Treachery 4

ALTERNATE TALES OF THE STAR FORCE

STAR BLAZERS---TREACHERY

Being the second part of THE NEW COMET--- BY: Frederick P. Kopetz

This Act is being completed with the Cooperation and Assistance of Derek A.C. Wakefield (as usual)---Freddo

ACT FOUR: CAUGHT IN A TRAP…

I. THE GAMILONS UNDER ATTACK…

Near Orbit

Planet Ashura

Earth Date: Friday, July 12, 2205

1505 Hours: Earth Time

“Fifth attack wave incoming,” said a radar officer aboard the Gamilstadt. “It’s another wave of Scorpions, Leader Desslok.”

“Talan, order the fleet to launch another wave of fighter planes.”

“Yessir,” said Talan.

“How is the battle near the planet?” asked Desslok.

“Our destroyers are continuing to hold their shield over the Capital,” said Talan. “We have landed troops and those troops are now working with the Ashurans to fend off the enemy. We have crushed the Ashurans’ initial resistance!”

“Yes,” said Desslok. “At least they are since our forces killed that treasonous so-called President of theirs in that bombing raid we started. After I showed my power, they were happy to surrender and accept my rule through our Governor. I think they’ll make good slaves now with half their Capital bombed out, hmm? Such is the price they must pay for cooperating with our enemies…when I was ready to offer them a peaceful transition back into the Empire.”

“Still, “said Talan. “There have been three enemy landings near the Capital, sir. We…”

Desslok and his officers were illuminated fiercely in a glare of light as a Scorpion flew in and attacked his flagship.

“Activate all anti-aircraft!” snapped Desslok. “Get that ship!”

“Of course, sir,” said Talan.

Astrena came onto the bridge. “Desslok. Where’s the enemy fleet?”

“Twelve megameters in front of us,” said Desslok. “We’ve lost a third of the fleet. We’ve been fighting them off and pressing the attack with fighters and bombers from our carriers. I’ve also had our ship spread two waves of Desslok mines.”

“Fighters ready,” said another officer.

Desslok smiled and grabbed his handgrip. “Activate SMITE!”

The SMITE generators at the bow of the Gamilstadt went off, and the Gamilon fighter planes faded out of existence, appearing right in front of the Cometines to defend the Gamilon Fleet. Then, when Desslok saw that his maneuver had been successful, he asked, “Astrena, what do you need?”

“Can we distract them for a few minutes with a message, Desslok? This battle has gone on long enough. I think I’d like to try my own method to deal with those madmen and bring a quick end to this before we lose other forces.”

“I almost have them in my grasp now, Astrena.”

“Do you?”

“You can be assured of that,” said Desslok as he walked over to the firing pedestal at the central portion of his bridge. He looked at a readout and nodded. “Talan, bring up the Desslok gun. Astrena is right. This battle has gone on long enough.”

”Yessir,” said Talan. “Bring up the Desslok gun!”

The huge brazen firing pedestal appeared a moment later. Desslok’s engineers changed some controls, and, after Talan issued some orders to the Fleet, the Fleet parted to give Desslok a clear firing path. “Desslok cannon,” said an officer as the gun began to power up. “Energy level, sixty-five percent.”

Desslok smiled. “Three minutes to firing. Remove all safety interlocks.”

“Safety interlocks removed, sir!” barked a voice on the intercom from somewhere in the bowels of the Gamilstadt.

“At last,” said Desslok with a snarl as he anticipated the kill. “These interlopers shall finally be dealt with in the manner in

which they deserve…”

Not far away, Astrena closed her eyes as she thought, Desslok, I understand your reliance upon your fleet, but why do I have the feeling that, this time, what you are planning will not work?

On what was now his flagship, the Krineda, General Turpitz said, “Schaza’s death is a small loss. I will show Gernitz and Invidia what we have been waiting for at last. Is the Magna-Flame Gun ready?”

“Magna-Flame gun powered up and ready for firing,” said one of Turpitz’s officers.

“Firing sequence ready,” said another officer.

“Target information entered.”

“Fire,” said Turpitz with a grin. “Target; right in the middle of their fleet!”

A moment later, as Turpitz laughed, the Krineda’s Magna-Flame Gun went off, blasting a huge surge of energy right into the midst of the Gamilon fleet.

“Impact point tracked; it’s taken out two of their carriers!” snapped one of Turpitz’s officers.

“Hahahahahahaha, GREAT!” said Turpitz. “I recall that time that their Leader Desslok mocked me and my cousin General Bleek before we began our attack on Earth! I’ll bet that this fool who has such a great opinion of himself isn’t laughing now!”

