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 SEVEN: BREATHING SPACE
I. OLD FRIENDS, OLD RIVALS
Space Battleship Argo
In Orbit over Planet Centaurus
Alpha Centauri System
Saturday, June 8, 2205
1400 Hours: Earth Time
"So what's out here?" said Commodore Wildstar as he stalked the bridge of the Argo a few hours after the battle with Schaza's fleet after the Argo, Arizona, and their escorts had warped out to this system
"Nuthin," said Hardy over the communications link. The Argo's flight bays had been repaired, and the Black Tigers had been launched. Along with the planes from the Arizona, they had just completed a pretty good sweep of the area. And....they had found...
Nothing.
Scans from the radar systems of the Argo, the Arizona, and the cruiser Indus confirmed the same thing; Schaza had somehow managed to shake the Earth fleet's pursuit and she had escaped from the neighborhood of Earth.
"You haven't found anything? Not even those missile cruisers?"
"There's nothing Cometine around here at all," said Hardy. "I know. We pursued 'em here..."
"And they're gone. Eager and Bando are telling me the same thing, Hardy. They're gone. Okay. Keep one squadron out there, but return to the ship."
"Roger. Where's Nova?"
"She's helping Doctor Sane in Sickbay. We had a lot of wounded, Hardy..."
The scene in Sickbay was something like chaos. About thirty-two people were lying on litters. Some were silent, others were moaning, still others were barely breathing, and some had already expired. Also, part of the area smelled like smoke; there had been an indirect hit earlier during the battle, as a result, operating area number two and part of the nurses' locker room suite was sealed off until repairs were completed.
At the moment, because of the large number of wounded or dying crewmembers, Doctor Sane has been forced to break down the usual medical hierarchy a bit, thus, he, Doctor Bradford, Nova, Natalie Fisher, and two other highly experienced nurses were all basically deputized to serve as surgeons themselves, assisted by six other nurses and four medics.
Fisher looked up from her patient; a gunner who had a severely burned hand that had to have a lot of skin debrided...and which might need amputation of one or two fingers. She looked over and saw that Nova was working inside an incision in a patient's abdomen. Both women were sweaty, and their tunics were bloody. The blood didn't bother Natalie that much...it was the knowledge that she was performing surgery on someone by herself that gave her pause. She wondered if Nova was feeling the same way as she worked inside her patient.
How much circulation is that finger getting? Fisher thought as she examined the hand of her anesthetized patient. It doesn't look as if there's enough...I'll have to take it off. Damn, wish I could get a second opinion on this. She looked over at Sane...Doctor Sane himself was apparently working inside someone's chest cavity, and he had hit quite a few bleeders. The amount of blood on his tunic would be quite startling to a layman.
Nova looked up from her patient. "Natalie, what's wrong?" she asked.
"I'm not sure whether I should amputate this digit or not, Nova. Is the color from lack of circulation or a result of the burn?"
"I'm closing my patient up now," said Nova. "I can give him a look in a moment...prep for amputation just in case."
"Right," said Fisher. Her paper-covered shoe slid a little in a puddle of blood while she reached for the instruments she'd need. "Ensign Peters!" she yelled to a less-experienced nurse running the perimeter. "I need a number five tip for a Bloomberg laser cutter!"
The nurse looked at a tray she was pushing around. "I don't got no number five. Would a four do?"
"Make it a six if you have it!" said Nova. "And give me a seven so I can seal this abdomen."
Peters looked a bit confused by the requests, so she dug through the instruments on the tray. "Six for Lieutenant Fisher, seven for Commander Wildstar."
"Peters!" yelled Doctor Sane. "Get me a chest closure kit! And if we get any more patients, you'll have to drop that tray and take over on one of these litters!"
"I'm not sure I can...I ..."
"I've just learned to resection and reattach a bowel adhesion, Ensign," snapped Nova. "If I can learn surgery on the fly, so can you!"
Then, IQ-9 brought in a Black Tiger pilot who was screaming as he lay on the litter grasping a ruined arm. Sane looked over and said, "Peters, that one! Prep him for receiving a replacement right hand! Nova! That'll be your next job! Get yours finished up!"
"Right," said Nova. She glanced over at Fisher's patient. "The finger's cyanotic. Lack of circulation. Take it off. Then I'll finish up with Sergeant Ngao here and then get that pilot."
"Got it." Natalie got to work on her patient while Nova closed up Ngao. Then, she said to IQ-9 as she turned, "IQ, take him to recovery! Peters, do you have that man under yet?"
The organized chaos of Sickbay went on.
