by David Buck
‘Captain, the shields on both ships failed almost immediately and their engines did not fire under pilot control. I show no life signs on either of these two ships and they have both lost power.’
Captain Narindestat now stood and paced the bridge of the ship as he fought to fight down his rage and grief. For the damage reports elsewhere in the ship listed another fifteen Traders killed and this was apart from the twelve crew killed in the gun batteries and then eight crew killed on the two sneak ships. Added to the toll he knew was the likely deaths of all the sixty Barede marines that had been left behind.
Garendestat kept watch on the two weapons pods as his console informed him that they had come online. He watched as status changed to indicate that their missiles were being released. As his father regained his seat and his composure, Garendestat provided an update on the battle.
‘Captain, the fourth cruiser has also been damaged and it appears that her hyper drive module is heavily damaged as per your earlier instructions. The weapons pods are targeting the cruisers and have released their first twenty missiles each. The lost of half our laser batteries are telling and the remaining four cruisers are now pressing forward for the kill.’
Narindestat keyed another smaller course change and toggled the override on their main engines, for he wanted real distance from the weapons pods as they engaged the Fenshilla cruisers. He watched as forty missiles raced for the Fenshilla cruisers and they forgot all about attacking the Resuria. The Trader captain noted that the course change brought the two remaining batteries on the underside of the ship into action, and that Garendestat had started to attack the enemy again.
Rick was giving a blow by blow commentary in the background as Joel noted that the first of their transports had entered hyperspace.
‘Joel, the Resuria has lost several of her main weapons but both her drive module and her main engines are intact. She will go into hyper space shortly after we leave here as the range to the Fenshilla ships is now increasing. The Resuria will be outside their weapons range in seven minutes.’
Several other supply ships entered hyper space and Joel sent a final brief farewell to Captain Narindestat.
‘Good bye and thank you Captain. We will report of your efforts in aiding our survival, providing we survive of course.’
Joel instructed the three destroyers and the two sneak ships to enter hyper space as soon as possible. As the smaller human ships counted down to flee, he noted that the titanic battle behind them was coming to a climax.
Captain Narindestat was far too busy to send a reply, as he noted that their final few minutes in this star system would be fraught with peril if the Fenshilla regrouped and came forward again. His fears went unfounded as Garendestat reported yet again.
‘We have further damaged the fourth cruiser and her point defences are now also badly damaged. Six of the first ten missiles survived and have impacted the cruisers. The Fenshilla are now turning their attention onto the weapons pods. A second flight of forty missiles has just launched, and the final salvo will be launched in three minutes.’
The Trader captain watched as both their escape simulation changed to green and the ship’s longer range laser batteries went out of range. Now satisfied that the Resuria should be able to extend and escape, he passed a cautious eye over the status of his ship for a couple of minutes. Narindestat noted that their hyper drive module had lost half her own point defences but was otherwise undamaged. He now ordered several of his engineers into their waldos to await his further instructions as the Resuria fled from her attackers.
Garendestat was watching the battle between the weapons pods and the Fenshilla cruisers unfold and he gave a final report.
‘Captain, the final missiles have been launched and the Fenshilla are now destroying the weapons pods. The shields have just gone on both pods, and yes both are now destroyed. The second batch of missiles has reached Fenshilla, though their rear cruisers have also now come forward.’
The Trader bridge crew watched as both the last human ships fled and the last two waves of missiles engaged the Fenshilla cruisers. Eight missiles each from both waves survived and the enemy cruisers were shaken by a series of heavy explosions.
Captain Narindestat watched the milling confusion of Fenshilla ships for several moments and wisely discarded the idea of turning back to fight with them again. He issued a series of curt orders as damage control efforts took over.
‘Prepare for a long hyper jump to the Maveen recovery point, for we will leave in fifteen minutes. Note that we have an additional surprise for our attackers should they choose to follow. All suited engineers are to enter the sealed off areas of the ship and verify hull integrity.’
After fifteen minutes a massive corona of light surrounded the damaged Trader ship as it fled across the Orion arm to sanctuary. Commander Paul Burgess had watched the ferocious space battle on one of the few remaining external cameras aboard the transport. He watched coldly as the Fenshilla cruisers reformed, before two of them headed over towards both crippled transports. Paul again checked their improvised defences as he ensured that all his defenders were suited up and ready to fight.
***
Greppun clasped his tendrils around another pair of heavy crates and now swam to the far end of the cargo hold. Another Sspol took the crates from his grasp as Hireldop sent him a brief acoustic message.
‘Cadet, we thank you for your further assistance, but now you must go to your watch on the flag ship within the hour. We will finish up here and your father mentioned earlier he will meet at the flag ship later.’
Greppun sent a brief signal of compliance via a skin colour change as he knew a verbal entre would not be appreciated by the harried colony leader. He then swam out of the hold and noticed Brinnep with two of her cousins working on their specialised equipment nearby. He slowly approached and signalled his presence via another colour change. The three larger female Sspol ignored his presence and continued their work as he settled slowly on the massive landing platform nearby to signify he would wait.
