Within minutes a group of soldiers stormed the coilquin. Several civilians attacked them with bare hands, but were cut down in moments. Many of the Aldarians, unwilling to stand by and see their human friends harmed, stood and acted as shields against the Screen.
As he repositioned himself to get a good angle against the Screen, Drix was separated from Thresha. He didn’t realize she wasn’t with him for a few moments. Once he did, he looked around for her as he fired shots at the Screen soldiers. As he did, he spotted a Screen pointing its arm at botanist Elizabeth Montablo. The Cresorian jumped and tackled her to the floor in an attempt to dodge the soldier firing its weapon.
Thresha was on the other side of the coilquin, pinned to the floor by the four security officers protecting her. She watched helplessly as the Yearden was cut down by a barrage of Screen energy weapons. There was no scream, no tears from her eyes. She watched frozen as the spiritual guide of her people was violently gunned down.
On the command deck, everyone remained at their posts despite the realization that PHOENIX had incurred major damage. The lights flickered on and off and many of the computer stations fought to maintain power.
“Engineering is gone,” reported Kevin. “Main power is lost and auxiliary power is at sixty percent.”
More impacts struck PHOENIX’s hull. “Status of shields and weapons?” said John.
“Shields are gone and we’ve lost power to all weapons except launch tubes,” reported Alex’sis.
“Fire all our missiles,” ordered John. Just then a Screen fighter passed over the command deck and opened fired, ripping a hole through the hull. Multiple explosions ripped through the deck and John instinctively jumped down from his command chair onto the pit floor. His timing was perfect, as a large support beam crashed down on his chair and crushed it.
Despite the pain of hitting the floor so hard, John turned over and looked around. His eyes tried to pierce the smoke that now filled the air. Auxiliary power must have initiated the force fields; otherwise, they would have been sucked into space. He crawled over towards what remained of the operations table. He saw Alex’sis on the floor and moved towards her. Most of her body was buried under some rubble. He crawled up and felt her neck, but there was no pulse.
He wanted to mourn but there was no time. More blasts struck PHOENIX which shook the ship as more explosions ripped through the interior. John got up to check their situation, but there was no power to the remaining portion of the operations table that was still intact.
“Damage report,” said John. No response, so he yelled. “Damage report!”
“Most of our fighters are gone,” replied Kevin, who was still at his station. “The remaining fleet is concentrating on us now. All weapons are offline.”
John saw Tim stirring on the floor and went to help him up. “I sent all remote fighters and shuttles on kamikaze runs against the nearest ships,” reported the private.
That was it. With no fighter groups and no way to defend the ship, they were left with one option. “Notify all personnel to abandon ship,” said John.
“All internal communications are out,” said Bret as he came up to John. “We can’t reach anyone.”
So this was how it would end. No mercy or demand for surrender. The Screen intended to obliterate PHOENIX, a ship that took over twenty years to build. The only remaining hope for humanity was about to be destroyed.
Suddenly, a bright light enveloped PHOENIX and all the Screen vessels. It came from somewhere inside the Ni star system. PHOENIX and its remaining support craft were untouched by the light, but every Screen ship disintegrated from it, as if they were being erased from existence. The Screen soldiers on board also disintegrated from the light that somehow permeated the interior, but left the PHOENIX’s crew unharmed.
As before, the light’s intensity did not hurt. Then, a voice spoke.
“Human vessel PHOENIX. You are now safe under the protection of the Ni. You risked yourselves to protect the whole who rejected you. Your actions reflect the nobility we have observed in your race these past months.”
The ship shuddered for a moment and power came back on. “We offer you sanctuary within our borders and our resources to help you. Your vessel and support vehicles are being brought to our homeworld. You are safe with us. Contact us again when you are ready to speak.”
The light remained on outside, but its intensity lessened when the whole stopped speaking.
“Captain,” said Kevin. “Some unknown energy field is providing power to the PHOENIX. But the main energy grid is broken and we still have a lot of sections without power.”
