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Episode 93: An Outstretched Hand
"Wildstar, there's another ship out there," Feria pointed toward a sickly green hull. "I've never seen a ship like that before."
"Keep us out of sight, and hold radio silence," Derek instructed. He narrowed his eyes at the other ship. It peaked out from behind the stone cross. "Where's the Argo?"
Feria checked the sensors. "They've engaged the other ship. They're right behind the barrier."
"We have to get back," Derek stiffened in his seat. "Do you think you can get us to the Argo being seen?"
"Consider it done, Captain. We'll be quieter than a mouse, and if that doesn't work, we'll be faster than a rabbit on energy tabs." Feria smirked and muttered, "After all, Nova'd have my hide if I let you get yourself killed out here."
Derek shot her an irked look, but she ignored him. She selected every stealth setting the ship had before sending the Stork off in another direction, making an enormous loop around the stone, heading for the Argo's stern hangar entrance.
When the ship came back into their range, Feria checked the sensors. "There're fighters everywhere – some theirs, some ours." She marked the unfriendlies on the radar and called back to Homer, Alex, and Royster, "Hang on, guys. This might get bumpy."
The Stork careened into the dogfight, dodging incoming planes so fast Feria heard Royster holding back a dry-heave.
She jerked away from an incoming alien ship, scraping so close she could see the Stork's reflection in the pilot's cockpit hatch.
"Ahh!" Royster wailed from the backseat.
Feria was concentrating so hard she barely heard him.
When they were a little closer, she broadcasted her landing codes to the Argo. The hangar door swung open and Feria tucked the Stork in just ahead of a swarm of enemy planes.
The alien fighters swept by the open hangar so fast Feria felt like she'd been passed by a cargo truck on the highway. She shivered as the bay door creaked shut.
With a sigh, she popped open the cockpit and pushed herself out. She floated around the craft toward Derek. "They're a lot faster than us, Wildstar," she whispered to him.
"Yeah… I know." He gripped her shoulder. "I need your help with something."
"You want me to get out there with the rest of the Tigers?"
"No, nothing like that," Derek shook his head. "Once we get out of this, tell Nova what happened down there."
"I'm pretty sure she'd like to hear about it from you too," Feria offered.
"No," Derek shook his head and looked away. "I don't think I can do that."
"Don't think you can? Or don't think you should?" Feria folded her arms and raised an eyebrow at the acting captain.
Derek sighed, "A little of both, I guess."
"Hey! Let's get up to the bridge! We need to find out what's going on," Alex called from the hangar entrance.
"Coming," Derek waved to his brother.
"You should really tell him to give you some space," Feria nodded toward Alex as he disappeared from view. "He's been coming on way too strong since this mission started."
Wildstar's brow furrowed. He pushed off toward the door and Feria followed, floating along in the low-gravity. She looked back over her shoulder and saw Homer still trying to coax Royster out of the Stork.
"No! Leave me alone! I'm staying right here until this is over with! Then I'm going to my quarters for a week and no one's going to point a gun at me or shock me, or take away my food," Neville declared, still crunched up in the backseat of the plane.
Feria groaned. She propelled herself to the door frame and pushed off again, headed back to the survey craft. "I'll join you in a minute," she called to Wildstar.
Derek burst through the elevator door and went straight to the captain's station. "What's happening out there?" he asked Sandor.
"We've identified the capitol ship as Cometine." The XO brought up the specs for the ship. "It's a group the Iscandarians have encountered."
Derek read the data sheet on the alien craft and drew back in astonishment. "That thing's bigger than we are, and look at that prime weapon," he pointed at the firing gate carved out of the front of the ship like a gigantic crocodile's mouth. "Have they shown any signs of using it?"
"No," Sandor shook his head. "We've sustained several bad hits, but nothing we can't repair. The new shield is down, and Orion can't spare anyone to fix it, so we're in this without a safety net."
"We came all the way to Iscandar without a shield, we can get past these guys without one too," Derek minimized the spec sheet and surveyed the bridge. "Dash, recall the fighters. They're getting their tails whipped out there."
