The Dave Brewster Series

by Karl Morgan

  “Van, that could still happen,” she replied. “But this time we will have the resources to inflict some major damage on the Emperor and his minions before they get to us. Please see if you can contact the maklan ambassador.”

  “Tak, my communications officer has already sent her a message. We have been in communication with Nom-Kat-La Central Command since we’ve been in their sensor range,” he answered. “I’m certain we will be hearing from them soon.”

  A tone sounded on the communications officer’s panel. He touched a contact and the image of Ambassador Konomalocus Nolobitamore appeared on the screen.

  “Zak, I am very happy that you and your fleet have arrived,” Kono said.

  “Greetings Ambassador,” Zak replied. “I must admit that Captain Narka had a difficult time keeping the number of our ships at four. Every ship in the Free Predax Forces demanded to be part of this action.”

  “That’s wonderful,” the ambassador said. “I think it is crucial to keep the rest of your fleet in Alliance territory. We hope their presence will keep more Predaxian assets away from this area. If you don’t mind, I would like to jump to your bridge now, Captain. I will bring another maklan along with Earth and Kalidean captains. Many Galliceans wanted to join us, but the atmosphere and size of your ship won’t work for them.”

  “You have my permission, Ambassador,” Van said. “We have a ready room to the side of the bridge. We can all meet there if you like. At Consul Vondee’s request, we have brought along several cases of Predaxian brandy for toasting and gifts for our visitors.”

  A bright flash of white light filled the bridge. After it subsided, Kono and her entourage were standing in front of Zak and Van. They stood and greeted their guests. Van led them to the large ready room off the bridge. As everyone took seats, Van opened several bottles of brandy, filled and offered them to his guests. He took his seat next to Zak. Across the table sat Kono, Captain Carl Cartwright, Captain Donimus Zakar and Kono’s assistant, Belanomara Narakamara.

  “Thank you for your hospitality,” Kono began. “We would like to fill you in regarding the next steps in the operation. As I mentioned on Tantalus, we still have some reservations about the truth of your rebellion. For that reason, we would like your approval to house twenty maklans on each of your ships. They will monitor communications to and from your ships. If there are any problems, they will jump back to the other ships and we will determine what the next steps should be.”

  “Ambassador, we feel that is a waste of time, but if it cements our relationship, you have our approval,” Zak said.

  “Wonderful. Now my assistant will jump back to Nom-Kat-La and arrange the teams for your ships,” Kono replied. The other maklan glowed bright white and was gone. “The maklans will have another purpose. If we all engage in battle, and any of your ships are badly damaged, they will be able to jump your crews to other ships. I can’t imagine what horrors would await them if the emperor’s forces captured them.”

  “Thank you, Ambassador,” Van said. “I believe they would execute us immediately for treason without a trial. If your teams save even one life, I will be forever in your debt.”

  “I think we can be more casual for this meeting,” the ambassador said. “Everyone can call me Kono, and the captains are Carl and Don.”

  “And we are Zak and Van,” the consul replied.

  “Perfect. My assistant has just notified me that the first team of maklans has already jumped onto this ship,” Kono continued. “For those who do not know, we can communicate among ourselves telepathically. With that crew here, we can continue without worry. I will let Carl and Don provide the details of the operation.”

  “Thank you, Kono,” Carl started. “There are now one million maklans on Nom-Kat-La. This operation, code-named Dar-Fa, will commence on the order of Field Marshal Je-e-Bo, who is on Nom-Kat-La. When the order is given, five hundred thousand maklans will use their minds to push back the mental blockade from the frontier in this area, focusing on the prison planet of Localus. We have thirty-five ships in orbit. With your four, we have thirty-nine. If the maklans are successful pushing back their blockade of our sensors, and if there are less than a dozen Predaxian war ships in the immediate vicinity, another three hundred thousand maklans will jump to Localus from Nom-Kat-La. Their goal will be to isolate the Palian guards to keep them from harming the prisoners. Once the guards are separated, they will find and quarantine the Predaxians on Localus so they can no longer control the minds of the Palians. Your turn, Don,” Carl finished.

