There was a pent-up energy outside that was palpable as the rear ramp lowered. The ramp seemed to be taking longer than usual as Jason stood impatiently at the top. By no planning on their part, they all exited the cargo bay in a single file. When Jason became visible a huge cheer went up from the assembled crowd, and female A’arcooni were even throwing flowers on him. When Lucky emerged, however, a deafening roar went up that seemed to shake the square.
“Wave to them,” Jason told him out of the corner of his mouth.
Hesitantly, Lucky waved to the crowd and, unbelievably, they responded with even more energy. Then, as quickly as it started, the crowd hushed to a respectful murmur. They pushed back away from the ramp and parted as a procession of officious looking A’arcooni walked forward. Jason had to take a hard look at the one in the lead to see if it was really who he thought it was.
“De’Elefor Ka?” he asked.
“It is just De’Elefor now, my friend,” the A’arcooni said, grasping Jason’s shoulders with genuine affection. “The honorific Ka no longer seems appropriate given the circumstances. We have dropped it from our names.”
It took a moment for Jason to remember that it was De’Astor Ka, the originator of the cult that had perverted the teachings of the Travelers, who had started the A’arcooni on their rampage across the galaxy beginning with their own homeworld.
“That makes sense,” Jason said. “I must say, De’Elefor, we’re a bit surprised at the enthusiasm of our welcome. I wasn’t sure we’d even be allowed to land given our past interactions.”
“From the fires of our battles came the fierce light of truth,” De’Elefor proclaimed, reminding Jason how prone the A’arcooni were to melodrama. “You set us free from the lies that enslaved us to a savage life of slow deaths aboard decrepit ships and attacking unsuspecting planets. We even attacked your homeworld.” When De’Elefor said this the crowd gave a soft moan and hung their heads.
“But instead of exacting your revenge upon us,” De’Elefor said, raising his voice again, “you delivered us back to the nest of our birth place. You have given us back something we though lost forever: A’arcoon. We can never repay our debt to you.”
“I’m sure we’ll think of something,” Jason said with a wink. “It looks like you guys are really getting along here. The last time I was here this city was deserted and dead. You’ve done a lot in a short time.”
“We can discuss that at some length, Captain,” De’Elefor said, bobbing his head and causing his plumage to flutter. “If you’ll all follow me we can retire to someplace a bit less chaotic.”
The crew followed him and Jason was surprised when the crowd began to part so they could walk at a normal pace. When they were a few meters away, Jason sent the signal to the Phoenix to close the ramp but not to activate the ground defense protocols. The A’arcooni were quiet as they made a path for them that led to what Jason had assumed on his previous trip to be an administrative building. As they walked, the beings of A’arcoon reached out and placed their hands on Jason and Lucky as they passed, lowering their heads as they did. It wasn’t jostling or pushing, it was more of a need to have some tactile connection with the people and events they’d only heard about. After they slipped inside the pyramid-shaped building the crowd quietly dispersed and went their way.
“I apologize for being overly dramatic, Captain,” De’Elefor said once he led them into a large reception room. “I’m sure you remember how we were. For many of our population the ceremony and … religion … of an experience like your return is still very important.”
“I can understand that,” Jason said. As he thought back on his previous interactions with the species, what De’Elefor said did make sense in a loopy sort of way. “But why were Lucky and I singled out?”
“You are the leader, the figurehead of Omega Force,” De’Elefor said as if that should explain it. “As for Lucky, he was the one who talked to me and really broke through the madness. Our official oral history of events figures him quite prominently, including his killing of Deetz. In the minds of the A’arcooni the fact that he would kill one of his own to protect us affirmed his place among us as a hero of the people.”
Jason waved Lucky to silence as he could see that his friend was about to argue the point. It was a harmless fiction that might help them achieve their goals in the end.
“That makes sense,” he said. “I should go ahead and tell you now that Crisstof Dalton’s ship will be some days behind us. Is it okay with you that he takes up orbit over A’arcoon?”
“Of course,” De’Elefor said with a frown, “why wouldn’t it?”
“I just thought it’d be polite to ask first and not assume.”
“I thank you for the courtesy, but it’s unnecessary,” De’Elefor assured him. “We welcome visitors here as we don’t have much contact with the outside anymore. Which leads me to why you’ve come … I can assume that it’s about the female who was here a couple of years ago asking about you. Naleem El?”
“In a way,” Jason said. “She found us recently but after a disagreement we’ve parted ways. We’re trying to retrace her steps and see if there’s anything she discovered here that can help us.”
“I will provide any assistance I can,” De’Elefor said, bowing his head. “I have to tell you, however, that she did not accomplish much on her visit. She mistook our desire to live without the trappings of high technology to mean that we were simple. Her insulting demeanor and casual insults about our intellect did not endear her to us. She left empty-handed.”
“A surprising lack of judgment on her part given her background,” Jason said. “So I take it you’re in charge around here?”
“I ascended to leadership by popular demand,” De’Elefor said, looking somewhat embarrassed. “I fully admit that it was in no small part due to my association with you and the negotiation of surrender that allowed us to come back home after generations away. Of course I will implement a fair election for leadership once we have ratified a new form of government.”
