“Well, all righty then, my specialty. What’s the song we need to play?”
“The song is my blood spirit. I must go to Storm Keep. Lord Darnash, You will take me there in our shuttle...”
“I’m goin’ with ya!” Race protested.
“No, Race,” Danielle turned once again to Race and held both of his hands, “You need to stay here. We need you... I need you on this ship. Help Mister Thelix and the others with taking out the energy collector stations.”
“...but...”
“Be still now!” Danielle ordered, “You must not come with me. We need to gain access to the palace once I have had my last Kron’Shulooka.”
Gor’con stepped up to Race and Danielle, “The Empress is right, Colonel Jennings, she must have access to the palace. My Sasquatch army is ready to storm the walls, but we need this energy shield down.”
Darnash silently moved from his station to the exit.
“Darnash,” Danielle stopped him, “Where are you going?”
“To prep your shuttle, my Empress,” Darnash answered coldly.
Danielle paid little mind to Darnash as she acknowledged him, “I shall be with you shortly. I must let them know I have returned. Perhaps I have enough blood song left to add enough confusion that we may slip through their ship detection grid.”
Darnash bowed to his Empress, turned and continued on his way.
“Mister Thelix, open a channel. All known frequencies.”
“Yes, my Empress,” Thelix answered, pressing several buttons on his console. “The channel is open.”
Danielle took another deep breath and opened her eyes, “Attention! This message is to all Houses, Delema, Gornash, and Serintin. I, Empress Danielle have returned to reclaim my rightful place that was given by the council of elders and confirmed by the Houses of Delema and Gornash. I come to you today to lead you into a new era. Those who have taken of my blood oath shall serve me and my blood spirit!”
The radio crackled static for several seconds and then the static ended with several voices breaking in over each other.
“Do not be dismayed, I am alive. Dumakas has deceitfully claimed my death. I am here to tell you, he has lied. I have not traveled to the great beyond, Revein’sev!”
“We’re receiving several acknowledgments, my Empress,” Mister Thelix reported. “Some in support of you, others in support of Emperor Dumakas, and some that have not decided.”
“Pick one of the supporting signals and patch us in.”
“By your command, my Empress... I have one station to the North.”
“Hello?” Danielle began, “Who is on this channel?”
“M-my Empress...” a familiar voice sounded.
“Chelek, is that you?” Danielle asked.
“Yes, my Empress. It is Chelek. Lord Rotheg is standing by as well as Lord Laboolaron.”
“Laboolaron?”
“Yes, my Empress,” Laboolaron answered. “My Empress, I knew you would return to Serintin... our ancient ancestors have answered our cries and delivered you to us.”
Mister Thelix quietly interrupted, “My Empress, we have three cruisers inbound on an intercept course.”
Race turned to Thelix, “Are their weapons hot?”
“Space is a cold place, Colonel...”
“No, no, I mean are they charged?”
“Yes, Colonel, and they are still accelerating.”
“How long do we have?”
“Five minutes, Colonel.”
“My Empress,” Lord Laboolaron said over the comm link, “we are monitoring and will do what we can to intercept. You must come to us here at Storm Keep.”
“You are at Storm Keep?”
“Yes, my Empress. We set up a hidden base here.”
“Lord Darnash and myself will take our leave of this ship. We are coming to you, but in order to speed things up, I need a sample of the adolescent’s blood before it is too late.”
“Yes, my Empress. I am dispatching Rotheg and five warriors at our base to collect the beast’s blood. We hope the creature is not too far in hibernation.”
“You and me both, Laboolaron. There is much I must learn when we arrive.”
“You must hurry, my Empress,” Chelek answered, “We can disrupt the ship detection grid from here, but that will be effective for only a few minutes.”
“Very well, we shall depart in two minutes.”
“We look forward to your arrival, my Empress.”
“Liberator, out!” Danielle shouted and then turned back to Race, wrapping her arms around his neck this time, she leaned close to his lips, “Race Jennings, you take care of yourself now, do you understand me?”
