Empire Saga: The Fight for the Paradise, #1

by Lori Beery

  “I’d like a nice, juicy hamburger with all the trimmings, deep fried potatoes with ketchup, and a ‘healer special’,” she said with a happy grin.

  “Coming right up,” I told her. “Go ahead and have a seat at the table.” When the food materialized in the replicator, I carried her one and placed an identical order before KwinJai. His eyes opened wide and a smile spread across his face.

  “For me?” he asked reaching for the sandwich.

  With a mischievous grin Dulain interjected, “No, that’s for me.” KwinJai’s face crumpled. His hands froze just shy of grabbing the food. Dulain, Beltrain, and Jacarr howled with laughter. KwinJai gave me a beseeching look.

  “KwinJai, Dulain is teasing you,” I supplied. “That food is for you.”

  Once Dulain could speak he said, “I’m sorry KwinJai. It is as the Hexator says. That plate of food is for you.” He chuckled a little more as he placed his own order.

  The joke had put my team at ease, at least for the moment. Right then, they ate and teased one another. I hoped we were ready for tomorrow’s ordeals. I needed Lucera to ‘image’ a modified replica of the Paradise. The rest of us needed to be ready to use wards in concave shapes to reflect incoming beams. We also needed to be willing to render attacking vessels harmless. That could mean disassembling something as simple as a valve or injector. Hopefully, we had the time to choose something non-catastrophic.

  “Hexator Nickoli?” asked Lucera.

  “Yes?” I inquired.

  “Are you okay?” she questioned me.

  “Yes,” I replied. “I was a little lost in my thoughts.”

  “Oh,” she said, as if that answered anything. “What happens tomorrow?”

  “First, we are going to share the information we learned tonight with the captain,” I stated. “Hopefully, we can learn which specific items will cause each desired effect when disassembled.”

  “We can ask the captain to have the chief engineer join the discussion,” suggested Beltrain.

  “Yes, that is a good suggestion,” I commented. “I think it is time for us to turn in. Sleep well everyone.”

  “Good night,” they chorused as I headed to my quarters. I knew they would follow my example.

  Chapter 18

  We met with the captain the next morning. His chief engineer, Lt. Commander Antell, joined us to view the scans my Hexacle had been able to run of the pirate vessels within the planetoid. Thankfully, he was able to indicate the critical parts that would cause the engines, shields or, weaponry to go offline. He also pointed out what items would cause the ship to explode.

  “Lt. Commander Antell, I hope the pirates can be stopped without blowing them up,” I said.

  “I do too,” agreed Antell. “Sometimes we don’t have a choice, though. Some attackers don’t quit when they are disabled. They keep fighting until they are dead.”

  “Do you speak from experience?” I asked curiously.

  “I do,” he replied. “I was in the Imperial militia. I was stationed at Saylatch during the uprising of the Narooch. Because of their usually peaceful nature, we tried to stop them without killing them. We used our projectile weapons, rifles, to shoot their extremities. But, that only riled them up. It didn’t take long before the fighting was very heavy and we started to use our beam weapons. We noted their determination. As long as they had life in them, they continued to strike at us. It became clear that we would have to kill them to keep from getting killed. It was a very harsh lesson I learned that day.”

  “It is a lesson I would like to avoid,” I stated. “However, I have pledged to help protect this vessel and everyone aboard.”

  “Judging by the pirates’ fleet strength and the ‘hidden’ base, I doubt you will be able to put off that lesson for long,” he said, not unkindly. I nodded to him in response, knowing he was correct.

  “Given this ship’s capabilities, what plans do you have to help us stay healthy?” asked the Captain of me. His question brought all of us back to the task at hand.

  “We will enhance the shields and the weapons,” I replied. “But our biggest defense will be to create a replica of the Paradise. This replica will also have improved shields and weapons. It will have no one on board. But we will make their sensors read the life signs of all the passengers and crew. We want them to believe the replica is the real Paradise. It will continue along the Paradise’s current course. It will be the vessel the pirate’s ambush. We will defend the replica. It will not be the easy pickings they are expecting.”

  “That implies the real Paradise will be following a different course,” commented the chief engineer.

  “Yes, it does,” I responded. “That is part of the reason we will be boosting the Paradise’s shields and weapons. We recognize the vessel will be in unfamiliar space.”

  “So you have considered that there may be more dangers hiding out there,” stated the Lt. Commander.

  “We are attempting to cover as many contingencies as possible,” I said.

  “Your plan seems to be as well thought out given the circumstances,” he acknowledged. “How are you going to create the replica?”

  “We are going to image it,” I told him.

  “What?” he inquired astonished. “I thought that gift was extinct!”

  “Why would you think that?” I asked.

  “It is a very dangerous gift,” he replied. His statement did not apply to the one with the gift. It was focused toward those around the imager.

  “It is,” I agreed. “I would like to discuss this matter further once we have passed this challenge.”

  “Of course, Hexator,” he acquiesced. His emotional state suggested we would not survive. “Captain, when do we change course?” he inquired, changing the subject.

  “This evening, by the thirtieth turn,” the Captain responded.

  “We will have to image before then,” I commented.

