Belinea

by Andrew Mack

  Quillisar Farra knew there would not be much time. Time was the enemy. Soldiers, officers, and all forms of personnel were briskly jogging, some running through the corridors. She walked down two flights, and onto another deck. Another 50 meters and she turned to a dock loading wounded onto a huge medical cargo ship. Quickly, she walked through the chaos of medical teams and soldiers, about two hundred in all, helping everywhere they could. A steady stream of soldiers were being carried onto the ship. Only a couple managed to get out “Quillisar….” from under their lips, but the frantic pace everyone was at gave no time for pleasantries.

  Quillisar Farra looked around, then saw Quillisar Sallor. Sallor was still a Quillisar in training, a red cloth for where his diamond should be. He was young compared to Quillisar Farra but was nearing the completion of his Quillisar training. Sallor was addressing a soldier, helping a doctor seal some wounds, and apply bandages. Quillisar Farra grabbed Sallor by the shoulder and whispered into his ear, “Sallor, a word, please.”

  Sallor turned his head and saw who it was. He immediately looked at the Doctor, who was finishing up. The Doctor nodded.

  Sallor turned, wiping the blood off his hands with a towel from the wounded soldiers’ gurney. A cacophony of people shouting orders and yelling commands was echoing through the area. Sallor responded, “Yes, Quillisar Farra?”

  Farra was a little surprised. “Helping the wounded Quillisar Sallor?”

  Sallor responded. “Four years of medical school, before I decided my passion for the Quill, overcame all other things in my life.”

  Farra nodded her head in approval. “The Energy finds us all in different times. How are the wounded?”

  Sallor was still wiping blood off his hands. “Still coming, Quillisar. We have treated a few hundred, some fatalities. Hopefully, we can retreat with minimal losses.”

  Farra continued. “Quillisar, the time has come for you to do your part for the Quill.”

  The conversation had become much more serious. Farra was an older, very respected Quillisar. Sallor straightened up. “Anything for the Quill, my Quillisar.”

  Farra walked one more step away and took a peek around to make sure no one watched them. Which, given the chaos, was a solid bet. Farra continued. “I am going to ask you not to respond verbally, just nod.”

  Sallor nodded with a look of slight confusion on his face. Quillisar Farra reached into her pocket and pulled a small object out. She held it in her hand. “Do you know what this is?”

  Sallor looked at it for a second, then after realizing what it was, looked directly at Farra and nodded his head.

  Quillisar Farra then said, “Good. Do you know where to find them?”

  Sallor paused for a moment, blinked his eyes, and then nodded ‘yes.’

  Farra then said, “The Quill is counting on you. I need at least one hundred and fifty. Get them, and meet me on Slip 41 in ten minutes. “

  Sallor walked off. Quillisar Farra walked out of the docking bay, back to the corridors of the station. She went down a long hallway, turning a couple of times before getting to the elevator shaft. She rode the elevator down many flights. It finally stopped at Level 2. She got out to a circular bay with doors all around. The bay was full of broken ships, small cargo ones, a few F-36 Pirra’s that had been damaged in combat. Farra looked around until she found her mark, Commander Kimmel. Kimmel was talking to two soldiers. “Leave those behind. They are unsalvageable anyway. The F-36’s and the rest of these can be taken out with the C-16 if they will fit. Otherwise, we leave them behind also. We got less than ten minutes!”

  Farra reached the Commander and said, “Commander Kimmel.”

  Kimmel responded, quite surprised to see Farra. “Quillisar Farra, what are you doing here?”

  Farra saw the other two soldiers and immediately said, “Leave us.”

  The two soldiers scurried away. Quillisar Farra continued. “Orders to leave immediately?”

  Commander Kimmel responded, “I am prioritizing damaged ships, what we can salvage. By now, everything should be off the planet. The AuFa has about twenty minutes or so to get everything off this station. I would hope the Serpians will give us slightly more time for medical and salvage ships, but the Cruisers and Carriers need to be gone.”

  Farra asked, “Salvage ships?”

