The reception was impressive, though Arthur wasn't sure of the exact specifications.
Nova Prime, along with several high-ranking members of the Nova Corps, were waiting in person.
On either side stood rows of soldiers, their faces stern, standing at attention.
When Arthur and his group disembarked from the spaceship, they couldn't help but feel out of place among the disciplined forces.
The soldiers wore uniforms that were pristine and sharp, while Arthur's team was a mix of mismatched styles.
It was clear, the difference between a professional army and a ragtag crew.
"Hello, Instructor." Nova Prime stepped forward, her gaze settling on Arthur with intensity. "It's truly a pleasure to finally meet you. I expected a larger ship, though."
She glanced at Arthur's ship with curiosity, raising an eyebrow.
Arthur smiled. "We've got another group lying in ambush in space. So, what's the current situation? I assume Xandar isn't handling this alone, right?"
"In fact, it's not that they have no reinforcements; they simply don't have the time for them to arrive."
As they moved inside, Nova Prime continued, "This universe is vast. It took you three days to get here, and even if we reached out to our allies, the fastest they could arrive is in a month."
She paused for a moment, her voice hardening slightly. "Not only that, but we've protested to the Kree Empire. Unfortunately, their response isn't promising..."
"Oh?"
Arthur raised an eyebrow. "What did they say?"
"Ronan is no longer aligned with the Kree Empire. His actions now are his own, unchecked, uncontrollable, and devastating. All responsibility lies solely with him."
Nova Prime's voice grew colder. "Moreover, they are more focused on having us capture Ronan and bring him to the Kree Empire for their judgment."
Arthur almost laughed but held it back, not wanting to appear disrespectful in front of so many.
They entered a conference room, and Arthur briefly introduced Nova Prime to his team.
The details were sparse, but the general message was clear: they were all incredibly powerful. One of them could take on ten, or even a hundred, if needed.
Nova Prime didn't doubt him. She had witnessed Arthur's combat prowess firsthand on a trading planet, so she knew that anyone under his command was far from ordinary. That was why she was treating him with such respect.
"Aside from contacting the Kree Empire, have we made any other preparations?"
"There was an attempt to intercept Ronan's fleet, but the situation is grim," Nova Prime said, pulling up a video file.
It showed an ambush: Xandar's fleet on one side, Ronan's forces on the other.
From the moment both sides appeared on-screen, Arthur could already tell the outcome. Xandar's ships, sleek and refined, seemed outmatched by the menacing, battle-hardened appearance of Ronan's fleet.
The battle went as expected. The Xandar forces didn't even have time to form a cohesive strategy before they were utterly decimated.
"It had catastrophic consequences," Nova Prime muttered as she turned off the video.
Arthur's expression turned serious. After a brief pause, he said, "In this situation, if we stick to standard combat tactics, even if we all suit up, the outcome is likely to be disastrous."
Nova Prime nodded in understanding. "But since you're offering to help us now, I assume you have a plan of your own?"
"I have a few ideas."
Arthur replied, "First, I'm not experienced in aerial combat, so I can only outline the objective. No matter the method, we need to find a way for me to approach his warship. After that, the main forces will need to buy me some time."
"Decapitation tactics?"
Nova Prime considered it for a moment, then nodded. "I'll fully support you, but we can't rely on you alone. I hope you understand."
"Of course."
Arthur stood up, a determined look in his eyes. "They should be arriving soon."
"Estimated time of arrival is 2:30 PM today."
Nova Prime glanced at the time, letting out a sigh. "We don't have much time left."
With that, everything that needed to be discussed had been said. Neither Arthur nor Nova Prime mentioned the earlier conversations, as if they had never happened.
Nova Prime arranged a resting area for Arthur and the others. The team gathered for a final meeting before the battle.
Once everything was laid out, it was time to wait.
...
At 2 PM, Star-Lord had inadvertently dozed off. Suddenly, the communicator on his ear buzzed loudly, waking him in a panic.
Startled, he opened his eyes, thinking the Kree had already attacked. In his rush, he rolled off the bed and hit the floor, only then realizing it was the communicator.
"It's me..."
Star-Lord answered the call, rubbing his eyes in frustration.
"We've located their warship!"
Yondu's voice came through, amused. "How did your talks go?"
"The combat plan's been finalized. We're just waiting to engage."
Star-Lord climbed to his feet, but something felt off. When he turned around, he saw Arthur and the others watching him quietly, saying nothing.
He blinked before adopting a nonchalant posture. "Everything's ready. We just need the signal."
He ended the call with a flourish, muttering, "Getting older means more responsibility."
Arthur rubbed his face. "Next, the defense forces of Xandar should be showing up."
Outside, spaceships shot into the sky. From their position, they couldn't see what was unfolding in the cosmos, but it was clear this was just a warning.
A few sparks erupted in the distance, and Arthur shrugged. "Warning failed."
"When do we head out?"
"Now."
Arthur cracked his knuckles, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "But are you all ready?"
The team exchanged glances, then saw a massive figure, over three meters tall, appear beside Arthur.
Tony quickly called out, "Get all the Šumer out. I think it's time to arm ourselves."
"I'll go first."
Thor stepped forward, closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to relax before looking up at the rest of the group. "Let's do this!"
With a loud thud!
Thor didn't even make a sound before he passed out.
Arthur stored him in the Disassembler space and looked at the others. "Next."
(End of Chapter)
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