"Aye, Sir," Dash replied and sent out the order.
"Sandor, how fast can that capitol ship move?" Derek brought up some of the sensor data from the past hour.
"Here," Sandor pointed to the display. "Their size holds them back just enough to give us an edge. They're quick, but not as fast as we are."
Derek narrowed his eyes at the screen. "Mark, get ready to set a course out of here."
"I still don't think we'll be able to leave," Alex commented from the other side of the bridge as Homer tapped out the fill-in comm officer and Feria stepped out of the elevator.
"It's not your call," Derek shot back.
Alex didn't say anything else.
Mark adjusted the ship's heading. Once all the Tigers were onboard, he sent the ship out into the fog, headed away from the stone cross and the alien ship.
"So they think they can just run away," Dagarm growled at the fleeing ship. "Send out the destroyers."
From the Megaluda's undercarriage, three smaller ships detached and streaked after the other vessel, leaving trails of disturbed mist in their wake.
"I'd like to see them outrun any of our ships." The barbarian captain spit into a crack in the floor. He hauled himself up and brandished his sword at the viewscreen. "You won't live to see open space again, interlopers!"
"The destroyers are gaining on them," the radar tech supplied. "They'll be within firing range in twenty seconds."
"Relay the order – lock onto that ship and fire immediately," Dagarm ground his teeth and glared out into the mist. "Something about this rouge world smells of fortune." He eyed his second-in-command, "Don't you agree?"
"Yes, Captain."
"Prepare Firestorm," Dagarm braced his sword tip against the deck plates and folded his hands over the hilt. "Once the trespassers are subdued, we will be rid of them."
"Three ships – destroyers according to the Iscandari database – they're closing fast!" Nova's hands flew over the radar controls. She brought up the specs on the destroyers, and their projected trajectory and ETA. She ported them over to the captain's station, Sandor's terminal, Eager's screen, and the helm.
"Mark, get us out of here," Wildstar directed.
Mark leaned hard into the controls.
Nova stared at the radar, praying the distance between them and the Cometine ships would increase. "We aren't gaining any ground," she lamented.
Derek stepped down from the captain's station and headed for his old post next to Mark, "Dash, get the Wave Gun ready. We're going to have to stand and fight."
Nova swallowed hard. She remembered the last time they'd fired the Wave Motion Gun. Every day she hoped they'd never have to use it again.
"Charging," Dash called from his console.
Nova took a deep breath and kept her eyes on her station.
"Baren…?" Berger opened his eyes. Lambea's bridge greeted him.
"Berger?" The old man stared at his captain wide-eyed, his white mustache bristling.
The whole bridge crew stared at Fomto and Baren.
"We're back!" Melhi trumpeted as he burst through the door and out onto the bridge. He skidded to a halt next to the captain's chair. "C – captain…?"
"It's alright, Melhi," Fomto reassured the boy. "Get to your station."
The young man nodded sheepishly and tiptoed back to his post.
"Where are the Eratites?" Berger whispered to Baren.
"I don't – "
"Four ships approaching rapidly from port," the radar operator blurted. "Three of them are – Cometine! The other one is… Eratite?"
"Get out of the way," Berger instructed. Outside, a grey and red hull materialized. "Get out of the way now!"
Lambea jerked to starboard. Berger gripped his chair and fought against the ship's pull. Baren clung to a nearby railing. His knees buckled, but he managed to hold himself up off the floor.
The Eratite ship zoomed past, the Cometines hot on their heels.
"Follow them!" Berger pointed toward the departing entourage.
The Lambea shot after the other ships.
"Should we target the Cometines first? Or the Eratite ship?" asked the gunnery chief.
Berger drew back at the question, "Why would we target the Eratites?"
"They're the enemy, aren't they?" the crewman asked.
"Of course not," Berger hissed. "Aim all guns at the nearest Cometine ship. Fire as soon as we're in range."
"Yes… sir," the gunnery chief furrowed his brow but didn't question the order.