  “Don’t let me know when you do it,” he responded. “I want to be pleasantly surprised when we change course.”

  “Of course,” I said. With a nod to his captain, Lt. Commander Antell departed the bridge. “Captain, would it be permissible for two of my Hexacle to be on the bridge?” I asked. At my question, my Hexacle became agitated. ‘Peace!’ I thought to them. ‘I will explain when we are alone.’ Thankfully they stilled and held their tongues.

  “Yes,” he answered, “But where will the rest of you be?” Disquiet tinged his voice.

  “In cargo bay four,” I told him. His face contorted with worry. “Don’t be concerned; I will still be linked with the two on the bridge. Speaking to them will be like speaking to me.”

  “Ah, I apologize for my ignorance,” he said softly. His voice cleared of anxiety and his face began to almost relax until he said, “Do you know what my chief engineer was talking about?”

  “No, I don’t,” I confessed. “I do look forward to finding out when the ship is out of danger.” After a pause, I added, “Captain, we will be in our suite until the twenty-eighth turn. Then we will go to cargo bay four. At which time, we will image the replica. You’ll know of our success because you will see it on the sensors. After that, Lucera and Beltrain will join you on the bridge. Does this meet with your approval?”

  “What if you can’t image the replica?” he asked.

  I smiled, accepting his disbelief. I saw no reason to believe Lucera would not be able to image the replica. I planned to link all three of our crystals to protect her. However, I did have a backup plan. “We will image debris consistent with the destruction of the Paradise,” I said. At his alarmed look I continued, “Space is a dangerous place. Such evidence would keep the pirates from increasing their search parameters.”

  “True,” he acknowledge with a grimace.

  “Until later, Captain,” I announced.

  “Yes, Hexator Nickoli,” he responded. “Until later.”

  With that, I led my Hexacle from the bridge. They were about to burst with questions. I signaled them to wait u
ntil we entered our suite.

  *****

  “What was Lt. Commander Antell saying about the imager gift?” burst Lucera once the doors to our suite slid closed.

  “I’m not exactly sure,” I told her. “For some reason, he thinks imaging is unhealthy for those around an imager.”

  “But… he’s right,” said KwinJai. “The pirates are going to witness it firsthand when they ambush the replica.”

  “Somehow, I don’t think that is what Antell meant,” I said. “Until I have had a chance to learn more, do not identify our imager. Let everyone think it is a group ability.”

  “Nickoli, he is Sateryn,” stated Beltrain. “He knows the individual nature of the psi-abilities.”

  “Not necessarily,” I commented. “It depends on where he was educated. Something about his shields tells me he didn’t attend school on Cassyndryl.”

  “Wait, his shields feel different than mine?” asked Beltrain.

  “Yes,” I told him.

  “Is that good or bad?” he asked.

  “Neither,” I answered. “It just is.”

  “Ermmm, what are we going to do between now and the twenty-eighth turn?” asked Jacarr.

  “We are going to prepare,” I replied. “We are going to download the information from the probe. We are going to eat and sleep, especially Lucera.”

  She turned toward me with a surprised look on her face. Then she glanced at the replicator and smiled before saying, “Good! I’m hungry.”

  “Please, help yourself,” I encouraged her. She made her way to the replicator and ordered her favorite high-calorie meal, the juicy meat sandwich with fried potatoes and a ‘healer special’. All except Marleah followed her example. Instead, she approached me with concern in her eyes.

  “How are we going to keep Lucera safe?” she asked.

  “I plan to link our three crystals together,” I told her. “One should supply her energy needs. The other two will be available in case there is a mass issue we have not foreseen.”

  “What if all the crystals are drained?” she inquired.

  Shocked, I locked my gaze with hers. “Do you no longer think it is the number of imaging events that cause the energy draw?” I queried.

  “Our observations are in support of that hypothesis,” she answered. “So I still think it is true. And I also agree with your precaution. We certainly can’t have her near threshold if she and Beltrain are to protect the Paradise.”

  “That is what I was thinking,” I said. “To answer your question, the pirates will be suppling any energy needs we will require to include drained crystals.” I paused then, adding, “To be honest, I am more concerned about the chief engineer’s comments. I am considering having Beltrain and Lucera wear ward-skins while they are on the bridge.”

  “Do you think he will try to injure them?” she asked alarmed.

  “I am unsure,” I replied. “I am more concerned about others he may agitate. People who are afraid tend to lash out at what they do not understand. And, most non-Keteryns do not understand the psi-abilities or the operation of a Hexacle.”

  “I have to admit I have misgivings about the Lt. Commander as well,” she stated.

  “And that would be?” I inquired.

  “I got a very disturbing image during his short outburst,” she said softly. “I think he had something to do with exterminating the imager gift.”

  “Perhaps he does understand the individual nature of the psi-abilities,” I murmured. I think we should all start wearing ward-skins when we are out and about the ship.”

  “It is better to take unnecessary precautions and not need them than to not take them and need them,” she agreed. We exchanged nods.

  “I’m hungry,” I announced. “Think they left any selections for us?”

  “We better go find out,” she said with a wink.

