THE LEGEND OF GRAND MECHAPOLIS

STAR BLAZERS/GALAXY EXPRESS 999

Founding of the Dual Monarchy and Galaxy Express System

By: Frederick P. Kopetz

Chapter TWELVE: Of the Order, An Act of Treachery, and a Reception.

Illustration “Nova’s Scuba Dive” is © 2021 by AkiraDevilman666 based on rough sketches by Frederick P. Kopetz, and

“I’m Flying, Derek!” is © 2021 by Kodai’s Korner.

Thanks to Gail Kopetz, Bells of Nevermore, Yuki Wildstar, Margaret Diviney, Michelle Nutter-Lynd, Steven Diviney, Andrea Lyon, and DTill359 for Advice and inspiration.

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I. A MEETING ON RIKASHA

Planet Rikasha

New Rikala

September 9, 2233

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On Rikasha, Derek and Nova were in Shiro’s conference room, meeting at last with the Rikashan R’jkharraz Grand Master, Duke Eglin Esauda.

Esauda was a tall, threatening figure in black robes and uniform, black boots, white scarf, but he had grey hair and a grey beard.

He looked to Nova a bit like a proverbial wizard in military uniform.

When they met, Nova bowed to him, but he went down on one knee before her.

“Excuse me, Grand Master, what is this?” Nova said.

“I bow with respect to your offices, Majesty. I have heard so much about you that it borders upon myth.”

“Now you meet the reality,” Derek said.

“I’d be honored,” Nova said.

“Well, then, that is agreed upon,” said Shiro with a smile.

“It is my understanding that you wish for our Orders to work together?” said Esauda.

“It would be good if we could do that,” Nova said. She had her own white cloak on over her gold and black Star Force uniform, and Derek wore his dark blue robes over his uniform.

Derek said, “At this point, we have a Pellian Order of R’Jkharrazim; twenty, as I understand, including Grimslade Halleck, the Deputy Grand Master. He and Nova have trained me. I am the first of the Terran Order, and our son Alexander is in training as the second formal member of the Terran Order. There are others who work with us, but they are independent practitioners under their own Rule who have aided us in the past.”

“I do not ask these to come under my own discipline, since they have their own Master,” Nova said. “However, we are allies.”

“You have twenty-two?” said Esauda. “Impressive, but much less than my Order. We have over two hundred trained R’Jkharrazim. I have decided we will work with you, Majesty, but I prefer to remain Grand Master of my own Order. As for your allies…I have heard of them. Kalevi Denneman and I once met. His practitioners helped us find a traitor in our Order given over to the black arts.”

“I am agreeable to that,” Nova said. “It was my hope that we would at least keep in touch.”

“We have a détente’…you and I,” said Esauda as he shook hands with Nova and embraced her. “What about the Iscandarians?” he asked.

“Like you, they prefer to work on their own, but are also allied with us,” Derek said. “Queen Sasha has aided us in the past, and intends to do so in the future, after she abdicates her throne in a few months when our daughter Starsha takes the Throne.”

“Your daughter Starsha…” said Esauda quietly. “Is she indeed a reincarnation of the two Queens of Legend?”

“She is,” Nova said. “Although she has a mind of her own…and does not always listen to our counsel. Even though we…” Nova said as she fingered the ring on her pinky. “Even though we are close, in accord via this Artifact I bear, she appears to prefer to stand back and pursue peace rather than joining fully in our joint defense against Promethium and her Mechanoid and Larmetallan forces. I find that disappointing. Her father and I taught her how to fight with us.”

“I need to tell you, then, something I have dreamt of,” said old Esauda.

“What is it?” Derek said. Nova looked at him, alarmed.

“A possible new enemy…or ally,” Esauda said.

“There have been attacks deep in Bolar territory from gold-colored ships, of a design we have never before seen,” said Shiro. “Our recon units picked up fragmentary transmissions from them. They state that they come from…the Neo-Guardianan Empire.”

“NEO-Guardiana?” Derek said.

“There were legends,” Nova said, “Of a mighty Empire known as the Guardiana Empire. It is said that they were once Iscandar’s greatest enemy, back in the days when Iscandar had its own Empire. Iscandarian and Pellian records report that the Guardiana Empire vanished one day, thousands of years ago. Iscandar then seized some of their colonies, and when Iscandar withdrew, Pellias took over five of their worlds.”

Nova sat in thought for a while. “One of these worlds, Miranda IV, is at the Galaxy’s Edge.”

“Our forces recently sent a mission to Miranda under the command of Admiral Jefferson Hardy, commanding the Iscandarian carrier Queen Tania III.”

“Queen Sasha contacted me about that mission two days ago, Derek,” Nova said. “She asked if we could investigate what happened to that flotilla.”

“We had two battleships with them, too,” Derek said. “The Delaware and the Tashina. Those ships were supposed to be reporting in to us…but they’ve also fallen silent.”

“I think you should leave Rikasha at full speed and search for those ships. This sounds very strange,” Shiro said. “Would you report back to us on what happened?”

“We will,” Nova said. “Thank you for the offer of assistance.”

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Two days later, on September the eleventh, the Yamato left Rikasha behind, setting course for Miranda IV, which, according to their charts, they would reach in eight days.

The first warp was totally routine, and the Yamato quickly left the Rikashan Star System, and the Rikashan Federation, behind, coming out of warp twelve thousand lightyears away from an unclaimed system known as the Retiran System.

Yuki Nunez, a little more confident in her job, briefed the crew and said, in the Yamato’s briefing room, “This system was scanned fifteen years ago by the Kongo, and they found they had two planets in a wide habitable zone; Retira III and Retira IV.”