"One of the destroyers just disappeared off the radar," Nova reported, "And there's another ship closing in – it's Gamilon!"
Derek's head shot up, "It's shooting down the other ships?"
"Another destroyer's gone – Yes, it looks like that's exactly what they're doing." Nova noticed Derek's eyes brighten. He dashed over to the comm station and whispered something to Homer before returning to his post.
"The last destroyer's down, but the Gamilon ship is still gaining on us." Nova watched the other ship on the radar as it drew closer.
"Hail them," Derek ordered.
Nova sat back in her chair, baffled.
A moment later, Derek left his station to stand in the center of the bridge, squarely in line with the large viewscreen mounted above the front viewport row.
A blue-skinned stranger stared back at them.
"Captain." Derek gave the Gamilon a fist-to-heart salute.
The stranger replied, but no one could understand what he was saying.
"Sorry, Wildstar." Homer's fingers flew over his keyboard and an instant later, subtitles appeared on the screen. "They'll get a translation of what you say."
Derek gave Homer a nod and continued to the stranger, "We thank you for your help."
"It was nothing," the Gamilon replied.
Nova scanned the bridge, noting the looks of shock on everyone's faces – except Alex and… Feria? Her eyes shot to her friend, seated in a spare chair near Dash. The pilot's face was radiant – almost joyful.
"There's a capitol ship lurking near the planet," Derek offered.
The Gamilon's face twisted into an angry scowl. "They'll see us flayed and torched before they let us go. They mustn't harm anyone down on the planet. If they discover –" the captain stood. "They can never find out about Shambleau."
Nova's eyes bulged at the name. "Shambleau…?" she whispered.
Derek looked at her over his shoulder, but didn't reply.
"Lorelai must know they're here by now," Derek replied.
"They may not have weapons. A place so ancient as this one isn't likely to boast much more than a simple canon, much less something that could defeat a Cometine capitol ship," the Gamilon sat back down and leaned forward. "Join us. If we can find Neredia – the real one – and her ship, I know she'll be willing to fight with us."
"You think she's close?"
"She was on my ship when we were taken. She must still be nearby."
"Captain, the Mirangal's hailing," smaller subtitles flickered across the screen as a crewman spoke in the background.
"Put her onscreen, and patch her in with the Eratite ship," the Gamilon instructed.
Nova's mouth dropped open when another feed – this one of a blue-skinned woman in captain's garb – appeared next to the stranger.
"Fomto, what is going on?" she asserted. "Who are these people?"
"They're friends, Neredia," the man replied. "I'll vouch for them personally. Right now we must defend that rouge planet."
"The one behind the Medarusa?" Neredia raised an eyebrow.
"Yes."
The Gamilon woman eyed Derek, then her gaze shifted to Nova and Feria, "Very well. I will fight alongside them, but only because I can see these sisters share the spirit of true valor." She addressed Derek, "My tactical officer will be in touch with you. We have… more experience handling such fights than you."
"Thank you," Derek saluted the woman before she cut the transmission.
Berger's face filled the viewscreen again. "My own tactical team will corroborate with you and the Mirangal. We must prevent the Cometine vessel from engaging Firestorm. If they get it online before we stop them… we will all be dead."
Nova brought up the specs on the Cometine ship again. She zoned in on the ship's prime weapon. She shuddered as she read it. Firestorm had enough power to blow a hole straight through a moon. She minimized the information and shut her eyes for a second.
"Send us whatever information you can," Derek said to the Gamilon captain. "We'll take any advantage we can get."
The Gamilon broke off the conversation with a nod. The viewscreen went dark.
"Shouldn't we be talking to Captain Avatar about this before we dive into something we don't know anything about?" Eager protested from tactical.
"Captain Avatar put me in charge of this ship, and I'm going to get us home, but this is much too important to ignore," Derek stared down the shorter man.
"Okay… okay…" Eager held up his hands and turned his attention back to his station.
Derek returned to the Captain's post. "Dash, keep the Wave Gun online. We may still need it."
"Firestorm is ready!"