  Kimmel continued. “Yes, they clean up damaged ships, transports, fighters, and equipment. As long as all the troops are gone, the Serpians will give us a few more hours to take the ships away and properly retreat. They don’t want us to lay behind any hidden bombs in the ships that could damage them.”

  Quillisar Farra continued. “Do you have any salvage ships left at your disposal?”

  Kimmel did some calculations. “Yes, Quillisar. That TCX-46 over there (pointing to the largest ship in the bay). My orders are to triage equipment, damaged transports, and fighters, and salvage what I can on my way out.”

  Quillisar Farra looked intently at this ship Kimmel just pointed to. She then looked back at Commander Kimmel and said, “Sergao, the Quill needs you.”

  Kimmel reiterated his beliefs. “Anything my Quillisar.”

  Farra continued, almost giving an order. “Finish-up here, quickly. Don’t worry about your AuFa orders. The Quill will need that ship for something else. Meet me at Slip 41 in ten minutes.”

  Commander Kimmel just nodded and muttered, “Yes, my Quillisar.”

  Quillisar Farra returned to the elevator. The loudspeaker sounded off again. Lights in the station were constantly flashing yellow and red. The corridors were a scene of chaos and uncertainty.

  “Station Evacuation in Fifteen Minutes. You have Fifteen minutes to get to an outbound ship to Belinea. All personnel report to their Commanding officers for immediate evacuation.”

  Quillisar Fara rode the elevator a few more flights back up. When it got to level 10, she got off. She then went down a short corridor and turned down another corridor. Soldiers and personnel were still running through the corridors. An alarm was now on, going off every five seconds in conjunction with the flashing red lights. She got to a sliding door, put her hand on the wall for the hand ID reader, and calmly said, “Quillisar Farra.”

  The door opened, and Farra rushed inside. Still in her red cloak, she got a small bag and began putting things in it. Not clothes, but items. What looked like a couple of religious artifacts, a book, a handful of colorful stones, were all thrown in. She then stared at a Diamond-shaped artifact, hanging on her wall. After staring at it for about ten seconds, she yanked it off the wall and threw it into the bag. She then exited the room, bag in hand.

  She went back down the short corridor and returned to the elevator, taking it upwards to level 14. She got off and began walking down a very long aisle, with clear marks for landing slips 31 through 42, even on the right and odd on the left. People were filling up the slips in large bunches, awaiting transports to take them to the large Carriers, or if it was a more significant slip, a large enough ship. The alarms and flashing red lights continued, along with people frantically running. She briskly walked down the corridor until she got to the end where Dock 41 was on the left, and 42 was on the right. There was a notable Diamond shape figure above the walkway to dock 41. Clearly, this was the religious dock used for members of the Quill.

  Quillisar Farra could see out the window at the ships leaving. She diligently stood there, head down now, almost in prayer. After about a minute, Quillisar Sallor came jogging up with a bag in his hand. Farra looked at the bag Sallor was carrying and immediately asked, “You were successful? “

  Sallor was out of breath, but nodded his head ‘yes.’

  The two stood there for a moment. Chaos was still all around them, as the docks were clearing out with all the personnel now finally leaving. Alarms and red lights were still flashing. Sallor eventually noticed the bag that Quillisar Farra was holding. Sallor asked, “
Quillisar Farra, what is in your bag?”

  Farra looked at Sallor and very calmly said, “Salvation.”

  Sallor did not understand. Before he could ask, he noticed a ship coming up to slip 41. Quillissar Farra saw it as well. “Our ship is here.”

  Sallor asked, “Where are we going?”

  Farra and Sallor walked through the first set of dock doors. Commander Kimmel brought up the TCX-46 ship to gently dock with slip 41, and it’s second set of doors. Farra said nothing.

  The two red-cloaked priests waited a few more seconds until the yellow rotating light went off and turned green. The doors opened, and it led to the entrance of the relatively large salvage cargo ship. Turning the corner to greet them was Commander Kimmel. “As you asked, Quillisar.”

  Quillisar Farra then asked, “You came alone, Commander, yes?”

  Commander Kimmel responded, “Yes, my Quillisar.”

  The three of them began walking back to the cockpit of the Cargo ship. Quillisar Farra finally said, “ We need to get to slip seven. We have a duty to perform.”

