Sardar Ibrahim and Carlos Alvarez were lionized, considered by many to be Earth heroes who had tried to free humanity from the yoke of godless atheism and corporate greed. They had gotten out a radio message seconds before the blast, recorded for posterity, and, it turned out, their fame.

  Another, greater flight of Phoenix rocket ships rose from the former World Government regions, joining the others at the orbital stations.

  The aliens were out there, building. They hadn’t left the Solar System. Soon, maybe in a year or two, they would return. Could those of Earth bring the aliens to a draw again or even win? Or did this horrible disunity and chaos mean the end of humanity as those of Earth knew it?

  The survivors and grabbers of power were too evenly matched for quick winners and peace. Instead, wars and rebellions raged just about everywhere on the planet.

  Fortunately, a few of the biggest factories still churned out goods. Some of those items made it up into orbital space.

  Petty made plans for constructing a sixth Orion ship. He was going to need more spaceships if he hoped to face six deadly Enforcers and three mobile asteroids.

  Time was running out for Earth. Unity might have made this easy. Instead, ruthless, power-hungry, ambitious men and women sought their own good above anyone else’s. In a sense, it was how it had always been, only more so.

  Still, a few notables were making headway in North America, Central Europe, Australia, and northern Africa.

  There would be six Orion ships, maybe… if the supplies from Australia and Central Europe continued. If the Nebraska strongman in North America conquered fast enough, maybe there would be enough for seven Orion ships and the pitifully small Phoenix capsules.

  How many missiles would there be to add to humanity’s firepower? How many point-defense systems on the surface that could reach space would there be to help?

  Much would depend on the aliens and their timetable. Did they have problems of their own? Couldn’t Earth people come together in spite of everything? If history was any guide, that would be a loud and resounding no. But sometimes, history had flukes. Earth needed one of those about now.

  As humanity’s homeworld seethed and roiled, the conflict within the Solar System continued. Could the aliens pull a fast one during this horrible time of troubles?

  That was the big question even as the Valiant invasion fleet began to decelerate as the spaceships approached the Saturn system.

  Part II

  Wrestling Titans

  -1-

  THE BEGINNING

  In the midst of Saturn’s rings were swirling bands of icy particles and rocky debris stretching out in a seemingly endless expanse. The rings were composed of countless fragments ranging from tiny grains to massive boulders, creating an awe-inspiring structure that encircled the gas giant—although there was an interruption where the Vim Annihilator Type Four missile had blown out a section when it detonated in Saturn’s atmosphere. Occasionally, the shadow of one of Saturn’s many moons passed over the glorious rings.

  In this expanse, three one-kilometer rocks, or asteroids, orbited, their surfaces pockmarked and glittering with the icy debris of millennia.

  Chief Marshal Assur of the Valiants had selected the three, doing so after a survey of months and with help from engineers and astrophysics tactical planners.

  The operation officially began with the deployment of massive drones and the Corsair spaceship. The drones were equipped with heavy ion thrusters and grappling arms. The pilots of the drones were stationed on the Corsair, meaning they were relatively close. The pilots maneuvered the drones slowly through the vast ring debris, the engines emitting a faint blue glow as they approached the first target.

  The lead drone initiated contact, using its array of robotic arms. It latched onto the rocky asteroid, securing a firm grip. The second, third, fourth, and fifth drones followed suit, each fastening to the 1.309 billion metric ton object. Another seven drones approached and attached. These drones, like the first five, were twice the size of an Antonov An-225. That had been the world’s largest jet plane; originally developed to transport the Buran space shuttle and other oversized cargo. The Antonov An-225’s massive size and cargo capacity had made it unique among jet planes. These huge drones had fusion reactors and used heavy ion thrust, as noted earlier.

  In synchronization, the drones engaged their thrusters, applying a steady force to dislodge the asteroid from the gravitational grip of mighty Saturn. Slowly but inexorably, over time to be sure, the asteroid began to move through the rings, away from the gas giant.

