by Dean Kutzler
“Commander! Five warships have launched from the planet and are headin’ on our position. We might be able to take out one, but all five—I dunno.”
The viewscreen split in two, and the image of UFWA warships leaving the planet’s atmosphere popped up alongside Admiral Tog’s laughing face.
“What is the matter, Saren? Where is the unshakable confidence you're so well known for, now?”
“Sever the link!” she yelled, and the view of the approaching ships filled the screen. “He’s just been stalling until they could take orbit. Ensign, any more active ships on the planet.”
“Negative, ma'am.”
“Evasive maneuvers, Mr. Brody. These are still our people. I won’t fire on them if I don’t have to.”
“But ma'am, there be five warships. Genesis’s power—“
“Do the best you can, Ensign. There’s a reason I left you in charge of the bridge earlier. I just need time to think. What’s the ETA on reaching the UFWA ship headed for AARU?”
Ensign Brody glanced at Daxton raising his eyebrows. He didn’t know if he should be proud or concerned.
“You got this, buddy! I’ll do what I can to help,” Daxton encouraged. “They’re trying to surround us.”
“If we got power left for Void Stream, twenty minutes, ma'am,” he said, answering Saren. “If’n not, we’ll just be reachin’ AARU by the time they do.”
Two ships broke away from the rest, firing photon blasts, trying to head Genesis into a trap.
“No you don’t!” Ensign Brody said, not falling for the trick and bringing the ship almost straight up. Even low on power, Genesis was capable of maneuvers the UFWA warships were not.
The other three ships scattered in an attempt to corral Genesis back around. The closest ship fired, and the photon blast nearly missed the damaged section of the hull.
“Cowards be goin’ for our weakest link,” he said, taking the ship in a nosedive towards the planet and keeping an eye on the power level. “Let’s see how well those barges can pull through the planet’s mucky atmosphere.”
Genesis dove toward the planet’s surface. Ensign Brody was too distracted to see the warning light flashing. He’d forgotten to turn on the alerts he’d shut off earlier to let Saren concentrate.
“Buddy! The planet’s firing from below!” Daxton shouted, turning the sound back on and creating a symphony of alarms throughout the bridge. “Shields are still down.”
Ensign Brody banked the ship left, but it was too late. The plasma blast hit the damaged section of the hull, tearing open a small hole.
Genesis spun along the edge of the planet’s atmosphere, as Ensign Brody struggled to right the ship.
“Force field patch in place—the hull is holding, but it drained the power required for the Void Stream option. The bigger problem be the five ships closing in on us. Commander! What do you want me to do? Should we fire on ‘em?”
“There’s got to be another way. I won’t kill our people unless there are no more options,” she said, mulling the option in her mind. She glanced at Daxton, then asked Ensign Brody, “Do we have enough power for five of those smaller antimatter bolts you hit Faelar with?”
“Yes, Commander, the decreased size doesn’t take as much power to generate ‘em.”
“Wait until the last second. Once they’re on top of us, I want you to pull the move you did on Kahari and loop straight up over their heads. Daxton—get ready to take out all five of the rear engines on those ships with those bolts.”
“You got it, Boss Lady,” he said, smiling at her a bit too long.
“Time to play dead,” Ensign Brody said, switching on and off the outer-hull lighting. “I’m momentarily switching all power to the engines. Once we be in place for the shot, I’ll switch ‘em back.”
“I’ll be ready,” Daxton said. “Shields are back online.”
“Take ‘em down until you’re ready to fire or they won’t fall for me dead act!” he said, adding the rear view to the screen. “Come on a little bit closer.”
“The lead ship is powering weapons—correction, they’re all powering weapons! They really mean business.”
Ensign Brody said, “Just a wee bit closer—get ready!”
“All five ships firing on our location.”
Genesis lurched forward, shooting straight up, and neatly escaping the plasma blasts. The ship arced over the unsuspecting warships and quickly came down behind them.
