BOONE NOVA AND THEPIRATE QUEEN

by John E Bujanowski Jr

  The queen’s makeshift battlecruiser, the Ambulas, had successfully decimated one large cargo freighter and two cities – one on the planet of O'bipherion and the other on Efferium which lay over a parsec away in the Xeraxes Star System. She threatened to devastate more cities unless her demands were met. Her demands: 1) The dissolution of the unified governmental system and 2) Boone Nova and Jurias Kwelling be brought to her. Her demands went unfulfilled for the moment. She was forced to flee during a skirmish with Boone Nova and his Night Star, his team made up of his friends, a few trusted High Guard officers, and three of the High Guard’s investigators.

  Boone’s past had finally caught up with him. Despite his previous conflicts with the High Guard, the Court of Primes and Commander J'Dar, the animosity, and hatred he faced from certain High Guard officials was mounting. Those weren’t Boone’s only worries – he was about to be escorted to Kova for wants, warrants, and crimes against a dignitary from a nearby star system called, Pereon, the constellation’s 2nd system.

  Boone feared for his life and his future. For all the good he had done in the name of justice, justice was now working against him. Ironically, as Boone endured the hostilities the High Guard threw at him, he still longed to roam the corridors of the constellation and confront the evil that tried to overtake it.

  Chapter 1

  From a high orbit over the planet Efferium, the Ambulas had bolted from its strategic attack posture over the city of Nepa’pa. Not since the days of the former planetary wars, nearly twenty years ago, had such a strike from space occurred. Neither had such a strike occurred by means of a high-powered laser.

  The constellation had just witnessed a new weapon and with that they learned a new foe had made their presence known. The Pirate Queen was expressing her disdain for the Unified Planetary System and the Court of Primes.

  Boone and his Night Star and Mace’s Kori Dane had successfully deterred the Ambulas from attacking the city further. The queen and her Ambulas headed toward dead space. Fortunately for the Ambulas, its rear deflector panel was still in tack and working properly. It made a quick exit from the orbital path of Efferium and hid its escape from the Night Star, the Kori Dane, and the Sim-Sa Gale.

  “Damage?” Rena shouted.

  “Ma’am!” Juvas replied, gazing at his instrument panels. “Life support malfunction in several places along the top decks… a major hull breach under our bow… Queen! Several laser turrets… damaged! We lost one of our aft cloaking panels…”

  “Ma’am!” Qwi’mae, the queen’s dark-skinned disciple interrupted as she entered the bridge. “They dropped two tracking devices on us! They are somewhere on top of us!”

  Rena glared at her then turned to Das and ordered, “Das! Get two volunteers! Now! Have them suit up and get up there with two of our fastest ships. Tell them to find those trackers, place them on our two ships and launched them toward Axeon! From our present position, they should pass right through the Gorledeon System.”

  Das, who was a large man who had more brawn than anything else nodded and smiled. “OK. Nice plan! So, our volunteers are not going in the ships?”

  Qwi’mae replied, “No, Das.” Qwi’mae nodded to the queen. “I’ll see to it. I’ll also retrieve the volunteers.”

  “Go! Now!” the queen ordered.

  Two of the queen’s volunteers each flew a gunner over the top of the Ambulas. Qwi'mae followed with her personal small space flyer and pointed out where the trackers were as she was the one to notice what the tricky Boone Nova did. While slowly traversing the top deck of the Ambulas they noticed the damage the Night Star had done.

  Large charred holes dotted the surface; metal and steel were ripped apart, bent, and twisted. Though Qwi'mae admired Nova’s craftiness, she too had a disdain for him.

  Once the trackers were found in two separate locations, the two men stepped out of their gunners, each wearing a dark colored space suit. They slowly walked a short span across the Ambulas and pulled the trackers off the deck. They each placed the trackers on their ships and programmed them to fly through the Gorledeon System and ultimately head toward Axeon. The three of them watched the two gunners quickly jet away into the blackness of space and smiled. The men then grabbed hold of Qwi’mae’s ship and she gently brought them into the top egress bay of the Ambulas.

