by Libby, Seth
Evan watched as the Sacrifice rammed the Shenkar battlecruiser, the forward halves of both battlecruisers immediately engulfed in flame. He wondered how many of the crew were still on board. He looked over at Steve’s fighter and saw him suddenly peel away and head back toward the burning Sacrifice.
“STEVE, GET BACK IN FORMATION!” he yelled into his comm unit.
“I have to save her; I can’t let her die,” said Steve, his voice full of anguish.
“I know, Steve, but if she was on board, she wouldn’t have survived that. All we can hope is that she was on one of the surviving shuttles.”
With relief, he saw Steve’s fighter turn about and head back to rejoin the formation. But his feeling of relief did not hold long as his control board lit up with warning alarms. Checking his scanner, he saw forty inbound Shenkar fighters, ten of which were the Crescent fighters.
“All fighters, break and attack! Shuttle pilot, do not wait for us. You know your destination.”
Pulling hard on his stick, he brought his fighter around to engage the Shenkar fighters. Almost immediately, three crescent fighters were on him. Slamming the stick forward, he spun his fighter down in an effort to lose his three pursuers. As he flew his wild ride, the comm unit was a constant run of chatter from his fellow pilots.
“Watch it, Vampire; you have one on you,” said Crystal.
“YEAH, GOT HIM!” said a triumphant Dimitri.
“Thanks, Demonknight,” said Tim
“Darren, look out . . .” warned Steve.
But Darren never heard the warning. His fighter exploded as two crescent fighters swooped in from above and destroyed him. After this, things became worse. David was next; his fighter collided with a Shenkar fighter that had turned suddenly. The resulting explosion destroyed the three Shenkar fighters that had been pursuing David, but Evan would rather have his fellow pilot back. Diving for a formation of Shenkar fighters, Evan directed his fighter into a suicide dive that took him through the formation, narrowly avoiding some by inches. The pursuing crescent fighters were forced to break off pursuit. Bringing his fighter back around, he quickly caught one of his pursuers and destroyed him. Quickly, he searched for the other two and immediately found one pursuing Steve just ahead and above him. As Steve broke to the left and down, Evan pulled up, and as the Shenkar fighter passed, he destroyed it with three quick bursts of energy from his cannons.
As he again looked around, his control board warned of more enemy inbound. He spotted twelve more fighters coming in from the ambush site, and another crescent fighter seemed to be coming in from open space. This crescent fighter was white and seemed somehow different; for one thing, it was moving very fast, and scans showed it to be very heavily armed. How can this day get any worse? he thought to himself. But it did get worse as he heard Crystal’s voice over the comm unit.
“This is Revenant. I am in need of immediate assistance. I can’t shake these bastards,” she called.
Looking around, he found her being pursued by three crescent fighters. Crystal’s shields flashed continuously as the fighters poured energy into her rear energy shields. Pulling his fighter around, he hit his afterburners and made his way toward her, knowing he would never make it in time. No! he thought. He couldn’t lose Crystal, too. She continued to dodge and weave in an attempt to lose them, but her shields suddenly failed and a shot tore free a huge chunk of armor. One more shot and she was done for if she couldn’t break free. Evan’s eyes filled with tears as he watched his love about to die as the late-coming white crescent fighter now fell in behind the three pursuing Shenkar fighters. The white crescent fighter’s energy cannons glowed, and energy shot forth. But its shots never impacted upon Crystal’s fighter; instead, they impacted on one of the pursuers. The shots quickly overloaded the shields, and the ship exploded. Quickly and methodically, the crescent fighter destroyed the two remaining pursuers and Crystal was safe.
The mysterious fighter then broke off from its path behind Crystal and began to fall upon any Shenkar fighter it came across, tearing them apart. Evan could only watch in fascination as this Shenkar fighter attacked his own fellow pilots, killing them mercilessly. The pilot flew with such fluidity that Evan thought whoever it was made it look effortless. Within minutes, the fight was over and all the Shenkar forces were destroyed.