After ten minutes, Brinnep signalled a customary greeting by flashing blue and green skin stripes at him and he slowly came closer to also greet her with a quick sound message.
‘My duties have eased and my day seems brighter; for Brinnep has crossed my path.’
Brinnep noted that her two cousins had ignored by protocol Greppun’s approach as she artfully replied.
‘The day needs a break and you are it; for the workload is unrelenting and I know you are on watch soon after your hard work here.’
Greppun was grateful for Brinnep’s courtesy as she could have easily mocked him before the other females with impunity. He chose to seek more information from her, for she worked with the senior scientists in the colony.
‘Now gifted one you deserve a quick break; for there must be much happening that I have not heard whilst I toil in the cargo hold.’
Brinnep knew that her cousins both also liked Greppun for he had all the attributes that young Sspol females sought. He was smart for a male, hard working, witty and brave. She knew that she would seek him as a mate in a few years time after their present problems were over. She now formally commented on the problem that was at the centre of all their worries.
‘Your father strives to repair the power conduit in the fifth cruiser; for the engineers needed to install auxiliary conduits to spread the energy loads around the ship. The ship will not be able to fight, only to flee with engines and limited shields.’
Hireldop had also swum out of the cruiser hold to instruct another cargo handler on how he wanted the remaining equipment placed inside the hold. He listened quietly as the Sspol couple nearby talked quietly and he decided to leave Greppun alone. The younger male had worked hard for many shifts helping his cargo team, and he knew that the flag ship captain highly rated the cadet’s abilities.
Hireldop also knew that much of what the couple were discussing was painfully true. The affected cruiser, designation Gr
een four, had a problem with one of the main conduits they had not been able to resolve quickly enough. Greppun’s father had wanted to take the cruiser apart again and replace the whole conduit subsystem for a quarter of the ship, but he had been overruled by the colony council. As a last resort the much of Green four’s cargo and most of her passengers were being redistributed amongst the other four cruisers. Green four would launch with only a limited crew and some engineers when they finally did flee this world.
Hireldop noted absently that Greppun had graciously extracted himself from the conversation with his intended mate and now still had plenty of time to leave for his duty watch. Hireldop got a colour change denoting understanding from the cargo handler, as the eternal winds of Neptune carried the Sspol platform around the planet’s upper atmosphere.
***
Chapter 9
Lord Malang’troh fought for calm on a personal level, as he then avoided looking over at the second envoy calmly resting in her command couch nearby. Thatak’siema was quietly contemplating the Zronte battle cruisers that had suddenly appeared several hundred thousand kilometres away. The commander of Malang’troh’s flag ship confirmed what both senior Vorinne already knew to be fact.
‘Lord Malang’troh. The battle cruisers belong to Battle Lord Temeroth and they are signalling the standard protocols for the overlords to the vassals.’
The Vorinne male was already on his feet and noted that Thatak’siema was also now standing and preparing to give a full bow. The view screen came alive with the fearsome visage of the Zronte overlord and the two senior Vorinne bowed deeply. Temeroth looked critically at them for several seconds and his guttural voice rumbled in pidgin Vorinne dialect.
‘Second Envoy, I have finally found you and you will attend my presence immediately to explain your actions in this part of the galaxy. I am greatly displeased with both the end of the war and the presence of lesser races at the former Dradfer colonies.’
Thatak’siema merely intoned a terse formal reply as she now straightened from her formal bow.
‘I am honoured to serve and honoured to attend Battle Lord.’
The second envoy kept quiet for several minutes as her reply crossed to the Zronte battle cruiser, and the Zronte lord spoke again to berate her.
‘I awake from a long hibernation and find that you have ended the war, but done nothing to put those Jerecab vermin in their place. The former Dradfer colonies hide old biological secrets that I do not want uncovered, and three of your own Vorinne treaties can be used to justify my anger. I will petition your empress for your replacement as second envoy upon my return to my home world.’
The second envoy coolly took in this information and she did not say anything. She slowly disrobed completely, placing her long ornate cape and staff of office onto the deck. Malang’troh noted her breeding condition, but wisely kept still and silent as Thatak’siema spoke the lines she had been afraid to speak until now. She knew now that her survival depended on the next several hours, and the Battle Lord’s adherence to ancient law.
‘Battle Lord Temeroth, I seek the privacy of a lone audience with you to provide you with pleasure under the ancient accords between our two races.’
The second envoy kept silent as her alien master took in the condition of her six limbed body before finally speaking.
‘Your audience is granted, despite my anger, and this will set aside my personal grievances with your actions under the same ancient accords with the Vorinne.’
The screen went blank and the cruiser commander ensured that no signals were being sent back to the Zronte ships. Malang’troh quickly organised a lone shuttle to ferry Thatak’siema across to the Zronte flag ship. She left her clothes and staff of office on the deck and spoke across to the bridge to him.
‘My lord, you will ensure that the protocols are followed and no transmissions are to be made to the Zronte until I return.’
