by Reiter
“These are certainly not fledglings,” Dungias thought as he came up and over the wall, rolling on the air. He dropped down the other side and rolled again upon landing. Up on his feet and running, his forward progress was forced to take a step to the side as the wall behind him gave from a thunderous blow. Back to his full sprint, Dungias looked over his shoulder as the Green Dragon came through, roaring in anger.
“Are you ready?” he said into his brace-com.
“Everything’s been set up according to your instructions,” Sarshata replied. “I can’t afford to keep three Elites in one place for too much longer. We’re being overrun, Dungias!”
“That outcome will not change with the scattering of your forces!” Dungias insisted. “You have to trust me, Swan!”
“I can see you on our scope,” she reported. “Two hundred meters and– Dungias, beneath you!”
“I know,” he thought, lunging forward, his eye on one floor panel in particular. When his left foot touched down upon it, Dungias shifted his weight and breathed out sharply as his leg was forced up into his chest. He was airborne; the floor panel’s integrity had been maintained by a gravity field, but nothing could keep it on the floor as a Blue Dragon came up thrashing for him. Somersaulting off the panel, Dungias landed on the floor, hearing a collision of two great masses behind him. Dragon tumbled over Dragon and both fell into the hole that had just been made.
“And now… up!” Dungias thought as he jumped up and phased through the ceiling. He landed on the floor one deck up and smoothly fell back into his stride. The tremors from the deck beneath him were unmistakable. The larger Green Dragon had already recovered from clashing into his kindred and resumed the chase, headed for the stairway. “Why do I get the feeling that the next one will be yellow?”
“I still smell you, little blue one!” the Green Dragon roared.
“Why just smell me, beast?” Dungias teased as he jumped over the railing. “Look to the stars and see!” Dropping down, Dungias’ body just beat the column of flame that burst in through the access door. He could hear the roar of the Dragon and the cracking of its bones and scales; it was changing shape so that it could more easily continue the chase. It could have ripped the floor out, but that would have taken longer than... flying! Dungias looked toward the roof of the stairway and saw a Dragon-Man flying down after him.
“Now, Swan!”
“But you’re not clear!”
“NOW!”
Point-to-point teleporters were activated, and two pods appeared out of nowhere two decks beneath Dungias. They exploded the moment they materialized and the stairway, for three decks, became a column of ice. The grid was then opened to grab the column and it was teleported to the hangar Dungias had turned into a fallback position. But that was scores of lost lives ago, and only one Dragon; the one he had killed with a fully loaded rocket launcher – taking all six anti-aircraft warheads.
The column of ice slowed to a stop about fourteen centimeters from the ground, and Dungias came staggering around from the rear as it fell to the ground from that point. He wiped his brow and put his hand against the ice for a moment. The coolness soothed him.
“You can’t keep pushing like this, Dungias,” Sarshata said as she brought him the stimulant dose he had told her to prepare, and the power battery he had requested. Dungias took both, injecting himself and touching Alpha to the battery. It was drained in less than three seconds.
“Indeed, because the alternative is that I might die by some other means,” he said as he looked at the large chunk of ice. “Laser cutter,” he said, sheathing Alpha and holding out his hand. A technician handed him the tool and Dungias pushed the column over on its side before he started cutting into the ice. With it already beginning to crack, he knew he did not have long. “Ion grenade,” he requested, trading the weapon for the tool when it was brought to him. “Everyone clear out from this area.”
“We will destroy you,” the Dragon-Man vowed as he strained against the ice that bound him. He had been caught flying with his arms away from his sides and therefore had next to no leverage. But his face was clear now, and Dungias finally had the opportunity he had been craving but unable to achieve. He took Alpha out and touched the end against the head of the Dragon-Man. Fortunately, Dungias did not want or need everything in the creature’s mind, just the past few hours – an explanation for this attack.
“No!” he whispered before jumping away from the ice.
The Dragon-Man roared as he burst free of the ice. He laughed as he stood up on his feet. He was two and half meters tall with a five and a quarter meter wingspan… and he was so very powerful. “I told you we would destroy you, little blue man. I lied. It will not be we… I am your destructor!”
