Gor’con looked into Danielle’s eyes. She moved closer to the old Antarian and held her hand up to his. She placed her hand gently on his and pulled the dagger back, “Do not injure my friend!”
“My apologies, my Empress, the others were right about this one. He does tend to get on one’s nerves.”
“Put the dagger away, Gor’con, lest I send you to Revein’sev myself.”
Gor’con smiled at Race and then sheathed the blade, “Let me carefully review one section, my Empress.”
Gor’con walked, using his staff, a few sections to his left. The rod echoed across the crimson guild with each step. “Here it is; this does say.”
“Do the humans help us return to Antares?”
“Yes, they do, but I am afraid there is more to tell you.”
“I’m listening, Gor’con. What else must I do?”
“This battle, my Empress, it will not be easy.”
“Easy?” Danielle snickered, “Nothing on this trip’s been easy.”
“You are about to learn a truth.”
“I can take it, already. What?”
“You do not know, my Empress, do you?”
“What is it, Gor’con?”
“You must face Emperor Dumakas.”
“You must have read that wrong,” Danielle nodded, “We saw him fall to his death from Storm Keep.”
“What you saw, you surmise that he fell to his death.”
“Are you saying the Blood Scroll tells us he survived?”
“What is written here is that Emperor Dumakas will fight three battles with the female warrior.”
Danielle counted in her head, “I’ve battled Dumakas twice with sword, and he fell from Storm Keep on the second.”
“The Blood Scroll cannot be in error, my Empress.”
“Does it say what happened?”
“Only that he fell form the precipice. It states he was bruised and broken, but not dead. The winds of the Keep saved him from falling to his death. He was freed by blood, and returned from Revein’sev by blood.”
“Tumaleka!”
“You think she rescued him, my Empress?” Darnash asked.
“It has to be. If this scroll is right, he is trying to regain power!”
“There is one more battle you must win before you can defeat the Emperor.”
“I think he speaks of the female Boreshog creature, my Lady,” Darnash added. “It will be more than three cycles since your return. She vowed to kill you if you did.”
“Well, I’ll just have to avoid going to the Trenches.”
“The creature will seek you, my Empress,” Gor’con said, pointing to part of the text.
“I have dealt with the female beast; she will not pose a problem.”
“How can you be certain, my Empress?”
“She has a telepathic link with the creature,” Darnash added.
“Is this true?” Gor’con’s eyes widened under raised eyebrows.
“It is true. I tamed the female Boreshog from the Valley of Trenches. I commanded her to fly us to Storm Keep. She is the creature that provided a clue to your whereabouts on Earth.”
“You tamed the Boreshog?”
“Yes, on three occasions. The first is when I was captured and held in its lair. That’s when I made first contact with the creature. I knew she couldn’t harm me because of the Blood Spirit.”
“So, this is after your partook of Kron’Shulooka.”
“The blood song gave me the ability to read her thoughts. The second time is when I commanded the creature to fly me to the adolescent. When I saw Darnash and his team in peril I begged her to rescue them. When we did reach the young creature...”
“...Dumakas had already killed it!” Darnash spat.
“...and the third?” Gor’con asked.
“The third time is when I commanded the creature to take us to Storm Keep, and then on to find my wings of swords for the clue. A gift provided by Tumaleka. The old Antarian’s kindness fooled me, until I began to see inconsistencies. I could feel her slipping from my hold.”
“It was Dumakas’ blood that drew her away from you, my Empress.”
“At least I now understand her part in all of this.”
“Yes, yes,” Gor’con nodded, “That is what it says here, as well. There is one more thing you must know.”
“Yes, Gor’con?”
“Dumakas has traveled back from Revein’sev. He has communed with the others.”
“The ancient ones?” Thelix asked.
“They are not who you think they are, Mister Thelix. They are what manifests the song. They are what must be defeated with Bron vis’Ka.”
“The ones within Revein’sev are not our ancestors of the ever-lands?”