“It’s none of my business,” Jason shrugged. “If this is working for you I’d say there’s nothing wrong with it. So how have you not installed an official government yet?”
“It hasn’t been a big priority,” De’Elefor said. “There aren’t a lot of us to begin with, and so far the decisions we’ve made have been widely accepted. I know that governing by popular consent won’t last forever so we’re trying to put something in place that sets firm rules, something that prevents another De’Astor Ka. To be honest, I was very happy you mentioned Crisstof Dalton is coming here. His further assistance would be most welcome.”
Jason bit his tongue, his comment about Crisstof’s meddling in affairs that didn’t concern him never taking voice. “I’m sure he’ll be more than happy to offer his assistance,” he said, trying not to make a face while he did so. “Before we begin talking about the real reason for our visit, is there a more discreet place we can park our ship? We may be tearing down one of our primary systems and would rather not do heavy maintenance on your city square.”
“Of course,” De’Elefor said. “There are large hangars at the edge of the city by where the old aerodrome used to be, if that would be acceptable. There is power and lighting functional within the buildings.”
“That would be perfect, thank you,” Jason said.
****
“This is their idea of a hangar?” Twingo asked in awe.
“It would appear so,” Jason said, also impressed. Like all of the structures on A’arcoon, the hangar appeared to be hewn from a solid piece of rock. The building was immense and could have easily accommodated ten ships the size of the Phoenix. There was some loose debris on the ramp in front of the entrance, but the large wheels of the landing gear had no trouble as Jason taxied the ship into the well-lit building that looked part cavern, part cathedral.
Ornate reliefs decorated the walls that depicted the evolution from the A’arcooni ancestors who could naturally fly t
o the modern iteration of the species taking the step into spacecraft and leaving the planet. The ceiling arched high overhead and there were vents and lights spaced evenly along its length. Jason spun the ship around so the nose was facing the entrance and began powering down their systems.
“Like I said,” he told Twingo, “you can dig into the reactor once the Defiant makes orbit.”
“Sounds fair,” Twingo said. “I’ve got some rough drawings of what I want to accomplish if you want to look them over.”
“I trust you and besides, I wouldn’t really understand what I was looking at anyway,” Jason admitted. “Just don’t leave us stranded.”
“How long are we going to be here?” Crusher asked. “These people give me the creeps.”
“Understood,” Jason said. “But please keep comments like that within the hull. I’d rather not have an incident. Lucky and I meet with De’Elefor first thing in the morning. If all goes well I’ll get the location of this camp Naleem was referring to and then once the Defiant shows up we’ll head out there.”
“The sooner the better,” Crusher said, walking off the bridge. “I’m going to go check the perimeter.” Lucky wordlessly followed him out and the rest of the crew began to disperse. Jason was left alone on the bridge, suddenly feeling a little foolish flying so far out in the fringe to chase down a legend that may not even exist.
Chapter 18
The next morning Jason was standing at the entrance of the hangar watching the sunrise over a city that he now knew was called A’ara. He took a sip of his chroot and tried to frame the argument he would use on De’Elefor to convince him to both disclose and guide him to the tribe of A’arcooni that had remained behind.
“It’s funny how things work out, isn’t it?” Twingo asked, walking up behind him similarly armed against the early morning with a mug of his own.
“How’s that?”
“When we dropped these guys off I fully expected them to either turn on each other, starve to death, or figure out a way to go back to their old ways,” Twingo said. “I’m glad to see I was wrong.”
“Yeah,” Jason said noncommittally. The Defiant was due in that day and he knew Twingo was getting anxious to start examining the main reactor on the Phoenix. He was about to comment further when a brilliant red energy bolt streaked out of the sky and impacted somewhere in A’ara. Six more in quick succession hit the city square. Smoke and dust were billowing up out of the impact zones.
“Could Kellea really be that pissed at you?” Twingo asked, staring dumbfounded at the city.
“That’s not the Defiant,” Jason said, tossing his mug. “Let’s go!” The pair sprinted back to the Phoenix, Twingo lagging far behind Jason. He hit the ramp and launched himself up onto the mezzanine from the cargo bay floor. He was already walking onto the bridge before Twingo had even gotten back to the ramp.
“What the hell is going on?” Jason demanded.
“I know as much as you do, Captain,” Kage said. “Whoever just made orbit and opened fire isn’t broadcasting a transponder code.”
“Those were warning shots,” the com came to life. “You will turn over Naleem El and any personnel she has with her or we will continue to rain fire down upon your city. You have thirty minutes to have her in the city square.”
“That was sent out on all channels, all frequencies,” Kage said. “I don’t think they’re familiar with the A’arcooni or they would have just used the standard frequency.”
“That’s little comfort,” Jason said. “Try to figure out who they are. Don’t send any messages just yet since it seems the stone hangar walls have kept us hidden.”
“Why do you say that?” Crusher asked, standing near the canopy and watching the smoke rise over the city in the distance.
“Because we’re the only ship on the surface,” Jason said. “If they detected us they would assume it was Naleem’s and either open fire on the aerodrome or land an assault force right in the entrance of the hangar.”
