Eden, listen, time is of the essence, and we’ve already stayed alive longer than I statistically calculated without the Space Templar fleet arriving. We—
A bright light flashed in front of them, blinking brightly between Swift and the armada. Eden inhaled sharply. “Tranquil is here.” They jumped into the wrong place at the wrong time. “We need to help them.”
Swift jostled back and forth from a hefty hit and Eden knocked back against her seat, whiplashing her head. She blinked several times, gathering her bearings, and rubbed the back of her neck. She eyed the viewscreen. “Are we slowly spinning?”
Yes. We've just experienced a substantial hit.
54
Ali
Starship Tranquil
An armada vast and deep filled Ali’s screen. Ships with long, bat-like wings, dragon heads as bows, and spikes crossing the length of the ships were in front of her. Large Anunnaki pyramid-like ships, along with their rectangular cruisers and battleships, hovered alongside the dragon vessels. The bigger problem: from bow to bow, Tranquil couldn’t be more than a thousand kilometers from them and closing.
Amid it all, Avens flew like a swarm of bees, blasting the armada. An Aven and then another turned into a flower of flames, though it appeared they had chipped away at the defenses and lit up more enemy starfighters than they lost.
“Holy Guild,” said Ali, her tone soft.
“Let’s kick some Anunnaki ass,” yelled Thun, his fist in the air.
Two against…hundreds thought Ali. The odds were more than stacked against her and Eden.
Ali, directly behind you is your home. Earth. Defend it with all you have, said Tranquil. We’ll fight and take as many bruises as we can. Soon, the Space Templar fleet will arrive.
Ali bit her fingernail. They better.
Do I have permission to fire, Ali?
Yes!
Tranquil moved into position, taking an energy weapon straight in the bow, the graviton shields rippling from the hit. Tranquil returned fire, letting loose bolts from plasma cannons. It sliced through an enemy craft’s shields, dissipating the gravitons, and ravaged the craft’s long spiked nose, and then plastered the ship’s whale-like body with missiles.
What the hell was a whale? An image came to her, and she quickly shook it off. Now—especially now—wasn’t the time for memory lane.
Tranquil dipped underneath the whale-ship, rattling the large underbelly with direct hits, peeling metal off like dandruff from a Bawn’s head. A flash of light brightened the screen. Ali instinctively put her forearm over her eyes, her heart beating fast from the sudden light. “What was the flash?”
Swift came to help us, said Tranquil, pulling away from the whale-ship, its bow now completely gone. Swift engaged the craft with a photon torpedo. The enemy ship is permanently out of commission.
Ali’s eyes widened as she watched the ship’s occupants sucked out of the craft, past wires that curled around the craft’s broken edges, and twirled lifeless in space. The ship spun, cracking against a nearby pyramid-ship, and sending out a ball of fire where it hit, then bouncing away, doing little damage.
Chan put his hands together and began humming monotone words she didn’t recognize.
What’s he doing? thought Ali as Tranquil pitched, taking several projectiles in the shields, starboard side.
He’s praying, replied Tranquil.
Praying? Why? She could think of thousands of things he could do to help, and praying didn’t make the cut.
He’s praying because it’s two against hundreds. Statistically, we don’t have a chance.
Ali’s heart ran to her throat, wanting to exit the ship with or without her. “Where exactly are the Space Templars?”
On the way.
When will they get here?
We don’t know.
55
Shae
Starship Ascension
The tunnel dissipated and Shae stared at the back end of an enormous armada, a laser show of lights and explosions in the distance in front of him. “Let it fly.”
They jumped in three light seconds from the enemy, nearly thirty thousand kilometers. Graxic, Reptilian, and Enlil’s fleet’s sensors wouldn’t pick up Shae’s large flotilla for three seconds. By then, they’d have five seconds at most to react.
Space Templar cruisers, destroyers, dreadnaughts, battleships, assault ships, and lancers sent photon torpedoes, then missiles, and lit up space with plasma bolts. In under ten seconds, explosions filled the viewscreen as Shae exposed Enlil’s armada’s rear. They sat as easy targets, most of their gravitons directed to power the front and sides of their shields to protect them from the fight in front of them, making them vulnerable from behind.