"All three destroyers are gone," radar reported. "Hit by… Gamilon ships."
Dagarm cursed and ground his sword into the deck plate, "What are those parasites doing out here? Target them first."
Megaluda's bow swung toward the Gamilon carriers.
"Don't waste Firestorm on such filth," Dagarm snarled. "Use the main guns."
"Targeting the nearest Gamilon ship," gunnery responded.
Dagarm slammed a fist into one armrest, "Fire!"
"All crew, get to your stations," Derek's voice echoed through the ship-wide com. He clicked off the mic and said to the bridge crew, "I know this doesn't make a lot of sense to most of you. Just – trust me. This is important."
Nova pushed back in her chair, stretching out some of the tension in her back. There was a huge ship outside following them with ill intent, and they were teaming up with Gamilons to defeat it.
She sat still, remembering the brief time she spent on Gamilon in the presence of their ruler, and the conversation she'd witnessed between him and Starsha. Whenever she thought back to that brief exchange she felt another piece of herself sympathize with their would-be executioners.
Now that they stood side by side with them, her heart warmed.
She tuned the radar to better filter the thick mist outside. She did not want to mistake a cloud for something more sinister, especially if the Cometine ship launched their fighters again.
Nova watched as the two Gamilon ships drew up alongside the Argo. One ship was already close, but the other sailed in from the far side of the radar. "Missiles!" she exclaimed, "Headed straight for the second Gamilon ship – call sign Mirangal."
"Fire to intercept," Derek directed.
Dash punched in a command and Nova watched a dozen rounds bore through the mist, bearing down on the missiles.
"They're speeding up." Her heart pounded in her ears. "We're not going to hit them in time!"
Explosions blossomed outside. Red and orange flared in the mist like fire flickering through a curtain. "They're hit," Nova brought up the sensor logs from the other ship.
"Receiving hail," Homer put through the incoming com signal.
The Gamilon captain appeared above, "We'll assist Mirangal," the subtitles read. "Hit the Medarusa as hard as you can, but stay out of their sites. If they hit you, this mist will be your grave. We will be right behind you."
"Neredia," Berger opened a channel to the Mirangal, "how badly are you hit?"
"Coms – in – out. We're losing – structural in –" static cut into the line, "– grity. She's holding together, but – for – ong."
"Get everyone aboard Lambea," said Berger. "I'll take care of Mirangal."
"No – can't let you – that," Neredia replied.
"Get off that ship!"
Lambea pulled alongside the battered red vessel.
"Docking with Mirangal," said the helmsman.
"What's her remaining weapons load?" asked Berger.
"Full array of torpedoes; two laser canons still functional," came the reply.
"Baren, take the bridge," Berger got up and pointed to his chair. "When Neredia gets here, don't let her follow me."
The old man caught Berger's arm, "Don't do it."
"I have to," Fomto replied. "Even damaged, she can still be useful."
"Neredia will kill you," Baren whispered.
"I know," Berger smirked. "Just don't let her get herself into trouble." Berger took off down the corridor, avoiding the route he knew Neredia would take to the bridge. He made it to the docking hatch just as the last of Mirangal's crew trickled off.
He darted back behind the nearest turn in the corridor. He peeked out and caught a glimpse of Neredia, a wounded crewman limping by her side. She looked his direction and for an instant, he thought she'd seen him, but she kept walking.
When the hall was silent, he crept out from his hiding place and boarded the damaged ship. Moments later, Lambea disengaged from the crippled Mirangal.
Almost as soon as he reached the bridge, the com light flashed. Berger sat down in the captain's chair and rerouted all system controls, then he answered the hail.
Neredia's stern face rippled into view on the main screen. Static cut through the channel every couple of seconds. "Fomto! What are – doing?"
"Trust me, Neredia," he bowed his head and closed the channel. "Gatlantis…"he hissed at the image on the radar. The gigantic Cometine ship stared back at him. The Eratites were already closing in on it, and Berger hoped they would get in a good hit before they had to retreat. "Fighting with the devil is never a short affair," he muttered. "I learned that from you, Dommel. Wherever you are, I wish you peace," Berger folded his hands and let a moment of silence pass for his commanding officer.
