ALTERNATE TALES OF THE STAR FORCE

STAR BLAZERS---A LAST BREATH BEFORE THE PLUNGE

Being the tenth part of THE RIKASHA INCIDENT--- BY: Frederick P. Kopetz

with some help from Gail Kopetz, (aka Fluffy Kitten) who made some suggestions to Nova's apparel in one scene…

ACT THREE: WE'VE GOT TO GET OUT OF THIS PLACE….


I. FLIGHT

Planet Rikasha

Jak'LAN Fortress: Rikala Center

24 Ets'ien: Warbringer's Year 3219

Wednesday, April 21, 2202

0935 Hours: Earth Space-time


"We just made it," said Aliscea Rosstowski.

"Where's Shiro, the little boy?" asked Nova.

"We lost him in this crowd," said Derek.

"Oh, no!" cried Nova. "I hope they don't…rip him apart!"

She was out of breath. So was everyone else.

She, Paul, the Wildstars, and Sandor were now surrounded by about a hundred Rikashan troops. They had just been running up stairwells and through security checkpoints upon the order of the new First Marshal of Rikasha, General Hemmertz. Hemmertz was in touch with Lord Anton Cha'rif by communicator.

Hemmertz had long dark hair and a thick beard, and seemed to be a decent sort.

"We've made it, but that was just the first hurdle," said Hemmertz. "The desert cruisers I asked for should be here in a moment. They will be needed."

"I can hear why," said Captain Wildstar.

All around them was a riot of noise. People were cheering, screaming, and shouting various things in Rikashan.

"What are they yelling?" asked Nova Wildstar.

"Some of them are friendly, glad that Zaden is overthrown. Others are glad that the government of the R'Khell priests is no more. Others are protesting against this change."

Sandor smiled as, off in the distance, he saw a mob pulling down a statue of Ekogaru. That same mob was attacked by another mob…some of whom had only sticks and rocks…but others were in red armor, with weapons.

Then, some of the troopers in red attacked them.

Aliscea was grabbed by her dress and pulled into a mob of people with sticks. She was struck on the head and shoulders and jostled around a few times before she strained her mind a great deal, using her power to set some of the mob on fire. Paul temporarily fell down as rocks were thrown at him, but he came up shooting. At the same time, another mob came to her defense, attacking the first mob.

"Get back!" yelled Sandor. He and Derek jumped up onto a pedestal; Captain Wildstar stopped to pull Nova up by her hand as Sandor began firing at the unarmed urban maniacs. Then, some of them unleashed dogs. Or things that sounded like dogs. Nova screamed as a dog-like creature with two heads ran towards her.

Hanging by Derek's hand, she fired at it, but one of her sandals slipped on the cobblestoned street and her right foot slipped out of the backless shoe, followed by her left. The shoes vanished a moment later as some members of the mob picked them up. Nova screamed for a moment as some Rikashan beat her about the head with her own shoe before she elbowed the raving turban-clad man away. Then, the dog-like creature got the hem of her dress and pulled her down while the other head growled and slavered. There was a tearing noise; some of her dress was coming off.

"Nova!" screamed Derek.

"Derek, give me a hand!"

Nova dropped her weapon. Derek grabbed both of her hands and pulled. Nova jumped up onto the pedestal, literally getting a toehold with her bare feet on the edge of the stone pedestal. In the meantime, while kicking a R'Khell priest in the mouth, Sandor jumped down and retrieved Nova's blaster, firing it at the group of priests and their followers as other men appeared, beating the priests with sticks and helping the troops protect the beleaguered Terrans. In the meantime, Nova jumped towards the other side of the pedestal and followed Derek and Sandor to safety, running as best as she could barefoot on the hot cobblestones. But, the creature got her scent and was in hot pursuit. Luckily, Derek helped her by firing at it. Sandor then gave Nova her blaster. She then pumped a second blaster shot into the thing, which fell whimpering to the ground.

"Nova…are you all right?" asked Derek as Sandor looked on with concern.

"Just scratched up…" she said. "I'm fine..."

Then, a cloud of dust came up. More R'Khell priests in red robes and red armor appeared, surrounding the hatchway of the personnel carrier they were climbing into.

A moment later, Captain Wildstar and Nova were also surrounded.

"Wildstar! Nova!" yelled Sandor in utter shock as something like a concussion blast went off nearby.

It was very bright. For a moment, he was blinded.

God, I've lost them, he thought. They're…in that…crowd….

"Get in!" yelled Hemmertz.

"I can't abandon my commanding officer!" yelled Sandor. "Or his wife!"

"We have to go!" yelled Hemmertz. "Get in!"

"Sandor," he then heard Rosstowski saying. "Wildstar's gonna be all right!"

"What about Nova?"

"Her too," said Aliscea. "Now, let's move on…"

Giving up, Sandor allowed himself to be pushed into the carrier's bay. All he could see was dim blue light.

I've lost them, he thought. I've lost Wildstar and Nova. Alex, forgive me. Once again, someone's died because of my mistakes!


The cruiser began to move. Sandor shook his head, trying to shake the tears out of his eyes.

A door opened inside the huge Rikashan desert cruiser…a landgoing hovertank the size of a Gamilon destroyer.

The door opened, and Sandor's eyes opened in surprise.

"Wildstar? Nova?"

Derek came in, in a somewhat tattered uniform, carrying Nova in his arms as tears ran down his cheeks. Nova lay there in her tattered rags, looking very stunned, helpless, and vulnerable. For a moment, Sandor thought she was dead, until he saw a tear running down her cheek as her nose twitched. She raised her head and slowly looked at Aliscea and Sandor. "Derek…uh…protected me. He helped me beat them. As you can see…I kind of l got my things torn up."

Sandor looked aghast, trying to look away. She was barely decent. However, he noticed that Nova had certainly not lost her ability to blush. "Wildstar, do you have anything to wrap her in?"

"Yes…I was just going to cover her with my shirt," said Derek. He clothed her in the shirt, and then said, "Nova, I'll try to find you some pants..."

"Okay."

"You had better not put anything more on her," said Hemmertz.

"Why not?" demanded Derek.

"I'm sorry," he said. "But there are reasons. Such as survival. They were using gas out there, and I had to order this ship sealed. Unfortunately, the air conditioning in this desert cruiser isn't working well. We'll try to ventilate with the regular air ducts as we get out of the city, past the R'Khells' poison gas, but given the desert heat, your wife's state of undress may help her avoid heat prostration. I can see she's beginning to suffer a bit now. Give her water, and keep her in as little as possible until we can adjust the temperature in this cruiser…if we can."

"Nova…" said Derek. "I…"

"Derek, what he's saying makes sense," said Nova in a calm voice. "Funny, I'm starting to feel strangely...relaxed?" Then, she laughed.

"Good you understand," said Hemmertz. "I will give you water, and would encourage the rest of you to loosen or remove your clothing."

Aliscea nodded. Derek sat down, still sheltering Nova very protectively in his arms. "Where are we going, Marshal?" she asked.

Hemmertz replied, "We are heading for your ship in the Sherikhan Fortress. Com-scan reports that a R'Khell fleet is heading towards the city. Luckily, Lord Cha'rif has called up the Thirteenth Home Fleet to counteract the attack."

"Can we call Earth yet?" asked Captain Wildstar. He sighed, picking up the water skin. It's broiling in here already, he thought. I hope we don't die in this thing. But, I guess we'll be okay, he added to himself, as he thought, Now, why am I so unconcerned?

He undid the cork from the water skin, took a few sips, and then gave the water to Nova

Paul Rosstowski climbed in a second later. "Aliscea! You okay?"

"Yes. Open your shirt, there's no air conditioning in this thing."

"Hey..uhokay," said Paul as Aliscea quickly stripped him of his Star Force shirt and undershirt.

Sandor came back in, closing the hatch hard over the thrum of the desert cruiser. His eyes suddenly went wide. "Uh…Wildstar…this looks…interesting... Poor Nova! he thought as he saw her sitting there in Wildstar's semi-open shirt and rags and tatters.