“What about internal communications?” asked John.
“It’s sporadic,” said Bret. “But I might be able to get some repairs done.”
“Contact who you can to begin repair and rescue operations,” said John. “Tell them to spread the word.”
“Yes, captain.”
John made his way out of the pit, heading to the lift he didn’t even know would work. He never once looked back at Alex’sis, he couldn’t. He wasn’t ready to face that reality just yet.
Kevin knelt down by her body and gently touched her arm. Despite dying in the midst of battle, her face looked as if she was at peace.
Bret came up behind Kevin and gently squeezed his shoulder. “Come on. There’s nothing we can do for her.”
Kevin nodded and got back up. With a heavy sigh, he went with Bret to try and get communications back on throughout the ship.
John made his way to the hangar deck through a ladder shaft as the ship’s lift system was offline. As he emerged from the floor of the hangar deck, he saw people everywhere helping the wounded or moving the dead to the side. It seemed there wasn’t one part of the ship that wasn’t damaged. Holes and scorch marks littered the corridor walls. The captain entered the hangar and saw complete disarray. Most of the support craft were turned over or smashed against the walls or other vehicles. Apparently, the Screen had made some direct hits in this area.
The hangar was full of people. Some were helping injured comrades, others were looking around in a daze, trying to take stock of what happened. Among the crowd, one individual stood out. John watched as Julie, bloodied and dirtied, hobbled over to her captain. The two said nothing. No words were necessary They embraced and held each other as tears streamed from Julie’s eyes. John refused to cry. For this one moment, he was grateful one of his friends had survived.
Down in Central, Chris Anne was being taken away from the entrance of the coilquin. A Screen had shot him in his hip, and a security officer and Aldarian had managed to stop the bleeding. As they helped him down the steps, Chris caught a glimpse of Calvin lying on the ground. The dinner Chris promised would never happen. The singer began to cry for the friend he would never get to know.
Inside the coilquin, Thresha helped to turn Drix on his back. The Cresorian gave his life to protect Elizabeth when a Screen fired on her. His last act as the life left his body was to embrace Elizabeth and protect her from any harm. As the botanist was helped off the ground, Thresha remained at her dead friend’s side, holding his hand and caressing his furry arm. His last act was to stand by and protect those he cared for, and so Thresha now sat by him to give him company in death. Several Aldarians were at the altar, mourning the loss of the Yearden. Despite his attendants offering their bodies as shields, the Screen still managed to get to the elder Aldarian.
In Betty Christen’s quarters, Professor Harthy watched from the door as Betty put her baby down for a nap. He put the pulse gun on the table, never having fired it once. The Screen never breeched the door.
In medical, Doctor Myers worked to establish priority for triage treatment, but in the back of his mind he was afraid for those friends who would be brought in body bags. He knew the losses would be terrible. Medical was filled with injured and dying patients, but all he could do for the moment was to continue his duty as chief medical officer and help them.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
Two days had passed since the battle. PHOENIX was in orbit of the Ni homeworld, docked within an energy structure that was the Ni version of a repair station. John met with the whole who agreed to join the alliance. In addition, they would help to repair PHOENIX and install new technology to enhance or replace systems damaged or destroyed. They would also provide the means by which to integrate the technology of the Onixins, Senfo, and Quix into the ship. But even with the Ni’s advanced technology and science, it would be months before PHOENIX was space-worthy again. For now, the ship was only habitable by the external support of the Ni energy station.
John focused on the ship’s repair schedule, going over every system status report. He avoided anything regarding casualty reports, delegating them to Julie to review. She caught on to what he was doing, but silently took the reports and read them. The list of the dead was long and she cried herself to sleep every night. She knew too many of the people on the list.
Today Julie and John were in his office going over logistical issues that needed to be addressed in the repair plans.
