THE LEGEND OF GRAND MECHAPOLIS

SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO/GALAXY EXPRESS 999

Founding of the Dual Monarchy and Galaxy Express System

By: Frederick P. Kopetz

Chapter SEVENTEEN: The Battle of Three Captains…

Thanks to Gail Kopetz, Bells of Nevermore, Margaret Diviney, Michelle Nutter-Lynd, Steven Diviney, Andrea Lyon, and Kaiju Director 007 for Advice and inspiration.

Bells of Nevermore’s Characters are used by permission. However, by mutual agreement, they may be written differently in the Galaxy Visions Saga than in Bells’ own works…

Also, MAJOR kudos to Bells of Nevermore for helping me write Atirangi Rapahango’s dialogue and the concept of the mysterious ship “Black Mariah”.

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PRELUDE: …Let him that thinks he stands…

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Queen Starsha was watching the battle through her links with Desslar, Sasha, and the Ring that Yuki bore with what was almost an Olympian, clinical detachment, and a sense of pain at the same time.

Abelt, she thought, both grieved and angry. Then she sent to him, I understand you have been attacked. Can you not withdraw?

Desslar sent back to Starsha from the bridge of his flagship Baleras IV, a larger version of his old Command Cruiser, Starsha, WHY? I thought you supported me! He was shocked and angered, It is not easy to withdraw when my own ship has taken a missile hit. Like it or not, Promethium’s forces attacked us. Here we stand and fight for our lives and for peace!

Why do you not heed my counsel? None of you should have been there to sign a pact with Gatlantis in the first place!

Desslar was disappointed and a bit enraged. I told you before I left that we may have to take this course. This is a desperate war. And why are you not here at my side supporting me, Starsha? Supporting your parents?

Then, at that moment, as her hand trembled, a sense of cold came over Starsha.

A female voice whispered in her mind, Starsha, dearest. They have always been aggressive, and none of them have lived true to Iscandar’s ethic of universal peace, and even the guidance of your God. The whole lot of them. Desslar. Zworder, especially. Even your own parents of this incarnation play you like a fool. This is a game of chess. And you are an expendable pawn in their plans. Listen to me. I can help you. I will help you.

Who are you? Starsha thought.

A friend, whispered the seductive voice. Your best friend.

Something feels off over this, Starsha sent back.

They do not like Rud Iscandar and its ways of peace. Only war. You may need to test their morals again. As you once did with Abelt. As you once did with the Star Force.

Starsha! Abelt demanded. What is happening?

Perhaps, she sent back. I am seeing you all for what you are…

And, far away, a dark mechanical woman’s soul filled with laughter. “I have her so-beloved Brother Faust falling to my service with the aid of the Dark. Now, I am seducing his Sister Starsha too! With her own greatest flaw…her own version of Love and Peace…used against her…and used against all of them!” Promethium whispered out loud. “Long have I watched her. Desslar…Yuki…prepare to be back-stabbed by those you love and trust so you will fall like ripe fruit into my lap with broken wills!”

Promethium laughed.

And, for the first time ever, Yuki felt a sense of cold and death from the ring she had found in 2199 that had linked her and Starsha as it fitfully winked.

She needed to scrub for surgery in Sickbay.

Out of need, and maybe out of deep insight and wisdom she did not consciously grasp, since like Mary of Bethany of old, she was busy with so many things in battle, Yuki took her ring off and set it aside.

Then, she said, “Michelle, I’m scrubbing! Intubate that patient in Bed Number Two! I can see from here her respiration stinks!”

The Yamato shook under Yuki’s feet. With the familiarity of one with very good space legs, the Empress braced herself and rode out the impact.

As she did, she wondered why she was picking up a dagger of grief from Abelt.

Did something happen to Starsha? Yuki thought. And, Susumu, O God, are you all right?

If she had only known…

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I. CHAOS OVER TELEZART

IN ORBIT OVER PLANET TELEZART

JULY 8, 2234

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“Third Bridge Hit!” reported Roberto Neuve from the Science-Technical Post on the Yamato. “All ready crew killed!”

The Yamato took another hit as, below the Second Bridge, the command tower was hit. “Spherical Navigation Room out. Calling for Medics!” said a voice at Roberto’s station as Admiral Susumu Kodai gritted his teeth.

Miyuki called out, “Captain! Gatlantean missile ship Schava badly hit to port! They say they’ll fire missiles to defend us when they have full power back up!”

“Tactical situation is a mess, sir,” said Captain Shiro Okita, sitting with his blue peacoat and cap on at Analysis next to Presha. “Surrounded from three corridors!”

“Presha, Yvona, keep those guns firing!” Susumu snapped.

The two fore gun turrets blasted two salvos.

From her post, Sasha reported, “Sir, two enemy battleships destroyed! They’re tough to kill because they seem to have a high-powered shield system!”

Then, at Susumu’s post, Medical came up. “Susumu! This is Yuki! We have fifteen casualties in and I have more coming, and I’m losing the guy I’m working on now! I thought I could save this one, but…”

“Who do you have operating?”

“Myself, Doctor Sakamoto, Nurse-Practitioner Yuki Neuve, and three other trained nurses!”

“A Gamilas doctor and a Gatlantean doctor will soon be there to assist you, Yuki! Their ships were destroyed and we have a shuttle out rescuing survivors!”

“Roger; I need all the help I can get,” Yuki said.

From Analysis, Captain Shiro Okita said, “Sir, I recommend we launch the Black Tigers to give us some maneuvering space. The enemy’s closing in fast!”

“Agreed,” Susumu said from his post. “Presha. Scramble the Black Tigers!”

“Yessir,” she said.

“Who’s in command on the Kirishima now, sir?” said Presha.

“The XO, my wife Carol,” Okita said. “She’s a very capable officer.”

Presha nodded. “First two squadrons of Black Tigers away, sir,” she said.

“Use their warp capability. Get Yamamoto and Keyman in position ASAP to attack those nearest vessels,” Susumu snapped.

“Yessir,” said Presha.

“Keep those guns firing!” said Susumu. “Load turret number three with wave motion cartridges,” he said as the ship took more damage and heeled hard to the starboard side. “I want those two ships at our stern destroyed! Shima, keep evading!”

“Roger,” said Presha and Jiro as one.

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Outside, Yamamoto and her squadron had taken off.

“On my Daisuke,” she said. “Execute short warp to R-235 above that lead battleship.”

“Yes, ma’am,” said Wakefield in Flight Two, hoping that these newfangled warp engines in their fighters would work properly.

The Tigers warped out, and then reappeared over the lead battleship of the squadron, executing dive-bombing runs on the massive ship from the port side along with, believe it or not, Gatlantean Scorpions who came in from starboard.

Together, the two squadrons rendered the enemy ship paid as she blew apart.

Wakefield got impulsive and flipped frequencies. “Who sent you guys in here to help?” he snapped.

“Goran the Thunderbolt himself,” responded the Gatlantean squadron leader. “Your name, Earther?”

“Lieutenant Deke Wakefield,” snapped the flight leader.

“Impressive move you made. My name is Klonax,” said the Cometine commander. “We didn’t know you had a matter transport mechanism!”

“For us to know and you to find out,” snapped Deke.

Then, Yamamoto burst in with, “Wakefield, cut the chatter! All of you, clear the area; Desslar is about to fire his prime weapon in this direction.”

“Roger,” said Wakefield as he snapped a salute at the Gatlantean commander, who nodded curtly and then peeled off with his men and women in his trail.

As Deke peeled off, he thought, what a messed-up place this is! A few months ago, I was fighting those green guys. Now I’m working with them? Someone tell me this is a weird dream I’m havin’…

On the Baleras IV, Talan said to Desslar, “Ten seconds to firing. Final safety lock open! We have the fires out from that missile hit!”

“Finally in an advantageous position to attack, no matter what Starsha tells me…we have to win this!” Desslar hissed with a demented grin. He completed the countdown and fired.

A pink waterfall of energy roared out of his flagship’s cannon into the midst of the Mechanoid Fleet’s port side wing.

Paydirt! Desslar took out about a hundred ships with that firing.

Then, he smiled when he noticed the Yamato firing wave motion cartridges from her aft turret towards the enemy fleet.

The damaged Kirishima, along with the Duke of York, Tirpitz, and the Pellian space battleships Victory and Viceroy followed suit with wave cartridges of their own.

Those cartridges slammed home.

“Sir! Estimate the Commonwealth vessels destroyed forty enemy units!” said an officer on the Baleras IV’s bridge. “However, we are taking losses! Ten destroyers and fifteen cruisers destroyed!”

“Tell them to press the attack, no matter what the cost,” Desslar said. “It is us…or them!”

“Yessir,” said Talan. “Sir, the carrier Talgrad reports they will have dive bombers ready to transport into position for SMITE in thirty seconds!”

“Very good,” Desslar said with a warped grin.

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In the meantime, a hundred lightyears away, a small leased spacecraft, the London, was carrying all of the heavy metal band known as Septigram on an errand; Cody Tiriganiaq, who was the pilot, Dexter Cross, the co-pilot, and Atirangi Rapahango, lead singer and writer of the band, were in the cockpit. The others, including Var’s Terron fiancee’ Teresa Kodai, were in the rear of the ship, messing around, tuning up, sharing bad jokes, whatever.

They had been on their way to Leonig III, a small planet outside of the Terran-Pellian Commonwealth, where they were going to begin to rehearse cuts and songs for their fifteenth album, tentatively titled  Magickal Hypocrite, with an idea or two about things about her distant relative Queen Starsha of Iscandar.

Also, Atirangi remembered something that had happened on Pellias a few weeks before.

Septigram had been playing to a packed house.

At the end of the concert, Desslar of Gamilas had greeted her on stage, and given her a huge bouquet of white roses. The singer, partly of Iscandarian blood, made from one of Astra of Iscandar’s egg cells illicitly years before by her Rapa Nui Islander “mother” Doctor Rapahango had been touched by Desslar’s gallant gesture.

