The TSB Fleet was grossly outnumbered in terms of starships and firepower. But the one advantage they did have came in the form of the specialized Electronic Warfare Frigates. These frigates had almost no firepower whatsoever, but they each carried the EW capabilities of a super-capital ship. This provided the small, fast frigates some very useful abilities that would help close the gap in firepower, such as creating fake gravity signatures, distorting starship numbers and types, and having the ability to melt sensor and electronic systems at close range. The EW Frigates had been scattered throughout the fleet, while the majority had been placed in screening and flanking positions.
Since it wouldn't be in TSB's best interest to fight a standing battle in range, the fleet would accelerate past the HZBF battle groups while using the EW frigates to mask their actual location and numbers. Once the first pass was completed, they would turn 180 degrees, repeating the tactic in the hopes of slowing the enemy fleet until reinforcements could arrive. The only fault Daniel could find with this plan would be the reliance on reinforcements, which he wasn't positive would be arriving in the first place. He quickly glanced back over his shoulder, switching his display to standard tactical as XO Geoff finished his discussion with the Captain and started making his rounds.
"You ready for this, Lieutenant?" XO Geoff asked as he studied Daniels display.
"Yes, sir. I've been reviewing constantly since the mishap during the first combat simulation." he answered, somewhat honestly.
"Good......make every shot count." XO Geoff became serious as he removed his hand from Daniels shoulder and moved on down the line of bridge officers. Daniel went back to his display, finding a new icon from communications flashing in the bottom right corner. Glancing again at Lt.-Commander Xi, hoping to get an idea of what it was before he opened it, but found she was currently conversing with XO Geoff. His curiosity being too strong to wait...he touched the icon.
"...turn 1.1 by negative .001 and continue current deceleration." Daniel contained his disbelief as the fleet command channel became active. He checked to make sure that his station input was muted and continued to listen.
"Confirmed, TSB battle group one, turning 1.1 by negative .001..." Additional acknowledgements followed the first, as the battle groups turned slightly down and to the right.
"Communications, patch me through to all hands." Captain Aysi called over the bridge, causing Daniel to completely mute the fleet command channel.
"Open, Ma'am." said Lt. Commander Xi, smirking slightly as she glanced over at Daniel, knowing exactly what he was just listening to.
"Attention crew of the TSB Ero'Cia. Grand Duchess Sasha Alutia is safe..." A sudden relief seemed to fill the bridge, a part of the tension easing, but Daniel found he was angry...there goes the enraged father reinforcements, he steamed.
"...she was able to escape on a shuttle and has just arrived at the TSB Fleet Base. In her wake, comes our salvation, two Alutia Battle Fleet battle groups..." Daniel went stiff...would two be enough to counter seven? Fear began to creep to the surface, taking its place next to his growing anger. "...will arrive within the next 12 hours to be placed under Knight Captain Quinn's command. But we have a job to do, our sacred duty, to defend the sanctity of Earth and destroy all who threaten her. Combat operations will begin shortly, may we all be safe and victorious!" Cheers resounded through the bridge as the captain finished, but Daniel's own was dull, lacking heart. A feeling of dread began to overwhelm him, born from the thoughts that they were going into battle for a lost cause, a battle they couldn't win...a feeling that he didn't like.
*********
The ferry shuttle's door slid open and Sasha, quite unlady like, skipped onto the docking platform, stretching her arms while taking a deep breath, happy to be clear of the cramped confines. A squeak of pleasure emanated from her bosom as Terra mimicked her stretch and proceeded to crawl out, circling her body before perching himself on her hip.
The docking bay where she emerged was enormous, having been carved directly out of the gigantic planetoid that made up the TSB Fleet Base. The ceiling and far walls were covered in deep shadow, while the gangways that ran parallel to her docked shuttle, intersecting the docking platform, forked at 30 meter intervals to vanish into the near, smooth grey walls. It was obvious that this dock was meant to handle starships of a much larger size, but Sasha found the enormity pleasing after 16 hours in the tiny ferry shuttle. A small group of TSB officers approached, all in the blue and white formal dress of the Terra Space Battalion.
