Seeds of the Pirate Rebels

by Gregory Johnson

  “Sir, the Pale Dragon is ready to dock with us,” Limwin reported.

  “Excellent, Commander,” Kinwan replied. “Prepare the docking clamps,”

  “Yes, Sir,” Limwin replied back, as she pulled the docking lever and pressed a few buttons. The Pale Dragon docked successfully to the starboard docking clamps.

  “Xanatos, the Pale Dragon is fully docked on Docking Port 352. Captain Sqiidas will be waiting for you and Kingsley there,” Kinwan ordered Xanatos. “May Valient be at your side,”

  “And you as well, Captain Kinwan,” Xanatos humbly nodded back.

  “I was being respectful of your customs, Argoni. Wind Elves worship Majik, not Valient. The War Lord Empire and United Alliance Air Strike Force aren't as respectful of other alien customs, or Valient for that matter. Now go, Commander Xanatos,” Kinwan replied calmly back.

  “Well, may Majik be at your side and safe passage my friend,” Xanatos said, as he left the bridge and headed for Docking Clamp 352 with Kingsley at his side. They walked past a porthole that had a perfect side view of the Pale Dragon. It looked like a ragged piece of space trash with dents every thirty feet. It even had a long narrow scratch through the paint that was about ninety feet long.

  “I hope she flies better than she looks,” Kingsley remarked with caution in her voice.

  “Oh, she will. I have heard stories of the Pale Dragon taking on a whole fleet of Argoni Star Cruisers and destroying all, but one Argoni Quickstrike and surviving with one or two dents in her hull,” Xanatos stated with excitement in his voice.

  “Where did you hear that story from, boy?” said a male voice from behind them. They turned around to see a short squid-like alien slithering toward them. Xanatos was shocked and honored to see the Legendary Captain Sqiidas in front of him.

  “Captain Sqiidas, I am Xanatos. I am your new Commander, and this is Karen Kingsley, my second in command,” Xanatos replied nervously.

  “I was expecting someone older, not a rookie drop-out from the United Alliance Academy, and his lover,” Sqiidas replied coldly.

  “I am not his lover, I just met this Argoni,” Kingsley defended angrily.

  “Are you questioning the Chi- Koss' ability to foresee the future, Karen Kingsley. I am Captain Sqiidas of the Pale Dragon. I was only stating the fact that he suddenly vouched for a total stranger to be his second in command. I know who you are Karen Kingsley, the daughter of the King of Dragonia. The sister of Grand Admiral Darren Kingsley also a sister of the United Alliance Air Strike Force Ambassador Damon Kingsley of Dragonia. I know all about you, Karen Kingsley,” Sqiidas replied.

  “With all do respect, you know my family and their history, not me,” Kingsley replied calmly back. Sqiidas than looked at Xanatos with angry eyes.

  “Xanatos, A.K.A. Rudigger Hackman, the great-grandson of Grand Admiral George Horde, brother of Lieutenant Jared Hackman of the United Alliance, nephew of Captain Brad Horde and Commander George Horde of the United Alliance, and son of War Lord Samuel Hackman, A.K.A. Lord Corvet`e. Yes, Xanatos I know you very well,” Sqiidas said angrily.

  “Look, my father is dead to me. He left a farm, thirty acres of land, and without a word of his whereabouts to me, or my mother. Now my mother has to take care of the farm by herself,” Xanatos spat back angrily.

  “I see you hate your father a lot. You will need faith and hatred to survive in this conflict against the War Lord Empire,” Sqiidas replied gratefully. The three of them entered the Pale Dragon after their conversation in the corridor.

  The Pale Dragon detached from the Plunder Trainer and left the system. The Pale Dragon headed for the Elemental Sector to reinforce the Crimson Hand. Sqiidas was unaware that the Crimson Hand was destroyed by the War Shadow.

  “Where to Captain?” Kingsley asked curiously.

  “The Elemental Sector to assist the Crimson Hand in their battle against the Uniqueness and the their remaining War Lord Imperial Fleet. I only hope the War Shadow hasn't intervened. The Crimson Hand can only handle some pounding from the Uniqueness, but not from the War Lord Empire's flagship,” Sqiidas replied to his new helmsman.

  “The War Shadow has already been there and has succeeded in destroying the Crimson Hand and is now headed toward the Dargonix Sector,” Xanatos reported to Sqiidas from the Tactical Station.

  “How do you know that, Commander Xanatos?” Sqiidas asked curiously.

  “The War Shadow has just past by us and I hacked into their main computer. I did a file download of their flight plan and some of the crews personal logs,” Xanatos reported to his new captain.

