From days of long ago,
From uncharted regions of the Universe,
Comes a legend…
Planet Otoko
Edge of Drule Occupied Space
“This is Otoko Ground Control to Shuttle Tenzor. Do you read, Shuttle Tenzor?”
“We’re reading you loud and clear, Otoko. Patrol perimeter is nearly complete and we’re in position to begin releasing survey buoys. Wait a minute, we’re seeing something strange up here.”
“Could you repeat, Shuttle Tenzor?”
“Computer not responding. Whoa! What is that thing?”
“Shuttle Tenzor, please report current status.”
“Turn around - we’re going to hit it!”
“Shuttle Tenzor, are you reading?”
“It’s no good, Sir. Controls aren’t responding! We’re going to collide!”
“Shuttle Tenzor, please report, over.” The comm filled with static as the small blip disappeared from the radar screen. “Shuttle Tenzor, do you copy?”
CHAPTER I
The television nobody was paying attention to in the background flashed the names of the dozens of civilians lost in the shuttle explosion while Dean Stardo hurriedly buttoned his uniform. “I can’t be late today. With graduation this week, and the top class awards ceremonies today, making a good impression is everything.”
A rumble filled the house as his personal transport vessel rocketed away from its landing platform toward the academy.
Galaxy Garrison Officer Training Academy
Framed by distant pale mountains under pink skies of wispy cloud, Galaxy Garrison’s OT Academy on planet Otoko prided itself on turning out many of the Alliance’s top young officers. Combining discipline with a curriculum of diplomacy and heavy-robot operation, Dean and his fellow classmates were upon the cusp of graduation, which meant relocation to one of the Alliance’s heavy cruisers or planetary bases. It also meant a week of ceremonies, awards presentations and assemblies.
Outside the modern building’s central campus, a crowd of spectators gathered in the spacious courtyard while three massive humanoid figures rose up from underground storage hangars. Sticks pounded snare drums as diffused shafts of midmorning sun reflected off the metallic shoulders of the trio of behemoths that appeared from seemingly nowhere.
Dr. Weaving, a middle-aged man with graying hair and a dark mustache, adjusted his glasses before stepping up to the podium. Clearing his throat, he said, “I am pleased to present the awards for the graduating class’s top robotics operators. The following cadets have shown exemplary achievement with our Gladiator Frame combat robots in areas of control, weapons operation, and leadership competence. In third place, piloting the blue Beta Frame, Tristan Ginn.”
A hush fell across the antsy crowd, heads of the student body turning to locate their classmate whose name had been announced.
“Get up there, Ginn,” someone whispered.
With modesty bordering on reluctance, a young man of medium build, wearing a black leather jacket atop his form-fitted blue tee-shirt casually strode through the lane created by the parting of students in the crowd.
“Always the rebel,” Mrs. Rollins, head of the dormitories said as she intercepted the student before he could step up onto the stage. She folded the collar of his jacket down while gazing at the height of his pompadour. “Go on, then. Get up there.”
“In second place, piloting the red Gamma Frame, Hailey Grubauer,” Weaving continued.
A slim woman with medium-length auburn hair, wearing a teal skirt and matching white overcoat and boots, walked briskly around the back of the crowd to the sound of clapping and whistling.
“Hailey, go out with me on Friday,” someone from the crowd shouted as she passed, causing her cheeks to flush.
“A proper young lady,” Mrs. Rollins said as Hailey approached the stage. “And a good representative of your father, who means so much to this academy.”
Hailey ran her fingers through her hair and took her place at the feet of the giant Gladiator she had been assigned during the semester.
“And in first place, let’s see here.” Weaving dragged a finger down the sheet of paper before him. “Dean Stardo.”
Arms flew up in the air and cheers erupted from the crowd for several moments before the crowd collectively realized no one was approaching the stage.
Weaving looked up, surprise in his eyes. “Dean Stardo,” he repeated to a few isolated claps.
“Dean’s not here,” someone shouted.
Several awkward moments of silence passed. Someone in the crowd coughed. Then a distant rumble could be felt behind the crowd that grew steadily in intensity. Many of the gathering turned, catching sight of the steadily approaching personal transport pod.
“Late as usual,” Rollins said as the small flying transport roared precariously close overhead. She ducked before she could finish her sentence, a blast of jet wash and warm morning air rippling her hair.
Foregoing the stage entirely, Dean Stardo pulled a hard bank behind the trio of Gladiator Frames and, with a steady hand, slid his pod into the open entry hatch of black Alpha Frame. Its singular triangular eye port glowed brightly as the machine activated.
Dean stepped out of the giant robot, perched high above the students below, and waved casually. “Good morning!”
“Get down from there this instant,” Rollins shouted.
“It’s a day of celebration,” Stardo called back, “all our hard work coming to an end and all that.” A tremor shook the ground, causing him to grip Alpha Frame while he steadied himself.
“Look!” someone in the crowd called out.
Panic began to spread before what they were even seeing could fully register. Explosions, several of varying size, erupted in massive clouds of flame and smoke on the distant horizon.
“It’s Capital City,” another shouted as the screaming and pushing began.
A massive explosion momentarily outshone the light of the sky then the aftershock thundered underfoot all the way to the distant mountains.
“Meteor?”
“No, look,” another voice rang out. “Laser fire.”
Dean looked at his compatriots standing on the stage below. “We should go, see if we can help.”
Tristan stood the collar of his coat back up and began to make his way up the ladder of Beta Frame. “What do you say, Hailey?”
Conflicted, Hailey looked back to see if she could spot her father, Dr. Kenneth Grubauer, amidst the chaos. The administration was being whisked inside the building. “I suppose it is the right thing to do.”
As the remaining two Gladiator Frames fired to life, Rollins looked back, waving a fist. “You kids can’t run off with the Academy’s equipment! It doesn’t belong to you!” Her voice fell to the sounds of the crowd and the deafening rumble of the three mechanized giants rising slowly off the ground.
Concentrated columns of blue thrust blasted from the bottoms of the robotic feet, giving rise to plumes of dust while panicked students and staff alike sought shelter.
“Hailey, you of all people know better than to do something so foolish,” she muttered, as she was tugged into the administrative building. She sighed. “I hope you’ll at least look after those other two.”
CHAPTER II
Capital City
Skyscrapers within Capital City folded unnaturally, their thick steel girders becoming hopelessly deformed an instant before dusty collapse as massive alien invaders pushed their way into the interior.
A biomechanical cyclops of immense proportion rose from the thick cloud of rubble from such an imploded building and released a series of thick energy bolts from its roving eye. They found the monorail, instantly incinerating the engine in the process as the remaining passenger cars tumbled off the bridge they were traversing.
Panicked pedestrians fled in all directions while the segmented body of the behemoth readjusted to prepare for the armored tanks that were taking position on the streets below. Turrets rotated and barrels flashed, primitive projectile weapons of lead impacting the invader’s thick hide to no avail. Once the volley subsided, its large green orb slid silently across the otherwise featureless face - targeting each of the tanks in its path. Emitting a series of red energy beams from the eye, the tanks exploded one after the other until none remained.
A second invader, identical to the first, unfurled, standing back to back and fully encompassing the street. Smoking craters that were, moments earlier, functioning military tanks littered the pavement in both directions.
With the unmistakable whine of turbo-jet engines decelerating from afterburner, a squadron of F-29 all-weather tactical fighters descended in split formation upon the duo of alien invaders.
“Squad Leader to Smash Team 11, you are clear to engage targets.”
“Copy, Squad Leader, showing deuces southeast and northwest. Arming now.”
Wingtip missiles streaked through the sky from both directions as the fighter craft made their high-speed assault runs.
“Bulls-eye one-one-six, climbing now. We get em?”
Looking back, as the smoke of impact explosions cleared, the pair of invaders were visually unaffected by the barrage.
“Badger, circle back and equip GK-77.”
“Copy, Squad Leader. Equipping Giant Killer for secondary attack run.”
A lone F-29 flipped a toggle, setting his radar guidance system to air to ground for the nuclear warhead-equipped GK-77 deployment. “Approaching bogeys now.”
“Smash Team 11, prepare for immediate ascent above the blast radius.”
“Copy,” Badger replied. “Remember not to look back, boys. We’re going to light this place up like a star.”
A few moments passed without the expected shockwave.
“Badger you are clear for Giant Killer deployment. Badger, do you copy?” The squad leader looked back just in time to see Badger’s F-29 get punched from the sky in a flash of flame and smoke. “Fall back,” he ordered his squad. “Repeat, fall back.”
“Squad Leader, you getting this on radar?”
One blip then another, then a dozen more appeared on their cockpit radar consoles.
“Yeah, I see it.”
Within a few moments the sky was blackened with falling metallic spheres, many crashing through the wings of the planes, taking them out of the sky in thick smudges of spiraling black smoke.
