Cadets: 2 The Ship of the Gods

by Edward Miller

  “Direct hit,” yelled Niles over the warning klaxons. “Shields down to twelve percent. Damage reports coming from multiple decks.”

  “Niles,” said Thompson, “do we have any confirmed kills?”

  “Reports of multiple hits as well as enemy ships dead in the water,” said Niles. “Trying to get a count for you, sir.”

  Thompson knew time was running short. They had one more pass at the enemy at best. “Barnes, have all ships in our group come about one hundred and eighty degrees. Let’s take one more pass through these bastards and then break off the attack and retreat to the assigned coordinates.”

  “Sending orders now, Admiral.”

  “Now, Romano,” said Thompson. “Hard about one-eighty.”

  “Aye, sir. Initiating maneuvers.”

  Thompson grabbed the arms of his chair. The force of the maneuver slammed him back into his seat like a ton of bricks. The engines sounded like they were screaming in agony.

  Barnes called out above the noise. “Admiral,” she said, “I’m picking up numerous distress calls. The Kennedy, Lincoln, and Churchill are abandoning ship. I’ve also lost contact with the Lexington, Enterprise, and Owens.”

  The ship rocked violently and the power briefly shut down. “Emergency backup systems coming online,” yelled Niles. “We’ve got a hull breach on deck three and our shields are down.”

  “Fire everything we have, Diego,” ordered Thompson.

  “More distress calls coming in, Admiral,” said Barnes.

  “All weapons firing, Admiral,” said Romano.

  Thompson knew it was time. They were losing ships and they were over-matched. They had to bug out and save whatever ships remained and head back to Earth for one last stand. “Barnes,” said Thompson, “give the order. All ships. Time to move out and meet at the rendezvous point.”

  “Yes, sir,” she said. “Sending message now.”

  “Hard about, Romano,” he ordered. “Full escape velocity.”

  “Aye, sir. Initiating light speed drive,” replied Romano.

  The ship lurched forward. Within seconds they were traveling at light speed. Thompson looked at his exec. “What’re the numbers, Niles?”

  “I don’t have all the information yet. But the numbers I do have show that we destroyed twenty-four of their ships and damaged fifteen.” He paused. “I have confirmed ten of our ships destroyed and nine Altarran ships. There are still five of ours I have not heard from as well as three of Granthaxe’s.”

  Thompson let the information sink in. “Do we know if any escape pods were launched?” he asked.

  “I have computer confirmation of four hundred and forty survivors,” replied Niles.

  “That’s less than half of them,” said Thompson. Turning his attention to Barnes he ordered, “Get me Supreme Commander Granthaxe on a secure channel.”

  “Yes, sir,” she replied. “Working on it.” Within seconds she had made contact. “I have the supreme commander now, Admiral.”

  “Supreme Commander, how many ships do you have with you?” asked Thompson.

  “Not nearly enough,” said Granthaxe. “There are fifteen with me and another five behind us. I have six ships that are too damaged to continue as well as nine confirmed destroyed. How many ships did you lose Admiral Thompson?”

  “Ten that I know of,” he said. “I am still missing five more. On the plus side we’ve managed to destroy over fifty of their ships between the two attacks and damage at least fifteen. Unfortunately, they still have well over two hundred and twenty-five ships remaining.”

  “We knew the odds and numbers were not in our favor,” said Granthaxe. “Our planetary defenses will continue to battle the Karang as long as they still breathe. We must hold them off as long as we can. Every second we delay them gives Kyron and Amanda Williamson more time to find the Ship of the Gods.”

  “I agree completely,” said Thompson. “But for now let’s make our way to the rendezvous point. We will maintain radio silence until we get there. Thompson out.”

  He motioned to Barnes to cut the link. “Ms. Barnes,” he said, “inform all ships to maintain silent running. If any communications are necessary they are to be sent via Morse code only.”

  “Yes, sir,” replied Barnes. “Sending message now.”

  “Going old school on them?” said Niles. “That’s a damn good idea, Ben.”

  “I thought an old timer like you would enjoy that,” said Thompson.