“According to their report,” Derek said, taking the pointer, “Retira III has a civilization with a technological level somewhat like mid twenty-first century Terra. They made first contact ten years before our visit with a Bolar squadron, whom they fought off with nuclear missiles. This world was too far away from the main line of conquests of the Bolars, but they are expecting an attack any day.”

Nova took over, “Commodore Ember Tyson made contact after assuring the King of their Federation that they meant no harm. They call the planet Frana. When I was in command of this ship in 2224, we landed here for repairs. They aided us, but said they knew of many conflicts in space and preferred to remain neutral. I think they will welcome us.”

“You…think?” said Presha.

“Well, we never established diplomatic relations, so we’re not sure about what sort of reception the Franians will give us,” Derek said.

“What about the fourth planet?” Alex asked.

“We briefly visited the fourth planet nine years ago,” Nova said. “We thought there was no intelligent life. We were wrong. They have intelligent life there, but at a very primitive level of civilization, similar to cavemen who lived on Terra long ago. When we landed…they worshipped me as a goddess and were about to make me their Queen, would you believe?” Nova looked very embarrassed and said, “I thought we had better leave, especially because it looked like they were preparing to…sacrifice…some young man to me for a food offering. I made it clear to them I wasn’t interested in that kind of meal, and we ran out of there with them throwing spears against our survey ship. I don’t particularly want to go back there.”

“So, if we land, we’d better make damn sure we land on the third planet, and not the fourth one,” Derek said.

Nova nodded, shivering at the memory of the bizarre natives of Retira IV.

“Where are we makin’ course for, then?” asked Eager, who was at the helm.

“Retira III,” Derek replied. “Mister Reiland, call the Royal Defense Command; please advise them we intend to land.”

“Yessir,” he said.

A while later, the Yamato was safely docked on Frana, aka Retira III, not far from the capital.

The ship was left in Nova’s command while Derek, Keyman, Deke Wakefield, and Akira Yamamoto took a launch and went to a nearby dock

When they landed, they were greeted by a General with grey hair and beard in a dark blue uniform who somewhat reminded Derek of Captain Avatar.

“I am Lord Admiral Derek Wildstar of the Terran-Pellian Commonwealth space battleship Yamato,” Derek said after he and the old General exchanged salutes.

“Welcome to Frana, Lord Admiral,” said the old General. “I am Brigadier General Salmon Pomfrey…director of our Area Ground Forces and adjutant to the Generalissimo. I saw Yamato pulling in. She appears to be a most impressive vessel, as we observed when she was here almost ten years ago. Unfortunately, the Bolar Federation has made first contact. We thought we were fighting them alone until your ship arrived, Admiral. We have heard from some who sought refuse here about the character of the leaders involved. I am told that the new Bolar Premier is a madman known as Belchev…and incarnate devil in character, although not literally.”

“They have a new Premier?” Derek said.

“He’s not the man we met when the truce was signed,” Keyman said. “That man was reasonable.”

“Perhaps he was removed from power or killed…” mused Pomfrey. “We also heard rumors about your government. Are you here on the bequest of your Prime Minister or High Queen?”

“Both, actually,” Derek said. “Her Majesty consults closely with us on special military affairs and alliances,” Derek said. “We are in another war with an enemy who is relentless.”

“From what we have been told about Her Majesty your High Queen, she sounds like an impressive figure.”

“She is. I know her…well,” Derek said as he thought he caught Nova sending him a chuckle from the Yamato. “Her Majesty is an impressive, stately figure who likes to ball up used hypodermic needle wrappers and throw them at the back of my head.”

The General and his four aides looked at each other. “Admiral,” said Pomfrey sympathetically, “We are sorry to hear that your…sovereign…is also a madwoman.”

“She’s eccentric,” said Wakefield. “But she ain’t crazy. Although I sorta feel all women are a little bit crazy.”

“I really appreciate that!” snapped Akira. “You’re be doing pushups for that back on the ship, Deke!”

“Her Majesty doesn’t look very prepossessing, although she is pretty. She’s more…cute…than like a shield-woman in armor,” Derek said.

“This sounds like we should be neutral, perhaps,” sighed Pomfrey. “The Bolar Federation is very threatening…come, this way. Generalissimo Valentine, our leader, will discuss the matter now. Be warned…the Generalissimo tends to be impatient.”

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An hour later, the group entered the Royal Palace of the Generalissimo.

To the surprise of most of them, when the Generalissimo turned a large chair around to face them, they were confronted with a rather bored-looking young blond woman with a disdainful look on her face. She also looked both strong and tall. Derek estimated she was about six feet two in height, and she sat with her legs crossed, holding a sword, and with her lips in a pout. She had deep pink lipstick on, and her blue eyes were cold.

“People from the Commonwealth, let me introduce myself,” she said, in a sultry contralto. “I am Generalissimo Miri Valentine, the planetary leader in this crisis.” She looked sadly at Derek. “So, you are the infamous Lord Admiral Derek Wildstar, victor of many battles?”

“I am,” snapped Derek.

“How can you be an effective commander? You look like a young man barely out of his teens! You probably don’t even shave yet!”

“I am older than I look, Generalissimo,” Derek said. “I am actually fifty-five Terran years old.”

Valentine just…laughed.

“You look like the most motley party I have seen in a long time. You…the chubby man with the glasses…the blond-haired blue fellow, and the girl with the white hair and red eyes. She looks like the most interesting of the bunch. Let us see what her skills are…in private,” said Valentine as she licked her lips.

