Star Blazers-A Voyage to Remember Ch. 26

STAR BLAZERS: A VOYAGE TO REMEMBER

A fanfic recapitulation of Series One “The Quest for Iscandar” by

Frederick P. Kopetz

EPISODE TWENTY-SIX: Lysis’ Challenge of Honor

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Space Battleship Argo

March 1, 2200

From Captain Avatar’s Log:

March 1, 2200

Our journey to Iscandar continues.

We are now pushing the Argo a little harder, warping one thousand lightyears each day, so as not to tax the engines.

At Balan, on January 24^th, we were exactly 74,000 lightyears away from Earth.

Since then, we have had two miracles. One, no interference from the Gamilons.

Two, no problems with the ship or wave motion engine. We have come 36,000 lightyears in the past five weeks. We are now 120,000 lightyears out, and we have only 28,000 lightyears to go until we reach the Great Magellenic Cloud…and Iscandar.

Indeed, we can actually see the Great Magellenic Cloud with the naked eye now.

We do have a problem.

I have been on the bridge less and less, and have delegated more duties to Deputy Captain Wildstar. I also have endured two more operations, one to remove more of my cancerous right lung. The other, to remove some of my pancreas.

Our new addition to the crew, Ensign Hilgar, has been teaching the Gamilon language to Wildstar, Homer, Sorin, and Nova, so we now have an easier time translating Gamilon transmissions. Likewise, the four officers I referred to have also been teaching Ensign Hilgar Terranglish.

The enemy seems to be in a state of disarray with the loss of Balan Base.

However, Ensign Hilgar has also warned us that the closer we draw to Iscandar, the closer we also draw to Gamilon itself. She does not know the exact location of the home world since her memories have been manipulated, but I feel that we must be vigilant as we get closer to Iscandar.

We are aware time is running out for Earth.

Time is also running out for me.

Every day, I grow weaker.

My prayer is that I can live long enough to see Iscandar…and live long enough to see Earth one more time….

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“Tell me who you are, please. In Gamilon, of course,” Sheena said to Nova.

“Mar’ich zelk Nova Forrester, Sturm’arch Zlen t’Argo,” Nova said dutifully as she sat with Derek, Homer, and Sorin forming Sheena’s small class.

“Your accent is a little off, but many in the Empire speak with odd accents,” Sheena said. “Do not be overly concerned for now. Very good.”

“Mar’ich Zelk Wildstar,” Derek snapped.

“Very good!” said Sheena with a laugh.

“Why is it we haven’t encountered any more Gamilon ships in…what…a month?” said Homer.

“As your Scientific Officer Sandor is learning,” said Sheena. “Balan was an important base for us. My former comrades probably had to retrench back to the First Defense Line, which is about ten thousand lightyears out beyond the Great Magellenic Cloud.”

“We’re only eighteen thousand lightyears away from that point now,” Derek said with a sigh. “We will probably hear from…your former comrades…soon enough, Ensign. Thank you for the warning.”

Sheena nodded at that. She smiled and said, “Shall we carry on?”

TERRAN DATE: March 3, 2200

PLANET GAMILON

GAMILSTADT: ARENA OF THE HOCHVOLKSGERICHT

The Gamilon Hochvolksgericht, or High People’s Court, was not a place where any Gamilon citizen or soldier would wish to be in the dock before a prosecutor and eight judges.

At this hour, Field Marshal Erich Lysis, against the advice of his counsel, a Gamilon woman with dark hair known as Lieutenant Inge Gernan, was standing in the dock addressing the Court and the Prosecutor, an old man known as Commander Pen Hunzinger. Lysis was not facing the Court alone because of his past honors and victories.

Lysis yelled loudly, “As I have said before, there was no flaw whatsoever in my plan to destroy the Terron space battleship Argo. General Volgarr is the one who ruined my plan, and he is the one who should be on trial today!”

“OBJECTION!” snapped Hunzinger. “The accused’s line of reasoning lacks relevance, and he is the officer on trial today, my learned Court!”

Volgarr was nearby in one of the galleries. He yelled, “May the Court note that it was my duty to inform Leader Desslok of your insane plan! You didn’t care what happened to the base, as long as you earned the glory!”

Vice-Chancellor Krypt, the President of the Court, in a red robe over his uniform, banged his gavel for silence. “General Volgarr. The Court has taken judicial notice of your issues, and wishes to advise you that we will not tolerate any further outbursts on your part!”

“I move that he be held in contempt if he continues interrupting the testimony of my client!” snapped Gernan. “He is turning this trial into a travesty of justice!”

Krypt banged his gavel again. “Overruled, Lieutenant! We have already taken judicial notice of these annoying outbursts from the gallery!! Any more outbursts from you, and you will end up in the same acid rainstorm as your client. Remember you were ordered to defend him!”

Lysis nodded at his counsel and continued. “Volgarr, had my plan been completed, the Argo would have been crushed and incinerated before the artificial sun at Balan had ever touched the base. Your jealousy and interference with my plan caused my plan to fail, Volgarr!”

“So, Lysis, you are saying you are perfect?” snapped Krypt. “That you have never made a mistake?”

From the trial panel, General Velte Talan stood and said, “Your plan and your arrogance, Lysis, cost us an important base, killed many thousands of Gamilon soldiers, and set back our plan to take Terra by many weeks, at the very least…and the Argo continues relentlessly towards the Great Magellenic Cloud, where its crew will doubtlessly seek a bitter revenge right here on Gamilon for us! Like any wounded animal, the Star Force is most dangerous!”

Hunzinger looked at the panel. “I have no further questions for Lysis. You have heard the words of his condemnation from his own mouth!”

“Enough!” said one of the generals on the panel. “I vote for the death penalty for Lysis! As of right now!”

“I sentence this man to death!” barked Talan.

Six others barked “Death!” as Krypt looked at them.

“I agree with you all,” said Krypt. He banged his gavel. “It is the unanimous verdict of this court that General Lysis is to be deprived of his rank and honors, and that he is sentenced to death! He will be held under house arrest until Leader Desslok determines the date of his public execution and carries out the sentence himself!”

Gernan spoke with Lysis. “Your Honors,” she said. “We appeal this verdict directly to the Throne! My client requests another trial before Leader Desslok himself!”

“Denied,” barked Krypt. “Other interstellar nations, such as the extinct Pellian Commonwealth and the barbaric Gatlantean Empire maintained a right of appeal to their High Queen or Emperor. Gamilon has no such jurisprudential rule or procedure. The verdict here is final. Lysis, we suggest you settle your affairs and prepare for death!” Krypt banged his gavel and he and the Court left as Lysis glared at them with gritted teeth.