  “So,” said Niles, “what’s our next move?”

  Thompson leaned back in his chair. “You know me all too well, Niles. I do have an idea, though it’s somewhat desperate and extremely dangerous.”

  “Sounds like all of your ideas, sir,” said Niles.

  “Well, I have been known to be a bit reckless at times.”

  “At times?” said Niles. “More like every time, sir. As usual, you have my undivided attention. Please enlighten me.”

  “As soon as we hit the rendezvous point and get an exact number of fully operational ships, I’ll run it by you. I did mention it to the supreme commander briefly and he liked the idea. Then again, any idea that results in killing the Karang seems like a good idea to him. In the meantime I need to get a message back to Commodore Laurent at headquarters. Then I’ll need to contact Ryan.”

  “You got it, Ben,” said Niles. “I’ll be looking forward to hearing whatever it is you’re cooking up in that head of yours.”

  “You may not think so once you hear it,” said Thompson. He turned to Barnes. “Ms. Barnes, prepare to send a coded message to Commodore Laurent.”

  “Setting up the computer now for Morse code,” said Barnes. “Should be ready in a moment.”

  Thompson nodded and ran the scenario over in his head. While he knew it would be basically a suicide mission, it would buy them more time. And time was their most precious ally . . . as well as their mortal enemy.

  “Sir,” said Barnes, “the program is online and ready for you.”

  A high-pitched sound reverberated through the bridge. Then came the warning from the ship’s computer. “Warning. Overload in progress. Warning. System overload in progress.”

  Thompson leapt from his chair. He could see sparks flying from the communications console. In one swift motion he grabbed Barnes and threw her to the floor. Then there was a loud explosion. He felt a searing pain in his back. All around him he could see smoke. The sounds of chaos echoed in his ears, but he could see that Barnes was okay. She was trying to say something, but all he could hear was a loud ringing sound. He tried to move but the pain was unbearable, and then came darkness.

  Amanda waited for the transport to come to a complete stop. Now that they were in Tokyo she was even more anxious to get the search started. “What’s our next move, sir?” she asked her father.

  “Admiral Inoue Yoshika is already on the tarmac,” he said. “They have a ship waiting for us at the dock to take us to the Triangle. And there’s a fleet of science vessels already at the area waiting for our arrival.”

  “Great,” said Amanda. “I’m raring to go.”

  Amanda, her father, Commodore Laurent, and Kyron exited the transport. The admiral was waiting for them. “Welcome to Tokyo,” he said as he bowed. “It is good to see you again, Admiral Williamson and Commodore Laurent. And Amanda, the last time I saw you was many years ago. You were a little girl. Look at you now, a decorated officer in the fleet.”

  Amanda blushed. “Thank you, Admiral Yoshika. May I introduce Kyron of Altarra? She is a science officer, historian, and my friend.”

  “As your father would say, any friend of yours is a friend of mine,” said Yoshika.

  Kyron extended her massive hand and replied. “The honor is mine, Admiral.”

  “Let us head to the dock,” said Yoshika. “We have a transport ship waiting for you and your group.”

  Amanda and her team entered the military vehicle. As the truck pulled away Amanda turned to face Admiral Yoshika. “Have your ships found any c
lues as to where the ship we are searching for may be hidden?”

  “None so far,” he replied. “We have searched the area known as the Devil’s Triangle many times over the years. We have never found signs of anything out of the ordinary. But there have been times when all of our instruments have acted up. Sometimes our computers will shut down. At other times all of our location devices will go haywire. But we have never found the cause of any of these abnormalities.”

  “The Ship of the Gods will be found now that Amanda Williamson is here,” said Kyron. “Of that I have no doubt.”

  “Why do you say that?” asked Amanda.

  “In the Book of the Ancients it is written that only the chosen one and her league of protectors shall find the city of the gods and all that is within.”

  “I hope that your legends are correct,” said Amanda, “because we need to find it sooner rather than later.”

  “Obviously the Semina Vitae were far superior to us well over sixty thousand years ago,” said Commodore Laurent. “If they didn’t want us to find their ship, we most certainly weren’t going to.”