"Welcome to the TSB Fleet Base, Grand Duchess Sasha Alutia. I am Commander Talan, Commander of the TSB General Training School, we talked briefly earlier." Sasha accepted the bow from the exotic looking older man, with long, brilliant white hair, sharp features, and deep, beady eyes, who led the small group.
The conversation of 20 minutes earlier had provided Sasha an update of the current situation in the Earth star system. She'd missed quite a bit during her 16 hours of isolation. TSB scout frigates had rescued Knight Admiral Bhool and the other crewmen, transporting the survivors to the main TSB Fleet. Sasha and the other ladies almost broke down in tears, yet again, at the news, but smiles and happy giggles emerged instead. But the happiness was short lived. News that seven HZBF battle groups were moving in-system, lead by Duke Zehman himself, had followed. Apparently, the Duke was ignoring all communication requests, replying that he would only talk to the King and that his actions were justified to save the wrongly imprisoned Sir Simwa. Sasha gritted her teeth at the thought, knowing her father could not act. So in his stead, she needed to take steps to solve this crisis...and fast.
Sasha nodded politely to the other members of the welcome party as they were introduced, realizing she wasn't actually listening, then quickly moved aside as a medical team came rushing up the gangway to escort the injured Guard Lieutenant Lia'Sil to the medical bay.
"My companions..." Sasha turned towards her ladies-in-waiting. "...are Lady Tiana, Lady Regalia, and Friend Gil'Da." The three ladies curtsied and Gil'Da looked at her with questioning eyes. Sasha knew many people had certain expectations of noble ladies, thinking it appropriate for a servant to serve...and nothing else. But Sasha found Gil'Da's input refreshing at times, and by using the term friend, a moniker for a common acquaintance to a noble, nobody would try to exclude her from any important meetings. The small group of TSB officers bowed to match their curtsies.
"Grand Duchess Sasha, if you and your companions would follow me, I have rooms prepared. Mind you, they are well below your rank, but they are the best I have to offer." Sasha thought she could see honesty in the old man's eyes, but something else twinkled far beneath.
"Anything is better than the ferry shuttle, Commander Talon." She smiled, taking a step to fall inline beside the older man, but stopped suddenly as she found Regalia grabbing hold of her hand. Sasha leaned over, giving her ear to the noticeably nervous girl.
"Vin needs to talk to you." Regalia whispered. Sasha stared at her for a second, wondering what the Program could want, before nodding and turning back to the waiting welcoming party.
"If you would excuse me, I seem to have forgotten something in the shuttle." The officers bowed once again before she briskly walked the short distance to the docking platform and into the docked shuttle. Vin's sphere was waiting.
"Grand Duchess Sasha Alutia, please remove the device from the compartment below the pilot's seat." Vin's monotone voice sounded immediately. Confused, but seeing no harm in listening, Sasha leaned over the seat, reaching beneath, finding her hand stopped against its solid front. As she continued to search, wondering if something may have gone wrong with Vin during its latest integration, a hole suddenly opened and she found a small square box. Picking it up carefully, she studied its smooth black surface while turning it over in her hands curiously. She frowned, finding it to be just a plan black cube, but as she turned back to Vin, to find out what to do next, she found the sphere having suddenly vanished.
Before
she had a chance to call out, the box clicked and a red light appeared on the top in the shape of a rose. Terra, who had been watching intently from her side, crawled to her shoulder, then hoped down her arm, placing one of his tiny hands on the box. This caused a green light to appear, in the shape of a shield, under the rose with a line of solid white light attaching the two. The box clicked again and Sasha, to her dismay, found it still sealed shut. She stared intently at the two shining lights and thought she could make out a third faded outline of two swords crossed in front of a heart. Suddenly, without warning, Trent's face appeared before her, a face of complete sadness and despair. The image was so vivid that she thought it was real. She was unable to stop herself from reaching out. The cheek she touched was solid and full of heat, the sadness suddenly leaving his eyes at her touch, and confusion taking its place as his face vanished. She heard another click and looked down at the smooth black box to see the symbol of the two-swords crossing a heart light up blue, while another small green image, in the shape of a shield, lit below it, all connected by a thin white line.
