At the command bridge, the first mate reported to Mirov:

"Master, a hologram from Commander Merko arrived."

"Transmit it!" He longed for that message.

The captain of Star Hunter spaceship appeared in the image:

"Mirov, prepare your crew for the last battle, the one that will decide the future of humanity. On the eastern side of the planet, there's a large deserted area. I suggest that the combat be carried there, so as not to harm humans."

"The Homo sapiens is about to be totally dominated by me, captain. It doesn't matter the location of the combat. Nothing will change the future."

"You seem very confident, even before the confrontation, Mirov. It was with this same arrogance that you just lost the games."

"It was just an amusement. Something of no relevance."

"But I hope you keep your word."

"If I lose the final clash, I certainly will, Captain."

"Since you're so convinced, Mirov, I don't think you'll mind accompanying us to the place proposed."

"Of course not. We'll follow you there. This way, you'll have time to make your last wishes, before you are liquidated. I see you in battle."

He saw Merko smile before the communication disappeared. He thought that was strange... Was his enemy planning something? He had to find out fast.

Meanwhile, the battle cruiser Star Hunter took off quickly, heading for the suggested spot, where they had prepared traps to attack Mirov and his crew. When the tyrant and his entourage arrived, attack artifacts would rise from the camouflaged bases on the ground and fire high-powered laser beams at the enemy. They also had devices that emitted sound waves and cannons with powerful rockets for defensive attacks.

Seeing the enemy move away, Mirov saw an opportunity to end the battle right before it started. Impatient, he summoned all the officers who weren't wounded to the command bridge. They found him in the commander's chair, already dictating orders:

"While Kirubi recovers, I'll captain this ship myself. Prepare yourselves, for we have no time to lose. Check the cannons, prepare the robots and the weapons; let's make a surprise to our enemies. We will attack Merko and his menials with everything we've got before they reach the agreed destination. He's planning something, I know that. And nothing better than finishing a surprise with another one," he smiled, thinking about his plan. "Merko cannot even imagine that his powers here are useless. I'll take that wretched man's life with my own hands if need be."

In a few minutes, Mirov's robots were ready in the spaceship Genesis' hangar, as well as the battleships. The soldiers were putting on their full combat outfits and selecting their weapons. The assault would begin.

The ship Star Hunter's team had no idea of what was about to happen. They traveled to the agreed destination, preparing all their warlike material for when they arrived. Merko, in that instant, was talking to his first mate in the command room, looking out through the hatch:

"The various battles I fought made me callused. I'm not going to falter until I imprison this damn tyrant. He'll have to go over me to win this battle. Mirov will have a surprise when he discovers our underground arsenal."

"Sir, everything is ready. We're going at high speed and soon we'll get there."

"Very well, Lieutenant. Let me know the position of our enemies in case anything changes. I'll check on the people who competed in the games."

Merko hurried there; he couldn't waste time. He was anxious. Sweat poured down his face and he wiped it with the back of his hand. He knew that the next few hours wouldn't be easy, but if it depended on him and the team, they would overcome another obstacle. When he reached the corridor of the infirmary, he saw Nicholas with his shoulder bandaged and Tibor with a bandage on his arm.

"Let's repel them, Captain. We're just waiting for your orders", Tibor said, putting his hand on the pistol in his holster.

Nicholas shook his head in approval, saying:

"We're with you, Merko."

"How are the others who fought in the games?" The captain asked, worried.

"They're fine. They'll soon be with us. The medical staff is doing a good job." Tibor replied.

"Then let's unite and use everything we've got against that son of a bitch."

At that moment, a siren resounded. In the control room, one of the officers sent a message to Merko, warning that the enemy was approaching quickly, offensively.

Upon hearing this, the three of them ran to the bridge and confirmed Mirov's coup by the radar. Like blood-thirsty angry dogs, the villain began to chase after them.

"Can you see them on the radar, Lieutenant?"

Mirov, sanguinary, was willing to win that battle at any cost. Like any leader - or madman - he could convey his hatred for Merko and the others like a virus, a malignant disease.

"Everyone there is willing to reduce the ship Star Hunter's team to dust. In a few minutes, they'll be under our radius of attack." Replied the first mate.

"Very good. I want you to let me know as soon as they're on target. I want to give the first firing order, in person. I'm going to end that meddlesome captain once and for all."

