Back in earth's solar system, Space Force had detected the fleet of approaching warships.

"We have no other options now" said Nezz Narf, addressing the members of Space Force,

            "You may all feel free to use your individual special powers to defend this planet, but you should each be equipped with a Space Force attack vessel."

"Does that include me?" said Kolam, "I can fly and breathe in space under my own power, and I don't need a space ship's defence shields for protection."

"I know, but those special powers should be concealed from the Kadromians. If you at least approach them initially in a standard attack vessel, you would have the element of surprise. As the battle progresses, we may need you as a secret weapon."
"I understand," said Kolam.

"I have made the same decision about Altha. With her powers of camouflage, she could easily blend in with the view of outer space, but this would only increase her chances of being unwittingly destroyed by either our own firepower or that of the Kadrom warfleet. Are there any other questions about your task?" said Nezz Narf.

There were none.

"Then I must make one more announcement. It has always been Space Force's policy that a leader should supervise a mission from headquarters, rather than involving himself in the midst of a mission. However, as you know, I have the power to turn myself into an unseen molecule of any known element. This would give me the opportunity to secretly enter the leading Kadrom warship and attempt to avert any further tragedies. I propose to make it my own mission to discern which of their ships is leading the battle, and execute my plan. I therefore appoint our deputy leader Relak to replace me here."

There were no objections, and the members of Space Force entered their fighting spacecraft and prepared to meet the Kadrom onslaught. They expected to be outnumbered, but the Kadromians had only their armed warships to rely on. The members of Space Force had their own individual unique bodily abnormalities, which gave them their special powers. They had not yet explained to Ann, that something in the rings of Saturn affected the bodies of Saturnians in infancy and adolescence, developing different super powers in each inhabitant of the planet.  Those with a special dedication had formed Space Force, and welcomed heroes from other worlds in the team as well.

*          *          *          *

"There are guards on that platform," said Ann, "So I'll really need this costume and every gadget that I've perfected so far. But you stay well hidden, Wendell. At your tiny size, you’d make an excellent hostage for them, if they wanted one. Can you try to get close to a vessel on this near corner, while I create a scene to draw the guards away from it?"

"I shall endeavour to do so, Miss O’Malley."
"Good. Let's start, now."

Ann floated up to the platform and surprised a guard with an exolimb strike to the back of his head. Before the guard could collapse, Ann put an arm around his neck and ran across the platform, using her captive as a silent sleeping shield.

"They don't dare to fire at me, but they'll come after me. I'll head away from this area and let Butler One approach the ship that this humanoid was guarding."

There were four guards pursuing her.

"The more the merrier," she thought. Her exolimb enabled her to carry the guard without exerting a lot of energy. She would not be slowed down by the weight of the humanoid. She ran in a diagonal direction, heading for the opposite corner of the platform. There would be guards over there as well, but at least she would give Butler One a chance to analyze the spacecraft.

The robot used his own anti-gravity abilities to float up to the platform and set down beside the tourist vessel. He attached his probe and began to store data. When he had completed his task he returned to Wildstar, and lowered the cylindrical boarding platform.

Once aboard he piloted Wildstar into the air and lowered the spacecraft into a position just above the place where the humanoids were closing in on Ann O’Malley.

"My spaceship will attack all of you, unless you let me leave safely," said Ann using her translator headpiece. The guards submitted, and watched her float into the air and board Wildstar.

"The guard will recover," said Ann, "Did you get what we need?"

"Yes. I have achieved our first goal satisfactorily, Miss O’Malley."

"Then perhaps we should simply wait until emperor Kibok sends something out to capture us. It's a lot easier than looking for his palace or whatever he lives in."

"I shall cruise around above the depot, Miss O’Malley."

"Yes do that, and see what you can work out. You've got the computer records of both metals now: the missile and the tourist vessel."

"Assimilating data as instructed, Miss O’Malley."