  “Thank you. If all of these steps are successful, we will launch all of our ships at top speed to intercept the war ships in orbit. There will be four hundred maklans on each ship. As we approach those ships, half of the maklans will jump to the Predaxian ships. They will attempt to break the mind control of the crew. We hope that the Palian crews will then decide not to fight. If they fail, we will attack. We should have more than three of our ships to each of theirs. Any casualties we take should be limited. As Predaxian ships are disabled, our maklans will jump as many Palians out as they can. Any Predaxians found will be left on board,” Don explained.

  Kono said, “When the battle subsides, we will release all of the prisoners and evacuate them and their Palian guards to the ships in the fleet. The Predaxian prisoners will be locked into the prison and held by a crew of one hundred thousand maklans until a solution can be found to house them safely. That’s it, what do you think?”

  “It sounds amazing,” Van smiled. “I have another six ships in the vicinity. I will ask them to keep any other Predaxian vessels far from the area.”

  “Very good, Captain,” Kono said. “That was one reason we have so many ships. If other Predaxians try to stop us, we will have overwhelming resources.”

  “When will we begin, Kono,” Zak said.

  “Zak, as you know, I believe your intentions are honest, but there are those who are still not convinced. The operation has already begun,” Kono replied. “When my assistant advised me that the first team was on this ship, she also signaled that the maklan team had begun to push back the Predaxian mental blockade. I will now jump these captains to their ships and we will advise when we learn how the effort is working. Zak and Van, it was great to see you, and we all look forward to our success at Localus.” Everyone stood and shook hands.

  “Captain Cartwright and Captain Zakar,” Van began, “it has been a pleasure to meet you both. My crew and I will see you again this day on the field of battle. May God have mercy on our souls.”

  The two captains put their hands on Kono, who glowed bright white, and then the three were gone.

  “Zak,” Van said. “These folks don’t mess around. You are welcome to sit with me on the bridge. I’ll signal the other ships and sound battle stations.”

  “It would be an honor to share the bridge with you, Van,” she replied. “Today is the day of our destiny. We either defeat the emperor’s force or die trying. God willing, Pan will be among those rescued today.” The two hugged and exited the ready room.

  Chapter 23

  The mental blockade was proving difficult to break. The team was seeing spots of clarity, but the overall picture was faint. Kono added an extra hundred thousand maklans to the team and slowly the sensors began to read activity near Localus. Only three Palian cruisers were in orbit. Two other ships were headed toward the system, but were still an hour away at top speed. Je-e-Bo advised Kono that her troops were authorized to jump immediately to Localus.

  The maklan invaders were divided into three hundred teams of one thousand each. As more sensor information became available, they could see the structure of the prison and the location of guards and prisoners. The surface of Nom-Kat-La was bright with flashes of light as the teams jumped one by one to their assigned spots.

  Warden Kogala was frantically trying to determine what was happening. The Predaxian governor on Localus, Valamar Zendo, advised him that their blockade was down but she did not know why. Kogala ordered hi
s men to gather the prisoners together in case he received the order to execute them. That had been ten minutes ago and none of his guards had confirmed they were in position. Kogala had sent a request for enforcements to Palus High Command, but no signal had returned. Valamar rushed into his office.

  “Warden,” she began, “I’m afraid we have been invaded. Thousands of maklans are appearing all over the planet.”

  “Maklans,” he shouted, “you mean like that little guy we turned over to you? I told you we should have killed him when we had the chance.”

  “Relax Kogala, that particular maklan is under our control,” she replied. “We believe these have come from Nom-Kat-La, as our defensive mental shields are completely down in that direction. Have you given the order to execute the prisoners?”

  “I am no fool, Governor Zendo,” Kogala said. “I did so more than ten minutes ago. None of my guards have responded yet. I fear these maklans may have captured them. No doubt those filthy Galliceans are behind this. If your leaders weren’t so incompetent and your military so traitorous, we would have won that planet months ago.”

  “Watch your words, Palian,” she screamed. “My uncle the emperor will hear of your insolence.”

