Butterscotch fox barrel rolled over a squadron of twin-rotored Sleipnir gunships. She flipped over as she passed them and watched the grey and white helicopters heading out towards the flotilla of ships assembled off the coast. The long flat gunships reminded her of alligators, albeit alligators with two sets of whirling rotor blades set behind their ears. A flash of gold caught Butter's peripheral vision drawing her attention away from the shrinking squadron. She turned her head to follow the contact and watched as the dazzling white and gold form of Sovereign Girl danced through the sky. Butter felt a familiar warmth stir inside of her as Sovereign turned out her final mid air flip and rocketed towards Butter.

"Admiral Sutherland says that the Usonians are still lurking just inside international waters" said Sovereign as she came to a halt in front of Butter

"Good news for us, the more time they spend sitting on the border the more refugees can be shipped out" Butter said with a grin

"And the more troops we can mass up to push them out" said Sovereign

"Stahl said they might be counting on that, getting ready to try for one big knock out blow. Crush the EU here and end any resistance to Usonia in one big battle" replied Butter

"Yeah well they can try but they don't know about our secret weapon" said Sovereign with a wink

"I'm no secret weapon, they beat me before, but this time round we fight as a team" said Butter with a frown "and this time there is no two faced Regan to ransom for compliance"

"A three girl team" came the voice of Night Strike over the com "you glory girls don't get to hog all the action just because you can fly"

"Of course not Strike" laughed Butter "we're heading back to the Bulwark now"

                                                                               ***

"Asturias and her battle group are shadowing the Usonian pacific squadron pushing up through the Caribbean" Kaspar said as he drew a pointer across the projected map "The Usonian fleet assembled just outside Icelandic waters is bigger than ours but the formation is sloppy which leads me to conclude that Usonia is using conscripts or possibly even press gangs to fill out their core conventional forces"

"I take it the unconventional forces you imply are meta humans Admiral, do you have an estimate on those?" Said Night Strike

Sharp intakes of breath and mild tutting filled the room.

"Miss Strike, questions are usually asked at the end of a briefing, you're new to the Bulwark so I shall excuse you this time" growled Kaspar

"Remind me to check what the Macedonian translation of 'sweetie' is when we get back to base, I think Athena might have mistranslated" murmured Butter

"We expect significant unconventional forces with certainly one, maybe two of Scarlet fox's inner circle leading them, my gut feeling is Crystal fox. Our estimates, and these are just estimates, suggest that Scarlet can spare approximately 100 fox hounds from their normal duties of keeping the Usonian population under the boot. Our own unconventional forces are made up of 300 jaegers and the 3 members of Jagkommand team Bravo"

Kaspar gripped the pointer and glanced around the room, his gaze resting finally on Night Strike.

"Questions on balance of forces?"

"Why do you think Crystal Fox will be leading them?" Asked Butter

"Crystal fox is their toughest asset and we understand, in no small part from information provided by you, that she has access to the memories of the deceased Silver Fox, that makes her the most tactically competent of Scarlet's inner circle. In short, she is the one I would select myself for this mission" he glanced around "any more?"

                                                                               ***

Emotionless lavender eyes stared out at the grey sea and contemplated the dull horizon. Glittering hands encased in pink diamond gripped the rail at the edge of the deck. The obligatory quartet of fox hounds surrounded the sparkling pink clad form of Crystal fox each one staring dumbly out to sea and content to wait forever for a command from their mistress. Tiny, almost imperceptible needles of pink glass stuck out of the base of each hound's head ensuring that the bodyguards remained loyal to Crystal fox. As a genetic construct herself Crystal was well aware of the obedience programming that Vanessa Payne tried to force on each of her projects. It had come as quite a revelation to Crystal as she had flayed the failing mind of Silver fox for every scrap of information and memory, leaving the once great heroine nowhere to hide and nothing to hold onto, that generally one was not unconditionally beholden to their creator. She savoured her own memories of the desperate broken pleas of Silver as Crystal, Plasma as they had called her back then, devoured the woman's consciousness, hijacking the magnificent body and bringing herself life as a solid, sentient member of Scarlet's inner court. Now, granted a freedom and mobility that her previous incarnation as a parasitic goo could never have imagined, she was determined to be nobody's slave and that meant that she would have to accrue power for the inevitable day when Scarlet and Payne turned on her.

"My lady" a red cloaked intelligencer said as he held out a page of paper

Crystal swivelled her head to look at the spy, briefly considered driving a diamond hard spine extended from her own crystal carapace through him, then snatched the paper. As she read it she sent a tiny sonic command to the fox hound nearest to the intelligencer. The white and red clone of Butterscotch fox turned its head to glare at the intelligencer.

Marked by Scarlet you may be, but out here a lot of accidents can happen thought Crystal.
She held the paper in front of her eyes scanning the lines of simple script.

