by L. Fergus
A window appeared with a Diamock looking upset. “Who are you?”
“I’m Princess Bush, and I’m taking back what’s mine. The Enterprise belongs to me. My crew is extracting their revenge for how the Children of the emperor and I have been treated during our incarceration at the hands of you Tet thugs.”
“Where is Admiral Refer?”
“I’m sure his body is around somewhere, or what’s left of it.”
“You will not get away with this. Missile batteries fire at will.”
Defiance cut the connection. “Admiral, expect some incoming missiles.”
“Shields are up, phalanx antimissile system online, Princess.”
Defiance nodded. “We’re as ready as we’ll ever be.”
“And what is the intercept percentage of the phalanx?” said Babydoll.
“About ninety-five percent. It depends on how many they send at one time. The ship has twenty systems mounted around the hull.”
“This is why I don’t like ship-to-ship combat.” Babydoll sighed. “Somebody else’s mistake means my ass.”
Defiance raised an eyebrow. “If a line of legionnaires crumbles on your flank it means the death of the entire unit.”
“I can still shoot back. I can’t do anything if a missile hits us.”
“Admiral, bravo and delta have fired six missiles each,” reported a Combat Control officer.
“Ship Defense, are you tracking those?” called Sheppard.
“Yes, ma’am, but they’re too far out to engage.”
“And we’re left sitting and waiting for our ultimate demise,” huffed Babydoll.
“Have some faith, Kerri,” said Kita. “They’ve done well so far.”
“I’d feel better if I could go stand on the hull and shoot those missiles with my rifle.”
“I think the ship can survive a few missile strikes.”
“There isn’t that much steel between us and space.” Babydoll pointed to the panoramic windows in the ceiling. The shutters were closed for combat.
“How thick are the shutters?” said Panther.
“The hull is an eighteen-inch composite,” said an officer watching the holotable. “The shutters are twelve inches, plus the windows are a twelve-inch composite that’s nearly as strong as the hull composite.”
“See,” said Kita. “Nothing to worry about.”
“Tracking new contacts,” reported a sailor from Ship Defense. “Twelve missiles from target echo. We do not have enough systems to engage all contacts.”
“Create a targeting list,” said Sheppard. “After the list is exhausted have the computer change to automatic acquisition mode.”
“This might get a little rough,” said Defiance.
“Control, Rainbow Jack. All portside enemy defenses are down. Target echo is clear. Missiles outbound toward Enterprise. I’ve got one MSMB left. I’m going to see if I can run them down.”
Rainbow Jack’s status showed her fighter’s systems were yellow and red, a few were black. “Why is she chasing down missiles? It doesn’t look like her fighter is holding together.”
“Rainbow Jack, Eagle Six.” Kita raised her eyebrows at Defiance’s call sign. “Do not engage. I repeat, do not engage. Your bird can’t handle it, just bring her home. Let Enterprise’s defenses get them.”
“Don’t worry. I got it, Eagle Six. I’m acquiring targets now.”
On Rainbow Jack’s status screen, her yellow systems turned red.
“She’s got problems,” said Kita.
“Rainbow Jack, I repeat, do not engage,” said Defiance angrily.
“Come on, baby, hold together. I’ve almost got them…Little faster…Tone! All twelve. MSMB away!” The left wing on Rainbow Jack’s fighter status display went black. “Oh, damn. It took my wing with it. Control, Rainbow Jack.”
“Rainbow Jack, Control.”
“I’ve lost my left wing, and the engine is flaming out. I still have maneuver jets. Let them know I’m coming in hot.”
“Negative, Rainbow Jack. Ditch the bird. We’ll pick you up.”
“I can’t, Control. The first hit took out my primary life support system. I’ve been on the reserve most of the mission. I won’t survive until pick up. Don’t worry. I can get her back.”
“In how many pieces?” said Kita.
“She sounds as hard-headed as you,” Babydoll said with a teasing smile.
“Missiles in range,” announced an officer from Ship Defense. “Phalanx system engaging.”
