by Andrew Mack
Belinea 2.7
On the way to Braccus
Trujillo was alone in the cockpit of the Ambassador’s C-62T Transport. He was half asleep when Alexis came walking up from the back. She poked at Trujillo’s shoulder, and he turned around, still sitting in his chair. She smiled and said, “Hey, what’s going on?”
Trujillo, slightly rubbing his eyes, said, “The sheer excitement of flying a Transport at Hyper-EXtension through the darkness of space.”
Alexis looked through the window, noticing the stars going by. The smile was removed from her face as she looked before looking back at Trujillo. He raised his eyebrows and gave a half-smile. It caused her to provide a full smile back. He said, “It was a joke…”
Alexis felt relieved. She said, “Oh, right…”
Trujillo said, “This is as exciting as watching ants build a hill.”
Alexis smiled and said, “Gotcha, I don’t usually come up to the front. I’m always working, stuck in the back.”
Trujillo continued, “We all have our jobs. You got the Ambassador. I’m stuck up here.”
Alexis nodded. She then asked, “So where is it that we are going?”
Trujillo looked curious. “Willits told you, Miss Devanoe. We’re going to Braccus.”
Alexis smiled and said, “Please, just call me Alexis. How do you know for sure?”
Trujillo looked down and hit a few buttons. “This is our navigation setting and course right here. It is a direct path to Braccus.”
Alexis asked, “Can it be changed?”
Trujillo answered, “Of course it can. But Commander Willits gave me specific instructions not to change the navigation in any way.”
Alexis thought about that for a second before she said, “Alright, good to know. I’m only asking because the Ambassador was curious to know, he has never worked with this specific DAG team.”
Trujillo just smirked and said, “That makes two of us.”
Alexis smiled again and nodded. She said, “Right, cadets. Keep forgetting.”
Trujillo quickly countered, “Graduating soon.”
Alexis smiled and began walking back towards the common area. Underneath her breath, she whispered, “Not fast enough…”
Belinea 2.8
Avola, Lowell Province
In the Mining Center, Donovan had gone outside to take a break. He was eating a granola bar. After a few seconds, a man came out and joined him. The two nodded at each other. After a few more seconds, the man said something to Donovan. “You are Donovan, correct?”
Donovan nodded. He replied, “Yeah, sorry. I do not know you.”
The man replied, “Sterling, nice to meet you.”
Donovan said, “Crew Supervisor on the Seven Line, correct?”
Sterling nodded. “Yeah, that’s right.”
Donovan said, “I recognize the name. You have been here a minute, for sure. I have heard people talk about you.”
Sterling broke out his snack and started eating it. “Hopefully, good. I try not to piss too many people off.”
They both smiled. Donovan said, “You are not Majavkee. That is half the battle right there.”
Sterling took a few looks around to make sure no one heard him. “I would not say that too loud.”
Donovan replied, “You have been here long enough to know they have fucked this whole situation up.”
Sterling said, “Not for me to say. I got a wife and a kid on the way.”
Donovan said, “Come on, you know how it is. Are you not working twice as hard for the same pay?”
Sterling paused for a second before responding. “I am a crew chief, so I have to watch what I say. It is not as good as it was with the Guild, but the Majavkee have promised bonuses. That will make it better.”
Donovan shook his head. “You think they will make good on those promises?”
Sterling shrugged his shoulders. “I hope so. Like I said, I got a kid coming.”
Donovan continued. “Crew Supervisor or not, I will tell you, Sterling. A change is coming. I got friends. My cousins are important. When you are ready to join the revolution, you let me know.”
Sterling smiled. After a second, he said, “Thanks, friend. But right now, I am just trying to keep the peace. No offense, but my family comes first.”
Donovan smiled and said, “I respect that. Good talking to you.”
Sterling responded, “Good talking to you.”
Donovan went back inside, leaving Sterling outside to finish his snack alone.