3 European heroines, capabilities unconfirmed, assume each at least comparable to Violet fox.
Recovery of live specimen highly desirable. Recently deceased specimen acceptable.

Crystal dug through her memory for the information Pearl had brought back. The blue one, Valkyrie, the one who had humiliated Pearl, bringing her in would foster an alliance with the disillusioned seductress. With Violet fox gone Pearl might even seek solace in Crystal's glittering arms she mused. She handed the paper back to the intelligencer and spun on a pink jewelled heel simultaneously sending a tiny sonic pulse to resonate the needles in her bodyguard's skull.

A heavy white gloved hand clamped the intelligencer's arm as he turned to head below deck. The man looked up in horror at the dead lifeless eyes of the fox hound. The red seal of Scarlet Fox on his chest should have guaranteed that any fox hound would side with him against a treasonous general. The man tugged at the grip to no avail. Crystal idly wondered whether suffocation, shock or cold would claim this one as the scream of terror gradually dulled and the fox hound vanished into the dark clouds.

                                                                               ***

Claxons blared through the Bulwark and sailors pounded along passageways. The screeching siren abruptly shut off and a deep bass rumbling replaced it as the mighty ship activated its propellers. The 3 Jagkommand heroines scrambled up to the bridge to assess the suddenly changed situation.

"Admiral what are..." began Sovereign

"Shut up!" Snapped Kaspar

Belatedly the trio realised that the bridge crew were concentrating intently on the radio system.

"Exchanging missiles, closing to shell range"

"AEW has spotted contacts, too small for planes, likely 20 plus fox hounds on intercept vector with frigates Garibaldi and St Istvan"

"Garibaldi here, tracking incoming, interceptors launching"

"Fighters flying off now Garibaldi. Destroyers Kiel, Manchester and Stuttgart concentrate anti ship fire on enemy flag"

"St Istvan, fox hound just hit Garibaldi's bridge, multiple targets are storming the ship"

"Bulwark advise" came the voice of the Asturias' commander

"Any ship within range must open fire on the Garibaldi now, concentrate fire where the hounds have landed" said Kaspar in a level tone

"Confirmed Bulwark. Fleet, Garibaldi is dead loss, scuttle"

"This is Kiel, enemy flag is turning away, multiple fires on board"

"Admiral" said a radar operator "Usonia fleet one has entered Icelandic waters, looks like they're heading for the bay north of Reykjavik"

"Admiral Vaudoise, call the battle as you see it, then join up with us. I'm afraid we're about to have our hands full here, good hunting" said Kaspar

"Good hunting Admiral, we've got your flank" said Vaudoise signing off

"Formation?" Asked Kaspar

"Schiltron sir, ship to ship on the edges, air defence inside, Bulwark at the centre" rapped the duty lieutenant

"Bravo team, you're wasted here, get yourselves dirt side and stay on the com, you'll need to anchor the line and keep those troops in the fight, rifles won't stop a fox hound but they'll distract them enough to give you and your jaegers an edge"

"Admiral won't you need us here to defend the ships?" Asked Butter

"You can't fight them in the air without being caught in our anti defence, I'll worry about the fleet and you worry about the beach" said Kaspar

"He's right, we gotta bolster the lines" said Night Strike turning towards the deck hatch "each of you grab an arm"

                                                                               ***

Night Strike thudded into the gravelly scree behind the first network of trenches as Butter and Sovereign continued down the line. A startled trooper, his rifle clutched in white knuckled hands stared in shock at the black and gold clad woman, her thick auburn hair billowing in the sea breeze.

"You're, you're one of ours right?" He gibbered

Strike stared at the trooper for a long moment then stalked in close to him. She raised her black gloved hands to his face gently cupping the trembling man's chin and leaned in to whisper in his ear "If I was with Usonia you would already be dead, your bones would be shattered and your jellied guts would be scattered across those bushes there"

The trembling soldier gulped loudly at the graphic description of dismemberment.

"If you are not sure open fire and keep firing until you are sure" she whispered "or else I will flay you myself"

Strike drew back and looked into the man's terrified eyes

"Understand?" She asked

The man nodded frantically.

"Now get back into the line, they're coming this way fast"

The trooper glanced back at his squad then turned back towards Night Strike to find that the intimidating black and gold clad heroine had vanished.

                                                                               ***

Butterscotch Fox touched down lightly in front of a heavy set squad of Jaegers manning the trenches above the beach. The squad sergeant snapped off a smart salute as she approached the group.

