“Looks like we did it.”
Sirens bellowed in song to the ship’s defense alarm.
“Don’t be so sure.” Darius corrected. He looked at the radar. “This is not cool.”
“What is not cool?” Teron tried to peer over to see what had impelled him to say such a thing.
“There is a large craft gaining on our starboard from Omphalos. Even though we are not in its targeting range, it is firing upon us.”
“Warning shots?” Teron quizzed.
“Good possibility.” Then he frowned. “Unless they have already realized who we are, they might be eager to take us out.”
As soon as the words rolled off his tongue the small freighter was jolted by weapons fire.
“Great!” Teron voiced her concern.
“Settle down.” Darius said with calm. “Check the on-board computer to see if this boat has any type of defense mechanisms other than the rear shield.”
Teron fidgeted with some keys. The requested information appeared upon her monitor.
“Nothing!”
“Then we are going to have to rely upon your flying skills until we get a chance to jump. How long before we can?”
“Not for sure?” Came her reply. “The navigation computer has not generated the calculations yet.”
“Just keep flying the way you are.”
Teron continued to pull evasion maneuvers. She was really surprised at how well the craft went in and out of nineties with such ease. The thought crossed her mind, that if she were to ever have a ship of her own it would have to be similar to this one.
Before long, the lights of the harbor were faint in the distance. Amidst all of the intensity and mind boggling flying strategy she now had a new distraction to deal with. A strange heat signal appeared upon the radar.
“There is an anomaly several clicks ahead on our left.”
“Is it another warship?”
“Negative. It appears to be a badly damaged ship. Maybe an earth designed freighter.”
“Any life on it?”
“Like that would matter?” Teron voiced her opinion. “I do not see us stopping any time soon.”
“I was just curious.” Darius laughed cynically.
At that very moment, another volley of laser fire riveted the craft.
“Our shield is down to sixty percent.”
“Just fly us out of here. I know you can do it.”
Again, another round from the big guns hit them. This volley of weapon's fire from the Interceptor was more accurate. A tremor vibrated throughout the ship. All three aboard were rattled like rag dolls, right where they sat.
Teron was slightly panic stricken. “Shield is down to twenty now.” They passed the listing freighter. In the beginning, she had been flying the ship under reasonable limits. Now she was pushing it beyond the illogical. There was no choice. Either fly it beyond its capabilities or be blown to pieces.
She dodged several more rounds from the interceptor. Suddenly, an explosion occurred on the Interceptor's hull as it passed in front of the impaired freighter. Something hit the Lumi ship in a relay compartment, which just so happened to be the main transfer shell between the engines and the computer system that operates them.
At first, the Interceptor appeared as if it were not affected by it. Then gradually, it slowed. Eventually, the ship came to a complete stop due to no power to push its mass. The Interceptor could not find the range to fire upon the speedy freighter.
“Wow! What just happened?” Darius stood to his feet. He tried to get a glimpse of it all from the cockpit window.
“Seems like a missile was fired from that wreckage back there.” Teron said with amazement. She ran another scan on the drifting freighter. The new reading showed several life forms aboard it. Another showed its damaged reactor core was highly unstable and could explode any moment.
The navigation computer finally gave the coordinates for the jump into hyperspace. Reluctantly, the pilot was incapable of initiating the sequence. Her conscience would not allow her to leave someone to die, even if it were someone she did not know.
Somebody in that tangled wreck fired upon the Lumi ship, temporarily disabling it. Right? Was it a malfunctioned weapon that coincidentally scored a hit at the right time in space? Teron had a hard time believing in coincidences.
Judging the distance the interceptor made after passing the damaged craft, Teron believed there would be enough time and distance to rescue the survivors. So, disregarding the thought about the warship getting its systems back online at any second, she banked the hijacked craft into a one-eighty. Within fifteen seconds, she parked it on the port side of the wreckage.
“What are you doing?” Darius was not only shocked but very displeased with her action.
“Are you willing to let someone die knowing you could have prevented it?”
“If that interceptor gets turned around we are going to die!” He informed her.
“So be it then!”
After a visual scan of the hull, there was no question as to the beating the freighter had taken. A portion on the tail end had a breach at one point.
Fortunately, the docking apparatus was functional.
Actually, it was the only recognizable piece on that side of the heap.
“Okay, hook us up.”
Teron eased the ship over. Stabilizer jets fired ever so gently, nudging it in tight with the coupler to join them together. The first attempt was perfect. The airlock on the listing craft accepted the connection command from their own.
“If there is anyone aboard get them transferred quickly. I will keep everything on the ready here.” Teron was confident in her own judgment and assessment of the timing needed for pulling this rescue attempt off.
“Hurry!”
There were two men on the other side of the airlock when it opened. A young, red-haired man and a badly wounded man were standing there. The older man leaned on the younger one for support. They looked to be father and son. Darius thought it was against his better judgment to allow these folks aboard their ship. It was quite obvious the freighter was attacked by a large patrol ship of some sorts. He was also aware that pirates did not intentionally venture into Lumi-controlled space.