Dungias landed on his feet, stood up slowly, and looked at the creature with sorrow in his eyes. “Forgive me, for I have failed you and at least one other.” Dungias turned away from the creature as he breathed in air so that he could blow out flame. The ion grenade detonated in the Dragon-Man’s chest, near his heart, and the creature was killed instantly. “I fear I shall have to fail several more.”
Sarshata ran up to Dungias but gasped at the strength of his grip when he took hold of her shoulder. “Dungias!”
“Are you as good as you say you are?! Answer me. I am in need of my Captain, but she is not here! Can you fly into death?!”
“Not if I need both arms!” the woman shouted in response and Dungias eased his grip. “What’s going on?!”
“I know why they attack,” Dungias answered. “As you may or may not be able to tell, it is not all of the dracotine, just one nest that attacks us. That is because their Queen has bid them to do so.”
“Why would she do that?”
“That is the problem,” Dungias said, looking around the hangar. “And to solve it, we must reach that nest. Can you fly me there?”
“Rig the PTP to send us to the Loft,” Sarshata commanded.
“All the surveillance of those receiving ports is offline, Commander,” the technician reported. “We don’t know what we’d be sending you into. You could land inside one of them!”
“Then I must use a more direct means of transit,” Dungias concluded, walking over to Sarshata and wrapping his arm around her waist. Moving with anticipation, Sarshata rose up on her toes and tilted her head slightly. The two kissed deeply, and she lightly touched the side of the Traveler’s face. When they slowly broke from their embrace, Dungias looked intently into the woman’s eyes. “I am going to want that back,” he said softly and she smiled in response.
“Sounds like a date… but both of us have to be there!”
“Indeed, Swan,” Dungias whispered, stepping back from the woman. “If I may venture to be so bold… the hell with it! I believe that is the mentality missing from your repertoire. You have seen to the head count with grace and passion. See now to the legend. Let the cosmos know what it is to fly against the Star-Wing Corps!” Twirling Alpha, Dungias turned to face the carcass of the Dragon-Man.
“I see your trek, Master,” Alpha projected, “and Alpha stands with you!” Dropping to one knee, Dungias drove one end of Alpha into the remains of the Dragon-Man. Light burst from the point of contact, swallowing the corpse and the Traveler alike.
“Say what you want,” Sarshata sighed, taking out a pair of gloves. “That man knows how to make his mark! Got a girl looking forward to the heartache!”
** b *** t *** o *** r **
“We’ve got another twenty before touchdown,” Trosalda reported. “No sign of scans coming from the Loft or anything.”
“You’re not going to get anything coming from Sky Stone… except maybe a scream or two,” Fonri advised.
“What are you talking about?” his wingman asked.
“Let’s just say that I’m glad there’s not a city under that floating rock,” Fonri said. “It’s gonna be a spectacle and a half to see that thing drop from the sky!”
“What?! Shuriken, that’s not wh
at I signed up for!”
“What do you think’s gonna happen when the Elites get wind that we took out Spade’s little progeny?!” Fonri snapped. “Don’t worry, I’ve seen to the Eye, and we’re only at thirty percent of our numbers anyway. With Cavern and Swan out of the way, we’ll be moving up in the ranks.”
“How could you see to the Eye?” Trosalda asked.
“Stow it!” he commanded just before a sensation swept through the man’s mind. “Did you feel that?” Fonri focused his senses, extending his awareness. “I’ll be damned… she’s up and flying!”
“That’s impossible,” Trosalda said, and before Fonri could respond, both of their short range scans registered the approach of the Daedalus.
“You were saying?” Fonri said with a smile forming on his face. “Still the easiest money we’ve ever made, only way more interesting now.”
“I’ve got your port wing,” Trosalda replied as she followed Fonri into a tight portside turn. The Daedalus did not turn at all, and both fighters were quickly coming around to the ship’s rear.
The three starfighters rocketed through the clouds and the Daedalus made an abrupt climb, nearly at a sharp ninety degrees. The pursuing fighters could not hope to match the maneuver and pulled up more slowly.