II. CONVERSATION
Space Battleship Argo
In Orbit over Planet Centaurus
Alpha Centauri System
Saturday, June 8, 2205
2203 Hours: Earth Time
About eight hours passed. Commodore Wildstar sat in his cabin writing up a report when a tap came at the hatch.
"Who is it?" he asked.
"Sandor. I have a damage report to give you, and a guest to present."
"Guests?" said Wildstar. "I'm not sure I have time."
"You'll have time for this one," said Sandor as Wildstar opened the hatch. Derek was a bit surprised to see Sandor wearing his dress peacoat. Of course, Wildstar had just put on his short coat to keep warm up here...some of the environmental systems inside the Argo had been a little off since the attack.
Wildstar took the report, and then he started as a familiar upper New York state-accented voice said, "Hey, Wildstar, what's the big idea of almost hitting my ship?"
"Venture!" said Derek with something between a scowl and a laugh on his face. Then, he said, "You mean you've been a Captain for close to two years and you've never heard of a warp accident before? You don't remember that time we hit that Scorpion boat coming out of warp on our way to Saturn-Titan?"
"Oh, is that your excuse?" said Venture. Wildstar looked as if he was about to get angry, but then Mark grabbed his shoulders and laughed. "Okay, sir, you're forgiven! It's good to see you again, Derek!"
"Yeah, same here, Mark. How's Holly doing?"
"She's never been better," said Mark as he sat down at the table in Wildstar's cabin. "The way she serves as my helmsman, you'd never know that she had once been paralyzed. Aliscea and Doctor Sane sure did a good job on her. Where's Nova?"
"Sickbay," said Wildstar as he and Sandor also sat down. "She's been there for...eight hours now. I got a call from Doc Sane before. We had forty wounded in the battle. We're going to be awfully short-handed."
"I can send you some people," said Venture. "And you can requisition a few more replacements from off those escorts."
"I'm not sure how many people I can take from those ships," said Wildstar. "Captain Reedman said they had a lot of wounded, too. Six of their worst cases were medevaced here for surgery."
"You people took a beating," said Venture. "Where'd those Cometines come from? What did they want?"
"We're still trying to analyze the situation," said Sandor. "We're not sure yet if this is a raid or the start of a new invasion."
"I favor the latter," said Wildstar. "Especially in light of that blackout and that sighting they had on Earth."
"What sighting?" said Venture.
"Two cadets at the Space Fighters' Training School saw a Scorpion recon boat near the Megalopolis this morning," said Wildstar. "I have a copy of their report right here, thanks to the Commander and the Commandant of the Academy. The cadets were named Wakefield and Marrable."
"How'd they see the plane and know what they were looking at? These guys are cadets. They could've screwed up the identification."
"Report says these guys are potential fighter pilots, Mark," said Wildstar. "They snuck out during the blackout while they were supposed to be locked down; went against orders to take a look at the situation."
"Hey, who does that remind you of?" said Mark with a grin. "Not me."
"Bullshit!" laughed Wildstar. "You were with me that day we snuck off to chase that Gamilon."
"Only because it was your bright idea, Derek!"
"Yeah? I didn't see you going to report me when we stole that Type 100!"
"Is that the time you two got it right after I got home from Pluto?" said Sandor with a grin.
"Yeah,"
said Derek and Mark together.
"Figures," said Sandor. "You're a fine one to talk about cadets, Venture. Remember, you were one six years ago, Captain."
"Oh, shut up!" said Venture. He exchanged a look at Sandor and they both laughed. Derek joined in with the laughter a moment later as the hatch opened again.
The three men looked up, startled by the intruder. It turned out that she had a perfect right to be here. Nova had just come off her shift in Sickbay. She still wore a bloody nurse's tunic, and slightly blood-spattered sandals. She looked exhausted, but she smiled and saluted Derek, Mark, and Sandor. The three officers stood up from the table they were sitting at to return her salute like gentlemen. Then, Nova said, "Hey, Derek, make me some coffee while I take a shower?"
"Hey, Nova!" said Venture. "Uh...rough night?"
"Hi, Mark," she said with a slight smile after she hugged Derek. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm here to complain about your husband's lousy spacemanship," he said with a grin as Nova opened her locker. She rooted around in it for a change of clothes as she stepped out of her sandals. "Derek, mind if I wash these shoes in the shower?"
"No problem, just clean up afterwards," said Derek with a smirk. "Why aren't you doing that below?"
"Battle damage," said Nova as she rooted in a drawer. "Good. Here's a Biohazard bag! Good thing I put one up here earlier."
"What do you
need a bag for?" said Mark.