"Open your shirt, Steve," said Nova. "There's no air conditioning in here…that's one reason I'm like this."

"Uh…err….what's the other reason?"

"Fido back there decided to rip my dress to pieces, Sandor. Nova looked down at herself. "Uh…unless there's a boutique around, Sandor, I'm just gonna have to go in rags for a while."

"I see. Uhh…"

"Go ahead, you can look…" said Nova with a giggle. That's not like me, she thought. What will be doing next? Telling him about that one art class I was in back in college?

"Nova, who's looking?" smiled Sandor, who was trying very hard to keep good eye contact with Nova.

Shiro, the Earth boy, climbed in next, pushed up by two Rikashan soldiers. He ended up body-slamming into Derek's lap.

"Uh…Nova…"

"Oh, we've got a chaperone," said Nova. "Hi, Shiro," she said, mussing his hair up.

"Would you adopt me?"

"You need a bath," said Nova as she sidestepped the question, while thinking, I wish we could….. She smiled at the wiggling little boy in her lap as his cloak fell off. "Your knees are filthy!"

Hemmertz listened to his headset for a minute. "Cha'rif tells me he has just tried to send a counter-message to refute the one that Zaden sent a few hours ago. Unfortunately, the planet and the Net are being jammed by the R'Khells. Let's bring up our speed!"

The carrier advanced with a roar…moving at a quick speed on anti-gravs.

"We should be back at the Sherikhan Palace before sunset…I've let them know you'll be there so you can wash up and dress before you board your ship," said Hemmertz. "I will leave you now. The soldiers will give you food rations. Have a nice trip."

A minute later, the hatch closed, and Derek Wildstar realized he was stuck in a hot, closed vehicle….with his wife and an eight year-old boy competing for space against him. The carrier ground on. Eventually, over the grinding of the ship, the young couple went to sleep in each other's arms, with Shiro holding onto Derek's arm.

How cute, thought Sandor as he smiled at the Captain, Nova, and their little "friend." Now, he thought, why am I so unconcerned? This is weird...


The drive went on. Aliscea kissed Paul and covered him with a light scrap of cloth…he lay asleep in the steamy tank.

"So tell me about yourself," said Aliscea as she smiled at Sandor. "You know, with your shirt off I can see the difference in skin tone between your partially tanned chest and your arms, so I can see you're a cyborg. I think. Am I right?"

"I am," said Sandor, who was now clad in only his boxer shorts. "But I'm nothing like those Technomugar. He tapped at his right arm. "It's mechanical, and it ends around here," he said, tapping at his shoulder.

"How'd you get like that?"

"See these old scars? It was an accident in my childhood," he said. "I was on a jet coaster at an amusement park. I drove too fast, and I crashed. The crash disfigured me, and it killed my big sister, who was beside me in the car."

"It sounds horrible. Both arms…are like that?"

"Yes," said Steve. "Both legs, too. The joining is right around my crotch."

"Uh…can you have…children?"

Steve smiled ruefully and shook his head. "No. But they were able to put enough back together so I can function as a man with a woman. I haven't been with many women, unlike my old Academy friend and roommate, Alex."

"His brother?" asked Aliscea, pointing towards Derek.

"Yes," said Steve. "I was always the studious, serious type; Alex was the jock and playboy. But we both loved a beer and a good conversation together. Alex was a great friend. He even tried to set me up with a few girls."

"Did it work out?"

"Once it did," sighed Steve. "Then, she got the radiation sickness. You can probably guess the rest. I still lay a flower on her grave when I can."

"Do you miss her?"

"I do, but I have a wife already."

"You do?"

"My work," laughed Sandor. "My machines, plans, and computers are like a spouse to me. Although there are times I could wish for companionship," he said. He looked at Derek, Nova, and little Shiro sleeping cuddled up together and he smiled a rueful smile. "Funny, isn't it? My commanding officer's sleeping there, yet I think of him as a kid brother."

"Due to Alex?"

"Well, yes," said Steve. "When I saw Alex on Iscandar again in 2200, he made me swear to keep an eye on his little brother. I've been trying to do that ever since with both him…and Nova. But, they both have a habit of getting into trouble, the pair of them. They'd better stay together, those two. They need each other so much."

"Are you worried about them?"

"Not that they'll break up. What I'm afraid of is that one of them will get him or herself killed in action. Derek's so headstrong. And, as for Nova…she's the most devoted, stubborn, headstrong damn girl I've ever met."

"Oh. I thought I was," said Aliscea.

"She's been in danger a lot, too," said Sandor. He had found a tablet of paper and a stub of pencil and seemed to be sketching something. Probably some technical plan in his head, thought Aliscea. "She nearly died turning on the Cosmo-DNA machine when we reached Earth from Iscandar in 2200. I tried to stop her from sacrificing herself, but I couldn't. The other time was when she threw herself between Wildstar and Desslok on his flagship to protect Derek after he had passed out from a lack of blood. Then, after aiming the gun at Desslok, she cared for him. That made Desslok change his mind about finishing his vendetta against us for devastating Gamilon by killing Derek. I was so glad to see Nova and Wildstar get married. They belong together."

"They sure do. Look at them hugging that boy in their sleep. That's so cute."

"Yes, I think they'll make great parents when the time comes; and Derek will make a great Flag Officer, and Nova will be a good doctor. They'll be taking on a lot, doing that with a family…"

"Is she pregnant?"

Sandor laughed. "You should know, Aliscea. Not as far as I know."

Aliscea reached out with her power for a minute. Her form glowed softly in the dim light as she did so…Sandor thought the effect looked quite beautiful.

Aliscea tiptoed over, touching Nova's stomach as she slept. "No, she's not pregnant. But I can feel a pregnancy in her future in a few years. Same as for me," she said softly while touching her own abdomen.

"How much of the future have you seen, Aliscea?"

"Much. But it shifts all the time. Predicting the future is one messy business. Unless you're God, that is. And I'm not."

"Aliscea, do we defeat Ekogaru?" asked Paul as he sat up.

She just sat in silence for a minute. Then, she murmured, "Paul! Are you okay?"

"Sleepy. What about the war? What about our beating Ekogaru?"

"I can't tell," said Aliscea. "I feel Ekogaru changing. Mutating. I see him growing different. I see a lot of fighting, and I feel Yvona connected with this. But I don't see how. She's dead."

"Can you foresee the end of the war?" asked Paul.

Aliscea shook her head. "No, I can't."

Sandor worked with his pencil and paper, smiling as he made his drawing.

It was a drawing of Derek, Nova, and their little friend, cuddled up together, half-asleep.


Time passed. Nova and Derek fell asleep again in the broiling desert cruiser as Sandor sketched them.

When Nova woke up some time later, she found she was lying in a different position, and that the inside of the ship was much cooler. She also found her tattered dress was gone. Who changed my clothes in my sleep? Nova thought. She looked down at her apparel. She still wore Derek's Star Force shirt which was now fully closed, with brown suede sandals that felt somewhat like the ones she had lost in the city. She lifted the hem of the shirt she wore, and found that someone… Derek, I hope, she thought with a blush… had tied some sort of loincloth over her crotch and bottom to give her some more covering.

She looked at Derek. He again wore his uniform, save, of course, for his shirt. Even little Shiro had on a rough tunic on some kind.

"What's going on, Derek?" Nova asked while yawning.

"It's been a few hours. They fixed the climate system, and Hemmertz advised us to get dressed again."

"Where'd you find my shoes and underwear?"

"They were thanks to Hemmertz. He found some of his wife's things here on the tank."

"Good thing," murmured Nova.

Derek looked at Aliscea. She was pulling on Paul's shirt over her tattered dress..

"Sorry," she said. "Getting cold."

The cruiser suddenly stopped. Then, there were explosions. Nova yelped, cuddling against her husband.

"What's going on?" cried Captain Wildstar when Hemmertz ran in.

"We're under attack thanks to some R'Khell fighter-bombers," said Hemmertz. "And our gun decks are undermanned. Which one of you can operate a 40-mm anti-aircraft gun?"