Erich Lysis came home to the large home that he shared with his wife Eliza under heavy guard.

“Did it go well?” Eliza said.

Erich shook his head. “I was sentenced to death, and loss of rank and honors. I am now under house arrest with you.”

“Erich,” said Eliza as she embraced him, hard. “I would like to die with you.”

“You need to live on and clear my memory,” Erich said. “Above all, I wish that our surviving son Friedrich should remain in the Military Academy…and not be cast out for his father’s crimes…even if his father was unjustly sentenced.”

“Did you appeal to Leader Desslok?”

“I tried, Eliza. Krypt denied it.”

The doorbell rang.

One of the enlisted men guarding Lysis said, “Sir, you have a visitor.”

Erich nodded.

Storm Leader Paulus Galand entered the room. He saw General Lysis and embraced him, followed by a kiss to Eliza’s hand.

“I am here to express my condolences, sir,” said Galand.

“You need not address me as ‘sir’ any longer,” said Erich. “I am now merely dishonorably discharged Citizen Lysis, awaiting death.”

Galand nodded once. “We still hold you in great esteem. I am here because I bring something for you and for Eliza to use…if you desire it.”

“What is it?” said Eliza.

Galand held out a vial with two small capsules. “Poison,” he said. “You can at least cheat the executioner. The effect is quick, and quite painless.”

Erich sighed and took the vial. “I will consider it,” he said. “Although it is said that the firing squad is quick.”

“They intend to cast you into the most acidic of the seas to make your death slow and agonizing,” said Galand. “You will be dropped from Leader Desslok’s Throne Room down the ducts, to…”

“I know…I have seen enough of these executions of the disgraced,” said Erich. “I sent men and women there to die in that way on my own orders, confirmed by Leader Desslok, of course.”

“Please…don’t talk about it anymore,” said Eliza. “When it happens, it happens. We shall die together, in the acid.”

It was late on the Argo.

Wildstar was up eating some sushi.

“So, what are you doing at 2300?” asked Venture as he sat down near his friend. “Midnight snack?”

“Sort of,” Derek said. “This is a case of a poetic Japanese term; Kuchisabishii. It is a term that means, if you recall, “when one desires to eat, not out of hunger, but because one’s mouth is lonely.””

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Description automatically generated “It’s stress-eating,” Nova said as she sat down beside Derek with her own plate of sushi. “I sometimes have to do it myself…then go work off the excess kilos in the gym.”

“Why are we stressed?” said Mark. “Or do we need to ask?” He was wearing his blue peacoat; he had just come off a watch on the first bridge as Officer of the Deck. Captain Avatar had needed to rest.

“We’ll probably see the Gamilons again soon,” Derek snapped. “This quiet is totally unnatural.”

“Maybe they are regrouping?” Mark said.

“Yes, but I think they’ll come back at a time when we least expect them,” Nova said after shutting her eyes and looking thoughtful for a moment. “Thus, probably, a lot of us are engaging in Kuchisabishii….”

“Eager sure is,” said Mark.

“Is he eating now?” Nova queried.

“He already left,” Derek said. “Carrying leftovers.”

“So, what’s this gonna be?” Mark asked.

Nova yawned. “Another sleepless night…for all of us.”

On Gamilon, a day passed.

Some of Desslok’s concubines were helping to prepare him for the day when Krypt entered.

“Yes, Krypt? What is it?” Desslok said.

“I have the verdict of the High Peoples’ Court with respect to Lysis,” said Krypt as an organic table glided over to Desslok and its pseudopods held up a scroll. “It was unanimous.”

“Unanimous?” said Desslok.

“Sire, we all voted for the death penalty. Would you be so kind as to sign the papers and schedule the execution of Citizens Erich and Eliza Lysis?”

Desslok looked over the death warrant. “Krypt, this is my answer,” he said as he abruptly crumpled up the document. He then sat playing with it, balling it up in his hands before ripping it to shreds.

“Leader Desslok?” said Krypt.

“I am aware that Lysis is a rash man, even dangerous. However, he is the only one of my generals I can count on to destroy the Argo, “Desslok said with a quiet sense of calm. “You see, I know that Lysis makes mistakes, but he is a man of action…unlike those who sit in judgment over him. I want him to live, Krypt. I want him to live and destroy Captain Avatar’s Star Force before it gets any closer to Gamilon. I am pardoning Erich Lysis and restoring to him his rank and honors, and as a gesture of mercy, I am also pardoning his spouse Eliza. Their surviving son shall continue at the Academy.”

“So…Lysis shall live?” said Krypt.

“Yes, Lysis shall live, and his mission will be to defeat the Argo. You will advise him of that as of now, Krypt, and lend to him whatever assistance he desires, within reason. I cannot spare him a fleet of three thousand ships again, but a smaller fleet of equally effective warships should do the job, along with some of our newest weapons.”

“Should I allow him to make use of the cruiser Gamilstadt and the Desslok surge cannon you developed?” Krypt asked.

“No, I reserve that vessel to myself. However, he can make use of the experimental SMITE system.”

“Of course, sir. I shall notify him at once,” Krypt said.

“Excellent,” said Desslok. “He will rid me of this stone in my boot…once and for all time.”

On the Argo, two days passed.

Natalie Fisher, now about six months’ pregnant, and with swollen feet, arrived in Robert Turner’s cabin.

“How is it going?” he asked as he embraced his fiancee’. They had agreed that they would have their wedding not long after they made planetfall on Iscandar.

“Well, I’m tired,” she said as she kicked her shoes off. She sat down and embraced Robert.

“How are your co-workers treating you?”

“Well, Nova and Yuria could not be sweeter to me on the bridge, and the same goes for Sickbay with Nova, Michelle, Angela, and even Sheena. Doctor Sane is still a bit cold with me; I wish he’d be nicer.”

“What is he doing?”

“Well, he’s a bit curt with me, and when I try to assist with some procedure or another, he snaps at me ‘That is no job for a pregnant woman!’”

“Maybe he’s trying to be protective?”

“No, I just think he’s being mean,” sobbed Natalie as he stroked her hair, followed by her tummy. “Nova thinks so, too. She snapped at him the other day, “Would you be talking to me like that If I was working pregnant?” He then yelled at her, “You wouldn’t be working in my Sickbay if you were pregnant!” She snapped back, “We don’t know the future. Anything could happen! I could be married to Derek soon. Then, whatever happens…happens!”

“Well, she’s definitely in your corner,” said Robert.

“Thank God for that,” she said. “But I don’t feel like many others are. Except you!” Natalie sobbed.

Robert just held and rocked her, not sure what to say, until they felt the baby kicking.

Then, they just smiled at each other and kissed.