Race gulped as she pressed her lips to his. The two kissed passionately and then broke apart, “You take care of yourself too. That’s an order. Do you hear me?”
“I will, Race. We shall meet at the palace. Gor’con, prepare your warriors. Once the shield to the palace is down, you will storm the walls and take control. Alert Lord Laboolaron once it is safe to return.”
“By your command, my Empress. Mister Thelix, Ruki’ and Race shall pilot the ship, and I shall lead my army to victory. Today we shall retake our heritage!”
Danielle nodded her acknowledgement, turned and ran to the shuttle where Darnash waited for their departure.
“What took you so long, my Empress?” Darnash asked, watching Danielle strap into the seat next to his.
He pressed the commands and closed the shuttle’s door and fired the engines. The small ship flew out of the landing bay.
Danielle entered a few commands on her console, opening the same communication frequency, “Lord Chelek, do you read us?”
“Yes, my Empress, go ahead.”
“We’re heading into the moon’s atmosphere, if you can disrupt the detection grid, now would be a good time.”
“Yes, my Empress, give me ten more seconds.”
“Lord Darnash, hold course and speed until the grid has been shut down.”
“I will not even ask, my Empress.”
“The grid is down, it is safe to enter now,” the voice over the comm link echoed.
Darnash nodded and jammed the control stick forward, “Increasing speed and entering Serintin’s atmosphere, my Empress.”
“Thank you, Chelek. We will arrive in a few minutes.”
“Yes, my Empress, we will be waiting for you.”
“Lord Rotheg is almost to the creature now. He should be making his way back to the Storm Keep outcropping. Meet him there.”
“Yes, Chelek, I will have Lord Darnash inform you once we have landed, Empress out.”
Darnash continued to look forward, not glancing once toward Danielle. She looked at him and laid her hand on his forearm, “Darnash, what is it?”
“I... it is nothing, my Empress. We should concentrate on our task at hand.”
“Darnash, the shuttle practically flies itself. Talk to me.”
“It’s just... it is of no importance...”
She squeezed his arm, “I know what it is, my old friend. It’s Race and I, isn’t it?
Darnash returned silence.
“Do not be concerned, my old friend. We shared something wonderful my last time on Serintin.”
“It can never be as it was, my Empress.”
“That is because you took of my blood spirit. You said yourself it was necessary. Darnash, I still hold those very special feelings for you. But you must understand...”
“It is alright, my Empress, I understand. We can never... you know... be together. I am Antarian, you are Human. I know you are attracted to your own kind... as it should be, my Empress.”
“Race is a special kind of person. I really don’t know how I truly feel about him, or if it is my blood, or this transformation I’m going through... but I have to pursue...”
“You do not need to say more, my Empress. Though I have loved you, my blood lust controls those feelings.”
“Do they?”
; “Yes, my Empress.”
“Because it would appear that you do still feel...”
“...enough, my Empress,” Darnash interrupted, “Please forgive my abruptness, my Empress. But my feelings do not matter. My service to you and my blood oath is all that does.”
Danielle gently squeezed is arm and removed her hand to sit forward.
“We are coming up on Storm Keep. We shall land in two minutes.”
~
Race looked over Mister Thelix’s shoulder at the TAC display, “These three ships are arming weapons. However, the two on this side of us are also arming, targeting the other three.”
“Let’s use that to our advantage, drop us out of orbit.”
“Can you target the space side collectors?”
“That collector array has three battle cruisers and several fighters in support. We would never get a shot off before they took us out.”
“Take us down, then.”
“Yes, Colonel, preparing ship for atmospheric flight...The detection grid has gone down, Danielle’s shuttle has entered the atmosphere and is on course to Storm Keep.”
“Take us to the first energy collector,” Race ordered, “Arm weapons and target that installation.”
Mister Thelix glanced over his shoulder, “Weapons hot,” smiled and then returned to his screen.
“You’re learning, big guy, you’re learning.”