  It took a long time to steer through the ring debris of ice, rock, and dust. Each maneuver took precision and careful coordination to avoid collisions. The drones’ sensors pinged constantly, mapping the ever-shifting field, guiding the asteroid along the safest path.

  The extraction process for all three asteroids was laborious, taking months to clear the outer edges of the rings. The drones not only avoided collisions but also kept the asteroids on steady trajectories. As expected, the process required frequent rests to recalibrate the thrusters and to allow the drones to cool down, as the needed power to move the asteroids taxed them heavily. Several times, the huge drones needed maintenance so they remained in optimal condition.

  With the three asteroids finally clear of the rings, the drones pushed them one at a time toward the Titan Orbital Space Yards. Titan was Saturn’s largest moon, home to a thriving colony of Valiants, aliens if you will of approximately 170,000 superior humanoids. The orbital yards were the heart of the project, where the transformation of the asteroids would take place.

  The space yards were a sprawling complex of orbital docks, scaffolds, and construction modules. The Valiants had repurposed much of the generational vessel, the Voyager Akkad. They had stripped it down, using the components to build three new 100,000-ton Enforcers. The Enforcers would shield the asteroids as they journeyed to Earth to complete their sacred, exterminating mission.

  The drones detached and moved to the other side of each asteroid, braking the rocks one by one, and inserting them into orbit around Titan.

  From low orbit, one could easily view Titan’s hazy atmosphere that enveloped the moon in a dense orange-brown smog. That naturally obscured the surface. The atmosphere of nitrogen and methane gave Titan a mysterious appearance. Through occasional breaks in the clouds, glimpses of the rugged terrain were visible, revealing hydrocarbon lakes and seas dotting the surface like dark mirrors. The rest of the surface was a patchwork of frozen plains, towering dunes, and icy mountains, all bathed in the diffuse, golden light filtered through the atmosphere.

  At the Titan Orbital Space Yards, the real work began. The Valiants had devised a plan to equip the asteroids with the necessary propulsion and control systems. The first step was to secure the asteroids within construction frames, ensuring they remained stable during the modification process.

  This stabilization process was no small feat. Massive clamps and struts were anchored into the asteroids, preventing any shift that could disrupt the installation of the complex systems. Each step was slow and deliberate, with teams working around the clock.

  In time, each asteroid was fitted with Anzu Fusion Drives, designed to provide continuous thrust over extended periods. The drives would propel the asteroids to Earth. The Anzu Drives used a fuel mix of deuterium and helium-3, which was ignited by high-powered lasers to achieve the necessary fusion reactions. The resulting plasma would be channeled through magnetic fields, producing a powerful and sustained thrust.

  Installation teams, clad in heavily shielded spacesuits, worked tirelessly to secure the engines to the asteroids. They used robotic arms to weld the engine mounts into place, ensuring a solid connection. The engines were then connected to a network of conduits and control systems that ran throughout the asteroid, allowing for precise adjustments to thrust and trajectory.

  This phase took several months, as the teams faced numerous challenges. The extreme temperatures and vacuum of space demanded strict precision and hard work from both the equipment and the personnel. Frequent inspections and tests were conducted.

  Next, the Valiants installed control and navigation systems. These included gyroscopic stabilizers and thrusters to manage each asteroid’s orientation and trajectory. The systems were integrated with a suite of sensors and communication arrays.

  Engineers ran countless simulations to ensure the asteroids could handle the complexities of space travel. They installed redundant systems wherever possible.

  This step involved extensive software programming and hardware integration, with the teams ensuring that the asteroids could be remotely controlled and adjusted as necessary. That would be for the final run. Every system was endlessly checked, with backups to handle potential failures.

  To withstand the stresses of fusion propulsion and space travel, the asteroids were reinforced with a network of carbon nanotube trusses and impact-resistant plating. These reinforcements provided additional structural integrity, ensuring the asteroids could endure the coming conditions.

