ALTERNATE TALES OF THE STAR FORCE
STAR BLAZERS---THINK FOR YOURSELF
Being the third part of THE RIKASHA INCIDENT--- BY: Frederick P. Kopetz
ACT FIVE--WILDSTAR'S REPLY
I. A DECISION FROM THE COMMANDER
Space Battleship Argo
In the Sigma Korolevi System
January 11, 2202
0732 Hours space-time
"Captain!" cried Homer. "It's a call from the Commander!"
"Put it through, Homer," said Wildstar.
"Yessir."
Captain Wildstar saluted as Commander Singleton came up on the main screen. Beside him, Venture and Homer also saluted.
Singleton returned their salutes and then said, "I'm glad to hear that you're in the Sigma Korolevi system, Wildstar. I understand our new enemy has a message for us?"
"Yessir, they do," said
Captain Wildstar. "A while ago, the enemy commander, a Baron Anton Cha'rif
called up and apologized for the attack. He said that elements of his forces
beyond his control caused the attack, and he would like to apologize and return
three prisoners to us."
"You have no live prisoners to return to him, correct?"
"Correct, sir," continued Wildstar. "As you know, the only prisoner we had committed suicide, apparently through the use of some mental powers. Cha'rif said that many people in their race have such powers, including himself."
"Hmmm," said Singleton. "Then the death of a prisoner in our custody didn't seem to bother him?"
"No, sir. He was just as much as admitting that they have a harsh ethic and such mental powers."
"Did he say anything about the disturbance in space or any connection to Gralnacz?" asked the Commander.
"No, sir. The silences he left seem almost as disturbing as what he did say. He did say that he wishes to negotiate the return of the prisoners under a flag of truce."
"Who are these prisoners?"
"He said a young couple and a child, sir. He also asked for the return of the prisoner's body."
"As long as you're under a truce, you can give him the body. However, should he attack you, you have permission to break this truce to defend yourselves and Earth, no questions asked."
"Yessir," said Derek. "What about further negotiations? He said he wanted to negotiate peace, sir."
"If he has that power,
than you can, of course, listen to his offers. However, nothing is to interfere
with your mission to investigate the disturbance in the Valentis System. If his
"peace" depends upon your stopping your mission or turning back, do
not accept it. We need to know the nature of this threat. The remnants of the
time-space disturbance passed Earth near
"Yessir," said Wildstar with a grim smile.
"Also, if any of his offers involve threats to our security or setting up of any bases within our territorial space, do not consider them. You are to handle this with caution. However, on the other hand, try to avoid any action that would endanger our prisoners, except if he threatens you or them."
Wildstar nodded. "Is there anything else?"
"You can meet with
him, but keep the negotiations as short as possible. I will be diverting the
patrol cruiser
"Of course. You can count on the Star Force, sir."
"Excellent. Report to me later with regard to what you discover about our enemy during this truce. And be careful during this banquet. Bring your analysis robot, IQ-9, with you to investigate your food. Be wary. Poisoning an enemy commander is an old trick, Captain. I think they might be capable of treachery of this sort."
"Of course, sir. And thank you for the warning."
"You're welcome. Report back soon, Captain."
At that, the transmission faded out.
"What do you think of that?" asked Venture.
"I think we might be going into a trap," said Derek. "We'd better keep our eyes open. That goes for all of you," he said, scanning the bridge crew with his eyes.
"Yessir," they all said.
"All of you will come with me except for Rosstowski and Orion," said Captain Wildstar. "We have a bit more than two hundred aboard this ship. I will be taking fifty aboard for the banquet. All of you; be sure not to let down your guard…that even goes for you ladies attending in civilian clothing," smiled Wildstar.
"I still have that large bag from the 20th Century," said Nova. "My astro-automatic is going in there. I'll make certain that anyone else attending in civilian dress takes the same sort of precautions."
"Believe me, I'll be doing that," said Parsons.
Captain Wildstar smiled and nodded.
"Captain," said Homer.
"I'm receiving a signal from the B'eoneraze, Cha'rif's ship. His
fleet is requesting permission to approach."
"Grant it, but request that the B'eoneraze come no closer than five kilometers until we signal that we're ready to receive their docking tunnel and make the rendezvous."
"Yessir," said Homer. He spoke to the Rikashans for a moment, and then turned back to face the Captain. "Sir, they've accepted those conditions and will abide by them."
"Pretty polite for a race that just attacked us a few hours ago," said Dash. "What a strange bunch."
"Derek, maybe this commander is telling the truth," said Nova. "Maybe the attack was a mistake."
"Maybe, but that still doesn't take away the fact that it happened, Nova," said Derek.
"Maybe they'll even give us information about the spatial disturbance," said Parsons.
"Maybe," said Wildstar. "This may seem funny, but right now, I'd rather have the Gamilons around. At least we know we can trust Desslok…to an extent."
"I wonder what Desslok knows about this bunch," asked Orion.
"I'd sure love to ask him," said Captain Wildstar.
"There's a lot here we'd like to know about," said Sandor.
"You can say that again, Sandor," said Derek. "Nova, keep an eye on that fleet. If one ship makes a move, I want to know about it, and ASAP."
"Yessir," she replied.
II. JONATHAN AWAKENS IN HELL.
The Brig Deck of the B'eoneraze
The Sigma Korolevi System
January 11, 2202
1040 Hours, space-time
The young figure on the bunk under the thin cover moaned and grimaced in pain against his wrist and ankle shackles as the last bits of a horrid dream clawed at his mind. At some moment, the boy seemed to realize he was awake, even though his vision was blurred.
The first thing that he felt was a very large but gentle hand against his forehead. His eyes fluttered as he felt something cool being rubbed against his forehead. He heard a deep voice whisper, "My Lord Baron, he's coming around."
"Excellent," said an even deeper but more cultured voice. "Those bumbling idiots in the Fleet. Didn't they know that using stun-weapons on these little ones could easily kill them? He's been out for several hours."
Jonathan Hartnell-Iiyama gasped a bit at that, and as his eyes opened, he let out something of a weak, croaking scream. He thought. You creeps! YOU STINKING R'KHELLS…RIKASHANS, WHATEVER YOU MONSTERS ARE! WHY? WHY DID YOU KILL MY PARENTS?
