THE MIDNIGHT HOUR

A Star Blazers short tale

By Frederick P. "Freddo" Kopetz

Thanks to Gail Kopetz, Jamie Tucker, "Yuki Wildstar", and “Anonymous Reader” for support and ear-bending

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ACT FOUR: THREE MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT (OR: A GIRL & HER SHOWBOAT)

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I. AN ACT OF REVENGE…

Planet Earth

Earth Defense Headquarters

May 27, 2214

1300 Hours: Earthtime

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At 1300 Hours, Commander Nova Wildstar appeared in the foyer of the Commanding General’s Office in Earth Defense Headquarters.

The Adjutant on duty, a young male named First Lieutenant James Henderson, looked at her white peacoat, red scarf, white skirt, and brown dress sandals and said, “New Medical uniform, ma’am?”

“Best I could pull together in a short time, Lieutenant,” Nova said crisply. “Is the Commander ready for me? We have an appointment.”

“Let me see, ma’am,” said the Lieutenant, as he picked up his phone.

A moment later, the office doors opened, and Commanding General Singleton came out. “Commander,” he said warmly as Nova saluted. He returned the salute a moment later. “Come in, Commander. I’ve been waiting for you.”

Singleton ushered Nova in and he said, “Well, most of your uniform will pass muster for your new assignment, if you choose to accept it…but you’ll need to be issued a new jacket.”

“Sir?” Nova said. To say the least, she was slightly confused…and as she asked the Matrix Within for clarification, It suddenly appeared to have gone mum.

“I received your phone report,” he said as he made sure the door was locked. “It coincides with everything else I’ve heard from the Argo and what I’ve heard relayed from the Arizona, and what I’ve heard from the survivors of the North Carolina. If we lose these battles near Sirius and Arcturus, Earth may face invasion. Indeed, what I have not reported…in order to prevent panic, is that the Bolar Federation has already sent a demand we surrender. Do you need to hear it?”

“No, sir,” Nova sighed. “I’ve heard enough Bolar messages in my lifetime. I can already hazard a guess at its content…”

“The survivors of the North Carolina are itching for revenge, and so’s the Council,” said Singleton. “In fact, Parliament is itching for us to strike another blow. So, the North Carolina is going to lead a Task Force to go to Sirius, reinforce what’s left of the Arizona’s Task Group, and then the Combined Group will then reinforce the First Star Force at Arcturus for a massive counterattack against a Bolar Fortress. And I’ve got the perfect skipper in mind to go out there and lead the remnants of the First Star Force not already out there to victory.”

“Sir, with all respect, you must know that the North Carolina is a burning hulk sitting near Guam,” Nova said. “And she’s only halfway there, and we retrieved maybe twenty-two survivors, and when I left, they were cutting up the ship for scrap already, and…”

Singleton raised his hand. “Nova. I know that already. Are you familiar with the tale of the aircraft carrier Lexington from World War II? I mean the first Lexington, the CV-2, lost at Coral Sea. I remember you had good grades in military history in ROTC at the University of Colorado. Tell me about the end of the Lexington, in brief…”

“Sir,” Nova began to recite. “When she was fatally damaged at the Battle of the Coral Sea, her crew made preparations to scuttle her. Her skipper, Captain Frederick Sherman, waited until 1830 to ensure that all of his crewmen were off the ship before leaving himself. Some 2,770 officers and men were rescued by the rest of the task force. The destroyer Phelps was ordered to sink the ship and fired a total of five torpedoes between 1915 and 1952. She was promptly scuttled to keep the Japanese Navy from getting at her wreck. Some 216 crewmen were killed and 2,735 were evacuated. In June 1942, shortly after the US Navy's public acknowledgment of the sinking, workers at the Quincy shipyard, where the ship had been built twenty-one years earlier, cabled US Navy Secretary Frank Knox and proposed a change in the name of one of the new Essex-class fleet carriers currently under construction there to Lexington (from Cabot). Knox agreed to the proposal and the carrier was renamed as the fifth Lexington on 16 June 1942. On 17 February 1943, her successor was formally commissioned as USS Lexington (CV-16), which served as the flagship of Task Force 58….”

“Stop,” said Singleton. “Are you wondering about the historical relevance of this scenario to our current situation?”

“You’re about to rename another space battleship North Carolina? I’m sure we don’t have another ship lying around right now to rename?”

“We do. The Andromeda-class space battleship Delphinus? She is almost completed, and I have the dockyard crews working hard so she will be completed in the next twenty-four hours. I’m aware that she has not completed space trials yet, but her new skipper can take care of that after she is renamed the North Carolina and then assumes command of a new Task Force 58.”

“Who’s her new skipper going to be?” Nova asked.

“Well, if you wouldn’t mind an emergency promotion to Commodore and a temporary change of MOS from ship’s surgeon to ship’s Captain, I think you’d fill the bill quite nicely, Mrs. Wildstar,” Singleton said with raised eyebrows.

“Sir, is this a joke? I’m not qualified for this sort of…”

“Earth needs a morale boost right now, Nova,” said Singleton. “If we can announce, tomorrow afternoon, that a Star Force veteran is taking charge of the new North Carolina to go out and avenge the lost ship and aid the Arizona and the Argo…I think it would help. And, I know the Dark Lord is somehow behind this,” said Singleton. “Astrena has sent me a request to send you out personally to investigate the matter with your…talents. On the bridge of a new Andromeda, I would think you’d be fairly safe…”

Nova stood in silence, and then, she said. “Sir, I will accept this promotion. On two conditions.”

“They are?”

“My rank reverts back down to Commander after this crisis, and if both Derek and I do not return home, you will personally explain why to our children at the funeral at Heroes’ Hill.”

Singleton nodded. “A tall order, but I’ll accept it to have you on board, Commodore,” Singleton said. He then opened a closet and pulled out a garment box. “In here, you’ll find a new Captain’s coat and scarf with the proper rank epaulets. Kindly try it on.”

Nova stripped off her white coat and red scarf and pulled on her black peacoat and white scarf over her white Naval blouse and skirt. The new peacoat was a perfect fit, coming down to her trim bare knees as she stepped into a new pair of spit-shined brown dress sandals she found in the bottom of the box and then stood before a painting of space near-Earth in the Commander’s office.

Singleton also handed her a new Captain’s cap, which she carefully put on, along with a new sidearm he gave her.

“Your orders, Commodore,” said Singleton as Nova glanced at a thick envelope.

“Are these in my name?” she said.

“I was sure you’d accept,” said the Commander with a warm smile.

“You’d better give me a good doctor, or else I’ll be pulling double shifts on the bridge and in my new Sickbay,” said Nova.

“You’re getting a good crew,” said Singleton.

“I hope so,” Nova said. “When am I needed aboard my new command?”

“In the next hour,” said the Commander.

“Just enough time for me to call my mother,” sighed Nova. “Okay…off I go…”

Nova and the Commander exchanged salutes, and then she left, mumbling slightly to herself.

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After Nova called her mother, which turned into a rather nasty shouting match as Nova’s mother wondered how long her daughter was going to be out in space, as a Captain, for God’s sakes, let alone who’d care for their children, Nova tartly replied that Fela the Rahlken was already there and would be watching the kids. Before Teri could scream at her daughter anymore, Nova bid her goodnight and softly hung up. Then, she entered the Officers’ Club and ran into a rather surprised Lt. Cmdr. Victor Peale, who was even more surprised when he bought her a beer.

Deke Wakefield was also at the table, shaking his head. “I don’t believe this,” he said.

“You don’t believe what?” said Peale as Nova sipped at her own beer while eating a sausage sandwich with a small salad.

“I’ve just been appointed Flight Group Leader Officer to the space battleship North Carolina, and Peale will be the Intel and Analysis Officer.” he said. “I have no idea how they’re going to get her repaired in time…”

“You didn’t get briefed?” Nova asked. “The original is to be scrapped. They renamed the Delphinus the North Carolina. She should be ready to launch within the hour.”

