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The Albatross docked at their destination, a space colony hovering above a resource-deficient planet, "If anyone steps foot on the ship without me telling you to let them on, kill them. Titus, Victoria, let's go."

Dante took the lead as they pushed their way through the crowds of the pig people, each of them shouting to someone that was no closer than twenty feet away, "So what are the rules?"

"If someone bumps into you, bash them in the skull. If they touch you, cut off a hand. If they try to grab something of yours, kill them." Just as he said that, Dante shot one of the people with his pistol, "Nobody will complain if you shoot them though. Three more will take their place."

The group of three entered the Council Hall, "Oh, the mercenaries. Head to the storage room, you have the number. Just kill them, no need for anything fancy." The pig in the wig said.

Titus nudged Victoria in the rib, "That's their current president. Doubt he'll be there long though, this place goes through governments like you wouldn't believe."

Dante signaled for the two to follow, "We've been hired to take out a few ourselves. Jill, Chey, Miss Star, meet at the room. Wendy, Cratis, and Sere, you're on alert. They will try to take the ship. Fire at will."

Victoria adjusted her new guns, still not used to the weight, "What does that mean?"

Titus sighed, "These bastards try to take anything that isn't nailed down, then claim ownership once whatever is in their possession. More than a few traders have been left stranded here."

"Richter."

"Ah!" Titus screamed when Dante broke his concentration, and Victoria instinctively reached for her sword.

"Dante." A bear in an officer's uniform was accompanied by five men, each taller and bulkier than he, "Business?"

"The usual."

Richter nodded, "I see." He walked past Dante, followed by his men. Victoria and Titus regained their composure and continued to follow Dante.

"Alright, what was that about? That was the coldest I've see you two in a long while."

"Not here." The group walked in silence and met up with the others, "Inside, quietly. Remember, they will be firing a lot of rockets."

Chey checked her weapon while Jill tapped on her computer, "I have a live feed." She whispered.

Dante unfolded a slip of paper in his hand and read carefully, "Jill, get a message to Richter and the ship, him and his men are welcome. As for the rest of you, get ready." Jill tapped quickly.

Victoria tapped on the rust-colored wall, "Here, right?" She drew her blade and plunged it through the metal, "One." She took a few steps, looked at the video, and repeated, "Two."

Dante signaled for Chey and Miss Star to take a position at the top of the awkward stairwell. Titus stood over them and aimed at the opening at the bottom, "Ready."

"Three."

Ratchet fired at the last soldier hiding behind the wall, "Last one, now to just sit and relax."

"Dante, I don't understand."

He took a drink from his flask and handed it to Ratchet, "They tend to panic, even when they have the advantage. They'll think we're killing them from their side and try to run up through the stairs. We'll shoot, then Chey will get to test a creation of hers."

"Heh heh heh..." Chey chuckled in a low tone.

Dante's computer beeped, "See? What did I tell you? They tried to take the ship. Again."

Zero Unit opened fire, killing only one of the soldiers before they backed away from the door, "Boom time!" She pulled out a massive grenade, the size of a large watermelon. Her pack now looked empty. With a pull of the pin, Chey hefted the massive chunk of metal down the stairs and Zero Unit dove for cover.

The explosion shook the room and sent a jet of fire up the staircase, without shields Zero Unit would have suffered some serious burns, "Well then... remind me to give Chey more explosive components..." Zero Unit returned to their feet, "Any signs of life?"

"Negative. All targets eliminated."

"Great, now back to that damn council. Chey, Victoria, you're with me. The rest of you get back to the ship and keep an eye on things." Steel lead his small party to the council hall, where the doors were open and evil smiles crossed the pig's faces, "What?" He said it with disdain, not curiosity.

"Commander Dante, we received some... troubling news. Your people have killed some of our own. Now, we can't just have that without recompense. Through some tedious calculations, we have determined that you must hand over your ship and all weapons you own. To pay for the funeral and to give peace of mind to the families of the deceased."

Dante nodded, pretending to be deep in thought, "I can't think of a reason to disagree, but do you mind if I let my crew know first and make proper arrangements? After all, we helped you quite a bit already."

The president nodded, "I see no problem with that. Return promptly, perhaps some collateral."

"Sure thing." Dante signaled to leave, "Chey, give them some collateral." She pulled out a grenade, "Oh come now, that's not nearly enough." She giggled and pulled out a rather large grenade, "Enjoy."

Chey tossed in the grenade just before the doors shut, "Heh, boom." There was some commotion from the guards after the explosion, but they thought better of it to just pretend nothing happened.

"Is this how you typically deal with those situations?"

Dante nodded, "I don't care for extortion."

The Albatross had bodies piled just outside of the airlock, "Alright, Richter is here in the lounge and we're ready to go, just give the word." Wendy was cleaning her rifle while welcoming the group back.

"Alright. Angel, let's get out of this shithole." Dante made his was to the lounge, "Richter, mind telling me a bit more?"

The bear sunk into the couch and rested his head in his hands, "I know only a little more. I was out on a mission, when I came back I found her dead. The officials said that she... to the... it was a lie. She would never try to... I mean she was..."

Dante rolled his right shoulder, "And now you need some unofficial help to get some vengeance. Normally I charge quite a bit, and you still owe me, but I suppose I could put it on your tab."

"This isn't a joke!"

"Life is a joke. You wake up and try not to get hurt or get killed. In the end it happens anyway. Now grow a pair and ask for some damn help." Victoria entered the lounge, curious. She hadn't really been off her home planet ever, so many factions and behaviors were still foreign to her, "This is Richter, now former General of the Disciplinary Military Collective. The galaxy police in a word."