And Desslar had not forgotten Ati’s face that night.

“Starsha,” growled Cody as he watched the helm of the ship. “The great heroine with the will and ability to save Terra who delayed while billions died, all according to the excerpts from Admiral Kodai’s book in the press releases. He’s decided to let out the whole truth. Said he was silenced by the old EDF for years. Not that I needed a book to prove it, I saw them arguing over Terra’s fate like a toy years ago on Iscandar.”

“She wot, didna wanna give us the Cosmo Reverse System or whatever in the end? And she ‘ad second thoughts I was tol’ after getting’ there first before the Yamato did,” said Dexter.

“Something’s wrong with the engine,” said Cody. “Losing power.”

“What the flaming fuck?” said Ati.

“Engine is down; we can’t warp again,” said Dexter.

“Goddamn it to hell!” yelled Ati as she banged the arm of her chair. “Okay…we send a distress signal and hope someone hears us before…before life support runs out….”

Then, at once, a huge form appeared in front of them.

“Some kind of ship?” said Ati.

“No identification available; length, six hundred and twenty meters,” Cody said, scanning the massive ship.

“Hail it,” said Ati, who was shaking…with an odd sort of excitement.

“No answer,” said Ati.

Then, the ship came in over them. A hatch opened in her keel. The black superdreadnought grabbed the London and pulled them in with a tractor beam. The hatch closed.

“Environmentals and life support are online,” said Cody.

“No life readings. Not so much as a microbe,” said Ati.

The three of them stepped into the massive, dimly lit vessel. The light seemed to be dark blue or violet, and seemed to emit from the overheads. There was an odd sound, like a heartbeat and a breath.

They were inside something alive.

A Living ship?

Suddenly, a female voice sounded around them from nowhere.

𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲. 𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗹. 𝗠𝘆 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲; 𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝘂𝗽𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗲. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘀𝗺𝗼𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘄, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗜 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗟𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗻. 𝗔𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶 𝗥𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗼. 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗸𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱. 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝘆 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲. 𝗜 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆. 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗱, 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗥𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗼.

“Wha’ the bloody hell?” said Dexter as arrows began to light up in the deck.

“We go with the flow, dudes,” said Ati. “Follow the green arrow road.”

“This place isn’t either Kansas or Oz,” muttered Cody.

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On the Portent of Justice, an officer snapped to before Emperor Zworder and reported, “Sir, scanners indicate the Gamilas have taken out one hundred units, with the Commonwealth Forces having taken out fifty, although they are taking heavy losses, mostly in lighter units.”

“I think they’re showing off, my fucking love,” laughed Sarbera, again reinstalled in Zworder’s bed as of late as his Mistress.

“Enough of their moment in the sun! Get us a clear firing angle. It is time we showed them what we can do. Prepare all main guns for a strike barrage!” snapped Zworder from his throne on his flagship.

“Firing main guns!” snapped an officer on Zworder’s massive ship.

The Portent of Justice fired barrage after barrage into the enemy fleet, taking out about a hundred ships.

Even Admiral Kamaris’ flagship was hit.

The Mechanoid commander did not take that well.

“Respond with transmittable strike cannon on that ship!” he roared.

And, a moment later, Kamaris’ ship, the Devastator, fired five of her main turrets at Zworder’s flagship.

The Mechanoids had a cruel angle of their own, though.

They had warp projectors built into the main turrets.

The net result: the Portent of Justice was hit without warning by the equivalent of fourteen Magna-Flame gun strikes as the energy surges came out of warp near Zworder’s flagship and began to batter it without mercy.

“MAJESTY!” yelled Sarbera as even their massive ship was hit and shaken by the beams.

Zworder himself had been knocked to the deck. He cursed and ignored the bleeding cut in his forehead. “About ninety degrees! Prepare our siege cannon! I want that bastard destroyed!”

“Beginning turn, sire,” said the helmsman as Zworder’s ship dropped its main gun.

“FIRE!” Zworder roared.

The main siege cannon went off.

A blast of energy roared towards Kamaris’ ship and the surrounding ships.

The blast took out about ninety Mechanoid vessels, and Zworder smiled as he looked at the devastation. “Now, we tell Desslar and the boy Kodai how easy that was!” he said as he laughed.

The flash faded.

Zworder’s smile faded when he saw that the Devastator was still there.

“What, Sarbera?” rumbled Zworder. “I aimed point-blank at the battleship! What happened?”

“This happened,” said Kamaris as he came on the Portent of Justice’s screen, laughing with great amusement. “And this is what WILL happen! Observe!”

And then, from its bow, the Mechanoid ship fired Zworder’s beam right back at his own vessel!

Zworder cursed and screamed in utter disbelief as he saw his own weapon being directed back at him. “EMERGENCY WARP!” he yelled, running over and pulling the levers himself to save his own skin.

Still, as his ship warped out, it took a glancing blow from…the beam directed at his vessel.

The siege cannon was blown off and two hundred Gatlantean officers and men were killed at once.

The Portent of Justice came out of warp far towards the rear of the battle area, damaged and smoking.

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On the Yamato, a shocked Sasha said, “Admiral! Zworder’s flagship took major damage! He warped out to beyond WX-322!” And why was Starsha yelling at me in my mind? Sasha thought. What bee has Mother caught in her bonnet now?

“It looks like the enemy flagship caught his energy and directed it back at him,” said Okita.

“Just like Ekogaru’s Fortress years ago,” said Susumu. “Damnit! Shima, get us behind one of those wrecked Gatlantean missile ships at RT-92. We’ll use that as cover!”

“What do you intend to do, sir?” said Presha.

“Stop all engines when we are in position! Prepare to fire the wave motion gun!” Susumu said. “Target, enemy flagship!”

The firing sequence started, and soon, the Yamato was ready to fire. Her fires from before were out. She had taken losses, but could still fight.

“Open final safety lock!” Susumu said.

“Final safety removed!” Presha replied.

“Don anti-flash gear,” ordered Susumu.

The goggles came down.

“Beginning ten-second countdown!” said Presha as she squeezed her hands on the firing grip. “3….2…1…ZERO!”

“FIRE!” Susumu ordered.

“FIRE!” repeated Presha.

The wave motion gun fired.

It blasted through the Gatlantean wreck they had used for cover, and it roared into the Devastator before Admiral Kamaris could react. “What a damned trick!” he roared just before his ship was destroyed…and he teleported to another vessel.

Susumu smiled as he saw Kamaris’ squadron blowing apart, ship upon ship.

However, his elation was short-lived, since, out of nowhere, an enemy cruiser warped in and hit the Yamato’s starboard side with a point-blank barrage.

The ship heeled hard to port.

Susumu was knocked off his feet and his cap went flying as his head slammed into his own console.

There was a large cut on his forehead. But the impact knocked him out, and he fell unconscious like a stone.

“Captain!” yelled Presha and Miyuki even as Yamato took more hits.

Perlman ran to his side. “He’s out cold!” he yelled. “We need medics! Fast!”

“Send Medics to Bridge Number One!” said Sasha from her post as Perlman tried to drag Kodai away from the fire that had erupted from his console.

Okita and Yvona got fire extinguishers, and they put out the blaze even as the medics came for Lord Admiral Kodai.

“Evade the enemy!” said Presha as XO as she tried to fire the main guns at the enemy ship. Then, she looked at Captain Shiro Okita. “Captain! You out-rank us! Her Majesty is in Sickbay! Please assume command of the Yamato!”

“Respectfully, Miss, First Admiral Yuki Kodai should take command.”

“She’s below operating on people!” said Sasha. “Please take command!”

Okita nodded.

Conscious of the weight of command on his shoulders as he looked up at this father’s plaque to the left of the elevator belt, he thought, Almighty Lord, guide my next steps. My father; Admiral Susumu Kodai, Commodore Daisuke Shima, and Commodore Yuki Kodai have all sat in this chair before me as Captains of this magnificent ship. May I follow well in their footsteps.

And, at that, the younger, black-bearded Captain Shiro Okita, at forty-nine, took command of the fabled Yamato, trying to ignore that he was sitting in Admiral Kodai’s blood as the medics hauled the unconscious Lord Admiral away.

What the heck is the tactical situation? Shiro thought. We took out the enemy flagship, but ninety more of them are converging on us…

Then, he snapped, “Mister Shima! Take us straight through that formation! Miss D’Shal! Open all forward guns and missiles! We’re blasting a path through them, and right now! Move it!”

“Yessir,” they both said.

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Aboard the Baleras IV, which was again taking heavy damage, General Hydom Gimleh of Intelligence glanced at Leader Desslar and saluted as he and Talan were trying to hold on while the ship maneuvered very hard.

“Sire, we’ve taken damage in three different areas of the ship,” Gimleh said.

“Our speed is dropping off,” said Talan.

“Can we still fire my Hyper-Desslar cannon?” Desslar said.

“It can be done, but we would be taking a risk in doing so, sire,” said Talan.

“We were trying to call the Yamato but the message cut off,” said a comm officer. “They also said something about heavy damage.”

Do we all go to a warriors’ Valhalla together? Desslar thought in some despair as he watched two more nearby Gamilas vessels being blown apart. If so, Susumu, Yuki, Zworder, we may all soon be drinking together under Heaven’s Grace, since we will all be past all pain and mortal concerns. Starsha, he thought as he imagined her face in his mind. It would have been nice to hear your voice one last time, doing something other than nagging at me, condemning me in my hour of need. But, if we do not meet now, perhaps we shall soon meet when all free planets are destroyed in this Megiddo that we may be facing…

“Message from Starsha,” said Gimleh.

“Interesting that she calls now,” Desslar mused. “Put her on the main screen.” Why isn’t she contacting me mentally? Desslar thought. What sort of game is this?

Gimleh nodded.