“Have you no regard for relationships?” Akira barked. “I don’t go that way, and this man here is my husband, Prince Reinhardt Desslar of the Gamilon Empire.”

“What a shame,” said Valentine. “Lord Admiral Wildstar also looks…inviting. Those wide, dewy eyes, long hair and tight pants. Lord Admiral, would YOU like to step into my bedchamber?”

“Have you no regard for morality?” Derek snapped. “I am also married…happily married, I must add!”

“Oh, who caught your sexy little bod?”

“My spouse, High Queen Nova Wildstar the third herself!” Derek snapped with his fists up.

“She sent the worst party I’ve ever seen. Where is she? On some planet eating grapes and drinking nectar and probably…playing with boy toys behind your back, young man?”

“Nova is the mother of our children, totally faithful to me as I am to her, and she is up above us at the conn of the Yamato right now…”

“Doing what?” said Valentine.

Suddenly an alarm went off. “Generalissimo!” a voice said over the PA System. “We have bogies on the way in! Should we launch interceptors and prepare the anti-missile batteries?”

“Bolar?” said the Generalissimo.

“Positive!”

“Where are they going to hit?”

“The artisans’ quarter of the city, ma’am!”

“Well, let them hit, Galner!”

“What?”

“We need urban renewal and those lower-class scum are worthless.”

“What the hell is wrong with you, lady?” yelled Deke Wakefield.

“We don’t cover the poor districts of the capital…and if your ship and High Queen are so damned great…let’s see what they can do,” yawned Valentine.

“Signal coming in from the Yamato!” yelled another voice.

Good job, Nova, Derek thought with a smile.

“Put her on. I’d love to see what this amazing, or so they say, woman looks like!” Valentine laughed.

A moment later, Nova came up on the screen.

“Derek. Are you guys all right down there? They’re inbound but we’re tracking them. We also have their fleet on radar.”

“Oh, you are a sight for sore eyes,” Derek said as Generalissimo Valentine’s mouth worked.

Nova replied, “Likewise. Good day, Miss. I am the High Queen of the Commonwealth. You’d be wise to get to shelter; this could get nasty. Derek, do you and the landing party need a pickup?”

“I think we’ll be fine…she says the missiles are…”

Nova looked at her console. “They’re inbound for the north part of that city; we don’t read that they’re nuclear, and Alex tells me they will be in firing range in a minute.”

“You really think you can stop missiles from orbit, Miss Dewy eyes? How old are you?”

“Fifty-five going on twenty-three,” Nova said dryly.

“You’ve got a funny-looking nose, but you might have potential,” said Valentine as she licked her lips.

“For what?” Nova said.

“Fun.”

“Not interested,” Nova said. “I’m monogamous, and if you do anything to my husband, I’ll make you eat that sword. Now, excuse us…we’re busy!”

Nova sent, Love, you sure you don’t need a pickup? I can grab you in a second.

Negative, Derek sent back. I want to see this stupid woman’s face when you blow away those suckers.

Okay, Nova sent back. Love you. Toodles! She blew Derek a kiss.

“Awwww…was that for me?” said Valentine. “You do want to play around? You look so little and cute!”

“No, it was for my husband! We really need to talk after this. You’re ridiculous.” Nova cut off. She then thought, Geez Louise! A planetary leader with the morals of an alley cat?

“In range in thirty seconds!” Eager said.

“Alex, open guns…target the whole spread of missiles,” Nova said.

“Ready to fire in fifteen seconds…” Alex replied.

Nova smiled. “Nice. Fire at will!”

The Yamato’s turrets were locked on target and fired.

“Direct hit on the missiles!” Eager said. “All down! But we have another issue! Bolar Fleet spotted!”

“They’re hailing us now,” said Reiland.

“Put the commander on video,” Nova hissed.

A moment later, a Bolar commander in the new-issue greatcoat with a snarling face with a large scar and an eyepatch looked down at the bridge crew as down below, Nova’s conversation with the enemy commander came up on video.

“I am Commodore Gransja of the Bolar Federation First Vanguard Fleet. I know who you are, Majesty. Where is your husband?”

“None of your business,” Nova said. “Why are you firing missiles at a neutral world?”

“There has been a change in command,” said Gransja. “We are reserving to ourselves the right of conquest. Now, be a good girl, and get your ship out of the way so we can continue to demand that world’s surrender!”

“You are close to breaking the cease-fire agreement,” Nova warned calmly.

“I will fire on you in thirty seconds if you do not stand down!” barked Gransja. “Then you will be in violation of treaty!”

“You realize you are about to start a war?” Nova said. “What would your Premier think of that?”

“I am sure, Miss, he would approve.”

Down below, Derek tapped buttons on the console as the Generalissimo screamed.

“Excuse me,” Nova said coolly. Then, she saw Derek’s face coming up. “What’s up?”

“This crazy woman is brandishing a sword at us, and…”

“I’m getting you out of there,” Nova said.

“How?” yelled Generalissimo Valentine.

“Like this,” Nova said as she shut her eyes and nodded.

Derek and the party vanished before her eyes.

They reappeared on Yamato’s bridge. “Lord Admiral, take the conn, please,” Nova said as Derek took his seat and she calmly took the helm from an Ensign.

Derek took his seat and said, “Keyman, take Analysis. Akira, ready some planes. Take Wakefield as your wingman.”

“Right,” she said. “Wakefield…move! Thank God that we retrained you.” They ran off.

“Nice work, Nova,” Derek said. “Thanks for getting us out of there. That woman has issues.”

“De nada, dear,” Nova said with a smile. “When the sword came out, I thought…

“Helping the lady out?” hissed Gransja. “Who are you?”

