“Yes, sir,” the WATO reported, “we have tried to contact him on all frequencies, but he is simply not responding.”
To the left of the War Table, the three View Screens sprang to life showing Billy the various images of the former battlefield. The Bardomil Imperial Fighter Carriers around the Flagship were burning whilst Alliance transport vessels scampered to and from the Star-Cruiser Aries.
“We’re trying to get as many Bardomil out of the area as possible,” The WATO began
“Scanners, when did the self destruct activate?” Billy cut the WATO short.
“We spotted it about two and a half minutes ago,” a voice came from one of the bank of consoles.
“And, how long until it detonates?” Billy asked.
“Unknown, sir,” the Scanner Technician responded anxiously.
“Engineer, how big a bang will it make?” Billy asked turning to his right.
“It’ll destroy anything unshielded within ten kilometres, sir” an Engineering Officer responded from the consoles behind the War Table.
“Sir,” the WATO piped up, “I recommend that we evacuate the area and stand off until after the explosion.”
For a moment, Billy paused. There were still thousands of Bardomil out there, and maybe a few injured Alliance personnel.
“Very well, get everyone you can out of the area, WATO,” Billy snapped into action, “Get the teleport coordinates for the Bardomil Flagship’s bridge, and put the Duty Teleport Technician on standby,” Billy began, and switched off the View Screens.
“Put Endeavour on standby, shielded within teleport range of the Bardomil flagship, and if the self-destruct is about to blow tell them to yank both of us out,” Billy continued.
“Sir!?” the astonished WATO pronounced, shocked at what he had just heard, “You’re nor seriously considering going over there?”
“That is exactly what I’m planning to do,” Billy responded calmly and began to leave the War Room, followed by an anxious WATO.
“But, sir,” the WATO protested, “it could be suicide, and I cannot allow the Commanding Officer to jeopardise himself in such a foolhardly…….”
“The Commanding Officer has duly noted your protest,” Billy cut the WATO short again, “Now, you stay here, you are my lifeline and I need you to stay sharp and pull me out before it’s too late. Do you understand me?”
“Perfectly clear, sir,” the WATO responded still following Billy to the door, “at least take a Security Team with you, sir,”
“No,” Billy responded, stopping just short of the door, and turning to the WATO, “this is a big chief’s pow-wow,” Billy indicated, “now what is this customer’s name?”
“Lokkrien, sir,” the WATO responded, “Marrhus Lokkrien.”
“Well, let me go and see what our friend Marrhus Lokkrien has to say for himself,” Billy smiled and disappeared through the opaque force shield doorway.
A minute later, with the force shielding on his P.E.S. set to maximum, Billy teleported in a flash of intense white light, unnoticed, onto the doomed Imperial Fighter Carrier directly behind the Bardomil commander, Marrhus Lokkrien. Billy arrived at a scene he could only describe as devastation on the bridge of the Bardomil Flagship. The series of arrayed Control Consoles were a shambles of twisted metal and flaring, sparking wires and circuit boards. The walls of the bridge were burned black in some areas and support beams hung from the ceiling in a jumbled tangle. Dead Bardomil lay slumped at their stations, with several more bodies on the floor.
“Permission to come aboard, sir?” Billy announced.
The Bardomil Commander, taken completely by surprise, stumbled, and but for his quick reflexes and a convenient Control Console would have fallen over with shock and astonishment.
“Who the, what the, who are you, and how did you get aboard my ship?” Marrhus Lokkrien gasped in astonishment.
He stared wide-eyed at this strange alien interloper aboard his vessel, grabbing his side arm from its holster by his right hip.
“I am First Admiral William Caudwell, commander of the Universal Alliance Fleet, and I teleported here to speak to you as you were refusing to acknowledge my calls,” Billy snapped his heels together and gave a short bow.
“Now, unless the Bardomil Empire has no sense of military protocol, it is usually customary to either grant or deny my request,” Billy added, staring directly into the Bardomil officers eyes.
The confused and still stunned Bardomil officer had enough presence of mind to drag himself to the attention position.