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On the Yamato, down below in Sickbay, Yuki had scrubbed again and put on fresh gloves. Six patients already, and I couldn’t save two of them! Who’s going to be next?

“Patient with head trauma. We suspect a brain bleed, Doctor,” said a nurse as two medics plopped a prone, shirtless form on Yuki’s operating table.

Yuki ran scanners. “The bleed seems to be in the prefrontal cortex. There’s a wound in his forehead…we’ll…”

Then, Yuki stopped in her tracks as soon as she recognized the unconscious man’s face. Susumu! Oh, my God! she thought.  “Clippers, Miss Wenner. Take his bangs off. Intubate him and prepare to open the skull…at the existing wound…”

“Aye, ma’am,” said the nurses as they began to cut Susumu’s hair and drape the operating field while intubating him.

“Heart rate’s not good,” Yuki said, trying to keep from crying. “Get an IV started. 20 milligrams Denmax for that heart rate. I don’t want it too high, though. Too many bleeders…in his…brain,” Yuki stammered slightly as she gritted her teeth and tried to keep objective. This is my husband, Yuki thought. She reached out through their bond and got nothing. His brain function is messed up. We have to get that clot out fast or he’s dead. God, why? WHY?

“Laser knife! Follow that up with a bone saw,” Yuki said. “Then get me a micro-suction. That has to be cleaned out of…Susumu’s…head ASAP.”

“Of course.”

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II. THE SOUNDS OF PATHOS…

BALERAS IV

IN ORBIT OVER PLANET TELEZART

JULY 8, 2234

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“Desslar,” said Starsha.

“Why are you not appearing to me as a hologram or speaking to my heart? You know I prefer that. I could use…your comfort.”

Light flashed across Desslar’s face from an explosion outside. “I am at war. This could be our last farewell, Starsha!”

“The fact that you are there at all is a tragedy,” Starsha said sadly. “Why did you fall to the desire to shed blood?”

 “We were at a conference,” Desslar said. “Promecium’s forces attacked us right after we made an accord. We did not start this. Your parents did not start this. Emperor Zworder did not start this. Promecium and her underlings did.”

“Must you revel in that destruction?” Starsha said sadly.

“There is love, but there is also righteous battle. Your mother and father taught me the meaning of love as opposed to needless war. They will always be revered in my heart, Starsha. This is a battle to protect you, dear Starsha. To protect all of us.”

“Needless,” she sighed. “Do what is needed and come home. To me. As soon as possible.”

“I cannot leave the enemy on the field or abandon my sworn allies. Abandoning your mother and even Zworder is hateful to me. And if I turned my back on the enemy, we may see them again soon on Gamilas. Or Iscandar. Do you wish to die as a victim again? Or live?”

“I would live, even though I am bearing our child.”

“Why did you not tell me?” Desslar said. “Why keep this secret?”

Then, there was a blast.

Baleras IV was hit again.

Only this time, Desslar slammed into the deck.

He stood, in pain. He knew two ribs were broken and a wrist was broken.

But he ignored the physical pain.

The psychic pain was far worse as he saw Starsha looking at him on the screen…almost impassively.

Flashes of memory went through his mind.

His dead wife Astrena had showed concern and helped him off the deck in one battle.

In another battle, Yuki had done the same.

Dear Astrena with your kind and brave eyes and spine of steel, he thought in his depression and pain. Gentle, gallant Yuki and your sweet smile and pure love for Susumu and kindly friendship for me. Starsha…I thought you were of the same mold. What happened?

“I intended to tell you when you came home,” she said, with tears running down her cheeks. “But, since by your chosen fate you will soon probably die and not return, you may as well know now. Goodbye, Abelt. Enjoy your wargames!” Starsha said as she wept, with rage and unreasoning jealousy raging through her mind.

She slowly raised her hand.

And, on Gamilas, there was an earth tremor.

A volcano exploded on Gamilas.

Lava flowed.

Buildings crumbled.

Starsha laughed. “There is a cost to your wargames, Desslar.”

“What?”

“You shall find out when you get home,” Starsha said.

“You give me only cold comfort,” Desslar snarled. “Why, Starsha? WHY?”

“A ship is appearing off our port bow,” said Talan.

Desslar looked on as a huge black ship appeared near his.

“Who are you?” Starsha said.

“His guardian, since you aren’t here,” Ati sent to her. “You know who the fucking hell I am. Starsha, you bitch! We spoke in April. I am Atirangi Rapahango. My heritage is of Iscandar and Rapa Nui. And I have been given a great gift to save your husband, since you will not!”

Starsha gritted her teeth and cut off.

She raised her hand.

There was more devastation on Gamilas as her eyes slowly turned dark blue.

“Starsha!” yelled Desslar. Atirangi was still on the screen.

“What…do you intend to do, Atirangi Rapahango. You are a musician? The one I gave roses to on Pellias? Your songs. They pierce the heart like daggers of crystal.”

“Yes. I am a musician, it is true. But more than that, I am a Rapanui warrior. We didn't just kill our enemies. We ate them.”

“From Rapa Nui?”

“Yes.”

“I…destroyed your people when I attacked Terra and I owe you an apology. Later. Stay and hear me out,” Desslar said.

“I will not leave your side,” Ati said.

And, on the Yamato, in the midst of her surgery on Susumu, Yuki’s own head hurt.

Images came to her mind. Burning buildings. Lava. Screaming people.

My God, she thought. What is happening on Gamilas? Who is doing this?

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

III. KAMARIS’ REVENGE

IN ORBIT OVER PLANET TELEZART

JULY 9, 2234

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

The battle over Telezart continued for several hours.

It was a bloodbath.

Gamilas and Commonwealth ships destroyed Mechanoid vessels through desperate attacks; air attacks;’ point-blank gunnery barrages…sometimes, even just desperate captains ramming enemy ships.

Commodore Ember Tyson, now the commander of the Commonwealth vessel Iron Duke, destroyed two enemy ships and ended her life and career with great honor by ramming them.

Gamilas Admiral Dargis Unruh, with his ships damaged, was also reduced to ramming the enemy as he charged one of the destroyers with his own flagship and died.

Gatlantis had its own Magna-Flame Gun vessel.

Sent into combat by Zworder’s orders, she soon blasted away more of the enemy space battleships, although she did so with the loss of her escorts.

On the Yamato, Captain Shiro Okita, on his third cup of coffee, was waiting for an opening.

Finally, Sasha pointed out, “Sir, an enemy squadron is gathering at TQ-45. It looks like they’re trying to make their own final barrage upon us.”

“And I intend to answer that,” Okita said. “Miss Mori, call Second Squadron. Advise them we are lining up for formation Gamma-Twelve. At once.”

“Yessir,” said Miyuki.

Down below, the operation on Susumu was concluded.

Alone for a bit, Yuki and Teresa joined forces and used their energies to quickly bring Susumu back to consciousness. Yuki worked hard to remember the words from the Grimoires that she now had secured again…the very ones that their corrupt son Kazuo Kodai had stolen recently.

As was her wont when doing a great working, Teresa had stripped off her clothes and was nude as she funneled energy.

Teresa slipped away to give the Kodais some privacy as the ship still banged and rocked from the combat that they were evidently still in.

The first thing Susumu saw as he opened his eyes was Yuki smiling at him, wearing a rumpled green blouse, necktie, and her lab coat. His vision was very blurry, however. He blinked three times. The blurring didn’t go away.

“Am I having a fever dream…or am I really seein’ you?” Susumu mumbled.

Thank God, Yuki thought. His voice is slurred, but he can still talk.

“It’s me, and you’re in Sickbay, Susumu,” Yuki said. He tried to lift one of his arms, but it shook like the arm of a very sick man in his seventies. He tried to move his legs; same result. “And you’re not getting out of bed. Not now, at least. You had a very close scrape with death, to put it bluntly.”

“Wha’ happen’d to me?” he said.

“You slammed your head against the console during the battle and burst some blood vessels in your dura mater. You had a major brain bleed which put you out like a light because it squeezed your brain stem. You were in a coma for a while, like I was myself years ago. You were and are in critical condition, and you’re getting some rest, Susumu! You’re going to need physical therapy for a while, but with enough practice and effort, your brain should build some new pathways and you should eventually be back to normal again.”

“How long will this take?”

“Several weeks at the least; several months at the worst. And if you don’t recover your full functioning, you may have to retire from the Defense Forces.”

“Yuki…I can’t just lie around like…”

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it, Susumu,” Yuki said, bending down to give him a tender kiss. “Now just get some rest.”

“Are we still in battle?”

Yuki saw no need to lie. “Yes. The battle has been going on for ten hours now.”

“Who’s commanding the ship; the fleet?”

“Captain Shiro Okita, and he’s doing a great job…so far. But, we’re almost at the endgame now, one way or another. You have doctors and nurses who can take care of you now that you’re out of the deepest of the woods. If we survive this, I’m getting you up and walking you tomorrow…even if it’s only a few steps…” Yuki then stood and shrugged off her lab coat. “I have to go now, Susumu, and get changed.”

“Get…changed?”

Yuki nodded. “To confront the enemy commander and dictate terms, I’m going to be in the captain’s chair myself for a while, but in other guise in which you see me now. That enemy commander is either going to surrender and leave Telezart, or, so help me GOD, I’ll make him pay for everything he’s done and send Promethium a message. I also have to send Desslar and Zworder a message.”

“Which…is?”

“Not to trifle with us…and that we’re going to win, Susumu! You know? What you’ve always told me? Have faith. This will work out! The Lord is with us. Do not despair. If we live, He is with us. If we die today, we are with Him,” She kissed him again, even as her own faith wavered a little. “I love you. I intend to be back here soon.”

Yuki turned away, and gave some orders for a Gamilas doctor to watch him carefully, along with Doctor Michelle Sakamoto and Yuki Nueve.

Then, Yuki seemed to vanish.

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

“All vessels ready for attack!” Yuki’s rejuvenated mother Miyuki said from her post.

