Mike searched frantically for a way into the driver’s cockpit. He spied a recessed hole outlined in red hash marks, decided it was an emergency exit control, and began inching toward it. The driver, suspecting Mike’s intention, slammed the turret from side to side in an effort to shake him off. Mike slid down the bubble until his crotch rested on the barrel of the gun. The Chessori could not shake Mike loose, so he elevated the barrel toward the women. Mike brought a foot to the top of the barrel and pushed off, leaping to the side of the blister, then began kicking and prying with his toes to activate the emergency release. The gunner grinned as he drew a hand-held blaster and pointed it toward Mike through the glass. Mike’s innards shriveled as he lay exposed, knowing that only a clear bubble separated him from the blaster’s charge.
He felt a click through his boot. The bubble canopy cracked open in response. The gunner waved his blaster at Mike again but focused his attention on the women above. Mike had no choice. He slid down the bubble, wrapped his hands under the lip of the glass, and heaved with all his strength. The canopy flew up, exposing the Chessori who stared at him in surprise, its blaster seeming to rise of its own accord.
Mike struggled for balance and nearly fell off the stinger, unable to draw his own blaster. A shot deflected off the controls next to the Chessori, who looked up into Reba’s blaster. His own fingers pressed the appropriate firing studs at the same time as hers. His head and upper body disappeared in a bloody explosion, but not before his blaster fired. Mike spun off the gun platform, his right arm and part of his shoulder gone. He had a moment to stare about in confusion as Jake screamed at him to hang on, then he passed out.
Unknown to him, five Guardians chose that instant to spring onto the ramp from below. All firing stopped. The few remaining enemy troops dropped their weapons and raised their hands. Otis greeted his compatriots with feeling, barked orders for a medic, then he raced off to find the Queen. He returned shortly with her and Reba.
Ellie, oblivious to everyone else, knelt down in the pool of blood beside Mike to inspect the grisly wound. The flow of blood had stopped. Had he died? Holding his head in both hands, she demanded, “You’d better be doing your job, Jake. Do you hear me in there?” Tears streamed down her face as she leaned over Mike to hold him.
Chapter Thirty-three: Reba’s Battle
Lieutenant Val had his hands full on the bridge of the cruiser. Resolve was aboard, but the fighting on Hangar Deck, nearly secure before Resolve’s arrival, had intensified. It appeared that the Chessori and their Rebel counterparts recognized Resolve as the Queen’s ship, and they had shifted their efforts to her.
Suddenly, the mind weapon of the Chessori started up and Val fell to the deck writhing in agony. He had known this might happen and had taken steps to ensure the bridge would not be retaken by the Rebels. The Great Cat guarding the bridge dragged him behind a console and laid by his side, its weapon aimed at the blast doors securing the bridge. Nothing short of demolitions would breach the doors, and the Great Cat was his final level of protection.
The mind weapon stopped, but it started up again a short time later. When it finally ended, Val was done in. The cat drew him to his feet and steadied him, then led him to his station, indicating that he had to get back into the net. Val closed his eyes and took a deep breath, squaring his shoulders with determination as he reached for the helmet. Yes, he needed to check on his ship, and he needed to check on the other ships of the squadron. And he had a thousand other things to do, as well. Everything was critical, and everything demanded his immediate attention. Most important to him was that the Queen was aboard and it was time to get away. More Rebel ships could show up any moment.
In the net he discovered Hangar Deck secure, finally. Stretchers floated across the deck, but he couldn’t tell who was on them. The Great Cats surrounded Resolve’s ramp to prevent any unwanted visitors from entering.
He queried Captain Jons. “How’s it going, sir?”
“We’re mopping up. There are casualties on Resolve, but I’ve been told the Queen is okay. How are you doing up there?”
“Still secure, sir. Weapons Control and Fleet Plot are not. Think you can get up to Fleet Plot?”
“Don’t we need Weapons Control more?”
