The distance between Freedom and Mars was significant in human terms, but in the cosmic sense, it was but a mere stone's throw away. The Avenger vessels, utilizing a more efficient engine, arrived at the rendezvous coordinates before the two Carriers. Commander Thompson looked out the window of Avenger-1 and saw the ominous looking red planet of Mars. He could not see the Behemoth Battlecruisers in orbit, but he knew they were there. He had a six sense about these things. He also could decipher the sensor panel which showed them clearly in asynchronous orbits.

"Commander, sensors are picking up 212 Battlecruisers." "I know Captain. My eyes are attached to my brain just as yours are. I can see for myself." "Well sorry! I thought you wanted to be kept appraised of the situation." "I'm sorry Captain Faerber. I'm somewhat anxious right now. Somehow, knowing that I am responsible for the survival of mankind is making me nervous." "Commander, we're all responsible." "True Klaus, but whom do you think they will blame if we fail?" Mederow looked at Thompson and raised an eyebrow. "Krause to Thompson, the Avengers are all in position and are awaiting your command." "Hold position Captain Krause. We have to wait on Torban to get her carriers into position." "Understood."

Tatyana gripped the rest on her Captain's chair tightly as she approached Mars. The simulators were never this real, and her stomach had never been in knots before now. "Make our position Z+500,000 meters above the ecliptical plane. The other carrier will hold station at Z-500,000 meters below. I sure as hell hope Kimall's tactics work, or this will be the shortest offensive of all time. Comm, open a channel to Commander Thompson." "Channel open." "Commander, this is Space Marshall Torban. The carriers are both in place and are awaiting your command." "Thank you Miss Torban, Thompson out."

Sectoid Leader stood up from his chair and ventured over to the Navigation sensor panel where Sectoid Navigator was looking befuddled. Sectoid Leader could hear his thoughts, but he had to be sure of them nonetheless. "Are these instruments correct Navigator?" "They are indeed my Leader." "Well, let our Battlecruisers all know what you have detected. Sectoid Helmsman, establish a link with the human ships." "Link established my Leader." Sectoid Leader stood up on a pedestal to make himself appear taller than he actually was. After all, Sectoids weren't exactly…physically intimidating. "Human X-Com space vessels, I command you to surrender your ships and concede defeat. If you do not comply in 1 of your minutes, you will be destroyed, and Earth will be conquered."

"Sectoid Leader, this is Commander David Thompson of X-Com, I laugh at your ultimatum, and similarly order you to surrender your ships and prepare to be boarded, or we will destroy you all." Sectoid Leader laughed out loud as much as a Sectoid could laugh. "You humans certainly do possess a high level of guile. All the more satisfying to see you burn up in a cloud of hot plasma. Prepare to die." "Uta, close that channel. Keep us outside of their weapons range for now. Let's make them come to us. Tatyana, did you hear all that?" "Yes Sir, we await your order to attack." Thompson looked down on the sensor screen and saw the Battlecruisers all move into attack position. "They don't even see the Carriers. Colonel Torban, initiate Operation Surprise." "Gladly."

Torban's carriers released their squadrons of Spacestorms. All 200 of them raced toward the unsuspecting Battlecruiser from above and below. "Sectoid Weaponsmaster, when we are in range of the human ships, annihilate them." "Yes Leader." Suddenly, a boisterous wail of an alert claxon sounded. "Navigation, what are those?!?" "Apparently they are the human attack fleet." "Evasive maneuvers!"

"This is Commander Thompson, all Avengers move into attack position, and open fire!!!" The Battlecruisers, being extremely disoriented, turned up and down to face the Spacestorms. 50 Large Scout intercept craft lifted off from the Martian surface to engage the Avengers, but they would not be able to help their brethren in time. The Avengers flung volleys of Fusion Balls into the hulls of the Battlecruisers just as the Spacestorms attacked them from above and below. The Fusion Balls ripped into the huge, alien ships and caused violent eruptions inside them. Their inner hulls breached and their systems offline, 180 Battlecruisers drifted helplessly in space while the alien crew members who were not already incinerated floated out the breaches and into the cold void of space.

