THE MIDNIGHT HOUR

A Star Blazers short tale

By Frederick P. "Freddo" Kopetz

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

In addition, a major word of thanks for “Dtill359” on Fan Fiction.net (also a writer here on Visions), for a long playlist of music and hymns for some SB characters. One of these songs, Yours Forever by Ron Hamilton is quoted in brief at the end of the chapter.

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ACT FIVE: TWO AND A HALF MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT

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I. DREAMS OF MY SENSEI…

Space Battleship North Carolina

Captain’s Quarters

The Vicinity of Pluto

May 27, 2214

1900 Hours: Earth Time

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“Coconut Milk,” Nova Wildstar muttered in her dream. “Derek, I love that coconut milk you brought….”

“It’s a Pina Colada, hon,” Derek said in her dream. Nova was dreaming of lying on a chaise lounge on a beach in a white bikini. Derek was lying beside her on another one, in a black Speedo.

Nova mumbled, “Am I dreaming this, or is this real or something? I tend to get mixed up now and then…”

“Enjoy your Pina, hon,” said Derek. “I’m pretty sure this is a dream, too.”

“OR, is it?” said a tall, bearded figure who walked up on the beach.

“General Halleck?” Nova said as she stared in her dream at her tall, slowly dying Master. “You know I’m trying to sleep…”

“Sorry to disturb you, Highness,” he growled. “Wake up, sleeping beauty. You and I need to have a talk. Astrena sent me.”

A moment later, Nova woke up, and yawned, kicking off her covers, and standing up in her very wrinkled blouse and skirt. She kicked on her sandals as Grimslade appeared out of nowhere and genuflected.

“Excuse me; my hair’s a royal mess,” said Nova with a blush. “Was I dreaming about Derek, or did we hook up psychically in my dream?”

“The latter, m’ Lady,” he said. “You sent a mental communication to Astrena before you went to sleep. Something about backup, I believe?”

Nova nodded. “Yeah. I’m meeting with the commanders of my escorts in a while, and then I’ve got to pop over to the Argo and see Derek.”

“I’ll follow you, but I’ll be on the Reliance later and I shall send you a ride,” he said as he coughed.

“Are you all right?” Nova said.

“Damn cancer deep in my lung, slow growth; inoperable.”

“Maybe not,” Nova said. “If you give me some time soon, I might just be able to fix that.”

“Astrena tried a psychic operation already. She got sixty percent of the mass and gave me, maybe, six more years. That was two years ago when you were still wet behind the ears in your Terran Medical School.”

“You said you’d be on the Reliance,” Nova said. “Isn’t that carrier Commodore Helka’s command?”

“She doesn’t mind if I show up now and then,” said Halleck with a slightly wolfish smile.

Nova shut her eyes. “Knock, knock, Grim?”

“You can get into my head, and yes, Commodore Jen Helka and I are having an affair.”

“I thought you weren’t supposed to do that sort of thing, being Lord Protector and all; did it involve a vow of celibacy, or am I talking out the wrong end of my hat?” Nova said as she went to her new coffee maker and began to make some Colombian Roast.

“What, you’re giving me some of that weak Terran stuff?” he said with a slight laugh.

“Yes. Do I make mine strong enough for you?” Nova said as she worked at setting up the Keurig maker she had been provided.

“Make it a double,” he yawned. “I’m tired and you’re half-dead on your feet. You know, you have your crystal sword in that freaky pocket dimension you made around yourself. Interesting idea, by the way.”

“Thanks,” said Nova as she drew out her spirit sword and looked at it. Her energy went into it and it lit up. “Pretty, isn’t it? Never needs batteries, or a power cell. I’m the battery.”

“Yeah…you come up with the most interesting ideas. I had a weapon I was going to give you, but…never made. I think you made a much better one, and for this age. By the way, why didn’t you take that Bolar Admiral’s head off before? You weren’t aggressive enough in that battle.”

“I had my reasons. I don’t have to explain all my actions to you; you’re not my father,” Nova chuckled. “Your coffee’s ready,” Nova said as she plopped a sugar cube in hers and stirred it. “How do you take yours? Sorry I have no creamer here.”

“Black, no sugar. You’re a quick study, Nova,” laughed Halleck in his low, rolling voice. “I don’t have to be celibate, at least…well, not anymore. The old path I used to follow is dead. I expressed some concern about your having kids in the past…”

“I had Alex and Ariel already when we met,” Nova snapped. “I know they’re picking up my abilities. And if I’m a High Queen, am I not supposed to have a dynasty or something? I’m not going to be around forever, you know.”

“Okay. You and Derek are fine, although, I don’t need to tell you about my love life.”

“Who’s asking?” Nova said as she sipped at her coffee. “Do you hear me talking? I’m drinking my coffee.”

“I know that, you silly snowflake,” laughed Halleck.

“It’s not snowflake, it’s snow. That is, it’s Yuki; one of my middle names,” Nova said. “Yu-ki, or Yu-ki-ko in full. That’s easy, isn’t it? I prefer that to ‘snowflake.’ Derek’s bad enough with his Peppermint stuff.”

“That’s his pet name, and your Admiral, mate, traditional martial arts sensei, and all that loves you more than you know. You know he almost worships the ground you walk on?”

“Yeah. I get that,” said Nova with a blush. “The feeling’s…mutual.”

“This coffee is a little weak,” Halleck said.

“Funny! Everyone else says I make it too strong, except Derek. He likes my coffee.”

“Why do you have to sweeten yours? Learn to drink your coffee like a man, your Majesty. Black, and bitter.”

Nova chuckled. “As you can see, I’m not a man, and I’m not bitter like you, either.”

“Aye. Not many men have legs like yours. Hells, not many women look as good as you, either. By the way, Miarahl sends her regards,” said Halleck. “That little old Ralkhen lady cat…. she knows so much…long history.”

“Back to our topic at hand, okay? Backup. You said you have backup for me?” Nova said.

“Yes. Brought the carrier Independence,” he replied. “Coffee’s not bad.”

“Where is she?” said Nova as she looked out her viewport stupidly as she set down her new SBB North Carolina coffee cup. “I’m picking up all these life signs, but I can’t see her.”

Halleck laughed. “She’s cloaked, Nova. The pretty new lady is floating a kilometer off your starboard side. She’ll come out to play in a while right before our meeting. I need to teach you time travel, next,” he said.

“You mean, you can do that astrally, too?” Nova said.

“Time-space is pretty flexible, really,” said Halleck. “I like your new coffee cup.”

“Pretty, isn’t it?” Nova said as she shut her eyes and used her own Matrix-amplified powers to float her spoon to a small sink where she could wash it later. “The cup came with the ship. New ship, dorky Captain who barely knows what the heck she’s doing. How’s the coffee? Did I get that right?”

“Yes, the coffee’s good,” said Halleck. “I detect…something unpleasant in your mind, Nova. Self-doubt?”

“Yes,” Nova said as she cast her eyes down to the deck. “Everyone in the know tells me I’m a quick study, fast learner, all that. Even Derek is telling me I’m becoming a pretty good warrior, doctor, even politician.”