Derek raised his hand, followed by Rosstowski. A moment later, Nova raised her hand.

"Good," said Hemmertz.

"Nova, you don't know how to fire an anti-aircraft pulse laser!" yelled Derek.

"Yes I do, Derek! I received some training in operating an anti-aircraft mount in my ROTC training, Officer Basic, and in flight school in December. I took a flight in a Tiger in the aft ball turret and took some target practice. Everyone had to. Remember?"

"But it's dangerous!"

"It'll be worse if we don't live through this!" she shot back.

"Okay," said Derek as the hovertank shook. "Join the party."

"I should come too," said Aliscea.

"Okay. But Shiro needs looking after," said Nova as she hastily tied on an orange leather belt to keep her shirt cinched at her stomach. She had found two pairs of combat gloves and she threw Derek a pair. "And what if we fall under psychic attack? Who'll defend us against that? Me?"

"Good point," said Aliscea. "See you later."


The hovertank's starboard gun deck was a semi-open air deck that looked a little like one of the Argo's pulse laser gun decks. The 40-mm mounts were reached via small ladders, and they were enclosed twin ball turrets like some of the Argo's small gunhouses.

Nova ran to a gun mount as fast as she could, followed by Derek, who had found something like sweatbands to put at his wrists over the gloves Nova had found.

"You think we'll make it through this?" asked Nova as she strapped herself into the seat. I wish the seat wasn't quite so hot, she thought to herself. Without much on, I'm really feeling this residual heat against my thighs.

"You didn't have to volunteer," huffed Derek.

"If we don’t make it, I want us to be together if we die," said Nova as she figured out how to turn everything on, curling her toes against the edges of the rotation pedals with suppressed excitement.

"Get ready," said Derek a moment later. He gazed through his sight. "Here they come! Remember to lead the enemy planes with your sight!"

"Right!"

A moment later, he and Nova were both firing like maniacs as the enemy planes in red came in over the burning orange desert sands outside. They had to stare hard; it was getting close to dusk on Rikasha, and the planes were a little hard to see against the dark sky, although the electronic target scope windows in their gunsights helped.

Good rate of fire, thought Derek as he smiled at the past buzz of the Rikashan AA gun.

"Got one!" cried Nova with a smile.

"Good. Don't get cocky!" smiled Derek.


Paul Rosstowski took his place in the turret after shaking his long sideburns into place. He considered the turret with his piercing dark brown eyes for a moment. Just like one on the Argo, he thought as he looked around the gunhouse while putting his booted feet on the electric rotation control pedals. Some Rikashan sat down beside him and gave him a thumbs-up.

Haven't done this in months…hope I haven't lost the touch after being up in Officers' Country, he thought.

Are you all right? Aliscea sent into his mind.

Fine, he sent back. Never been better. Here they come! Gotta go!

Paul began to fire a moment later, wincing at a near-miss on the side of the Rikashan Desert Cruiser they were in. He closed his eyes a moment later as a nearby dark grey cruiser in what seemed to be a squadron of these hovertanks blew up.

"I hope we don't die!" he yelled out.

His turretmate, a very tall Rikashan with no shirt, yelled back, "We will go to a warriors' heaven if we lose! And I will be happy. Those R'Khell scum killed my family in one of their Inquisitions. Bastards! V'ranni'chand! I hope they all die!"

"We've suffered too," yelled Paul.

"For our part, we are sorry," said the Rikashan. "You make better allies than the priests. You are honest and do not hesitate to do the dirty work!"

"Mustangs like me tend to act that way."

"You mean you are a horse?"

"Never mind, I'll explain later," said Paul. "I came up through the enlisted ranks of my military."

"FIRE!" yelled the Rikashan.

Both men fought on, glad that they were allies supporting each other in battle in this turret.


For Derek and Nova, the battle continued.

However, after bringing down another plane, Derek's eyes went wide as a dark blue fighter plane suddenly phased in behind one of the enemy ships in a flash of light.

"What?" said Derek.

"Derek, someone's using the Gamilon instant transport mechanism!"

"Gamilons!" said Derek as he stared at two fighter-bombers as they phased in. "But what are they doing here on Rikasha? Desslok's fleet is supposed to be halfway to the Great Magellenic Cloud!"

The answer came a moment later as the blue Gamilon "Stuka" fired upon the red R'Khell fighter-bomber and then waggled its wings at the hovertanks before flying off.

"Looks like they're helping out!" cried Nova.

"You're restating the obvious."

"Silly!"

"Well, Nova, help is help. Careful you don't hit them."

"Right!"

At that, she smiled and kept on firing, adjusting quickly to her unaccustomed job.


Before long, the battle was over. Out of ten Desert Cruisers, seven had survived. A while later, the squadron arrived back at the Sherikhan Palace in Cha'rif's home province.

"Well, Wildstar?" said Venture as they met a while later in Cha'rif's palace.

"What I'd love to know is what the Gamilons are doing here," said Derek as he wiped his brow. He was still clad in his uniform pants, boots, and undershirt. "Did you find out where their fleet came from?"

"No, we didn't. Are Sandor and the others all right?"

"They are."

"Where's Nova?"

"She went off into one of Baroness Mikala's rooms to freshen up. She took the little boy with her."

Derek knew that Nova was going to help care for Shiro for a bit; however, they had asked Anton and Mikala about the boy, and they had agreed to take him in and raise him as a member of their Royal House along with their own son. So, now, ironically, the one who was fourth in line now for the throne of the exotic Rikashan Empire was a boy from Earth!

A moment later, Sandor came in, clad in a fresh uniform.

"Where'd you get that?" asked Derek.

"Aliscea must've done some talking or something. I found fresh stuff for all of us upstairs in Mikala's apartments."

"I'd still love to know where those Gamilons came from. Venture, did you or Eager spot their fleet?"

"No, we didn't."

A Rikashan servant girl in a short white dress and sandals like the sort Nova had worn to Rikala came in. "Excuse me, Captain Wildstar. Your wife desires your presence upstairs. "

"Now?" said Derek. "But I'm planning strategy…"

"She has asked for you. Please follow me," said the girl as she grabbed Wildstar by the arm.


In the meantime, in space, Lieutenant Denise Carroway sat on the bridge of her new gunboat, the Dragon. She had turned in the battered Valkyrie for repairs at Brumus on April 18th, and was now skipper of this newer gunboat, which she had assumed command of on the 18th at Brumus…then warping back out to meet with the Bolivia again.

"So where are we going?" asked Carroway.

On the screen, Captain Peronada smiled. "We have been travelling for some time. Desslok would like us to aid some of our friends."

"Where?"

"You shall find out," said Peronada. "I will soon send the coordinates."

"Yessir!"


II. MORE UNEXPECTED MEETINGS

Planet Rikasha

The Sherikhan Fortress

24 Ets'ien: Warbringer's Year 3219

Wednesday, April 21, 2202

1327 Hours: Earth Space-time


Derek found Nova undressed again. However, there wasn't anything particularly passionate about it (except in a rather cute sense). She was sitting in an in-floor bathtub full of bubbles washing Shiro and Ar'ten Cha'rif as if she was their mother; only her shoulders showed above the water and bubbles.

"Well, you have a lot of talents," Derek grinned. "From operating a pulse laser to scrubbing a little boy's back?"

"You learn this stuff when you have a ton of younger cousins," said Nova. "You look like a mess. Join us."

"We have to get back to the ship soon."

"I know that. I had IQ-9 bring my uniform. It's over there along with one for you."

"IQ-9 saw you in the tub?"

"Well, you can't see much with me covered with bubbles," she laughed.

Mikala Cha'rif came in a moment later, followed by IQ-9.

"Nice job, Nova. Captain, I just got here. Lord Cha'rif is on his way. I understand you were in battle?"

"We were," said Derek. "Do you know where the Gamilons came from?"

"No. Anton might know. As for Shiro Matsuya in there, you know Anton and I have agreed he'll be raised with Ar'ten. She smiled at the two boys splashing each other and Nova in the tub. "They seem to get along well. Nova told me you were an orphan."

