Titan Fleet: The Invictus

by Jason J Black

  “We could collect salvage along the way, which will slow us down in the atmosphere, but will be bad news after, when gravity takes hold.”

  “Target salvage and fire grapples when ready, Titch.” Titch mans a console and plugs into it, using his power to activate the grapple guns and fires, collecting junk as they twist and turn their way downwards. The ship begins to heat up but their plan is working, the ship has slowed down quite considerably, but now tows large chunks of molten metal behind them. The noise is deafening and the crew of the Robur grip their seats with fear and hope, wondering and wishing and regretting all at the same time. Each and every one of them was now valuing every second of life before them. A large tug is felt on the rear end of the ship as they meet the planets gravity space, and the molten metal parachutes now have become tons of anchoring doom pulling down at them. The pull is so great, before Megan can give the order to release the grapples on them, the rear of the ship is torn away as easily as tearing paper in two. Large metal parts rocket past the windows and the shields are gone. They are now sat in a piece of hot metal, gaining speed again like a roller-coaster ride without brakes. The crew are all being shaken around in their seats and even Titches feet grapples are under stress. Pieces of metal and sparks are now flying with them, like a shower of fireworks. They can only imagine what a sight it must be from down below. Megan still has use of two nose thrusters which can keep the nose up when they find the floor. The cloud and mist outside the window clears a little and the crew see that at least they get to crash in a green land with a possibility of survival afterwards. They see large tree like shapes before them, a forest perhaps, something that was rare on Foloss’ dusty lands.

  They are so low now and things have just become silent. Wind is whistling through the now cracked windows and everyone is so in awe of what they can see that they forget about their situation for a moment, and then they are sent back to reality with a large bang and yet more of the ship is once again torn away. This time they all think it’s the loading bay and their only hope to get off the planet has just fallen out of the bottom of the ship, along with food and supplies. It seems like these alien trees are tougher than they look. The front of the ship begins to smash its way through the forest, destroying as it goes on a mission to find its resting place. The crew get showered in glass and wood, and the Gulmeds put up their individual shields once more, in the hope it will increase their chances of survival. A thundering crack is heard by all and then silence.

  Chapter Fifty-Four

  The Invictus is still being fired upon by what is left of the defence wall but the shields seem to be holding, so Pace turns his concern to the escaping Titan ship.

  “Open comms when we are in range of Foloss, Nova, and warn them. We must save the planet.” Nova tries but is still just out of range.

  “I’ll keep trying, Cap. Why don’t you get to Padley and get checked out.” Nova is showing concern for Pace as more and more of his skin seems to be turning blue. Taking her advice, Pace decides to leave Nova in charge again while he goes up to Padley and the medbay. Upon reaching the medbay, he notices that the pod has been discarded into the scrap area and looking briefly at it, he remembers that he had saved someone. He turns into the medbay to see a woman with black hair and blue eyes sat on a bed being assessed by Padley and guarded by Anc. Pace walks closer to introduce himself as the captain, only to find something in the woman’s eyes that he recognises as family.

  “It can’t be you!” He exclaims, holding out his arms for a hug. Could this really be my sister, he wonders. He had thought that she was dead and had not seen her since they were put in the life pods by their father many years ago. As Pace got closer to the woman she pushes him away.

  “Who is this freak? Get away blue or I’ll kill ya!” shouts the woman, clenching her fist ready for a fight. Pace stands back a little and realises she did not recognise him. He had changed a lot. He had a metal robot arm and now blue alien skin, part of his face was now covered in scales too, which he had not noticed. He was changing in to a blue and that was not good at all.

  “I am sorry, I did not mean to scare you and I know you won't recognise me, a lot has happened to me and I have changed somewhat.” Pace looks down in disgust with himself.

  “Joseph, is that you?” The woman stands up. She has heard the voice of her brother again, something she would never forget. “It can’t be you. Is it you?” She walks over to get a closer look at Pace and lifts his head up and looks into his eyes. “It is you! Oh brother, how I missed you.” Her arms fling around Pace fearing to let him go and Pace hugs her back in an embrace full of tears of joy.