“Target acquired.”
“How soon before we’re in weapons range?”
“The closer we are, the less likely any response will counter our attack.”
“Okay, and the best time would be?”
“Thirty more seconds, Colonel. I have targeted the secondary collector as well.”
“Great. Mister Thelix, any ships in pursuit?”
“No, Colonel. The two warships have intercepted the three cruisers. They have turned away for now. We are in target range for maximum weapons effectiveness.”
“Fire!”
Mister Thelix pressed his firing sequence, sending three missiles toward the energy collector station. The missiles slammed into their targets, exploding on impact. When the dust cleared, the energy complex still stood, undamaged.
“They have constructed some type of energy shield around the collector. Our attack was unsuccessful. Secondary target is hit and has been destroyed.”
“Apparently, they hadn’t finished constructing its shielding.”
“Any damage at all?”
“I’m scanning the perimeter... the shield was unaffected; power continues to feed into the energy grid of the palace.”
“How many strikes you think that thing can take?”
“More weapons fire than we are equipped with, Colonel.”
“Then I’ll have to go in there and turn it off myself.”
“The Empress instructed you to remain here, on this ship.”
“Yes, I know, but I’m a Colonel and she’s only a private.”
“She is Empress...”
“She’s your Empress, she’s my girlfriend. I’m going down there. Gor’con, can you give me five of your men?”
“Yes, Colonel, it would appear you are correct. The only way to shut that power grid down is by the controls.”
“Great! Mister Thelix, set her down a short distance from the palace. Stay hidden if at all possible. I will contact you once we have the power grid down.”
“Gor’con? Get your warriors ready.”
“How do you plan on gaining entrance to the collector?”
“Ingenuity, my good man.”
“Explosives?” Mister Thelix asked, turning to the Colonel.
“Of course,” Race winked, “Come on, Gor’con, let’s get some of your men and supplies loaded.”
CHAPTER THIRTY
________________________
Betelgeuse Sector
Fighter Squadron
Call Sign “Duce”
________________________
Explosions erupted all around the fighters. They darted in and around most, the light shields of the fighters took some damage, but recharged quickly. Major Kurt Phillips flew his bird with grace and confidence.
“Targeting number three bogie,” Major Phillips shouted over his headset, “Target locked! Firing tracer round... tracer contact. Red Neck, your clear for your run!”
“Roger that, Duce, on my way.”
“Target locked,” Captain Simon confirmed, “Jerk Turk, you’re clear for your run too.”
“I got ya, Black Widow.”
“...said the spider to the fly, step into my parlor...”
“Alright, knock it off!” Major Phillips shouted, “Keep it light, but stay focused,” he broke left and pulled back on his stick, “Sketcher, Jazzer, you locked?”
“Rodger, that Duce,” Sketcher reported, “Hoth, make your run!”
“Jazzer’s locked, Duce. Roach Coach, your clear!”
“This is Duce, I’m lining up on our next set of targets,” Major Phillips turned another ninety degrees right and lowered his controls. Spinning the fighter around he locked his target. “Skinner, Felix, keep me and BW clear. Jax, Joker, come in to cover Sketch, and Jazz.”
“Roger that, Duce. We’re on our way in now.”
“Watch your six, BW, you’ve got company!”
“I can handle it,” Rene flung her fighter into erratic, impossible to follow maneuvers. “They can’t get a lock on me. I’m pulling up Z-plus ninety and port sixty. That should take me around to his rear!”
“Be careful, BW!”
“Don’t worry about me, Sir.” Rene pulled her controls and circled around the pursuing enemy fighter. Rotating her magazine, she switched to her fifty caliber, squeezed the trigger and let out a war cry, “Die you bastards!”
Hundreds of fifty caliber rounds walked across the hull of the Antarian fighter, ripping into the engines. The star-hot exhaust flickered through the bullet holes and found the thruster fuel. The burning fuel added to the engine exhaust and bathed the reactor in plasma; the resulting explosion blew the alien machine flying into a million tiny pieces.