"Where's captain Stahl sergeant?" She asked

"About thirty metres down the line commander. The captain's squad is guarding the mobile the anti air batteries. 6, escort commander Butterscotch to captain Stahl" the sergeant replied in clipped tones

"I can find him sergeant no need to disrupt your squad" she replied as she started to spring into the air

"Wouldn't do that commander, the anti air is going to be looking for fox hounds, clones of you, might mistake you for one of them" said the sergeant

"Ah, good point. I guess I'll hoof it then" said Butter

"Good to have you here commander, they won't break through the centre, count on it" a jaeger with a small three on his shoulder said

"Damn sure they won't, i wouldn't want to be any where else on the line, if you guys in Stahl's company can get me out from under Scarlet's nose I doubt there is anything you can't do" Butter snapped a fist into her palm "Usonia is about to find out that payback is a bitch"

                                                                               ***

Sovereign girl knocked lightly on the thick wooden door of the makeshift command post. She wondered briefly if the inhabitants of the small stone house had been evacuated or whether they had simply been evicted to make way for the brass. She passed a smartly dressed trooper and entered the command centre proper. Captain Mylan gave a crisp salute as she entered and Sovereign returned the same.

"Who's in charge here?" She asked

"I am" a squat muscular man replied sticking out a calloused hand "Brigadier General Kurze, her majesty's Dutch marine corps"

"Sovereign girl, seconded to Jagkommand, where do you need me general" replied Sovereign shaking the meaty paw

Kurze sighed and swept his hand in front of a large map that dominated one wall of the room "Basically everywhere, too much front and an enemy that is too damn mobile. Your man here assures me that the so called fox hounds are not invulnerable but they are damn close to it and it's just your jaegers that have the firepower to bring them down. One breach in this line and the whole defence could collapse"

Sovereign frowned "Erm, well I can't do everywhere so maybe if you could pick a section that you think they'll try to punch through?"

"I'm not going to guess" replied Kurze "I want you to sit tight here until we see where they hit, then you can zip in and bolster anywhere that seems to be wavering"

"That actually makes a lot of sense" said Sovereign

"Well all those years at the academy and on campaign are suddenly all validated, a teenager in a nurse's uniform has validated my strategy, I can die a happy man now" replied Kurze, sarcasm dripping from every word

"Sorry general, I didn't mean to suggest..." murmured Sovereign, pointedly trying to ignore the heavy slap she had heard as Mylan snapped hold of his sidearm.

Kurze waved his hand dismissively "I know, forgive me, I have not had much sleep these past few days"

"No problem, guess we just hunker down and wait now" said Sovereign "Don't they say waiting is the worst part"

"They do indeed, although in my experience the screaming, confusion, exhaustion and getting shot are much worse" muttered Kurze

Sovereign could only offer a weak smile in return jeez talk about a pessimist, and what the fuck?! Nurse's uniform? I wonder if this is how Valkyrie feels all the time she thought.

                                                                               ***

"Contact, multiple contacts" shouted a spotter

"Up on the step boys, concentrate fire. Pin them down for the jaegers and bravo team" roared lieutenant Hormuta

The regiment of grim faced Czech infantry each racked their rifles and leant in on the trench edge. Loops of optimistically placed barbed wire ran along the top of the line though few were under any illusion of how effective it would be against Scarlet's army.

"I've got tanks in the water, landing craft too" called the spotter

"Command, this is South 8, hounds spotted inbound. Enemy ground forces coming ashore as well, request artillery support on grid B9 through B4" said Hormuta into his radio mic

"Artillery is coordinating along the line south 8, standby" came the terse reply

"This is...." he yelled, the end of his sentence drowned out by the roar of anti air missiles shrieking over head.

He watched as the barrage streaked out across the bay and exploded among the angry mass of approaching fox hounds. A few plumes of water indicted where members of the malevolent swarm had been knocked out the sky. I guess they're not invincible he thought. His face fell as a fresh wave of water plumes heralded the majority of fallen hounds erupting back out of the water.

"Range!" Yelled the spotter

"Open fire!" Shouted Hormuta

A wave of bullets spat from the trench line scything into the approaching swarm. Hormuta grinned as the sustained fire forced ever more of the hounds onto the ground. A handful of hounds hunkered down under a constant hail of fire but these were vastly outnumbered by the advancing horde of red and white costumed clones.

"Stand fast boys, we're slowing them" roared Hormuta

The closest trooper looked round at him, a look of apprehension filling his eyes. Hormuta could only nod grimly and hope the same fear was not showing in his face. Where the hell is our meta support! He thought.

Hormuta caught a bellowed "feuer" followed by the characteristic crack and snap of heavy coilguns
The closest fox hound staggered under the barrage of hypervelocity rounds, as chunks of flesh exploded off of it. To Hormuta's horror the creature kept advancing despite the terrible damage done to it until finally a brace of rounds split its skull.