“True,” Crusher conceded.
“Message coming in from De’Elefor,” Kage said.
“Ignore it,” Jason said in a tight voice. “We’re their only defense right now and we won’t do them any good if someone brings this building down on top of us.”
After fifteen minutes a large craft descended through the clouds and took up position directly over the city. It was over three hundred and fifty meters long and was hovering at an altitude of one thousand meters.
“Arrogant bastards,” Doc said as he consulted the passive scans. “External hatches are open and they aren’t raising their shields. They seem to know the A’arcooni don’t possess any weapons that can reach them.”
“Bring the tactical systems online and get the engines fired up,” Jason said. “We’ll try and draw them away from the city.”
Five minutes later the Phoenix taxied slowly to the entrance of the hangar before Jason fed power to the drive and lifted them into the air. “Full combat mode,” he ordered calmly as he allowed his neural implant to fully integrate him to the ship.
“Shields up and all weapons are live,” Kage reported.
“They’re coming around,” Doc warned. “I’m not sure if they see us yet or if they’re turning this way for some other reason.”
“It won’t matter in a moment,” Jason said and smoothly advanced the throttle. The big gunship roared away from the aerodrome, leaving an enormous cloud of dust blowing in its wake. “I’m going to make a single high-speed pass down their port flank. I want the point defense turrets to randomly target any open hatches and engage.”
“Firing program set,” Kage said. “Just pull the trigger when we cross their nose.”
Jason flew low and fast, nearly to the target when it appeared that they’d been spotted. The ship swung ponderously in their direction and an alert tone sounded to let him know that tracking radar had locked on. He pulled the Phoenix to the right and squeezed the trigger as he flew just under the target’s left side. The point defense guns opened up and began chewing through the interior of the ship as dozens of shots passed unopposed through all the open hatches.
“We should have just hit them with a missile,” Kage said. “They didn’t even have shields up.”
“Except we would have sent it crashing down on top of the A’arcooni,” Jason said, banking left and pouring on the speed. “That’s why I want them to follow us.”
“Incoming channel request,” Kage said.
“Put it through.”
“Unidentified warship, this is a private matter. Withdraw or you will be destroyed,” a dispassionate voice said.
“That was a warning shot,” Jason said, mocking the earlier broadcast. “The next one won’t be. You will break off this illegal attack on the citizens of A’arcoon or you will become a permanent resident.”
“As you wish,” the voice said before the channel closed.
“That was easy,” Kage remarked. Jason never got to reply as the Phoenix was rocked by an incredibly powerful blast. Warnings lit up his displays like a casino slot machine and smoke began wafting in through the environmental ducts.
“Holy shit!” Jason exclaimed, struggling to keep the ship in the air. The blast had superheated the air above them and the rapid expansion shoved the gunship towards the ground with incredible force. “Twingo, report!”
“This is bad,” the engineer said. “Dorsal shielding is down to thirty percent. Main Bus B has dropped out and we’ve lost the ability to simultaneously fire both main plasma cannon banks. Engines are still up, but the slip-drive is now offline as are long range communications.”
“What hit us?” Jason asked, coaxing the gunship back into the air and turning back towards the engagement.
“It wasn’t that smaller ship,” Doc said. “There’s a destroyer-class warship in orbit directly above us. It looks like they hit us with a focused plasma burst.”
“I guess that ship over A’ara is just a troop lander,” Jason said, realizing his mista
ke too late. “We can’t stay down here with that destroyer overhead. Prime two nukes and one of the ship-busters; we’re going up top.”
“We’re really going head-to-head with a destroyer?” Twingo asked.
“We don’t have much of a choice at this point,” Jason said. “Even if I was inclined to let the A’arcooni fend for themselves we can’t run with a busted slip-drive.”
He looked up and let the computer pinpoint where the ship was in the sky. He then had the computer overlay a ring that was the ship’s assumed effective range of fire. Once he had those, he changed his course and pushed the engines to full power, trying to get into orbit before the destroyer could come around and bracket them while still in the upper atmosphere.
The destroyer captain wasn’t fooled by the move. Since he already knew the speedy gunship would be in orbit before they could get into range, he gave them one last parting shot. The plasma bolt split the sky with a thunderous crack and impacted the rear shields of the fleeing Phoenix.
“Minor damage,” Twingo reported. “The shot was too far out of range. Mostly a lot of noise and light but the shields absorbed it.”
“When we make orbit we’re going to accelerate away from them,” Jason said. “We’ll try to come around A’arcoon and engage them on our own terms instead of flying right into their teeth.”
“I’m so glad you’ve seemed to grasp what the word strategy means,” Crusher said, uncomfortably out of his element on the bridge during a ship-to-ship engagement.
“Yeah,” Kage agreed. “This beats our usual suicide charge any day.”
“When we come around to the night side I’m going to execute a pretty extreme orbit change,” Jason said. “I’d like to get up into a polar orbit. Can the engines handle it?”
Twingo consulted his displays before nodding. “Just,” he said. “Why do you want us over the northern polar region?”
Omega Force 6: Secret of the Phoenix Page 17