“YEEEAAAAH HOOOOO! That’s what I’m talking about!” Rene shouted with elation as she flew through the ship fragments.
“Are you guys coming to the party?” Major Phillips lined up on his target, “Skinner, Felix, where are you?”
“Almost there, Sir, we had a few fighters in the way.”
“Understood,” Major Phillips answered, “Hurry it up, boys, I’m taking fire!”
Rene broke off her target and rotated her guns to the fifty caliber rounds again and turned toward the Major’s fighter, “I’m heading in, Duce. Break off, and realign, I got your six!”
“I’m taking hits!”
“Kurt! Break off!”
Rene’s forward screen ignited with a brilliant flash as she watched Major Phillips fighter explode, “DUCE! Come in, DUCE?”
“Break off, Black Widow!” Jazzer warned, “There’s too many of them, we can’t hold them off much longer!”
Rene yanked her controls. Her fighter flipped a hundred and eighty degrees around. She fired full thrusters, AAAAAH!” she screamed, “DUCE!”
“He’s gone, Rene,” Sketcher added, “Break off or you’ll be next!”
She held her course and increased speed at another approaching fighter, “You bastards!” Rene squeezed the trigger, teeth clinched tight, “AAAAAAAAH!”
“BW!” Sketcher again said, “He’s gone, Rene. You’re the CAG now! We need you, Captain!”
Rene shook her head and yelled again before breaking from her target, “You’re right, Sketch. I know, I know. Okay, people, I’m CAG now! All fighters break off. Regroup at rendezvous coordinates.”
“BW, this is Joker, I’m almost out of rounds. Will have to rotate over to tracer rounds soon.”
“Understood. Skinner, Felix, Jax, and Joker, rotate to tracer. Sketch and Jazz; rotate for fire cover.”
“Roger, BW,” Skinner acknowledged.
“BW, I’m about bingo fuel over here.”
“I know Red Neck. We’re all getting pretty low. We just have to keep this up until we either run out of fuel, rounds, or they come back for a pick up.”
“Understood, BW.”
“Stay focused everyone. ACE Support; we’ve regrouped. Give us a few new targets and hopefully, either the Rock or Excalibur will come for us.”
“Roger, Black Widow, we read you. Stand by for coordinates. I’m sending word to the Excalibur, they’re closer.”
________________________
Betelgeuse Sector
Excalibur
________________________
Captain Rollins held on to his restraint handles, his XO shouting commands as the ship slid into the position the Rock had just vacated.
“Time to jump: one minute, Captain!”
“PDS is online, Sir,” Lieutenant William Bradley reported, “Firing on that vulnerability.”
The Excalibur shook with every round that exploded against her, “Shields are taking another beating, Sir. Down to fifty-three percent.”
“Keep those shields up, Will!” Captain Rollins yelled, “Transfer emergency power to shields!”
“We’re already at maximum output, Sir!”
“Forty-five seconds, Sir,” Lieutenant Rubin Russell counted.
“Sir,” Lieutenant Taylor Fulton began, “We’re receiving a distress call from the Rock’s ACE support. Their fighters are nearly bingo fuel and weapons. Requesting pickup.”
Captain Rollins shot a stare at his navigation officer, “Hopper, is it too late to change jump coordinates?”
“Thirty seconds, Captain.”
“Too late, Captain,” Lieutenant April Hopper answered, “We’re too far into spool, Sir.”
“Twenty seconds...”
“Send word we are unable to respond. Alert the Rock!”
“Aye, Captain,” Fulton acknowledged.
“Ten seconds, Sir.”
“Ruben, same maneuver as the Rock, ninety degrees starboard and fire main thrusters!”
“Turning ninety degrees... Thrusters to max!”
“Three... two... one... Jumping!”
The weapons barrage on the Excalibur’s hull ceased, quieting the internal noise of the ship.
“Position report!”
Warlords Saga Page 74