"It's not enough" murmured Hormuta

Fox hounds were falling, gorily disintegrating under the combined fire of the jaegers and conventional troopers but far too many continued to advance up the beach, marching mechanically forwards.

"Sir?" Muttered the closest trooper

"I, I don't" murmured Hormuta "fall..."

"Stand fast, concentrate your fire" yelled Night Strike appearing at Hormutas shoulder. She leaned close to the lieutenant "You can fight here or you can shoot yourself. You take one step backwards or call a retreat and I promise you that you will take an hour to die"

Hormuta searched the heroines eyes for any hint of deception and found only a chilling ruthlessness.

"Concentrate fire" he yelled

"Get down on one knee" said Night Strike "put your hands on your thigh palms up"

The terrified lieutenant stared at the black and gold costumed woman in horror then resignedly dropped down into a submissive position. Night strike took three steps back from the gun line, dropped into a crouch then exploded forwards towards Hormuta. She planted one booted foot into his braced hands while yelling "push". The lieutenant lifted with everything he could muster helping to propel the woman up into the air. He watched as she spun and flipped across the barbed wire. He lost sight of her as she reached the apex of her leap and frantically searched the battlefield.

He caught sight of her again suddenly. One moment he was looking at a fox hound the next Night Strike had grabbed it in a vicious neck lock and crushed the creature's vertebrae. The heroine vanished again in the confusion of the battlefield reappearing next to a group of injured hounds that were clawing their way up the trench wall. Hormuta watched as she slammed a fist into the chest of the first hound producing an audible crack. In one fluid motion she snapped a long legged kick into the damaged head of the second hound caving in the damaged skull. The remaining hound threw a punch across Night Strike's face whipping her head around then followed up with a whirlwind of punches and kicks. Strike recovered from the punch quickly and deflected the incoming blows while searching for an opening. As the hound drew back to launch a thunderous roundhouse Strike slipped inside its guard. She drove a knee directly into the hound's damaged midriff blasting the air from its lungs then, grabbing the coughing creature by neck and crotch she hefted it above her head. The failing hound kicked and thrashed for a moment before Strike brought it down across her knee shattering its spine.

                                                                               ***

Butterscotch fox shuddered as the last fox hound collapsed in front of her. She sucked her knuckles and glanced down at the still body, a grotesque parody of her own. Once again she cursed the petty hatred of her half sister that had been the driving force behind the creation of these monsters.

"Commander Butterscotch we have conventional military entering the sector, enemy artillery is targeting your own position" the clipped voice of captain Stahl echoed in her ear

Butter looked down the beach and saw the Usonian army for the first time. Red and black painted amphibious assault vehicles and amphibious tanks were growling their way out of the surf and spitting shells at the trench line. As the troop carriers reached the sand red fatigued troopers began to pile out and follow the vehicles up the beach. Butter gasped in shock. The troopers sported red and black fatigues and heavy gas masks giving them a vicious and hellish appearance. Dirty red light spat from the laserlock rifles they carried and Butter winced in pain as one of the shots grazed her arm. Immediately she sprung into the air and zipped down the beach to engage the invaders.

Butter stuck out her hand as she passed the lead tank tearing a long slit down it until she hit something vital which caused the machine to explode showering the approach troopers with red hot shrapnel. She zipped across the foreshore shattering bones here and tearing holes in tanks there until she spotted a trooper with intricate gold markings on his uniform and mask. She sped directly for the officer determined to at least disrupt the enemy's coordination. At the last moment the man glanced at her and whipped around his pistol. Dull red light exploded in Butter's face stunning her and sending her crashing into the sand. Butter was on her feet immediately, spitting mouthfuls of the salty grit and clawing sand from her eyes. She blinked away stinging tears just in time to dodge the billhook swung by the officer. The heavy blade whistled past her throat by millimetres as she swayed back.

The officer followed up with a pistol blast to her stomach and a long looping swing back towards her head. Butter winced as the laser scorched her uniform and flesh. Instinctively she raised her arm to block the heavy blade. The billhook sent a jolt of pain up her arm but failed to penetrate her skin. Hissing in frustration the officer swung his billhook past Butter’s face and immediately brought his pistol up to blast the beautiful heroine full between the eyes. Butter snapped her hands forward in a swift clap crushing the pistol in one sharp motion. She yelped as the exploded powerpack scorched her hands. Her assailant however dropped to his knees clutching the squirting stump of his wrist, his billhook forgotten. Butter stepped forward, a determined look clouding her features and jammed 2 fingers into the man's chest bursting his heart. The officer expired with a gasp, collapsing sideways onto the sand.

Butter glanced around for a new target. The beach was chaos, burning tanks and dead soldiers littered the sand. The advance seemed to be stalling but she could see more amphibious vehicles out in the surf. She yelped loudly as a laser hit the back of her thigh scorching her perfectly sculpted ass and leapt back into the air.