Nova answered the question a moment later as she pulled her bloody tunic off over her head and quickly began to change. "I can't just leave these bloody things in the head! They're a hazard! Sorry, guys...I have to be...uh...a little less than ladylike for a minute. Boy, these need a good wash. And I didn't have a change down there in Sickbay and the shower was out."
"The shower was out?" asked Mark.
"Indirect hit earlier," said Nova as she reached behind her back for her bra clasp, showing a bare shoulder as she got into a robe behind her locker hatch. "Part of it still smells like smoke, and power to the circulating pump's out. Good thing we didn't lose power to the sterile water circuit."
"You're undressing up here?" said Sandor with an amused grin.
"These are my quarters, silly!" said Nova with a smile as she slipped into her robe. "Turn your head if you're offended! And, Steve, what's with the heat up here? I'm freezing my butt off!"
At that, Nova left.
Or rather, she ducked out of the cabin as fast as possible.
"Well, what do you think?" said Sandor as he looked at Wildstar.
"Nothing new," said Derek. "After all, I am married to her. Captain Venture!"
"Sir?"
"Take that grin off your face!"
"Make me," said Mark.
The hatch popped open again, and Nova popped her wet head into the cabin. "Guys, stop that, unless you want me to run out there in nothing but suds to break your fight up!"
"Would that be a bad thing?" teased Derek.
Nova stuck her tongue out at Derek while pulling down one of her eyelids. Then, she ducked back into the head again.
A few minutes later, Nova came back out into the Captain's quarters dressed in khaki pants, a beige pullover, and her sandals. "Where's that coffee?" she asked.
"In the pot," said Derek. He looked down at Nova from head to toe. "You look better. Even got those shoes clean..."
"Thanks...they're supposed to wash off," said Nova. "Mark, what are you looking at?"
"The Academy Commandant's report on these guys. This Wakefield sounds like a character."
"Let me look after you're done. Derek, did you see it yet?"
"Yeah, I did. Nova, what are you doing?"
"Getting the four of your graham crackers and peanut butter," she said while she yawned.
Derek got up. "Nova, why don't you go to bed?"
"Little hard to get to bed with the three of you up here," she said sleepily. "And didn't you guys see enough of me a few minutes ago? The coffee will keep me up if you made it right," she said as she made up a cup of space java for herself.
"As for seeing enough of you," teased Venture.
"That's it, I'm reporting you to your wife," said Nova as she picked up the phone. "Homer should be able to patch me through to your ship, right?"
"Nova, please..." said Mark.
"I won't do it if you behave," said Nova primly.
"I'll behave," said Mark.
"I won't," said Derek.
"Derek, not in front of our friends!" said Nova with a laugh. She squealed as the Commodore caught her from behind and gave her a smooch on the neck.
"Maybe we should be going," said Sandor as he and Venture got up.
"Not with that report," said Derek.
"Yes, I need to see that," said Sandor. The atmosphere turned serious again as Nova sat down with her coffee and a plate of crackers. "Hmmm...," said Sandor. "This Wakefield fellow has seen combat before."
"When?" asked Wildstar.
"Junior Space Cadet Corps unit in California," said Sandor.
"Oh, those guys," said Derek with a downturned lip.
"Hey, I was in that!" said Venture.
"And I wanted to join but Momma wouldn't allow it," said Nova. "My physics teacher in high school thought I would've fit right in."
"Okay, sorry," said Derek. "I didn't get to read that part yet, Steve. Go on. When was this guy in combat?"
"24 April 2202, California time," said Sandor. "It was during the Rikasha Incident. The same time that those jokers landed in the Megalopolis, they also landed in California. They wanted to take the Miramar base. Wakefield and his unit were helping some Marines guard the base when fighting broke out. According to the report written by the Marine platoon CO, and I quote..."
"....Wakefield's JSCC unit saw action as a R'Khell raider force landed in the desert near Miramar Base. Wakefield and his unit helped the Marines defend the base against the alien wave of screaming orange, brown, and Caucasian warrior fanatics clad in dark red battle armor that seemed to be leading something like an ancient human wave charge. Even though a personal weapon of the cadet's, a projectile weapon he called DJ helped protect JSCC Cadet Wakefield, I noted afterwards that he was both angered and sickened by the cruelty of the R'Khell fanatics, and their tactics, including one fake "surrender" followed by blasts of their bizarre music and noise. Then, enemy reinforcements showed up and the "surrendered" troopers used hidden grenades to blow up themselves and a number of Wakefield's comrades. At one point in this battle, Cadet Wakefield fought the enemy in hand-to-hand combat. He barely escaped with his life. I gave him a commendation for his efforts..."