Belinea 2.9
On the way to Avola
Secret Service ship 11
Argo was on a sofa, relaxing in a very comfortable, luxurious common room on the ship. He was wearing a red/black SS cloak, with his silvery ring on his hip. Sipping on a glass of wine, he was reviewing notes on his tablet. The portly officer Walva entered his common room, holding a note.
Argo looked up and immediately said, “How many times do I have to tell you, do not disturb me when I am reviewing notes?”
Walva walked over and said, “My apologies, my Lord. This transmission came over on the S-channel. It is directly from Quillisar Prill.”
Argo took the note and put it into his tablet. As it was loading, he said, “I would throw you outside into space if I weren’t so worried about your fat ass getting caught into the intake of one of our Battle Cruisers.”
Walva did not understand but nevertheless replied, “Thank you, my Lord, I did not know you cared so much.”
Argo read the message and then softly said to himself, “The Red Ring Rise….?”
After reading the whole message, he turned to Walva and asked, “Which of my weapons did you bring Walva?”
Walva, still upset about the comment, conducted himself and responded, “Your V-fleece armor, the TR rifle, your spare flog handle….”
Argo stood up and cut him off, “The Bolster pack?”
Walva thought for a second, “Yes sir, I believe I did.”
Argo gently slapped him a few times on the face, “Well, fucking done Walla.”
Walva replied, “It’s Wal-VA, sir. I am really not sure what the confusion is, sir, as I have reminded you several times what my name is. I am aware that you are a brilliant person……”
Argo walked to the side and poured himself some more wine. “How about I just start calling you shut the fuck up?”
Walva, slightly upset, responded. “While you may find that title amusing and unforgettable, I do not think it would be appropriate for you to call me that in a public setting with other officers and Ambassadors….”
Argo responded, “Hey, shut the fuck up, can you shut the fuck up?”
Argo looked again at his tablet. He thought for a second. He looked over at Walva again. Argo continued. “Somewhere on this ship, we still have access to the Quill database, correct?”
Walva gave up temporarily with the name-calling conversation and responded, “Yes, my Lord.”
Argo looked at him and said, “Give me all the data you can on the Red Ring Rise of Avola. Also, cross-reference the name Killian and see what comes up.”
Walva replied, “Sir, I was planning on …..”
Argo cut him off and said, “Now, Walla.”
Walva scurried out of the room. Argo downloaded the file that Quillisar Prill had attached. Soon, he was watching the attack on the Garrison on Avola. When it got to an angle he had not seen before, the image stopped. Argo suddenly heard the voice of Quillisar Prill through the speakers say, “Here Argo.”
A circle showed up on the screen. At the top of the Cargo ship was a flash of red light. The Quillisar magnified the image for Argo. While a tad bit grainy, it was clear enough. Argo tilted his head, half smiled, and whispered, “A fire saber….”
Immediately after was the voice of Quillisar Prill coming through the message on
his tablet. “The Fire Saber of the Ring Red Rise, no doubt you have seen it before.”
Argo crossed his arms and whispered to himself, “Looks like Taz has some friends, who knew…”
Belinea 2.10
Avola
Bosa Provence
The cargo ship was trailing smoke. The Belineans had managed to get one decent hit on it as Kaya Killian and her team were making their escape. Being flanked by two F-81 Sirator Fighters, the cargo ship was also carrying two badly wounded soldiers. Cortes, the pilot, radioed in from the cockpit area upfront. “Tower, this is Ranger Four. Two wounded on board, have med-vac ready.”
“Copy Ranger Four. Medical Team is on stand-by.”
In the back of the cargo ship, Kaya had a bandage pressed on the throat of the wounded soldier Marrat. The compression was helping, but not stopping, the soldier from bleeding out. Another soldier was working on the wounded soldier’s arm. It had been severed below the elbow, and the soldier had it wrapped in bandages. There was a third wound on the leg that was being ignored. Blood was everywhere, including all over Kaya’s uniform. She was shouting over the sounds of the engines. “Cortes, step on it. He is bleeding everywhere.”
