Space Odyssey: Spectre

Jace pulled back on a lever as the Puddle-Jumper came out of warp. He whistled as he looked at the several ships that were orbiting the system. "Are we all clear on the plan?" Jace asked as he readied the communication system since it began dinging with notifications that someone was attempting to contact them.

"We are ready but we are also nervous with only you two going." Asana answered as she tapped a few buttons. Preparing to take control of the ship.

Vana chuckled as flexed her arm and the claw retracted. "They are also the only two with armor that turns them invisible for a long duration of time." Vana explained, "fortunately the rest of us are going to be flying in orbit while we wait."

Jace pressed a button and a voice came through the communication device, "This is the Dune of Vexical to unidentified space craft. Identify yourself or be fired upon. You have a minute to comply." The voice declared.

Jace waved at Asana as he sent a prepared code. "This the Guardian-01 we are sending our clearance codes now." Asana spoke through the communication device, her Vexical dialect had come along nicely. Jace pressed a button and sent the prepared code. He then muted it so they could not hear them if they started talking amongst themselves.

"I still do not understand the thing about the communication channels." Josef growled in the back. "How exactly does it help us go unnoticed in orbit when you send a code to them?"

"I did not just send a code to them. I sent a code with a virus attached to it. The code will give us permission to pass through the blockade without raising suspicion. Then once we are through, as the virus is spreading from ship to ship, I will send out a signal that will make the Guardian-01 invisible to their sensors." Jace informed them, "but I will still stay out of sight, they can still find and fix the problem the virus causes."

"Which basically means we have a limited amount of time before we are noticed." Ulin informed them, she was still enamored with her new bow which fired laser bolts. She had already begun asking Jace to help with modifications he did not yet have time to make.

"You got it in one." Jace gave a thumbs up.

"Guardian-01, weird name for a trade vessel, you are clear for landing on Vexical Prime." The voice told them and Jace closed the channel as the rest of his squad turned their heads toward him.

"A trade vessel?" Charlie asked with a chuckle. "No one in their right mind would believe this is a trade vessel if we landed." Jace flew the ship past the blockade and then stepped out of his chair as Asana took control of the ship. Flying on the prepared course.

Charlie was right considering the weapons and gear they had on the ship on display. He walked past them all to the rear ramp where Nila was already standing. She was completely armored up with her revolver at her hip, sword on her back, and a belt of grenades.

Jace nodded, "it was the cover I was provided. It is probably Director Fenrir's version of a joke." He explained as he looked back to the front of the ship where he could see them entering the atmosphere. He double checked his Pyre and all the magazines he had before the ship's ramp began opening. "Is your tracking up?"

"Affirmative. I will be able to see your location even if you are invisible." Nila confirmed as the wind whipped through the ship. "Should we drop and then go invisible or go invisible then drop?" Nila asked as she was prepared to press a button on her wrist.

"Drop then go invisible. It will be more entertaining." Jace answered as he leaned out the back of the ship. His heads up display was tracking the ideal place to jump out of the ship.

"You mean it will scare the crap out of the locals." Nila laughed and for the first time he could hear several clicks mixed in with the laughter. It was probably the first time he heard her laugh for real.

Jace looked down as their drop point neared. "Will you need me to carry you?"

"No." Nila answered and then stepped out. He could then hear her over a private communication channel he set up between them. "Because I can glide." She did as well, he watched as she began gliding to the drop point.

Jace on the other hand just stepped off the ramp of the Guardian. The ship was not flying that far over the ground. The planned route had them flying over some smaller buildings, that was where they were dropping. So as he stepped out he only fell the equivalent of three stories of a building. Unfortunately the spot was busy with a bunch of figures playing a physical sport.

Bang!

Fortunately they caught sight of him and moved out of the way as he landed on the ground. The ground did not even crater when he landed. But some dust was thrown up. He went from the crouching form he landed in to standing at a full height.

As he stood there he looked around and could see a group of children staring at him with their mouths wide open. Around the edges of this field were adults of various ages. They were all just as easily confused as the children.

He looked over his shoulder just in time to see Nila glide down, it was almost like she had invisible wings. As she landed they seemingly disappeared. Air manipulation? Invisible hard light generation?

She looked at something and he followed her gaze to see a child had walked closer to them. "Who are you?" The child asked in a squeaky voice.

Jace smiled under his helmet. "Kid, we are the mighty Cerberus. We are the monsters that mark the end of the world." He then turned on his invisibility feature and he could tell Nila did the same.

The kid gasped and his eyes widened in surprise as he dropped the ball he was holding. Which seemed to be the signal they were both waiting for as they ran past the kid and out of the area.