“Sabra, I don’t know the groups in the fleet, but we need this fast and simple. Split the fleet into three, name a lead for two of them. We each attack based on location. And Ascension, bring up coordinates on the screen.” A grid appeared along with numbers at each crossing line. “Sabra, group one engages the armada at coordinates eleven-zero-seven. Group two engages the enemy at coordinates thirty-six-nineteen. We take a large squadron onward, straight ahead, and hit them in the middle.”
Sabra dipped her head. “Open all fleet comm channels.” She cleared her throat. “Squadrons Dees, Meen, Es, Limmu, Ia, and Imin, break formation and attack at will, coordinates sent to you. Captain Senna Lightwell, you’re group captain.”
Senna’s affirmative bounced back, and a group of Space Templar ships to the left of Ascension’s screen split off from the fleet, heading toward the coordinates Sabra gave, their boosters beaming blue afterburner. Sabra continued barking orders and calling for another group captain to lead. A portion of the fleet broke off, heading to the next specified coordinates.
“Full steam ahead,” yelled Shae, watching small crafts dodge, spin, and weave in and out of enemy weapon’s fire in front of the glowing blue gem—Earth. Shae couldn’t help but smile, happy to see his old home, and glad he remembered what it looked like. “Open ship intercom,” said Shae. “Flight deck prepare for Avens to take off. Ascension, open launch bay doors.”
Yes, Admiral. Launch bay doors opening.
“Avens, start engines. Launch when ready. Engage the enemy. Don’t let up.”
Avens launching now, Admiral.
“Thank you.” Shae wiggled his ear and shook his head. “Hearing this ship speak will take a lot of getting used to.”
Avens shot off in a cluster toward the enemy, slowly turning into small lights the farther away they flew. Starship Ascension flew onward, heading for the meat of the battle.
Shae glanced at Devon rooted to his chair, typing away as script flowed quickly down his holomonitor.
Sabra unstrapped and stood. “May I join the Aven squadron?”
Shae cocked his head to the side. “You want to fight in a starfighter?”
“I’m better suited there than in here…if you want to down more ships, that is.”
Shae dipped his head, his nerves rising slightly. He didn’t know this ship well and thought Sabra would be of help. Apparently, she wanted to be of more help out there. All the better. Shae motioned toward the bridge’s exit. “Be my guest.”
She bowed. “Thank you, Admiral. I’ll make you proud.”
“Good.”
Shae eyed the vidscreen. “Zoom in.” Ascension zoomed in on the center of the conflict. His Avens had entered engagement, lighting up ships with plasma bolts, a technology new to him, though a weapon system not that difficult to understand. He winced when several Avens erupted in an array of colors. An enormous ship, with long wings and a dragon head on the bow, came into view, taking several Avens out of existence.
“Target that ship,” said Shae. “Hit him hard.”
Ascension shook, and the bridge vibrated. Two large, purple orbs flew outward, heading at incredible speed toward the vessel. "Ascension, get word to all Aven pilots in that ship’s vicinity to move away from their targets. Torpedoes are on thei
r way.”
Affirmative, Admiral.
The Avens zoomed away, engaging ships far from the dragon craft. A torpedo hit, slicing through the dragon ship’s shields, a ripple dipping inward and flowing outward. Electricity spun around the ship, like a snake squeezing its prey. A second torpedo slammed into its back boosters unabated, sending a large explosive blast that winked out an instant later. The stern broke apart. Internal explosions lit up space, and pieces split off the ship in chunks.
One dragon boat down, a handful more to go.
The bridge’s door opened, hissing loudly. Shae spun in his seat, hesitating for a moment. “Kalista? What the Guild are you doing here?”
“That Sabra lady called me in here. Apparently, there’s a seat open, and you need someone you know by your side.” She shook her head. “Humans and your needs.”
Shae didn’t need her. He had Devon, but maybe she could help. “Okay, sit. Sabra’s seat is there.”
She gave him a lazy salute. “Will do, Cap’n.”