The white crescent fighter banked to its side and moved in position up alongside Evan but made no move to leave or engage him. The canopy to the fighter was black, and Evan could see nothing of the pilot. The rest of the squadron formed up all around the Shenkar fighter, and it still made no move to escape. Keying his comm unit, he set it to a general frequency.
“Pilot of the Shenkar fighter, I am Lieutenant Commander Evan Maxis of the Earth Defense Force. Thank you for your assistance. Please state your intentions.”
The only response was no response, only dead air. Looking to make sure there were no more Shenkar forces in the area, Evan then checked to ensure that the shuttle they had been escorting was safe. Readouts showed the Omega shuttle to have just entered the asteroid field. Looking back at the crescent fighter, he keyed the open channel and again he spoke.
“Shenkar fighter, what are your intentions?” he asked again more firmly.
Silence again met his question. Suddenly, the crescent fighter rolled up and over to position itself inverted just above Evan’s fighter. The Shenkar’s fighter canopy was four feet from his own canopy. Looking up, even at this proximity, he still couldn’t see through the black canopy to the pilot within. It was almost as if the pilot of the Shenkar fighter was examining Evan. Then, after several seconds had passed, the Shenkar fighter finished the roll to position itself alongside Evan’s fighter once again, but on the opposite side. Now thoroughly irritated, Evan keyed an open channel and spoke.
“Shenkar fighter, you have five seconds to state your intentions before we open fire,” he demanded.
Evan prepared to fall back suddenly so he would be positioned directly behind the Shenkar fighter. Keying a direct feed to Tim and Crystal, he spoke. “Okay, I am sick of this game. Prepare to engage the fighter when I move.”
“Are you sure, Evan? I mean, he did save my life. I would feel rather bad about killing him . . . or her,” said Crystal.
“Well, that may be so, but he isn’t responding, and for all I know, he or she might be looking for where we are all going now that the Sacrifice is gone,” said Evan.
Just as he pulled back on his stick, the Shenkar fighter’s afterburners came to life and the fighter shot forward, easily pulling away from Evan and the rest of Necro Squadron.
“Holy shit, that fighter is fast!” exclaimed Crystal.
Evan just watched as the fighter flew off and disappeared from his scanners. Well, at least that mystery could wait for another day. Right now, they needed to get back to the base and get a full damage report.
“Okay, everyone, let’s get the hell out of here before any more Shenkar forces show up,” said Evan.
The flight back to the hidden base was uneventful for the most part. On a few occasions, Evan thought he saw something on his scanner, but he wasn’t sure. Upon reaching the asteroid base, he looked with some relief and some surprise. Omega shuttles and fighters were positioned all around the entrance to the base awaiting the okay for landing. Evan attempted to contact the command center within the base but was shunted aside by some snotty officer who informed him they would gain access when they could. It took roughly an hour for the EDF forces to get the okay to land and make their way into the base. Evan was the last fighter to land, and as he rounded the final corner into the base, he saw the reason for the delay. While the hidden base had been designed for a relatively large force, it was plainly obvious they had surpassed capacities. He also saw the reason they had been delayed in landing. Several new sections had been hollowed out to allow for the additional fighters and shuttles. Easing his fighter into what seemed to be the only remaining spot, he landed. Shutting down his fighter, he then release
d the canopy. Instead of standing, he just looked around the hangar.
Chaos could be the only word that described the scene before him. Men and women moved about the hangar, some running, others walking at a hurried pace. None moved casually. Medical teams ran quickly about, administering help where it was necessary. He spotted Crystal walking toward his fighter, the rest of Necro Squadron with her. She looked exhausted. He watched them come for a few seconds when he realized Steve wasn’t with them. Standing, he leapt from his fighter and stood straight as they reached him.
“Where is Steve?” he asked Crystal.
But it was Tim who spoke a response. “It seems the shuttle we escorted in had Ms. Sukita aboard, so when he heard this, he went to find her. That boy sure has it bad for her. Oh, and it seems it also had an unconscious Admiral Kelvin aboard.”
“Unconscious? Is he seriously injured?” asked Evan.
“No, he should be fine. It seems that he had planned to go down with the ship, but Captain Caqel thought otherwise. Captain Caqel knocked him out and had Ms. Sukita and another officer get him away. Captain Caqel was piloting the Sacrifice when she rammed the Shenkar battlecruiser,” said Tim.