“Targeting main rear engines and firing antimatter bolts,” Daxton said, hitting his panel.
The UFWA ships started breaking apart to turn and chase Genesis, but the antimatter bolts met the targets dead-on and the rear coils of the ship’s engines disintegrated.
“Damage report on the warships.”
“No major casualties reported and all ships disabled.”
“Yes! That’ll set them back.” Saren said. “Now we just got one more ship.”
“The Admiral is hailing us, ma'am.”
“Ensign, I want you to respond with this,” she said, holding up her middle finger.
“Aye-aye, Commander! Image captured and now sending!”
“Grôk, Atmos, any luck on improving recharge?”
“Negative, Commander,” Atmos replied. “There is not enough information regarding the ship’s internals. It would have to be taken apart and reversed engineered, I’m afraid.”
“Yeah, no time for that. Mr. Brody lay in a course for the ship heading to AARU in the MACS0647-JD galaxy. As fast as she’ll take us.”
“Yes, ma'am.”
“One thing troubling me,” Grôk said.
“Let me guess. You’re wondering why the Scarab hasn’t picked up all this activity and sent a ship?”
He nodded.
“I’ve been wondering that myself.”
INNOCENT LIVES
“WE got a bit of a problem, Commander,” Ensign Brody said in a guilty tone, wincing.
“Spill it, Ensign.”
“I’ve diverted all available power to the engines, but after that hit Genesis took from Aurailia, we be shy ‘o reachin’ AARU before the UFWA ship does, by five minutes. I’m sorry, ma'am. It’s me fault,” he said, hanging his head. “I shoulda seen it comin’.”
“Suck it up, Ensign. We all make mistakes. It’s how you learn from them, and move on that counts. What if you diverted life support? Would that be enough?”
“I’ve already shut it down everywhere but the bridge and your ready room, ma'am.”
“I meant including the bridge.”
“Well, I—“ he made the calculations. “It would barely be enough to skim the time.”
“Atmos, can you sustain us with oxygen until we get there?”
“Very clever, Commander Thorn, I can, and the insulation of the hull will keep the temperature at a cold but manageable level for both humans and Kractorians until we reach the ship.”
“Problem solved, Mr. Brody. Make it happen.”
“Aye-aye, Commander,” he said, gaining back a little confidence and shutting down life support.
Genesis glided through space like a flash of silver lightning, slowly repairing itself as it went. The crew worked on keeping warm. Grôk, with his thick fur, was fine, but the temperature proved difficult for the rest. Daxton finally put a shirt or two on beneath his vest, making Ensign Brody happy—his Irish blood keeping him warm enough, and Saren found a way to access her body armor without the helmet, raising the temperature.
They were almost within visual range of AARU, and Ensign Brody redistributed power among life-support on the bridge, engines, and shields, preparing for the confrontation. Since having to use the accelerated speed to catch up to the UFWA warship, the reserves remained low, making both ships matched closely in speed and armament.
“Within range ‘o the warship, Commander.”
“Hail them, Mr. Brody.”
A young, female version of Admiral Tog appeared on the viewscreen.
“Impressive ship, Thorn�
�running on universal power, too,” Commander Matsutani Tog said. “Well, that is if my father hadn’t blown a hole in it. Unless you want more holes, I suggest that you back off and let me complete the mission you failed. You are a fugitive, and I’ll have no choice. Either you surrender to me, or I’ll return you to stardust.”
“The warship is powering weapons,” Daxton said.
“Matsutani, all I’m asking for is a chance to rescue my daughter and crew. Please, allow us just an hour. I want the Scarab dead, just as much as you.”
“Saren, we graduated academy together. Don’t make me do this. Surrender, and I’ll talk to my father about your future with UFWA.”
“The warship is firing photons!” Daxton said.
“You dishonorable bitch! Evasive maneuvers! End communications.”
The firing UFWA warship replaced the laughing face of Commander Matsutani Tog on the viewscreen as Genesis quickly maneuvered out of the way.