  Soon, the once-raw surfaces of the asteroids were transformed into a lattice of support structures, interwoven with the propulsion and control systems.

  As the modifications neared completion, the Valiants conducted thorough inspections. Every system was tested, and every connection was double-checked. The fusion engines were ignited briefly to verify their functionality, filling the space yards with a brief, intense glow.

  In the control center of the Titan Orbital Space Yards, Chief Marshal Assur oversaw the final preparations.

  The asteroids floated above Titan. They were tethered to the space yards by a network of cables and support structures. The drones returned, their ion engines idling as they awaited the signal to begin the next phase.

  The Valiants had just about achieved an impressive engineering feat, transforming inert chunks of rock into mobile asteroids. The many months of hard work, engineering, and driven purpose had culminated in this.

  Soon, the invasion fleet would arrive home. Then, Assur could begin leading the great mission against the Earthers. This assault would take at least fifteen months, as the asteroids could not endure the same heavy acceleration as a spaceship. A gravity assist around Jupiter would likely be a bad idea. The journey to Earth might take eighteen months.

  Assur still needed to make the final calculations. But this step in his extinction equation for humanity was almost done.

  -2-

  In order to fuel the next strike against Earth, the Valiants needed massive amounts of deuterium and helium-3. This was not only for the mobile asteroids, but also for the potentially six 100,000-ton Enforcers and whatever auxiliary vessels they could muster.

  The main source for these fuels was Saturn’s upper atmosphere. Automated machines and AIs did the extracting. Keeping these machines and AIs running eventually became the responsibility of the Valiants.

  Huge balloons inserted into the atmosphere carried and housed the extracting equipment. Drone cargo vessels transported the finished product to Nergal’s Watch, a space station. The station was in low Saturn orbit, overseeing the fleet of balloons.

  Far below the station in Saturn’s upper atmosphere stretched a vast expanse of golden-brown and pale yellow clouds. They were constantly shifting and forming intricate patterns as the gas giant’s rapid rotation stirred the gaseous layers.

  A giant balloon designated B-04 floated through the sky, its sensors picking up hydrogen-rich composition mixed with helium, methane, and ammonia. To a Valiant observer within the balloon—it was fully automated at the moment—the view would have been surreal: swirling cloud bands moving beneath them, while occasional storm systems erupted in the distance, lightning flashes illuminating the cloud tops. The sunlight, filtered through dense clouds above, cast a soft glow over the balloon, the horizon seeming to stretch forever.

  B-04 was a colossal balloon with a diameter of 500 meters, a height of 700 meters, and an Earth weight of roughly 250,000 kilograms. Its exterior was a sleek, reflective material constructed from high-strength polymer fabrics reinforced with carbon fiber that shimmered softly in the dim sunlight. Its outer shell was designed to be flexible yet strong, while an inner layer of insulation foam protected against the extreme temperatures.

  Near the bottom of the balloon were intake scoops that drew in atmospheric gases. Filters positioned just above the scoops processed the gases. The central distillation unit, located in the middle of the balloon, separated and cooled the gases, while the storage tanks at the base held the collected deuterium and helium-3. Narrow passages and ladder wells connected these sections, leading up to the docking port situated on the side, where a heavy shuttle and drones could dock.

  Initially launched into Saturn’s atmosphere from a deployment ship, B-04 had unfurled smoothly, its large silver surface expanding.

  Inside B-04, the AI core, a neural network named Adad, monitored the operations. Adad had been programmed to handle all aspects of gas collection, separation, and storage.

  “Atmospheric intake commencing,” Adad said, its synthetic voice echoing through empty corridors.

  The intake scoops opened wide, and powerful pumps, similar in design to those used in deep-sea drilling on Earth, sucked in the hydrogen-rich atmosphere.

