by Jeri Dion
They returned to the reception noticing that most of the people that had been present for the announcement of the new leader had ferried on out. The cleaning Techs were already arriving to tidy and clean up the room after the celebration. They moved about with discretion. Lance noticed that they too were feeling the loss of the great Jonathan Largon and realised that they weren’t probably the only section on the base to feel the same. Donaldo sauntered across to Lydia. Treketa followed. They were going back to the cruiser. Lydia thanked them for coming. Donaldo wished her luck, as the new chief, then began on out with Treketa to the entrance. Treketa paused turning.
“Are you coming Lance?” asked Treketa casually.
“It’s okay. I’ll come back with Tayce and Tom,” he replied.
“All right, catch you later,” she replied carrying on after Donaldo.
“Right Mother, I’ll leave you with Adam here, to sort out your first orders as new chief of Questa and I’ll see you before we leave tomorron,” said Tayce bending giving her Mother a kiss on the cheek.
“I hope your first hourons aren’t anything too hazardous in beginning your new duties,” said Tom as he began away across the room.
“What would Darius say, first assistant to Jonathan and now running the base, he’d be proud that’s what,” said Marc kindly, then followed on behind Tayce and Tom.
Lydia watched all three team members head on back to the cruiser and Lance lagging behind, then Tayce turn and speak to him, that made him fall in with them. Adam prompted Lydia gently to accompany him, which she did, she walked on out heading to what was Jonathan’s Officette, that was to be hers and would be known as her Officette and chambers. Adam and Lydia as they went, talked about how the base had been effected by Jonathan’s sudden untimely death.
Next dayon on Questa, business was returning to near normal. Flights came and went as normal. Alien species travelled through the port on their way to somewhere else. Personnel began conducting business in the many purchasing centres around the City Square. But the flags that had hung in the square the dayon before, were still obvious and half mask, which they would remain, for the rest of the weekon in continuing respect to Jonathan Largons passing. Tayce walked off Amalthea with Tom and Lance. They briskly began walking along through the square on up to Lydia’s new chambers, as her Mother said, she wanted to see her before they left Questa, to continue on with the Amalthean Quests voyage. They were greeted by people, that they had met the dayon before at the celebration as they went.
Lydia felt strange, as she sat at what was Jonathan’s desk for the first time, it was hard to comprehend that she was now in charge of such a large headquarters base, as Questa. Adam smiled, as he caught her looking into nothingness in deep thought. He was going to make her adjustment as easy as he possibly could. He walked across the Officette Chambers carrying the Disc Chip on the Amalthean voyage, as requested. He handed it to her. The chambers doors opened and two men entered carrying another desk, they crossed and placed it to one side of the chambers. This was followed by Aidan, who under Lydia’s orders had brought his personal belongings for his desk. She had decided that she wanted him in with her, so that they could freely and confidently discuss matters, enabling Adam to be involved as well. Aidan had been given promotion to First Officer to Lydia, whilst Adam would remain her immediate Personal Assistant, when visiting dignitaries would come to the base and assist her on council related matters, whilst Aidan would take care of the many problems that arose around Questa and consult her if needed. Tayce and Tom with Lance not far behind were the first to visit her in her new surroundings. As they crossed over to her, Lance remained to talk to Adam on things in general.
“Good mornet Mother, settling in already!” said Tayce noticing the two men leave, that had brought in the desk.
“Your early,” said Lydia glad to see her just the same.
“Yes, we want to get under way, crime doesn’t stop because we aren’t out there, so what did you want to see us about?” enquired Tayce.
“I need you just to sign the new contract for your Amalthean Quests orientated voyage, for a further two yearons, that’s all,” replied Lydia casually.
Without further word, Tayce crossed to the imprint pad that Adam was holding, she picked up the imprint type utensil and signed on the screen to seal officially the contract with Questa and her voyage for another two yearons. Tom did the same to act as witness to Tayces indent.
“All signed, anything else you need us for before we leave you to settle in?” said Tayce giving Lydia her full attention.
“Lance I said yesteron that I wanted you to consider Questa still your home and your Father’s residence will remain your home, despite I’ll be in residence there, I want you to treat it as you always have done, until such time that you feel you want to do otherwise,” she said with a kind motherly look on her beautiful features.