"Yee-haw!!! Yeah, take that you sons'a'bitches!!! Yes!", Thompson yelled as he saw the ships igniting in huge fireballs and crashing into each other. The Spacestorms came about for another pass just as the Large Scouts engaged the Avengers. "Avenger squadron, take evasive maneuvers. Spacestorm squadron, finish off the Battlecruisers." Avenger-1 rocked as it was hit with a burst of plasma. "Damage report Uta!" "No major damage, we just got a little cooked on our belly." "Good, I'm going to make them pay for that. Klaus, plot a course for us through the debris field. We'll hide in their and wait for those Scouts to come looking for us. Then I'll make them permanent residents." "Course plotted." "Engage Uta!" Avenger-1 cruised off through the battlefield and hid behind one of the burning Battlecruiser hulls. Thompson could see the battle rage through the window, and he could hear the voices of Spacestorm pilots chatter over the airways. The Spacestorms continued to pound the remaining Battlecruisers with their Plasma Cannons. Only 25 Spacestorm had been destroyed so far. The Battlecruisers were having a difficult job of targeting them.

"Leader, we've sustained damage to all 4 engine pods. Engineering section has been destroyed. We're operating on reserve power only." "How did they accomplish this? They couldn't have done it on their own." Sectoid Leader sat back down in his chair and attempted to contact the Master. "Master, please awaken. We are in dire need of your help. Master, hear me." But the Master was sleeping soundly. When he entered into his sleep period, X-Com was considered a mild to minimal threat. Now, they would be coming for him, and he did not even know. Sectoid Leader focused his large, deep, black eyes onto the viewscreen and saw 3 Spacestorms coming at him. They opened fire as he hung his grey head in disgrace. "Now, I am no more." A fiery plasma bolt penetrated the bridge and vaporized him. The other bridge officers were sucked out into space.

"Commander, I see 2 scouts. They're slowing down. They must be trying to find us." "Ok, take us 500 meters behind them, very carefully. They'll have a hard time distinguishing between us and the wreckage." "Aye sir." Avenger-1 maneuvered just behind the two scouts. "Good, now hold your position. I need to get a good shot." Thompson placed the two scouts into his sights, and his instruments indicated a weapon's lock. "Smile for the birdie!" Thompson squeezed the trigger and two plasma beams rocketed through space and impacted directly onto the rear hulls of the scouts. They turned and fired. Their somewhat less intense plasma bolt cinged Avenger-1. "Move, get us out of here. Damnit, I must have hit them in a non-critical spot." Avenger-1 started to fly away as the Scouts continued firing. "She can't take much more of this Commander. We're a few more hits away from a hull breach." "Thank you for that excellent diagnosis Mr. Mederow." "Sir, another ship is coming to our aid. It's Avenger-2." "Krause, thank god. Get these guys off our tail." "You got it Sir. Tactical, arm Fusion Ball launchers and target those two scouts." "Enemy vessels targeted and locked." "Fire!" Avenger-1 moved out of the way just as the Fusion Balls impacted the alien ships. The scouts exploded into a raging inferno. "Damn, these Fusion Balls are a hell of a lot more powerful out here in space than on Earth." "Commander, that's because they aren't slowed down any by Earth's atmosphere." "Great, glad to know about that Uta."

"Attention X-Com battlefleet. This is Space Marshall Torban. I am pleased to report that all of the alien ships have been disabled or destroyed. We are now ready to proceed to the next phase of our assault." "Colonel Torban, this is Commander Thompson. Well done. Let's go to Cydonia." Koras Kimall climbed up from the engineering deck of Avenger-1. "The engines are 100% Commander Thompson. Our damage is non-critical." "Great Koras. Why don't you have a seat. We're going to be landing soon." Koras looked through the window at the amount of damage and destruction caused by the human battlefleet. "You humans sure do know how to…how do you say? Kick butt??" "Well thank you Mr. Alien, you're too kind." "Uta, keep your eyes on the viewscreen and your hands on the helm." "Yes Sir. Sorry Sir." Mederow looked over at Kimall. "Your people will be freed within the hour. I guarantee it." Koras smiled, as much as possible, and readied himself, for the Master was awaiting him on Mars.