"Interesting," said Venture.
"How old was he when this happened?" asked Nova.
"Eighteen," said Sandor.
"That's pretty young," said Nova. "But our generation's seen worse at even younger ages. I saw my friends dying around me from radiation sickness when I was thirteen. I wonder what the psychological effect must be for children who were even younger during the Gamilon War?"
"His psych profile wasn't attached to this," said Sandor. "His friend Cadet Marrable has had some similar experiences."
"You wonder what sort of officers these people are going to make," said Venture.
"Probably not that different from us," said Derek as he sipped his coffee. "Nova, did I make the coffee right?"
"You did, thanks."
"Thanks for the crackers, Nova," said Sandor.
"Hey, anything for you guys," said Nova. "Even if you tease me like crazy."
"It's like a little bit of humanity in all of the war we have to see," said Sandor thoughtfully.
"Right," said Nova. "If we can't keep our humanity, what the heck are we fighting for?"
"The freedom for you to look cute when we're off-duty," said Derek.
"You would say something like that, Derek!" said Nova with a laugh. They talked a bit more about inconsequential things until the clock hit 2300, and then hit 2330. Nova looked up. "That reminds me. I have to go check a routine I had running in the holography room before I was called to Sickbay."
"You have to work off-duty?" said Mark.
"You know I sometimes have trouble sleeping. Derek, I'll be back up here in a few..."
Then, the red alert alarm abruptly went off.
"Attention, all hands!" said Homer over the PA; he was serving as the Officer of the Deck tonight. "Twelve enemy vessels spotted, heading towards the fleet at attack speed. Captain Wildstar, report to the first bridge! Main Duty crew, report! Radar ops say they look like submarines of some..."
Then, the Argo shook below them as the ship took a hit. Nova stumbled until she braced herself against the table.
Derek stood and ran over to his Captain's chair. "Guys, get to the first bridge!"
Venture and Sandor turned to run out. Nova began to follow them, but Derek grabbed her. "Ride with me; it'll be quicker. I need you on radar right away."
"Out of uniform?" she asked as she got onto his lap.
Wildstar nodded as he punched the button and the chair lift came to life.
III. RE-ENTER ANOTHER OLD ENEMY
Space Battleship Argo
Near Planet Centaurus
Alpha Centauri System
Saturday, June 8, 2205
2337 Hours: Earth Time
Both Wildstars arrived on the first bridge right before Venture and Sandor came out of the lift.
"Where's Kitano?" asked Nova.
"He ain't here yet," said Eager as Nova ran to his post. "Nice outfit."
"Thanks," said Nova as she sat at the vacant cosmo-radar.
From the Combat Group Leader's post, Homer turned around and said, "Wildstar, they just jumped right out of subspace. I don't think they're Cometines...they came on us too fast."
Sandor sat down and quickly called up a feed from Nova's radar. "Warp signature says they're R'Khells," said Sandor.
"Venture, you need to get back to your ship."
"I just got a report from Sickbay," said Nova. "Derek, Kitano was just taken there! The second bridge took a hit! We need the ship off auto-pilot!"
"Eager, man the helm," said Wildstar. "Nova, remain at your post."
"Wait," said Venture.
"What?" said Derek. "This is my ship, Venture!"
"Just a suggestion, Derek! On the Arizona, Rosstowski is Officer of the Deck right now. He can handle it. Wildstar, since I can't get back to the ship during battle and your helm is vacant, you'll need a helmsman fast. Request permission to take my old post back until the battle is over."
"Granted, Venture. And thanks."
Venture shed his peacoat and sat down at his old post. "Homer, where's Domon?"
"I guess he's stuck or something. I can handle this!"
"Homer, thanks for the offer, but take your post at communications," said Wildstar.
Another torpedo hit the Argo. "Crew's quarters hit again! Deck five reports a collapsed overhead," said Sandor.
"Great, that's where Domon's bunked," said Wildstar. Concerned
for his Combat Group Leader, Derek thought for a moment, and then he threw off
his peacoat and sat down at his old post beside Venture as Yamazaki showed up.
"How's the engine?"
"Fine. What are you two doing over there?"
"Short-handed again," said Venture. "I need full power to evade those guys!"
"Confirmed, squadron of twelve R'Khell space subs," said Nova. "Range, twelve megameters, speed, eighteen space knots; bearing, off starboard, eighty-two degrees. And there's a second fleet of twenty ships, due ahead at eighteen megameters, speed, twenty-two space knots. Sensors indicate their engines just went off."
"Signal from the enemy flagship," said Homer.
"Transfer it to video," replied Derek.