“The Quix will be here tomorrow,” said John. “They’ve already agreed to assign some of their personnel to PHOENIX to help with repairs. I’ve even broached the subject of having some of the protectorate permanently assigned to PHOENIX.”
“That’ll help,” said Julie. “We lost a lot of personnel, the majority of our engineers, most of our pilots. We may need to ask the Senfo, Ni, and Onixins for crew replacements as well.”
“How..?” John started to ask about the final tally of the dead, but had to compose himself before finishing the question. “What’s our total casualty loss?”
“Final count is seven hundred eighty nine dead. That includes Drix, sixteen Aldarians, seven Patoli, and one Gercol.”
The number didn’t seem real to John. So much life was lost from one battle. “What about the injured?”
“Medical is still busy treating injured crew members. The Ni were able to manufacture our medical supplies that ran out.”
“It’s going to take time for the crew to get back on their feet,” said John. “We’re going to have to depend on our alliance friends for now.”
“Luckily, they’ve stepped up to the plate to help us,” said Julie. “Speaking of the crew, I wasn’t sure if you were going to make an announcement. The Aldarians are going to be holding group remembrance ceremonies tonight. Thresha is holding one for the senior staff in Chris quarters. Chris, Chief Davers, Bret, Kevin, and Doctor Myers will be there.”
“There’s a lot of work to be done. I don’t think I’ll have time.” John showed no emotion at all. Julie knew he was withdrawing to avoid having to face the loss of their friends. She knew he was taking their losses pretty hard, but she also knew she couldn’t press him to open up.
“It’ll be at 1900 hours tonight,” said Julie. “If you have time.”
“Fine,” said John. “When the Quix arrive tomorrow, I’ll want to meet with them and the other alliance members in the board room.”
“I’ll set it up,” said Julie as she got up. She wanted comfort John, but he had an emotional barrier up. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”
John nodded and continued to read the report in his hand.
“Command deck to Captain Roberts. Incoming message from Onixin battleship Conex.”
The battleship that was assigned to protect the Cresorian homeworld. John motioned to Julie to remain as he activated his desk monitor. “Vori Redestri.”
“Captain Roberts,” said the Onixin battleship commander. “I have been apprised of your engagement with the Screen at the Ni homeworld and do not wish to give you any more unpleasant news…”
“What’s happened?” asked John.
“We engaged a fleet of drenda lav Screen vessels that entered the Cresorian star system.” John converted the Onixin number measurement and saw drenda lav meant fifty-four vessels.
“Did you suffer any casualties?” Julie asked the vori.
“No,” replied Redestri. “We destroyed oni vais vessels and drove the rest from the star system. Unfortunately, a few Screen ships were able to make a run on the planet. During the battle, we were unable to communicate with Mimix or his advisors. Perhaps they thought the Screen would invade. But some sort of bomb was detonated, releasing a high energy wave throughout the planet. Everything organic and artificial was destroyed and the Cresorians on the planet perished.”
Julie stepped away from the desk so the vori couldn’t see her reaction. The Screen may not have been able to get to the Ni, but they made sure they inflicted harm on someone. Julie was grateful Drix wasn’t alive to learn the fate of his homeworld.
“Thank you for apprising us,” said John. He showed no reaction to the news.
“The council is recalling my fleet back to Plein,” said Redestri. “I will contact you if we pick up any Screen vessels on our way back home.”
“Understood. Roberts out.” He looked at Julie. “I’ll leave it to you to inform the crew about the Cresorian homeworld.”
Julie watched as John resumed reading reports, as if the news from the vori was nothing more than a minor distraction. She said nothing more and left the office, going through her mind how she would break the news to the crew.
As she emerged from John’s office, she saw a reddish cloud hovering near the lift.
“Can I help you?” asked Julie, knowing it was a Ni.
“Greetings, Commander Julie Olson,” replied the gaseous alien. “You do not recognize me. I am the part you rescued from the Screen container.”
