His approach was known to be from the vicinity of the moon where Pasnadinko had spent so many months before, the moon of Negabba. Although he had no intention of continuing mining operations on its surface, he did have a strong desire to hide out prior to the coming together of the Legion Millennium – now the Partisan Austere – and all of the imprisoned Vertons of the galaxy. It was unfortunate however, for Vetty and El Pasadora, that the military forces of Negabba and Vudd had known of his whereabouts over the past weeks and were simply monitoring their existence and pondering their actions towards each. Similarity arose in concern to Glaucuna, for they really did know of the cloaked ship Ziggurat, several years before they allowed such information to be seeped out to the spacelabs monitoring the earth, at the time when the dome of Nicaragua was first activated.
The frigate that housed Vetty and El Pasadora took to parsec in order to meet with Newtwon. Negabban officials followed close behind, undetected in the wake of parsec. And Negabba and Vudd knew of El Pasadora and Vetty yet did nothing to imprison them, nor did they try to stop their plight in regards to the evil that they spread. Why? There was something important here. A new weapon possibly. An entire moon with the ingredients for total control of an entire galaxy? Who knew?
The frigate sped towards earth whilst Newtwon pillaged its surface.
PLANET EARTH.
SPACE.
Newtwon’s attention was drawn from the view of Earth, to the navigator, his hand held out for the coded message that he was waiting for – though not longing. “Warlord Vetty will be here very shortly, my lord.”
Newtwon looked down at the slip of code. “I trust El Pasadora is with him?”
“He doesn’t say, my lord.”
“Then the answer is yes.” He turned to Bouham who gave a slight nod and moved casually over to the nearest console. Pressing a button gave alert to all tracking stations; Vetty would be covered by fire as soon as he came out of parsec. Strict orders were given however, not to open fire unless ordered to do so as Vetty had a great weapon in the bay of the frigate, a weapon that Newtwon had to have at all costs. “In just a few seconds Vetty will be here. Navigator.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Once Warlord Vetty arrives target his bay with a homing device. And don’t miss. If he so much as suspects that we’ve planted a beacon on his ship, he may do some drastic dancing and create a sizeable worry for us. We do not need him to grow wise.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Bouham returned to Newtwon’s shoulder as the alert echoed out over the bridge. “Incoming frigate. Five seconds, my lord.”
The countdown was completed and a frigate miraculously appeared in full view on the screen of the bridge. All channels for conversation were opened. “Lord Vetty, you have a good navigator on board.” Although he could not yet view Vetty, Newtwon wished to inform Vetty that he was aware of his arrival. All of Newtwon’s crew listened intently as he mused to speak to Vetty as a superior, bowing his head slightly, although seated. The screen crackled with a little motion and Vetty came to view.
“I see you are well, General.” It wasn’t necessarily customary to address a warlord as such, but Vetty was obviously denouncing any thought Newtwon had had, that he was more superior; Newtwon had other ideas and thought in a reverse frame of mind. “I notice you have many ships ferrying materials from the devastated planet Earth to your iron belly.”
“The forces of— legion, grow hungry. My weapons are not favourable as yet. I certainly look forward to siding with you again, my lord, and grow in anticipation to see for myself your great weapons of destruction.” Newtwon grew quickly sickened by his showing of high regard for Vetty, but had no choice at present.
“I’m sure. I have much to tell you and your immediate subordinates. I have big plans for my forces.”
‘I’m sure,’ thought Newtwon, who saw out of the corner of his eye that the homing beacon had already been fired at the frigate, for the navigator gave indication of such. Now to watch Vetty’s eyes, to ensure that he wasn’t somehow brought aware of the goings on. “When do you suggest that my subordinates and I venture over?”
“No need. I’ll join you.”
“As you wish, my lord.”
“I’ll prepare for the short trip immediately. Give me ten minutes.”
“As you wish, my lord.”
The transmission was brought to an end and Vetty turned immediately to El Pasadora. “You were right, Vetty; he’s employed an underhanded trick. We are now proud owners of a homing beacon. So what you’ve said about this man could be quite correct.”
