boredom3

ALTERNATE TALES OF THE STAR FORCE

STAR BLAZERS---FROM BOREDOM TO UTTER DISBELIEF

Being the first part of THE NEW COMET--- BY: Frederick P. Kopetz

(Thanks to Derek A.C. Wakefield for technical assistance lent in the creation of this installment---Freddo)

ACT THREE: EARTH'S REVENGE

I. THE HONEY POT

The Brumus Asteroid Belt

Space Battleship Argo

Friday, June 7, 2205

0526 Hours: Earth Time

"Well, we've done it," said Commodore Derek Wildstar as he looked out the Argo's front bridge windows. Or, rather, tried to. There wasn't much of a view, since the mighty ship was now disguised as an asteroid. "How's the main engine, Bando?"

"Not good," said the Mechanical Group Leader as he and Yamanami worked at the middle-aged engineer's board. "Henson says that last attack dropped our energy generation capacity forty percent. We can't maneuver at peak efficiency again until we get it fixed."

"Well, keep on working on it," sighed Wildstar. "At least we're shielded."

On Wildstar's orders, Domon had ordered the gunners to fire the ship's polarity reactor shells out the main naval guns. The polarity reactor shells were spiked magnetic shells that implanted themselves in asteroids they hit. Then, energized by a magnetic field in the Argo's hull, they were pulled around the ship to form both a rock covering and instant camouflage. Sandor had invented this unusual defense on the ship's first mission to Iscandar back in 2199. Many other ships in the Fleet had this measure, but Wildstar and those who had learned under Captain Avatar with him were best utilized of this defensive move in combat. Ironically, Homer remembered that when this tactic had first been used in 2199, Wildstar had thought it wasn't quite aggressive enough. Derek had grown a great deal since 2199.

"So, what do we do?" sneered Domon. "Wait?"

"Yeah, you could say that," said Wildstar with a smile. "You see, what we're going to do is try to draw them towards our location without their knowing we're here. Then, at a strategic moment, we'll break these rocks free into a rotating defense. Were you asleep when they taught this tactic in the Academy, Domon?"

"Well, sir, you see, I prefer going out on the attack with all guns blazing. It's been like that ever since my parents died in 2203."

"How'd they die, again?" asked Eager.

Kitano turned to his friend and sighed in sympathy as Domon said, "They were on a space-liner when some pirates came from nowhere and attacked. To this day, they have no idea who killed them, or why. Utterly pointless. Later, when I met Aliscea Rosstowski, she wasn't a hell of a lot of comfort. She told me that in an alternate reality, they were also killed, this time by some kind of Gamilon missile. Pointless."

"Yeah," said Homer. "It's pointless when people die for no reason at all. I ran into this cadet at the Academy earlier this year while I was there giving a lecture. A friend of his said he had an interesting history; told me about it after I lectured the class on communications jamming and how to break it."

"Yeah?" asked Bando. "Did you tell me this story already?"

"I don't know," said Homer. "Did I ever tell you about the Ninth of Av before?"

"Don't think you did."

"Listen to this one, guys, it's good," said Wildstar.

"Okay," said Homer. "My rabbi once told me that the Ninth of the Hebrew month of Av is the single worst date in Jewish history. It's known as Tisha B'Av in Hebrew. On that day, which usually falls in August in the Western calendar, the First Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians around 500 BCE, and, later, around 70 CE, the Second Temple also fell. Still later, on that same date, the Jews were expelled from Spain in 1492. World War I, which began the great slide down to the Nazi Holocaust, began on that day. And, finally, Jerusalem was bombed in a great air raid in 2022 during the Unification Wars."

"What's this got to do with your friend?" drawled Eager.

"He's not my friend, just this kid I met," snapped Homer. "Okay. This guy, according to a black friend of his...this guy had everything bad happen in his life on April 28th. His father died on April 28th during the Gamilon war. Later, his sister died on that date; then his mother. Finally, his lifelong girlfriend broke up with him on April 28th, 2202."

"Ain't that the same day Ekogaru almost wiped us all into grease spots?" asked Eager.

"Yes, it is. Well, this cadet, he's named Winfield, Wakefield, Westfield, something like that...I heard the Commandant of the Academy has a notation in his record that he's never supposed to be on duty on the 28th of April...ever."