  We headed over to the replicator. After ordering and getting our meals, we joined the others at the table. Only KwinJai was still eating. The others were lingering over deserts.

  Jacarr eyed Marleah and I before he asked, “Is everything alright?”

  I sighed. By the time I had exhaled, I had all of their attentions. “I am uneasy,” I confessed. “I think we will begin high security measures. When we are not in this suite, each of us will wear a ward-skin. When we are in this suite, we will erect wards that included the entire suite before we shed the skin. Who would like to do the honors now?”

  After exchanging looks around the table, Dulain volunteered. Shortly he returned to the table, gazing around at each of us. “Are you going to tell us what has you uneasy?” he asked.

  “I don’t have anything rock solid,” I admitted. “I am concerned that the Lt. Commander may incite others against us. His comments may make others afraid of us. Fear can easily and quickly become irrationality.”

  “Better to be prepared than wish you were,” stated Beltrain.

  “For the record, the following is an order: No one leaves this suite without wearing a ward-skin,” I commanded. “Everyone got it?” They chorused various affirmations. Then KwinJai stuck his hand in the air.

  At my nod, he asked, “Will we be expected to wear one inside the cargo bay?”

  “Not once the lining ward is in place,” I clarified. “You will need it right before the ward is removed.” He nodded his understanding. “Good! Once everyone is finished eating, we will download the data the probe has recorded.”

  It was not long before Marleah and I had finished our meals. We decided against desert although KwinJai had some, or rather, some more. By the time we had cleared the table of dishes, he had cleaned out his dish. He took it to the replicator. While he was up, Lucera wiped the table clean. We all settled around a clean table.

  “Everyone ready?” I asked them. They each indicated they were. “Link with me,” I invited. When I felt them with me, I reached for the probe. It nestled in its corner near the command bridge within the planetoid. It looked undisturbed. We approached it and downloaded the data. There was a lot. Hopefully, there would be information we could use to build more precise defensive plans.

  Shortly we pushed back to the Paradise and our suite. All was as we left it. As we unlinked, I allowed the data to chronologically stream in a holographic like form slightly above the center of the table. The view was from the upper right corner down toward the entire front of the bridge. The space right before the transparent panels was clear of any furniture. There appeared to be some sort of work table placed in the center of the bridge, positioned so there was ample room to walk around it.

  We could hear people talking and operating various computer stations. Their voices were indistinct until a tall bald man in some type of uniform entered the bridge. His arrival was announced and all talking stopped abruptly. The man walked to the front of the bridge, right into our view. He asked for reports, and each station would gave their duty summaries. It all seemed routine administrative business. That is until several turns into the data we heard an unusual conversation.

  “What is their current position?” the leader asked.

  “They are four light days out following their expected course,” replied the voice that had given the sensor report previously.

  “Good,” responded the leader. “They are our unsuspecting prize. Soon their ship will be ours and with it we will approach Thendara without suspicion.” This man gestured toward the back of the room.

  “And Thendara will be ours,” chorused many voices.

  We went through the rest of the data. No other exchanges alluded to the Paradise or to Thendara. I dropped the display. “Comments?” I inquired of my Hexacle.

  “How do they know we are four light days out?” asked Jacarr.

  “They must have a probe – maybe more – positioned along our course,” speculated Dulain.

  “That presents us with a problem,” noted Beltrain. “We can’t just image the replica. We will have to cloak it until the Paradise changes course. Then we will have to cloak
the Paradise to complete the ruse.”

  “Timing will be crucial,” I said.

  “Would it be possible to locate the probes?” asked Marleah.

  “How about flying cloaked fighters on a search-and-destroy mission,” suggested KwinJai.

  “If we destroy the probes, the pirates will be notified that someone is in the area,” responded Dulain.

  “Or, we could make it look like a ‘natural’ event,” hinted Jacarr. “Perhaps, the probe got hit by a comet.”

  “After all, space is a dangerous place,” added Lucera with a wink at me.

  I smiled in appreciation of her repetition of my words to the Captain. “That would be plausible provided the correct small bodies are hanging around in the vicinity,” I said.

  “Does that mean we can fly the fighters?” asked KwinJai hopefully.

  “I want to keep the fighters in reserve,” I replied. “We could scan perpendicular to our course at a range of one light day. We should be able to locate the probes.”

  “Wonder what their sensor sweep capabilities are?” pondered Jacarr.

  “I surmise they would be limited to a light day or less,” supplied Marleah. “The probe we modified had a range of a quarter of a light day. Lt. Dresdan knew modern probes have a range of three quarters of a light day.”

  “So a light day should be more than sufficient,” Dulain commented.

  “Agreed,” I stated. “Let’s divide up. Beltrain, Dulain and Lucera scan our back course. The rest of us will scan forward. – Ready? Link with me.” They complied. I could sense each of their presences as if they were in my skin. I knew when the trio focused along our back trail. At the same time, the rest of us searched along the course before our vessel.

  Presently, the trio discovered the probe a quarter short of four light days from the planetoid. It was cloaked hanging out in space with nothing but the radiation of our light drive near it. Taking out this probe would not look like a natural event. It didn’t really matter since it would not be long before we were out of its sensor range.