“More so, I believe, than I first thought. He has four battle cruisers in his possession, don’t forget that.”
“I won’t. But you’ve got to get rid of him as soon as possible.”
“Don’t worry yourself; I have—”
“Incoming vessels!” Cried a voice on the bridge. “From the same direction which we have just come, my lord! All eyes stared at one another; a trap, Newtwon must surely have planned this well.
“Navigator. Get Newtwon on the screen this—” the screen jumped alive, Newtwon instigating the call. Vetty’s first thought was that Newtwon was going to insist on an unconditional surrender. He should have thought things out before plunging into the hands of Newtwon.
“I have ships approaching in ten seconds Vetty. Who is it?” Newtwon frowned threateningly, standing stable with clenched fists. “You told me of no foe!” Newtown was worried, that was for sure.
“Then it’s not you, Newtwon; I thought that you chose to trap me with a force of four battle cruisers?”
The truth was soon known.
The Negabban ships came to a standstill a short kilometre from the sitting frigate and the lone battle cruiser. Anamada-gabba turned to Binumana whom had come along for the task of securing prisoners. This was not a military operation and a law enforcer had to be present. “Ten krons distance. You have dictated the terms of arrest and much more; the card’s face now changes. I shall now dictate the force by which I use.” the police officer looked at Anamada-gabba as he spoke those words and the first paralysing shots of neutron laser shot out from the Negabban ships at Vetty and Newtwon simultaneously.
Binumana shot a glance to the leader of his planet and knew right then that he could do nothing. Anamada-gabba was far more in the know as to what was at stake. “Do as you wish; but I shall report this.”
Anamada-gabba wasted no more time and spoke into the console as he sat, watching the strokes of neutron laser hit their targets, and his mouth opened. “You are surrounded and,” a few more streak of fire left his fleet’s tubes, “now paralysed. You have no way of escape.”
Vetty continued to think that Newtwon was responsible, but soon brought to believe differently. Newtwon’s gun emplacements were half manned. A few fast thinking Partisan Austere had fired once the Negabban craft had opened up with their neutron blasts. Newtwon’s torpedoes were a lot slower, but hit their targets.
Anamada-gabba thrust out with his hands to stabilise himself as the bridge he was on shook violently from the returning fire directed by Newtwon’s force. “Put the shields up, engage full strength! Quickly!”
Binumana hadn’t quite reached the stairwell to the lower floor when he turned around to the leader of his planet. “Your greed has finally taught you a lesson; you wouldn’t listen to politics. Your quest will be your own downfall.”
“The shields are useless, your Excellency. We could only engage half power when we fired our neutron lasers, now we have nothing.”
Another shot hit his vessel. “You are our defeat, Anamada, not the saviour you had always dreamt of being.” The crew of the bridge looked at each other momentarily before going about their task – which certainly seemed useless. They hadn’t heard of Anamada-gabba’s dreams. He had always mused to be a peace lover, except when he instigated his torturous methods of interrogation and lengthy processes of execution.
Anamada took his seat and connected the safety belt aro
und his waist, the ship shaking violently. “Get the engineer, shut down all power sources and get the blasted shields up before we are smashed into smithereens.”
All personnel went about the procedure, in particular the engineer’s assistant who sat near the leader of his planet and had direct communications with the engine room. As he passed on the orders, two ships of the Negabban fleet met their end.
As information was relayed from ship to ship, so the shields of protection went up, but time had taken its toll. Anamada had now only three ships remaining of his fleet of seven. All shields were up and the damage control from all ships reported that the firing from the battle cruiser and frigate was no longer effective.
The shields were up and the Negabban’s were safe for the time being, but they couldn’t fire in retaliation. The battle cruiser and frigate on the other hand were cut from any proposed withdrawal due to the computers being brought down by the neutron laser fire of the Negabban ships; a stalemate was the direct outcome.
