Star Raiders and the Lost Expidition

by M. Shaunessy

  It did not look good for the Felinis that was until a warrior out from the dark came to claim his spot in this battle of hope. Its sleek silvery design, the Thunder Claw streaked into the battle. Like most of the Tiger Claws, the Felinis star craft was a two-seated ship, one for the pilot and a co-pilot who monitors weapon status. Only this ship had one of the best well-trained pilots the Felinis had. Prince Xman Tyger was his name, a tiger looking Felinis. His helmet concealed his long orange hair as his muscular arms took control of his flight stick. He was coming back from his earlier missions when he saw Xatu ships tormenting his planet. His eyes burned in rage like furnace.

  “No!” he shouted in rage.

  He growled angrily as he took a better grip on his flight stick, pushed the thruster control to the max, and joined the battle, firing at the Empire's ships consisting dark crescent shaped ships called B’tars, and Jun’tars, were a slower, but heavily armed ship. He steered his ship in and out of explosions from his fallen allies, trying to avoid their fire. He got a B’tar in his sights and launched his last two space homing rockets. The B’tar could not escape as it blew into a million pieces.

  “No one takes my planet and lives!” He shouted angrily, firing his red neon lasers like crazy. He made several more bull’s-eye hits as his laser blast annihilating his enemy.

  In the middle of the battlefield, orbiting the planet stood a massive command ship called The Hades. Like other Xatu warships, this one has its curvy alien shape, as it was dark and evil. Inside, the commander of the ship Captain Tah, a Xatu, was in charge. He saw and identified the Thunder Claw flying by firing on a B’tar. He then, by his commander, wanted that ship and its pilot undamaged. Tah did not understand at first, but he was under orders.

  “I want that ship in captive,” he ordered to the ensign. “Engage the tractor beam.”

  “Aye sir,” the crewmember replied.

  “Must apologize to Drax,” he said to himself, “I did not think that selfless prince would come back.”

  Suddenly Xman ship stopped moving. At first he could not figure out why, all of the systems were functioning properly. He did not like it as he was like dead in the water. Any enemy ships could easily destroy him, but they did not. Now he knew he did not like it.

  “What the?” He questioned as he franticly started to push buttons on his console to get his ship moving again.

  He pressed the green then the red, then finally an orange button, but nothing still. He felt the full thrusters activated, but he did not go anywhere. He double checked his sensors on the console and noticed something odd.

  Then all of a sudden, the Thunder Claw started to move, but in reverse. Xman could not figure out what he did to get it moving. He then checked the system controls again and figured out what was happening.

  “No!” He said to himself, “I’m trapped in a god dam tractor beam.”

  His fist reaction was to transmit for help, but to his dismay, all of the frequencies were dead. Jammed he thought. He pushed a couple more buttons on his control panel, then the engine engaged in hyperactive thrust, but the beam was too strong and it pulled him slowly in into the ship. There was no way out, he shut the engines off, in case he needed to save its fuel for later. Xman knew that once inside the command ship, he should be ready, but why did they pull him in as if he was a fish? Why didn’t the Empire destroy his ship? He will soon know the answers. The Felinis was puzzled as the Empire started to retreat. Why, the Empire was winning? This did not make any sense.

  One inside the Xatu hanger, he saw an army of troops surrounding the Thunder Claw armed with their blasters aiming at the cockpit. Xman grabbed his gun and thought that he had to act quickly once he opened the canopy. He pressed a button on the console and at the same time as the canopy slip open he drew his weapon, but that proved fatal as several stun bolts shot him. Xman blacked out.

  In the war room of the Felinoron castle, King Rymu, a Tiger Felinis dressed in royal purple attire, was sitting in his chair that was part of other chairs surrounding an oval table. Holographic screens were lit up around them show the latest schematics of their battle with the Xatu empire. They were slightly relieved that the Empire did not destroy their planet, but they there more confuse instead. Rymu listened to commander Sommanar’s report of what they have lost.

  Sommanar was a leopard Felinis dressed in yellow fatigues. He looked like we was in his mid thirties, slightly athletic with short yellow spotted hair.

  “Almost half out fleet has been destroyed my king, and one was captured,” he reported.

  Rymu raised his brow and asked, “Captured? Who?”

  “We don’t know,” he replied cautiously, “We believe it could be your son returning from an earlier mission.”

  His eyes widened, as he could not believe his ears. The Empire took his son, but why, he wondered. Then his memory flooded back to a horrid memory when they had taken his wife. He was on a diplomatic mission to Uuk’Ticab to meet with the Serpian ambassador, but things went out of control when the Empire decided to attack the Colonials and kidnap his wife. Days later, his wife, Sharla, was dead, killed by a Xatu commander. He knew what he had to do.

  “Assemble all the troops, we are getting him back,” Rymu commanded.

  Sommanar looked to him and said, “Sir you can’t be serious? What if the Empire decides to return and use their plasma drill? We cannot survive another attack like that. Heck, we wouldn’t have enough men to protect the planet, let alone to go after your son.” As much as he did not like it, he had to think of the Felinises and continued disappointedly, “Besides, I am truly sorry your highness, but he could be good as gone.”