  Belinea 3.2

  Twenty Years Later…

  The Corvalis System

  Battle Cruiser 54

  Captain Kimmel had the conn of Battle Cruiser 54. He was still waiting for all his patrol crafts to return so he could leave this system and get his ship to Braccus. Kimmel took a sip of his coffee before asking, “Lieutenant Wilcox, status of the patrol craft?”

  Wilcox turned and looked directly at Kimmel. Wilcox was using a pointer on the map that Kimmel could see from his conn chair. “Three heading back now, they inspected this area of the system, here, and here. These five are back onboard. So far, they have found nothing, sir.”

  As Kimmel took another sip of coffee, his sonar officer shouted out. “Sir, I have an unidentified incoming ship, coming in rapidly.”

  Kimmel got out of his Captain’s chair and walked over to the sonar computer screen. He looked down at the map, as an officer pointed. “Here, sir. Bearing 2-8-0, speed is HX-12.5, and slowing down.”

  Kimmel responded, “Any other ships?”

  The officer responded, “Negative Captain. The ship is by itself..”

  Kimmel asked, “Size of the ship?”

  The officer looked puzzled. “Not sure, sir, but not prominent. Can not verify but a small Transport ship at best. And I would say with some stealth capabilities given we did not see it until now. “

  Kimmel looked concerned. “Lieutenant Wilcox, hail the incoming vessel. Ask to identify. Lieutenant Morrow, have torpedoes one and two locked in on the incoming target. Also, have those two F-81 Sirator’s ready on standby.”

  Both Lieutenants nodded in affirmative. There was a very long ten-second pause. The sonar officer finally broke the tension. “Vessel is still decelerating rapidly, down to HX 3.2, still heading right for us.”

  The Communications officer interjected. “Captain, the vessel has identified himself as Lord Malovex, sir. The code is a match.”

  Captain Kimmel began walking off the bridge, over to the transport elevator. Speaking as he walked, he was still shouting orders. “Open bay door Two, tell Lord Malovex to proceed there. Wilcox, get those patrol ships back and give me a status of where Commander Devanoe is.”

  A sleek, all dark grey ship with black stripes, and no military markings, Malovex was slowing down to less than Hyper-EXtension speed. His ship proceeded straight to Bay Two of Battle Cruiser 54. With landing gear opening, it hovered as it came inside the bay. The massive cargo bay doors behind him began to close. The sleek ship gently landed on the Battle Cruiser’s bay floor, just as the doors behind it sealed shut. The smaller doors in front of the elegant ship opened, just as Captain Kimmel came walking down a set of steel stairs from the flight deck, security team in tow.

  A belly door opened from underneath the sleek grey ship, and Lord Malovex came walking out, greeted just in time by Captain Kimmel. “Lord Malovex, I was not aware of your planned arrival.”

  Malovex kept his hood on for a few steps, before finally laying it rest on his shoulders to reveal his scarred face. He walked directly up to Kimmel but gave no indication that he would stop or ask for permission to come aboard. He certainly did not need it. “That is because no one knows I am here.”

  Kimmel had never seen this ship before. “Lord Malovex, I am not familiar with this ship. It was not detected with our sonar until a rather uncomfortable proximity to our ship, at an outstanding speed as well.”

  Malovex kept walking towards the flight deck. “Good, then it works. It is experimental; the SS has been working on it. Speed capabilities are outstanding. Record time on my trip to Earth, and to here I imagine.”

  The two began walking together back to the Flight deck, side by side. A security team followed them, albeit a bit more relaxed now that they confirmed it was Lord Malovex on this ship and not anyone else. Kimmel continued as they walked. “I see. What can I help you with Lord Malovex?”

  Malovex did not stop walking. “Captain, your orders from the AuFa were to wait here in the Corvalis system for this transport with the Earth Ambassador and his DAG team, and then to take them to Torsalli, correct?”

  Kimmel kept walking as well. “Yes, sir. That was the plan. Until I got a communication from his DAG team saying they were on Braccus.”

  Malovex stopped cold. “Braccus? Did the orders change?”

