The X’ena are also able to manipulate the hull of the ship, by increasing the overall mass of the ships ferrous anatanium magnetic alloy hull, as a result, Paladins overall length is increased by seventy meters to three hundred forty, Paladin’s width is also increased to one hundred meters and height to seventy meters. The interior rooms are likewise all increased in proper perspective. Moreover, because of this increased length, Anders, with Val’s help, is able to create a secondary Heavy turret on the stern of the ship, thereby adding three additional cannons giving Paladin twelve Heavy cannons. Furthermore, the emitters are improved to handle more damage and increased power output, as well as a new regenerate shield design for use in combat. Additionally, a secondary set of emitters are placed as backups to prevent what occurred before.
Val, with his staff have made vast improvements on the torpedoes, increasing their overall speed tenfold, making them virtually impossible to shoot down, Val’s machine shop can now create over seventy torpedoes daily. Anders smiles as he enters the torpedo room, seeing it’s restocked to capacity.
While in the ships med-bay, major new updates with amazing new equipment, allowing Dr. Qui Shi to perform as never before. Most notably are the updated cellular regenerators that will help restore injured patients twice as fast as the older versions. This will lessen the dependence on Caleb considerably. Onatof with Bach’s help create portable cellular regenerators for smaller injuries, for field action.
On the Bridge, the sensor and communications are also updated with increased range and overall power.
However, what’s most noticeable about Paladins updates and modifications isn’t all its new fancy equipment, but in its new color. The ship’s hull has turned from drab gray to brilliant white, an unforeseen after effect of the X'ena's hull manipulation, caused when they altered the ferrous anatanium magnetic alloy hull to increase Paladin’s mass and density.
Jackson and White smile, when they see two new support fighters enter the protective field, as well as new and improved boarding pods. Anders and Val will have to outfit them with weapons, but they are just like Templar.
The updated boarding pods have their own cloaking device, in addition, a shield-modulating field. This field modulator, makes contact with an enemy ship shields, searching for that ships shield modulation, and once it finds the shields frequency, it then simply passes through the shield undetected, allowing access to that ship’s hull. Thus, even with the enemy ship's shields still up, the boarding pods remain undetected, until it rips through the hull.
The boarding pods also have their own limited sublight drive system, which will allow them to maneuver for short distances around ships, and a booster rocket for increased ramming power.
Onatof, with the help of the X’ena’s, has been able to create over one hundred personnel cloaking devices, which he now calls PCD’s, which is short for personnel cloaking Device.
Benton and his Marines use them in training exercises, with great enjoyment, and often discomfort of the rest of the crew.
However, not everything goes well, as Doctor Qui Shi, Shi Reies, and Carla spend most of their days watching and waiting as Caleb levitates in the stasis field in med-bay. Carla cries almost every day for her father, Doctor Qui Shi does all that she can to comfort her, but she still will not speak. Once in a great while she will sometimes play chasing the X’ena’s around, but she still will not say anything aloud.
Bach one day tells the command crew that he cannot read her mind any longer. She is able to shield her thoughts. This surprises even him, as he is amazed by the level of control and power she has of her mind. He suggests to Qui Shi, “If she maintains this level of control of her power she could well be the most powerful telepath in the galaxy.”
The following three months move past just as quickly, as Paladin is almost completed. The X’ena’s, including Bach meet with Colonel Jackson and the command crew, "Colonel.” Bach says to everyone in Caleb’s ready room, "We have decided now that your ship is repaired and operational that we will leave our world. We have set the core of our planet to self-destruct, destroying everything here."
Jackson shocked, asks, "You’re what! Why are you going to do this? Where will you go? What will happen to you? Why the hell did we risk everything if you’re gonna leave anyways?"
Bach answers, "So many questions Colonel. We have decided that our technology is at risk of being used for violence, even by your own race. You have already used what we have given you for violence, and so we have decided to leave our world to find a place where we can live in peace. Be confident that the sacrifice your people made has allowed us the opportunity to escape, and to ensure our technology doesn’t fall into the T-Challas hands. For this we will be forever indebted to you."
