by Francis, Ron
"We have no shuttles available, Ma'am, and the Hammers are too big to execute the maneuver safely. We're as likely to kill her as we are to bring her aboard."
"Someone must be able to help; it's Sergeant Rivada, please."
The desperation in the Admiral's voice left Jesse with the impression that Sergeant Rivada must have been pretty important to the Admiral when the next transmission confirmed his thought.
"Ma'am, we could try to pick up your daughter, but it's going to be dangerous."
"The Admiral's daughter cannot die for me, can we help her?" The Princess asked as she entered the bridge.
"Your Highness, we need to get you to safety, that's the mission, that's why the sergeant is out there." Reece explained.
"Well, I am changing the mission, Officer Gavin. Colonel, can Endeavor safely make the pick up? We have four Battle Hammers covering us; I believe the risk to be minimal."
"Collin could bring her aboard more easily than the big ships can, but it's still going to be dangerous. Are you sure you want to risk it? We are close to finally getting out of here."
"Yes, I wish to help Sergeant Rivada. After seeing that ship destroyed up close, I have decided that enough good people have given their lives for me today. I would at least like to save this one."
Collette was so proud of her friend as she spoke, but she was still surprised when Colonel Marcos said, “Alright, people, let's see if we have one more miracle left, let's do this. Bessa, open a transmission to the Admiral."
"As you wish, Colonel."
"Admiral, Endeavor is equipped and prepared to bring the Sergeant aboard."
"Negative Colonel, the Princess safety must come first."
"She respectfully disagrees, and I'm inclined to agree with her. We are the best shot at getting her to safety, Ma’am; just cover us as we go in." Without awaiting a reply, Endeavor veered off towards the Sergeant's damaged fighter. All of the Battle Hammers were covering their position as they slowly reversed thrust and made their way towards Sergeant Rivada. Hard light rang out all around them as Conglomerate fighters and Pirate Razzers tried to destroy the damaged fighter and disable Endeavor. Kimi was taking them out at an exceptional rate as Collin slowly backed the landing bay up to the fighter. Xanu gave the signal that the fighter was safely aboard and then helped Wassan get the injured woman to med-bay.
"Admiral, we have her safely aboard. She is injured, but our doctor tells me she will make a full recovery. "
"Thank you, Colonel," the Admiral replied, relief evident in her voice. "We'll see you on Hyperia as soon as we are done cleaning up this mess. Dyson out."
"Ten seconds to light space," Collin called out
"Thank you, Colonel. Thank you for backing me up and letting Collin rescue the sergeant."
"It was the right thing to do, Your Majesty; I'm really impressed you were willing to do it, after everything you've been through."
"We've all been through a lot, Colonel," she replied as she looked at the still bleeding wound in his side. She noticed he was still sweating badly and knew he had contracted death brush fever. "You don't look very well at all, as soon as we enter light space, you should get to med-bay." She added as she placed her hand on his shoulder.
"I agree, Your Majesty," he replied as he briefly placed his hand over hers.
Collin's announcement ended the discussion, "Entering light space, next stop, Hyperia."
Reece smiled and added, "You're going home, Princess."
______
Admiral Dyson had just received the transmission she was waiting for. Colonel Marcos had been able to rescue her daughter and follow Fate's Choice into light space. The rest of the Battle Hammers had begun to dominate the theatre. The enemy ships had started getting sloppy as they desperately tried to pursue the ship with their former prisoners on it. This was going to wind up being a very costly and embarrassing loss for both the Conglomerate and the pirates. Admiral Dyson allowed herself a smile because her daughter was safe and the mission was a success.
Admiral Dyson immediately sent a transmission to King Dominus on Hyperia. As the King's face filled the screen in front of her, she smiled. "Good news, Your Majesty. Endeavor has safely made the jump to light space with your daughter aboard and should be at Hyperia in twenty-two hours. I am told your daughter is safe and aside from a few scratches, unharmed. Lady Collette was bitten by a venomous snake, but the quick thinking of one of your people stopped the venom from spreading too quickly, and she is in the ship's med-bay right now getting the help she needs. She will be out of action for a little while, but she will make a full recovery."