On Gamilon, Erich Lysis sat alone in his living room, wondering when the death warrant would come.

Krypt arrived at his home, passed through the line of guards, and entered Lysis’ home without preamble, using a passkey Desslok had given him.

“Lysis,” said Krypt as he came in.

Lysis looked up.

“I am here to inform you that Leader Desslok has pardoned both you and Eliza,” said Krypt.

“Leader Desslok…he pardoned us?”

“Correct, and your rank and honors have been restored, Field Marshal,” said Krypt. “Leader Desslok has a new mission for you. He wants you to gather a task force and to stop the Argo before it reaches the Great Magellenic Cloud. They are now just twenty-two thousand lightyears away from the Sanzar System. The Pirate Harlock has not yet left Iscandar, so Leader Desslok wants the Argo stopped before she can meet up with the Deathshadow and join forces with the pirate, now under Starsha’s protection, to attack us. We estimate Argo will penetrate the galaxy’s edge in nineteen days. They must be stopped before then. Leader Desslok is placing the best of our technology at your disposal and will be allowing you to summon Captains Scarp, Berger, Zadic, and Borka from their battlefronts to assist you and Volgarr in your campaign. Can I count upon you?”

“Vice-Chancellor, you can tell Leader Desslok that he will not be disappointed in me,” Erich said as Eliza came downstairs. He smiled at her, held her hands, and said, “We have been reprieved by Leader Desslok. I have a new mission; to stop the Terran Star Force before they enter our galaxy.”

“Tell Leader Desslok we are quite grateful,” Eliza said with a bow.

“Of course, Lady,” said Krypt with the same grave courtesy. “Good hunting, Field Marshal.”

“We will not fail,” he said.

Krypt and Lysis exchanged salutes and the Vice-Chancellor left.

Krypt arrived back at Desslok’s office to see him engaged in a debate with Queen Starsha over the video screen.

Desslok sipped at a goblet and said, “Starsha, I am again asking you, as a favor, out of reverence for Iscandar and your position…will you not surrender the Deathshadow and its crew to us? I have chosen to overlook your impudence in giving them safe harbor on Iscandar after those renegades attacked Gamilon, but I cannot overlook their madness in their unprovoked terrorist actions against the Empire and my regime.”

“Unprovoked?” snapped Starsha. “It has come to my attention that recently, your Captain Zadic cooperated in a battle, so-called, at your Elisate Front, where you gave orders for Zadic and his confederate Kelzart, a known war criminal, in dealing with the people of Planet Kripteria in the same way that you dealt with the population of Alteria; by allowing them to sterilize the surface of the planet with missiles…”

“…to stop another rebellion, Starsha. You know that.”

“To kill nine hundred million innocents?” Starsha protested. “Including children and animals who do not know their left hand from their right hand yet?”

“Are you daring to tell me how to run my Empire, Starsha, dearest?” Desslok said.

“No. I am merely asking you to refrain from genocide! And it pains me to admit that our hearts, which were once close, are so far apart now.”

“That is not my fault, Starsha,” Desslok said. “It is yours. Have you anything else to say?”

“I have prophesied a future where we can still be together…if you change your heart and repent of your evils, Desslok!”

Desslok laughed. “If anyone has to repent and change, it shall be you, Starsha. Your sin is your pointless idealism. Goodbye. Don’t make me send a landing party to Iscandar for those pirates. As for your precious Star Force, they will soon be wiped out like a household pest, probably to your displeasure.”

“If you would do that,” Starsha said. “Then you, the man I loved, is truly dead.”

Then the screen went dark.

“Did I interrupt something, sire?” said Krypt.

“It was most unimportant,” said Desslok. “Both our planets are dying. She will eventually see things my way. Did you give Lysis my edict?”

“I did. He is ready to stop the Argo,” Krypt said.

“I am pleased. This is the best news I have had all day. Thank you, Krypt,” Desslok said.

Space Battleship Argo

March 6, 2200

The Argo had continued to warp, and she was now closer to the Great Magellenic Cloud.

Analysis of the materials salvaged from Balan continued in the Technical Group’s labs.

Wildstar visited the lab, and he asked, “Sandor, what have we learned based on the materials we found on Balan? We have some idea what they were up to based upon what Ensign Hilgar has divulged to us. She has been very helpful.”

“Based upon all of the evidence we have, Wildstar, we now believe that they were planning to occupy Earth very soon.”

“Yes, very soon,” cried Royster. He was one of a group scanning a live Balanodon in a chamber, along with Doctor Sane and some others from the Living Group.

“Explain what you’ve found, please?”

Sandor nodded. “Look at these computer tapes. They were recording data on Earth’s surface radiation and reporting it back to their home base on Gamilon. We also have a very general idea where Gamilon is; it is located somewhere in the Great Magellenic Cloud. That’s based upon the direction that we found their antennae were locked on for communications.”

“We are going to have to be careful,” Derek said. "Ensign Hilgar also told us, in very general terms, that the closer we get to Gamilon, the more they will fight to stop us.”

“What is more, Balan was a very important base for them. They are going to try very hard to stop us; probably out of a desire for revenge,” Sandor said.

“They’ll definitely try,” Derek replied. Derek and Steve looked hard at each other.

Then, Steve asked, “How is the Captain?”

“He’s been on the bridge less and less...due to his stamina and condition. As you know, since you’ve had to act as Officer of the Deck a lot more, I’ve had to leave the bridge, and the ship, in the hands of others more often. Lately, it’s been me, and then you, Venture, Orion, and Nova. Everyone we have assigned to the First Bridge is a good officer, but you, Mark, Patrick, and Nova have been my best backup officers.”

“Who’s on the bridge in the center seat now?” Steve asked.

“Mark. So far, he’s handling the additional responsibility quite well, but he and I have been at odds again…over strategy, procedures, and once, he even thought I was taking my religious faith too seriously.”

“You’ve grown, and in some ways, he hasn’t. Derek, give him time. He will mature. We’re all maturing. You are already quite a different man than you were back in October when we left Earth.”

“I hope that’s a good thing,” Wildstar said.

“It is. In some ways, you remind me more and more of your brother Alex every day.”

“Thanks,” Derek said after a long silence.

Later that day, Yuria Misaki was sitting on the aft observation deck with her dear Toru Hoshina, who was off duty.

“I have my wedding dress ready for when we get to Iscandar,” Yuria said while standing there embracing Toru.

“What does it look like?”

“I can’t tell you; it’s a secret. If you see if before the wedding, it’s bad luck. Even though my mind has been in another place.”

“Why?”

“I saw the naked ghost woman today. I got to see her face clearly.”

“Who does she look like?”

