The Third Book of the Alienbutt saga. Emperor of the Universe. Part 75.

THE PRIZED POSSESSION

Chapter 19

INTERSTELLAR NEWS CHANNEL 9 NEWS FLASH

Emperor Fluffy today announced victory over the Federation stronghold of Earth. The Federation force surrendered following the death of its commander, General Jee, after a brief but bloody battle that saw the first use of the Volunteers of Fluffy Droid Air Corps. More than ten thousand of the modified droid fighter ships took part in fierce fighting around Mars where their skill proved decisive in ensuring victory. As the Federation defences crumbled with the personal arrival of Emperor Fluffy onto the battlefield, it is believed that General Jee cowardly took his own life and left his command to plea for peace.
Soon after, the remaining few Federation systems signalled their surrender in the light of Earth’s defeat. With the last traces of the Federation now destroyed, the Inner Systems will be free to prosper under the rule of Emperor Fluffy.
Our Emperor has also announced that reporters will be allowed to report live on the invasion of Heeter after the new Queen refused to give her loyalty to the Emperor.
The people of the Inner Systems will witness the historic events as the peace and unity of Emperor Fluffy is imposed on the final area of the Inner Systems. The High Priest of Righteous Indignation led prayer for the lost Volunteers of Fluffy, the new military arm of the church who are pledged to serve our new Emperor in his war against the Heretics.

The Ji ambush was timed to perfection; the first of their ships knocked out the ship’s shields on the first attack run before the other two Ji ships quickly destroyed the communications transmitter and crippled its engines. It was what the Ji did best, attacking single ships and crippling them for boarding before they could react and send a message for help. The leading Ji captain smiled at the prize they had before them. It wasn’t some two-bit trade ship, it appeared to be a luxury liner belonging to someone important and bound to be full of loot.
Grabbing a long metal pole, the captain hurried over to the teleporter so he could be amongst the first to board the prize ship. The Ji never built their own technology but instead were experts at stealing and adapting it to their own use. They may not have been very good at coming up with ideas but they were experts in using other people’s. Standing amongst the first of his crew on the transporter, the captain felt a moment of disorientation and then he was standing on the other ship.
One of the ship’s big folk in a long grey robe stood before him. “We have religious immunity,” said the big folk in fear.
“I got a big stick,” the Ji captain said, and with a jump so he could reach, he smacked him around the head, knocking him unconscious.
Looking up and down the corridor, the captain saw other Ji subduing the people on the ship with their own sticks. The Ji tried to avoid unnecessary deaths when boarding a ship, a uniform with a big hole in it and blood everywhere wasn’t worth as much as ones without the hole.
Hearing a commotion down the corridor, he walked towards it and found three of his Ji hunters waiting. In front of them, three of the biggest big folk he had ever seen were blocking a doorway. All three wore the grey robes and this time, the Ji Captain noticed the image of a white jellyfish on their chest. As he pushed his way to the front, other Ji hunters turned up.
“Come on big lads, just move ya sens outta the way,” one of the Ji hunters asked pleasantly.
“You can’t go in there. The High Priest’s most prized possession is in there and we are charged to protect it with our lives,” one of the three big folk said.
The captain shook his head sadly. Of all the things he could have said, ‘prized possession’ was the one that would send the Ji into a beating frenzy. The three big folk disappeared as the Ji leapt on them, their metal poles raining down blows.

To be continued.
All images are mine.