  “You did that all in what length of time, Commander?” Sqiidas requested.

  “Fifteen seconds, Sir,” Xanatos reported back.

  “Very good, Commander. Whose personal logs were you able to find?” Sqiidas asked.

  “The War Lords and War Spies aboard the War Shadow, like War Master Malsvir, War Lord Corvet`e, War Spy Daniel Sjach, and War Spy Violet Star, and a few crew members like my oldest brother Jared Hackman, Sir,” Xanatos reported.

  “So, your family is aboard the Flagship of the War Lord Empire,” Sqiidas stated boldly.

  “My family are traitors to their own kind. I am loyal to my new family and captain,” Xanatos said calmly.

  “Spoken like a true Pirate Rebel. Welcome to the crew, Commander Xanatos,” Sqiidas nodded in approval.

  The Pale Dragon changed its course to the Shagem Sector. The Crimson Stingray was under attack by the Storm Charger of the United Alliance. The PRA cannot afford to lose any more of their large ships like the Crimson Stingray and the former Crimson Hand.

  “So, the Pirate Rebel Allegiance has how many large ships?” Xanatos asked.

  “Fourteen large ships that carry twelve squadrons of Dragonling War-Wings and five squadrons of Sphinx Katarns. We have thirty Space Freighters that can each carry five squadrons of Dragonling War-Wings and two squadrons of Personal Piloted Space fighters,” Sqiidas replied.

  “I heard that the Pirate Rebel Allegiance uses those Space fighters after the government that built them joined forces with you. The Argoni Quickstrike is the only equal against the War-Wing, and there are rumors that the Sphinx government is working on a new Space fighter prototype that can equal the Argoni Quickstrike,” Xanatos replied in awe.

  “The Diablo Prototype is no secret to the Argoni people. Yes, after the bugs are out of the Diablo Prototype, they will start mass production of them. They will be sending us two hundred Diablo Prototypes and the United Alliance Air Strike Force the blueprints, only because their prince is a War Spy,” Sqiidas stated.

  “Oh, you mean War Spy 624. He was on the War Shadow, so his personal logs said,” Xanatos said dryly.

  “Good work, Commander,” Sqiidas awarded. “We are setting a new course for Tricetus in the Shagem Sector,” He ordered.

  “The capital of the United Alliance Air Strike Force, are you mad?” Kingsley replied cautiously.

  “We are going there to assist the Crimson Stingray. They are under attack by an United Alliance Star Carrier. They were in route to Mesoplodon when the Shadow Charger attacked them near Tricetus,” Sqiidas stated.

  “Helmsman Edger, set course for Tricetus at Phantom 8,” Xanatos ordered the young Sphinx Helmsman. The young Helmsman programmed the navigation into the charts and the Pale Dragon vanished off of radar and out of the system.

  7 - On the War Shadow's Main Bridge, in the Dargonix Sector

  “Sir, we are approaching Argon. We will be in real space in five minutes,” War Spy 313 reported to Corvet`e.

  “I will inform Emperor Malsvir of the news. You have the bridge War Spy 325,” Corvet`e ordered the War Spy, as he departed from the Main Bridge and headed for the Emperor's Chambers.

  “We should tell them the truth, Vi,” War Spy 325 requested.

  “Tell who, the crew or our Masters about us?” War Spy 313 asked curiously.

  “Tell our Masters. The crew already knows and is sworn to secrecy,” War Spy 3
25 replied.

  “I see. You tell our Masters about us being married. You have more pull with them than I do,” War Spy 313 requested.

  “All right, Dear, I will.”

  “Thanks,” War Spy 313 replied as she walked over to him and kissed War Spy 325 on the lips.

  Lord Corvet`e entered the Emperor's Chambers of the War Shadow and knelt before Malsvir, in fear and respect. Lord Corvet`e lowered his head to the floor in fear.

  “Yes, Lord Corvet`e,” Malsvir smiled.

  “My Emperor, we are approaching Argon and will be there in three minutes,” Corvet`e reported to his Master.

  “That is not why you came here, is it?” Malsvir replied curiously.

  “No, my Emperor. I was hoping to see my wife while I am on Argon,” Corvet`e humbly asked.

  “We are heading to Argon to investigate a disturbance in your home village. You will be in charge of that investigation to determine who was kidnapped by this Pirate Rebel. Pray that it was nobody close to you and if it was, pray that they remain loyal to the WLE or to the United Alliance for your sake,” Malsvir warned, as he stared down at Lord Corvet`e.