“Sort of like Queen Starsha…sort of like Nova,” said Yuria. “Really weird.”

“I wonder if your ghost woman is real,” mused Toru. “I know that you’re real.”

“And what do you do with real women?” teased Yuria.

“Kiss them?” said Toru.

He began to kiss Yuria. She kissed back, and he rubbed her back in a close embrace.

“Careful,” she whispered. “I don’t…want to end up like Fisher. Besides, I’d rather wait for the wedding night. It’s maybe…twenty-one days away? If all goes right?”

“Yes, we should be on Iscandar by then,” said Hoshina. “If we don’t have more trouble from the Gamilons, that is.”

Yuria nodded sadly at that.

At the same time, in Sickbay, Natalie Fisher was unclad under a paper sheet, getting a pre-natal exam from Doctor Sane with the assistance of Nova and Angela Jackson. Robert Turner was nearby in the exam room; very reluctantly admitted by Doctor Sane for moral support for Natalie.

“Well, the development of the baby is quite normal,” said Doctor Sane in an almost monotone voice. “There’s no abnormalities to your cervix, and I have even noted that your breasts are getting ready to nurse.”

“That’s good,” said Natalie.

“Of course, you’ll need time off to take care of the baby once he or she is born. I guess I can arrange it with Captain Avatar, the Deputy Captain, and Lieutenant Forrester.”

“Thank you,” Natalie said meekly.

“Doctor,” Nova said quietly while preparing an ultrasound scanner. “Where’s your bedside manner?”

“In my next bottle of sake’, damnit!” he snapped. “You know how I feel about this pregnancy! Should have never happened in the first place, and Natalie will be going before the Padre pregnant. What a great example of leadership for the other young ladies on this ship!”

“How do you feel?” snapped Robert.

Nova put up her finger. “Doctor. You’re not acting this way with Lieutenant Ashima’s pregnancy.”

“That’s because she and her husband agreed to put Lieutenant Yayoi Ashima in cryofreeze for the rest of the trip. She can have her baby on Earth when we get home,” huffed Sane.

“You didn’t tell me that,” Nova said.

“That’s because you’d get your back all up about it, Nova. You know life is hard in space for a woman. Fine in my book for you and Wildstar to get married, but I hope you’re not planning to have little feet pattering around on this vessel soon,” Sane snorted.

“Sir, can’t you see you’re upsetting Natalie?” said Angela.

“Am I upsetting you, Fisher?” snapped Doctor Sane as he picked up the ultrasound scanner.

“Well, you’re not exactly making me happy,” she said.

Sane rolled up his eyes and almost threw the scanner on its cord at Nova. “Nova, you do this and leave me out of it. I’m going off to have a drink. Effective now!”

“Sir, you just can’t walk out in the middle of a procedure!” Nova cried.

“Guess what, Nov, he just did,” said Angela as Sane stomped off.

“Looks like this is up to me,” Nova sighed.

“Ma’am, what’s that old goat’s problem?” barked Robert Turner.

“He…he’s had a lot of heartbreak in his life,” Nova sighed. “That’s why he drinks like that. Plus, I think he has issues with fatherhood. He lost one daughter and he’s on the outs with his other one. Oh, he didn’t put anywhere near enough lube on this,” Nova said as she bent over to grab a tube of lubricant.

“It would have made me uncomfortable, right?”

“Right, Natalie,” Nova said, bending over in her short scrub dress. She had sandals on, and her feet were hurting a little.

Nova didn’t notice IQ-9 burbling up behind her.

A moment later, she felt her skirt being lifted and felt the robot’s cold hand on her panty-clad bottom.

Nova yelped and said, “IQ, what do you think is the big idea? Get my skirt DOWN!”

“You were too tempting to resist,” the robot said.

“You’d better quit it!” Nova yelled. “About-face right out of here! NOW! I am working with a pregnant patient!”

“Aye, aye, ma’am, order understood and acknowledged,” IQ-9 said as he saluted.

“BEAT IT!” Nova yelled.

He zipped out.

At that moment, Derek popped his head in. “Hello?”

“What is this, Derek? Penn Station at rush hour?” Nova snapped as she tried to straighten her skirt.

“Came down here to see Doc Sane and I heard you screaming. Are you okay?”

“Nothing hurt but my pride, thanks to Tinwit,” Nova said. “We’ll talk later, Derek. My Sickbay office in an hour, dear?”

“Okay, as long as you’re okay,” Wildstar said as he kissed Nova on the top of her head, being careful not to look at Natalie. He knew that it would be better not to comment on Nova’s chosen baby-blue panties today, even though, admittedly, being a male, he did enjoy the view of his fiancee’!

“Is he gone?” Natalie said.

“Yup. Now, let’s look at the baby,” Nova said.

“Can we see what gender the baby is now?” Robert said.

“Possibly…it depends upon which way the little squirt is moving in there,” Nova said. She began to scan. “Hmmm…development is great…the baby is sucking…his…thumb. He’s a boy, all right. Definitely a boy! Do you two have any baby names picked out yet?”

Robert and Natalie whispered. “David Adam Turner,” Natalie said. “By the time he comes…I will be Mrs. Turner,” she said with a smile.

“You sure will be,” Robert said as he kissed his fiancee’. They smiled at each other.

Nova smiled at the tender moment, thinking that in a few years, she and Derek would be in this position, if everything went right and the mission succeeded.

“Need help getting dressed?” Nova said as she toweled Natalie’s tummy off. “We’re done.”

“I think I’m good,” Natalie said.

“Then, let me go type up the results,” Nova said. She smiled and said to Angela. “Next, we have to check on Mister Cronin. See how his leg is doing, since the doctor decided to take the day off,” she huffed.

A while later, Derek met up with Nova in her office in Sickbay.

She was not at her desk. Instead, she had her shoes off and was sitting on a grey shag rug near a flowerpot and an open viewport.

“I see you brought coffee,” Nova said with a smile. “Good. Shoes off; sit down near me.”

Derek handed Nova a paper cup of coffee and pulled off his boots and sat in his sock feet near her.

“Is the baby going to be a boy or a girl?” Derek said.

“A boy,” Nova said. “But Robert and Natalie want that kept quiet until after the wedding and until after she has the baby.”

“Okay. Nova, you want children, right?”

Nova blushed and nodded. “Yes. But not quite yet. Even after we get married.”

“When will that be?” Derek said.

“Not that long,” Nova said as she tapped Derek’s chin. “I can’t decide yet if I want it to be on Iscandar, the way home, or when we get home. Part of it might depend upon how the Captain is doing. He told me he is not sure he’ll live long enough to see us married. I think he will. But if he gets much sicker…”

“Then we’ll have to move up the date,” Derek said.