"That'll stink for 'im if he ever gets shot at or something on that date," said Bando.

"Aaaa... it's a good excuse to loaf," said Domon.

"You idiot!" snapped Wildstar. "I sometimes take a day off now and then to remember the day my parents were killed by the planet bombs! Wanna make something of it?"

"Sorry, sir," said Domon.

"Hey, what's this?" said Homer as he heard something in his headset. "This is weird."

"What's weird?" asked Hartcliffe as he came onto the bridge. "Your ugly reflection, mate?"

"Hartcliffe, what are you doing up here?" snapped Wildstar.

"Hardy sent me, sir. He wanted me to tell you that the lower flight bay door's still bein' worked on. If we have to launch when ya pull off these rocks, we might be stuck. Nice bridge, now, sir, ain't it?"

"Whatever," said Derek. "Homer, what's going on?"

"Yes, tell us," said Kitano.

"Someone's pulling the same trick you were going to have us pull," said Homer. "Someone's bouncing fake fleet coordinates off the asteroids to fool anyone listening so they'll think there's a fleet out here."

"The enemy?" snapped Wildstar as he abruptly stood up. "That sucks!"

"No, the transmission's in English, skipper."

"I thought I told you not to call me that," said Derek irritably as he ran over with the others to gather around the board.

"Turn it up," said Kitano. "Don't keep it a secret!"

Homer rolled his eyes and switched from his headset to the external speakers.

"...This is the Second Flotilla of the 18th Interplanetary Defense Squadron, calling the 21st Defense Squadron," said a male voice. "Respond!"

"21st squadron, over," said another voice.

"We have the area surrounded. You bring the reinforcements yet? Over!"

"Yep, we've got 'em," said another male voice.

"Over, acknowledged," said the first man.

"That first man's black...I recognize him from someplace, but I'm not sure from where," said Wildstar.

"Want to let them know we're out here?" asked Homer as he put his finger over the 'send' button.

"Hell no!" said Wildstar. "You do that, and you'll give away our location!"

"So?" asked Homer.

"What should we do?" asked Kitano. "We were about to make them think reinforcements were coming..."

"Bando, scan the area," said Wildstar. "Find out what's out here!"

"Yessir."

"Did someone figure out what we were going to do?" asked Yamanami from Engineering.

"Yeah...someone who knows me and the way I think. I learned that trick from Captain Avatar. One of the enemy?"

"Or maybe one of our old comrades?" said Homer. "Like the commander of the 20th...or 21st Squadron?"

"Idiot, none of our comrades is commanding a cruiser squadron! At least...not as far as I remember...Bando, keep on scanning."

"Yessir," said Bando.

"Ma'am, someone's painting us with radar," said Kemper aboard the Danube.

"Give me the distance and heading," snapped Nova.

"Range is far...like twenty thousand megameters..."

"Good thing we have our ship covered with asteroids," said Nova as she got up. She ran over to Kemper's post and flicked a switch.

"Ma'am...hey..."

"Trust me, I know what I'm doing," said Nova as she manipulated switches. "This is like my old radar...sort of. There...got an audio sounding of the wave pattern and amplitude. Nova then watched an oscilloscope as she listened to the bleeps of the radar.

"Ma'am, with all respect, what the hell you doing?" asked Potter as he came over from the communications panel.

"Listening, like you. Nice job with those signals, guys. Listening to the radar will tell me whether it's hostile or friendly. Old trick I learned. Familiar pattern," said Nova, whose face suddenly broke out in a smile.

"Ma'am?" asked Kemper.

"Hi, Derek," whispered Nova in a barely audible voice as Brittany showed up.

"Ma'am, what's going on?"

"Yes, tell us," said Barnwell. "Although I think I've got a clue."

IQ-9 turned his dome. "Nova only gets that goofy, dreamy look on her face when Derek Wildstar is in the area. The Argo is somewhere in this asteroid field."

"Right, although I am gonna make you swab the deck for that crack!" snapped Nova. "And put those hands down! I know what you're thinking!"

"I like your skirt, Skipper," said IQ.

"And don't call me that either!" Nova stood with her hands on her hips and looked very peeved. "Get back to your station, Mister!"

"I will, especially since your eyes are like limpid pools in the night...your hips are like those of a fawn, your neck is like a pillar..."