Jackson annoyed, says, "Well, Bach, peace is a wonderful concept, but it can’t happen in a universe where creatures such as the T-Challa exist. You need to have violence to stop their violence." Help us to destroy them. They’re a vile, evil race.
Bach answers, "A thousand years ago Colonel we would have disagreed with you, but today we can’t, and for that reason alone, we have been corrupted by the violence in this galaxy. We must find a new place where we can live in peace."
Shi Reies confused asks, "If you find this place of peace. How can you be sure that violence will not try to find you there? You may have found peace in yourself, but how can you surely believe that such a place will exist?"
Bach glows for a moment answering, "I believe if anyone can understand this, it is you Shi Reies. We have faith."
Val impatiently states, "We have in eight months, rebuilt, replaced, and improved virtually every system on Paladin, but my good friend Mr. Bach, we still can’t get anything to work. When will you release my brother Caleb?" He pauses, stating, "All this technology is great, but it needs its heart and mind, and you have both locked up in that stasis chamber."
Bach says, "We have tried to communicate with him my friend, and each attempt has failed. His daughter is able to block us from communicating with him, an ability we did not foresee that would develop so strongly in your race. We will remove him from the stasis chamber today. We believe his daughter Carla may be able to wake him."
Qui Shi annoyed, asks, "Why can’t you just remove Paladin like before?"
Bach answers, "No, Doctor. That is no longer a possibility. When I removed Paladin before, it was already separating from him. I cannot do that again without killing both. I have made their symbiotic connection such that it is a permanent part of him and that of his daughter as well. To attempt it now would surely kill him, and Paladin."
Klaus concerned asks, "How much time until we must leave the planet?"
Bach answers, "We have tied the overload device into the planetary shield. When it drops, the power will build up in the core until it reaches critical mass, and explode. We estimate approximately ten minutes from that time."
Jackson confused asks, "You can evacuate the entire planet in less than ten minutes?"
Bach answers, "Yes Colonel, back when we let the shield down, most of our people left to explore the universe a few days after you defeated the T-Challa fleet. Consequently, there is only a small amount of us left. We want to ensure that you and your people get to go home safely."
Onatof asks, "Perhaps Bach, you would care to stay with us? I believe we could learn a lot from each other. The knowledge you possess would be beyond any measure of good, especially with what you could teach us."
Bach replies, "Yes, my friend I could, but I have been away from my people for much too long, and I need the company of my own kind. I hope you will understand, but I will miss your company Professor."
Later that day in med-bay, the X’ena’s finally remove Caleb from the chamber and place him on one of the ships hospital beds.
Bach then tries to communicate with Caleb for several minutes, but ultimately fails.
Finally, he turns to the Doctor and Shi Reies, saying, "Bring the child."
Shi
Reies goes and brings in Carla. She immediately jumps from his arms and to her father. There she races to his side and cautiously touches his head. The moment she touches her father, she screams both mentally and a loud, "Momma!" As she says it, her body course with the blue glow as does Caleb, and then the entire ship is enveloped. Caleb jumps up screaming, "EMILY!"
Caleb wakes in shock and sees Carla crying. He grabs her up and holds her in his arms, saying, "You woke me little one, I am so sorry that I was gone so long."
Carla says her first sentence aloud, "Papa, I saw momma, and I saw Domingo with you. Can we go there again? I miss them so much."
Paladin responds, "Hello Carla, the world you released your father from lives inside you as well, and as you grow older you will be able to go there as often as you like."
Jackson coughs to gain attention and says, "Hello Caleb, are you aware of what’s been going on for the past eight months.” We need to get going.
Caleb looks to Bach for a half a minute and then turns quickly to Jackson and says, "I am now Jacks. Between what Bach and Paladin have just told me, I am fully updated with everything.” Damn, I was out for a real long time, but I feel much stronger. The ship is far superior than I could have imagined.
