STAR BLAZERS
End of Days
Written By: Jeff Lincoln
Day 3
Taking Care of Business
1900 Space
Time
Space
Battleship Yamato - Conference Room
Aboard the
Yamato things were not going well. The ship has been captured and confined to quarters, Yamato has been turned around and is heading back towards
Earth. In the conference room Nikran stood with his hands behind his back
looking out the window, watching the stars and his fleet following Yamato close
behind.
His
observation was cut short when the StarForce Command Staff was dragged into the
room. Nova, still injured. Wildstar,
now consious from the blow to his head.
Nikran didn't
turn around but mearly spoke to the group in a dry mocking tone. "I am
Colonel Nikran, Commander of the Mauritanian Fleet, Captain
of the Cruiser New Destiny. Which one of you is the Commander of this...thing."
Wildstar
stepped forward frowning and agressively responded, "I am Commander Derek
Wildstar, I am the Captain of this ship. What gives you the right to attack-"
Nikran turned
around quickly and backhanded Wildstar across his face. Sending
him crashing into Nova and the others.
"Do not speak
to me, slime. Gaurd, place him under extreme custody, remove him from this room
at once!" Nikran said placing his hands behind his back.
"He asked
you a question! What gives you the right to attack us? We did nothing to
you!" Nova exclaimed as Wildstar was being forcibly removed from the room.
Nikran put a hand up and the gaurds stopped but held Wildstar in place.
"You are
so wrong miss. Your Commander here, well he destroyed our brothers. You know
them as the Comet Empire." Nikran said, "They are our spiritual
brothers and our laws dictate the destruction of their enemies, no matter who or what they are."
"You did
all this in vengance?" Wildstar exclaimed struggling against the gaurds.
Nikran nodded and the second gaurd sucker punched Wildstar. Wildstar coughed as
the blow knocked the breath from his lungs. He took breathes in rapidly, trying
to catch the slightest bit of oxygen.
"If you
allied yourselves with the Comet Empire you know that they were on a quest for
control. They were trying to conquer our planet and people. How could you do
that?" Sandor asked taking a step forward.
Nikran
chuckled and lowered his head, his red hair covering his eyes, "Easily, we
are after the same thing. Well I should say were, your Commander destroyed
Zordar and his Comet Fortress." Knox and Leon shifted uncomfortably,
they both had a feeling that something dreadful was going to happen.
"So if
you're on a quest for vengance, why capture this ship? With your firepower you
could have easily destroyed us." Sandor asked with worry.
"Weaponry
isn't always key. Symbolism is a powerful tool."
Nikran raised his voice and his arms and spun around on his heel, "This
ship is a symbol, a powerful one at that! Even we in the Andromeda galaxy know
of it's name! We plan to use this name to strike fear
into the rest of the galaxy." He lowered his arms and continued, "We
have reversed course. We are going to destroy your Earth and nearly all of it's inhabitants, this ship and one of you will do it."
The Command
Staff stood shocked, Wildstar with his head down chuckled, "You've got one
problem with your plan. No one on this ship would ever willingly destroy Earth, it's our home and our mother."
Nikran
chuckled, "They wouldn't under normal circumstances but I think this one
is a special case." Nikran drew his pistol and fired straight into
Knox knelt
down and lifted his brothers head, "You're a
monster..." Knox snarled out as he closed his brothers
eyes, not wanting to see the shocked expression on his face.
Nikran placed
the pistol in it's holster and casually wiped the
blood off of his cheek. "Our laws are very specific for this situation.
Commander Wildstar, you are being charged with the destruction of our brothers
and sisters. You will be punished according to our laws. The punishment for
said crimes is death."
"You've
killed nearly every single member of my crew. What does it matter if I
die?" Wildstar asked coldly.
"You will
not die at our hands. Instead the one who loves you the most will do it."
Nikran said with an evil grin. "Bring the woman forward!" Another
guard pulled her forward by her hair. Nova let out a slight gasp and a cry of
pain. The gaurd threw her against the table, letting her use it as a support to
stand.
"You, I
know of your bravery infront of Desslok, triator of Zordar. It is clear you are
the one who loves the Commander. Therefore, you will be the one to do it."
Nova shook her
head with tears running down her face, "I would never do such a thing. I
would rather die."
"That can
be arranged." Nikran said drawing his pistol.
"NO!"
Wildstar exclaimed, "Nova, I can't let you die. I've lost too many people
now. I need you to go on and be strong. Please just do what he says, I can't
lose you. Not again." He struggled against the guards, able to slip out of
their grip he shot forward and brought Nova into a hug. She fell into his arms
crying, he ran his hand through her hair.
Nikran didn't
signal the guards to stop them. "Commander you have four hours according
to our laws to do whatever is nesecssary to prepare for your punishment."
Wildstar
ignored him. All he wanted to do was to protect Nova and allow her to live. She
raised her head and looked at him with love. He did his best to smile, even
though he didn't feel happy he wanted to reassure her that this was the right
thing to do. Nikran and the guards walked out of the conference room, leaving
the Command Staff to ponder their thoughts.
Knox and
Sandor both said, "Wildstar you can't do this!"
Wildstar shook
his head, "I have to. I can't let them kill anymore of my family. Sandor,
Knox, watch over the crew. It's the least I can ask you to do, inform them as
to what is going to happen. I...I need some time alone with Nova."
Wildstar nodded to them and they left.
Nova still
crying understood what needed to be done. As much as she didn't want to be the
one to do it she knew that if she didn't Wildstar would never forgive her. No
matter where he was, alive or dead, with her or out in space. She loved him and
was willing to go along with his wishes no matter how much it hurt her.
"Derek...this
isn't fair. I need you here with me." Nova said between sobs, she looked up
at him. "Why can't we just be together? Why can't we ever get a break from
the fighting and war?"
