ALTERNATE TALES OF THE STAR FORCE
STAR BLAZERS---RAGNAROK
Being the eleventh and final part of
THE RIKASHA INCIDENT--- BY: Frederick P. Kopetz
ACT TWO: FIRST MOVEMENT OF A SYMPHONY
IN A MINOR KEY
I. DEPARTURE FROM GANYMEDE
EDF Ganymede Base
Space Battleship Argo
Sunday: April 25, 2202
1632 Hours
On the bridge, Venture
spoke to Captain Peronada. "We're ready," he said. "We can take
off at sixteen forty-five. Then, we'll warp."
"I see," said the
Captain. "Where is Commodore Wildstar?"
"Busy. But, he'll be
speaking to you soon."
"Good…I can't wait to
speak to him on our base at Triton,
Mark nodded. "Good
luck, Captain."
Nova looked at Aliscea.
"I thought we were friends," she said.
"We were, but not when
we stand at cross-purposes," said Aliscea. "Shoot, Commodore
Wildstar!"
At that, Derek prepared to
shoot.
He was so enraged that he
was about to try attacking Aliscea.
The conflict between them
had gotten that bad in a very short time.
And Nova had no idea what
could be done as she stood there with her dagger, with the pain from Aliscea's
slap and Ekogaru's stab ringing through her like a dark, terrible torment as
she stood there barefoot and very cold in her thin Pellian robe.
II. O, SWEET BIRD OF PARADOX!
Planet Iscandar
April 25, 2231
1634 Hours: Earth Time
"Look at what I can
do!" sang the young, slender twenty-one year old Pellian in a near see-through
gown at a formal reception in Queen Starsha's palace. She had just made a hole
appear in space-time. Images ran through it.
"Katrina, don't show
off, please," said Aliscea Rosstowski, while she stood next to Paul.
"But I have
to!" said Katrina as she stamped her bare foot. "And I'm your Queen!
Don't you have to listen to me, Mother?"
"I'm not sure…when it
is, perhaps, a questionable decision, your Highness…" said Queen Starsha.
She was a bit older, but still looked beautiful. Will this help explain so
much of what happened in those times? Starsha thought as she softly but
firmly held Alex Wildstar by the arm. Are these the seeds of those dark
times that happened when I nearly lost you, Alex?
"Aliscea would have
wanted it, I think," said Alex with a nod. "Permit it, Starsha."
"Go ahead then,"
said Starsha.
"Yes, go for it,"
added Sasha with a grin as she held the hand of Deke Wakefield, her life mate.
"You would say
that," said Starsha.
Princess Sasha stuck her
tongue out at her mother. Not far away, Astra and Connor's adopted son (who had
experienced another great loss in late 2207) Jonathan Hartnell-Iiyama Wildstar,
now grown, was talking to Ariel Wildstar, who looked very much like her mother
Nova at that age, down to the
Star Force Living Group uniform she wore in gold and black.
Then, another couple came
up, both in black peacoats with many medals. A full Admiral,
and a Captain. Ariel and a young man in a Star Force Combat uniform with wild
brown hair but his mother's eyes nodded in deference to them…after all, one has
to respect one's parents at a party. The Admiral wore a brown beard, and the
Captain wore glasses and a medical emblem on her new black peacoat.
"Stop, right
there!" commanded the Admiral. "My God…I looked crazy then."
"Yeah, you looked a
bit like me, Dad," joked Alex Wildstar III, who was named after his uncle.
But that was a story for another place...another time.
The woman looked. "I know
what this is! I have to step through. Katrina, please hold that open for
six minutes!"
"It's dangerous!"
said the Admiral. "Don't!"
"I have to," she
said. "If I don't everything we have now will cease to exist in one shot…a
shot you're about to fire, by the way! Oh, by the way, I know I come through
this all right. I remember now. After twenty-nine years, I finally get my
answer! I'll be back."
And, at that, the EDF
physician strode confidently through the time-space portal that Katrina
Rosstowski had just created, and she walked back exactly twenty-nine years into
her own past…
"Believe me, I will.
I'll bloody shoot you!" said Derek with gritted teeth.
"Derek, can't we think
about this?' said Nova.
"It's us…or
them," said Derek.
Suddenly, all of them saw a
strange pinkish-yellow column of something like gas appearing in the
semi-darkened room. "Trust me," said a somewhat muffled, but audible
feminine voice from inside the gas. The, the cloud changed shape. It looked
like a door.
"Huh?" said Derek
as his eyebrows went up.
"Aliscea, is this some
trick?" Nova asked.
"No, it's not,"
said Aliscea as she put down her arms. "I swear…it's not…"
A moment later, a shape
appeared in the gas.
A somewhat older woman,
with youthful features but the confidence of young middle age walked out of the
opening. She had blond hair, wore light wire-rimmed glasses, and wore an interesting
uniform…a Star Force Living Group top under a skirt and black Captain's dress
peacoat covered with medals and a small gold Medical pin, the type usually worn
by EDF Doctors in full dress uniform. She skipped along in ballroom dancing
shoes and somehow looked a bit younger than her true age of fifty-three.
Anti-aging treatments, exercise, and a healthy lifestyle had kept her quite
well preserved. Somehow, it looked as if she had just come from a formal
function of some type (and, indeed, she just had; a ball held by Queen Starsha
on Iscandar was certainly formal enough!)
"Hullo? Do I hear a
fight here? Sorry about the time paradox," she said in a soft voice that
all of them recognized, since it was Nova's own voice, albeit just a little bit
older, like the woman herself. The older woman spoke in a voice in a somewhat
more matronly manner than her younger counterpart as she looked on and calmly
said, "You see, I am here because I just learned you'd need a little push
for everything to make sense. I'm the future that we'll see if you do this,
Nova…and if you just calm down and chill out, Aliscea! There is hope! Ekogaru can
be defeated! I've seen it! I've lived it! Where I come from, he is long
dead!"
"You're…me?"
said the younger Nova. "I don't believe it!"
"Believe it,
"said Aliscea, who looked frightened by the figure.
"I sense….this is real…and I don't know how or why this is
happening, but I think she is…"
"Need my ID card,
Nova?" chuckled the older Nova. "Don't you
believe the evidence of your own eyes? Of course, due to the Blinovitch
Limitation Effect, I can only be here with you for five minutes. But, then
again, I know you were always a little hard to convince when you were scared.
And as for you, Aliscea…calm down! You're acting like your father now. We don't
need this!"
Nova looked the older woman
up and down, while Derek looked at her with his eyes going wide. Nova finally
said, "So, you're…?"
The woman in black and
white smiled, sighing. How could I have been so dense? Nova thought.
"Yes…I'm you, Nova. Or will be if Earth makes it through this."
"Which means I have to
calm down," said Aliscea with tears in her eyes. "Calm down and think
rationally, that is."
"That's right,"
said the older Nova. "You put down your hands and stop wanting to kill
everyone. You're acting like your dead, evil father! Nova, we have to put down
that knife. Please give it to me."
The younger Nova hesitantly
gave her older self the knife. Not knowing how she would learn to do that, she
watched as her older self flung it over her shoulder into the portal.
"Don't worry about that," said the elder Nova. "That's not going
where I just came from."
"And where'd you come
from?" asked the younger Nova.
"Can't tell you;
that's a secret," smiled the elder Nova. Then, she walked up to Derek, who
still stood holding his gun. "As your ship's surgeon, I order you to put
the safety on and put that thing away, Derek."
"But you don't have an
MD degree yet!" protested Derek.