                                                                               ***

"Damn" whispered Kurze. He glanced up at the dazzling white and gold clad form of Sovereign girl "Crystal fox is leading the assault on this sector and nothing we throw at her is slowing her down"

"That's what I'm here for general" replied Sovereign turning to leave the bunker

"Crystal is too much for you alone, I'm redeploying your Bravo team mates. I cannot afford to drip feed you 3 into the grinder" said Kurze

"Then I will go slow her down and buy some time for Butter and Strike to get down here" snapped Sovereign

She strode back out of the bunker pausing briefly to take a deep breath and steady her nerves. With a resigned sigh she jumped into the sky and shot out across the smoke strewn beach. She dodged left and right as shells and laserlock shots whistled past her heading straight for the glittering pink speck of Crystal fox.

                                                                               ***

Crystal chuckled to herself as she threw the broken corpse of an infantry man into his terrified squad mates. The disgusted squad fell back into the trench network still firing ineffective rounds at the solid form of Crystal. The malevolent fox grinned and began to head into the trenches.

"Little pigs, little pigs" she murmured

As she reached the corner of the trench the dazzling white and gold boot of Sovereign Girl connected with her head shoving her sideways into the trench wall and leaving the imprint of a shocked face in the crushed concrete. Sovereign followed her aerial kick with a barrage of punches to the spine and kidneys before retreating back into the air to avoid the wild return swing of Crystal. The pink clad fox pulled herself from the trench wall and dusted flakes of concrete from her shining carapace.

"I was beginning to think you weren't coming" she spat at Sovereign

"I've been kicking my heels all morning waiting for you to drag your fat arse up this beach" retorted Sovereign "I had no idea you'd let Silver Fox’s body go to waste, you must be fifty pounds heavier than you were when you murdered her"

"You nothing little bitch, I'll flay your spray tanned hide" shrieked Crystal launching herself skyward

Sovereign grinned as her baiting hit home and shot away back down the beach, pulling the enraged golem away from the hole she had made in the battle line. She glanced behind and saw that the furious Crystal was keeping pace with her but failing to close. She grinned at her ruse and silently prayed that Butter and Night Strike would reach this sector of the line soon. She was still congratulating herself on her cunning when a tank shell slammed into her gut, destroying her concentration and sending her thumping into the wet sand of the foreshore.

                                                                               ***

Sovereign shook her head groggily and glanced around. A platoon of red and black fatigued troopers had almost surrounded her, laserlock rifles trained on her head and chest. The squad leader barked something and the squad pulled their guns tight ready to fire.

"Get back, that one is mine!" Screamed Crystal as she slammed into the sand

The troopers dropped onto one knee heads bowed.

"Not such a sassy mouth now you little cunt" hissed Crystal as she advanced on the prone Sovereign

"Seriously chunky fox, who says sassy, this isn't the 1870s" said Sovereign rolling to her feet

The two women circled each other slowly.

"You're just a Monsduggian, you're not one of those things that humiliated Pearl" growled Crystal "Do you know how many of your endangered sisters I've killed? Not even the great Silver fox could stop me and she wanted so badly to live, snuffing out that meat bag one synapse at a time was delicious"

"You're a monster!" yelled Sovereign "A demented chemistry experiment that escaped her petri dish"

Crystal laughed, a surprisingly melodic sound like tinkling glass "I am a monster indeed and I eat stupid slutty little girls who want to play heroine, so come on heroine, let's see how long you last"

Sovereign had been ready for the swing and snapped her own fist out to meet it. A sound like a bomb going off reverberated across the beach as the fists met. Sovereign shrieked in agony as the impact travelled up her arm and nearly tore her shoulder from its socket. Her face fell as she looked at the grinning face of Crystal.

"Is that the best you've got? Because if it is you might as well just let me cut your throat now and save us both a lot of wasted effort" said Crystal

Sovereign tossed her hair defiantly and rested her aching hand on her hip "Not even warmed up yet pinko" she retorted note to self, parry don't block she thought

Crystal snarled and advanced snapping jabs and swinging hooks at Sovereign's head. The athletic blonde ducked around the blows and slapped them aside while aiming kicks at the body and legs of Crystal. As she spun away from a second salvo of blows she caught a chance to inspect her handiwork. A crazy paved pattern had spread up Crystal's diamond armoured thigh from the repeated impacts. Sovereign watched in dismay as the malevolent construct advanced on her again. The thigh damage flowing together and returning to a pristine finish.

"You didn't really think that was getting you anywhere did you?" Laughed Crystal

"Whatever, I can do this all day" retorted Sovereign concealing her worry behind a mask of bravado

"I very much doubt that you haughty little bitch" growled Crystal. She raised her arms into a boxer's guard in front of Sovereign.

