“Just the two fleeing destroyers Zed, and they are well out of our range. We do, however have a small problem.”
“What now?”
“There seems to be a small damaged Tildan corvette out of control, venting air and falling into the planetary gravity well. The Tildan fleet is so mauled that they have nothing capable of rescuing, or even reaching the damaged ship.”
“Will it fit into our hangar?”
“Only if I move the shuttles outside. We can bring the corvette in, remove the crew and then dump the garbage. I might recycle a few metric tonnes of the ship to replace what we expended during battle. Then we can recover our shuttles and be on our way.”
“Set course for the corvette.”
“Aye, Skipper.”
“Did the Creednax even see us during that fight?”
“At the end the frigates were firing at our weapon discharges. I dodged enough that they never came close.”
Zed chuckled. “Well, I guess you can decloak now.”
“Done, Zed. Do you want to take a call from the Tildan High Command?”
“When we’ve rescued that corvette, LOLA.”
“I’m moving the shuttles out right now.” On his Tactical Display, two small blue dots appeared, only to quickly fall astern as the Bellerophon raced for the stricken corvette. “The corvette is entering the atmosphere right now, Zed.” In the main screen the small streamlined vessel flared as it licked the atmosphere. The Bellerophon trembled as the tractors took up the substantial dead weight of the corvette and began to drag it back up out of the planet’s gravity well. “The corvette is safe, Zed. I’m bringing it aboard now.”
“I’ll meet the crew in the hangar then. Good job LOLA.” Dimples appeared in her cheeks as she smiled. “Good job everybody. Let’s say hello to our new allies, Mike.” Mike stood, stretched and grinned. “Feel better now?”
“Yeah. I’ll feel even better after I get my fiancé back and we do that to every stinking Creednax in the universe.”
“You’re a vicious man.” Zed laughed as they crowded into the small lift.
“Me?? I heard you tell LOLA to kill them. You can’t deny that you enjoyed it.”
Zed gave his friend a long look and a chill smile. “I will happily kill anyone who threatens my family, my friend.”
Mike’s returning smile was equally glacial. “Then we have an accord.” The door to the hangar slid open.
On the view-screen at a distance the small warship had looked unblemished. Up close Zed could see where Creednax energy weapons had torn chunks out of her sleek hull. It was amazing the ship had survived as long as she had, and a testament to superb piloting. A small hatch in the side rolled open, and a sturdy ramp slid to the hangar deck. Zed and Mike watched as four EVA suited figures helped a fifth down the ramp.
Zed stepped forward, his hands open at his sides. He didn’t have to look to know that Dimitri and Larisa were standing discretely at the back of the hangar, weapons not drawn, but ready. “The air in here is compatible with your species.” He said clearly in Tildan. One of the benefits of neural implants and conditioning was that he learned new languages just as quickly as LOLA could figure them out herself and shoot them into his synapses. Tildan was very similar to its original Chamdar language. One of the figures turned, studied the two men for a moment, glanced at the two black-clad security people, and began to unfasten the helmet. She dropped the helmet to the deck and shook out her long blond hair. Zed stood with his mouth hanging open. The young woman, Zed guessed that she must have been in her early twenties, came to rigid attention in front of them. Her eyes, he noted with interest, were an astounding celadon blue, and they looked scared. She could have been a clone for a young woman he’d met in another lifetime, in another battle. Her name had been Sindiix Tran, and she had been in love with Zed. He, he was embarrassed to admit, had been more than a little interested in her too. The Creednax had snuffed out her young life, and Zed still blamed himself.
Her voice was a melodious mezzo soprano, and her eyes stared a few millimeters above Zed’s head. “My name is Caithlexa Tall, and I am,” She glanced at her battered ship, and seemed on the verge of crying. “was Captain of the Tildan Corvette Rose.” A chill went up Zed’s back. “We are your prisoners. Do what you will with me, but release my crew. They are blameless of any wrongdoing.”
Zed frowned. “I believe you are operating under a misconception, young lady. We are not your captors. We are your allies. The Creednax have been defeated and your world is safe.”
Her face went through a torrent of different emotions until she finally got it back under control. “My world and my crew are safe?”
“Yes they are. Didn’t you hear us call your High Command?”
“All our com and view-screens were out. Why did you bring us aboard then, if the battle is over?”
“Your ship was falling into the atmosphere of your planet.” Zed returned gently. “It had already begun to burn. The rest of your fleet was too damaged to assist. You would have died.” And that would truly be a shame. Zed thought to himself. He watched as reality finally overwhelmed the girl, and her eyes rolled back in her head. Zed caught her before she hit the hangar floor.
Doctor Sutherland reached him at the same time as one of the other EVA suited figures. Mike reached out and detained the suited figure as Zed dealt with the doctor.
Helen Sutherland gave him a wry look as she knelt by the young woman. “Want to tell me what happened?”
“I told her that she, her planet and her crew were safe. I told her the battle was over. She was a little tense to begin with, and she fainted.”