“What is a phalanx system?” Kita asked Defiance.
“It’s a Gatling gun connected to a computer that fires high explosive shells to knock out incoming threats.”
“Can we open the window? I’d like to see this.”
“They’re coming from underneath us.”
Kita sighed and turned to the holotable. Twenty-four dots moved toward Enterprise at an alarming rate. Rainbow Jack trailed twelve of the missiles. Whatever weapon she’d fired wasn’t big enough to be seen on the holotable. In the background, the rest of the fighter squadrons attacked the remaining three enemy ships.
“How long until impact?” called Sheppard.
“Twenty seconds, Admiral,” said a sailor monitoring the holotable.
“Sound the impact alarm. Everyone brace yourselves.”
“Admiral, the first missile has been taken out,” reported the officer from Ship Defense. “And another one.”
The Angels stood around the holotable listening as each missile was destroyed.
“That wasn’t so bad,” said Valentine.
“Yeah, just twelve more to go,” said Babydoll.
The twelve incoming missiles were seconds away.
“Brace for impact,” the Officer of the Watch called.
“Ship Defense?” yelled Sheppard.
“Targeting as many as we can. We only have nine available systems. Two gone. Two seconds to impact!”
Kita grabbed the holotable and Panther’s hand. On the holotable, the dots representing the missiles moved into Enterprise’s icons. She braced her legs against the shockwave that would rock the ship and closed her eyes.
“Hell yeah! Got them!” Rainbow Jack cried.
Kita opened her eyes. She waited for alarms to sound, but the ship was quiet.
“Ok, everybody, back to work,” yelled Sheppard.
“Control, Rainbow Jack, I’m coming in hot. Get the nets up.”
“Rainbow Jack, you’re coming in too fast for the nets. I advise you to ditch, and we’ll pick you up.”
“I can get her slowed down—don’t worry.”
“We’re switching you over to the Air Boss for recovery, Control out.”
“Where is she coming in at?” said Kita to the Air Boss.
“I’m going to direct her to runway four. That way if she blows up she’ll do the least amount of damage.”
“We’ll go down and help.”
“What can you do?”
“Play catch. Come on, girls.”
Kita and the Angels appeared in the hangar. In front of them was runway four. Eight nets were strung across the runway, while a rescue crew waited behind a crash shield protecting the hangar entrance. The Angels went over to the first responders.
“When is the fighter due?” said Kita.
A Marine looked at the Arcom on his wrist. “Ninety seconds, Imperial Angel. If you’ll please clear the area we need to get ready.”
“We’ll hang out in the middle of the runway and see if we can snag her for you.”
“What? No, you can’t do that!”
“I say it’s fine, Marine,” said Defiance in a harsh tone.
“Your Highness, you can’t go out there. The fighter is coming in so fast she’s going to go through all the nets.”
“That’s why we’re going out there.”
Kita and the others glided out onto the runway between the sixth and seventh net. They spread out ready to grab Rainbow Jack.
“There she is,” said V
alentine. She pointed to a light moving toward them. “She’s coming in too fast. The Marine is right. My calculations show she’ll go through all the nets and end up back in space.”
“Do your best to grab her and hold tight,” said Kita. “Keep your wings open to create as much drag as possible.”
“I’ve always wanted to play parachute,” Panther said with a laugh.
“What happens if we don’t stop her?” said Blitz.
Kita smiled. “Then we go for a ride.”
“Here she comes,” announced Valentine.
The Angels braced themselves as Rainbow Jack’s wounded fighter roared in, plowing through the first two nets.
“Did those slow her at all?” said Babydoll.
“She lost two hundred and fifty-four miles-per-hour,” said Valentine. “She’s traveling slower than a bullet.”
“Yeah, but she’s much bigger than a bullet.”
Rainbow Jack hit the third net, and the fighter slammed onto the runway, skidding forward trailing a shower of sparks into the next net.
“She’s dropping speed,” yelled Valentine over the noise.