Paladin announces, "I am powering up the engines. We will be at full power with this new engine design in less than eight hours."
Bach says, "Then we will prepare to lower the shield, it will take about the same time as it did before."
CHAPTER EIGHT
HOME
One hour later, crewmembers cheer as Caleb returns to the Bridge, his daughter held fast in his arms.
Jackson calls out on the com, "May I have your attention! Today, we leave this world to fight the T-Challa once more, but this time it’s to save our own world. We have lost so many good friends." He pauses as he looks over the crew. "In the ancient history of this great ship it has never lost a crew member in battle. I am asking for a moment of silence for those brave heroes that gave the ultimate sacrifice for peace."
A minute passes, when Jackson speaks again.
"Their souls are now part of this ship, and their lives will be forever remembered. Now we have a greater need ahead, and an even more powerful ship to destroy the plague called T-Challa."
The crew applauds as Caleb then turns to Bach and asks aloud, "Bach, if we kill their Queen, the T-Challa are a dead species?" If we do this, we could force their armada’s to turn back to save their Queen.
Bach answers to everyone, "You would be no better than they are. You would completely destroy their race."
Caleb, smiles, saying, "I am not seeing a problem with this Bach. They have destroyed hundreds of civilizations, and we would be doing the universe a service by destroying them.” Bach you know I am right. She has to die.
White, hearing the conversation asks, "Are you, saying, if we kill the Queen their entire race will all die?"
Caleb says, "Yes, in one hundred to at most two hundred years, they will all die off. Their Queen produces millions of eggs every few months, and there is only one Queen, and she only creates a new Queen once every four to five hundred years."
Jackson cautiously says, "She would be very highly guarded Caleb. I think this would be a good plan, but only once we stop the invasion from happening to our home first.” Come on Caleb, think like a human.
Anders speaks, "I’m into some serious Queen killing, if my vote counts in any way."
Jackson answers, "This isn’t a democracy Commander. We will not be taking on their Queen and her forces. At least not until after we establish the Earth’s defense force, and beat back that approaching T-Challa armada."
Anders annoyed, asks, "Excuse me, Colonel, but isn’t Admiral Ocoda the ranking officer?"
Caleb smiles and says, "Scott, I’m just Caleb, the rank never meant anything to me anyways. It was just something to annoy the Earth diplomats and the Colonel here with, and the Colonel is right anyways. We need to focus on protecting the Earth for now. The Queen can wait for later.” I guess I need to show Jackson my support. He’s stuck by me through it all.
Jackson looks to Caleb and says, "So you’re just going civilian on me now?” Wow, is he really going to listen to me now?
Caleb smiles, and says, "Hell, you don’t listen to me anyways, plus the ship is still my property, but the command is yours Colonel."
Anders disappointed says, "Ok then, but I want in on going to their home world."
Klaus then stands and says, "Admir…. Err... I mean Caleb. I too would very much like to volunteer for that mission as well."
Caleb and Bach turn to each other and have a private conversation, which only takes a split second in real time, but the conversation is in depth and lengthy telepathically.
Bach says, "To kill their Queen is committing genocide Caleb. This makes you no better than they are."
Caleb annoyed, replies, "Bach, it was your people that released this virus on the galaxy, and we both know that there is no cure. No cure other than what I will do to them."
Bach states, asking, "And what if one day their race can grow beyond their violent ways? They will never mature beyond where they are now, should you kill their Queen."
Caleb answers, "Bach how many races will die? How many different species that could also evolve into something great, be destroyed just because of the T-Challa? There is no easy answer, but one day I will kill their Queen, and she will know my name, and I am going to kill her."
Bach says, "Sometimes I feel that Paladin may have made a mistake in choosing you as its host, but I hope that I am wrong. Sometimes mercy can go much further than revenge Caleb."