He believed these men had to have come out of hyperspace with their craft already falling apart. There was not enough time to rationalize the what-ifs.
“We are pressed for time in a bad way.” He found it difficult to say the next line. “Welcome aboard.”
“My brother is still in the cockpit,” the younger one said. “There should be an alien chick in there too.”
Darius took off sprinting. He kept a close eye upon his footing. Debris was strewn everywhere. The smoke made it even more difficult. Without delay, he made it to the forward section of the freighter. It was here, on the wall next to the cockpit cabin, where he saw the manufacturer’s logo for the craft.
STALLION.
“Oh, how fantastic.” Darius knew the Stallion was manufactured by Primeval Aeronautics from Corporate Earth. Good chance these passengers would be Earthmen. The thought of this was very distasteful for the Giefan-born man.
The door to the control room slid open. Seated in the pilot’s chair was a man who looked identical to the first one he came in contact with.
“Didn’t we just meet?”
“That would have been my brother.” The young man could see the blank look on his face. “We’re twins.”
“At the present moment, I could care less.” Motioning toward the airlock with his thumb, Darius continued. “I am in a hurry!”
“One second longer,” the red-head said nonchalantly. “I am retrieving the A.I. software and memory.”
“Is that the female alien your brother spoke of?”
Those words stabbed deeply. “No, she is no longer here.”
Darius could sense the broadcast of heartache in this human's tone.
“Forget about it!” Darius was firm. The man ignored him.
; Darius was losing his patience quickly. Ten seconds later, the young man had the last connection loosened and the hard drive came free.
“There. I am finished.”
“About time,” came the reply. “This way please.”
Darius turned and retraced his path. The red-head was one step behind. Immediately after stepping through the airlock, the door behind them closed and the cabin compressed.
“Give me an update.” Darius ordered.
“The Lumi ship is back online and has almost completed its turn around.”
“Go away from it.”
Teron was confused. “That will take us back toward Luminescence.”
“That is okay. I have a plan.” Confidence was never in short supply for Darius. “You have the jump numbers yet?”
“Yes. Once we are up to speed I will only need a couple of seconds to initiate it.”
“Awesome.” Never had he questioned his own abilities while under pressure. “Let’s go.”
“What is going on?” Kwin was curious. No one answered him.
Teron accelerated the ship. As she gained speed, so did the Interceptor. Darius watched the radar. He waited for the precise moment, a point where he would tell the pilot to turn them around and head straight back into a face-to-face with the enemy ship; an old fashioned game of chicken. There was no doubt in his mind; all the forward guns would be aimed at them; every one of them spraying a barrage of laser fire at their helm. He did not flinch. Just as Teron had confidence in him, so he also had in her ability to fly.
“I am going to check on my family,” Kwin said to them.
Again, neither of the Giefans answered him. Darius did glance out of the corner of his eye as the newcomer stepped out of the cockpit.
The time had arrived. “Teron, turn around and head straight for them. Now!”
She steered the ship into a sweeping arc. Once the angle tapered off, the pilot put it into a barrel role to maintain and gain more velocity. Teron clenched her teeth. This is certain death.
“Now put us on a course that takes us directly under the wrecked freighter.” Darius called out. “Are you ready to jump?”
“I have been ready.” She replied.
He took a seat and strapped in. “Buckle up.” He announced over the ship's com. They had completely forgotten about the owner locked away in the facilities.
They neared the wreckage when the Interceptor fired upon them. For every hit the front shield took, the ship lurched and struggled to progress forward. The ship’s shield would be diminished in five seconds or less at the current rate of weapon hits it was receiving.
Darius had been correct with his calculation of angle for their course. The Interceptor’s weapons could no longer hit them as they passed under the damaged Stallion. Instead, the bombardment spanked the crippled ship.
“Do it now, Teron!”
The pilot activated the hyper-drive without a second left to waste. Like a shooting star, their craft jumped.
Teron turned her focus to Darius. “That was way too close.”
He smiled at her. “I know.”
“Do you think they will come out of hyperspace behind us?”
“No,” he answered with assurance. “If my calculations were correct, I believe they finished off the Stallion due to its leaky drive core. The explosion covered our jump. It should have created an illusion of us being blown to oblivion, right along with the other freighter.”
“I am truly impressed.” Teron said as she unbuckled from her chair.
“You better be.” Darius said with a hint of affinity.
20
Planet Trestle was nestled within the Ternian System. It was almost the same size as Puritania. Four continents consume seventy-two percent of the globe. Over thirty-billion Giefans make their residence on the plush surface. Most importantly, the city Dokkna is the seat for the House of Citizens.
A Matakeo stood before the House. He was there to warn them of an impending invasion.
“Darius Kanne Talek of Kritin’s Clamor, you have permission to approach the podium,” spoke a woman in her early forties.