“You always have been good at those things. You’re better with people than me,” snorted Halleck. “But you have two major faults, Nova. That inferiority complex you get when you’re one of the most gifted women and High Queens I have ever worked with, and your tendency to throw yourself in front of a train, bus, or dragon to rescue people. Self-sacrifice is great, Majesty, and you’ve done a lot of good, but you need to learn some discretion with it.”

Nova felt like giving old Grimslade a good piece of her mind, but she searched her own thoughts and even the Matrix and said, “You know…you’re right. And Derek tells me the same thing!”

“Girl,” laughed Halleck as he tapped Nova on the forehead, “that should tell you something, neh? Unlearn some of what you’ve learned!”

“Like old philosophies and rules that no longer work, right?” Nova shut her eyes and then looked out to the stars for a bit. “When I finally Pass Through the Fire, in battle with Ekogaru, die, get resurrected, and then take care of Ekogaru, I will have to reign as your spiritual guide in case any of Ekogaru’s lackeys come back. I wonder if I should base my spiritual disciplines on the old ways, or use what I can of that old wisdom so I can develop my own philosophy?”

“Good observation. Close, but not quite. I think you should use this old lore we know as a tool for developing your own way for this time. And, maybe dying here doesn’t mean physical death.”

“The old Pellian histories say it did,” Nova said.

“Maybe, maybe not. Maybe your version of death and re-empowerment is an ego death and rebirth. Not sure…just thinking aloud.”

“Good thought. I hope Derek will agree,” said Nova.

Grimslade rolled up his eyes. “Derek this, Derek that! No, he barely knows how to meditate himself, for one thing. He can’t do that much to help you. Would you stop looking at me like that? You look like you’re about to cry with those big Bambi eyes.”

“Sorry. But Derek is very important to me. We’ve always leaned on each other.”

“I’ve never been in a relationship like yours, but…let me stop judging you on your personal life since you said you’d give me that courtesy. Okay. He can give you some things, but it’s better I step out of the way a bit and take the damn training wheels off your astral bike. I’m too old; too damn set in my ways. I’m almost four hundred, and I’m dying. You’re just thirty-six, bright, and your planet trusts you and so does Pellias, kiddo. The cosmos is your oyster now, Nova, if only you could see that. And as for training you; I’ll be around, yes, but I can’t tell you what to do, because you are Queen in this time, and you must learn your own path. It cut what you said before about my not being your father, but you’re right. You don’t need a father figure any longer. You need good friends.”

Nova nodded and finished her coffee. A moment later, her communicator buzzed. “Yes?” she said as she flipped her chair around to her console and flipped it on.

“Captain, ma’am, the escort skippers have boarded. We’ve also picked up a few more escorts,” said Hildreth. “Dash suggests all of you meet up in the mess hall in ten minutes. He’s got the cooks making you guys decent meals.”

“Good,” said Nova. “I’ve got another very big Pellian here, too. And I sense he’s as hungry as I am.”

“Ma’am, that big bearded scary guy in the black leather?” said Hildreth. “Dash TOLD him you were trying to get shut-eye and your stateroom was LOCKED. How’d he get in there and past your lock and your encryption?”

“I have my tricks,” said Grimslade. “I was actually rather gentle in waking her up. Lady’s got a delicate psyche with a titanium spine. What a combination! I’ll see the skippers and your Mister Dash in a bit. Ciao,” he said. “Nova, anything else?”

Nova shook her head, mildly flustered. “Is my necktie on straight?” she said.

Grimslade cut off and he looked at it. “Dear, it’s wrinkled. Let me adjust it.”

Nova nodded, and he pointed a finger and straightened it mentally with his abilities. Then, he came over and affectionately patted her cheek. “Neat tie.”

“EDF issue,” Nova said, blushing. “Sorry about my epaulets; they still have Commander as my rank. My promotion to Commodore is temporary. I wanted it that way. Oh. How did you guess my lock password?”

Grimslade chuckled. “DEREK$2178, huh? You’ve got your husband on the brain! Oh, yes, another little fault. You and Derek are getting close to being equals, but you still hero-worship him like a 21-year-old lovesick chick!”

Nova glared at him. “Derek’s only saved Earth a few times over. Don’t I have the right? And you just said you weren’t going to pry into my personal life! Please do that. And if you have some kinky need to read about my physical love life, go buy and read my book on intimacy, pregnancy, and child care, even though I wrote it for young couples trying to make babies and deal with it, not dirty old men like you who like to leer at my drawings and photographs! I used myself and Derek as a few examples and models on how things can go when you want to make a baby and what to do afterwards! You can buy it at Q-Mart for six credits fifty; five if they have it marked down. I’ll even autograph it if you want!” Nova huffed and said, “To Grimslade Halleck, with love from Your High Queen Nova, go marry someone and make a baby or two,” Nova said in a mock announcer’s voice.

“Okay. I get your point. Just a few short questions and then I’ll shut up about your love life. You were 21 when you met him, right? How long have you two been married again? My mind’s going fuzzy; part of getting old, I guess.”

“I’ve been married to Derek for almost thirteen years. Yes. I admired him, I still do, and he needs me; more than he lets on. And I need him,” Nova said while she pulled on her peacoat, shut her outer sidearm belt, and put on her white scarf and hat. “And, I again stress, he needs me. If it weren’t for me, he might have gone insane at some point.”

“Getting closer, Majesty, but remember, you also need yourself!” said Halleck. “Let’s get below. I can tell they’re making filet mignon and my old mouth is watering.”

“So’s my young mouth,” said Nova with a smile. “I LOVE steak!”

Off they went.

A few minutes later, Nova was sitting down at the table with General Halleck (who was the skipper of the Pellian-Terran carrier Independence) and the commanders of her other escort vessels.

A second space battleship, the Caledonia, had joined the Task Group. She was under the command of an officer Nova had met years ago when she had been in command of the cruiser Yunagi; namely Captain Valleri Nesmith.

The Yunagi herself had joined the Task Group as well, commanded by Commander Amir Baghdadi, a young officer from Iraq.

The Fleet Cruiser Cartwright accompanied her; she was under the command of a young Korean woman that Dash smiled at: namely, Commander Bae Lee; a friend that Dash knew in the Fleet and had dated once. Commander Lee smiled back at Dash.

The destroyer Jakarta was the last new ship to join the Task Force; she was under the command of Lieutenant Commander Jane McPherson; a red-headed young woman from Glasgow.

On the other side of the table sat the skippers of the Patrol Cruiser Mississippi, and the small frigates P.G.T Beauregard, and Stonewall Jackson. Captain Rhett Garland, the skipper of the Mississippi, sat sipping at his wine while Commander Wes Burke of the Beauregard began to munch at his filet mignon while Commander Heather Mori of the Jackson sipped at her wine.

“Ma’am, where’d you get this wine from? It’s great!” she said to Nova.

