Belinea

by Andrew Mack

  Malovex looked at them for a few more seconds. He then said, in almost disbelief, “And, what else?”

  Kimmel added, “Given the explosion was internal, it implies it could’ve been planted by the two DAG Commanders that were assigned security on the Ambassador.”

  Malovex was slightly annoyed again. “Which is why I would like to talk to the DAG officers. Is this all you have?”

  Devanoe didn’t say anything, nor did Kimmel. Malovex continued, “You want me to go on a hunch because someone was acting strange and a tracker watch that went off for less than a minute?”

  Devanoe added, “We think they were on their way to Molar.”

  Devanoe realized that the last sentence might have been a mistake. Malovex looked at both of them with disdain. “I do not care if that tracker was headed to the Torsalli sun. Did you get any verbal confirmation? Did you see the Ambassador or his assistant board this other ship? Are you sure the tracker is even working, either now or then? Do you even trust these two DAG officers? Do you have any actual evidence or just speculation?

  Devanoe thought for a second and then shook his head and muttered, “No, sir.”

  Malovex countered, “Let me tell you what I have. I have a confirmed C-62T explosion out there with two fatalities on board, and another six BRG officers wounded. I have two rogue DAG officers that have already changed the manifest on this assignment twice. They left a ship and an Ambassador behind, rather odd considering the ship exploded, and are now on the run somewhere near Ascarla on Torsalli below. I have confirmed Taz was in the area, on board a stolen Civilian Transport ship. And you would like me to go find some phantom ship that’s on the way to Molar?”

  There was a long five seconds of silence. Kimmel took a step back, grabbed Devanoe’s elbow, and said, “Sorry for bothering you, Lord Malovex. We will be going.”

  Malovex turned back around to look at his board. Devanoe took a step back with Kimmel. Kimmel had turned around now, still with his hand on Devanoe’s elbow, trying to direct him down the platform. Devanoe made one final comment. “The assistant is my sister, Lord Malovex. She is tough as nails, and would have never hit the panic button without reason.”

  Kimmel practically drew blood,, squeezing Devanoe’s arm. Malovex stopped what he was doing. Pausing for another five seconds, he slightly turned his head towards Devanoe and Kimmel, but not enough to see them. Malovex asked, “What is your name again?”

  Devanoe stood at attention when asked. “First Officer, Commander Nick Devanoe, Battle Cruiser 54, Aultali Chlorifa.”

  Malovex paused for another few seconds, processing the information and taking a long look at Nick Devanoe. He then turned his eyes towards Captain Kimmel and said, “Kimmel, I heard your Battle Cruiser is doing an ammo restock on behalf of Captain Vincella’s request on Braccus.”

  Kimmel responded. “It is, sir. It should be halfway there by now.”

  Malovex turned his head and began looking back at the board. He then said, “Take one of the BRG XG-12 Frigates to Molar. When you get there, report to me what you find.”

  Kimmel then said, “Thank you, sir.”

  Kimmel and Devanoe walked off, back down and out of the Tower Bridge. Kimmel whispered to Devanoe, “If you ever do that again, I will kill you faster than he does.”

  Belinea 5.9

  Near Torsalli

  First Officer Verkato on Taz’s ship was looking at the panels in front of him. He stood up and walked a few feet over to the Captain’s chair. Taz looked at some controls off to his left when the officer poked his arm and showed him the message. Taz quickly read it, then looking at Verkato, nodded in approval. First Officer Verkato announced, “New course. We are heading back to Torsalli.”

  First Officer Verkato climbed back into his chair. The officer next to him whispered, “Why are we going back to Torsalli?”

  Taz, without warning, slammed his fist into the control panel next to him. It caused it to short circuit and smoke. Taz then got up and stormed out of the room.

  First Officer Verkato whispered back, “The Earth Ambassador was not on the ship. He is still alive.”

  Torsalli Space Port

  Lieutenant Commander Waterford walked up directly to Lord Malovex. He quietly said, “A moment, my Lord.”

  Malovex, not taking his eyes off the screen, just replied, “What is it?”