“No, sadly, they are not. They are ones controlling the song. You must have Dumakas partake of the Bron vis’Ka.”
“That might be a challenge, Gor’con.”
“No matter the cost, my Empress, you must have Dumakas take of your blood. That is the only way to reverse the effects of the Kron’Shulooka. The blood spirit is very strong. Its song sings to every Antarian; even now, I am compelled to help you anyway that I can.”
“I am already feeling this cycle wane.”
“You will have to partake of one more cycle, my Empress. The Bron vis’Ka will not manifest until then. Since Dumakas is the only one who has ever returned from Revein’sev, his direct link to them will break the connection once he his cleansed of the Kron’Shulooka.”
“Okay,” Race said, raising his hands in the air, “Can I make my call now, huh?”
________________________
Earth Orbit
The Rock
________________________
“Sir,” Lieutenant Henderson reported, “I’m getting a signal, Sir.”
“A signal?” Jed asked, “Who’s it from?”
“It’s very faint, Sir, but I think he said he was Colonel Jennings.”
“Put it up, already!”
The distorted radio crackled a familiar voice, “I repeat, this is Colonel Jennings. Admiral Fitz, do you read me?”
Malcom stepped forward, “It’s Artemis...I’ve made contact... They’re all fine!”
“Race!” Jed exclaimed, “Boy oh boy, it’s good to hear your voice, my ol’ friend.”
Cheers rang out across the deck of the CSC as they heard from their missing team.
“Admiral, this is incredible. I can’t begin to tell ya what’s happening down here,” the radio continued to distort, “but it’s pretty awesome, Jed. You’re never going to believe me.”
“You’re not giving me a chance to believe you, Colonel. Slow down and tell me, what’s your situation?”
“The situation is good, Sir. I’m with Danielle, she’s fine, Sir. We’re all fine; Lord Darnash, Artemis, Mister Thelix, we’re all good, Sir.”
“Good news, Colonel. We were about to drop in for a visit.”
“I know we cut it a little close. Did we miss much?”
“No, not much,” Jed rolled his eyes.
“We can exchange stories later, Sir,” Race urged, “Right now, we need to arrange for a pick up and to get us debriefed.”
“What coordinates do you want us to send a transport to?”
“I’ll have Artemis relay that to Chief Kelly in a moment, Sir. Then we can make preparations to return to Antares.”
“Wait, what?” Jed said, coming to the ends of his restraints, “Could you repeat that, Colonel?”
“You heard right, Sir. We gotta get Danielle back to Serintin and fast.”
“I think there’s quite a bit we need to discuss, Colonel.”
“Yes, Sir. The sooner you send the transport, the sooner we can get you up to speed.”
“I’ve got the coordinates, Sir,” Lieutenant Henderson reported.
“Relay them to the Chief and get the transport launched in five!”
“Yes, Sir, Chief Kelly has already received the coordinates from Artemis, Si
r.”
“I’ll never get used to this telepathy thing,” Jed sighed.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
________________________
Serintin Orbit
Dumakas’ Flagship
________________________
“Helm, hold your course while the remaining fleet assembles,” Dumakas barked.
“Yes, my Lord,” Ker answered.
Tumaleka, next to Dumakas at his command center, leaned close, “Do you think it was a wise idea to use Empress Danielle’s bridge crew as your own?”
Dumakas leaned close to Tumaleka’s ear to answer, “It is none of your business, who I choose as my bridge crew, and as far as I am concerned, Empress Danielle is dead!”
“They followed her blood song, my Grandson. Perhaps they are still loyal to her calling?”
“They renounced her blood song and follow mine now, old woman.”
“How can you be certain, Dumakas? Perhaps you need another visit with our ancestors before we disembark?”
“Do not be ridiculous, old woman! Ma’har partook of the blood oath and swore to serve me! They have no choice but to serve my commands.”
“Do not be fooled by old ways, my Grandson, this is a new time we are entering.”