  “Cassy! I can't believe you are alive. You look great. Where have you been and how did you get aboard the alien Titan ship?” Cassy leans back wiping her sodden cheeks.

  “It’s a long story, but I survived the best way I could. I was found in my pod a few years after dad saved us, and was brought up and worked for a mining crew to start with, based on a small planet not far from Foloss, to get its riches. Life was tough there but honest and safe, but I always wanted to see space and explore it, so on my 18th birthday my foster parents let me serve aboard a cargo ship and travel from planet to planet delivering stuff, but the captain was a real nut job and often got involved with the wrong sort of deal. We often got into brawls with unscrupulous people. I learned to fight fast and served in the slam for a few months for my efforts. Not a thing I’m proud of, but I learned from it and I grew stronger. I just loved the fact that I was up in space and free to do what I wanted. I started getting into a lot of trouble and my crew loved me for it. Then a fair few years went by where we just started to well … that’s another story for another day I think. Anyway, then a large alien ship started to attack us and captured our ship. My first officer, Ken, told me to hide when they came on board, so I hid in the air duct, probably not the best place to hide and I saw my crew get tortured to death and taken away. I snuck on board the vessel and did a bit of spying around and learned a few things, whilst staying alive and hiding when I needed, but I ended up fighting one of them off and it was strong, but I caved its head in after a while fighting it, and noticed I was wounded, so I thought I would get back to the cargo ship and climb in to a life pod to get healed, only to set it to sleep and not heal, and so here I am, alive and apparently well. Never was good at that tech crap, Joe, but alien tech, that’s a different story.” smiling at Pace, Cassy finally stops for a breath, and is relieved to finally be with her brother. She feels so relaxed, apart from the occasional thump sound on the ship’s hull.

  “What’s going on? That sounds like blaster fire.” Cassy asks. Pace holds on to his sister’s hand, fearing to let go.

  “We are in the middle of a war at the moment. We have lost a lot of good people and now that big alien ship is heading for our home planet, Foloss to feed on us and wipe us out. Don’t let me scare you. I have been infected by them, but I’m still in control. I am the captain of this vessel and we must stop that ship, so we need your help. What can you do?”

  Cassy grins, “You will be surprised what I can do brother, but let’s save the surprises for them, eh? For now what do you need? A pilot or a gunner or you need me to salvage?” Pace is amazed at how his sister has grown. The last time he had seen her was on Dalgen 9. She had ponytails and freckles on her face. He remembers her riding a Yanthar, a six legged creature resembling a large dog’s build with a rhino’s hide, a very strong creature which had a spiked tail with two horns on its snout and razor like teeth to eat its prey. It also had very sharp claws to hold onto its food and there Cassy was shouting, “Look at me. Look at me!” Their mum shouted out for their dad to grab his gauntlet and shoot it, but no, Cassy just simply brought the creature to a halt and stood in front of it so it could not be killed. “Can I keep him, father, please.” Who could resist such a cute little face? So the Yanthar became their pet and guard. Snapping out of his daydream, Pace beckons Cassy to follow him.

  “Well, you hav
e met Padley and my body guard, Anc. Let’s introduce you to the rest of the crew, shall we.” The two of them take the lift down to the next floor and enter the bridge area where Pace stands proudly about to announce his excitement to the crew. When Cassy pulls her hand out of his and steps forward looking at the back of Nova’s head.

  “That’s got to be Nova Lee, surely.” Nova turns around to see a familiar face smiling back at her and stands up to greet Cassy, after putting the ship on auto-pilot. “You old dog, it is you.”

  Nova smiles and laughs. “Hey, I’m only a year older, you know.” The two friends embrace and more tears flow.

  “What happened to you, Cass?” Nova checking her up and down to see what she is wearing. “Oh, and I love that top, chick.” Cassy beams with happiness, not only has she found her brother but also one of her all-time best friends too.

  “Never mind my top, babe, you keep your eyes off it. It’s been a long time.” Nova looks at Pace, the introduction was over, well almost.

  “For those who don’t know, this is my sister, Cassiopeia. I thought she was dead but she was the person in the life pod. What are the chances of that!” Pointing over to Sam and then Rusty, and then the whole crew was on the bridge and it felt good. There was a bit of laughter once again and Pace stood back for a moment savouring the moment, because good things should be embraced in the moment, so that you can remember them when things are dark and bad.