“I’ll have to check the DNA, but this young lady looks remarkably like Sindiix Tran.”
“I hadn’t noticed.” Zed returned dryly.
Helen laughed as she continued her examination. “You’re still a terrible liar.”
Zed stood and turned to the figure Mike was restraining. “Caithlexa is doing fine. She simply fainted when I told her that she, her ship and her world were out of danger. The Creednax have been destroyed.”
The suited figure before him removed its helmet. The blond haired young man showed a remarkable resemblance to the sleeping young woman on the deck, and Zed guessed he must be her brother or cousin.
“My name is Azreil Tall. I’m Caithlexa’s brother and second in command.”
Zed shook the young man’s hand as, on the floor, Caithlexa opened her eyes.
LOLA was silent for a long time.
LOLA parked the Bellerophon in a stable orbit over the beautiful planet below. Ze
d had left the cloaking off as a sign of trust to the Tildan High Command. He’d left the shields up as a matter of common sense.
“Zed, you are being hailed by an Admiral Blinx, of the Tildan Navy. He’s aboard the damaged destroyer on our starboard side.”
Zed took a hard look at the mauled warship floating in the view-screen. With several compartments torn open to space, and one of their two reactors shut down, it was a miracle they had survived, let alone continue to fight to the very end. “Put him on.”
The screen shimmered. The tall wide-shouldered man in a severe gray uniform looked tired. He ran his hand through his short gray hair. “I’m Jafral Blinx, Fleet Commander of the Tildan Defense forces.”
Zed gave the man a small smile. “I’m Zed Yates, the Skipper of the Belerophon. Call me Zed.”
There was smoke in the air behind Jafral, on what was obviously the bridge of the destroyer. “Thank you for saving my planet.” He said simply. “And what’s left of my flagship; the Sword of Blandar.” A cold chill ran up Zed’s spine, and beside him Mike let out a small exclamation. He heard a sharp inhalation from LOLA. “Is there a problem?” Jafral had obviously caught the surprised expressions.
Zed counted to ten while he let his heartbeat slow down. “We seem to be experiencing a slight problem with synchronicities, Commander. My very first ship, of Dramul origin, was named Sword of Blandar. We renamed her the Rose of the Dawn. It’s all very strange.”
“Indeed.” Jafral rubbed his temple with one heavy hand. “I just wish that you had arrived a few minutes earlier. We just lost a small corvette, also named the Rose of the Dawn. My niece was in command. She simply called it the Rose. The ship’s beacon went off a short while ago, and we fear the corvette fell into the atmosphere and was incinerated.”
A chill went up Zed’s spine again. He’d known the name of the ship before the man spoke. “Ummm.” Zed could hear Mike chuckling. “Caithlexa and her crew are having lunch in our Dining Hall as we speak. Her ship was so badly shot up we salvaged what we could and dumped the rest.”
Fleet Commander Jafral Blinx just stared at Zed for several long moments as his face went red, and his brown eyes filled with tears. “What are you, Zed?”
Zed gave him a wry grin. “I seem to be getting that question a lot lately. I’m just a man Jafral, a human like you. If you would like, why don’t I have a shuttle slip over and pick you up and bring you back here. We can all have lunch and you can see your niece. Then she and her crew can go back with you, if they wish.”
Jafral frowned. “If they wish?”
“I’m always looking for good people, Commander.”
Jafral just laughed. “I’ll make sure our hangar here is operational. I’d love to see your ship.”
“Good. LOLA, will you please send a shuttle over to pick up the Fleet Commander?”
“I’d be happy to, Zed.” As she touched his shoulder, Zed saw Jafral’s eyes widen.
“And who is THAT devilishly attractive young woman?” His eyes sparkled.
“I’m going to like this one.” LOLA whispered aloud.
“Let me introduce LOLA, the Loquacious Octoplex Loyalty Adaptable Algorithm. She is the heart of our ship, a valued crewmember and a Synthetic Lifeform.” Zed returned formally.
“Synthetic Lifeform?”
“Formerly known as an Artificial Intelligence. I thought it sounded better. She’s much more than that, however.”
Jafral Blinx looked awed. “I’ve heard legends about Synthetic Lifeforms. They are usually horror stories about AIs running amok.
At his shoulder LOLA gave the man a blinding smile. “We have a human control to ensure that situation will never happen.” Her hand was very warm on Zed’s shoulder.
“I think you’d better send over the shuttle.” Jafral’s look was unreadable.
Zed, Jafral, Caithlexa and three of her crew sat at a round table beside a crackling fire. The fifth member of the crew was still in the sick bay, receiving treatment for his injuries. Behind them and through view-screens that lined a whole wall, turned the world of Tildan. The screens might as well have been standard windows, the optics were so good. Jafral was staring at the planet while Caithlexa was staring at Zed in a manner that made him distinctly uncomfortable.
“What are your plans now, Zed?” Jafral asked, not bothering to turn around.