“Admiral,” he corrected.
“Right, Admiral.”
He faced the vidscreen as they closed in on the enemy fleet. “Drop low. We attack from beneath,” ordered Shae.
The ship and the group he led— a dozen cruisers, a handful of battleships and destroyers, and several lancers and assault ships—moved lower in its trajectory, heading for the enemy’s underbelly. Shae leaned forward. “We have an Anunnaki pyramid twenty-one klicks port forward. Ascension, target ship, and let loose.” Plasma blasts expelled, and in seconds impacted the pyramid ship’s shields. “Keep going.” Ascension threw more weapon fire, successfully tearing through a portion of the shields. Fire blew from the pyramid’s exterior, though doing minimal damage.
Avens pounded the pyramid as well, more explosions pocking the exterior. The pyramid’s return fire came back erratically as if their weapon’s systems had become faulty. Several cruisers took the brunt of the hits, their shields holding strong. They returned fire, jabbing the pyramid.
“Sir,” said Devon. “I’m sensing a malfunction within the Anunnaki holonet. They’re being hacked.” He jerked back in surprise. “Whoa, they just lost all defenses.”
Shae pointed at the screen. “That pyramid ship?”
“No, the entire Anunnaki fleet. I don’t see it with the Reptilians or the Graxic, but the Anunnaki are essentially defenseless.”
Shae sat straighter. “Open all channels now.”
Open, Admiral.
“All ships focus on the Anunnaki fleet. They are defenseless. I repeat, they are defenseless. Send the message to the entire armada and cripple these Anunnaki assholes.”
Kalista unstrapped and stood, her hand in a fist. “Hey, do not say those words about my race.”
“Negative. They are assholes of the worst kind. You want to be tormented and enslaved your entire life?”
She looked at him blankly.
He shook his head. “Yeah, I didn’t think so. So, yes, your race is full of pricks. Now sit down.”
Kalista, acting as if Shae had overreacted, sat down and strapped back in. Shae shifted his focus to the screen as the Space Templar fleet shifted, like bees connected to their queen, doing what Shae needed at a moment’s notice. An assault ship split in half on his port, and a battleship took massive hits, its shields down.
A throng of Avens circled an Anunnaki destroyer, dodging the destroyer’s blasts. The Avens gradually stripped its armor with well-targeted shots until the ship went dark, all systems going offline. A few more hits and the Anunnaki vessel cracked in two, sparks flying out the new opening.
Shae raised his arm at a large pyramid-ship, wanting to end the damn thing. He made a throwing motion, emotion pushing up from his belly. “Fire torpedoes.”
Avens pulled away as Ascension, assault ships, lancers, cruisers, and destroyers in his group sent forth torpedoes. The pyramid erupted in a last burst of hellfire, sending debris like shrapnel that pounded an enemy cruiser kilometers away.
Ascension dipped forward and turned, the constant pounding of enemy fire dwindling the gravitons on the port side. A missile slipped through a malfunctioning graviton, and Ascension rocked. Shae lurched forward, the restraints pulling him gently back into the seat. The vidscreen split, bringing up a display of Ascension’s blueprint, showing effects to her stern, followed by internal explosions.
Ascension rounded a ship with a dragon's face, clearly the biggest vessel in the fleet, and pelted it with plasma bursts. The dragon ship took the hits on the chin, the shields absorbing each blow.
“We might not want to mess with that one. I know those Graxic ships, and they’re kill-proof,” said Kalista.
Graxic ships are not impenetrable.
“Continue to fire,” shouted Shae, watching the rest of the Templar ships in his group fire upon the behemoth. A ripple of energy emitted from the Graxic ship and a haze-like fog surrounded Ascension.
Ascension froze. They have us locked in a tractor beam.
Shae flared his nostrils, his insides tightening. “Another tractor beam,” he said under his breath. It was a repeat of when Y’taul captured him.
Kalista’s arms fell to her sides, defeated. “Smooth move, Admiral.” Shae could tell she had an excellent idea of what would happen next. She gave him a farewell nod. “We had a fun ride while it lasted…I guess.”
