by E. P. Wyck
“Yeah. If any of them ever went after my father they’d have me to answer to. I may not look like much but I finished fifth in my class at the Crucible. Just because I am not on a combat post doesn’t mean I can’t knock some heads together.”
“I think I am going to like you, Nova,” Kali said.
“Likewise!”
Chapter 17
Attor ran his fingers through the honey blonde hair of Kyneska. His hands traced down her nude body. He stared into her blue eyes and said, “I wish we had more time like this.”
Kyneska sighed and said, “Me too. But we have to get dressed.”
“I don’t want to. Stay with me,” Attor said, pulling her closer.
“You have to be in the Receiving Hall in ten minutes!”
“Oh, responsibility. I have had enough of that for a while. I should get my assistant to cancel the rest of my week and take some time off.”
“We have a duty to the people, Attor. It is bad enough we’re sneaking around without them knowing. We can’t abandon them,” Kyneska said.
He let her go and scooted across the bed, throwing his legs over the end. He stood up to dress and said, “Listen to you! How pathetic. You expect me to bend to them? I govern them. They bend to me!”
“We’re supposed to have their best interests at heart. We’re sending Seraphim to kill on the promise of peace. Do you see the hypocrisy?”
“Don’t you dare talk to me about hypocrisy. The only reason we aren’t together like the rest of the United is because you wanted to rule. Well, I have news for you. You’re not a monarch. You’re a Triumvir.”
“And so are you!” Kyneska started dressing as well. “I can’t believe you. I even sacrificed my own reputation being the ever elusive ‘Ms. Black.’ You make me sick.”
Attor walked out of the room, slamming the door. Kyneska sat back down on the bed and cried. She loved Attor. She wanted no other Empyrean but him. She shuddered at the thought of her love costing millions of Seraphim and Cherubim their lives in the gendercide.
Chapter 18
“Take us out Kali,” Aleksandra directed from the Commander’s chair of the Dawnbreaker.
Kali maneuvered the oblong destroyer away from the station and towards the Starway. She yielded to smaller craft who had the right of way when approaching. When her turn came, she pulled up and transmitted their destination.
The Starway station emitted the quantum entanglement field, and they spooked to their destination. “We’re receiving reports of hostile ships in the area,” Nova said from the communications station.
“Course, Commander?” Kali asked.
“Head 135-half, we need to scan that wreckage,” Aleksandra ordered.
Kali adjusted course and maintained half speed. “Commander, ships are powering up in the debris. It’s an ambush!” said the tactical station operator.
“Kali, maneuver, so our portside guns will have a clear shot,” Aleksandra ordered.
Kali rotated the ship accordingly and accelerated to make the Dawnbreaker a harder target. She navigated between large pieces of debris, narrowly avoiding a collision on more than one occasion.
“Gunnery, give them all we have. Don’t them then flank us, Kali.” Aleksandra ordered.
“Shields prepared to cover starboard,” Kali said, “gunnery, prepare starboard guns.” Kali maneuvered the ship end over end before rotating to put the starboard side towards the enemy.
“Who’s this ship's commander? You or me?” Aleksandra asked.
“You're the commander.”
“Smart move but don’t do that again!” Aleksandra said. “Weapons free, gunnery, we’re starting to take damage.”
“Shields at 30% and falling fast. We need to get out of here. There is just too many of them.”
“Helm, make for the dark side of that moon. It should buy us time for our shields to recharge.”
“Yes, Commander,” Kali said. She maneuvered the ship, limiting the profile of the Dawnbreaker to the enemy and made best speed to the nearby moon. “Do you want me to hold behind it, Commander?”
“Yes, we should be able to draw them in and then outmaneuver them,” Aleksandra said.
Kali fired the retrothursters to slow the ship and awaited further instructions.
“We’re blind here, Commander,” said the operator of the Tactical station.
“I know, hold,” Aleksandra ordered. “Gunnery, load all torpedo bays with nukes. Prepare to fire on my command.”
“Copy, loading nuclear payload in all torpedo bays.”
“Helm, put the stern to the moon and rotate the ship,” Aleksandra ordered.
“We’re in position, Commander, beginning rotation,” Kali said as she maneuvered the ship as directed.
“Commander, torpedoes are ready.”
“On my command, launch the torpedoes one by one,” Aleksandra said. “Fire.” She waited about three seconds between each of the next commands to fire the torpedoes and continued until they’d exhausted their payload. “Helm, full speed ahead.”
Kali engaged full speed and said, “Course, Commander?”
“Stay this course until I say.”
Kali continued full ahead waiting for the next instruction. “Commander, the scanners are picking up enemy targets. They’re flying directly toward the torpedoes.”
“Good. Helm, turn about and put the most guns possible toward them. Gunnery, prepare to give them everything we have.”
Kali quickly turned about and headed towards the what she perceived as the underneath side of the moon. “I don’t think I can give gunnery a better shot, Commander,” Kali said.
“Fire!” Aleksandra said. The guns on the Dawnbreaker unleashed a fury of destruction upon all the enemy ships around the moon. Massive explosions from the nuclear torpedoes detonated around the moon, disabling many of the enemy ships.