  Waterford continued, “I got some results back from the lab, I wanted to share with you.”

  Malovex looked up. Waterford continued. “DNA analysis of the two fatalities on the C-62T. They were two BRG officers assigned to Braccus, who are currently absent without leave.”

  Malovex looked puzzled. “No, Ambassador? You are sure there were only two bodies on the ship?”

  Waterford whispered, “Positive sir. We did a scan when they docked.”

  Malovex thought for a second before telling Waterford, “Tell no one for now. We keep that under wraps as long as we can.”

  Waterford acknowledged and walked away “Yes, my Lord.”

  Belinea 5.10

  Kapoor Estate

  Vihaan was still confused as they got out of the transport craft. He then said, “I don’t understand you guys. You have been traveling for days. You spend not even one full hour with the ladies, inhale some food, and now you want to hang out up here.”

  Willits then replied while carrying a rifle with a huge scope. “I know, but technically we’re working.”

  All three of them continued walking from the craft towards the elevated stand in the trees. “Working on what?”

  Jones answered, “Working on figuring out who keeps trying to kill us.”

  Vihaan just laughed, “Can you wait at least 24 hours. Sit by the pool, get a tan. Have a fucking drink, relax.”

  Willits responded, “You can go back to that shit Vi. Don’t stay here just because of us.”

  Jones added, “Go sit by the pool, find one of those girls to suck your cock while you’re drinking a glass of wine.”

  Vihaan shook his head. “You idiots, I get that shit every day. I would rather be involved in some military, cloak and dagger shit. Maybe we can blow something up.”

  Willits continued, “Sorry to disappoint you, Vi, but that’s not how this goes. More than likely we are gonna sit up here for twenty-four hours, drink some wine, and get some sleep.”

  The three of them continued up into the tree stand outpost. When they got to the top, it gave them a clear view of the valley below. Willits asked, “Vi, where is the DAG guest house?”

  Vi pointed so both Willits and Jones could see. “Right there, at the bottom of the valley.”

  They both nodded in approval. Jones said, “Got it.”

  Vihaan then said, “And you want me to leave that cheap-ass transport ship outside with the running lights on as if waiting to take off, but no security around it?”

  Willits answered, “That’s the bait, Vi.”

  Willits and Jones sat down. Willits opened a bottle of wine and poured himself a glass. Jones closed his eyes and sat back in his chair.

  Vihaan asked,, “Now what? Call some ladies? Tell them to bring some party favors. Get a little groove up in here?”

  Willits calmly answered, “Nope. Now we just wait.”

  Vihaan sat down. After a few seconds, he said, “This military shit is boring as fuck.”

  Belinea 5.11

  On the way to Molar

  Tunsall was alone in the cockpit. He hit a few gauges on his control panel, but for the most part, was sitting silently. Trujillo approached from the back. He tapped Tunsall on the shoulder and said, “It’s been a few hours. Why don’t you switch out and get some sleep?”

  Tunsall turned to him and said, “You sure?”

  Trujillo nodded. Tunsall unbuckled himself, got up, and proceeded to the back. He softly said “Thanks.”

&nb
sp; Trujillo climbed into the chair and buckled himself in. He checked a few panels, made sure he knew where they were going. He then got comfortable, laying back a little in the chair. About ten seconds went by before Alexis approached from the back of the ship. She sat down in the seat Tunsall had just left and asked, “Do you mind?”

  Trujillo looked at her curiously and asked, “Coming in peace?”

  Alexis gave a half-smile and replied, “I don’t mean you any bodily harm…”

  A moment of awkward silence passed before she asked, “How much longer to Molar?”

  Trujillo hit a button on the control panel and said, “About four more hours.”

  A few more seconds went by. Her curious brain never stopping, Alexis leaned in closer to Trujillo and asked, “So how do you fly this thing?”

  Trujillo shifted ever so slightly up away from her, towards the control panel. He hit a button that lit the board up. He answered. “This is our course heading, directly to Molar. This is the variance light, which will activate if something ends up in our way.”

