by M. K. Eidem
Cassandra’s Challenge
By M.K. Eidem
Science Fiction Romance
Cassandra’s Challenge: The Imperial Series
M.K. Eidem
Copy Right 2013 by Michelle K. Eidem
Smashwords Edition
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All characters, places, and events in this book are fictitious or have been used fictitious and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is strictly coincidental.
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Synopsis
Cassandra Chamberlain has always stood out. It's hard not too at 6’1” and 165 pounds with jet black hair and sapphire blue eyes. And if that wasn’t enough she is also brilliant, graduating from Harvard at fifteen, teaching at MIT at nineteen and up for the prestigious Magellan Award at twenty five. But she’s never really fit in. Not with her peers, not with her contemporaries, only with her family. But everything changes when the Earth is attacked and Cassandra and her niece Victoria are the only survivors. Suddenly the smartest woman on the planet has to relearn everything. Everything she’s believes to be true is challenged and she has to learn to survive, not only for herself but for Victoria, because someone wants them dead.
Admiral William Zafar is the youngest Admiral ever in the Coalition fleet, the hero of the Battle of Fayal. At 7’1” he’s 325 pounds of Carinian male in his prime who is feared and respected throughout the fleet. He is a royal from the House of Protection, carrying its birthmark and considers its King one of his oldest friends.
But when the Regulians destroy a previously unknown planet leaving only two survivors he finds he's willing to risk it all to protect the woman he loves from the Regulians and the Carinian traitor that wants her dead.
Chapter 1
“Admiral, sensors in the Relinquished zone are tracking a Regulian battle fleet. They’ve stopped in an uncharted solar system approximately 5000 light years away.” Senior Chief Delondra Falco reports.
Admiral William Hale Zafar turns from his command center. At 50 cycles he is the youngest Admiral ever in the Carinian fleet and currently commands the Battle star Retribution with an accompaniment of five battleships as they patrol the border. He’s 7’1” and 325lbs of solid Carinian male, his lush dark hair just starting to gray at the temples and while not long is not cut militarily short. His startling violet eyes look to Falco.
“What intel do we have on that system?” He demands.
“Only what the remote sensors scanned sir. It’s seems to be a very small system with nine planets and one sun, if the Regulians wrap signature hadn’t lead us to it, it would easily have been missed.” Falco replies.
“Our systems aren’t supposed to miss anything, Falco!” The Admiral stares her down. “Are you getting any data on the planets with our sensors? They must be there for some reason.”
“No sir, sorry sir, too far away.”
The Admiral turns away. “What do you think Quinn?” Colonel Quinn Tar is the second in command on the Retribution and one of his oldest friends. At 52 he has some wear and tear about him. He’s shorter than his commander by 3 inches but weighs the same.
“I agree there has to be a reason they are there, we should get closer, gather Intel.” The Admiral reaches his decision.
“Falco set a course to get us in detail scan range, warp six. I want to know what the Regulians are up too. Communications contact High Command and relay that we are going into the Relinquished zone. Connect me to the other Commanders.”
“Yes sir.”
“Set the fleet to Alert Status Two I want all eyes and ears open while we are in the Relinquished zone.”
“Yes sir.”
The Retribution travels through the Relinquished Zone at warp six for over two days before finally getting within long range scanning distance.
“Status Falco.”
“Sir, nine planets, one sun, only one considered habitable, the third from the sun, scans show abundant life, the majority seems to be humanoid, large mineral deposits, large cities.”
“Can you ascertain level of advancement?”
“They have satellites orbiting the plant…probably communications…all defenses seem to be terrestrial. Sir!!! The Regulians have just initiated an attack on the planet, targeting major cities!”
“Fuck!!! How soon can we intercede?”
“Sir at current speed 23 hours.”
“Increase speed to warp nine point six, inform the fleet. I want us there yesterday! What the fuck are they doing Quinn? What’s on that planet they want so badly?”
“I don’t know but we’d better find out.”
“Falco, how many inhabitants on that planet?”
“Sir if the scan is correct, just under seven billion.”
“Damn! Go to Alert Status One!”
Two and a half hours later the Retribution is closing in on the solar system, the Admiral standing in the command center studying monitors. Remembering another time when the Regulians had attacked a planet and help hadn’t arrived until in time. His past wife had died in that attack.
“How long until we’re in range to launch fighters?”
“Fifteen minutes sir.”
“Have all fighters in the launchers, reduce speed to warp six get us in range to launch Falco.”
“Yes sir.”
The Admiral impatiently waits.
“We’re in range Commander.”
“Launch all fighters.”
“Launch fighters! I say again launch all fighters!”
William looks at Quinn, “I hope there’s something left to save.”
Lt. Lucas Zafar, call sign Hawk is a seven cycle fighter pilot veteran in the CUP fleet. He’s currently engaging his enemy in the atmosphere of a previously unknown planet. He and his wingman are closing in on four Regulian Strikers.
