"We should proceed to our respective ships."

"Um, right," Alan said. Kitana nodded at him, then began sprinting off in another direction. Sighing to himself, Alan watched her go. He continued along the path Eve set. He was nearing the hangar the Grasshopper was in when Eve suddenly commanded him to stop.

What? Alan asked.

The location of the Grasshopper seems to be a point of contention between the Legion of Man and United World Government. It is highly unlikely we will be able to enter unharmed.

Shit. Do you know what ship that girl was heading to?

Analyzing data… Kitana is designated for the Titan, a Haxlard ambassador ship. Its destination is Khersath, the capital planet of humanoids within the Game.

Huh, well—

The Titan’s AI detected my presence accessing its passenger list. It managed to hide its presence on the network somehow. It wishes to communicate with me, accept?

Uh, sure.

Alan waited a few seconds, wondering what this was about, then a new message popped up:

Alan thought for a second, then agreed. Kitana probably knew what the hell was going on, and the capital planet sounded better than Mars. Then again, Alan had no idea who she really was, and if she had anything to do with what was happening right now. He tried to recall what Icewolf had told him. Kitana was the daughter of an influential Japanese businessman, or something like that. One of Icewolf's colleagues had recruited her, a sword instructor. That was it.

The Titan AI is transferring directions now, through a route which will avoid the fighting, Eve sent.

Alright.

Alan began jogging along the new path, away from the hangars towards the series of runways. The jets continued to rain laser fire down from above, causing havoc amongst the United World Government ground forces. Suddenly, two giant green lasers shot out from where Alan was running to, slamming into the jets, disintegrating them.

Uh, was that the Titan? Alan asked.

Uncertain.

Squinting his eyes, Alan could see a faint outline of a small ship landed in the middle of a runway in front of him. Eve classified it as a Haxlard dropship. It was fairly nondescript: a small grey aircraft that looked like a carrier helicopter but without the rotors, designed to carry goods and people to and from larger spaceships. Alan started running faster. He could make out a Haxlard mounted on some sort of assembled laser turret. Alongside him was a truck with Kitana and a group of seven other players, the knight and wizard he'd seen earlier among them.

As Alan approached, Kitana looked up at him, surprised. The Haxlard, wearing a green mask with a single white, vertical stripe, stepped forward. A few more Haxlards, wearing completely black masks stepped out of the aircraft and began disassembling the turret.

He is an Ultihaxlard not a Haxlard, Eve told Alan.

“Greetings Earthling! Blessings to you and yours. You must be Adampwnage, our new addition. I am Pharaoh, the captain of the Titan.”