"She doesn't, but I
do!" said the elder Nova. Paul stood open-mouthed as the very dignified
woman with the air of a much prettier (and sober) Doctor Sane walked forward
until Derek's gun poked her in the stomach. "Come on, Derek…cooperate with
me. Or, if you're too tense, just hand it over?"
Derek nodded and let the
future version of his wife take the gun out of his hand. The elder Nova put the
safety back on and handed it to her younger self. "You'd better hold
this."
"Uhhh…what are you
really like?" asked the younger Nova as she took the cosmo-gun from her
older, more serene counterpart. Everyone's desire to fight had faded away as
the two women stared at each other, with shock in young Nova's eyes, and
familiarity in the elder Nova's eyes.
"I'm like you, with
three kids, a Medical degree, more rank, and a ton of experience I can't tell
you about, since you have to live through it. Or, rather…we do."
"What are you like as
far as…psionic power goes?" whispered young Nova. "Did you… go
through with what she proposed? You seem like a more powerful personality than
me."
The older Nova nodded.
"I did. It changed me a little. I have some sense of intuition that I
didn't have when I was your age. Or, maybe you have it, but don't know
how to focus it yet," said the future Nova. "I can't tell you
everything…except…except if you do it, you'll give us hope. We'll make it. You
just have to have the courage we've always had…the courage to do something new,
and to ignore the Dark Lord."
"Ignore him?"
said Aliscea.
"Yes," said the
elder Nova. "Don't you know this is his handiwork, silly? I
do. Calm down, have hope, and forget the hatred he is trying to cause, and trust
each other, damnit! That goes for both of you, got it?"
Aliscea looked at both
Novas and sighed. "I'll…repent of what I said. Paul, I'm sorry."
"I hope you are,"
he said. He looked at her, but wouldn't hug her. He was still seething inside
at her betrayal.
"Derek…sir...I'm
sorry, too," said Aliscea. "Nova, I'm sorry I struck you."
"I can forgive you…I
think," said Derek. "But I can't speak for Nova. It's up to her. Do
you want to forgive her, Nova, or have her leave?"
"Let her stay,"
said young Nova after a long moment. "Aliscea …I'm going through with it.
I'm sorry."
"And we will do
it," said Aliscea. "Then, I need to rest…"
"Good, Aliscea. Nova,
I knew you would…or I knew I would," laughed the future Nova.
"I guess you just needed a little push."
"How'd you get
here?" asked young Nova.
"You'll find
out," said the older Nova impishly as she kissed her younger self on the
forehead. Then, she walked up to Derek and winked at him. "You'll see me
again in about twenty-nine years. Of course, you'll look pretty good then, too.
You'll also look…halfway nice with a beard, Derek. Although it looks sort of
stupid."
Then, the future Nova gave Derek
a very passionate kiss while they hugged. "Do your best," she said.
"Where I'm at, here, this could still fail in a minute, and I'll never be.
But, I think you can do it…both of you. Good luck."
At that, the future Nova
broke the embrace, turned away, and said, "I'll be back, Nova…if this
works out. If you want to see me in the future, just look in the mirror."
"Bye! Just to let you
know again, I'm going through with it!" said the current-day Nova.
"Great…I knew you
would…"
The future Nova stepped through
the portal and left.
"Aliscea, if this is
so important, let’s get this over with, shall we?" said Nova.
Aliscea nodded. "Thank
you."
Then, she paused. "Put
your arms around me. Then, relax. Derek, I need your help. Stand behind
her."
Commodore Wildstar nodded.
Aliscea wiped away her
tears and said, "First, I must apologize for the way I spoke to you. If
you truly don't want it, I will find someone else. Please forgive the way I
spoke to you and your husband."
Aliscea knelt and kissed
Nova's toes. "No…you don't need to do that!" said Nova.
"That's silly!"
"Silly? I need to
atone."
"Get up,
Aliscea," said Nova. "We'd better get on with this. It seems that we
have orders that go higher than my wishes, or even Derek's. Derek, if you don't
want to see this, you can leave. But I just want you to know I am doing this of
my own free will."
"All right," huffed Derek. "I guess I can't stop you…if this were anything less, I'd order you to your cabin…"
"And I'd refuse and
you could court-martial me later," said Nova.
"We're not doing that,
so let's not talk like that," said Derek. "Let's be cool."
"Good for you, you
cowboy of outer space," laughed Nova. :"Okay. Let’s all make up with
the lady…shall we?"
"Aliscea, I'm sorry I
lost my temper, " said Derek.
"Aliscea, if you're
sorry, I'm sorry too," said Paul.
"I'm sorry,"
sobbed Aliscea. She and Paul embraced.
Derek smiled. Then, he
said, "Can I kiss Nova before this…rite begins?"
"Apology accepted.
And, yes, you can kiss her," said Aliscea. "Pardon me…I need to get
into a ceremonial robe like hers. I will return."
About two minutes later,
Aliscea returned, clad in a white robe like Nova's, and also barefoot. Aliscea
came forward with a small bottle of oil. Both women stretched a little, and
then, Aliscea gently put Nova's arms around her waist. "You have to be
touching me for this to work. I don't know if this will work, but we need to be
ready in case I die…in case the healing trance I am going into soon does NOT
work. Mind you, I am trying to keep alive. It is better I fight Ekogaru.
But, if not, you must do it. And, if I am about to die, I will know it, even in
the trance, and will transfer the Matrix and my powers to you before I die.
Just as Ekogaru empowered Yvona, the Matrix can empower you."
"It's always been women
who have shared this?" said Nova
Aliscea nodded. She put a
hand on Nova's forehead. "Naphtali is a doe set free that bears
beautiful fawns…"
"From the Book of
Genesis?" said Nova.
"Yes, although our ancient
ancestors actually heard Jacob firsthand when he said those words. It seems
that, deep, deep down, long ago, in your mother's side of the family, there was an old ancestor of yours from the
Tribe of Naphtali…the same tribesmen from whom I am descended. There is
a family link between us, although about seventy-five times or so
removed…funny, I also read a trace of Pellian blood in you, too. Maybe some of
us came back?"
"I don't know,"
said Nova.
"Another mystery, for
another time," said Aliscea. "If we share blood, even in the distant
past, it makes the likelihood this will work even better…."
"I'm, still
kinda…scared," said Nova. "Lord, I'm sorry…I don't know if I have the
courage to do this…or…not…"
"Nova…please,"
said Derek.
"But, I'm going through
with it," said Nova.
"Good," said
Aliscea.
What Aliscea didn't tell
Nova was that if the semi-sentient Pellian Matrix rejected her as a
successor…it would probably kill her, and Aliscea might die along with her.
At that, Aliscea put her
hands on the small of Nova's robed back, above the buttocks, and began to
recite a slow song in Pellian.
The ritual had begun.
Outside, in the world
around them, the Argo disengaged from the dock as she had many times
before.
The wave engine came up.
I wonder where Wildstar is? Mark thought. What is going on?
Outside, the transport
carrying Carol Venture and her survivors took off. Mark saw it leaving, and
said, "All hands…salute."
The bridge crew saluted.
"All hands, prepare
for takeoff!" said Venture a moment later. "I'll signal the crew in
two minutes, Sandor."
"Very good," said
Sandor from his post on the not entirely-full bridge; both
Wildstars, Dash, and Paul Rosstowski were missing. Dash was still
working on the first gun turret along with some technicians from Mechanical
Group.
"Port and starboard
engines are coming up," said Yamazaki. "The wave motion engine will
be up in five minutes."