Cortes barely heard through her earpiece and screamed back over the radio, “Commander, still five minutes out.”
Kaya replied, “Cortes, he doesn’t have five fucking minutes.”
Cortes is flying the ship as fast as she could. The second soldier planted a device on the forehead of the wounded soldier. It gave a small readout of vitals. The soldier read them off “Blood pressure and pulse are dropping. We gotta stop this fucking bleeding. Can we Freeze him?“
Kaya was losing hope. She took her other hand and grabbed the wounded arm. She yelled at the soldier, “No, it might fry his brain. Go get the medical kit. There should be a Pulsator in there.”
The soldier ran to the front of the cargo bay and quickly grabbed the medical kit on the wall. Scouring through it for a few seconds, he found the Pulsator and ran back to the wounded soldier and Kaya. Kaya yelled, “Rendon, how are you doing over there.”
Rendon, sitting next to them in a chair, had a bandage wrapped around his thigh. He was putting pressure on the wound himself, as his leg was stretched out. “ I will make it.”
Kaya then looked up at the soldier who had returned. “When I lift this bandage, get the Pulsator in there, and seal the wound. Got it?”
The soldier nodded. Kaya lifted the bandage and blood went everywhere. The soldier immediately began applying the Pulsator, which was a torch-like device that fused the skin back together. He was attempting to stop the bleeding, but not succeeding. Kaya said, “Hang in there, Marrat, we got you.”
The blood though, was still seeping out of the throat and neck. The wound was more significant than Kaya had thought, and the amount of blood coming out made it difficult for the Pulsator to seal the skin back together. It was taking too much time. Kaya whispered to the other soldier “Come on, get in there. Keep working, you gotta seal that wound.”
He responded, “I am trying….. There is too much blood. I can’t see.”
He kept working. Kaya shouted out, “Cortes, damn it…..”
Cortes yelled back through the earpiece. “Two minutes….”
The blood then stopped coming out, yet the wound was still open. The device on his forehead no longer read vitals, no pulse, no blood pressure. Kaya and the other soldier continued to work on sealing the wound with the Pulsator. It was an awkward two minutes, knowing that the wounded soldier Marrat, was now dead.
Kaya whispered again. “Come on, Marrat, don’t die on me.”
Cortes yelled again. “Hang on….”
The ship came upon the base. The landscape was entirely red rock, mountains, and sand. A combination of steam and smoke came up through the rocks, which put a mist everywhere, making visibility scarce. The formation of one of the rocks then opened, causing a tunnel hole to appear. The Cargo ship flew in first, followed by the two fighters. Cortes brought the ship in fast and immediately reversed the thrusters, allowing the cargo ship to spin 180 degrees. The medical team was behind a barrier, preventing them from getting blasted with dust and debris the engines kicked up from the Cortes maneuver. Cortes then aggressively landed the cargo ship as it came to a thud on the landing pad. The back door immediately opened, and the medical team rushed in.
Kaya still was straddled next to the wounded soldier as a medic came up to her and demanded, “Let me in Commander.”
Kaya let go and backed away. She got up and watched the team do their work. The medics began furiously working as they carried Marrat off on a stretcher. Kaya walked over to Rendon and helped him up. He limped, but walked, with his arm around Kaya. Cortes had finally gotten out of her pilot chair and then assisted Rendon on his other arm as the two walked him down the ramp of the ship. Eventually, another team of medics appeared and got Rendon onto a moving stretcher. Kaya looked down at Rendon, who casually said, “I am fine. Go check on Marrat.”
Kaya gently slapped Rendon’s face and said, “Hang tough.”
Kaya and Cortes kept walking across the base. Cortes finally spoke. “I am sorry, Commander. I don’t think I could have flown the ship any faster.”
Kaya stopped, looking at Cortes and replied, “It’s not your fault Cortes. That was a fatal wound. Get that ship assessed for damage and report back to me. And clean it up. I need it ready by tomorrow afternoon.”