"That is the best news I've heard in a long time, Admiral. I don't know how I will ever be able to repay you. Please, come visit Hyperia and you shall be treated to a royal welcome."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, but no thanks are necessary. Our leader owes Colonel Marcos a couple big favors and after what he has done for our planet. I feel privileged to be the one selected to help repay him. Although, Colonel Marcos rescued my daughter and she is currently aboard Endeavor, so I may be taking you up on that trip to Hyperia."
"Please do, and speaking of Colonel Marcos, do you know if he and his people made it safely through their ordeal?" He hoped he would be able to thank his friends for once again saving his daughter. He owed them so much, he hoped they were all still alive to thank.
"I know Colonel Marcos made it along with your daughter, Lady Collette and sixteen others. I do not know which of those, if any, were his people. How many did you send?"
"I sent thirty-three, but three of them were traitors. Their treachery has cost the lives of thirteen of my best people. But that is nothing compared to what you have given up for us. That is great news about Colonel Marcos, thank you."
"Don't thank me yet, I'm told he looks very ill. Actually, your people didn't know how he even had the strength to stand. They couldn't tell me for sure before they left, but they suspected he might have death brush fever."
"That is most troubling news. I will have our best doctor waiting for him when he arrives. Thank you again, I have several battle groups en route to Pandara and they should be there within a few hours. I have left a gift with them for you. Hopefully I can leave something for the families of your fallen men and women."
"Thank You, King Dominus, that is most kind. We will be here for a while, trying to finish cleaning up this system. If we have not been run out of the system by the time your ships arrive, we will most graciously accept your gift. I must depart now and get back to my fleet operations."
As the transmission ended, Dominus thought he could jump for joy. He couldn't wait to tell his wife that Rayelle was on her way home. All would be right on Hyperia, at least until the war began.
______
"So this is the famous Colonel Marcos," Sergeant Rivada beamed as Jesse slowly walked into med-bay.
Jesse stood before the incredibly beautiful sergeant that had almost given her life protecting his ship. She was stunning, with long, flowing auburn hair, perfect green eyes and high cheekbones. He knew if Josiah were awake, it would be love at first sight. "I don't know how I can ever repay you, Sergeant. Thank you for risking your life to help get us out of there. I'm glad you could come with us back to Hyperia, the King and Queen will be most excited to see Princess Rayelle. How are you feeling? Doctor Baker tells me you have a broken leg and a broken wrist."
"Yes, apparently I'm next in line for the miracle pod. I have never seen a machine as incredible as this. I am told that soldier will be completely healed in another fifteen minutes. The other one was in even worse shape, and he is already healed." Sergeant Rivada's smile turned to a look of concern as she replied. "You look to be injured, Colonel, are you here to see your most talented physician?"
"Oh, I think I like this one, Colonel. She hasn't stopped complimenting me since she came aboard. Yes, Sergeant, he is here to see me, and if he wasn't, he is now. I'm told you have a severe injury to your side that is apparently still ble
eding." She immediately began to wipe at some of the blood with a sterile cloth. "I'm told you were tortured for several hours and that you may have something called death brush fever. So let's have a look, shall we."
"Not yet, I have to make sure everything is taken care of before I go out of action for a while. Could you get Collin, Reece and Kimi down here for me?" By this point, he was leaning heavy on one of the examination tables and Suzy knew he didn't have much left in the tank.
"Sure, Jess." While she was calling up to the bridge, Sergeant Rivada began talking to Jesse again.
She continued. "Our people owe you a great debt, Colonel. I'm not sure you know this, but had you brought the sword to Ginderbar yourself, our people would have been compelled to follow you. You would be our ruler right now. But instead, you somehow figured out who the man was that everyone on Ginderbar trusted and you gave the sword to him. How did you know?"
