Generations of Teelan Box Set

by G. E. Stills

  His ending words were not lost on her. There was, or soon would be, a death warrant for anyone belonging to the Solegmen organization. Their only chance of survival was surrender before they were tracked down and then they’d have to depend on mercy. A mercy that might not exist.

  “The Mistia people by and large want you here,” Pla’ton continued. “Most of us are very happy with the decisions of the ruling council. There are always a few radical groups. I believe the same is true of Earth.”

  “Yes,” she admitted, “I just wanted to make certain you want us here.”

  “We do. In particular, I want you here. For always.”

  ****

  The helo set down on the roof of the Me’galith. Jane met her and guided her away while bringing her up to date on what was happening. Pla’ton left to take care of his own affairs.

  Jane handed her a transceiver. “I heard your communicator was removed. I know you can talk to Captain Chavez through Randy, but I thought maybe direct contact might be better.”

  “Thanks, Jane,” she said as they hurried down the stairs.

  She took a seat at the table after greeting Allan and Marsha. “Are you both okay?” she asked.

  “We’re fine,” Marsha said.

  “Good to have you back,” Allan added.

  “Thank you. It’s good to be back. If you’ll both excuse me.” She thumbed the radio to life.

  “I’ll have a uniform sent up,” Jane said.

  “Thanks.”

  The transceiver squawked. “This is PD Ingrid,” the signals officer said.

  “This is Lieutenant Commander Mitchell. I need to speak to Captain Chavez right away.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Moments later the Captain spoke. “Captain Chavez here. Welcome back, Lieutenant Commander Mitchell.”

  “Bring me up to date, Captain.”

  “I’ve detached the cruiser Vancouver. She’ll remain at the outer limits of the solar system. My other two ships will remain here in orbit and act as decoys.”

  “Decoys?”

  She could almost see Captain Chavez smile. “I sent out a call for help. There are fifteen ships on the way. They’ll be here in a day or less. Among those ships are three battleships and a carrier.”

  It was Becky’s turn to smile.

  “I’ve also received word that the Eighth fleet is on the way from Teelan. They were already on route. They’ll be here in a day or day and a half at the most. Twenty ships, four battleships and three carriers. If the Men-gar just wait a little longer, they are in for a nasty surprise.”

  “And if they don’t?”

  “Then my ships will fight, a delaying action. We may not survive, but if we can keep them tied up long enough and away from Ormel…”

  He didn’t need to finish.

  “Oh and one more thing, Commander. The Slayer is with the Eighth fleet.”

  Gina. Gina is on the way?

  “Thank you, Captain. Keep me informed of any changes.” She broke the connection.

  Jane approached and handed her a uniform. Excusing herself, Becky went to the bathroom and put it on. When she came back into the room, Pla’ton was there. She filled him in and then said, “You need to start evacuating all the major cities. Just in case, Pla’ton.”

  “I will right away, but there is no way we can evacuate twenty-five million people from Meingarth in the time given. Many of the other cities will have the same problem.”

  “I know. I wish I had a better solution. This is cold of me to suggest, but I would start with your most critical people and work down from there. I just hope this evacuation is not needed. Pla’ton, if the Men-gar should get through our ships and attack, they will destroy this and every other city. Only those that are hiding in sparsely populated areas have any chance. My suggestion is cold and sounds heartless, but it is a matter of insuring the best chance for the survival of your race.”

  “I understand what you’re saying,” Pla’ton said gravely. “How soon will your shuttles be arriving to take you and the other humans up to space? “

  Becky gazed up at him. “There will be no shuttles. Those of us here on Ormel will remain here with our new Mistia allies. On a personal note, I will stay here by your side where I choose to be.”

  He put his arms around her and pulled her into embrace. “I can’t think of anyone I would rather die beside.”

  “Hopefully it won’t come to that, but if it does, I feel the same.”