On the other battle cruiser, the tension alerted everyone. The crew ran from side to side, ready to defend themselves against Mirov's treacherous attack.

"Captain, our sensors show that they're getting closer, but we're almost reaching the meeting point."

"Increase the speed, Lieutenant Kator. We need to get to the coordinates of the attack site quickly," Merko said. "We'll give them what they deserve."

A huge bang cut Merko's thoughts. The ship was being targeted. They were too close, there was no way to escape. Mirov had succeeded in his intent, they would have to start fighting right there.

"Sir, there's no time to run away. They're after us", Tibor said, as he checked his weaponry, forgetting for a moment his bandaged arm.

"Turn on the shields in full strenght. We can still endure it a little longer. Use the maximum force of the engines. Just a little more and we'll reach the destination." Captain Merko reiterated, although he felt the ship shake with the firing of the enemy rockets. "Lieutenant, how much time is left?"

"Two minutes, sir, if we use super speed," said the first mate.

"So, place the ship at maximum force."

"Understood, Captain."

Merko looked at the holographic instruments and gave the order:

"Direction 8 – 5 – 0. Mark 9 – 3 – 1, total boost."

The flight officers followed the instructions, and the cruiser traveled its way with all possible force at that moment. In a short time, they managed to reach the place where the armament was arranged, waiting for Mirov.

"It's no use for them to run away. Lock them on our radars. Let's get this over with. Follow them as much as you can," Mirov said as he watched them use speed at maximum level. "Open fire and vaporize Merko's ship."

The Star Hunter spacecraft barely had time to arrive when it felt the firing of the enemy cannons. Everyone held themselves in their positions and Merko leaned on the arms of his chair on the command bridge.

"Sir, the shields won't be able to endure much longer," one of the bridge officers reported. "The impulse force is floating, shields at thirty percent."

"What's the cannon's situation?" Crom, arriving at the bridge, wounded, sought to inform himself.

"Our weapons are no match for theirs. Mirov has created a powerful arsenal," the weapon control officer explained himself.

"Ask the engineers to leave the defense shields in full force and make a damage report," Merko asked. "Send the robots to protect our rear and fire the cannons on top of the other ship. Have them attack with the batteries on the ground and they can fire the rockets at will, as soon as they lock on the targets."

The two ships aimed at each other mutually and, for a moment, the skies went dark, covered with dust from the explosions. Several bangs were heard and everything trembled.

"The laser inductors from our ship were damaged just now," warned the weapons engineer.

"Damn it!" Merko was annoyed.

"The shields went down more ten percent, sir", said a nervous lieutenant, Kator. "A few more rockets and we'll lose our protection."

"Have the people on ground attack now, even if Mirov's not fully within their reach. We need them to divert the focus of the weapons. That bastard Mirov certainly reinforced his ship's warlike power while he was playing God here on Earth."

From the underground, several cannons appeared beneath the hard soil. Shots of rockets began to explode as if they were fireworks and smoke covered the skies.

The robots went to the attack. The iridium monsters retaliated against their rivals' attacks, giving the Star Hunter's crew time to protect themselves. Nicholas sent Bob to the attack and accompanied him from the ship's hatch in the fight against the other robots.

Inside his battle cruiser, Mirov asked:

"Kirubi, did you do everything as planned?"

"Yes, sir. Everything is ready!" Said the captain who had returned to the combat.

"Merko and all those who are with him will be decimated from the face of this planet once and for all. My moment of glory is near. Turn on the nuclear power plants hidden in the core of the pyramids and connect them with the other ones that we built on the planet. Together with the obelisks, we'll use electromagnetic energy to modify the terrestrial gravitational field. Merko won't be able to use his powers. And I'll beat him!"

Mirov laughed, knowing that now he could take advantage of the secret he knew about his rival's telekinetic power.

A large net illuminated the terrestrial exosphere, covering the entire planet. The electromagnetic energy formed by the alien technology created a powerful force field around the Earth. Merko and Nicholas didn't know, but from now on they had lost their powers and were equal to all the others.

Mirov's ship finally placed itself within reach of the defense batteries prepared on ground. Projectile rains swept across the skies and the battle cruiser Genesis retaliated, under the command of Captain Kirubi. The scout ships on both sides fought in the air and their lasers and rockets were thrown against each other.

The battle was at its peak.

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