by Will Crudge
The entire command crew of the Hailstorm erupted in thunderous cheers. The defeated man’s face was full of rage but couldn’t muster any form of verbal response. The Crimson Fleet was defeated without question. The feed was cut from the other side, and the elation in the CIC began to escalate in response!
Perhaps I judged John too prematurely. Maybe he’s more fit to command than I gave him credit for. Darius thought to himself. It was a refreshing sight to see such a static personality, as was John’s, to break free from its usual persona. Darius smiled, and then walked over to offer his hand to the Hailstorm Squadron Commander.
***
Fin was filled with a newly forged sense of hope for the first time since his beleaguered childhood and closed in on the semi-slumped Life Priest. He embraced the exhausted man, and them monk wrapped his own arms around Fin as well.
After a long celebratory embrace, Fin pulled back and looked in the ancient man’s tired, but loving eyes. “I can’t say I’m a believer now, but I’m willing to let myself try!”
The exhausted monk just smiled. “No pressure. If it’s your time to believe, then you will. If not… well, I’m good with that too!” Then Val labored to seat himself at a nearby workstation seat, and he drew a long breath. He slowly released it, and then closed his eyes.
Fin turned to Jep. “Is he going to be alright?”
Jep nodded, and Growl just laughed. “Young man,” Jep said. “Let me tell you where he got the name ‘Val’….”
Triumphant Reunion
Location: UAHC Battleship, Hailstorm, Fleet Marshal’s Quarters, Tangine Space
Date Time: Post Interstellar 08/05/4201 0200 UAHC Standard Zulu
System: Sol, Mid Region
The two bare bodies embraced in passionate bliss. Kara’s legs wrapped around Darius like a vice, and her toes curled in response to his lovemaking. They moaned in unison and breathed as one.
Darius pulled back slightly and allowed his lips to kiss her neck. He works his lips down to her exposed breasts and let his tongue take control. She moaned in response, and her lips formed a half-smile while she bit her lower lip.
The beastly man looked up and saw Kara in total bliss and smiled despite himself. Their lips locked again, as he began to go back to his powerful thrusts. Kara let out a cry of ecstasy with every thrust, and she began to lose her breath as he increased his speed.
She cringed and dug her fingers into his impossible muscular back, and he knew she was close to climax. He lightly bit her neck and then tilted his head away and beside her neck. They breathed as one, and with a pairing of sublime pleasure, they climaxed into each other as if the lines between them had melded into one being.
Moments later, Darius rolled to one side and caressed her chest and abdomen as they both struggled to catch their breath. Kara giggled slightly as his fingertips began to tickle her skin. He laughed in response, and then gathered her up in his arms to hold her close. She let his strong arms bring her in like a warm, safe blanket.
They were finally together again… separate individuals, but united in love.
“I’ve missed you,” Kara said while she closed her eyes.
“I’ve missed you too.” Darius nodded with a smile. He just locked his eyes on her delicate face and began to caress her smooth brown hair. “But your little rampage out there had me worried! Promise not to do that again!”
Kara let out a sigh. “Yes, my big strong man!”
“But I suppose, I owe you my thanks.” Darius let out a calming breath. “Your actions helped Jimma plant that nuke and keep the Crimson fighters off of her back. It was crazy… but it worked.”
“Jimma and I have been fighting side by side for several days.” She responded. “She’s the main reason I made it to Tangine.”
Kara spent the next several minutes giving Darius the highlights of her adventures on Clarendon Station. Her hands motioned to accentuate the harrowing actions of Jimma, Sasha, and the crew of the Foehammer.
Darius listened intently, and his eyes got wide on more than one occasion. He even thought to himself that signing off on her promotion to Lieutenant Colonel was the right call, after all. He could tell that she was downplaying her own role in their adventure, but he quickly realized that she had a significant role in their successful landing at Tangine.