Nova rolled up her eyes and gestured at the robot. Barnwell's eyebrows went up when he noticed that his otherwise very ladylike Captain was giving the analysis robot the middle finger. Nova smiled icily and said, "IQ, your stomach is gonna look like a dented garbage can unless you sit down!"

"Okay," said IQ. He made a quick grab at Nova's skirt, flipped it, and then ran off as the bridge crew (with the exception of Brittany Forrester and Michelle Parker, of course) laughed. At the helm, Michelle was peeved, wondering if the robot was going to pick on her next. It had been known to happen on this ship.

"Whoa, ma'am, nice taste! Black lace?" said Barnwell with a smile while Nova's skirt was in mid-air.

"Belay that!" cried Nova after her mid-thigh-length skirt flipped back down again. "Who do you think you are; that drunken deck ape Bryan Hartcliffe?"

"I'm sorry, ma'am. Commodore Wildstar must be a very lucky man."

"You do not need to know you saw that, Mister!" snapped Nova with a deep blush on her face. "IQ-9, you...little..." spluttered Nova as she stood there with her fists balled up. "I'm...going to..."

Then, the bridge shook. The thump of an explosion came from outside. Nova stumbled, and almost hit the deck, but IQ caught her.

"Thanks, I owe you one," said Nova.

"Am I forgiven?" he asked as he helped her to her feet.

"No. But we'll discuss your punishment later," said Nova as she planted her booted feet firmly on the deck.

Nova walked back over towards her post when the Danube's bridge temporarily went dark except for the instruments as another explosion came.

"Minor hit to the stern," said Barandini as Nova's face clouded over with concern for a moment.

Then, there were a few more hits. None of them did much damage because of the asteroid shield around the Danube.

Nova, thought, Whew...too close for comfort. That was tighter than my Star Force uniform! Then, she looked forward, and said, "Kemper! Where are they?"

"Twelve megameters distance, ma'am. They've got missiles...lucky hits."

"They don't seem to be after us per se..." said Barnwell.

"But they must have some idea of where we are," said Nova. "That gives us some time to spring our little trap...Barandini, get ready to release the ring."

"Aye, ma'am!"

"Kemper, do you know where the Argo is?"

"Not yet...but I'll find her. Oh! The radar's just changed heading...and it's coming closer..."

"Should I release the ring?" asked Barandini from the Mechanical/Technical board.

"Not yet," said Nova. "Potter, bring up that radio again, let them think there's a fleet here."

"Aye, aye, ma'am..."

A moment later, Potter said, "Ma'am! Incoming signal!"

"It can't be the enemy?!? No! They've pinpointed us!" said Nova with a surprised look on her face. "Okay. If it is, we're gonna make our last stand. Release the shield, plot two!"

"Release!" said Barandini. The shield semi-released into an asteroid ring as Lt. Commander Wildstar's last two frigates drew up to defend their flagship.

Derek, she thought. I guess...this is goodbye for this life. I wish I could see you again before we meet the Lord.

"Main guns opened!" said Lieutenant Canning. "When they come in, we're still gonna take a few of them with us."

"I know," said Nova softly.

"Switching to video, ma'am," said Potter in a low voice. "I'm ready to receive the enemy's mess..."

Nova's frown turned to a smile when she saw Sandor's image appearing on the screen.

"Sandor! How'd you know we were here?" asked Nova as she saluted.

"We tracked your radar. I know what you've done for cover...I've got an idea, but we'll have to put our heads together. It's the only chance we have to help save Derek and the Star Force and beat these guys."

"I'm in," said Nova. "What's your plan?"

"Have your comm officer switch to Cipher Bravo-Twelve, and then I'll tell you..."

"Roger!"

"Well?" sneered Czernak on the missile ship Jaavitz about forty-five minutes later. It was now 0610 Hours, Earthtime, and the Jaavitz was leading the enemy fleet in a free pocket of the asteroid field.

"I think we've found the Argo, or at least her radar signals or something, at XP-215." said an officer. "They're hiding someplace in the Belt. There's also a fleet coming."

"Where?"

"At XP-234; distant. The picket cruisers caught something on patrol out there. But, we're not sure where it is in this space junk."

"Wily bastards," said Czernak. "What a low-down trick on the part of these primitives. We might as well be fighting aborigines who are wearing fur loincloths."

