The Ocoda Chronicles Book 1 Paladin

by Daniel OConnell

  Klaus finally clears the field and hits hyperspace. Jackson and White follow suit, just minutes behind. They stop four hours away, and dock up. During the stop, Val and his crew take advantage of the time, and work on repairs.

  One hour later, on the Bridge, Jackson arrives to see Caleb, sitting in the command chair, bloodied and covered in T-Challa blood and guts. Looks like Cale was playing around.

  He approaches, saying, "I see you and Toth played a little tag. How are you doing?" Hope you killed that big ugly thing.

  Caleb smiles and says, "Well, I will feel better when I get the ship put back together." Val is working his people hard, I can tell.

  Caleb’s side is still bleeding.

  Jackson noticing asks, "That’s because of the damage to the ship?” Never know if he would tell me the truth or not about how much he pushes himself.

  Caleb looks at the wound, and replies, "Yeah, the combat damage heals immediately, ship damage however. Well, that’s all up to Val, and his team."

  Jackson asks, "So what’s the status of everyone else."

  Caleb says, "We lost four Marines, and three crewmen.” Only seven, to thousands of T-Challa killed. Still doesn’t seem fair, those things will just be reborn.

  Jackson asks, "And their fleet?"

  Kitanna answers, "They suffered heavy damage, they haven’t moved since we left. So far, we have attained that they lost over one hundred and ten ships, and over forty are seriously damaged. Their gateway is destroyed, and the second fleet is still over eight months away from them."

  Caleb analyzing their options says, "They will wait, lick their wounds, and wait for the second fleet to arrive. Then they will either use the gateway to reinforce their position, or go home. More than likely they will reinforce, and come at us stronger." Although I wish, they would just go home.

  Jackson asks, "Shouldn’t we go back, and finish them off." They're an easy target.

  Caleb says, "No, those damaged ships will slow down their fleet considerably, and hopefully they will think twice about trying to attack us."

  Jackson asks, "You hope anyways Cale, so any other surprises?"

  Caleb says, "Yeah, we took a prisoner too."

  Jackson surprised, asks, "You captured a T-Challa?"

  Caleb smiles, saying, "He is down in the brig, I ripped his cybernetic arm off, and most of the rest of the dangerous stuff, when I was helping the Marines repel the boarders. Paladin has it under a high-level force field. I’m waiting for it to regain consciences so I can send their Queen a direct message."

  Jackson asks, "Their Queen a message?" Whoa, what is he talking about?

  Caleb, smiling answers, "Yeah, the T-Challa are telepathically linked to the Queen." Jackson hasn’t been reviewing all the data crystals I can see.

  Jackson asks, "The Queen? They can communicate with their Queen telepathically like the X’ena’s?"

  Caleb answers, "No, it's not the same its one way, the Queen can see everything her drones see, but she can’t communicate back with them, from so far away. So when one dies the next T-Challa will be born with all the memories of all that came before."

  Onatof asks, "So all the T-Challa we killed all their memories of us are transferred to every T-Challa born after?"

  Caleb smiles, stating, "Yeah, Doc, that’s true unless the Queen decides not to transfer those memories." Nobody looks at the stuff in the data storage rooms.

  Jackson says, "So we can be sure that every T-Challa in the galaxy will be looking to settle the score."

  Caleb says, "Until I kill the Queen, and speaking of that, I think it’s time I sent her a message, that T-Challa is awake."

  Jackson asks, "Caleb should we discuss this first, because I am pretty sure I won’t like it." Why am I wasting my breath?

  Caleb gets up, and heads to the brig, saying, "No, Jackson you won’t, but it will probably give us all the time we need." Hope I can scare that bitch.

  Caleb and Jackson go to the brig, where Doctor Qui Shi is there with Shi Reies, Benton, several Marines, and a security force detail.

  Qui Shi says, "Caleb, he just regained conscience, and he is constantly trying to smash his way out."

  Caleb says, "It’s ok, Doctor, I need to send a message to that bitch Queen of his, and it‘s going to deliver it.” She’s gonna lecture me again, especially after she sees this.

  With that, Caleb walks to the force field. He passes through it, and the T-Challa charges at him.

  Caleb jumps up and over, grabbing the T-Challa, and tossing him to the back of the cell.

