Seeds of the Pirate Rebels

by Gregory Johnson

  The Griffin warriors growled angrily and charged on fours at Xanatos for comment. “You wound me, sonny boy. Your mother is more than a slave to me. She gave me you, and let's face it, you are stronger than your brother and sister,” Corvet`e stated boldly.

  “I have only my mother and my Father whom is in heaven. I have no siblings from you, sperm-donor,” Xanatos said crisply to Corvet`e, as the Griffins attacked him. The Griffins tried to scratch at Xanatos' face, as he created biokinetic sword from his hand. Xanatos sliced at all five Griffins with his biokinetic sword killing them instantly. Xanatos threw the dead Griffins at Corvet`e, as the War Lord drew his Argon saber and charged at Xanatos. Corvet`e tossed dead bodies aside telekinetic, as they came at him.

  “You should be my slave, not free to fly throughout the universe like wild animal,” Corvet`e gloated as he sheathed his Argon saber and grabbed a whip his back. “Now, heel Rudigger!” he cracked the whip and slashed a wound along Xanatos' right eye.

  Xanatos growled at the War Lord, as he transformed into his were-tiger form. Xanatos grabbed the War Lord's own Argon saber and sliced the whip off at its grip. Xanatos swung at the War Lord's neck, only to see Corvet`e duck his sideways. Xanatos stabbed the Argon saber into the titanium floor. “You shouldn't play with swords, Corvet`e. You also should treat your slaves better, they might turn on you if don't,” replied Xanatos, as Corvet`e dropped the whip's handle and fled the Main Brig.

  The rescue team freed the Grand Admiral from her cell. The Grand Admiral was looking like she has seen better days. “Captain Xanatos, I am sorry that doubted your loyalty and courage. You tried to save me, Yahweh will remember your intentions,” H'Ackre-Limwin said weakly.

  Xanatos helped the Grand Admiral out of Main Brig and back to Dragonchess. The Grand Admiral was only getting weaker, as they grew closer to the Dragonchess. Xanatos was talking to the Talyardian Grand Admiral trying to keep her conscious and semi-alert. The rescue team reached the Dragonchess, only to bring the deceased Talyardian back to the Pale Dragon.

  Xanatos seen the now deceased Grand Admiral in the makeshift medical bay of the Dragonchess, as they flew into the Shuttle Bay. Xanatos knew she was dead without even checking her vitals. Xanatos punched a steel that separated the cargo bay from cockpit and dented it out of anger at the failed mission.

  “The War Lord Empire will pay for this, I promise you!” declared Xanatos, as the rescue team carried the Grand Admiral to the medical bay. Xanatos started to head back to the bridge when he was greeted by a fist from Lord Corvet`e in his face.

  “You aren't the only one who can sneak on board from a shuttle to an enemy vessel,” said Corvet`e, as he smiled at Xanatos with a sword pointed at his son's throat. Alarms were suddenly chiming, as Xanatos grinned at Corvet'e.

  “Unlike your vessels of the WLE, we of the PRA take intrusions of our vessels seriously, my lord.” Xanatos spat back out at the War Lord.

  Aboard the War Shadow, Main Bridge

  Lord Malsvir was in the Captain's Chair watching the Battle of Layardia unfold. He heard Corvet'e was on board the Pale Dragon trying to destroy the captain and disable the vessel, as Master Malsvir ordered him to do. Corvet'e will die in this mission. Lord Malsvir could soon see the end of that worthless excuse of a War Lord.

  Lord Malsvir saw the Pirate Rebels begin to target one of the Shadow Hound-Class Freighters, the one that was cloaked. The Hurthian Triofighters and Sphinx Katarns from the Pirate Rebel Allegiance were heading straight for the Shadow Deceiver, the Shadow Hound-Class Freighter that was the first freighter of its class.

  Master Malsvir entered the Main Bridge, as the Pirate Rebels were appearing to gain the upper hand. Lord Malsvir saw his former master take his place at the back of the Main Bridge standing with his hands folded behind his back. Master Malsvir was obviously here to observe his newly appointed War Lord in action. Lord Malsvir did not wish to disappoint his former master.

  “Erif- Ki Infernos disengage and assist the Shadow Deceiver. Sphinx Diablos engage the Pale Dragon. Don't let that ship leave this system,” ordered Lord Malsvir, as the space fighter pilots acknowledged his orders with hails to Basilisk's power.