Nova nodded. “Although after we get home, and when things settle down, I think…I want our first child to be a girl.”

Derek’s eyes went a little wide at that, and he smiled. “I want a boy.”

“I want a girl,” Nova teased.

“We could have twins,” Derek said. “A boy and a girl.”

“Well, that would solve the problem,” Nova said. "What a pretty view out this viewport.” She smiled and pointed at a blob of light between the arms of a nebula that was fading. “The Great Magellenic Cloud. It looks so small from here.”

“But look at all the stars,” Derek said as he sipped at his coffee. He paused to give Nova a kiss. She kissed him back and sipped at her coffee.

“You’re looking hard at something,” Derek said.

“That funny little cluster of seven small stars, right there. See it?” Nova said. “Those colors are pretty. Just like…a rainbow.”

Derek got closer to Nova and looked over her legs. “It does look like a rainbow.”

Nova added, “A Rainbow Cluster. We have to explore that place someday.”

“Are those stars forming, or are they dying?” Derek said.

“Forming, I think,” Nova said. “There’s a nebula around it. If we ever come back there, we’d have to be careful.”

“Navigation in there would be a doozy,” Derek said.

“You’re telling me,” Nova sighed. She shivered a little at that, as if a goose had just walked over her grave.

A day later, on Gamilon, Lysis (paired again with Volgarr, to his disgust) grunted a little in a briefing room as Volgarr ran some results of star systems not far away, looking for a good place to challenge the Argo.

“What do you think of this place?” Volgarr asked.

“The Galmarious Trinary?” Lysis said. “Not good. The radiation storms there are too intense, even for our ships.”

Volgarr sighed. “Look at this area. The Pogi System?”

“Not good…there’s no place for our fleet to hide. I want to take the Argo by surprise,” Lysis said.

A third system came up. “The Rainbow Cluster,” said Volgarr. “Seven forming stars, surrounded by a black nebula, sir. And the Argo is heading right towards it anyway!”

“It fits the psychology of Terrons, their curiosity,” laughed Lysis. “They might want to study that deathtrap! Sightseeing, in our space. Oh, those innocent fools!”

“Yes, and we can trap them there and crush them,” said Volgarr. “What are we planning to use?”

“A Task Group of my new flagship, three Balgray-class triple-deck carriers, and a Darold-class attack carrier; five effective ships in all. The fleet is smaller than what I wanted, but we have some new weapons that I feel will give us a major advantage,” Lysis said. “I will soon send the Argo a challenge to meet us at Rainbow Cluster.”

“Are we ready to fight? What are these new weapons?” snarled Volgarr.

“Follow me and I shall show you.”

A while later, they ended up at the nearby shipyards.

“Take a look at that,” said Lysis as two large pieces of equipment were being lowered onto his new flagship. “Those are the transmitter nodes for a new system we call SMITE, for Space-Matter Instantaneous Transmat Equipment. With this equipment, we can dematerialize objects, such as squadrons of planes; even entire task forces, and rematerialize them anywhere we choose. We can surround the Argo with our planes, and they will be unable to predict where they are coming from, and we can take them by surprise and demolish their ship at our leisure. Almost too easy, you’d say.”

“Do we have something to take care of their wave motion gun?” asked Volgarr.

“I accounted for that. Have a look over here.”

“A mining missile?”

“Yes. I am having a bomber built that will launch from the attack carrier. We will then use SMITE to warp the plane right in front of the Argo after we soften them up, and then, the drill missile will be launched directly into the wave motion gun port itself. It will both disable their weapon, and with a timed charge, we will blow them to bits. I also have one last measure, assured to create havoc while they are fighting.”

“And that is?”

Lysis turned, waiting as Lady Iroze, Desslok’s top assassin, appeared behind them and saluted. “I am Iroze. I am sure you know me.”

“Yes, you light-skinned, blond renegade Iscandarian!” snapped Volgarr.

“Silence!” she snapped.

She raised a hand and Volgarr began to choke. “Show more respect to a woman who has decided to carry out a suicide mission at Leader Desslok’s request!” she snapped.

“What is your mission, madam?” Lysis asked.

“It is to create as much havoc as possible on the Argo,” she said. “And to eliminate an Iscandarian I am sure is on that ship. I am sure it is Princess Astra of Iscandar. Terra must have lied when they said she died on Mars. She cut her hair and joined the Star Force, I am sure, under an assumed name, blocking her powers voluntarily. But I can feel her presence from here, the bitch. My job is to eliminate her and rid the Star Force of its final defense, even though I die in the process.”

“Iroze will be in the drill missile. She can hide herself from human eyes, and strike without warning,” said Lysis.

“How?” said Volgarr. He glanced at her and found she had vanished.

“Where…where did she go?” said Volgarr.

He looked over and saw poisoned needles flying out of nowhere at a minor staff officer at a console. He died screaming with blood flowing from his mouth.

Laughter came from nowhere as Iroze reappeared next to Volgarr. “If you were not important to Lysis, I could have murdered you next,” she hissed. “See?” she whispered as she teased Volgarr with a needle.

“Get this witch away from me!” yelled Volgarr.

Lysis just laughed like mad. “She will depart when she feels up to it. Volgarr, prepare to send my challenge to the Argo. I want to meet with them in four Terron days. At that time, they will feel our wrath.”

Volgarr saluted. To his unease, Iroze was already gone.

“I like watching you drink,” IQ-9 said to Doctor Sane. “It amuses me.”

“It amuses you…it helps me think,” said Sane. “Why do I have to be surrounded by all of these intelligent, high-strung nurses?”

“Because you’re cursed,” said IQ-9. “You must have committed some offense known only to God.”

“Well, if I did, this helps me forget,” said Sane.

“Let me drink with you,” said IQ-9.

“Nonsense, you can’t drink,” said Doctor Sane.

“Try me,” said IQ-9.

Sane poured a glass of sake’ and handed it to the robot.

IQ grabbed it, and threw the sake’ all over himself.

His lights blinked, and he spoke in a slurred voice. “I’m drunk. I am Sooooo drunk!”

“You’re not,” said Sane. “You’re just acting like it!”

“Shut up,” growled IQ-9. “I am probably more drunk than you are! I want another!”

“After this, you’re cut off,” said Doctor Sane.

IQ-9 threw more booze over himself. “Look how drunk I am!”

“No more for you!” said Doctor Sane, not believing how absurd this was.

“I am going to wander the ship and get into trouble!” he said.

“Come back!” yelled Sane, just as Captain Avatar’s voice came on the 1MC. “Attention, all hands. Ready Bridge Crew to the Bridge at once! Ready Bridge Crew to the Bridge at Once!”