  The Sim-Sa Gale suddenly appeared above the planet Efferium. It had jumped from the O'bipherion Star System and reappeared in the Xeraxes Star System which was 1.37 parsecs away. The newly mounted teleportation device worked flawlessly. The queen’s Ambulas had just fled Boone’s attack and the Gale immediately launched fifty High Guard intergalactic runners to engage the seventy-two remaining pirate space gunners that were approaching the Night Star and the Kori Dane. Everyone on the Night Star and the Kori Dane gazed at the awesome sight.

  The Sim-Sa Gale is the most intimidating battlecruiser in the fleet. Her triangular hull is very long and wide with dozens of floors. Its large wide wings extend outward and add to its enormous size. The bridge or command section is a towering pyramid-like structure which sits on the aft part of the ship and contains many docking bays. The pyramid-like tower tapers and narrows closer to its bow eventually creating a long flat surface. The Gale’s bridge formation was most impressive.

  The queen’s space gunners would be weak, at best, against the speedy High Guard runners launching from the Sim-Sa Gale. In an effort to defend themselves, the space gunners attacked in formations of three ships per group. They engaged the High Guard runners from three separate sides. At first, it seemed futile for the queen’s space gunners but they had previously sent messages throughout the planet the moment the Sim-Sa Gale appeared. Once the initial engagement began, more space gunners emerged from the planet below.

  The Kori Dane was hiding next to a small moon a short distance away. Aboard his ship were two Royal High Guard officers – Gunner and Chopak. They jetted toward the fray, Mace using his laser, Chopak launching small rockets, and Gunner firing the Kori Danes’ phase cannons. They fearlessly engaged a small squadron of space gunners, cutting them down to a handful of ships which eventually fled having been overpower and out maneuvered. After the few ships fled, the Kori Dane sought other targets.

  Boone and his crew – Chief Investigator Lincoln DeKator, investigators Terra Je’en, Phia Sa’vo, and his good friend Jona Kozak watched the fray from a distance.

  The Night Star sat idle in space. Boone sat in his pilot’s seat, Jona sat beside him, and Lincoln, Phia, and Terra sat in the rear cockpit seats. Boone gazed at the Sim-Sa Gale and contemplated the message Captain Eisen just issued him.

  He recalled, “Mr. Nova!” Captain Eisen appeared in his hologram. “This teleportation device is… it’s wonderful! Now! Would you please land your Night Star… uh, Kenos… cargo ship? What am I to call it, Mr. Nova? Docking bay 151. Now! We have a lot to talk about.”

  Commander J’Dar stepped in and personally closed the hologram – he cut Boone off. “Captain, we don’t have a lot to talk about. And don’t listen to that man any further. He’ll trick and mock you just like he did to me at the Court. In fact, the moment he steps on board he is under arrest. He’s not allowed to speak.”

  Captain Eisen glared at him in disbelief. When the hologram ended, Commander J'Dar immediately sent a message to his favorite officer, OPS officer Zayne Brighton. The commander had an important task as Boone Nova was about to board the Sim-Sa Gale.

  Boone tried to hail them again. He had important INTEL to give them but his hails went unanswered. He grimaced and gazed at the awesome sight in front of him – the Sim-Sa Gale launching a host of rockets, phaser fire, and even firing its forward-mounted laser – the first of its kind for a High Guard vessel.

  The queen’s gunners attempted to break through the line of High Guard runners and attack the Gale but none were successful. The flurry of phaser fire and ships exploding then falling toward the planet was a surreal and somewhat horrifying sight.

  Boone’s crew sat
and watched, mesmerized by the display. A few minutes passed, the queen’s gunners soon fled for refuge, the High Guard runners pursued relentlessly, and Boone’s mind drifted to his problems. With trepidation on his face, he slowly and cautiously gripped the flight yoke.

  “Boone?” Lincoln asked, noticing his fear and reluctance. “What are you doing? We’d like to know.”

  Terra, the only one there that truly understood his dilemma, placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. She said, “Boone, listen. I know what you’re thinking. You want to bolt out of here, run, and hide. I know! But listen, I’m here with you. I’m gonna see this through with you. All the way. I will be with you. OK?”

