by Terry Frost
“Thank you for letting me know, Commodore. Find Captain Slain and tell him I have given the order to try and rescue the colonel. Have him load another hornet on the Striker, and tell him to take Major Hoser along with you and him on the mission.”
Jeeves said, “Thank you, Admiral. I’ll do that immediately, sir.”
The commodore turned towards the elevator and just before stepping into it, Allen said, “Commodore, if the Striker jumps back to the blue planet and you find yourselves in the middle of Hive activity ,you’re number one priority is the Striker. You will immediately abandon the rescue until we can ascertain there is no Hive threat in the area. Do I make myself perfectly clear, Commodore?”
“Perfectly, Admiral.”
An hour later the Striker had exited Colossus’s hangar bay, and Captain Slain turned his Battlecruiser in the direction of the jump. But before he could jump, he received a call from Rear Admiral Petrov.
“Captain Slain.”
“Captain, Petrov. I’m positive you have already received your orders for the recovery of Colonel Hammer. I’d like to add to those orders, Captain.”
“Yes, sir?”
Commodore Jeeves is the ranking officer aboard your ship but I fear his loyalty to Jak might cloud his judgment during the process of recovery. Your orders from me, are in no way are you to jeopardize the Striker. We only have two Battlecruisers and can’t afford to continue on with our mission with just one cruiser.”
“Just so I’m clear on your order, sir. You are telling me to counter any order given by Commodore Jeeves if he isn’t listening to reason if we have to abandon the search.”
“Correct. But remember this too. In my mind, you are just as important, if not more, than the Striker.”
Kenner was surprised that Rear Admiral Petrov just said what he did, and thought well I’ll be damned. Looks like General Dubois isn't the only one who has his own favorite boy.
“Thank you, Admiral. I will do everything in my power to retrieve Colonel Hammer and return the Striker home.”
After disconnecting, Captian Slain checked that Commodore Jeeves and Major Hoser was ready to jump, satisfied they were he turned forward and the Striker jumped.
****
Caid Tikik, Burseq Maalik, and Science Officer Faadin had given their arguments on the subject of Prince Gorvik’s disappearance to King Gaakin and were waiting on his decision about where to begin looking for him off world.
The commander of the Daakie military was not pleased with his subordinate Maalik arguing his point about the prince and the Venic woman being, or wanting to be, betrothed. Though King Gaakin thought it was highly questionable that the Humans took the prince, he decided to give his commanders his authority to find the Human ship to see if his nephew was on board.
Looking straight into the eyes of Caid Tikik he said, “You are ordered to find the Human ship, and see if what you are accusing them of is true. But you will not engage the Humans in any kind of military action. Do you understand my order, Commander?”
“I do, Your Grace. We will ask if they will allow us, along with their people, to search the Colossus. As Burseg Maalik suggests it is possible the prince and the Venic woman are stowaways.”
“If I may, Your Grace?” asked Maalik.
“Speak, Burseq.”
“How do we know where they went? Did Admiral Allen discuss with you about the direction they were heading? And if we find them what are your orders if the Humans will not consent to a search?”
“ During mine and the admiral’s visit I gave him a list of systems we have explored, and once he had time to study the map he was gracious enough to tell me the system they would begin searching for their new homeworld.
“If they do not concede to a search, then I will be suspicious of them declining to help us find my nephew, and as you three know, it is not wise to decline a request from your king. Go now and make ready your voyage. Faadin, you will go with them.”
“As you wish, Your Grace.”
****
Back on Planet Ogre, the three Humans had completed their arduous three-mile journey back to the edge of the forest and the beach where Jak was forced to land the hornet. But when they laid eyes on the ship it was surrounded by three arachnids that were bigger than the hornet.
To Jak, the arachnids looked a lot like giant scorpions, but instead of a single stinger, they had two, and four claws like a King Crab. They were busy trying to dismantle the hornet and occasionally would turn on each other trying to gain authority over the other. Colonel Hammer wasn’t quite sure what they were going to do about the scorpions but knew he had to stop them from totally destroying the hornet.
The beacon on the ship was the only source available for sending a signal into space so they could be tracked by anyone searching for them from Colossus. His first order was for Junal to shimmy up a tree and stay out of sight. With a frightened look on her face, she started climbing.
“What are your orders, Jak?” Prince Gorvik asked.
If he was scared he didn’t show it and Jak admired him for that. He looked at the hornet and the scorpions and decided they were too far away for the quassrifles to be effective, so he said to Gorvik, “We have to get closer, follow me and stay in the forest until we get into position.”
Jak motioned for Gorvik to follow him and they began their trek to an area Jak would deem close enough to fire upon the scorpion look-a-like arachnids. The hornet was two-hundred feet from them and it was imperative they stay hidden until they reached the firing point.
As they were walking the Striker came out of its jump and slowed. In a matter of seconds, they received verification of Colonel Hammer’s downed hornet.
Pointing at the screen Major Hoser said, “There, Captain.” But in an instant, the signal went dead and they hadn’t had time to pinpoint the hornet.
“Speaking to Commodore Jeeves, Slain said, “We lost the signal Commodore and I can’t seem to get it back.”