“Hope he doesn’t get in the way,” Sane said as he poured himself another glass.

The time on the Argo was 2010 Hours.

Venture left his cabin and saw Nova running out of her quarters, clad in her regular gold and black shipboard uniform.

“Do you know what’s going on, Nova?” he asked.

“No, I don’t,” she said.

They arrived on the First Bridge a few minutes later.

Wildstar was standing near his post, and he smiled at Mark and Nova as they showed up.

“What’s going on?” Mark said.

“We’ve received a video message from the Gamilons!” said Wildstar. “Homer and Ensign Hilgar are working on translating it right now!”

“Is the line open?” asked Eager.

“No, they sent it and then cut off,” Homer said.

“I wonder what they want with us?” Nova said.

“We will have to listen to it to find out,” said Captain Avatar from his post on the bridge.

“We can listen in a moment,” Homer said after Sheena nodded at him. “Translation completed.”

“Play it,” Captain Avatar said.

A moment later, the screen came up, and a handsome, austere, but grim-looking Gamilon officer appeared on the screen.

Orion and Nova stood up at their posts to get a better look at the video of the evidently high-ranking Gamilon commander.

“I greet you, Star Force, the valiant crew of the space battleship Argo,” said the pre-recorded image. “Captain Avatar, I am Field Marshal Erich Lysis. I am the man who has been a thorn in your side for so long as you have been traveling towards Iscandar. Yes, we are aware of your mission and of Queen Starsha’s invitation to you. However, your presence in the Great Magellenic Cloud can only be seen as a threat to our own security. You are admirable in many ways, and it is unfortunate that we are enemies. However, we are. The battle lines between our forces and yours have never been precisely drawn. Therefore, I propose that we meet in four Terran days from today at the edge of the Great Magellenic Cloud at the Rainbow Cluster at RX-Pt-730 to do battle. The outcome of that battle will determine your future. If, as I expect, we defeat you, your mission to Iscandar will end there with your utter defeat or annihilation, and your High Command back on Terra will have to deal with our eventual conquest and destruction on their own. You may, if you wish, retire, and return to Terra to try and rescue as many as you can before the inevitable end for your race. Consider your choices carefully. I am Lysis, Commander of Gamilon Outer Rim Forces.”

The message ended there, and the main screen went dark.

“He looks dangerous,” said Dash.

“He is dangerous,” said Sheena. “He is the sort of man that one does not cross, to put it lightly. He will want vengeance for your destruction of his base at Balan. He is very formal, however.”

“At least he seems to have a sense of honor,” said Sandor.

“This is what we were waiting for!” Derek said. “A chance to go toe to toe with the Gamilons! Captain, let’s accept his challenge! We can take him!”

“Wildstar, I’m not so sure a head-on confrontation is a good idea at this time,” Sandor said.

“What do you mean?” Derek retorted.

“It could be a trap. They could outnumber us a hundred to one, or two hundred to one,” Sandor said. “We can’t face a force that large out in the open in open battle.”

“What? Do you think we just turn tail and head for home?” Derek snapped. “That’s exactly what they’re hoping we do.”

“Derek, we’d have to count the cost carefully before we jump into battle,” Nova said. “We have to be sure that all of our systems and personnel are working at one hundred percent. And we would have to have plenty of replacement parts and medical supplies.”

“Do you think we are ready?” Derek said.

“We would have to work at it first,” Nova said. “I mean really work at it. But logistically, it is possible.”

“Hmmm,” Avatar grunted from his post.

“Then, let’s do it, sir!” Wildstar said.

“Derek, we’ve already lost a lot of time in mere skirmishes with the Gamilons,” Mark said. “A full-fledged battle could put us weeks behind schedule. Can’t we bypass this Lysis and just go straight to Iscandar?”

“He’ll be waiting for us anyway, Mark!”

“Wildstar, just a minute,” said Orion. “Captain Avatar is still on the bridge. Let’s see what he thinks of this. What is the will of the Captain?”

Avatar cleared his throat. “All of you have presented very good arguments. But my word here is final. We have not sought out the Gamilons. With all respect to Ensign Hilgar, they have been the aggressors. First, attacking our homes on Earth, and now out here in space as we seek to peacefully pass to Iscandar for a cure for the radioactive plague that has made our once blue and green Earth red with death. We must face them and defeat them here before we can go on to Iscandar. Homer, send a direct response to Lysis that we accept his challenge. Have Ensign Hilgar recite our acceptance of his challenge directly in their common language so that we do not need to translate. Do it now. I want a briefing tomorrow morning at 1100. Wildstar, you have the conn.”

Avatar passed up his chair lift to his cabin as Derek threw on his peacoat and sat at the Captain’s post while Dash took his post. “Homer, Hilgar, get to it,” he said.

“Yessir,” both of them said. Sheena took Homer’s post, closed her eyes, and began to recite as Homer opened the line. “Feldmarschal Lysis. Zar Belk. Halda Hilgar Shonsei, dar belk Terronisch’te harga. Halda zar d’Argo hinle aglan in…” (Field Marshal Lysis. Live long! This is Ensign Hilgar, who has now joined the ranks of the Terrons. I was rescued by the crew of the Argo and now fight with them…)

When she was finished, IQ-9, “drunk” and quite belligerent, trundled onto the bridge and screeched, “I hear we’re fighting the Gamilons? GOOD. Let me at them myself! I will kill them all myself! With one hand tied behind my back! I mean it!”

Then, he fell over on the deck and collapsed into his component parts.

Wildstar and Venture almost fell over laughing.

“Help me! Help me!” cried IQ-9’s head-section. “HIC!”

“Oh…stop acting like a fool,” Nova sighed as she crawled onto the deck to begin reassembling the “drunken” Tinwit.

Luckily, IQ was too “drunk” to try any more games with Nova. Eventually, Derek and Steve gallantly assisted her while Sheena watched the scene and laughed slightly.

What an undisciplined group of kids, Sheena thought. Yet, they have something we don’t They really care about each other. That might give us the edge over Lysis.

“…four Terron days as you have requested, Field Marshal,” said a recording of Sheena Hilgar, with visual, about an hour later aboard Lysis’ flagship. “Captain Avatar looks forward to meeting with you in battle. We are ready, and I will aid them since I have come to believe in their cause, sir. As you said, it is unfortunate that we are now enemies. We accept your challenge and will meet you with honor. Fare thee well.”

“What do you think?” said Volgarr. “A Gamilon woman speaking for them? Outrageous!”

“They must have rescued her from the wreck of Balan for intelligence and as a translator. Very wise on the part of Captain Avatar,” said Lysis. “Of course, if we capture her alive, we will treat her as a Terron, and as a traitor to the Empire.”