This will fix the situation once and for all. Zed thought to himself with a little interior smile. “We’re going to continue on with our mission. The Creednax hijacked a ship of ours containing 16 pregnant women, one of whom was my wife. We plan on getting them back.”
Jafral turned around, his face bleak. “You won’t find them. The Creednax have been hijacking ships of ours for years. We tried to get them back. Usually the rescue attempts never come back themselves. If a ship disappears now we just hold a service for all aboard, and continue on.” Caithlexa’s blue eyes on Zed were very bright, and not one whit less intense.
“Nevertheless.” Zed responded in a hard voice. “We will find our women and we will bring them back. If it is within our power we will destroy every living Creednax we find.”
Jafral just stared at him. “I think you mean that.”
“I do. Now, I’ll see about getting you a shuttle to take you back to the Sword of Blandar. Do you have any idea where the Creednax might be?”
Jafral gave a bitter little chuckle. “I suspect they’re probably doing the same thing to our rivals and on again off again enemies Eacrorth that they did to us. Eacrorth is only a few short light years distant. We’ve been in a conflict with them for as long as the history books remember.”
Zed groaned. “They wouldn’t be a colony of Dramul, would they?”
Jafral frowned. “Now that you mention it. I believe they settled Eacrorth about the same time our ancestors arrived here from Chamdar.”
“I don’t believe it! What is it with you people?” Zed threw his hands in the air in exasperation. In the back of his mind he heard LOLA laugh. “You’ve been at this stupid pointless war for twenty five thousand years!! Idiots!” He was shouting now, and in the Dining Hall heads turned. “I did something about it before with your homeworlds, and by the gods I’ll do something again!” He stormed out, heading for the bridge with a stunned looking Jafar and Caithlexa right on his heels. Somehow they managed to squeeze all three into the lift, although Zed was more than aware of the soft press of Caithlexa’s breasts against his back.
“Get me a com to the Tildan High Command.” Zed growled the moment they entered the bridge.
The screen cleared to show an elderly, silver haired man with clear gray eyes. “This is High Chancellor Neelax.” He bowed graciously to Zed. “We would like to thank you for…”
“Put a sock in it Chancellor.” Zed was mad clear through. “Are you and the planet Eacrorth still in a conflict?”
“Ahhh,” The Chancellor looked shocked. “I suppose that you could say…”
Zed glared at the screen. “The war is over as of now! If you do not agree I will vaporize what is left of your fleet and reduce the population of your world by fifty percent. Do you understand?”
“You can’t threaten me like…” The silver haired man’s face went purple.
“LOLA pick a Tildan ship and destroy it.”
“As you wish, Skipper.” A slightly battered corvette floated in the view-screen against the dark carpet of stars.
Zed had to bite his tongue to stop from grinning. “What is the normal crew for one of those ships?”
“Five crewmembers, Skipper.”
“Kill it.” He said in a deadly voice. Point Defense lasers tore the hulk to pieces in moments.
Another corvette drifted in front of them. Zed frowned slightly. It was an
other shot of the Rose they had just destroyed, from a slightly different angle. He looked up at the now terrified Chancellor. “What is your decision now, Chancellor?”
Jafral Blinx chose that moment to step into the camera’s eye. “Are you saying that all you wish is to stop this senseless war with Eacrorth?”
Zed turned slightly. “Yes Fleet Commander that is what I am doing.”
“In that case, and in order to avoid further bloodshed, I surrender the fleet to you.”
“I accept you’re surrender, Fleet Commander.” It was to their credit that neither man as much as smiled. Zed turned back to the view-screen. “It seems you have a problem, Chancellor.”
The pale and trembling Chancellor swallowed. “We surrender. Don’t kill our people.”
Zed sighed, for the camera. “Good. You will give my computer total access to your government and military computer systems. If you do not I will begin targeting. Is that clear?”
“Clear.” The wavering voice replied. Zed signaled to LOLA and the image on the screen was replaced with stars.
“Do you have access, LOLA?”
There was a pause. “I have access Zed. Shall I set things up like you did for Dramul and Chamdar?”
“Yup. Erase their military budget, take 10 percent for us and split the rest between veterans’ programs and starship development. That’s all contingent on the elimination of the Creednax threat.”
“Zed, you run the only fleet in history that is actually making money.” LOLA laughed.
“But… I saw you…” Caithlexa sounded confused. Standing by her side, her uncle was chuckling.
“Nice scam.” Jafral rumbled in his deep voice. “Thank you again.” He turned to his niece. “Zed destroyed your old ship. He had to make the Chancellor think he was really a cold blooded pirate who wouldn’t hesitate to kill to get what he wanted.” He turned an appraising look on Zed. “Actually, Zed Yates is probably the best friend this world has ever had.”
“Yeah, well…” Zed mumbled, embarrassed. “I’ll get a shuttle to take you all back to your ship.” He winked at Caithlexa. “Sorry about the Rose, my dear.”
...and they are us 3: HiveWorld Page 5