"Yeah," said Derek. "But no one took me in after my parents were killed. My only brother couldn't since he was in the Earth military then. I grew up in an orphanage until I entered the Academy."

"You poor boy," said Mikala softly.

"Don't feel too bad," said Nova as IQ-9 came in. "It's my job to take care of him now. Derek, get in here!"

"Nova…uh…I don't feel too comfortable about undressing in front of another woman."

"So? Mikala can turn her head," said Nova cheerfully as she washed her toes in the bubble bath, singing softly as she did so.

"Captain Wildstar, my olfactory sensors tell me you stink," said IQ-9.

"You be quiet! How can a robot tell that?"

"Captain Wildstar, my sensors can pick up over 25,000 forms of aromatics for analysis. Including human BO! Ha ha!"

"Nova, I've just been told I stink by a robot!"

"Only because you do," said Nova as she smiled at him and wrinkled her nose. "IQ-9, grab the Captain, undress him, and put him in here with me."

"IQ," said Derek. "Don't!"

"Captain, Nova has given me a direct order. I have to obey it," said IQ as he came towards Captain Wildstar.

"NO! No!" said Derek as IQ grabbed him. "Nova, help me! GET ME OUT OF THIS!" he said as the robot pulled his undershirt off by force. Then, he began to open his pants. "Nova, help me!"

"Now you know how I feel when he's up to no good," teased Nova as Ar'ten and Shiro squealed with laughter.

Nova looked, watching as IQ undressed him all the way.

"Don't hurt him, IQ."

"Nova, I am ten thousand times more careful than a human when it comes to undressing your husband."

"No you’re not!" huffed Nova. "I'm better at that than you are!"

"Demonstrate."

"Not in front of you!" Nova sniffed.

A moment later, Derek was tossed into the tub naked as the boys giggled their heads off.

"Derek I thought you told me you liked baths!" said Nova as she grabbed him and began to shampoo his unruly hair.

"In front of family, yes. In front of half the world…no!"

"Oh, boy!" cried Ar'ten. "Lady Nova, can I tickle him?"

Nova smiled and nodded. "Be my guest. He could use some lightening up!"

"Nova!"


About half an hour later (while noticing in an offhanded way that her fingers and toes were getting wrinkled) Nova sat in the still-warm tub telling the children a story. She had some help from Derek, who had finally resigned himself to having some good clean fun with his wife and their temporary brood.

"And, after we left the Beemirans behind," said Nova. "The Gamilons were back with a new way of fighting us."

"What?" said Ar'ten.

"Was this the Balanosaurus?" said Shiro.

"It was," said Derek.

"What's a Balanosaurus?" asked Ar'ten.

"It's a horrible monster made by the Gamilons," said Nova as she made a spooky face. The boys screamed at that.

"How big was it?" said Shiro.

"How many heads did it have?" said Ar'ten.

"It was as big as the Argo, and it had only one head," said Derek. "But it was hard to defeat."

"Why?"

"It was because it was made out of other creatures that came together," added Derek. "We finally had to kill it with the wave motion gun…"

"Awwww," said Shiro.

"I like monsters," said Ar'ten.

"But it was a threat to us," said Nova while she washed out one of her ears as she lay reclining in the tub.

"I wonder which Gamilon general came up with such a weird, stupid threat," said Derek.

"It was Volgarr," said a mellifluous voice from behind the door.

The door opened.

"Desslok?" said Derek.

Nova looked at the approaching Gamilon Leader and gasped.

"Desslok!" she said as she sat up. "What are you doing here?"

Desslok's eyebrows went up at Nova's exposure. Nova blushed suddenly and disappeared back as far as possible under the suds while making various inarticulate little noises. Talan, Astrena, and EDF Captain Jorge Peronada of the Bolivia followed him in. Lieutenant Denise Carroway, the skipper of the Dragon, accompanied them.

Denise grinned at her. "Nova, is he that good?"

"Leader Desslok, they are barbarians, holding staff meetings in the bath," snorted Talan.

"You forget my bath on Gamilon?" said Desslok. "I conducted business with Starsha over the phone in the bath."

"But did you bring the General Staff in with you?" said Talan.

"I apologize for catching you at a bad time, Wildstar…Nova. We shall meet in an hour aboard the Argo, if you don't mind."

"Uh…no…we don't," said Derek. He looked at Nova. She nodded, but she was blushing like crazy.

"We will meet you soon," said Desslok. "Gentlemen…?" he said, nodding to the party.

They left. As they left, Denise winked over her shoulder at Nova, who crossed her eyes in annoyance.

"Well?" said Derek. "That solves the mystery of where those Gamilons came from before."

"Where'd they come from?" asked Shiro.

"Nowhere," said Nova. "Now, we need to get out of here. Kids, get out of the water, dry off and get dressed."

"Do we have to?" whined Ar'ten.

Nova nodded. "Want me to tell your Dad?"

"Let's go!" said Shiro. The boys climbed out of the tub and began to dry off.

Derek looked at Nova as she wrapped herself in a towel and then picked up a fresh Star Force uniform. Derek climbed out of the tub, and Nova threw a fresh pair of boxers at him. "Now, are you getting dried off and dressed, or do I have to do it?"

"Should I really answer you?"

"Derek, not in front of the kids," said Nova with an annoyed look while stepping into one of the boots on the one-piece uniform she had been brought.

At that, both boys laughed.


III. DASH, HOMER, AND EAGER HAVE A LITTLE MEETING…

Planet Rikasha

Space Battleship Argo

Captain’s Quarters

Wednesday, April 21, 2202

1422 Hours: Earth Space-time


The Argo was still docked in an underground drydock below the Sherikhan Palace as Homer, Eager, and Dash stood before Captain Wildstar. The Skipper did not look very happy, and neither did Nova.

“Fisher told us everything,” said Captain Wildstar. “Now, if this was Rio de Janeiro and we were on liberty, I wouldn’t care much, so long as you were back aboard ship on time. Instead, we had to chase you down, make sure you got your inoculations…”

Yeah, with a dull needle, thought Dash as he rubbed his behind. Nova smiled a little at that sight. She was the one who had made sure that an older, autoclavable and reusable needle set was used for this trio when they finally got their shots.

“But, we’re on an alien planet in what was enemy territory last night,” said Derek. “And this is wartime. Really, guys, you could have waited until me made the Megalopolis to get Homer initiated into the mysteries of manhood.”

So-called,” said Nova.

“I heard scuttlebutt that you and Nova were found in a hot tub earlier,” said Eager. “What were you up to, sir?”

“Cleaning ourselves and two dirty children at the request of the Baroness,” said Nova. “If Derek and I had wanted to do that in a tub, we could have waited until…”

“What’s it like in a tub?” said Homer with an evil grin. “Bet it gets rid of your cooties.”

Nova crossed her eyes and made two tight fists behind her back. “Guys,” she hissed. “This is serious.”

“You know,” said Derek. “I could put you guys in the brig for this.”

“Okay,” said Dash.

“But I won’t. Unfortunately, I need you on the bridge. Thus, you lose two weeks’ worth of pay and allowances so you won’t be quite so rich when we get home,” said Captain Wildstar, “And, you will do some punitive PT on a morning run when we have time.”

“That ain’t so bad, sir,” said Eager.

“You will do this run of calisthenics and running in your underwear,” said Captain Wildstar.

“Okay, that isn’t half-bad,” said Dash. “You get sweaty doing PT.”

“When this takes place, Nova will be your drillmaster,” said Captain Wildstar.

“Will she be in her underwear, too?” said Eager.

Nova rolled up her eyes at that one. “God, something must have happened to their brains,” she said. “Just for that, we’ll do two sessions.”

“When?” said Dash.

“Whenever she feels like it,” said Captain Wildstar. “Dismissed. And don’t let me hear of you or anyone else on this vessel exploring the Lord Cha’rif’s harem again.”

“Lord Cha’rif?” said Homer as he gulped.