Jonathan Hartnell-Iiyama struggled against his bonds, screaming and croaking, "Why, Why?" in the first words he had spoken in many hours, since he had been knocked unconscious aboard the burning Westhampton Beach by that monster Kranel with his stun-pistol.
It would be better for
you not to speak now… came a deep voice in his mind as the big tall Rikashan in the
black tunic and purple cloak stared what seemed to be daggers at him with his
green eyes.
What? thought Jonathan.
Do not be alarmed,
replied the tall one.
Some of us can do this.
It is even normal for many of us. Incidentally, the doctor; that is, Doctor Garn'ash, the man over there in the white tunic, cannot
hear us, even though he can probably guess I am speaking thus to you. I have
read your thoughts, and I understand your sentiments about us. It is doubly
worse, for I would have never authorized your capture had I known that Kranel
and his ilk would do such things. I have never seen women and children as
legitimate prisoners of war. Only fighting men should thus be taken.
"You mean?"
gasped Jonathan, whose-tear filled brown eyes were now filled with wonder as
well as fear as his wrist shackles snapped open with a gesture from Cha'rif. He
sat up and shivered at once in the grey compartment as his blanket slid off. He
then realized they had taken everything from him and had stuck him in a
scanty, filthy loincloth instead. He curled up his bare legs in a pathetic
effort to keep warm.
Then, the reality of his situation hit him afresh. His parents were dead, killed by these people. His sister was missing, or dead like his parents. And he was a long, long way from home, alone and almost naked in an alien ship among Earth's enemies in a prison cell.
"Why did you take my pajamas?" asked Jonathan in a dry voice.
"You had to be examined and studied, young man, and it is the custom of our people to strip prisoners and slaves," said Gar'nash.
"I'm no slave," gasped Jonathan. "Please get me some water?"
"Garn'ash!" barked the Baron. "Inform the young Terranisch known as Jonathan that I, Sublime Baron Anton Cha'rif, have ordered you to get him a cold glass of water so his throat will not hurt him because of the bumbling of the fool soldiers of the twenty-ninth Corps! Then, after you bring him the water, you will leave us!"
"Yes, Lord," said Gar'nash as he bowed and left.
"Good," sobbed Jonathan. "Because there's something I have to do to him...this big one in the black and purple outfit!"
"Yes?" asked Cha'rif.
With all of his strength, Jonathan sat up, drew a bit of spit together in his mouth...and spat right on Baron Cha'rif.
The Baron gasped a little, drawing back with a scowl on his face as Jonathan thought, Go ahead, you great Sublime Creepazoid! KILL ME!
Are all of you this
defiant to your elders and betters? thought Cha'rif in return. To Jonathan's surprise, the voice
was hearable in his mind. If so, your race might be a harder enemy to defeat than we
thought should we have to go to war.
If you let me out of
these bonds around my ankles, you'll see just how tough I am, you big jerk! And
why don't you get me some clothes? I can't run around in a rag! retorted Jonathan with his mind.
Cha'rif cleared his throat. "The doctor told you why you were stripped, child! But back to the current matter at hand. Since your state bothers you, we shall provide you with clothing when you're well, which, incidentally, we usually never do for prisoners of war. I told the young Terran couple the same thing when we dressed them."
"The other couple? You mean there's other prisoners from Earth on this ship?"
"There are. And another reason you will be clothed is that you and they will soon be on their way back home."
"Home?" asked Jonathan. "Not a lie?"
"Not a lie. You will be on your way home."
Doctor Gar'nash returned a moment later with water for Jonathan. "Your water, lad. Here, let me loosen one bond a bit to permit you to drink."
"Thanks," sobbed Jonathan as he pulled his sheet up to cover his body a bit. "By the way, Mister Baron Cha'rif, if I'm not a prisoner, why do you have me tied to the bed?"
"You were thrashing about in your sleep," said Gar'nash. "If you had fallen out of the bunk, the Baron would have held me responsible for your welfare. Had I failed, my head might've been on a post with Kranel's."
"Kranel. He's the one who hurt me?"
"He was," said Cha'rif. "He was brought to me and decapitated for his cruelty. He is dead."
"You really...cut…people's heads off," muttered Jonathan. "I'm sorry...but you guys sound nuts."
Cha'rif let out a war-whoop and unsheathed a huge, silver scimitar that looked nothing less like something that the mad Arab Azul Al-Hadred might've carried.
At that, under his loincloth, Jonathan wet the bunk.
"Sorry to frighten you," said Cha'rif as Jonathan cowered. "I..."
"It's okay. I…oh, great," said Jonathan. "Mom used to make me wash the sheets when I did that."
"By the gods, I went too far and shamed you like a woman," said, looking at the growing wetness on Jonathan's sheet. "For that, I sincerely apologize. "Gar'nash. After we finish, wash him, change his sheets, and see to it he gets something on him, even if only a fresh, clean loincloth! Also see to it that he gets sandals on his feet! When we let him wander about the ship, he'll need something between his toes and the deck gratings so he doesn't catch and break a toe!"
"Of course. He'll be tended to after you leave."
"If you untie me and get me some water, I can darn well wash myself down there, thank you!" said Jonathan.
"All right," said Cha'rif with the first hint of a smile that Jonathan had seen in any of these aliens. "To change the subject for a moment, would you like to look at my sword? I call it D'Kransha, which means "the grand silver cleaver of enemies" in my tongue. Isn't it a beautiful piece of work?"
"You use that to cut off people's heads?" said Jonathan.
"Yes. And I extend to you the offer to see the head of your enemy. I'll bring it to you."
"No," said Jonathan, not believing this for a second. "Well, if you actually have the guy's head, that'd be cool, but kind of gross."
"Very well. Just permit me to do it before the banquet. I don't wish to get violently ill at the sight of the congealed blood before we dine with the Star Force."
"You really have his head?"
"On a stake," said Cha'rif.
"Forget that. But, you said the Star Force is here?"
Cha'rif pressed a button, and a small viewport opened up. "See the Argo? She is maneuvering close to our fleet now."
"Cool!" cried Jonathan. "Then I'm really going home?"
A buzzer went off. "Cha'rif," he said into a small grille in a wall.
Some speech in Rikashan went back and forth. Finally, Cha'rif said. "You will have to be taken aboard another ship for a time. Our doctor is coming with sandals and a fresh loincloth for you, as well as water. You will be fitted for a tunic on one of our battlecruisers, where the Captain has a souvenir of his child around. I shall see you later."