“Is the Kirishima holding on?” said Okita.

“She’s on line and ready to fire with the other ships,” said Sasha.

“They’re preparing to fire that Entropy Wave at us,” said Roberto Neuve from Science. “Sir, we need to act quickly!”

“Mister Perlman, pull every override we have! Mori, command our ships to do the same and inform Desslar he’d better get the hell out of the way,” said Okita as he brought up the wave motion gun firing grip himself. “Open safety lock! All hands, don anti-flash and anti-shock defenses. Begin ten second countdown!”

“Ten…Nine…Eight…Seven…Six…Five…Four…Three…Two….ONE! ZERO!” Okita barked. “All ships, FIRE!”

The sixty-one remaining space battleships, carriers, and cruisers of the Commonwealth Fleet fired their wave motion guns at the bulk of the Mechanoid Fleet.

On the Adjudicator, Admiral Kamaris looked at the destruction and he said, “All forces! What are we down to?”

“Thirty ships, M’Lord!” said an aide. “And forty behind the lines!”

Then, a view came up of Zworder’s Dreadnaught blasting apart five more enemy vessels. “Make that fifty-five, sir!” said an aide.

“Connect me through to Queen Promethium!” demanded Kamaris. “I am requesting permission to retreat and leave the other ships behind the lines to kill them all. The Coalition still has two hundred and eighty vessels left! We’re outnumbered! We didn’t expect the alliance with Gatlantis to hold together like this!”

Queen Promethium was promptly reached.

Promethium, appearing in her dark form, snapped, “What is it, Kamaris? Do you mean to say you haven’t slain them yet?”

“No, Your Majesty,” he said. “We…we’ve been beaten. Requesting permission to retreat to Defuel to make repairs and gain reinforcements! I am leaving Third Squadron behind in the rear to strike from behind and kill them.”

“You idiot,” hissed Promethium. “Permission denied. Stay there and fight. Destroy Planet Telezart again as a last resort, fool.”

“But we’d die with our enemies!”

“You are expected to die, you scum,” Promethium said. “I trusted you with an important task, and you failed!”

“Promethium! Kamaris!” said a lackey aboard the new Mechanoid flagship. “A communication is going out from the Yamato to every ship in their fleet and to all of our ships! They want to address you directly!”

“Who would be that arrogant as to speak directly to me? None of those organics are worth anything!” Promethium hissed.

“Your Majesty…the Empress Yuki Kodai the Third wishes to address you directly!”

“Really?” said Promethium, who laughed. “Put the little idiot on. Let’s see what that…that…pipsqueak of a woman wants. Maybe she wants to negotiate a surrender?”

On Emperor Zworder’s flagship, an aide told him, “Your Majesty. The Yamato is addressing the enemy flagship directly!”

“I was about to contact them myself,” Zworder said. “Let’s watch this. That young man Shiro Okita must be very, very arrogant to speak for all of us…”

Then, the image came up.

It was Yuki, now clad in a white Iscandarian-style gown and burning with Light as the Empress. “To our allies. Be informed that I have returned Captain Shiro Okita safely to the Kirishima. Since Lord Admiral Kodai is, sadly, injured and in Sickbay, I am assuming command of the Yamato and the entire Coalition Fleet personally. Please do not dispute my decision,” Yuki said in a commanding voice as the Imperishable Crown burned at her brow.  “Queen La Andromeda Promethium the Second? I understand you are in touch with us?”

“I am,” snapped Promethium. “What do you want?”

“The valor of my forces and our honored Gamilas and Gatlantean allies have reduced your forces to a mere flotilla, Promethium. If you do not desire further loss of life, yes, even of your Mechanoids’ lives, Queen Promethium, order your Admiral Kamaris to retreat. Now.”

“Or you will do what to me?” hissed Promethium.

Yuki sat down at the captain’s chair and smiled. “I regret to advise you that then I’ll have to destroy your Admiral’s ship. And his whole flotilla,” she said as she raised her hand and Kamaris gasped as panels began to explode on his flagship.

“What…what is happening?” he demanded.

A dying Mechanoid said, “Sir, the Entropy Wave Projectors have just been blown apart! It was an enormous power surge!”

Zworder smiled slightly, but he also trembled. So reminiscent of Teresa, you are, Yuki, he thought. But you’re worse…because you seem to know exactly what you are doing!

“Order our other vessels to fire!” roared Kamaris.

“Their projectors are down, too. Major burnouts…all over the fleet!”

“Then, we’re fighting our way out!” he roared. “Aim all guns at the Yamato! Blow her apart!”

The Yamato was surrounded, as, with an almost supernatural calm, Yuki sat at the captain’s station and brought up the firing grip and target scope again. Like Shiro, she intended to fire the wave motion gun personally. Presha was a little miffed at that and it showed on her face.

“We’re surrounded, ma’am!” Yvona said. “How are we going to get all of them?”

“I have my little tricks,” Yuki said as she placed her hand on the captain’s console and light came from her hand and roared into the ship’s systems.

“We’re taking major damage, ma’am!” said Roberto from his station. “Shouldn’t you have the other vessels fire?”

“Ma’am! Zworder is offering to help with a barrage!” Miyuki cried from her post.

“No worries; tell him this battle will be over shortly,” Yuki said.

“Energy Level one hundred twenty-five percent!” said Perlman. “Ma’am, how did you do this so quickly?”

“We can figure out how later,” Yuki said. “The Matrix is just advising me to act…now! Open final safety lock! Commence ten-second countdown!” Yuki said. When she reached ZERO, she just whispered, “FIRE!”

The wave motion gun fired.

It blasted right into the Adjudicator.

His ship went up, but he teleported again to a third ship; the Darnada. He ran like a rat to the rear, in other words.

Then, the ship beside him went up. Followed by the vessel beside him. And then, the fire spread to the vessels surrounding the Yamato.

Every one of them perished in a chain reaction.

Promethium was still on the line, and she was aghast.

“How…how…did you do that?” she demanded.

“It’s for me to know…and you to find out,” Yuki said with a smile. “Ta, ta!”

She cut off the transmission.

The battle was over. For now.

Desslar retired to his cabin.

He drank alone. The pain of Starsha’s message.

He fell into a slurred sleep.

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

THE NEXT DAY…

JULY 10, 2234

It was morning. Desslar was still hung-over. In fact, he needed more wine, to tame the dog that had bit him.

Why, Starsha, why? Desslar thought in pain. And I received those reports there were quakes and volcanic eruptions on Gamilas. Ninety thousand dead. Starsha, are you sending aid?

He received no answer from the Void. Starsha was silent.

Desslar’s mind turned to more pleasant things.

The defeat of their enemies.

And he knew his honored mother-in-law had orchestrated that, like a maestro.

You have tremendous courage, Yuki, he thought. Rud Pellias.

Desslar came on the line to Yamato a moment later. “Yuki…that was a tremendous victory. How did you do that?”

Yuki almost didn’t want to answer. She heard his slurred voice. What happened to him? She thought. Then, she finally said, “I hate to bring up ancient history, but do you remember how we defeated Lysis’ fleet at the Rainbow Star Cluster?” Yuki said. “I have a very good memory. I polarized the wave energy we fired at the fleet right to a shatter point in hyperspace right near the enemy flagship. That’s how I decimated them. I hope you don’t mind, but we were suffering too many casualties, all of us. I didn’t want you or Emperor Zworder to take any more losses, so, when I found an opportunity, I exploited it. That’s the nice thing about having been a Captain of this ship once, and for having served so long with Susumu and Captain Okita’s father. You remember things.”

“You have an impressive memory,” Zworder said as he burst into the transmission. “What a pity I never conquered Terra and gave you a command.”

“Well, we’re all on the same side now, so what does it matter?” Yuki said.

“Where’s Susumu?” Desslar asked.

“Badly hurt, Abelt,” Yuki said softly. “Teresa and I pulled him out of the woods, but he’ll have an uphill battle. Let’s make ready to go home, shall we? We’ve won.”

“Yes, Gamilas needs me,” Desslar said as he made a fist of rage.

“Was there a disaster there, Abelt?” Yuki said. “I saw it in my mind.”

“Yes, Talan and Gimleh told me so.”

“I will take Yamato and other ships there as soon as possible,” Yuki said. “I can’t rest unless we aid in the relief operation!”

Desslar smiled, sadly as he nodded. Universal benevolence, Yuki, he thought. You grasp what it really means. Your reincarnated daughter is older, ancient in fact. Why does she not grasp a lesson you grasped in less than sixty years? Then, an image came to his mind. Yuki herself, pulling injured people out of wreckage, her uniform bloodied and dirty. That was always your way, he thought. You never shied at getting your hands dirty.

“Yes, at a tremendous cost,” Zworder said. “You don’t know how many men and women I lost. Was Kodai being timid at the beginning of the battle?”

“No. He was fighting the ship to the best of his ability,” Yuki retorted. “He pressed his attack with our wave motion gun soon after your ship was hit, Your Majesty.”

Zworder nodded. “He probably could have done so sooner…but at least he did go down fighting. I will grant him that much.”

“Thank you,” Yuki said as she cut off.

Then, all hell broke loose as the Daranda pounced on the Baleras IV first as it and the other ships warped in from the rear.

Yuki was nearly knocked out of the captain’s chair and she yelled “Hard about! One hundred eighty!”

“Hard about one hundred and eighty!” said Jiro Shima as the Yamato took more damage.

Promethium came back on the screen as the Yamato’s wave motion gun was hit and left burning.

She began to laugh like mad. “How do you like the thought of dying a glorious death, O Empress?”

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

And space was suddenly afire. Mad pulses and spirals of energy, disorienting, terrifying, heralded the arrival of the great black monster that Atirangi had named the Black Mariah.

Yuki sat in shock as Atirangi Rapahango, their former foster child between 2202 to 2205, the great musician and leader of Septigram, appeared on the screen to give Promethium the middle finger!