“That’s too bad. I rather liked the Captain. Still, I have to agree with his actions. Admiral Kelvin would have been a huge loss,” said Evan.
Looking around, he once more surveyed the chaotic scene before he spoke again. “So what is our status? How many losses did we suffer?”
Tim followed Evan’s gaze about the hangar before he spoke. “Well, I am not positive on the numbers, but we lost over one hundred Knights; I would say our number is somewhere around two hundred Templar Knights remaining. As for the crew of the Sacrifice, well, Admiral Kelvin had the nonessential men and women evacuated to the base before the battle. Again, I can’t be positive, but I estimate they only suffered losses somewhere around eighty from the battle and the few shuttles we lost.”
“We need to figure out what we do next. Without the Sacrifice, we have no way to return to Earth. We can only hope we have dealt enough damage to the Shenkar fleet that the Earth can throw back the attack and then send someone looking for us. We could still continue our hit-and-run tactics, but then we put the survivors of the Sacrifice in jeopardy. The Shenkar know there were survivors, but attacks from fully repaired and rearmed forces would be a good indication we have another ship or base in the area. For now we can--”
A loud blaring alarm sounded throughout the hangar, causing everyone to look around. A voice sounded throughout the hangar from overhead: “Intruder alert, intruder alert. We have an enemy fighter intrusion.”
Turning, Evan looked toward the hangar entrance just as the white crescent fighter slowly entered the hangar. Slowly, the fighter moved forward, making no aggressive moves, to come a hovering halt just inside the hangar. Movement around Evan showed the remaining Templar Knights coming from all over the hangar to stand before the white fighter. Hundreds of plasma swords ignited and were held aloft in defiance of the intruder. Still, the fighter made no move to attack.
Drawing his own plasma sword, Evan ignited it and stepped forward. Several men and women in body armor came up from behind him with heavy energy rifles, taking up defensive positions throughout the hangar.
No one spoke or made a noise. In fact, there was total quiet except for the loud humming noise emitting from the crescent fighter. Slowly, the fighter descended until it came to a halt on the floor. Evan could hear the fighter power down until total silence hung heavily throughout the hangar. Then the canopy opened, and Evan’s breath caught as a ghost stood before him.
November 12, 2012, 6:48 a.m. ESTEDF Asteroid Base, Medical Facility
Evan watched the doctor examine the man he once called his friend. Looking at Liam, he couldn’t believe his friend was alive, although it looked as if it was barely. Liam was severely emaciated and sported signs of battle all over his body. He no longer wore the battle armor, and his jumpsuit seemed to be burned and torn all over. He showed no signs of recognizing any of them. Instead, he just looked forward, staring hollowly at nothing.
“Where has he been?” asked Crystal.
“Who knows. One thing’s for sure, he was captured by the Shenkar,” said Evan.
“I think the better question would be, how did he escape? And how is it we all felt him die, yet there he sits?” asked Tim.
A noise from behind him made Evan look back. Admiral Kelvin walked in, a bandage on the back of his head, and headed toward their little group. Quickly spinning about, Evan came to attention, saluting the Admiral. Just as quickly, the others followed suit.
“At ease, soldiers. I heard the news . . . the dead has risen. How is he doing?”
“We haven’t heard anything yet. The doctor has been examining him for the past half hour. Sir? What are we going to do now?” said Evan.
“I am not sure. I hadn’t expected any of this. So have we figured out why you were so sure he was dead yet he is still alive?”
“No, sir, I don’t understand it. We have always been able to sort of feel each other’s presence, and when I thought he had died, I felt that presence fade away. It is entirely possible he did die and the nanite technology resuscitated him. It would explain why he looks so emaciated,” explained Tim as he unconsciously thumbed his ear.
“Care to explain that, Mr. Wellmo?” asked the Admiral.
“When we suffer bodily damage, our nanites will repair the damage. To do so, they need to pull stores from within our own body. Judging from the looks of Liam, he probably couldn’t have suffered much more before his nanites wouldn’t have been able to repair the damage and keep him alive,” explained Tim.