His soul lit with purpose, Berger sealed off every part of the ship except the bridge. With all six torpedo bays armed, he brought up the helm controls and sent Mirangal hurtling toward the capitol ship.
Episode 94: Anchors Aweigh
Lorelai's heart caught in her throat. "We must aid them," she whispered.
"Is that wise, Lady?" asked the old man next to her. "Gatlantis has long wished to know our whereabouts. This is a safe place. If we give up our refuge now, we will be running for the rest of our lives."
"Perhaps," Lorelai admitted, "But, think, Jorah, Shambleau was built to traverse the stars, not to rot in a cloaking field."
"The fathers would want us to stay safe," Jorah countered.
Lorelai grasped the old man's shoulder, "Yes, but they wanted something else too." She brought up images of the three ships outside, drawing up alongside each other. "They wanted the factions united; they wanted us to go back home."
"But is that safe right now?" Jorah protested. "We know nothing about the state of things elsewhere in the universe. There could be others just as blood-thirsty as Gatlantis. What will stop them from coming after us while we return to the fathers' homeland? We mustn't leave this place."
"Jorah –" Lorelai's eyes flashed, "- we will aid them. You heard the message! You know the truth!"
"I know how you've interpreted the message," Jorah turned away. "Some of us don't hold to the same view as you. We should put it to a vote." He stepped out of the tiny tower sanctuary and onto a catwalk, lining the communal area ceiling. "People of Shambleau!" he lifted his arms and looked down on the multitude below. "How many among you would break our silence to save these strangers?" all around the area he displayed an image of the Earthers and the Gamilons. "Or would you rather stay safely hidden – assure a future for us and our children?"
"These are not strangers!" Lorelai burst through the door. "They are our brothers and sisters!" she triggered the holo-displays. More images flashed to life – these of the man and woman Lorelai stood hand-in-hand with inside the whirlwind. "They are a part of us!"
Jorah growled and stepped back.
Lorelai felt the heavy presence of the nearby Gatlantis ship, "We must lend them our aid."
The crowd below murmured.
Lorelai held her breath.
"If we can help them, we should," a small voice declared.
Lorelai peered down into the crowd, trying to spot the speaker.
"Come on." Another voice joined the first.
"We should do it," a third echoed.
"Children…" Lorelai whispered. She braced against the railing and leaned out, "Even your own sons and daughters can see it! Let us leave this shadow and finally step foot into Adonai's light again!"
Derek stared out into the mist. He couldn't see the capitol ship yet. The fog was still too thick. He blinked away fatigue. "Dash, get ready to fire the main guns on my mark."
"We're in firing range," Nova announced.
"Fire!"
Dash gave the order. From every turret streaked a blaze of light. It disappeared into the mist.
"We hit it, Wildstar, but it didn't pack much of a punch," Eager reported.
"Get our speed up." Derek shifted in his chair as the ship accelerated. "Go past it and attack from the rear."
Mark sent them barreling toward the Medarusa. The capitol ship stood its ground and stared them down. They swung around the Cometine vessel.
"Aim for their weapons," Derek instructed.
Dash relayed the order.
"Nothing," Eager pounded his fist into his armrest. "Why can't we just blow a hole in this thing?"
"It's too well shielded," said Sandor.
"Can you find out where they're getting their power for the shield?" Derek asked the XO.
"I think so, but I need some time."
"How much time?"
Sandor stared at the deck plates and rubbed his chin, "Maybe five minutes."
"You have three," Derek replied. "Dash, Tell gunnery we're in for some crazy maneuvers." He clicked on the ship-wide mic, "Attention, all off-duty personnel: find the nearest safe area and strap in. We may be in for a bumpy ride." He glanced up toward the captain's cabin. "But let's keep those bumps to a minimum."
Adam switched on his chair's magnetic seal and pulled out the harness built into the back of the seat. "You gonna be okay?" he asked his father.