“We’ve been thrown off course! We need to begin evasive maneuvers!” said one officer on the Gamilstadt as Desslok powered down his firing sequence.

“Begin evasive maneuvers!” snapped Desslok.

“Sir, we’ve lost the carriers Halgens and Prinz Hever,” said another officer. “Two destroyers are also reporting they are badly damaged. Message coming in from the enemy fleet. Leader Desslok, shall I shift to visual?”

Desslok nodded while gritting his teeth in rage. “Talan! Recalibrate firing path! I’m powering the cannon up again while he prattles with us!”

“Understood, sir!” said Talan.

“Resuming charging sequence,” said the engineering officer while Desslok got a new bead on the enemy fleet.

“Enemy commander on visual!” said the communications officer.

Desslok looked up and recognized him at once. “General Turpitz. I thought you were dead.”

“I thought you were dead, too, Desslok. Unfortunately, that is not the case…yet.”

Desslok chuckled. “While you mock me, my old friend, you are looking your own doom right in the face.”

“Ah, yes, your mighty Desslok cannon,” said Turpitz with a mocking smile. “I’m sure you remember the Magna-Flame Gun?”

“That failure?” said Desslok. “The failure you could never get to work right? Commodore Derek Wildstar of Earth told me you had a little trouble with it in Saturn’s ice ring a few years ago.”

“I see you are not impressed?” said Turpitz.

“Why should I be?” said Desslok as he prepared to fire his Desslok cannon. Behind him, Astrena was trying to get his attention.

“Well, I have it targeted right on your flagship, Desslok. Surrender at once, or I’ll have to tell Princess Invidia I was forced to kill you.”

“Invidia is behind this?”

“Yes. She has taken Prince Zordar’s place as leader of our House!”

“I pity your men, Turpitz.” said Desslok in a dry tone of voice. “Correction. I pity you. Desslok cannon…”

Turpitz nodded.

At once, a blast of fire materialized in front of the Gamilstadt. Desslok’s officers and men stood aghast as the pink, roaring blast of energy stood ready to annihilate them in one shot.

But, Astrena stood up, extended her hands, and screamed in rage.

A field of blue energy materialized out of nowhere around Desslok’s flagship, absorbing the cataract of energy from the Magna-Flame gun. Then, a moment later, it blasted back out into space and disappeared….

And then, it reappeared in the middle of Turpitz’s fleet!

“What did you just do?” snapped Desslok. “That looked familiar!”

“I saved our lives with my power,” snapped back Astrena.

“You humiliated me,” said Desslok.

“Why?”

“The Star Force once used the same tactic against me some years ago when I thought I had them destroyed. And you saved my life with the same tactic? How amusing! Hahahahahahaha!” At that, Desslok began to laugh in a high, keening fashion like a madman.

Astrena just glared at him. “This is no joke. Now’s your chance, Desslok! Get them, and finish them off with that cannon!”

Desslok ran over to the firing grip and snapped, “Very well, Astrena! FIRE!”

The Desslok cannon finally went off a moment later, blasting a corridor right into the Cometine Fleet. Several of Turpitz’s carriers and missile ships were blown apart, along with his commanders. With this on the heels of the explosion that had just destroyed so many of their battleships, Turpitz knew it was time to give up.

“I don’t care what Invidia says,” he snapped. “Prepare for warp. We have to regroup with Gernitz’s fleet! Let the Gamilons have this planet…for now…”

“Sir, Invidia will not be happy,” said one of Turpitz’s officers.

“I know that. But if we don’t cut our losses now, we won’t be around to consider the question much longer!”

The officer began to make preparations for warp.

“Sir, the enemy fleet is gone,” said Talan as several men aboard the Gamilstadt cheered. “They’ve just warped out!”

“We’ve won!” said one of Desslok’s officers.

A moment later, another one appeared with a glass for Desslok, who had just sat down at his command seat at the aft portion of the bridge. “Leader Desslok, the victory toast.”

Desslok took the goblet with a sarcastic grin from one of his guardswomen. He raised it once, drank a single sip, and then cast it to the deck in an explosion of rage.

“Sir?” asked the shocked officer.

“Why drink now, with so many of my men dead?” snapped Desslok. “If you call this a victory, then every defeat must be a glorious victory for the Empire! Excuse me while I leave,” he hissed as he stood up.

“Sir…”

Desslok turned to Talan. “Talan, I leave you in command of the Fleet. Make certain that any of the surviving members of the Ashuran Government are executed by nightfall. Astrena; I am retiring to our suite. You can meet me there, if you wish!”

“For a conversation?” she asked.

“No. For an explanation,” snapped Desslok. He turned away from her with a sharp snap of his cloak and left.