She went on to tell him about how Steve came into his own as a ship’s AI, and it made him realize that he needed to recognize the perverted old sentient at some point. Soon she wrapped up her story when she got to how she and Jimma went into the breach, and she lost consciousness.
Darius thought about Jimma, and how she’d told him that Kara was the one who brought her back from Primal Rage. The same rage that killed at least an entire company of spec ops troops with sheer quantum energy. But he noticed that Kara had no memory of it. Has something changed in her? He thought to himself. But he could feel the answer. Something in her seemed to have unlocked itself. He supposed that perhaps her bond to him had been the trigger, but he didn’t quite know for sure. But he shook the thought off for now. Now was time to enjoy the present and prepare for the future.
“I’m having the Foehammer reconfigured.” He abruptly broke the silence. Kara opened her eyes and glared at him inquisitively.
“Really?” She said with a single raised eyebrow. “Does Captain David know?”
“Yes, he does.” Darius nodded and then returned her gaze. “It was partly his idea, in fact.”
“But why?” Kara asked.
“The Aegis may be too far gone to be salvaged.” He said with a furled brow. “So since the two ships have the same basic hull type, and the Foehammer needs to be repaired anyway, it just seemed to make sense.”
“But what about Captain Ives?”
“She’s on board with it. She and David made the request together, and even recommended that their crews be combined… Well, the crew members that voluntarily do.”
Kara cocked her head to one side. “Why would they need to volunteer?”
“Because they’re forming a new special taskforce.” Darius smiled. “And they need a CO.”
“Me,” Kara said it as a matter of fact.
“Yes.” Darius nodded. “But it will take a few months to refit the ship, so I have you all to myself until then!” He winked. She smiled in response, but then her expression straightened.
“What kind of special taskforce?”
“One that was capable of drawing from a myriad of backgrounds, training, and sheer brute strength. When two small ships… ships not designed for direct engagements, mind you… manage to take out a slew of destroyers, fighters, and countless commandos, then that makes the combined crews of each the only clear choice.” Darius smiled.
Kara let out a long breath and broke into light laughter. “I guess we’re victims of our own success!”
Darius nodded with a smile. “So far, you’ll have three UAHC Soldiers, four former crewmembers of the Aegis, at least one – possibly two – War Master’s with Zodiacs, a few beat cops, and a very grateful former pirate!”
“Wow!” Kara was taken back. “Ives and David too?”
Darius nodded in response. “Jimma is on board as well, but I don’t know about Sasha and the other War Master quite yet… That’s Val’s call to make.”
“Sasha? But she’s with Jimma!” Kara responded.
Darius shook his head. “They’re not officially paired as of yet. Jep seems to think her intended pairing will have complete his training by the time the work on the ship is completed. Besides, Sasha is an elder in the Zodiac community. She also oversees the raising of Zodiac cubs who’s own parents are either off on their duties, or are completing their own training.”
Kara nodded. A sense of loss crept up inside her. She’d grown to love the big cheetah… but deep down she knew that Sasha would have to move on at some point. She just wished it wasn’t so soon.
“Well, I guess I’ll have to meet with the crew in the morning.” Kara said. “We’ll hav
e to decide on a pecking order that suits us. More importantly, we’ll need to settle on a name for the taskforce!”
“Well rest easy.” Darius stroked her hair. “It would seem they’ve already got all that worked out and awaiting your approval.”
“Really?”
“Yes,” Darius replied. “You will be the CO, of course. Steve will remain your helm, and ships systems AI. Your second in command will be fluid, and depend on the type of operation assigned. David will take command of traditional combat ops, and manage the ship’s combat systems. Ives will handle covert missions, and be responsible for mission planning. That James guy will handle unconventional ship to ship tactics. You’ll also have those two cops that were supposed to be your covert informants before the Crimson decided to start shooting…”
“Wait!” Kara interrupted. “Griff is onboard too?”