“Heather, I just found it there in the galley, and I’m not sure why it’s here, but while it is here, we might as well enjoy it,” Nova said as she attacked her baked potato. “We all know each other, or know of each other, so we can be on a first-name basis here at this little dinner, okay?”

“Nova, really, what chance do you think we have?” said Valleri.

“Well, we have the advantage of surprise on our side,” she replied. “I’m sure that after pounding both the Argo and the Arizona and their escorts, that the Bolars do not expect that we have assembled another Task Group so quickly,” Nova said. “Admiral Wildstar knows we’re on our way, and I intend to contact him later tonight.”

“How?” said Amir Baghdadi of the Yunagi. “I got a short briefing, and I understand that the Argo is pretty banged up and that communications barely work.”

Nova finished chewing a bite of her filet, and she sighed. “Okay, Dash. You sort of know the score. Can I let the cat out of the bag?”

“The galley people have left us alone,” said Dash. “Bae and I talked about this a while ago; she already knows, but…”

Nova looked at Commander Lee and smiled as the dark-haired Korean officer made a “zipping my lip gesture”

“Yes, Bae, we all know what you’re getting at.” Nova looked at her commanders and said, “What I am about to tell you is extremely classified and cannot leave this room. Are we clear?”

Everyone nodded.

Nova then said, after taking a sip of wine to calm herself, “I’m sure a lot of you noticed that I bear a resemblance to both Queen Starsha of Iscandar and Ruling Queen Astrena of the Pellians. There’s a good reason. I’m related to them both, going a few generations back. In other words, I’m part Pellian and part Iscandarian, and…”

“Those crazies in those churches are right?” asked Commander Burke of the Beauregard as he wiped his dark brown cheeks with a napkin. “You really have…psychic abilities?”

Nova nodded. “Part of my heritage, and these abilities were involuntarily activated in me a few years ago. This explains why I can speak with Derek when comm systems are down. We have a bond. We can talk to each other mentally, among other things. I have other abilities, too. Let’s just say I have a gut feeling that this is going to turn out all right in the end, shall we?”

“Actually, we have a good little Task Force here,” said Valleri. “Your ship, the Independence, and the Caledonia have pretty potent wave motion guns, and the wave guns in our three cruisers are no slouches, either. I’m pretty sure we could give the enemy a good bit of trouble.”

Nova nodded at that. “These mushrooms aren’t bad. Okay. Our first target is going to be Sirius. The Arizona got attacked out there, and I have intel from Admiral Wildstar that Commodore Venture is alive, but that his ship is badly banged up. We will get there to effect a rescue, fight the enemy, no doubt, then assist in repairs, and then haul tail to where the Argo is. It’s my guess the enemy hammer will fall out where the First Star Force is, out at Arcturus. I have good evidence. I fought a Bolar fleet a few hours ago. The enemy commander called me up and demanded that I tell them where the Argo is or was or will be,” said Nova as she gestured with her fork. I naturally told the enemy commander to go…pound sand.”

“She said a few other things, too,” said Dash with a wicked grin.

“Dash, don’t get into that,” Nova said with a blush. “Okay, I was upset. I said a few things that weren’t terribly ladylike.”

“Our Skipper has a mouth just like her husband if you push her hard enough,” Dash said with a grin.

“I’ve hit her with a boken when we’ve sparred,” said Grimslade Halleck. “If you want to hear this lady curse a blue streak, hit her in the boobs.”

“Yeah? Just the way I hit you in the cuyones a moment later, Grim?” Nova said with a twisted grin while everyone else went “Oooooooooo…” with some clapping. “Okay, Mister Halleck. I will call you out. Sometimes you’re a good guy, sometimes you’re a raging asshole,” Nova added slowly as she cut up more of her steak, spearing a piece of meat and a piece of asparagus at the same time.

“He sounds like a total asshole, ma’am,” said Wes.

“I second that,” said Jane in her heavy brogue.

“Can I throw something at you two?” growled Halleck.

“No food fights at this table!” Nova barked. “We’re a group of professionals, not some band of pirates!”

“Arrrr…” said Dash as Commander Lee giggled.

“Okay, shiver me timbers, fifteen men on a dead man’s chest, et cetera, et cetera,” Nova said in a sarcastic singsong voice.

“You sound bummed, Nova,” said Heather. “Are you all right?”

“Lacking sleep, like the rest of us,” Nova rejoined.

After dinner, Nova sat talking with Valleri, Jane, and Heather. The men had excused themselves to return to their commands, and Nova observed that Dash and Commander Lee had slipped off to talk on their own. She didn’t question that at all as Jane said, “We’ve come up quite a bit in this…this Man’s Navy…ma’am.”

“Don’t I know it,” Nova sighed. “This Man’s Navy…yeah, they put us through so much. The dynamic replicator’s down on this new ship, and I can’t draw another blouse, skirt, boots, or even sandals with back straps on them, for heaven’s sakes!”

“I’ll send you a care package, Nova,” said Jane. “I’ve got some spare togs on me ship fr’ ye.”

“Thanks, Jane,” Nova sighed.

“You ever had to deal with a doctor who thinks you’re a jerk because of your gender?” said Heather.

“Yes, on one command,” Nova said. “I needed some pain medication for a certain time of the month and the doc thought I was malingering; would you believe it?”

“Yes, I’d believe it,” said Jane. “And who came up with the idea for those tight uniforms? They itch at times…”

“Yeah, and you can’t get at parts of your body to scratch,” Heather said. “Especially in that blue thing…”

“And that yellow Star Force thing,” Nova said. “Same cut, same design, some days it shows way too much…”

“Man’s Navy,” said Jane mockingly. “Let’s raise a toast to the jackasses on th’ Defense Council.”

The female commanders raised their wine glasses and clinked a toast. Then, Nova looked around and said, “Uh Ohhhh…Dash and Bae are still missing.”

“We need to get back to our commands, Nova,” said Valleri. “You’d better find those two and hope they aren’t in the sack someplace.”

“Or the chart room,” Nova sighed.

“What can you do in the chart room?” Heather asked in all innocence.

“Dog the hatch and stretch out on the table and kiss, and…oops…” Nova said as she blushed.

“Oh, yeah, girl, now we now where you and Derek got those five kids from,” joked Valleri.

“This is not the place or time to discuss…that…that sort of thing,” Nova said. “Okay…let’s get back to work…I’ve got to find my XO and Commander Lee…see you later!”

The women saluted Nova and went back to their shuttlecraft.

A few minutes later, Nova tapped at the door of the North Carolina’s chart room.

“Anyone in there? Hullo?” Nova said.

Inside…Dash and Bae were lying on the table snuggling, and kissing.

“Oh, darn, it’s the Commodore!” said Bae. “Dash, we’d better cut this out!”

“Really?” said Dash. “It was just getting good, hon!”

“I’m going to use my master code in a minute,” sang Nova from outside. “You two had better be decent and Bristol fashion!”

Dash and Lee got up and sat down next to each other sharing a bag of Cosmo Munchies potato chips.