“Lord Admiral Derek Wildstar, Fleet Commander, Terran-Pellian Commonwealth. Nova here is telling me you are giving us and the people of Frana some problems.

“Why is that your concern?” hissed Gransja.

“Because this world is being considered for membership in the Commonwealth,” Nova said. “This is basically our territory!”

“As of when?”

“Thirty seconds ago!” Derek barked after he nodded and Nova, who winked back.

“That silly woman controls your foreign policy?”

“Yes. Especially when loudmouths attack less advanced worlds we would like to aid out of the blue,” Nova said. “I really thought we had an understanding with your Federation!”

“Understand this!” barked Gransja. He cut off.

“Incoming fire!” said Eager. “Distance, nine megameters, bearing, 95 degrees off starboard!”

“Nova?”

“Evading,” she said as she turned the Yamato’s bow hard to port.

The enemy beams just missed the ship.

“Aft turrets lock on!” Derek said.

“Bearing and sight line adjusted!” Alex said.

“FIRE!” Derek snapped back.

The Yamato’s aft turrets spoke.

Two Bolar space battleships were hit. There was a second exchange of fire. The Yamato’s return volley destroyed one Bolar space battleship.

“Enemy ship sunk!” Eager said.

“Counterattack! Launch attack planes!” roared Gransja on his flagship.

On the Yamato, a moment later, Roberto said, “Enemy planes inbound!”

“Prepare pulse lasers; Alex, launch two squadrons of Tigers!”

“Roger!” he said.

The Tigers roared out. Wakefield was among them; a wingman for Akira Keyman. She had trained him and he was at that level.

They zipped in, evading the enemy guns, and began to attack the Bolar ships.

The Bolars began to fall to the onslaught; one, two, and three.

Deke Wakefield smiled, knowing that he was flying again. He liked his new Cosmo Tiger, albeit not as much as his old one.

Then, Alex called the Tigers back in…and the Yamato’s guns spoke again.

Two more ships blew apart.

The rest of the remaining Bolars; only two, regrouped and warped out.

Nova looked at them warping out. “Gone. But chances are, Derek…they’ll be back.”

“So, we’ll have to stay here a while,” Derek said.

Reiland then said, “Captain, a call from the surface; it’s Generalissimo Valentine!”

“Put her on the main video panel,” Derek said.

“Admiral,” Valentine said, sweating. “I think I see your point. We never saw an attack like this before. Two thousand dead in all quarters of the city…”

“Are you ready to change your mind about dismissing us in such a cavalier fashion before?” Derek asked. “If so, we can stay and talk. If not…” he said as Nova left her post after putting the ship on autopilot, “…we’ll just leave. It would be a real pity if you fell under Bolar slavery, though…”

“No…no…we don’t want that to happen,” said Valentine. “Can you speak to the High Queen for me?”

“She’s right here; that’s me,” Nova said as she leaned against Derek’s station.

“You look very young on the outside…ma’am,” said Reiland.

“I’m getting older on the inside, though,” Nova said. “Now this will not be automatic. We have to stay to negotiate, and then I have to clear this with our Parliament, which I will try to shove through as quickly as I can from here. Because, if you wish…”

“…we won’t leave until we have a treaty hammered out and we can assign a task force out here,” Derek said.

“I would be very grateful,” said Valentine.

“We are doing this for your people, Generalissimo,” Nova said.

“For that…I thank you,” she said.

THREE WEEKS LATER

SEPTEMBER 30, 2233

The negotiations were going well when Nova decided that she and Derek needed a working holiday of sorts. She detected a tablet or two in the sea off the city.

Artwork: Nova Diving © 2021 by Akira Devilman 666. All Rights Reserved, used by Permission.

That same day, Nova made her planned dive with Derek in the seas of Frana, looking for the tablets that seemed to be calling to her.

After scanning the ocean, and finding out that the water temperature was about 16.1 degrees Celsius, or 61 degrees Fahrenheit, the Wildstars went into the sea, wearing full wetsuits with old-style oxygen tanks, masks, and fins.

The dive was pretty comfortable, actually.

Nova had a bit of a bad time for all of two minutes when some seaweed caught her calf.

Derek saw her and he panicked slightly.

Nova didn’t panic.

She used her diving knife and hacked herself free.

And, thus, they got back to the Yamato with the tablets.

A week later, after Nova and Derek signed some sort of accord with Generalissimo Valentine (who did not try to make passes at either of them this time out), a task group from Terra arrived under the command of Commodore Ember Tyson working from her flagship, the Duke of York.

Thus, relieved of duty, Derek wished Ember luck if the Bolars showed up again and warned her about Generalissimo Valentine’s odd habit of making passes at all and sundry, of either gender (she had flirted with Presha and Nova as well).

Ember said, “I don’t mind, I could use a cute girlfriend. And that lady is rather cute. And we have a dinner date scheduled already. For Thursday. At the Kiev.”

Nova rolled up her eyes at that but laughed. “Have fun, Commodore. She does have rather nice legs and cute eyes.”

“You’re saying I don’t?” said Ember.

“Well, your hair is cute,” Nova said.

“What is this?” teased Derek. “A meeting or a friggin’ slumber party?”

“You stay out of this, Mophead,” Nova said.

“Do you always allow her to insult you?” Ember said.

“Yes, part of my job description,” Derek replied.

“I do it out of love,” Nova said as she kissed Derek.

“You got a funny way of showing it,” said Ember.

“We do many other things, not suitable for discussion in front of a family audience,” Nova said.

“I’d love to hear all about them,” said Ember.

“You would,” Derek snorted.