Darius nodded. “His daughter is the one who talked him into it. UDF is taking over hyper gate station security from now on, and they’ll be covering the civilian municipal law enforcement duties as well… The younger Corporal fella, had a small daughter to look after, but Griff’s daughter is an experienced cop. It would seem she’s all he’s got in the world, and she wanted in on the taskforce.”
Kara just shrugged her shoulders. “I guess having a few seasoned cops will be an asset, so I won’t turn them away.”
Darius nodded. He supposed law enforcement wasn’t his comfort zone, since anti-piracy operations were more similar to traditional combat and lacked the procedural red-tape. He was perfectly happy to let Kara make that call.
“So,” Kara spoke up once more. “Did they come up with a name?”
Darius couldn’t fight the crooked smile from forming on his face. “Yes. Yes, they did.”
“Well?” Kara asked eagerly. Darius could tell that she was anxious over this part. Having the right name of a taskforce was a matter of pride for any organization, and it had to be the primary sense of identity to build morale around.
“Well, it started by when the pirate guy, James told me the story of their rescue op from his perspective….”
“And?!” Kara couldn’t wait. She seemed to be a kid waiting to open a birthday present.
“And… he described the cumulative carnage both crews had caused on the enemy, as if it had been done by some kind of wrecking crew…”
Wrecking Crew! Kara hung on his words. That’s perfect! “I love it! But we can’t just call it, taskforce wrecking crew…”
“Well, yeah…” Darius nodded. “Normally taskforces have a one-word title.”
“So just, Wrecking Crew.” Kara insisted.
“Unconventional, but I like it.” Darius conceded.
Less Than Triumphant Reunion
Location: CSS Medium Cruiser, Cerberus, Main Docking Bay, Open Space
Date Time: Post Interstellar 08/05/4201 0200 UAHC Standard Zulu
System: Interstellar Space, Unknown Region
Zedd stood in a stoic stance with his hands casually clasps in front of him. He was surrounded by a detachment of marines and had three on each side of him forming a corridor of metal and flesh.
The Crimson Commodore watched the frigate glide through the protective energy shield, as the recently repaired blast doors closed behind it. He couldn’t help but watch the rough welds on the new armored plating of the doors and be reminded of Ensign Alba’s recent treachery. But he didn’t let the thoughts bleed through his expression of confidence.
The frigate landed gracefully, and after several moments, a ramp emerged from the vessel’s keel. The hissing of equalizing atmosphere filled the bay, and soon after, a man stepped down the ramp.
“Good to see you brother!” The man in Crimson spec ops armor called out. His tone was authentic and was in tune with their profound bond.
Zedd smiled and stepped forward to embrace his brother. The loosened their grip, and both men stepped back.
“I see you didn’t fare well, Agent Peterson!” Zedd spoke with a laugh.
The towering man in red armor just shook his head. “And neither did you, I see!”
“We both are guilty of setbacks, I’m afraid.” Zedd shook his head.
“Only because we haven’t been united, brother!” The man known as Agent Peterson said. “It’s time to liberate our twin and take advantage of the chaos of war!”
Zedd nodded and reached out to clutch his brother’s shoulders. “That we will!” Zedd paused to let his face stretch into a sinister smile. “Revenge for our mother is at hand, and then…”
Peterson finished the sentence. “We conquer everything in our path.”
The Story Continues In Book 3: Humanity War Saga. United Front
Author’s Note:
I hope you enjoyed The Battle of Tangine. But you may have unanswered questions. Perhaps you were wondering what happened behind the gate at Forge Station. Wonder no further! You may certainly read on with Book 3, United Front. However, I also invite you to read the companion story, Broadsword (Spring 2018). This will enlighten you as you get to experience the battle from the other side and learn what the Broadsword Squadron has been up to since Book 1. As always, if you liked this book, then please feel free to rate it on Amazon. I also invite you to read my nonfiction work, Universal Truth: Achieving Enlightenment in the Modern World, to discover the inspiration behind this series’ mythos. Until next time, my fellow Space Opera lovers!
-Will Crudge