"Okay, fine," smiled Jonathan. Cha'rif left.
Then, it hit Jonathan again. These people, men of this sort, nice as some of them seemed, had just left him an orphan. When the reality of his situation hit him again, Jonathan banged his wet mattress (there was no pillow on his bunk) and began to cry again, not caring what anyone would think when they found him.
What's going to happen
to me? thought Jonathan. I have no family now! No mom, no dad,
nobody at all. For all I know, my sister's dead. And…it was the 11th
today. It's my birthday! I'm nine today. No cake, no candles, no
family…nothing…and the Rikashans probably beat kids with a whip on their
birthdays...
Jonathan lay back and began
to sing, "Happy Birthday…to me…Happy birthday… to…"
And, at that, he began to
scream and cry uncontrollably. He eventually cried himself to sleep.
"Samantha," gasped a young man as he lay in bed in a similar cell.
"Poor Josh," replied his brown-haired young wife as she stroked his forehead. "At least they gave us clothes to wear now, if you're cold. See? I have on an orange jumpsuit and boots."
"Not cold. Hot. What did they hit me with?"
"A stun-beam of some kind. "
"Were you conscious, Samantha?"
"I…don't want to talk about it. All they did was hit me and asked me questions," she sobbed."They made all kinds of threats, too. Horrible threats. Then, I felt a needle in me and I woke up here with you, with my dress gone."
"They took everything from you?"
Samantha nodded.
"Those maniacs. I think they must be pirates or something," said Joshua. "Where are we?"
"Their flagship, I think? It makes a lot of noise," she said, listening to the low thrum of B'eoneraze's twin main engines.
The doors hissed open, and
Joshua Cortland sat up, instinctively trying to protect his wife, Samantha.
They had just gotten married a few days ago and had decided to have their
honeymoon on the
In came Cha'rif and Gar'nash. "Is he all right?" asked Gar'nash.
"What do you people care?" hissed Samantha. "Are you here to torture us again?"
"No. We're here to begin processing you for your return to Earth," said Cha'rif.
"Is this a trick?" whispered Joshua.
"No, it is not," said Cha'rif. "The Argo has arrived. In about two of your hours, a party from that ship will board. You will be returned to the Argo, examined, and then you will be met by an Earth patrol cruiser. Aboard that ship, you will go home. Before then, you will be fed. May we examine your husband? We need to be sure he's well," said Cha'rif.
"Why did you take us in the first place?" asked Joshua.
"Many reasons. Forces not fully under my control in this Fleet have worked against me. The raid was executed without my permission, and I mean to make up for it."
Jonathan slept for a while,
and then he was awakened to be washed and fed. They had also left new clothes.
It took a while for the boy to figure out how to put them on, but the exotic
outfit cheered him up a little once he saw how he looked in it.
"I feel kinda like Tarzan in this get-up," he said. He now wore a suede breechclout held onto his bare waist with a rawhide thong, and sandals with flexible leather soles that looked a bit like ventilated boots tied on with long thongs.
"Tar-zan?" asked a Rikashan orderly on another part of the B'eoneraze as Jonathan was walked towards the banquet hall.
"A great hero of Earth. He lived in the jungle and stuff…back when Earth had jungles, that is. I had to read about him in school. Is this where I'll be meeting with the Star Force? This room looks neat!"
"Yes. It is. Sit here with us," said the orderly and one guard as they smiled to each other. "Because of what you went through, today Baron Cha'rif has decided you will be recognized as a man before you meet with the Star Force. Drink from that cup. It's like a Terran drink you call wine. Only grown-ups drink it on Rikasha."
"Okay, if you guys insist," smiled Jonathan as he picked up the metal stein and clinked steins with the other men. He drank. Boy, is this good, he thought. Feel funny…is this what they call drunk? Why am I getting…?
Jonathan passed out with his head on the table a moment later.
"Little creep, he spilled it!" roared the orderly.
"We have to make this quick and quiet if we’re gonna get him to Ka'mok and the others on the sub for that bounty without Cha'rif noticing it," said the guard. "We'll get a lot for one young slave in good physical shape. See his chest? He's got good muscles for a lad."
"What will they do with him?" asked the orderly.
"Maybe sell him to a landowner, a farmer, a miner…maybe he'll even be sold into a house of ill repute. What do we care? Whatever will get us more money is the best thing. We'll tell his Lordship that he was spirited out from under our noses on the battlecruiser…which is not where he's going."
Both men laughed as they picked Jonathan up by the ankles and wrists like a sack and carried him out of the banquet hall. "Quick now. We don't want him waking up until he's in chains and on his way back to the Empire," said the orderly.
The guard just smiled.
III. CHA'RIF'S BANQUET
The Banquet Hall of the B'eoneraze
The Sigma Korolevi System
January 11, 2202
1311 Hours, space-time
Captain Derek Wildstar and Lieutenant Nova Wildstar walked through passage after passage.
They were now on the B'eoneraze, which was attached to the Argo temporarily by an umbilical-cord like tunnel that the Rikashans had set up and attached to the outside of an airlock hatch on the Argo. The seal had been perfect; Captain Wildstar had just come over in his peacoat, ascot and slacks and Nova was wearing a pink dress of hers, with a dark pink choker and the pink sandals from the 20th century that she had just gotten back from Holly Parsons.
"It's warm in here," said Nova. "I think they must like a hotter climate than ours."
Derek nodded. "Their ship certainly seems a bit bigger than the Argo."
"Probably at least three hundred and twenty meters long, if not bigger," said Sandor, who was behind them in his peacoat. "She seems to have heavier armor than ours and seems to have four main gun turrets, like an Andromeda class battleship. And did you see the pulse laser array near the bridge tower? And twin engines?"
"Perhaps this visit is for propaganda, a sort of 'don't mess with us' visit," said Captain Wildstar.
"If it is, they know how to act well," said Hemsford. "What a contrast from the way they were actin' on that liner. These guys also look a little more orange than the other troops," he added as two troopers bowed at their approach.
"The banquet hall is in here," they said, opening the ornate, apparently wooden doors by hand with another bow.