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II. AN UNEXPECTED LANDING PARTY…

The Vicinity of Miranda IV

October 12, 2233

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The Yamato thus finally got to Miranda IV without being diverted, or having anything break down or fall off the ship.

What they found there was…

…nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

Prime Minister Philadra Endtari, the planetary leader, claimed to know nothing about where the flotilla led by Hardy had gone.

“We just lost contact with them, and they bloody vanished,” he said while chewing on a leg of mutton.

Now, Derek had on his Star Force uniform with a less-formal blue peacoat. Nova, because Yuki Nunez the Android was again having a rough time at the radar was there in her gold and black Star Force uniform and boots. She still wore it well, and seeing Nova in her old uniform again made Derek feel rather nostalgic for their younger days in their twenties, even though they were still only in their fifties but looked like they were in their twenties. Thus were the mysteries of the Pellian Matrix and Nova’s miraculous resurrection two years ago.

Nova noticed that the Prime Minister had the most atrocious table manners, and she wondered why Parliament had admitted this planet to the Commonwealth, even as he threw the mostly-chewed meat against the wall and some robot named Harold 45 picked it up.

“I always have to do this sort of garbage for him,” moaned the robot. “I happen to be rather manic-depressive.”

“We figured that out,” Yvona said. She looked at Nova and twirled her finger next to her head. Nova nodded.

“I know a very good psychiatrist I can recommend for you, Harold 45,” Yvona said.

“I might be able to fit him in next Tuesday,” Nova replied. “Have to check my appointment book.”

“Do you take MirandaCare?” said Harold 45.

“I don’t charge for my professional services, especially since I know this one doctor who charges outrageous mercenary fees. His name is Blackjack,” Nova said.

“I dealt with him three months ago,” said Endtari. “He charged me 45 thousand to fix an ingrown toenail. I’m on a payment plan. If I don’t pay up, he’ll put a lien on this castle.”

“You sure are in a spot,” Derek said.

“Tell me about it,” said Endtari. “More mutton!”

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Artwork: “I’m Flying, Derek!” © 2021 by Kodai’s Korner. All rights Reserved. Used by Permission.

Later on, after he was finished eating his mutton, Endtari finally told the Star Force that they had received distress calls from an island several hundred kilometers away.

Since it was night, and they wanted to scan for wreckage, the Yamato pulled out of the harbor, heading along at nineteen knots like an ordinary sea-going vessel.

It would take most of the night to get to the island, which they were expected to reach by dawn.

Not having much else to do, Derek and Nova went out on deck to watch the ocean and the sky as they cruised along, leaving Presha in command up on the First Bridge.

“I like the sea breeze at night,” Nova said as she walked up and down the deck.

“I like it, too,” Derek said. He held Nova and kissed her.

“I like that,” Nova said. “A bit of class from you…”

“After that weird Prime Minister?”

Nova nodded. “Walk with me to the bow, please?”

Derek did so, stopping at the armored bow plate above the wave motion gun. The breeze blew in through the hawser hole on the front of the ship, intended for members of the crew to throw lines through when the Yamato docked.

“Remember when we got romantic on the way to Iscandar as we cruised on the ocean on Beemira like this after you saved me from the Bee People? That was quite a day,” Nova said.

“Yes…we played out that scene from Titanic, where Rose asked Jack to make her “fly””,” Nova said. “I always loved that movie.”

“Yes, you hopeless romantic,” Derek said.

“Well, you’re just as bad as I am,” Nova said. “Let’s do that again! Hold me! Put my arms up!”

Derek held Nova, and held up her arms as the breeze made their hair fly around.

Derek sensed Nova’s happiness as she grinned happily. They stayed like that for a while, watching the sea…the stars.

Nova faced Derek.

He kissed her.

She kissed him back.

“Pick me up and carry me,” she whispered.

“Of course, milady,” Derek said.

He carried her up to their cabin.

The hatch was locked.

Joy, love, and peace followed…

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At dawn, when they reached the island, Derek sent out in a Cosmo Hound plane a landing party consisting of Presha, in command, Akira Keyman, Deke Wakefield, Steve, and Nova, carrying a backpack with medical equipment. Roberto also came with them. Given his android capabilities, the former IQ-9 was scanning for life signs.

“I have a reading over there,” he said, blinking his eyes strangely.

“Whoever it is has a campfire going,” said Akira. “Smells good.”

“Yeah, it smells like mutton,” Steven Wildstar said.

“Wonder if mutton is all they have on this damn planet?” Deke said.

“Why is that a problem?” Nova asked.

“Can’t stand mutton. I prefer beef.”

“If you’re hungry, eat what the locals eat,” Nova said. “It’s over that ridge,” she said as they climbed up a ridge in the forest to a moor.

There, they found a group of ten men and women sitting around a campfire, arguing.

“My God,” Nova said.

“What, Mom?” asked Steven.

“You call me that on duty again, I’ll have you doing pushups,” Nova said.

“Stop being mean to my great-grandson,” said Presha.

“This is a military organization; that doesn’t matter,” Nova retorted.

“One of those guys sounds like Hardy!” said Deke. “Hey! Hardy!”

“What?” said Hardy as he stood up. He was in his Iscandarian Defense Force uniform, but his peacoat had seen better days. “Deke! Youh’re alive!”

“Yeah, I think I’m alive,” Wakefield said.

“How did he get here, Nova?” said Hardy as he hugged his old shipmate and then shook hands with her.

“He came through from an alternate universe,” Nova said. “Where he’s not dead. But I am.”

“Are you saying you’re dead?” Hardy asked.

“You just hugged me a minute ago…did I feel solid to you?”