The fighter hit the fifth net. The first and second nets arrestor cables ran out and came free, whipping behind the fighter. The loose cable could take a leg or cut someone in half.
“Keep back and stay behind cover!” Kita yelled to the rescue crews.
The fighter hit the sixth net, and Kita braced herself. She feared there would be nothing to grab on to, but the nets provided ample handholds along the airframe but obscured her view of the cockpit. She mentally kicked herself for not patching into the fighter’s communications system.
The Angels opened their wings and dug in their heels. The fighter struck Kita first. She grabbed the netting and wrapped her arms around the nose. The force of the impact knocked her off her feet. She felt the fighter slow as the other Angels grabbed hold. Unable to arrest the fighter’s forward momentum, the group slammed into the next net.
“By the Crushing Depths,” muttered Kita as the net pinned her and the other Angels’ wings to the fighter. She burst into flame and melted through the net. She thrust her legs out and jammed them into the deck. As she slid the soles of her boots smoked.
As they came to the end of the runway, Kita spotted the launcher’s cleat. “Denver! Fire runway four’s launcher!”
The cleat raced toward Kita and the fighter. Kita stuck her foot into the launcher’s track and made herself rigid. The cleat struck her foot pushing her forward. The fighter rose off the deck, flew over Kita’s head, and slammed down on its side. The nets came down on top of the Angels. The ejection pod fired sending Rainbow Jack skidding across the deck into a protective barricade.
“Ok, whose dumb idea was this?” Babydoll muttered as she untangled herself from the nets.
“Mine,” growled Kita as she tried to do the same. “Everyone ok?”
“You owe me a massage after this,” grumbled Panther. “I think it tried to rip my arms out of their sockets.”
“My hands are all chewed up,” said Valentine. “Can someone untangle me?”
“That was like ultimate steer wrestling,” whooped Defiance.
“You’re supposed to eat them, not play with them,” said Babydoll.
“I’m fine,” said Blitz. “My plates are scuffed. What’s a steer?”
“A really dumb four-legged beast that doesn’t understand it’s a hamburger,” said Babydoll.
“What’s a hamburger?”
“Only God’s gift to women…or is that tacos? Maybe pizza. When we go to the mess, I’ll show you.”
Kita burned through the nets freeing the others. They hurried over to the rescue crews freeing Rainbow Jack. A metal saw was cutting through the ejection pod’s framework.
When the sparks from the saw stopped flying, the rescue crews used pry bars to open up the escape pod’s hatch. When it opened, a corpsman stuck his head in to talk to the pilot. The corpsman came out nodding his head. The rescue crew pulled Rainbow Jack free.
“Thanks, everybody. What a ride,” exclaimed Rainbow Jack.
The leader of the rescue team pointed behind her to the Angels. Rainbow Jack turned around, scanned the Angels, saw Defiance, and came to attention and saluted.
“Your Highness. I, ah, didn’t expect a personal reprimand.”
“I have a feeling I know what your punishment is going to be, Major,” said Defiance coldly. “I’ll let her deal with you.”
“Yes, Your Highness. I will explain myself to Admiral Sheppard.”
“You wish. I’m talking about her.” Defiance hitched a thumb at Kita.
“Hi,” said Kita. “After you finish thanking these girls for saving your ass, you and I are going to have a chat.”
“What are we doing down here? It smells like burnt oil,” whined Phoenix.
Kita rolled her eyes at her daughter. Phoenix’s bad attitude was wearing her thin. “This is a little hide-a-way spot I found last time I was on Enterprise. It’s a good place to hide things, right Rene?”
“Until someone goes poking around where they aren’t supposed to.”
“I had been directed this way to see the installation of the SLIP drive. Not my fault I heard them.”
“Heard who?” said Valentine.
“Me and my team,” said Stormy.
“Who the slag are you, anyway?” snarled Phoenix.
“I’m Amanda, and you are Kylee.”
“You better know who I am.”
“Your mouth preceded you.”
“I will kick your ass from here to the farthest galaxy.” Phoenix lit a fireball in her hand.