“Is it true, the rumors that some in the Empire have sympathy for the Terrons?” said Volgarr.

“Possibly. But their misguided opinions will not matter once we defeat them,” said Lysis. “Even though I have come to admire them in some ways myself. They fight against overwhelming odds. They are brave. They do not give up easily. Had their government surrendered to us, they would have been excellent second-class Gamilons fighting beside us. With the exception of Hilgar, if we capture any of them alive, we must treat them with honor; even the Iscandarian Princess Astra if Lady Iroze somehow captures her alive rather than killing her. But enough. We need to plan for this, Volgarr. We do not have much time.”

“The carriers should be arriving shortly, Lysis,” said Volgarr.

Lysis nodded at that.

A while later, the carriers that Lysis had summoned began to arrive on Gamilon from the other battlefronts.

The first carrier was under the command of a Captain Scarp. The second carrier was under the command of a Captain Berger.

Carrier Number Three was under the command of Captain Zadic.

Carrier Number Four, under the command of a Captain Borka, set down near the others as Captain Borka said, “So, we make up four carriers. Lysis must be planning a great battle. Set us down there.”

“Yessir,” his XO said.

The Captains soon found themselves before Lysis.

“Field Marshal,” said Captain Scarp. “I am Captain Rikus Scarp, from the Alfa Battlefront. I beg leave to rename my carrier the Alfa in commemoration of this battle.”

“Granted. Report, Captain.”

A man with a scar saluted Lysis. “Captain Fomt Berger, from the Diamond Battlefront. I likewise beg leave to rename my carrier the Diamond in honor of this battle and your leadership.”

“Granted,” said Lysis. “Third Captain, report!”

“I am Captain Kiel Zadic, from the Eliasite Battlefront. In honor of the impending battle, I beg leave to rename my carrier the Eliasite.”

“Granted,” Lysis said with a nod. “And you, old comrade?”

“I am Captain Heidig Borka, sir,” said a man with an eyepatch. “I am from the Omega Battlefront and honored to work under your command again, Lysis. In honor of this battle, I beg leave to rename my carrier the Omega.”

“Granted.” Lysis said. “We are about to embark upon an important mission. Are you with me?”

“YESSIR!” snapped all four Captains as they saluted.

Lysis smiled and returned their salutes.

Space Battleship Argo

March 8, 2200

The Argo had recently completed another space warp.

She was now just two thousand lightyears away from the Rainbow Cluster. Two more warps, and they would arrive there on the tenth.

Out on the main deck, IQ-9 watched as men and women in spacesuits crawled over the Argo’s gun turrets, deck, and other systems, making sure that everything would be in tip-top shape.

Down in the main flight bay, Conroy called out, “Okay, guys! Be very careful checking out Wildstar’s Super Starfighter; that Zero will be leading the Black Tigers!”

“Yessir!” they responded.

On the first bridge, Wildstar asked, “Venture, what sort of information do we have about the area where we will be meeting the Gamilons for the battle?”

Venture replied, “Sandor, Royster, myself, Eager, Yang, and Nova have been working overtime to scan the area. This is the composite picture we have.” He walked to a panel and brought up an image of the area. “This is a view of the Spectrum Area, more commonly called “Rainbow Cluster”. You can see seven forming stars; each is composed of a different element; Iron, Potassium, Nitrogen, Sulphur, et cetera, and radiates its own color. The black cloud surrounding everything is composed of a non-toxic gas.”

“What a mess,” said Wildstar. “I wonder if our radar will even work in that area, all that metal, and that black cloud. That must be why the Gamilons chose that particular spot.”

“Sandor and Nova told me they’re working on some way to boost the radar so that we can still navigate by sensors in that area,” Mark said.

“I have a bad feeling about this,” Derek said.

“So do I,” Mark said.

On Gamilon, the officers and enlisted men of Lysis’ Task Group were gathered near the Imperial Palace.

There were cheers as Leader Desslok came out.

“Gentlemen, I salute you!” Desslok said. “Today is the departure day of Field Marshal Lysis’ Task Group. It is the beginning of a new Gamilon era, and it will soon herald the end of the Terran Star Force.”

The crowd and the civilians gathered nearby cheered.

“Field Marshal Lysis shall lead his special Task Group and he will destroy the Argo. We are planning a great victory celebration upon your return, and then, we shall rebuild our bases at Balan and Pluto so that we can, once again, planet-bomb the Terran race into extinction, and then move to the sacred soil of our ancient homeland of Garuman on Terra, assuring the future of our people, and the glory of this Empire! May God bless your endeavor!” Desslok said.

Desslok turned away and left to many great cheers.

Lysis said, “We shall now depart for the Rainbow Cluster so that we can do battle with the Argo in two days at 1200 Hours on the Terrons’ time scale. Good hunting! Make ready to board!”

Volgarr looked hard at Lysis. “Lysis, what will happen if we fail to destroy the Argo with our drill missile?”

Lysis said, “Volgarr, I do not go into battle with doubts and fears, and I suggest you leave yours at home! Do you understand?”

“What? Do you think I am afraid to fight?” snapped Volgarr.

“Volgarr, you may have forgotten what happened a short time ago at Balan. Well, I haven’t!” At that, Lysis began to laugh. He and a silenced Volgarr boarded their flagship, the Lysisaze IV, with her completed SMITE system as the nearby carriers fired salutes from their defensive gun turrets.

Aboard his flagship, Lysis barked, “ALL ships, take off!”

The Task Group took off and left Gamilon behind. They were at the edge of the Sanzar System in three hours, and there, they made their first Geschtam jump towards the Rainbow Cluster.

The die was indeed cast as, at that moment, the Argo herself made a space warp, emerging one thousand lightyears closer to the Rainbow Cluster.

A thousand lightyears to go, and the Argo would be there.

Space Battleship Argo

March 10, 2200

0500 Hours

The Argo had made her last space warp, and was within sight of the Rainbow Cluster.

In his quarters, Captain Avatar coughed again, but now fully dressed, he stood steadfast, thinking about the battle.

After completing a prayer, he thought…I would love to know what sort of a man this Lysis truly is. Can he be reasoned with? Can we do battle like two lions and then make an agreement to go our separate ways? Furthermore, so much of what happens today will depend upon Wildstar. I wonder if I made the right choice when I appointed him as my Deputy Captain? He is rather young for the great responsibility at twenty-one, but I feel he has the makings of a great leader? Will he succeed and not let us down? I will know for sure after today; especially because Doctor Sane tells me this may well be the last time that I will be able to command from the First Bridge. Another operation is planned to remove more cancerous tissue, so this may be the last watch I stand. Will we succeed today? I leave this matter to the expertise of my crew…and the Providence of the Almighty.