Captain Wildstar and Nova looked surprised as they walked into a vast room filled with many round tables with white tablecloths. The walls seemed to be a dark purple color and were decorated with strange tapestries, paintings, and a few torches burning in brass fixtures of some kind. The torches were for decoration, it seemed, as the rest of the room was illuminated with modern lighting of some type.
Derek, Nova, Mark, and Stephen Sandor were guided to a large table around which Homer, Randall Parmon, Doctor Sane, and two individuals in orange jumpsuits were seated.
Homer turned to the couple in jumpsuits and said, "Mr. and Mrs. Cortland, this is Captain Derek Wildstar, with Lieutenant Nova Wildstar beside him in the pink dress. Those two are Commander Mark Venture and Commander Stephen Sandor."
Derek shook hands with both of them. "You are?"
"Mister Joshua Cortland and Mrs. Samantha Cortland," said the young man. "We work for the Xeno-Cultural Bureau, under Piper Sandberg. Needless to say, we don't share Doctor Sandberg's opinion of you anymore, especially since my wife is the "damsel in distress" you've apparently succeeded in rescuing. What the hell did you do to get them to turn us over?"
"We beat a major force of theirs in a battle," said Derek.
"That explains it, partially. The alien commander also seems decent," said Samantha. "He's supposed to be turning the little boy over to us with you…as soon as they get him dressed and ready, I think."
"The little boy?" asked Nova.
"Yes. He's about eight years old, I think, maybe nine. He has sandy blond hair, slightly chubby legs, wide eyes…cute kid," said Samantha.
"He sounds like the boy we tried to rescue yesterday," said Nova, turning to Hemsford and her husband for a minute. "Derek, my prayers were answered!"
"Let's hope so, Nova," said Derek as he held her hands.
A horn rang out in the chamber. The doors swung open, and the guests came to their feet in a salute.
Artwork--"Banquet"
Based upon series art from Yamato III-computer-altered by Frederick P. Kopetz
Captain Wildstar recognized Baron Cha'rif, accompanied by an older, bearded man in a grey tunic and black trousers, and two armored guards in black variations of the battle armor that Nova and the Marines had seen the R'Khell wearing during the raid.
Cha'rif strode to the center of the room and raised his right arm in a stiff salute. "I welcome you aboard B'eoneraze, Captain Derek Wildstar and members of the Star Force! I am Baron Anton Cha'rif, a priest and commander of the military forces of a major province of the Rikashan/R'Khell Imperial Stellar Union! It is my hope that there shall be peace for long among our peoples!"
"By way of apology, I return to you Mister and Mrs. Joshua and Samantha Cortland, unwilling guests of ours, captured in the recent unfortunate battle that introduced our peoples to each other. At the end of this ceremony, I will also return young Master Jonathan Hartnell-Iiyama to you. He will be bearing the cup of friendship, as we will drink to a hopefully long and peaceful partnership between our races. Please pardon the delay. He is being suitably attired for such a ceremony. The poor lad was taken in his pajamas."
A few chuckles filled the room. "Before we eat, permit me to speak to you of our Empire. We currently occupy this area of space," said Cha'rif as he walked over to an area covered with curtains. A quickly glimpsed graphic of a man in robes faded and was replaced by a computer-rendered galactic map.
"As you will see, your Earth is here, in the lower part of the Orion Nebula, as you call it. This is the site of the departed planet Telezart, and here is the center of the galaxy. In this vast, unexplored space covering the top of the graphic, we occupy all of the space marked off in orange, down to this point, here," said Cha'rif as he pointed to a flashing dot. "We have just completed an exploration of this system, the Mendeleva System, here, at this point. It was uninhabited, taken peacefully by forces originating from this point, here, the planet Berth. At this point, we are, let us say, nine thousand lightyears away from your Earth, in space you never explored, as your previous journeys took you outward, here, to Telezart, and here, to the Great Magellenic Cloud."
"We are just beginning to explore your region of space," continued Cha'rif. "We do not know much of your history, but we know that your Earth has been fought over, and hard, by two great powers in the past one hundred and fifty years, namely, Gamilon and the Comet Empire. How is it that one planet has held off armadas from interstellar nations much larger than my own? Please tell me."
Derek looked at the map, aware that, if Cha'rif's claims were true, they already held half the Milky Way. If they're an aggressive power, we might have to fight them…sooner rather than later. Unless that raid was really an aberration, like this man claims, they don't seem in the least damn bit peaceful, thought Derek.
"Earth has a spirit and a determination to guide its own destiny that I am sure you have heard much of, Baron Cha'rif," began Derek. "We are a peaceful race, interested in minding our own business, except where we…or others… are threatened by evil powers."
"Are we, then, an 'evil power' in your eyes?" asked Cha'rif with a mocking smile.
"You may not be. However, the task force that attacked us yesterday was certainly evil, Baron. The same went for the squadron of space fortresses, accompanied by submarines, which began this attack. A major commander of yours, named Gralnacz, in leading a direct attack upon Earth that I cannot speak further of to you, certainly seemed to show a hint of your peoples' character. He killed several innocent people right in front of our eyes."
"Gralnacz?" asked Cha'rif. "Sir, I apologize, but we have no person by that name in our forces in a major command position."
"Then why was he leading large ships that looked like bigger versions of your own with the same kind of glossy black armor?" demanded Wildstar.
"Silence…please,"
said Cha'rif. He stood in silence for a moment. "Your thoughts ring true,
Terran."
"My thoughts?"
demanded Wildstar.
"Yes, I can read them," said Cha'rif. This man is, you feel, a man, like myself, but rebuilt as a machine? A mass murderer if given the chance?"
"That describes him," countered Wildstar. If you are really reading my mind, that is, he thought. "Who is he? What does he have to do with your people?"
"I will surprise you, no doubt, if I give you my honest answer," said Cha'rif as he came over towards Captain Wildstar and Nova.
"And that answer is?" snapped Wildstar.
"I…do not know," said Cha'rif in a manner that seemed utterly honest to Derek Wildstar. "I tell you the truth, Captain Wildstar, as one fighting man to another. I do not know."
And, at that, Cha'rif
smiled to himself.
"Marda, where is Gralnacz?" asked Lord Ekogaru from his Audience Chamber.
"My Lord, I do not know," said Marda as her image came up on the Dark Lord's great screen. "Why do you ask?"
"Cha'rif just mentioned him. I have not been able to raise Gralnacz for at least a day, now. What became of him? Did he defeat the Star Force?"