  Alexis asked, “Like a hot brunette?”

  Trujillo rolled his eyes and answered, “Like an asteroid field or a comet. This route has a shitload of things that can fly into our trajectory. This is our velocity. This is the fuel capacity in the Vait chamber, and the anti-matter reading. This is the ship oxygen supply, Nitrogen tank supply, gravitational settings, running lights, communication channel, cargo bay doors.”

  Alexis asked, “Where are the guns? I want to shoot something...”

  Trujillo then laughed. “No weapons on this transport. Think of it as a huge cargo ship.”

  Alexis was puzzled. “We are out here by ourselves with no weapons?”

  Trujillo continued, “Hopefully, we won’t need it, but that’s why Willits left us the F-81 we got in the bay. The wings are folded, but in a pinch, we could get it out and protect ourselves.”

  Alexis continued, “You’d protect me from the ‘bad guys,’ Trujillo?”

  Trujillo rolled his eyes and said,, “Who needs the F-81 when we got your fists?”

  Alexis smiled and blinked. She asked,, “You can fly it?”

  Trujillo answered, “The F-81? Of course.”

  Alexis raised an eyebrow. “Well?”

  Trujillo reiterated,, “Very well. I am fourth in my class.”

  Alexis, with a smart ass tone, said,, “Fourth, and still got this assignment. What happened to the first and second in class? BRG already got them?”

  Trujillo then motioned with his thumb backward, “Nope. He’s back there with the Ambassador.”

  Alexis looked slightly astonished. “Tunsall is first in his class?”

  Trujillo just nodded and softly said, “Second. But he should be first.”

  Alexis questioned,, “Should be first?”

  Trujillo muttered under his breath,, “I might have had something to do with that.”

  Alexis continued,, “But he is a better pilot than you?”

  Trujillo nodded again.

  Alexis countered, “You just stated rather overtly that you were an outstanding pilot.”

  Trujillo added, “I am. But he is the best I have ever seen. I’ll take my chances next to him any day.”

  Alexis asked, “You guys are close?”

  Trujillo answered, “You could say that. We’ve been roommates since day one.”

  Alexis said in a sarcastic tone, “Found each other at a mixer for military flyboys?”

  Trujillo tilted his head and responded, “Trujillo. Tunsall. They assign rooms in alphabetical order.”

  Alexis then asked, “How did you two get on this assignment?”

  Trujillo just looked at her and said, “You ask a lot of questions.”

  Alexis leaned a little closer and said, “I seek a lot of answers...”

  Trujillo, reluctantly, replied, “Willits and Jones came walking into Odgin’s. They asked us if we wanted to go on a high-security clearance mission.”

  Alexis looked a little astonished. “Really? That was it?”

  Trujillo slightly shook his head and answered, “We knew they were DAG, so it likely involved security. It wasn’t our first choice, but it sounded intriguing.”

  Alexis asked, “Like me?”

  Trujillo answered, “We certainly didn’t know you were on the menu when we were recruited. It might have changed our answer.”

  Alexis smiled and said, “What was your first choice?”

  Trujillo responded, “Flying F-81’s in the AuFa. But that’s likely not gonna happen for me.”

  Alexis looked confused, “Why not?”

  Trujillo said, “Because I am human, and the AuFa is mainly Belinean, especially the officers. You know that. So does your brother. Shit, I am shocked he has made it as far as he has. I would’ve liked to ask him how he did it.”

  Alexis responded, “It’s been tough, no doubt. But Belinean education helps. It’s not too late for you and Tunsall. There are ways.”

  Trujillo said, “I was talking about me, not Tunsall. He doesn’t have the same obstacles.”

  Alexis asked, “Why not?”

  Trujillo answered, “Let’s just say Tunsall will have a lot better options after graduation.”

  Alexis looked puzzled. “Tunsall has a rich father with lots of connections? ”

  Trujillo paused. He gave a tiny grin before he said, “Something like that. You’d have to ask him.”

  Alexis also gave a small grin “I didn’t peg him for an obnoxious, spoiled rich kid. He seems too quiet, cerebral, and confident. But not in an arrogant way.”