  A group of forty maklans and Fa-a-Di flashed into the room. Fa-a-Di laughed out loud and said, “It’s a good day to die, bird-man,” and fired the blaster in his left hand, striking the warden in the chest, causing him to fall to the ground. “Where is his Predaxian controller?” he asked.

  The maklans had surrounded Valamar. The maklan commander shouted, “Stun this one too, General!” He shot the Predaxian with the same blaster and she crumpled to the floor. “Fa-a-Di, this maklan has very strong mental abilities. She was likely con-trolling the warden and several others here,” the commander answered.

  Fa-a-Di laughed again. “I am very happy to be with you today, my little friends. Can you tell me the status of the rest of our teams?” He rifled through the cabinets in the office and smiled broadly when he found some bottles of Predaxian brandy. “Do you think you’ll be able to jump these back to our ship? I’d open one now and drink it if the atmosphere wouldn’t kill me.”

  “General, all teams report success. The guards have been quarantined far from the Predaxians. We are gathering the prisoners into a meeting hall two hundred feet below us,” the maklan replied.

  Fa-a-Di touched a contact on his sleeve. “Je-e-Bo, you old dog, we have won the day. Localus is secure. You may send in the invasion fleet! Localus out,” he said.

  The maklans injected a drug into the Predaxian to keep her unconscious. Warden Kogala was coming to. “What is going on here?” he asked.

  Fa-a-Di lifted the much smaller Palian off the ground and set him in his chair. “Warden Kogala, I am General Fa-a-Di of Greater Gallia and you are my prisoner. My friends and I have released Localus from Predaxian mental control. How do you feel?”

  “Mental control, what do you mean?” he asked. “We have a peace treaty with Predax, but there are none in our region. I thought Greater Gallia was our ally. Why did you attack us?”

  Fa-a-Di pointed to the Predaxian on the floor. “Dear Kogala, your entire civilization has been under Predaxian control for many years. Here was your master. We have found almost half a million of these beasts on this planet. Under their control, the Palian fleet has attacked Greater Gallia twice. We are getting a count of the number of political prisoners and prisoners of war you have here.”

  The maklan commander reported, “General, the prisoner of war count is eighteen humans, two hundred Galliceans and fifty Kalideans. There are also four thousand Palian and forty-five thousand Predaxians political prisoners.”

  “That’s impossible,” Kogala whimpered. “This prison is only for Palian felons, not other life-forms or political prisoners. I don’t believe you.”

  Fa-a-Di laughed, “I’m not surprised my friend. Your mind has been under direct mental control. We are on our way to meet with the prisoners now. Please come with us and see for yourself. The Predaxians could not control every Palian mind on this planet. You can hear the truth from your own guards.” He turned to the commander and said, “You’d better find a secure location for that Predaxian. I think she is big trouble. Kogala, do you know this creature’s name?”

  “General, my brain tells me I’ve never seen her before. Somehow when I look at her, the name Valamar Zendo comes into my mind. It doesn’t make any sense to me,” Kogala replied.

  “Ah, so she’s related to their emperor. That explains why her mental power is so strong,” Fa-a-Di replied. “Let’s go see the prisoners.” Ten maklans flashed out with the Predaxian. The rest followed the warden and general out of the room.

  Chapter 24

  The fleet battle cruiser Texas led the fleet out of orbit and toward Localus. Fleet Admiral Arrin Adamsen transferred his flag to the Texas and he sat in the command chair next to Captain Cartwright on the bridge. Carl shouted orders to his staff as they closed quickly on the border with the Predaxian Alliance.

  “All defensive and weapon systems are online and at your command, Captain,” shouted Donna Daniels, the Chief Weapons Officer. “We are still reading three Alliance cruisers near target and two more heading this way. Long range scanners show five Alliance cruisers may be on the way, but they are at least a day out. ”

  “Thanks, Donna,” Carl replied. “Sylvia, please advise the fleet and tell the maklans to prepare for their jumps. We should be in range in ten minutes.”

  “Aye-aye, Captain,” Sylvia Smithson, the Chief Communications Officer said. “We have an incoming message from General Fa-a-Di, sir.”

  “Put it on our screen,” Carl replied.

