While Red was daydreaming he remembered Threebeard had said something about programming some Earth music into his computer that Red could listen to if he got bored. He turned on his computer and looked for the link. When he found it he saw three buttons: Rock, Jazz, and Classical. He had no clue what those categories meant so he randomly pushed the last one.
The introduction to Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony startled him. He laughed at himself and then sat back and enjoyed an experience that was new and exciting to him. He listened to more classical music and decided he liked Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture the best. He figured it would be a great song to play to build up his courage and help him focus before an attack. For hours he listened to all types of music until he got tired and decided to eat and then sleep one last time before his arrival in Earth’s proximity.
Red slept peacefully until his radio crackled to life. “R3, do you read? R3, do you read?” a familiar voice said.
Red sat up and fumbled for the transmit button.
“Lorin? Is that you?”
“Oh my God! Yes, it’s me. Thank God and Sandee you’re alive. We didn’t know for sure if you’d escaped Invincible in one piece or not.”
“Yeah, amazingly I did.”
“We’ve been trying to communicate with you for days.”
“Really. I’ve tried you a couple of times but got nothing but static.”
“Oh, I’m so relieved.”
“So, what’s happened since we blew up Invincible?”
“The situation is critical. Earth’s Destiny was able to destroy New Age with its plasma cannon, but because it had to get so close to make the shot it was severely damaged in the process. All of the ship’s plasma cannons were lost.”
“Oh, skutz! So, I need to destroy two attack cruisers?”
“No, just one. Relentless was destroyed, too, thanks to Rossi Sincini. He figured out a way to get some of our fighters aboard her. They unloaded their missiles into the landing bay and that triggered a firestorm within the ship.”
“Holy Sandee. I can’t believe it.”
“Anyway. The situation on Earth is desperate. The Purists have taken control of the U.S. government. One of their stooges has succeeded to the presidency. If Videl’s Revenge is not destroyed we won’t be able to stop them from conquering Earth.”
“What do you want me to do?” Red asked anxiously.
“Earth’s Destiny has been in a vicious battle with Videl’s Revenge for over a kyloon. Their fighters outnumbered ours three to one, yet we were holding our own until a moment ago.”
“What happened?”
“They’ve launched twenty-five fighters at Earth’s Destiny. They’re on a collision course, and it doesn’t appear they’re going to break off. It’s either a mass suicide attack, or the fighters are unmanned and on autopilot. Either way Earth’s Destiny may be destroyed. If that happens and Videl’s Revenge survives, all will be lost.”
“Don’t worry,” Red said. “I’ve been looking forward to ridding the universe of Evohn Cystrom. Program the proper coordinates into my computer and leave it to me. What’s my ETA at the battle?”
“Eighteen loons,” Lorin said.
“All right. Let’s do it.”
Red put the T-73 in stealth mode then sat back as the fighter changed course for a rendezvous with Videl’s Revenge. He thought about Tam and his other friends on Earth’s Destiny. Tears welled in his eyes as he worried that they may already be dead. He stretched and took deep breaths to control his anger and anguish; then he flipped on his recording of the 1812 Overture and prepared himself for his final battle.
Tarizon, Conquest Earth, Tarizon Trilogy Vol 3 Page 50