The gunnery section quickly destroyed the rest of the ships. “Commander, scans show no enemy ships present.”
“Simulation complete,” sounded the automated announcement from the training simulator.
“I am going to review the results and see how we did,” Aleksandra said before heading out of the simulation room.
During the trip to the research area, Commander Aleksandra developed a schedule consisting of three ten hour shifts. Each shift monitored their assigned section. After a month of travel, complacency had begun to set in.
In order to combat it, Aleksandra developed a training rotation. Kali did well rotating through the various posts on the bridge.
“Good job, Kali!” Nova said.
“Thanks, but I am not sure,” Kali said.
“What do you mean? You did great,” Nova said.
“It’s not like I ran into anything, but I kind of did my own thing. I have a habit of doing that.”
“Yeah, but it was brilliant. Even Aleksandra said so.”
“She didn’t say brilliant,” Kali said.
“Not in so many words but she’s not one to praise like that.”
“So, are you ever going to go into stasis?” Kali asked Nova.
“I might as well stay out now.” Nova said, “It’s not like you have taken over my station.”
“Yeah, I seem to float from station to station. Permanent substitute.”
“You took the helm qualification exam today.”
“Yes, if I pass that.”
Nova interrupted, “When. When you pass.”
“Like I said, if I pass that I’ll be qualified for every station on the bridge of the Dawnbreaker. I don’t think Aleksandra expected that.”
“You don’t think I expected what?” Aleksandra said walking onto the bridge.
“For Kali to become such an integral member of our crew Commander,” Nova said, smiling.
“She’s clearly not integral. We have a full crew without her,” Aleksandra said.
Kali’s heart sank. She felt she earned her place on the bridge training and certifying with the crew. She started to f
eel rage build up. Before she opened her mouth, something happened. She thought before she spoke and decided it would be wise to avoid talking right now.
“Kali,” Aleksandra said, “Despite your improvisation, you did very well during the helm qualifier. I am surprised to say you have qualified at every station on the bridge.”
“Congrats!” Nova said, embracing Kali, “I knew you could do it!”
Kali smiled ear to ear, “Thanks, Nova. I couldn’t have done it without everybody’s help. You’ve all been so helpful.”
Chapter 19
“I can’t wait to have other people to talk to,” Nova said.
“Oh, thanks!” Kali said.
“No, not like that. I mean you’re great, and over the last six months, I’d have gone crazy if it weren’t for you. It is just... variety is nice, you know?”
“I get what you mean. So, have you decided if you’re to stay aboard the Dawnbreaker when we get back?”
“I don’t know. I mean I know for me it won’t be that long, but everyone else will have passed so much time.”
“I know what you mean. My mother will be even more older than I am now. We will certainly have nothing in common. I don’t know if we will ever get to speaking again.”
“What do you mean ‘more older?’ ” asked Nova.
“You do know what we are doing out here, right?” Kali said.
“Something with gravity. Not much else.”
“I don’t know all of the details, but they’re going to use gravity to get something out of a black hole. During the process, time for us will pass slower. Something like a day for us will be weeks or months on Trinity.”
“So, do you know how long this will take?”
“Not exactly. I just know that everybody on Trinity will essentially be in the future compared to us,” Kali said.
“I just hope they pay us based on Trinity time and not this compressed time. It’ll be nice to have all of that back pay.”
“I don’t know if I get paid for this.”
“Why wouldn’t you?”
“I don’t know, but I am pretty sure my mother will never give me the time of day to tell me if I am.”
“Why not?”
“Because I still blame her.”
“For your father’s death?” Nova said. “You know, she didn’t kill him.”
“She didn’t stop it, either!” Kali snapped, “Sorry. Didn’t mean to take it out on you.”
“I can see you’re still struggling with this. I’d say you need to settle it the old-fashioned way.”
“What’s that?”
“Fight her. No weapons. First to submit, loses. If you beat her, she has to apologize, and you can hold it over her. If she beats you, then you have to apologize and forgive her.”
“Interesting, but I think she’d find some way to manipulate her way out of it.”
“How do you figure?”
“Well, she’s the first genetically perfect Seraphim. They literally molded future generations after her. From there she quickly rose to prominence. She formed a new nation, The United. Which united Ascendant and Razian people. What can’t she do?”
“Good point. I guess I didn’t realize she had all of that in her. I mean she seems so amicable in the news.”
“The news never really portrays anything correctly. You should know that.”
“Oh, trust me, I do. I am never going to forget how they misrepresented the creation of destroyers for space. Like we’re some bloodthirsty barbarians just flying around killing whatever we come across.”
“Now, now, I think you’re starting to let your inner-Kali out.”
They both burst out laughing. “You know, I still think Bruce is scared of you.”
“He should be. I am dangerous, and I have a deadly reputation. Don’t ruin it!” Kali teased.
“Oh, I won’t. I need a friend like you. People still underestimate me so having a friend like you makes that worse. Like you’re my protector. I know you know I don’t need you to protect me, so don’t worry.”