  “I did not know you knew my sister, Nova. Why didn’t you tell me she was alive?” Pace frowns at Nova expecting a good answer.

  “I never knew what her last name was. What is it, Cassy?” asks Nova.

  “My name is Cassiopeia Pace. I have my parents to blame for that one. Why, oh why, I will never know, but I go by Cassy, it’s the way I like it.

  Nova scratches her head. “So your last name is the same as the Captain’s first name then, or am I missing something?” Both Cassy and Pace just burst out laughing at the same time. “What’s so funny?” Nova is feeling a bit awkward and stupid, but soon realises her mistake.

  “Kid, people call me Pace because I always put my surname on forms and not my first name, and no one knows my first name or asked for it. I just went with it all these years. My real name is Joseph Pace, but it’s Pace to you maggots, got that.” Everyone nods while laughing and their minds feel more relaxed too.

  “Cap, permission to take ten to catch up.” Nova is dancing on the spot with excitement at being reunited with her friend.

  “Granted. You kids go and have fun and get some grub too, while you’re at it.” The two girls begin to walk out the room.

  “Oh, I love what you have done with your hair, Cas.” Nova says, fluffing the back of Cassy’s long black hair as they leave the bridge and enter the canteen for refreshment.

  Pace rolls his eyes at the staring Sam and they nod. Sam’s eyes have been fixed on Cassy from the moment she walked in. Pace sits down and takes the helm from his seat once more, thinking that he must get up to medbay after the girls get back, when he has the time. It always felt that way to him, that time was spinning fast and that he never ever got the chance to rest that much, but then so many people relied on him and it was best to keep his mind busy at the moment anyway, after suffering such a devastating blow. His mind drifts off, remembering the night Megan sat opposite him in the restaurant. Her hair was beautiful and her smile warmed his heart. He could smell her and could almost see her before him and felt like he could reach out and touch her, and then Sam’s voice was heard.

  “That’s the last of them, Captain.” Pace smiles. He could not even have a five minute thought without something breaking his peace, but at least all the ball ships were destroyed.

  “Great news, Sam. Go get some grub and take Rusty with you. That’s an order.” Pace will finally get a bit of time on his own, he hopes.

  “What about you, Captain, you need rest too.” Pace nods again.

  “I’ll be along in a while, there is plenty of time for me to eat, and we are gaining on the Titan ship. I just need five minutes, ok Sam?” Sam needs no second order, he is famished and stands up out of his seat and stretches up to the ceiling and then disappears out of the room, on his way out turning to look at Pace, who is sat motionless in his chair, with a million mile stare, out into space. Sam and Rusty enter the canteen and wander over to the cupboards to look at food, to see what they can cook. Nova and Cassy are sitting at the table, hugging their coffee cups, chins wagging and smiles on their faces. It was good to see.

  “So ladies, how about we all pitch in to make a great meal tonight. What do you fancy? We have steak with all the trimmings. We have stir fry. We have pizza. I could go on.” The two women look over at Rusty, who is hungry and eager to get cooking. Pizza is the answer. It is easy to eat, and they can chin wag to their hearts content, they all thought. They all point at pizza and the decision is made. After they all cover the bases with their favourite toppings, Rusty pops in four large pizzas, and Sam brews more coffee and then stands near the cooker waiting a few moments before the piping hot pizza is ready. Rusty begins to cut the pizza into slices. The smell is fabulous and mouths begin to water.

  “Ah, I almost forgot the garlic bread.” yells Rusty popping in two large breads.

  Chapter Fifty-Five

  Pace is sat quietly in his captain’s chair on the bridge, reminiscing and trying to make sense of it all. He’d had such a hard life, and why did all this stuff happen to him, when others around him had more or a better life. He thought that probably everyone in their life at some stage thought the same, but what was the answer to life, and how could he make things better, or was he living in the better and worse was to come. Why was there so much death and destruction in the universe? Was it that he was so used to bad things that he had stopped looking for good things, but then Megan had come along and now he has his sister back, so there must be balance in the universe after all, but who or what makes that balance? Is it destiny, man’s doing or guidance from a higher place?