Darius stepped forward and stood behind the platform. His appearance was not what one would expect to see from someone beseeching the House. Sweat stained clothes matted with dirt covered his frame. Several dark streaks smeared his cheeks from where perspiration had made trails through the grime. His right cheek was discolored from where one of his captors had punched him. His hair was tousled and a shadow of stubble blanketed his jaw.
Citizen Halford Shanks stood to his feet. Representing Kritin’s Clamor and in his second term, the man had the respect of all Giefans. He was a man of tall stature, whose moral standards were even higher. The suit he wore fit comfortably. He had the characteristics of one who was no stranger to hard, physical labor.
Mister Shanks opened his mouth and spoke. “Ladies and gentlemen of the House, I will not bore you with a lot of eloquent words. Instead, I will get right to the point. An emergency has come up.” He turned his head from left to right and back again to make sure he made eye contact with his peers.
“Mister Talek will explain. He is the one who came to me.” He then turned to the Matakeo and nodded his head at him. “Darius, if you would please.”
Darius cleared his throat. “Ladies and gentlemen of the House,” he said as he approached them without an apology for the misfortune of his attire. “As I shared with Citizen Shanks, so I will with you. I have recently been held prisoner by our high priest and Banimpire Malign of Luminescence.”
Immediately, there was a collective gasp of disbelief among the House members. They all looked at one another and immediately began to chatter. Judging by their reaction, Darius had a hard time determining what they were thinking.
Mister Shanks stood once again. With a booming voice, he asked for everyone to hold their peace until the guest had finished speaking. “Please continue.” He said. The din of noise died down.
“As I was saying, Abdominous had me prisoner. Catharsis has been slain.”
Again, commotion broke out among the elected.
Darius did not allow it to interrupt him this time. As he persisted, the crowd hushed quickly.
“After taken prisoner by Abdominous, he sent me to Luminescence. To make a long story short, Malign has allied herself with forces from Earth. As I speak, they are mobilizing their armada to make for light speed. Their plan is to attack our systems.” Now that he had this off his chest, he waited for their reply.
Chairperson Mary Doogle stood up with her hands held high in the air. The representatives held their peace. In her last term, everyone recognized her as the House leader. All fell silent as they anticipated what she would say.
“Mister Talek,” she spoke. “As much as I, along with my colleagues, want to believe you…well, we need evidence.”
“The proof you ask is about to come out of hyperspace somewhere in Giefan space.”
“We need solid proof. A document or agreement between the two parties whom you accuse would suffice.”
Darius could not believe his ears. “Is my word not enough?”
“You are the same Matakeo ousted from the brotherhood? Correct?”
“Yes. What does that have to do with this?”
“How do we know you are a stable thinking man?” The glare in her stare was harsh and cold. “How do we know this is not some lie you have schemed up to get even with the priest who booted you out of the Order of Brethren?”
“How am I to know you are not on the take with that dragon everyone calls a holy man?” Darius tried to stay calm but was beginning to feel somewhat perturbed.
The House members were in an uproar now. Citizen Shanks attempted to get a word in. He threw his arms in the air. Then he shrugged his shoulders and made a beeline for the door. He felt the urgency to place a call to someone he could trust.
“I will not allow your insults any longer, Mister Talek.” She pointed a finger in his direction. “Please hav
e security remove this man!”
Security guards moved in on him quickly. The two men grabbed him by the arms. This did not keep Darius from trying to warn the decision makers of his people.
“If you do not deploy the fleet immediately the opportunity to do so may elude you.” For a moment, he was able to shrug off the guards. Then they got a better grip and proceeded to drag him out with his heels dragging the floor.
“We would need more time to find evidence,” Mary said angrily.
“You do not have time!” Darius shouted from afar.
“Guards, wait.” Mary was slightly arrogant in her mannerism. Darius made no attempt to free his self when the guards came to a halt.
“Do not come back here again, Darius.”
As the woman gave the order, he stared at all the members exiting the chambers through a back door. The thought of what was about to go down saddened his heart. Somberly, he summed up the attitude of the government officials.
Is this a reflection of the Giefan people in general? The people, whose ancestors despised the authority and oppression they were subject to centuries ago on Earth, were following in the same footsteps their ancestors did; the one that led to a global government on Earth. There were so many things to occupy their time, too many material items. Complacency, followed by apathy was prevalent and rampant in the Giefan society. What used to be right was now wrong and what used to be wrong had become the accepted. It affected everything in everyday life; jobs, families, recreational activities and even their spiritual concerns. The attitude was clear in all.
Ironically, the hardest part of this realization for him to accept was he had become a part of it also. Everything he despised was now a part of this society and it was partly his fault. He helped to feed the monster.
A tear formed in the corner of his right eye as he slumped to the foyer floor in despair. Then it dawned on him. Amongst the faces of the politicians there was another. This person was standing just inside the doorway the Citizens had exited through.
Abdominous!
A hand from behind placed upon his shoulder startled him. At first he believed it was one of the security guards but surprised to see who it was squeezing his trap muscle with a show of support.
Matakeo: Echoes of the Future Page 14