Astrena balled up her fists as Desslok left. Yes, she thought. For an explanation of why you are acting like this!

II. NOT THE BEST OF SITUATIONS…

Earth

Longs Peak, Colorado

The Underground Base

Friday, July 12, 2205

2038 Hours: Earth Time

Wildstar, Domon, and Homer had led their squads right up to one of the mobile nuclear missile launchers that the cultists were working on taking out.

“Well, they’re busy,” said Domon. “I don’t think they see us.”

“Hemsford,” whispered Wildstar over his helmet radio.

“Gotcha,” said Hemsford. “We just took out a group around missile number two…we…”

“We need backup,” said Wildstar. “They’ve got twenty men surrounding this one; it looks like they’re trying to start the tractor.”

“Where are you?” asked Hemsford.

“R-22 by C-12 on your coordinate chart,” whispered Homer as he looked at his portable scanner.

“Be right there,” said Hemsford.

Wildstar said, “Domon, surround them. Sergeant?”

“Yessir?” said the old gunny sergeant who was near Wildstar.

“Cover that side. I’ll go over there with my men. We’ll surround them in a ring. If they start to move that thing, we have to attack.”

“Gotcha,” said the gunny sergeant.

“Where’s that surrender?” demanded Hezekiah as he stared at Nova, Wakefield, and their group.

“It’s not going to come,” said Nova. “We’re an aid station; not…”

Nova looked as two medics came up, helping wounded men from Hemsford’s platoon up a passage. “Let those men be,” said Nova. “The laws of war say that you can’t attack medics or wounded people. Don’t you even respect that?”

Hezekiah nodded, and four of his men shot down the medics and wounded men in cold blood as Nova looked on with horror in her eyes. She snarled and swung her rifle at Hezekiah.

“Laws of war do not apply to heretics like you,” snapped Hezekiah. “Drop that weapon, woman!”

“Make me! I have a right to protect my medics!” said Nova as she undid the safety on her weapon after glancing at some of her medics, thinking, They’ll live, but only if I have a chance to treat them…I have to stop these men!. Beside her, Deke was ready to back her up.

Hezekiah said, “You might like to see this before you die.”

The head Josiahite raised his hand, and part of the deck opened up. A huge lift came up from the floor.

It held a tractor, and a trailer. On the trailer was the elevator and equipment holding the third nuclear missile.

“We’re getting this right out through that gate,” said Hezekiah. “Try to stop us, and you die.”

“We’re not afraid of dying,” snapped Deke. Nova nodded and signaled to the medics. They aimed their weapons at the group of twenty terrorists as the engine started on the missile tractor.

“KILL THEM!” yelled Hezekiah.

A moment later, a combination of laser and projectile fire blasted around Nova, Deke, and the others. Deke pulled Nova behind a beam for cover, and, a moment later, the two of them had a bead on Hezekiah.

They returned fire. Hezekiah fell with a smile on his face. Two of Nova’s medics fell, followed by four of the terrorists. The deadly exchange of fire continued, as the crawler began to move towards the hatch.

Nova was calling to Derek for reinforcements. He said, “We’ll do what we can; they’re trying to move a second missile out.”

“But they’ve almost got that first missile out there!” cried Nova.

“So?” said Deke. “We’ve just gotta take that thing’s tractor,” he said. “Sir, get us help as soon as you can. In the meantime, I think we’ve got things…under control here. Nova, see that tractor?”

“You’re going to hit them with a grenade?”

Deke nodded. “If they can’t move that thing…”

“Right! They can’t get it out there. What’s wrong with me?” said Nova as she caught on. She grabbed a grenade from off her belt and pulled the pin. Deke followed suit. “GO!” yelled Deke.

Nova and Deke threw grenades at the truck cab. They exploded a moment later, blowing four of the cultists to bits and stopping the trailer in its tracks as the tractor burned.

“Scratch one tractor,” said Nova over her headset as more enemy fire skipped in. “Derek, how are you doing down there?”

“Not good,” said Wildstar. “There’s more of them, and they’ve got us…pinned down at the moment…”

“I under…” Then, Nova screamed as a hand went around her neck.

“NOVA!” yelled Derek in her intercom. “NOVA!”

The hand turned into an arm. Deke grabbed DJ and swiveled, but the strong Josiahite said, “You move, and I’ll finish her off!”

Nova looked down and found that the terrorist had a knife. And it was right in the hollow of her neck.

Then, another Josiahite rushed Deke.

As he was rushing Wakefield, one of the others yelled, “Fine work, Esau! Get that man with the weapon!”

Deke fired a burst from DJ into the Josiahite’s stomach, but right before the Josiahite collapsed, the fanatic madman kneed Deke’s groin and grabbed DJ out of his hands and began to throw it aside when he collapsed in his death struggle with DJ still in his hands.

