E.D.F chronicles - The Krenaran massacre.

by Ian. J. Smethurst

  “Does he know his way around an engine room?”

  “Gallutat fallash angin forlam?”

  “Vorkresh,” the alien replied.

  “He said definitely.”

  “Good, in that case he’s hired.”

  “Kerulithar, I’ll leave the crew handling up to you since you know what you’re doing. But I’ll need you up on the command centre soon.”

  “An excellent idea,” the tall Solarian replied.

  “Oh and one last thing; what the hell is the Krenaran word for the damn command centre?”

  “Sal’Krasht.”

  “Thanks.”

  They walked out of the detention facility; taking a different route towards the second still functioning elevator.

  “You plan on using that thing?” Vargev inquired.

  “Hell yeah, I’m not climbing up that damn lift shaft again, besides I’m going to get some use out of it, while we still have a ship.”

  They both laughed; a short while later they reached the elevator and stepped inside.

  “Gorush’te,” it said.

  Michael thought he detected a slight tone to the voice; almost as if the elevator computer was teasing him.

  Smugly he replied, “Sal’krasht.”

  The elevator beeped its response, and headed to the command centre.

  Once it arrived at its destination, Michael and Vargev stepped out onto the command centre once again.

  “Okay Navy boy, so now what do we do?”

  “We get this bucket of bolts moving. Right now we are a sitting duck; we need to make sure which is which, weapons, defensive systems, propulsion, and sensors.” Michael walked over to the pilot’s chair, and sat down in it once again; the metallic arms arose, and he slid his arms through the hand holes. As a test he pressed one of the red buttons located on the hand grip, on his screen a huge energy spike erupted.

  A bright green energy beam shot out from the front of the ship.

  “Well, at least we know how to fire the weapons.”

  Vargev was beginning to get bored; he was a soldier and a damned good one, his place was on a battlefield and not sat at a chair onboard a ship. He browsed over a few consoles lining the walls of the command centre. Nothing he could do there. Then he came across a console that he thought contained sensory data. The chair was still intact, and he sat at the station.

  “Now, here’s a job I can do,” Vargev said to himself.

  “What’s the matter?”

  “I’ve just found a job I can do, sensory officer. I spent some time as one when I was a sergeant; guarding some members of the intelligence services based at Foxtrot Charlie base.”

  “Okay then, what have you got for me?”

  “I think we have company if I’m reading this right.”

  Michael leapt out of his pilots’ chair, and dashed across the command centre to join Vargev.

  Looking over the screen he could see two flashing white symbols headed straight for their position.

  Damn, Michael thought; why now, we can’t even get this damn crate moving yet.

  Just then Kerulithar stepped onto the command centre.

  “I think we have company; two hostiles inbound,” the two men repeated in unison.

  Kerulithar calmly walked towards the centre of the bridge and said, “Gublash.”

  A hologram depicting the outside of the ship shimmered into existence in front of a bulkhead on the middle wall of the command centre.

  The Solarian ambassador strode nearer to the monitor as if to get a closer look. “Krenaran ships; we need to get out of here fast, as soon as they realise we are not Krenaran; they will destroy us for sure.”

  Michael and Vargev both looked at the display, saying in unison, “stealth ships.”

  Michael raced over to the pilots’ seat and hopped in; quickly placing his hands through the holes.

  “Push forward on the grips to accelerate and backwards to decelerate,” Kerulithar said.

  “Thanks,” Michael replied as he pushed forward on both grips, the ship started to pick up speed.

  “How do you know this?”

  “This technology used to be used on our own ships; the Krenarans stole it from us when they attacked one of our research laboratories.”

  “Kerulithar; send a message down to the engine room; tell the Faccadian we are going to need every drop of power he can give us.”

  The Solarian moved as fast as his spindly legs could carry him, which was surprisingly fast. He moved to another console at the rear of the command centre and began keying in several controls.

  “Kallat maihargieth kolei, sandropoth gosienus, voltargroth,” the Solarian spoke into the console.