"No, Lord. They escaped him."
"What?" roared Ekogaru "HOW?"
"Some party, or parties, aided them…in a space beyond my ken, Lord. I have no idea how Gralnacz was defeated, or where he is, sir."
"And the Argo is one hundred and fifty lightyears closer to Pellias, and your honorable boy Baron Cha'rif is dining with them and is asking questions about Gralnacz!"
"He is DINING with them? He is supposed to kill them!" roared Marda.
"Since you never troubled to give him formal orders to attack Earth or told him who he was to guard Pellias against, he thinks he has to make amends for the raids of your R'Khell priests. And wasn't a decision made on Rikasha to fight them?"
"It was. I hope I can use Cha'rif to lure them away from Pellias, which is ten thousand lightyears out past our supply lines and bases. If he can gain their confidence, Lord, the Argo might turn back."
"Permit it. But if the Argo continues on its mission…have it dealt with. And if I were you, Marda, after he talks with them, I'd pull Baron Cha'rif out of the sector and put in other forces we can trust. The boy talks, it is useful, but he and his father ask too many questions and think too much. If they suspect their nation is being manipulated, they may take power away from your friend Zaden, put down your priesthood, and start acting honorably," sneered Ekogaru. "Their one province is bad enough. What if their whole Empire turns into that?"
To his surprise, Captain Wildstar was actually having an interesting conversation with their enemy…one that was actually bringing forth some useful intelligence.
"Gralnacz is not even a Rikashan or R'Khell name," said Cha'rif as he sat down at the table with Wildstar and the others. "And, as far as I know, we have no total cyborgs in our Empire. As a matter of religious fear and awe, we do not permit people to be rebuilt completely as cyborgs."
"This Gralnacz had strange powers, like your Duro…like…I would guess, you," said Wildstar. "Only his seemed much more powerful."
"I am among the most powerful psionics of my people," said Cha'rif. "Going much further than that seems like mortals aspiring to be like the gods. That is not allowed, especially with mechanical enhancement. You must forgive me," said Cha'rif as he picked at his meal. "I am taken aback by these revelations. Is your food acceptable?"
Derek, Nova, Mark, Steve, and the others nodded.
"Good. I am glad for that, at least." He sat in silence for a long time. "You are headed towards a natural phenomenon in this area?"
"Yes," said Sandor. "We're investigating a time-space disturbance in the region."
"I have orders from our command to investigate this disturbance," added Derek. "Do you know anything about it?"
"They only told me this," lied Cha'rif. "It is a danger to interstellar transport, best to be avoided." He smiled sadly and added, "I'm afraid I have the unenviable role of a constable placed near a disaster area, Captain Wildstar. My orders are to keep you or anyone else from getting near the disturbance, for your own good. It is just too dangerous. I have picket forces maybe a hundred lightyears in closer to the disaster. They say they have been in battle with forces of some race trying to break their blockade just a few hours ago. Do you know anything of this? Are these people a threat to you?"
He's talking about the
Gamilons, thought
Derek with a lurch of his stomach. A few months ago, I would've said yes. Part of me still
feels they could be a threat. But now…
"Cha'rif, I'm afraid those people are our allies. They're the Gamilons I spoke of. We were at war, but now, we are at peace. Leader Desslok, their ruler, was kind enough to aid us against the Comet Empire after he had practically defeated us in combat. I bear the Gamilons no hatred now…since they were fighting only to find a new home since their planet was dying. Desslok also warned us about the threat to Earth caused by this interspacial disturbance. That's why I have orders to get in there. Desslok also thinks it is a threat to his people. Our intentions are not aggressive; we are on what you would call a humanitarian, scientific mission, Baron." Wildstar paused and then asked, "You respect us, don't you? You have no reason to fight us, especially since we just told you about someone who may be a threat to your own Empire."
"What would you propose I do? Lie? Break my oath to my people?" asked Cha'rif.
"Report to them that you couldn't spot us," said Derek, thinking of Admiral Gideon's false report to Earth Defense Command several months ago. "Then, let us slip in past your picket forces and come out again. I give you my word we will not attack you, nor do any harm to your people's interests. Let us slip into the disturbance and come out again if we can and go home in peace. After what has happened, that will be the best way you can prove to us that your people are really no threat, and that you are a warrior who keeps his word."
"It would violate my orders from the R'Khell priesthood…which may be suspect," said Cha'rif. "They never acted like this before. Maybe someone is interfering with them?"
Cha'rif said nothing as he abruptly stood up. "I can withdraw my forces for two of your days without arousing suspicion," he snapped. "I'll only leave light forces, with orders to "miss" you. You get in, and you get out. Then report back to me after you report to your own Command and report to your ally, Desslok. I have a confession to make."
"Which is?" asked Wildstar.
"I was told only to guard this sector, a subspatial disturbance, and a rogue planet, all right? I have no idea what's on it myself, or why the priests even want it guarded. They don't usually keep secrets like that from me. I would love to know what I am guarding," said Cha'rif. "And…why they have hidden so much from me. Ter'garv!" he called out as his bearded adjutant came back in. "Where's the child? He should have been here by now!"
"Baron, you will not like this," said Ter'garv after he spoke to another officer for a moment.
"What? What is it?"
"He's not on this ship, or among the fleet. He's gone. Gone. Ka'mok said so."
"GONE?" raged Cha'rif. "Gone? Treachery! Treachery among my own forces!" he raged. "Well, I have a good reason to leave then."
"Leave?" asked Ter'garv. "That's against all our orders, Baron. I…"
"Captain Wildstar, I will locate that child and return him to you. I swear it. I have children myself, and this is an outrage. Ter'garv, leave two squadrons dispersed here, but tell them to wait for special orders from me. If, that is, they can be trusted. In the meantime, Captain, I would advise you to stay away, but since I know you cannot, get in and get out. Other forces of ours may have been deployed closer to the planet than I was told. Be careful. I have no time to drink the Cup of Friendship with you, now. I don't know if I could keep such a vow. Let us hope that someday we do meet again, as friends. At any rate, I pray I have been able to help you. I admire you, Captain Derek Wildstar. You gave our forces a good fight."
"Thank you, Baron," said Derek. He saluted and said, "I hope we do meet again. As friends."
"I thank you," said Cha'rif.