“Damn,” he said. “And what are you doing wearing Commodore’s bars, ma’am?”

“Brevet promotion to that rank; then I would be demoted back down to Commander after this mission ends,” Nova said. “I thought you were on the Argo. What happened?”

“We were in battle and the Admiral used that experimental SMITE device. We attacked a Bolar Fortress that caused major damage. Then, I picked up a distress signal from the carrier Shangri-La. The old man told me to land on her with two Tigers and check things out. Brew, myself, and Angie Hartcliffe landed there to find a major mess. Then, the Shangri-La got attacked again and I brought her home as the ranking officer. I think the ship will have Brew and Angie as squadron leaders. I’m not sure how you tie into this, Nova? Why are you wearing a Captain’s Coat? Going out with us?””

“You could say that,” Nova said as she sipped at her beer. “Who was going to be briefing you on the details on the new North Carolina?”

“Her new skipper, they said; the commander of Task Force 58,” said Deke.

“You’re looking at her,” Nova said slowly as she crossed her long legs. “We’ll have a staff meeting when we get aboard the ship in the next forty minutes.”

Peale’s mouth fell open, and then he whistled a long, low whistle. “Ma’am, after we finish our drinks, we’d better skedaddle to the ship ASAP.”

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1340 HOURS….

A while later, Nova was driving by herself in an EDF staff aircar to the docks; Deke was driving himself, Peale, and two other officers in his car.

On the highway, Nova had touched minds with Derek, and she said, Dear, I’m serious. They gave me a new Task Force Fifty-Eight and the Delphinus, which they renamed the North Carolina. We’re casting off in about fifty minutes. I’ve got a lot to do.

Are the kids okay?

The older kids are in school. The little ones are asleep, Fela said, and I left it to her to give them the bad later.

You sound like you have a headache, Peppermint.

I do have a headache, Derek. You know I hate the stress of commanding a warship. I hope this doesn’t turn out like it did a few years ago with the Danube when they stuck me in command. And it’ll be all on little old me this time to decide when we fire the wave gun. How do you handle it?

Follow your heart, Nova…and your gut. Captain Avatar always told me that, especially near the end. He called us all his kids…remember? Mark’s out there; I’m here, and you’ll be here soon, too… Best news I’ve heard in days. We’ve grown up, dear and we’ve gotten our own commands. You won’t screw up, Nova. It’s just like riding a bike.

Glad to hear you have so much confidence in me, Derek. I feel about as confident right now as a dill pickle.

It’ll pass. Love you, and good luck. After this battle is over, we’ll have a hell of a victory blast when you get back aboard the Argo.

Love you, too, Derek. Damn…I can see her bridge tower up ahead.

Andromeda class vessels are big. Don’t forget to write, Derek quipped.

“I won’t,” she said aloud.

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FORTY-FIVE MINUTES LATER (1425 HOURS)

“Mister Wakefield, I know you, and I know Mister Peale,” said Nova as she stood on the deck screen in the North Carolina’s main briefing room with a pointer after putting on her battered brown Bridge Ops gloves, which looked like driving gloves. She had been using them ever since 2199 on the Argo and she considered them her “lucky” shipboard gloves. “Deke, I had no time to open my briefing folder on the crew. This has been a crazy day! Please advise me whom these officers are.”

“Yes, ma’am,” said Deke. “I’ll be the first squadron leader and Brew is the second squadron leader. The Flight Group is named the Green Hornets. The planes are painted in that new camo scheme.”

“Understood. Peale, you’re at Analysis and Intelligence, correct?”

“Aye, ma’am,” said Peale.

Nova yawned and said, “Would the redheaded lady please identify herself? Don’t be shy!”

“Ma’am,” she said with a bow. “I’m Junior Lieutenant Porsha Elkins of New Pellias, serving on assignment to your Fleet. I’m in charge of your Living and Operations Group and Cosmo Radar.”

“Good,” said Nova. “XO, who’s our Combat/Tactical officer?”

Deke gave a young man a light shove, and the grinning spectacle-wearing figure of Dash showed up. Nova grinned at that. “Ma’am, Commander Dashiell “Dash” Yarnell at your service, if I may be so bold.”

“Dash, glad to see you! You’ll be my XO,” Nova said. “No need to worry, I have a gut feeling this crew will be good. Next?”

“Ma’am, to emphasize this fact, since I know I may not be trusted, my name is Ensign Garus Hildreth, at Communications. I defected, but my loyalty has been vetted.”

“Where did you defect from?” Nova asked the slightly olive-skinned officer.

“Spectra, ma’am. I understand you have differences with my people. Many of us likewise have issues with the First Chairman. That’s why some of us left.”

“Understood,” said Nova. “I’m trusting in Command’s judgment and welcome you to our ranks as a fellow spacer, Mister. Good luck.”

Hildreth nodded as a young woman came up and saluted. “Ma’am; Commander Fujiko Miyazaki; Navigation officer. We’ve worked together before, ma’am.”

“Yes, a long while ago, back on the cruiser Danube, when you were very wet behind the ears. You were a good officer then; I trust you’ll be just as good now. I think I see your second…”

“Ma’am, Senior Lieutenant Dayva Haanen, exchange officer from the Gamilon Imperial Astrofleet,” she said as her arm snapped up in a Gamilon salute. Her blue EDF uniform also included a gold sash that went over one shoulder that displayed the Gamilon crest of House Desslok in bright red. Her brown hair was cut in a short bob and she had a prominent dueling scar on her left cheek.

“Welcome aboard,” Nova said calmly. “You there in the red Pellian uniform…Miss. You are?”

The Pellian looked hard at Nova and she knew who she really was at once given the strong psychic impression that the Terran gave off. I’ve been briefed, she thought. Can’t spill the beans. “Ma’am; Junior Lieutenant Porsha Elkins; your Operations and Living Officer. The tall man beside me, “she said, indicating the very tall black furred Ralkhen who stood beside her, “…will be your Artillery Chief, Lt. Commander Rengar Dayliss. We are both on loan from the Royal Pellian Starfleet, ma’am.”

“I know it saves time, but you could have let Commander Dayliss speak for himself,” Nova snapped. She then looked out and smiled at a familiar face; looking at the Buddhist bindi mark on his head between his eyes. “Still repenting and atoning, Lt. Commander Bando?” said Nova with a small grin.

“Aye, ma’am,” he replied. “I’m really atoning by being your Technical and Science Group Leader, ma’am. I say that because while I know you’re a fine skipper and this is a fine new ship, she had no space trials, and I had no time to read the tech manuals on her. The lady standing here is our Engine Group Leader; Junior Lieutenant Leonia Greene,” he said, indicating a chocolate-skinned woman beside him.

“I haven’t had any time to read the manuals, either,” Nova said sympathetically. “I remember the Argo had no space trials, either…but I’ve gotten good at learning as you go. Hemsford, I know you, you Marine Group Leader,” Nova said as she motioned towards Paul. “Paul’s an old veteran who’s paid his dues; Commander Hartcliffe,” Nova said as she introduced Angelique Hartcliffe. “I know you…and I know you’ll do a great job as my CAG.”

“Ma’am,” said Hildreth. “What’s…what’s a CAG?”

“Combat Air Group Leader,” Nova said. “She’s in operational charge of the Air Wing and our shuttle and medevac boat pilots.” Nova then looked over a list she had while looking at a man with horn-rimmed glasses and thinning hair in a white Medical Group uniform. “Commander Hilary Fairworth, MD, I assume?”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said. “I was a year ahead of you in med school, Commodore. I assume since you’ll be up on that bridge so much, ma’am, I’m the regular Ship’s Surgeon?”

Nova nodded. “I’m sure we’ll be working together a bit. Even with the eight nurses and six medics we have on board, I assume you’ll need me down below when we need more than one doctor?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“I just completed my Residency,” Nova said. “Now that we know who all of us are, let me explain where we’re going and why.”