“Permission granted, welcome aboard,” Marrhus responded formally with a slight nod, still keeping his side arm pointed at the intruder.
“Thank you. Please forgive me, what is your rank?” Billy asked, and did a very quick sizing up of this brave Bardomil.
From the look of him, and his uniform, he was not an officer who would stand back and let his subordinates do the fighting. The uniform was torn in several places and showed dark patches where he had been wounded. The scars on his slightly grey face, beneath the straight black hair, indicated that this was not the first time. He stood a good head and shoulders taller than Billy, as most adult Bardomil would. Billy noticed, despite the crushing defeat of his forces that he held his head erect and proudly with the spirit of defiance still burning in his light green, almond shaped eyes. He was still relatively young for the rank he held, which was equivalent to Admiral or General.
“I am Acting Fleet Commander Marrhus Lokkrien, twenty sixth fleet of the Bardomil Imperial Forces,” he announced, and then added a “Sir” to ensure strict adherence to protocol.
“Well then, Acting Fleet Commander, now that we have dispensed with the formalities, can we see about getting you out of here?” Billy asked.
“Erm, no, I’m afraid that would be entirely impossible First Admiral William Caudwell,” Marrhus responded his mind still reeling with confusion.
“Why would that be, Acting Fleet Commander?” Billy probed, his hands behind his back, starting to walk around the devastated bridge.
“Because, sir, you have become my prisoner, and you will order the release of all my personnel and vessels or I shall regretfully be forced to kill you,” Marrhus smiled, keeping his side arm pointed directly at Billy’s chest as he moved.
“Acting Fleet Commander, I am not entirely stupid, you know. Should you decide to fire that thing at me you will discover that I am protected by the same force shielding that protects my warships,” Billy responded, “So, why don’t you go just ahead and shoot me?” Billy challenged.
Carefully, still smiling, and not taking his eyes off Billy for an instant, Lokkrien raised the Bardomil pistol and took aim. Before he could pull the trigger, Billy forcefully made his own point. With a simple thought, he extended the force shielding from his P.E.S. several feet beyond where Marrhus Lokkrien was standing. The effect was equivalent to the nervously smiling Bardomil officer being hit by a truck. It swept Marrhus off his feet, completely, and flung him several feet into the air before landing heavily on his back. This caused him to slide, painfully and uncontrollably, across the debris strewn floor of the Fighter Carrier’s bridge. Stunned, bruised and disorientated Lokkrien shook his head and sat up to find Billy Caudwell calmly picking up the fallen side-arm, which was now pointed at his head.
“Finish it then!” Marrhus shouted defiantly, seated on his backside in the carnage of his flagship.
“Acting Fleet Commander,” Billy, crouching down beside the fallen Bardomil, said calmly, whilst nonchalantly dropping the side arm into the astonished Bardomil’s lap, “if I had wanted you dead, then you would already be dead.”
“What do you want then?” the angry, defeated and still defiant Bardomil demanded.
“Believe it or not, I want you to join the Universal Alliance,” Billy said straightening up, turning his back, and walking over to the Main View Screen that dominated the bridge.
It was showing images of Alliance transports scampering through the debr
is field of damaged, burning and destroyed Bardomil vessels.
“That would be impossible, First Admiral William Caudwell, I am a Bardomil, I do not betray my Empress,” Marrhus replied rising painfully to his feet.
“That is the second time in less than a minute you have used the word ‘impossible’ to me. Yet now, perhaps, you understand that I do not believe in the concept of ‘impossible’, Acting Fleet Commander?” Billy asked.
“I cannot betray my oath to the Empress,” Marrhus bridled defiantly.
Billy paused for a second, catching sight of the Command Console where the countdown for the self-destruct mechanism ticked relentlessly downwards. There were less than three minutes to go before this vessel would tear itself apart in a huge cataclysmic explosion.
“Do you really think your Empress gives a hoot about your oath, Acting Fleet Commander?” Billy probed just how resolute this young Bardomil was.
