Naruko returned to the command bridge with sounds of multiple uses of the portal signifying the crew returning from their brief R&R as well. Looking down, she saw Menma sleeping once again, his little face an example of serenity as he slowly inhaled and exhaled. Slipping her top back over her breast after her most recent breast feeding session, she took her throne and looked back out of the view port and saw the Ceph's homeworld a few hundred miles in front of their ship's bow. To their starboard and port, the ship was being settled into a dock specially made for Outer Heaven.
All crewmen for the bridge reported back to their stations and were currently awaiting further commands while running mandatory system checks throughout the ship. "Bridge (referring to the crew)," she called out, causing all Spectras and A.I. to get out of their chairs and stand at attention towards her. "You all know your duties so I don't have to say it all over again." They all nodded. "Don't crash the ship or fire on any Cephs while I'm gone." Some hid their chuckles while Miho's eyes glowed in embarrassment.
Naruko activated her 'Queen mode' within the hive link to connect with all Spectras aboard the ship and instantly all Spectras were aware of her presence in their heads. "Attention ship. After this visit, we'll head to our home system. We'll make one more stop at Path of Beasts before making berth at Cradle of Life. We'll have you all spend the foreseeable future with any friends and family. Dock crews will conduct any maintenance and upgrades to all of the ship and its systems which will take several years atleast. I will send a message to all assigned ship personnel when the time comes to report for ship duties. Let us finish these last visits and go home. Alicia, Beth, report to the bridge. "
She could feel the excitement among the crew at the chance to go home. Ever since they adopted the hive mind gene from the Akrid on the Path of Ice, they all felt a natural desire to return home every now and then. The planet itself had a presence about it that acted like a transmitter to any Spectra anywhere within the nearby quadrants of the galaxy, which was impressive even by Ceph standards.
However, it wasn't perfect. When a group of Ceph leave their home system, their connection to their hive's overmind will weaken until it disappears, leaving them in disarray. The purpose of the Alpha Cephs were to substitute as the overmind to further extend the Ceph's reach into space.
While the Spectras had no Alpha Ceph as theirs was more natural instead of artificial, they did have their equivalent to it with the development of machines known as 'The Voice of Home'. It simply duplicated the original transmissions from Cradle of Life and when there's found a planet of great potential, a device is implanted there after the colony reaches Stage 4, lessening the stress on the Spectras' instincts to get closer to home while also giving them a psychological advantage of allowing the Spectras to fight as if they were defending their original home.
A tricky thing to develop and make, it has proven itself effective for hundreds of millenniums.
A moment later the twin sword wielders in all their beautiful stoicness appeared on the bridge and stood at attention when they neared the throne.
"Reporting as ordered, Queen Fenris," Alicia announced.
Naruko nodded and stood. "You'll serve as the guards as usual. Your standard loadouts should be all that's necessary. I'm assigning three Bogeys with specialized loadouts to join us. Though since it's standard procedure to have a couple to provide security to any male or Royal, I might as well kill two wyverns with one shot. While we've never had bad feuds between us and the Ceph, I'll be the first to admit I'm being very cautious since it involves my son. Follow the usual routine and all should be well. Let us go. XO has the bridge."
Karin nodded and assumed command until Naruko's return.
Walking between them, she led them to the portal door and thought ' Hangar 2335' and was instantly in a small sized hangar that was used to receive and send off envoys and visiting dignitaries. It was currently empty and spotless with three Bogeys standing before her. They were 7ft tall armored figures of white armor with black, flexible polymer undersuits visible through the gaps. Even with the armor on, their figures were obviously humanoid, two being male and the third obviously female due to being a bit shapelier.
Their faces were covered by black partial dome helmets of a plasmic glass composition with an armored lower half protected by a thick, armored collar. On the backs were two thruster units kept in a folded wing shape and four fixed thruster exhausts to generate the initial lift needed for the wing thruster units to effectively work. There were no visible armaments on them but considering the wonders of Life Armament and how these particular Bogeys were the first variants of their kind to be able to utilize the dimension storage without being a Spectra, they could readily draw out any weaponry capable of being held.
While Bogeys were exceptionally powerful and generally an overpowered resource against singular or small group targets, these three were even more powerful considering the fact they were highly advanced A.I.s that have been given metastability. This doesn't even take into account what specialized exclusive armor and weaponry they are packing.
"Awaiting orders, Queen Fenris," Bogey Admon stated in a synthetic male voice.
"Bogeys Admon, Braeto, and Chiza. You will be serving an important role beyond just this simple security detail with the Ceph. These directives are classified Level 5."
The Bogeys, if they could have, would have straightened up more but it wasn't possible. A Level 5 directive was INDEFINITE and was to be followed to the letter and never rescinded under ANY circumstances except by Naruko herself who, purposefully, is the only one who can issue a Level 5 directive.
"Your statuses: Bodyguards. Your Primary Order: Protect Menma by eliminating ALL identifiable targets who attack or aim to attack him whether it be directly or indirectly with ruthless aggression and no mercy unless I say so. If able to take a prisoner, do so to gather information behind their identities and the reason for their attack before disposing of them. Secondary Order: Allow no harm to come upon Menma by outside forces or debilitating harm to come upon him by either himself or by nature-oriented events. Tertiary Order: Provide armed escort for him to any Spectra stronghold at all costs should we ever be separated. Quaternary Order: Never allow him to be out of sight of all of you. Always have one or more of you watching out for him. Quinary Order: Should you ever find yourselves incapable of eliminating an overwhelming hostile force that threatens you and Menma, you will have my permission to materialize an OMEGA Weapon from the Life Armament vault. End orders."
The helmets of the Bogeys glowed green briefly. They looked at Menma and scanned his face, body, and genetic material before downloading the information. " Bogeys' status has been recognized and stored. Menma identity has been recognized and stored. Level 5 directives have been recognized and stored. Now assuming role. "
The three Bogeys took up a rear Delta (triangle) formation with two in the back and even behind T-ELOS while the third took up his position behind Naruko and between Alicia and Beth. Naruko had a calm smile that she was famous for as they were all covered in a bright magenta light, disappearing from the hangar.