Nova tapped the deck screen with her pointer. “These are the First and Second Colonial Sectors. Task Force 15 was sent out first to answer some distress calls a few days ago. Task Force 15 got attacked at Sirius and we lost touch with the Arizona and Commodore Mark Venture a while later. As of now, the Arizona is still missing. I did receive information indicating that Commodore Venture is still alive.”

“How do we know that, ma’am?” asked Deke.

“Messages I received from the Argo,” Nova said, lying a little as she didn’t want anyone to know that she was in psychic touch with Mark. “With Task Force 15 missing, Rear Admiral Wildstar gets called out with a task force designated 16 with the Argo to check out the situation and to try to find Task Force 15. They got something of an answer out by Barnard’s Star where they got attacked.”

Deke nodded. “We had a hell of a battle there; and I got sent to the Shangri-La.”

“Current state of the Argo?” Nova asked.

“Damaged but under repair, Captain,” said Deke. “The Admiral was OK the last I spoke with him.”

“As he was the last time, that I heard from him,” Nova said. She couldn’t reveal, of course, that she had last spoken to Derek about ninety minutes ago via telepathy or that she had been out to visit him. “Part of our job will be to haul some parts out to the Argo so she can finish repairs.”

“Who attacked them?” asked Ensign Hildreth.

“A combined Bolar Fleet with a few R’Khell elements,” Nova said. “On top of all this, the original North Carolina and a Task Force 17 went out to Arcturus V to assist the colonists and the other ships. They got their tails kicked,” Nova sighed. “It appears the Bolars have a new weapon, known to us as the “Black Hole Cannon.”” Nova paused and tapped the screen again. “This is intel from the North Carolina about how and why she was torn in half. Have a look.”

The officers gasped at the destruction they saw. Dash whistled, saying, “What a mess!”

“So, what are we supposed to do?” said Commander Miyazaki.

“Great timing,” Nova said. “We’re Task Force 52. Our job is to somehow go out, finish Task Force 17’s job, find the Arizona and offer aid, and find the Argo and do the same in assisting her in making repairs. Then, we’re supposed to rescue any colonists or people on those cruise ships who were attacked, and then we are supposed to join up and fight the enemy fleet and stop them before they get to Earth. Easy work,” Nova said in a tired, world-weary sounding voice. “But, it’s our job. We specialize in the impossible; all of us. We can do it, and we will do it.”

“When does it start?” asked Bando.

Then, the North Carolina’s klaxons went on, and then off, making a rude noise. An upset Ensign yelled from the First Bridge, “Enemy planes spotted approaching the docks! Twenty-five attack planes; identified as Bolar!”

Nova grabbed a microphone from off a bulkhead and barked, “All hands to combat stations! All hands to battle stations! Deke, launch as many planes as you can from the upper bays. Greene, Miyazaki, get up to the Bridge and get this vessel moving! Dash, Dayliss, get our weapons up, and ASAP! Where’s the alert klaxons?”

“I’m hitting the button, but they’re not coming up yet!” snapped Bando.

“Check the breakers later!” Nova snapped. “C’mon, people, MOVE!”

“Aye, aye, ma’am!” said Nova’s officers as they saluted and began to run. The klaxons finally got the idea to blow a moment later.

Nova ran off as fast as she could, along with the others.

II. A TRULY FINE MESS…

Planet Earth

Tokyo Megalopolis Northern Dockyards.

May 27, 2214

1450 Hours: Earth Time

As the sirens blew, Nova ran into the mess hall, bumped into some chefs working in the galley; some of them were shutting down to take battle stations, but not all of them. Nova glared at them as she said, “You newbies! Hold dinner; we’re taking off! Get to your battle stations, and NOW!”

“Aye, aye, ma’am,” they snapped. They saluted Nova, who grabbed a slice of toast from off a food pile along with two gyoza (pork dumplings). Knowing it would look impolite, but knowing she would need some nourishment because she had not eaten for several hours, Nova snarfed down the gyoza and munched on the toast as she ran to the Second Bridge.

“Not bad!” Nova barked as she looked around at the work of the crew on the Second Bridge and threw herself into the waiting Captain’s chair, sitting at the aft bulkhead. She hit a button as she worked on finishing her toast, and the chair ascended towards Bridge Number One.

A moment later, as Nova finished the toast, she appeared on her Bridge with a little bit of her toast hanging from her mouth before she ingested it and wiped her mouth with her ascot. She groaned as she saw that her console was still covered in plastic wrap! She tore it off, and flicked on her computers as Lt. Haanen took over and spelled the Ensign and said, “Ten planes coming right at us; distance; five hundred kilometers, and speed eleven space knots. Identified as Bolars; and they’re in an obvious attack formation!”

“Dash! Dayliss! Are our weapons systems up and running yet?” Nova asked as she glanced at her board and saw that Greene would be able to start auxiliary engines in thirty seconds.

“Power is going to the pulse lasers,” snapped Dash.

“We’ll have them up and running in forty-five seconds!” said Dayliss.

“Fifteen seconds to pressure in starting cylinder,” snapped Miss Greene from Engineering.

“Haanen; distance of those planes?” Nova demanded.

“Two hundred kilometers!” snapped the Gamilon woman. “They’re firing missiles!”

“Get us moving, Miss Miyazaki!” Nova said briskly.

“Aye, ma’am…raising anchor…power to auxiliary engines…ahead point five!”

The North Carolina began to move ponderously as the first enemy missiles hit her. The battleship shuddered in the water, but she kept on gaining speed.

“Ma’am, signal from Headquarters. They’re concerned about our ability to lift off in time,” said Hildreth.

“Pulse lasers ready!” said Dash.

“Dash, you know what to do!” Nova said with the first smile she had since she had arrived on the bridge.

“Aye, ma’am! Opening fire!” Dash barked.

The pulse laser hatches on the North Carolina’s flanks snapped open, and the gun houses began to track the enemy planes. They began firing a second later.

“Power building in the wave motion engine,” said Greene. “Power level is now fifty percent.”

“Dash, have Wakefield stand by for launch,” Nova said. “Advise him he can only launch once we’re out of the water and have sufficient altitude.”

“Aye, aye, ma’am,” Dash said.

“Enemy carriers spotted in orbit,” said Elkins. “Range, Four Hundred megameters, speed, twenty space knots!”

“My tactical indicates that they just shot down one of our escorts!” yelled Peale.

“Which one?” Nova replied.

“The frigate Mackley, ma’am. They got her as she was taking off from Guam. Lost with all hands!”

“Damnit!” hissed Nova. She banged her console and glared at the tactical screen that indicated the loss. “Kuso!” she hissed as her teeth gritted.

“Nova, ma’am! Where did you pick that one up?” asked Dash.

“From Derek, where do you think? I feel just like Captain Avatar fifteen years ago; we’re really getting our baptism of fire! C’mon, Showboat, wake up and work for me!” as she banged her console again.

“Ma’am…Showboat?” said Haanen.

“That’s what they called the original seagoing North Carolina this ship is named after,” Nova said. “Greene! How soon to ignition?”

“Thirty seconds; the wave engine is at one hundred and ten percent; pressure building!”

“Start flywheel in ten,” Nova said. “Miyazaki, get us up and out of the sea at the maximum possible angle of ascent, and give her all the power you can!”

“Second wave of bogies approaching!” said Haanen.

“Dash, get those planes with pulse lasers and a spread from Number One Turret!” Nova said.

“Now, we’re talking!” grinned Dash. “Dayliss, set the guns on auto; spread the barrels!”

“Angle adjusting to forty-five degrees, due ahead,” said the huge Ralkhen in his growling voice. “Target locked!”

“Fire now!” Nova snapped.

The North Carolina’s guns spoke for the first time and blasted four Bolar attack planes from the sky as the space battleship heeled hard a’starboard and let loose with pulse lasers. Still, two more missiles hit the ship near the bow.