A moment later, the image of a scarred Caucasian-appearing R'Khell officer in black robes came up on the main panel. "Wildstar," said the vicious-looking man. "I am named Khermann. I am Commander of the sublime R'Khell space battleship V'Chaka. I wanted you to know who it was that slaughtered you before you die and face the eternal spirit of our Lord and Savior Ekogaru, whom you slaughtered without need or warrant. You and your band and your race are guilty of the crime of deicide. May you burn forever in the waterless deserts of our hell!"
"Khermann, I do not acknowledge Ekogaru as Lord and Savior,"
said Wildstar dryly. "Still fighting the old ji'had, huh?"
"You mock me? Nice. I have you under the barrel of my DI'ATS cannon. I tell you this because I don't believer your wave motion gun has my range. Watch as I stand off and destroy you within one minute of your time. Or are you running?"
"No, I'm not running," said Wildstar. "And this conversation has gone on long enough! Thanks for telling me what to do. Good night."
"I shall dest..."
Homer cut him off. "Thanks, I don't need that bullshit," said Derek. "Mark, face us towards the fleet, and order the Arizona to follow suit."
"Wave motion guns?" said Venture.
Derek nodded. "Yamazaki, stop all engines and bring up the wave motion gun; blow all safety overrides. Homer, order Rosstowski and Captain Reedman to do the same thing. We'll need three wave guns to guarantee we get all of these guys."
More torpedoes hit from the subs, and the Indus was blown apart. "Order sent to the Arizona," said Homer. "I can't reach the Indus now!"
"Confirmed lost," said Nova with a bowed head. "Derek, the main fleet has stopped; they're charging their guns!"
"Energy level, seventy percent!" said Yamazaki over the low hum of the wave gun.
"Order acknowledged," said Paul Rosstowski's voice over the Argo's bridge speakers from the Arizona. "Wave motion gun at seventy percent!"
"No!" said Aliscea aboard the Arizona. "I sense that Khermann is preparing a psionic attack!"
"Can you stop him?" said Wildstar.
"Paul, I have to leave. This one is very powerful," said Aliscea. Then, she abruptly faded from view, leaving her uniform in a pile before the dumbfounded bridge crew of the Arizona.
"Aliscea!" cried Paul. "We're about to wave-gun that ship!"
I'll be back before you do that, she sent to his mind. A moment later, Khermann was
shocked when the gleaming, vengeful-looking nude form of the Pellian noble
appeared right in front of his chair.
"What? You think you can stop me with simple parlor tricks? I am R'Jkharraz! I am superior to you!" he ranted as his bridge crew stood and turned their blasters on Aliscea. "And, do dress yourself decently, you slut!"
"Using psi-powers on non-psionics without reason is sick," said Aliscea with anger in her eyes. "And I didn't have time to bring my clothes with me. Not when scum like you have to die."
"You will be the first one to die," said Khermann as he stood, forgetting the psychic attack he was about to launch on the bridge crews of the Argo and Arizona. He raised his hands threateningly....
...but then, Aliscea gritted her teeth and flicked up an eyebrow. Khermann fell to his knees with his hands coming up to his neck.
"I need answers from you before we destroy your fleet," said Aliscea as fire flew from her hands and melted the control stanchion of the V'Chaka's DIAT'S cannon. "First, who are you allied with?"
"I need not tell you!" gasped Khermann.
"You want to die quickly or slowly?" said Aliscea as she sensed that the wave motion gun energy levels on the Arizona and Argo were now at eighty percent. "I sense you are allied with someone. Who is it?"
"Princess Invidia of the House of Gatlantis. They have promised R'Khell House Status if we help them overthrow you and the heretics who hold Rikasha in their grasp! More fleets are coming! All of us will crush Earth like mere dirt against our heels. They will! Now let me up. Let me fight you like..."
"Like what?" said Aliscea as she laid her hand on his head.
"Energy level, ninety percent!" said Rosstowski on the Arizona's bridge. Tears were running down his face as he lowered the blast goggles over his eyes. God, I may have to murder my own wife...hurry, Aliscea!, he thought.
He heard a familiar voice in hid mind saying, Don't worry. Almost done.
But...
"Arizona," said Homer's voice on the bridge speakers from the Argo as Cory Conroy ran up onto the Arizona's bridge; his squadron had just attacked some of the subs before other R'Jkharraz had attacked his planes, forcing him to return to base. "Captain Venture orders you to commence the ten-second countdown when power reaches one hundred percent."
"Energy level, ninety-five percent!"
On the Argo, Nova watched her radar screen while staring up in
horror at the visual from the bridge of the V'Chaka as a flaming Aliscea
stood forcing the life from Khermann. "Derek, we may have to kill
her..."