  After a short interlude a response came, and Kerulithar nodded his head; turning to the two humans. “He says, he will do all he can.”

  “Good, now let’s see what this baby can really do,” Michael replied.

  “Bring the ship slowly to port; bearing 147 degrees,” Kerulithar said.

  “Why 147 degrees?” Vargev asked.

  “Because that’s the direction to Solarian space; you agreed that you could not win the war without our aid.”

  “No he did,” Vargev said pointing over to Michael, “I’m simply here for the ride.”

  There was a slight tense silence on the command centre. Vargev and Kerulithar eyed each other intently.

  “We did agree,” Michael said aloud from his chair.

  An irritated Vargev replied, “like I said, you’re running this show now. It’s your call.”

  “In that case, we need to plead your case to the Solarian Government. As a peaceful people we do not enter into war lightly and proof will be needed, you and the logs contained within this ship are that proof.”

  “So we are going to see your people?” Vargev asked.

  “Precisely.”

  “Oh joy! And what may I ask about all the humans that are out there fighting and dying right now. We have a duty to protect them as well,” Vargev retorted, folding his arms and growing more irritated by the second.

  “Unfortunately, that is unavoidable.”

  “The hell it is!” Vargev shouted; finally blowing his top, “we should use this ship, and fight back against those bastard Krenarans!”

  “Their numbers are too great; if we do that we will be destroyed as well. And we would have lost our chance,” Kerulithar calmly argued.

  “You said it yourself Major, it’s a war, people die; remember,” Michael interjected.

  “But not this many; especially when we have a chance to fight back damn it, whole colonies are being wiped out!”

  “Your argument is sound; however with your plan even more lives will be lost and we would have lost the unique chance this ship gives us,” Kerulithar countered calmly.

  “And if we remain here arguing we will be lost as well. For better or worse, somehow we’ve got to get through this,” Michael interjected.

  “Okay then, let’s go on our little day trip up the yellow brick road to see the Solarians then. I just hope it doesn’t cost us too dearly in blood,” Vargev pointed out dejectedly.

  “Yellow brick road?” Kerulithar asked.

  Michael sighed, “never mind.”

  Kerulithar walked over to where Michael was sat; the Solarian leaned over the back of the chair. “Push the grips all the way forward to increase our velocity to maximum.”

  Michael did so; and the ship increased its speed significantly. There was a slight low-pitched thrumming noise as more power was drawn from the main engine.

  Vargev muttered to himself, “damn Solarians, I’ve only known them for five minutes and they are already pissing me off.”

  “Did you say something Major?” Kerulithar asked.

  “What me? Nothing,” Vargev replied feigning innocence.

  The Solarian turned back to Michael’s position, “now change our elevation to 12 degrees. Do this by moving both arms slightly upwards.”

  Michael did as he was shown;
the chair arms imitated his own movements. And a small blue display on the screen in front of him read 147.12. Michael looked at it, “is that the heading for Solarian space?”

  “It is.”

  “There is a small button at the bottom of each of your grips; press it to hold the grips in that position, allowing you to free your hands. There is also a purple button on your console; Press this five times,” Kerulithar said.

  Michael pressed the button on each grip, gingerly he let his hands free of the grips themselves; they did indeed stay in position. Then he slowly freed his arms from the hand holds. The chair arms stayed in position as well.

  “Don’t worry; the chair arms will only return to their standby mode once you’ve actually got out of the chair itself.”

  Michael pressed the purple button on his console the requested number of times.

  “That button activates the ships plasma drive systems; and the number of times you press it dictates the plasma factor you want to travel at.”

  “So we are jumping to plasma factor 5?”

  “Yes.”

  A single bright beam of incandescent blue energy shot forth from underneath the captured Krenaran stealth ship and formed the swirling multi hewed plasma wake; it blotted out some of the stars directly ahead. The Liberty leapt into plasma drive and was gone, the wake dissipating behind it.

  “Can you believe this?” Michael said in amazement, “our ships are only capable of Plasma factor 3 tops. It’s no wonder the Krenarans are running rings round us!”