  Then a series of filtration chambers began their work. The first chamber was a preliminary filter designed to remove any particulate matter and unwanted compounds, akin to the initial filtration systems used in industrial air purifiers. The filtered gas then moved to the cryogenic distillation unit, the heart of B-04’s operation.

  AI Adad activated the distillation unit, which operated at temperatures close to absolute zero. This unit utilized the differences in boiling points to separate the various components of the gas mixture. Hydrogen, being the most abundant, was the first to be separated and vented back into the atmosphere outside. The remaining gases, now richer in deuterium and helium-3, were directed into the next stage.

  “Separation process initiated,” Adad said.

  Within the distillation unit, the gases were subjected to further cooling and pressure adjustments. Deuterium, with a slightly higher boiling point than helium-3, condensed and was siphoned off into dedicated storage tanks. Helium-3, with its incredibly low boiling point, remained in gaseous form a little longer before being captured in ultra-cold storage chambers. The separation process was similar to the techniques used in liquefied natural gas plants.

  As the tanks accepted the deuterium and helium-3, Adad conducted a routine check on the structural integrity and capacity of the storage units. Everything was functioning within the parameters.

  “Storage units at seventy-five percent capacity,” Adad reported, updating the internal logs and preparing for the next phase of the operation.

  High above B-04 in low Saturn orbit, Nergal’s Watch received regular data transmissions. The operators monitored the balloon’s progress, even though Adad was capable of managing all functions independently. Valiant oversight provided the last layer of security and decision-making.

  In the quiet of the balloon, Adad detected an incoming transmission. It was from a cargo drone, codenamed “Ur-Gur,” scheduled to arrive for a routine collection.

  “Cargo drone Ur-Gur approaching. ETA: thirty-two minutes,” Adad announced.

  The balloon’s docking port, positioned at its equator, began to prepare for the drone’s arrival. Hydraulic arms and mechanical locks extended and readied themselves to secure the drone once it docked. These systems were inspired by the docking mechanisms used in orbital space stations, scaled up to handle the massive loads involved in fuel transfer.

  Outside, the gas giant’s swirling clouds created an interesting display, the backdrop to the operations of B-04. The drone appeared on the horizon, a dark silhouette against the amber and brown hues of Saturn’s atmosphere. Ur-Gur closed the distance, guided by its heavy thrusters.

  In time and with a gentle thud, Ur-Gur docked with B-04. Mechanical arms secured the drone, creating an airtight seal between the two vessels. Data cables connected, allowing Adad to communicate directly with Ur-Gur’s AI.

  “Initiating transfer protocol,” Adad said.

  The transfer hoses extended, locking onto the storage tanks. Pumps activated, and the valuable gases began to flow into Ur-Gur’s containment units.

  As the balloon’s storage tanks emptied, Adad ran a final diagnostic to ensure the integrity of the transfer. Satisfied with the results, it completed the operation.

  “Transfer complete,” Adad said. “Cargo drone Ur-Gur ready for departure.”

  Ur-Gur detached from B-04, the docking arms retracting smoothly. The drone’s thrusters ignited, propelling it away.

  As Ur-Gur left, Adad returned to its watch over B-04’s operations. Intake scoops opened once more, and the cycle of collection resumed.

  -3-

  Two days later, the weather of Saturn’s upper atmosphere had worsened. Violent winds howled, causing B-04 to sway too much.

  AI Adad not only detected the turbulence but also the high probability that it would increase. After a swift calculation, the AI initiated a vertical ascent to escape the worst of it.

  “Adjusting altitude,” Adad said.

  Soon, B-04 ascended, but the winds only grew stronger. The intake scoops began to shudder as they drew the turbulent gases.

  “Warning: System anomaly detected,” Adad said, its sensors picking up new pressure readings.

  The intake scoops had encountered an unexpected disturbance, causing a spike in the flow rate of the incoming gases. Adad initiated emergency protocols to stabilize the system, yet the anomaly persisted.

  “Atmospheric intake exceeding safe limits,” Adad said. “I am initiating containment procedures.”