The bow of the Graxic ship—the dragon’s mouth—lit up in red, revving up a weapon. A second later, it fired a wide energy beam. Shae grabbed hold of his chair. “Brace yourselves.”
56
Ali
Starship Tranquil
Tranquil dodged cannon pulse beams, or whatever they were because Ali had no clue. The beams seemed to come from every direction. Graviton shields held well.
The Space Templar fleet has jumped into the system and has entered the battle.
Ali pressed her hand against her forehead. “Thank Guild.”
Tranquil dipped, an enemy shot hitting high on Tranquil’s bow shields.
The comm channel opened, and a familiar voice rang over the com. “All ships focus on the Anunnaki fleet. They are defenseless. I repeat, they are defenseless. Send the message to the entire armada and cripple these Anunnaki pricks.”
“Dad?” said Ali, more to herself than to anyone else. Daf gave Ali a look, nodding as if confirming Ali was right.
“You heard him,” said Ali. “Tranquil, shift targets, we head right for the Anunnaki.”
Thun grinned, his eye squinting as if evil thoughts raced through his head. “Any way we can board these evil ships and take the crew out, one by one?”
Ali shook her head, focusing on the screen. Tranquil headed for the pyramid-like ships up ahead, their colossal bodies growing bigger by the instant.
Bilrak let out a yell, perhaps a Bawn war cry. “I second Thun, and I’m sure Harak agrees.” He held up a sword. “Let’s board a ship and whack some Anunnaki sun-worshipers.”
Ali wrinkled the skin around her eyes. “No.” The ship lurched from missile impact.
Harak grunted. “She’s scared. I know it. Our warrior, our Chosen One, is frightened beyond—”
Ali pulled her boot off and flung it at Harak, hitting him square in the face. She had nothing else to throw. He jerked back, swiping his hand in front of him, his reaction too late. Thun laughed, and a few Bawns followed suit. Harak went to stand, and Ali pulled out her gun. “Sit, or you get a slug in your chest.”
Harak gave his father a quick glance.
Bilrak crossed his arms over his chest. “I’d listen to the lady.”
Harak grunted.
Chan dipped his head Ali’s way. “Concentrate.”
Tranquil slipped by an enemy battleship, heading for the flying pyramids. Ali pointed. “Dead ahead.”
Swift is in dire need. We must act fast, said Tranquil.
Chan pointed to the right side of the vidscreen. “Swift is at coordinates six-zero-nine.”
“Then that's where we g
o,” said Ali. “Patch through to Eden.”
Nothing on that ship is operational, responded Tranquil.
Nerves tingled up Ali’s feet and to her stomach. “Get us there as fast as you can.”
Swift will heal herself, but we need to protect her as best we can. I'm adjusting our course to her coordinates now.
Tranquil pitched right, and the screen changed, the view now on a significant dot in the middle of a vast array of small ships blasting Swift with everything they had. “Tranquil, get as many Avens in the area as possible. When in range, we’ll fire every Guild'n thing we have.”
57
Enlil
Earth’s Solar System
Enlil pounded the command console, his fist making a dent. His pyramid ship bucked back, and sparks flew from the ceiling and skipped across the bridge.
“Get my fleet operational,” he yelled, his teeth clenched.
“Sir,” said a man, twisting around at his station. “Our targeting array is offline.”
Enlil’s jaw tightened. “Get it online.” Another blast jostled the ship.
“Yes, sir. We’re attempting. We don’t know why none of our ships can target the Space Templars.”
Space Templars echoed in Enlil’s mind. It was a word, a title, a group he hated more than life itself. He eyed the screen, viewing the battle happening all around him. “Where’s Ali?”
“We don’t know, sir.”
Enlil watched a cruiser in his fleet blow apart by insignificant Space Templar starfighters. “Her chip. Locate her chip. Her chip went offline a week ago.”
The man dipped his head. “We’ll continue to try to locate her.”
Enlil seethed. “Try?” He unholstered his gun and pointed at the man’s head. He pulled the trigger several times. The man lurched forward at his station, his head falling against his HDC desk. Blood dripped from the station’s desk to the floor.
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