"And how do you like getting your fuckin' decks rotted away beneath your feet, Promethium? An old Rapanui insult: your mother's flesh sticks in my teeth'. Then and now, we eat our enemies, bitch... "

There was no visible beam or projectile as the Black Mariah's chronentropic disintegrators went into action...there was only rot.

Desslar’s mouth fell open in surprise and awe.

Zworder looked on in shock. “Sarbera?”

“Yes.”

“I need a drink. What in the name of Arishna is that thing?”

“I have no idea,” she said.

“May I bring you aboard, Desslar?” said Atirangi. “Yuki…Emperor Zworder…we will talk later…”

“How did you do that?” Yuki whispered.

“Got my own tricks. Bye!”

Atirangi disappeared from the Fleet’s screens. No more enemy ships were left. Just the Coalition survivors…

…and the Black Mariah…

…Where Desslar suddenly appeared.

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

"Shh... babe, it's okay. It's over... you're safe. C'mon, let me help you. I have some idea what happened…”

“She…stuck a knife of self-righteousness in my back…when I needed her,” Desslar raged.

He had heard Atirangi speak kindly, had heard the warmth of her laughter or the tart tone as she gave back as good as she got when they had bantered together on Pellias when he had given her those roses. A gallant gesture, to a great artist. But never had he heard that low, accented voice speak as tenderly as she was in that moment. In pain, he reached out to blindly grab at her. Dimly, Desslar was aware that she was supporting him, all but carrying him to Sickbay aboard her ship of phantasm and nightmare.

"Don't... don't..." he murmured, the words slurred, as mushy as they had been the dark night he had needed last night to drink away the pain of his wife's cold abandonment after the battle had ended. Only now, did he fully realize…Starsha…you played me for a fool. Why? What was your agenda? You were in love with me when I left, albeit disapproving, as you have been of late. What happened?

“I need to get to Gamilas,” Desslar muttered.

"Babe, I need to get you into a biopod, okay? Talan, Gimleh, and Her Honey-Blond Nerdness on Yamato have got your back, as always” Ati said. “You're injured and I'm not a doctor. There... there we go..." She had already removed his cloak, allowing it to fall to the deck in a flow of black and crimson.

"Don't... leave. Don't leave me... " Desslar cursed himself for the weakness and desperation in his voice.

"I'm not. I won't ever leave you again, baby, I mean that. C'mon... let's get you patched up and we can talk. I'm staying right here, right by the biopod. I'll keep my hand on it so you can see, okay?" Without any hint of embarrassment, Atirangi divested him of every stitch he wore and then settled him into the strange Akerian embrace of the biopod.

A scant two hours later, he awakened. Desslar could see the faint, dark outline of a familiar hand. She had been as good as her word... she had not left him. A few more minutes, and he was comfortable, surrounded by her scent—Atirangi had taken him to her own stateroom. Reclining at his side, she smiled.

"Bet no one has ever told you a bedtime story, huh?"

Desslar shook his head.

"Once upon a time, there was a young girl. She lived upon a tiny island, and there was nothing but wind and stone, sea and sand. No tree grew there—the ancients had cut them all down to make the ancestor statues. Save for the shade of the moai on the ahu platforms, there was no shade. And people lived in houses of palm-thatch and what little wood there was left.

"One day, the girl was called by her grandmother. She knew better than to leave Nua to wait, so she ran into the little stone house they shared.

"'Nua,' she said. 'You called for me, and I have come.'

"'Yes, little Mea Hetu'u, my little Red Star, I have a task for you." And she took the girl's soft brown hands in her own, which were gnarled, dark and crooked. Into them, she placed two things.

"One was a rongorongo stick, a tablet that had been used of old to record great deeds and sacred songs. The other, a sack made from woven grass that felt like it had seeds inside.

"'You must leave Te pito o te Henua, girl,' Nua said. 'The journey will be hard and long. The sea shall be cold and black, and the stars above you will mock you—'Look, look at the little Red Star, there on the sea! How much less is she than we,' they shall say. But you, you are not less. In your hands, you hold hope. And that hope cannot live here. Our way of old died, faded with the last toromiro tree. But the sacred tree of the golden flowers, the tiare that is the symbol of Raá the Sun... you hold its last seeds. And you must go forth, star-child, shark-child, wind-child. Only one boat remains. And you shall do the one thing I have told you never to do: you shall take of this boat for your own, without the word of any other to say that you may. The toromiro must grow—if it does not, our island will be lost, even to memories.'

"And so, Mea Hetu'u did everything as Nua had said. She waited in silence, among the kikiki of the hens of the man who owned the last ship, waited there in the foulness of the hen-house, until the sound of his snores was like the rasp of stone upon stone. And she crept foward, slithered aboard like Moko the lizard, and cut away the line.

"Mea Hetu'u had only the songs of her grandmother, the old words on the rongorongo tablet and bones, blood and mana made for the sea. She came first to a land called Nuku Hiva, but there, a great chieftain sought to have from her what she would not wish to give. She came then to a land called Aotearoa, and there, there she did not stop, either, because there were men there that knew only warfare, and men were the flesh upon which they fed.

"Finally, just as Nua said it would be, the stars laughed. 'Little Red Star,' they called. 'Come up from that great black sea to join us! Oh! Oh, you cannot, for you are so small and brown, and we are white, clean and high above. Poor, poor little Red Star!'

"'Nuku Hiva tried to make me less, and could not. Aotearoa tried to make me less, and could not. Here are your words back to you, O Stars, so high above and pale! I fear not the great black sea, nor the wind, nor the sun—how should I fear you? I am the Great Red Star—and you shiver in the black sky, afraid to fall low!'

"Ah, but this angered the stars in the heavens, and they sought to send one of their own to fight Mea Hetu'u! She watched the star fall from the heavens with its bright golden fire and light more vivid than the summer sun. But afraid? Never! Mea Hetu'u was a child of wrath!

"She sailed close, when it seemed that the fallen star did not wish to fight her. And she saw only a man—one whose blood and skin were different, but whose eyes were the color of Hau Moana, the island where the greatest of warriors was born.

"And Mea Hetu'u stretched down the steering oar of her ship, for only it was long and strong enough to lift the man from the sea. At first, she thought she would surely lose the star-man, for he was feverish and sick at heart.

"But then! Then, one day when the wind lay soft in the sails and the sun was kissing the sea, he spoke!

"'You are born of this water, and you carry the land over your heart. Your eyes are the fire of which ten thousand songs are sung, and your voice is the wind by which this craft dances across the waves. But what of spirit? What of that that weaves the elements into one another?'

"'I was born on an island, and the island shall die. I have carried its songs, and the land lives through them. The fire I carry is within the seeds as they rest over my heart, and the tears I have wept, they fall to the ocean, and the akúakú that tastes them leads me along. The stars sought to challenge me, and sent you here to die.'

"No, sea-child, sun-child, wind-child... the stars sent me to save you. From high, high above I see new land. Guide my hand as you steer this ship, and we shall find our home.'

"And so it was that, at last, the two found the Great Land. Upon it, they made a place within a ring of stones... and in two short years, the tiare grew once more.

"There is hope. In the smallest of things, a seed, can there be renewal and life. Carry the seeds over your heart, and carry the Spirit that winds the elements to be one."

“Hope,” Desslar said. “I beg you to accept my apology, again, for what I did to your people.”

“It is accepted,” she said. “Someone else owes you an apology as well…”

Desslar shut his eyes. “Starsha? Perhaps…perhaps…not…”

"Dude." Everyone dreaded it when Atirangi said 'dude' in that tone. It meant serious business. "This woman has once again taken a crap on you from great height like before. I'm sick of seeing it, sick to damn death of her hurting you. So that's it. I'm taking you away from her."

Desslar nodded assent. He needed time away. “I ask you to at least let me…see her when the child is born…I pray she will accept it.”

"I will. That's your kid, man... of course I will." Atirangi brushed a golden lock out of his violet eyes and gently kissed his brow. "Sleep... I'll be here. Try to ignore any weirdness in the morning. Zain thinks he's funny, so we get the Morning Joke over the 1MC...”

Desslar smiled. He was unsure what the future would bring.

He knew he would eventually go back to Gamilas.

But not yet.

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

ONE DAY LATER…JULY 11, 2234

Teresa had been surprised to be granted the formal rank of Princess by Yuki, and she had been asked if she wished to remain on Telezart. She chose to remain there as the planet’s ruler, with Daisuke Shima and their daughter remaining there with her.

Shima was asked by both Yuki and Desslar to assume an active command again as head of the Telezarti Defense Forces, and the rank of Admiral.

Daisuke reluctantly accepted that rank, and twelve Commonwealth ships were left there as the foundation of a fleet; among them, the Pellian Spacecraft carrier Avenger, under the command of a newly appointed Commodore Kenjiro Ota.

“You know that this is going to be a very dangerous assignment, Kenjiro,” Yuki said from the captain’s station of the Yamato as even now, Yamato was speeding to the relief of Gamilas under her orders after that strange disaster.

“Ah’m not about to give up on you, Daisuke, and Susumu, Yuki, even though Lisa really misses me back home. Our daughter Kayla just gave birth to our first grandchild, and it’s a shame I can’t see her for a while.”

“I’m going to be sending you reinforcements in a few days, Kenjiro after I deal with that mess on Gamilas,” Yuki said. “Mind having Dash around with the battleship Agincourt task force?”

“Not at all, Yuki. Dash and I need to catch up on a lot. I could catch up with Sandor, too.”

“It’ll be a little while until we all get together again,” Yuki sighed. “I think we can get together at Heroes’ Hill this year…even though Susumu may still be using crutches…”

“Yeah…it’s all over the Fleet what happened to him.” Ota paused and said, “Do you think he’ll ever be the same again, Yuki?”