Dumakas sneered at Tumaleka, “Ma’har!”
“Yes, my Lord?” Ma’har obeyed, turning in his seat.
“Stand before me!”
“Yes, my Lord,” Ma’har answered, before rising from his seat.
Dumakas looked down at the Antarian, “Did you not swear a blood oath to serve my every command?”
“Yes, my Lord, I swore my blood oath and partook of your song.”
“And you will carry out my every order, is this not also correct, Lord Ma’har?”
“Yes, my Lord, every order will be executed to the best of my abilities to serve this administration.”
“Unsheathe your dagger, Lord Ma’har!”
“Yes, my Lord,” Ma’har answered drawing his blade, the sound the metal sang as he pulled it across his metal sheath.
Dumakas looked over at Tumaleka and smiled, “Place your weapon at Tumaleka’s larger heart!”
“Dumakas!? What are you doing?” Tumaleka shrieked as she backed away into her seat.
Ma’har placed his weapon at the point Dumakas instructed and waited, pressing enough for her to feel the tip of the blade, “What are your orders, my Lord?”
Dumakas studied his Grandmother’s reaction and sneered, “You are a seer, old woman, what happens next? Do I instructed my loyal servant to pierce your heart, or do I have him return to his duties?”
“You of all Antarian’s should know it does not work that way! Now, instructed him to remove this blade from me at once!”
“I will not, old woman. Ma’har, press the tip of your weapon a bit harder, maybe that will help convince this old woman to answer my questions?”
“Dumakas, you do not have to do this!”
“Answer my question, old woman!”
“You will not send me to Revein’sev this day, I have not seen it, Dumakas! Now have him return to his post at once!”
“Press harder, Ma’har!”
The tip of his blade moved through her first layers of fur and skin, Tumaleka screamed in pain, “Make him stop, my Grandson, why are you doing this?”
“You are an old woman and cause me no end of irritation; this is why I do this, my Grandmother!”
Blood oozed from the wound the blade created, the stain spreading across her garment. She grabbed Ma’har’s arms and tried to relieve some of the pressure as she cried out in agony, “Dumakas!”
The former Emperor sneered once more at his Grandmother and then nodded, “Ma’har, you may return to your post!”
Ma’har removed the dagger, sheathed it, and moved to his station. Tumaleka grabbed her chest and squeezed her wound.
Dumakas leaned close to Tumaleka’s ear once more, “Perhaps you will not question me in the future.”
Tumaleka’s Nanites began to close the wound, leaving only the blood stain on her garments. She sneered back at Dumakas, “You should consider yourself lucky, my Grandson. I am the one who saved you. Are you so quick to forget that it was I who brought you back from Revein’sev?”
“I have not forgotten,” Dumakas leaned forward, “but I also do not forget it was you that put Empress Danielle in power, and stripped me of my authority over Antares.” He sat back, “Ma’har, give me a status report.”
Tumaleka cut Ma’har off from delivering his report, “It was not I, Dumakas. It was the ancient writings coming to pass. I merely pointed it out for all to see.”
“Bah! Ma’har, your report!”
“Yes, my Lord,” Ma’har answered, glancing toward Tumaleka and then back to his console, “The first fleet is falling into formation. Of the first eighty, thirty ships have outfitted for the scalar attack. The ten reserve ships will be on standby for either telepathic inhibitor or scalar burst. Ten ships are prepared with the inhibitor and are positioned among the ships to provide the best scatter pattern possible. It will take two minutes to spool the initial EMP burst. The second fleet is half assembled, and the third is ready and standing by.”
“Why is the third fleet ready before the first attack wave?”
“It was by design, my Lord. I started prepping the third and second fleets so when the first was configured, we would be ready to launch.”
“...and what is your launch time, Lord Ma’har?”
“We will be ready for our first attack in three hours.”
“Excellent, Ma’har, you are earning increased favor with me with every moment.”