Julie smiled. She wished she could give the Ni a hug. Despite all the recent losses, it was good to see someone they were able to help. “You have no idea how much it means to me to see you.”
“I am grateful that you and the captain survived the battle,” said the Ni. “Words cannot express what you were willing to do for the whole. Your actions finally convinced them of what I had been telling them all this time.”
“That means a lot,” said Julie. “So what I can I do for you?”
“No, Commander Olson,” said the Ni. “I am here to help you. I will do whatever is necessary to restore your vessel and help you complete your mission.”
That evening, the crew gathered in groups at various locations throughout the ship to hold remembrance ceremonies for those friends and colleagues they had lost. Candles were lit within the circles they formed, and people recounted fond memories of their lost crewmates.
In Chris’ quarters, Thresha lit a candle that was surrounded by possessions of those they were remembering. A pair of glasses belonging to Professor Donavin, Alex’sis’ military bars, Martin Everold’s pilot gloves, a piece of a plant from Drix’s homeworld that the Cresorian had planted in the botanical gardens by the grave of the buried female Cresorian.
Thresha extended her arms and spoke. “We gather here to remember those friends who are no longer with us. Although they are gone they will live on in our memories. Our time with them will burn in our hearts so long as we never forget them.”
Each person picked up a glass half filled with red wine. Chief Davers took a sip before speaking. “The first time I met Professor Donavin he came to security ranting and raving how security protocols were interfering with engineering operations. I was so scared of him I sat there for ten minutes as he rambled on about how I needed to do my job. At the end he called me Chief Sandoval and I almost lost it. I didn’t have the heart to tell him I wasn’t the chief so I nodded and said I’d take care of it.”
Everyone smiled, as the story captured the unorthodox spirit of the professor, who never wavered about giving his opinion to anyone.
Kevin was next to speak. “Drix loved to read novels. I don’t know how many books I recommended him to read. I don’t think anyone ever knew, but he loved romance novels. At least I think he loved them. He never once said he didn’t like a book I told him to read. Maybe he was just being nice. If he was, it was typical of Drix. He always had something
good to say about people. I never heard him utter a bad word about anyone.”
Doctor Myers went next. “I was the first person Lieutenant Everold spoke to on PHOENIX. When I was treating his injuries in medical, he kept demanding to be returned to his ship or talk to TERRA. He was so certain we were terrorists and were going to torture him. I watched that man grow to become a part of this crew and am glad his misfortunate accident brought him to us.”
“Here here,” said Davers as he raised his glass.
Chris took a sip from his glass and looked at the red wine swirling inside. “If Alex’sis was here now, she’d be pissed that we’re drinking this and remembering her. She hated the stuff. I opened a bottle of vintage merlot I had in stock for her to try and she spit it out in disgust. A bottle that cost six hundred credits and she thought it tasted like cat piss…” He chuckled a bit remembering that, but the tears welled up and he started to cry. Julie gave him a comforting hug. “Look at me. She’d probably make fun of me right now for having runny mascara.”
The door chime rang, interrupting the group.
“Come in,” said Thresha. The door opened and there stood the captain. Everyone was glad to see him, happy that he decided to share this moment with them.
John came in and approached the circle. He saw a glass of wine on the table for him. He looked at each person and could tell they were grateful he showed up. He picked up the glass and consumed it in one swallow. The wine soothed his body as it went down.
“Wow, that’s good,” he said as he placed the glass down. “Lieutenant Brandus…,” He took a deep breath. He knew the words, but couldn’t get them out. But he had to. Somehow, he felt he owed that to her.
“Alex’sis and I were lovers.”
As soon as he said that he turned and walked out, not waiting for anyone’s reaction. Doctor Myers dropped his glass and it shattered as it hit the ground. The doctor stumbled back, but Julie and Bret helped him to the couch.
“Doctor,” said Julie, seeing how upset he had become.
Phoenix In Chaos (Exodus) Page 30