“Damage to bow laser rangefinder!” snapped Bando as the North Carolina’s bow started smoking.

“Bando, get your damage control parties in there to fix it ASAP,” Nova said. “If worst comes to worst, I might just need our wave motion guns!”

“Starting flywheel, ten seconds to wave engine output,” said Greene. “Ten…nine…eight…”

“Enemy fleet identified as Bolar Gorki-class carriers with cruiser escorts!” said Elkins. “Five carriers; four cruisers; four more cruisers warped in beyond my radar scan range!”

“How do you know that?” snapped Bando.

Porsha flipped her reddish-blond hair and smiled. “Pellian juju, as you say.”

“Miss Elkins, I never heard of anything like that in my…I almost think you’re blowing smoke up my butt…”

“Many Pellians have abilities similar to Iscandarians!” Nova barked. “Bando, you served with Sasha! You damn well know better!” Nova then shut her eyes and said, “I can tell you she’s right and that the other cruisers are twelve hundred megameters out!”

“Correct, Your Worship!” said Porsha politely as she bowed her head. “Honor to serve with you, ma’am!” she said as Dayliss also bowed his head for a moment.

“Am I going nuts?” snapped Bando.

“Bando, I’ve learned Pellian juju, too,” Nova said. “Explanation coming in full later, my friend!”

“Energy level a hundred and twenty percent!” said Greene.

“Good! North Carolina, hasshin!” Nova barked in a higher voice on the last syllable.

“HASSHINSHIMASU!” snapped Miss Miyazaki. “Or, in Terranglish, away we go!”

The North Carolina’s wave engine blasted on and the mighty space battleship roared up out of the Pacific Ocean, heading to the East, and heading off for orbit at full speed.

Nova laughed hard and grimly as she was thrown back in her seat and said, “Oooo, yes, baby…you’ve got a kick!”

Then, Derek’s thought reached Nova through their bond. You sound happy!

I am! Nova sent back. My Showboat’s got her wings!

What’s your sitrep, hon? Derek sent. (meaning “situation report”)

We’re playing footsie with a Bolar carrier fleet, Derek. Situation Normal, All Fouled Up!

Be careful! Derek sent back. We’re in a furball ourselves and took more damage!

YOU be careful, dear! Nova sent through her bond. We don’t want to leave our kids orphans!

In the event that happens, you and I are both Wildstars, and we’re both gonna go down fighting! Derek sent back.

Then, Nova caught another thought. Mommy! This is Ariel! A missile just hit near our school! They were about to let us out but we’re sheltering in place! Are you okay?

Nova’s eyes filled with tears as she sent back, Yes, honey. Sorry I can’t hug you right now, but Mommy’s got this under control. So does Daddy. They are NOT gonna win if we’re still breathing! Be brave. Love you!

Love you too, Mommy, Ariel sent back. Nova looked at the local time: it was now 1505 Hours.

A moment later, the North Carolina pierced the cloud cover, and the frigate P.G.T. Beauregard rendezvoused with her, followed by the frigate Stonewall Jackson and the patrol cruiser Mississippi.

“We are being followed by the Beauregard, Jackson, and the Mississippi, ma’am,” said Hildreth. “Signal coming in from Captain Garland on the Mississippi!”

“Estimate six or seven minutes to contact with enemy fleet,” said

“Put him on video,” said Nova.

A moment later, a mustachioed Skipper, handsome in his cap and peacoat, briskly saluted Nova. “Commodore Wildstar, it’s a distinct honor to serve under you, a many-times decorated Star Force veteran.”

“Thank you, Captain,” Nova said with a winning smile. “Your squadron looks sharp, shipshape, and full Bristol fashion, but where’s the rest of my Task Group?”

“Bad news, ma’am. They were shot down over Okinawa, Guam, and Hawaii. Total loss of two cruisers, two frigates, two destroyers. They were covering our liftoff, ma’am. Lot of dead men and women, sadly. The whole Pacific’s crawling with Bolar planes right now, and First Fleet is dealing with stopping an attack at the Venus Energy Station. Commanding General Singleton called me and he said that the other Defense Fleets are at least an hour away. I’m aware our mission is important, but right now, we are Earth’s first line of defense.”

“Roger that, and I’m not going to let you down, or Earth,” Nova said. “Who’s in command of the frigates?”

“Commanders Wes Burke and Heather Mori, ma’am.”

“Good skippers. I’ve worked with Wes and Heather before on the REFORGER wargames a few months ago in the summer when I had your ship for three weeks as part of Blue Team. Fun wargame; our mission was to “sink” the Argo, helped by some Gamilons, and we all got “killed”. Derek was riding me for three days about that one,” said Nova with a little grin. “Even though I did get the satisfaction of telling Hubby to surrender and return home. Enough. Where’s the enemy now?”

“Coming in fast. I hope we can get them in orbit, ma’am.”

“Me too,” Nova said. “We’d better win this; it’s for real.”

“Hey, if we lose, I’ll buy ya a drink in Hell, Sugar!” joked Captain Garland. “But I don’t think we’re gonna lose with you in the game, Nova. You’re a bright lady and a damn good Captain.”

“Thanks, Rhett,” Nova said with a soft smile. “You’re a true gentleman. Give Wes and Heather my love; good flying and good luck! God Bless.”

Captain Rhett Garland saluted, and Nova briskly returned the salute before the screen, one of four on this Andromeda, faded out. Then, as Nova was about to order Deke out to screen the Task Force, Hildreth said, “Another transmission coming in, ma’am. It’s the enemy.”

“Lovely,” sighed Nova. “Put the fellow on, I’ll talk to him.”

Nova looked up at her tormentor as he appeared on the screen; he would have had a halfway handsome face if it were not for two scars that marred his cheeks. He even had a nicely trimmed Van Dyke style beard.

Nova was mildly surprised that this Bolar commander looked sort of refined and possibly not even cruel. She took a deep breath, and silently contacted Derek through their psi-bond.

Derek?

Yes, Nova?

You’re still tied down?

Yes. We’re fighting about seventy ships.

Hang in there, I know you have a solution for this but I’ll get there to help as soon as I can. As for me, I want you to listen carefully through our bond, darling. Right now, I’m in Earth orbit, and semi-cornered with a lot of losses, and the Bolar commander here wants terms, probably of surrender. You know me. I have no interest in surrendering to any of these sons of bitches. I intend to pull a trick or two, but I want to see what sort of intel I can get, first. Try to listen to me while you fight, okay? I’m patching you in, and I intend to zip out there in three or four hours or so via Cosmic Express to give you a personal report. Okay?

Good luck, Nova. I’ll keep part of my brain peeled. Understand I may have a rough time answering you. Damnit! They just holed the Third Bridge.

Oh, that always happens, Nova sighed through their bond. Thanks, see you soon. I love you, Have some sushi ready for me.

Love you too, Nova, Good flying. Over and out.

“Ah, yes?” he said. “I was given a hint or two about you; your face looks vaguely familiar to me,” he said in very heavily accented Terranglish. “Pardon the accent; we need not resort to universal translation; I do speak your tongue, Miss. Could you kindly allow me to speak to the Commander of your small Task Force? They have fought gallantly. Almost a pity I had to destroy six of your ships, but this is, unfortunately, war.”

“I do thank you for the compliments, Admiral,” Nova said, recognizing the pips and markings on his uniform. “I am the Commander of this Task Group; Task Group Fifty-Four. My name is Commodore Nova Wildstar. Since it appears, we can have a semi-civil conversation, my greetings to your family, patryo, and ancestors. De vada, ne, Age?” Nova said in the little Bolar she knew, which translated, meant, “Your name please, Admiral?”