"Yes, the natives are restless tonight," said the officer with an evil leer. "Of course, natives are for target practice, sir. Are they not?"

"They are," said Czernak. "Have the cruisers keep on firing. If they attack enough of that fleet, Argo will show herself. She won't leave her comrades to perish. In the meantime, take us to XP-215. Let's begin this game by trying to bag the chief beast...namely, the Argo!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Killing the Star Force will be like shooting lambs in a barrel," said Czernak with a grin.

All of a sudden, his ship rocked from an explosion. "What?" he snapped. "Where'd that come from?"

"XN-205...above us!" said the radar officer in a panic. "There's another task group, coming out of the asteroids!"

"What?"

On the Argo, Bando had just pulled up the main screen. "I don't believe this!" he said. "We've got a patrol cruiser and three frigates coming to help us out! No! Make that...two patrol cruisers and five frigates, total!"

"Message from the lead cruiser!" said Homer.

"Switch to video!" said Derek.

The image of Sandor came up on the screen a moment later as he snapped a salute in his peacoat while his ship led a charge on the enemy fleet and scattered it. "Commander Stephen Sandor, acting commander of the 20th Interplanetary Defense Squadron, reporting to you, Commodore, from the Thames." Then, he smiled. "Need a hand?"

"We sure could use it," said Derek. "Who else is with you?"

"Second signal coming in!" said Homer.

"Change screen!" snapped Wildstar.

The crew's mouths dropped open when Nova Wildstar appeared on the main screen. In the background, they could hear the guns of the Danube offering assistance as they pounded at two enemy cruisers. "Lieutenant Commander Nova Wildstar, acting commander of the 18th Interplanetary Defense Squadron, here to offer assistance, sir. Glad to see you and the rest of the Star Force."

Derek hid his raging emotions behind a poker face. Damn, I never thought the love of my life would be commanding one of my escorts. Still, no one to have beside you in the Sea of Stars like your nearest and dearest...I guess. Then, he said, "Nova, glad to see you."

"Me too," she said softly. The two of them looked on in silence for a moment, and then Nova said, "I've got reports of enemy vessels approaching, uh...sir. Sandor and I will speak to you in a moment. Permission to screen your ship?"

"With yours?"

"Yes, and with my lifeblood, if it comes down to it…Derek."

Derek paused again, a lump in his throat. "Granted, Lieutenant Commander. Good luck."

"Thanks."

The screen went dark.

"They're still coming!" said Eager. "Comin' at us from all directions!"

Then, Sandor and Nova's ships changed formation. On the Thames, Sandor stood sweating as one of his frigates took a suicidal hit to defend the Argo.

On the Danube, a near-miss knocked out one of the ship's forward missile tubes. The bridge went dark again.

In the red glare of emergency lighting, Nova asked, "Barandini, how much longer can we take this?"

"About another minute!"

"All guns, one last barrage," said Nova.

The gunners on the Danube found their marks, along with their mates on the Thames and the remaining frigates. Two, three, five Cometine cruisers blew apart.

He stood apprehensively as the view switched to the outside; the Earth forces were battering the enemy ships. They began to scatter, and they warped off.

"We won!" said Domon.

"Not yet," said Kitano. "They'll be back, won't they, sir?"

"You're right," said Derek as Sandor and Nova came back up on the screen again. "What happened to you guys out there? Where's the rest of your ships and your commanders?"

"Captain Kobayashi is dead," said Sandor grimly. "Nova told me the same thing happened to Captain Tomlinson. We request permission to join forces and act as your escorts until we're satisfied the enemy is out of the area."

"They haven't left, have they?"

Nova turned to Potter for a minute. "No, sir," she said. "We're still picking up communications. They're talking to their flagship...I think she's an anti-matter missile ship."

"Is the Argo damaged?" asked Sandor.

Derek nodded. "That's why we have an asteroid screen up...I..."

Then, a Cometine ship appeared out of warp. She was a cruiser, coming at full speed.

"They've spotted us!" said Bando.

"How's the engine?' asked Kitano.

"I can give your enough power to maneuver...and that's it for the moment," said Yamanami.

"Release the shield!" said Commodore Wildstar.