"Good," said
Venture. He looked back at the radar; Holly was at the cosmo-radar now.
"Mrs. Venture," he said with a lump in his throat.
"Yessir?"
"Commence your scans
now. Make sure our course is clear. We'll meet the rest of the fleet at
seventeen hundred; and we'll warp at seventeen-forty-five."
"Got it," said
Holly.
Nova shivered pleasantly as
oil ran down her body on top of and under her robe; Aliscea was pouring oil on
her head while she recited a slow song in Pellian. There had been a few ritual
washings with water, some incense had been burnt, and incantations had been
recited.
"Now, for the
formation," said Aliscea in Terran English. "This will form the
psychic bond between us that will last for five days, unless I break it. It
will enable me to transfer the Matrix to you if needed. Do you accept?"
Nova nodded.
Derek looked on with
apprehension as Aliscea carefully placed her hands on Nova's forehead. Then,
she sang, "A'led, A'led…d'matrrnsha
manshta…l'chaim…l'chaim….l'entrevalshta l'morgat…enval-estha…wa
tralan vaaashta…va'sthla…amed…"
Nova felt warm, safe, and
accepted as Aliscea then embraced her. The Pellian kissed her cheeks, and
thought, silently, Nova…can you hear me?
Yes…I can…Aliscea. This
is wonderful!
We can exchange
thoughts, as long as needed to ensure I can pass the Matrix to you if I am about
to die. If that happens, you can then enter Shalinskar with Derek as you form a
bond with him.
Will this keep me safe
from Ekogaru?
It will… Nova. My presence was weakened, so that's how he got through
before. But now, I am leaning on you a little, and our defenses are up again.
"Now, I must ask all
of you to leave except Paul," said Aliscea as she hugged Paul. "I
will not be available for the next day. Neither will
Paul…he must stay with me here to help me through the trance, and we must renew
our bond at that time, too, since it was not broken but was compromised by our
serious killing discord before. Commodore Wildstar take Nova into the other
room. I will give you privacy. After you dress her again in her nurse's
clothing to restore and undo some of what Ekogaru did to her, it is important
that you take her to your cabin."
"I understand,"
said Derek.
"There, you must strip
her yourself, tend her wound and bandage it, and bathe her in your shower in
warm water as soon as possible, both to take the oil off her and relax her.
Then, you must dress her in her regular uniform and help her to the messhall
and make sure she eats a full meal. Then, her strength shall return. Be gentle
with her…she is in a very vulnerable state right now," said Aliscea as she
handed Derek all of Nova's nurse's uniform.
"I understand,"
said Derek as Nova walked over to him. She looked very dreamy and relaxed, and
did not seem to be fully aware of her surroundings.
Paul and Aliscea turned
away as Derek walked Nova into their bedroom and shut the hatch. In the
semi-darkness, Derek held his wife on the carpet and gently dressed her like a
rather sick child. "I hope I make it through this, Derek," she
whispered while he put her dress on her and closed the fastening. "I'm so
sleepy…"
"Aliscea said it was
normal. No, don't pick up your shoes…I have to do that."
"Will I be able to
return to duty?" asked Nova is a very drowsy voice. All she wanted to do
now was sleep, not caring that she was sitting half-dressed with Derek on Paul
and Aliscea Rosstowski's carpet.
"I think so,"
said Derek as he finished dressing her by putting her foot in her shoe and
buckling it. "Can you walk?"
Nova nodded. "I'll
have to lean on you." At that, she yawned.
Derek held her hand. He
brought Nova back out, and then looked at Paul and Aliscea, but not for long.
Aliscea now had nothing on, and she sat in Paul's lap having her hair stroked.
Wildstar simply felt he had to avert his eyes from this inadvertently-seen
moment of tenderness between the Rosstowskis.
"Take care, you
two," said Paul with a wink while hiding the most delicate parts of
Aliscea's willowy body.
"We will," said
Derek. The Commodore gently grasped Nova's hand as she stumbled along in what
seemed to be a sleepy state. So different from the way she was before on
that coffee, he thought. I wonder what that ritual did to her?
Aliscea remained silent,
but she smiled at Nova and Derek as they left.
"Now, I can heal in
peace," sighed Aliscea. "I'm sorry I said
those things before, Paul. You may divorce me if you wish."
"I don't want to do
that!" said Paul hotly. "You're tired…you're sick…and you need
me…don't you?"
"Yes, I need you. Do
you need me?"
Paul nodded his head, with
tears in his eyes.
"Good," said
Aliscea. "We need each other." Then, she smiled, and sent, Carry me to bed, Paul.
I will.
And,
Paul?
Yes?
please hold me. I don't want to make love
now…all I want…is to enter my trance and sleep.
I love you, Aliscea.
Please come out of it all right.
I think I will, she sent back.
III. TO
The Solar System, Past Jupiter
Space Battleship Argo
Sunday: April 25, 2202
1806 Hours
The
Derek Wildstar sat at the
Combat Group Leader's post next to Venture in his plain Star Force uniform.
Dash had returned from the first gun turret and he sat at the Artillery post
for the first time in a long while as Derek had requested…"for now"
he said.
Nova sat at the Cosmo-Radar again, back in her normal
Star Force uniform and boots. Eating a good meal after the ritual washings had
helped her regain her strength, and Derek's treatment meant the wound no longer
hurt under the small gauze bandage she wore under her uniform, but everyone
noticed she was fairly quiet and subdued. Finally, Eager sat at the battle
radar post near Sandor.
"You know what?"
said Dash.
"What?" said Homer.
"This is the first
time we’ve all been back in our normal spots at the same time since the
Comet Empire. No offense to Yamazaki, who is good…but won't quite replace
Orion…but…it feels nice, being "home" again, for a bit. Why did you
ask this, Wildstar?"
"Because I think being
back where we all began will help us for a while…at least until Paul can come
back again."
"Nova, did Wildstah
try some new perfume with you?" asked Eager. "Ya smell
different!"
"Eager, no offense,
but I don’t want to talk about it," said Nova in a very soft voice. "There's some things between Derek and I that should stay
secret."
Homer and Eager exchanged
playful leers behind Nova's back at that one. "Okay," said
Eager. "Ya wanna hear about the reunion that mah girlfriend Lisa and I
had?"
"Not right now,
Eager," said Nova She was lost in thought, thinking of a day when she
would apparently need glasses. What made me like that? Nova thought. What
makes me a figure…who can put a stop to a war like
that? Do I acquire the Matrix? Does Aliscea die?
"You
all right?"
"I've had a weird day,
that's all," said Nova. "Believe me, you
wouldn't want to be in my shoes today. It was a rough one."
"Yeah…I bet it was
rough," said Sandor.
"Trust me," said
Nova. "That's why I don't want to discuss it…"
"Is it time?' asked
Commodore Wildstar.
"Just about,"
said Venture. "Nova?"
"The
"They say they're
ready," said Homer.
"Good," said
Derek. "Make preparations for warp."
"Sir?" asked an
officer on the Mogami. "We’ve received the order to warp. Are we
ready?"
"Warping,"
muttered Captain Borland. "Yes…warping our…"
"They need that all-clear
ASAP!" said the comm officer. "Wildstar's in a rush!"
"Sir?"
said the ship's Deputy Captain. "The Commodore is requesting that all
ships send an "all-hands-ready" signal before the fleet warps!"
"Oh…sorry, Mr.
Belknapp," said Borland. "Yes…let Wildstar know we're ready!"
"Ten seconds to
warp!" said Venture on the Argo.