"I did know that I could rule Ginderbar with that sword, but I felt I had no right. I knew Chief of State Enosal was the right choice because I had seen how he loved his family and he had proven to me that he had a sense of honor. But what really convinced me was when I offered him a fortune to help me at Kaldor and he said he would put his ships on the line for any cause I chose, except slavery. He was willing to turn down a fortune and right then I knew he was the right man." As he was contemplating what he had just said, he added, "I haven't even told him that, I wonder if he knows."
"He knows how you feel about him, Colonel, and thank you for telling me that story; it will always be precious to me. Now, I believe the doctor is right, you do need to be treated, that wound on your side and the burn on your shoulder look terribly painful and are probably infected."
"Thank you, Sergeant Rivada. Now that I know the Princess is safe, I believe I can accept treatment. I only need to go over some housekeeping matters with my crew before I do."
After speaking with his crew, he was satisfied that everything was in order and decided to let Suzy have a look at him.
Suzy ran her portable diagnostic unit over his blood-stained, mud-covered body. He had a couple broken bones in his hand, a blaster burn on his shoulder and numerous lacerations and bruises. What had Suzy most worried was the wound in his side from his fight with the Pandarans on Golaran. It had gotten infected, and even though it had been field cleaned by Kimi a couple times, she was surprised to see that the wound was still mostly open after four days. It looked like it was torn open every time it had started to heal. Wassan and Honus, who had come in to check on their injured friend Orvo, confirmed that to be the case, noting several times they noticed fresh blood after Jesse had done something strenuous. Suzy opened the wound further to clean it, wincing sympathetically at Jesse's discomfort. She wished she could put him in the recovery pod, but with the infection, she couldn't, and it would most likely not be able to close the wound completely anyway. She finished cleaning Jesse’s wound and gave him a round of the most powerful antibiotics she had. She then checked each of her other three sleeping patients as med-bay was filled nearly to capacity. Sergeant Rivada was next into the recovery pod, and then Suzy turned back to Jesse. The Princess had come in to check on Collette, but stopped to see Jesse first.
"I will never be able to repay all that you have done for me, Colonel. Thank you. Now you should rest, it appears you have contracted death brush fever, and that will take your strength from you very quickly. I'm sorry that I fell in the death brush and you put your health at risk rescuing me. You might be interested to know that until you pulled Wassan and myself out of the pit, there had never been a known survivor."
He tried to smile but was feeling weaker by the moment. "I want you to understand that I would do it again in a second, for you or Wassan, Your Majesty. Your people need you and are lucky to have you."
"My father would agree with you there. Thank you, Colonel; I am going to go sit with Collette for a while. Please, get some rest.
Suzy had given Jesse some medication to knock him out even though she probably didn't need to. Kimi had told her he seemed on the verge of collapse the entire last day, and it was as if only his willpower to get his people home safely was keeping him on his feet. Suzy knew that was adrenaline, and now that the situation was resolved, that adrenaline was gone. His body needed a lot of rest. He was asleep before the Princess sat down next to her friend.
______
Admiral Dyson was about to jump to light space when suddenly, eighty-four Conglomerate ships arrived in system with the ships that had retreated from the previous battle. She had destroyed twenty-six of the thirty-three Conglomerate and pirate vessels she had faced, and had only lost eight of hers. There were another two ships that were in need of repair before they could fight again, and Fate's Choice had left the theater to escort the Princess to Hyperia, but now it looked like a jump was not going to be possible. Ninety-one against thirteen, not even the vaunted Battle Hammers of Ginderbar could handle those odds. A hail was received by Admiral Dyson aboard the Reclaimer.
“Attention, vessels of Ginderbar, This is General Jakanna, you are trespassing in Conglomerate Space and have unlawfully attacked a Conglomerate Battle Group. You have also aided in the escape of Colonel Jesse Marcos, a wanted fugitive. You are our prisoners and your ships are now property of the Conglomerate. You are hereby ordered by Balinaz Superior to surrender or be destroyed. Power down your ships and prepare to be boarded.”