"Venture, Nova, everybody, let's go," ordered Derek with a clap of his hands. "We have our jobs, and they have theirs."
Cha'rif insisted upon accompanying them to the doors. "Who is that?" asked Nova, pointing to a foreboding-looking drawing that now covered where the computer screen had been.
"Lord Ekogaru, our god of war," said Cha'rif. We worship him as our Warbringer, and the one who brings victory when we have to fight. This hall is usually an officers' lounge, and we sometimes offer incense to him and the like here. I pray we do not have to invoke his name soon. I pray we are not ordered to fight you in a holy war."
"So do I," said Captain Wildstar.
Finally, all of the Argo's crew and the two civilians they did rescue were back in their places on board the ship. Before the docking tunnel was separated, Duro's body, in an EDF space burial casket, was returned to the Rikashans with a small honor guard of Marines. The Rikashans took the casket, salutes were exchanged, and the dock tunnel and the Argo's airlock hatch shut at the same time.
"They can't totally disapprove of what they did back there," said Derek.
"Why?" asked Hemsford.
"You see what they did with Duro's body? They took him back like a returning hero, not someone who had violated orders. Do you think they can be trusted, Hemsford?"
"Between you and me, sir," said Hemsford. "I'd trust that Cha'rif guy about as far as I can throw him."
"Maybe he can be trusted…maybe he can't. If he's really going to honor his agreement, we'd better be on our way," said Wildstar.
At that, Wildstar just watched as the B'eoneraze slipped away. It rejoined its fleet, and soon, in just a few minutes, they were gone. Not a single ship had taken any aggressive action against the Argo.
Derek Wildstar just shook his head. He was unsure of what to think at this point. Maybe Cha'rif is another Desslok, he thought. Maybe not.
IV. RENDEZVOUS
Space Battleship Argo
The Sigma Korolevi System
January 12, 2202
0043 Hours, space-time
A while later, the newly
refitted patrol cruiser
On board the Argo, Captain Wildstar stood and saluted in the lower fighter bay as the Medevac shuttle that had brought Captain Josiah and his staff aboard came to a stop on the hangar deck.
"Captain, I'd like to welcome you aboard the Argo," said Wildstar after Josiah returned his salute. "Of course, you know Commander Venture and Commander Sandor. I trust you had a good trip?"
"Well, my crew was damn well surprised when I let them know how long our last test warp would be," chuckled Josiah. "Good thing we made it safely. Right now, with all the scuttlebutt, my crew's wondering when they're going to be at action stations. Bunch of green kids…they're scared out of their pants about all this."
"Well, as for the recent battles, there are some things I can tell you, and some things I can't," said Derek.
"Oh, there's some damn things I can tell you," chuckled Josiah. "Guess the Commander hasn't told you about the latest comedy, yet."
"We're supposed to hear from the Commander at 0700," said Wildstar. "We might hear about it then."
"No, you'll hear about it now. Or you will, soon. Got coded orders for you, right from Singleton's hands. Met him at Mars, and he was sweating more than usual," said Josiah as they walked along to the lift. "You two coming?" he said to Venture and Sandor.
"We have orders to, sir," said Venture.
"Okey-dokey. I take it we'll be in your cabin?" he asked, turning to Wildstar.
"We will, sir."
"Good. Make damn sure my niece serves the coffee. Right now, I could use some good, strong Goddamned Navy Black. And tell her to make it better than usual. I've been awake too damn long, worrying."
"About this mission, sir?"
"Yes, and about what's going on near Earth. Whole thing just cropped up tonight, probably while you were meeting with this enemy fellow. How'd that go, by the way?"
"I'll tell you up in my cabin, sir."
"Good, Wildstar. Smoking lamp's on, right?"
Derek nodded.
"Damn, I need a cigar, and I need it now."
A few minutes later, Captain Wildstar, Venture, and Sandor were sitting around the table in the Captain's quarters with Captain Hiram Josiah. As requested, Nova was cooking up the coffee. Back in uniform, she had also whipped up some sandwiches, knowing what all four men liked. At the moment, she was playing steward --and trying not to gag on her uncle's cigar smoke.
"So, what's happened near Earth?" asked Derek.
"You know my wife?"
"Yes, I do."
"Well, we've got a
little problem," said Josiah. "Intelligence suspected Yvona and her
cult were up to something. We thought it would be a terrorist attack on the
Megalopolis, right? We had everything buttoned up, all docks at maximum
security, and they were watching the
"Where?"
"
"What?" asked Derek, who think he knew what had happened. His stomach sank as he thought about it.
"They stole a ship. The Jamaica-class main space battleship Potemkin, to be exact. Yvona and the ship's XO are in command, and in cahoots."
"What?" cried Nova. "Sir, with all respect, she couldn't pull off…."
"She could and she did," snapped Josiah. "They got away, shook loose the magnetic missiles they stuck on her hull, and got into orbit at 2130. They were targeted by four battle satellites, which they took out with a few nice main gun blasts. HQ said they knew what the hell they were doing. They must've read the notes on what you guys pulled last September," joked Josiah. "But then, they did something you didn't do."
"What?" asked Derek.
"They brought down two more battle satellites, fought off two flights of Cosmo Tigers from Great Lakes Space Naval Station, and then they turned around, hung in orbit, took off all overrides, and they attacked Chicago."
"They took off all overrides?" asked an aghast Sandor. "Sir, there's only one weapon they'd need to deactivate overrides on to power up in a hurry, although at great risk to themselves. In fact they'd probably blow up their ship doing that."
"Doing what?" asked Venture, who thought he knew.
"Wave motion gun?" whispered Derek.
Josiah just nodded. "Ground blast, right into the middle of the
"That's horrible!" cried Nova. "Is…Yvona…loose?"
"Yes. Right now, they're loose. After I drop off your guests at Pluto Base, I've got orders to find that ship and bring it down if I can, or, at least, let the Fleet know where it is. That's if it's in the solar system, of course. That's why I was given these orders, Captain," said Josiah, slapping down his envelope. "In here is a tape of Yvona's message, and orders to intercept and bring down the Potemkin should you encounter her. You are to act with "extreme prejudice", et cetera in an encounter with that space battleship. Same orders they gave Gideon when you flew the coop last year. Only now, you're playing the Andromeda," said Josiah. "Oh. Yes. Lieutenant Wildstar," said Josiah.