  King Rymu looked at him angrily, “I don’t care! He is my son, and,” He then realized what Sommanar was telling him and he was right. Xman was probably the only reason why their planet is still standing. “You are right.”

  “Right?!” A female voice cried unbelievably.

  Rymu’s only daughter burst in having to listen what they had said. Rymu looked over to and saw a slim attractive Tigress Felinis standing in the doorway. He thought she was a spitting image of her mother when she was in her young age of twenty.

  “What are you talking about father?” She said bravely, “He is my brother, and your son. You can’t just leave him to the Xatu Empire, like mother.”

  “Tygla, I thought I told you to stay outside,” her father said to her harshly, “This is a private meeting.”

  “I don’t care!” She cried, “We are going to get him out!”

  “We are not going to do anything,” Rymu said to her, “Sommanar is right, we must protect our planet, from another attack. And we need all the Felinis soldiers we can get.”

  “Then I’m going to get him back, with or without your help,” she turned and stormed out.

  “Tygla Wait!” Rymu said going after her. He caught her out in the hall and held her arm, “Tygla please, I am sorry, but I cannot allow you to do this.”

  Tygla shot back as she released herself from her father’s grip, “You can’t tell me what to do. I am not a cub anymore father. I’m old enough to make my own decisions.”

  “Tygla, don’t fight with me please,” he said sternly, “It’s too dangerous out there.” He paused slightly as he chose it his next words carefully. “I’m sorry, but I am restricting you inside the castle grounds until further notice.”

  Tygla was astonished to her father’s decisions. How could he not care of his own son she thought. She then was about to say something, but that would make things worse. She pouted and ran to her room almost crying. Rymu sighed and frowned. He did not like what he had to do, but it was best for her. He felt a touch on his should her and it was Sommanar.

  “You made the right decision,” he said as Rymu sighed.

  “Did I?” Rymu wondered, “Then why do I feel guilty?”

  On the far side of the Milky Way galaxy, an important strategic meeting took place. Cian was the Colonial military capital of the galaxy. Not too many peopl
e know of the planet since a small nebula surrounded it called The Ghost Nebula in the constellation Ophiuchus, which was a perfect hidden secret location. It has the same atmosphere as Earth’s but all the citied resided near huge forest of red wood trees. Only four major cities were on the planet, Phlan, Arcos, Washington, and Egal. The council met in the secluded city of Egal talking about the Empire’s last threat on Felinoron. The meeting room was once a sports arena when they used to play galatical sports like Spaceball locally. Now it was a meeting hall for the struggling colonials. All of them were different races of all kinds. They all sat and started the meeting that would decide the fate of their freedom.

  An old humanoid male stood up. He was wearing blue a robe with a gold trim and his short grey hair came down to his ears. His square-jawed face was rugged with a few wrinkles near his dark brown eyes. He was Ambassador Naku, head of the United Colonial Council of Planets. Once he calmed the noise down the meeting began.

  “I just heard from General Smithson that Felinoron as miraculously survived an attack from one of the Xatu battleships. And for some odd reason, they did not use their power drill to destroy the planet which is irregular for them.”

  Vissal, a brown-scaled Lizzian ambassador from the planet Hurclion, turned to Naku and said, “Do we have any information on why?”

  Naku shook his head, “No Vissal, General Smithson is still looking into that as we speak. In the meantime, Felinoron needs our support like no other. I understand that Senator Ismal will gladly donate his robotic construction crew to help rebuild the main city.” He shook his head thinking of the battle, “Either the Empire is getting very careless or very shrewdness we must be on high alert. Now, I know for a reason that the Empire has been attacking our supply plants near the Crab Nebula. The last one almost cost all of our fleet. They are getting stronger and we need to find their weakness and fast, any ideas?”

  The council of ten looked and talked to each other, but it seems that no one had an answer.

  Naku sighed and continued, “Well, perhaps what we need is more time to think about it. I suppose the next order of business is an alignment agreement with Caninion ambassador, Fulge. Now I know his planet is on the verge of siding with the Xatu Empire. Something we do not want to happen. Tomorrow I will travel to Caninion and speak with him. Senator Shaka has agreed to come with me as she has dealt with them before. Finally, on the agenda, one of our Avian scientists has been mysteriously disappeared. He was going on an expedition on the far side of the galaxy when it happened, if anyone has any information, now the time to share.”

  Skyla, a female Falconia Avian, spoke, “I wouldn’t be surprised if the Xatu are involved. They have been trying to abduct our scientists since the beginning of this war and frankly it’s getting out of hand.”

  “I agree,” Shaka the zebra-like Stalian concurred. “But our militant despot is very low to assemble an investigation team to find him.” She turned to Skyla, “I am truly sorry.”

  Skyla frowned and replied “It’s is not your fault, but I suggest we put together a Secret Security Agency for the Colonials to handle these types of situations.”