Deke tried to make a grab for his weapon, but the strong Josiahite holding Nova said, “If you get that, sinner, the woman dies. What do you choose?”

Deke stood trying to make a plan as one of the Josiahites shot at a wounded Marine and killed him.

These damn people have no souls, thought Wakefield in rage.

In the meantime, Wildstar was fighting for his life as bullets and laser bolts skipped all around him. He and Hemsford had taken cover behind a beam as the enemy fired at them, again and again. The two men played sniper, taking out men moment by moment.

“What’s wrong, sir?” asked Hemsford as he saw Wildstar deep in thought.

“Nova. She was in battle and she just went silent all of a sudden. I hope she’s not…”

“It’s my fault,” said Hemsford. “I didn’t think they’d have quite so many men. Where are they getting them all from?”

“I’d love to know,” said Derek as a laser bolt nearly hit him and he returned fire. “I just hope…Nova’s okay…I…”

“I think she can take care of herself, sir.”

“I hope so. I’m just….”

“I know…”

“You people are going to stop shooting,” snapped the terrorist as he forced Nova in front of the group at knifepoint.

“You know, you people are attacking wounded,” snapped Deke. “What kind of people are you?”

“Fighters for the truth,” snapped the Josiahite. “I am named Ashkeraz. Woman, drop your weapon…”

“Make me,” snapped Nova.

He pressed the point of the knife against Nova’s neck. “Continue this and I’ll cut your carotid artery, bitch. Drop your weapon, and then begin unbuttoning your shirt.”

“Why?” said Nova as she dropped her Astro-Automatic while slowly moving a foot up over his instep.

“You’re gonna help me strip you. Of everything. Then, you’re going on a cross outside after we beat you a bit; maybe have some fun.”

Deke snarled and reached down towards Esau’s dead hands for DJ, which he had dropped in the fighting. However, Nova looked at him and shook her head.

“If you take me, will you leave these others alone, Ashkeraz?” said Nova as she undid one button on her BDU top. She was waiting for him to relax the knife just a little, then…

“I’ll have fun with you. You really are a slut, aren’t you?”

Nova gave him a winning smile as she undid a second button. “Maybe I am…”

At that, the knife relaxed.

Nova immediately slammed her foot into Ashkeraz’s instep, breaking several bones. As the man screamed, Nova turned, grabbed his knife hand, snapped his wrist with a quick movement as he stabbed at her, and, a moment later, she had the knife herself. Nova then pivoted, shoved the knife into his neck, and kicked him away and took his weapon as he fell.

Then, she nodded to Deke, who grabbed DJ from Esau’s dead hands. Both of them then opened up on the remaining enemy troops and made them either fall or scatter. Then, a moment later, Domon and a squad of five appeared. Nova motioned them over with a hand signal, and Domon and his group helped Wildstar and Wakefield finish off the rest of this bunch.

“Not bad,” said Deke as he caught his breath.

“Agreed,” said Nova as she buttoned up her BDU blouse. Then, she said, “Derek?”

“Nova? You’re all right? Thank God!”

“I’m fine. We got this first group. How are you doing?”

“We could use some help here!”

“Domon, go and assist him. Where are you, Derek?”

“Two levels down, by the lift.”

“Domon, two levels down, by the lift. Leave me any of your wounded.”

“Yes, ma’am,” said Domon. “Dallas, stay here at the aid station. The rest of you, move it!”

Domon and his men left.

Brew met up with Wildstar under fire a moment later. “Not good, is it?”

“No, it’s not. How did you do?”

“Stopped a bunch trying to get more stuff out. I take it this is the last group?”

“Sure is,” said Homer as he fired at the enemy with his Astro-Automatic.

“I’ve got concussion and flash grenades, sir,” said Brew.

“Yeah…I was noticing none of these guys have eye protection,” said Wildstar as he closed his helmet. He signaled to his men to shut their blue helmet visors. “Hit them with a flash grenade, followed by a concussion round. When they’re disoriented, we’ll finish them off.”

Marrable nodded. He prepared a flash grenade and threw it. The dimly lit cavern suddenly lit up like daytime. Then, a moment later, Marrable and Homer threw concussion charges. A loud bang filled the chamber; as it faded, Wildstar, Hemsford, Homer and their men, assisted by Domon (who had just arrived) played sniper and killed all of the Josiahites as they surrounded their missile launcher.

Then, there was only silence. Wildstar said on his intercom, “Any wounded?”

Three men got up and raised their hands. Wildstar said, “Stay there if you can’t move; we’ll have medics get you soon. Domon?”