"Yessir?" asked a puzzled Nova.
"If you want them, here's new orders. The Commander's giving you a chance to bow out of this mission if you can't help bring down your…relative…your aunt, that is. If you accept these orders, pack up and come back to Earth with us. Do you accept these orders, Lieutenant?"
"Declined," said Nova a moment later. "My place is here, with the Star Force." And with Derek, she added to herself.
"Good," said Josiah. "Don't look at me like that…they gave me the same spiel when I left. This may seem hard, but as far as I'm concerned, that crazy bat isn't my wife anymore."
"I don't consider her my aunt anymore, either," said Nova. "Especially…now…since she's not just the leader of a band of mutineers, but a known enemy to Earth."
"What about your day, Captain?" asked Josiah.
"The enemy commander gave us back two out of three of the people they were supposed to get," said Captain Wildstar. "He had some story about dissension in his ranks…one of them apparently took the third prisoner, a boy, for his purposes. The enemy commander is claiming the raid was done without his knowledge and consent, that he never heard of a commander named Gralnacz, that his people have no designs on Earth, and that he doesn't know what he's guarding in the Beta Valentis System."
"What'd you tell the SOB?"
"I told him that if he really meant it, he'd withdraw and let us get in and out of there to check the planet out. He said he'd do that, and find the boy and return him to us. He might. He might not. He claims his Empire holds half the Milky Way, up around the Sagittarius Arm, and that they're very powerful but peaceful."
"Believe him?" asked Josiah.
Derek shook his head. "I think his people are hostile to Earth in general. However, if his own little agenda will give us time to make this investigation without our being attacked, we'll take his offer, if it's a real offer, that is…and run with it. All we'll have to watch for is the Potemkin, if he's telling the truth. At any rate, I believe there's a couple who are both very anxious to get back home again. Nova, you and I will meet with our guests, with the Captain, of course, and tell them to be on their way."
"Yes, of course."
"Then we can consider this little gathering adjourned?" asked Josiah.
"Yessir," said Derek.
"Good. Damn cigar's gone out," said the old Captain. "Oh. Venture, Sandor, tag along if it's OK with your skipper, huh?"
"Thank you for your kind treatment, the good food, and the use of your VIP quarters," said Joshua Cortland as he shook hands with Captain Wildstar.
The couple had been housed in the Argo's VIP cabin, a comfortable, larger-than usual suite of two officers' staterooms set up as a den and a bedroom, with private bathroom facilities. To Derek and Nova's knowledge, this was the first time the special stateroom had ever actually been occupied during a cruise.
"You're welcome,"
said Captain Wildstar. "We were glad to accommodate you. Captain Josiah
will be returning you home to Pluto Base aboard his cruiser, the
"Good," said
Samantha Cortland. "I can't wait to get back to
"Uh…you'll be told
later," said Josiah. "Earth's okay. There's…just been some trouble in
the Midwest of North America; that's all. I'll explain it to you on the
"Yes, with the Rikashans," said Samantha. "I was awake during the warp. It was a horrible experience. I felt like all my insides were going to come out and everything went green with livid green streaks of light! For a minute, I thought I had died and gone to Hell in my sleep! I mean, all the stars were streaking green past my hands!"
"Different than our warps, it seems," said Sandor. "Wildstar, they must use some strange technology."
Derek nodded. "I wish there was more you could tell us, but there's no time."
"I'll debrief 'em, Captain," said Josiah.
"All right," said Derek. "Well, good luck, you two."
"And thanks for everything," said Samantha. "Thanks, Lieutenant Wildstar," said Samantha as she quickly hugged Nova. "You were so nice to us."
"I thought you deserved it, particularly after that ordeal you both went through," replied Nova.
On that note, the civilians walked out of their cabin and left their temporary home behind.
"Derek, I hope Uncle
Hiram will be all right," said Nova as they stood together about a half
hour later on the aft observation deck, watching the
"He knows what he's doing, just like we do," said Derek. "He'll pull through all right, even if he encounters Yvona. I understand the Potemkin had no planes on board, either. At least she'll be a bit easier to catch."
"Thank the good Lord
for that," smiled Nova. "Look…here's something we usually don't see
from the outside," said Nova as she pointed at the dot that made up the
Both of them looked on as the dot faded away in a flash of bright rainbow-streaked light.
"Beautiful," said Nova.
"She's on her way home. Something tells me they'll have a good trip."
"I wish we could have
had more time with them, Derek. They needed time to be told that they'll be
refugees when they get home, with
"You said she was crazy."
"I didn't know she was this crazy, Derek! Her and her sick cult…I hope the whole bunch of them are aboard that ship!"
"There's our mission," said Derek. "Aside from stopping that cult, we might be able to get there and back in peace…if it really isn't too dangerous, that is. Or should we tell Desslok we have to track down that ship, first?"
"Derek, we have our orders from the Commander," said Nova.
"But they've changed.
We're to track down that ship, too. He gave us no priority as to what we're
supposed to do. There's what happened to
"Derek, I think that's part of a Captain's job…figuring out these things. I know it's not easy, my darling. You've got such a weight on your shoulders right now. Is that why you took your coat off and threw it over the railing?"
Derek nodded. At that, Nova just ran
over and gave him a big hug for a moment.
"Call me silly, but I'm hoping that maybe I'll get some kind of sign while we're here?" asked Derek.
"You called me silly when I wished on the Wishing Star of Voton," said Nova. "Hmmm. Matter of fact, look over there. See it? It's in a different part of the sky now…"
"Nova, you know that the Voton Star almost turned out to be the end of us," smiled Derek.
"Okay. Wish on a different one. Wish for a sign from Pellias or something."
Derek took a deep breath, but he closed his eyes and wished.
A moment later, the door for the observation deck whizzed open. "There you are!" screamed Doctor Sane. "Making out like you're in the back row at the movies or something!"
"We were sharing a wish, Doctor," sniffed Nova. "Besides."
"We received a message from the planet!" screeched Sane.
"Which planet?" asked Captain Wildstar as he grabbed his peacoat.
"The one we're heading for, you knucklehead! The girl says she wants to talk to you!"
"Boy, talk about fast service," said Captain Wildstar as he stuffed his ascot down.
"Nova, what is he talking about?" screamed Sane.