“I have the general coordinates in my neuro-processor. I’m going to take the shuttle down to the surface.”
“I’m going with you, Commodore,” Hoser stated.
“Negative, Major. They may not be present at the hornet and I might have to search for them on foot after I have exhausted a sweep with the shuttle.”
“What do you searching on foot have to do with me not assisting you?”
“On foot, you could not keep up with me. I can cover more ground if I don’t have to wait on you. I can walk six times faster than any Human and can run up to fifty point eight miles an hour.
“You are ordered to stay with Captain Slain in case he should need your assistance should the Hive suddenly appear in Striker’s space.”
Major Hoser looked at the captain for some help but got none. Instead Captain Slain said, “The Commodore is right, Major. If that were to happen I will need you to fire the Ion cannons.”
Jeeves left the cockpit before either man could say another word. Less than thirty seconds later Jeeves informed the captain he was departing the Striker.
Chapter 32
Now in position and less than fifty yards from the giant scorpions, Jak whispered to Prince Gorvik saying, “We are going to concentrate our fire on the one closest to us and facing towards the ocean. I don’t know if the rifles have enough punch to penetrate their armored exoskeleton, but fire on the count of three. By the way, if the rifles don’t make much of an impact and they turn their attention to us…”
“I know, Colonel Hammer. Climb a tree.”
“Ready, one, two, three.”
The quassrifles were set to send ten bursts of projectiles each time the trigger mechanism was pulled. Each rifle’s canister held one-hundred rounds, and the two shooters were probably going to need every last projectile in the canister.
Their target made a loud screeching noise, turned from the sea, and looked in Jak and Gorvik’s direction. The other two stopped fighting and walked over to the injured one and stood on either side
of it.
“Oh, shit, that ain’t good. Let’s put two more bursts into the one we already shot, and do the same with the one on your left and I will hit the one on the right.”
They sent the bursts to the already injured one and he crumpled to the sand, rolled over on its back, while moving its legs in the air, then went motionless. Both men began hammering the other two, but they were advancing rapidly in their direction.
“Climb, Prince, and on the double.”
While climbing himself, Jak said, “We will shoot down on them.”
Just as the words came out of his mouth, Jak heard the familiar sound of a ship of some kind breaking through the stratosphere. He couldn’t make out what kind of ship it was because of the dense foliage on the tree.
Jak’s target was the first to make it to the base of the tree, and when it stood up on its back legs and reached up to try to grab him in its pinchers, they were only inches from his feet. He turned his rifle down and let go two more bursts, catching the scorpion in his compound eyes and top of its head.
The creature let out the now familiar loud screeching sound and took off back in the direction he came from. Jak looked over at the tree the prince climbed and was wondering why the young alien hadn’t fired at the scorpion that was actually starting to climb up the tree. Then Jak saw the rifle lying at the scorpion’s feet.
Jak quickly lets loose four quick volleys at the creature and it swirled around in circles while screeching its head off, then gathered itself, and quickly walked back to where the other wounded one was standing.
In the next instant, the scorpions turned into two huge fireballs screaming loudly, then fell silent as their bodies continued to burn. Jak and Gorvik climbed down from the trees still staring at the burnt corpses.
The next beautiful sight they saw was a shuttlecraft with the letters USC Colossus on the left side of the shuttle, as it landed only twenty yards from the downed hornet and dead scorpions. Jak could see the shuttle door in the rear rise above the top of the shuttle and Commodore Jeeves walked around on the side nearest of Colonel Hammer and Prince Gorvik.
Before saying anything to their rescuer, Junal came running in their direction with tear filled eyes. She ran up to Prince Gorvik and wrapped her delicate arms around him, and they soon gave each other a long passionate kiss.
Looking at them in their embrace Jak thought hell, I’m the one that saved us and I don’t get a kiss?
He turned his attention back to Jeeves who was only a few feet away and thought I love ya for saving my ass you platinum-haired son of a gun, but I ain’t gonna kiss ya.
“Well, it looks as if you’re no worse for the wear, Colonel. May I inquire as to what is the Venic woman and Prince Gorvik doing here?”
“I will fill you and everyone else in on that question as soon as we are safely back on Colossus. Now, if you don’t mind, please get our asses off this inhospitable, godforsaken planet.”
****
“Admiral, I’m tracking a Daakie Zurgut that just came out of hyperspace and it is moving at a high rate of speed coming in our direction,” Ensign Cherny said.
“On screen, Mr. Cherny.”
The huge screen showed one of the Daakie’s powerful Zurguts streaming towards them, and Admiral Allen couldn’t think of any reason for them to travel this far from their homeworld. He was thinking it had to be something really important.
Weapons Commander Kenta Masato pushed his comlink and asked: “Shall I engage the shields, Admiral?”
“That won’t be necessary, Commander, but stay ready if I do give the order.”
“Aye, Admiral.”
Less than five minutes expired when Lieutenant Corbin said, “We are being hailed, Admiral.”
“Open the channel, Lieutenant.”
The faces that appeared was that of military commander Caid Tikit, and standing just to his left was Burseq Maalik. Neither seemed to be too happy as Maalik had a partial frown but Commander Tikit had a mean scowl on his face.
