“This must be corrected,” Jhahnahkan said with resolve. “I must not fail. We must return to Ackturra and correct this wrong by returning my father’s honor that had been lost over this evil and deceitful act. I will become the leader of the high council and overthrow my brother.”
“We must do this carefully and with wisdom, my grandson. We will rely on the power of the master crystal you have formed to help us as a guide for the right path to follow.”
Kate stood up stretched up high to the sky. “Well, this has been a very fascinating story, but we all need to get some sleep. I am exhausted. Come on, we will regroup in the morning.”
“Yes, this has been a lot to take in,” Jhahnahkan agreed. “It will take some time to fully understand.”
The others all agreed that it had been a very long day and decided that they all needed sleep.
Rex and the others lay on the ground by the fire as Rex stoked it up once again to keep them warm through the night.
Kate took Jhahnahkan by the hand and led him away from the others and took him inside Helen’s shack. Helen looked up at the two and smiled then turned and closed her eyes.
Inside the shack, Kate wrapped her arms around Jhahnahkan. “I will comfort you. What Helen has revealed to you must be a shock, thinking that your brother is not your full blood brother must be hard to comprehend.”
“It is only through the need to accomplish this task and make this wrong correct that gives me the strength,” he said, looking into Kate’s eyes.
The two gazed into each other’s eyes, and they felt the love for each other well up inside. Kate held Jhahnahkan’s face, as he did to her in the vision just before she was brought back from the
coma, and planted her lips firmly on his and gave him a very passionate kiss.
* * *
Chapter 11 – Armada
Ackturra
Year: 2983
Jhovahkan stood at the end of the table. All of his war ministers had been assembled. His defense minister was to his right, and the secretary of war was next at the table. All of the other officers were present as well: the director of manpower and personnel, director of the intelligence reporting, director of operations and logistics, director of strategic plans, and finally, the director of weaponry and ship defenses.
Ghaia sat on his left and looked like any proud mother would with her son in such a powerful position.
“I want a complete report on the building of our armada,” Jhovahkan started. “I need to be assured that every department is on track and that we can launch our first assault within three days.”
“That is a pretty aggressive demand,” The defense minister said.
“Silence,” Jhovahkan shouted. “You will not disobey my command!” He continued talking as the veins in his neck stuck out with anger. “The Zelinite are squeezing us at our own sector. We cannot allow them to continue this threat!”
“Your Excellency,” the defense minister began again, “I mean no disrespect. I am only providing you a realistic view. My advice is what you asked for, and that is what I give.” He said this while he bowed his head.
Jhovahkan looked around the room as he spoke. “We will launch our first assault within three days. This will consist of seven of our finest ships and piloted with our finest captains. Their ships shall be fitted with the crystal tuners. We will attack the Zelinite jamming station at sector 523.”
“Sir,” the weapons director chimed in, “I am happy to report the weapons upgrades have all been completed on all ships currently in space dock. We have also been provided a breakthrough in technology. Thanks to you allowing us the use of a power crystal, not only will the approaching ships be undetected by the crystal net but we have a new device that is being developed to even prevent visual detection at close range. We will be able to move in at very close proximity and take out several of their support ships before they will see us.” He said this with a proud smile.
“At last,” Jhovahkan said, throwing his arms in the air, “someone that is competent on my staff! Excellent work! You and your team will be rewarded.”
“Sir,” his intelligence director added, “we already know that the Zelinite fleet at our target sector consists of five destroyers, eight battle cruisers, and a carrier. The remaining support fleets at each secondary jamming station is comprised of three battle cruisers and one destroyer.”
“Yes, we already know this. Tell me something that we do not already know,” Jhovahkan said in an irritated voice.
“We have intelligence regarding their weapons at the main jamming station.”
“And?”
“They have multiple laser turrets at each of the five levels, seven turrets to be exact, surrounding each platform and two torpedo launchers at the top and bottom points of the station.”
“So how do you plan on breaking through that defensive system?”
“That is the best part. The station’s design has a flaw, an Achilles’s heel, if you will.”
“I am listening,” Jhovahkan said with interest as he stroked his goatee.
“Each jamming station is built on a single power source and protected by one main shield generator. This shield generator is fixed just below the five disk levels and provides protection for each turret and the station’s power source. Each time the turrets fire, the shield lowers. The turrets all fire in succession as to reduce the number of times per minute the shield lowers, sort of like a momentary flicker. This was designed to protect all the support weapons. However, the shield generator is exposed and cannot be protected by itself. Take out that shield generator and the station’s power source is vulnerable. They do have a backup generator, but it takes thirty seconds to recharge the station.”
“Excellent!” Jhovahkan exclaimed. “For the rest of you who have yet to impress me of our readiness”—Jhovahkan drew out his dagger from his side sheath and tossed it in the air. As the knife moved end to end, he grabbed it in midair by the handle and slammed it down, burying the tip of his blade firmly into the table—“failure is not an option.” He continued to hold the handle with a clenched fist. “Do I make myself perfectly clear?” He had an evil smile while he looked purposely at his defense minister.