The captain snapped his own harness in place over his chest. "I haven't come this far to die from turbulence." He winced as one of the straps touched his wound.
"Here," Adam tucked part of the blanket between the wound and the strap.
Avatar gripped his son's hand, "When you get back to Earth…"
"'We,' Dad. We're getting back to Earth."
The captain smiled, "Alright, when we get back to Earth, you make sure you make time for the people who matter to you."
"I will." Adam squeezed his father's hand and let go, leaning back in his chair. "What kind of ship is that out there?"
"I don't know," the captain strained to see out the viewport. He tapped a menu on his bedside table and the lights dimmed.
"That's – Just what kind of monstrosity did we run across?" Adam stared at the alien ship. "And what is that?" He started to stand up, but his harness tugged him back down. Outside, a silver mess of strands rippled into view. They coalesced into an unfamiliar shape. "Do you see that?" He pointed. "Dad?" Adam looked over at his father.
The old captain stared out into the void, "It's… gigantic…"
"Well, I hope it's friendly," Adam narrowed his eyes, "because it looks like that freakish hulk is about to come about and give us a good punch in the teeth."
"Unidentified mass emerging to port, it's – I'm sending the specs to your console." Nova flicked the information over to Derek.
She heard him draw in a sharp breath. "What… is that thing?"
"It's forming around the planet, like an enormous shell," Nova said. "Scans show it's elongated, like a bullet case. The planet is housed at the rear of the enclosure." She brought up the Iscandari database and set it loose to analyze the readings. A second later, an error message popped up. "Starsha's add-on can't identify it."
"You said it's forming around the planet?" Derek asked.
"Yes," Nova watched on the display as the silver housing flickered in and out of radar view for several seconds before solidifying. "It appeared out of nowhere."
"Probably cloaking technology," Sandor put in.
Nova nodded, "The Iscandari database is offering that opinion too." She glanced back at Derek. He was staring at his console.
"Get any readings you can on it." Wildstar looked up from his station. "Is it hostile?"
Sandor answered, "No indication either way."
"Mark, stay away from it until we know what it is," Derek directed the helm.
Nova turned her attention back to her console. She studied the strange silver shape. Something about it made her eyes want to linger – as though an old friend had arrived unexpectedly at her door. She shook off the feeling and brought up the Cometine ship again. "The Medarusa's coming about. Their weapons are charged."
"Get behind them again. Stay away from that main firing gate," said Derek.
The Argo swung wide, scooting back around the capitol ship.
"Sandor, where's that data on their shield?" Derek asked.
"I found it, Wildstar," Sandor sent the acting-captain his findings.
Derek let out a frustrated growl. "The generators are too close to the front of the ship. Firing from behind it isn't going to do enough damage to take off a single gun turret, much less punch through their shield and get to their generator. How much fire-power would we need to take the shield out?"
Sandor narrowed his eyes at his screen and did a quick calculation. "We'd have to – here." He sent Derek his numbers.
"That's getting awfully close," Derek commented, "and we'd have to fire every gun on the ship."
"It's the only option we have, aside from the Wave Motion Gun, and we can't use that at this angle. We'll hit the planet," Sandor replied.
Derek sat silent for a three-count. "We'll have to hit them from the front, but if we miss, we might not have another chance."
Nova glanced back and forth between Derek and Sandor. The XO's face sobered.
"There's a way we could get in front of them quickly, but it's a big risk. If we miscalculate, we could slam right into them," Sandor said.
"Send me the numbers," Derek leaned forward in his chair. Silence fell over the bridge. "Alright, let's do it, but we'll need the Gamilons' help."
"That is much too dangerous," Neredia shook her head. "They will not ignore you long enough to get in position."
"That's why we need you to concentrate fire to their starboard. We need to weaken their shield in one spot."
Neredia bit her lip. The area they wanted hit was so small. "We'll have it ready for you."
The Eratite nodded and cut the channel.
"Prepare the gunnery crew," Neredia told Baren. "Have my men do the shooting. "
"No complaints from us." Baren sent the order.