Sovereign watched in horror as the crystal began to flow. Short spikes formed along the knuckles and a forest of tiny barbs solidified across the back of Crystal's hands. On her forearms long ridges smoothed and hardened into razor sharp ridges of diamond.

"Ah, she gets it now" chuckled Crystal "there is no scenario here that ends well for you princess"

Sovereign glanced at the spiked fists how many heroines had this as their last sight she thought. Instinctively she raised her hands into a loose defence.

"Your precious scenario doesn't matter to me, all I care about is that the world will remember that good stood against evil and that a beautiful young girl fought a hideous, overweight, test tube tyrant"

Crystal stared violet eyes full of hate at the trembling blonde "You've got some spirit girl, I'll give you that" she muttered as she lurched forward.

Sovereign danced away from the renewed assault desperately looking for an opening. A fraction of a second too late she ducked a jab and felt the fist spike score a deep scratch across her shoulder. The pain caused enough of a distraction that she was left with no choice but to parry a follow up blow. She threw her hand up and screamed as the ridge of crystal bit deep into her palm. Desperately she spun out of range clutching her gore weeping hand. Her respite was short lived as Crystal continued her relentless pursuit. Sovereign ground her teeth and continued her evasion she's wearing me down she thought.

Crystal scored a back hand across the arm shredding the skin and causing the rapidly tiring blonde yet more grief. A sudden kick knocked Sovereign onto one knee and a thunderous jab opened a long cut across her pristine cheek. The jewelled villainess immediately grabbed the dazed Sovereign and launched another vicious punch into Sovereign's temple.

"Tits are key with you things" said Crystal "kill the udders and the cow dies"

"Stop, stop you" mumbled Sovereign from bloody lips

"Not today honey" said Crystal extending the diamond spikes on her fist. A hideous grin split the malevolent fox's face as she pistoned her spiked fist into the side of Sovereign's breast. Sovereign shrieked in agony as the spines ripped into her. Crystal pulled the gore slicked blades back and rammed them through the front of the damaged mound. Sovereign screamed again blood spattering from the corner of her mouth.

"Too deep for you baby? Did that one puncture your heart" whispered Crystal to the wounded heroine "I know what will help"

She threw the now helpless girl onto the damp sand. Sovereign landed heavily on her back but managed to raise her face, spitting blood and sand. Crystal immediately grabbed the crotch of Sovereign's costume and tore it away exposing her cunt to the elements.

"No, no, not like this!" Mewled Sovereign trying pathetically to push herself back up the beach away from her assailant

"Yes, exactly like this" laughed Crystal as a long pink cock sprouted from the crotch of her carapace

She placed the head against Sovereign's delicate lips and grinned savouring the girl's terror then with a vicious thrust she slammed it deep inside the wounded heroine. Sovereign yelped in pain and shock as the cock smashed into her. Crystal violently pumped her hips, slamming against her battered victim. Sovereign could do nothing to halt the violet jackhammering but lay back helplessly and wait for it to end. With that realisation she felt a sudden heat rise inside her. She suddenly realised that a monstrous orgasm was building. Frantically she tried to fight the building sensation but the harder she struggled the more her body betrayed her.

Crystal cackled malevolently as Sovereign's hand slipped under her costume to claw at her undamaged breast. The voluptuous blonde groaned loudly as Crystal accelerated her brutal assault. Without warning Crystal pulled out of her panting victim and aimed the jewelled shaft across her defeated foe. A few rough strokes brought Crystal to climax and thick cum splashed across Sovereign coating her face, breasts and abdomen. The final act of defilement was too much for the young heroine and she finally felt an explosive release tear through her juddering body drawing a mewl of fulfilment with it.

"That would almost be worth keeping you alive for" said Crystal rising to her feet "almost"

Sovereign watched in horror as the jewelled golem's arm extended and flowed into a long dagger.

"Goodbye, whoever the fuck you are" said Crystal stepping forward and drawing back her arm

"I'm Sovereign Girl" retorted Sovereign weakly "Remember it so you can tell people whoit was that beat you"

"How blonde are you girl, you've already..."

Crystal's gloating was cut short as a fist slammed into her unarmoured head sending her sprawling into the sand. Furious that someone had landed a blow on her she snapped around to glare at her assailant. Her attacker was framed by the drooping sun turning them into a vague outline of gold. Despite the lack of detail a nagging recognition of the silhouette sparked in Crystal's head.

"Get the fuck away from her Plasma" spat the assailant

The voice hit Crystal harder than the fist.

"No, that is not possible" she growled as she climbed to her feet. The change in perspective allowed her to better see her assailant. A chocolate brown body suit and thigh high boots with gloves and highlights in bright gold covered a slim but busty body. Long blonde hair fluttered in the breeze and sparkling green eyes bored into the villainess.