  “Yes, my Emperor.”

  “Now, go back to the Main Bridge and wait for my orders.”

  Corvet`e turned out of the Emperor's Chambers and headed back to the Main Bridge. On his way there, Corvet`e spotted a carving along the hall heading toward the Emperor's Chambers. The carving was Basilisk, the Leader of the Demons. The demon was in the shape of a dragon. The head of Basilisk was facing the Emperor's Chambers. The eyes of the Basilisk stone carving were black onyx, like the eyes of the real Basilisk.

  Corvet`e noticed a second stone carving next to Basilisk. It was Basilisk's brother, Dracetus. Basilisk and Dracetus were legendary demons that Valient battled. Together they were the only two demons that made it into Valient's Realm and killed thirteen arc angels and six cherubs. Valient was furious with them and He cursed them. Basilisk was to remain on an uncharted planet and Dracetus was to remain imprisoned for all time on the planet of Forge. That was only a legend. It was told throughout the ages and in the Book of Valient's Great Feats.

  I hope it was just a legend and only a good bedtime story. Corvet`e thought to himself.

  Corvet`e entered the Main Bridge to see Argon on the view screen of the War Shadow. The crew on the Main Bridge was unusually quiet when Corvet`e entered. “All right, what did I miss here?” Corvet`e asked the crew.

  “Nothing, Master Corvet`e,” War Spy 313 lied.

  “That's an awful quiet 'nothing,' War Spy 313,” Corvet`e questioned. Suddenly, the view screen was reporting news of an attack on Tricetus by the Pirate Rebels. The War Dogma and Shadow Warrior were in orbit when the Crimson Stingray and Crimson Pearl came out of Phantom Space and started attacking the War Dogma. The War Dogma sustained heavy damage before the two WLE vessels could even launch their space fighters.

  “Lord Corvet`e, we need assistance. The PRA has dispatched the Pale Dragon to assist them. The War Dogma is unable to dispatch its Space fighters. Our forces on the planet are holding, but they need help. I am sending my two squadrons of Sphinx Diablos, but if the Pale Dragon intervenes there will be no victory for the WLE. This is Lord Cheveal of the WLE Vessel Shadow Warrior. End Transmission.”

  “Sir, what do we do?” asked War Spy 313, “That was the last transmission the Shadow Warrior and Tricetus entered before communications were jammed from the planet!”

  Corvet`e thought for a moment; h can't abandon the War Dogma and the population of the planet Tricetus to the Pirate Rebels. The mission at hand was an order from the Emperor himself to go to Argon to investigate a disturbance in Corvet`e' home village.

  “Signal the War Dragon and Shadow Draconic to assist the War Dogma. Tell them we will be there as soon as we are finished with an investigation on Argon,” Corvet`e ordered War Spy 313.

  “Yes, Sir,” War Spy 313 replied as she hailed the two WLE Vessels.

  The War Shadow was near the third moon of Argon, as War Spy 313 was hailing the WLE Vessels. There was a new message for Emperor Malsvir on an open channel that Corvet`e noticed on the view screen. He transferred the message to the Emperor's personal comm-unit.

  The War Shadow landed on Argon near the Chess Village of Santa Felinia. Corvet`e ordered War Spies 313 and 325 to come with him and two Dragonling guards to accompany him to his home village. The five of them went to the shuttle bay and boarded a Jungle Buggy. The shuttle bay doors opened and they left the War Shadow in a fast rush. The Jungle Buggy was the fastest ground assault vehicle on four wheels in this sector.

  Santa Felinia was five clicks from the War Shadow and a three-minute journey by the Jungle Buggy. The forest was very thick and full of wildlife. The Chess Village was right beyond the jungle of trees and wildlife. Corvet`e was quiet the entire trip to his home village. War Spies 313 and 325 were eyeing each other as if War Spy 313 was starting a telepathic conversation with a secret lover. The Dragonling guards were alert and ready for anything that might pop out of the jungle floor.

  The Jungle Buggy was finally in the village of Santa Felinia and stopped in front of the Tribal Council Building. Corvet`e ordered the War Spies to interrogate the council members, as he interrogated the civilians in the village. The Dragonling guards were at Corvet`e' side, as he began his investigation of the people Santa Felinia.