Hundreds upon hundreds of spheres fell, blanketing the city from above. Just prior to smashing into the ground, each sphere split apart, becoming the back section of a man-sized insectoid invader. After touching down gracefully, scores of the smaller invaders began setting up their otherworldly technologies; odd, spidery clusters of metallic rods, strung together with chains of energy.
“That’ll be just about enough of that!”
The insectoids turned away from their task to see the shadow of a trio of massive robots fall upon them.
CHAPTER III
Derringer Command Ship
Low Otoko Orbit
“You may approach,” President Azzah said from his throne.
“The updates you requested.” General Duston remained bowed as he spoke.
“You may rise.”
“The pair of Robeasts have proven far superior to their military counterstrikes, just as you predicted. Our infiltrators have successfully landed and are in the process of setting up permanent communications on the planet’s surface.”
“Excellent. Everything is going as the Grand Deram has foreseen.”
A look of slight distress washed across the dusky skin of Duston’s face. “There is one note of concern. It appears the cadets are in the process of mounting an offensive with their training robots.”
Azzah laughed, his shock of white hair falling into his glassy red eyes. “That’s what I like about you, Duston. You take the time to update me even on the inconsequential.”
“Sir?”
“Their feeble technology will prove no threat to our landing parties.”
“There is also the concern of this bold invasion on a Galaxy Garrison facility undermining all that Commander Hazar is attempting in establishing peace…”
“You forget yourself, General. We do not answer to Commander Hazar. The Derringer Armada operates well outside the Drule Empire’s narrow initiatives. We are the elite.”
“It’s just that these actions could be considered an act of war and if the Alliance were to send Voltron…”
President Azzah refilled his goblet, swirled the crimson liquid around then took a long sip. “Voltron would take years to get this far into the galactic interior. Do you really think Galaxy Garrison would leave their home planet unprotected for so long?”
General Duston remained motionless, not quite certain whether or not the question was rhetorical.
“Besides,” Azzah continued, “as Hazar and his cronies tie up the bureaucracy with pipe dreams of peace and harmony, the deep system defenses are lax, weak, prime for the picking. As this display on Otoko is so clearly illustrating.”
“Won’t this destroy any hope of our being accepted back into the Drule Empire?”
Azzah finished his drink and set the cup down with a clank. “Who says we want back in the Drule Empire?” He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “We answer directly to the Grand Deram, who tires of the spinelessness and indecisiveness of the Empire. You are Derringer, General Duston, let the Alliance tremble before you.”
“Yes, President Azzah,” Duston said, head bowed and fist to his chest.
“Now leave me so that I may make contact with the Grand Deram regarding our victory here today. He will be most impressed with our impeccable show of force.”
CHAPTER IV
Capital City
Streaking in like a comet of black from the blue sky above the rubble, the Gladiator Frame Alpha landed a kick to the purple body segments of the Robeast, just below its giant roving green eye. Before the behemoth could recover, a second, similarly fierce kick landed from Gamma Frame and then another from Beta.
The trio of Academy robots landed smoothly onto the ground, surrounding the alien invader.
“You impudent fools,” one of the insectoids shouted. “You leave me no choice but to order your destruction. Robeasts, attack.”
The pair of Robeasts charged in parallel, encircling the Gladiators with alarming speed.
“I think we got their attention,” Dean said, concern in his tone.
“What should we do?” Hailey asked as their enemy closed in.
“We strike,” Dean shouted. “It’s now or never.”
A beam of red energy erupted from the closest Robeast’s eye, connecting with Alpha Frame’s chest. The impact not only obliterated Dean’s charge, it sent the giant robot careening backward into the wreckage of a building.
“Dean!” Hailey shouted, watching her comrade lie motionless against the leaning skyscraper. “Now you’ve done it!”
“They will pay for that,” Tristan added. “We’ve been training for this moment our whole lives.”
“Charge them!”
Gamma and Beta Frame sprinted toward the pair of Robeasts, the ground shaking with each football. Prepared for the maneuver, the Robeasts held their ground, green eyes targeting specific weaknesses of the robots’ design.
A flash of red erupted, severing Beta’s arm cleanly at the elbow. “No,” Tristan shouted, the impact stopping him in his tracks.
A second and then a third bolt of energy from the cyclops dropped the blue Gladiator to its knees. Gamma, too, was peppered with laser pulses from the opposite Robeast, pivoting on wobbly legs as the outer hull split open at each precise blast point.
Behind them, Alpha slowly returned to its feet. “Hailey! Tristan!” Dean punched his controls, pushing his back Alpha frame into a leap. Arms around the Robeast’s head, he was able to momentarily divert its staccato of blasts skyward. “Get out of here! Go!”
The two damaged robots turned and fled deeper into the city.
Outmatched by the tremendous strength of Robeast, Dean stopped resisting and detached from the attacker, resulting in it leaning awkwardly forward on account of the sudden lack of resistance. “Right behind you,” he announced.
The Robeast promptly recovered and, with its twin, regrouped to pursue the limping robots.
“Let them go,” the insectoid ordered, stopping the two giants in their tracks. “You are needed here for completion of the landing facility.”
CHAPTER V
Galaxy Garrison Officer Training Academy
In a control room deep within the Academy, an assembly of civilian white-coat scientists and Alliance enlistees watched the morning’s events unfold on giant high-definition monitors.
“They appear to have come from space like we figured, Dr. Grubauer.”
“Materials unlike any we’ve encountered,” Grubauer said in agreement. “I feared this day would come.”
“Sounds like we figured out what became of the space shuttle,” another scientist offered.
“What do you make of the construction they are attempting?” Alliance liaison Carol Baker asked without taking her eyes off the odd, alien structure on the screen.
“Were I to guess based upon the communications array and fortified central pillars, it looks like the plan is to make Capital City the stronghold. Land their forces around this central hub and continue to push outward from there,” Grubauer said, loosening his tie. The sides of his dark hair were graying in a pattern resembling deliberate lines and his photosensitive glasses lenses had darkened because of the light of the screen but the concern on his face was unwavering. “I fear their front-line forces have yet to arrive. These were merely the scouts, the land clearers and the construction crews.”
Doors to the room split apart with a hiss and a panicked civilian mathematics instructor, Mr. Pollas, entered the room. “Dr. Grubauer!”
“Yes, Pollas, what is it?”
“Have you finished reviewing the footage? Our Gladiator Frames were torn apart in this morning’s assault.”
“We ordered no countermeasures,” Grubauer said calmly, looking for confirmation from the generals in attendance as he spoke.
“Officially, no. But those cadets made off with the Frames from this morning’s ceremony.”
Kenneth Grubauer’s face went pale. “Which cadets, specifically?”
“Stardo, Ginn and…” Pollas turned away from the monitor. “Your daughter, Hailey.”
***
In the massive subterraneous hangars of the academy, the tattered and broken remains of what were, mere hours earlier, three perfectly functioning Gladiator Frames littered the concrete bay.
“The repairs are going to cost more than all of our tuition combined,” Dean Stardo said with a sigh. “Even if we can somehow perform the labor ourselves.”
“This is the Number 2 Repair Facility,” Hailey reminded from the control console. “It shouldn’t be needed again until next semester.”
“Will there be a next semester?” Tristan asked ominously. “I mean it’s not like we intimidated whatever those things are out there.”
Behind them the man-door released and opened, framing the silhouette of a figure against the backlit hall. “I thought I’d find you three down here.”
“Dr. Grubauer! We didn’t mean…”
“Dad,” Hailey said, her eyes wide.
“Good afternoon, sir.”
“We’ll see,” Grubauer said, approaching stoically.
“Sir, we know these units are Academy property and we plan to spend the summer repairing them,” Tristan began.
When his expression remained unchanged, Hailey added, “I’m sorry, Dad. We hoped all the training prepared us for this threat. We were wrong.”
“Are you going to turn us over to the Galaxy Garrison Board?” Dean Stardo asked.
Grubauer sighed. “I should. But as the head of the Robotics Hardware Division, it’s up to me to use what resources we have at our disposal to mount a counter-assault.”
The faces of the three cadets went from remorse to surprise.
“You mean we’re not in trouble?”
“No. There is a time for protocol and there is a time to act. A wise man knows the difference. You three acted earlier and, if the equipment had been up to the task, may have been able to prevent the occupation of our planet.”
Carol Baker walked into the room behind him.
“Carol, I want you to request the best equipment we have on campus in the warehouse for the restructure.”
“If you’re sure, Dr. Grubauer.”
“I’m sure.”
“And if they start to ask questions?”
“Put Priority #033083 on the requests.” He closed his eyes, the formation of a plan already taking shape in his mind. “And leave the rest to me.”
CHAPTER VI
Derringer Command Ship
Gathered around a circular mirror-like communication screen, the Derringer generals looked respectfully upward toward the mysterious being that was the Grand Deram.
