CHAPTER SEVEN

They were an image of unadulterated beauty, a sight that sent ripples of joy through the emotion chip of General Venjix. It wasn't the first time he'd seen them assembled in masses like this. In fact, he'd seem them gathered in far greater numbers.

But this time it was different.

This time they were his.

The Cogs, even when shielded from the light of the stars by the roof of the moon base, seemed to glimmer before him, like a brand new blaster, or a freshly polished sword. He marveled at the sight of his grand army.

And now, as he faced them, perched on a podium alongside his fellow generals, they were silent. Not even the sound of a creaking joint, or a turning gear, just their stone cold faces, etched into their golden dome heads, starting up at him. Reaching up to his throat, he turned his voice modulator up to full blast, and began.

"Ah yes, my might Cogs!  As your leader and future ruler of the universe, I commend you for you efforts in retrieving our new ultimate weapon! Without you, the mighty Machine Empire would cease to exist!"

In response, the mechanical soldiers began a slow, emotionless clap. It was their only method of showing enthusiasm.

"I know that your joints are rusty, and your insides are filled with dust and grime. But fear not!" Venjix slammed his robotic first on to the podium. "Once we have conquered the squalored, vermin infested planet of Earth, each of you will have a team of humans assigned to tend to your every need! We all will! Our empire will rise from the ashes, and ignite into a blazing inferno that will consume all the living! "

The dull clapping continued.

"Ever since the tragic loss of our leader, the glorious King Mondo, we have been forced to wander the universe in hiding. But no more!"

He flung his mechanical arm forward, pointing behind the Cogs toward their new ultimate weapon. "With this, the greatest Zord ever built, we will be able to rebuild the Machine Empire, and at last have revenge on those who destroyed our illustrious leader!"

As the clapping continued, Venjix looked behind him to see his fellow generals applauding as well. "Now my Cogs, go! Prepare yourselves, for the day of reckoning is upon us at last!" As the mechanical soldiers stomped out of the moon base, their rhythmic walks seemingly in sync     with one another, Venjix stepped down from the podium. He motioned for his peer officers to follow him.

Gerrok touched Venjix on the shoulder. "Excellent speech general. I was inspired sir."

Steelon's head twisted at Gerrok. "Then why were you oiling your armpits as he was beginning?"

The green robot smacked Steelon's domed head. "Silence! You overgrown waste disposer!"

"Waste disposer?!?" the robot exclaimed. He touched a button on his right thigh, opening a compartment, from which he drew a small blaster. He promptly aimed at Gerrok. "Dispose this!"

Venjix quickly stepped in front of the gun's nozzle, and proceeded to bend it backward, resulting in a loud creaking sound. He shook his antennaed head at Steelon. "Never, ever aim at one of your own. We need each other, now more than ever. The time draws closer…"

Steelon bowed his head. "My most sincere apologies General Venjix." He gave his best attempt at ignoring Gerrok's scornful shaking of his head.

"Automon," Venjix called back to the red, orange, and silver robot. "Has it been cleaned, and ridden of all debris?"

The robot nodded. "Yes General Venjix."

"Tezzla, have you re-powered its weapon systems?"

"All artillery power is at full General." She replied.

"And Gerrok, how is the installation of the Neo Plutonium Reactor progressing?"

Gerrok bowed his head. "I ordered the Cogs to continue installing following your speech sir. They are working as we speak."

Then, the five generals came to a halt, and stared up at their new ultimate weapon of destruction. The gigantic Zord,, colored a dull green stretched nearly 250 feet in length. Though currently deactivated, when powered up, its eyes would glow a fiery red, smoke would emit from the nostril shaped vents, and it would roar a thunderous roar. Two deadly horns protruded from its head, and it's legs were tipped with jagged claws .

Venjix crossed his arms, ,and marveled at his new tyrannical serpent Zord. "Ahhh, Serpentera."

He looked back at his fellow generals. "Remember that name my friends, for it is t he sound of virtue's end."

"It's quite a shame Zedd isn't here for it's finest hour." Tezzla hissed.

"Yes…" Venjix growled. "What a shame that is."

"General," Automon said. "I'm sure you realize that as a result of this attack, many useful humans will die."

"Yes," Gerrok agreed. "This invasion will slaughter thousands."

Venjix nodded. "But of course Generals. Why, that's half the fun of it…"