  They separated and went to work preparing.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Two Men-gar battleships blipped into the Ormel solar system. Eleven smaller ships flashed into the system behind them. Captain Bidwell monitored the Men-gar intruders as they moved further into the Ormel system. Her ship, the Columbus, of the destroyer class and the three smaller ships with her, were the first to arrive in response to Captain Chavez’s summons.

  Captain Bidwell knew there was no way her ships could stand toe-to-toe and have a slugfest with the larger Men-gar ships, but she and Captain Chavez had discussed this. Columbus and the other ships she was now in charge of were going to perform harassment, hit and run tactics using their advantage of greater speed. They were going to attempt to stall the Men-gar ships until additional human help arrived.

  Her ships, positioned at the outer limits of the system, remained doggo. Captain Bidwell smiled, Captain Chavez had been right in his guess. The Men-gar had entered the system at almost the exact location he had guessed and because of this, her ships were positioned for ambush from the rear.

  She triggered her communicator and established a direct link to Captain Chavez. “They’re here,” she said simply.

  “Yes,” Captain Chavez answered right away, “I just got the same information. Wait until they’re further in system and if possible committed to attacking my ships before you act.”

  “I still don’t like this plan. Your Ingrid and the other two ships with her, cannot stand up to the Men-gar force coming.”

  “I know, but there’s no choice. I will not leave Ormel defenseless. I intend to keep the enemy busy fighting me and not bombarding the planet. Reinforcements are on the way. They’ll be here soon. Let’s just hope they get here soon enough. You have your orders, Captain. When you attack from the rear and run, hopefully some of the Men-gar ships will give chase.”

  “Let’s hope,” Captain Bidwell said.

  “We need to break this connection. I don’t know if the enemy has the ability to monitor it, but we can’t take the chance. Good shooting.”

  “And the same to you, Captain Chavez. Best of luck, Bidwell out.”

  ****

  Captain Chavez triggered his implant communicator. He contacted the captain of the Vancouver. That ship was further in system and also lying silent. Although Vancouver was alone she was a cruiser and larger than any of captain Bidwell’s ships. Her job was more hit-and-run harassment tactics. Hopefully she would be able to split off more Men-gar ships if they gave pursuit. It was the only hope he had because he was well aware the Ingrid could not stand up to a slugfest with the vastly superior Men-gar fleet.

  “They’re here,” Captain Chavez said.

  “We are monitoring,” the Vancouver Captain, answered. “We’ll take action as discussed.”

  Captain Chavez permitted a smile to cross his face. He knew the Captain of the Vancouver personally. In the past when serving on the same ship, he and Stella had been very close. They’d been lovers. For the moment, he dropped formality. “Stella, I know you’ll carry out your orders as impeccably as usual. If we survive the coming battle I was wondering…I was wondering.”

  “I would love to, Emilio,” Stella interrupted. “The thought of kissing and doing other things with you is making me decidedly warm everywhere.”

  “Thank you, Stella. I feel the same way. Warm all
over.”

  “Good luck to you, Emilio. I need to go now. Give them hell.”

  “Hell it is, Stella. Luck to you also.” Just as he broke the connection, he was certain he heard Stella’s sobs.

  His own eyes were misted. Scrubbing the tears away angrily, he gazed around the control room at the fine men and women there. He wondered for a moment how many, if any, would live to see the next day.

  Fuck it. I will not tolerate a defeatist attitude in my people and certainly not in myself. His jaw tightened, his gaze hardened, his expression became one of determination. All preparations for the coming battle were being carried out professionally. The only thing left to do was the hardest part. The waiting. He turned to face Charlie, his executive officer.

  “I’ll be in my quarters if you need me, XO,” he said and strode briskly from the bridge.