  The Pale Dragon was launching Argoni Grandthunders, which have been out of service for 200 years. They also launched Hurthian Triofighters, as the War Shadow launched Argoni Quickstrikes and Talyardian Saber fighters. The space fighter launch was not scheduled by Lord Malsvir.

  “Who authorized that launch?” Lord Malsvir requested from Fighter Bay's operator.

  “Lord Corvet`e ordered the launch fifteen seconds ago,” a nervous voice replied on comm-unit.

  “Corvet`e is on board the Pale Dragon, attempting to disable the ship's engines. He has no authorization when he is no longer on board this vessel,” Lord Malsvir stated boldly, as he saw one of the Talyardian Saber fighters heading toward the Pale Dragon's engineering section. It was an unmanned, remotely controlled Talyardian Saber fighter and knowing Corvet`e would be his idea of an easy escape plan.

  “I take orders from Lord Corvet`e, not a War Spy, especially the War Master's pet War Spy. Even if the War Spy is the captain of the War Shadow,” the officer replied boldly.

  “Are you saying that the War Master is a fool? Are you dense in the head, soldier? Master Malsvir answers to Basilisk himself. I am no longer War Spy 325!” Lord Malsvir paused a moment to clear the anger from his head. “I am War Lord Sverak Malsvir, and I refuse to be insulted by an underling, as yourself! You will report to the Main Bridge this instant for your insubordination,” Lord Malsvir snapped at the soldier on comm-unit.

  “War Lord Sverak Malsvir did you say?” the officer stated without missing a beat. “Did you think your vision darkened, my lord?” the officer mocked on the comm-unit.

  “I will have your head for this! First you insult me, then you mock me, your dead!” Lord Malsvir snarled at the man.

  “May Yahweh protect my path and destroy His enemies. The enemy of true peace and justice is you and your empire. You are here to enslave and deceive the universe. You can find me and torture me all you want, but I will rejoice in Yahweh for He is carrying me through my suffering,” the officer testified to Lord Malsvir.

  “Enough of this! I find you, and you are sounding like a Pirate Rebel. You are no Imperial Officer. If you were, you would have pledged your life to Basilisk and return of Dracetus. Denounce this false god you called Yahweh, now! Only fool's and Pirate Rebels worship Yahweh. Are you a fool, Officer Jacobs?” Lord Malsvir badgered the officer.

  “I have discipline and I am nobody's fool. Those who want an easy and carefree life with no rules to follow, but their own and break those rules when it is convenient are the fools. They are also deceivers to the people. I refuse to ever be a part of this empire. I may die at your hands, but I will live on through my true Master,” Jacobs stated with truth in voice.

  “Oh really, I never heard of Yahweh to be a god of mercy. Do enlighten me,” mocked Lord Malsvir, as set the automated deck in the Shuttle Bay to aim and fire at Jacobs. Jacobs went silent when the guns were firing in the Shuttle Bay. The cameras in the Shuttle Bay recorded Jacobs and another man there who appeared to be stopping laser blasts from in the air, and holding them in place. Jacobs bowed to the man, as he fled from the Shuttle Bay in an Argoni Quickstrike.

  The camera line went dead after Jacobs fled from the Shuttle Bay. The bridge went silent for five minutes, before Lord Malsvir spoke. “Who was that Argoni man that saved that filthy Pirate Rebel scum. I want to know who that Argoni man was, and I want to know right now. One more thing trace that Quickstrike that Jacobs stole from me,” ordered Lord Malsvir, as the War Master entered the bridge to monitor the crews' progress.

  “Emperor Malsvir you honor us on the Main Bridge of your flagship,” replied Commander Laren Eaglenest, as the bridge crew stood at attention.

  “Master, there was a Pirate Rebel spy on this ship and now he fled on an Argoni Quickstrike. We are tracking him and his stole space fighte
r. We will be heading out of this battlefield and after that rogue space fighter,” Lord Malsvir reported to his Master.

  “My lord, I thought the Pirate Rebels didn't work in the spy network, only we did.” replied the tactical officer, as the science station was beeping.

  “What is it, Officer Jethin?” requested Lord Malsvir, as the Officer Jethin checked his station's readings and saw the Argoni Quickstrike was headed for the Pale Dragon.

  “The stolen Quickstrike is heading for the enemy flagship, and the transponder is still operational,” Jethin reported to the War Lord.