  The T-Challa quickly gets back up, and charges him again. This time Caleb grabs its head and slams it to the floor of the cell, and holds it to the ground. The T-Challa pounds away at Caleb with its three remaining arms.

  Caleb, finally speaks, "Tell your Queen I am Caleb, and I am the leader of this ship. The one that has destroyed so many of her young, I am tired of that bitch and her offspring, and what they have done to my galaxy. I will be heading to her world, and I will kill her, just as she killed my family, and when she dies, then her entire race will die with her. Tell her she can come to Earth, but it won’t matter. I am coming for her."

  With that, Caleb clamps down around its neck, and lifts the T-Challa head off from its torso. Its blood flies everywhere, Caleb stands up and walks out.

  Shi Reies, shocked, asks, "Was that necessary, it was a prisoner, and it posed no threat."

  Caleb responds, "Wrong Shi Reies, everything it sees the Queen will see eventually. That makes it a great threat."

  Jackson, realizing the scope of the Queens power asks, "So the Queen knew all about us when we stopped her original assault on the Earth?"

  Caleb says, "Yes, but it takes several months for it to reach her, and she didn’t know where we came from, until many months later. Everyone knows all this information is available in the ships data storage rooms’ right?"

  Jackson says, "Ah, no, I didn’t, but you think the Queen will recall all her ships to protect herself from you?" We have a storage data room. I really gotta start walking around this ship more.

  Caleb answers, "That’s the general idea, so far we have bought us another year, and if my plan works we will have bought us maybe ten more years."

  Two days later, Paladin is fully repaired. Cooley speaks, asking, "Caleb we have an incoming transmission from Earth, should I get the Colonel?"

  Caleb smiles and says, "No, let him sleep, I’ll take it.” How long can they stay mad can at me?

  The holoscreen opens.

  Chan appears and he sees Caleb. His eyes are wide, and he clears his throat and says, "Hello Admiral Ocoda is Colonel Jackson available?"

  Caleb answers, "No, he is sleeping, what can I do for you?” Come on, you can’t be holding a grudge after what we just did?

  Chan hesitant replies, "Perhaps it is best that I wait for the Colonel."

  Caleb, smiles, saying, "Mr. Secretary, I am not the beast you fear I am. You can speak to me. I promise to be respectful.” Come on Chan.

  Chan says, "Well, Caleb, although I do not agree with your tactics, they were extremely effective. We now have full access to the resources, and ship construction has restarted, but this is a private matter between me and the Colonel."

  Caleb tries to hide his smile and says, "Oh, I see, let me get him for you." Oh, boy, he knows.

  Caleb signals to Cooley to mute the holocom.

  Cooley replies, "Ok Caleb, he is muted. I can transfer the holocom directly to the Colonels room."

  Caleb, alarmed, says, "No, Cooley! Please keep the Secretary-General on hold. I will have to get the Colonel.” Yeah, that would go over big. I know who’s in the Colonels room right now.

  Shi Reies confused by Caleb’s actions says, "Caleb I will go.” Shi Reies looking confused as to why Caleb would concern himself with the trivia of daily communications.

  Caleb smiles and says, "No, I think its best I handle this." Not sure if he knows what’s going on, but better not to guess.
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br />   Shi Reies confused even more stares at Caleb as he leaves the Bridge and then travels one deck down,

  Paladin telepathically talks to Caleb, "Caleb, I have woken both of them. They are aware of the situation."

  Caleb snickers, "Oh boy, and I am the troublemaker."

  Caleb reaches Jackson’s quarters and knocks on the door.

  Jackson yells, "Yeah, I’m coming!"

  The door opens, and the lights are off in the Colonels room, as Caleb is standing in the doorway when Colonel Jackson opens the door.

  Caleb says, smiling, "Paladin told you about the call for you I see.” Come on Jackson, say something, please, I so want to bust you both.

  Jackson looks at Caleb, confused, asking, "Yes, but why are you smiling?" Does he know, he couldn't possibly know, can he?

  Caleb replies, "Jackson, there is nothing on this ship that I don’t know about. I actually have to really concentrate to try to keep everything out."

  Jackson, looking surprised and says with a slight smile blocking the door, "Yeah, you told me about that once, and so what are you saying?" Damn him, I hope he hasn’t been watching me.