“Yes. If we had told him,” said Captain Wildstar, “I think the penalty is…being boiled alive in oil. Or being beheaded slowly. I don’t remember which one it is. And I’m not gonna cover for you jokers again. Got that?”

“YESSIR!” bellowed Eager, Dash, and Homer. They saluted very smartly, snapped to attention and waited.

“See you on duty later,” said Derek. “Dismissed.”

Homer, Eager and Dash got out of there in a hurry.

“So, when are you going to run them, Nova?”

Nova smiled. “When we have time, I’ll start them at…say, 0330. I hope you won’t miss me too much, koibito…”

“I’ll try not to,” said Derek as he gave Nova a nice, long kiss. “Now, we have things to do.”

“Like that meeting?” said Nova.

“Yes…”


Later on, aboard the Argo, a staff meeting was in progress.

"So, that's what happened?" asked Captain Wildstar as he sat at the table of the smaller staff briefing room in the Argo's bridge tower, back in his uniform and black Captain's jacket. He, Venture, Sandor, Dr. Sane, Conroy, Rosstowski, and Aliscea sat at the table with Desslok, Talan, Astrena, two Gamilon officers known as Fraken and Frausky, and Captains Peronada and Carroway. Of course, Aliscea wore her black clothing again, as usual. Nova was the only major officer absent, but she was on her way up with refreshments

"That is correct," said Desslok. "It appears that Aliscea spoke mentally to her mother Astrena, and she let me know what was happening about two of your days ago. We made our way here as rapidly as possible."

"We met them on their way towards our Galaxy," said Captain Peronada. "After notifying Defense Command, I received permission to follow the Gamilons, since we had information about Rikashan and Cometine Fleet dispositions we needed to share with you. It appears that the Cometines are also active again. Two more Cometine squadrons attacked us on our way to meet Desslok after the truce we made with the Cometines at Procyon. Desslok advised us to keep radio silence as we drew closer to Rikasha so we weren't spotted by the R'Khells."

"The R'Khells have allied with the Bolar Federation, which Rikasha has recently dominated," said Desslok. "As far as we can understand, about a third of the Rikashan Empire is dominated by the R'Khells. As we have just learned, they have declared independence, claiming that they are the true leaders of the Rikashan people. A civil war is beginning, and our side and Cha'rif's Rikashans are the enemies of the R'Khells and Bolars."

"That doesn't sound good," said Derek. "Now we might be at war on three fronts, against the Technomugar, R'Khell, and the Cometines."

"We made sure Earth knows about this. Poor Singleton," said Captain Denise Carroway of the Valkyrie. "I bet he’ll want to retire and play golf after this crisis is over."

"Did you tell them we still live?" asked Sandor.

"No," said Carroway. "Captain Peronada said that we couldn't let anyone know that you might be on your way back."

"Wise decision," said Sandor. Derek nodded at that.

"Did you meet resistance at the borders of the Rikashan Empire?" asked Venture.

"We did," said Talan. "It was less than we expected, though. As I have taught Desslok in the past, when you meet less resistance than expected at a given point in battle, anticipate a plot…or changes on the enemy side."

"As we met only R'Khells," said Desslok. "I thought it was necessary to take prisoners. We took a prisoner, and after due interrogation…"

"…Torture," added Astrena, who was now very heavily and visibly pregnant. The gestation rate of a Pellian was different (and faster) than that of a human.

"…Interrogation," repeated Desslok. "After we interrogated him with our most efficient methods, we discovered that there was a change of government in progress on Rikasha and that you were in the middle of it. We headed to Rikasha after finding no trace of the Technomugar Fortress where Aliscea had said it would be."

"Where is it?" asked Captain Wildstar.

"I do not know," said Desslok with deadly emphasis. "At any rate, at Astrena's request, I feel our mission is to help the Rikashans escort you out of their space. Then, we must part company for a short time."

"Why?"

"Captain Wildstar," began Desslok. However, they stopped when a tap came at the hatch from outside. "Permission to enter with the coffee?" asked Nova.

"Granted!" yelled Derek.

The door whirred open, and Nova came in with a cart filled with hot, steaming coffee, snacks, and assorted juices.

"Who wants some?" Nova said.

"This looks interesting," said Desslok.

"I'd pass," said Aliscea.

Nova loudly cleared her throat. "Who would like to try some?"

Desslok came up. "I believe I would."

"Uh…" said Nova. "I'm not so sure it's a good…"

Desslok ignored her. He poured some coffee and said, "I don't care for any embellishments, thank you. I take it straight."

Nova looked at Derek with an alarmed expression as Desslok sipped at the coffee.

"Interesting beverage," he said after a moment, smiling an ironic smile. "Talan, would you try some?"

Talan took some and drank it. He made a face, and gave Nova a very strange look, but he just sat down with his coffee. Fraken and Frausky also drank.

Fraken shrugged.

"I am now in command of the battle-carrier Farushar," he said. "We found it here in Rikashan space on a base after Cha'rif brought it into his territory. It is being refurbished and repainted by the Rikashans to help make up for their evil in capturing her, and some Gamilons held prisoner aboard the ship have been freed. The ship's commander, a General Kelzart, was a traitor who surrendered to the Rikashans. Under interrogation, he revealed details of a plot on Earth involving your General Weiner and a government official known as Piper Sandberg."

"Them?" hissed Derek. "It figures. What did they do?"

"They have been helping the Josiahite cult subvert your world," said Talan. "When you arrive home, you must let your government know about this."

"What did you do to Kelzart?" asked Derek.

"I tried him and I am about to pronounce the verdict," said Desslok. "If you would come aboard my ship for a short time after this meeting as witnesses after we leave Rikasha?"

Derek nodded.

"Now for the reason I am here," said Frausky as he stood. "I am General Frausky, head of the Gamilon Scientifikat, or Science Bureau, in your tongue. I have lent assistance to the Earth ships so that they could tune their engines and follow us here at the same warp rate and same warp span as our ships. May I do the same with the Argo?"

"Sandor, did you look at their calculations?"

"I did, Wildstar. They're sound."

"Good," said Derek. "General, how long will this take?"

"About three of your hours. The modifications include upgrades to your computer software and firmware."

"Very good," said Wildstar. "Sandor, you and Nova are to assist General Frausky in his work. You two know the computer system very well, and now that Royster isn't alive any longer, you would be the best people for the job."

"Yessir," they said as both of them stood and saluted.

"Venture, you and Yamazaki are to get the ship ready for takeoff. Conroy, stand by to launch the Black Tigers at a moment's notice. I think we'll need fighter cover until we get away from Rikasha."

"Yessir," said Conroy.

"Doctor Sane, prepare for casualties," said Wildstar. "Leader Desslok, you have received a copy of the technical information that Cha'rif and the dissident Technomugars gave us about the Technomugar Fortress and Rikashan attack plans?"

"Yes, I have. My strategists are now analyzing it."

"Then I shall consider this meting adjourned," said Wildstar. "Desslok, we will meet again once we leave the Rikashan Empire."

"Of course."

At that, Derek nodded, and the Terrans saluted and began to leave.


IV. AN ESCAPE

Planet Rikasha

Space Battleship Argo

Wednesday, April 21, 2202

1645 Hours: Earth Space-time


Some hours later, after Captain Wildstar had doffed his peacoat, he found Nova working hard in the main computer room with Sandor and Frausky.

"We've got a problem," said Nova as she bent over a terminal in a corner of the large computer room.

"What is it?"

"Steve would tell you, but he would take a book to explain it. I'll do it in a paragraph."

"Shoot."

"The subroutine that links to the engine has been damaged in flight. We’ve had to fix that, first, then begin tweaking it so that the whole computer will work better. We'll be getting home on a wing and a prayer, Derek. That is…if we don't fly into the Fourth Dimension and really lose the ship…"

"Oh, crap…"

Sandor came up with Frausky. "Nova just told you, huh?"

Derek nodded. "Sandor, can we get this to work?"

"It'll be hard, but I can guarantee only about an 88% chance this'll work as planned," said Sandor. "The Argo's engines are held together with jury-rigged arrangements. She'll need dockyard time when we get home."