“Thank you, it means a lot to me, and you living there will give me comfort to know, that Father’s residence is in good hands,” he said pleased at the fact.
“We’ll be like one big happy family Lance,” said Tayce trying to cheer him up.
“Quite!” replied Lance, nodding amused at the fact.
Tayce glanced at her Wristlink time display, suggesting it was time they get going. Lydia walked with them to the outer Anteroom. Here she said her goodbyes and watched them leave. They walked away back down the corridor back to Amalthea. Lydia watched until everyone was gone from sight, then went back into her Officette Chambers to continue her new duty, as the new chief of Questa.
Jonathan Largon the founder of Questa was no more. Lance had lost his loving Father and true friend. Lydia was now chief over the whole of Questa. Something that a couple of monthons ago she would never had believed if someone had suggested it to her.
The Return of Vargon and Her Outlaws
Amalthea had been back in space on voyage course for three dayons. News that had materialised during this time was the kind that no one on board really wanted to hear, coming from Questa. Countess Vargon had surfaced in her usual style and already caused death and destruction in her wake, only this time she had brought into the open, her daughter, the one and only Sallen and this time around, she was aided by a bunch of outlaws. Several bases and vessels had already succumbed to the usual terrorizing tactics that the Countess was famous for. But for Tayce she had been looking forward to this moment and was more than ready to take on her arch enemy. She smiled to herself upon hearing the fact, Sallen was now part of the Countesses attack force, she guessed that some group, a bunch of ne’er-do-wells, had rescued Sallen from her set course, that she had been sent on after the last encounter with her. She wondered if the vessel she had been in had also been repaired. Now she was back with her Mother. Double trouble thought Tayce. No doubt she would probably have an ulterior motive in mind, as far as revenge went towards herself being on an unchangeable course, thought Tayce. Further reports stated that Sallen had rendezvoused with her Mother and she in turn had made a very appealing offer for her to join forces, form a large attack force to be reckoned with, their next subject was none other than the Amalthea and Tayce. Tayce raised her eyes not surprised by the fact when she received the information. What Vargon wasn’t unaware of was the fact, that the Amalthea she had tried to destroy the last time, was the first Amalthean Cruiser, not the current new improved model, this one was far superior to it’s predecessor.
Tayce as she sat on the bunk in the Life Ability Centre, began wondering what guise Vargon would try and attack her and the cruiser in this time? Would she use Sallen? Tom briskly entered the Centre, as the doors parted, he began that he had brought further news on Vargons resurface. Donaldo finished administering the injection, then stood waiting to hear what was the latest, as did Treketa.
“She has a battle cruiser this time around, also seems to have repaired the damage to her old Lair, though wheth
er the battle cruiser belongs to her is, another thing, it could belong to the outlaws that she joined forces with,” read Tom.
“I’m not interested, it doesn’t matter what she’s got, I’m ready for her,” retorted Tayce unimpressed.
“No Tayce, it’s too dangerous, she’s not alone this time, she has Sallen and a group of outlaws,” said Tom far from pleased at the fact, she was determined to take on Vargon on her own
“Who said I was going in alone, she doesn’t scare me remember, I have just as much power source as she has and as I recall last time, I won,” retorted Tayce.
“I hate to agree with Tom here, but he’s right, it’s dangerous and I suggest we all take her on together, when the time comes,” suggested Donaldo, he could see Tom’s point, if something went wrong, she could wind up dead.
“I’m depending on you to help me take on her outlaws Donaldo, leaving her to me,” said Tayce heading towards the entrance doors, leaving Tom, Donaldo and Treketa stumped for words behind her.