  “What are you waiting for? Tractor beam, now!” ordered Lord Malsvir, as the stolen Argoni Quickstrike docked with the Pale Dragon. Lord Malsvir saw the stolen Argoni Quickstrike dock and was furious with this news.

  Master Malsvir also saw this transpire looked at Lord Malsvir with no expressions on his face, as he strolled out of the Main Bridge. The crew on the Main Bridge including Lord Malsvir were stunned by their War Master's actions.

  “What do we do now, Lord Malsvir?” asked Jethin, as the Pale Dragon was firing on the War Shadow's main engine core.

  “Evasive action, protect the engines as we retreat from Talyardian Space and head for the Argoni Shipyards,” ordered Lord Malsvir, as he opened a channel to the space fighters from the War Shadow. “This is Lord Malsvir. All space fighters report back their battleships. We are retreating, repeat we are retreating,” he ordered over the space fighter frequency.

  28 - Aboard the Dragonchess

  Xanatos saw the Argoni Quickstrikes and Sphinx Diablos were returning to their battleships and the battleships were only protecting their space fighters. The view screen was blinking on and off. Xanatos navigated through the fighter bay, as enemy fighters came pouring in his fighter bay. Xanatos answered the view screen to see Commander Kingsley on the bridge of the Pale Dragon.

  “Sir, the WLE Fleet is retreating. What is your status, Captain?” Kingsley asked over the view screen.

  “I am still in the fighter bay, attempting to evacuate the War Shadow with the Grand Admiral in emergency unit. Prepare the Medical Bay for Talyardian Emergency Red. I will be there in five minutes,” reported Xanatos, as the Dragonchess blasted a hole through the side of the War Shadow's hull north of the main entry point for its space fighters with a zotium torpedo.

  “What in Yahweh's name was that!?” Kingsley boldly scowled as she cut the view screen off from her end. Xanatos was a little concerned for her and more so for his vessel. Xanatos now saw the reason that she stated such a statement was because she saw how he blasted his out of the War Shadow.

  Xanatos regained the communication link on the view screen with Kingsley. Kingsley had an impressed look her face. Xanatos was only doing what he thought was the fastest and best thing to do when his superior officer was in need of medical attention. He looked back from behind to check the Grand Admiral's vitals. H'Ackre-Limwin had weak vitals and the color in her skin was not its usual grayish-brown, but rather a bluish-gray. Xanatos knew he will need make haste with docking procedures and rush her in as quickly as possible to Medical Bay.

  I like your handy work, Captain. Kingsley replied on the view screen. Xanatos looked back at the view screen with concern on his face for the Grand Admiral. How is the Grand Admiral doing? Kingsley asked.

  “Her vitals are dropping and her skin is turning to a bluish-gray color. Is that good or bad? I don't know anything about Talyardian biology,” Xanatos sadly stated.

  You have to make haste to bring the Grand Admiral. She is dying. Kingsley reported with help of the ship's doctor. Xanatos made his way to the Shuttle Bay of the Pale Dragon. The Dragonchess was inside the Pale Dragon's Shuttle Bay within seconds of Kingsley's last statement.

  Xanatos carried the Grand Admiral directly to the Medical Bay. There the doctors were waiting for him gently set the Grand Admiral down on the medical bed. The doctor was a Talyardian female with two nurses behind her. The nurse on the left was a Hurthian male with the doctor's medical kits in his appendages. The nurse on the right was a Bowdoian female with her attention on the doctor and her patient. The Bowdoian female appeared to be the doctor's apprentice and the Hurthian male appeared to be their assistant.

  Xanatos was about to stay and watch the doctor at work, but the Bowdoian nurse shewed him out of Medical Bay with wave of her webbed hand. Xanatos left the Medical Bay and headed for the bridge of his ship. While Xanatos was in the lift heading toward the bridge, he thought of what would have been if the Pale Dragon wasn't in this system. The Grand Admiral would have been dead and the WLE would have more control in the universe. Xanatos smiled to himself, knowing that the day was won only by the help from Pale Dragon and its crew.

  Xanatos entered the bridge of the Pale Dragon to find the crew was still working to win the Battle of Layardia. Although the WLE was, for first time since the PRA began to fight for the people, retreating from a battle. The crew was acting with true dedication, they never stop their duties even as the door closed to the bridge behind him. Xanatos smiled as the crew prepared the torpedo bay to fire on the War Shadow.