  Trujillo snorted. “He is arrogant. He barely studies at school and always gets perfect marks. Trust me, he is smarter than everyone else.”

  Alexis countered with, “Well, if you are the smartest guy in the room and you know it, I would say that is confidence and not arrogance. It’s very attractive.”

  Trujillo now had a slight expression of annoyance. “Really?”

  Alexis continued, “Oh yes. And those eyes….I am sure he has girls all over him.”

  Trujillo, with a hint of jealousy, said, “Never seen him with one.”

  Alexis was in genuine shock. “Come on. I doubt that? Not popular with the ladies, like you?”

  Trujillo tilted his head, “Who said that?”

  Alexis quickly countered, “Am I wrong?”

  Trujillo just rolled his eyes and softly said, “I’ve been with a woman if that is what you’re asking.”

  Alexis just smiled and continued, “Oh, I bet you have.”

  The two just looked at each other for a few seconds, Trujillo was almost embarrassed about where the conversation had gone. Alexis broke the silence by continuing. “Still, hard to get and overly selective makes him even more attractive.”

  Trujillo, now full-on annoyed, just said in sarcasm, “Need me to set you up?”

  Alexis got up but leaned down next to Trujillo’s face. Looking directly into his eyes, very quietly and slowly, she said, “Oh no. If I want something, I just take it.”

  Alexis very gently patted Trujillo on his face, grabbing his chin right next to his slightly swollen lip. She began walking to the back and said, “I’m going to pour myself a glass of wine and read reports. Let me know if we get hit by an asteroid or if you need my protection.”

  Trujillo gently shook his head. He grabbed his chin where her hand had been and continued flying the ship.

  Belinea 5.12

  Torsalli

  Taz remained seated at the cockpit chair on the Civilian Transport Ship they had stolen from before. His four-man team stood directly behind him as the ship slowed down considerably coming out of HX speed. After remarking the numbers and changing the identity manifest, they entered Torsalli air space on the other side of the planet. Despite not being ab
le to physically see the ship, it was picked up by the Control Tower with a dispatched audio transmission. “Civilian Transport, We have you as Shuttle 1738. Please verify destination and cargo.”

  Taz inserted a card into the control panel. A bunch of numbers lit up the screen, including payload data, speed, and destination: Ascarla. As if the computer was rebooting, the screen went through a series of procedures and algorithms to boot up. Then a green light lit up and began blinking: Access Granted. Taz pulled back on the throttle, increasing the velocity of the ship to the surface below.

  Torsalli was a beautiful planet of blue oceans and green hills. The atmosphere was very similar to Earth. As long as you came in at the right angle, it was elementary to enter and exit the planet from anywhere. The ship was heading straight towards Ascarla, making its way through the atmosphere to nightfall’s dark skies. Taz suddenly turned the ship and headed for the hills and valleys outside Ascarla. Within a few moments, Taz turned on his cockpit screen to night vision so that he could see the landscape on the ground below. Taz flew horizontally for almost a minute, before finding a soft area to land in a desolate area of the valley.

  All five men walked out, unloading the back door of the shuttle to expose a Valkyrie Attack Rover. Taz climbed into the pilot’s chair, while his men stepped up onto the side step bars and situated themselves to a stable standing position. Each had a firm grip on the side handlebars adjacent to their heads.

  Taz turned on the engines, which made a very low buzzing noise. The Valkyrie took off with all five men, heading over the hills towards the Kapoor Estate.

  In their covered tree stand area, Willits, Jones, and Vi were all practically asleep. Jones was supposed to be on watch, but only one eye was vaguely open. A beep was heard on their portable surveillance screen. Jones woke up, turning his head to see what had beeped. He uncrossed his arms, and as the screen showed a blinking light that was moving. Jones hit a few spots on the screen. He stood up and said, “Nolan, wake up.”

  Nolan Willits rolled over and practically jumped to attention, as if this was an old habit between the two. Still focusing his eyes, he came over and looked at the screen. He said, “What is it?”