Tom knew that no matter what they said Tayce was headstrong and what she decided to do, she’d do. He sighed shaking his head at her strong will, then followed on as she walked out the opening doors not looking back. Treketa and Donaldo exchanged raised eye glances, this was not going to be easy, Tayce was prepared to risk everything in order to end Countess Vargons life, once and for all. Treketa could understand Tom’s concern, he loved Tayce and didn’t want to lose her to the evil hands of Vargon, or the outlaws, at any cost. Donaldo shook his head, Tayce amazed him at times, how she danced in the face of danger. Treketa on the other hand even though she understood her brothers concern for Tayce, knew deep down that she could hold her own against the likes of Vargon and could see where she was coming from. She also knew that Tayce would not put the team or herself in danger deliberately it wasn’t her style. She herself had a score to settle with Sallen for getting her kicked out of College Colony. Her last encounter was just the beginning of her revenge, sending Sallen on that one way trip.
Lance was back at his duty position in Organisation as Quests Research and Informations Officer. He had found that occupying his mind and immersing himself in his duty, would help him through the grieving process, even though at times it was hard to ignore the fact he would not be seeing his Father any more. He had no sooner seated himself and was immediately engrossed in keying away to search and probe the latest on the Countesses last moves, when he was suddenly distracted by a heated debate over the Countess of Tom and Tayce as they came up the corridor, something he found strange, as she and Tom were rarely at each other, in the way they seemed to be at present. They both soon entered Organisation, Tayce stopped at his position trying to calm herself. Lance looked up at her meeting her furious look, he raised his eyes in jest, over what he’d just heard and silently whispered could he help? Tayce shook her head, asking for an update on what was happening. Tom joined Marc in the control seat and seemed less than impressed with Tayce, Marc glanced at him noticing his look of total angered impatience. It was something new to Tom the way Tayce was behaving, but it wasn’t new to him. There was numerous times, he himself being aide to Darius Traun had witnessed Tayces stubborn attitude, the fact that if she set her mind to do something come what may, what the outcome might be, then she’d do it and there was nothing that was going to stop her, he’d been present when her Father had forbid her to do what she wanted, when it was considered dangerous. He’d lost count of how many times the Commodore had requested he find her and bring her before him, for disobeying orders. Lance began to recite the information that was rolling up on the screen before him.
“According to search probe information states the Countess, in the last two hourons alone, has destroyed no less than ten different kinds of vessel, wiping out quite a few people, whether they were innocent or not, what’s more she’s leading these attacks from a new improved domain.”
“Up to her familiar tricks once more, no change there then!” said Tayce in a not to surprised tone.
“Certainly looks like it, I’ll keep you up to date as things unfold, I’ll see if I can search out anything on her battle cruiser she’s suppose to be in command of, so that we can see what were up against,” suggested Lance.
“Good idea, but be careful, I don’t want her finding out the origin of search, us, not just yet, just in case she tries to catch us unaware, nothing would give her the greatest pleasure,” said Tayce seriously.
“Don’t worry I’ll be discrete and protective, if I have to, she’ll have a hard time tracking us,” assured Lance.
Tayce began thinking what the kind of look the Countess would give if she knew that Lance was taking a walk around her computer systems, to gain the necessary knowledge in assisting herself and the team to know what they were up against. She smiled to herself, guessing that it wouldn’t be a good one. She crossed to the Meeting Centre ordering Tom to join her, she wanted a quiet word. Marc kept looking ahead he was not going to be involved, but he found the whole thing somewhat amusing as Tom sighed and said under his breath “here we go again”, as he left the seat. Midge said he was glad that he wasn’t a human, at least he didn’t have to endure human heated debates. Tom headed on into the Meeting Centre. The doors closed. Both Marc and Lance looked around their seats, in the direction of the clear vision doors of the Meeting Centre, then exchanged raised eye glances. It could clearly be seen that after a few minons, the heated debate was over. By what was taking place intimately. Both Lance and Marc smiled somewhat amused and went back to their duties.
Roughly three hourons later, when Lance had gained all the necessary information he needed and it had been discovered Vargon was in fact stationed at a new improved hideout/lair, which she had named Genuslan 2. Amalthea was on a set course to bring the cruiser into orbit of Genuslan 2. The battle cruiser that Vargon had been using had been her means to travel to her new base and had gone back to its own base, or suppose to have done according to research. Midge had managed to save the dayon, by stopping a feed back coming through from the Lair to Lances console during the probing in Vargons computer systems, it had nearly blew the whole on board computer system but he had quickly averted the power surge, as soon as the feed back came, Midge retaliated sending it back to where it had originated, which would cause trouble at the source.