“I was under the assumption that Balinaz Superior had allowed King Dominus to send in forces tasked with the retrieval of his daughter from the criminal Admiral Greyside.” Admiral Dyson replied, knowing this was a long shot, but that it was also true.”
“Negative, Reclaimer, no such latitude was given to the Hyperian King. He has declared war on us and you are the first prisoners of that war. This is your last opportunity to power down your vessels or we will….”
Before General Jakanna could finish his threat, six Hyperian Battle Groups arrived in the Pandaran system and took up positions alongside the Battle Hammers. Now the numbers were in their favor, with ninety-six Hyperian vessels and thirteen fully functional Battle Hammers, it was now the Conglomerate that would need reinforcements.
“Conglomerate task force, this is Fleet Admiral Vantilas of the Hyperian Valor, stand down or prepare for battle. These ships are under our protection. I find it interesting that to our King’s face your leader begs for mercy and peace, but when it comes down to it, wishes to punish those that would help avoid war. I guess he’s just another criminal like the rest of your government.”
“Vantilas, this is Admiral Greyside of the Absolution, we will not be standing down, nor will we be taking insults to our leader from the likes of you.”
“Battle it is, then. Admiral Dyson, you have Hyperia’s gratitude. You are free to go. We will cover your escape while we destroy these dogs. We still have a gift for you from the King, but we can bring it to Ginderbar.” With that, space lit up around Pandara for the second time that day. Hyperia loosed a frightful barrage that the Conglomerate forces were prepared for but ill-equipped to handle.
“I think we’ll stay and help, if that’s all right with you, Admiral Vantilas,” Dyson replied as the two damaged vessels did make the jump to light space.
“Any help you can offer will be much appreciated, Admiral Dyson.”
The Battle Hammers began to join the Hyperian fleet as it rained destruction on the Conglomerate vessels. Once again, the mercenaries concentrated on the gunships as Hyperia launched a wave of its Predator starfighters. Ginderbar let loose its Spykes as they continued taking out the enemy gunships. The fighters were met by Conglomerate fighters, but with few gunships left to back them, were quickly overrun. The Hyperian Destroyers and Melee Cruisers were easily as powerful as the Battle Hammers and were quickly taking out several of the Conglomerate Destroyers and Heavy Cruisers. It was becoming apparent that the battle would go to Hyperia as many of the individual ship captains began seeking the destruction of the Absolution
and the Dominator. The Conglomerate forces, knowing they were outmatched, made the jump to light space, leaving the Hyperian fleet victorious over Pandara.
A shuttle departed the Hyperion Valor and docked with the Reclaimer, a large pallet of gold bars was offloaded and then the shuttle returned to its ship.
“Please give the King our thanks. We will be taking our leave now, Admiral Vantilas, good hunting.” Admiral Dyson gave the order and the mercenaries were gone.
Admiral Vantilas sent a transmission to King Dominus as the fleet prepared for their next orders. “Your Majesty,” he began as he and his bridge crew bowed before the display. “The Conglomerate forces Balinaz Superior sent to Pandara to capture Admiral Greyside tried to destroy the mercenaries that aided in saving your daughter under orders from Balinaz himself. They engaged us in battle over Pandara and your forces emerged victorious, my King. We lost one cruiser and three gunships as we destroyed over two dozen of their ships. I regret to inform you that the criminal Greyside has eluded us.”
“That is disappointing, Admiral, but you have done well. My daughter is on her way home as we speak, and Hyperia is now at war with the Conglomerate. Please return to Hyperia, best possible speed. I have another task that I believe you will enjoy.” King Dominus face winked out as the transmission ended.
Fleet Admiral Vantilas allowed himself a smile as thoughts of what King Dominus had planned for the Conglomerate filled his mind. He called out to the fleet, “Set course for Hyperia, best possible speed.”
______
As Endeavor exited light space in the Hyperian system, they immediately received a transmission from Soall. Collin smiled as he answered the transmission.