  ****

  Becky stood on the balcony gazing out on the city. Every road leading out of the city was jammed by ground vehicles as the mass exodus proceeded. Pla’ton stood beside her. She stole a quick glance at him and then turned to face forward again. Her chest swelled with pride of him. Pla’ton sported crossed swords rank insignias on his collars. The crossed swords were the Mistia equivalent of a two star General, a huge jump in rank from a Major. The promotion was the result of a unanimous decision made by the ruling council.

  But he so deserves it.

  “I was wrong,” she said, “The shuttles did return. All fifteen of them.” In the distance, she watched a continuous flow of them departing and arriving as the evacuation operated in full swing.

  “Yes, but they didn’t come down here to take you and the other humans back into space did they?”

  “No.”

  “No, they came to help us get ready for a Men-gar invasion.” Her chest swelled more. “I told you our people would not abandon you.”

  “And I never thought for a second they would. The ships in orbit above haven’t departed either, even though they could have and saved themselves.” He rubbed her back for a brief moment affectionately.

  “That is not our way. We stand beside our friends and allies, always.”

  “I know. Becky…Becky, I’m in love with you.”

  Warmth rushed through her at his words from her head to her toes. “I love you, too.” Changing the subject, she continued, “The arrival of the freighter Havana and the subsequent unloading of her six-hundred robot cargo has helped immensely.”

  “I agree. The robots are busy excavating tunnel systems in several of the mountains nearby. I just wish we had more time.” He sighed, “But time is a luxury we never seem to have. We’ll save as many of my people as we can. That’s all I can hope for.”

  Her thoughts turned to the evacuation. The council had declared the equivalent of Marshall law. The military was in charge and didn’t always use peaceful and pleasant methods. Especially on those people deemed critical to race survival. Some of these people did not evacuate willingly, but they were evacuated just the same. There was no time to use kid glove methods. “The Havana and Sustiel have departed by the way, the ten thousand Mistia on board will insure the survival of the Mistia race just in case things go to shit here.”

  “Your people will arrive in time. I feel sure of it.”

  Becky rubbed his back this time. “I’m glad you’re confident.”

  “Are Allan and Marsha safe?”

  A humorless chuckle escaped Becky’s lips. “Yes they’re in one of the tunnel complexes. We had to sedate them, knock them out completely, to get them there though. They’re no doubt still asleep.”

  Pla’ton shook his head. “They have no place in the coming fight.”

  “I agree, but they are human.”

  “And humans have a deep seated hatred of everything Men-gar. I know, you’ve told me before. Speaking of, I want you on the last shuttle flight and safe, well sa-fer, in one of the caves before they’re sealed.”

  “Ain’t going to happen, Pla’ton, dear. I know you won’t be there and neither will I. There is just one place I’ll be, by your side.”

  “Do I need to sedate you too?”

  “I don’t think you better even try. Remember my lightning ability?”

  “You’re a stubborn woman.”

  “Yep. So we can put that thought to bed and stop arguing about it.”

  “I love you, Becky Mitchell.”

  “And I love you.”

  The radio hanging on her belt beeped the attention signal. Lifting it up in front of her lips she said, “Lieutenant Commander Mitchell here, go ahead.”

  “Commander this is the signals officer Plato aboard the PD Ingrid.” His message was brief, but no additional words were needed. “They’re here.”

  Her response was just as brief, “Understood.”

  She shifted the dial to a different frequency and Jane answered her hail. “Sergeant Jane, they’re here.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Jane answered, “we will be there in a few.”

  Becky gazed up at Pla’ton. “Well, babe, time has run out.”

  “Yep.” Pla’ton thumbed his own radio to life. “General Pla’ton here to all personnel involved. Seal the caves. Everybody report to their duty stations.”

  Reaching out, Pla’ton took her hand and led her upstairs to the heliport to wait. Their next task was to tour as many bases and aerial batteries as time permitted to make certain all was ready. They both knew aerial batteries were not much defense against Men-gar spaceships, but it was all they had.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  The Men-gar ships came forward cautiously, but they were committed. “XO take the Ingrid to her new position and stand ready,” Captain Chavez ordered.

