“Tactical Analysist Cha’Hawk, I have urgent news that needs to be delivered immediately.” Cha’Hawk recognized the voice as Tel’Con Zan’Tar, one of his subordinates. Cha’Hawk motioned for Mi’Kel to put away his weapon, and Cha’Hawk also holstered the weapon on his back as he walked to the computer interface by the entrance and un-locked the door. The door immediately split open and Zan’Tar quickly walked through.
“Speak quickly, Tel’Con Zan’Tar,” Cha’Hawk said in a menacing tone. Though he was not actually angry at Zan’Tar, he had to give the impression that he was. High ranking Ribiyar did not welcome interruptions while conducting private discussions, especially by lowly assistants such as Zan’Tar. “What news do you bring that is so vital that you needed to disrupt important matters of the Tora Cyrel?” Though Cha’Hawk knew he hadn’t been technically discussing future plans for the Tora Cyrel, he knew that if Zan’Tar thought that, then he would be more likely to deliver his news and depart as quickly as possible.
“I beg forgiveness, Tactical Analysist Cha’Hawk,” Zan’Tar spoke, slightly bowing before Cha’Hawk as a show of respect, “but our forces stationed on one of the land masses in the ‘Atlantic Ocean’ have been attacked.”
“How many warriors were slain, Tel’Con Zan’Tar? Were they able to destroy their attackers?”
Zan’Tar braced for any punishment he may receive. The phrase, ‘don’t kill the messenger’, was not an expression known among the Ribiyar, and it would not be the first time an officer was slain because of the information he brought with him. “Tactical Analysist Cha’Hawk, all of the warriors stationed on and near the island have been destroyed by the organics.”
“What!?!” Though Cha’Hawk did not harm Zan’Tar, it was clear from Cha’Hawk’s tone that this news did not set well with him. “Why were reinforcements not deployed? Were the organics disrupting their communications?
Zan’Tar hesitated, but he then replied, “More troops were requested, Tactical Analysist Cha’Hawk, and their transmission was received, but High Order Ki’Ra did not see fit to send warriors to their aid.”
“Why would the High Order do such a thing like that?” Mi’Kel demanded as he stepped toward Zan’Tar.
Zan’Tar turned toward Mi’Kel and responded, “I believe High Order Ki’Ra had said ‘If those warriors cannot defeat a handful of organics that have barely a third of the physical strength we possess, then they do not deserve assistance from the Tora Cyrel’.” Seeing the fury in both of the officers, Zan’Tar quickly said, “I will report when I have more information, Tactical Analysist Cha’Hawk”, and then fled the room before Cha’Hawk and Mi’Kel could release their fury upon him.
After Cha’Hawk re-sealed the room, he turned to Mi’Kel and said, “Now do you understand why Ki’Ra must be stopped? We must not allow him to continue to waste more of our kind to pay for his incompetence.
“Cha’Hawk, you do realize that you can’t just walk into the command center and purge Ki’Ra. He may be ignorant, as you claim, but that doesn’t mean he is stupid. Am I wrong to assume that he has installed automatic weapon turrets, posted guard’s and surveillance systems in the chamber, and upgraded the door to make the room impenetrable?” When Cha’Hawk did not respond, Mi’Kel continued. “Even if you do make it in the room undetected, you would never leave it alive. The warriors would eliminate you before you even take a step out of the chamber.”
“I do have a plan, Mi’Kel. I have given this much consideration, and I believe that I can take down High Order Ki’Ra, and then lead this invasion to decisive victory. If, and only if, I have you by my side. Will you trust my instincts, as you have done many times before?”
Mi’Kel remained silent, and he walked to one of the consoles and inserted his data module into the console, establishing a connection between him and Ji’Co’s computer. Cha’Hawk watched silently as data and video images appeared on the visual display on the wall and rapidly passed by as more information replaced it, reviewing all of what has happened since the invasion began. Though Cha’Hawk wanted desperately to renew his discussion and continue to speak his mind, he knew that now he could only wait and hope that Mi’Kel would side with him against Ki’Ra, and not report his planned mutiny to the officers on the ship. When Mi’Kel reached the end of the information, the screen returning to its previous setting of showing current sensor data, he turned toward Cha’Hawk, his decision made.
“You have my full trust and support, Cha’Hawk. Now, tell me more of your plan to bring an end to High Order Ki’Ra.”
Chapter 19
Date: July 9, 2132.
Location: Aboard the U.S.S. Ocean-Walker, anchored near an unnamed island in the Atlantic Ocean.
Unit is online.
Running diagnostic cycle:
Memory: Operational.
Attention; Damage to systems impeding full functionality.
Current operating status; 89%.
Weapon systems:
damage detected in R. v-gun.
Status: Offline, Damaged beyond quick repair.
Minor damage and wear from usage detected in remaining weapon systems.
Weapon systems functionality: 59%.
Motor functions:
Operational capacity at 43%.
Severe damage in several components and structural bearings in R. arm detected.