"Easy. I just got him to wish on a star for the first time, Doctor."
"Ohhhhhh," said Sane. "You two are impossible!"
"Sure you haven't been sampling your latest motion sickness remedy, Doc?" laughed the Captain.
"No comment," huffed Sane.
V. ALISCEA'S REQUEST
Space Battleship Argo
The Sigma Korolevi System
January 12, 2202
0114 Hours, space-time
Captain Wildstar arrived on the bridge a few minutes later. "Homer, is she waiting?"
"Yes, but not on the usual system. She said, in a hard-to make out audio message, that the "psychic damper" near her planet is down for a bit, so she'll use "alternate means" to speak to us."
"What sort of means?" asked Nova.
"What of means such as these?" said a youngish girl's voice that came out of nowhere on the bridge.
Nova's eyes went wide. "Derek…that sounds like…Queen Starsha!"
"No…she's the voice I've been hearing in my head!" cried Rosstowski. "And in my dreams!"
"What?" said everyone else on the bridge.
"Mister Rosstowski, how come you didn't…?" began Derek.
"Do not chide him, Captain Wildstar," said the voice. "No one would believe that I have been speaking to him. You do not understand Shalinskar. None of you do. Now that I have your hearing, let me introduce myself. Bear in mind I can only speak for a few minutes. For my mother and I, keeping our world together is enough."
Artwork: "Lady Aliscea" -Based upon original Yamato series
artwork-computer-altered and generated by Frederick P. Kopetz
A moment later, a blazingly bright
pillar of light appeared beside Homer near the astro-compass.
He cried out in fear and surprise, but, a moment later, the blazing pillar faded into the spectral form of a very young woman in a short-sleeved black dress.
"Is there something wrong?" asked the young woman as she looked around the bridge.
"No offense, I hope," stammered Nova, "but I've been told I resemble certain people. If you can see me, Miss, uh…we're practically twins, except that your hair is a little longer than mine."
"Oh, I can see you, Mrs. Wildstar. No offense taken." said the young woman. Paul Rosstowski noticed (without any apparent shame) that the girl's dress was somewhat short, and that her legs and calves, bare in high lace-up sandals, were quite beautiful…not that the rest of her wasn't bad, either. "Paul, everyone else, I am Lady Aliscea of Pellias. I am the reason you are on this quest, so to speak."
"Lady Aliscea, I am…" began Derek.
"Captain Derek Wildstar," said Aliscea. "Your first name is Nova. You are Mark Venture. Your name is Stephen Sandor. Yours is Holly Parsons. Homer…Orion…Dash…Paul. I know all of you from afar. You could say I've become a fan of your exploits at a long distance."
"You sound a bit like someone we've met. Starsha of Iscandar," said Nova. "Are you the Queen of Pellias?"
"No, I am not. I do not have Starsha's political authority. I am one with less authority, perhaps, but far, far more power and potential. You could even say I am far more dangerous than Starsha."
"But you seem so…" gasped Venture, who was overwhelmed with thoughts of Trelaina.
"Young? I am. Younger than Trelaina by about a year, I think. I'm twenty in your reckoning."
"Aliscea," asked Derek. "What do you know about Gralnacz of Rikasha and Baron Anton Cha'rif of Rikasha?"
"Baron Cha'rif is a decent man, but he hides behind layers of deviousness not even known unto himself," said Aliscea. "On the other hand, Shardovan Gralnacz is not decent, and he is not from Rikasha! It pains me to say where he is from, even though I know that. He is not from Rikasha. He has, however, fooled some of them into believing he is a Prophet of their faith, just as your Aunt Yvona has deluded others, Nova."
"It pains me to have it broadcast that a mass murderer is my aunt," said Nova. "Could you not mention it again?"
"I shall not. As for you, Captain Wildstar, do not give up this quest yet. My mother Astrena and I are exerting our powers to save lives on Pellias. The sooner that you and the Gamilons, despite their evils, arrive here, the better. Take advantage of the window Cha'rif has given you, but be wary! He is not the sole being interested in my homeworld of Pellias, towards which you are traveling. Gralnacz is not dead, nor is his Lord."
"Who is his Lord?" asked Captain Wildstar.
"A dark being whose name I dare not even pronounce!" snapped Aliscea. "He was mortal, once, but became something twisted and horrific. It is HE has caused Pellias to come here, HE who is the cause of your problems, and HE who incites the Rikashans and R'Khells to many evils. We are all trying to preserve lives, and to keep this…Dark Lord…from taking your whole galaxy!"
"Aliscea," asked Paul. "When we will meet again?"
"Soon, soon, my shalinska," said Aliscea in a heart-rending tone that made Venture want to scream, for that was the way Trelaina had spoken to him. "I have seen you and watched you for long from afar. Your love was wasted on she whom you once were married to; the one known as Clarissa. It shall not come to naught here, my Paul. We shall plight our troth soon, you and I. We will speak of this more, later, in a more appropriate place and time! Please come soon! All of you are needed by my mother and I! We will help you if we can! And beware of the Rikashans, and of your own people on the Potemkin! They have many wiles…"
With those words, Aliscea disappeared.
"What a lassie," said Orion.
"I hope she helps us," said Dash.
"She will," said Paul. "She will help us. I know it."
"Wildstar?" asked Venture.
"Venture…Nova…my mind is made up, thanks to Aliscea's advice. That takes care of some of my questions. Mark, lay in a course for the Dalkrandia System. That's two hundred lightyears away, and it'll get us one step closer to Pellias. The sooner we get there, the sooner we can have answers to all of this. Homer, try to get in touch with Desslok; let him know we're running ahead because of the intelligence we've received, and then notify the Commander."
"Yessir," said Homer.
"Venture, can we warp by 0800?" asked Captain Wildstar.
"We can if I have the assistance of Miss Parsons, Nova and IQ-9."
"You've got them," said Wildstar. Derek went to his post. "Attention, all hands," he said over the ship's comm speakers. "We will be making our next warp at 0800. We will be going to the Dalkrandia System, taking more scans, and then continuing our mission to Pellias, the planet from which the messages have come from, and the world that is at the center of the disturbance. I will need the cooperation of every member of the Star Force. This may be our toughest mission yet."
Derek, you just might be right, thought Venture with his head bowed. Beneath his closed eyes, tears were forming.
He missed Trelaina more than ever.
END.
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