“I demand updates,” he said, his voice a rumble that concluded with a hiss. A being of twisted energy from the Emious Dimension, Grand Deram appeared little more than a purple-tinted vapor of pronounced brows, like those of a cat, and fangs - intimidating rows of spikey, razor sharp fangs.
“It is as you predicted, Grand Deram. They are weak, primitive. Our Robeasts encountered minimal resistance.”
The image of the Deram faded and pulsed, gaseous clouds reconstituting into the horrible mask that was his face. “Good. Our message will be clear to both the Alliance and the Empire.”
“We are close now,” another advisor added. “The Derringer Fortress is nearing completion on the surface.”
“The entire planet will soon be ours.”
The Grand Deram cackled. “And what of Voltron?”
The assembly glanced nervously at one another. “We suspect your calculations there are sound as well, Liege. The galaxy is simply too vast for Galaxy Garrison to dispatch their mighty champions.”
“Our Engineer Corps report having already clashed with the best defense technology Otoko was able to muster,” another added.
“And?”
“The invasion force has encountered no troubles.”
“Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen.”
General Duston turned to face his subordinates. Brown wrinkled flesh surrounded red-orb eyes and a golden beard concealed his chin in great tufts like that of a spider, none in attendance could say for certain from what section of the galaxy he had originated. Wearing a cloak of black, broken only by the white skull of some some bird-like alien upon each shoulder, and with three undulating whip-like antennae protruding from the top of his skull, they knew only to listen when he spoke. “Go now, Derringers. Sew the seeds of destruction in the name of the Grand Deram that this may be the first in our path of domination.”
***
Led by Dr. Grubauer, Dean Stardo, Tristan Ginn and Hailey Grubauer walked through the well-lit halls of the Academy’s lower levels.
Carol had, moments earlier, brought them each a brand new Galaxy Garrison robotic pilot uniform with matching helmet, color coordinated to their corresponding Gladiator Frame.
“You both look so…official,” Stardo mused from behind the group.
“You clean up pretty well yourself, Dean,” Hailey said, turning around.
“Ah-hem.” Dr. Grubauer opened up the doors to the hangar bay, spilling golden light into the black expanse.
“These are our Gladiators?” Tristan froze in awe. Even in the dim light, the menacing form of the trio of Frames took his breath away.
“I, I can barely believe it,” Dean added, his eyes starting at the feet and slowly making their way up Alpha Frame’s shiny black exterior. “They’re so heavily armored now.”
“Indeed,” Grubauer said, stepping between the gawking pilots. “To better deal with the threats we now face. Each has been designed with cockpit sensory rhythms to correspond with the neurological activity of the pilot. Dean Stardo, you are now the official pilot of Gladiator Frame Alpha.”
Dean stepped forward, under the imposing silhouette of the gloss-black behemoth in the center of the room.
“Hailey Grubaer, you are now the official pilot of Gladiator Frame Gamma.”
Hailey, helmet under her arm, walked over to the giant red feet of her robot.
“And Tristan Ginn, you are the official pilot of Gladiator Frame Beta.”
“This, this is incredible.”
“When I saw the damage to your Frames, I knew our small planet was finally facing the type of technological threats that Galaxy Garrison has been battling against for decades. If we hope to hold our own, we would need the best of their technology.”
He was interrupted by a red flashing light on the wall behind the pilots. “Dr. Grubauer to Mission Command, you are needed at once. Repeat - Dr. Grubauer to Mission Command. Alien spacecraft detected entering Otoko airspace.”
“I must go," he said, reluctantly. “We will continue this when I return.”
CHAPTER VII
Kenneth Grubauer entered Mission Command, still slipping his sports coat over his shirt. “What is it, Carol? I was…” He looked around at the brass gathered in the meeting room. “I was acclimating the cadets with their new equipment,” he said in a whisper.
“It’s bad, Kenneth,” Carol said solemnly. “You’re going to want to see this.”
On the screen, in the heart of Capital City, the odd alien command center, now in a state of near completion, lit up from within - a series of red flashing beacons becoming visible in even the midday sun. A shadow fell upon it then, one by one, smooth, disc-shaped craft began to descend around the central spire.
“It is as I predicted,” Grubauer said. “They are sending in the troops now that the base of operations is complete.” He winced, furling his thin, well-kept mustache. “I fear they will be spreading outward within the upcoming hours.”
The building rumbled, forcing everyone inside to grab tables and walls for support.
“What’s that?”
“Quake?”
Grubauer’s eyes widened when he looked up at the monitor. “No,” he muttered.
Alpha, Beta and Gamma Frame departed from the facility, full thrusters propelling across the expanse between the Academy and Capital City in waves of roiling dust.
“Three of ours,” the communications officer announced. “Launched without clearance, apparently.” He turned back to look at Grubauer.
“What? I assure you I gave no such command.” He approached the communication console and opened a channel. “Dean, Hailey, Tristan, I am ordering the three of you to return to the Academy at once. Turn back so that you can be properly trained on that equipment.”
“We can handle this, Dr. Grubauer,” Stardo replied through the tinny communicator in his helmet.
“Trust us this time, Dad,” Hailey added. “This is what you’ve all trained us for, isn’t it?”
“If those machines are destroyed…”
“Hailey,” Carol Baker pleaded. “Please, turn back. Convince the others to follow you.”
“Carol, if anything happens to me, please do take care of Dad.”
“Hailey, switch over to automatic mode,” Dean said, his voice interrupting the communication with the Academy. “And activate manual weapons. We’re almost there.”
As they approached the city, the severity of the hopeless conflict came into heart-pounding focus. F-29s, exhausting missiles, exploded in the swarm of alien defenses forming a literal cloud around the fortress.
“They’re like bees protecting their hive,” Tristan observed.
Laser fire erupted in all directions from the fortress itself, dropping aerial invaders and ground equipment alike. What the fortress failed to annihilate was left to the pair of patrolling cyclops Robeasts, their thick arms swinging wildly, sending tanks and humvees to their fiery demise.
“Like shooting leeches in a jar,” General Sheave gloated from his station with the heavily fortified fortress.
The alien structure rumbled and several impact blasts rang out through its glossy biomechanical walled interior. “What was that?”
“General, look!” One of the insectoids pointed through the wrought iron scrolling metalworks of the fortress’ upper buttress.
Through the lattice-work, the unmistakable form of three giant robots quickly approaching from low altitude filled his point of view.
“Impossible! Haven’t we already destroyed these nuisances? Robeasts, intercept and eliminate.” he shook his helmeted head. “How many times must they learn the same lesson?”
CHAPTER VIII
Three massive Robeasts pushed their bulk through the remains of a toppled skyscraper on an intercept course with the quickly advancing trio of robots, sending debris and dust sailing through the air as they advanced.
Alpha Frame set down first, its blocky feet settling onto the ground with a small eddy of airborne dirt rising up from the rubble. Beta and Gamma followed suit, forming a tight semi-circle in the clearing.
“It’s time we pay these invaders back for our last encounter,” Dean said, locking his Gladiator into full manual weapons control.
He was first to charge, capitalizing on his Frame’s enhanced mobility, its complex motions becoming a natural extension of his very thoughts. The Robeast unleashed a fury of laser pulses from its large green eye, just as it had before, only this time Alpha danced gracefully through the barrage. The massive machine launched into a somersault, bursts of energy exploding around it from all sides, that carried into a devastating kick. It found its target - smashing out the eye with the bottom of the robot’s foot, the sheer impact tearing the Robeast apart at its body segments.
Dean watched, surprised himself with the ease by which he dropped so formidable an opponent. His elation was short-lived, however, as a second Robeast gripped the robot’s neck section from behind and began sending focused electrical charge through the metallic superstructure. Twisting in agony, Stardo struggled to regain control of his Frame to no avail.
Tristan jumped into the melee, colliding into the Robeast with Beta Frame. The impact broke the alien’s hold over Alpha, but sent it toppling backward into the nearest building-side.
Hailey was over the downed robot in an instant, leveraging Alpha back up to its feet by the hands with Gamma Frame. “Are you okay, Dean?”
“Embarrassed, but no worse for wear.”
“They have more of them this time.”
“Yeah, but no more holding back. The fate of our whole world is at stake.” Reaching to the sky, he manifested his robot’s iron sword then took several practice swings to gauge its range and heft.
With a running charge, Dean set Alpha into motion, the world becoming a blur to him. Sights firmly set on the Robeast that was currently engaged with Beta, he leapt through the air, coming down firmly through the center of the invader with a two-handed grip on the sword. A glowing seam opened up down the center of the alien machine an instant before it exploded.
“He did it!” Haily shouted from her cockpit.
“That was incredible, Dean,” Tristan added. “Now it’s my turn.” Beta’s fisted blue hands came together before his chest then slowly spread apart revealing an iron sword of its own. “Fe nanoparticle solidification. Nothing like it.”
“Your father is a genius, Hailey,” Dean said.
“He certainly likes to think so as well.” With one arm raised high, Hailey smacked Gamma’s red fists together, the form of her own iron sword solidifying in the process.