“She be aimin’ for the hull breach.”
“Of course she is! She was always a little bitch! But there’s a reason why they want us dead, why? Atmos, what’s taking Genesis so long to repair that section?”
“Just like creating large amounts of antimatter, the matter is difficult to create from pure energy, as well. A large section of the hull was obliterated, and Genesis has not had a rest period in which to regenerate fully.”
“They be breakin’ away and headin’ for the planet, Commander!”
“Set a course to intercept. Don’t let her get near the planet. When we’re in range, show her we mean business. Let the record state that the UFWA warship fired first.”
“Duly noted in the log, ma’am.”
Genesis banked right, easily catching up to the warship.
“Firing now,” Daxton said.
Three photon blasts emitted from the forward cannon, targeting the warship and hitting the mark.
“Direct hit on all three counts! Their shields are down to seventy-five percent.”
“She didn’t even try getting out of the way?” Saren asked. “She’s got something plan—“
“Commander! I’m detecting a black hole opening in our path!”
“She baited us and dropped a BLACKGEN! They shouldn’t have any of those. Can you pull out of it?”
“I’m trying, Commander! We’re awfully close. Genesis is having a hard time pullin’ outta the gravitational pull.”
The ship groaned deep inside as Ensign Brody diverted more power to the engines.
“The warship is circling back,” Daxton said. “They’re coming to finish us. Weapons locked onto Genesis. Should I—”
Genesis broke free of the black hole at the last second as a burst of photons nearly missed the rear engines.
“Ensign—lead them away from the planet. The further away, the less chance they have of launching the SAFELD. Daxton, I have an idea, but I need you to take out their shields. What’s the power status?”
“Pullin’ outta the blackhole drained her badly, Commander. We’re headin’ away from the planet, but they’re not following.”
“Damn! She knows what we’re doing. Swing back around, Ensign, get on them and start monitoring their bays in case they open to drop more BLACKGENs. Daxton, I want their shields down when we’re in range. Prepare an antimatter bolt to take out their main engines once those shields are down. Then she’ll be the sitting duck. She’ll have no choice but to give up.”
Ensign Brody drove Genesis hard, chasing after the zigzagging warship as it attempted to drain Genesis’s power, closing in on the planet.
“Daxton! Get the Long Tom ready!” Ensign Brody said.
“The Long Whaaaa?”
“Ten-seconds more and they in range to launch,” Grôk said.
“The photon cannon! Daxton now!”
He fired a bombardment of photons in all directions around the warship.
The first wave of photon blasts hit the warship. The second wave hit the port hull plating, nearly missing the engines.
“Shields down! They’ve taken heavy damage but are still a-movin’.”
“Target the engines with the antimatter bolts! Fire!”
“Warship well within range of planet,” Grôk warned.
Daxton unleashed the antimatter.
Wavy lines of distorted space hit the engines, and nothing happened.
“Whaa—wait? It didn’t work!” Daxton yelled. “Saren! Want me to send more?”
Grôk shouted, “Power too low Commander!”
“Commander Thorn, in anticipation of this move on the five ships near Aurailia, they have set up a Penning trap, capturing the antimatter and effectively storing it.”
“Can we target the trap?”
“Commander there isn’t time!” Ensign Brody shouted. “Their bay is opening, and the warship be turnin’ about, charging weapons.” He looked up from the helm. “Weapons locked onto Genesis. Commander, we cannae take another hit. Our shields be critical.”
Saren didn’t want to take the innocent lives of Matsutani’s crew, and she was desperately trying to hide something Saren would’ve liked to have found out. There was just no other outcome for the situation.
“Commander! They’ve fired a photon blast.”
“I’m sorry, Matsutani, but if someone’s going to die, it won’t be my daughter. Daxton, take out that warship before that cargo drops. Hit it with everything we got!”