“Your call, sir, but let me bring you up-to-date. A call went out quite a while ago over the hypercom. We might have more Rebel squadrons showing up soon. I’d like to gather up the remnants of our squadron and get out of here. The First Knight ordered me to keep the Queen’s safety our top priority.”
“Hmm. He’s right, and I concur. How’s the rest of the squadron?”
“Without Fleet Plot, it’s hard to say. I’m going to have to call each one of them. I hope someone’s home to answer.”
“You can probably assume it’s been just as bad on those ships as it’s been here. Get to it. I’m on my way to Fleet Plot.”
“Try not to damage it too much while you’re at it, sir.”
“That will make it a lot harder. I think I’ll try to break a few cats away from the Queen to take with me. They’re far better than us at this sort of thing.”
“Uh, sir, there may be some Chessori still alive. I think most of them died in your battle to secure Resolve, but I’m not certain. I’m thinking about the First Knight’s order.”
“You’re right, the Queen’s safety comes first. The cats are probably needed right where they are. Gather up any of the squadron you can and get out of here. I’ll get Fleet Plot back on line as soon as I can.”
“Sir, maybe you ought to come up here and change places with me. You’re the senior person aboard now.”
“I should, but I won’t. You’ve got the conn, my friend, and you’re doing a fine job. I’ll be up when I can, unless the captains on the other ships want more horsepower behind your orders.”
“Uh, in that case, maybe I’ll call the Queen, sir.”
“Val, we spent months living together in that cell. I know you well. Even you don’t have the guts to do that. I’ll talk to you later.”
Val issued orders to whatever ships were listening, giving coordinates for an immediate jump. It was a short jump, but he definitely wanted away from Gamma VI before anyone else showed up. The moment the jump ended, he went back to checking on his ship. He could not afford to let any large groups of Rebels retake what they’d lost, and he desperately wanted to know if there were any Chessori still alive. The terrible mind weapon of theirs could wreak havoc with any plans he set in place.
He was deep in the net when he sensed the blast doors opening. He ripped the helmet from his head as he turned, a blaster in his hand. The Great Cat protecting him had opened the doors to allow another Great Cat to enter the bridge, and he relaxed. A moment later, a bedraggled woman appeared. His heart stopped for a moment thinking it was the Queen, but this woman was not the Queen. It was the woman he’d seen in the net on Resolve. Her red hair was pulled back in a tight bun, but loose strands hung everywhere. Her uniform hung in tatters, and blood, someone else’s blood, had splattered the remnants. Her face was smudged with soot, and she held a blaster in her hand with another holstered at her hip.
He knew she was a key player in all of this, but he didn’t have time for her right now. What was she doing here?
Then she smiled. That smile lit up her whole countenance. He stepped back, startled, the battle forgotten for a moment. Her eyes sparkled, captivating him as she tossed a translator to him.
“Hello, Val,” she said. “I’m Reba.”
“We met earlier. How is the Queen?”
“She’s alive. She’s in sick bay.”
“She was hurt?” he asked in horror.
“No. Mike, I mean your First Knight, is in pretty bad shape. Otis, our Protector, was wounded as well, but he’s with the Queen, still protecting her. The Queen refuses to leave Mike’s side, but I have orders from her for you. She wants to return to Gamma VI, just long enough for her to announce her presence to the general populace. Then you
can resume your course to Centauri III.”
He closed his eyes, not believing what he had heard. She was no longer smiling when he opened his eyes. “You can’t be serious,” he demanded.
“I, too, am surprised. But she’s the Queen, Val.”
Val thought hard. “Did she say it had to be right now?”
“No, but doesn’t everyone around here act immediately on her command?”
“They do.” He hesitated, then made a decision. “I’ll take her back, but not yet. This ship is not yet secure, and my squadron is in shambles. She’s going to have to wait. There’s no other way I can ensure her safety.” He raised his eyebrows, hoping for her agreement.
He got it, finding himself on the receiving end of that radiant smile again. “Well said, Val. Mike would agree with you if he was here. It’s the right decision. I’ll let her know.”