  “That’s a great point, Commodore,” said Amanda. “I guess it’s a good thing that the queen left the amulet with me after all. Otherwise we may never have known about the ship that the Semina Vitae left on Earth to defend us from the Karang.”

  “I am beginning to think that some of the conflicting stories concerning the queen’s original mission to your planet one hundred and fifty years ago may be factual, Amanda Williamson,” said Kyron.

  “Now you’ve piqued my interest,” said Amanda. “What kind of stories?”

  Amanda watched intently as Kyron’s emerald green eyes locked with hers. “It was said that Queen Darthaxe had visions of a deadly attack that would lead to the downfall and destruction of Altarra,” said Kyron. “Some said that her mission to Earth was not about trying to make contact, but to try and find the city of the ancients and the whereabouts of the Ship of the Gods. After all, it was widely known that the amulet was given to our people whilst we still resided on Earth. Therefore any hope of defeating the evil Karang would lie here, on your planet.”

  What do you think, Kyron?” asked Amanda. “Do you think that’s why the queen returned to Earth?”

  “To embark on a mission that would take sixty years, if successful, just to return to our original home for the sake of science seems extreme, to say the least,” said Kyron. “Many of our people were perplexed. However, there were those who believed she returned to Earth to embark on her own search, to find answers and to discover whether the legends that had been foretold throughout the years were indeed true.”

  Amanda was starting to grasp the meaning of Kyron’s words. “That makes sense,” she said. “I couldn’t understand why she gave the amulet to my great-great- grandfather, but now I think I understand. It would be safe with him and he would hand it down to each generation. If the queen kept it and was captured or died, it could have been lost forever or hidden with the Sentinelese tribe.”

  “I concur with your findings, Amanda Williamson,” said Kyron.

  “Makes perfect sense to me,” chimed in her father. “Being a military officer I’d do the same thing.”

  “Yes, it does,” said Commodore Laurent. “Leaving the amulet here on Earth with you would be the correct tactical move.”

  “Which is why we must succeed, Amanda Williamson,” said Kyron. “It is most obvious now that the legends of the amulet and the Karang are not mere stories that were told to our young throughout the years. They are cold, hard facts. It is imperative that we find the ancient city and all that is within it. Then and only then will the survival of both our worlds come to fruition.”

  The truck came to a stop and Admiral Yoshika stood up. “We are at the docking area,” he said. “The ships are awaiting your arrival. I wish you success and hope that you find what you seek. Should you need anything else, have the fleet captain contact me directly.”

  “Will do,” said Admiral Williamson. “And thanks again for all your help.”

  “You are most welcome,” said Admiral Yoshika.

  Amanda, Kyron, and Commodore Laurent all thanked Admiral Yoshika and made their way onto the sleek vessel. Amanda recognized it as a dual-purpose ship that could fly but was also submersible.

  The captain of the ship took off as soon as Amanda and her party were onboard. “We will be in the Devil’s Triangle in ten minutes,” he said. “Our ships have been searching since we received your message yesterday. We have found nothing so far.”

  “I’m not surprised,” said Amanda. “All the research I’ve done on both the Bermuda Triangle and the Devil’s Triangle has come up empty. Even though there are numerous mysteries involving both areas, nothing has ever been found.”

  “Fear not, Amanda Williamson,” said Kyron. “I truly believe that will soon change. All that we have been searching for shall soon come to pass.”

  “For the sake of all of our people and yours, I sure hope you are right Kyron,” said Amanda.

  Within minutes the transport ship was nearing the center of the Devil’s Triangle. The captain informed Amanda and her party that they would be landing onboard the lead science ship in a few minutes. Amanda, her father, Kyron, and Commodore Laurent waited patiently as the transport made its final approach.

  Suddenly Amanda stood up. “I . . . feel odd,” she said. She fell to one knee.

  “What’s wrong?” asked her father.

  “The amulet is glowing,” said Laurent.