"This is a trick, you took the fox bane and we turned your brain to mush, you cannot be..." Crystal trailed off as she rubbed at her throbbing head

"I know exactly what you did to me, what you did to Sliver, what you've done to the US, just so my stupid sister can play at princess and I'm going to end it" said Butterscotch fox

"No, I'm going to end you, properly this time and serve your head up to Scarlet fox" shrieked Crystal lunging forward with her dagger arm

Butter wove aside and parried the shining blade. Crystal's rage fuelled attack had left her open and Butter slammed a second thunderous blow into Crystal's unarmoured face. The jewelled villainess stumbled backwards as Butter followed up with a succession of hammer blows to her opponent's chest and face. Despite the sustained attack Crystal recovered her composure quickly and began to block the blows. She partially reabsorbed the dagger her arm had become and regained her balance. As Butter drew back her arm for a hook Crystal saw her opening. She ducked under Butter’s reach and slammed her still spiked fist into the amazon's crotch. Butter screamed in agony and stumbled backwards clutching her bruised womanhood.

"Maybe it really is you after all, I mean, really, who else is a complete slave to her cunt" laughed Crystal advancing

"You say that like it is a bad thing" whispered Night Strike into Crystal's ear

Crystal whipped around to find only empty space

"After all, why shouldn't a girl take pride in her body" whispered Night Strike again

Crystal turned again to find only empty space.

"I guess a shapeless parasitic goo can't be blamed for failing to understand though" said Night Strike

Crystal turned towards the voice again a shriek of rage dying in her throat

"And what are you supposed to be? Thigh high boots and fish nets? Were the docks not doing it for you?" Hissed Crystal

"Ears" said Night strike loudly

"What?, what do..." said Crystal

"Not talking to you, ears ladies" said Night strike slapping her hands over her ears

A puzzled frown crossed Crystals face before it was lost in a titanic sonic explosion. Sand blasted outwards from the epicentre around the evil fox. The wave front hit an upturned tank and shattered its armour into a blizzard of razor sharp fragments. Night Strike felt every organ in her body strain against the concussive vibrations as the blast front rolled over her. As the explosion faded she looked through the haze of sand for Crystal fox. She finally caught sight of a figure knelt on the ground one arm clutched protectively around her middle. Crystal was a sorry sight. Chunks of her pristine jewelled armour had been shattered and torn from her body leaving raw exposed meat in long patches up her arms, legs and across her chest. One elbow hung at an awkward angle and blood was pouring from her ears, eyes, nose and mouth. The once mighty fox was mewling and gurgling, her pulped brain unable to construct any more sensible sounds. Night Strike viewed her broken opponent dispassionately and steeled herself to finally slay Silver Fox’s murderer.

                                                                               ***

"Orders admiral" said the com officer passing a sheet of computer paper

Kaspar grabbed the paper and read it. He scanned the paper a second time then ran a hand through his greying hair

"Already" he muttered "How many troops ashore?"

"About 8000 regulars and 300 jaegers sir" replied a lieutenant

"Get them embarked now, get every landing craft and helicopter we have and get those troopers on these ships now"

"Admiral, I don't understand"

"We are to be underway in 1 hour, withdraw to secondary battle line" Kaspar glowered at the lieutenant "2 enemy carrier groups are approaching from Usonia, coupled with what they have here out on that beach they out number us four to one"

"Aye sir" snapped the lieutenant

                                                                               ***

"Full retreat, all units embark asap. I repeat, full retreat all units embark asap for departure" pinged the voice in Night Strike's ear

"Strike we have to go, Sovereign needs a doctor" yelled Butter

"We have to finish this" muttered Night Strike

"She's done Strike, the fleet is pulling out" said Butter "You said yourself we're a three girl team"

"Some other time Crystal" hissed Night Strike turning back to her team mates "fleet this is Bravo team, Sovereign is down, we need evac, grid f6"

"I'm okay, just shaken" said Sovereign softly

"I don't like those wounds, they shouldn't still be bleeding" said Butter

"Acknowledged Bravo, f6 is too hot for extraction, pull back to d3 asap"

"Come on we need to get going" said Night Strike holding out a hand to help Sovereign up
Sovereign took the proffered hand and climbed to her feet. Her once pristine white and gold uniform was now torn and filthy and she clutched at her still weeping breast with one hand

"Okay might have been an overstatement" she whispered "I don't think I'm going to be flying any time soon"

A barrage of red laser bolts slammed into the sand around the three women as fresh Usonian troopers advanced up the beach.