“Thank you. I am Grand Admiral Igor Abdulov of the Fourteenth Mobile Attack Fleet, the Commander of the Bolar Spacecraft Carrier Flagship Areta,” he said as screen Number Two caught a visual of the Bolar flagship; it was massively ugly, grey-blue, and marked with a red stripe down her flanks. “Ahh, you are so important to us, Haev, H’Tsarina d’ Pellana, Nova, dearest little one. We are a progressive, Bolar Planetary Socialistica Workers’ Paradise, as it is best translate into in your tongue, but we can also be called da BPSWP. As to say, we are Socialist, but we have some regard for Royals, even though you do feed off and oppress the workers. We once had our own Tsarina, and even though we had to humanely exile her, we revere her memory as she was gallant. We are allied with other powers, which are not Kommunalka, which you might translate as ‘Communist’”.

“I appreciate the political lesson, Grand Admiral Abdulov,” Nova said calmly, even though she was sweating at her armpits. “Are you a Commissar, Admiral?”

While Nova spoke, she sent a text to Dash. It was short, and to the point. Dash. Contact Deke down in the flight bay. Alert Two. Tell him Auntie Nova’s had enough of this crap. Acknowledge.

Dash sent back. Gotcha, Nova, Good luck with this joker.

Nova saw the message on her screen and smiled. Thanks, Dash. I owe you a drink.

Down in the flight bay, Deke Wakefield was sitting in his idling Tiger. He then received a text from Dash. Hey, Tiger. Alert Two. Auntie Nova says so. She’s royally pissed at these jokers. Acknowledge.

Gotcha. Ready when you give the word, Deke sent back.

Then, he contacted Sasha through their bond. Hey, Princess!

Dekee! You’re okay! Where are you?

Flight Group leader on an Andromeda class battlewagon they renamed the North Carolina. The first North Carolina crashed on Earth in flames. Terrible mess. We have a new Task Group 54, and I’m about to get into my own hairball. Are you okay?

Considering we’re messing with over seventy ships, yes, Dekee, Sasha sent back. Who’s the skipper of this new Task Force? Some clown from Command?

No, she’s good. She got a brevet promotion up to Commodore. Auntie Nova’s in command of this brand-new boat, and she’s on her way!

Yeah, great! Sasha said with a big, wide grin. I can tell Uncle is on the mental horn with Nova now, but I can’t get into their bond. Guess he’ll tell me later? I’ll also let him know the 54^th Cavalry is on its way! Love and roses!

Love you, Princess. Tiger’s also on his way.

Sasha blew Deke an ethereal kiss, and he smiled.

III. PARLEY…

Space: Between the Earth and the Moon

The First Bridge of ESS North Carolina

May 27, 2214

1545 Hours: Earth Time

In the meantime. Nova was still chatting with Grand Admiral Abdulov over the screen. She could tell Derek was picking this up and was totally appalled. She also knew he was picking up her own impatience, anger, and frustration at the cruel enemy even as she did a great job of hiding her rage towards the enemy commander beneath a charming exterior.

“Yes, Commissar. I apologize,” Nova said. “I was occupied with my crew.”

“Da, and I thank you for the recognition of my education and my Party Rank in my Bolar Federation, as we usually refer to it in shorter terms. My terms are these. The Overlord of the Greatest of said allied Power I spoke of desires to meet again with you, so we are willing to not board your lovely vessel, if you will heave to, surrender, and allow us to escort you to the place of said meeting on one condition, you honored Pellana e’ Erda. We understand you are a Hero of both peoples. Advise us, if you so please, of the condition and location of the space battleship Argo. She is a major thorn in our side and my orders, and the orders of my fellow Admirals engaged in operations elsewhere, are that we destroy the Argo. Assist us with this information and we will leave your world alone and peacefully escort you to a meeting with Overlord Ekogaru the Great.”

Nova pulled her cap down a little so that Abdulov wouldn’t see she was glaring at him under the polished visor of her cover. “In order for you to understand my answer, Admiral, permit me to give you a history of the Argo and her commander” Nova rejoined, with the anger in her voice doing a long, slow burn to the surface. “We revere the Argo on our world. She and her crew, the Star Force, have saved our species from extinction several times over. I am myself a veteran of that brave ship of long standing. She means a lot to me and I have many comrades, friends, and even relations on the ship and throughout the fleet. I am sure you see Pellians, a Gamilon, Terrans, and even a Spectran refugee here in my crew. I would rather die than betray a single comrade of the Earth Defense Forces, the Pellian Royal Fleet, or any of our other trusted allies. Your offer for me to betray my people and my comrades for a temporary advantage is honestly making me sick to my stomach. Admiral! Also, have you not noticed that the full name of the Argo’s Commander is Derek Wildstar and my name is Nova Wildstar?”

“Ah…your brother?”

“Hell no, Admiral! I would not have had children with my brother! What do you think I am, sick? Derek is my husband and my oldest comrade and best friend! If you really think I’d betray Admiral Wildstar or his ship to you, go…pound…sand, Grand Admiral!”

“What does that mean? I do not understand your reference, even though I understand your righteous anger. I have a wife named Nora myself. I would not give her up to anyone. But, you Terrans, is that not another matter?”

“NO,” Nova snapped in a loud voice. “And, Admiral, “go pound sand” is a very polite way of saying, go…Eat…Shit!”

Nova then stood up and the bridge crew went “Oooo” in quiet voices after she calmly stood up, raised her right hand, and gave him the middle finger. Then, she said, “Dasivadnya, Admiral!” and she cut the line herself

Nova then banged her hands on her console and barked, “Dash, Miyazaki, ninety-degree turn port at full speed! Cross that guy’s T and open all guns and unleash our Hornets from our Hornet’s Nest! I’ve had enough! Make sure the escorts get the order to jump on them, too!”

“AYE, AYE!” snapped the appropriate officers as the North Carolina whipped around with her guns and missiles blazing. Her escorts followed suit; and a moment later, Deke and his squadron roared out of the North Carolina’s new launch tubes as Brew roared out the other tube.

“Split up!” snapped Wakefield. “Brew, bring down those bandits over us! I’m getting those carriers!”

“Right!” snapped Jere “Brew” Marrable from inside his Tiger. “Oh, ya know, someone on board just named our flight bay “The Hornet’s Nest?”

“I don’t like these green planes much,” snapped Deke, “but whoever named the bay the Hornet’s Nest had the right damned idea!”

The Areta took the brunt of the attack as the plasma bolts from the North Carolina’s guns ripped nice holes in her flight deck.

In the meantime, on the Bolar ship, everything was chaos.

“Flight deck holed!” snapped the ship’s CAG commander. “Our planes can’t land!”

“Engine Number One burned out!” yelled the Bolar engineer.

A voice came over the speakers, “Flight bay is…YAAAAAAAAA!”

“Turbogenerator for main guns has blown out!” screamed the weapons officer as his board blew a moment later and set him on fire. The Areta’s Bridge began to fill with smoke as alarms went off.

“Admiral!” yelled Captain Komarov, his first officer. “Five of our escorts are finished! The carriers Vdanya and Idaala are destroyed! Battleship Striga just blew apart! We’re down to six ships and our ship is heavily damaged!”

“Message from North Carolina, the H’Tsarina Nova demands we surrender our vessel and Fleet at once!” said the Comm Officer. “What do I say to that demon?”

“Tell her to EAT SHIT!” snapped Admiral Abdulov as he picked up his own swagger stick and broke it in sheer rage.

In the meantime, on the North Carolina, Nova unexpectedly got up from her seat and walked over to the comm console and leaned on it.

“What’s going on, ma’am?” said Hildreth, looking at his Skipper as if she had temporarily gone buggy in the head.

“We’re going to get some messages soon,” Nova said as she took off one of her ops gloves and twirled it around. “Give it about…forty-five seconds,” she said as she glanced at her Citizen Black Tigers Aviator-style watch. It was a slightly unusual style for a woman in those days, but it was a birthday gift from Derek last year and she loved it.

“How do you know that?” said Hildreth hesitantly.

“Trust her,” growled Dayliss as he paused for a moment to groom one of his huge furry hands with his rough feline tongue as he was a humanoid cat.