Nova came in a moment later. “Okay, you two lovebirds! I’d leave you alone, but I’ve got a task force to run, sorry. Dash, where are your glasses?”

“On the table,” he stammered.

“In my pocket,” muttered Bae.

Nova put her hands up to her mouth and stifled a giggle. “When we win this thing, I promise that you two can go off and find a nice, quiet corner somewhere and have a proper date. But, for now….”

“I know, Nova, duty calls,” said Dash as he retrieved his glasses from the inner pocket of his Commander Lee’s peacoat.

“Good, I need you on the bridge after Bae leaves,” Nova said. “You’ve got the conn.”

“Why?” Dash and Bae said in chorus.

“I’ve got to shoot over to the Argo and…report to Admiral Wildstar! Since communications are still out, that is…” Nova stammered.

“Yeah, we bet,” crooned Bae. “Lucky, lucky,” she said as she elbowed Nova. “You’ve got privacy on the Argo.”

“I…I’m not going there for…that,” Nova said as she blushed. “I need to discuss strategy! That’s it! Strategy!”

“Give us twenty more minutes to discuss our strategy,” teased Bae. “C’mon, Nova! Sauce for the goose…”

“Sauce for the gander,” Nova said as she mussed Dash’s hair. “Okay, kiddo.”

“Stop playing with my husband’s hair, you half-Iscandarian floozie!” teased Bae.

“Excuse me…I’ve only known Dash for fifteen years?” Nova said. “You don’t know what it was like on the way to Iscandar.”

“Yeah, Nova,” teased Dash. “Once I taught you D and D, you started coming up with this really weird adventure when we were sitting on Iscandar waiting for the Cosmo-DNA to be loaded onto the ship, do you remember that?”

“Oh, yeah,” said Nova. “The dungeon with the Demogorgon?”

“Wait…you two played Dungeons and Dragons?” said Bae.

“Yup,” said Nova. “I even taught Derek how to RPG, would you believe it? Yes, the Cowboy of Outer Space and his brother made a great pair of twin Paladins.”

“Yeah, and Eager was that weird Hobbit thief with a thing that grew every time…” laughed Dash.

“Dash!” said Nova. “Now you’re really embarrassing me!”

“And, your NPC Elf Princess Tirinda had to go off with Paladin Michael, aka Derek, in that weird room in that dungeon, and…” said Dash.

“Dash, please!” Nova said as Bae laughed.

“Oh, I bet you were hopeless on that cruise,” said Bae.

“They were so cute,” said Dash.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I have to leave!” Nova said. “I trust you to just spend the next twenty minutes…discussing strategy…” She bowed and took off.

“I thought she was so stuck-up,” said Bae. “She’s really cool!”

HALF AN HOUR LATER…

In her cabin on the North Carolina, Nova knew Dash had the conn. She ran into the head, splashed some water on her face, adjusted her hair, and put her cap back on.

“Time to go to see Derek out at Arcturus to report,” she said. “Another little 37 lightyear jump. Hope I don’t get a nosebleed from this one. I’ve been doing this a lot lately.”

She stood in the middle of her quarters, shut her eyes, and used her abilities to teleport herself to the Argo’s bridge.

Nova appeared on the Argo’s bridge a moment later near the Astro Compass.

She wrinkled her nose at the slight tang of smoke on the ship, hopped over the Astro Compass, and leaned on Sasha’s panel. “Need me to spell you there, Sasha?”

“AUNTIE!” cried Sasha.

The bridge crew looked up from their panels to notice Nova standing there!

“Hey, Nova made this party!” yelled Rosstowski.

Some bridge crew members began to applaud as Homer said, “Ma’am, where’d you come from?”

“My ship?” Nova said with a shrug.

“We’re glad to see you, Nova, but we’re…in a bit of a jam right now,” snapped Derek.

“No! Iscandarian juju!” said Homer. “This is weird!”

“Derek, did I show up to report to you at a bad time?” Nova said.

From her post, Sasha said, “Enemy fleet identified, ten R’Khell space battleships, five cruisers, ten destroyers!”

“Missiles approaching!” yelled Eager.

The Argo took a hit as Nova held onto her old console to keep from falling on her butt. She quipped as she looked at her old screen. “Yup. Looks like I’m definitely here at a bad time.”

“The Artillery board is fixed!” said Sandor as he and the Ensign shut the access panels.

“Nova, I could use you there since my regular officer is in Sickbay; take Artillery and run it, Commodore!” Derek ordered.

“Yessir,” Nova said as she saluted, pulled off her hat and peacoat, and sat down at what had been Dash’s board. “Sandor, Number Two turret is down!”

The Argo shook again from another hit, and then there was a bright flash as one of her escorts blew up.

“I’ll get a damage control team down there pronto,” said Sandor.

“Enemy fleet coordinates?” snapped Rosstowski.

“WRG-25, off the port bow, and they’re coming in fast! Nova, you know how to run that?” Eager said.

“Sure do, I had to learn every console on this bridge on the way to Iscandar, did you forget, Eager?” she commented. “Derek, want main guns?”

“Hell yes,” Derek snapped.

“Acknowledged,” said Nova as she hit buttons and came up with a firing solution. “Main turrets one and three, angle of attack fifty degrees. Elevation, plus thirty, aberration, plus one, got it!”

“Ready to fire,” said Rosstowski.

“Nova, Paul, kick those R’Khells back where they came from!” barked Derek.

“You’ve got power, FIRE!” said Paul.

“Firing main guns!” said Nova.

She hit the firing button at her post, and the working main guns went off with a satisfying blast.

“Direct hits on three enemy battleships!” snapped Sasha.

“Did we splash them?” said Paul.

“Affirmative on that,” said Sasha.

“Number two turret is green!” Nova said as she scratched her head.

“These bandits are firing more missiles!” said Eager.

“Brace for impact!” said Derek.

The Argo shook from two hits.

Holly turned the ship hard at her helm. “Course adjustment, five degrees; we’ve crossed their “T”!”

“Hits on the crew’s quarters area; sending down more damage control parties!” snapped Sandor.

“Good,” said Derek.

“Firing solution laid in with all turrets; main and auxiliary,” said Nova. “Ready to go.”

“Affirmative, locked in!” snapped Rosstowski.

“Give it to them!” yelled Derek.

Rosstowski and Nova worked fast and the main guns went off again as Holly worked the helm hard to keep station with the enemy.

“Our destroyers Newark, New Rochelle, and Katana are below our ecliptic!” said Sasha.

“Homer, send the okay to them to start blasting away!” said Derek.

“Roger,” said Homer as he typed a command in code to their escorts.

The Argo shook from a plasma hit from one of the R’Khell destroyers as Nova said, “Correcting aim on Number Three main turret! GOT it!”

“Take them out! I’m running out of patience!” hissed Derek.

Rosstowski, Nova, and the gunners on the EDF destroyers worked as one and blew apart two enemy battleships, a cruiser, and a destroyer with their barrage.

“Nice shooting, you two,” said Derek. “Nova, ever considered changing your MOS to gunnery?” he joked.