Fomto answered the Eratites' call. The sound flickered in and out, but he could still read the spotty text at the bottom of the screen.
"You need a distraction, I'll give you a distraction," Fomto muttered. He throttled the ship forward, heading straight for the Cometines. He fired a torpedo into its port engine.
The Medarusa's guns swiveled toward the wounded Mirangal.
"That's right. Look at me," Fomto narrowed his eyes. He glanced at the radar. Lambea was diving toward the Cometines' starboard. He gritted his teeth, "Just a little longer."
Fomto took aim at the nearest set of gun turrets and fired round after round into them. He peppered the shield, breaking through it in places and landing a few hits before the field regenerated.
Lambea fired on the Medarusa. Fomto watched on the sensors as the other ship tore a hole the size of a small dragon through the shield.
"Go, Eratites!" he urged. "Blow these pigs into the after-life!"
"It's open," Sandor said. "We have less than a minute before it closes."
Derek selected the operations menu on his console. He skimmed through the list of options until he found the one he wanted. "Firing the rocket anchor." He aimed and shot.
The anchor hit; it went taut, swinging the ship around so fast Derek had to hold onto his chair. "Ride it out," he said to Mark.
Venture leaned into the turn, pulling the ship around the alien craft until they swiped by the bow. The anchor chain scraped the enemy ship's hull so hard it scraped off the paint.
"Fire all main guns!" Derek ordered.
Laser streaks cut through space, lancing into the enemy ship in one gigantic spray of light.
Derek released the anchor before they careened into the other ship. The Argo flew by the Cometines, stopping only when Mark hit the starboard thrusters, pushing them to a grinding halt.
"Did we hit it?" Derek asked.
"Their shield is down," Sandor said, "but they're still not out of this."
"Get ready to fire again. Target their weapons."
"There's a huge energy surge coming from the Cometine ship," Eager said. "They're getting ready to fire that big gun of theirs."
"Something's descending," Nova said. "It's a cannon – bigger than I've ever seen."
"Get us out of here!" Derek watched through the front viewport as the Cometines took aim straight at the Argo.
"We can't get away fast enough!" Mark pulled hard on the controls, pitching the ship to one side.
A giant ball of golden energy swelled from the cannon. It punched through space straight toward the Argo.
Mark pushed the ship into a harder lean and throttled the engine, sending them skirting just out of the weapon's reach.
"Can we take out that thing?" Derek asked.
"Not directly – at least, not without using the Wave Gun," Sandor said. "It's too powerful for any of our other weapons to dent, much less destroy. Like the Wave Gun, their Firestorm seems to be woven into the engines. Take those out and the prime weapon will go with it."
"Keep us moving. Sitting still is the last thing we need to be doing," Derek sat back down. "Try to draw them away from the planet."
Mark sent the ship sailing farther out into the violet mist.
"They're not following," Nova said. "They're turning around – heading for the planet."
"We're getting a message from the ship Berger's on – the Mirangal," Homer said. "He says his comm system is in bad shape. He's going to attack the Cometines himself."
Derek gripped his armrest, "Get us back there!"
"Leave this place," Fomto hissed at the capitol ship. "You can't have this world!" He targeted the nearest armament and fired. The one canon he had left shot true and the gun turret exploded. He narrowed his eyes at the enemy and took aim again, this time at one of their engines.
With the shield gone, the laser blast ripped into the outer casing and smoke trailed out into the haze, but the Cometines didn't stop. Fomto growled at the enemy. They didn't even seem to know he was there.
He rearmed, this time taking aim with a full torpedo spread. With the same engine targeted, he let the salvo loose and grinned with satisfaction as explosions bloomed all through the back of the Medarusa.
Alarms blared in his ears. He glanced down at the control board. Before he could grimace, a huge chunk of debris batted the Mirangal away.
Berger concentrated on the helm controls. He tried the stabilizers. Nothing happened. His ship shot toward the planet, tumbling end over end until a violent jerk sent Fomto careening across the bridge. He slammed into the comm officer's station and everything went black.
