Amalthean Quests One

by Jeri Dion

  “Thanks for the eavesdrop, very entertaining!” said Tayce amused.

  “Quite, wasn’t it?” said Duncan almost laughing.

  “Midge block their scanners from finding our whereabouts, I don’t want Vargon thinking that she holds all the aces in this game, I don’t want them finding out we’re nearby and that we are sneaking up on her, Sallen andher new outlaws,” said Tayce.

  “Already done, I put it into operation about half an houron ago, when we first encountered this battle cruiser before us, I can’t see why they are still able to detect us and track our every move,” replied Midge.

  “She’s probably using some kind of device that breaks the law, remember she always likes to think she’s a cut above anyone else in the unlawful stakes, she probably borrowed it from the outlaws she’s currently running with, but if she thinks that’s going to make a difference, using the latest technology to find me, she can think again, this cruiser has a few new surprises of her own,” said Tayce with a hint of spitefulness in her voice.

  “Quite!” said Lance in total agreement.

  She continued on with the procedures for going down onto Genuslan 2. She crossed ordering Tom to place Amalthea in a risk-free protective orbit over the new improved hideout/lair. Tom agreed commencing the request. Tayce then began thinking about who she would take down to the planet surface, she wouldn’t take everyone for the reason the battle cruiser may be playing dead and could be activated on Vargons command to attack and try and destroy the cruiser, at a cencrons notice, this Tayce was not prepared to take a chance on. Midge advised her that if Vargon was tracking them, maybe getting Amalthea to a protected Transpot distance would be wise, other than taking a Quest, just in case they needed to depart the planet surface at short notice and it would enable them to land in Vargons backyard, without being detected. Tayce could see where he was coming from, it was a good idea and wholeheartedly agreed.

  Genuslan 2, Vargons improved domain, resembled an Army type camp environment, nothing interesting to describe about it. But it could be clearly seen, that it was a cover for something more deep below the familiar concretex and green vegetated surface. Something far more treacherous and the true identity of the Countess, namely technology that had come from an unknown source and the kind that was expected to form part of the Countesses new existence. She was the kind of woman that even though everything she stood for was classed as wrong and evil, she always expected the best out of her men and equipment, this now went for her daughter too.

  “Mother, that Amalthean Cruiser is still in our orbit, what are you intending to do?” asked Sallen taking her eyes from the screen and the sight of Amalthea looking towards her Mother.

  “At this precise moment nothing, let them carry on thinking that we haven’t detected them, let them come, you want your chance for payback with both Traun and Stavard, well you’ll get it if your patient, if it’s one thing you learn in this Universe girl, all comes to those who lay plans and wait,” Vargon replied evilly.

  “I’m not with you Mother?” asked Sallen unsure of what Vargon was saying.

  “No Sallen, you never are, listen, I’ve laid out my plan and Tayce Traun and her so called team will arrive unaware that I’m waiting for them,” replied Vargon, not giving a damn at the fact.

  “But what are you going to do to them?” persisted Sallen.

  “Silence girl, wait and see, patience!” said Vargon getting fed up with Sallen’s unnecessary persistence.

  Sallen looked down at the grey floor, she felt that she had over stepped the mark. She did not probe any further, if it was one thing she had learned after a couple of powerful scolds from her Mother, was never to keep on persisting when needing answers. The Countess turned and abruptly ordered her to go and make sure that the troopers were in their positions, ready for the arrival of the Amaltheans. Sallen walked away like an obedient child, in her all in one black and red outfit, not looking back. The relationship between Vargon and Sallen was not a normal Mother daughter loving one. Vargon had always treated Sallen as something that she did not want, and considered her a mere accident, that should not have happened. She treated her no better than one of her outlaws, she ran with. Sallen had adjusted to a life of nothing more than doing what her Mother had so unlawfully wanted her to do, without protest. Hence what she had become had been down to the way in which she had been brought up. But on occasions, she had wondered what it would like to have normal law abiding parents. Her Father most of the time was away, so she rarely saw him and he like her Mother pretended she wasn’t around, when he did come home, he just acknowledged the fact that she was doing well criminally.

  The team for the Quest had been selected, it consisted of Marc, Tayce, Treketa, Duncan, Donaldo and Lance. They were all heading down to the Transpot Centre on Amalthea. Tayces Wristlink bleeped on her wrist. She raised it answering. Tom up in Organisation informed her in urgency, that the battle cruiser before them had suddenly sprang on alert status and in the last twenty minons Midge had picked up the Countesses life signs on board and they weren’t there previously. Tayce upon this, ordered everyone back to Organisation Deck, the Quest was on hold to travel down to the new hideout. She began away in urgency, she had no intention of setting foot on Genuslan 2 with Vargon out in the Universe, obviously planning to ambush her the moment she set foot on the surface, with the Quest team. The Quest members ran back to Organisation keeping in time with Tayce ahead.

  Outside in the Universe the most ugly looking battle cruiser, that anyone could ever imagine was in a stationary orbit. It sat looking dark and menacing, ready for action. Weapons were situated at every point of its is protruding points from the central round body. It was in orbit between Genuslan 2 and Amalthea and was ready to destroy Amalthea, at Vargons orders. Both vessels faced each other, at a distance, in an almost face off, in good against evil.