  Caleb smiles, speaking directly into Jackson room, "Doctor, you might want to slip out after we leave and possibly make an appearance on the Bridge, because I am one hundred percent sure this has to do with the message you sent your mother.” Lecture me Doctor, ha.

  Jackson eyes go wide as he walks out of his room, shutting the door. He puts his arm around Caleb, and starts to walk to the Bridge. He looks at Caleb, asking, "Caleb, who else knows about Qui Shi and me?" Damn, he is such an ass I bet he told everyone.

  Caleb smiles and says, "Well, I am pretty sure that the Secretary-General didn’t call in the middle of the night to ask you how you’re feeling. So other than him, I'd say it’s just me, Paladin, the good Doctor, and her family, oh yeah, and maybe a few thousand holonewspapers by now too."

  Jackson confused asks, "What did she send to her mother?” Newspapers! Did he say newspapers?

  Caleb says, "Jackson look, I may have known about you two, but I don’t look at every transmission sent out of the ship."

  Jackson then looks up at the com speaker and says, "You may not, but your alter ego does. Ok Paladin, spill it."

  Paladin says, "Doctor Qui Shi informed her mother that she is three months pregnant Colonel."

  Jackson grabs his head and drops to the floor and says, "She’s pregnant… oh, my god. This is… oh, my god.” Oh no, Oh no.

  Caleb, smiling says to the Colonel, "I think you need to talk to your future father-in-law."

  Caleb helps up the Colonel, and says telepathically to Paladin, "Paladin, in the future you should ask me before releasing that kind of private information. Especially like that."

  Paladin confused asks, "The information was regarding him, so therefore it was not private. Was it?"

  Caleb, smiles, and says, "Well Paladin, maybe that’s information that Qui Shi would want to tell him herself."

  Paladin says, "She would not get the chance Cale. The Secretary-General's call is directly about the letter that Qui Shi sent her mother."

  Caleb shakes his head, and looks to Jackson, "Sorry my friend, but Paladin still has a lot to learn about human interaction. I think you should take the holocall in my ready room." Jackson is such a rag doll. Beat down by me, and then diplomats, and now his soon to be father-in-law.

  Caleb then enters the Bridge with Jackson. Jackson goes over to Caleb's personnel lift that then takes him up to Caleb's ready room. Caleb yells over to Cooley, "Transfer the call to my ready room."

  Shi Reies comes over and asks, "Is this something important Caleb?"

  Caleb smiles, saying, "Shi Reies, you know, I know virtually nothing about you, and yet my daughter has found you to be her best friend on this ship.” Who are you really?

  Shi Reies says, "Well, I have fifteen children ten boys, and five girls. I have been married since I was eighteen, and my wife is a teacher."

  Caleb slightly stunned says, "My daughter is very taken with you, Commander. She thinks you’re a friendly giant, and I wanted to personally thank you for always being there for her." Wow, he has such a huge family, and yet he stayed to protect Carla and me instead of being with them. Dedicated to his career is far from an understatement of this man.

  The two shake hands, when Doctor Qui Shi enters the Bridge and asks, "Excuse me, Admiral, but I heard my father is on the holocom, may I speak with him.” She looks up at Caleb embarrassed and upset, as she waits for his response.

  Caleb says, "Sure, he is talking to Colonel Jackson in my ready room." Doc, it’s so nice to see you out of sorts, it makes you look almost human.

  Qui Shi stares intently at Caleb, as she walks to the lift, and ascends to Caleb’s ready room.

  Shi Reies smiles and looks at Caleb and looks at Qui Shi, who is ascending the lift.

  Paladin telepathically speaks to Caleb, "Caleb, should I inform you of the events going on in your ready room."

  Caleb surprised, answers, "No Paladin, it is pretty obvious what's going on up there, please don’t share this information with anyone else."

  A week transpires without event. Paladin is currently only three weeks away from Earth.

  Kitanna then announces to White, and Benton, who is on the Bridge, "We have incoming ships cloaked sir, and I believe they're ours."

  White asks, "How can you tell they're ours?"

  Benton sarcastically answers, "Probably because she can detect them, Einstein."

  Kitanna says, "Yes, Colonel Benton, Paladin picked them out easily. They're only a week away, and I believe there are three of them."