A massive surge built in Genesis’ forward cannon and a pure, thick stream of photon energy shot from the Long Tom. The stream passed the photon blast heading for Genesis and struck the warship dead-center.
The corundum core exploded, blasting the warship and all its crew to pieces. As the flames quickly snuffed out, and the wreckage of the ship separated, one rectangular box could be seen heading down towards the planet.
SET COURSE
JUST before the warship’s destruction, a final photon escaped its forward cannon. The blast was on target for the patched hull breach of the motionless Genesis. It was Matsutani’s parting gift.
“We be dead in the water, ma'am!” Ensign Brody yelled as the photon blast grew larger on the flashing viewscreen. “There’s not enough power to redirect to shields or engines. The ray drained her reserves. Five-seconds until the photon blast reaches us. It’s gonna tear us apart.”
“Brace for impact!” Saren shouted.
“Oh shit!” Daxton said, jumping beneath his tactical station.
“Atmos!” Grôk shouted. “Cover us with air!”
A swirling gust of wind surrounded the crew.
Grôk erected a force field around the bridge with the remaining power, shrouding them in darkness. He opened all ports on one side of Genesis, violently venting the little atmosphere left on the ship.
The ingenious move propelled the ship within inches of collision of the photon blast, saving Genesis and its crew.
He sealed the ship’s ports and dropped the force field, redirecting most of the power to the repair of the hull breach.
Lights flickered to life on the bridge as power returned to the main systems. The image of the SAFELD descending toward the planet growing smaller and smaller appeared on the viewscreen.
Saren looked at Grôk, nodding her head and saying, “Quick thinking, Grôk. Thank you, once again.”
He just smiled in response.
Daxton crawled out from under his station and ran over to Grôk, embracing him in a hug, saying, “Thank you, big guy,” before returning to his seat.
“Ensign Brody, is there anything we can do to stop the SAFELD from reaching the planet?”
“No ma'am, systems still be critical, although since we’ve stopped, they be charging faster. But I’m reading something strange coming from the SAFELD—I don’t understand.”
“What is it?”
“There be no sign of a Terra-Disruptor unit.”
“Then what’s in it?”
“Gold. It’s filled with gold!”
“So he had his daug
hter delivering gold to the Scarab. They weren’t trying to destroy the planet, and she didn’t want us finding out,” Saren said.
“What the hell would they need gold for?” Daxton asked.
“Those shiny costumes, maybe,” Ensign Brody joked.
“I don’t know, but I intend to find out right after one thing. Scan the planet for the Avenger, Mr. Brody.”
Ensign Brody checked the comm, and double checked, before turning around in his chair. “I—I’m sorry, ma'am,” he said, looking away. “The Avenger isn’t on the planet.”
The sound of comm alerts could be heard ringing on the bridge—and nothing else. Everyone was silent, contemplating the needless loss of life of Matsutani and her crew.
A mixture of emotions played out over Saren’s face before she blankly stared at the friction burn of the SAFELD breaching the atmosphere of the planet.
“Ma’am, you dinnae know.”
“I should have, Ensign. I am in command. I should have checked the moment we entered this system. I should have.”
“Boss Lady—“
“Save it, Daxton. Just—save it.”
Grôk moved to comfort Saren, and she held up a hand, shaking her head.
“Commander, a Scarab warship be on course for our position. We dunnae have enough power, still.”
Saren calmly blinked at the oncoming warship and said, “Scan for the Avenger.”
Ensign Brody’s fingers quickly moved over the comm panel. “There isn’t enough—“
“Do I really need to tell you to divert all power to the sensor array?”
“Commander Thorn, I have located the Avenger in the Reticulum II galaxy,” Atmos said for Ensign Brody. “Not to trouble you, Commander, but the Scarab warship is almost upon us.”
Saren’s gaze never left the approaching ship on the viewscreen.
She finally understood how to recall the trigger for desire.
She closed her eyes and Genesis faded out of the MACS0647-JD galaxy.