The Argo's shield was released, revealing the grey and red space battleship at last. The flying ring of asteroids surrounded her as she fired her main guns at the Cometine cruiser. The ship took a hit, then two. A moment later, Sandor's gunners got a bead on it. They fired, followed by the gunners on one of Nova's frigates. Then, the Argo fired again. A final barrage destroyed the enemy cruiser at last.

"You see, you'll need close escort against a force like that," Sandor said. "I can see how badly you're damaged."

"You can't do this alone, Derek, not without us," said Nova in a soft but persuasive voice from her ship.

"Permission granted. Sandor, your forces take the starboard flank."

"Yessir," said Sandor.

"Nova, have your forces take the port flank."

"Aye, aye, Skipper," said Nova with a wink.

Derek nodded back. "Thanks, Nova. Now, both of you...I want your cruisers half a megameter ahead of the ship until I ask you to fall back. We're all going to scan the area for the enemy. When they show up, we'll take things from there. Understood?"

"Yessir," they said in chorus.

"Good. Now let's show these green guys what a few old veterans can do..."

"I'm going to finish them!" raged Czernak as his missile ship joined the cruisers. "Now, I am going to go for the last battle and take the Argo down if it's the last thing I do! Prepare missiles for firing!"

"All missiles?" asked his weapons officer.

"Yes, anti-matter missiles included. I want to blow apart the Argo and all of her escorts. Order those four cruisers to lead the attack. Then, I'll release our missiles!"

"Even odds. We can do it."

"And, inform Gernitz our victory is imminent. Open a channel to him now!"

"Yessir!"

"Enemy fleet spotted!" cried the radar officer on the Thames. "Range, six megameters! Looks like four cruisers and one missile ship! Speed, twelve space knots!"

Sandor nodded. "Let Nova know what we're doing. We're executing. Then, let Wildstar know what's up."

"Yessir!" said Sandor's communications officer.

A moment later, both cruiser squadrons aimed all of their surviving guns at the enemy fleet, and let loose with everything they had in a vicious, quick, thirty-second barrage.

On the Jaavitz, everything was pandemonium. "Where did they come from?"

"Out of the asteroid field, sir," said his radar officer. "We've already lost two of the cruisers!"

"Where is the damned Argo?" hissed Czernak.

"Nine megameters away. She's just stopped all engines."

"What is going on? Ready missiles! And get me Gernitz!"

"All of our cruisers are destroyed!" said Czernak's executive officer. "I recommend that we retire! We are outnumbered five to one now!"

"Not on my life, not while I still have them!" yelled Czernak.

Gernitz's image came up on the screen a moment later. "What is going on?"

"We are about to drink a victory toast! I have the Argo cornered!"

"Do you, now?"

"Energy level, seventy-five percent," said Yamazaki from his console as the deadly hum of the wave motion gun filled the Argo's bridge.

"Commodore, Nova and Sandor just reported they're two megameters behind us," said Homer. "They warped out safely after they got those cruisers."

"Great job; they deserve commendations for that," said Derek from his post. "Domon, how is it going?"

"Got them in my sights!" cried Domon as he stared at the enemy in the target scope through his anti-flash goggles. "Open safety lock!"

"Safety lock open," said a voice from below.

"They've just launched missiles!" said Bando. "Nice big spread of antimatter missiles and regular ones."

"Sir!" said Domon.

"Don't worry, Domon," said Wildstar. "Correct the target and hit them along with the enemy ship."

"Energy level is one hundred percent!" said Yamazaki.

"Course corrections made," said Kitano.

"Ten seconds to firing!" said Domon.

Wildstar nodded, making sure his own goggles were on tightly. Then, Domon began the final, deadly countdown.

"Gernitz, we've won!" laughed Czernak. "I've just let loose my antimatter missiles, and we're about to warp out of here after I see the explosion and send the same to you. The Argo is as good as dead now. I hope they're saying their prayers to their primitive deities."

"FIRE!" yelled Domon on the Argo's bridge.

The Argo's wave motion gun let loose a moment later.

The first sign that Czernak had that something was wrong was seeing the burst of light before the radars said that the missiles had slammed home. Then, explosion after explosion flickered out in space as the tachyon beam melted the missiles bit by bit.

Then, finally, the beam of energy roared out and a deadly light filled the Jaavitz's bridge windows as the ship melted before the helmsman could even hit the switch to execute a space warp. A moment later, Czernak and his missile ship were only a memory as a great explosion filled the asteroid field.