Charging in together, Beta slashed high, Gamma cut low and the remaining Robeast split into layers that toppled lifelessly before exploding onto the ground.
“Great work, team,” Dean said. “All that’s left now is to take down that fortress.”
Assembling at the base of the biomechanical tower, the three giant robots, tiny by contrast, raised their swords and began to hack at the thick exterior.
Tendrils of connective material, purple and green and pulsing with oily blood, split and hissed as the blades severed them effortlessly.
“Let’s send these invaders packing once and for all!”
CHAPTER IX
“Impossible,” General Sheave shouted, slamming his fist into his leg. “They were never expected to get this close.”
“What should we do, General?”
“Make ready the Grand Robeast. We’ll put an end to this right now.”
A pair of red glowing eyes rose up through the freshly cut slices in the fortress’ front side and then the ground began to quake.
“Uh, guys. I don’t like the sound of that,” Hailey said.
The front façade of the fortress shook and rattled before crumbling to the ground in a loud of black dust. The biomechanical organism standing in its place rose continually higher into the afternoon sky, towering over the Gladiator Frames.
“What is that thing?”
“I don’t know but it’s humongous,” Tristan said.
Dwarfing them, a beast like no other eyed them up silently. It wore armor of black plating with giant spikes extending from each shoulder. Its head, onion-shaped and dull gold, bore a single horn protruding from the center and a pair of red, slanted eyes.
“Don’t let it intimidate you,” Dean said. “We’re clearly doing something right to make them resort to unleashing this thing.”
It lumbered toward its smaller adversaries, the ground shaking with each stride.
“Let’s go, team!”
Alpha led the charge to meet it head-on. It leapt into the air, switching for a two-handed grip like before, and came down with a heavy strike. The Grand Robeast was waiting, however, a massive metallic blade of its own extending from its knuckles. A clank rang out as iron met steel, and Alpha landed on its feet, dazed by the impact. The Robeast recovered faster, smashing the black Frame’s chest with the back side of its talon.
Alpha landed flat on its back. Before Dean could process the series of events, the aggressor was standing above him, poised to deliver the fatal blow.
Alpha rolled just in time, the Robeast’s claw finding only the ground in an eruption of sparks.
“Dean!” Tristan shouted, attempting a similar two-handed downward thrust of his own.
Hailey came from the opposite direction, positioned for a midsection strike. Both were denied, however, as the grand Robeast turned, unleashing a barrage of heavy laser pulses from its free hand.
The impact broke the stride of both advancing Gladiator Frames, crumpling them to the ground in a smoking heap.
The Grand Robeast stalked over to its freshly fallen prey like some bloodthirsty predator, about to feast, unaware that Dean had taken Alpha back up onto its feet. “No you don’t,” he shouted, winding up to slash the monster’s back with Alpha’s sword.
The Robeast turned casually and swiped away the black Frame as if it were little more than a gnat. Alpha stumbled backward, falling into a seated position against the fortress. The beast was on him immediately, smacking away Alpha’s sword with its own steel talon before stabbing at the downed robot’s head.
Dean recovered quickly, getting Alpha to its feet again then lunging at his pursuer. In desperation, he flung fists around its throat and was quickly swung to the back of the Robeast, dangling like a pendant as it lumbered back toward Beta and Gamma, still struggling to get back up.
CHAPTER X
Watching the trio flail in combat against the Grand Robeast onscreen, Dr. Kenneth Grubauer sighed from the ready room of the Academy. “This is no good,” he said. “Not only are they putting priceless equipment in jeopardy, they’re gambling with their very lives.” A bead of sweat ran down his forehead.
“We tried recalling them,” Carol reminded. “They are considered insubordinate.”
Grubauer looked around the room. Several generals, instructors and a sergeant from Galaxy Garrison shared the crowded space with him. What he was about to propose could save their lives, could save the entire planet, but it would also get him in equal insubordination trouble. “There is one other thing,” he said tentatively.
Carol looked at him, a face of apprehension with the slightest hint of hope. “You were able to secure Doctor Loring’s records?”
He nodded, many in the room turning to see.
“You can’t be considering…”
“They’ll never survive if I don’t.”
On the screen the sulking behemoth, Alpha yet hanging from the back of its neck, was now nearly standing over the remaining two Frames.
“Patch me in.” Grubauer approached the communication console. “Dean, Tristan, Haley, listen to me. I need you to follow my instructions very carefully.”
“Dad,” Hailey said. “What do we do?”
The Robeast’s massive claw struck, the robots scattering just in time. The claw was driven into the ground and the resulting impact knocked free Alpha’s grip.
“Dean, pull yourself together. I need you to take charge.”
Dean steadied Alpha and nodded at the cockpit screen showing Dr. Grubauer’s worried face. “Tell me what to do.”
“Locate the button labeled RX and press that simultaneously, all of you.”
“You heard the man.”
“Now, in manual control, push your throttle to its stop.”
The whirl of leg-mounted turbo-jets became a steady whine.
“Now go ahead and flip the lever labeled interlocks.”
The Robeast struck again, causing Dean to dive out of the way of its talon.
“Input sequence Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and now this is the most important step. All three of you must press the VX button on the 72-keypad on your right side. It must be done at exactly the same time.”
“Ready, team? Now!”
Each robot clanked from deep within.
“Release your jet brake and hold on tight,” Grubauer said.
Alpha rolled into a clearing then stood erect, arms above its head. Beta followed and then Gemma. All three of the Frames launched into the air, controlled as if by some divine hand.
“What, what’s happening?” Tristan said.
Alpha detached at the torso, the legs and waist falling safely to the ground on two columns of diminishing thrust.
“Form feet and legs,” Dean said.
Beta and Gamma’s legs locked into one another before Gamma’s head and torso stacked into the bottom of Beta’s. The two new stacked toros melded with Alpha’s chest.
“Form arms and torso.”
Pulled magnetically, a pair of the newly combined arms rotated forward as the massive double-reinforced legs slid effortlessly into place.
Dean, now seated atop the massive robot’s shoulders then said, “And I’ll form the head.”
Cockpits reconfigured around each of the pilots, adrenaline pumping through their veins, the newly assembled landed to the ground, cracking the pavement beneath its feet.
“I give you, Gladiator Voltron,” Grubauer said proudly. “Defender of the Middle Universe.”
“Let’s go Voltron Force!”
“Impossible!” General Sheave shouted. “Grand Robeast, finish that thing!”
A mighty fist raised high in the air, Voltron was now the same size as its opponent.
The Robeast charged as ordered, attempting to grab the newly formed machine with both hands but Voltron was too spry, jumping cleanly over the attacker and managing a stomp to its back in the process.
Just prior to touching back down to the ground, Voltron emitted a concentrated energy burst that caught the monster cleanly in the chest when it pivoted to face them.
“Good shooting, Hailey.”
Dean drove Voltron forward, allowing Tristan to throw a punch from the right, then the left. Both found their mark, sending the beast down to the ground upon its chest, where it slid for several meters, flattening rubble in its path.
“Incredible power,” Tristan said. “Think he’ll be getting up from that?”
“I guess that answers your question,” Hailey said as the beast got to its feet once more.
Stretching to its full height, the Grand Robeast towered over Voltron, looking down at the mighty robot with newfound contempt. It lunged but Voltron took to the air again, leaping backward with the force of four foot-thrusters.
“Form Blazing Sword!”
Materializing within Voltron’s left hand was a massive blade of pure shimmering blue energy that, after a moment, solidified into an intimidating weapon of glistening steel.
“Let’s see how this tastes,” Dean said, guiding Voltron down with a two-handed strike.
The Robeast was ready, however, and caught the sword with its steel talon. Sparks flew and, before the pilots could recover, Voltron had been caught and tossed away to the side.
“Clever,” Dean said, regaining his composure.
Hailey straightened out and flew Voltron to the top of a nearby shattered building.
“This ends now,” Dean announced. “Strike with everything we’ve got.”
From the new height, they brought Voltron down with unimaginable speed, carving a blurred x into their opponent before touching softly down.
It stood for a moment in shock, the reality of its predicament setting in as the fatal gashes to its exoskeleton began to separate. An instant later the Grand Robeast exploded in a blinding burst of oil, sinew and metallic chitin.
EPILOGUE
And so it was that the mighty Derringer Armada was forced to abandon their attempt to occupy the planet Otoko and the Galaxy Alliance gained a third Mighty Voltron: Gladiator Force.
Galaxy Garrison reinforcements did eventually arrive and engaged the Armada in ship-to-ship conflict. Dr. Kenneth Grubauer not only escaped disciplinary actions for insubordination, he and his pilots were awarded medals of valor for their bravery in wartime.
This is the story of the super force of academy cadets, entrusted by the Alliance with the ancient secret of how to assemble Voltron - Defender of the Middle Universe.