“Yeah,” said Hardy.

“Where’s your ship?” said Steven.

“We lost it,” Jeff Hardy said.

Roberto gave Akira and Klaus a look that was basically “WTF?”

“I’m bein’ totally serious,” Hardy said. “We came out of warp around here, and something showed up, transported us down here, and I think it ate our ship, along with the Delaware and the Tashina. Only folks who survived that mess are heah…the bridge crew. Me, at Command, my XO, Captain Relena Tarshi of Iscandar, the Tactical officer,” he said, indicating a woman with long red hair in a pretty battered blue shipsuit and no shoes, “Commander Sam Margolis, the helmsman,” he said, indicating an African-American with a bandage over his eye, “Lieutenant Commander Albert Kopenski at Tactical Radar…” Hardy said, and he went on introducing the other survivors. “Except for Sam, who lost an eye fighting some of the local fauna, none of us are seriously hurt.”

Nova lifted Margolis’ bandage and looked at his wound as he winced. “That’s nasty, but I can fix it when we get to the ship. Does it hurt you?”

“Damn yes, lady.”

Nova put her hand over the wound and her hand glowed for a moment. “I have anesthetics, but putting a nerve block on you with the Matrix will probably help more.”

Presha looked around at the group. “We landed a Cosmo Hound ship two clicks away. Let’s go there.”

“Yoah in command, Miss?” said Hardy as he looked at Presha, wondering how the heck this young-looking woman in her black and silver Pellian uniform was (evidently) Nova’s grandmother.

“Of this landing party? Yes. Nova’s our First Officer but she and Derek delegated me as party leader since Derek’s up on the ship doing his Command stuff, and Nova’s being the doc today.”

“Speaking of which, we’d better move,” Nova said in a whisper. “I heard something growling. He might think we’re dinner.”

“Let’s move,” Presha said.

----------------------------------------------

They got the marooned bridge crew of the Queen Tania III onto the Yamato with no incident whatsoever.

Hardy and his group were to be taken back to Iscandar. A very relieved Queen Sasha was glad to see her Jeff alive again, and when Derek told them they were heading to Iscandar, Sasha related a request.

“Your Majesty, what is your request?” Derek said.

“Well, where is Nova?” she asked.

“Sasha, she is busy in Sickbay finishing an operation with an officer from the Queen Tania III,” Derek replied. “She just sent to me and apologizes for being unable to be in two places at once.”

“Well…Jefferson, we shall get to spend more time together soon, you and I,” Sasha said with a smile. “Starsha has completed her course at the Academy of Sciences early and has decided to move up her coronation date to the day after Christmas of this year, and her wedding to Emperor Desslok shall be consummated later that day. Of course, Jeff, on that day, I shall be abdicating.”

“That’s great!” Jeff said with a smile.

“Admiral Wildstar, do you have any idea what made three vessels vanish like that? Both our worlds lost many men and women.”

“Sasha, we have no idea. Bear in mind we have Lieutenant Commander Steven Wildstar, Lady Presha, Lady Yvona, and Nova working the problem. Nova thinks maybe there was psycho-energy around the area. She does not detect any now, but…”

“It would be very wise for you to warp out of that region as soon as possible and to have the people of Miranda IV watch the area carefully. Desslok and Starsha are hoping you can reach the Sanzar System by mid-December.”

“We will make our best speed,” Derek said.

“Thank you, Derek,” Sasha said. “Bring Jeff back home safely. Jefferson, I love you.”

“I love you too, Sasha,” Hardy said.

---------------------------------------------------------------

III. AN WAGER…WITH CONSEQUENCES…

Planet Iscandar

December 13, 2233

----------------------------------------------------------------

The journey to the Sanzar System was very smooth. Yamato got there a few days ahead of schedule on December 11^th.

After a secret summit meeting on Gamilon with the General Staff where Derek, Nova, and Presha filled Desslok in on the new Bolar threat, the threat from the Larmetallans, and the strange events by Miranda IV, Desslok boarded the Yamato to fly to Iscandar, leaving Talan and his son Dellar, who was now learning the ins and outs of running the Empire, in charge.

Upon landing on Iscandar, Desslok watched the Yamato’s crew at the firing range, escorted there by two officers from Operations.

Desslok was amused, “Mister Hirata, what’s this?”

“Shipboard firing range, Sire,” he replied. “The man over there is Admiral Mark Venture from the Pennsylvania. He was recalled to active service again by Prime Minister Fisher, ratified by High Queen Nova, to the far left. Next to Nova is Commodore Tetsu Kitano from the Nagato, which is also in here on Iscandar. I am sure you recognize Admiral Wildstar. A Mister Nishina is at his right. Others are to the right, waiting to fire.”

“Interesting,” Desslok said. He went over to talk to Nova.

“How does your range work?” he asked.

“We have a holographic space we fire into with a buffer field behind it,” Nova said. “We have scores we work against for draw and fire rate, like this,” she said as she holstered her sidearm, hit a timer button, drew as fast as lightning, and fired, hitting the energy surge that was the moving target.

“Not bad,” he said.

“Go talk to Derek. He’s better at this than I am by a few milliseconds,” Nova said as she put on the safety, holstered her weapon, and said, “Klaus, take my slot.”

Keyman walked over, shook hands with his uncle and took over. “Of course.”

“Where are you going?” Derek asked, patting Nova’s hand. He saluted Desslok. “Nice you’re watching us.”

“Thank you. This is cute, but no one can beat me,” he said calmly.

“Wanna bet?” laughed Derek.

“I’ll be up to a wager, yes,” Desslok said.