  “Those Krenaran ships are still following us,” Vargev pointed out.

  Kerulithar switched the viewer to the rear view, the Krenaran ships were indeed visible, and had joined the same plasma drive tunnel as theirs.

  “Well they are definitely following us now,” Vargev pointed out.

  “They must have matched our course; probably wondering why we are headed towards Solarian space,” Kerulithar said. “If they get close enough they’ll open fire, try to knock us out of plasma drive, where they can re-capture us. Increase speed to plasma factor 6.”

  Michael quickly jabbed the purple button again, “what is this ships maximum speed anyway?” He asked, turning to Kerulithar.

  The low pitched thrum grew louder; and the deck plates began to vibrate.

  “We are at it,” Kerulithar replied. “They can still overcharge their engines to close with us but it’s risky. They could end up damaging their own plasma drive systems, and then be hurled out of plasma drive altogether.”

  The Liberty raced through the plasma drive tunnel like a lightning bolt; stars were merely long streaks of light flashing past the ship; in front of which the colours of the plasma tunnel were transposed, swirling, and melding, before separating and clashing once again. The two other identical Krenaran ships shot through the tunnel in hot pursuit; not far behind their quarry.

  “Wait a minute, look!” Vargev pointed to one of the chasing Krenaran ships.

  There was a surge of energy building up from underneath the vessel; the surge continued its uncontrolled increase in size. The energy had nowhere else to go, and instead burst out of the ships exterior causing a small ripple of explosions which smashed through its plasma drive, lighting up the underside of the ship in a series of bright flashes.

  The entire ship was flung almost ninety degrees; before being hurled out of plasma drive altogether in a blinding flash of light. The stricken vessel disappeared from view; the second ship maintained its dogged pursuit however.

  “I think the other ship is beginning to close with us,” Vargev pointed out.

  Kerulithar tiptoed past the dead Krenarans that were laid all around the floor to see for himself, “it is,” the alien agreed. “At a rate of four thousand meters per second; it will be in weapons range in thirty seconds.

  On the holoviewer, the Krenaran ship could be seen slowly but steadily closing on them. Bit by bit that ship was approaching weapons range.

  Michael began to sweat as he looked at the viewer; his heart rate began to increase, and his lips pursed. He had seen in the news reports what these ships were capable of, but never had to face one of them, until now. There were trained Krenaran warriors over on that ship; who knew about the technology they were dealing with and knew how to use it. He had a rag tag crew; from god knows how many different planets and most of them didn’t have a clue about Krenaran technology. “It looks like we are going to have to fight our way out of this one,” he said with a hint of dread in his voice.

  “We’ll need to drop out of plasma drive; press the black button right next to the purple one,” Kerulithar said.

  “It’s like a goddamn kaleidoscope on this console; I don’t know what the hell I’m pressing.”

  A plasma gateway opened up into normal space and the Liberty shot through it at full speed. Almost immediately after the ship re-entered normal space a second gateway opened up with a bright flash; heralding the arrival of their pursuers.

  Kerulithar quickly rushed over, and punched in several buttons on Vargevs console.

  “What did you just do comrade?”

  “I’ve charged your torpedo launcher; this ship fires torpedoes based on particle concussion instead of your conventional explosive warheads. It is also armed with a front mounted particle cannon, I’ve diverted emergency power to the reactive hull armour also.” Kerulithar turned towards Michael again. “The Particle cannon is fired by the top button on your right grip; and the torpedo launcher from the top button on your left grip.”

  “He’s coming in from behind; Jesus Christ he’s coming in for a pass!” Vargev shouted.

  Suddenly an angry voice came over the speakers, “Galasht Vakra solarii gulesht can cadrat.”

  “He wants to know why we are heading for Solarian space,” Kerulithar translated.

  “Cordrun nu almasht gadrin ca,” the angry voice said. “He wants us to power down our weapons.”

