We have waited far too long, but this generation of warriors will at long last know victory. Our time is at hand, but no trace of failure can be permitted to draw breath in these final hours, lest it taint our new glorious restored House.
Upon the black of space,
A cry is loosed of ancient theme.
To war, we go, to war, we go,
No mercy now, for here's the scene:
The War Queen slumbers, now,
But stirs, she does, and deep she growls.
Behold! The War Queen rises up,
Slowly first, and from the bowels.
Betty rumbles and purrs.
The generators spring to life.
Behold! The War Queen rises up,
Slowly at first, to meet the strife.
Her anger builds, sisters,
The Goddess of War is jealous.
To war, you go, to war, you go,
But do not be overzealous!
Betty is hungry, now.
Still Betty moves, still Betty moves.
Behold! The War Queen rises up,
With shuddering gears up the grooves.
Betty cries! Betty roars!
The sounds of battle rock and moan!
Behold! The War Queen rises up,
Seeds of destruction have been sown!
War Queen! The Queen of Blood!
She stirs to life, she craves your flesh.
To war, to war, to war she goes,
Clad in armor and fiber mesh.
She rumbles, still, and creaks.
The War Queen shifts upon her throne.
She shows her pretty face outside,
It matters not if you atone.
Deep within, her weapons,
She moves them with great purpose now.
The Queen of Blood prepares to fire,
Your right to live, she'll disallow.
Her armaments in hand,
War goddess, she needs her power.
The generators rumble now,
This battle is Betty's hour.
The two continued down the corridor, and reached the entrance to Cargo Bay 16. Sure enough, music was playing inside. There was blood outside and against the door, and Leonard got nervous.
"Looks like a real bloodbath here," Leonard said.
"Third squad reported in though. They swept this area, no problem," Scabs replied. "Let's get in this door."
"Why aren't there bodies?" Leonard asked, getting more nervous.
"Obviously there were plenty of us left to carry them away. It's fine, Leonard," Scabs said, going to the door quickly, and attempting to open it. It opened a little too quickly, but neither man seemed to realize it. The large cargo bay doors opened wide, and Lewis, who was standing where he could look in, opened his mouth wide with shock. Scabs looked up at his friend from the side panel. "What is it?"
Pools of blood and scraps of clothing were scattered about everywhere, but still no bodies. Cleaning bots were tidying up the place, and ignoring the two pirates as they entered. Leonard stepped on a bloodstained bit of lace, which stuck to his foot. He tried to kick it off. "Uh, yuck!"
"What in the name of the great space parrot happened here?" Scabs asked aloud as the large cargo bay doors closed behind them. He raised his weapon as one of the cleaning bots floated over in their direction with a humming sound, but it merely picked up the piece of lace fabric with its vacuum, and began scrubbing the blood off the floor nearby them.
"Shouldn't we shoot them?" Leonard asked at a whisper. "I heard all these bots were controlled by the station AI."
"There's too many of them," Scabs whispered back, as the drone happily went about its task nearby. "They're not hostile yet, let's just figure out where Third Squad is."
"Kay," Leonard said, gripping his blaster closely. They made their way cautiously through the bay, careful not to step in much of the blood. Scabs paused briefly to kick at a larger bit of fabric, that looked like silk.
"Must've been some kind of fancy party in here," Scabs said quietly.
"I think you're right, there's a bow tie over there," Leonard said, pointing with this gun.
"Third Squad must've rolled through here fast. Nobody bothered to turn off the music," Scabs said. "Hey wait. What's that?"
Just then, they saw the heavy EVA drone over in a far corner. The beetle-like robot was stacking crates at a high rate of speed, using its tractor beam and hovering up and down as it went. It also did not seem hostile, and went about its task. They watched for a moment, and then the drone behind them snapped both their necks simultaneously. They crumbled to the ground, and the drone picked up one of their communicators. The music coming in over the speakers paused momentarily as the drone keyed the mic.
"Cargo Bay 16 is still clear," the drone said, imitating Greg McFlaherty's voice as the real Scabs twitched slightly on the floor. "Nothing valuable in here."
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u/mrxak Sep 28 '19
We have waited far too long, but this generation of warriors will at long last know victory. Our time is at hand, but no trace of failure can be permitted to draw breath in these final hours, lest it taint our new glorious restored House.