"Maybe...maybe not," he said in an emotionless voice as his hand tensed around the wave gun's firing grip. "You know Aliscea...but, if we have to...Venture..."
"I can't order Rosstowski to kill her!" said Mark.
"You may have to, Mark," said Nova as tears ran down her cheeks from under her wave motion gun goggles.
Have I faced this decision somewhere before? Wildstar thought. Have I had to do this in another universe? Another time? Will I have to do this now?
December 2202...
Another Place...
Another Time...
Another Universe...
It was still the bridge of the Argo...
But, it was a different Argo, a Argo in a universe where Ekogaru, Destroyer of Worlds had never reached the Milky Way Galaxy and had never changed, what some later considered might have been the true course of history for the galaxy.
Here, Iscandar and Gamilon had been destroyed by a Black Nebula Empire that had never been stopped. A Black Nebula Empire that still had Earth in its grasp under the Double Nucleus Hyperon Bomb.
And, in the capital of the Black Nebula Empire, another young girl stood looking Death in the eye just as Aliscea faced death in her universe.
On the Argo's bridge, Homer sat up as if electricity had just run through his body. He cried, "It's Sasha!"
A young half-Iscandarian-half Terran woman in a blue EDF cadet uniform appeared on the Argo's main screen holding a blaster in her hand. She was Sasha, the only child of an Alex Wildstar and Queen Starsha whom, here, were now dead, both killed in fighting with the Black Nebulans. On the Argo's bridge, Derek Wildstar sat with his hand on the Argo's wave motion gun control. Sasha looked over through the communications link and said, "Uncle, what's wrong? Hurry up and fire the wave motion gun!"
Derek stood, jumping out of his chair. Tears ran down his face as he said, "Do you think I can do that? Do you think I can kill you in cold blood like that?"
"You can't hesitate!" cried Sasha. "On Earth, Nova's destroyed one of the control points of the Double Nucleus Bomb! It's going to be reactivated soon here! You can't escape from this danger for Earth unless you shoot me. I understand! I'm ready to die to help you!"
Skaldart, the leader of the Black Nebula Empire, appeared from out of the shadows, also holding a gun. He smiled as he turned towards Sasha.
"Sasha!" cried Wildstar. "Get yourself out of there!"
"Uncle, hurry with the wave gun! Hurry, or the Holy Leader will close the Dezarium's escape doors!"
Then, Skaldart fired. It hit Sasha in the right arm. Sasha returned the fire, tearing a hole through Skaldart. He was hurt, but he wasn't finished. The madman fired again, and the bolt of energy hit Sasha in the stomach, mortally wounding her. She fell to the deck, dying as Skaldart crawled towards the lever that would close the escape passage.
On the Argo, Wildstar hissed, "You...damned brute..." He took the wave gun in his hand as Sasha's spirit fled the scene...
June 2205...
Another Place...
Another Time...
Another Universe...
An old-style clock ticked in a very nice room in a large house in the Megalopolis as a young girl with long blond hair abruptly sat up in her bed, crying, "NO!"
She sat up in the wide bed in the beautiful, lonely house where she was now house-sitting for a relative as in the distance, her uncle's old grandfather clock began to chime for midnight.
In a different universe, in a different time, Sasha of Iscandar, who had just finished her first year at the Space Fighters' Training School, smoothed her light blue nightdress against her sweaty body.
"What a weird dream I just had," she muttered with an ironic
smile on her face. "If it was a dream, that is. Mother taught me
that one's spirit can wander strange paths in the night...and here, I was their
only child, I guess, and Uncle...and the Holy Leader Skaldart..."
Sasha shivered. "Maybe I did die somewhere else. Who knows what one can touch in the night? I'm so sleepy...and I wish Uncle and Auntie would call soon...they told me they'd be calling in a few days before I have to leave here to begin the rest of my leave...then report to New York for ground training...I..."
Sasha, think, said a voice in her head for nowhere.
"What? Now I'm hearing voices? I...?"
This is no joke, girl. It is a contact. Help me deal with him.
Aliscea? How?
Never mind how. Send me your thoughts.
Why? How?
Just do it! You'll prevent a death like the one you dreamed about. Maybe you will even prevent your own here, at least.
All right...
Aliscea felt an additional burst of psionic power, weak, weaker than hers, but it got Khermann's mental grasp off her kundalini flow of internal energy.
With a scream of rage, Aliscea crushed Khermann's heart. She left a holocaust behind her as she exploded in flame right before she reappeared next to Paul on the bridge of the Arizona.
