The Dave Brewster Series

by Karl Morgan

  “Elaine, I’m sorry but I never looked for you,” Rence said. “That doesn’t mean there was nothing. The DNA team was the only project I was sent to examine.”

  Dave smiled, and said, “Don’t worry, Elaine. I have top secret information that you will be prominent in this time too. Unfortunately, I can’t say anything else.”

  Elaine smiled. “Thank you, Dave. And thank you Charlie for giving us this incredible opportunity. When can we bring Sophie and Brian over?”

  Rence said, “If you like, I can ask Bea and Alana to jump over with them right now.”

  “That would be perfect, Rence. They are going to love it here,” Elaine smiled as she wiped a tear from her face.

  Dave stood up, saying, “Charlie, it’s been a great day. If you don’t mind, I’m going to jump back to the Nightsky now. Stay here a while with your kids. Just be sure to get back to the ship before we leave for Tak-Makla.” Dave hugged his kids and thanked them for their part tonight.

  “Okay, boss,” Charlie said. “I’ll hang out with them here until the grandbabies arrive. I’d like to put them to bed before I jump back to the ship.”

  Rence said, “Dave, now that this job is complete, I’ll have Alana jump to your ship with Charlie. She might as well start on her new assignment now. She seemed very excited to be working with you and Aria.”

  “Check with Muncie first,” Dave cautioned. “I don’t want to ruin any quality time or vacation they had planned before she starts this new life.”

  “Aye-aye, Admiral,” Rence replied.

  Dave hugged and kissed Cybil and Bill again, and walked slowly toward the door, and his jump home.

  Chapter 20

  The Nightsky and Kong-Fa left orbit over Golden Dawn on schedule. Charlie Watson and Alana Albright jumped from Io one hour before the scheduled departure. As the ships left the star system, Captain Jon Lake instructed his helmsmen, Lieutenant Ali Bai to accelerate the ship to maximum. It would take six days to reach Tak-Makla at this speed. Commander Frake Landres, the ship’s weapons officer reported that all systems were on line and the deflectors for space debris were at full force.

  Jon reminisced about his days on the first ship named Nightsky. It had been a captured Kalidean research vessel that he had converted into a pirate cruiser. His home world of Far Sky had been abandoned by the High Council for Humanity, and his people had to resort to piracy to obtain critical medicines and other goods to stay alive. The day of their capture by Governor De-o-Nu and his fleet seemed very recent, but here he was now a captain of a new star cruiser flying wing to wing with De-o-Nu’s flagship. Ali and Frake had been the best men on that crew. He was honored that they continued to work with him. Sitting to his right was Admiral Brewster, who was not looking well at all.

  “Dave, I know those space jumps are hard on you,” Jon said. “Perhaps you should rest some more in your cabin.”

  “Thanks, Jon, but I slept all night and that didn’t help,” he replied. “It will pass in a little while. I think I just need some coffee.”

  As if on cue, Lieutenant Lia Lawson and Darlene Brewster entered the bridge. Lia had a tray of coffees from the new coffee system. She handed a cafe latte to Dave with a quick smile. Darlene sat next to her husband.

  “Lia, what are you doing here?” Dave asked, “I thought you’d be working with your mother on Golden Dawn.”

  “Admiral, I talked to her about this,” Lia began. “Everyone in the known galaxy understands how important this trip is. The Beings on Tak-Makla are incredibly advanced. The opportunity to meet the maklans who built Station 801 is too great to be missed.” She sat at her station next to Ali. “Besides, without any colonists for several months, Mom doesn’t need a secretary of state yet.”

  “That’s true,” Dave replied. “I’m sure Jon agrees with me that you are the best communications officer in the fleet. We are grateful to have you with us.” She smiled broadly at him and turned to her console. Dave took a long drink of the hot coffee and felt better. “Darlene, please remind me to thank Aria again for getting this new coffee system online. The quality is outstanding!”

  “Yes, Dave, I’ll remind you,” she said. “By the way, I have to meet with De-o-Nu and Cara in a few minutes. We are roughing out the framework for treaties with Tak-Makla. Did you know that De-o-Nu has been promoted to Ambassador for this trip?”