"Homer, what's with
the Mogami?" asked Wildstar.
"They're reporting
now! All-clear!"
"Five…four…three…"
counted Venture as the dimensional indicator went up and down the valleys.
"Voice channel
open!" commanded Derek.
"Open!" snapped
Homer.
"two…one.."
said Venture. "Ready!"
"All ships! This is
Wildstar!" snapped Derek. "Warp on my mark!"
Then, Derek looked around;
everyone was ready. He snapped, "WARP!"
"WARP!" repeated
Venture.
The Argo, as well as
the rest of her fleet, faded as one into hyperspace in a blaze of color.
A few minutes later, after
completing the warp and after some cruising in normal space, the cold disks of
Triton and Neptune loomed large in the Argo's bridge windows.
"Where's the rest of
the Task Force?" asked Derek. "They're supposed to be here."
"They should be here
any minute," said Nova. "I've just acquired them on radar. The new
group joining our fleet consists of one carrier, one more space battleship, two
patrol cruisers, eight destroyers, and ten gunboats. Range, nine hundred
megameters!"
"Thirty-two ships in
all Wildstar, including us," said Dash. "We're gonna pack a
punch, aren't we?"
"Yes, this Force will
hit them with over a hundred and seventy fighters total if we achieve
surprise," said Derek.
"That's way more than
we had at Titan, ain't it?" said Eager.
"No, actually just a
little less," said Derek. "Remember…we don’t have a full complement
now, and we have just one carrier with a full load of sixty strike fighters and
twenty-four torpedo planes along with those
"Sir," said
Homer. "We're being hailed by the
Derek stood. A moment
later, the image of a youngish African-American man in a Captain's peacoat
faded in. "Commodore Wildstar," he said. "It's an honor to meet
you, sir. Captain Jameel Spears at your service."
"Are you related to
Admiral Spears of Third Fleet?" asked Derek.
"Aye, aye, sir,"
said the younger Spears. "I'm his son. How's he doing?"
"Fine. I saw him about two weeks ago on
Titan."
Spears sighed. "Looks
like Dad's getting ready for the balloon to go up back there with his
fleet, huh?"
"He is." Wildstar's
so young, thought Spears. The guy looks like one of my lieutenants and
he's our commanding officer! He must be thirteen years younger than I am. Let's
see how the legendary cowboy of outer space does commanding us out in the
interstellar gulf. Anyone else that young, and I'd be
scared out of my wits, man!
"Well, if we see him
in this, or you do, send him my regards, sir. What are your orders?"
"Take your carrier
group and escorts down to the base. I want to meet with you and the other
Captains at nineteen-thirty so we can get together on our intelligence and what
I'll need you to do."
"Of course," said
Spears. "It'll be a pleasure, sir."
The two men exchanged
salutes and then the conversation ended.
It was nineteen-ten when
Commodore Wildstar sat in an office just off a briefing room on the base. He
was looking over all of the intelligence on the R'Khell carrier force that they
had gathered from their scout ships, as well as intelligence that both the
Rikashans and Gamilons had given them.
I wish we knew more, thought Derek as he wiped his chin
with an edge of his dress ascot. More about their tactics, full number of
planes they have on each of those things, and what they do in battle. Cha'rif
told us on Rikasha that their priesthood was very secretive. I wonder what it's
like to be some kind of warrior priest pilot? Maybe
these guys do go into battle on drugs like they once falsely said my ancestors
did back in the Pacific. Even the Gamilons told us that these people are fanatics.
Like we didn't know that already, Desslok.
A knock came at the door.
"With all respect, please, I'm busy!" snapped Derek. I wish I
could've done this on the ship, he thought. You could fall asleep in one
of these offices!
"You're even too busy
for your yeoman to see you, Skipper?" chided a familiar voice through the
door.
"Oh…you. Come in."
The door opened, and Nova
stood there in her whites and red ascot with a tray that held a coffeepot,
cups, and several notebooks. "Do I get a tip for running this stuff off
the ship?"
Nova set down the tray and
Derek kissed her on the nose. "Will that do? And you didn't have to put on
your class A's for this."
"I wanted to look
really good for that meeting, probably a bit vain, but…well…I thought my
bandage showed in my regular uniform….that thing is so tight. Half the Fleet
doesn't need to know I'm hurt."
"Sorry."
"That's okay. You'll
owe me more later."
"You're perky."
"Too much of my own
coffee, I guess," said Nova as she poured them two cups after inserting a
message capsule in a computer. She felt a bit jittery. "This is the latest
from the patrol cruiser
"Wonderful," said
Derek with a smile as he looked at a visual of many red R'Khell carriers.
"Right there in the Centaurus System. Do we have a tactical on that?"
"Not officially, but I
got IQ-9 to do one."
"What did you bribe
him with?"
"A hug," said
Nova as she sat back down. "If I didn't have to sit at that desk running
the projector in front of all those Captains, I wouldn't have changed."
She pulled up a computer mouse and clicked on it. "Here they are…big, red
and ugly."
A detailed tactical scan
came up, complete with estimated tonnages and numbers of planes on the enemy
carriers.
"Tinwit's good at
this," chuckled Derek.
"I told him it was for
me…I think he gave me the extra mile," said Nova. "What's that group
doing off over to the side?"
"Cha'rif says that
formation is called a D'Vahldehaz."
"D'Vahl
what?" said Nova.
"It translates to
"Assassin Group," said Derek. "He told
us that based on what he knew of the secret R'Khell tactics, they always keep a
core group of carriers in reserve with planes ready to launch for Fleet
ops."
"In other words,
they've got a ready-made Combat Air Patrol," said Nova. "Are they in
flight like our patrol planes?"
"They're ready to go
at all times, even when they refuel the other planes on other carriers."
said Derek. "Very nasty tactic, but, unlike us, they don't keep much more
than a token force of planes up at all times…they don't keep the equivalent of
two squadrons up like we do. Big mistake. They depend
upon those pickets to engage an enemy force and spot it. We'll have to hit
those four carriers first, hoping that the scanners on the other twenty-eight
don't get our planes. Too bad Desslok's not around for this battle.
SMITE would be a great weapon to sic on those guys."
"We'll need a good
recon group to go in first and spot them and then raise the alarm…people who
can fly like maniacs and get out of there fast…and who aren't afraid to play
strike fighter, too."
"Any
suggestions?"
"Sandor, Lubyanska,
and Angie and Bryan Hartcliffe… Steve and IQ-9 will lead them in. I'll remain
on the ship and keep an eye on the time radar, regular radar and other sensors,
of course."
"Good idea. I'll sleep
on it," said Derek.
"Don't sleep too long,
we've got a meeting," chided Nova. "C'mon…drink your coffee?"
"Do I have
to?" said Derek in a tone of voice like that of a spoiled child.
Nova just nodded.
Derek began to drink his
coffee.
Then, another tap came on
the door.
"Yes?" said
Wildstar. "Come in."
"Sir," said
Captain Borland. "I had some questions about my role in this."
Nova's eyes locked on
Borland's face and she stiffened a little. My God, that's him! She
thought. The same man I found at my father's law office yesterday stealing
things!
"Um…Ensign…are you all right?" said Borland. "Sir, does your
yeoman require smelling salts or something? What kind of help are they giving
you…kids who've never gotten their noses out of their books?"
"I beg your pardon,
sir?" asked Nova.
"You beg my
pardon?" snorted Borland. "Listen, I'll only say this once!"