“I could use some help. Can you stay?”
“I’d like to. I’m a naval officer, but from a planet you’ve never heard of. I don’t know much about star cruisers. Can you still use me?”
“Can you take reports and forward my instructions?”
“I can try, but I don’t speak the language very well. My translator lets me understand what’s said. Ellie will be up here eventually, but she’s preoccupied right now. Show me what to do.”
“Who’s Ellie?”
“Sorry. The Queen.”
Val closed his eyes for a moment. Ellie?
“Look, I need to get situation reports from the other ships in the squadron, but I’m needed in the net to keep an eye on my ship. I can set things up for you, and I can send the request. Will you take those reports?”
“Just get me started, Val.”
The battle ebbed and flowed aboard the cruiser. Val spent the next hour directing squads to hot spots, then removed his helmet to find Reba waiting. She had a long list of items.
“Both frigates are badly damaged, but they’re secure. Only six of your fighters made the jump, and they’re in bad shape as well. It hasn’t been pleasant for any of them.”
“Everyone’s operational?”
“No one’s operational, not in terms of engaging a Rebel fleet. As near as I can tell, though, they’re on our side. I have not appraised them of the fact that the Queen is aboard this ship, and I hesitate to do so before we’re more certain of loyalties. I don’t want them attacking us, but they heard her call to duty. They probably know. They’re awaiting orders.”
“Do I need to hear the rest of the details on your list?”
“No, not if you’re ready to jump out of here. The rest can wait.”
He rubbed tired eyes. “Okay. I’ll get back into the net and issue orders. We’ll jump in twenty minutes. Can you tell if they’re willing to accept orders from a lieutenant?”
“Your orders are in the name of the Queen, Val. I think they’ll follow on those grounds.”
“Oh, I see what you mean.”
The remains of the squadron jumped, then came the cleanup. It had been just Val, Reba, and a Great Cat occupying the cavernous bridge for a number of hours. When Captain Jons finally made his way to the bridge, he assumed command of the squadron and named Val as acting captain of the cruiser. All of them were exhausted, but there was no time for sleep and there wouldn’t be for quite some time. Val focused on restoring order aboard the cruiser. None of the standing bridge crew had survived the attack of the Great Cats, and his first order of business was to install a minimal bridge crew. He called several crewmen and women to the bridge for interviews. Reba just listened as he and Jons questioned them, then Val focused on critical command positions in Engineering, Weapons, and Communications. He had to leave the bridge to do so, and he took Reba with him. She said little, but he noted her silent nods of acquiescence or disapproval as he vetted department heads and their senior staffs. Within a day they were able to release the lock-down on weapons and communications, though they did not yet allow the fighters to come aboard.
They’d been hard at it for some two days, all without sleep, by the time Val felt his ship was back under control. He had lost some twenty percent of his crew and many of the department heads, and the cruiser would be hard pressed to fight for a long time.
At Reba’s insistence, he visited sick bay to check on the First Knight. Ellie was waiting and pulled him into a hug. “It’s good to see you, Val. You look tired.”
“It’s been a long eleven years, Your Majesty.”
Ellie turned to Reba and the two embraced. Tears flowed freely while Val looked on in agony, knowing it had been his decision that brought such grief to his Queen. The First Knight was ensconced within a tank of fluid, all because Val had ordered him to come aboard the cruiser. He had expected them to remain locked up in Resolve for a while. He wished he had been more clear with his instructions.
I’m sorry about what happened, Your Majesty. I barely know him, but I like what I saw.”
“He’s the man of dirt.”
Val hesitated, staring at the tank while he considered her words, then he said, “I’m glad you told me. He’s more. He’s the Knight, Mother.”
Reba stood back, watching the two of them. Their words and actions confused her, but she stayed silent. She could barely hear Ellie’s soft reply:
“Val, he’s lost his right arm.”
The words visibly staggered Val. He remained speechless for a time, then asked softly, “Does he know?”
“He does not.”
“They told us others would be called.”