“Thank you, my Lord,” Ma’har bowed from his seat, “I should caution you that these two minutes could still pose a significant threat. They will launch fighters at our fleet.”
“Hmmm, yes, I suppose you may be correct. Have our first fleet jump to a position that will cause the fighters to draw out from the main fleet, but close enough to still be in targeting range.”
“Yes, my Lord,” Ma’har made the necessary calculations.
“Once we fire our first burst and jump out, the second fleet will jump in front of our previous position, cutting the fighters off from their ships.”
“Very well, my Lord. I am programming and sending the fleet our new jump coordinates.”
“Let all three fleets know that my Flagship will remain at Betelgeuse until all three waves have successfully deployed their attacks.”
“Are you sure this is a prudent move, my Lord?”
“Do not question me, lest I instruct you to stab your own hearts!”
“I meant no disrespect, Lord Dumakas; I was simply confirming your orders.”
“That had better be all, Ma’har. Do not be a gorech and mistrust my actions. This ship is equal to five of our largest destroyers. We shall hold our own!”
“Yes, my Lord, by your command.”
“I wish for an all systems check,” Dumakas ordered, and then leaned forward toward Ma’har, “We will not be using scalar weapons, rather conventional. Our ship will provide as much cover for each arriving fleet as we can.”
“Yes, my Lord. I have finished transmitting our new orders.”
“Very well done, Lord Ma’har.”
“Thank you, my Lord. We will taste the victory of our blood lust today.”
________________________
Earth Orbit
The Rock
________________________
Lieutenant Henderson looked up from his console, “Sir, we’ve completed docking with the Excalibur.”
Jed heard the clunk of the hulls connecting, confirming the report. He stood and made his way to the CSC exit and paused, “Commander Jameson, you have the con. Please have the transport land immediately. I’ll meet you in sickbay when I return...and tell Doctor Lambert he’s got a patient coming in to be examined!”
“Yes, Sir,” Commander Jameson snapped a hardy salute.
Jed walk
ed out of the CSC and headed to the hard seal. He tapped his headset, “Henderson, get me Commander Rollins.”
“Yes, Sir,” Henderson replied in his ear.
The headset crackled before Commander Rollins voice broke in, “Rollins here, Sir.”
“I’m on my way. Take me to Admiral Gilmore, A-SAP!”
“Yes, Sir. I’m already at the airlock waiting for you, Sir.”
“Good man,” Jed picked his pace up and came to the airlock where a Marine guard was posted, “Are we sealed, Corporal?”
“Yes Sir, the airlock is pressurized.”
“Open it.”
The Marine turned the wheel and then pulled the latch, swinging the door open. The causeway revealed a short distance to another door that was opening. Jed returned a salute to the Corporal before entering, “Carry on.”
“Yes, Sir,” the guard stood to attention in front of the ship opening.
Commander Rollins stood to greet Jed as he walked the short corridor before the two shook hands.
“Welcome aboard, Admiral,” Rollins said giving a sharp salute.
Jed lazily returned the gesture, “Let’s go, Commander.”
“Right this way, Sir.”
Jed’s earpiece squawked once more, “Sir, the transport will dock in twenty minutes.”
“Great, thanks for the update, Lieutenant.”
“Yes, Sir, anytime, Sir,” Henderson answered.
Jed tapped his earpiece as they rounded the last corner to the brig. Commander Rollins tapped his code on the security pad, followed by a clicking sound as the door snapped open.
Inside revealed several rows of cells protected by titanium alloys. The ships cameras covered every corner of the cell block. Jed wasted no time and stepped over the coaming, followed by the Commander.
“Close it,” Jed instructed.
“Yes, Sir,” Rollins pointed at two marines, who stepped out of the room and closed the door.
“Jed looked up at each camera, “Turn ‘em off.”
“Yes, Sir.” Rollins typed a few commands on a wall console and reported, “They’re off, Sir.”
Jed stepped to the cell Admiral Gilmore occupied, motioning Rollins to open the door.
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