  “That is a good idea Skyla,” Naku said, “All in favor?”

  The vote was unanimous and the meeting ended. The council departed as Naku left to his chambers, a young blond male human met him there.

  Naku turned to him, “I am going to put General Smithson in charge of the Secret Security Agency.”

  The man nodded and said, “King Rymu has called and said that his son may have been abducted by the renegade humanoid Lord Drax.”

  Naku frowned as he sat in his chair thinking of that name, “Drax.” He sighed and said worriedly, “I really wish I could help my old friend, Maas, but Shaka was right, the Xatu has cut us down to a stump. We must somehow find a way to penetrate their defense shields.” He looked up to his assistant Maas and asked, “I don’t suppose you have any ideas?”

  “Sorry sir,” Maas said, “But it seems that we have more of a recruitment problem instead.”

  Naku agreed, “I know, it wasn’t like this twenty years ago. It seems like the rest of the free galaxy has lost faith in us. Most of them are either privateers or bounty hunters.”

  On the other side of the galaxy, sits a half desert half-watery planet called Sadr in the Cigni system. The planet surface is sometimes ninety percent humid and hot as today was one of those days. Like Cian, Xatu empire has not conquered yet it. The Xatu thought Sadr was a waste of their time, so it was perfect sanctuary for those who were hiding.

  Furttle, a city near the hot steamy calm ocean contains the most hideous scum, wickedness, and revolting smugglers this side of the galaxy. Mike and Justin entered an air-conditioned tavern called the Seball. One of their good friends Digan, who unfortunately was not there at the time, owned the Saball. The Earthian rocking-tuned music filled the air from a holo band near the back of the tavern, as they passed the Animun and alien type patrons. They sat at their regular table on the far side of the bar and ordered their drinks from a cute Faunis server.

  “Well I hope this baby is worth what we went through,” said Mike holding up the blue and red swirled crystal jewel. Justin did not like Mike holding it up in public, especially in a bar like this.

  Justin replied, “I just hope it’ll be enough to pay off Mama’Halb.”

  “Well we’ll find out when our dealer get here,” Mike said.

  Just then, a full size goblin-like alien entered the bar. Its gray-green skin and two long sharp lower-jawed tusks were fierce. It almost made you think it was a bounty hunter looking to kill Mike and Justin, but it wasn’t, it was an alien Giber, he strolled around and went to the human bar keep. The bar keeper then pointed towards Mike and Justin and the Giber nodded.

  “Looks like he’s here,” commented Justin as he looked up. The Giber walked towards them and stood above as Mike smiled friendly.

  “Want to sit down?” Mike asked gesturing a seat to the alien.

  The Giber replied, “No, thanks. Where’s the jewel?”

  “Where’s the money?” Justin asked.

  The Giber replied, “You’ll get the money. I want to see the jewel?”

  He asked again. This time more aggressively.

  “It's right here,” replied Mike as he put the blue shiny jewel on the table.

  The Giber’s eyes widened and said, “Ah, the Na’Tuka Jewel.” he picked it up to examine it and continued, “I don’t know how you did it but, I’ll pay you the five thousand.”

  “Five thousand!” Exclaimed Mike, “Come on, do you know what we had to go through for that thing? I’m sure it’s worth more.”

  The Giber snorted laughing and said, “You two are good bargainers. Alright, I’ll give you eight thousand and no more.”

  “Fine,” Mike said in defeat, “The money?”

  “Of course, here, eight thousand in cash,” the Giber replied as he handed a wad of translucent like money, “You humans are truly scum,” Mike handed the jewel to him as he held it up admiring the Bimend. He laughed as put it in his pocket and walked away.

  “Well, here’s your share,” said Mike handing his friend his divided the money.

  Justin replied anxiously, “Good let’s get hell out of here.”

  “Relax. Can I finish my drink first?” Mike said as he took a sip of his drink and looked at him.

  Justin was nervous. He knew that Mama’Halb would send another of her goons after them and she knew where to find them.

  “Well, I just don’t like staying in here when Mama’Halb is a bit pissed at us.” Justin said to him “And she knows where we hang out Mike.”

  Justin made good point, “Fine,” Mike replied as he placed a tip on the table.

  They both got up and headed for the entrance until a real bounty hunter named Tuskin, a walrus-like Animun Warlian, cut their path with a blaster aimed at Mike's stomach. Mike looked at him and did not realize who it was until he looked up at his ugly face.

  “Whe
re do you think you’re going Tippin?” He asked icily as he snarled.

  Mike replied slyly, “Ah, Tuskin, what a surprise. We were about to see Mamma’Halb. Weren’t we Justin?”

  “Yeah,” his friend replied nervously.

  “Yeah, sure,” Tuskin said backing them up a little, “She wants the money now. Fifty thousand. Pay up.”

  “Well, you tell her we only got twenty five hundred and will get rest later,” replied Mike.

  Tuskin then said, “Don't insult me with your pitiful worthless coins. She wants the whole amount. If you don’t pay, she authorized me to kill you both. Here and now!” He then smiled at that thought.