Repairs recommended before further physical activity is initiated.
Optic, audio, sensory receptors: Partially offline.
Cause; Damage detected in cerebellar systems.
Optic receptors are currently offline and will not be functional until damage to cerebellar systems are repaired.
Warning: Mental functions will deteriorate if repairs are not initiated within 71 hours.
Unit Overall Power levels are at 49%.
Recharge in progress.
Estimated time of recharge completion: 3hrs, 19mins.
Scanning… Unit functionality is at 51%
Warning: Repair is vital for unit survival.
This unit must survive.
Initializing Recon Drone connection.
Discontinuing all other objectives.
Rerouting Recon Drones to unit location.
Objective: Repair unit to functional status.
Activating unit Genetic Modulator to construct parts for repairs.
Engaging…
As the setting sun shone brilliantly, the fighters landed upon the deck of the Ocean-Walker, and once the bombardment of the Ribiyar forces came to an end, the officers in the fighters exited their craft, and found themselves confronted by a flurry of questions by the Ocean-Walker’s staff. Though they knew a report needed to be presented to the commanders of the Ocean-Walker and Thunderfox, the officers from the Atlanta were able to convince them to hold off the briefing temporarily while they bring Jack aboard the Ocean-Walker and have him examined. Jack had just been transferred from the Thunderfox’s cargo hold and onto the main deck of the Ocean-Walker when all the Recon Drones suddenly bolted from the Ribiyar fighters and swarmed over Jack. The drones deployed their crane-like arms and then began to grab tools that were left over from the Ocean-Walker’s repair crews. They then went back to Jack and started to repair him, prying off broken metal plates, adjusting his systems, and repairing broken parts by replacing them with materials that were slowly produced by a compartment on the bottom of Jack’s right arm, where his Recon Drone was normally stored.
“Have you seen this happen to him before?” Lieutenant Olo asked as he walked toward Jack, with Chief Lexton leading the way.
“No, but he has only been like this for a day. For all we know, this could be a normal occurrence for him.”
Olo was quiet for a minute before he finally asked, “How did Captain Vade get like this? Did the Ribiyar do this to him?” Olo asked, worried of the atrocities the robotic species co
uld have inflicted on countless other lives.
“It wasn’t the Ribiyar.” Lexton took a deep breath. “It was us who did this to him.”
Olo was shocked and viewed Lexton suspiciously. “Why would you do this to him? He was you own captain!”
“Lieutenant, we didn’t in any way force Jack to go through with the procedure that changed him into this. In fact, his senior staff aboard the Atlanta, myself included, warned him of the dangers of the device, and advised against anyone, especially the captain, to use the device. But, our ship was, and still is, running out of food and other supplies, and the captain thought he should volunteer in case the device could somehow lead to the ship being liberated from its prison on the bottom of the ocean. And somehow, he was able to free the Atlanta because of his transformation.”
Olo was silent as he let this information sink in. He was about to respond when Jack’s eyes suddenly opened, startling both of the officers. His pupils enlarged and then shrunk, and continued to rapidly switch between each as they tried to make sense of what they were seeing. Jack opened his mouth to speak, but all that came out was some garbled sounds. His head jerked to the left, and he looked forward again and tried to speak.
“Where am I? Is anyone there?”
Lexton maneuvered around the Recon Drones repairing Jack and knelt down next to him. “Jack, its Chief Lexton. I’m right here beside you. Can you see me?”
“I… I cannot,” Jack said, looking toward her direction, his eyes continuing their re-adjustments, the sight unnerving Lexton slightly. “Some of the circuitry compromising my visual cortex has been completely crushed, leaving my optic receptors… my eyes I mean, non-functional.” Jack turned his head to the right, and she saw a portion of the lower half of his head had been crushed inwards, and she remembered that area was around were the brain maintained processed information from the eyes. As he was talking, a Recon Drone began to pry off the bent metal plating on his head, and she began to see a large mass of high-tech circuity beneath. She averted her eyes from the bizarre scene of her former captain’s head being pried open, fearing it would be too much for her to take. “Chief Lexton, I believe it is best to meet with the leading officers of the forces here and inform them about what we found in the ocean, and to learn what we can about what has happened since the invasion began. Who is the commanding officer around here?”
“That would be me,” a voice behind the group announced. Lexton turned to an officer walking towards the group.
“Captain Whitefield,” Olo said, standing suddenly in surprise.
“John. I… didn’t expect to find you out here,” Jack said as he looked towards Whitefield, still unable to see.
“I am equally surprised to find you all the way out here, in the middle of nowhere and anyway from the Atlanta. I guess it is true what they say. It’s a small world that we live on.”
“Captain Whitefield, you know Jack?” Olo asked, surprised.
“We have a long history together,” Captain Whitefield replied. “I have been trying to sail the seas without the shadow of my family over me, but it appears I will never escape from my family’s legacy.”
Lexton looked at Jack, and then again at Captain Whitefield. “But, that still doesn’t explain how you know of each other.”