"I'm fine," she said.
"You're naked," he said.
"So what? Fire the gun. Now! Tell Wildstar to do the same."
"Right. Ten seconds to firing! Inform Wildstar she's back!"
"Aliscea's back!" cried Homer on the bridge of the Argo.
"Good," said Wildstar. "Begin ten-second countdown. Ten...nine...eight...seven...six..."
"....nine...eight...seven..." said Khermann's deputy aboard another battleship in the R'Khell fleet...one that had a working DI'ATS cannon....
"four...three...two..." said Rosstowski with a smile aboard the bridge of the Arizona.
"One...zero...FIRE!" said Wildstar on the Argo.
The Earth fleet fired first; and the other four R'Khell battleships never got a chance to fire, since their guns were consumed in blazing blue light before they fired. A moment later, the R'Khell battle fleet was no more.
Before the R'Khell subs resurfaced, three of them were blown apart by missiles from the surviving space frigates, and Hardy's squadron took care of three more of them. The six survivors crash-dived back into subspace, dismayed by their loss.
The battle was over. Once again, Earth had won, by the skin of its teeth.
Later on, Nova was serving some more coffee on the First Bridge, even though she was yawning even worse than ever. She did find time to change into her uniform at last (and also to go to the head...she had needed to very badly) when, at around 0300 on what was now the ninth of June, Aliscea came over to the Argo. Venture was somewhat relived to find out that she had her Star Force uniform on this time, and he said so when she showed up.
"Why are you relieved I'm dressed?" said Aliscea.
"I've been looking at enough strange women without their clothes on tonight."
Aliscea shot up an eyebrow, but Nova just dug her heel into Mark's instep before he nodded and returned to the post he was still manning in Kitano's absence.
"So, you said they're in league with the Cometines?" said Wildstar.
"Yes. Their commander claimed he was allied with them in the time we had together before I killed him. He said he was allied with a Princess Invidia of the Comet Empire of the House of Gatlantis. Have you ever heard of her?"
"We have," said Wildstar.
"Desslok mentioned her to us," said Nova. "He said she was an evil daughter of Zordar's who had placed him in prison in the Comet Empire city. Later, he told us that she had somehow survived Zordar's death and that they met again during the Rikasha Incident around Procyon in April of 2202. He thinks she may have survived that battle..."
"I remember now...but he wasn't sure," said Derek. "I wonder if she's still alive...and wants revenge for our killing her father?"
"If it is her, she's very dangerous," said Sandor. "This could be the worst threat we've faced since Ekogaru."
"Maybe," said Wildstar with a very grim look on his face.
A moment later, Kitano and Domon showed up. Kitano had a bandage on around his forehead; but Domon was uninjured.
"Where were you?" said Wildstar as he showed up.
"Trapped in my quarters," said Domon. "But I wasn't hurt. I take it you needed me around before?"
"Yes," said Wildstar. "And we need you now. In fact, it's time for you to take your post now as Officer of the Deck. Relieve Captain Venture and order Kitano to take his post."
"Uh, yessir," said Domon. "Captain...Venture...you're relieved."
"Good, I need to get back to my ship," he said with a smile. "Too bad we aren't doing a warp now," he said with a wink at Nova.
"You never give up!" she said. "Captain, would you like to be wearing some of my coffee?"
"No, it's bad enough when we drink it."
Nova stewed as the crew laughed. Venture picked up his coat and said, "Commodore, request permission to get back to my command."
"Granted. They're probably wondering where you are, Mark."
"Go, go," said Nova. "You're driving me crazy."
"Is he?" snorted Wildstar.
"And take Derek with you if he doesn't shut up!" said Nova.
"Yeah, we all know you wanna run this ship without us," said Venture.
"Mark, I don't," said Nova in a serious tone.
"Why not?"
"I'll tell you some other time when we get home," she said as she patted Derek on the hand.
At that, things turned serious as Wildstar and Venture shook hands. "I don't know where they're sending us next, Derek. Rosstowski told us we have orders to head back to the solar system. Good luck to you and Nova and everyone else. It was nice seeing you again."
"Thanks," replied Wildstar as he shook hands with Venture.
"Good luck, and I mean it," said Nova a moment later as she took his hand. "You and Holly take care of yourselves."
"We'll see you again," said Venture.
"I hope so," said Nova as she gave him a sudden, fierce hug. "Really...I don't know what I'd do if something happened to you again. You're my closest male friend after my Derek. Take care of yourself out there until we meet again."
"I will, Nova. I promise."
"And, take care of Aliscea," whispered Nova. "I had a look at her...have you noticed she doesn't look well?"