Caleb smiles, and says, "This isn’t about revenge Bach, it’s about justice, and it’s far from overdue to come to the T-Challa, and for that utopian universe you seek? I would suggest that you and your race come back here in some three thousand years. You might be surprised at how things work out when justice and mercy work hand in hand."
Bach answers, "Unfortunately, that will not happen in your lifetime Caleb, and in that time I will be nearing the end of my life as well, but I will return, and I will remind your daughter of your prediction."
Caleb smiles, saying, "I might surprise you Bach."
Thirty-seven hours later, Kitanna announces, "We have two T-Challa contacts in high orbit. They appear to be Heavy cruisers."
Anders excited says, "Locking all guns and torpedoes."
Jackson orders, "Raise our shields, and bring us to the edge of the X’ena’s shield. The moment it drops I want both of those ships destroyed."
Klaus pulls back on the controls, as Paladin rises from the protective field and into the sky above X’enablanca, positioning itself at the edge of the planetary shield.
Bach then sends a telepathic message to the command crew, "The T-Challa cannot scan you through the shield. They are unaware of your presence. We will be disembarking as well. Please remember, as soon as the shield drops the planet's core will begin to overload and within ten minutes the planet will then explode, destroying everything around this planet for well over a million kilometers."
Anders smiles and says, "Weapons are at full power, and I have over seventy percent more power in our guns then before."
Jackson asks, "How is the range.” He’s like a kid in a candy store.
Anders smiles, "Almost fifty percent longer range."
Jackson smirks, saying, "Try to hide your disappointment.” Ok, maybe a nut in a gun store.
Bach sends a telepathic message to Caleb, "Goodbye Caleb, I wish you well, and to your race and its future. I hope your dream becomes a reality."
Caleb answers, "Goodbye Bach for now, but don’t count me out yet. You may still see me in three thousand years."
Forty-seven minutes later, Kitanna yells, "The shield is dropping!"
Anders still smiling yells, "FIRE!"
Twelve Heavy, and twelve Medium plasma charges arc across space, and directly into the two unsuspecting Heavy cruisers. Their shiel
ds are up and at full power as Paladin slices through them as if they were nothing. They both explode in a giant ball of fire.
Kitanna and Cooley stand up shocked. Anders looks to Jackson with the biggest grin. To which Jackson says, "Ok Mr. Anders, your new toys are working just fine.” Damn that was way too easy, maybe we could take on their home world.
Anders turns and says, "I have the machine room working on more of those updated torpedoes sir, I should have about four hundred ready to go when we reach the T-Challa fleet."
Caleb looks to Jackson and says, "Keep us in tight orbit until the last possible moment. I don’t want to risk the T-Challa getting any of the X’ena’s technology."
Jackson tells Kitanna, "Lieutenant Cohen, I want tight detailed scans of everything in this system, as well as moment to moment updates on the planets core build up. Commander Klaus, the second she says it’s at critical, I want you to put us as far away as you can."
Klaus turns and asks, "Colonel, sir, what is our heading?"
Jackson content, says, "Home son, take us home.” God, how I wish I we were home right now, I could be having one of those huge thick juicy steaks right off the grill.
Six minutes into the planetary cores build up a massive blue orb rises from the planet. The astonished crew looks at it through every port and view screen on the ship.
Kitanna confused reports, "Sir, that’s not showing up on our scanners."
Paladin replies, "It won’t Lieutenant, my systems are unable to detect that ship."
Jackson confused asks, "Why is that?"
Caleb answers, "They don’t want to be found Colonel. Not ever again.” Somehow I feel I will meet them again, something weird. I just can’t explain it.
The blue orb, then vanishes from sight.
With only forty seconds left Kitanna says, "Colonel! The planet is about to explode."
Jackson says to Klaus, "Take us out of here now, max speed."
In the blink of an eye, Paladin hits hyperspace. They are gone, but even at top speed the ship is still rattled by the shock wave of the planet X’enablanca’s destruction.
The Ocoda Chronicles Book 1 Paladin Page 27