Frausky shook his head in awe. "How did you hold this ship together? It's a wonder she's…running."

"It's our spirit," said Wildstar. "I can't define it better than that."

"It's almost supernatural, somehow," mused Frausky. "Anyway, we shall do our best."

"Thanks. Good luck, guys…and gal," laughed Derek.

Nova just smiled at Derek. "I'm working hard because I want to get home to our beach, Derek. I miss home."

"I know. So do I. Good luck, everyone."


The Tokyo Megalopolis

1720 Hours

As the Star Force worked hard to get home, the people of Earth still believed that the Argo was lost.

Jordy Venture hadn't gone to school that day because of the bad news that had hit the airwaves early that morning. His parents tried to spare him the footage of the Argo's "destruction", but he hadn't been able to escape the fact that his big brother was dead. When Samuel Josiah had showed up at the house around 0600 that morning, it was soon clear what had happened.

Now, a depressed Jordy was in a park near his parents' apartment building, kicking a soccer ball around in a desultory fashion.

Mark and I used to love doing this, he thought. Now, it’s just me. But I don't care what my parents say…I want to join the Earth Defense Forces…so I can avenge my big brother! I'm going to, even if I have to run away from home to do it!

Tears ran down his face as he kicked an imaginary goal between two trees. "There we go," he said out loud. "That's goal!"

Then, three kids he didn't like showed up. Namely…Dorset, Moriyama, and Rowe. These three boys had been bugging and bullying him for years.

"Hey, Venture!" yelled Dorset.

"I don't wanna talk to you," said Jordy.

"We know why you didn't go to school today. We saw it on the news," said Moriyama.

"Yeah," said Rowe. "And we're really sorry!"

"Really?" said Jordy.

"Yeah! We're sorry that you weren't on that old hunk of junk with your big brother," said Dorset as the other boys snickered.

"What was your big brother doing when he died?" Moriyama yelled. "Getting kinky with Wildstar?"

As Jordy's face contorted with rage, the three boys began to chant, "Your big brother is a crispy critter! Your big brother is a crispy critter! He's all burned up! And the Argo's never coming home again!"

Then, they started throwing rocks at Jordy, after kicking away his soccer ball and laughing amongst themselves.

Jordy ran home under a hail of stones, some of which hit him in the back.

You rotten guys! thought Jordy through his tears. Just wait until I get you in a fair fight! Just wait!


In the Argo's computer room, Sandor had summoned the Captain and Yamazaki down to have a look at the readings.

"We're finally done," he said as the Captain, Nova, Yamazaki, and Eager stared at a display.

"Those figures look right," said Yamazaki.

"I think this'll work," said Wildstar. "Yamazaki, where's Dash?"

"Still checking over the main turrets like you ordered," said Yamazaki.

"If we're done, I believe I can leave now?" asked Frausky.

"Thank you for your help, General," said Captain Wildstar.

"Good luck," said Frausky as he left.

Derek went over to a panel and tapped a button. The intership mike came up. "Attention all hands…attention all hands. Our repairs are completed! All hands to battle stations! At 1800 hours, we are leaving Rikasha. Our destination…Earth! That will be all!"

Finally, it was 1800 hours.

When Captain Wildstar arrived on the bridge, Rosstowski turned and said, "Captain, there's a problem with the Number One Turret. Dash has requested permission to work on it during takeoff. He says we might need it."

"Permission granted," said Wildstar. Derek then sat down in the Combat Group Leader's station next to Venture.

"Looks like this is it," said Mark.

"Yeah, sure looks like it…barring any accidents, that is. Or battles."

"Captain," said Homer. "I've just received a report from the Gamilons. The Farushar will be at our port side escorting us, and the Bolivia will be at our starboard side."

"Great," said Wildstar.

A voice came on the intership speakers. "Wildstar, this is Conroy. We're ready to launch as soon as we make the atmosphere to provide fighter cover for the ship."

"Acknowledged," said Derek.

"Captain, there's a message from Lord Cha'rif," said Homer a minute later as Yamazaki turned on the auxiliary engines. The Rikashan drydock was now beginning to flood for their departure.

"Read it," said Wildstar.

Our best wishes to you and Earth. I will continue to do what I can to stop the R'Khell insurrection. It is my hope that when we meet again, we will be at peace. Yours, Lord Anton Cha'rif, Sublime Lord of Rikasha.

"Send our thanks, Homer."

"Port and starboard boosters are balancing well. Auxiliary engines at full power," said Yamazaki.

"Wildstar, the dock is full," said Sandor.

Derek nodded. "Venture, take us out…slow speed ahead."

"Auxiliary engines, slow speed," repeated Venture.

The Argo began to move majestically out of the Rikashan dock, making headway towards a huge, stagnant lake somewhat like the Dead Sea on Earth.

I like Cha'rif, thought Derek. But, still, I'll be damn glad to leave this particular planet. We have work to do.

Finally, the ship moved out into the middle of the Sherikhan Dead Sea, followed by the Bolivia, the Farushar, and the Dragon, along with six smaller Gamilon destroyers. The plan was to meet the rest of Desslok's fleet in orbit.

A few minutes passed. "Main engines at 120%!" said Yamazaki.

"Argo, ascend," said Wildstar.

"Taking off!" said Venture.

The Argo blasted up out of the salt water a moment later, her wings spreading as she blasted off into the magnificent Rikashan sunset and the strong sunlight gleamed off her hull. For a moment, the city of Sherikhan was spread out below them like a set of toy buildings that looked oddly like an old Biblical city as the dying sunlight shone off the sandstone buildings. Then, the city disappeared below some scanty clouds as the Argo gained altitude.

"Launch Black Tigers!" ordered Wildstar.

"On our way!" responded Conroy from his cockpit. "All squadrons, take off!"

Soon, the Argo was surrounded by a heavy fighter screen, just as the shiny red Farushar, next to them, was surrounded by Gamilon fighters in blue and green that roared up off her flight deck under Fraken's command. A total of one hundred and twenty Earth and Gamilon fighters surrounded the small task force, flying weaving, complex patterns around it as the small task force left Rikasha's atmosphere, heading into space.

The flight into Rikasha's orbital space took half an hour. It was very tense. The crew was expecting an attack any minute as the reddish-orange surface of Rikasha spread itself out like a great arc in the Argo's bridge windows as the ship left the planet's atmosphere.

"Any contacts?" asked Wildstar.

"None…so far," said Conroy.

"Good. I guess no news is good news here," said Wildstar, who still felt very uneasy.

"The Gamilon Fleet is coming up on radar," said Nova. "Range, two thousand megameters. We'll be under their escort cover in two minutes."

"Is that warp course laid in?" asked Wildstar.

"It is," said Venture. "When we get far away enough from Rikasha, we're set to warp thirty thousand lightyears to an edge of Rikashan territorial space as close to the galactic center as we can get. Then, after a second warp of twenty thousand lightyears, we'll be emerging from warp not far from where Planet Garuman was before the Rikashans and Bolars destroyed it. That area is neutral space…Cha'rif said that his fleets have just driven the R'Khells out of the area."

"Then?" asked Eager.

"Then we’ll part company with Desslok's fleet, and we and Fraken's task group will warp to the last known location of the Technomugar Fortress so that Aliscea can try to find out where Ekogaru is. Then, if all goes well, we make one last warp…for home," said Wildstar.

"We're at our benchmark now," reported Nova.

"Black Tigers, return to the ship," said Derek.

The Tigers began to roar back towards the Argo, coming back in quickly in a very organized formation as plane after plane landed after a short patrol flight.

We didn't get a single thing, thought Hardy as he landed. Where's the enemy?

No action… thought Bryan Hartcliffe as he stopped his plane. Still, I guess no bloody news is good news on a day like today.

Another ten minutes passed.

From her post, Nova reported, "The Gamilon Fleet is now in its screening position, and we are now twenty thousand megameters away from Rikasha. We 're nearing our warp point."

"All hands, make preparations for space warp," said Captain Wildstar.