“She may not care about my personal oath, I am but one single and anonymous soldier in her service, but I gave my word to serve her until death,” Marrhus replied.
“Don’t be so melodramatic, Acting Fleet Commander. You gave your word to someone who is quite happy to use you and when you hit a patch of bad luck expects you to die needlessly.” Billy stated and paused.
“Take a look out there Acting Fleet Commander Marrhus Lokkrien,” Billy pointed to the three burning Imperial Fighter Carriers on the Main View Screen, “The Bardomil Empire is finished, its days are numbered,” he jabbed at the screen with his forefinger, “we tore your precious Imperial Fleet to ribbons in less than forty minutes, Acting Fleet Commander!” Billy shouted to emphasise his point.
For a moment Marrhus Lokkrien looked at Billy with pure hatred.
“Do you think for one moment that when we brush aside the rest of the Imperial Fleet and crush the defences on Bardus that your beloved Empress will kill herself rather than surrender?” Billy probed further sensing he had the advantage.
Marrhus knew in his heart that the alien was probably speaking the truth; even though he loathed admitting it.
“I gave my oath and word of honour,” Marrhus stammered.
“You have done everything, everything that your honour demands of you Acting Fleet Commander. No one can question your courage and loyalty or that of your soldiers, no one! That is, in part, why I would so like to have them, and you, join the Alliance,” Billy pressed, moving over to Marrhus and staring him directly in the eye.
He knew the Bardomil was wavering, but he had to press home the attack if he was to bring him out alive.
“But they will kill my family!” Marrhus protested.
“Only if they think that you are still alive,” Billy said determinedly, “If the Bardomil Empire thinks you died a hero’s death, then your family will be spared, and you will see them again.”
“But, they will think that I am dead!” Marrhus stammered.
“Ah, but not for long.; the technology that brought me here can also bring your family out of Bardomil territory,” Billy promised.
“My family doesn’t know any other way of life,” Marrhus protested.
“Then give them a new life, Marrhus Lokkrien. Away from the Empress and the system that would condemn them to death because you chose to save your own life,” Billy probed, “Think about it Marrhus Lokkrien, your children would grow up never having to fear being killed because of your actions.” Billy tempted.
“I, I,” Marrhus Lokkrien began to protest.
“Your children would grow up safe and secure, Marrhus Lokkrien. Well educated and protected from the terror of your Imperial system,” Billy pushed the final attack home, and waited.
There were several seconds of unbearable silence for Billy Caudwell as he let the final offer sink into Marrhus Lokkrien’s consciousness. Billy had no more arguments left to offer the Bardomil commander and let the silence do its work. Despite an overwhelming urge to add to his argument Billy knew he had to keep quiet. He knew he had to let the Bardomil, officer make his own decision. Billy felt some sympathy for his defeated adversary. Marrhus Lokkrien was caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place. He was undergoing mental agonies that Billy could only dream of.
The seconds of silence seemed to stretch for an eternity in the cabin of the Bardomil flagship. Billy became more aware of the relentless tone of the self-destruct mechanism timer tolling, slowly and inexorably, down to the annihilation of the vessel. After what seemed a lifetime, but was in reality only a few seconds, the Bardomil officer walked calmly over to a control console and pressed a button. The countdown clock of the self-destruct mechanism instantly ceased.
“Very well, First Admiral William Caudwell, I offer you my surrender, I am your prisoner, sir,” Marrhus Lokkrien said dejectedly and his entire posture seemed to slump.
“A wise choice, Acting Fleet Commander,” Billy responded, “I accept your surrender.”
“What would you have done if I had not chosen to surrender First Admiral William Caudwell?” the dejected and finally defeated Marrhus Lokkrien asked.
“I would have teleported back to the Aquarius and left you,” Billy lied smoothly.
“I think, with respect First Admiral William Caudwell, that perhaps you would not have,” Marrhus responded, “Had I been in your position, I would have done exactly what you would have done, and I would not have left empty-handed.”