  “No, I did not. He is perfect for the job though,” Dave responded, as he continued sipping on his coffee. “I have the feeling that De-o-Nu will be High Commissioner for Greater Gallia one day. The only mistake I know he made was to almost drop you in the Dar-Fa on Planet 5.”

  “Oh, Dave,” she laughed, “it was just an accident. He is my brother after all.”

  “Mine too,” Dave said. “I’m just glad I wasn’t there to see that. I probably would have fainted or had a heart attack.”

  A tone sounded in Darlene’s earpiece. “Dave, I just got word that De-o-Nu is ready for my call. I’ll see you later.” She rose and left the bridge.

  Lia said, “Captain, I’ve receiving a distress call from the Kalidean ship Manila. They were on course to intercept us in twelve hours to deliver their ambassador for our journey. They report they are under attack.”

  “Lia, advise Kong-Fa of the situation. Ali, change course to intercept Manila as fast as we can,” Jon shouted.

  “Aye-aye, Captain,” Ali barked. “The new course is laid in. At maximum speed, we should intercept in two hours.”

  “Captain, I have De-o-Nu for you,” Lia said.

  “Put him on screen, Lia,” he replied.

  “Captain, Ambassador De-o-Nu here,” the Gallicean began. “My ship is faster than yours. We can intercept Manila in forty minutes. The maklans on my ship have jumped to yours for safety. We will advise when we reach the scene.”

  “Aye-aye, Ambassador,” Jon said. “Win the day for us. Nightsky out.” The screen went blank. The Kong-Fa raced ahead of Nightsky. Within two minutes, it was out of scanner range.

  “Frake, please bring all defensive and weapon systems up to full strength,” Jon shouted. “There may be more of those attackers out here.”

  “Aye-aye, Jon,” Frake replied. “We are armed and ready at your command.”

  “Jon, I have Captain Theodus of the Manila. I’m putting him on screen.” Lia said.

  The captain appeared on the screen. There had been some damage to the bridge area. All the crew members were wearing pressure suits. “Captain Lake,” Theodus said, “I’ve spoken with De-o-Nu and he advises that he is forty minutes out, and that your ship will take up to two hours to arrive. The attackers took us by surprise. Approximately ten star fighters of unknown origin suddenly appeared into our vicinity. Before we could take evasive action or raise our defenses, they had attacked without warning. We were hit by five laser volleys. Fortunately, our defenses are now up and they have not been able to penetrate them. We are following a zigzag course in your direction.”

  “Captain, were you able to fight back?” Dave asked.

  “No, Admiral, our ship has no offensive weaponry,” Theodus replied. “We are a scientific research vessel, except for the time your captain turned this ship into a pirate vessel.”

  “Are the assailants following you, Captain?” Jon questioned.

  “Yes, so far they are with us. I am only at fifty percent speed now. I thought it more important to get a cruiser here than to let these attackers slink back to their base,” Theodus replied. “I have been in contact with our nearest ships, but they are far away. We have another issue, gentlemen. Several of my people have been injured, including Ambassador Petrodus. Our sick bay is not adequate to help them. Could some of your maklans jump here and take them to your ship?”

  “My team will arrive momentarily,” Jake said as he landed on the arm of Dave’s chair. He glowed bright white and disappeared. Jon and Dave could see Jake and several others appear on the bridge of the Manila. “Theodus, take us to your injured,” Jake said.

  The bridge
view screen split to two images as De-o-Nu’s face appeared on the right side. “I am entering sensor range of the Manila now,” he said. “I can read the Manila and ten small craft approaching us. My weapons officer indicates the fighters came from Planet 4 of the star system closest to their current location.”

  “Aye-aye, Ambassador,” Jon said. “We will arrive at Manila in one hour. De-o-Nu, you Galliceans need to share your engine technology with us. You get to have all the fun.”

  The Gallicean laughed. “Jon, you humans are so demanding. We get one toy and you can’t be happy until you get the same one too! For your information, my plan is to disable as many of the small craft as possible. We need to find out who we are dealing with. I’m not aware of any civilizations in this area. Kong-Fa will be in weapons range in ten minutes. May God be with us. Kong-Fa out.”