From uncharted regions of the Universe,
Comes a legend…
Planet Otoko
Edge of Drule Occupied Space
“This is Otoko Ground Control to Shuttle Tenzor. Do you read, Shuttle Tenzor?”
“We’re reading you loud and clear, Otoko. Patrol perimeter is nearly complete and we’re in position to begin releasing survey buoys. Wait a minute, we’re seeing something strange up here.”
“Could you repeat, Shuttle Tenzor?”
“Computer not responding. Whoa! What is that thing?”
“Shuttle Tenzor, please report current status.”
“Turn around - we’re going to hit it!”
“Shuttle Tenzor, are you reading?”
“It’s no good, Sir. Controls aren’t responding! We’re going to collide!”
“Shuttle Tenzor, please report, over.” The comm filled with static as the small blip disappeared from the radar screen. “Shuttle Tenzor, do you copy?”
CHAPTER I
The television nobody was paying attention to in the background flashed the names of the dozens of civilians lost in the shuttle explosion while Dean Stardo hurriedly buttoned his uniform. “I can’t be late today. With graduation this week, and the top class awards ceremonies today, making a good impression is everything.”
A rumble filled the house as his personal transport vessel rocketed away from its landing platform toward the academy.
Galaxy Garrison Officer Training Academy
Framed by distant pale mountains under pink skies of wispy cloud, Galaxy Garrison’s OT Academy on planet Otoko prided itself on turning out many of the Alliance’s top young officers. Combining discipline with a curriculum of diplomacy and heavy-robot operation, Dean and his fellow classmates were upon the cusp of graduation, which meant relocation to one of the Alliance’s heavy cruisers or planetary bases. It also meant a week of ceremonies, awards presentations and assemblies.
Outside the modern building’s central campus, a crowd of spectators gathered in the spacious courtyard while three massive humanoid figures rose up from underground storage hangars. Sticks pounded snare drums as diffused shafts of midmorning sun reflected off the metallic shoulders of the trio of behemoths that appeared from seemingly nowhere.
Dr. Weaving, a middle-aged man with graying hair and a dark mustache, adjusted his glasses before stepping up to the podium. Clearing his throat, he said, “I am pleased to present the awards for the graduating class’s top robotics operators. The following cadets have shown exemplary achievement with our Gladiator Frame combat robots in areas of control, weapons operation, and leadership competence. In third place, piloting the blue Beta Frame, Tristan Ginn.”
A hush fell across the antsy crowd, heads of the student body turning to locate their classmate whose name had been announced.
“Get up there, Ginn,” someone whispered.
With modesty bordering on reluctance, a young man of medium build, wearing a black leather jacket atop his form-fitted blue tee-shirt casually strode through the lane created by the parting of students in the crowd.
“Always the rebel,” Mrs. Rollins, head of the dormitories said as she intercepted the student before he could step up onto the stage. She folded the collar of his jacket down while gazing at the height of his pompadour. “Go on, then. Get up there.”
“In second place, piloting the red Gamma Frame, Hailey Grubauer,” Weaving continued.
A slim woman with medium-length auburn hair, wearing a teal skirt and matching white overcoat and boots, walked briskly around the back of the crowd to the sound of clapping and whistling.
“Hailey, go out with me on Friday,” someone from the crowd shouted as she passed, causing her cheeks to flush.
“A proper young lady,” Mrs. Rollins said as Hailey approached the stage. “And a good representative of your father, who means so much to this academy.”
Hailey ran her fingers through her hair and took her place at the feet of the giant Gladiator she had been assigned during the semester.
“And in first place, let’s see here.” Weaving dragged a finger down the sheet of paper before him. “Dean Stardo.”
Arms flew up in the air and cheers erupted from the crowd for several moments before the crowd collectively realized no one was approaching the stage.
Weaving looked up, surprise in his eyes. “Dean Stardo,” he repeated to a few isolated claps.
“Dean’s not here,” someone shouted.
Several awkward moments of silence passed. Someone in the crowd coughed. Then a distant rumble could be felt behind the crowd that grew steadily in intensity. Many of the gathering turned, catching sight of the steadily approaching personal transport pod.
“Late as usual,” Rollins said as the small flying transport roared precariously close overhead. She ducked before she could finish her sentence, a blast of jet wash and warm morning air rippling her hair.
Foregoing the stage entirely, Dean Stardo pulled a hard bank behind the trio of Gladiator Frames and, with a steady hand, slid his pod into the open entry hatch of black Alpha Frame. Its singular triangular eye port glowed brightly as the machine activated.
Dean stepped out of the giant robot, perched high above the students below, and waved casually. “Good morning!”
“Get down from there this instant,” Rollins shouted.
“It’s a day of celebration,” Stardo called back, “all our hard work coming to an end and all that.” A tremor shook the ground, causing him to grip Alpha Frame while he steadied himself.
“Look!” someone in the crowd called out.
Panic began to spread before what they were even seeing could fully register. Explosions, several of varying size, erupted in massive clouds of flame and smoke on the distant horizon.
“It’s Capital City,” another shouted as the screaming and pushing began.
A massive explosion momentarily outshone the light of the sky then the aftershock thundered underfoot all the way to the distant mountains.
“Meteor?”
“No, look,” another voice rang out. “Laser fire.”
Dean looked at his compatriots standing on the stage below. “We should go, see if we can help.”
Tristan stood the collar of his coat back up and began to make his way up the ladder of Beta Frame. “What do you say, Hailey?”
Conflicted, Hailey looked back to see if she could spot her father, Dr. Kenneth Grubauer, amidst the chaos. The administration was being whisked inside the building. “I suppose it is the right thing to do.”
As the remaining two Gladiator Frames fired to life, Rollins looked back, waving a fist. “You kids can’t run off with the Academy’s equipment! It doesn’t belong to you!” Her voice fell to the sounds of the crowd and the deafening rumble of the three mechanized giants rising slowly off the ground.
Concentrated columns of blue thrust blasted from the bottoms of the robotic feet, giving rise to plumes of dust while panicked students and staff alike sought shelter.
“Hailey, you of all people know better than to do something so foolish,” she muttered, as she was tugged into the administrative building. She sighed. “I hope you’ll at least look after those other two.”
CHAPTER II
Capital City
Skyscrapers within Capital City folded unnaturally, their thick steel girders becoming hopelessly deformed an instant before dusty collapse as massive alien invaders pushed their way into the interior.
A biomechanical cyclops of immense proportion rose from the thick cloud of rubble from such an imploded building and released a series of thick energy bolts from its roving eye. They found the monorail, instantly incinerating the engine in the process as the remaining passenger cars tumbled off the bridge they were traversing.
Panicked pedestrians fled in all directions while the segmented body of the behemoth readjusted to prepare for the armored tanks that were taking position on the streets below. Turrets rotated and barrels flashed, primitive projectile weapons of lead impacting the invader’s thick hide to no avail. Once the volley subsided, its large green orb slid silently across the otherwise featureless face - targeting each of the tanks in its path. Emitting a series of red energy beams from the eye, the tanks exploded one after the other until none remained.
A second invader, identical to the first, unfurled, standing back to back and fully encompassing the street. Smoking craters that were, moments earlier, functioning military tanks littered the pavement in both directions.
With the unmistakable whine of turbo-jet engines decelerating from afterburner, a squadron of F-29 all-weather tactical fighters descended in split formation upon the duo of alien invaders.
“Squad Leader to Smash Team 11, you are clear to engage targets.”
“Copy, Squad Leader, showing deuces southeast and northwest. Arming now.”
Wingtip missiles streaked through the sky from both directions as the fighter craft made their high-speed assault runs.
“Bulls-eye one-one-six, climbing now. We get em?”
Looking back, as the smoke of impact explosions cleared, the pair of invaders were visually unaffected by the barrage.
“Badger, circle back and equip GK-77.”
“Copy, Squad Leader. Equipping Giant Killer for secondary attack run.”
A lone F-29 flipped a toggle, setting his radar guidance system to air to ground for the nuclear warhead-equipped GK-77 deployment. “Approaching bogeys now.”
“Smash Team 11, prepare for immediate ascent above the blast radius.”
“Copy,” Badger replied. “Remember not to look back, boys. We’re going to light this place up like a star.”
A few moments passed without the expected shockwave.
“Badger you are clear for Giant Killer deployment. Badger, do you copy?” The squad leader looked back just in time to see Badger’s F-29 get punched from the sky in a flash of flame and smoke. “Fall back,” he ordered his squad. “Repeat, fall back.”
“Squad Leader, you getting this on radar?”
One blip then another, then a dozen more appeared on their cockpit radar consoles.
“Yeah, I see it.”
Within a few moments the sky was blackened with falling metallic spheres, many crashing through the wings of the planes, taking them out of the sky in thick smudges of spiraling black smoke.