“Getting close,” said Nova. “Mrs. Hartcliffe, call the Hornets back to their nest!”

“Aye, aye, Nova,” she said with a smile. She said into a headset mike, “All Hornets, back to the nest; the Skipper says so!”

We’re almost done out here, thought Deke. But not quite. What’s Nova planning in that little honey-blond head of hers?

“Message coming in to us in Cipher Alpha Forty-Five…it’s a little fragmentary, keeps on cutting out,” said Hildreth.

“He’s right on time,” murmured Nova. “I hope he has good news!”

“Where’s the message coming from?” asked Dash.

“Decrypt not yet completed, but it’s from the Argo!” said Hildreth.

“Hot diggety!” yelled Dash. “YEAH!”

“What are they saying?” said Greene.

“Still decrypting it,” said Hildreth as he picked at keys. “This code’s a little tough to unkey…”

“I need intel, NOW!” snapped Nova. “Let me do it. I can decode this cipher with my eyes closed. Headset, please. Let me sit down at your post.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said as he handed Nova the headset himself and got up. Nova slid into the seat and kicked it up on its track as she pulled off her cover and put on the headset and began to play the decrypt keys very fast, as if she was playing a boogie-woogie on a piano as she listened to the tones. A moment later, there was a loud “BLEEP” and a printout tape rolled out of the console like an old-style adding machine tape. Nova ripped off the tape and read out loud, “Turkey Trotting to Water, Stop…ignore the message padding…okay…here it is!” she sang. She got up and triumphantly read, “Hi, Peppermint. I threw on my goggles and I did some bird shooting today. Rosstowski had a headache. Shot expert 75 to 78. Three pigeons got away, little ones. We’re fine for now, need the cable guy to improve MTV transmission, making repairs, love you, Derek. Message ends. YES!” Nova said with a big look of joy and relief on her face as she threw the tape up into the air.

“Excuse me, what’s the Argo talking about?” said Hildreth.

“He’s safe, it’s Derek himself, and he called me by my pet name and advised me he just fired his wave motion gun and got 75 out of 78 enemy ships; just three escorts left; transmission is still bad, making repairs, and he’s safe and he loves me!” Nova said with a merry laugh. “Oh, yes, Derek, I love you, I love you, I LOVE YOU!” she cried as she twirled around like a dancer with her arms out for a moment.

“Does she always get this excited?” whispered Miyazaki to Dash.

“Yes, when she’s in a really good mood,” whispered Dash with a grin. “When she’s in command, it’s a good sign.”

Nova then sat down at the comm station again and typed rapidly in cipher code to the Argo. “Encrypted, send! Love it!”

On the Argo, some bridge crew members were still clapping and applauding their victory. Sasha was practically dancing at her post as she cried, “Great job, Uncle!”

There was still a little smoke hanging in the air since the Artillery board had blown. Medics had collected the Artillery Officer, Ensign Sandra Mulroney, and as Sandor, a new tech Ensign hardly anyone knew and IQ-9 worked to bring the board on line, Homer said, “Message coming in from the North Carolina, Andromeda class!”

“What the devil?” whispered the new tech. “Chief, I thought the North Carolina was in her grave!”

“No, EDF Ops christened a newer and better one, and a great Skipper is on her way in here to lend a hand,” said Sandor.

“Is she wearing a skirt?” said IQ-9.

“Possibly. You don’t go harassing another Captain if she shows up on the ship for a meeting,” said Sandor. Now, Sandor had figured out from Derek’s whispers to him sotto voce who was most likely on her way, but he didn’t want to excite the Tinwit.

“Message decoded,” said Homer. Holly Venture ran over and grabbed the tape. “HEY!” yelled Homer.

“We need info, Homer. Sorry.”

“YOU’RE AS PIGHEADED WITH THIS BOARD AS YOUR HUSBAND!” cried Homer.

“Homer, now I know why Mark doesn’t speak nicely of you,” snapped Holly. “You’re a total…”

“And YOU’RE a red-headed KNOW-IT all with Cooties, Holly! You’re as bad as Peppermint!

“You aren’t fit to mention Nova’s name behind her back, you IDIOT!” barked Holly.

Derek came over and clapped his hands. “Homer! Venture! CUT THE CRAP!”

“I’ll meet you in the gym if you want,” said Holly as she snarled at Homer.

“You and what army, you damn skinny cootie-carrier?”

“Excuse me, Nova taught me how to fight, and I can kick your ass just as well as Mark can!”

“SHUT UP!” yelled Derek. He grabbed the paper message tape from Holly himself and read aloud, “Time sent: 1606 Hours, Earth Time. Hi, Space Cowboy, where’s that comb I gave you? I know that your hair still looks like you brush it with an eggbeater. Glad you got most of those pigeons and that you’re getting your cable fixed…Will show up with cookies in a while; I still have some roaches in the kitchen, sorry. Have to clean up out here, love you and God Bless...N.”

“Who’s sending these kinds of messages? No protocol whatsoever,” said the new Tech Ensign, who was named Chaim Markowitz, from Tel Aviv.

Eager grinned and said, “We’ve either got some drunken lunatic on the new North Carolina, or Nova. Probably the latter.”

“NOVA’S COMING?” screeched IQ-9. “Hope she’s wearing a SKIRT! And those pink Hello Kitty panties!”

Ensign Markowitz asked Sandor, “Sir, is the Argo a ship, or a lunatic asylum?”

“Actually, we’re a mildly dysfunctional family here,” said Sandor with a slight grin as he worked on the board. “I know a lot of these guys and ladies better than I know some of my own relatives.”

“Nova’s coming! (hiccup)” said IQ-9. “Nova’s coming! (hic)” said IQ-9. “She makes me lose all control!”

“Careful, IQ,” said Sasha. “If bad crap is going on near Earth, and Auntie does show up, she won’t be in any mood for your fun and games!”

“Your hair and eyes are adorable, Sasha,” said IQ-9 as he burbled up to her. “Will YOU marry me if Nova won’t divorce Derek?”

“IQ-9, you know darn well I’m already married to Dekee,” snapped Sasha.

“I can give you flowers, wine…a rotating bed…”

“You keep this up and I’ll tell Auntie on you,” Sasha sang. “I’ll let her know how bad you’re being!”

“I can’t help it around all these beautiful women!” burbled IQ as he zipped past Holly and copped a feel on her tush,

“AAAAAAAAGH!” yelled Holly.

Sasha got up and rolled up her eyes and extended a finger to IQ. He flew apart.

“Let’s see you try games now, my friend,” said Sasha.

The whole bridge crew laughed.

“Ahh, life is back to normal around here for a while,” said Derek with a smile.

________________________________________________________

It was now 1613 Hours.

Back on the North Carolina, a working Bolar carrier had launched another wave of fighters, while Nova looked at the tactical screen and observed, “I don’t know why they’re not calling to taunt me again, Dash, but they are lining up for another go at us.”

“Signal from the Bolar flagship,” said Hildreth.

“He’s eight minutes late,” Nova quipped.

“We must’ve damaged his comm systems,” said Bando.

“Put him up on the screen,” said Nova as she sat back down at her post and crossed her legs behind her board.

“On main screen,” said Hildreth,

A moment later, Grand Admiral Abdulov called in. “Hello, High Tsarina!” he said.

“You’re late, Igor,” Nova said as she played with her hair. “I don’t like enemy Admirals who stand me up. Are you going to say uncle and surrender? Or, do I have to play rough?”

“You slime bucket; you think you’re so full of tricks, come here and get me!” he hissed.

“Dash, you have the conn until I get back,” Nova said calmly as she got up and straightened her coat.

Then, she vanished.

“WHAT THE LIVING FUCK??” squeaked Hildreth. “She vanished!”