Yuki sighed. “I hope so. After we make a space warp, I’ll be putting on my doctor’s hat and getting him through more physical therapy. He’s really depressed.”

“Tell ‘im we’re all pullin’ for him and praying for him, Nov.”

Yuki smiled wanly. “I sure will.” She sighed. “Hard for me to keep my own spirits up. Seems every time I end up in this Captain’s chair, stuff happens.”

“We’re all pullin’ for you too, Yuki.”

“Thanks, Kenjiro,” Yuki said. “Good luck, clear ether, and God Bless.” She cut off.

“Jiro?” Yuki said.

“Ma’am?”

“Take the conn from your station. Warp us out to the rendezvous point. Then get us to Baleras, as fast as lightning! I feel sick hearing those reports…and I have other ships following us, and disaster relief teams and doctors and medical ships on the way. Zworder is sending doctors and medical help, too. We’re sticking together. We have to. The Gatlanteans. Sending disaster relief, supplies, doctors, and construction personnel rather than missiles and bombs. They amaze me. Zworder is seeing a new way. What a gift from God,” Yuki said as she hit her button and the captain’s chair-lift whirred back up to the captain’s quarters.

Starsha, why are you silent, and not doing anything for the Gamilas? Yuki said as she concentrated on her ring in the captain’s cabin as she wept with her head bowed and prayed. Almost with disgust, she took the ring off and threw it in a drawer.

It no longer felt wholesome to her. And she didn’t know why.

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

LATER THAT DAY…

Yuki, in her medical uniform with her shoes off, was watching and helping Susumu as he staggered along with crutches, taking a few steps before he collapsed in a pile of sweat in his pajama bottoms.

Yuki herself got down on the deck and pulled Susumu up. “That’s a few more meters than you did yesterday. That’s an improvement. Lean on me. Back to your bed.”

“I feel like going right back to sleep,” he said, shaking as he walked back to his bed.

He plopped down like a man afflicted with cerebral palsy. “My head hurts under this bandage.”

“You could be a lot worse,” Yuki said. “How many more pain pills do you need?”

“Two.”

“I’ll make it three,” Yuki said as she kicked her sandals back on and walked to the medicine cabinet. “We have to make a stop on Gamilas for a while…then, we’re heading home, okay?”

“When we get home, where are you putting me?” Susumu said. “The hospital?”

“No, a room next to our bedroom in the Palace on Pellias,” Yuki said, trying to sound cheerful. “I gave orders for the staff to build a physical therapy gym for you right next to your room; which will have a door adjoining our bedroom. Once you get to walking a little better, you can plop back into bed with me again.”

“Who’s going to be watching me when you’re doing your official stuff?”

“Our daughter Fujiko,” Yuki said. “She’s a fully trained nurse skilled in physical therapy techniques. She’ll move in near us in the Palace with Jiro and Samantha. You’ll never be alone.”

“Why not?” Susumu said.

“Because I’m not letting you be alone,” Yuki said as she kissed Susumu on the nose. “And I cleared my patient load for the next few months. You will be my only patient once we get home.”

“Are you letting me retire?” Susumu said sadly. “I’m a damn cripple now. I probably should retire.”

“I talked to Steve about that. You’re on long-term medical leave until you get better again. Admiral Priceman will be minding the First Star Force while you’re down. Not that the Yamato is going anywhere in a hurry once we’re home.” Yuki smiled and said, “The ship’s about as banged up as you are. Shiro was going to order an abandon ship at one point until Roberto got the fires out.”

Then, they heard some heavy footsteps.

Susumu’s face went an ugly color as he recognized Emperor Zworder standing near the bed.

Zworder grunted at Susumu, and then he looked at Yuki. “Well, at least he can move something. I heard you did very well for a weak Terron, Kodai. Before your fragile head was smacked into your board. How could you have been so clumsy?”

“Zworder, the ship turned hard to evade fire. I lost my footing, that’s all.”

“I was wounded in battle, too,” Zworder said. “I’m not soaking in self-pity like you.”

“He’s recovering from brain surgery!” Yuki said. “And a major brain injury. He’s been determined enough to remain mostly conscious, and he’s promised me that he’ll get off his prat and get moving more soon. I walked with him earlier, Your Majesty. He’s doing his best. He’s not as strong as your race, you understand.”

“Why are you working so hard on him, Yuki?” Zworder challenged.

“Because he fought the ship hard and I believe in him,” Yuki snapped. “He’s gotten up from worse before. Especially after our last battle with you thirty-three years ago. There are times it takes more strength to recover from a defeat than to bask in a victory. And he has the same will to live and stubbornness as Desslar. If you don’t believe me, go talk to him.”

Zworder said, “That’s why I decided to award these to both of you, although with some reluctance,” he said as he banged two small boxes onto Susumu’s bedside table. “One for you, Kodai, and one for your gallant spouse. I am grateful for your assistance in that battle. I will grant you that much.”

Susumu nodded stiffly at Zworder. Then, Yuki said, “If there’s nothing else, Your Majesty, could you leave us be?”

“May I ask why?” he rumbled at Yuki.

Yuki stared him hard in the eye. “Because you’d never make a doctor. Your bedside manner sucks.”

Zworder smiled and began to chuckle, and then to laugh maniacally. “Your Majesty, you are very good at amusing me. Now, amuse that thing in that bed,” Zworder said as he pointed at Susumu. “Good day.”

“I’m a thing now, huh?” Susumu said with tears running down his face.

“Oh, don’t pay him any mind, love,” Yuki said. “He’s a faithful warrior, but maybe Teresa should have kept him where he was for a few more decades to work on his personality. He’s as grumpy as a man who drinks dill pickle juice all the time.”

“Yeah. You were doing that when you were pregnant with Teresa,” Susumu said with a small smile on his face.

Yuki looked slightly amused. “Thanks. Like I needed a reminder.”

Then, Sexaroid Yuki and Roberto Neuve came in, hugging as the two androids walked along. “How’s he doing?” said Roberto.

“Pretty good, considering,” Yuki sighed.

“I had some of that chili you made earlier,” said Roberto.

“Oh? Does it still qualify as a hazardous substance?” Yuki said to the former IQ-9, remembering ruefully the days when he would tease her like an ill-mannered adolescent, share the most stupid jokes…even…that stupid skirt thing…

“Actually, it’s pretty good,” said Roberto. “Never knew what I was missing before.”

“Good,” said the Android Yuki. “I’m so glad I managed to teach you some manners, even though…would you get your hand out of there?” she said as Roberto grabbed at her bottom. “Land sakes, Rob, we’re in public!”

“Roberto…stop doing that in my Sickbay,” Yuki said. “Out, out, OUT!”

“Yes, Mother,” he said. “Ahem. Seriously. I’d do anything for you…and Yuki…”

“Okay, Mister Genius Android and former robot, learn how to behave in public,” said Yuki as she pushed him out of Sickbay.

Then, the female android turned to Susumu and Yuki. “I’ve got a silly question, Admiral Kodai.”

“Yeah?” he said.

“Do you ever mistake me for her?” the Android said with a wink as she pointed at Yuki.

“Well, you sort of look like her,” said Susumu.

“AHEM,” said Yuki.

“You wear that jumpsuit much of the time. You have that crazy long hair. Your voice sounds different, your mannerisms are more formal, and your face isn’t as expressive as the original Yuki’s. Also, you don’t cross your eyes when you get mad at me like the good Doctor here does.”

“Ohhh…boy, thanks a lot!” Yuki said…looking miffed and crossing her eyes.

“Also, Yuki is wittier, more high-spirited, and a little more eccentric than you, Nurse Neuve, and I’ve been married to her thirty-three years, and she’s…uhhh…unique. Much sweeter. Cuter.”

Yuki smiled a little and Yuki said, “Do I need to work on sweetness and cuteness, Doctor?”

“Give it time; you’re still adjusting to life around here,” Yuki said. “Now, Nurse Neuve, please get the autoclave checked over, okay?”

“Of course.”

Now that Susumu and Yuki were alone, Yuki said, “I still think about Doctor Sado every now and then. He was a clown, but really, he was a very sad clown. He hid a lot of heartbreak under that lunacy and all that drinking.”

“He would have been proud of you, Yuki,” said Susumu as he began to look drowsy. “He always told me you were the best nurse he ever had and his best student; smart as a whip, great bedside manner, really meticulous.”

“I miss him a lot,” Yuki said wistfully. “When you’re better, we need to raise a glass or two of sake’ for him. His second wife cared about him. His first wife used him up and spit him out before she died in the bombings. He had two daughters. One daughter, Yuriko, who is still alive, and a second daughter named Aiko who worked with him…until she died of the radiation sickness. Doctor Sado always said I reminded him of Aiko in a lot of ways,” Yuki said quietly. “He was estranged from Yuriko since shortly after the divorce from his first wife Fujiko, who later died. Both his daughters were in the Medical field.”

“Did you ever try to contact his older daughter?”

“I tried…once,” Yuki said. “She was very…cold…distant. When I mentioned who I was and why I wanted to talk with her…well…she hung up on me as soon as I mentioned her father. She’s in the medical profession, too. Forensic pathologist in the Tokyo Megalopolis. Works for the police department homicide bureau. Very tough woman. Probably tougher than I am,” Yuki said. “Doctor Yuriko Sado. Works with the dead because she can’t stand the living, or so she said in an article in The Lancet medical journal once.”

“Sad that Doc Sado had a daughter like that.”

“Yeah, Susumu,” Yuki said as she kissed her husband on the nose again. “Have some work to do. See you later.” She saw he was getting drowsy. “Sweet dreams.”

“They’ll all be about you,” Susumu murmured sleepily as he squeezed Yuki’s hand.

Yuki smiled at that.

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

IV. A PALACE MEETING

PLANET PELLIAS

THE CITY OF BELTANE

THE EMPRESS’S PALACE

SEPTEMBER 16, 2234

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

“So, vere is she?” demanded Princess Sarbera of one of the officers who stood near Yuki’s empty throne in her throne room on Pellias. She looked out through one of the windows.