Hundreds upon hundreds of spheres fell, blanketing the city from above. Just prior to smashing into the ground, each sphere split apart, becoming the back section of a man-sized insectoid invader. After touching down gracefully, scores of the smaller invaders began setting up their otherworldly technologies; odd, spidery clusters of metallic rods, strung together with chains of energy.
“That’ll be just about enough of that!”
The insectoids turned away from their task to see the shadow of a trio of massive robots fall upon them.
CHAPTER III
Derringer Command Ship
Low Otoko Orbit
“You may approach,” President Azzah said from his throne.
“The updates you requested.” General Duston remained bowed as he spoke.
“You may rise.”
“The pair of Robeasts have proven far superior to their military counterstrikes, just as you predicted. Our infiltrators have successfully landed and are in the process of setting up permanent communications on the planet’s surface.”
“Excellent. Everything is going as the Grand Deram has foreseen.”
A look of slight distress washed across the dusky skin of Duston’s face. “There is one note of concern. It appears the cadets are in the process of mounting an offensive with their training robots.”
Azzah laughed, his shock of white hair falling into his glassy red eyes. “That’s what I like about you, Duston. You take the time to update me even on the inconsequential.”
“Sir?”
“Their feeble technology will prove no threat to our landing parties.”
“There is also the concern of this bold invasion on a Galaxy Garrison facility undermining all that Commander Hazar is attempting in establishing peace…”
“You forget yourself, General. We do not answer to Commander Hazar. The Derringer Armada operates well outside the Drule Empire’s narrow initiatives. We are the elite.”
“It’s just that these actions could be considered an act of war and if the Alliance were to send Voltron…”
President Azzah refilled his goblet, swirled the crimson liquid around then took a long sip. “Voltron would take years to get this far into the galactic interior. Do you really think Galaxy Garrison would leave their home planet unprotected for so long?”
General Duston remained motionless, not quite certain whether or not the question was rhetorical.
“Besides,” Azzah continued, “as Hazar and his cronies tie up the bureaucracy with pipe dreams of peace and harmony, the deep system defenses are lax, weak, prime for the picking. As this display on Otoko is so clearly illustrating.”
“Won’t this destroy any hope of our being accepted back into the Drule Empire?”
Azzah finished his drink and set the cup down with a clank. “Who says we want back in the Drule Empire?” He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “We answer directly to the Grand Deram, who tires of the spinelessness and indecisiveness of the Empire. You are Derringer, General Duston, let the Alliance tremble before you.”
“Yes, President Azzah,” Duston said, head bowed and fist to his chest.
“Now leave me so that I may make contact with the Grand Deram regarding our victory here today. He will be most impressed with our impeccable show of force.”
CHAPTER IV
Capital City
Streaking in like a comet of black from the blue sky above the rubble, the Gladiator Frame Alpha landed a kick to the purple body segments of the Robeast, just below its giant roving green eye. Before the behemoth could recover, a second, similarly fierce kick landed from Gamma Frame and then another from Beta.
The trio of Academy robots landed smoothly onto the ground, surrounding the alien invader.
“You impudent fools,” one of the insectoids shouted. “You leave me no choice but to order your destruction. Robeasts, attack.”
The pair of Robeasts charged in parallel, encircling the Gladiators with alarming speed.
“I think we got their attention,” Dean said, concern in his tone.
“What should we do?” Hailey asked as their enemy closed in.
“We strike,” Dean shouted. “It’s now or never.”
A beam of red energy erupted from the closest Robeast’s eye, connecting with Alpha Frame’s chest. The impact not only obliterated Dean’s charge, it sent the giant robot careening backward into the wreckage of a building.
“Dean!” Hailey shouted, watching her comrade lie motionless against the leaning skyscraper. “Now you’ve done it!”
“They will pay for that,” Tristan added. “We’ve been training for this moment our whole lives.”
“Charge them!”
Gamma and Beta Frame sprinted toward the pair of Robeasts, the ground shaking with each football. Prepared for the maneuver, the Robeasts held their ground, green eyes targeting specific weaknesses of the robots’ design.
A flash of red erupted, severing Beta’s arm cleanly at the elbow. “No,” Tristan shouted, the impact stopping him in his tracks.
A second and then a third bolt of energy from the cyclops dropped the blue Gladiator to its knees. Gamma, too, was peppered with laser pulses from the opposite Robeast, pivoting on wobbly legs as the outer hull split open at each precise blast point.
Behind them, Alpha slowly returned to its feet. “Hailey! Tristan!” Dean punched his controls, pushing his back Alpha frame into a leap. Arms around the Robeast’s head, he was able to momentarily divert its staccato of blasts skyward. “Get out of here! Go!”
The two damaged robots turned and fled deeper into the city.
Outmatched by the tremendous strength of Robeast, Dean stopped resisting and detached from the attacker, resulting in it leaning awkwardly forward on account of the sudden lack of resistance. “Right behind you,” he announced.
The Robeast promptly recovered and, with its twin, regrouped to pursue the limping robots.
“Let them go,” the insectoid ordered, stopping the two giants in their tracks. “You are needed here for completion of the landing facility.”
CHAPTER V
Galaxy Garrison Officer Training Academy
In a control room deep within the Academy, an assembly of civilian white-coat scientists and Alliance enlistees watched the morning’s events unfold on giant high-definition monitors.
“They appear to have come from space like we figured, Dr. Grubauer.”
“Materials unlike any we’ve encountered,” Grubauer said in agreement. “I feared this day would come.”
“Sounds like we figured out what became of the space shuttle,” another scientist offered.
“What do you make of the construction they are attempting?” Alliance liaison Carol Baker asked without taking her eyes off the odd, alien structure on the screen.
“Were I to guess based upon the communications array and fortified central pillars, it looks like the plan is to make Capital City the stronghold. Land their forces around this central hub and continue to push outward from there,” Grubauer said, loosening his tie. The sides of his dark hair were graying in a pattern resembling deliberate lines and his photosensitive glasses lenses had darkened because of the light of the screen but the concern on his face was unwavering. “I fear their front-line forces have yet to arrive. These were merely the scouts, the land clearers and the construction crews.”
Doors to the room split apart with a hiss and a panicked civilian mathematics instructor, Mr. Pollas, entered the room. “Dr. Grubauer!”
“Yes, Pollas, what is it?”
“Have you finished reviewing the footage? Our Gladiator Frames were torn apart in this morning’s assault.”
“We ordered no countermeasures,” Grubauer said calmly, looking for confirmation from the generals in attendance as he spoke.
“Officially, no. But those cadets made off with the Frames from this morning’s ceremony.”
Kenneth Grubauer’s face went pale. “Which cadets, specifically?”
“Stardo, Ginn and…” Pollas turned away from the monitor. “Your daughter, Hailey.”
***
In the massive subterraneous hangars of the academy, the tattered and broken remains of what were, mere hours earlier, three perfectly functioning Gladiator Frames littered the concrete bay.
“The repairs are going to cost more than all of our tuition combined,” Dean Stardo said with a sigh. “Even if we can somehow perform the labor ourselves.”
“This is the Number 2 Repair Facility,” Hailey reminded from the control console. “It shouldn’t be needed again until next semester.”
“Will there be a next semester?” Tristan asked ominously. “I mean it’s not like we intimidated whatever those things are out there.”
Behind them the man-door released and opened, framing the silhouette of a figure against the backlit hall. “I thought I’d find you three down here.”
“Dr. Grubauer! We didn’t mean…”
“Dad,” Hailey said, her eyes wide.
“Good afternoon, sir.”
“We’ll see,” Grubauer said, approaching stoically.
“Sir, we know these units are Academy property and we plan to spend the summer repairing them,” Tristan began.
When his expression remained unchanged, Hailey added, “I’m sorry, Dad. We hoped all the training prepared us for this threat. We were wrong.”
“Are you going to turn us over to the Galaxy Garrison Board?” Dean Stardo asked.
Grubauer sighed. “I should. But as the head of the Robotics Hardware Division, it’s up to me to use what resources we have at our disposal to mount a counter-assault.”
The faces of the three cadets went from remorse to surprise.
“You mean we’re not in trouble?”
“No. There is a time for protocol and there is a time to act. A wise man knows the difference. You three acted earlier and, if the equipment had been up to the task, may have been able to prevent the occupation of our planet.”
Carol Baker walked into the room behind him.
“Carol, I want you to request the best equipment we have on campus in the warehouse for the restructure.”
“If you’re sure, Dr. Grubauer.”
“I’m sure.”
“And if they start to ask questions?”
“Put Priority #033083 on the requests.” He closed his eyes, the formation of a plan already taking shape in his mind. “And leave the rest to me.”
CHAPTER VI
Derringer Command Ship
Gathered around a circular mirror-like communication screen, the Derringer generals looked respectfully upward toward the mysterious being that was the Grand Deram.
“I demand updates,” he said, his voice a rumble that concluded with a hiss. A being of twisted energy from the Emious Dimension, Grand Deram appeared little more than a purple-tinted vapor of pronounced brows, like those of a cat, and fangs - intimidating rows of spikey, razor sharp fangs.
