up "Prepare emergency protocols!"

The End

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Hi guys, thanks for reading Crusader! :D I hope you guys enjoyed the story and a look at the Magna-Verse^^