  White looks to Cooley, "Lieutenant Cooley, can you contact them."

  Cooley takes a few moments and answers, "Commander, I have a Captain McGrath responding, shall I put it through?"

  White happily says, "Put it through Rachel."

  Cooley, smiles at White and opens the channel.

  Captain McGrath then appears on the holocom, "Impressive. We are a week out, and your sensors picked us up. That’s damn impressive. Well, my name is Captain McGrath of the USS Iowa. We are traveling with the USS Texas, and USS California. We are to escort you back to the Earth."

  White relieved replies, "Thank you Captain. This is Commander White. We should link up with you in seven days. It’s good to hear that home is so close by."

  Paladin says, "Commander, should I wake Colonel Jackson and Caleb?"

  White says, "No, let them sleep, we still have a week until we meet up. I’m sure he’s not in any rush to get home now."

  The week goes by uneventfully, and very quickly as Paladin finally meets up with the three Earth ships. The three ships uncloak around Paladin. Caleb and Jackson are on the Bridge, as is everyone on the command crew, when the three ships uncloak.

  Jackson, sees them and says, "Impressive eh Cale? They look a lot like Paladin use too before the upgrades on X’enablanca.” Even with the restricted power core, they’re still awe-inspiring ships.

  The crew all cheer, at seeing the first signs of home.

  The four ships set course, and head back to Earth at top speed. Paladin actually has to slow down, to match their speed.

  The holocom opens up with presenting President Baker, saying, "Admiral Ocoda, Colonel Jackson, and to the brave heroic crew of the first Earth Battleship Paladin. I would like to personally welcome you home, and to personally thank you from a proud nation, and planet."

  Jackson looks to Caleb smugly and whispers, "You want to say anything Admiral, or are you leaving the diplomacy to me today.” Please don’t even try it.

  Caleb, smiles whispering, "I’ll leave it to you Jacks, just try not to get her pregnant, master diplomat."

  Jackson eyes go wide and he grins. He slowly turns to the President and, saying, "On behalf of the crew of the Paladin. I would like to thank you, Madam President, and say it is a pleasure to be home."

  President Baker returns the greeting, saying, "Tha
nk you Colonel, and I would like to congratulate you, and your future wife. Secretary-General Chan told us all of the upcoming wedding."

  The crew all turn amazed, looking at Colonel Jackson, who is stunned, saying, "Yeah, um, thank you, Madam President.” Well, I guess telling the crew is out of the way now.

  The President ends her transmission with, "Well, Colonel, we will be expecting you to land in two weeks, there will be worldwide celebrations. Congratulations and many thanks."

  The transmission ends. Cooley and Anders as well as Klaus and Shi Reies all just stare at Colonel Jackson.

  Jackson smiling says, "Well, we planned on telling everyone by invitation."

  The last two weeks finally end, as Paladin lands at the Norfolk naval base. Paladin’s crew disembarks, amongst worldwide fanfare and celebration. Val sneaks out with Carla and armed escort, as he goes to see his family. Leaving only Caleb on board Paladin, armed guards then quickly board the ship to secure it. They find Caleb sitting on the Bridge.

  The guard asks, "Excuse me, sir, your Admiral Ocoda? Aren’t you supposed to meet with the President?"

  Caleb says, "Yes, I am expected to, but I suggest that you and your men get off my ship now. I am taking her up, and leaving her in orbit." Please get off. This is the first time I can almost relax in I don’t know how many months.

  The guard, surprised, says, "Sir, I am supposed to stay with the ship until I am relieved."

  Caleb exhausted, says, "Well, I hold the rank of Admiral correct?" Might as well use it.

  The guard says, "Yes, sir."

  Caleb says, "Then get off my ship, and take everyone with you now!"

  Within minutes, the guards scramble off the ship. Caleb then takes Paladin into high orbit.

  Paladin says, "Caleb, I have over one hundred incoming messages, from President Baker to Val. Shall I answer them?"

  Caleb smiles, as he stares out into space and says, "Tell them all, I am not going anywhere. I just needed some time alone, and that I will return in a few days, until then I will be in orbit." This feels so free. I really needed this.

  Paladin says, "Caleb, I have an important message from Colonel Jackson. He is demanding I put him through."