“Shit Hotdog what are they looking for out here.” He looks out his Blade at the remote mountainous terrain. Suddenly the Strikers open fire on a small town. “Fuck, let’s get in there and take them out.”
“I’m all over that Hawk.”
The two pilots methodically take out the first three Strikers then chase the fourth into an even more unpopulated area. Hawk lines up and takes his shot. Before the Striker explodes it gets off a shot of its own clipping Hawk’s wing.
“SHIT!!! Hotdog I’m going down I’ve lost all controls.”
“Eject! Eject!” His comm tells him.
As Hawk ejects from his crippled craft, Hotdog circles to get his location. The Blades they fly only hold one, he can’t pick him up and watches helplessly has Hawk’s parachute disappears in the trees.
“Retribution…Hotdog! Retribution…Hotdog!”
“Go ahead Hotdog….”
“Hawk’s down. I repeat Hawk’s down….”
The Admiral goes still, the bridge quiet. Picking up the headset he demands.
“What’s Hawk’s status?”
“He was able to eject, sir. He landed in a heavily wooded area, I lost visual but have his last coordinates.”
“Any danger detected.”
�
��No sir, all four strikers were taken out before he went down.”
“Affirmative, get back to base Hotdog.”
“Sir…”
“Back to base!”
“Yes sir!” The Admiral rips off his headset.
“Quinn, you have Command.”
“Will, where are you going?” But he already knows.
“I’m going to get my son back.”
“Admiral…”
“Colonel you have your orders.”
“Yes sir.” The Admiral heads to the flight deck.
“Chief I’m going on the recovery mission.”
“Admiral.”
“I need a flight suit.”
“Yes sir, you’ll be with Dodge and Scratch.”
Hawk wakes to find he’s lying on a couch and staring into the most amazing green eyes he’s ever seen. Blinking he realizes they belong to a young girl, a young girl with flaming red hair. Moving to sit up he gasps at the sharp pain. Looking down he sees his right leg’s been treated.
“Easy, you’ll tear it open.”
Hawk assesses the man moving the girl aside. He’s not very tall, only 6’3”, but appears solid. He’s older, somewhere in his sixties, but fit, his eyes knowing.
“Where am I? Who are you?” He demands.
Cassandra watches her father talk to the large man. She’d witnessed the dogfight, seen the two strange aircraft destroy the four that had been attacking the town of Chester, watched one eject. He’d landed not far from her in heavily wooded area.
The branches he caught landing had injured his leg. By the time she’d gotten to him he’d barely been conscious. Getting him to his feet had been an experience, she’d never seen a 6’8” man before, and her 6’ 1” frame had trouble getting him back to the family cabin.
“I’m Jacob Chamberlain,” he touches his chest. “My son Peter, his wife Cyndy, their daughter Tori, my daughter Cassandra.” He points to the people in the room, watching to see if he understands. “Who you are?
Lucas is trying to understand the language the older man is speaking. It seems similar to his….everyone waits…
“I’m Lieutenant Lucas Zafar of the Battle star Retribution….do you understand what I’m saying?”
The five look at him. The woman he called Cassandra steps up, putting her hand on the older man’s arm.
“Some…your Lucas?”
“Yes.”
“You have a leg injury.” She puts a hand on his leg. “Do you understand?”
Lucas looks at her. “Yes.”
“Why are we being attacked?” Jacob demands.
“I was hoping you could tell me. The Regulians…”
“Who?”
“The Regulians, the race that is attacking your planet…”
“Earth.” The woman interrupts him.
“What?”
“We call it Earth.”
“Ok the Regulians are attacking the Earth. Why? They were here at least several days before they attacked.”
“They showed up a week ago, talking to world leaders… then all of a sudden they attacked. How do you know this?” Jacob informs him.
Lucas sits up higher, “Two and a half days ago on a routine patrol we discovered the Regulians warp signature in the Relinquished zone and decided to investigate. We were still almost three hours away when they attacked.”
The woman called Cassandra stared at him very seriously. “Warp….”
“What do they want?” The man called Peter demands.
”I don’t know, especially out here. The cities I understand, but here? They’re looking for something.” Jacob jerks and abruptly walks away.
“Dad,” Cassandra gets up following him. Lucas is watching the pair when the communicator on his flight suit goes off all eyes turn to him.
“Hawk-Dodge…. Hawk-Dodge…”
“Dodge-Hawk.” Lucas replies.
“They’ll be able to track his signal!” Jacob shouts.
“Give us coordinates and we’ll pick you up.”
Lucas pushes himself off the couch and sees five sets of eyes watching him. “It’s a rescue ship, I need to get to an open area so they can land and pick me up.” He tries to take a few steps and stumbles.
Cassandra walks toward him, “There is a meadow about a quarter mile southwest of here. I’ll help you get to it.” Lucas relays the message.