  “Captain,” Lia said, “Doctor Marron advises that twelve Kalideans have jumped to sick bay with our maklans. He is performing triage and has put all medical personnel on highest alert. He advises that none of the injuries appear to be life-threatening.”

  “Thank you Lia,” Jon said, “finally, we have some good news. Please provide all the information we have to the Fleet Admiral’s office.”

  Chapter 21

  Unbeknownst to Jon and Dave, twenty maklans, including Jake did not return to the Nightsky. After the injured were evacuated from Manila, they jumped to the bridge of the Kong-Fa. They shared their plan with De-o-Nu who could only laugh and smile at maklan ingenuity.

  Kong-Fa roared into the battle zone at full speed, with its defenses at maximum. By the time the small fighters recognized what was happening; the Gallicean cruiser flew just below the Manila and directly in their path. Jake jumped to the cockpit of the first fighter. Without the pilot noticing, he sampled the atmosphere and communicated its contents with other maklans on the Kong-Fa. All the fighters fired their blasters at the Kong-Fa, but their weak energy was absorbed into the defenses of the large ship, strengthening it. The maklans told the crew the atmospheric contents so they could fill cells in their brig with the mixture. All the maklans jumped to the fighters that were rolling and spinning to avoid the massive Gallicean star cruiser. With two maklans in each cockpit, they disabled the engines of the fighters, and then jumped the dazed pilots to the holding cell.

  De-o-Nu was happy the plan worked so well, but in his heart he wanted the thrill of battle coursing in his blood. All his crew could do now was use tractor beams to pull the dead fighters into their hangar bay. The Nightsky arrived as the last fighter disappeared inside the massive ship. The atmosphere needed by the attackers was almost identical to Earth, so the ten pilots were transferred to Nightsky. The combination of an Earth-like atmosphere with the Gallicean air supply was explosive, so all agreed transferring was the best course. De-o-Nu donned a pressure suit and jumped over to the Nightsky to see the prisoners with Dave and Jon. He had to crawl to get through the low opening of the brig door and remain on his knees. The eleven foot ceilings were painfully low for the twenty foot tall Gallicean.

  “Dave,” De-o-Nu said, “I feel more like a prisoner than these Beings. I have to be in this suit and walk about on my knees.”

  “I’m sorry, brother,” Dave said. “While we can work together and share solar systems, our size difference does make for some issues. You are mighty big for a Gallicean though!”

  “It’s a curse, you know,” he replied. “I have to stoop when I’m around my brother-in-law. He gets self-conscious that he is so much shorter than me. Where are my prisoners?”

  At they spoke, a Kalidean entered the brig with an assistant. He was in a wheelchair. “Good day, I am Ambassador Petrodus,” he said. “I am very grateful that your team was able to evacuate me. Please don’t worry about the chair. I am told this is only temporary. I should be well when we arrive at Tak-Makla.”

  “Ambassador, I am De-o-Nu, and I am honored to be an ambassador for Greater Gallia on this mission. Please pardon me if I don’t get up,” he said. They all laughed.

  “De-o-Nu, it is an honor to meet you,” Petrodus said. “I have enjoyed working with your brother-in-law for many years. He speaks of you constantly.”

  “All good things, I’m certain,” De-o-Nu said.

  “Ambassador, I am Dave Brewster and this is our ship’s captain, Jon Lake,” Dave said as he extended his hand.

  “Thanks to both of you for the ride to Tak-Makla,” Petrodus responded, shaking everyone’s hands. “I agree with De-o-Nu that we would like to meet our attackers.”

  Jon touched a panel on the wall. A large section of the wall became transparent, showing the interior of the holding cell. The ten pilots looked remarkably human. They had the same body shape, except the tallest was barely four feet. Their skin was very light brown, and their narrow blue eyes sat below a large forehead. They were wearing their flight suits, which were light blue with ribbons and insignia on the chests and shoulders. The transparency was one way, so the prisoners could not see who was watching them. Jon and the others could hear them talking and arguing, but their language was not known by the translation database. The shortest Being was three and one-half feet tall. It had long white hair and acted as the leader.