  Kimmel now stopped and looked at Malovex. “Not on my side, sir. But the DAG team was adamant about meeting them there and canceling the original orders.”

  Malovex then questioned, “Then why are you still here?”

  Kimmel was stern. “I was waiting on my patrol ships to all get back. They were conducting a complete sweep of the area looking for Terrorists. After the Earth attack, the AuFa sent a communication putting us on alert that Taz might be here for the Ambassador. I sent my First officer and a couple of fighters on a T141 transport to Braccus. They are to keep the Ambassador, with BRG help, in a lockdown at the AuFa base on Port Braccus.”

  Malovex pondered this for a second. “So the orders did not come from the BRG or anyone else? Just a communication from this DAG team?”

  Kimmel said, “Yes, sir.”

  Malovex then continued, “And you told no one on Braccus that you were sending your first officer on a T-141 transport to reach them?”

  Kimmel “Not yet, sir. I imagine they won’t know until my first officer gets there.”

  Malovex continued to walk, with Kimmel about a quarter step behind. As they got to the flight deck bridge, Lieutenant Wilcox came up, out of breath from running, and stood at attention in front of both of them, saluting. “Captain. Lord Malovex. I just got a communication. There is a terrorist incident near Port Braccus. They believe it was Taz, sir.”

  Kimmel was slightly stunned. “We will leave for Braccus as soon as all the patrol ships are in.”

  Malovex was not as confident. “I am sure the BRG and AuFa are doing all they can do. In the meantime, our best chance of catching Taz is staying right here. If the intended target is still the Earth Ambassador, Taz must think they are heading here to the Corvalis system.”

  Kimmel turned to Malovex and said, “Or he already found out that the Ambassador and his DAG detail were already on Braccus.”

  Malovex pondered. “Perhaps....”

  Lieutenant Wilcox added, “Captain, the AuFa gave us orders to head to Braccus to assist at best speed.”

  Malovex thought for a moment before speaking, “What else do you have on this BattleCruiser, Captain?”

  Kimmel responded, “Four F-81 Sirator fighters, one more T-141, and 8 P-21 Patrol ships. It is a Battle Cruiser Lord Malovex, not a carrier.”

  Malovex acknowledged. “Understood. Then we are going to delay those orders, Captain.”

  Captain Kimmel raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me, sir?”


  Malovex gave an order. “Captain, your Battle Cruiser will stay here with me while we wait for Taz to show up. The Ambassador is safe on Braccus. If there is any danger, have your first officer escort him to Torsalli on that transport you sent.”

  Captain Kimmel was not happy. In his head, he thought, ‘taking orders from Malovex?’

  He did not like this at all.

  Belinea 3.3

  Third Moon of Braccus - Vandabri

  Ambassador Bird still seemed annoyed, even though it had been well over an hour after the arguing. Everything had been explained, and he had time to get something to eat. The Ambassador was now going over some reports, sitting behind his desk. Alexis Devanoe walked into the room and handed the Ambassador a file. “The file you wanted, sir.”

  The Ambassador spoke, but it was undoubtedly disingenuous. “Thank you, Miss Devanoe.”

  Alexis could tell something was still troubling him. “Still upset, sir?”

  The Ambassador responded, “What makes you think that?”

  Alexis crossed her arms. “Because when you are miffed about something, or at me, you call me Miss Devanoe instead of Alexis.”

  Ambassador Bird looked up. He stared at Alexis for a few seconds. “Just because I understand their intentions, doesn’t mean I have to like it. These two DAG officers, Willits and Jones. Their unorthodox methods are just an unnecessary burden. These precautions are ridiculous. And then these two pilots are nice boys, but they have no experience. I will be speaking with Director Kimakawa about this.”

  Alexis decided to offer her two cents. “I cannot speak for Willits and Jones. Their actions are not exactly gaining my trust… “

  Ambassador Bird interrupted her quickly. “You think? They are out there playing cards with two hookers!”

  Alexis came to their defense, “Well, it is confusing but not the worst cover. Vandabri certainly has a reputation, and an Ambassador here to get laid certainly wouldn’t raise a red flag to anyone.”