On his flagship, Gernitz stood in shock. "How am I going to report this to Invidia? Once again, one of my best commanders has underestimated the Star Force and the people of Earth. Once again, we have lost another battle!"

"I won't stand for it!" he screamed. "I want vengeance! Communications, connect me with the Eritz Gatlantis. I am going to demand permission to enter their solar system and finish the job that Czernak just mucked up!"

TWO HOURS LATER…

"Great job, Wildstar," said Sandor as he stood before Derek and the rest of the old crew on the bridge of the Argo as the task force headed for Pluto for repairs and liberty. Nova stood behind Derek and smiled softly as Derek took his old comrade's hand in a handshake.

"No, you did the great job…you and your crew men and crew women," said Commodore Wildstar with a smile. He then turned to Nova and took her hand in a handshake; protocol prevented them from doing more at the moment. "I couldn't have done it without you guys."

"I heard about the trick you pulled with those asteroids, Commander Wildstar!" said Domon as he looked at Nova. "You're a great captain, ma'am. We'd love having you at our side if we ever need escorts."

Nova walked towards her old radar. "Actually, I'd rather be back here with you guys; no disrespect meant to Bando, of course." Nova tapped Bando on the shoulder for a moment…he stood and let Nova have her old seat back for a moment.

"Why's that?" said Homer. "I thought you'd like being promoted!"

Nova took a deep breath. "Right now, I'm on the Danube because headquarters told me to be there. If I had my druthers, I'd be right back here."

"Why's that?" asked Eager.

"Silly, I miss you guys," said Nova.

"She speaks for both us, Commodore," said Sandor as he nodded towards Nova. "If you don't mind…?"

Derek nodded, and Sandor also sat back down at his old station. He began to look at readings on the screens at once. "Look at this…they've boosted the power of their reactors by ten percent. They've been working on refitting their ships just like we've been working on ours."

"I get the feeling we're gonna all be together again soon," said Derek.

"Well…it'll be wartime again, but I don't mind that," said Nova. She smiled at Domon. "Think you could stand having me around again?"

"I think so, ma'am," said Domon.

"Good."

"How's IQ-9?" asked Sandor.

"He looked up my skirt again earlier," said Nova with a blush. "But he's still been a good friend."

"Then, why've you got a skirt on?" asked Domon.

Nova blushed and got up. She lifted her skirt up just far enough to show her bandage. "I got a nice burn in the battle when a board went. It hurts too much to put on my blues right now. Which reminds me, Derek. Is Doctor Sane on board?"

"Nope, it's Bradford. Need a sickbay call? I didn't know you were hurt!"

"It’s not that bad…our stores were running short of meds, that's all. I could use a prescription for this leg ."

"Doctor Bradford or Natalie can help you, Nova."

"Great. I'd love to talk to Natalie."

"Why?"

"I'd like to get something nice to wear on Pluto for our liberty call later on, Derek. I need to see if Natalie's gonna loan me some stuff."

"No problem there, I think… Meet me later on in my cabin so you and Sandor can give a full report."

Nova saluted. "Yessir."

Later on, Derek was speaking with the Commander on the Argo's first bridge. "Wildstar, that was a very costly victory."

"I know," said Derek. "We’ve lost men here on the Argo, and we also lost a lot of those task groups."

"It looks like there were too many Cometine ships for this to be just a probe."

"I think it's a precursor for an attack, sir. Do we have permission to make some changes and reconstitute the rest of the Star Force when we get to Pluto?"

"No. The Defense Council turned me down."

"Sir?"

"They said we can send the Arizona out to scan the edge of the solar system, and I couldn't disagree with them. You and the others are to return home for debriefing, and then, after we get more intelligence from Captain Venture, I'll raise the issue again. I think that with more information, we can justify a full remobilization of the First Star Force, Wildstar."

"Thank you, sir," said Derek with disappointment in his voice.

"Your request for a twenty-four hour liberty at Pluto has been approved, of course, for you and the others. Those cruisers will need some work before I assign new skippers on Earth while they’re being repaired there and reconstitute their fleets."

"So, what will Nova and Steve be doing?"

"Helping you make sense of this data when you get home. The Council did recognize the merit of having the best Mechanical officer and the best Survey and Analysis officer in the Fleet assisting you in analyzing the results of this battle while the Argo is repaired and the Arizona is out."

