The Head Guard gave the Star Lord a solemn nod. Casting a firm glance at his men, he signaled them to follow, then turned on his heel and strode out of the office.
Boarding his combat mech in record time, he and the others ignited their thrusters and screamed skyward into the cold expanse of space.
"Planetary Guard, listen up!" the Guard Captain barked over the encrypted fleet comms. "We must hold the humans at all costs. Do not let them approach this world! The lives of billions—our families, our people—now depend entirely on us, and we cannot fail them! We hold the line until the planetary defense shields are fully synchronized and active. I need every combat-ready unit out in orbital space, intercepting that human battleship as it closes in!"
The moment his orders echoed across the communication terminals, a heavy, breathless silence gripped the channel for a heartbeat.
Then came the roar.