Two pure beams of light, one of red and the other of blue, exploded from the larger symbols on the box, colliding directly in front of her eyes. She almost dropped it out of surprise, having never seen anything like it before, as she continued to stare in wonder. An orb of purple formed where the two beams swirled together, completely coalescing. Then, two smaller green beams of light appeared, emanating from the two shield like symbols, piercing the spinning purple mass. Two small green orbs appeared at the spot the beams intersected, breaking free to orbit the now pulsing purple orb. They fed part of their own wispy substance back to the larger orb, as they circled like two moons, faster and faster. Before Sasha could blink, the orbs merged and vanished, a circular object appearing in their place, hovering in a cone of a cleansing clear light. Sasha, without thinking, grasped for the strange, floating object, causing the light to fade and the black box to vanish.
The ring shaped item Sasha held before her was made of a grayish-white metal with a purplish tint. Two small, circular green gems, either emeralds or garnets, were set on either side with a large oval purple gem, an amethyst, adorning the top. She rotated the object in her hands, wonder filling her as she took in the miraculous sight, suddenly realizing that it was, in fact, a bracelet. Without thinking, she carefully slid it over her left wrist, while Terra squeaked excitedly from her bosom, his head peeking out to watch.
The bracelet began to undulate, appearing to liquefy before shrinking, molding perfectly to her wrist, before once again turning solid. She watched in awe, unable to pull her gaze from the exquisite piece of jewelry that now adorned her wrist, noting that only one of the two green gems glowed dimly and the purple amethyst, oddly enough, glowed red. Vin's small sphere suddenly reappeared, but this time, hovering millimeters above the bracelet.
"Integration complete. Arm of the Emperor has been partially activated." Sasha gaped at the small sphere, stunned.
"Vin, what's going on?" She couldn't contain her bafflement as she continued to study the fascinating bracelet, which now appeared to hold the Program Vin.
"A gift from the Emperor has been provided, originally intended to be awarded at your ascension ceremony by the King. But due to the ascension having already occurred when Grand Duchess Sasha Alutia arrived in the Alutia Duchy, this Program decided to present the gift immediately." The monotone voice coming from her wrist caused a strange sensation, similar to a shiver extending to every part of her body. Terra climbed down to her forearm and started to playfully swat at Vin's sphere, which would move the instant before it was touched, causing Terra to squawk in delight.
"Let me get this straight....this is a gift from the Emperor for when I officially become Grand Duchess? And that occurred once I arrived in the Earth star system?" Sasha's voice had regained its normal composure and she started feeling more confident. But still, the entire matter was difficult to fathom.
"Yes, Grand Duchess Sasha Alutia has officially claimed her right by entering her duchy. No official ceremony is now required." Sasha smiled, wondering if her father had known about this.
"Thank you, Vin. What exactly is the Arm of the Emperor?" She assumed it was a housing for a Program, but it didn't hurt to hope for more.
"Currently it is used as a Program link and universal locater. Further knowledge about the Arm of the Emperor is restricted." Sasha nodded her head at her wrist, containing a laugh as she thought of the humor in the strange gesture.
"What is a universal locater?" The sphere shivered in response to her question, then changed color rapidly, before returning to the standard, silver metallic shimmer.
"Information is incomplete. User may be able to track location of certain individuals through its use." She raised her eyebrows as Vin trailed off. If she could track people, the uses were endless. Deciding it would be best to test it sooner than later, she thought of Tiana.
An unnatural sticky feeling engrossed her being as her mind's eye separated from her body, becoming a wispy, slightly foggy image. It quickly glided out of the shuttle and down to the group waiting outside, centering on Tiana. After a few seconds, the vision forcibly returned to her mind.
She released her breath and found her heart beating uncontrollably, sweat pouring off her brow. It was a strange sensation and would take some practice to become accustomed, she thought, but it would definitely come in handy. Discarding the idea of asking Vin about how exactly it worked, she stood, gently persuading Terra to move away from the bracelet and back into her bosom, before exiting the shuttle.