“Holy shit!” Trosalda exclaimed. “What the hell was that?!”
“That wasn’t real!” Fonri answered, blinking his eyes as he recovered from the G-Force his body experienced from bringing up his nose so quickly. “That’s what that was. Do you have her on your scanners?”
“Negative, but I still see her smoke trail. Sharp on your port side.”
“How did she deal with the G’s of that turn?!” Fonri hissed as he came around to his left.
“I’m glad you said that. I’m still clearing my head over the pull up we made!”
“No Kot!” Fonri said. “But I got her smoke. She’s headed for a stone nest field. Probably looking for cover. That bomb must’ve messed up her engine because she’s not moving out that fast.” Fonri and Trosalda slalomed through the floating mounds of stone following the trail of smoke as it wound in and around the gigantic rocks. “I think I can just make her out,” Fonri reported. “Weapons are charged and I’m bringing up the computer. She’s trying to stay in tight with the rocks but she’s losing speed. No, baby, you’ve got to do better than that!”
“What’s that on your starboard?” Trosalda asked as Fonri piloted his fighter around the left side of a rock. Something caught the light and sparkled. “Shuriken, look out!”
“How’s this for ‘better’, baby?!” Jocasta hissed as she landed on the wing of the starfighter. The gravity locks in the boots of her power-suit kept her from sliding off and gave her plenty of traction. The strength of the suit allowed her to ignore the tremendous gusts of wind. “Shuriken, meet blade!” The light of the En-Blade streaked through the back of the cockpit, shattering the glass and cutting through both the armoured plating and Fonri’s neck.
“Nooo!” Trosalda cried as Jocasta jumped back to the rock, landed, and gave the woman a left-handed salute, the equivalent of an expletive among the military-minded. “I’m going to kill you!”
“Mind on your work, Vivaldi,” Jocasta transmitted. “If I’m here, where’s my fighter?” Jocasta took a breath as her eyes squinted, activating the laser guidance system of her suit’s optics that were tied into the weapon systems of the Daedalus. “Let ‘em fly, Satithe.”
Trosalda looked at her instrumentation. She still did not have a scan-lock on the Daedalus, but she did have a proximity warning of two inbound missiles coming in from directly overhead and only sixty meters away. The Star-Wing Corpsman realized that she only had just enough time to know she was dead. Jocasta looked up at the explosion and smiled.
“Welcome to the fifth season, bitch! Okay, lady, bring me back my boy,” Jocasta directed as she climbed out of her suit. “I don’t want to be late for a fight.”
“You’re still going?!” Satithe asked. “I should tell you, I’m not receiving anything from Sky Stone. I can’t even find Z.”
Jocasta turned to face Sky Stone and she closed her eyes, but only for a moment. “Going to trust the man, doll! I’ve got a Field Marshal I need to promote.” Looking at the suit as it was lifted up into the cargo hold, Jocasta smiled. “Thanks for the assist, Talon!” Taking a short hop, Jocasta jumped up and landed in her seat. “Let’s haul ass!”
Life is not linear; you have ups and downs. It’s how you deal with the troughs that defines you.
Michael Lee-Chin
(Rims Time: XII-4204.24)
“JoJo Starblazer. And the crimes this woman is charged with?” Jeena inquired.
“It is good that you asked, Representative Quazrell,” Sangron stated, giving her a smile. “I think it’s best if we hear directly from the source! Bring up the Field Marshal’s channel, please.” Jocasta’s picture was made smaller to make room for the image of Plarzo though his was a feed, not a static picture. “Field Marshal, if you please.”
“Fellow citizens of the Prism Baronies,” Uhnveer started, “first of all, let me thank you for taking the time out of your schedules to address this matter.”
“Time waits for no one, Field Marshal,” Sangron quickly added.
“I agree with the Speaker,” Jeena added. “I only wish all those charged with the responsibility of representing the people of the Prism Baronies could have found it within themselves to attend. I am embarrassed to be a representative here in Black Gate and attend this gathering with no word from our Governor.”