Everyone nodded with acknowledgement. They knew any disagreement could cost them their lives.
Jhovahkan looked around the room, making eye contact with every member present. He removed his hand from the dagger, its blade lodged firmly within the table; he began to pace around the room. His eyes were sunken deep within his head, and they had a strong yellowish-red glaze. He reached into his cloak and took out his master crystal, uncovered the black velvet cloth, and tucked it back within his cloak. He stopped for a brief moment and concentrated on his master crystal. As the crystal began to increase in its yellowish-red glow, he tossed it up into the air toward the center of the table. There, it suspended in midair and continued to intensify in its glow as it hovered over the table and slowly spun around. The mystifying effect of the crystal took over the entire room, and the ministers all fell into a trancelike state.
“Now,” Jhovahkan started, “I will have the cooperation of this entire assembly. I am not here today to ask if we are ready to launch our armada. Rather, I am here to tell you we are ready to launch our armada and to plan our first assault. Our first target will be the Zelinite defense grid and main communication jamming station located at sector 523.”
The defense members, now all under the spell of the master crystal, nodded in agreement with their eyes glazed over.
“My flagship, the Kalentun, will lead the charge. Armed with my master crystal and fitted with the master crystal tuner, all seven ships will be set for an intercept course to that sector under the semblance of the crystal tuning net. We will be invisible on all scans. They will not see us coming. Now, even more powerful with the invisa-sheild technology that the crystals have revealed to us, we will not be detected even when we are in close proximity. Only until we fire our first weapons will the Z
elinite know what hit them.” The ministers continued to nod in agreement, and Ghaia beamed with excitement that she was witnessing her son’s rule.
“We will approach in the star pattern configuration with one battle cruiser at each of the five points. The Kalentun will be at the center of the star pattern and fly just above a carrier. The carrier will be a part of the net and will be capable of carrying two hundred fighters. Once the fighters are launched, our net will be broken, and we will become vulnerable. So as a precaution, there will be a shuttle flown, one by each approaching ship. The shuttles will be small enough that they will not be detectable on enemy scanners. They will fly to the five destroyers and attach on the enemies hulls and will be packed with nuclear plasma charges. Each pilot will be retrieved by my master crystal via teleportation vortex. Once destroyed, the remaining eight battle cruisers and their carrier will be easily destroyed using ram shields and the two hundred fighters. Even with the jamming station outfitted with their armaments, once the support ships have been eliminated, the station too will fall,” he said with an evil grin on his face. He continued to pace the floor, looking up slightly as if he was seeing the battle unfold before him. “It will not be easy. We will suffer casualties, a necessary sacrifice for the success and victory of Ackturra.”
Jhovahkan’s master crystal was pulsating and glowing with every word he uttered, and his ministers gazed forward with blank stares on their faces as he continued with his battle plans.
“Two additional smaller fleets will be dispatched to sector 521 and 525, the two very farthest jamming stations on either side of their defense grid. They shall engage those sites at the same time we strike the first. Once the main site has been demolished, the main fleet will split off, forming two separate fleets, and will embark on the two closest jamming stations that are left, 522 and 524. This will wipe out the entire Zelinite threat in our space, and communication will once again be open. Once we have taken them all out, we will regroup back at Ackturra, resupply our vessels, and disembark on the Zelinite home world. It is there that we will engage them and destroy all Zelinite once and for all—forever,” Jhovahkan said with a shout and a laugh as if already victorious.
He reached out his arm toward his master crystal, and it immediately flew across the room, and it landed with a smack in the palm of his hand, which made the sound of one very loud handclap. The crystal dimmed as if a light switch had been turned off. He carefully wrapped it back up with his black velvet cloth and carefully returned it inside his cloak close to his heart.
The room returned to normal, and the defense minister’s blank gaze vanished. They all looked around the room at one another, wondering to themselves what had just happened.
The speaker on the table’s intercom system buzzed and came to life. “Sir, I must interrupt you,” one of Jhovahkan’s aides said.
“Yes, what is it?” he answered, obviously annoyed at the interruption.
“We are receiving a transmission from the Telenian, sir.”
“Patch it through to me here on the main view screen,” Jhovahkan ordered.
“Yes, sir, one moment while I reroute.”
“This is Panru, captain of the Telenian, reporting,” Panru said as the view screen came to life with a fuzzy image.
“Did you apprehend Tamika?”
“No, sir, I am sorry to say that the Crytore was destroyed,” Panru said with his head bowed low.
“I am sure she put up a fight.”
“Yes, sir, we ran into a Zelinite fleet when I began to overtake the Crytore. She fought valiantly at our side with honor, but there were too many of them and too strong for us. We did manage to take out a destroyer and two battle cruisers, but the last cruiser got away. The damage to the Crytore was extensive, and she had a reactor breach. All was lost. There were no survivors,” Panru said, concentrating the best he could to conceal his treason from his superior.
“You must have succeeded in destroying the jamming station you passed by.”
“Yes, but first we made our way to Karillia to finalize our alliance with them. Then we headed back to the first station with help of the Karillians, knowing that the fleet we encountered came from that farthest station. We took out that station and are now returning to Ackturra.”