“It is as you predicted, Grand Deram. They are weak, primitive. Our Robeasts encountered minimal resistance.”
The image of the Deram faded and pulsed, gaseous clouds reconstituting into the horrible mask that was his face. “Good. Our message will be clear to both the Alliance and the Empire.”
“We are close now,” another advisor added. “The Derringer Fortress is nearing completion on the surface.”
“The entire planet will soon be ours.”
The Grand Deram cackled. “And what of Voltron?”
The assembly glanced nervously at one another. “We suspect your calculations there are sound as well, Liege. The galaxy is simply too vast for Galaxy Garrison to dispatch their mighty champions.”
“Our Engineer Corps report having already clashed with the best defense technology Otoko was able to muster,” another added.
“And?”
“The invasion force has encountered no troubles.”
“Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen.”
General Duston turned to face his subordinates. Brown wrinkled flesh surrounded red-orb eyes and a golden beard concealed his chin in great tufts like that of a spider, none in attendance could say for certain from what section of the galaxy he had originated. Wearing a cloak of black, broken only by the white skull of some some bird-like alien upon each shoulder, and with three undulating whip-like antennae protruding from the top of his skull, they knew only to listen when he spoke. “Go now, Derringers. Sew the seeds of destruction in the name of the Grand Deram that this may be the first in our path of domination.”
***
Led by Dr. Grubauer, Dean Stardo, Tristan Ginn and Hailey Grubauer walked through the well-lit halls of the Academy’s lower levels.
Carol had, moments earlier, brought them each a brand new Galaxy Garrison robotic pilot uniform with matching helmet, color coordinated to their corresponding Gladiator Frame.
“You both look so…official,” Stardo mused from behind the group.
“You clean up pretty well yourself, Dean,” Hailey said, turning around.
“Ah-hem.” Dr. Grubauer opened up the doors to the hangar bay, spilling golden light into the black expanse.
“These are our Gladiators?” Tristan froze in awe. Even in the dim light, the menacing form of the trio of Frames took his breath away.
“I, I can barely believe it,” Dean added, his eyes starting at the feet and slowly making their way up Alpha Frame’s shiny black exterior. “They’re so heavily armored now.”
“Indeed,” Grubauer said, stepping between the gawking pilots. “To better deal with the threats we now face. Each has been designed with cockpit sensory rhythms to correspond with the neurological activity of the pilot. Dean Stardo, you are now the official pilot of Gladiator Frame Alpha.”
Dean stepped forward, under the imposing silhouette of the gloss-black behemoth in the center of the room.
“Hailey Grubaer, you are now the official pilot of Gladiator Frame Gamma.”
Hailey, helmet under her arm, walked over to the giant red feet of her robot.
“And Tristan Ginn, you are the official pilot of Gladiator Frame Beta.”
“This, this is incredible.”
“When I saw the damage to your Frames, I knew our small planet was finally facing the type of technological threats that Galaxy Garrison has been battling against for decades. If we hope to hold our own, we would need the best of their technology.”
He was interrupted by a red flashing light on the wall behind the pilots. “Dr. Grubauer to Mission Command, you are needed at once. Repeat - Dr. Grubauer to Mission Command. Alien spacecraft detected entering Otoko airspace.”
“I must go," he said, reluctantly. “We will continue this when I return.”
CHAPTER VII
Kenneth Grubauer entered Mission Command, still slipping his sports coat over his shirt. “What is it, Carol? I was…” He looked around at the brass gathered in the meeting room. “I was acclimating the cadets with their new equipment,” he said in a whisper.
“It’s bad, Kenneth,” Carol said solemnly. “You’re going to want to see this.”
On the screen, in the heart of Capital City, the odd alien command center, now in a state of near completion, lit up from within - a series of red flashing beacons becoming visible in even the midday sun. A shadow fell upon it then, one by one, smooth, disc-shaped craft began to descend around the central spire.
“It is as I predicted,” Grubauer said. “They are sending in the troops now that the base of operations is complete.” He winced, furling his thin, well-kept mustache. “I fear they will be spreading outward within the upcoming hours.”
The building rumbled, forcing everyone inside to grab tables and walls for support.
“What’s that?”
“Quake?”
Grubauer’s eyes widened when he looked up at the monitor. “No,” he muttered.
Alpha, Beta and Gamma Frame departed from the facility, full thrusters propelling across the expanse between the Academy and Capital City in waves of roiling dust.
“Three of ours,” the communications officer announced. “Launched without clearance, apparently.” He turned back to look at Grubauer.
“What? I assure you I gave no such command.” He approached the communication console and opened a channel. “Dean, Hailey, Tristan, I am ordering the three of you to return to the Academy at once. Turn back so that you can be properly trained on that equipment.”
“We can handle this, Dr. Grubauer,” Stardo replied through the tinny communicator in his helmet.
“Trust us this time, Dad,” Hailey added. “This is what you’ve all trained us for, isn’t it?”
“If those machines are destroyed…”
“Hailey,” Carol Baker pleaded. “Please, turn back. Convince the others to follow you.”
“Carol, if anything happens to me, please do take care of Dad.”
“Hailey, switch over to automatic mode,” Dean said, his voice interrupting the communication with the Academy. “And activate manual weapons. We’re almost there.”
As they approached the city, the severity of the hopeless conflict came into heart-pounding focus. F-29s, exhausting missiles, exploded in the swarm of alien defenses forming a literal cloud around the fortress.
“They’re like bees protecting their hive,” Tristan observed.
Laser fire erupted in all directions from the fortress itself, dropping aerial invaders and ground equipment alike. What the fortress failed to annihilate was left to the pair of patrolling cyclops Robeasts, their thick arms swinging wildly, sending tanks and humvees to their fiery demise.
“Like shooting leeches in a jar,” General Sheave gloated from his station with the heavily fortified fortress.
The alien structure rumbled and several impact blasts rang out through its glossy biomechanical walled interior. “What was that?”
“General, look!” One of the insectoids pointed through the wrought iron scrolling metalworks of the fortress’ upper buttress.
Through the lattice-work, the unmistakable form of three giant robots quickly approaching from low altitude filled his point of view.
“Impossible! Haven’t we already destroyed these nuisances? Robeasts, intercept and eliminate.” he shook his helmeted head. “How many times must they learn the same lesson?”
CHAPTER VIII
Three massive Robeasts pushed their bulk through the remains of a toppled skyscraper on an intercept course with the quickly advancing trio of robots, sending debris and dust sailing through the air as they advanced.
Alpha Frame set down first, its blocky feet settling onto the ground with a small eddy of airborne dirt rising up from the rubble. Beta and Gamma followed suit, forming a tight semi-circle in the clearing.
“It’s time we pay these invaders back for our last encounter,” Dean said, locking his Gladiator into full manual weapons control.
He was first to charge, capitalizing on his Frame’s enhanced mobility, its complex motions becoming a natural extension of his very thoughts. The Robeast unleashed a fury of laser pulses from its large green eye, just as it had before, only this time Alpha danced gracefully through the barrage. The massive machine launched into a somersault, bursts of energy exploding around it from all sides, that carried into a devastating kick. It found its target - smashing out the eye with the bottom of the robot’s foot, the sheer impact tearing the Robeast apart at its body segments.
Dean watched, surprised himself with the ease by which he dropped so formidable an opponent. His elation was short-lived, however, as a second Robeast gripped the robot’s neck section from behind and began sending focused electrical charge through the metallic superstructure. Twisting in agony, Stardo struggled to regain control of his Frame to no avail.
Tristan jumped into the melee, colliding into the Robeast with Beta Frame. The impact broke the alien’s hold over Alpha, but sent it toppling backward into the nearest building-side.
Hailey was over the downed robot in an instant, leveraging Alpha back up to its feet by the hands with Gamma Frame. “Are you okay, Dean?”
“Embarrassed, but no worse for wear.”
“They have more of them this time.”
“Yeah, but no more holding back. The fate of our whole world is at stake.” Reaching to the sky, he manifested his robot’s iron sword then took several practice swings to gauge its range and heft.
With a running charge, Dean set Alpha into motion, the world becoming a blur to him. Sights firmly set on the Robeast that was currently engaged with Beta, he leapt through the air, coming down firmly through the center of the invader with a two-handed grip on the sword. A glowing seam opened up down the center of the alien machine an instant before it exploded.
“He did it!” Haily shouted from her cockpit.
“That was incredible, Dean,” Tristan added. “Now it’s my turn.” Beta’s fisted blue hands came together before his chest then slowly spread apart revealing an iron sword of its own. “Fe nanoparticle solidification. Nothing like it.”
“Your father is a genius, Hailey,” Dean said.
“He certainly likes to think so as well.” With one arm raised high, Hailey smacked Gamma’s red fists together, the form of her own iron sword solidifying in the process.