“Sir, the other Marine Sergeant said he got the second main group and stopped one of the launchers. We got one here, and Nova and her group stopped the third.”

Homer looked at his sensor unit and said, “Wildstar, there’s only three enemy troops left in the caverns. They’re down one level.”

“Hemsford, you go and kill them or capture them,” said Wildstar.

“Yessir. Move it!” snapped Hemsford to his men.

Then, Derek said, “Nova, can you send us medics?”

“How are you, sir?” she asked.

“Battle’s over down here, only three wounded. How many dead enemy troops, Homer?”

“Sixteen,” he replied.

“Well, this is going to take a while to clean up,” said Wildstar.

“Let me take care of our wounded first, Derek,” said Nova from her end.

“Roger that.”

III. AFTERMATH…

Earth

Longs Peak, Colorado

The Underground Base

Friday, July 12, 2205

2205 Hours: Earth Time

A while later, after their wounded had been taken care of and evacuated out with Nova and the medics and the medical robots, Wildstar, Domon, Hemsford, and Wakefield stood looking at the enemy dead as they took a count while other Marines arrived to secure the base and its weapons.

“I count thirty-six dead here,” said Hemsford as he looked at the bodies.

“We counted six more dead around those missile batteries; and we took three of them alive,” said Domon. “That’s forty-five of them. How many casualties on our end, Wildstar?”

“We were lucky. We have four dead, and Nova took out seven wounded whom she said should get better soon. And we stopped them from getting those out and using them,” he said as he pointed at the nuclear missiles, which were now all lined up on their crawlers out in the snow as other Marines worked to disarm and dismantle their warheads under artificial light from crawler vehicles.”

“Sir,” said a Marine Lieutenant as he came up and saluted. “The facility is now secured with three more platoons. Great job, sir.”

“Thanks,” said Wildstar. “Lieutenant Perry, this is now your responsibility. I just reported to the Megalopolis that our job is finished.”

“Great, sir,” said Lt. Jeff Perry. “And where are you going?”

“To meet my wife at the hospital in Denver,” said Wildstar. “Homer, Domon, Hemsford, Wakefield, Marrable, come with me in that first boat. I think we need some payoff.”

“You mean we’re getting beer?” said Brew excitedly.

“Yeah,” said Wildstar. “My treat.”

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Later on, they all regrouped at a bar in Boulder. Wildstar, Nova, Deke and Brew had changed back into civvies at the hotel, and Brew was now laughing and looking at women in a bar called The Inkwell not far from the University of Colorado at Boulder campus. Nova sort of felt like she had gone back into the past and taken Derek with her as she heard the atmosphere in the college-town bar. Granted, it was summer session, and not as busy as usual, but there were still a few professors, summer-session students, and even ROTC cadets from the U. of Colorado unit who had gathered here before leaving for summer training.

Deke noticed that Brew was in “kick back and relax” mode; he had a big mug of beer, and he was smoking a cigarette; it was one of those long Reom 120s that Deke knew he liked.

“Shit,” said Brew. “This ain’t a bad way to get thanked.”

“Explain,” said Deke, who was trying to concentrate on something over the loud music. The bar had a live band (it was, after all a Friday night that had bled into the wee hours of Saturday morning) and they were playing “Wipeout” quite loudly. Normally, Deke didn’t mind surf music, but there was a girl laughing with some guy across the bar who had brown hair—with frosted blonde bangs. He knew it wasn’t Dawn, since the set of her nose was different, but the way she was making time with a big college jock in a muscle shirt didn’t help Wakefield’s mood, and neither did seeing Commodore Wildstar up on the dance floor every so often with Nova as they tried new moves, looking a bit like young grad students in Derek’s golf shirt and jeans and Nova’s fresh white terrycloth dress and sandals. They were laughing their heads off when they occasionally bumped into each other trying to dance.

“Well, Wildstar’s buying tonight…”

“When he’s not up dancing with Nova, playing the pinball machine with Nova, and being dragged around by Nova as they meet old friends of hers.”

“Sheeeit, Deke. What’s your problem?”

“Look across the bar. Spitting image of Dawn,” said Deke as he kicked down more of his beer. “I know it’s not her, but…”

“You don’t need the reminder.”

“Damn straight,” said Deke.

Then, Domon came over; he had some brunette in a halter top, shorts, and sneakers by the hand, and she was laughing. The band had switched to a contemporary hit called “Iscandar” and it didn’t help Deke’s mood, not one bit.

“Hey, I want you guys to meet my new friend, Cassie,” said Domon. It sounded like Domon had just had a pretty good amount of beer. “Cassie, this is Marrable, and this guy is Wakefield.”

“Hi,” said Deke.