  Tayce ran into Organisation to be greeted through sight port by the sight of the menacing battle cruiser facing them. Tom stood to his feet, coming round the control seat to meet her, glancing at the sight port as he did.

  “You say she’s over there right now, but twenty or so minons ago, she was detected by Duncan on the surface of Genuslan 2, she either has a clone, or some new form of our Transpot, are you absolutely sure it’s her?” demanded Tayce, as the rest of the Quest team came to a pause behind her.

  “Midge double checked the readings comparing them with previous readings of Vargon on the surface and believe me she’s over there, like you say, she must have some kind of new Transpot,” confirmed Tom.

  “What’s that evil bitch up to now, doesn’t she know that this cruiser is an equal match for that battle cruiser, unlike our old one?” said Tayce, trying to make some kind of sense of it all.

  “If you want my opinion, she’s playing a game of what Earthon 2 people use to call, cat and mouse, only she’s using you as the mouse, she’s getting dangerous,” said Marc.

  “Let’s let her think that she’s calling all the shots, she won’t have that hold over us for long, considering what I have planned for her and her so called daughter,” said Tayce in thought.

  “What are you going to do?” asked Tom seeing her in thought and staring out at the battle cruiser.

  “Midge pinpoint the main power source on that battle cruiser, shut it down,” ordered Tayce still staring blankly out at the cruiser before them.

  Tom glanced at Marc in surprise. He just shook his head in awe. Without warning out from underneath the battle cruiser emerged Vargons new Fighter Troops, in sleek white Fightercron fighters. Midge confirmed their actions in urgency and announced he was raising protection shields. Tayce watched wondering just what this latest plan was, Vargon was unleashing. She tried to put herself for a moment in the evil woman’s boots, to try and think what she would do to stop herself and the Amalthean members from coming close to the new hideout on Genuslan 2. Tayce as sh
e thought along the lines of Vargons possible ideas, wondered what was so important to her on Genuslan 2, that needed protecting? She walked to the weapons console and paused for a few minons. It was time to let Vargon know just what this new version of the Amalthea One was capable of unleashing. Also, she wanted her team to fight in Quest Shuttle/fighters to show Vargon that she was just as much of a challenge, against the Fightercrons.

  “Quest team to Quests, she wants to play dirty, let’s show her we’re an equal match, we’ll meet on the surface when were through,” ordered Tayce.

  The Quest team turned and ran back out down the corridor, to head on down to the Flight Hanger Bay. Tom stood watching the Fightercrons get into an attack formation about a milon to the right of Amalthea. Then as Tayce headed on out the Organisation door, he silently said.

  “I hope you know what your getting into.”

  He climbed back into the control seat and proceeded to watch what was unfolding throughout the sight port. Hoping to God that Tayce wouldn’t try anything unnecessarily foolish, he wanted her back alive.

  Countess Vargon on her battle cruiser laughed in her evil callous way, as she received an up to date report from one of her operatives, that they had lost all power in section 4 engines, all main engine power was inoperable. He could not see what was so funny, as they were now classed as sitting targets.

  “Relax man, these are just feeble attempts by Tayce Traun to think that she can win, get men to that section now and redirect main power to our back up engines,” ordered Vargon.

  “Mother, our men on the surface are ready, your amused by something, what it is?” said Sallen walking to come beside her Mother in the middle of the deck, as she had just travelled up from the surface.

  “Tayce Traun has made her first feeble attempt to stop me, you can join the men on the surface and get your chance to fight the Stavard girl, once and for all, while I take care of Tayce Traun,” said Vargon

  “Very well Mother, I look forward to taking Stavard on once and for all, I want to see the whites of her eyes when I put an end to her feeble little excuse for a life, once and for all,” said Sallen with evil glee.

  “Enjoy your fun, soon Stavards death will become a further achievement in your training,” said Vargon.

  For a moment Mother and daughter stood watching as the Fightercrons unleashed their immense firepower on the Amalthean Quest Shuttle/fighters, as they came into view from the Flight Hanger Bay entrance on Amalthea. The scene was one of immense battle, as exchange of firepower travelled back and forth between the Amalthea and the battle cruiser and exchange between the Fightercrons and the Amalthean Quests Shuttle/fighters. Without warning Vargon gasped for the sight she saw she could not believe. Tayce was heading straight for the battle cruiser, with another Quest, using continued extreme weapon fire.

  Aboard the two Quests, Tayce glanced to Marc and ordered him to help her take the battle cruiser out before it gained full operational power. Marc even though he thought Tayces idea was mad did what she asked, he knew that with the right angle of fire, they could expertly send Vargon back to the surface of Genuslan 2. Round after round of Slazer fire flew, hitting the battle cruiser on all sides. Marc kept the Countess interested on his Quest, under shield. Whilst Tayce flew to the point where the main power for the Weapons was situated on the battle cruiser. With one single strike of high energy beam weapon fire, Tayce took out the whole of the Countesses Weaponry Operations, rendering the cruiser helpless. She flew back to join Marc who smiled triumphantly. And put up his hand to convey nice shot. Together they headed back to join the others, who had successfully taken out the fifty or so Fightercrons and were waiting safely to regroup.