“Cassandra!!”
“Dad someone has too. Peter can’t with his shoulder and leg like that, the sooner they’re out of here the sooner the,” She looks at the large man called Lucas, “Regulians will leave too.” Lucas says nothing.
“Bend your arm and put it on this shoulder.” She instructs him as she takes his large right arm and puts it on her left shoulder.
“This isn’t going to work. You’re too small.”
“It’s what got you here so it should get you back.” Cassandra replies testily. “I won’t be long Dad. Let’s go.”
“Cassandra,” She turns around looking at her father, “I love you.” She smiles.
“I love you too Dad. Don’t burn anymore pancakes.” The large man and small woman work their way out the door.
Entering the forest his communicator goes off again. “Hawk this is Falcon respond.”
“Shit,” Huffs Lucas.
“Problem?” Cassandra asks as he stops to remove his communicator, they’d only made it a hundred and fifty yards.
“My father is on the rescue craft.”
“And….”
“He’s a fucking Admiral, excuse me, he’s suppose to stay on his Battle Star! Falcon this is Hawk.” Cassandra raises an eyebrow at his apology.
“Where the hell are you!!!” Demands the Admiral.
“I’m a little gimped up sir, should be there in ten.”
“You’re hurt!”
“Not severely sir, just slowing me down. I’ll be there in ten, over and out.”
“Ten minutes, really…”Cassandra raises an eyebrow. “It’s taken you ten minutes to go a hundred and fifty yards, try another thirty at this rate.”
“Then lets pick up the pace, the old man will boil over it is much more than that.”
“Fine by me.” Cassandra sets a quicker pace but it isn’t easy when you have a 6’8” man and a 6’1” woman. “Come on Lucas, just pretend I’m a crutch lean on me and swing your leg.” She isn’t sure if he understands what she’s saying but they seemed to be moving faster. Finally they get to the edge of the meadow.
“So where’s your rescue ship?”
“Falcon this is Hawk at location ready for pick up.”
“Affirmation Hawk, ten seconds.” Cassandra watches in amazement as a ship comes out of the clouds.
As the ship lands Cassandra helps Lucas hobble to the middle of the meadow. To her amazement a door on the side of the craft slides open and an even larger man gets out. He stares at Cassandra with an astonishing pair of brilliant violet eyes before taking his son’s weight.
“Dad, Cassandra.”
“Do we look like we’re at some fucking party?!?” The Admiral demands as he helps his son up the steps of the Raptor. The time waiting for Lucas has used up all his patience. “Next time you want to stroll through a meadow with some pretty girl make sure it’s not a war zone. We’ve got Strikers inbound!”
Cassandra grabs the big man’s arm and to his surprise pulls him around, “Strikers! Those are the planes you shot down?” She looks at Lucas for confirmation, he nods. Her brilliant sapphire blue eyes bore into the Admiral’s, “Where are they heading?”
“Here.” Cassandra stares at him in horror realizing that her father had been right. They’d picked up on the communications between Lucas and the rescue ship. They’d just been waiting to see where attack.
“Oh shit!!” Dropping his arm she turns to run across the meadow when it explodes in front of her, throwing her backwards. The Admiral grabs her and tosses her into the Raptor.
“TAKE OFF!!” He orders. As he reaches to pull the
door closed Cassandra is scrambling to get up and in doing so sees Victoria running across the burning meadow.
“NO!!! Victoria’s down there!!” The Admiral massive size blocks the door she’s trying to get too. Lucas jumps up from his seat.
“DAD!” William sees the terrified child trapped by the flames.
“Dodge get us over there quick, we’re only going to get one shot at this,” He turns to the woman, “I’m going to reach down, grab her, then we’re gone!”
“No she’s not going to come to you. Look at her she’s scared out of her mind!”Cassandra pushes her way past him.
“What the HELL do you think you’re doing?” She stares him directly in the eye.
“GETTING MY NIECE!!” With the aircraft still moving she steps out on the narrow running board of the vessel, taking a deep breath she sits down facing the Admiral.
He’s stunned, what the hell is she doing? Cassandra looks him in the eyes.
“I hope you’re good at holding on.” With that as a warning she lets herself fall backwards off the running board, her feet catching the underside of the step.
William dives for her legs wrapping his massive arms around them and is about to pull her up when he realizes she’s added almost five more feet to what he could have reached. He looks down and sees the child looking desperately for a way out of the flames.
“Victoria!!” Cassandra yells. “Victoria look up!!” As she does Victoria sees her aunt hanging upside down out of some strange craft. “Victoria you have to jump up! I’ll catch you!”
“I can’t!”
“Victoria Lynn Chamberlain you will jump!! Jump now!!!” And as the little girl jumps Cassandra stretched out even further causing the Admiral to curse as she starts to slip out of his grasp. But the extra stretch allows her to grab Victoria just above her wrists. Lucas looks over his father’s shoulder.