Borland banged the table and put his face right in front of Nova's. "Take
your Goddamn mouth and shut it! You are the biggest snot-nose kid in a skirt
I've ever met! I'm trying to talk to a Flag Officer you stupid scum,
Miss…."
"That's Mrs," said
Derek.
"Oh? Sir? Is her husband in the Fleet? Would you tell him this
little female rat of a damn secretary just ruined her career as of now?"
Secretary? Nova thought. She was very insulted
by this particular Captain. He's worse than Knox was! Much worse! Derek,
you'd better stick up for me!
Borland snorted. "Wait
until I talk to her CO and get her a damn fitness report that'll ensure she's
assigned to Outer Mongolia by herself in a forgotten base supervising the
ordering of toilet supplies!"
"Captain, you don't
recognize one of my top officers, who also happens to be my wife?" said
Derek in a soft voice as he took Nova's hand and squeezed it. "Lieutenant
Wildstar, holder of the Sunburst of Honor and the Iron Cross? And do you always
talk to women that way?"
"Oh…" said
Borland. "I see, sir. You don't rate an ordinary
yeoman, do you? Sorry!" said Borland.
"Did we meet somewhere
before, sir?" said Nova in a "pleasant" voice as she kept her
temper in check.
"I don't remember ever
meeting you, Lieutenant," chuckled Borland.
"Not ever in my…"
"Something about slamming
drawers?" said Nova softly.
"Where was I slamming
drawers?" said Borland pleasantly.
"In my father's law
office, when you were rooting through drawers in a filing cabinet that was supposed
to be locked?" said Nova pleasantly. "What were you doing
there?"
"I…I…I…I did not come
here to be accused of something by…"
"A Goddamned Office
Lady?" said Nova softly.
"You damn nosy Parker
you! Sir, with all respect, please teach her how to
respect her superiors!" snapped Borland. "Like…with your belt?"
he snorted as he rooted through the inner pockets of his peacoat. He dropped
some papers on the floor before he angrily pulled out a pack of cigarettes and
lit up.
"Captain, the smoking
lamp is NOT on in here!" snapped Derek. "Put that out! And show some
respect to your superiors!"
Borland got up and stalked
out of the room without any military courtesy whatsoever, slamming the door
behind him hard enough to make a picture of Commanding General Singleton fall
off the wall.
"A belt, a Goddamn
belt?" said Nova with shock in her eyes after she picked up the papers.
"He was advising you to use a belt? What rock did he just crawl out
from? I felt like killing that creep!"
"Yeah…something's
rotten in
"Sergeant, get me the
personnel jacket on a Captain Borland of the Mogami. You can give it to
the Lieutenant after the meeting."
"Of
course, sir. Do
you require anything else?"
"Yes…Two sets of Form
205's…and get me the personnel jacket of any Captain here on TDY who can
command a ship of cruiser tonnage or upwards. Preferably someone I can trust at
my back."
"Why, sir?"
"Because I don't trust
that guy," said Derek with a slow smile. "Nova, do you think he'd
like orders to
Nova nodded. "And do
assign him a job in Logistics ordering toilet supplies?"
Derek nodded slyly.
"I'll do that. But I'm also having him investigated. Something about
him…doesn't smell right."
"Definitely not,"
said Nova. "I know he was up to no good now. I just know
it."
"Did I miss something,
sir…ma'am…?" asked the Sergeant.
"No you didn't,"
said Derek. "Carry on, Sergeant."
"Aye, aye sir,"
said the young brunette as she walked off.
"Wonder what these
are?" said Nova as she looked over the papers.
"His
laundry list?"
"I don't think
so…I…"
Then, Nova opened the
papers and looked at them. "Oh, my God," she said softly.
"Derek…look!"
He looked. Then, he slowly
unfolded the papers. "A report to Sandberg and a second
one to your crazy Aunt Yvona…what a brazen traitor! This says he's
communicating to the enemy with a portable miniature comm unit. He's not
getting out of this building, he's…" said Derek in a flat voice as he
picked up a phone.
"What? said Nova.
"Going to be very
useful…let's let him communicate to the enemy one last time."
"But he'll give away
all our information!"
"Not if I give a false
execute time at the meeting…"
A while later, Nova sat at
a side desk in the good-sized briefing room while Derek addressed the other
thirty-one ship captains of Task Force 1.1.
"And this is the
latest intelligence we have," he said as Nova brought up the image of
IQ-9's tactical diagram. "They have a D'Vahldehaz, or, Assassin
Group of four carriers off to the side flank of the main group, about ten
megameters away. This Group provides advanced cover for the others while they
refuel or prepare weapons."
"Where's their Combat Air Patrol, sir?"
said Captain Hiroshi Udagawa of the battleship Potemkin. By an
interesting twist of fate, the same ship that they had once fought under
Yvona's command was now repaired and part of their Task Group.
"They don’t have much
of one, oddly enough," said Derek. "They're more like pickets…I
understand they raise the alarm and then the planes ready to go at all times on
the decks of that Assassin Group launch to get any enemy planes coming in. That
gives us a quick margin of error if we can silence those enemy planes and then
hit those decks really fast before they launch."
"Classic carrier
tactics, sir," said Commander Avram Steinmetz, the new skipper of the
cruiser
Derek nodded at that,
tapping the screen with the pointer. The young Commodore thought, What am I supposed to do with this naval hat on my
head? I feel like an idiot in this. Hope I'm not showing it.
"What's our role in
this, sir?" asked Denise Carroway of the Dragon. Some were
surprised to see her in command of a new gunboat, not familiar with the battle
near Procyon that led to her being ordered to turn in the battered Valkyrie
for repairs at Brumus on the 18th of April. She sat in her blues and white
peacoat some distance away from Steinmetz, to his right.
"I'm sending in four
gunboats to back up the fighters and torpedo planes when we attack that main
fleet, and you're leading them in" said Commodore Wildstar. "Your job
will be to finish what we and the other planes start with the main force. I
don't want a single carrier deck left working in that fleet when you get back.
Then, we'll take care of the rest of them with some long-range space naval
gunnery to make certain they never get home again. The attack time will be
around 0200 tomorrow morning as soon as we spot the enemy. Got that?"
"Thank you, sir,"
said Carroway.
"And, sir,
notwithstanding our discussion earlier," said Captain Borland as he stood
up. "What sort of role will the Mogami play?"
"Escorting
my flagship."
"Sir, we're a patrol
cruiser," said Borland as the other skippers began to mutter amongst
themselves.
"Patrol cruisers can
act as Fleet cruisers in emergencies," said Wildstar. "That's your
job, Captain, and you'll do it. Got that?"
"Yessir," said
Borland as Wildstar glared at him for a minute.
"Are we clear on our
mission objective?" said Derek.
Everyone nodded.
"Great," said
Wildstar as he took off his cap. "I'll see you in space. Dismissed."
The group stood and
saluted.
"Borland," said
Derek. "Don’t leave yet."
"Sir?"
"This
way, Captain.
Back to my office…I…no…let it wait for ten minutes. Get some coffee, then meet us there."
"Yessir," said
Borland with a smile.
Borland slipped into the
men's head a short time later and took out his transmitter.
"Sandberg?" he
said.
"Read you loud and
clear, son. When are they hitting?"
"Oh-two
hundred tomorrow morning. Can you get a trap ready?"
"We'll be in position
by twenty-three hundred, and we'll have some fighter cover up by then. We'll
finish them!" chuckled Sandberg.
"Twenty-three
hundred," said Borland as he got out another slip of paper and wrote down
the rendezvous time. "I'll find an excuse to slip away and meet you then…I
have more info for you."