Charging in together, Beta slashed high, Gamma cut low and the remaining Robeast split into layers that toppled lifelessly before exploding onto the ground.
“Great work, team,” Dean said. “All that’s left now is to take down that fortress.”
Assembling at the base of the biomechanical tower, the three giant robots, tiny by contrast, raised their swords and began to hack at the thick exterior.
Tendrils of connective material, purple and green and pulsing with oily blood, split and hissed as the blades severed them effortlessly.
“Let’s send these invaders packing once and for all!”
CHAPTER IX
“Impossible,” General Sheave shouted, slamming his fist into his leg. “They were never expected to get this close.”
“What should we do, General?”
“Make ready the Grand Robeast. We’ll put an end to this right now.”
A pair of red glowing eyes rose up through the freshly cut slices in the fortress’ front side and then the ground began to quake.
“Uh, guys. I don’t like the sound of that,” Hailey said.
The front façade of the fortress shook and rattled before crumbling to the ground in a loud of black dust. The biomechanical organism standing in its place rose continually higher into the afternoon sky, towering over the Gladiator Frames.
“What is that thing?”
“I don’t know but it’s humongous,” Tristan said.
Dwarfing them, a beast like no other eyed them up silently. It wore armor of black plating with giant spikes extending from each shoulder. Its head, onion-shaped and dull gold, bore a single horn protruding from the center and a pair of red, slanted eyes.
“Don’t let it intimidate you,” Dean said. “We’re clearly doing something right to make them resort to unleashing this thing.”
It lumbered toward its smaller adversaries, the ground shaking with each stride.
“Let’s go, team!”
Alpha led the charge to meet it head-on. It leapt into the air, switching for a two-handed grip like before, and came down with a heavy strike. The Grand Robeast was waiting, however, a massive metallic blade of its own extending from its knuckles. A clank rang out as iron met steel, and Alpha landed on its feet, dazed by the impact. The Robeast recovered faster, smashing the black Frame’s chest with the back side of its talon.
Alpha landed flat on its back. Before Dean could process the series of events, the aggressor was standing above him, poised to deliver the fatal blow.
Alpha rolled just in time, the Robeast’s claw finding only the ground in an eruption of sparks.
“Dean!” Tristan shouted, attempting a similar two-handed downward thrust of his own.
Hailey came from the opposite direction, positioned for a midsection strike. Both were denied, however, as the grand Robeast turned, unleashing a barrage of heavy laser pulses from its free hand.
The impact broke the stride of both advancing Gladiator Frames, crumpling them to the ground in a smoking heap.
The Grand Robeast stalked over to its freshly fallen prey like some bloodthirsty predator, about to feast, unaware that Dean had taken Alpha back up onto its feet. “No you don’t,” he shouted, winding up to slash the monster’s back with Alpha’s sword.
The Robeast turned casually and swiped away the black Frame as if it were little more than a gnat. Alpha stumbled backward, falling into a seated position against the fortress. The beast was on him immediately, smacking away Alpha’s sword with its own steel talon before stabbing at the downed robot’s head.
Dean recovered quickly, getting Alpha to its feet again then lunging at his pursuer. In desperation, he flung fists around its throat and was quickly swung to the back of the Robeast, dangling like a pendant as it lumbered back toward Beta and Gamma, still struggling to get back up.
CHAPTER X
Watching the trio flail in combat against the Grand Robeast onscreen, Dr. Kenneth Grubauer sighed from the ready room of the Academy. “This is no good,” he said. “Not only are they putting priceless equipment in jeopardy, they’re gambling with their very lives.” A bead of sweat ran down his forehead.
“We tried recalling them,” Carol reminded. “They are considered insubordinate.”
Grubauer looked around the room. Several generals, instructors and a sergeant from Galaxy Garrison shared the crowded space with him. What he was about to propose could save their lives, could save the entire planet, but it would also get him in equal insubordination trouble. “There is one other thing,” he said tentatively.
Carol looked at him, a face of apprehension with the slightest hint of hope. “You were able to secure Doctor Loring’s records?”
He nodded, many in the room turning to see.
“You can’t be considering…”
“They’ll never survive if I don’t.”
On the screen the sulking behemoth, Alpha yet hanging from the back of its neck, was now nearly standing over the remaining two Frames.
“Patch me in.” Grubauer approached the communication console. “Dean, Tristan, Haley, listen to me. I need you to follow my instructions very carefully.”
“Dad,” Hailey said. “What do we do?”
The Robeast’s massive claw struck, the robots scattering just in time. The claw was driven into the ground and the resulting impact knocked free Alpha’s grip.
“Dean, pull yourself together. I need you to take charge.”
Dean steadied Alpha and nodded at the cockpit screen showing Dr. Grubauer’s worried face. “Tell me what to do.”
“Locate the button labeled RX and press that simultaneously, all of you.”
“You heard the man.”
“Now, in manual control, push your throttle to its stop.”
The whirl of leg-mounted turbo-jets became a steady whine.
“Now go ahead and flip the lever labeled interlocks.”
The Robeast struck again, causing Dean to dive out of the way of its talon.
“Input sequence Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and now this is the most important step. All three of you must press the VX button on the 72-keypad on your right side. It must be done at exactly the same time.”
“Ready, team? Now!”
Each robot clanked from deep within.
“Release your jet brake and hold on tight,” Grubauer said.
Alpha rolled into a clearing then stood erect, arms above its head. Beta followed and then Gemma. All three of the Frames launched into the air, controlled as if by some divine hand.
“What, what’s happening?” Tristan said.
Alpha detached at the torso, the legs and waist falling safely to the ground on two columns of diminishing thrust.
“Form feet and legs,” Dean said.
Beta and Gamma’s legs locked into one another before Gamma’s head and torso stacked into the bottom of Beta’s. The two new stacked toros melded with Alpha’s chest.
“Form arms and torso.”
Pulled magnetically, a pair of the newly combined arms rotated forward as the massive double-reinforced legs slid effortlessly into place.
Dean, now seated atop the massive robot’s shoulders then said, “And I’ll form the head.”
Cockpits reconfigured around each of the pilots, adrenaline pumping through their veins, the newly assembled landed to the ground, cracking the pavement beneath its feet.
“I give you, Gladiator Voltron,” Grubauer said proudly. “Defender of the Middle Universe.”
“Let’s go Voltron Force!”
“Impossible!” General Sheave shouted. “Grand Robeast, finish that thing!”
A mighty fist raised high in the air, Voltron was now the same size as its opponent.
The Robeast charged as ordered, attempting to grab the newly formed machine with both hands but Voltron was too spry, jumping cleanly over the attacker and managing a stomp to its back in the process.
Just prior to touching back down to the ground, Voltron emitted a concentrated energy burst that caught the monster cleanly in the chest when it pivoted to face them.
“Good shooting, Hailey.”
Dean drove Voltron forward, allowing Tristan to throw a punch from the right, then the left. Both found their mark, sending the beast down to the ground upon its chest, where it slid for several meters, flattening rubble in its path.
“Incredible power,” Tristan said. “Think he’ll be getting up from that?”
“I guess that answers your question,” Hailey said as the beast got to its feet once more.
Stretching to its full height, the Grand Robeast towered over Voltron, looking down at the mighty robot with newfound contempt. It lunged but Voltron took to the air again, leaping backward with the force of four foot-thrusters.
“Form Blazing Sword!”
Materializing within Voltron’s left hand was a massive blade of pure shimmering blue energy that, after a moment, solidified into an intimidating weapon of glistening steel.
“Let’s see how this tastes,” Dean said, guiding Voltron down with a two-handed strike.
The Robeast was ready, however, and caught the sword with its steel talon. Sparks flew and, before the pilots could recover, Voltron had been caught and tossed away to the side.
“Clever,” Dean said, regaining his composure.
Hailey straightened out and flew Voltron to the top of a nearby shattered building.
“This ends now,” Dean announced. “Strike with everything we’ve got.”
From the new height, they brought Voltron down with unimaginable speed, carving a blurred x into their opponent before touching softly down.
It stood for a moment in shock, the reality of its predicament setting in as the fatal gashes to its exoskeleton began to separate. An instant later the Grand Robeast exploded in a blinding burst of oil, sinew and metallic chitin.
EPILOGUE
And so it was that the mighty Derringer Armada was forced to abandon their attempt to occupy the planet Otoko and the Galaxy Alliance gained a third Mighty Voltron: Gladiator Force.
Galaxy Garrison reinforcements did eventually arrive and engaged the Armada in ship-to-ship conflict. Dr. Kenneth Grubauer not only escaped disciplinary actions for insubordination, he and his pilots were awarded medals of valor for their bravery in wartime.
This is the story of the super force of academy cadets, entrusted by the Alliance with the ancient secret of how to assemble Voltron - Defender of the Middle Universe.
Written by Jason Russell
Author Goodreads
Author Goodreads