“I believe I can shed some light on that matter, Representative Quazrell,” Uhnveer stated. “You see, I have been able to investigate the exploits of this woman and once the evidence is fully presented, you will find that there is a link between JoJo Starblazer, Isaiah Gundryss, and another absent member of this distinguished body: Baron Quordion Alexiar Orgen.”
Several of the stations erected sound shields as Barons and Baronesses advised their representatives. Sangron stepped back into one as he received a request from the Minister of Affairs for the Baron of the Garnet Barony, in essence, Sangron’s direct superior, Wahbraun L’Vorsti.
“I understand you do not wish to appear as if you are partial, but let us draw this to a close as soon as possible. It has been reported that Dragons are now engaging the Star-Wing Corps. The Pearl Barony is vulnerable, and the Baroness is about to open a transmission to Ivus Straum.”
“I understand, Minister,” Sangron replied.
“Gods help me,” Sangron thought, “I do understand. This is no longer a squabble between two parties. It is an attack on the entire barony!” Sangron looked at the timepiece, allowing the rest of the customary one minute for the internal conversations. He then gave a few more seconds before he signaled for the gavel.
“Ladies and Lords, we have much to do here and now,” Sangron said, ushering the assemblage back to their positions. “Let us receive the evidence the Field Marshal has gathered.” Uhnveer was very happy to provide details of Jocasta’s crimes, beginning with the destruction of his base and several of his ships that had answered a distress call coming from the Haggenshire. With the recent theft and vandalism of the station, he laid a very clear implication of Jocasta’s hand in the event. He closed his presentation with the edited playback of the challenge that Jocasta had made.
“This is an outrage,” the Speaker proclaimed, having received more than one message from the Baroness to move for a vote at the earliest opportunity. “I move we–”
“Point of procedure,” a voice called out as one of the blank telnet screens activated. Jeena looked at the Gray Nalyik, Yassrum Ronhee, the representative of the Emerald Barony, and the look of surprise and horror registered on his face and his body language. The screen then split into seven smaller windows, six small around one large, as voices of authority for the seven races of NayFall appeared. The Queen of the Jeelah was in the center window, but it was a Duke Vyllynthe who had spoken. He
appeared to be weak, held up by a hand that was just barely in frame. “Representative Ronhee, we failed to receive your summons to this emergency meeting. One of the houses of NayFall I could understand, but for all seven strides to go without notification is inexcusable!”
“And you will be dealt with Ronhee,” Duchess Swoyago said in her native tongue of Orka, not caring to remember that the telnet was equipped with automated translators. “Perhaps a disciplining session in the audience of a Klawbone will remind you of where your allegiances should be!”
“Ruling voices of NayFall, you are of course welcome at these proceedings,” Sangron stated. “I am sure you will find the evidence entered into this argument compelling.”
“We will require time to assimilate this information,” Vyllynthe argued.
“And the matter which we are debating is very time-sensitive!” Jeena voiced. “Lives are at stake, and we cannot allow politics to stand in the way of justice!”
“But we still have a procedure to which we must adhere,” Duke Vyllynthe pressed. “Evidence has been entered on behalf of the victim. It has neither been argued nor verified. Also, the accused has not been given opportunity to represent herself!”
Sangron waved the argument aside, shaking his head. “My good Duke–”
“To that end,” Vyllynthe continued, closing his eyes as he summoned the strength to continue, “Phasanna, the Queen of the Jeelah, has words to speak regarding evidence of character and witnessed deeds that would both speak for the accused and against the alleged victim. Does anyone here have reason why she should not be heard?”
Jeena Quazrell stood up to speak, “Duke Vyllynthe, might I remind you–”
“Be silent, Quazrell,” Baron Alshar Wuldian of Azuria commanded as he rubbed his chin. “You needn’t remind the Duke of his lack of authority. He is Olasson. It is in his very nature to overstep. The Jeelah, however, are not known for wasting words, and I cannot recall a time when their veracity was called into question. If we are indeed here to dispense justice, we must do so with clarity. I would like to hear what the Jeelah have to offer with regards to the character and deeds of all parties involved.”