"Of course, sir."

"Office duty," snorted Sandor as he, Derek and Nova met in the Captain's cabin later that afternoon.

"What a crock," said Nova in a depressed voice. She sloshed her Type "B" fruit juice around miserably in her goblet. "Office work drives me up the wall."

"I thought you said you'd give anything to be off the bridge of the Danube," said Derek. "And didn't you like working with the Commander in his office?"

"That was important," said Nova. "This is nothing but looking over old results and frying up numbers like yesterday's leftovers. I like cooking fresh, and I like field work, making new discoveries. That, and making people better in a clinical environment. Not making love to a computer all day. Steve, didn't you get bored when you were doing nothing but theory?"

"Research stirs my drink," said Sandor. "But, I like it better when I can do something new, too."

"We should be getting ready to investigate this attack!" said Derek. "Not going home to crunch numbers."

"Like to pull off another mutiny, Derek?" asked Nova cheerily while she juggled a bag in her lap. The things that Natalie had loaned her were inside the bag.

Wildstar gagged on his drink. "What? Nova, you surprise me. Didn't you need to think about this last time?"

"I did my thinking in Sickbay while Doctor Bradford and Natalie were looking at my leg. I'd leave with you right now if we could make up a plausible excuse."

"So would I," said Sandor after a long moment.

"Sandor! Nova!" said Derek. "You'd be risking your careers!"

"I thought we were over this four years ago, Derek," said Nova. "Why take days transmitting this to Venture on the Arizona when we're here and can sniff out that trail ourselves? We're fresh on the scent…they aren’t."

"I reached the same conclusion," said Sandor. "We have most of the crew here. You're a flag officer, now. You can cover for us for a bit by putting us in Sickbay, and you can make a request for pilots on Pluto. Then, when you lift off, we can just go the other way. Just a little white lie, and I'm half thinking General Singleton is expecting us to do it."

"Derek, it's up to you," said Nova. "But, if you do it, you'll have our support. And our love."

"I'll need some time to think this over," said Derek. "This is a switch. You followed my lead four years ago. This time, you two are bringing up the idea. This is different…"

"Isn't it logical?" said Sandor.

"It's up to you, Derek," said Nova. "But I'll love you and stand by you no matter what you decide. For richer…or for poorer…"

"In sickness and in health," murmured Derek.

Sandor chuckled. "This reminds me of something."

"What?" asked Derek.

"The times I sat around while your brother got romantic with some girl. It made me feel kind of like a fifth wheel."

"Steve?" said Nova.

"Yes?"

Nova smiled. "Go soak your head."

"My kid sister speaks up again," smiled Sandor. At that, both men laughed while Nova sat there sloshing her juice around in her glass. Then, she shrugged, and finished the juice.

That evening, at 1900, after all of the ships had cleared the asteroid field and had made a space warp, the battered Argo and her escorts made port again at Pluto.

On the Danube, Barnwell asked Commander Wildstar, "Are you taking liberty with the others, ma'am?"

"Sure am," said Nova brightly. She turned to Barandini. "Mister Barandini, you're Officer of the Deck until I get back here twenty-four hours from now. You'll work with the dockyard repair crews."

"I've been doing so already, ma'am. How many people are taking liberty?"

"About two-thirds of the crew," said Nova. "Take command, Barandini."

"Aye, aye, ma'am," said Barandini. He and Nova exchanged salutes, and then, she left the bridge. "Captain off the bridge!" he barked. "Okay, you guys…you've got work to do…"

In her cabin, a few minutes later, Nova stood bare-legged with her skirt off, clad in only a dove-grey civilian top, black panties, and sandals that matched her top as she looked over her leg dressing before stepping into the short white skirt she was about to put on.

The hatch opened, and IQ-9 whizzed in. "WOWWW!" he yelled as he looked at Nova.

"You tinwit! Didn't anyone ever teach you how to knock when you enter a lady's room?"

"Nova, I never took finishing school."

"I can see that," huffed Nova. "Well, you have a choice. Turn your head, or help me pull this skirt up, you so-called genius."

"Why should I help you?"

"Well, if you're looking, I'm not about to bend over in front of you."

"I see your logic," he said as his lights began to flash. "Let me help you."