"One runs away and the other is launched into a web by what remains of our destroyers," Dagarm laughed at the two images. "Where's the third ship?"
"Idle," radar replied.
"Target them."
Megaluda took aim at the Lambea
"Fire," Dagarm grinned at the other Gamilon ship. On the viewscreen, it blended into the mist; its violet hull was a very near match to the clouds' hue. "Too bad you can't hide from our sensors."
"There's another ship coming in fast to port! It's the same one we just fired on!"
"That's impossible!" Dagarm hefted his sword and pointed it out the viewport. "Shoot it down!"
"We can't get a sensor lock on it. It's everywhere!" The radar operator frantically made adjustments. "I can't tell which one's real!"
Dagarm went to the radar and shoved the tech out of the way. "Take him to the brig!" he bellowed. "Hysterical children don't belong here!" Dagarm motioned to one of the men standing in a row by the near wall. "You," he pointed to the first man in line, "take the station."
The replacement rushed to the chair and sat.
"Now," Dagarm grabbed a fistful of the substitute's shirt and lifted him out of his seat, "figure out which one we should shoot at."
The new tech's chin bobbed up and down like a loose flap in the wind.
"Good," Dagarm let the man go and went back to his seat.
"They won't stay confused for long," Baren said.
"Long enough," Neredia set her jaw. "Keep them away from the Mirangal, and target their other engine."
Fomto groaned. His head pounded and bright spots poked into his vision. He squeezed his eyes shut and grabbed his throbbing head.
The pain subsided, but when he got up, another jab bit into his head. He winced, but dragged himself back to his chair. Alarms still buzzed everywhere and he felt his eye swelling up.
"Come on," he urged the damaged hulk. "Get back in the fight." Fomto fought with the helm controls, but no matter how hard he pushed, Mirangal wouldn't budge.
He brought up what remained of the sensor grid.
Lambea was engaged with the Cometines and Eratites were not far. Fomto sank back into his chair. The Cometines were out an engine thanks to him, and Neredia was blowing the other one to pieces. He sat in silence, watching the exchange between the enemy ship and Lambea.
The Eratites appeared just in time to deliver on last hit to the Cometines. The second engine shattered like ice under a boulder. Then the two ships took to knocking out the remaining enemy guns. Within a few minutes, the capitol ship was defenseless.
Fomto wiped the sweat off his forehead. His sleeve came away bloody. He traced the sticky trail up to his scalp. When he touched the split skin he winced. At least it wasn't bleeding anymore. He left the wound alone and checked his swollen eye. He could still see through the irritated lids, but just barely.
Satisfied that he was otherwise alright, Fomto turned his attention to the strange structure outside. He tried to get a sensor reading on the bracings, but the systems were too badly damaged to give him much of an answer.
"What are you…?" Fomto asked as he stared at the piece of the structure he could see.
He checked the damage report and groaned. Mirangal lay in two pieces, cut through by the silver bracings. "What is this thing?" he brought up a spotty video feed from one of the ship's remaining sensor cameras. "I don't remember seeing anything like this near the planet." The view shifted as the camera floated in the mist, hanging onto the ship by its wires.
Fomto's mouth dropped open. The rogue camera showed him a gigantic structure. Its gray rails wrapped around the planet, and as he watched, the world changed. Instead of a solid sphere, the crust melted away, revealing metallic plates orbiting a glowing world-tree. "How did you bring us here?"
A weak bleep warbled through the bridge. Fomto's eyes shot to the control interface. He cursed at it. From all around, Cometine destroyers warped into the cloud-space, surrounding the Gamilons and the Eratite ship.
Fomto checked the weapons systems. All dead. He tried to open a com channel, but the system sputtered, then died. "No! Get out! Get out!" he waved the Eratites and Neredia away, willing them to leave. If only he could contact them. If only his ship wasn't so badly damaged, he could at least warn them.
"Not again," he pleaded. "I can't watch another friend die like this!" In desperation, he turned his face upward, "Adonai! Save us all!"