  “Yes, sir,” he answered.

  The main engines fired, Ormel dropped away and soon the ship arrived at position with the cruiser Omaha and destroyer Cleveland with her. Captain Chavez was not foolish enough to think for a moment that the batteries and missiles on the planet would sway the outcome of the coming battle. The Men-gar beams and missiles could not reach Ormel at this range and that was why he had interposed his ship along with the two others here.

  They will have to defeat us before they can go further. Not for a moment do I believe they won’t, but it will delay. Hopefully help will arrive before they destroy us.

  His XO’s voice jerked him from his inner thoughts. “Omaha and Cleveland are encompassed in our defensive globe and their weapons computers are linked to ours.”

  “Very well,” he answered.

  The Men-gar fleet drew closer and then Captain Bidwell’s Columbus and her three escorts came screaming in from behind. Captain Bidwell combined the firepower of her four ships, concentrating it on a trailing Men-gar cruiser.

  In satisfaction, Captain Chavez watched on the view screen. Under the amassed fire of the human ships, the defensive shields of the Men-gar ship failed. Explosions pockmarked the ship from bow to stern. It exploded.

  At the last moment, Bidwell’s ships veered downward on a new vector streaking away. A grin spread across his face when he saw five of the Men-gar ships take the bait and give chase. Beams from the Men-gar ships lashed out. One of Bidwell’s small ships faltered and her engines winked out.

  He watched numerous life pods erupt from the stricken ship and then she blew up. His jaw tightened as he witnessed the Men-gar ships race by and lash out with beams to destroy many of the life pods that offered them not threat at all.

  Fuckin’ Men-gar.

  Bidwell’s surviving ships drew away, but still the five Men-gar ships pursued. His eyes jerked to another section of the view screen. Vancouver roared in from one side. Her beams lanced out playing over three Men-gar destroyers. It was clear to see that Stella’s strategy was not to destroy all three, but to disable their engines. Two of the destroyers lost headway. Way to go Stella, he thought.

/>   The Vancouver did not escape unscathed. Beams from two of the Men-gar cruisers and a destroyer lashed out. The overload was too much. The Vancouver’s shields failed in several places. Deadly beams licked her skin ripping and gouging large holes in her.

  Stella vectored the Vancouver into a steep upward climb. Although the ship was trailing atmosphere from extensive damage, her engines were still strong. She pulled away from the two Men-gar cruisers and the destroyer chasing her.

  “And then there were two,” Captain Chavez whispered. The crippled Men-gar destroyers would not be a factor in the pending battle. “Change of plans,” Captain Chavez announced, “Omaha, Cleveland, break off, remain out of range of the Men-gar battleships beams until I’ve crippled them. Once that happens you are free to harass them.

  “Captain Chavez, the Ingrid cannot fight two battleships alone,” The Captain of the Omaha protested.

  “You have you orders, Captains. Break off,” he snapped.

  Both ships began to distance themselves while Ingrid remained motionless in wait of the two Men-gar craft approaching.

  ****

  The three Men-gar chasing her gave up and turned back to join the Men-gar battleships. Stella halted the Vancouver’s flight and turned her ship to head back in system intending to further harass the three ships. In her view screen, she saw the Ingrid motionless, waiting.

  What the hell are you up to, Emilio?

  The battleships came in range. All of their beam weapons that could bear, reached out to strike the Ingrid’s defense shields. The shield flared, faltered, and then flared to life again. A few of the beams got through. Ingrid’s bow compartments took hit after hit.

  She could only hope that Chavez and his bridge crew had retreated to the secondary control section located in the ships center. Why don’t you move, Emilio? Why don’t you take evasive action?

  The Men-gar ships got closer and at last the Ingrid moved, but rather than dodge to one side she leapt forward placing herself directly between the two Men-gar battleships. Stella now understood what Captain Chavez was doing.