"A pleasure. Why are you asking for help in this manner?"

Richter didn't budge, "Because nobody else would be willing to do something so suicidally insane that it might send the entire DMC against them."

Victoria put her hands on her hips and lowered her head, "I haven't known Dante long, but that sounds like something he would agree to do."

"Angel, change course. You know where. Richter, I hope your men know the rules of my ship, because I won't show any of you mercy if you violate any of them."

"I told them. They were the only ones that agreed to leave with me, so I believe they are loyal."

Dante laughed, "That's what Cratis said until her men tried to kill me. I'm going to keep a patrol out, your men are welcome to stay in room 20. They're soldiers, they shouldn't mind sleeping on a floor." Dante walked to Victoria's side, "Keep a pistol close."

Most of the crew went to sleep, Jean had finally taken out all of the targets but all that was left was some cold food. Better than nothing she reasoned, so she brought it to her room and ate quickly. There was a sense of accomplishment for taking out all of the red targets on the wall, but the pain in her finger and shaking arm muscles took away a lot of the good feelings. Jean sat on the edge of her bed for a bit after eating, just letting the day sink in.

Her door opened and one of the bear soldiers strolled in, "Well hello little lady, I've been meaning to talk to you."

"I'm not interested, please leave."

"Come now, a little friendly conversation won't hurt." He sat on her bed, which made Jean run to the other side of her room, "I don't bite that hard."

"Leave now."

"A young lady like you needs a strong man in her life, I'll volunteer. Sit down."

Jean was beginning to panic, but remembered that her pistol was still on her belt. She drew and took aim, "I'll shoot!" Her arm was shaking too much to aim properly, and the bear noticed. His smirk preceded him walking over to her, "Get back! Angel!"

The bear lifted her by her shoulders, "You can't shoot me, you're too weak. But I'm not." With a heave, he tossed her onto her own bed and started to undo his shirt, "I prefer a challenge."

Jean tried to scream but nothing came out. Then she saw Dante flying into the room on his side, his feet landing squarely on the bear's head. Dante landed with a thump but jumped to his feet and shot the bear in both of his knees, "Are you okay Jean?" She couldn't nod or speak, "As for you..." He grabbed the bear by an ear and dragged him into the hall, "Angel, get everyone up. The bears are going into captivity."

"What's happening?!" Richter was lead by gunpoint to Dante's position, as were the other bears. Dante put his target on his bloody and shattered knees, "Why?!"

"I warned you. Any violations of the rules and there will be no mercy."

"Please! Help me!" The bear cried out for his comrades to help, but they were in no position to move.

"Victoria, Jill, get in the room and comfort Jean. As for this little prick," Dante shot him in both shoulders, waited a moment, then put a bullet in his head, "Serves him right. Titus, Cratis, Chey, take them to the jail. If they so much as reach for anything other than the backs of their heads, shoot them. Ratchet, trail them and make sure nothing happens. Miss Star, you should probably try to help Jean as well."

"What about me?"

"Sere, you can probably rest. Or find a way to electrocute the jail floor. Your call." Sere ran off, clearly her sadistic streak hadn't stopped developing, "Angel, I need those warnings faster."

"Apologies, I was busy with routine computer maintenance. There was a great deal of code that needed compiling for maximum efficiency."

Dante groaned, "Right, Sere's tinkering. How long before we arrive?" A gunshot echoed, "Well?"

"About three hours. Get some rest."

Dante returned to his room and fell asleep quickly, he hadn't had much time for sleep in weeks. He didn't dream, and his sleep wasn't restful, but it was better than nothing. Angel's wake-up call came too soon, "Really?"

"Richter and his two remaining men are waiting at the airlock. What is your plan?"

"Fire, destruction, ruining lives." He put on his clothes and checked his shield, "By the way, have Wendy bring me a rocket launcher and some phosphorus shells." Dante strapped some spare magazines to his belt and made his way to the exit.

Wendy met Dante and handed him a bag first then the launcher, "Alright loaded, careful."

"Thanks. Richter, if you or your men get in my way, well, you'll wish you were dead."

"I understand." He looked out of the airlock, "That's the main hall, where they handle most of the administrative tasks. Also where those bastards are right now."

Dante tapped on the airlock and jumped out, followed by Richter and his unarmed men, "No time like the present." Dante aimed at the wooden roof and fired the rocket. He shook the gun a few times and reloaded before firing at the massive oak doors. In mere seconds the buildings had gaping holes and fire was spreading quickly. It was almost too easy. Dante set down the empty rocket launcher, "What's the problem? Finish it!"

"Oh my poor, deluded Richter." Dante fire twice from his rifle, taking out the remaining soldiers Richter brought with him, "You must think I'm quite stupid."

Richter's panic was visible throughout his entire body, "What are you talking about?! Have you completely lost your mind?!"

Dante took aim, "You divorced five years ago, never remarried. You live on your ship, so there would be no trouble at your 'house.' The men you brought with you? You really don't think I had my crew check on them? Cheap mercenaries you dressed up as soldiers."

"If... If you knew all that... why did you help me?"

Dante looked briefly at the flaming dome, "They never paid for services rendered. They had it coming. A shame really, now I won't get paid from two clients."

"Wait-!"

"Albatross, we're heading out. I expect a strong drink before I make it to the lounge. Also a soft bed."