“Thanks Midge, we nearly had it, they nearly broke the security link,” said Lance much relieved.
“No problem, I quite enjoyed giving Vargon a taste of her own dirty tactics,” said Midge light heartedly.
A while later it could be seen that Tayce and Tom had dissolved their differences and the air had calmed between them, over the outcome of Tayces decision over Vargon. No one would know what was said, only that they had both emerged from the Meeting Centre in a better frame of mind, than they had entered earlier. Midge announced discretely to Marc, that the storm clouds had passed! Meaning everything had returned to normal. Tayce began by ordering Marc, to take his duty break, she would take over. He stretched, as he got out of the control seat, as he had been seated for almost four hourons, without a Coffeen break. He headed off out of Organisation. Tom sat next to Tayce, in the Co-pilot seat.
“Your not going to believe this Tayce, but I’m getting the readings of a large object ahead and the readings are growing by the cencron,” said Duncan suddenly over her shoulder.
“Anything on screen yet Lance?” requested Tayce.
“Information states it’s a large battle cruiser and it’s drifting, according to this, there doesn’t seem to be any sign of life aboard,” replied Lance keying in and retrieving the information he wanted.
“Put up our protection shield to maximum level AX-1 Midge, Now!” ordered Tayce in urgency.
“Raising protection shields to required level, it looks like the battle cruiser could be under some kind of computer operation and could be a decoy Tayce,” replied Midge.
“This
is the same battle cruiser that Vargons been using, but It’s suppose to have left her, at her hideout and headed back to it’s own planet, something isn’t right here,” said Lance
“Do you think that she would let it just drop her off and go away easily, because I don’t,” said Tayce knowing what Vargon was capable of and how Midge could be right.
“What happened to the crew, that’s what I want to know?” asked Tom.
“I’m inclined to think that they joined forces and let her put their battle cruiser out here, as an elaborate decoy, which I’m not surprised at,” said Midge.
Tayce sat back in thought, studying the drifting battle cruiser, waiting, prepared for the first move of action from Vargons domain. But nothing. Midge like Tayce was ready and waiting to act to block any unprovoked attack on the cruiser.
“Confirmation coming in from Questa, that our latest discovery before us, is to be treated as part of a Quest to find out what the Countess is up to, on Genuslan 2,” said Midge.
Tayce listened, her mind still half on what kind of moves Vargon would make next with the battle cruiser towards them. But to her surprise without warning, it began to pull away from them, heading off. Lance stated as much over her shoulder, but added that he didn’t know how it was being manoeuvred, as there were no sign of engine power, or life on board, that could make it leave their current orbit.
“Follow it Midge, but keep us at a safe distance, in case we need to pull away quickly, keep us on course for the hideout though, at any cost,” ordered Tayce watching the sight before them through the sight port.
“You’ve got it,” replied Midge undertaking Tayces request.
Amalthea followed on behind the battle cruiser, keeping at a safe orbital distance. Duncan at his position suddenly found that he was picking up a conversation between the Countess and her daughter Sallen, on the surface of Genuslan 2. He quickly turned informing Tayce. She immediately handed control to Tom leaving her seat walking over to listen to what was being discussed over the Miroceive. It could he heard that the Countess had somehow detected the Amalthean Cruiser and was discussing with her daughter. How she, Sallen would get the chance for revenge, for the unmentionable and unnecessary journey Tayce had sent her on, on their last encounter, after the annual awards ceremony. As Tayce listened further she could hear Sallen agreeing wholeheartedly to her Mother’s suggestion and explaining various ways she could put Tayce through the worst kind of torture, she could imagine and Treketa. Tayce raised her eyes to Duncan at the mere threats that Sallen was making, he smiled and nodded, as he was also listening. They were both finding the whole scenario amusing. She knew that Treketa would more than be a match for Sallen, should she try something in revenge, because she hadn’t finished with her yet either, regarding the College Colony incident. She knew that the next step was to put the investigative Quest into operation, prepare for arrival at Vargons new improved hideout. She removed the Miroceive and handed it back to Duncan.