  Kyron fell to her knees and started chanting in her native tongue. Then the entire area started to glow in a greenish light.

  “I think I’m going to be sick,” said Amanda. She stared in disbelief as she noticed herself starting to fade away. She could no longer talk or move. The greenish light was now encompassing all of them . . . and then there was complete darkness.

  Ryan was trying very hard to maintain his calm. As each moment passed he could feel the anxiety building up. “Jill, he said, “have you reached Admiral Mueller yet?”

  Jill gave him a look that he knew meant she wasn’t too pleased with his question. “As I’ve told you three times in the last three minutes,” she said, “he’s finishing up a call with the president. He knows you are waiting to speak with him, sir. But I think the president has a little more pull than you do.”

  Tanner moved closer to Ryan. “Better chill out, Ry. I’ve seen Jill get angry and I’m telling you, it ain’t pretty.”

  Ryan took a deep breath and nodded at Tanner. Then he walked over to the com station. “I understand, Jill,” he said. “I’m concerned about the fleet, and sitting around here twiddling my thumbs just isn’t working for me.”

  Ryan noticed that Jill’s demeanor had changed. “Ryan,” she said. “I understand completely and as soon as I get the admiral on the line I’ll let you know.”

  “Thanks,” he said. “You should know by now I was never very good at waiting. Patience has never been one of my strong points.”

  “That’s an understatement,” said Tanner.

  Jill called out, Captain, I have the admiral on the com.”

  “Admiral Mueller,” said Ryan. “Have we heard anything from the fleet concerning the second encounter with the Karang?”

  “Indeed I have,” replied the admiral. “In fact I was just discussing the situation with President Hawking.”

  Ryan noticed that the admiral seemed distant, but he pushed on. “May I ask, what was the outcome of the attack, sir?”

  “As we expected, our combined fleet lost their shielding,” said the admiral. “Your father reported that more than sixty enemy ships have been destroyed or disabled. Unfortunately, the flip side of the news is that we’ve lost over twenty-five ships.”

  “Did we get any reports on the number of casualties?” asked Ryan.

  “Negative,” said Mueller. “We lost contact with the fleet. They were preparing to send a detailed report using Morse code. Your father thought
it would be best in case the Karang could monitor our communications.”

  “Have you tried to re-establish contact with them?” asked Ryan. He realized it was a stupid question, but he asked anyway.

  “Captain Thompson,” said the admiral, “I am up to date on military protocols and certainly do not need a lesson in them from you. Understandably you are concerned and I get it. Unfortunately the answer to your question is no. We have not been able to re-establish contact with our fleet or the Altarran fleet. We are still trying to contact them and will continue to do so.”

  Ryan was doing everything within his power to keep from lashing out and saying something he knew he’d be sorry for. He knew he had to do something and the sooner the better. But he also was aware that Admiral Mueller was in charge and whatever needed to be done, he’d have to convince him and that wouldn’t be an easy task. He took a second to compose himself.

  “Sir,” said Ryan, “may I ask what our next plan of action is?” He watched intently trying to read the admiral’s expression.

  “We will follow your father’s plan,” said Mueller matter-of-factly.

  “And may I ask what that is?” said Ryan.

  “We will continue to prepare for the Karang’s attack and shore up our defenses. According to their last known location they will be entering our system in twelve days.”

  “If I may interject,” said Ryan.

  “Somehow I knew you would,” said Mueller.

  “If we lost contact with our advance fleet, it would be in our best interest to send a few ships out for reconnaissance. We need to ascertain what happened to our forces and get much needed information on what our enemy is up to. We need actual numbers and their location, sir.”

  “Captain Thompson,” said the admiral, “that was a well-thought-out and well-presented idea. However, my orders remain. We will stay put and continue to plan our defense.”

  Before Ryan could say another word, Rawlings called out from the weapons station. “Sir . . .” stammered the young ensign, “according to UEDF Regulation GH-475, if contact is lost with the commanding officer during a time of war, it is the duty of the fleet to send out a rescue party and ascertain the situation. Under no circumstances can we allow our commander to fall into enemy hands, sir.”