Admiral Allen was the first to speak. “Hello, Commander, and you too, Burseq. Why do we owe a visit from the Daakie military?”
Commander Tikit said, “You must allow us to come on board. The General and I have been assigned an extremely important mission from King Gaakin, and you and your ship may be involved.”
Allen thought me and my ship may be involved? “We welcome you to come on board Colossus. My helmsman is sending you the teleportation coordinates right now.”
Allen disconnected, then quickly turned to the Chief of Security Commander Clive Chalmers and said, “I hope it won’t be necessary, but just in case I need you to, stand ready.”
Chalmers patted his blaster holster and said, “Aye, Admiral. I’ll be ready, sir.”
A few seconds later Caid Tikit and Burseq Maalik appeared in Command Central. Allen still wasn’t used to teleportation and thought it amazing the technology actually is real. We’ve got to get the technology from our Daakie friends someday Allen thought.
“Welcome to the Colossus. Now, what is this most important mission that has to do with me and my ship?”
“Our Prince Gorvik has disappeared from our world and we think he is on board this vessel,” Caid implied.
“Why in the name of thunder would you think he is on Colossus?”
“Either he hid on this ship, or you or someone of your kind took him. Most likely by force.”
“It could be possible that the young prince stowed away on this ship, but there is no way in hell that anyone on this ship forced Prince Gorvik to be captured and hidden on this ship, and I do not appreciate your accusation that we hijacked the King’s nephew.”
Maalik hadn’t known Humans too long, but he could tell Admiral Allen was offended.
“Please forgive my superior, Admiral. He believes it is his responsibility for locating our Prince Gorvik. His accusation of the latter is not the way I or King Gaakin think. It has become quite frustrating that during our efforts we have not been able to locate the prince’s transponder,” Maalik said.
Looking straight into Caid’s eyes Allen said, “Well, thank you, Burseq. It’s good to know that at least one of you knows how to be gracious in your diplomacy.”
The two men stared at each other for a moment then Allen said without blinking, “How is it that we may be of assistance, and what kind of transponder are you looking for?”
Realizing he needed to calm down Caid became less agitated and in a much calmer voice said, “All Daakie Royals have micro transponders placed in their bodies by our best surgeons. We can receive their signal at a distance of 500 miles at a time.
“We have scanned every mile of our world without so much as a single beep. So, I can only conclude that he isn’t on Daak anymore.”
“Though it is true that our Prince is not on our world, it is possible he has found a way to leave Daak and go to my assistant and his tender’s world of Obon,” Maalik said.
“You mean the Venic woman, Junal is missing too?” Rear Admiral Petrov asked.
“That is correct.” Caid turned his attention to Admiral Allen and said, “You asked what it is you can do to assist us, and our answer is for you to allow us to scan the entirety of this ship while on board. As you may know, our scanners cannot penetrate Colossus’s exterior.”
Caid pulled out a handheld device and showed it to Allen and said, “This will let us know if he is on your ship. We need only to be within 200 miles of the transponder, and at that distance, it shouldn’t take long to complete the sweep.”
Turning to Anatoly, Allen asked, “Would you mind taking them through the ship and take Commander Chalmers with you to assist?”
“Yes, Admiral. It would be my pleasure.”
Before leaving the bridge Caid Tikit bowed his head slightly to Admiral Allen and Allen reciprocated with his own head tilt. Even though the Caid calmed down, Allen still didn’t like the man and knew if things went sideways with Humans and Daakies he would be the one he would have to deal wit
h.
During the search, many Colossians stopped what they were doing and gawked at the two aliens walking around with their Rear Admiral and Chief of Security, wondering what was going on. Still nervous after the Red Alert and subsequent Hive attack, many had concerns that maybe the visit from what had to be two high-ranking officials could have something to do with the Hive.
Two hours and ten minutes later the four men had finished scanning Colossus and were back at Command Central telling the Admiral about their findings.
Burseq Maalik was the first to speak: “We have completed our search, and as I knew all along the young prince is not on this ship. I want to thank you for allowing us to search this great battleship and I know our king thanks you also.”
“Yes, thank you, Admiral, and I apologize for my accusations of earlier,” Tikit said.
“You both are welcome, and I wish you the best in your search. I hope you know you can count on us to help you in any way in the future. We, Humans, are pleased to call Daakie our friends.”
With that said, Burseq Maalik pressed his comlink and said, “Transport” and they vanished into thin air. From his chair, Allen watched as the Zurgut began to move away then jump into hyperspace.
Chapter 33
After being rescued from Planet Ogre the three were chowing down on some decent food on board the Striker. Before jumping back to where Colossus waited for their return, Captain Slain wanted an explanation as to why they were with Colonel Hammer.
They gave their explanations, then a few long seconds after they had finished, Slain asked, “How is it someone as important as the next king of Planet Daak is left to wander about without any way of being tracked?”
“As a small child, I was scared to let my uncle’s surgeon implant the transponder into me. But he told me it was necessary, in case I ever became lost, they could find me. Every Royal in our society has had the same procedure performed on them when they were children,” Gorvik said.