"Executive decision time, Butter you carry Sovereign, get her off this beach and up to the coast road. I'll be right behind you and I'll take care of any ground forces that get too close" said Night Strike

"Sounds like a plan" said Butter

                                                                               ***

"Time" snapped Kaspar

"We're 20 minutes past the deadline admiral" replied lieutenant York

"Status?" Asked Kaspar

"65% regular, 45% jaegers aboard, that's pretty much all of the surviving ground troops. Jaegers took the brunt of the fox hound assault, there probably aren't many stragglers alive"

"Bravo team?" Asked Kaspar

"They were pretty far out, f6 when the recall was sent and they were reporting that Sovereign girl had been wounded, I doubt she'd be flying" said the lieutenant grimly

"Admiral, update" said a coms officer handing Kaspar a message

Kaspar scanned the message then crushed it in his fist and blew out a long breath

"Sir?"

Kaspar's eyes flicked across the bridge noting the number of officers trying to look like they were not listening, he raised his voice slightly so they would hear "from CIC western approaches to admiral Sutherland, commander Icelandic task force, break off contact immediately and make best speed for Helensburgh. Note ACR re Icelandic ground forces"

"What’s ACR" said York

"Anticipated Casualty Report, the worst case scenario acceptable to the desk huggers back home" said Kaspar grimly "ACR for this mission is the loss of 50% of Asturias' group and everything we put ashore, including Bravo team. CIC is reminding me that our standing orders include abandoning those girls if it will keep this fleet intact"

York stared at Kaspar for long minutes "Sir, if you recall, I mentioned that the fleet greatly appreciates your leading from the front. There is no other senior flag officer who is not issuing orders from a mainland bunker. However you call this the fleet is with you. However you call this, sir"

Kaspar looked at his lieutenant "We cannot mutiny York, this leaves a very bad taste but these are our orders. A lot more is at stake than 3 selfless girls"

"The fleet would legitimately have gotten underway whichever direction it was moving sir" replied York

                                                                               ***

"Where the fuck is our evac" shouted Night Strike "fleet! fleet, this is Bravo, urgent evac needed at d3. Heavy enemy ground forces are closing on our position"

"What's happening Strike?" Said Butter

"Either they won't answer, or they can't answer. Either way we are royally screwed" replied Night Strike

The 3 heroines were hunkered behind a low wall.

"Leave me" coughed Sovereign, pink foam forming at the edge of her mouth "Butter you could get Strike onto the Bulwark"

"I don't understand why these wounds aren't closing" said Butter

"Leave me" croaked Sovereign

"We're a three girl team" said Night Strike "Bravo till I die"

"Bravo till I die" said Butter "heh, again"

Chips of stone began to patter down as laserlocks and tank shells impacted around the three heroines.

"Bravo team, Bravo team heads down, this one is gonna be big, I say again heads down" came a sudden com burst

A moment later missiles and artillery shells began to hammer the earth around the heroines. The barrage stopped as suddenly as it had started, replaced by the thump of helicopter rotors. A squadron of Sleipnirs skimmed in low autoguns and missile pods hammering the survivors of the barrage. One of the long twin rotors dropped from the sky bouncing heavily on its wheels. Butter recognised the form of captain Stahl as his squad sprung out of the gunship and formed a perimeter coilguns tight to their shoulders.

"Lets move!" Yelled Butter as she slung an arm under the barely conscious Sovereign.

Night strike took the weight of the injured girl from the opposite side and the trio scrambled aboard the chopper. A flash filled the sky as anti air weapons hit one of the circling gunships. Heroines and Jaegers aboard the pilot red lined the rotors and threw the Sleipnir forwards. A second escort exploded into fragments as missiles filled the air.

                                                                               ***

"What the hell Sutherland! Where the fuck was our..." raged Butter as she marched onto the bridge of the Bulwark

"You need to sit the hell down girl and shut up right now or I swear I will put you down myself" growled Lieutenant York as he grabbed Butter’s arm.

"Helm to 250, destroyer group Dragon form line astern and keep the sky clear" said Kaspar "frigate Marseille, I need you to buy us time to break free, do you understand me Marseille"

"Yes sir" came a voice from the com "We know how to do our duty"

"Good hunting Marseille"

"What's happening" said Night Strike

"We were ordered to withdraw and leave you, the admiral disobeyed to pull you out, now the forward elements of the reinforced Usonian fleet are too close and we can't break off, he's sending the Marseille on a suicide run, a distraction that'll give us the time we need, 450 sailors so we could grab you 3" said York

"450, that's kind of a lot" whispered Butter

"Yeah, well this fleet has faith in the admiral, if he thinks you're worth it then you must be worth it" said York

"But can't we do something, I feel so helpless sitting here listening to a radio" said Night Strike
"That's naval warfare, long range exchanges across a chess board, all we can do is put the engines to full and hope the Marseille takes as enough of them with her as she can" York offered a grim smile, "we're all just pieces to be played and sacrificed if necessary"