Down below, in the Messhall, Robert Turner sat waiting for Natalie to show up. He was hoping to convince her to remain in Sickbay during the battle; to keep herself and the developing child as safe as possible.

He smiled when she showed up, in a white Medical jumpsuit and boots, with the baby inside her much in evidence.

“So how are you feeling?” Robert said.

“As well as can be expected,” she said with a slightly sad smile. “I requested to remain in Sickbay during the battle. Nova and Michelle agreed with my logic, but Doctor Sane said, ‘If I need you out in the ship as a combat medic getting wounded in here, then, you’d better be prepared to work with Sheena and render treatment!’”

“That’s not very nice.”

“Robert, I’m obviously not one of his favorites,” she sighed. “He treats Nova and Michelle like rare Waterford Crystal and wants to keep them safe at every opportunity. It’s almost like…”

“He’s punishing you?”

“I get that impression,” said Natalie. “Not everyone sees it that way. Nova volunteered to take my place going out to provide first-line treatment throughout the ship if needed, but Sane said, ‘No, you are needed for your other duties!’ Do you know how that makes me feel?”

“Like chopped liver, Natalie?” Nova said behind them as she appeared with her breakfast. Wildstar was behind her, with only a cup of coffee and two donuts. “I talked to Sane again before.”

“You mean you argued with him?” said Natalie.

Nova nodded. Derek said, “I have enough to worry about, but I’m Deputy Captain. Let me go and have it out with him. I’ll order him to keep you in Sickbay, and…”

“No, don’t worry about it,” Natalie sighed. “I have to pull my weight, I guess. Nova, are you going to be in danger?”

“Yeah, You could definitely say that!” Nova said. “I’ll be flying with Derek as his RSO in the first Barrier Combat Air Patrol Group. Since the radar may be chancy in that nebula, it might come down to our spotting the enemy with our good old Mark One human eyeballs in flight.”

“Not that I like the idea, but I see Nova’s logic,” said Derek. He smiled at her. “That’s you. You always blind me with science.”

“I don’t like this for Natalie any more than you like this for Nova,” said Robert. “Natalie…”

“Whatever happens, happens,” she said. “I think we’ll be fine.”

“I hope so,” Robert said.

“So do I,” Derek said.

Lysis was briefing his commanders aboard his flagship as he approached Rainbow Cluster.

“This is the border of the RX-PT-730 area at the edge of Rainbow Cluster. We anticipate that when the Argo enters the black cloud, their radar will cease functioning. Once they are blinded, our first attack will destroy their radar antennae and sensors. When they are helpless, we will fire the drill missile at the Argo with Lady Iroze secreted aboard. We will then wait and attack the Argo’s guns while Iroze creates havoc and then await the explosion that will destroy the Argo. Do any of you have any questions?” Lysis said.

“An excellent plan,” said Volgarr. “It will be foolproof!”

“Not necessarily,” said Lysis. “Remember; Captain Avatar and the Argo have defeated so many of our best generals. We will have to fight hard to be assured of victory. We will win only if we exert our resources to the utmost. Is that clear?”

Volgarr had no answer for him.

On the Argo, it was now 0900.

Captain Avatar said, “We will be at the edge of Rainbow Cluster in three hours at our current speed. Venture, place the ship on autopilot.”

“Aye, aye, sir,” said Venture.

“Nova, have the crew meet up at the port side observation deck for a ceremony,” said Avatar.

“Yessir,” she said. “All the preparations have been made.”

At 0930, the crew stood assembled in the port side observation deck.

“Well, this is it,” said Rosstowski. “Do or die.”

“Wildstar,” said another Chief in Gunnery known as Tranh. “Well, we’re here. But the Gamilons have us outnumbered. Do you think we should avoid this battle?”

“We’re here, and we’re ready to fight,” said Wildstar. “I don’t think we have a choice.”

“We have to take these guys,” said Andrew Yang.

“If we don’t fight ‘em here, we’ll have to fight ‘em somewhere else,” said Jefferson Hardy.

Wildstar just nodded.

“Hush…here comes the Captain,” said Hardy.

They all watched Captain Avatar leaning on his walking stick as he came up on the small stage.

“He doesn’t look very strong, does he?” said another crew member.

Captain Avatar stood on the stage and addressed the crew. “Everyone. You all know that this battle between the Star Force and the Gamilons will be a decisive one. If we could avoid it, we would. There would be no disgrace in avoiding this battle since our battle is to bring peace and life back to Earth, and not war to the universe. However, unfortunately, the Gamilons have other ideas. Therefore, we must fight, and we must fight well and win.”

Avatar paused as they saw IQ-9 bringing in a cart with a barrel, ladle, and many small plastic glasses. Avatar said, “In honor of this occasion, as per the ancient tradition of many warriors, I would like to propose a toast. A toast in pure, clean water from a once-beautiful spring on Earth, the rarest of gifts.”

Water was laded out by IQ-9 and passed out to every crew member and to Captain Avatar, last of all. He said, “No man has had a better crew than me. Today, I call you not subordinates, but friends. And now I drink to you, my friends. We drink to victory, and the success of our mission! TO VICTORY!” called out Avatar.

“TO VICTORY!” called out the crew. They saluted Avatar with their cups, and they all drank.

Soon, aboard Lysis’ flagship, Volgarr looked at a screen at the Argo. “Field Marshal! The Argo has arrived!”

“Excellent! And they shall soon be flying blind, with no radar!” laughed Lysis.

Aboard the Argo, the ship began to cruise into the black cloud of gas.

“Something is wrong with the radar!” Nova cried from her post. “I am trying to compensate…”

“All hands to Combat Stations!” Derek barked over the 1MC. “The battle will soon begin!”

“This is the moment of no return,” said Avatar from his post. “I know I can count on all of you! Good luck, and may God be with us!”

On the Argo, Black Tiger pilots ran to their planes.

The main guns locked into place.

Missiles were ready.

Medical and damage control personnel took their places.

“All ships to battle stations!” barked Lysis on his flagship.

Gamilon pilots ran to their planes on the carrier.

Inside the drill missile, Lady Iroze sat in her secret compartment in her spacesuit, awaiting the impact with the Argo.

Aboard the Argo, the chronometers clicked over to 1200 Hours.

High Noon.

And now, the decisive battle was ready to take place.

The Argo’s long journey of 148 days was now at a crucial point. The Star Force needed to win, and to hurry on to Iscandar. There was no other alternative.

As of that day, Planet Earth had exactly 215 Days Left.

TO BE CONTINUED….