"Good show," said
Sandberg. Looks like we have them!"
"Yes…we do…"
A while later, Borland sat
in shock in Wildstar's office. "Commodore!" he yelled. "What is
the meaning of this?"
"It's simple,"
said Wildstar. "I don’t want someone who makes a habit of rooting through
strange offices for classified plans in my command in any capacity. As you can
see, you're relieved as of now. I just got off the phone with Captain
Ghiradelli. He'll be overjoyed to take your place in my Task Force."
"Is this because of my
stupid argument with your wife?"
"That
too."
"Why
not?"
"No one who has a
predilection to hit defenseless women can really protect the planet," said
Derek.
"Also, you dropped
something, sir…" said Nova.
"What did I
drop?" asked Borland.
A tap came at the door.
"Come in," said Derek.
Two fully armed Space
Marines strode in, accompanied by two MP's. Derek stood. "Sergeant, please
arrest that man right away on espionage and treason charges." Derek handed
one of the MP's the papers Nova had picked up beforehand. "This is evidence
he's been aiding the Josiah cult and our enemies…and evidence he was planning
to attack us when we got into space…and then compromise the whole operation of
our task force. Search his pockets…he might have more information."
"What?" yelled Borland. "Wildstar, this is the most stupid adolescent
bullshit I've ever heard in my Goddamn…"
"Shut up!" said a
Sergeant. He patted Borland down. "He's got this, sir," he said,
pulling out a transmitter and the sheet of paper he had just noted the R'Khell
rendezvous time on in the men's head.
"Great! I'll take
that," said Derek. "Sergeant, get this spy out of my sight."
"Yessir," he said
as he and his men led Borland away. "Come on now…"
Derek looked at everything.
"A Rikashan transmitter…and this sheet of paper.
I…well…"
"What?"
"They're gonna be
waiting for us at twenty-three hundred. We'll have to be there then," said
Derek. "I'll notify the other commanders by comm signals when we take off.
We'll execute early, so we can trap them rather than their trapping us."
"You know what's
bothering me?" asked Nova.
"What?"
"Are there any more
like him in the Fleet?"
"I don't know,"
said Derek. "God…I don't know! But, I think our trick will work.
Trying to trick us…"
"We’ll get them,"
said Nova with a confident smile.
Back on the Argo, Venture
sat back in shock as Wildstar stood in his black peacoat, telling his tale.
"So he was the spy?"
Derek nodded. "Good
thing we found him, too. Otherwise, we would have been walking into a trap at
0200."
"We're executing
earlier?" asked Sandor.
"Yes…we're hitting
them at twenty-three hundred now. Homer, notify the Task Force."
"Roger."
The bridge doors opened;
Paul Rosstowski showed up.
"Sir, permission to
return to my post?" he asked.
"How's Aliscea?"
asked Derek.
"In her trance; before
she went under…well…I want you guys to know she's very apologetic about what
happened earlier."
"She's forgiven."
Nova showed up a minute
later, in her regular Star Force uniform. "hey
guys! Are we ready?"
"Just about,"
said Venture. "Yamazaki, make preparations for
takeoff."
"Yessir," said
the middle-aged engineer.
Dash took Combat again
while Rosstowski took his post. "Looks like you'll have to sit back there
again, Skipper," teased Dash.
"Would you guys cut
that out?" chuckled Derek. "Hardy," he said into his microphone
at the Captain's console. "Get ready to execute earlier than we planned.
We're on our way now."
"Why?"
"Intelligence
indicates they're setting a trap. But I think we can get them
first…"
In the meantime, out near
Centaurus, the R'Khell fleet was drawing closer to the planet.
On the slightly smoky but burnished bridge of the
heavy R'Khell spacecraft carrier Hehrendal, Lecha Voton put on his
Marshal's cap and stood as, from Earth, a green-haired R'Khell agent named
Tevlatz (who looked rather Terran) stood in regular Terran civilian clothes,
reporting in from one of the underground cities.
"What is it,
Tevlatz?" asked Voton.
"Sir, I thank you for
inserting me here three days ago. I have been monitoring EDF frequencies from
this semi-abandoned comm station here under
"And?"
"They expect to have
Wildstar meet you at 0200 Hours, sir. You should have plenty of time to ready
your attack, my lord. In the meantime, my first and second groups will be ready
with more bombs to greet your fighters and bombers when they come through
tomorrow morning. Is our purpose conquest?"
"No. Sheer punishment."
"Punishment?"
"Ekogaru
the Great, our Lord and Master, wishes to destroy Earth as retribution for
their helping Aliscea and their refusing his offer of eternal life. I will have you off-planet before
it is destroyed, but our purpose is now to neutralize the defense effort so
that his Lordship can wipe them out. Then, afterwards, we will turn on our
disloyal brethren from Rikasha and force them to repent and obey Ekogaru."
"Of course,
lord," said Tevlatz. "I await your bombers."
"Thank you," said
Voton. "That is all."
"In the Name of
Ekogaru, may you be blessed," said Tevlatz. Then, the screen went dark.
"How goes it?"
said Sandberg as he appeared.
"Wonderfully,"
said Voton.
"I am so glad,"
said Sandberg. "Soon, we shall have our revenge."
"Yes. We shall."
IV. ANOTHER SHOT IN THE DARK
The Vicinity of Alpha Centauri
R'Khell Carrier A'Venda
Sunday: April 25, 2202
2306 Hours
"So, we're on
patrol," said a R'Khell pilot named Venlatz.
"Commander, what do we have?"
"More planes taking
off in ten minutes," said his squadron leader as the wedge-like red planes
flew over their mothership, the carrier A'Venda. "This time, they
want a full patrol up. They want to make sure we trap those Terrans like
rats."
"Yes…they'll die…the
whole stinking lot of them. And Ekogaru will be so pleased," said Venlatz.
"What?" said his commander. "I'm getting blips."
"Did the other
carriers launch yet?"
"No."
"Then what…?"
"I see you,
mate," said Bryan Hartcliffe as he smiled wickedly. "Angie, it looks
like they're just taking off from that lovin' carrier," he said. "Do
you and Smitty wanna kick some tail?"
"Yup…but let's notify
Sandor first."
"Right," said
"Why are you calling
in? We're supposed to maintain radio…"
"RWA-255…four
carriers, one of them just launching planes. And I
detect lots of indistinct signals ten megameters away at RWG-243 on the grid,
sir."
"IQ-9, confirm
that," sand Sandor.
The robot scanned for a
minute. "We have them, Sandor."
"Great!" smiled
Sandor. "Let's go! Return to base!" Then, after reporting back to the
Argo, he smiled and said, "We're on our way back now…"
"Enemy planes
approaching," said Lubyanska. "There's twelve
of them!"
Sandor took a deep breath.
He thought, If we run, they might get on our
tails. But, if we fight, we might be caught in something we don't want. We're a
recon squadron….and…
"All planes, repel the enemy," said Sandor. "Then, make
a move to head back to base before they can get more planes up. We don't need
to press this attack…we'll have backup in two minutes. Go!"
"Well, here we
go," smiled
Then, a minute later, he and
his flight rushed in like demons to confront the enemy planes, followed by
Sandor and the others.
Venlatz never knew what hit
him as Hartcliffe's missiles blew his plane apart.
The R'Khell Flight
Commander evaded the missiles and said, "Captain, I don't believe
it…"
"Believe what?"
"Twelve Earth planes
just appeared from nowhere. Can we expedite the…?"
He screamed a moment later
as missiles from Angie's plane blew his fighter apart.