“She’ll be back,” said Lieutenant Elkins at the radar. “And, she’ll be OK. Our High Queen can take care of herself, even if she hasn’t passed Through the Fire yet. I hear she’s both nicer than Aliscea was but takes much less crap when the chips are down. Luckily, with the Matrix in her, Nova’s got a long fuse.”

“You mean, she’s part alien?”

“Yup,” said Porsha as she filed her fingernails with little concern.

“And, she’s psychic, too?” said Hildreth. “And your High Queen, whatever that is?”

“Yup,” said the Pellian officer. “She has our Royal ancestry as well as being half-Earthling, but the Pellian side of her was sleeping until she was almost killed by Gamilon sleeping gas and the Cosmo-DNA. I understand her abilities were manifesting slowly, starting with the rapid healing usual to most of us first. Then, our High Queen in being Aliscea kick-started the process when she turned traitor to us by putting the Matrix in Nova, hoping to kill her. Nova just became more powerful than she did and she dealt with her. Ekogaru’s been after her ever since. Luckily, Nova has adjusted well. She handles telepathy, telekinesis, teleportation, some precognition, and energy control as if she was born doing it. You see what a sweet, if slightly emotional, personality she has, and she has a very good husband and great little kids. And she’s smart and humble. A very rare combination. High Queen Aliscea, honestly, was a BITCH,” sighed Porsha.

“What’s she doing now?” said Commander Miyazaki from the helm.

A moment later, one of the screens came up on its own and showed a scene of the inside of the Bolar ship’s bridge.

Nova was staring at Admiral Abdulov on the smoking bridge with her Cosmo-Gun sidearm up and aimed at him.

But, six surviving Bolar officers had her surrounded and were all pointing blasters at her.

“We have to get Marines over there!” said Dash. “Goddamn it, she’s surrounded! Has she lost her mind going into a trap like that? She’ll need to be rescued and we might all watch her die. How do we tell Wildstar what happened? Hemsford”! He yelled over his mike. “Get a Marine squad ready to fight. We need to rescue the Commodore!”

“Oh, she can take care of herself with these jackasses; none of them are psionic,” growled Dayliss as he ran his fingers through the fur on the top of his head between his cat-like ears. “Watch, listen, and learn. You might find this sorta neat.”

____________________________________

“I have orders to capture you, and you came right to me, you little hex-girl!” laughed Admiral Abdulov. “The rest of you, keep your guns on her. Darga, Magrurov, get over there, cuff her, and rip her damn uniform off while her crew is watching. I want her naked, and I want her searched and then hung up in manacles in the brig with a piss bucket.”

“Igor, I see you’ve got a neat little sash around your waist. Bright red. Might make a nice fashion accessory,” said Nova. “You aren’t getting any of my clothes off me now. I’ve gotten better at this than the last time I met your creeps and they almost raped me. Stop standing there, you guys…try me. Or don’t any of you crapstains have the nerve to SHOOT?” Nova barked in a very authoritative voice.

One officer snarled and shot at Nova. The shot looked dead on.

Nova yawned and put her hand up and deflected the laser bolt back into his crotch. He began to scream.

“Hmm, looks like I gave him an involuntary vasectomy, the poor idiot,” said Nova. “I’m a doctor, too. I’ll be nice and I won’t charge him for it. I must drive you guys off in time to hit the golf course next Wednesday. That’s my day off if you care.”

“What is this GOLF?” yelled Abdulov.

Then, a third officer fired at Nova. She spun around, evaded the laser bolt, and put a nicely-aimed shot from her sidearm right in his heart.

Another officer tried to bodily rush Nova and tackle her. She expertly put her foot up and gracefully tripped him right into a burning panel. A nice little telekinetic push from her mind shoved the man head-first into the burning panel where he was brained alive. Nova was so well balanced that her sandal didn’t even fall off!

“WITCH!” yelled another Bolar officer, who grabbed a large sword and tried to chop Nova in half.

Nova turned the force of his swing back on him and the officer cut HIMSELF in half. “Oops,” Nova said mildly as she dodged the spurt of arterial blood from the disemboweled Bolar while firing at another officer with her weapon. “Can’t get my nice new coat dirty. Dry-cleaning is hard to find once you get past Pluto.”

“You…you…you’re a sadistic, bloodthirsty monster!” yelled Abdulov. All the other surviving Bolar bridge officers now gave Nova a very, VERY wide berth as she walked up to Abdulov, pulled off his sash, and tied it around her own waist. Nova then pointed a finger at him and snapped, “You guys started this by bombing our city, killing our people, and scaring my oldest son and daughter. Did you know your pilots almost killed my children in their school? That’s low! I’m a bit upset over that! But, actually, my friends think I’m a very sweet girl. I cry over lost puppies and kittens and chick flicks that drive my husband crazy!” Nova said.

“Tsarina, I’d say you’re a most charming girl if your fleet didn’t blow most of us to the Socialist Paradise and if you didn’t kill half my bridge crew because you like the sight of BLOOD!”

“Actually, Igor, if I had time, I would have found less messy ways to kill those guys who wanted to shoot me, strip-search me, and probably gang-bang me for fun,” Nova said. “Now, Admiral, I wish I could stay and play with the rest of these guys, but I have things to do today, sorry,” said Nova as she ran up to a panel, skipped over some debris, shut her eyes, and seemed to hit some buttons at random with her eyes closed. “If I had more time, Admiral, I could sample some Bolar Borscht, but you’d probably poison it or something. I hear the weather around the South Pole of Enceladus near Saturn is lovely this time of year. Lots of pretty gas jets and ice storms.”

Nova smiled. “Enjoy your trip there, guys. I’ll catch up soon. Then make your peace with the gods if you believe in any, because I’ve had enough of your games for today, and my ship needs some target practice.” Nova hit three more buttons on the board, and hit a green one. “Locked in warp. See ya. Wouldn’t want to be ya!” she sang. She merrily waved goodbye, and phased right back out off the Bolar carrier back to the North Carolina.

“Admiral!” yelled a surviving officer. “She laid in a warp course, locked it in, and slaved our computer to the rest of our fleet! I can’t reverse it!!!”

“ABORT IT, ABORT IT!” cried Abdulov at Nova, whom he could still see on the screen. “Woman, you have my surrender! I mean it!”

“Sorry, too late,” said Nova back on her ship with a little shrug. “You’re on a one-way trip. Bye!” she said.

Then, the whole Bolar fleet warped out to Nova’s coordinates with a flash.

“The roaches are in their trap,” Nova said calmly. “Miss Miyazaki, set us up for an immediate warp, to NGQ-512, eight megameters away from a jet of gas and crud that will be hitting those guys from the South Pole of Enceladus in about ten seconds to demolish their vessels. Hildreth, send those coordinates to the escorts now with my orders!” Nova snapped as she ran back to her station and strapped herself in.

The wave engine began to spool up as Greene and Miyazaki worked together as a team now, powering up the North Carolina to warp from between the Moon and Mars to Nova’s coordinates.

Miyazaki hit the klaxon switch, and the klaxons came up, went down with a bray that sounded like the ship giving the universe a giant raspberry, and then came back up as the ship’s computer suddenly spoke; but not in a normal IQ series voice, but in a strange Southern drawl. “Readyin’ auto-warp sequence, Sugah!” said the computer voice. “No need to worry, we will warp automatically in eight seconds. Fujiko, stop playing with mah controls-that tickles!”

“Who are YOU?” Nova snapped.

“Your ship’s computer, sugah. You’ve got too cute of a face to be mad like that, Nova. I’m Bubba. I was assembled in Durham, North Carolina. Warp in five…foah…three…two…one…ZERO, hold on, folks! Off we GO!”

The North Carolina warped out in a disorienting flash of light with her escorts.

Hildreth began to scream as he saw bizarre warp effects and streaks of light that looked like the Lincoln Tunnel at rush hour. He had a nice view of the whole ship disappearing beneath him, and saw Mister Dayliss turning into a dragon.