"Because its our job to protect others. We're part of the Starforce, we're dedicated to making sure others are happy
when we can't be." Wildstar looked right into her eyes and placed a hand
on her cheek. Leaned forward slightly and kissed her on her lips.
Nova closed
her eyes, savoring the taste of his lips. The two remained connected for a
short time and then Wildstar pulled back and looked at her with a smile.
"You
don't know how long I've waited to do that." She said with a smile,
"I love you Derek." She fell into his arms and he held her close. He
kissed her again as the conference room door closed and the two were left
alone.
2355 Space
Time
Space Battleship
Yamato - In Orbit Above Earth
The hours
passed slowly for the StarForce. Once again they found themselves staring at
Earth. From space they could see the smoke from new destruction and death. The
EDF attempted to defend Earth with all they had, but it wasn't even a chance.
The Yamato against her will fired upon the ships recently built to defend Earth
and destroyed them with ease, even in her weakened state.
Over the past
two hours colony ships began lowering down to Earth. Removing
whole families from the planet. In total over 250,000 were forcibly
removed from the planet. Nikran explained that the people would be shipped away
to the Andromeda Galaxy where they would become laborers for the Mauritanian
people.
Back on the
bridge, Venture, Nova, and Sandor watched in horror as their home slowly spun.
Nikran also explained how Wildstar was going to be executed for his crimes
against the Comet Empire. Down in the bowels of the great ship Wildstar now
wearing his space suit was being escourted down the Wave Gun Firing Gate.
As Wildstar
walked down the large apature he began remembering the first time he walked
down the rifled gun. Venture and Captain Avatar was with him then and it was
only a tour. He remembered the feeling of excitement and awe when he first
walked down and to the edge.
As he looked
out at Earth he couldn't help but shed tears. This was the end,
even after all they had done for Earth and saved her so many times. He sighed, again he failed to protect the things that he loved
the most. Earth was going to be destroyed and he couldn't do anything to stop
it.
In his mind he
thought, "Nova I've failed you once again. Maybe that short time we spent
together will change your future. Even if it didn't I hope you go on and live.
Yamato, I am sorry you have to do this, I know you
wouldn't do this if you had a choice. So I am asking you, send me to a good
place, I would've given anything to protect you."
"Alright you. Stop there." The guard on Wildstars left
said. Wildstar stopped and the guards took off the restraints that held his
hands behind his back. Wildstar let his hands fall to his sides and he remained
motionless. The guards turned quickly and sprinted back down the Firing Gate
and back into the Yamato.
Wildstar
continued to stare out into space and Earth. His expression
blank, attempting to hide his pain and shame. Behind him he could hear
the gate slide open and the cylinder move into position. He closed his eyes and
waited for the inevitable.
Back on the
bridge Nova sat at the Combat Commanders station. The Wave Gun trigger raised
and the target scope open.
"Helmsman, correct line, 15 degrees." Nikran said crossing
his arms. "Divert all your ships power to your Wave Motion Gun."
Behind him
Yamazaki had a rifle barrel pressed against his head. He slowly pulled the
lever which would activate the Wave Gun powering sequence. The slow beeping of
the power charge could be heard.
"Charge at 79 percent. Final safety lock removed." Nova
said stumbling over the words and tears running down her face, "All crew
don anti-flash protection...t...t...ten seconds to firing." She lowered
her goggles and raised her left hand to the trigger.
Venture sat
next to her watching her and at the same time wishing she didn't need to do
this. He knew what had happened in the conference room and knew that it was the
last time Wildstar and Nova would be together. He leaned across the consoles
and placed his hand on Nova's right hand. She in turn held it tight, squeezing
hard enough to show her pain, but gentle enough to show her compassion for
Derek.
Venture nodded
and began counting down for her. "10."
"9."
Sandor said as he closed his eyes.
"8."
Eager said standing up and placing a hand on Sandor's shoulder.
"7."
Yamazaki said standing up and giving Earth a hand over heart salute.
"6."
Homer said.
"5."
Dash said turning his head away from Earth. Wanting to save
the image of the blue planet.
"4."
IQ-9 said with a slight robotic sigh.
"3...2..."
Nova said letting her cries echo throughout the bridge.
Then all at
the same time they said, "1..."
Down in the
firing chamber Wildstar stood like Yamazaki, saluting the Earth giving it a
final farewell. "Fire."
Nova closed
her eyes as she pulled the trigger and felt the click of the slider moving
forward. As the cylinder moved forward shooting the Wave Motion energy out of
the ship Wildstar closed his eyes and felt the heat from the Wave Gun envelope
his body.
From the
bridge the crew watched as the bright blue energy beam shot from the front of
the ship and into Earth. Shattering the surface, burning it
and then shooting through the other side. They watched as her once blue
surface turned to orange and then dark crimson red.
Then the Earth
began to crumble in on itself like a black hole had formed in her core. Then it
exploded, sending giant chunks of rock flying into space. As Earth exploded the
crew sat down, stunned at what they just did and how they were unable to stop
it after being together for nearly two years. After all the trails they had
gone through, all the journeys they had taken. Now all in vain, now that Earth
was gone and humanity is near extinct.
Nikran smiled
and laughed at his handy work then turned back to the elevator. "Guards,
begin evacuating the crew. They aren't getting off so easily." Sandor and
the others jumped to their feet instantly and began fighting the gaurds. But it
was futile, after ten minutes of fighting the crew were taken from the ship and
onto the New Destiny.
With the
Earth destroyed and Wildstar dead can Humanity survive? Will they be able to
prosper and escape the tyrrany of the Mauritanian Empire?
This
Chapter is dedicated to Ami Meitsu and Freddo, two of the best StarBlazers
fan-fiction writers I have had the honor of talking to.