"I've noticed...but I don't know what's going on..."
"You wouldn't understand," said Aliscea quietly as she came up and gave Nova a hug. "We will meet again...I promise. But, yes, my time is short."
"What do you mean?" asked Nova.
"Your children," said Aliscea softly. "I do not know if I will ever see them. I may...I may not. I do not know. Creator bless you until we meet again..."
Nova stood in silence as Aliscea and Mark left.
"What's wrong, Nova?" asked Derek.
"I'm not sure I want to talk about it," she said in a choked-up voice. "I'm sorry...I'm tired..."
"I know. You haven't slept in almost twenty-four hours."
Then, Homer said, "Communication from the Commander!"
The bridge crew saluted as Wildstar looked up at General Singleton. "I've heard from the Arizona," he said. "I understand there was another battle?"
"Yessir," said Wildstar. "This time, it was the R'Khells. And we received some intelligence from Aliscea, who again aided us..."
"Yes?"
"We've learned that the R'Khells and the Cometines may be allies...and we've learned that Prince Zordar's daughter may be behind this attack..."
"That is very bad news," said General Singleton. "Captain Venture, when you leave, you are to continue back to the solar system as I ordered previously. Wildstar?"
"Yessir?"
"Continue your patrol of the Centaurus region until I tell you otherwise. We have to find out if a large fleet is gathering out there."
"Yessir," said Wildstar.
"Good luck," said General Singleton.
Wildstar nodded.
IV. INVIDIA'S NEXT PLAN
Eritz Gatlantis
Thursday, June 27, 2205
1239 Hours: Earth Time
The Eritz Gatlantis had activated her comet field well ahead of
schedule.
At that, once again, a dreaded White Comet was streaking across the sea of stars, heading towards Earth's galactic system.
"How did we do it?" asked General Gorse as he walked through a corridor of the Comet with Dyre and Invidia.
"I had Gernitz return and impress engineers from a planet we had not yet conquered," said Invidia. "Planet Dameris near the Rim. A world that Father forgot about. They attempted a pathetic rebellion in Father's absence. But we crushed it."
"And so?" said Dyre.
"With enough slaves working without any rest, replaced by other slaves when they died, and with materials taken from Dameris, we have completed the warp drive and the Comet field," said Invidia. "What was to have taken us a year took a mere twenty days."
"At a cost of two thousand slaves," said Dyre.
"Do you think I care? That was the easy part! Now, we have to retake my father's old domains. You will tell us how that is going."
"I shall when we reach your throne room, Princess."
"Good," said Invidia. "I am looking forward to it."
"What?" said Invidia. "You mean to tell me that after we pulled back Schaza, Khermann also failed us, Viclend?"
"I'm afraid that I must report that he also failed," said General Viclend, the newly appointed commander of Invidia's grandly named Outer Territorial Fleet. "I am pleased to report that Schaza is still on her way towards the Magellenic Clouds. She should be contacting Desslok soon...we are still tracking the Leader's whereabouts."
"I want him wiped out first of all," said Invidia. "Where is the mighty Star Force?"
"Still patrolling near Alpha Centauri," said Viclend. "If you care for me to take them..."
"It could be done," said Dyre.
"Not yet," said Invidia. "Viclend, you said that Petronia should be easy to retake, along with Rotella?"
"Yes, it should be easy," he said. "I will begin the softening-up of Petronia now if you wish. Any resistance in the Black Fox Nebula should be minimal. The region has still not recovered from Ekogaru's passing and the death of Skaldart."
"Yes. Have at Petronia," said Invidia. "Gorse, when can we reach the area?"
"Six months," he said. "It is an improvement, considering it took your father years to reach that area."
"What about Rotella?" said Viclend.
"About another six months. Then, if we are on schedule, and our softening-up attacks succeed, in another six months after that, we will be looking at retaking the inner systems of the Great Magellenic Cloud, and then, we will be ready to face what is left of the resistance at Earth a month after that."
"Won't they be alerted to our presence?" said Dyre.
"It doesn't matter," said Invidia. "Not when we have the Star Force destroyed."
"What sort of plan do you have in mind?" said Dyre.
"Either direct attack...or subversion," said Invidia.
"Subversion?"
"The Gamilon Empire will begin to fall once we kill Desslok," said Invidia. "The Star Force will be much the same, once we kill Wildstar. And I have a plan in mind for that."
"What is it?" asked Gorse.
"Leave that to me," said Invidia. "Viclend, you are dismissed."
"Yes, my Princess," said Viclend.
END.
To Be Continued in Book Two: "Treachery"
To Return to the Introduction to The New Comet, click here