  Phia added, “Me, too, Boone. I’m not going anywhere and just like we talked about before, at the hospital, I’m going to be here for you. OK? What do you say?”

  Lincoln asked, “Boone? What’s going on? You sound like you’re in trouble.”

  Boone looked at Lincoln, Terra, and Phia, “The High Guard has wanted me for years. Now, they have me!”

  Phia said, “Boone! You are under my authority! Remember? ‘I’ took you into custody and…”

  “Phia! They don’t care about ‘your’ authority!” He looked at Terra and Lincoln. “And they won’t recognize your authority, either. My life, my freedom, it all just ended.”

  Boone let out a long and loud sigh. Jona, sitting beside Boone, had his arms folded across his chest with a disgusted look on his face. Disgusted because Boone agreed to return to Kova to answer the warrants issued for him over eight years ago. Jona couldn’t muster a single word of encouragement for him because he had none. Lincoln had to chime in again, fearing Boone would launch out in the other direction and head for dead space or wherever he could find refuge.

  “Boone?” Lincoln gently asked. “Can you talk to me? I don’t really know what this is all about. Do you need my help with this? What’s going on?”

  Boone turned and looked behind him, “I have ‘never committed any crimes against any peoples,’ like the High Guard directive always asks you. In my case, Lincoln, it won’t matter. They won’t even ask me that. I’m hated and it’s because I don’t sit back and watch people get killed or looted in these corridors. I take action. Now, they are gonna find a way to make me pay for it.”

  Boone turned his gaze upon the Sim-Sa Gale and once again let out another loud quick sigh.

  Phia asked again, “What are you going to do?”

  Boone answered, “There’s only one thing I can do.” He flipped a switch, pushed the pilot yoke forward, and slowly proceeded toward the Gale. Everyone except Jona breathed a sigh of relief. Boone was complying. Boone wiped his face and let the Night Star slowly trek toward docking bay 151.

  Boone said, “I think the three of you should get back into your High Guard uniforms.”

  Phia, Terra, and Lincoln agreed and quickly left the cockpit to do so. As Boone gazed at the impressive size of the Gale, he wondered about the trouble he’d find there once on board. He feared Commander J'Dar. It was then the verse came to his mind again.

  “‘He’ is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. ‘He’ keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of His saints. Hmm,” he muttered to himself. “Oh, Lord! I’m in big trouble right now. I hope it’s true – ‘You’ are gonna protect me. Because I’m gonna need it!”

  The verse also made him think of Zay'Geis. Then he remembered something Zay'Geis told him before he left to go on the mission. Boone entertained an idea.

  “Boone!” Zay'Geis said. “With Him, there are no coincidences. Look at all you have done recently. Think about everything that happened. You’ve just gone through many trials, many dangers, and many painful things. You’ve suffered, Boone! How do you explain coming through these things alive? At least in one piece? Do you really think you’re that good or that capable? No, Boone, you are not that good or capable or lucky. No one is. It was the Father. He saw you through it all.”

  He then looked at Jona as they slowly drifted through space toward the Gale. Boone chuckled and thought for a few moments.

  Jona stared and asked, “What? What are you laughing at?”

  “Jona, I don’t know what’s gonna happen to me.” Jona nodded and grunted. “If what my mom says is true, and Dr. Zay'Geis says it, too - about the Lord being a ‘buckler’ then… in theory, I should be OK.”

  “In theory? The Lord?” he asked. “You want me to trust Him, too! Uh!”

  “I’ve got an idea but it’s a really, really bad one. It just came to me.”

  Boone glanced at him while Jona gazed back. “I already don’t like it ‘cause you’re asking me without really asking! What is it?”

  “It’s totally absurd… and… you know? I’m hoping you’ll say no.”

  Jona blared, “Then… then… pfft! I’m gonna say, yes! I’ll do it! Am I gonna fight the High Guard? When we get on board.”

  “What!” Terra shouted. Everyone reentered the cockpit.

  “No,” Boone laughed. They all took their seats again.

  Lincoln said, “You’re in a good mood. Why’s that?”

  Jona answered, “Boone has a very, very bad idea about me and he won’t tell me! He wants me to agree before I even know what it is! Boone! That’s…”

  “No, Jona. I’m gonna ask you, I just wish you’d say, no. That’s all.”