“Maintain your position,” Jhovahkan ordered. “We are about to launch our armada at sector 523. You will rendezvous on the far side of that sector and wait for your command. You will draw fire out from the station while we approach.”
“Yes, sir, I have more to report, Your Excellency.”
“Go on.”
“After we formed our alliance with Karillia, they agreed to assist us with our war efforts. He dispatched his number one defense minister, Quasarvores of Alcyone. We have a fleet of five ships with us. We will have no problem taking out another jamming station before your arrival at sector 523,” Panru said with pride.
“No, you will wait. If word gets out of our assault, they will dispatch more ships. We need to follow the plan I have set out,” Jhovahkan said with authority. “I must leave now for another pressing matter. Stay online and my defense minister will brief you of the battle plans.” Jhovahkan turned to his defense minister. “Make the necessary alterations to my plan I have laid out since the station at sector 521 has been eliminated, and now you shall plan to move up our attack from seventy-two hours to twenty-four hours in order to maintain the best possible element of surprise.”
“Yes, Your Excellency, by your command,” his defense minister acknowledged, bowing his head.
Jhovahkan left the planning room with Ghaia. The two walked down the long corridor, Jhovahkan with his hands rested behind him and Ghaia with her arms flowing with great pride as she strode.
“Do you detect any deceit from Panru, my son?”
“Yes, I am certain that Panru is holding something back. He is not being completely truthful. I do sense deception.”
“We shall have to keep a close eye on him, or shall we remove him from command?” Ghaia said, attempting to manipulate her son.
“No, Panru will not be any trouble as long as he is with the fleet. I do sense some deceit. He is not being completely truthful. However, I am certain that he will not attempt any treason while he remains with the fleet. I will be watching him—closely.”
“Perhaps it would be better to have him return to Ackturra so he could be escorted to the Crystal Caverns. If he had a power crystal, you could keep a closer eye on him.”
“No, Mother, you will not interfere with my plans. We will continue as I have planned,” Jhovahkan said, stopping his mother. He turned toward her and looked into her eyes and placed one hand on her shoulder. “Do I make myself perfectly clear, or do I have to keep a closer eye on you?” He raised an eyebrow.
“By your command, my son,” Ghaia said with trepidation.
“You shall be mindful of your place, Mother. Do not forget that I am the leader of Ackturra.”
“Of course you are, my son. I have not forgotten that at all,” Ghaia said as she broke away from his grip and continued to walk down the passage. “Do not forget who put you in your position either. I am the high priestess.” She then left Jhovahkan standing in the corridor.
* * *
Telenian Command Center
Year: 2983
Panru stood on the bridge of the Telenian and gave a sigh of relief as the com system faded away and communications were terminated with Ackturra.
“That was harder than I thought it would be,” Panru said.
“Do you think he suspects anything?” his first officer asked.
“I would be a fool if I thought he did not feel deception,” Panru said, turning to his Karillian guest. “There is much we must talk about Quasarvores. XO, you have the bridge. Plot a course to sector 533, move the fleet there, and wait for my orders.”
“Yes, sir,” the first officer acknowledged. “Helm, lay in a course to sector 533, one-half impulse. We do not need to arrive too soon.”
The Karillians had round blue eyes that were like two pools of water. Their fine, straight brown hair is worn in a style that would remind you of a pair of wings. There stature was very short with a lean build. Quasarvores’s skin was light colored, which was common for most Karillians. They had a dome forehead and thin lips. His wardrobe was strange looking which consisted of a lot of black and gray.
Panru and Quasarvores left the bridge and headed toward Panru’s quarters. The first officer relayed his captain’s orders to the rest of the Karillian fleet. They changed course and turned their ship’s direction and slowly began to make their way to sector 533.
Quasarvores was led by Panru down the ship’s main corridor. They stopped outside of Panru’s door. He pressed a few buttons, the door slid open, and the two entered the room. The door swiftly closed behind them. As they entered the room, their presence triggered the computer to increase the lighting to the captain’s preset desired setting.
“So tell me, Panru,” Quasarvores asked, “do you really know what happened to Tamika and the Crytore?”
“The last thing we heard was Tamika had given the order to jettison the core. Their ship was on a runaway. I am guessing that one of their injectors was damaged in the battle with the Zelinite,” Panru said as he motioned the two to sit on the lounge. “She radioed to circle back for an emergency pickup. That was the last thing we heard. We saw the explosion, and we were caught in the subsequent shock wave. We were lucky we did not sustain any damage ourselves.”
“You say there was no wreckage? No debris field?”
“That is correct,” Panru answered with a puzzled look on his face. “The ship just vanished. We did detect traces of decaying tachyon particles but no sign of the Crytore, nothing.”
“Tachyon particles you say?”
“Yes, strangest phenomenon. I have never seen anything like it before,” Panru said as he offered a drink to his new friend.
“Tachyon particles have been used by our people in time-travel experiments,” Quasarvores said, reaching out to take the glass that Panru was offering. “We never had any success with that. Very unstable and unreliable, so we eventually abandoned our research.”
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