  Jon said, “Gentlemen, we have been sending their conversation to the language team on Io since they arrived. We found some written documents on the fighters that we are sending now. We are intercepting communications from Planet 4 in the closest system using the same language. We are funneling that to Io as well. Conomus, the lead scientist on the team, has reported many similarities in this language to older Earth languages and even some maklan root words. Hopefully, we will get some understanding soon.”

  “Well, I would say that Conomus is the best man for the job,” Petrodus said, “but since he is my son, that might prejudice my opinion.”

  “While I love the idea of visiting their home world and blasting away, I know we must focus on our trip to Tak-Makla,” De-o-Nu said.

  “Two of our star cruisers have jumped to Golden Dawn in the last hour,” Petrodus replied. “They should arrive here in an hour. I recommend we turn the prisoners and captured ships over to them. They will also be able to repair the Manila and provide more aid to our wounded. Within thirty minutes of their arrival, we should be able to resume our course to Tak-Makla.”

  “That should only delay our trip by six hours, Admiral,” Jon said to Dave. “It seems like a perfect solution. I will ask Lia to communicate with the two captains on the details of the transfer and all the information we have on the language translation efforts. I am very happy this potential tragedy has turned out so well.”

  “If we’re finished, could some of your maklans jump me back to the Kong-Fa?” De-o-Nu cried. “My back and knees are killing me. I’m going to need to work out in our gym to get the knots out of my muscles.”

  As they left the room, the Beings inside the cell continued to argue among themselves. Commander Kleeg shook her long white hair in contempt for the failure of the glorious mission. “Where did you fools learn to shoot? Only half our team hit the target ship. If you had done your jobs, we would have disabled and captured it.”

  Ensign Fraal sighed, “Commander, clearly those aliens are much more advanced that we are. We didn’t have a chance. Those glass spiders that appeared in our fighters and magically flew us to these ships frightened me half to death.”

  “That’s because you are a coward, Fraal,” Kleeg answered. “We never should have allowed males into our military. You don’t have the killer instinct like we do. I remember the stories about those creatures. They attempted to invade our planet a million revolutions ago. Our most glorious emperor, Naark the First, was able to push them back into the hell of space they came from, freeing Nanda from their oppression.”

  Ensign Zoolk laughed, “Kleeg, you are a fool. Those stories from a million revolutions ago are just legends. Countless generations have come and gone since them. I remember my schoolbooks too. Those spiders would not pop in a
nd out of places. They were also much larger and bright red. Imagine that, Nanda taken over by some little glassy spiders, what a joke!” Everyone except Kleeg laughed.

  Kleeg was blushing with anger. She said, “Zoolk, you will pay for your insubordination. Those invaders from the past used mind control to get other races to attack us. When we get back to Nanda, I will personally hold you for court-martial. Don’t think your aunt, the general will be able to protect you then.”

  Ensign Zoolk smiled, “Commander, maybe you are right. At this moment, I wish I was back on Nanda with my family. We are in the hands of highly advanced Beings who took us from our ships magically and locked us in this room. Our weapons couldn’t help us then, and we have no weapons now. No one on Nanda will risk their lives or incarceration to attack again. These Beings may leave us here to starve to death. We have no control of our futures.”

  Kleeg slumped to the floor and put her hands over her eyes. After a moment, she looked up at Zoolk and said, “Well, if they are that advanced, I don’t think they’ll starve us. They could have blasted us out of space easily. We’ll just have to wait and see. I hope they have good food and drink, though.”

  Chapter 22

  The Free Predax cruiser Parax settled into a high orbit over Nom-Kat-La. Captain Vandamar Narka sent a message to Zakamar Vondee in her quarters to let her know they had arrived. She rushed up to the bridge and sat in the command chair next to Vandamar. Through the view screen they could see the three other Free Predax cruisers Vandamar had ordered to join them. The sensor array told them there were twenty Gallicean battle cruisers, seven Kalidean and eight Earth star cruisers also in orbit. Both Predaxians smiled broadly at each other.

  “Zak, this is like a dream come true,” Van said. “When you convinced me to join your rebellion, I was certain that we would all be either killed or sent to a prison planet to be worked to death.”