“Hey, hon.” said Brew.

“Excuse me, she’s taken,” laughed Domon, who gave Brew a friendly shove. Brew, Domon, and Cassie laughed at this while Deke remained silent.

“I was just wondering,” said Cassie. “Domon says he’s with the First Star Force. Is that true?”

“Go over there and ask Commodore Wildstar,” said Deke.

“I believe you,” laughed Cassie. “Is it true you two guys are Midshipmen at the Academy?”

“We sure are,” said Brew.

“Well, my friends Vicki and Anja,” she said, pointing over to a pretty blond girl and a very nice-looking fine-boned African-American girl (who were also dressed in revealing summer outfits) “You know, they just kinda broke up with their boyfriends this weekend, and they were wondering if maybe you’d like to dance…”

“I’ll dance,” said Brew, looking over at Anja as she came over and waved at him. She had a nice, high Afro hairdo, and he certainly did think she was cute (her very short shorts probably helped there; Deke knew that Brew was a ‘butt man’) “C’mon, Miss Anja, let’s do the next song.”

“Right,” said Anja. She and Brew left while Vicki came over to talk to Deke.

The main thing that turned off Deke about Vicki was that she was blonde. She had a pretty attractive face, and even had a shag hairstyle kind of like Nova’s, with cute blue eyes. She had a good, if average build, that was displayed in a tube top, miniskirt, and platform sandals. “Well,” said Vicki. “Ryusuke over there told me you’re a Midshipman. That true?”

“Yeah, I am,” said Wakefield, who decided to just make conversation.

“What speciality?”

“Flight.”

“Oh, you’re gonna drive a fighter plane, I bet, huh? I’m in training as a registered nurse. I think I’m going to take a commission with the World Health Organization when I graduate next year. Where are you from?”

“San Diego,” said Deke as he looked down at his boots. He was getting nervous, so he took his drumsticks out of his belt and began to beat a tattoo against an empty bar stool.

“Do you drum?” asked Vicki.

“Yeah, kind of,” replied Deke. He stopped a minute later when Nova came back to the bar with Derek in tow.

“Oh, my God,” said Vicki. “You’re…?”

“Nova Wildstar,” replied Nova as she sat down at the bar stool beside Derek. “Deke, are we intruding? There’s booths over there.”

“Uh, no, ma’am, it’s okay,” said Wakefield as Nova took another sip of her beer. Wakefield noticed she liked lager with a lime wedge squeezed into it. Vicki was looking at the beer, so Nova said, “Funny habit. Picked it up in London in early 2201.”

“What were you doing in London?” asked Vicki.

“She was doing a goodwill tour with some members of the Star Force after we got back from Iscandar.”

“Oh, my God! Derek Wildstar!” said Vicki. “Sir, can I have your autograph?”

“Nova..?” said Derek.

“Here’s a pen,” said Nova after she hunted in her purse. “Oh, Derek, I called Mom before. She’d like us to meet with her and Dad for church tomorrow, and wants us to spend at least Sunday night there before we leave.”

“Buried the hatchet, huh?” said Wildstar.

“Yup,” said Nova. “Look, Homer’s dancing with some girl over there. I’m gonna tell Wendy if he leaves here with that girl.”

“Yeah, he can’t be two-timing,” said Wildstar.

“That’s like, lou-sy,” laughed Vicki, who was starting to grate on Deke’s nerves. “Hey, Midshipman,” said Vicki as the band began to play “Love Potion Number Nine”

“Name’s Deke.”

“Okay, Deeekkeeee….you wanna leave with me? I mean…”

Nova just grinned a little and turned away to Derek whistling. Derek said, “Hey, Nova, let’s go play pinball again, all right?”

“Okay, sure,” said Nova as she winked at Deke and Vicki. “See you later… you two,” laughed Nova as she took Wildstar’s hand.

Deke just sat in silence. Vicki said, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Are you all right?”

“Little too much brew,” said Wakefield.

“Well, come on,” said Vicki as she tried to take him by the hand. “I meant that, Dekeee. I’d like you to see my apartment…”

“No, thanks,” said Wakefield quietly.

“No?”

“I…I just suffered a loss recently,” said Wakefield. “I…I’m not really ready to get serious with anyone yet. Or semi-serious.”

“It’s not like I asked you to marry me or anything,” teased Vicki. “I hear you Midshipmen like to have fun.”

“I’m not that type,” said Wakefield. “No…I’m straight; I just don’t treat women like that.”

Vicki sighed. “You’re missing out on a great time. And you are cute.”

“Sorry, no thanks..”

“Okay,” said Vicki. “Well, maybe we’ll meet again some time,” she said. “Take care.”