  “Hey, do you think he’s pissed comrade,” Vargev said to Michael with a slight chuckle.

  “No shit Sherlock; we just stole his best friend’s wheels,” Michael replied laughing. “Tell him we are on an urgent mission from the Krenaran government, or something; just to throw him off our tail.”

  “Sofrak Aluminish allvash congosht Krenarii gavrant,” Kerulithar spoke aloud into a nearby communications console.

  A few tense seconds passed as the Krenaran crew mulled this over before giving a response, which finally came, “Falosht na gru.”

  “He says you’re lying.”

  “Korgasht av ku Krenarii sanas a Solaria belasht ku!” the increasingly irate voice said.

  “He says there hasn’t been a Krenaran mission to Solarian territory for a hundred years.”

  “I don’t know what he’s doing, but he’s doing something. He’s definitely doing something; I’ve got symbols flashing all over my screen,” Vargev said with a definite hint of urgency.

  A massive beam of bright green energy shot past the Liberty bathing the ship in a bright emerald light, and carried on through space ahead of the captured ship.

  “We’ve got incoming!” Vargev shouted as the shot rifled past the ship.

  “Jesus Christ!” Michael gasped aloud throwing his left arm down; the ship lurched to starboard, nearly throwing Kerulithar off his feet.

  The enemy Krenaran ship was fast on their tail. A second beam of bright green light shot past the Liberty barely missing the underside of the vessel.

  Michael weaved the ship from port to starboard and back again in a zigzag pattern, desperately attempting to throw off their pursuers.

  Twice more the deadly green energy beam flashed out from the enemy vessel; Michael barely managed to dodge the first blast, throwing the ship into a fast barrel roll. The second just clipped the top of the Liberty. The entire ship shuddered violently under the force of the impact.

  Vargev was almost thrown clean off his seat; muttering a Russian curse under his breath as he steadied himself.

  Kerulith
ar raced over to the engineering systems console and performed a full diagnostic of the ship, “I’m not detecting any serious damage; but the hull plating has been weakened in that area.”

  Michael desperately flung his arms up and down in the pilots’ chair. Giving everything to try and evade the enemy ship; and for a few minutes at least the two ships dodged and weaved each other, both flying at incredible speeds; and looking for all the world like angry wasps trying to sting one another.

  He was sweating profusely as he strained at the controls, “come on you bucket of scrap!” He shouted as he sent the ship into an incredibly steep dive; the Liberty shuddered and threatened to break apart, conduits exploded as inertia began to take its effect.

  Michael prayed for the ship to hold together, for now the Liberty complied. Then he followed up the dive by sending the ship into an equally steep climb; the scream of tortured, twisting metal rang out, as the hull of the ship was tested beyond breaking point.

  The pursuing Krenaran ship was puzzled by this new maneuver and was slow to react; the Liberty quickly disappeared from view. The enemy stealth ship banked from port to starboard, pitching up and down, in a desperate bid to relocate its lost prey.

  Michael managed to quickly counter each move the enemy ship made; keeping the Liberty out of the viewpoint of their attackers in a galactic game of hide and seek.

  Beads of sweat continued to run down the sides of Michael’s face as he strained against the controls and concentrated hard on the manoeuvres he was making.

  Finally the Liberty managed to come up behind the enemy vessel, it realised its mistake and tried a desperate attempt to evade them.

  “Too late bitch!” Michael said as he pressed the control on the right hand grip of his chair.

  The Liberties own particle cannon lashed out; the shot slammed into the enemy ships rear engines dead centre. The illuminated blue strip which was its main engines shattered and exploded under the force of the impact; the enemy ship slowed dramatically; without propulsion it was reduced to simply coasting on inertia. The Liberty looped around to perform an assault run on the stricken enemy ship; unleashing three torpedoes in quick succession.

  As the Liberty shot past the rear of the stricken enemy ship the torpedoes struck home, three mighty explosions lit up the top of the enemy ship one after another as the torpedoes detonated; tearing apart the vessel, before the whole ship exploded in a gigantic fireball.