  The War Shadow was suddenly being covered by its own space fighters. The War Shadow went into Phantom Space without its Argoni Quickstrikes in its Fighter Bay. The Argoni Quickstrikes stayed in the battle until all of the WLE cruisers and freighters were gone into Phantom Space. The Pale Dragon destroyed most of the Argoni Quickstrikes before they too went into Phantom Space.

  “Where are they headed?” Xanatos asked with curiosity.

  “Argon. They are regrouping to their capital,” reported Kingsley, as she looked at her captain for orders.

  “We have won this battle, but now we must find refuge in Yahweh and He guide us to a safe planet to where we can make our new base of operations,” Xanatos replied humbly.

  “Thank you, Xanatos. You finally understand my point of view on His true name. We all should ask Yahweh for His guiding hand in finding a secret base. We should also ask for His protection from the WLE and United Alliance in your search for a new safe home,” replied Kingsley, as Valient Sword appeared in a blinding flash of light. Kingsley and the crew saw this sudden appearance as great sign from Yahweh Himself. Xanatos saw this sudden appearance as Valient Sword being in it for his own glory.

  “Yahweh has seen your troubles, and has sent me as a guide to your secret base to the servants of Dracetus and Basilisk with His blessing,” Valient Sword said with Yahweh's power behind his voice.

  Xanatos was not convinced without testing this sign from Yahweh. He needed proof that this was Yahweh speaking through Valient Sword, not a charade put on by Valient Sword. He stood up and looked Valient Sword in the eye.

  “I know that you have doubts, Xanatos. I see it in your eyes and in your soul. Yahweh has sent me, so test the spirits if you wish. I am sent by Yahweh to guide his people to their new base of operations to strike the beasts at the heart,” Valient Sword replied humbly to the challenging look in Xanatos' eyes. Xanatos bowed his head in respect to Yahweh's herald and accepted the help that Yahweh had clearly offered to the PRA.

  “I believe you now, Valient Sword. Yahweh has faith in the PRA, He knows that we will complete our mission to free the universe of slavery from the WLE and restore the honor that the United Alliance once had before War Master Sjach Malsvir took the reins of power,” Xanatos said with a humble heart. “So, where will our new base be?”

  “Yahweh has told me to send you to Cetus. Yahweh has an ancient temple on the third moon of the planet. The locals of the world were faithful servants of Yahweh. They were enslaved and annihilated by the offspring of the Gemanites,” reported Valient Sword.

  “The Gemanites are all extinct. They were wiped out by Yahweh Himself according to the legend that I heard from Argon,” stated Xanatos.

  “A legend that War Master Sjach Malsvir started to explain what he could not. The Gemanites were annihilated by their own offspring. The Gemanites created the perfect android, but it was too p
erfect. The Gemanites were hunted down by the very machines they created. The Atron Ascendancy is now what is left of the Gemanite Society,” reported Valient Sword.

  “The Gemanites had created the perfect android and they paid the price for it. Now, the rest of the universe will do the same. We must stop this abominable creation from destroying us all,” Xanatos proclaimed with honor.

  “Yahweh has warned you of this new threat, not so you can launch an attack on the Atron Ascendancy. He was warned you to prepare and unite the universe against the upcoming invasion from the Atron Ascendancy. Only as a united people can the rest of the universe survive enslavement and annihilation,” Valient Sword humbly stated as he vanished from sight.

  “Well, what are our orders, Captain Xanatos?” Kingsley replied after Valient Sword vanished from the bridge.

  “We have been given a narrow and well lighten path to Cetus. Let us not stray from the destination that Yahweh has given us. I trust in Yahweh's heralds of wisdom and that Yahweh will protect us on our journey. The temple that Valient Sword mentioned will be the PRA new base of operations. Helm, set course for Cetus from here. Patch me through to the Shadow Hunter.” ordered Xanatos, as the Pale Dragon vanished into Phantom Space and headed for the planet Cetus.

  The view screen was on with Brad Horde's face in its center. Brad Horde had a look of confusion on face. “Captain Xanatos, I cannot trace your Ghost-drive signature. Where are you heading?” Horde asked with curiosity.

  “Yahweh or Valient has sent us a messenger and he told us to head to Cetus. I sending you and the rest of the PRA ships to head there, as well,” replied Xanatos, as he sent the message to all the PRA ships on their frequency.

  “Valient has sent you messenger. Who was this messenger?” asked Horde as he received the coordinates to Cetus.