“Nope, I’ve got enough to do,” she said.

“Signal from the enemy fleet; demanding our surrender,” said Homer. “Captain, what do I tell them?”

“Tell them I said to drop dead,” said Derek.

“Enemy commander, this is the Argo. Admiral Wildstar says, and I quote, ‘drop dead’,” said Homer.

“What’s their response?” said Derek.

“Can’t quote it, sir, there’s ladies present!” said Homer. “But it’s not very nice.”

“That R’Khell creep,” Nova said as she shut her eyes. “He’s trying to mess around with our electrical systems with his powers. Don’t worry, Derek. I’m giving it right back to him!”

On the main screen, they saw the lights going out on three of the enemy vessels. “Suggest firing missiles,” Nova said as she got out a hanky and dabbed at a small nosebleed.

“Rosstowski, you agree?” said Derek.

“Yeah, they’re right over us!”

“Smokestack missiles, Nova!”

“Barrage ready,” said Nova as she worked the board; her nosebleed staunched. “FIRE!”

Nova fired, and six missiles roared up out of the Argo’s smokestack silo.

“Flagship destroyed!” laughed Sasha. “Battleship number six destroyed, cruiser number one destroyed; and the rest of them are warping out!”

“Tactical, gunnery, great work,” said Derek as his three cruisers came up behind them.

A Captain came on the screen a moment later. “Wildstar, Captain Jennings here on the Sumida. We took care of a bunch of destroyers fifty megameters out. Still need a hand?”

“Sumida, thank you, but we’re good for now,” said Derek as he saw Nova wiping her brow. “Enemy fleet destroyed; I think the seven of us can hold the line.” He shut his eyes as Nova sent to him, “I think we can get our Task Force and what’s left of Arizona’s force here in thirty hours, Derek.”

“Good, we only have to hold the line ourselves for about thirty more hours,” said Admiral Wildstar. “Reinforcements will be here by then.”

“Sir, how do you know that?” said Jennings.

“Let’s say…a little bird just told me,” Derek said with a smile as he winked at Nova and she winked back.

“Is your…little bird’s intel…good?” said Jennings.

“I’d bet my life on it,” said Derek.

After the Argo’s latest battle, Derek gave Rosstowski the conn, and he and Nova went up to his Captain’s quarters.

Nova gave Derek her report, standing at attention before his chair as she described what had happened earlier that day with her Task Force.

“Not bad,” Derek said. “Thank heavens you were around, Nova. I must compliment you on some good strategy out there, Commodore.”

“Thanks. Admiral, sir, permission to vent?” Nova said hesitantly.

“You’re in your home away from home right now, Nova, dearest,” Derek said as he took his peacoat off and set it over Nova’s on a chair. He made sure that the cabin hatch was locked, and he sat on the bunk with Nova. “Go right ahead. What do you want to say?”

“I’m learning more and more what you go through as Skipper,” Nova sighed. “You have to be the strong one; the rock, the pillar for your crew, just as I’m the pillar, rock, et cetera, for my own crew. They all look up to me, Derek. I can tell that.”

“Sounds like you’ve got an awesome crew, Nova. You’re very blessed right now. Do you know that?”

“But I’ve got a commander in my task force who is my martial arts and psionics sensei; Pellian, and he insists on treating me like a child,” Nova sighed as she fell against her husband.

“You mean Grimslade?” Derek said.

“Yeah, him,” Nova responded with her voice hitching. “I’m tired, worn out, and I can’t let him see that. I can only let down my hair around you, Derek. You’re the only one I trust right now,” she said with a sob. “Oh. Got a little nosebleed before. I’m pushing a bit hard in the psionics department. You know I got those every now and then when I use these…abilities…”

“How much sleep have you had in the past two days?” Derek said with concern in his voice as Nova clung to him, and he heard her beginning to really sob.

“Three hours’ worth,” Nova said. “I’m…I’m…exhausted…and, damnit, I must seem so weak to you! Here I go, crying my little Bambi eyes out again!”

Derek just held and rocked Nova and let her cry on his shoulder.

“Bambi eyes?” said Derek. “Where did you get that from?”

“Halleck said that,” Nova sobbed. “I know he’s my sensei, I know he has to test me, but there have to be boundaries. I outrank him, as his commander, as his Queen…”

“How soon do you have to be back on your command?” Derek said.

“I told Dash, my XO, I’d be back in about three hours. Derek, as much as I’d love to…do…that…I’m just too tired to roll around in the hay right now. I need sleep. Especially when I have to phase back to my ship again.”

“Sleep you need, and sleep you’ll get,” Derek said as he pulled Nova’s shoes off, loosened her necktie and then half-lifted her onto the bunk. “I’m setting the alarm for a hundred and twenty minutes from now. Get some shut-eye, Commodore.” He smiled at her and kissed her cheek as he tucked her in. “I’ll work quietly up here for a while. I’ll try not to disturb you. Sweet dreams, Nova,” he said as he kissed her nose.

“I love you so much, Derek, Admiral, sir,” Nova murmured.

Derek went over to set the alarm.

When he came back to Nova, she was out like a light. Derek smiled at his bond mate and mussed her hair gently. “Get some sleep, my poor Commodore Peppermint,” he said as tears came to his eyes.

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

II. THE BEST-LAID PLANS OF BOLARS AND CYBORGS…

Bolar Black Hole Fortress Navisk

Main Bridge

The Vicinity of Arcturus

May 28, 2214

0025 Hours: Earth Time

“WHAT?” yelled Ekogaru through the body of the cyborg Count Prencov.

“M’Lord; Admiral Igor Abdulov just crawled in from the Sol System. He encountered an enemy fleet there and they fed their wrath to him by means of their wave motion gun!” Admiral Rosskovsky was sweating as he bowed to the Dark Lord of the Technomugar. “His intel says that the Pellians and the Terrans were messing around together out there…and that she was spotted commanding the enemy flagship.”

“You mean that meddling blond?” hissed Ekogaru.

“Yes, Abdulov said that she was blond, and she showed up on his vessel, created havoc, and took his sash of office as a Commissar! Lord, that’s a major disgrace for us!”

“I should have known that meddling nincompoop would get involved,” hissed Ekogaru. “Did Baron Shalsky finish off her husband here at the inner part of the Arcturus System? Him and that damned old dirty wreck of a boat he flies?”

“Lord…Shalsky is dead; Priestess Maglen took command and she ran with what was left of the fleet. She contacted us and is very upset.”

“Why?” hissed Ekogaru.

“Number one…the Argo and what is left of their task group kicked their tails with just main guns and missiles. Number two…guess who stopped Baron Shalsky from mentally attacking the Argo?”

“That idiot Sasha?” purred Ekogaru.

“We have intel that Sasha is with the Star Force…but it wasn’t her, M’Lord. It was that blond troublemaker Nova Wildstar again! How did she get across thirty-seven lightyears so fast, and without a ship? As far as I know, her ship is still back in the Sol System. Isn’t it?”