He looked over at Nova, and it looked like she had two heads for a moment with her eyes closed. It looked to him as if they were yelling at each other, one in Terranglish, the other in loud Japanese.

His board turned into a clock face which melted as if it was made from plastic.

Weird flashes came to his vision in all sorts of colors.

Then, it felt to him as if he was falling down a giant drain.

A weird buzzing noise and blue light came up all around him.

Then, with a disorienting slam that almost made Hildreth throw up, the North Carolina appeared near Saturn, and normality returned.

He heard Nova sighing deeply as she opened her eyes. “Not bad for a brand-new ship with some skitzy systems,” she said.

“NOT BAD???” yelled Hildreth. “Ma’am, I’ve done time warp in Spectran vessels! It’s not like that, but it takes several minutes.”

“Wave motion power gets you there faster,” said Nova as she took off her cap and combed her hair with a comb from her pocket. “Did you open your eyes, Mister Hildreth?”

“Uhhh...I never closed them, ma’am,” he said.

“First rule of warping on Earth vessels,” Nova said. “Strap in and close your eyes. I see you didn’t do either. Good thing you didn’t float off into the Fourth Dimension and vanish, my dear Ensign. And you don’t look. What you see in warp space can drive some people totally and incurably insane,” Nova said as she calmly put her cover back on. “Also, it is as unpleasant as heck until you do about four or five and you get your warp legs; just like the old sailors used to get seasick until they got their sea legs. Now, Miss Elkins, where’s our enemy fleet?”

“On target, ma’am,” she replied said as the radar bleeped.

“Okay, fun will be over soon for today,” said Nova. “Miss Greene, stop all engines. Mister Hildreth, tell the escorts to stop and fall back fifty kilometers from us. Bando, did your crews fix the forward bow rangefinder?”

“They sure did,” said Bando. “I think I get what’s coming.”

“All engines stopped, ma’am,” said Miss Greene as she ran her hand through her short, neat braided dreadlocks.

“Very good,” said Nova as she eyeballed the tactical on the screens. “Miss Greene, begin transferring all energy to our wave motion guns. Dash, I’m sure you know the drill.”

“Yes, MA’AM!” Dash said with a big grin as he stood up and saluted Nova with a Star Force-style fist to heart salute. “Now we’re cooking with gas, Nova.”

She smiled and just said, “Yup.”

The ship began to hum in a monotone, as Nova said, “Bubba, please keep quiet. Manual control to Dash.”

There were two beeps, and Dash said. “Bringing up firing scope and grip,” he said as the familiar thrumming hum came as he worked a lever. “What? Nova! It’s stuck!”

“Stuck? Oh, great,” Nova groaned. “Leonia, what’s our power level?”

Miss Greene smiled at the use of her first name. It was going to be fun serving under this polite, delicate, but tough young lady’s command. “Can I call you by your first name, ma’am? I know it’s not regulation, but…saves time.”

“You know my name,” said Nova. “I don’t stand on ceremony,” she said as she got out her blast goggles and put them on.

Leonia cleared her throat. “Nova, the energy level’s at sixty-five percent.”

“Nice job,” Nova replied. “Dash, transfer control to my board. I’ll have to do this myself until we fix your firing grip.”

“You have control now, Nova.”

“Nice,” Nova said as she flicked a switch after removing her cap and gloves so she could get a good grip on the wave gun controls. “Yes, come to Momma,” she grinned as her firing grip and gunsight unfolded themselves. “Range to enemy fleet, seven-point fiver megameters. Electric cross gauge level up to brightness level three; all hands don flash goggles if you haven’t already! Hildreth, they’re over there by your right leg in that small locker. Make sure they’re on tight; the flash can blind you permanently in an instant.”

“Got it,” said Hildreth. “Sort of like why we wore those weird masks in the Spectran military,” he added. “I have a spare. I can get it for you if you want it, Nova. If you ever call Zoltar, you can scare him with it.”

“Nice, you’re loosening up,” Nova said. “Leonia, what’s the power level?”

“Ninety percent!”

“Good, open final safety lock,” Nova said. “Watching those guys to make sure they don’t try to run; that storm has them very messed up at the moment.”

In the bow of the North Carolina, the massive locks hissed open, and the firing barrels banged into place.

“Power level one hundred and ten percent,” Leonia said.

“Good,” Nova said. “Ten seconds to firing; don’t get away from me now, you idiots! Ten…nine…eight…”

“Power level now at one hundred and twenty percent: Pressure cylinder is green,” smiled Leonia.

_____________________________________

On the Bolar carrier Areta, the emergency sirens moaned while crew members tried to undo Nova’s nice lock on the warp controls inside the computer system. The system released a massive electrical arc that killed one officer.

“They’re about to fire their accursed wave motion gun at us!” yelled Abdulov. “Trying final override.”

There was a beep and the warp controls unlocked.

As the light from the North Carolina’s wave guns grew blinding, Abdulov hit a control and his ship swirled into an uncontrolled warp.

“Two…one…ZERO! FIRE!” Nova barked.

The wave gun glare grew even more blinding as the twin guns fired.

The two tachyon beams flew out towards the enemy fleet at a devastating speed.

Then, Nova both saw and felt the Areta swirling into hyperspace and vanishing, the only ship to escape. The other enemy ships melted like snowflakes in a blast furnace.

“IGOR!” she yelled. “You…you...coward! You left your own men behind?”

As the glare faded, Nova threw off her goggles and yelled, “HE RAN! DAMNIT!”

“Hey, Nova, we got the rest of them,” said Dash as he came over to the Captain’s station and patted Nova on the shoulder. “Don’t start crying on us, please!”

“I’m frustrated,” she sobbed. “I had the perfect trap, but he got away!” Nova wiped a few tears from her eyes, and said, to the air, “Desslok…I know how you felt now when we used to get away from you on the Argo in the nick of time. Stinks, doesn’t it?” she sighed as Dash handed her Captain’s cap and gloves back to her.

“Looks like you need a hug, Nov,” said Dash.

“Thanks,” she said as she accepted a hug from Dash. “You and I had our issues once, but you’re cool. You’re a good man, Dash.”

“Then how come I can’t keep a woman for more than two dates?” he sighed. “I’ve been trying to settle down; trying to find someone cute, and smart, and witty; like you.”

“My little sister will be dating in a few years,” Nova said. “Have to take a rain check for now; Aurora’s just twelve now. Still a bit young for you.”

“I hope I can find someone before you have to set me up with your sister,” Dash said.

“I think you will,” Nova said as she patted his arm and gave him a light, sisterly punch. “Meant to ask you. Do you have a sister?”

“I did. She died real young in the planet bombings,” said Dash.

“Well, guess I’m your surrogate sister,” Nova said.

“Nova…thanks…I…”

“I have a lot of surrogate brothers,” she said. “But only one Derek. Get us warped out beyond Pluto. You have the conn, Dash. I’ll be in my cabin upstairs. I need a rest. If that Bolar jackass comes back, call me, okay? And please give General Singleton a report about what happened. I’m beat, but I have things to do. Call me in three hours and please get the escort commanders on board. I need to talk with them. Don’t bug me until then, please. Take care…and…thanks, everyone. Nice job today! You’re all getting commendations, and some of you will get decorations; I must think about it, though. The Showboat has survived her trial by fire. Talk later,” Nova said as she yawned. She sat down in her chair and hit the lift and rode upstairs to her cabin as the crew saluted her. The time when she left was 1710 Hours.

Nova reached her cabin, tossed her cover on her new desk, put her peacoat over her chair, and kicked off her sandals and threw herself on her bunk in her skirt and blouse with its shoulder boards and blue necktie.

“You’re a good ship, North Carolina,” she whispered. “You’ve just got your growing pains. Like me.”

Nova remembered to set her alarm for two and a half hours from the current time. The alarm was set for 1940 Hours, and she grabbed her pillow and was asleep in five minutes. The poor woman was utterly bushed.

_______________________________

TO BE CONTINUED….