"Thanks. Maybe there is hope for you, after all." He gallantly helped her pull up her skirt and then kept hands off while Nova zipped it shut and closed the snap. "Think Derek's going to like this?" she said as she stood on her toes and pirouetted.

"I like it," said IQ.

"I wasn't asking your personal opinion…I…oh, never mind." Then, Nova grabbed her peacoat and began to put it on. "Now, I said you were to be punished for flipping my skirt on the bridge earlier."

"What's your punishment, ma'am?"

"I'd like to hit the stores here in the shopping arcade before I meet Derek. You're going to be my escort until I meet the Commodore in the Officers' Club. Have you ever carried a lady's bags and boxes before when she goes shopping?"

"No…it's pretty stupid duty for a genius."

"Well, I can get Brittany to help, I guess," huffed Nova.

"But I'd do anything for you, Nova."

"Thanks, IQ-9!" Nova had just finished putting on her lip gloss. She gave the robot a little kiss on his dome. "You messed up my sensors with your lipstick!"

"So?" giggled Nova. "You fix it!"

"Nova, how many boxes can one robot carry?" asked IQ-9 as he and the young Lieutenant Commander made their way down the shopping arcade. The robot was already burned with bags and boxes. Nova was encumbered with only her purse and several credit cards.

"Look at this," Nova said as she stopped by a shop window. She whistled softly as she bent with her hands behind her back. "Stud earrings! Just two hundred credits!"

"How many credits do you have?"

"None of your business," said Nova. The shopkeeper was amused as Nova came in, followed by her robotic friend. IQ-9 stood stoically while Nova took her sweet time looking at three sets of earrings, having one wrapped up, trying a few sniffs of perfume and buying a bottle, and then looking at a few rings; most were for her fingers, one or two were for her toes. She left the shop wearing new silver earrings, a turquoise ring on her left hand, a bottle of perfume, and a toe ring on one of her toes. This took up an hour.

Nova then went into a haberdashers' shop and came out with three hats, two of her own for church, and a fedora for Derek. IQ-9 had more boxes to weigh him down as a result.

Nova then spent a half hour in a shoe store daintily trying on different styles of sandals and sneakers. She left with a pair of sandals and one pair of sneakers, and more stuff for IQ-9.

Finally, Nova made a "come hither" gesture to IQ-9. The little robot squeaked, "Do we have to go in here?"

"IQ, I thought you'd love this place."

"What is it?"

"Francine's Fancy. An intimate apparel shop. I'll need a new nightie for Derek tonight."

"Nova, can't you sleep in the nude tonight?"

"None of your business," sang Nova. "You can wait outside if you want."

"Yes, just me and my pile of boxes."

IQ-9 waited and stewed while Nova went in. He could just barely see the lacy little things on the mannequins. Nova emerged ten minutes later with a smile and a little pink and black gift-wrapped box.

"What's in there?"

"That's my secret," said Nova softly. "And Derek's. It doesn't cover very much. Now, take all this stuff to the hotel lobby while I check in. Then, you can take it up to our room."

"Everything?"

"Except this," said Nova as she held her little box. "Then, I'll see you later…"

"I was afraid of that!"

"What is the meaning of this, Gernitz?" said Invidia with an angry glare.

"Princess…Czernak went a bit too far in engaging the Star Force. He lost his entire fleet."

"Why? Bad intelligence from you?"

"No, his own overconfidence. I request permission to take my Fleet to the solar system and finish what he started!"

"Denied."

"What?"

"You inept man," said Invidia. "Permission is denied. His defeat was bad enough…now the Earthers know that we are active again. Bringing in one vast fleet now would do nothing but telegraph our intentions and set you up like a lamb for the slaughter. Even though that would be a fitting fate for you. What have you done for me but cause me trouble? You were nothing but a thorn in father's side and mine!"

"So, are you sending me?"

"No, I need your ships, you fool. You will remain on station until called for. We shall begin softening up the Earthlings, but not now, and not at once. They're expecting us now. We shall strike again…when they do not expect it. And then, my plan shall begin."

"Your plan?"

"Mine. Not yours," said Invidia. "I have greater fish to fry than just Star Force. Even though they shall have their day of reckoning…I have other things to consider."

"Such as?"

"Leader Desslok."

TO BE CONTINUED....

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