“It is. Travel without a vessel is easy for her; she and Miarahl showed up with their little band years ago and gave me some major trouble on one of my base worlds. She is very devious and very dangerous,” said Ekogaru. “You people are to capture her alive at all costs so I can begin to torture her in my dungeons here on R’Khell’eva,” Ekogaru hissed. “And why haven’t you moved this Fortress to the Sol System or to Sirius yet? I want you people to begin killing, and fast. With Terrans, if you kill enough of them, they fold up like paper.”

“Lord, when we used the Black Hole cannon, the energy ducts to our main engines were badly…damaged,” said Rosskovsky. “We can’t warp or fire our weapon until we make repairs.”

“You Bolar fools, sending your barely tested junk into space,” hissed Ekogaru. “What about the passengers and crew of the Seal Beach; our…hostages?”

“Lord, General Hamad has been slow in killing the hostages. He has them below in our brig. Only twelve are dead so far. And he’s sent our demands to Terra.”

“Give him six hours to wait, and then, he is to start killing hostages again; one every five hours. Tell him that he is to torture them and send video of the tortures to Terra. If Earth does not agree to our terms and break off relations with Rikasha and give the Pellian High Queen to us in twenty-nine hours…have him kill all of them; men, women, and children alike. Are we clear?”

“Yes, Lord Ekogaru,” said Rosskovsky to the cyborg through which the Dark Lord spoke.

“Don’t fail me,” Ekogaru hissed. “If you do, your First Chairman’s life is forfeit.” At that, the Dark Lord’s presence left the Bolar Fortress.

“You…you…you really give me the creeps,” said Rosskovsky. “I have the feeling, this…Entity…does not mean well for us. Why the hell did our Premier ever listen to him?”

A while later, Rosskovsky was able to contact Admiral Abdulov aboard his ship.

“Good thing your comm systems are up and running, Igor,” said Rosskovsky.

“We were lucky. I just got away from those insane Terrans by the skin of my teeth.”

“We have a far worse problem than the Terrans,” said Rosskovsky.

“Please explain, would you?” replied Abdulov.

“I don’t feel comfortable discussing this, even on a scrambled channel. Get on a shuttle and board this vessel, would you? We need to discuss this over some vodka, if you please.”

“You’re awfully opaque, Force Admiral, but we can have a talk, sir. But be prepared for me to drink you under the table.”

“That can come after we finish this…situation,” said Rosskovsky. “And, by the frozen Hells, we can both see if we can drink the Terrans under the table?”

“Say what?” said Abdulov. “Don’t know how that’ll happen; we started this attack, and I have a witty but crazed blond Terran angel of death waiting out there for my butt.”

“We don’t believe in angels or devils,” hissed Rosskovsky.

“Well, I think I met one earlier.”

“Enough. Just see me in forty-five microunits. We really need to discuss something.”

“Yessir,” said Abdulov. He could still smell the burned circuits and the odors of dead men that the Terran witch had left strewn all over his bridge. But he turned to his new XO, a Lieutenant named Petralsky, and he said, “You’ve got the conn, dear Boris. I’ve got to go see the old man. Wonder what he’s getting at?”

In the meantime, Commodore Mark Venture was involved in another battle near Sirius Base.

The VanRiper was taking hit after hit as she shielded the Arizona while the space battleship brought her guns to bear on the enemy. Again, a few positron beams hit the Arizona, blowing a few more holes in her.

“She can’t take much more of this pounding,” said Nomura. “We have fires on three decks!”

“Missiles coming in from port, twelve degrees,” said Ligur.

“Brace for impact!” snapped Venture.

The Arizona shook like a hut in a storm as the missiles hit.

“Gunnery! How come we aren’t fighting back with everything we’ve got?” Venture demanded.

“Sir, we only have two turrets working,” said Ensign Kayla Weiss, Mark’s dark blond-haired gunnery officer. “Short circuits knocked them out!”

“All right,” hissed Mark. “Mister Yarnell!” he said, addressing his helmsman, Senior Lieutenant Darryl Yarnell. Dashell “Dash” Yarnell was his older brother. “Hard about, eighty-five degrees starboard!”

“Aye, sir, hard about, eighty degrees starboard!” he repeated as he turned the Arizona around to Venture’s indicated heading. Off to starboard by two megameters, the Patrol Cruiser Rupal kept station with the Arizona.

“Mister Mulholland, would you sit down?” Venture barked from his post.

Now, Commander Sean Mulholland, Venture’s Tactical Officer, was up on his feet in his cap and blue peacoat snarling at the enemy fleet. “Captain, when are we going to do something? We can’t take any more of this crap! This is bullshit, sir! If we’re gonna die, at least let us go down fighting with our damned boots on!”

“Sit down and tend to your post, Mister! I intend to do something about this if you’d hold your horses!” Venture replied.

“Yeah, what?” yelled back Mulholland.

“Commander! This is a warship! Not a debating society!” Venture snapped back. “If you must know, I do have something up my sleeve, and I intend to play that card now. Lieutenant Perez, how are the engines holding up?”

“Not bad, sir,” said the laconic, cool-headed engineer of the Arizona. “I can give you whatever you need, sir.”

“Great. Mister Perez, stop all engines.”

“Stop: All engines,” he said.

The Arizona stopped almost dead, drifting as she faced the enemy fleet.

“Transfer all energy to our wave motion gun!” Mark ordered. “Miss Packer, notify the Rupal of my actions in code; I want them on line, too!”

“Roger that,” said Ensign Anita Packer, the ship’s dark-skinned communications officer. “Command relayed to the cruiser Rupal,” she said as the Arizona’s wave motion gun began to hum with energy buildup.

“We can pull this off, sir, but there’s a chance of hull damage if the recoil shock will be too heavy,” said Nomura.

“Noted and logged, XO,” said Venture. “I’ve got something in mind for that recoil shock already. Order Ensign Markowitz to stand by to disconnect our anti-recoil device; Anita, order the Rupal to do the same maneuver.”

“Sir, that’s crazy, with all respect,” said Mulholland. “Where’d you learn this sort of nutty maneuver from?”

“Old friends you haven’t met yet,” Mark chuckled to himself.

“Power level now at eighty percent,” said Perez.

“Those bandits are closing in fast,” said Lieutenant Harrison Farrell from the cosmo-radar. “Range to enemy, nine megameters; their speed is fifteen space knots and accelerating! More missiles coming, sir!”

“Ignore them!” Mark snapped as he prepared his flash goggles.

“Electric cross gauge open, brightness intensity twenty-two, right on target with those suckers,” said Mulholland as the firing grip came up and the target scope locked on.

“Energy level now at ninety-five percent!” said Perez.

“Open final safety lock,” said Venture.

“Done and done, sir,” said Mulholland.

“Taking three more missile hits; glancing blows,” said Nomura. “Ensign Markowitz has his hand on the lever down below,” said the Mechanical Group Leader.

“Sir, enemy fleet is demanding that we surrender and prepare to be boarded!” said Miss Packer. “What should I tell them?”