  “It’s a good job you cut that weapon power, when you did, I thought I was going to end up as toast,” said Marc over the Aircom as he had been taking quite a lot of weapon strikes.

  “Midge watch the battle cruiser, when she nears the surface of Genuslan 2, give it every ounce of firepower Amalthea can achieve and destroy it,” ordered Tayce over the Aircom.

  “You’ve got it Tayce, Just like the old dayons, right?” replied Midge full of enthusiasm.

  “Just like the old dayons Midge,” replied Tayce laughing as she recalled many of the battles they encountered just as good as this one, single handed.

  No sooner had the Quests team took their Quests towards the planet surface. The battle cruiser seemed to descend awkwardly ahead of them and begin to lose power as it went. Midge waited until it was in the sky over the Countesses Lair, then, unleashed immense firepower, hitting the battle cruiser head on. It changed to an illuminative burning red, glowing to extreme brilliance, then blew apart, sending debris and sparks far and wide, in a colourful array through out the sky, descending to the surface in debris, as far as the eye could see. Tayce turned to see the explosion and ordered the Quests to the surface quickly! Amalthea prepared for the possible shock wave and manoeuvred to a safe distance. It crossed Tayces mind suddenly had she managed to finally wipe the Countess and her evil daughter off the face of the Universe once and for all? But had she? Even though it would have been a nice thought, it just seemed to easy, she was dreaming.

  “Do you reckon Vargon and Sallen went up with that battle cruiser?” asked Marc over the Aircom.

  “No! It was way to easy for her, she’s probably back on the surface by now,” replied Tayce.

  “Tayce we’ve got company in the form of Questa Security Patrol, coming up the rear,” said Duncan over the Aircom.

  Tayce glanced behind to see a Patrol Cruiser which covered a diameter of just under a milon and a half armed with every kind of weaponry source to stop trouble at a cencrons notice, if called for. Jan Barnford was aboard and in charge, he’d been personally requested by Lydia Traun to assist Tayce on this particular Quest. He had been warned by Lydia, that Tayce would not take kindly to him walking in and taking over, but that was too bad. He was there to make sure the new chiefs daughter and her team, did not get their heads blown off he thought. He announced his arrival over the Aircom to the point and no nonsense in his tone.

  “Lieutenant Commander Traun this is Jan Barnford officer of Questa Security Patrol, I’ve been sent out here by Chief Traun to assist you in the apprehension of the Countess,” he began in his usual gruff abruptness.

  “Officer Barnford, we believe that the Countess escaped the attack on her battle cruiser and is now back on the surface of Genuslan 2, myself and my team are heading on down there now,” replied Tayce.

  “Let me congratulate you on the destruction of the battle cruiser, nice work, my team and myself will meet you down on the surface, Barnford, out,” said Jan signing off.

  Communications ceased Tayce gave word to the others, it was time to land. Her mind was on wondering just what it was, Vargon had to hide on the surface, that she did not want anyone finding out about, at any cost. Whatever it was, Questa Security Patrol had been brought in, she would be extra vigilant not to cooperate at any price if she didn’t want found what was being protected.

  Officer Barnford was in the process of briefing his patrol team of roughly forty or so officers, all highly trained in their field of bringing someone like the Countess down once and for all. He explained that Chief Traun had sent them out there to protect her daughter, at any cost. But their main priority was to capture Countess Vargon alive and quickly. They were required to work along side the Amalthean Quests team, blend in. He paced up and down. His men were stood to attention with their full interest on what their chief was saying. He continued that Countess Vargon had evaded being brought to justice before, this time she must not get the chance to try again. Also there was an accomplice in the form of the Countesses daughter, she was just as evil as her Mother and would do anything to avoid being caught, it was advised that they use extreme caution but the young woman had to be apprehended by whatever means available, at the time of coming face to
face with her. Even stunning her if they had to. Both women where to be treated like any other worst kind of evading criminals. Jan dismissed his men knowing they had taken in what he had told them.

  “I don’t want anyone returning to be buried on Questa, because of their stupidity, so keep this in mind, these women especially if they turn on the charm, are not what they appear to be, is that understood, Got it, that’s all,” said Jan almost shouting, as his men began leaving ready dressed for the surface of Genuslan 2.

  Jan glanced at his Wristcall time display, then briskly followed on behind his men, checking his gun was fully charged in case he needed to use it. He was the kind of man who gave his job and men one hundred percent, he liked nothing more than to be in the thick of the action. He approached his pilot and ordered him to be ready to depart when he requested him to do so. His pilot acknowledged. He was an average looking man in his late 30s early 40s the true military pilot type. Jan walked on out to the Transpot Area, closing the Slazer Hold, where one of his men had left it undone on route. He liked nothing more than to keep a tidy cruiser, as accidents could happen, when things were left undone and he’d seen some nasty ones in his time.