  8 - Aboard the Pale Dragon, in orbit Tricetus

  Sqiidas ordered the space fighters to be launched and Xanatos was in a Dragonling War-Wing ready for the enemy fighters. Xanatos was in command of the Pale Dragon' s four squadrons of space fighters. There was a squadron of Dragonling War-Wings called Crimson Squadron. There was a squadron of Sphinx Diablos called Lightning Squadron. There was a squadron of Hurthian Triofighters called Graceful Squadron. There was a squadron of Argoni Personal Fighters called Scorpion Squadron. They all formed the Dragon Force Squadron and Xanatos was Dragon Leader.

  “All squadron leaders report in,” Sqiidas ordered over the comm-unit.

  “Dragon Leader, standing by,” Xanatos reported.

  A Dragonling Lieutenant reported, “Crimson Leader, standing by.”

  “Lightning Leader, ready for action!” A Nogra flight officer reported.

  “Grace Leader, locked and ready!” A Hurthian Commander reported.

  “Scorpion Leader docked and ready to go,” a Wind Elf Lieutenant reported.

  “Here comes the Argoni Quickstrikes and Sphinx Fighters of the WLE. Power up weapons and shields. Crimson and Grace Squadrons follow me,” Xanatos ordered as he locked his wings in a 'T' formation. The other Dragonling War-Wings in Crimson Squadron followed in suit with Xanatos' lead. The Hurthian Commander snapped her cannon arms in attack position. The rest of Grace Squadron followed her action with their Triofighters.

  The Sphinx Diablos were attacking the WLE Sphinx Katarns and enemy Diablos. Lightning Leader fired zoton torpedoes at one of the enemy Diablos. The enemy Diablo exploded in a ball of flame. “Lightning Twelve, Lightning Three, pull up. Those WLE Diablos are vectoring in you at a fast rate,”

  “Copy, Lightning Leader,” Lightning Three's male voice replied, as his Diablo pulled up. Lightning Twelve was not fast enough and was destroyed by an enemy Diablo's zoton torpedo.

  “Lightning Twelve and Lightning Four are down. This is Lightning Seven reporting in,” a Sphinx female flight officer reported.

  “Sqiidas to Squadron Leaders, we are picking up two WLE Battle Cruisers in Phantom Space heading this way. They have three squadrons of space fighters in each of their Shuttle Bays. The Crimson Stingray is being towed by a tractor beam to Tricetus,” Sqiidas reported over the comm-unit.

  “Not if I can help it,” Xanatos replied, as headed for the War Dogma. “Crimson Seven, Grace Eleven, pull into my position.”

  “Copy, Dragon Leader,” they replied together, as the three space fighters headed for the War Dogma. The Triofighter was ordered to take the lead, as Xanatos ordered Crimson Seven to follow him to
'buzz' the Main Bridge. Xanatos ordered Crimson Three and Scorpion Seven to assist Grace Eleven in taking out the tractor beam.

  “Copy, Dragon Leader,” they replied together, as another Dragonling War-Wing and Personal Space fighter came in to assist Grace Eleven.

  Five Argoni Quickstrikes came out of Phantom Space in front of Xanatos and Crimson Seven, as they were about to 'buzz' the Main Bridge of the War Dogma.

  “Dragon Leader this is Crimson Seven, we have company. Five Argoni Quickstrikes on our nine,” Crimson Seven reported as the Argoni Quickstrikes attacked the two Dragonling War-Wings from their port side.

  “Crimson Seven, follow my lead and strategy on how to disable the Quickstrikes,” Xanatos ordered Crimson Seven.

  “Copy, Dragon Leader,” Crimson Seven replied, as he followed Xanatos' Dragonling War-Wing attack the Argoni Quickstrikes. Xanatos fired a zotium torpedo at the lead Quickstrike's rotating coupling on the center of its long wing. The lead Quickstrike was unable to enter Phantom Space or rotate its cannons to fire on them. Xanatos fired zotonic charges at the Quickstrike's zotonic cannons on the edges of its long wing. The Quickstrike was disabled and drifting toward Tricetus.

  Crimson Seven fired three zotium torpedoes on three Quickstrikes' rotating couplings two torpedoes hit their targets dead on. The third torpedo bounced off the shields of the third Quickstrike. Crimson Seven fired zotonic charges at the two disabled Quickstrikes' zotonic cannons and they drifted toward Tricetus.

  “Dragon Leader, this is Crimson Seven. Those last two Quickstrikes have shield generators installed in them,” Crimson Seven reported, one of the Quickstrikes fired a zotonic charge at his War-Wing. The blast penetrated his shields and hit his port engine. “I'm hit, Dragon Leader. My port engine is hit bad. I can't stay with you,” Crimson Seven reported as he pulled up.

  “Get back the Pale Dragon, Crimson Seven,” Xanatos ordered Crimson Seven.