“They don’t deserve a reply, because they’ll be cosmic mincemeat in thirty seconds,” Venture said, smiling for the first time today.

“Energy Level now at one hundred and twenty percent!” said Perez.

“Al hands, don anti-flash goggles, ready for initial recoil shock,” said Mulholland.

The bridge crew donned their goggles.

“The Rupal is ready to fire!” said Packer.

“Begin ten-second countdown, Mister Mulholland,” said Venture.

“Aye, sir! 10! 9! 8! 7!...” he said from his post. When the countdown ended, he said, “Ready to fire!”

“FIRE!” said Venture.

“FIRE!” repeated Mulholland.

The Arizona and the Rupal fired their wave guns at the enemy fleet, and they began to blast backwards out of range of the next missile barrage a moment later.

Captain Hirak Shamla, the enemy commander, was about to launch fighter-bombers and order his Marines and raiders to board the Earth vessels when he was suddenly blinded by the bright flash from the space battleship and her accompanying space cruiser.

Then, it didn’t matter that he was blind, since his body and vessel went up in flames a moment later.

The Arizona and Rupal roared backwards away from the battle area, with the even more battered VanRiper following them out of the battle area at flanking speed.

“Okay, thrusters ahead one quarter speed,” said Venture. “We’ll keep station right here. How’s that?” he said as the bridge crew on the Arizona began to applaud.

“Sir, I take back all of the garbage I spouted earlier,” said Mulholland.

“You and I are going to have a talk later, Mister,” Mark snapped. “Mister Farrell, I see asteroids ahead. Distance to field?”

“Three hundred megameters,” he said.

“Good. Farrell, you and Darryl up there at Navigation; find us a likely asteroid to hide out in while we make repairs.”

“We’ll have long-range comm capability back up in two hours, sir,” said Packer.

“Nice; I’ll want you to put me through to Earth Defense Command in three hours,” Venture said.

“I can get those repairs done, but we’re running out of ship’s stores, Captain,” said Nomura.

“You fix the ship; I’ll worry about that later,” said Venture. “Get busy sealing that hull breach down by the shuttle bay near the bow; that’ll be your job one,” Mark said. “After we’re safely tucked away for a while, Farrell, take a break; you’ve been at your post for ten hours straight, now. Miss Ligur, spell him at the radar. Mister Mulholland, you have the conn for now. Come see me in an hour; I need space java,” said Venture as he flicked a switch and his chair headed up through the overhead on the lift to his cabin.

In the meantime, one hour later, on the North Carolina, Nova was back on board, and had given orders for the task group to warp out to Sirius in three hours.

“Computer,” Nova sighed as she dabbed at her nose in her Captain’s quarters; it had begun to bleed again. “Bring up the log; I need to make a pretty long set of entries.”

“Okay, sugah, your wish is mah command,” said the North Carolina’s slightly schizoid mainframe.

“I have no time for this garbage,” she muttered as she opened her peacoat.

A tap came at her hatch. Nova took a deep breath and flipped on the intercom. “Who’s there? Computer, hold off on that log entry. Damn, it’s turning into Megalopolis Central Station at rush hour around here.”

“Me and the ship’s acting doctor,” said Dash. “I’ve got a seabag for you from the Jakarta. And, you need to meet our new doctor.”

“New doctor?” said Nova as she pressed a button and Dash and an African-American man in a Medical uniform and lab coat came into her cabin. Dash was lugging a seabag. “Captain McPherson sent you these, Nova.”

“Good, the change of clothes I requested,” Nova said. “What happened to Doctor Fairworth? This man looks familiar to me, but I can’t place him right now…”

“Ma’am, while you were asleep, we had a radiation leak in Engineering. Doctor Fairworth went down below to help evacuate some officers and men. Then, there was a coolant leak from the energy generation unit on top of that and the energy transmission unit exploded, and Doc Fairworth got most of the coolant and shrapnel, along with some other men. We’re repairing the unit now so we can warp in about three or four hours. As for Doctor Fairworth, he’s still alive, but he had to be evacuated to the Caledonia for surgery, ma’am. The Caledonia had this spare resident to send us in exchange.”

“Commodore, you helped me with that study group in Med School,” said the young man as he extended his hand to Nova and she shook it. “Doctor Darrell Hiram Abiff Bixley, ma’am, still in Residency, as of this point; licensed under Emergency Reg 231.2 Alpha, which…”

“I got my initial license under the same reg,” Nova said. “Now I remember you, Darrell. You’ll pardon me; I’ve had too much on my mind lately. I just finished my own Residency a short time ago. Then they gave me this ship. You’ll pardon me, but my head is still spinning from all this.”

“So, this is your command, Nova?” said Bixley.

“It sure is. Did you check out casualties in Sickbay yet?”

“I did; and we have three surgeries we need to do stat, ma’am. I’ve got one; our Nurse-Practitioner Bullard is already at work on the second, and would you, ma’am…?”

“Okay, I could use a break,” said Nova.

“Ma’am, doing surgery will be a break for you?” said Dash.

“After all I’ve been through today, yes,” Nova said with a smile as she suppressed a yawn. “Let me see if Jane put scrubs in my care package. See you below in ten minutes, Doctor,” Nova said. “Dash, take a rest. Give the conn over to Mister Bando. Isn’t your brother on the Arizona, Dash?”

“Yeah. I hope little Darryl’s all right,” said Dash.

“Oh, I’m pretty sure he will be,” said Nova. “Remember that time when you and he got so drunk you could barely stand up, and you ended up at our place overnight?”

“Oh, yeah,” said Dash. “Nova, you make a mean hangover remedy…”

“Hangover remedy?” said Bixley. “Ma’am…”

“Hey, if Star Force vets get drunk or are in trouble, they usually end up seeing Derek and I at the house sooner or later,” Nova said. “I think I’ve helped most of the old bridge crew through at least one bender or maybe two over the past few years. Even at 0300 in the morning. Let’s get going.”

“Okay, ma’am,” said Bixley. “You know, I think this is gonna be the resumption of a beautiful friendship?”

“Yeah, me too,” Nova said with her winning little smile as she gave Bixley a friendly slap on the shoulder. “Let’s scrub and get busy.”

_________________________________________________

In the meantime, on the Bolar Black Hole Fortress, Admiral Abdulov greeted Admiral Rosskovsky with a salute.

“Sit down over there, Igor, my friend,” said Rosskovsky. “This is under four eyes for now; which means no one except us is to know about this. Not even Ekogaru will find out.”

“How did you arrange that?” said Abdulov as Rosskovsky plunked a vodka bottle and glasses on the table.

“I have a R’Khell R’jkharraz I can trust named Vlaner in the other room, sending a psi-blocking field so that Ekogaru can’t eavesdrop,” said Rosskovsky as he poured his friend some vodka. “He’s got dealings of some kind with the H’Tsarina of Pellias herself; he hates Ekogaru and he’s one of Her Ladyship’s spies on our side. Since the enemy of our enemy is our friend, I know I can trust him not to open his trap or mind to Ekogaru, and she sure as the Seven Hells won’t either.”