“Something that worries me is that when I spotted his fighter, it was inbound from outside the system. Wouldn’t have made more sense if he had come from their command base?” inquired Evan.
The Admiral looked troubled by this news. “Could they have another base of operations located outside the system?” he wondered aloud.
“I wondered that same thing, sir,” said Evan.
The sound of footsteps behind them made the group look around. Steve came jogging up, wearing a big smile. Suddenly spotting the Admiral, he skidded to a halt, snapping a quick salute.
“At ease, Lieutenant,” the Admiral said with a smile.
As Steve relaxed, he looked beyond the group to study Liam. “So, any word on our fearless leader?” he asked.
Suddenly realizing what he said, he glanced quickly at Evan with a sheepish look upon his face. Evan smiled at the look on Steve’s face, then laughed as he spoke. “Don’t worry about it, Steve. He is our leader and our friend.”
At this point, the doctor approached. When their group turned to face him, he spoke. “Preliminary reports show Commander Brennan to be in fair condition except for severe dehydration and the fact that he is suffering from malnutrition. What he needs is to replenish his body stores. I have him on a vitamin drip, and he should make a full recovery physically. Mentally, I can’t say. He seems to be in some sort of catatonic state. There are a few puzzling things we have found. You all are his squadron, except for you, Admiral, and I understand that you can all sense each other’s presence?”
When Evan and the rest nodded, the doctor continued. “And do you sense him now?” he asked.
Focusing on Liam, who lay on the bed, Evan tried to sense something. But try as he might, he couldn’t find Liam like he could before. Looking back at the doctor, he shook his head no, just as the others did the same.
“Well, we did some blood work, and it seems his nanites have been modified somehow. For one thing, his nanite count is through the roof, nearly four times the amount found in your bodies. Another thing peculiar that we discovered is that while the human body generates its own electrical impulses, it seems Commander Brennan’s is generating the equivalent of twenty men altogether. Whatever modified his nanites could be also hiding the presence you normally feel. If we knew what he had gone through or what it was that
did this, then maybe we could help the young man. Until then, we will keep Mr. Brennan under observation.”
Nodding at the Admiral, the doctor turned and returned to Liam’s side.
Evan watched Liam for a long time in silence. He hadn’t noticed he was alone with Crystal until she touched his arm.
“Where did everyone go?” he asked in surprise.
“Tim went back to check on the rest of the squadron while Steve went to meet up with Lieutenant Sukita. As for the Admiral, he decided to go find Commander Dunklin. He said that after you get some rest, you are to report to the command center.”
“Well, first I am going to go to my quarters and get cleaned up,” Evan said wearily.
“Yeah, I know what you mean . . . oh, I heard all pilots are doubling up due to lack of sleeping quarters, so is it safe to say you don’t mind me as a roommate?” Crystal asked playfully.
Evan didn’t say anything; instead, he just looked down at her and smiled. Putting an arm around her shoulders, he pulled her close, leaned down, and kissed her. Then, hand in hand, they walked from the medical facility.
November 12, 2012, 10:18 a.m. ESTShenkar Command Center
Krailsha disconnected the line and sat back with an evil smile upon his face. The humans in this sector had been disposed of, and now he could look toward their home world. Sure, several pilots had escaped, but they were of no threat and therefore he was unconcerned about their current whereabouts.
A chime at his office door made him look up. Shizta entered without even waiting for an invitation.
“Supreme Commander, I have been more than patient and I have suffered your insults in front of the crew for far too long. You can think what you will about what happened with the Krazzeen, but I demand I get the respect due my rank,” said Shizta, his voice full of fury and hatred.
Krailsha just looked at Shizta, his clawed fingers steepled before him. Finally, he smiled a wicked smile and then spoke. “It is good to see you still have some backbone, Shizta. I might not have to kill you after all. Report to the Cruiser Zratek and take command. I have not received any word from Scyren or the Battlecruiser Tryliene. You are to take the Zratek and find the Tryliene. If Scyren is still alive, you are to bring him before me and I will deal with his lack of duty.”