“It’s quite simple, actually.” Captain Whitefield took a deep breath before he added, “Jack and I, are brothers.”
Chapter 20
Date: July 9, 2132.
Location: Aboard the U.S.S. Ocean-Walker, anchored near an unnamed island in the Atlantic Ocean.
Jack said nothing to Whitefield’s revelation, reacting only by looking away from him.
Chief Lexton, however, did not remain silent. “You’re his brother?!” She blurted out in surprise, her attempts of holding in the outburst unable to contain her reaction.
“Why would you want to hide being related to Jack?” Olo asked, trying to keep a firmer grip on his reaction. Though it was apparent he was stunned from the news, he glanced from Whitefield to Vade, Jack saw Olo was beginning to see the physical resemblance between the two. Before he turned into a machine, of course.
Captain Whitefield sighed. “Jack had always done better than me in every aspect in life, everything from sports to school and military training. When I was old enough, I decided to change my name, so I could serve in the military without having the shadow of my family’s reputation over my head. And… we have other reasons to stay away from each other as well.” He added, and then went silent, not divulging any further information.
The Recon Drones removed a mangled piece of gray circuitry from Jack’s head, and inserted an undamaged replacement, produced from the genetic modulator in his arm, and his eyes finally stopped their frenzied movement and were at last able to process the world around him. “Captain Whitefield,” Jack said, adopting a more formal tone of voice and skipping over having any civil discussion between them, “I need to give you a report about recent events, and I would like to take part in further operations to fight back the Ribiyar. I don’t plan on letting them take our planet without giving them a fight they won’t soon forget.”
Whitefield, despite himself, smiled at Jack’s commitment to the mission, even while being as injured as he was. “I admire your willingness to fight. On that matter, Captain Syvon of the U.S.S. Thunderfox has requested a debriefing with the commanding officers that were involved with what happened on the island, including you. Do you think you can make it there?”
Jack thought a moment, and then responded, “If you give me about twelve minutes, I will be well enough to attend the debriefing.”
“Very well,” Captain Whitefield responded. “I will inform Captain Syvon that he can start in about half an hour. Lieutenant Olo, I want you and the officers attending the briefing to help Jack get to the briefing room to the Thunderfox, where the meeting will be taking place. Once you’re aboard, the Thunderfox’s crew can show you where to go.”
Whitefield turned to leave, but before he left, he turned back to Jack and said, “It was good to see you again, Jack. I’m… so sorry about what happened to you.” He looked like he wished to say more, but he stayed silent. “Stay safe out there,” he said finally, and left the officers and conversed with several crewmen on the main deck.
“Good to see you as well, brother,” Jack spoke softly, a small amount of anger slipping into his voice, but he talked quietly enough so the officers around him didn’t hear him. Looking toward the other officers, Jack said, “When the time comes, I would appreciate your assistance in boarding the Thunderfox for the briefing. For now, however, I need to power down to allow the drones to preform necessary repairs on my systems. I will reactivate once it is time to board the ship.” Not giving the officers any chance to ask about the tension between Jack and his brother, not even taking time to acknowledge his old friend Olo, he closed his eyes and quickly powered down his systems, allowing the Recon Drones to begin administering the needed repairs.
Thirty minutes later…
Location: Aboard the U.S.S. Thunderfox, near an unnamed island in the Atlantic Ocean.
“So, let me get this straight,” Captain Syvon spoke after a period of silence. Aboard the Thunderfox, in the ship’s briefing room, many of the officers that were on the island when the Ribiyar attacked. In addition to Lieutenant Olo, Jack, Chief Lexton, and Doctor McGriffen were seated around the table in the briefing room. The briefing room was small, with the rectangular table taking up a large portion of the room. Most of the surfaces on the grey, metal-plated walls were covered with various computer displays, showing the status of the ship, layouts of the surrounding land near the ship, and there were a few displays that were black to allow the officers to display data, or look up information from the Thunderfox’s computer. On the wall that was closest to the outside of the ship, a large window dominated much of its surface, showing a large portion of the Ocean-Walker’s main dec
k, and the bright horizon behind it as the sun continued its descent.
Standing in front of the window, taking in the view outside the ship, Captain Syvon continued to try to piece together recent events. Though they had already given a thorough recount of what had happened on the island, Syvon was now interested in learning what had happened to Jack, and the events that led up to him and the other officers arriving on the island. “Jack, you were the captain of the nuclear submarine Atlanta, up till recently trapped under the remains of a Korean battleship, and when an experimental device turned your body into machinery, you resigned your commission, and eventually gained control of a disabled Ribiyar vessel crashed a distance from the Atlanta. You then used that ship to free the Atlanta, and you later took part in an expedition to retrieve supplies for your ship. Once you left the alien ship, you proceeded to the island, were attacked by Victor, managed to survive, barely, and up with join Lieutenant Oakland’s search party, and you were then ambushed by the Ribiyar on the island. Is this what happened, Mr. Vade?”
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