  Pace’s head was swimming with thoughts, and this was the first time in a long time he was making sense of it all. He remembers reading history books about a place called Endeavour, where things were green and people had what they needed to survive. It was a simple life, where everyone tried to live free, but then man made it complicated and became greedy, thinking of his own needs and not of others. They could have shared what they had, but instead they failed to stop and think about their actions and even though people worked hard to survive, it was still not enough to some. People began to close themselves off from other people and built walls around what was there. Small communities were formed, cut off from each other. They did not contact each other for trade or help and some communities died from plagues and famine, when they could have survived together, and slowly the planet died. Some say that is where the answers lie, but the planet is on no star chart and some history books are rumoured to be nothing but myth.

  Pace wondered about a lot of things in the time sat in his chair, including what colour pants he was wearing. Perhaps that is why he never got time to think before, because his thoughts were random and odd in a lot of ways. Pace laughs to himself, just as Rusty enters the bridge with a piping hot cup of tea.

  “There you go, thought you could use this.” Pace stands up and puts the ship on auto-pilot, and grabs his cup of Earl Grey.

  “Thanks, Rusty. Did I smell pizza on the go?” Pace had done his sums. It would be just over a day before he could catch the Titan ship up, but then they would need a plan to get ahead of it to warn Foloss, but for now he left his worries behind, and it was now time to appreciate the good again.

  “Take my tea in and I’ll be back in a while.” Pace pats Rusty on the back and heads down to the loading bay to find the crate with the alcohol in. Today was a good day for a drink. He opens the crate up and grabs a few bottles of various drinks and heads back to the canteen. Everyone is sat when he enters, waiting for him. They all look tired but relaxed, which
is good to see, thought Pace.

  “The ban on alcohol is lifted and you have access to crate 349. There is one condition; I expect you to be sober, when you are on duty. Now, I know this alien parasite is taking over me, and that is why you all must carry a toxin knife with you at all times, just in case, and I expect you to end me if I totally turn. That is an order. Apart from that, we have just over a day to rest before we are close to the Titan ship, so any ideas need to be shared before then. That’s my Captain bit done, now let’s drink.” Pace pops a cork and sprays everyone with the champagne. “Let’s celebrate life and finding my sister, but first let us toast the ones we love and have lost.” Everyone is now stood up with glasses raised upon high, each of them thinking of their fallen comrades and then clashing their glasses together as a united family once again. They all have been through so much on this trip already. Cassy swigs down her drink in one and offers her glass for a second along with Rusty. She hardly knows any of them, even her brother is like a stranger as she had not seen him in years, but she feels warmth from this crew, just like her old crew, and she is happy to have been rescued. Now concerned for her brother’s health, she turns to him.

  “You need to get checked out and get some rest, I think, and getting drunk won’t drown your sorrows or help you in any way. By the way, I may have a trick up my sleeve to help us get ahead of the alien Titan ship, so don’t stress.” Cassy smiles at Pace and sits down and puts her feet up on the table, swigging her drink once more.

  “Come on then, Cassy, let’s have it. What’s the idea, and yes, I will see Padley in the morning.” Pace also sits down, wiping at the few spots of spilt drink on his top.

  “Well, while I was a board the alien vessel I discovered that they use their blood in a way which enables them to travel faster than any ship I have ever seen, and I have even seen a wormhole being opened for the ship to travel through. They have fantastic tech, something I have learned to master in a round-about way. Now, we could do as they do, but we would need blood and I don’t know if your blood would work, due to your human blood, but if you possess half the strengths they do brother, then I say you are our secret weapon. We could round up any dead bodies we find and insert them into the core and top it up with some of your blood for good measure and see what happens, or we can attempt to open a worm hole of our own and keep our fingers crossed.” Jotting things down on a litepad, Cassy starts to do the math involved, and Rusty who is sat next to her lends his brain. Pace is shocked that his sister is so bright. A true survivor, he thinks to himself, she will not need looking after like she did when she was small. Leaning forward, Sam, also very interested in the idea, comments.