Malang’troh gave a single knock of his own staff and avoided staring after Thatak’siema as she strode from the bridge.
The shuttle took two hours to cross to the menacing forms of the Zronte ships and Thatak’siema put herself into the trace that the situation required. She knew that she could say nothing, but merely offer herself to the Zronte lord to have her breeding cycle initiated and his rage soothed. The leading cruiser signalled the shuttle and soon it was entering the large landing bay. The second envoy took position at the end of the shuttle and now she prostrated herself on all six limbs as the rear ramp was lowered. She knew that the Vorinne pilot would cut all video feeds to the landing bay and lower the shuttle visor by decorum once the Zronte lord was present.
A low rumble erupted several metres in front of her and she knew that Temeroth was already present and would also be naked as he loomed over her. After several seconds another rumble to attend came from the Zronte lord, and Thatak’siema slowly crawled to the feet of Temeroth. She gave the ancient call stated in the accords, and then offered herself to her alien overlord by rolling on one side and displaying her belly.
Temeroth straddled her and without wasting any more time he started to vigorously mount her. The act took an age and Thatak’siema felt the series of internal tears that meant she was being readied to reproduce later. The second envoy stayed in the deep trance she had learnt as part of her preparations and finally the act of accord was over.
Thatak’siema kept silent by protocol and remained prostrated as she backed away from the Zronte lord. The backing away was according to protocol, but what the Zronte lord did next was not. Temeroth remained silent and turned to one side, and his massive tail gave her a near lethal swipe across her back legs. She felt her right rear leg break as he then picked her up in his massive jaws and threw her back inside her shuttle craft. The middle left leg broke this time as she cannoned into the inside of the shuttle hold. The rear ramp started to rise as she realised she was bleeding profusely from her front shoulders.
Thatak’siema was later aware both that the shuttle had launched and that Temeroth had not spoken at any stage. She had several anxious moments as the shuttle raced back to Malang’troh’s cruiser, for she feared the Zronte ships would destroy the shuttle. The second envoy quickly gave instructions to the shuttle pilot as she fought off the first wave of shock.
‘Pilot, you will inform Lord Malang’troh that I am alive but injured, so I require urgent medical assistance. You will pass on my formal instruction that he is to immediately leave this system with his cruisers after only transmitting a standard vassal compliance signal to Lord Temeroth. No other actions or further dialog with the Zronte are to be contemplated.’
The pilot acknowledged her instructions and Thatak’siema tried to get comfortable as the shuttle engineer came into the hold with the shuttle’s limited medical equipment. The second envoy only worried for a few moments about the outcome of her meeting with the Zronte lord, before shock took over and she blacked out.
***
The Cephrit fleet master acknowledged the bow of the more junior station master as he strode across one of the main hangar bays in his star base. The station master now paced alongside him as his mate of record, the assault leader, felt back behind them the five steps required by protocol. The fleet master spoke softly, for there was always the risk of spies amongst the many races who worked amongst the ships in the hangar bay.
‘We had a uniquely productive meeting and the goods are deemed most suitable. Our friends volunteered interesting information before resuming their own journey. Much of our fears can be discounted as a result and we can return our attention to rebuilding our fleets.’
The station master calmly replied for he noted that at least two of the suspected spies aboard the station were observing them both from the shadows.
‘The Tilmud now cower in terror at the thought of us enacting revenge on their colonies. The humans have held up the Jerecab and inflicted a series of small defeats upon them, and that makes up most of the local news.’
The fleet m
aster had picked up the inflection in the station master’s voice and he kept quiet as no doubt something had occurred which was not local in context. After several minutes they were all in secure quarters devoid of any bugs and the station master handed the fleet master his data tablet. The senior Cephrit male took in the new and rasped his rear plates in exasperation as he spoke.
‘Surely the matriarch cannot be serious, as it is one thing to tweak the Zronte lord’s tail from hundreds of light years but quite another to spirit away Quixxe refugees from both the Vorinne and the Zronte. Also we have to organise a fleet to go to the former colonies to protect the humans, not worry about the presence of Quixxe runaways.’
The station master merely took back his data tablet and then highlighted the next section of the message for his superior to consider. The fleet master read the details of the Quixxe family aloud and again grated his rear chitin plates in frustration.
‘The matriarch clearly states that one of the young females is a variform soldier capable of breeding and that she should be hidden on my station. So how are we going to do this station master? We could end up being charged with treason and sent to the overlords in chains for the compost heap.’
The station master was ready with a reply and he merely hauled up a request from within the station itself for his superior to read. The fleet master again read out the information before giving a concise order.
‘Our two young Vorinne fugitives are seeking Quixxe artisans to serve them in their quarters. I will supply them the family, minus the larger young female, as servants not slaves and the two young Vorinne will be grateful for the privilege. The young female variform can hide in the Tilmud quarters as I now forbid them access to this station. The Traders have also given me information that will allow the Quixxe to be smuggled away to the outer frontier at a later stage.’