The rest of the Fleet assumed formation around the Gamilstadt, Desslok's blue flagship.

"All hands," said Wildstar a moment later. "You must assume position for a very long, stressful space warp. We are about to attempt a single jump of thirty thousand lightyears to clear Rikashan territorial space; the longest single warp that the Argo has ever made. There is a possibility, although slight, that there may be a malfunction, and we may never come out of warp. So, I advise you to make whatever personal preparations that you feel are needed as you lock in for warp."

Five more minutes passed. The crew was all strapped in for the warp. Everyone was ready.

"Two minutes to warp!" said Venture.

"No!" said Nova. "Radar contacts, off the starboard bow at five thousand megameters! It's a R'Khell fleet!"

"Damn," said Wildstar. "What a time to try to get us."

"We can't abort the warp countdown," said Venture. He brought up a view of the screen and watched several Gamilon destroyers turning their guns towards the enemy fleet. "We're just gonna have to depend upon our escorts and our speed."

"That's what I was afraid of," said Wildstar. He sat with his fingers clenching into a fist in anger and tension.

"One minute to warp," said Venture.

"Missiles approachin'!" yelled Eager. "Range, a thousand megameters and closing!"

"Thirty seconds to warp!" snapped Venture.

C'mon, thought Derek. Venture, I hope we can outrun those missiles!

"There's a second fleet approaching the R'Khells behind their fleet," cried Nova. "I can't get a clear visual on them, but…"

"Nova, we can't bother with enemy fleets right now," said Wildstar as Eager yelled "The missiles are at one hundred megameters now!"

Wildstar said, "We're about to warp!"

Not far away, the Gamilon destroyers let loose a barrage of pink laser fire which quickly stopped. Some of the missiles were destroyed, others were still coming.

"Ten seconds to warp!" said Venture. "Nine…eight.."

"Missiles at fifty thousand kilometers," said Eager. "A spread o' ten, headin' right for us."

"seven…six.."

"Derek, the second fleet is attacking the R'Khells. It's the Rikashans!" cried Nova.

"Good."

"five…four.." said Venture as he tensed his hand on the warp lever.

"Missiles at five thousand now!" yelled Eager.

"three…two…one," said Venture. "Zero!"

":WARP!" ordered Wildstar.

"Warp!" repeated Venture as the missiles sped in.

They didn't hit anything at all. The Argo, the other Earth ships, and the Gamilon fleet all disappeared in a wavering explosion of light and color as they oozed into hyperspace.


"DAMN!" yelled Lecha Voton aboard the lead R'Khell space battleship, a red vessel known as the P'Cherda. "We didn't get them! Fools!"

"You told me you had them," screamed Marda.

"I thought I did…even Gamilons are helpless when they're about to warp!"

"You said you would have wiped out that whole fleet with one blow!" yelled Marda.

"I would have! If only they would have delayed for a second…two seconds…"

"Ekogaru will not be happy!"

"Rikashan Grand Fleet approaching!" said their radar officer. "A message is coming in on visual from Lord Cha'rif."

"Put it up!"

Anton Cha'rif's face appeared on the P'Cherda's screen a moment later. "We are at peace with Earth, Voton. You people are rebels and renegades, traitors to my Lordship, and heretics, since I have declared the worship of Ekogaru illegal and have declared an end to the Warbringer's era on our calendar. Ekogaru's day of oppression has finally ended for us! Turn about and surrender at once, or I will be forced to wipe you out. I have already taken out some of your escorts!"

"Never," said Voton.

"Very well, I hope you are prepared to die," said Cha'rif. "All ships, transfer energy to DI'ATS cannons! You'll be dead in a few seconds unless you heave to now!"

"We'll tell Ekogaru you attacked me," said Marda. "That'll mean the worst sort of death possible for you, Cha'rif, after Earth is destroyed!"

"Prepare to fire!" yelled Cha'rif as his handgrips came up.

"Eat this!" laughed Voton. He made a hand signal, and just as Cha'rif's fleet fired, the R'Khells sped into warp themselves.

"We didn't get them, sire!" cried a crewman on Cha'rif's bridge.

"Don't you think I know that?" hissed Lord Cha'rif "Order a search for them throughout the Empire! I want those rebels dead!"


For Nova, the space warp was long, bizarre, and very nauseating. Her stomach roiled. Finally there was a very wild burst of colors, and a sense of utter dislocation as the familiar confines of the First Bridge began to fade back in and reappear over the characteristic humming.

"Right on target," said Venture as he looked at his instruments as soon as they solidified before his eyes. "We are now thirty thousand lightyears away from Rikasha."

"Thank God," muttered Derek, who felt as if he wanted to vomit.

"Lay back…rest," muttered Sandor, whose chest was heaving with effort. "That was the worst one we've ever been through! But, we made it. No damage to the ship or systems."

"And…the Gamilon Fleet is…right around us…right where they should be," said Nova. She stood up, but her legs were as wobbly as a newborn fawn's. She fell right to the deck.

"Nova!" cried Derek. He got up, and stumbled to her side, because he felt very wobbly, as well. If I move the wrong way, I might puke, he thought. This warp was worse than the worst aerobatic run I can think of…or the worst amusement park ride I've ever been on.

"I'll be fine," she said, sighing with effort as Derek helped her to her feet. "I think…"

Then, her stomach cramped. Luckily, she was able to crawl back to her post and get a barf bag. A moment later, she had need of it.

Derek turned his head as his wife coughed and heaved. Sandor and Eager came up a minute later, just as Nova was closing the bag and wiping her mouth.

"Are you okay?" said Sandor.

Nova nodded.

"Good. Ah think ah need that," said Eager.

"Get your own!" said Nova with an annoyed look as she discarded her bag in a waste chute nearby.

Homer rolled up his eyes as Eager found a bag, and was very noisy about what he had to do.

"We need a better way of doing this, Wildstar," said Sandor, just as Derek stumbled to his knees again.

"Yeah…you're telling me," he said as Nova helped him up.


"Don't feel bad, Nova," said Doctor Sane about twenty minutes later as he made Nova drink some "spring water" in his office. She had come down to assist with first aid for the warp sickness rampant on the ship, but after Sane had seen her white face, he had ordered her to just sit in his office. "The human body can only take so much, and that warp was really pushing it."

"But we set a new record," said Nova as she drank. The drink went to her head, but it did seem to be helping her stomach, oddly enough. "Now I can walk without the bulkheads waving around. Thanks. How many warp casualties?"

"Twenty-five," said Sane. "And don't feel so bad," chuckled Sane as he took back his bottle and poured himself a very stiff drink. "

"I can't help it!"

"Why?"

"Well, warping…uh…it has a certain effect upon your clothes as well as upon your physical body and psyche. You know what I mean," said Nova with a blush.

"I know! I came out of one warp with just my underwear on," said Sane brightly.

"Once, when we had to do a warp on the first mission to Iscandar, and I was asleep…"

"Yes?" said Sane.

Nova really blushed at that memory. "You remember that pink negligee I had?"

Sane nodded.

"I think it's still off in hyperspace somewhere around Balan. Along with a pair of panties. It was on our way home from Iscandar, and I was dozing off…and when we came out of that one, I found I was sleeping nude…and…"

"And what?"

"I won't tell you," said Nova. "But I told Derek all about it once. The aftereffects of that warp had him laughing his head off!"

"Attention, all hands," said Venture over the PA. "The Captain thanks you for your professionalism during the last warp. However, we must make preparations for a second one at 1930. At 1930, we are warping out of Rikashan space. Be ready for another warp. Repair and readjust any necessary systems. That will be all."

"Well," said Sane. "Looks like I'll need more of this stuff soon."

"Yeah," sighed Nova.


V. WINDING DOWN…

The Galactic Center

Space Battleship Argo

Wednesday, April 21, 2202

2000 Hours: Earth Space-time


Some time later, the Argo and the Gamilon Fleet were cruising near the asteroid belt that had once been Planet Garuman, the ancestral homeland of the Gamilon people.

The Farushar sat right near the Argo.