“Derek…please. Remember that last stupid wager you made?” Nova warned.

“I’d rather not talk about it,” Derek said.

“And the ladies and I made you look stupid after that one,” Nova chuckled. “Don’t wager. Especially with our large friend here,” Nova said as she gave Desslok’s arm a pat. “Will be nice to have you in the family, finally.”

“Yes, mother,” Desslok said as he rolled up his eyes. “My wagers are humane.”

“Most of the time,” Nova said.

“I don’t harm anyone. I just humiliate the losers,” Desslok purred.

“That’s why you don’t need to do this, Derek,” Nova said.

“He challenged my manhood,” Derek chuckled.

“Whatever,” Nova said. “If you want me, I’ll be filing my nails.” She kissed Derek and took off.

“Maybe you should listen to Nova,” said Desslok. “She is very wise.”

“No way,” Derek said. “We can beat you. Here’s the bargain. Me, you, Yamazaki, Klaus, Mark, and Tetsu work against your score. If our average beats yours, you have to go streaking around the ship.”

Desslok laughed his low, dangerous laugh. “I agree. But, if, as I expect, I win…you appear at the reception tonight in outfits of my choosing.”

“You’re on!” Derek said.

“Derek, this is stupid,” Mark said.

“C’mon, Mark! We can beat him!”

“We shall see,” Desslok said with a twisted smile.

LATER…

Back to our story about the men of Yamato.

As you will remember, Derek, visiting former Helmsman Admiral Mark Venture of the Pennsylvania, Sho Yamazaki, Klaus Keyman, and Captain Tetsu Kitano of the Nagato were on Iscandar visiting for a reception with the Gamilons. Desslok had come aboard Yamato and started bragging on the target range. Derek had gotten the idea to do a friendly challenge with Desslok on their firing times. They had agreed to a wager; if the crew’s firing and draw time, as an average, beat Desslok’s, Desslok would streak on the Yamato. If Desslok beat their average, though…they had to wear costumes of the Emperor’s choosing to the pre-reception party on the Yamato, where Terrons, Gamilons, Pellians, and Iscandarians would attend.

They lost.

Badly.

So, with an evil grin, Desslok had some…special costumes made up.

And now…the men of Yamato, Pennsylvania, and Nagato were forced to leave the reception…and…change.

When they reappeared, their dress uniforms were exchanged for the following…outfits.

Yamazaki, in a white and orange tank swimsuit, female patterned, with a bunny tail on his…bottom…shirt cuffs on his bare arms…shirt collar, orange necktie, orange high-heeled pumps, closed-toe…and white bunny ears.

Lord Admiral Derek Wildstar, their intrepid leader, in a red bikini top and bottoms with frilly white trims, a white bunny tail on his bottom, red ribbon on his upper thigh with a bunny applique’, red cuffs trimmed in frilly white…red bow tie on his neck with bunny applique’, red high-heeled sandals with adjustable buckles and back straps…and red bunny ears.

Admiral Mark Venture of the Pennsylvania was in green; green backless halter-top swimsuit with bunny tail…elaborate green ribbon on his thigh…cute green booties with high heels…and green bunny ears.

The brave Captain Kitano of the Nagato wore his own red bikini with white frills and white bunny tail, red frilly cuffs on his upper arms, white collar with adorable red bow tie, clear plastic backless high-heeled sandals…and red bunny ears.

Last of all, Prince Klaus Keyman appeared, in a dark blue tank suit that set off beautifully against his blue skin with white bunny tail, blue and silver cuffs and garters, thigh-high high-heeled boots with silver trim, an orange collar, and blue bunny ears.

How did they look?

They looked adorable.

Akira was the first one to see her...husband…coming out in that sort of outfit.

She looked, utterly aghast.

She spit out her wine.

“What the hell are those?” said Lieutenant Deke Wakefield to Queen Sasha of Iscandar, whom he had just had one hell of an argument with.

“They look like…officers and gentlemen,” Sasha said, her eyes going wide.

She squealed with laughter, surprising Gamilon General Frakken, who was next to her.

General Grimslade Halleck of the Pellian carrier Independence stared at the group.

“What is this?” he said in a loud, humorless voice as Akira Keyman fell out of her chair with laughter.

“We’re a new unit,” Derek said, introducing the group loudly. “We’re the Hopping Bunnies Special Attack Squad! Start hopping, men!”

All of them began to…hop.

Then, Nova, in her dress peacoat, skirt, cover, and heels, came in, wondering where the hell Derek was.

She saw them and dropped her drink!

Nova leaned against a table, keeping in laughter, and she said, “Derek, why the HELL did you form The Hopping Bunnies?”

“They lost a bet to me, XO,” Desslok said as he swept in with Princess Starsha on his arm. “Starsha, doesn’t your father look adorable in red? Maybe now you wish you had not reincarnated?”

Nova got up, grabbed a riding crop from a shocked Pellian officer, and she snapped, “What possessed all of you to make a bet with Desslok?”

“We were getting tired of his bragging, ma’am,” said Kitano.

“He was making fools of us,” said Yamazaki.

“We shook on it, Nova,” Derek said. “C’mon…it’s funny!”

“You have just given Princess Starsha kittens…and this whole thing is in her honor before she is crowned and before she marries Desslok!” Nova yelled. “And you made idiots out of us before the whole Gamilon and Pellian General Staff!” Nova said, marching up and down. She walked up to General Fomt Berger of Gamilon, stole his cigarette from his mouth, and puffed it furiously with this crazed look on her face.

She marched around behind Derek and slapped him on the butt with her riding crop after she winked at Desslok.

“DAMN, Nova! That hurt!”