“Speaking of protecting. You want to go to the gym and get a workout in, maybe spar a few rounds?” Kali asked.
“Sure, I’d be up for that,” Nova said. The two headed aft to the ship’s fitness center. It consisted of cardio equipment, muscle strengthening equipment and a place to spar.
When the two walked in the lights flickered on automatically. “I want to run for a bit,” Kali said.
“Ok, I am going to lift,” Nova said as she went around a corner and stopped dead in her tracks. “Kali! Come quick!”
Kali darted over, “What is it… oh, my. What do you think happened?” Kali asked, looking at a disfigured, dead Seraphim.
“It looks like an accident. Like somebody was lifting and didn’t have a spotter, and their weights crushed their face in like that.”
“We should notify security. I don’t think Aleksandra is going to like this,” Kali said.
_ _ _
The security team ruled the death in the fitness center an accident. The decedent worked in electrical, and a replacement would need to wake from stasis to replace him.
Kali and Nova decided they would like to break the news to the electrical crewman when they woke from stasis, seeing as they found the electrician's friend. They waited in the stasis room for the operator to call up the pod of the electrician.
“I am not looking forward to this conversation,” Nova said.
“It’s the right thing to do, though,” Kali said.
“I know, it doesn’t mean I want to do it.”
“Commander,” the stasis pod attendant said from across the room.
“What is it, Claire?” she said.
“There is a problem with the stasis retrieval system. I can’t access any of the pods, and it looks like the status information is frozen.”
“What do you mean, frozen?"
"Well, when I tried to retrieve the pod the display flickered. It looked like several pods had failed but then a moment later everything appeared fine. Except if you look here,” Claire pointed.
“I don’t know what that means,” Aleksandra said.
“This is the date.”
“The date they entered stasis.”
“No, that is supposed to be the current date to show how long someone has been in stasis. This is 14 days after they entered stasis.”
“So, you’re saying the system has been giving us false data for the entire trip?”
“Yes. The only explanation I can think of is somebody tampered with the stasis system. We have no access to the pods or correct data. We’re going to have to find a way to get them all out without killing them.”
Kali’s emotions began to get the best of her, “Commander, this is exactly why I wanted to stay out of stasis. You said everything would be ok. What if my friends are down there and dead?”
“Kali, I’ve tolerated you. I am even impressed that you’ve qualified on my bridge. Given that, I still expect that you respect my position as the commander of this ship," said Aleksandra.
“I am starting to wonder if your entire crew is dead down there, Commander. We talked about it. How many of your crew are male?” Kali said.
“I am warning you,” Aleksandra barked.
“You told me your crew was beyond reproach and I had nothing to worry about. I am beginning to think you kept me awake to see my crew die.”
“Kali, enough,” Nova said.
“Better listen to her,” Aleksandra said.
“I am not finished!” Kali said. “I’ve done everything you’ve asked and more. I’ve become a member of the Dawnbreaker crew. I’ve trained, worked, and everything else with this crew. I am just as concerned about them as the research team I came here to protect.”
Kali continued after a deep breath, “You are the Commander of the ship, but why do I get the feeling that you don’t care about them?”
Aleksandra glowered at Kali and said, “Don’t care about them? Don’t care ab
out my crew? Who makes sure they have everything they need? Me. Who ensures they’re training and ready for anything? Me. Who…”
Kali cut in, “And who kept them safe in stasis? It wasn’t you. According to Claire, several pods have failed.”
“Enough!” Aleksandra shouted. “One more word and you spend the rest of this trip in my brig. Am I clear?”
“Don’t push her Kali,” Nova whispered, “it’s not worth it.”
“Fine,” Kali said.
“Claire, how do we get into the stasis storage area?” Aleksandra asked.
“There is a hatch from main cargo if I am not mistaken. It is how they load in new pods. That’s my best guess Commander,” Claire said.
“Ok, let’s get a team together to go down there and check it out. We’re going to need some medical staff, electrical staff, and security. Nova, go to security and tell Bruce I want him to get three of his best and meet us down there. I’ll notify the rest of the sections,” Aleksandra said.
“Yes, Commander,” Nova said motioning Kali to come with her. The two of them walked out of the stasis room and headed toward the security office. “You have no idea how much I equally love and hate you right now.”
“What do you mean?” Kali asked.
“I mean I love that you held your own against Aleksandra, but I hate that you’re right about the fate of the crew in stasis. I am worried sick right now!”
“I know, me too,” Kali said with a sigh. “Why’d you tell me the brig wasn’t worth it?”
“Personal experience.”
“Care to share?”
“Not exactly.”
“Oh come on, I’ve told you plenty about me.”
“Fine, if you have to know. I may have one time roughed up a guy.”
“Can you be any more vague?”
“Sure, I could.”
“Come on out with it!”
“OK, fine. This guy wouldn’t stop talking. He was fresh out of the Crucible. A Dominion. He thought he was the best thing to board this ship since the maiden voyage.”
“Oh, I hate people like that.”
“Me too. Well, he kept challenging people to spar with him. Except he fought dirty. He’d brag about it after and often he didn’t win fair.”