She was annoyed, but grateful they had been able to aid the Gamilas. The Latir District of Baleras was already being rebuilt.

But, there had been such a cost in lives.

Earth was visible in the background, up in the sky behind some clouds in the sunset haze of the star Meccan over the Commonwealth City.

So long Father wanted that world…so long I lived there, thought Sarbera. Now, she is under the protection of her elder siblings here on Pellias, just as unobtainable to us as Iscandar is.

Grimslade Halleck, still the High Protector, snapped, “Whenever Her Majesty comes, she comes!”

“I have been sent here by Father to present my diplomatic credentials to Her Majesty. It is an insult to be kept waiting? And why is there a white seat beside her Crystal Throne?”

“That is Prince and Lord Admiral Kodai’s seat,” said Halleck, who had an immediate dislike for Sarbera. “In case you still have not heard, the good Prince is still recovering from the injuries he incurred at the Battle of Telezart. He is not yet an entirely healthy man.”

Sarbera nodded as she heard a door opening.

In strode four large Ralkhen guards in the black and silver uniforms of the Border Legion Hussars. The huge felinoid humanoids stared at Sarbera with disdain and one of them bared his fangs for a moment.

Yuki herself came in a moment later, clad in a royal blue gown and white boots, gently helping Lord Admiral Susumu Kodai walk in, supported partly by her protective arm and partly by a black walking stick he used to match his black peacoat. His gait was visibly shaky but he stood proud, erect, and defiant, even though Sarbera could see pain mirrored in Susumu’s eyes with each step.

“Greetings, Princess,” he and Yuki said together as they saluted in the Gatlantean manner after Grimslade took Susumu’s walking stick. Then, Yuki tenderly helped Susumu sit down in his white seat before sitting beside him on her crystal throne.

“Her Majesty,” Susumu said, “Has been an absolute angel. Only lately have I been able to escort her again at Court. For a time, our son Steven was her escort for official functions.”

Sarbera nodded. She genuflected before Yuki’s throne and presented a portfolio bound in green. “My Credentials, Majesty, as the Emperor’s Ambassador and Envoy.”

Yuki paged through the portfolio in silence. Then, she said, “Your credentials are accepted, Princess. I welcome you to the Terran-Pellian Commonwealth. You shall have an Embassy here in this city and a Consulate on Terra in the Tokyo Megalopolis. You will probably recognize it. Foxworth Manor, rebuilt as it was when you resided there. Is your father well?” Yuki asked pleasantly.

“He sends you his regards and felicitations and I note that the Admiral is wearing the Vortex Star he gave to you and he after the battle,” Sarbera said.

“I wear mine when I am in uniform and full decorations are called for,” Yuki said. She paused and said, “Colonel Farga, bring the Princess a suitable chair. Colonel Tranje, ask the stewards to bring us suitable refreshment. It shall only be a nectar today. The Admiral’s pain medication would react badly with alcohol.”

Two of the Ralkhen officers bowed and left. Soon, a chair was brought for Sarbera, and she sat at a right angle to Yuki.

“You provide a wonderful welcome,” Sarbera said.

“There shall be a banquet later,” Yuki replies. “After the Lord Admiral has had a suitable time to rest and sleep. Susumu requires more sleep than he used to.”

“Even though I fight pain,” Susumu said. “It has been a welcome opportunity to rest with Yuki and my daughter Fujiko tending to me.”

Sarbera nodded. “My father advised me to tell you that he prays for a quick recovery for you. However, you know him. It is still hard for him to acknowledge that you laid us low decades ago defending Terra.”

“And it is likewise hard for me to face him, Princess, even as an ally,” Susumu said. He coughed while Yuki looked at him with deep concern in her eyes. “But enough of that,” Susumu said. “How is your front of the war going?”

“We had a major defeat,” Sarbera said. “We lost the whole Black Fox Nebula to the Mechanoids. The fleet you sent to aid us fought well…”

“We know none of them survived,” Yuki said with tears glimmering in her eyes. “Susumu and I have signed three thousand letters of condolence recently, and personally.”

Susumu added, “I signed even though my handwriting, well…it still stinks,” he said with a slight smile.

“Has Yuki been able to aid you with…the Matrix?” Sarbera said.

“Yes, but it has obviously had to be a slow and gentle process,” Yuki said. “He is regaining strength, and our psychic bond again works, but doing manipulation of his wounded brain and mind has been a very careful process.”

“Aided by prayer,” Susumu said. “I have had to cast more of my burdens upon God than ever before. Yet Yuki has given me enough foresight to see I will recover and we will eventually have a son together again in the next few years. We have dedicated him to the Almighty already, and we foresee he will be named Solomon…a great Archbishop and Priest. My own skills have also been improving again. Observe,” he said as he raised a finger and gently levitated his walking stick to himself. “I am myself a R’jkharraz apprentice under Yuki’s training.”

Finally, a table was brought, along with lunch and juice.

“So, what should we toast to?” Sarbera said.

“Continued cooperation, and good health for Susumu,” Yuki said.

They raised their glasses of juice and drank.

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

V. A SEASON OF REST

PLANET PELLIAS

THE CITY OF BELTANE

THE EMPRESS’S PALACE

DECEMBER 12, 2234

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

Except for a few short trips, Susumu had not had to leave the Palace ever since his return to Pellias on July the 12^th, which was fortunate for him due to his condition during his five-month long convalescence, which still continued.

The youth and vitality he shared with Yuki through their Bond and link to the Matrix had aided his recovery a good deal. He was fifty-three years of age now, but save for the injuries that he still was recovering from, like Yuki, he had the general resilience of a twenty-two-year-old.

He was enduring physical therapy right now with Yuki at his side, but he enjoyed this more than other parts of his physical therapy, since he at least got to be relatively weightless in an indoor swimming pool in the Palace.

Lt. Fujiko Shima, CRNP, took a cute picture of her mother hugging her father with some pride.

“How’s Dad, Mom?” Fujiko said.

“He did eight laps in the pool today!” Yuki said, smiling and winking as the picture was taken. She had on a red bikini, and under the water, Susumu wore black swim trunks.

Susumu laughed and winked back. “I’m not ready for water polo or water volleyball yet, but give me a month or so and I might be able to. I’ll spot you five points, Fujiko! Ten!”
“So nice to see a grin on your face for once, Daddy!” Fujiko said with a big smile. “Oh! I have some news for you,” she said as she balanced near the side of the pool on her bare toes in her shorts and tank top.
“What?” Susumu said.

“Thanks to Jiro, I’m pregnant again!” laughed Fujiko.

“Is it gonna be a boy or a girl?” Susumu said.

“We don’t know yet, and Mom, if you nose around inside me and tell me, I’ll jump in the water and dunk you!” Fujiko laughed.

“I promise I won’t be nosy,” Yuki said. Susumu chortled as her felt Yuki crossing her fingers behind his back. Yuki whispered in Susumu’s ear “Can I tell her?”

“Sure,” Susumu said.

“We have news, too,” Yuki said.

“You’re pregnant too, Mom?” Fujiko said.

“Not…yet,” Yuki said with a smile. “The news is the neurologist I consulted thinks Susumu might be better sometime next year!”

“That’s something to celebrate!” Fujiko said as she bent down to kiss her father on the cheek. “What about the ship?”

“Still under repair,” Yuki said. “There’s a political battle going in Defense Forces Command. Shiro Okita got promoted to Commodore for how he did at Telezart, and one faction wants him to get command of the Yamato, while another faction wants Commodore Raymond Priceman in the Captain’s seat,” Yuki said as she helped Susumu up a ladder and out of the pool. Fujiko couldn’t help but notice that her father was still a bit shaky when he walked, although he didn’t seem to need the walking stick any more.

“We kind of want Shiro to get it,” Susumu said. “Our opinions have been made known. Strongly…and…uhhh…ano…what was that word, Yuki?”

“Decisively,” she said gently.

“Decisively,” Susumu snapped. “Commodore Okita is the better commander…”

“And Priceman was, and still is, a stick in the mud,” Yuki said.

Susumu nodded, remembering all too well what had happened with Priceman when he and Hardy had been training pilots skilled in flying the Type 100 Recon plane to fly Cosmo Tigers in late 2201, after the first war with the Comet Empire, and right before their wedding, since the Type 100 was being replaced with the Cosmo Tiger II. Susumu had been the instructor for one training squadron, and Hardy had been the instructor for the second training squadron; the one where Yuki had been assigned to learn how to fly a Cosmo Tiger II. Priceman had been the base and Wing commander, and he had been a very nasty person then. There had been a fistfight between two women in Yuki’s squadron after one hard training day in early December of 2201 literally a few weeks before Susumu and Yuki’s wedding. Yuki, as the highest-ranking officer who jumped in on the scene, had stopped the fight (with some fisticuffs herself!) while two male Ensigns from the squadron just stood there watching. Priceman had all five of them on the carpet for Commander’s Mast, and they had all been sentenced to two hours’ worth of extra duty, in the gym, doing calisthenics and several laps around the gym-in their underwear (and Yuki had to be the drillmaster for the group-in the sports bra and bike shorts she had on under her uniform for warmth). Also, Susumu and Jefferson Hardy had been ranked up one side and down the other by Priceman for letting their trainees mess up like that!*

Obviously, Priceman had not been invited to Susumu and Yuki’s wedding after that period of humiliation in fighter training.

Nonetheless, neither Susumu nor Yuki had shared much love for Priceman after that rather nasty bit of hazing, and the very thought of that asinine martinet commanding the Yamato made them both sick as Susumu continued to recover.