Cortes saluted and walked off. Kaya kept walking to the main building, first putting a hand on the security door before it let her in. She walked down a corridor, made a left, then a right before getting to another set of doors that required her palm print to open. The thought of changing never occurred to her, as she walked into the Control room still covered in blood. In the control room was her brother Octavious Killian, and two other officers.
Her brother Octavious was the first to notice her. “What happened? Are you hurt?”
Kaya shook her head no. She was surprised by the question until she glanced at herself when all three briskly walked up to her. She then noticed the blood everywhere. Her brother grabbed her shoulder and saw a small wound there. “Brembilla, go get me a medic.”
The officer immediately walked off. Kaya responded, “I am fine.”
Octavious kept staring at the wound, then at the rest of her blood-soaked clothes. “This blood is obviously not you.”
Kaya’s face grimaced, as Octavious poked at the wound. She replied. “Marrat. Nothing was defending the transport depot. Donovan and our intelligence were right. As we were taking off with the cargo, though, another ground cargo vessel was coming to the site escorted by a ground artillery vessel. We never saw it, and its cannon got off one clean shot before the Sirator’s took it out. It tore through the middle of the cargo ship.”
Octavious looked at her face now, cuts across her forehead and cheek. “How bad?”
Kaya replied, “Rendon got hit in the leg, but he will be fine. Marrat probably bled out.”
Octavious looked at the other officer, and said, “Go check on him.”
The officer walked off. Octavious clenched his fist. “I should have flanked your team with more protection.”
Kaya responded, “It was more important to go in stealth with little cover. More ships increase the chance of detection.”
Octavious took a deep breath, still looking at Kaya’s wound. He quietly said, “We cannot afford these losses, Kaya.”
Kaya bit her teeth down before replying softly. “We’re going to have losses, Octavious. Sacrifices are a tragic necessity for survival.”
Octavious replied, “True, but all losses are not equal. The Majavkee can afford to lose a hundred soldiers for every one of mine. The Council has their back. Marrat’s loss was unnecessary and costly.”
Kaya grew angry. “Unnecessary? He gave his life for our cause.
A cause in which Avolians have no choice but to aggressively defend our homes, our planet. Tragic, yes. Unnecessary? Never say that.”
Octavious turned to her. “I understand the brutal tyranny we are fighting, better than anyone. Make no mistake, every battle matters. But they have to be monumentally successful. Every, single, one. I cannot negotiate with the Council without significant leverage to discourage their commitment.”
Kaya looked confused. “Negotiate?”
Octavious blurted out. “ With the person, Ambassador Syren said is coming.”
Kaya shook her head and said, “Still, don’t know who it is?”
Octavious shook his head. “The negotiator left Belinea a couple of days ago. It sounds like they are sending a Senior Council Member if I had to take a guess. Perhaps someone that speaks for Hassara or the Defense Minister.”
Kaya looked curious. “You sure it isn’t a trap?”
Octavious continued. “I don’t think so. Syren seems to trust it. It’s a private meeting, and we’re picking the site, their sign of good faith.”
Kaya was not expecting this. “Why private? They don’t want to look weak?”
Octavious scratched his stubble. “I don’t know. A public meeting, strategically, would make more sense. The Council would appear to be offering a diplomatic solution as opposed to a military one.”
Kaya had a thought. “Maybe they are just buying time until they try a more aggressive military strategy.”
The officer returned with a medic, who immediately began working on Kaya’s shoulder. Ocativous then said to Kaya, “Look at this while the medic is fixing you.“
Octavious walked over to the screen and hit a couple of spots on his tablet. “Look at this attack on the planet Earth. It’s their spaceport. This was two days ago.”
Kaya intently watched. Octavious froze the image and magnified it. Her jaw slightly dropped when she recognized the pilot. She said, “No…Taz?”
Octavious responded with a nod.
Kaya questioned, “Guess his hiatus is over.”
Octavious responded, “Hiatus and independence. The official AuFa response was ‘ terrorist attack on Earth from the Valmay Group.’”