Then, on the R'Khell
carrier, missiles from Bryan Hartcliffe's Tiger began to blast apart the flight
deck.
"What are you
doing?" snapped Sandor over the comm circuit. "We have planes coming…we're
not supposed to attack the fleet! This is a recon mission, Mister!"
"Any chance we 'ave,
sir…and we're here! We need to guard our backs, sir!"
Sandor considered again. He
has a point, he thought. All right…
"All planes!" he
said. "Press one attack, and then we'll leave. We need to protect our
backs and keep this small group from launching any more planes!"
"Yeah," said
Lubyanska. "In we go!"
The A'Venda was soon
a burning wreck. But, she had gotten the alarm out.
On the other three
carriers, the deck crews worked like mad to ready the planes and launch. The
R'Khell carriers' deck guns put up laser flak to keep away the Tigers as they blasted
in to do their deadly work.
What happened next was fast
and stomach-wrenching. Sandor, both Hartcliffes, Lubyanska, and the others
dodged the laser beams from the R'Khell carriers and fired in missiles, all of
which struck home. The second carrier was burning a moment later as the A'Venda
blew apart, and the other carriers were also burning torches. Only one R'Khell
shot hit home; the Earth pilot known as "Smitty" got it. The other
eleven planes got away after shooting up the R'Khell escort cruisers in the
"Assassin" Group and thus neutralizing the first level of the R'Khell
Fleet's Combat Air Patrol. It must be noted that burning carriers can't launch
planes, and exploding cruisers can't fight.
"What should we
do?" asked Sandor rhetorically. "I think we've guarded our backs, and
they can't pounce on us now. Let's go! We can't attack that main fleet."
Sandor's voice came up on
the Argo's bridge a moment later. "This is Sandor," he said.
"We've neutralized the R'Khell guard squadron and destroyed their
carriers. I think we should back to base now."
"Go for it," said
Wildstar. "Break off the attack and head home! What's their
location?"
"RWG-243," said
Sandor.
"Confirmed," said
Nova. "Enemy fleet at RWG-243; distance seventeen
megameters. I read twenty-one heavy carriers, ten light carriers, ten
space battleships, twenty cruisers, and a hundred destroyers. A hundred and
sixty-one ships total."
"They're not playing
games," said Venture.
"No shit," said Dash next to him.
"We'll have to get those
carriers first…" said Commodore Wildstar. "We'll
take care of the escorts when we get in closer and those planes are unable to
launch. All squadrons…concentrate on the carrier flight decks."
"Just like at
Phoebus," grinned Hardy. "Okay, here we go!"
A moment later, the rest of
the Black Tigers launched, followed by the Green Hornets, Jolly Rogers, and
Widowmakers from the
Ten Minutes Later…
The space near Centaurus
was filled with light, flame, and confusion as Earth plane after Earth plane,
gunboat after gunboat, and missile after missile methodically but quickly
ruined Lecha Voton's "beautiful" carrier fleet. Most of the carriers
were unable to launch now, and some of the cruisers were also disabled.
On the now-burning Hehrendal,
the would-be High Priest and Marshal of the R'Khelleva was in a rage as report
after report of carriers that would never see R'Khell space again came in to
his bridge.
"Sir?" asked an
officer. "Should we withdraw yet? Our Number Two Engine is burning."
"Damn you!" raged
Voton. The R'Khell tyrant shot the erring officer dead with a single shot
through the heart. "Anyone else?"
"I thought you said we
had fighter cover up!" yelled Sandberg. "Where'd these guys come
from? Borland said they wasn't gonna be here for another friggin' three
hours!"
"Your Borland
was wrong," snapped Voton.
"Another two carriers
are destroyed!" yelled a radar officer. He fell screaming as Voton shot
him, too.
"They're only telling
the truth," said Sandberg. "That damned chivalrous Wildstar somehow
got us with our balls out in the open!"
"Sir," said
another officer fearfully. "Message from the Earth Fleet
Commander!"
"Put him on, damn
you," said Voton as he sat down. He coughed as his ship took another hit
and something exploded on his very bridge, killing yet another crewman.
Commodore Wildstar's image
appeared on the R'Khell ship's screen. "I recognize you, Marshal Voton.
This is Wildstar. We've met before on Rikasha. The tide has turned against you
and Ekogaru today. I am giving you an opportunity to surrender and withdraw
with what remains of your fleet before I give the order to turn our guns on
you. My officers report that none of your carriers can launch now. You're
beaten, and can't attack Earth any longer. Would you like to accept this
opportunity to escape with your lives?"
"We still have heavy
guns. We have battleships and cruisers. Four battleships…"
"Two," said
Wildstar.
"Two?"
Sandberg pointed towards a
window. Two balls of flame suddenly appeared in space.
"Two, Wildstah,"
said a Georgia-accented voice in the background of the Earth side of the
conversation.
"Thanks, Hardy,"
said Wildstar with a smile. "Return to base; that goes for all of
you."
Then, Derek addressed Voton
again. "You have ten minutes to stand down and call back to accept my
surrender terms or face the consequences. That will be all."
Wildstar then faded out.
"Don't
surrender," said Sandberg. "We still have guns, don't we?"
"We need time to get
them in range," said Voton. "I can arrange to have my cruisers and
one of the battleships fire missiles, in the
meantime…I only have three carriers…"
Then, there was another
ball of flame as Denise Carroway's Dragon got another carrier with her
torpedoes. "Make that two," muttered an angry Voton.
"That'll be ten
minutes to get everything ready, sir. Shouldn't we unleash one barrage at once
to eliminate them?" asked another officer.
"Now you're being
sensible. Relay the orders."
"Yessir!"
Ten minutes passed. Wildstar
looked at Captain Avatar's old stopwatch, waiting until eleven minutes had
passed. I want to give them time to reflect on what they're doing before we
attack, he thought.
"Wildstar, it's past
the ten minutes," said Sandor.
"Nova, have they stood
down yet?"
"No," she said after taking a scan.
"And they're making no move to do so, either."
"So…" said
Wildstar as he shut his eyes. I hate attacking a badly damaged fleet, but if
they won't withdraw quietly…
"Communication from
the R'Khells!" said Homer.
The screen lit up with
Voton's image.
"Wildstar, you may
have noticed that I am not standing down. We have a mission to accomplish. And,
that mission is murdering you."
"Voton, I have the
power to wipe you out; and as I said before…your fleet is badly damaged,"
said Wildstar. "Why not spare the lives of your men and see reason?"
"Ekogaru does not wish
for his servants to be reasonable," snapped Voton. "He wishes
you dead, no matter what the cost!"
"Does he?"
"Yes! This is what he
wants! Release first barrage!"
At that, the R'Khell fleet
fired a huge wave of missiles.
"Missiles approachin'
at high speed!" yelled Eager from his post.
"All ships, open main
guns!" barked Wildstar.
"They're not in range
yet," said Sandor.
"I know. I just want
to get those missiles. Okay, Voton," said Derek. "If that's the way
you want it!"
"The planes are all in
now," said a voice over the Argo's bridge speakers from the Potemkin.
"All of the Cossacks came back safely, sir."
"Main guns are ready
to fire on your mark; I'm tracking the missiles," said Dash from Combat.
Not far away, Rosstowski sat waiting with a smile on his face.
"Good," said
Derek.
"Radar data being sent
to gunnery," said Nova. "Missiles at five megameters…four…"
"We've got them on
target," said Rosstowski.
"FIRE!" snapped
Wildstar.