She blew Deke a kiss, finished her beer, and then flounced off. There was applause, and the band began to play a bluesy version of “Scarlet Scarf” as the couples on the dance floor began to slow-dance. Deke caught glimpses of Domon dancing close with his date, and then he saw Nova and Derek dancing as if they were at some high school prom or something. It looked cute, but it didn’t help Deke’s mood at the moment.

Brew came back a moment later. Alone. And with a hand mark showing on his face.

“Damn broad,” he said angrily. “I just wanted to…you know…see her place…and she slapped me. Well, bye-bye Anja. Hello lonely weekend.”

“Go talk to Vicki over there,” said Deke sarcastically. “She just tried to drag me to her place.”

“Hell, I’m not into them kind of blondes,” said Brew. “But she is cute. Dressed down just right for a hot night. C’mon, man. Dawn would forgive ya.”

“I don’t go that way!” snapped Deke. “Especially not with…with…her type. You know…floozies,” said Deke in a low voice.

“I just struck out,” said Brew. “You threw one away, man.”

“No, Brew. I struck out, too. I’m not that type, and that’s not the kind of relationship I want.”

“Well, what do ya want?” said Marrable.

“You know damn well what I want. I want my dearest friend back,” said Wakefield. “I want Dawn.”

The next morning, after church, Wildstar and Nova met up with Domon, Homer, Hemsford, and some of the Marines at a baseball diamond on the University of Colorado at Boulder campus. Nova got them onto the diamond by flashing her alumni association card. They set up something that wasn’t quite a pickup game, but wasn’t quite just shagging at flies, either.

Domon was having fun pitching while a Marine caught behind home plate. At the moment, Nova was up taking batting practice in shorts, a t-shirt, and sneakers.

“I wonder where Deke and Brew went, Derek?” said Nova. “When I last saw them at the bar last night, I told them to meet us here. “You know we all have to split up tomorrow.”

“I have no idea what happened to them,” said Wildstar. He stood watching as Nova swung at a fastball and hit a good fly ball out to left field. Off in the distance, Domon’s new girlfriend Cassie was running on the grass in bare feet to catch it. “Hey, that was a good one.”

“Wanna take another swing?” yelled Domon from the mound.

“Yeah,” said Nova. “Derek, watch me hit the fence with this one.”

“You look kinda agitated.”

Nova swung and hit again, sending the ball into right field with a loud crack of the bat.

“Not bad,” said Derek. “I’m definitely picking you for our team.”

“Thanks.”

“What’s on your mind?”

“Mad,” said Nova as the Marine who caught the ball threw back to Domon.

“Over what?”

“The Josiahites. And Yvona. Even though she’s dead, all she’s causing is heartache. I hope she’s happy down there in Hell, like Father Likanski said. He was sure preaching a fire and brimstone one this morning, wasn’t he?”

“Lazarus and the Rich Man,” said Wildstar, referring to the parable from one of the Gospels that the pastor who had married them had been preaching on. “Right now, I kinda feel like Lazarus.”

“The one in Paradise?” teased Nova.

“No, the other guy that Christ raised from the dead, Nova. I know what his head must’ve felt like after he got raised.”

Nova sighed. “I told you that you should’ve stopped at four beers, Derek!. But you never listen to me, do you?”

“Guess not,” said Wildstar. “You gonna stand up there batting all day?”

“Your turn,” said Nova as she handed Derek the Louisville Slugger. “I wish Deke and Brew would get here. It’d be nice to have them on our side.”

“Yeah…”

Marrable finally found Wakefield in a diner not far from the Boulderado Hotel. It was fairly quiet; the usual morning breakfast crowd had just left. It left time and space for Deke to sit morosely looking at a cup of coffee.

“What’s up?” said Brew.

“I woke up this morning and found an Internet café’ at that place in the hotel. You know, usual stuff. I tried sending an e-mail.”

“Where?”

“Dawn’s last known address.”

“Where’d it go?”

“It bounced. She’s not at that particular address any more at Pan-Am.”

“How’d you know she was there?”

“Lynn. She keeps me posted on Dawn’s address. Not that Dawn’s been answering any of my e-mails, anyhow. Well, I wrote Lynn and asked for her new address and let her know what happened. I guess her response will get forwarded through channels to the Rio Grande; if they even let us check e-mail there on the cruise, that is.”

“It’s a nice day, Deke. Don’t just sit there and mope. Wildstar said last night that he was getting together a ball game on a diamond on the college campus after church. C’mon…”

“I don’t like baseball, and they’d just put me in the deep outfield someplace. Which is where I feel like I belong right now. The outfield. Deke strikes out again. Whhhoooo…eee…”

“That’s no excuse, man.”