“They did. Reba is one.”
He released Ellie and turned to Reba with a questioning look. “Do you know?” he asked softly.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, either of you.”
Val stared at her for a time, then turned back to Ellie. “They should know, Mother.”
“They will. Now is not the time, but they will know soon. I’m told that Mike will be in there for a while.”
Val stared into her eyes for a long time, blinking from time to time. Reba didn’t know what thoughts passed between the two, but the room buzzed with energy.
Ellie broke his trance. “We have a lot of catching up to do, but it can wait.”
He nodded. “Very well, Your Majesty. I should be getting back to my duties.”
“Thank you for being here, Val. Again, your timing is impeccable, and this time you fully understand the stakes.”
He nodded and turned for the door. Reba looked a question to Ellie and received a smile in return. “I’m fine here,” Ellie said. “Go.”
By the end of the next day, Jons was ready, reluctantly, to return to Gamma VI as the Queen had commanded. By then, Val and Reba had been paired together for three days with very little sleep. Her smile still shone whenever she caught him looking at her, and that kept him going.
She balked at Jons decision. “Sir, I can’t order you, but I respectfully tell you that a return to Gamma VI right now could be a disaster. I’d rather convince the Queen that we should not make the attempt at all.”
“I don’t think we’ve been fully introduced,” Jons said angrily. “Exactly who are you, and what is your position here? Val?” he asked, turning angry eyes to his newest captain.
“Uh, she’s fought more Chessori than we have,” Val replied. “She came here aboard Resolve.”
“You’re with the Queen?” Jons asked in surprise.
“We’re all with the Queen,” Reba replied. “I’m not a fleet officer, though I’d very much like to become one. All I can say is that we walked into one trap at Gamma VI, and I don’t want to walk into another.”
“I’ve already tried to talk the Queen out of it. She insists,” he said, running a tired hand through his hair. “We’re as ready as we’re going to get without a major refit, and that’s what she based her decision on. We won’t be there long.”
“What if the Chessori are waiting? Can you guarantee you’ll be able to get away?”
Jons looked at Val with hoode
d eyes, then back to Reba. “You know I can’t make that promise.”
“She’s the Last of the Chosen, sir. No other answer is acceptable. Her Protector and your First Knight would back me up on this even if the Queen does not.”
“She insists. Give me a better solution,” Jons demanded.
“Make her wait. Give me a little training while she waits. Your First Knight intended all along that I learn to fly Resolve. He just didn’t count on losing George, the artificial intelligence that ran the net. Once that happened, it was impossible to bring me into the full net.”
“You didn’t have a net on Resolve?” Jons asked, his brow furrowed in confusion.
“We had a net, but not an AI,” she replied. “Everyone, and I include the Queen and myself, had to keep the net functioning while Mike computed jumps.”
“You had no AI, the Queen joined the net, and the First Knight computed all those jumps manually?”
“Yes, yes, and yes, sir.”
Val and Jons looked at each other, not quite certain what to think.
“Where did you say you were from?” Jons asked.
“Earth. I don’t know what you call it, but the Queen said we’re classified as an emerging world and off limits to Empire ships.”
“Then what kind of training did you have?”
“I was a lieutenant in the Navy on Earth. We’re talking surface ships here, gentlemen, but look: I got my first two Chessori kills after one hour aboard Resolve. The AI was still with us then. He was with us for the next two as well. He wasn’t with us during the ambush we set up later in deep space, but we would have succeeded if the Chessori hadn’t used their mind weapon on us at a critical time, and the tactics we used during the ambush were mine. I made the plan, and Mike executed it manually, perfectly. Your Queen and your First Knight’s Rider showed me how to get around the net without an AI, and I held watches on my own. Uh, I think you were in the brig when Resolve showed up here, and you might not be aware that this squadron included three Chessori ships when the mutiny started. Your Queen, her Protector, and I took them out while your First Knight flew the ship.”
Last of the Chosen (Spirit of Empire, Book One) Page 33