The Argo's main guns
went off, with turret number one finally working perfectly. The rest of the
Task Force fired a moment later…the quick decision to defend the fleet meant
that only one ship, one of the destroyers, was damaged, and the damage was
minor.
"The enemy fleet's
advancing," said Nova. "They're picking up speed, now at fourteen
megameters' distance."
From Analysis, IQ-9 said,
"My sensors indicate that they seem to be readying another missile barrage
at closer range."
"We may not have
enough time to stop that one," said Venture. "Wildstar, what are we
doing?"
Derek sat in silent thought
for a moment.
"I may have to give
them a harsh response," he said.
"Second wave of
missiles!" said Nova.
More missiles flew in from
the enemy fleet. The guns fired again, but this time, some of them struck home.
The Potemkin was hit in her bridge tower, and one of the
"Message from
Spears," said Homer. "He wants to know if he should launch
again."
"Tell him
negative," said Wildstar. "Tell him we're doing something about this,
and very soon. Nova, what's the range of the Fleet?"
"Twelve
megameters!
They're still not in the range of our guns yet."
"They're playing
games," said Wildstar. "And I gave him a chance to back down…"
"I hope Aliscea's okay
in her trance," mused Paul.
"Yeah…How is
Aliscea?" asked Homer.
Paul went silent for a
moment with closed eyes. Then, he opened them. "Sleeping but fine,"
said Paul. "She's reached out to me just now with her mind."
"Must
be nice."
"It is," said
Paul.
Sandor got up from his post and he looked out at the
enemy fleet on the screen. "I think we can get them if we get the Potemkin
and
"Not for main
guns," said Nova. "They're at eleven megameters' range! They're
acting as if they know our range."
"They probably
do," said Venture. "Remember that spy you mentioned? That's probably
how they know what our range is."
"And they're lying
just behind it to fire those missiles," said Wildstar. "What a sneaky
trick."
"Looks like they're
preparing a third wave," said IQ-9.
"So, what were you
talking about, Sandor?" asked Wildstar.
"I wasn't talking
about the main guns," said Sandor with an icy smile. He laughed softly and
opened an access hatch at his post, withdrawing a pair of goggles. There was
silence for a moment. IQ-9 said, "Sensors say they're still getting ready,
but I'm not sure why they're taking so long…"
"I don't know why they're
not firing, Wildstar. Let's take advantage of it," said Sandor. "Wave
motion gun? I think they'll give us enough time to get ready."
"Good," said
Derek. "Homer, patch me in to all of the capital ships."
"Yessir."
A moment later, Wildstar's
voice could be heard on all of the cruisers, battleships, and the single
battle-carrier of Task Force 1.1. "All ships, assume formation Beta. When
you do so, stop all engines, and transfer energy to wave motion guns! I've been
awake long enough tonight…let's get this game out of extra innings now! Wildstar out."
The Earth ships began to
move. The Argo adjusted her course slightly, and then Yamazaki flicked a
switch.
The bridge went very dim.
Dash worked a lever, and a blued metal firing grip came up into his hand. Then,
a moment later, a deadly, slow pulsing noise began to resound through the Argo.
"Energy level at
thirty percent," said Yamazaki with a grim smile.
"We will be ready to
launch a final barrage in three minutes!" said a voice on the Hehrendal.
"They will be in
firing range a minute after that," said another voice. "We know their
range is ten megameters in their measure, sir, that is
twenty gerad in ours. Thanks forever to that Borland for the
intelligence!"
"Seek permission to
ready D'IATS cannon after first barrage," said another officer.
"Good, good,"
said Voton. "We've had some good shooting so far this night from our
missile crews." He smiled and drank some wine from a goblet, and teased a
barely dressed dancing girl he had called up from the ship's harem chambers.
"That is why I don't mind that we begin the victory celebration now!"
Another dancing girl danced
around barefoot, ringing small finger gongs as she began to take all of her
clothes off right on the bridge with no shame whatsoever. A third dancing girl
showed up, playing a R'Khell instrument like a
mandolin as she sang hymns to Ekogaru. An officer pulled out a water pipe and
began smoking it. Another one began drinking some wine laced with a weird
hallucinogen that would have been illegal on Earth. There was a loss of decorum
as some of the crew laughed, clapped, cursed and sang in their language while
pungent smoke blew about the bridge, making everything seem shadowy,
indistinct, and mysterious. It turned off Sandberg a bit. The former government
official thought, Why'd I ally with these
freaks? Why'd I defect? I thought Ekogaru was the Lord, and that he didn't like
aliens. Yvona said so when she was alive. But now…I see he uses very freaky
aliens. What sort of being is this Ekogaru?
"Sir, you should see
this," said a science officer in the midst of the revelry. Despite the
loss of the carriers, Voton still thought they could easily defeat the much
smaller Earth fleet.
"See what?" said
Voton. "All right. I'll see you later,
Vicra."
"Awww,"
said the harem wench in a sad voice. “Do I have
to get dressed now? That was fun!” She asked this since she was the one who had
stripped.
Voton nodded. Then, he
said, "So? Science Officer? What do you see? Why do you interrupt my
pleasures with this?"
"I'm reading a tachyon
buildup, sir."
"Tachyons?" said
Sandberg. Then, he looked at Voton. "For Heaven's sake, warp us out of
here!"
"What?" hissed Voton.
"Wave motion
guns!" said Sandberg. "They're preparing our funeral, you fool!"
"Target scope, OPEN!"
snapped Dash on the Argo. "Right on target, Wildstar," he
said.
"Energy level, ninety
percent," said Yamazaki. "One minute to firing."
"The Fleet reports the
same thing," said Homer.
"Enemy fleet still
holding formation," said Nova as she gazed at the radar through her
goggles. "What is with those guys?"
"Maybe they forgot
their smart pills?" said Eager.
"Maybe they're drunk,"
joked Rosstowski, not knowing how close he was to the
truth with some of those evil men.
"This could be a
trick," said Venture.
"It might…be…"
said Sandor.
"Energy level one
hundred percent!" said Yamazaki.
"Thirty seconds to
firing," said Wildstar. "All ships, release safety locks!"
On the other ships of the
Task Force, the firing pistons slid back in all of the capital ships.
"Only four ships got
your order to warp!" said F'Randhis, another R'Khell officer.
"Let the rest of them
die," said Voton.
"That's
cold-blooded," muttered Sandberg.
"WHO RUNS THIS
FLEET!" yelled Voton. "You, or I?"
"I…I..I.."
"Ready to warp in ten
seconds…" said Voton's helmsman.
"10…9…8…" counted
Dash. Everything was ready.
Out in space, R'Khell ships
began to break formation and began to try to make a futile effort to run on
sub-light power as the flagship and four other ships began to warp out as the
helmsmen on those vessels pulled back their warp switches.
"Four…three. Two…"
At that, the Hehrendal
vanished into subspace, followed by two other ships.
"Zero!" said
Dash.
"FIRE!" called
out Commodore Wildstar.
The Argo fired,
followed by the rest of the Earth Task Force.
Roaring topaz-colored death
whizzed out into space. It was now midnight on Monday, April 26, 2202. Exactly
0000 Hours.
At 0001 there was no more
R'Khell carrier fleet left; only explosions and expanding gas.
"We did it!"
yelled Dash.
"Yeah!" yelled
Rosstowski.
Homer threw off his headset
and laughed.
Nova got up and threw
herself into Derek's arms with a loud laugh.
Venture banged his board
and yelled, "Yeah! Yeah! YEAHH! We did it!"