  “Oh,” Jona muttered. He felt better about it. Jona added, “It’s something you ‘know’ I will want to do but I shouldn’t go along with it. I understand. Can you tell me, now?”

  Boone grimaced and sighed as everyone was glued to what he was about to suggest. He glanced at everyone quickly.

  “Jona, I want you to take a space gunner, act like your attacking the High Guard, and escape.”

  Everyone stared at Boone then at Jona. Lincoln asked, “Because?”

  Boone smirked, “I want Jona to infiltrate the queen’s network.”

  Everyone glared at him. Jona’s mouth dropped open at the suggestion but wonder soon began to take over his complexion.

  Terra replied, “No! Jona, don’t! We’ve lost enough in this battle. Boone! I can’t believe you just…”

  Jona answered, “Terra, let me think! I need quiet.” Everyone quieted and Jona gazed out and studied the Gale as they continued their approach. Jona replied, “I know I will be alright, ‘cause I can outsmart them. But, making them believe me? And Boone, how would I get in contact with them?”

  “If the Gale has a gunner, you can take it, some High Guard runners can chase you, and you leave the system.”

  “Toward Adjelon?”

  Boone nodded.

  Terra said, “Adjelon? They are looking at Gorledeon. Not Adjelon.”

  Jona replied, “Terra, we, I mean Boone, Mace, and me all think Gorledeon is just a decoy. Boone has tracked a lot of movements in and out of Adjelon for a long time. We think that’s where her base it. Not Gorledeon.”

  “Well,” she argued, “Cumi was in Gorledeon. Sabin came out of Gorledeon when we came across him last month. I say it’s Gorledeon. Has to be.”

  “Terra?” Boone asked. “Can we do this our way? Please?”

  Terra huffed. Lincoln wondered.

  “Jona?” Boone said. “Now is the time for you to say, no. OK?”

  “I can draw attention to myself by letting the Guard chase me,” Jona muttered. “Hmm. I like that. But, I will need a code word to give the High Guard when I need to report. Or if the High Guard captures me later on.”

  Lincoln said, “I can arrange all that. What’s the mission, though, Boone? Jona?”

  Jona looked at Lincoln sitting behind him and answered, “Find the queen. Kill her. Right, Boone?”

  Boone smiled and answered, “Well, Jona… ah… Lincoln? Want to set it up once we get on board?”

  Terra sunk into her chair and huffed in disgust. They finally arrived at the very large ominous battlecruiser.

  Chapter 2

  Kwelling sat in an enclosed twelve-foot cubicle.
He could hear ASOP hover past his cubicle and down the corridor with a deep resonating sound. “It must be on its way to answer a cube,” he thought. To say he was perplexed would be putting it mildly.

  The many forms of reconditioning were just beginning to take its toll on his mind. The High Guard never wanted anyone to go insane but rather change their minds about the life they choose. The cubicle alone was depressing enough.

  Its floor, ceiling, and walls were of a specific color which ASOP would change periodically to invoke and monitor certain emotions and reactions – not for punishment sake but for reconditioning. Some days the ceiling and walls were dull colors, some days they were bright colors, and some days they were totally dark.

  Kwelling, like many others, had absolutely nothing inside their cells. That alone was punishment enough. Inside his cell was a bed which folded out from the wall only when ASOP allowed it. Instead of a blanket, ASOP would increase the temperature for sleeping. He had a chair inside his cell, though. A sink and commode would appear from hidden panels when Kwelling asked kindly and clearly through a small hole – a COM only ASOP could answer.

  ASOP-1243, an automated surveillance and observation probe, was one of hundreds of robotic probes that hovered about the corridors of the recluse detention vessel known as the Exoteric.

  ASOP was of a most unusual shape, similar to a flying floating praying mantis. It never walks on its legs as its legs also serve as robotic arms. ASOP hovered with a constant soft deep tone. ASOP’s main body was a four-foot tall square box, five inches wide and five inches thick. For a head, it had a small data display monitor attached to the top of its four-foot tall frame which displayed the data needed to function and serve the prison barge. The data display served as a face.