Anamada-gabba could go to parsec any time that he wished but dare not leave the Verton’s out of his sight for a second. The Vertons remained motionless and continued a steady bombardment upon the Negabbans so that Anamada wouldn’t be given the opportunity to lift his shields and continue with his accurate firing of his weapons. This situation remained obvious for quite some time before both sides picked up the potentially dangerous movement of a dozen large carriers, each of which were approaching their position rapidly. During this time the streamline of smaller ships between Earth and the battle cruiser continued thoughtlessly.
“Your Excellency, I have twelve ships on the screen, they’ll be here very soon.”
“Any idea as to their origin, Navigator.” Anamada-gabba put a finger to his chin in thought.
“The Mildratawa, your Excellency.” Anamada looked up in slight shock. “Direct from Glaucuna.”
‘The Mildratawa,’ thought Anamada. If he remained where he was, he could be investigated and found out. Only a chosen few knew that he was after the secret weapon that Vetty held; only a few knew that he had secretly wished for decades, to become the powering quadrant. But he also had good reason to be here. ‘Could I possibly be rewarded?’ He decided not; he would be caught out. “Navigator. If we depart, will the Mildratawa be wise to it?”
“No, your Excellency.”
“Good.”
“But the Protectors of the Scrolls will be.”
“What’s that?” He was in shock surprise. “Who are they, these Protectors?”
“They have just appeared on your screens from behind the satellite of Earth. They have over forty ships of varying size, all armed and ready for firing.” The navigator cupped his ear. “Shall I broadcast their message, your Excellency?”
“How much time before the Mildratawa arrives?”
“Thirty seconds, your Excellency.”
“Damn! Broadcast the message; quickly damn you!”
The navigator leant over in front of the communication expert and flicked the switch: “Greetings Anamada-gabba, Lord Vetty, El Pasadora, and Warlord Newtwon.” A female voice could be heard, so delicate over the harsh speakers that crackled with slight interference. “This is Queen Asti speaking; Queen of the Protectors of the Scrolls, Queen of the Federate and Quadrant Three, and furthermore, outright leader of the Mildratawa and pursuer of all peace. I strongly suggest that you throw your thoughts of retaliation away; you have all been monitored over the past half an hour; every single conversation; and every, single, thought.”
The cruisers of the Mildratawa came out of parsec in strategic formation, surprised to find their communications inundated by the speech of Queen Asti. “I also welcome the Mildratawa of old; I hope you’ve heard of my pleas and see that you have also fell into the web which has brought us all together. You shouldn’t have intercepted my false message.” The new leader to the Mildratawa, Bahan Tumick, looked up into thin air. The voice, so far, had intrigued him.
“This meeting is unfortunate for some of us and has been brought about by more luck than you all know.” Queen Asti broke off momentarily as Doug touched her arm gently and whispered into her ear. “Oh; Bahan, leader of Glaucuna, we’ll not be affected by your weapons; so take that thought from your mind.”
Bahan peered around at the others. ‘How did she know of my thoughts?’
Vetty and Newtwon hadn’t quite realised but their firing upon Anamada-gabba had also ceased.
“It’s quite amazing, don’t you think, that’s if ninety-nine point nine people guest for peace, and only point one percent looks towards sanctions of war, that the galaxy be damned. Is it not the guest of the Mildratawa to search for everlasting peace? Yet all we find is a force bent upon destroying other civilisations; if this sounds too extravagant then let it be said: – no life form can decree another be brought to extinction.
“It is simple to say that each and every planet should live alone and within its own rules as brought on by QEM migration, but that could never be founded.” Queen Asti looked towards Doug again who signalled with an open palm that all seemed fine and that he was going to leave her to it. Doug was going to venture towards the surface of the moon, for he had been handed a message, from one computer to another; a monk had been found. And he knew well that the area surrounding the moon had been cleared of any enemy ship just moments before.
“I have strong friends, friends whom hold much power; more power than what Vetty holds in his bays aboard his stolen frigate. And I am quite sure that you ask yourselves, where does this power come from and who controls it?
“Behold your worst nightmares, as soon you will all know the power of Quadrant Three, and the power of the Scrolls.”