“So, you’re convinced Ekogaru is our enemy,” said Abdulov in a sotto voce whisper.

“Da,” said Rosskovsky in a whisper as he sipped at his vodka.

“I haven’t trusted him for a while. All he does is throws us into these stupid attacks,” said Abdulov. “Attack here, attack there…do this, do that. We’re not his damned errand boys. The Bolar Federation has its own agenda. I don’t think these Terrans are all that bad. It’s the Gamilons and those surviving Galmans I have issues with.”

“Even after Her Ladyship messed you and your crew up good?” said Rosskovsky.

“What I am about to say verges on treason, but I’ll say it,” said Abdulov.

“This room’s filled with plotting and treason,” said Rosskovsky. “You think I’m going to let the damned Premier know about this? He can be overturned at any point by the Central Committee!” hissed the Admiral.

“I’ve heard you know people,” said Abdulov.

“I’ll get to that in a moment, my friend,” said Rosskovsky. “Tell me your treasonous thoughts, you snake,” he said with a grin.

“If it came down to a battle between Ekogaru and Her Ladyship…I’d prefer to be on Her Ladyship’s good side,” said Abdulov. “I pulled her chain, and the dog bit me and my men hard. But I get the sense that she’s not as…psychotic…as Ekogaru. She’s young, and I think she’s reasonable. I’d rather deal with her than the cold maniac and his cyborg spies. I have the feeling that someday it’s going to be all of us organics together against those mechanical wind-up freaks. And, I don’t want to burn bridges unnecessarily.”

“What do you propose?” said Rosskovsky.

“First, how badly do we need the Black Hole Cannon working? We know it works. We can give the Premier a good report, but we can…hmmm…take our time with those repairs?”

“Not bad. How do you get that past HIM?” said Rosskovsky.

“We make sure the Fortress is down, taunt the Lady nicely, or get Ekogaru’s machines to do it, and then when she shows up, which she will, to deal with those windup toys of his…,” said Abdulov.

“Yes,” said Rosskovsky. “Then we can nicely step aside…after we “take her prisoner” that is, and then, we let her have at it at Ekogaru and his lackeys. Of course, we’ll use our little friend Vlaner out there to contact her and advise her of our little game and let her know, oh, so quietly, my friend…that we’re really on the same side,” said Rosskovsky. “Do all that, and if it works, she might be nice enough to give you back that sash, my friend.”

“Then we have a party and see how much Bolar Vodka Terrans can take before they pass out?” said Abdulov.

“Da, after we work out a nice little truce, that is. If we and she are on the same side, I’m sure she and that maniac Admiral Wildstar will be most agreeable to our bargain, not HIS,” said Rosskovsky.

“Devious plan, and good plan,” said Abdulov. “We drink now, to the defeat of Ekogaru the Great and his windup men, and the smile of our Ladyship,” said Abdulov.

The two Bolars clinked glasses and drank. Then, they began to laugh their heads off.

While the Bolar Admirals were plotting their devious revenge against Ekogaru, Nova was humming to herself along with the music she was playing in the operating theatre as she worked on repairing a crewman’s liver. She was clad in for surgery in her green scrubs, cap, gloves, and mask. Namely, she was playing an old rendition of Eric Clapton playing While My Guitar Gently Weeps from a memorial concert for George Harrison.

While Nova and her two nurses worked on the operation, she thought she felt a psionic touch from far away. Okay, who is this? Nova thought as she worked with her laser knife. It’s not Derek.

Majesty, said a quiet voice in her mind. I need to speak, and now.

Nova sighed to herself and thought back, Hergen Vlaner? You could have contacted me before this mess started. What do you have for me?

HE made me accompany the Bolars on their Black Hole Fortress, and HE is on board, working through two cyborgs he is linked with. He lords it over the Bolars through those machines of his. Even the Bolars are growing sick of this, M’Lady.

Nice to know, Nova thought as she said to her nurse, “Three Number Six Hemostats, please. This is turning out to be a major mess in here. That engine room explosion got shrapnel in here like crazy. If we don’t excise the lower lobe of this man’s liver, he’ll bleed right out through it.”

“Yes, Doctor,” said the nurse as she handed Nova the instruments.

You’re in a surgery now? Vlaner thought.

Yes. I’m relaxing, Nova thought as she smiled a little under her mask as she worked on placing the hemostats.

Strange way you have of relaxing, thought Vlaner. I must cut off soon, but please be ready to hear from me in twelve of your hours. The Bolar Admirals here want to get out of this mess. They never wanted it. They want to give HIM a hard time, as these men have had enough of him. They are growing restive with this so-called…alliance.

Not bad, Nova thought. He’s sniffing around you, Y’know. We’d better cut this off. Keep in touch. Good luck. God be with you.

Thanks to you, Majesty, thought Vlaner. His Grace also be with you.

And to you, Nova thought. Nice to know there are even decent R’Khells out there…believers even.

Nova got a mental picture of the long-haired R’Khell smiling before he cut off. Derek knew about him, of course (she could barely hide anything from her beloved), and he had advised her to carefully cultivate her link with this helpful spy.

After the Clapton guitar riffs ended, Nova’s portable player switched to playing another song; a classic love song by Ron Hamilton, a Christian artist she enjoyed. As the hymn and love song began to play, Nova smiled to herself, and a tear came to her eye as she reached out to Derek, and thought, one of our songs is playing, darling.

Yours Forever…Derek sent back. How fitting. I was thinking of you…

I was thinking of you, too…Nova smiled at the lyrics as the two singers sang:

On the Wings of Love you came…

You Taught me how to fly….

I’ll be yours…Forever….

I always loved that song, Nova. We need to record it together someday, just for us, Derek thought.

Yes, after this insanity is over, Nova sent back. Oh. I heard from old Vlaner of R’Khell’eva. Our little bird on the enemy side.

What? Is he mixed up with this?

Yes. Good news. He tells me the Bolars are sick of this whole game, too. We’ll talk in twelve hours…the maniac was sniffing near his mind.

Love you, Nova. I must oversee some repairs here on the Argo.

Love you, too, Derek…I’ve got a patient here on the North Carolina. Major liver damage from an engine room blast. See you soon. God Bless.

Derek sent her the equivalent of a mental kiss. Nova sent one back, and she got back to work as the song ended with a slow reprise of the chorus;

I’ll be Yours…Forever…

Nova gently excised the damaged portion of her patient’s liver and said, “Restoring Circulation. He’ll be fine. Let’s start closing up.”

“Good job,” said her nurse.

“It’s improving,” Nova said as she thought, Derek, why can’t this be over soon? I miss you so much!

With that thought, Nova looked at the clock: it was now 0311 Hours. When she finished this operation, if there were no more, she knew she’d finally have to get to sleep.

They were set to warp to Sirius later in the morning, at 0715 Hours. She knew she’d need all her wits about her to handle whatever would happen next in this strange mission, where she was both one of the ship’s Doctors…and the Skipper of her ship and the whole task force.

______________________________

TO BE CONTINUED….