“Well we shall never know, shall we, Acting Fleet Commander?” Billy smiled and ordered the teleporter Technicians to bring them both back over to the Aquarius.
In a blinding flash of white light the two figures disappeared from the debris-strewn shambles of the bridge of the Bardomil flagship.
On the abandoned Control Console the digital display for the self-destruct mechanism cast an eerie green menacing glow and stood frozen.
It read eight seconds.
Chapter 57
The next day was Monday, the first day of the working week. Billy was eager to mark the new week with a new start, and to express just exactly what he thought of Timothy Reilly. There may have been only a few more weeks until the long summer break; however, Billy had decided he would mark the end of this year with the end of Reilly’s reign of terror. The victory over the Bardomil the day before had been the catalyst. Reilly would leave at the end of this year, and Billy was determined that one of his gang would not take over the mantle of school bully. There would be no more school bullies or bullying whilst Billy Caudwell attended that school. Calmly, Billy ate his breakfast without the sick queasy feeling in the pit of his stomach, despite the hurried chivvying from his mother.
Despite the success of her book she still went to work in the shop. The advance from the publishers had paid off the family’s debts and the hire purchase agreements on the carpets, furniture and washing machine. There was even enough left over for a new car and money to put into the bank for a rainy day. The publisher, Mr. Teddington, who Billy actually quite liked, had telephoned his parents and indicated that the first royalty’s cheque would be paid in August, and that it would be a very substantial amount. He had suggested contacting a local solicitor and accountant to look after the Income Tax and investment situation.
His parents had been delighted, and Billy had never seen them so happy together. The burden and stress of debt had been lifted from their shoulders. Although, they still needed to work, they did not have the pressure of working just to keep their heads above water. Billy’s plan was working out perfectly, and he still had the data-sphere with the mind profile of Fiscass Trasvett, the great computer scientist and inventor, hidden in his wardrobe to be deployed into his father’s mind. He would have two happy, very successful and wealthy parents. They wouldn’t have to work in jobs that they hated, and when the day came that he had to leave them, they would want for nothing.
The bus journey to school was uneventful, and becoming rather tedious to Billy, who had grown accustomed to the instantaneous travel of the teleporter technology. For Billy, the interminably
slow journey from the estate his parents lived on into the town was beginning to annoy him. At the school gate he waved to his mother and walked calmly up the worn sandstone steps onto the black asphalted playground. Monday mornings always seemed depressing to Billy. The air of despondency from the other students having had their weekend freedom curtailed hung heavily over the entire school like a dark cloud, despite the fine sunny weather. However, this day Billy Caudwell had a mission. Rather than cower in his place of safety waiting for the bell to signal his survival, he went looking for the tormentor of his life. Round the school buildings Billy confidently strode, his mind ever alert, his eyes ever vigilant.
Strangely there was no sign of Reilly, or any of his gang. They were either late, or not turning up at all that day, he thought to himself.
Usually, creatures of habit they would wait by the steel mesh fence that bordered the side entrance to the playground. They were waiting for the richer children to arrive by car. The smaller wrought iron gate; that led to the area close to the climbing frame, was an ideal ambush point. Slightly annoyed, Billy set off to search the entire playground and all the known haunts of Reilly and his gang. Billy, somewhat frustrated, scanned the playground with his last few precious moments of freedom, and failed to find the object of his attentions.
The pattern was repeated at first break. Billy scoured the playground, even asking some of the other students where Reilly was. The students, somewhat astonished at someone actually looking for Reilly, responded that they did not know where he was, and had not seen him all day. Eagerly and expectantly Billy waited for the lunchtime bell. He knew that Reilly and his gang would be down by the wall at the dinner hall. They would be waiting to relieve someone of the few miserable pennies their parents had given them for sweets. Yet, once again Billy was to be disappointed. From his place in the queue, he peered and strained to see who, if anyone, was secreted in the traditional ambush point. He was dismayed to discover that there would be no ambush that day. Normally a cause for celebration, now, for Billy Caudwell it was another moment of annoyance and frustration.
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