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

VI. OF THE KIN OF THE LATE ASTRA OF ISCANDAR…

PLANET ISCANDAR

THE CITY OF MOTHER TOWN

QUEEN STARSHA’S PALACE

DECEMBER 14, 2234

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

Starsha of Iscandar sat in a conference room, apprehensive because she was about to again meet with a woman she had met with only briefly when Septigram had played on Iscandar in May; namely, Atirangi Rapahango.

She needed to question her. About a lot of things.

Why the mind games with Abelt?

Why had she sat on her butt when Gamilas had suffered that quake. She should have had disaster crew there first, and not waited until Yamato and her ships and a large Gatlantean contingent had arrived to offer help.

Starsha, in her white and violet gown and jewels, stood up to see Atirangi when one Iscandarian and one of those lady robot guards (the ballet dancer ones with the stupid tutus) ushered Ati into her presence. "How good to see you," Starsha said in a sweet but slightly condescending voice. "What brings you so far, Dr. Rapahango? Surely you do not intend to do a solo jam session with me? I don't play any instruments."

Atirangi... looked absolutely terrifying. She wore partially-armored leathers of some kind, and for once was not wearing skyscraper heels. Over this was a trench coat of deep red leather, the seven-pointed emblem of Septigram on the back. Her gloves had spiked knuckles and her hair was in an ornately looped and braided style. She had worn a similar outfit when the fourteenth album, Bitchcraft, had dropped. The boots had iron heels that clicked ominously as she slowly walked toward Starsha, black-painted lips curved into a cold smile.

"We missed you during that whole battle, dude," Atirangi said, her contralto voice just as condescending. "And yeah, I know you don't have a shred of artistic talent. I don't use the term 'Doctor', by the way. My mother was Dr. Rapahango. I am simply Atirangi. Though Abelt's started calling me Mea Hetu'u. It comes from a story told by my people."

"I was not there during that battle because, well, the sight of destruction, pain, and blood terrifies me. Abelt and my mother and father taught me how to fight, and halfway well, but in the Iscandarian Academy of Sciences I learned how wrong-headed it is to seek battle, except in the last defense of one's homeland...maybe. Remember, I died violently once already. The nightmares about my own death still haunt me. And, I am bemused at this usage of...'dude' to me? I am Her Majesty? How is it you address Abelt and use his familiar name? And how do you address my mother? Even though, I admit, with that Pellian warrior ancestry...she lacks some graces. I thought I heard her belching lightly when we last spoke. And where is my husband?”

"You aren't my Queen." The tone was cold... the cold of interstellar space. "I call Yuki by her name, and she calls me 'Shorty' and sometimes 'Nerd'. Imagine that, we talk to each other like family. The years I spent there before Juilliard were some of the best times of my life, so much acceptance. So much love—which you seem to tossing to the side like so much rubbish. And where were your people when Gamilas had that quake? You should have been on the scene first, damn you!”

“Occupied with my own concerns.”

“Gamilas’ innocents aren’t your concern? Woman, what the HELL is wrong with you! And I use Abelt's name because he insisted on it. Recent thing—it came about because I've been training some of his pilots to use the Blackdagger fighters aboard the Black Mariah."

“So where is he?” Starsha said. “I have seldom heard from him.” One thing was terrifyingly clear. The Black Mariah was finally being used as what she had been built to be. A warship.

Oh, Ati knew where Desslar was.

But she was not saying. He had command of his forces from Black Mariah. There, for now, he was safe.

Starsha sat back. She had heard, second-hand, tales of how she, Cody Tiriganiaq, and Dexter Donlan Cross and the rest of Septigram, with their own ship damaged, found the Black Mariah in the depths of space during the Battle of Telezart and how the ship itself-or herself, entered the battle of its own accord after warping and had helped defend Desslar's flagship.

"That bug you?" Atirangi stood with her arms folded over her chest, the dark smile deepening. The spikes on her gloves glinted. "That Abelt and I are on kind of familiar terms, I mean?

Starsha was again silent. She had her eyes closed, and was looking for an answer. Instead, she simply heard her mother's voice in her mind whispering, You're a big girl now, Starsha. You're a Head of State. This is something you solve on your own. Starsha finally said, "It confuses me. I hoped to see him more after that battle. The last time we spoke, he told me he was on reconnaissance and left it at that. How can he be abroad for so long? I would almost ask you what he is up to out there."

"He's a military leader. He can't just sit around polishing his nails and muttering about pacifism while pulling bullshit on other cultures, you know. I know the truth, Starsha. All of it. I know you had to be talked into giving the Cosmo Reverse to Terra. I know you played Abelt against Earth, nearly to the point of our extinction.

"Abelt nailed Te Pito o te Henua with a planet bomb that was off-target for Chile. Bad news, huh? Pretty good reason for me to be pissed off. But Abelt also did something you have yet to do—he apologized. Asked my forgiveness, in fact.

"Two things happened that night: I got some serious healing and closure, and Cody Tiriganiaq, my drummer, the manager for the band... found the love of his life. Think he and Hydom Gimleh are probably going to get married.”

"So yeah, man, we're on first name basis with each other. As for what he's doing... I'm not cleared to tell you."

Starsha looked hard at Ati. "The character of Terra was being tested. So was Abelt's character. There are things that you simply do not grasp. A cosmic tapestry. It appears that everyone is suffering from a case of tunnel vision, looking at the sea-shells on the beach, and missing the harmony of the beach. Even my father's ship Yamato. Does not its name mean "Great Harmony"? And what happened? My father used wave motion energy to destroy part of a fleet. He was injured. The son of Yamato's first commander took command and, he again used wave motion energy to destroy more sentient life, albeit mechanical life. Then, my mother, who should know much better, took charge, and she fired that wave motion gun a third time, helping Abelt end the battle, granted, with the aid of that mysterious vessel that fell into your hands. You concern me. Everyone concerns me. Is this a real battle for survival, or some orgy of blood?"

"So... you 'testing the character' of people... is that worth dead little kids? Here, let me show you... " Atirangi had planned this. Her blue eyes were filled with hellfire. She had brought a small holoemitter with her, and she pulled it from the pocket of her trench.

Image after image... horror after horror, all the symptoms of radiation sickness, injuries from the riots that had happened, little kids with thick bellies and stick legs from starvation.

"This worth it to you? Is it? Because this was what I experienced for much of the year where I grew to maturity. And this is what you wanted to doom all of us to! A one-on-one grudge match between two people, fine. A series of battles between two military organizations of some sort, fine. But you 'tested our character' on the backs of innocents. Little kids. Elderly people. Disabled people." An image of a little boy with Down’s Syndrome, crying in agony, covered in sores, hair fallen out in patches. "Think he can understand your test of character? Well... he certainly can't now. He died right after my mother took this image of him."

"So, all this is true?" Starsha mused.

Immediately, there was a quick, blinding flare of light. A warm breeze blew Starsha's hair. The light faded. A woman wearing a pink op-art mini trimmed with a gold collar and a pattern on the bodice and wood-soled sandals clunked into the room with a measure of grace. The face looked so much like Starsha's, but the hair was honey-blond, and the dark brown eyes burned with indignation.

It was Starsha's mother. Yuki. She levelled her gaze at Starsha after smiling at Ati, and she said, "Listen, Starsha. I confronted you with the same pictures and worse when you were a child. I cared for many of those people. I learned nursing the hard damn way, by caring for those innocents. We had this debate before. I took you to four hospitals when you were small and took you on my damned rounds with me! You saw some of the few who survived, groaning in agony, just able to say "Mommy" even though they were in their thirties. I had to tell some of them their mommies died and you let the pain go on! Why? Because you and Abelt were having some mind game? Why didn't you tell us about the Cosmo Reverse System or Cosmo DNA as we called it ten years before this happened? Tell me. WHY? And why did you sit on your ass when Gamilas were dying in that quake? If you love Abelt, shouldn’t your people have been there first? Instead, I had to be there to clean up your mess, just like when you made messes on the floor as a toddler! I was more help than you were. My doctors and Tetsu Kitano were more help than you were. Gimleh and Talan were more help than you were! Goran, Sarbera and Zworder himself were more help than you were! Zworder himself, lifting wreckage off Gamilas and even Terron expat children like a giant so I could treat them! And where were you, daughter? TELL ME! I TAUGHT YOU BETTER THAN THAT!! SO DID YOUR FATHER WHOM YOU WON’T HELP WITH YOUR POWER! “It is his destiny for his warlike ways” you say! Well, Starsha, eat my fucking panties! FUCK YOU! You are a disappointment to me!" Yuki said as she slammed Starsha’s desk with a fist.

Ati had never seem Yuki so pissed in her life. She didn’t blame her.

Starsha had no answer for this. "I...I…have to leave. Excuse me."

And she turned her back on her mother and Ati and walked out through a side door.

"And they say Zworder is a monster, Ati," Yuki sighed. "He’s not. Complex and hurt and bitter and megalomaniacal maybe, but he at least helped us and he has a merciful side! Deep down…she was so much worse in her inaction. She played God and let billions die on Earth and just now, thousands die on Gamilas! Deke Wakefield was right. Rud Iscandar, all right! HAH!"

Ati nodded at that, gritting her teeth.

Yuki shook her head. Tears ran down her cheeks. "I know where there's a good sushi place, Nerd. Want to go for some sushi, hon, before we have to go back to where we have to go?" Yuki put an arm over Ati's shoulder. "It's fine. She ticks me off, too."

Ati just hugged Yuki, tears threatening for her as well. She was worse than angry. Although she said nothing, and never would, memories of Abelt's voice, shaking with repressed tears, haunted her.  "Let's do that. We both have some demons to lay to rest, and the only thing that beats a demon is love. Let's go eat something."

And she resolved at that instant that Starsha's days of hurting Abelt and his people were at their end...

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

TO BE CONTINUED…

End notes: “Rud Iscandar”=”Noble Iscandar” in Gamilas.

                    “Rud Pellias=”Noble Pellias” in Gamilas.

The subtitle of the Prelude comes from 1 Corinthians 10:12 “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall…”