Bahan Tumick leapt over to grab the back of the seat where the communicator sat and roared into the mike. “How dare you lay down laws! How dare you indulge yourself as being the powering quadrant of all quadrants!”
“Then may I ask; who is the most powerful quadrant?”
“It is, and always will be, wherever the Mildratawa resides; and you shall live by our rules. You only think you have control of our lives. Wherever you get that idea from, I will never know. You cannot even look after your own quadrant, not without your diamonds and pearls to buy your armies of mercenary. We hold that power; and control it.”
“Who said I need such pitiful jewels. We have resources beyond compare.” She prevented herself from divulging too much. “I need not boast how I outfit my quadrant. My friend has seen the truth, and that will flow to all planets of the galaxy, within time.”
“You’ve seen nothing.”
“Then tell me, Bahan Tumick; why were you afraid to venture inside my space boundaries in search of certain beings?
“We couldn’t venture closer; that would go against all peace.” He was bluffing. And Vetty, El Pasadora, and Anamada-gabba, what were they doing right now?
“Let me show you power. Would it not open your eyes if I brought about the surrender of our enemies?”
“But they are already caught.” Scoff Bahan.
“Then you take them.”
Silence now reigned supreme throughout all ships. Anamada-gabba moved swiftly and lifted his shields, throwing bolt after bolt upon Vetty’s frigate and Newtwon’s battle cruiser. The Mildratawa force moved forward and Vetty retaliated without warning.
Vetty leashed a weapon from his belly; it shot at blinding speed towards the surface of the earth. The effect was catastrophic, more so than he’d realised. A cloud, larger than any eye had ever seen bellowed up from the earth’s crust.
All firing stopped, Newtwon stood agape at the screen; and as he watched the very surface of the earth cracked as though by quake, a crack so large that the ridge of the Rocky mountains, of the continent of Canada, widened immensely. This revealed a gaping mass of red, all offset by the ocean around the flooded lower plains. Ball after ball of red hot flame and rock spat out into the air, so fast and so furious, and with such force, that some balls could be seen
to harden and immediately cool as they hit the outskirts of the completely diminished ozone. It was only now that the firing ceased, again, and momentarily.
Newtwon turned his torpedoes towards the Mildratawa; he was going to have to join forces with Anamada-gabba for the time being, and although they were still out-numbered, stood a remote chance of surviving – in particular after the display of firepower just witnessed. So all understood what it was that all were after, a weapon so powerful that it went beyond any dream.
“I have you where I want you.” Vetty said. “You try anything now and I shall leash my other weapons along pre-designated flight paths to you home planet and others, through QEM-gates already plotted on my computers. What do you say to that? Ah. Not even time enough to consider evacuating the planets that those weapons would be heading for. Now what do you say to that, Queen Asti?”
“I say that the time has come to show the might of the new Mildratawa.” And with that her four bounty hunters came out from behind their masquerades. They had worked their way onto the frigate and battle cruiser, and now drew their weapons. Instantaneously consoles exploded so that no weapon on either of the ships could stand to fire a single shot in retaliation. The commotion wasn’t as grand as the four lovers of cactus had first thought, but no one moved against them now, and the two ships fell dead. Hands were flung into the air. The undergarments of Stamai hide, that the bounty hunters wore, absorbed the few shots that were fired at them.
Vetty looked into Rimai’s eyes with hated glee. “Kill me.”
“Not on your life. For I have recruited El Pasadora’s closest followers, and they will take you to Wuarra, to die at the jaws of the balai timit.” Niras, Gennilamis, Huwaina and Zaei leapt to tackle Vetty to the floor and carried him away. “Kill me now you vermin! Before I kill youuuu!”
Rimai tipped his pocket communicator open. “All is under control, my lady. Vetty has been taken, the ship is a hostage, and El Pasadora,” Rimai turned on his heels to stare him down, “is stuffed.” Kaur had him gagged well. Newtwon, on board his cruiser, had also been taken and bound. All of his crew lay on the floor of the bridge, as Tuai and Marrth fired freelance shots around the confines of the area – in all seriousness.
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