“All right. There’s gonna be at least three couples there getting all giggly and silly with each other on a hot summer day, and I don’t need to be reminded that I’m all bloody alone.”

“You’re not alone.”

“Whatcha mean?”

“You wanna mope, I’ll mope with ya, man. I struck out last night, too.”

“Thanks.”

IV. THE GAMILONS REGROUP

In Orbit Around Gamilon

Earth Date: Sunday, July 14, 2205

1005 Hours: Earth Time

Desslok sat morosely eating his breakfast in the suite of his flagship with Astrena and Dellar. He read a report as he ate, and barely looked up at Astrena.

“I take it you’re still unhappy?” said Astrena in a flat tone of voice.

“If you read this report, you would be unhappy, too,” said Desslok in a tart tone of voice. “A year of fleet reconstruction went down the drain with my last battle.”

“Are you still angry at me?”

“Annoyed, yes. Angry, no.”

“Then why are you annoyed?” asked Astrena. “I saved our lives.”

“With a tactic the Star Force used against me years ago? A tactic bound to humiliate me?”

Astrena slammed down her fork. “Desslok, that was the one time I didn’t have your humiliation in mind. Or do you forget we are in this together?”

“Father, mother,” said Dellar.

“Yes?” said Desslok.

“We survived the battle, Father. Why are you and mother still fighting?”

Desslok put down his knife. Or, rather, he slammed it down. “Now, Dellar,” he said in a dangerous voice.

“Desslok, don’t speak that way to our boy,” snapped Astrena. “He raised a very good point. I am no longer angry. I was, but no longer. Why are you blaming all of us?”

“What happened at Ashura was a blow to my pride. And my honor.”

“Desslok, the best of us can be outmaneuvered.”

“I make a point of not being outmaneuvered,” said Desslok.

“So, then, you are always right?” said Astrena with fire in her eyes. “What did you tell the Earthlings when you left the employ of Zordar? ‘Maybe I would do it again, but I don’t think so. There has to be a better way of life.’”

“You are using my own words against me?”

“I am.”

“I have killed men for less, Astrena.”

“Then why don’t you try it?”

“Try what?”

“Try killing me. If you can, that is.”

Desslok snarled and reached for his weapon, slowly pulling it out of his holster and considering it. Then, his attention was broken by a sob from Dellar.

“You are the Heir of Gamilon! Why are you crying?” hissed Desslok.

“Father, please don’t kill my mother!”

“Hmmm?” said Desslok. “Why?”

“Queen Starsha never gave you an heir,” said Astrena. “I have done so. And I know I am safe with you. Your displays do not impress me, nor do they frighten me.”

“Why?”

“Use your head, Desslok. I could stop your heart with a thought, if I thought you were truly dangerous. I can sense your thoughts. Like to try me?”

Desslok glared at her, and then he holstered his weapon. “You are right. You’re only the second woman in the history of the universe who has made me do that.”

“Yes. And thank your Gods I am more patient than Mrs. Wildstar.”

“Why is that?” said Desslok with a smile.

“I think if you were married to Nova, she would have killed you already, Desslok. She does not have my patience, wisdom, or ability to sense the pain behind your blustering words! Wake up! Gamilon is down there, before you. Granted, you are under attack. But you have won wars before. You command an Empire. You have allies. Why are you so threatened now? Why are you taking your rage out on all of us? Even Talan is concerned about you! And I am concerned about you! And you are making your son weep! What kind of man are you?”

“I am sorry,” said Desslok with downcast eyes. “Invidia. That’s why. Princess Invidia is behind this.”

“Another one of your old enemies? Big deal,” said Astrena with a glare and a wink.

“Invidia humiliated me like no one has done, before, or since. She cast me into prison, Astrena. Yes, I, Desslok of Gamilon. Cast into prison by a scheming bitch.”

“A woman you have defeated before, and one you can defeat again,” said Astrena. “We are almost home, Desslok. Your forces are ready to salute you. We made it.”

“It still feels…hollow…”

“Because I aided you?”

“No…,” said Desslok. “Because they got away. Because I don’t know where that Turpitz is. Or what he will do next.”

“Give this some time,” said Astrena. “It will work out…you’ll see…”

“I hope so…”

“Eat some breakfast!” laughed Astrena. “And give us a hug, would you?”

“You forgive me?”

“I do. I know it was but talk.”

Desslok stood and hugged his wife and his son. Then, he looked out at the surface of his rebuilt home, Gamilon.

“I must stay alive,” he said. “Astrena, as long as I live…”

“…Gamilon lives,” she said.

Them Desslok smiled at her. “You know me too well.”

“Yes,” said Astrena. “I do.”

TO BE CONTINUED....

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