  The image of the general filled the screen. He was standing in a group of Galliceans. “Captain Cartwright, we have rescued the prisoners. As you can see, I am in the section of the prison reserved for the Galliceans, so I have taken off that horrible pressure suit. Warden Kogala has been meeting with his guards and a large group of Palian political prisoners whom we have freed. I can tell you he was shocked to find out he had been an unwitting dupe for the Predaxian horde. We have had to confine loyal Predaxians in cells deep within the planet. It seems their mind control powers cannot penetrate thousand miles of iron and rock.”

  “That is excellent news general,” Carl replied. “What can you tell us about human prisoners of war?”

  “We have released eighteen prisoners whom the maklans will jump to the recovery ships when they arrive,” Fa-a-Di said. “I will be joining Captain Fa-Ne-Jo on the cruiser No-De-Ka when it arrives. Could you please forward a few messages for me, Carl?”

  “Of course, Fa-a-Di, please continue. For your information, we are only five minutes from your position now.”

  “Please let their families know that Captain Lauren London, Commander Wally Washington, and Mitch Nolobitamore were here at one time, but have been moved elsewhere. Also let Consul Vondee know that Pan Zendo was never here, but the Predaxian political prisoners are desperate to join her rebellion,” Fa-a-Di said. “I have questioned Warden Kogala about the moved prisoners. All he knows is that they were moved into Predaxian space on the direct order from the Emperor. It’s been a great day here, but there is always bad news to report. Localus out.”

  “Captain, our maklans have jumped to the Alliance cruiser just ahead,” Donna said. “They are reporting that a mutiny by the crew began before they jumped.”

  “I can’t say I’m surprised,” Carl replied. “If I ordered the crew of this ship to attack forty star cruisers, I suspect they’d take me out too.”

  “Tell the maklans to expose the Predaxians,” Carl replied. “Once the Palians recognize they have been under Predaxian control, the fighting should stop. If possible, have the maklans jump the remaining Predaxians to that holding cell deep inside Localus.”

  “Aye-aye, Captain,” Donna confirmed. “One of the Alliance cruisers is headed away from the planet, shall we pursue?”

  “Negative. Contact the Free
Predax ships and have them do it. Make certain they have plenty of maklans on board,” Carl said. “Where is the third ship?”

  The Alliance ship Zarka had managed to slip undetected behind the forward-rushing fleet from Nom-Kat-La. The Zarka was the flagship of Governor Valamar Zendo. She had convinced her uncle to provide enough agents to control the mind of each Palian on board. She was paranoid that Predax would lose control over the Palian system of planets, leaving the path open to a direct attack on the home world. Zarka energized her weapons and settled behind the invaders to pick her targets.

  “Captain, the Gallicean cruiser ahead has minimal shielding on her aft,” Dek the Zarka weapons officer shouted.

  “Fire all weapons, Dek!” Captain Zen shouted.

  Blasts rocked the Gallicean cruiser No-De-Ka. The ship twisted and shuddered under the barrage. Captain Fa-Ne-Jo signaled to abandon ship just as Fa-a-Di was jumped onto the bridge with his maklan team. Escape modules littered the sky over Localus. A second blast smashed into the bridge, opening a huge tear in the ship’s hull. Without a second to spare, the maklans jumped the bridge crew onto the star cruiser No-Be-No which had changed course with ten other ships to attack the Alliance cruiser.

  Fa-a-Di stumbled as he walked on the bridge of the No-Be-No. Blood dripped from wounds on his head and upper torso. He wiped blood from his eyes and relieved the captain of command, almost collapsing into the command chair. “Communications officer, open a channel to those bastards,” he shouted.

  “Com-link open, General,” he replied.

  “Palian and Predaxian fools, there can be no mercy for vile creatures like you,” Fa-a-Di shouted. “Weapons officer, have all available ships fire at will.”

  All eleven cruisers fired at once. The first volley destroyed the Zarka’s defensive shields. The second round of blasts smashed the ship like a bottle in a vacuum. The final barrage blew the ship into thousands of bit of metal. Bodies and debris floated in a cloud where the ship had been.