“Attention, Lord Admiral! I am your Queen and I am NOT amused!” Nova said, finally bending over to giggle for a minute before getting back her composure. “Okay, you…sissy boys!” Nova barked in her best command voice. “ALL OF YOU! Attention!”

“Nova, this is my ship! You can’t order me around!”

“I’m your XO, ship’s doctor, and wife!” Nova snapped. “I am relieving you of command for a few hours! Effective now!”

“On what grounds?”

“Temporarily insanity!” Nova said as she grabbed Derek’s bikini bottoms and snapped them.

“Nova, that was mean!” Derek said.

Nova giggled. “I had to do that! You were on the verge of being indecent!”

“Was he, now?” Desslok said. “A pity some things about Terrons are so…small. However did he give you all of those children, High Queen Nova? Artificial insemination, perhaps?”

“Wheaties and lots of effort!” Derek snapped.

“This is terrible, just terrible,” Nova said, looking at Derek from head down to his toes.

“What’s wrong?”

“Your nail polish is chipped, dear,” Nova said. “Someone bring a chair? I have to fix this poor lady’s pedicure. Mark. You get it.”

“Nova, when we met… I never thought…” Mark said.

“That you guys would do anything so idiotic?” Nova replied. “There we go. I have sandals on myself. I always keep this in my pocket in case my pedicure chips,” Nova said as she got out some pink nail polish. “Foot up on that chair, Derek!”

Derek did so…and he groaned…as, in public…Nova fixed his pedicure.

Then, after that was done, Nova ordered the chair taken away.

“I believe they should be punished,” Desslok purred.

“Yes, they made me look stupid,” Starsha giggled.

“They will be punished!” Nova said. “Desslok, give me a hand! These men should all be taken out and shot!”

“Whaaaaa?” said Klaus. “Uncle!”

“It would be a pleasure, but very messy for your ship, Nova,” Desslok said. “Your discretion!”

Nova winked at Derek and sent [I was never going to shoot all of you. But you are getting it...]

Derek swallowed.

“Thirty pushups…now!” Nova said.

Yamazaki tried to kick his shoes off.

“NO!” Nova said, banging the riding crop against the table and stealing another cigarette from Berger right after he lit it. “Do thirty pushups with your heels on!”

“Ma’am, we can’t,” said Kitano.

“Why not? I run around in heels all the time!” Nova said. “I don’t want your toe-jam on my mess-deck. Derek, keep yours on, too! Although those are lovely,” Nova said. “I might steal them from you and adjust them and wear them to the formal party tomorrow night! I think they’d match the cranberry accent on my pink dress! Start pushing, boots!” Nova yelled as she counted out the cadence.

When they got up, they were sweating.

“I’m getting chafed,” said Mark.

“Trelaina can take care of those later when she shows up with your daughter,” Nova said. “Now, we are gonna run laps, people! And I will be the drill instructor!”

“Nova, ma’am, you’re out of your mind,” said Klaus.

“You were out of your mind for agreeing to this,” Nova said. “Let’s go! RUN!”

Nova began to run in place, calling cadence loudly as the men got into a ragged line and followed her.

A FEW MINUTES LATER…

Nova was making them run around the ship, singing in cadence to:

Let ’em blow let ’em blow
Let the four winds blow
Let ’em blow from east to west
The damn Defense Force is the best

They ran, watching as men and women not at the party popped out staterooms and work rooms to watch the…weird procession.

“What did those guys do?”

“That’s the skipper! XO is callin’ cadence!”

“They all have heels on!”

“Nova must be pissed at those guys!”

“Hey…sweet cheeks Admiral Venture!” someone yelled.

Someone else whistled.

Nova kept on making them run.

She sang out,

Standing tall and looking good
Ought to march in Hollywood!

Hold your head and hold it high
The Bunny Corps is marchin’ by!

They repeated it as people whistled at them.

Nova got behind Derek and goosed him as he ran.

“Why’d you do that?”

“You’re slacking off, Mister!” Nova sang.

“My panties are chafin’ me,” said Yamazaki.

“The corns on my feet are getting corns!” said Keyman.

“Go on,” Nova sang. “New cadence!”

Close your eyes and hang your head
We are marching by the dead

Look to your right and whadya see?
A whole bunch of legs looking at me

Dress it right and cover down
Forty inches all around

Nine to the front, six to the rear
That’s the way we do it here

And the run of shame continued…

MUCH LATER…

Nova was out of uniform in the Captain’s Cabin in a short floral bath yukata and bare feet.

She had given Derek several kisses and helped him out of his crazy outfit.

“Dear, how do you agree to such things?” she said.

“Stupid, I guess…” Derek said as he hung his head.

“No, you let Desslok prank you,” Nova sighed as she rubbed ointment into his aching feet and toes. “Let’s try not to get into a stupid competition with him? He has a…wicked streak…even in fun…”

“I should’ve remembered what he used to do to us all those years back…the demented laughter…the skulls on the video screen?”

“Hopefully you learned…sir,” Nova said. “Oh. You’re back in command again…”

“Good…I want to do something,” Derek said with a wicked grin. “After my feet and the inside of my crotch stops hurting…”

“What?” Nova said. “Something like…this?” she said as she opened her yukata and dropped it.

“Yes…something along those lines…after you treat my crotch with that ointment…”

“This is part of the treatment, you poor dear,” Nova said as she kissed him and sat down on the bunk with him. “Although…I love your toenails…”

“Why?”

“They look so cute with pink polish on!“ Nova said with a laugh.

Then, she proceeded to treat Derek…

…nothing more need be said…

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TO BE CONTINUED…