After the second round of bows ended, and Sasha assured everyone that she was indeed, alright, the group moved through the hanger and into the waiting individual transport tubes. A short trip later, Sasha emerged into a very plain square shaped lobby, with blue and white rugs and a set of double doors surrounded by a painting of a planet on the far wall.
"If you would follow me...I'll show you to your room." Commander Talan said with a strange bit of flourish that Sasha found unsettling. They followed the old man as the thick double doors slid open to reveal a massive, square shaped room. The ceiling went straight up, ending well out of sight, while multiple floors circled the walls, leaving the center clear. In the middle of the room stood a small meadow of tightly packed green grass surrounding a small pond, with trees and bushes she didn't recognize growing sparsely around its edge.
"A little piece of home for those that are here at school...." said Commander Talan as he noticed Sasha's look of fascination. They slowly walked down a stone path that circled the meadow and lakes, listening to the commander explain a little about Earth's native foliage, before climbing onto a small platform that slowly started to ascend.
At what Sasha had counted as the fifth floor, the platform stopped, and the group exited. Regalia ran to the edge to peer down at the shimmering blue pond, 25 meters below, with Gil'Da close behind, making sure the young girl didn't get too excited. They slowly walked to the other side of the floor, passed rows of blue colored doors, and stopped in front of one that was slightly different, being colored white like the walls.
"Here we are." Commander Talan said as the door opened and he led them inside. The room was quaint at best. A small four person table and kitchen area was set to the right, while four single-person bunks were lined against the left wall. A washroom could be seen hidden in the back corner, next to a three person couch in front of a low drink table. Sasha turned her gaze to Commander Talon, noticing concern in his eyes.
"It is sufficient, Commander Talan, we thank you for your hospitality...if possible we would like to be alone to freshen up." Commander Talan smiled at Sasha's kind words and bowed.
"As Her Grace commands. I would, however, not recommend leaving the officers barracks, the base is like a maze and it's quite easy to get lost." He bowed again and left the ladies to explore their small room. Sasha sighed, exhausted, and made her way immediately to the washroom.
"I am going to
take a shower......if nobody minds?" Regalia and Gil'Da were busy exploring the kitchen, apparently too engrossed to respond, while Tiana laid on one of the beds, leaning on her elbow, smiling in her direction.
"Would Her Highness like me to wash her royal back?" Sasha shot a fiery glare that caused Tiana to giggle while rolling over, presenting Sasha her backside.
The washroom was smaller than it looked from the outside, but that didn't matter as long as it had a shower with hot water. Sasha stripped off her too tight jumpsuit, placing Terra on the sink and decided against trying to remove the bracelet. She climbed into the tight shower and let the steamy warm water caress her face and run through her silky black hair. The feeling was refreshing and Sasha's thoughts began to wander.
The image of Trent that appeared earlier returned to her mind as she recalled the feeling of caressing his ghostly cheek. With a suddenness that took her breath away, a foggy vision grasped her mind's eye, leaving the bathroom and flying through the interior of the TSB fleet base, before exiting into the darkness of space. The vision accelerated and the stars blurred as she flew through the emptiness, slowing as she approached a beautiful blue world. White, puffy clouds grew before her as she dove into the atmosphere of the planet, imagined wind striking her face.
A majestic blue ocean quickly approached and she dove below its surface, trying to hold her breath, but finding she didn't need to breathe. Darkness enveloped her as she dove deeper and deeper, but before she could panic, the light returned, and with it, the sight of Trent, climbing through a narrow tunnel, his face dirty and uniform ripped.
Something was terribly wrong and Sasha thought she could sense his hidden concern. Trent froze, staring up at her foggy visage, as if in sudden recognition, and started reaching out to her. But the tug to return was too strong and forced her vision back so fast that her body slammed against the wall of the shower, knocking her off balance and causing her to slide to the floor, gasping for breath.
Alutia Rising Page 23