Aboard the red Gamilon battle-carrier, a meeting was about to commence on her main bridge.

Nova had survived the second space warp in fairly good shape. Now, she stood beside Derek, Sandor, and Aliscea on the Farushar's bridge as a Gamilon woman in an officer's uniform stood pointing her finger at a mustachioed Gamilon officer in handcuffs at the center of the bridge. Not far away stood Desslok, Talan, Fraken, and Frausky.

"This is what I, Commander Inge Gernan, declare about this man, the former General Hairm Kelzart," said the dark-haired, stunning Gamilon woman. "This man is a traitor to our cause, and a traitor to Leader Desslok. Like a traitor, he has fought actively against our allies, lent aid and comfort to our enemies, and has ordered his compatriots, the crew of this ship, to endure interrogation and torture! You note my eyepatch?" she asked, pointing at an eyepatch that had not been on her face the last time Desslok had seen her. "This resulted because Kelzart personally put my right eye out himself! And he did worse to me, did things I do not care to repeat with delicate alien women present!"

I can take it, and so can Nova, thought Aliscea angrily. But, I don't wish to make a scene here, not in front of my stepfather. Desslok as my stepfather. That is still a rather interesting thought…

"For this man, I plead for the maximum penalty," said Gernan. She gritted her teeth and then bowed to Desslok. "That will be all, my Leader."

Desslok nodded once as Gernan went to sit down. He slowly began to walk up towards Kelzart.

"General Kelzart," he said in a low, purring voice. "I have heard much about you. Unfortunately, little of it has been any good as of late. Do you have anything you wish to say in your defense?"

"Leader, grant clemency. A man with demonic powers, whom, I understand, you are now aiding forced me into it. Are not Cha'rif's crimes worse than mine?"

"Do not mention his name in that context," said Desslok. "He was doing what he saw to be his duty at the time. But a man can change when his eyes are opened to what he has truly done. My eyes were once opened myself to our course of action as a people. Cha'rif has changed, just as I have done. On the other hand, you had sworn an oath of loyalty to me. An oath you chose to disregard by allowing yourself to be captured, and then deciding to aid the enemy and torture your shipmates. For that sort of treason and failure, I dismiss you from my command, and proffer the ultimate penalty."

Desslok flipped back his cape and drew his blaster.

"No, no, NO," screamed Kelzart. "Have mercy!"

"Kelzart, you could at least die as a man. Don't botch your own death" said Desslok.

"NO!" said Kelzart as he knelt on the deck. "I'll leave the Fleet, I'll accept exile, I'll…"

Desslok's eyes narrowed, and then his gun went off.

"Leader!" gasped Kelzart as he knelt there with a smoking hole in his stomach. Then, he fell down, kicking, and convulsing as he died.

The Gamilon Leader had to administer a second shot in the back for the coup de grace. Finally, Kelzart lay still, and Desslok stood there staring impassively at him as smoke rose up from his weapon.

Not far away, Nova stood with her head buried in Derek's peacoat-clad chest in shock.

"It's all right," whispered Derek. "He had to do it."

"But why did I have to see it?" sobbed Nova.

"Being in my position is not easy,": said Desslok as he came up.

"How often do you do this?" cried Nova. "This is close to making me sick!"

"Not often, luckily. My ranks are not usually filled with traitors. I get no joy out of this vile but necessary duty. For what you had to see today, I apologize." Desslok bowed and then said, "Fraken, please see to it your bridge is cleaned. Don’t give that rabid animal any military honors."

"I won't," said Fraken as he saluted. He clapped his hands, and two Gamilon enlisted men in brown armor picked up Kelzart's corpse and carried it off the bridge.

"Now," said Desslok. "We will meet again, after I deal with the Cometines. Together, we will deal with them at Sirius to secure that base before the great wave hits your Earth."

"Yes," said Derek. "We’ll meet you again in…five days."

"Good luck, and best wishes," said Desslok as he turned with a snap of his cape and left.


Later, he, Talan, and Astrena sat dining on his flagship.

"Just as I taught you in the Academy," said Talan. "Traitors are like a disease. The sooner they are dealt with using strong medicine, the better it is for the body of a military force. There's one thing I don't understand."

"Yes?" asked Desslok.

"I would love to know why the Earth woman reacted that way to your shot. They execute people for treason in her military, and she was once ready to kill you. Does she lack bravery?"

"She does not," said Desslok. "You should be aware of that."

"She was nauseated," said Astrena. "Aliscea told me. And for good reason. Why did you have to do that publicly, Desslok?"

"Why do you criticize me?" he said in a low and dangerous voice. "A military force depends upon fidelity in its officers. That man committed treason, murder, rape, and torture for his own ends. That is what should sicken you…not the fact that I had to kill this bacillus."

"You would compare a human being to bacteria?" said Astrena.

"Was not your previous husband the same? Or even worse?" said Desslok.

"I had no control over that."

"What would you have wanted if Gralnacz had been caught after raping your daughter?"

Astrena sat in silence. "Death through torture."

"And you call me a barbarian," said Desslok softly. "I merely killed Kelzart. In fact, when he lay there in pain, I made sure he died quickly. He asked for mercy? I granted him that…with a quick death."

"So I see," said Astrena.


Space Battleship Argo

0015 Hours

Thursday, April 22, 2202


"One more warp," said Venture. "Then we're home."

"I've notified the Defense Command," said Homer. Not far away drifted the Bolivia and the Dragon.

The Star Force was now at Alpha Centauri. They had parted company with Desslok's fleet and then with Fraken after warping to 15,000 lightyears away from Earth.

They had glimpsed the Technomugar Fortress there, but the massive construction had warped away with Voton's fleet after firing a few diversionary shots.

"What did they say at Headquarters?" said Dash, who was back at his regular post.

"They're flabbergasted that we're still alive," said Homer. "But, they picked up signals from the Bolivia. They know it's us."

"How fast do you think Ekogaru is warping?" asked Sandor. Aliscea sat at Analysis beside Dash with her eyes closed.

"He can only warp two thousand lightyears at a time, now…I have read his warped mind." said Aliscea as she kicked out her long, bare legs for a minute. "We just beat him back home. But, we have only a week. We have to be ready to stop him then."

"Do you think we can do it, Derek?" asked Nova.

At his post, back at Command, Derek nodded. Then, he stood. "All hands, attention! We are about to make our last space warp! Make all preparations."

Then, he sat down, Some time passed. Then, he looked at Venture and said, "Mark, take us home."

"Aye, aye, sir. Ten seconds to warp….nine…eight, seven…six…"

I hope it works this time, thought Nova. Please God, don't let Ekogaru highjack us again! She sat and thought about the huge Technomugar Fortress, loaded with weapons, bristling with towers, surrounded with a fleet…

I hope we can stop that. Please, God let it work, she thought.

"…two…one…zero," said Venture.

Derek just nodded.

Venture snapped "WARP!" and pulled back the lever.

The Argo faded into hyperspace.

Reality swirled and swam before the eyes of the crew, and then, reasserted itself slowly as the stars formed, cleared, and coalesced.

Before the Argo was a beautiful blue planet.

Earth.

"We're home," said Derek. "Home."

"At long last," said Nova as tears brimmed in her eyes.

As the crew cheered and applauded, down in Defense Headquarters, Commanding General Singleton called for a visual image.

The Argo, as viewed from orbit over America and the Pacific Ocean, appeared on the big screen in Headquarters in Japan on Earth's nightside a moment later.

"It is them!" said Stone. "They're…they're back! They survived!"

Children of Avatar, I knew you'd do it, thought Singleton.

He stood and saluted. Then, he said, "General Stone, get our information officer up here now."

"Sir?"

"I think we need to reverse that other press release," said Singleton with a smile.

"Yes, sir, I think we do," sighed Stone.


To be Continued with Act Four: "Home Again, At Long Last…"


THERE ARE NOW 7 DAYS TO THE ARRIVAL OF EKOGARU IN EARTH'S SOLAR SYSTEM 

To return to the Introduction to the Rikasha Incident please click here