“Uh-huh,” said Stormy. She waved her hand, and a small storm cloud appeared over the fireball. Rain poured down dousing the fire, and a lightning strike hit Phoenix’s hand.
“Ouch! What the slag, bitch?” snarled Phoenix. “I’m going to burn you so bad—”
“Enough, Kylee,” said Kita. “Everyone inside.” She waved the group of Angels through the door. She waved in Rainbow Jack and Sheppard last.
“Well, this is cozy,” said Panther as she looked around at the racks, portable head, practice mat, and bokkens in their stand.
“So what are we doing down here?” demanded Phoenix. She pointed at Rainbow Jack. “And why did you bring her—him? It’s a man—at least the important parts are.”
The blood drained from Rainbow Jack’s face.
“Kylee!” yelled Valentine. “Do not tease someone like that.”
“I’m not lying. Check the backscatter lens.”
“That is vile, Kylee, even for you,” scolded Valentine. “The backscatter scanner isn’t there for you to peek under someone’s clothes.”
“I wasn’t peeking! I was just checking for weapons. I do it for everybody new. You never know who’s got what.”
“You shouldn’t do it to a friend!”
“She’s not lying,” said Kita quietly. What did I miss?
Rainbow Jack flushed red with anger. “Is this why you brought me down here? To make fun of me?” she yelled. Tears trickled down from the corner of her eyes. She fled toward the door.
“No, wait!” yelled Kita. “Rene, Casey, Amanda, Jess, stop her—him—her? Her!”
Around the room, Kita received confused looks from many of the Angels, but not from the UEE Angels.
“What am I—and we—missing?” Kita said to Babydoll and Anthrax.
“There’s nothing to get freaked about,” said Babydoll. “She’s transgender.”
“Trans—what?”
“Ah, Annie, maybe you can explain it better than I can.”
Anthrax nodded. “She’s transgender. A male in the process of becoming a female. At a certain stage in development, the wrong hormones are given to a fetus, and their brains develop thinking they’re one gender and their body develops in the opposite. It can manifest itself at a young age. When someone is identified as transgender, they’re given hormone therapy when they reach puberty. Once the bod
y is done developing, around age twenty-five, they have surgery to give them the proper organs. It goes both ways, male to female, female to male.”
Kita blinked. “It never occurred to me that this could happen.”
“I guess coming from the world you did it’s not that big of a surprise,” said Babydoll. “There’s not much anyone could do to fix it, and a transgender person doesn’t have any choice but to go with what they’re given. It probably didn’t cross anyone’s mind.”
Have I met a transgender before? There were some real tomboys and some very effeminate men. Could they have been transgender and trying to cope with it the best they could? How awful. Imagine if my father had gotten his way. “I understand. Does anyone have any questions?”
The Angels shook their heads.
Kita bit her lip looking at Rainbow Jack being comforted by Defiance, Sheppard, Stormy, and Valor. I should take a picture with Rainbow Jack’s permission. This really shows the empathy of the Princess, admiralty, and Political Bureau.
“I think we should go apologize. Come on, Kylee.”
“What did I do?” she huffed.
Kita gave her daughter a dirty look.
“The backscatter lens is a gross invasion of privacy,” said Valentine.
Phoenix crossed her arms defensively. “I’m just trying to keep us safe.”
“What’s she going to have that’s dangerous to us?”
“You never know. It’s saved me a few times.”
“We’ll sort it out later,” said Kita. “Come on, everyone.”
Kita led the group to the Angels comforting Rainbow Jack.
“Is she ok?” Kita asked Valor.
“Just angry, embarrassed, and upset.”
“She has a right to be.”
“Lucky for you, the first person to grab her was the princess,” said Valor.
“I and the others would like to apologize.”
“I’ll go see.”
“Thanks, Jess.”
Before turning around, Valor gave Phoenix a dirty look.
“I didn’t know!” Phoenix yelled.
“Hush,” said Kita. “What have I told you about tact?”
“I don’t know. It’s been like ten years, and I’ve been doing fine without you.”