“Generate negative energy densities!” Shin ordered from his restraints.
“Generating negative densities,” Lieutenant Katsumi reported.
“FTL is a go, jump drive is spooled, Sir!” Yoshi said.
“The board is green, Captain!” Commander Hikaru reported.
“Initiate jump!” Captain Shin ordered.
The ship crossed the jump field in an instant, the engines spun down after the ship stopped.
Alarm bells rang and red strobes lit up the CSC, “SITREP” Shin ordered.
“Multiple targets,” Lieutenant Ren shouted, “The Bristol is engaged, along with three Draconian ships.”
“Battle Stations!” Commander Hikaru ordered.
“Helm,” Shin sounded with resolve, “Intercept enemy ships! Full power to engines. Activate Point Defense Systems!”
Commander Hikaru grabbed his comm link to the flight deck, “Attention on deck! This is the XO, launch all fighters with full ACE support!”
Captain Shin held on to his restrain system as the ship changed course to the battle, “Open a channel to the Bristol!”
“Channel open, Sir!”
“Captain McCartney, this is the Yamato, what is your status?”
“Captain Shin,” the distorted comm link sounded, “You are a sight for sore eyes. We’ve got our hands full with these two Antarian Destroyers. Can you flank him for us?”
“We’re on it, Captain. Helm, set course to the Bristol. Tactical, target enemy ship!”
“Aye, Sir,” Lieutenant Yoshi acknowledged, “Full speed to target.”
“Target locked, Sir,” Lieutenant Ren said as he manipulated the ship’s targeting systems. “Point Defense System in range in two minutes! Missiles locked on target, and ready at your command!”
“Fire!” Captain Shin ordered with a swipe of his hand.
The Yamato sent a wave of missiles at the nearest Antarian ship.
“Hard to Starboard! Activate PDS now!” Shin ordered.
The Yamato pitched and rolled as the ship lined into position with the enemy target. Fighters flew like angry bees, darting in and about the battle.
The missiles hit their target creating a blazing explosion of lights. The point defense guns opened fire, blasting at the Antarian ship’s armor.
“All defense drones are deployed, Sir!” Ren smiled, “We’re taking out their fighters.”
The Bristol and Yamato continued to hammer the Antarian destroyer using the point defense guns. The two ships fired more missiles at point blank range, piercing the hull of the mighty Antarian vessel.
Several detonations lit up the surrounding space, causing the Antarian ship to lose control.
“She’s going to blow!” Commander Hikaru shouted, “Helm, evasive maneuvers!”
“Captain McCartney, get out of there!”
“We’re on it, Captain!” the comm link returned.
The Bristol changed course away from the exploding ship. Captain Shin aboard the Yamato wiped the sweat from his brow as he watched the Antarian ship blow apart.
“Target the second ship and attack!” Shin ordered.
“They’re running, Sir,” Lieutenant Ren reported, “Detecting a jump drive signature, they’re about to leave!”
“If they get away, they’ll sssurely return with reinforcementsss!” Captain Zetaal hissed, “You cannot let them essscape!”
“Ren, target their engines!” Shin commanded.
“It’s too late, Sir!”
“Fire missiles!”
The Yamato, in hot pursuit of the Antarian warship, fired three missiles.
“Direct hit, Sir!”
“Report!” Commander Hikaru ordered.
“The Antarian’s engines are off-line; their jump drive sequence didn’t finish spooling. They’re dead in space, Sir!”
“Excellent work!” Shin said with a fist pump. “Clean up any stray fighters and begin scanning this system for more ships!”
“Aye, Sir!”
“Assemble a boarding party, I want five transports loaded to the hilt and attached to their hull in fifteen minutes.”
“Aye, Captain,” the tactical officer acknowledged.
The comm link crackled with Captain McCartney’s voice, “Well done, Yamato! Well done indeed!”
“What’s your condition, Captain?” Shin asked.
“We’re not too bad, some minor damage. Captain, your timing is impeccable. We wouldn’t have been able to hold them much longer. Your appearance took them completely by surprise.”
“Only glad to help, Captain, but I’m afraid we bring bad news.”
“What did you find at Theta Centauri?”
“Decimation, Captain. They hit the planet like they did on Draconis.”
“Any survivors?”
“Thankfully, Captain, their forces were spread out across the Galaxy. If we can get a signal to them, we could add another couple hundred ships. We have the Chancellor, and his next in command onboard.”
“Let’s secure the system and meet on my ship,” Captain McCartney offered.
“You got it, Captain. Our boarding party should be landing in a couple of minutes.”
“Great! We’ve got most of the enemy fighters taken out as well. We used all our drones and lost about half our fighters before you arrived, but at least we survived.”
“Captain,” Hiram interrupted, “The Warlords typically don’t allow hostages to be taken. I suggest you give that disabled ship a wide berth, lest they wait until your men have boarded to self-destruct.”
“He isss right, Captain,” Zetaal hissed, “The Eridonian speaksss the truth. They will not be taken.”
“Sir, allow me to try to probe the captain’s mind.”
“Can you do that?” Captain Shin asked, “Don’t they have an inhibitor that prevents that sort of thing?”
“There are two of us in the system. Bertram on the Bristol will join my mind, we can break through.”
“Ren, instruct the boarding party to take their sweet time. Make them think we’re still heading in. That might throw them off guard just long enough.”
“I will require some silence while we attempt the connection,” Hiram requested. He closed his almond shaped eyes and furrowed his brow.
The disquiet of the CSC intensified with the eerie silence before Hiram began to explain what he was seeing in the Antarian’s mind, “This Antarian Captain is not currently under any specific orders. We can’t fully understand, but there isn’t any additional support ships waiting...he knows! Get your men out of there!”
Before the Captain could react the Antarian ship exploded, taking out two of the transports with it. The other fighters and transports escaped without damage.
“Wow!” Captain Shin exclaimed, “You weren’t kidding about not taking hostages.”
“Yesss, Captain,” Zetaal nodded, “The Warlordsss are ruthlesss. They’ll stop at nothing, as you can sssee.”
“Captain McCartney, is your crew and ship good?”
“Yes, Captain Shin. The Bristol is shipshape. The current threat is over. Head back to the Draconis home world and let’s regroup.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
________________________
Dumakas’ Shuttle
Serintin Orbit
________________________
Dumakas piloted his shuttle around the gas giant, Lebencha, closing in on the orbit of Serintin.
“My Lord,” Shotzgren began, “Our reports are correct. Serintin has reestablished the energy collector. Not all power has been restored, but the palace and surrounding areas have.”
“What about the moon’s defense grid?”
“The moon’s defense grid is fully functional, my Lord. Fortunately, our last transport made it through undetected. We shall not afford such luxury.”
“Do not lose hope, my friend. We shall fly the energy stream such as the Humanoids did; if they can survive the stream, so shall we!”
“My Lord, this shuttle is n
ot designed for such forces...”
“Silence! We will survive!”
“Yes, my Lord. Plotting course to the energy stream now. We will enter at midpoint, here,” Shotzgren pointed to a holographic display on his console, “Well before the Serintin defenses detect us.”
“Increase power to inertial dampeners. Full power to engines and re-configure the hull shields. Compensate for the electrical discharges,” Dumakas ordered.
“Yes, my Lord. We’ll enter the stream in thirty seconds. Hold on, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.”
“Thrusters off-line, use ion drives only. We don’t want to ignite the stream again.”
“Yes, my Lord. Thrusters are off-line. Ion drives are at full power. Inertial dampeners are at full power...going in...NOW!”
The shuttle punched through the energy stream. Electrical discharges fired around the hull of the ship. Dumakas held his controls tight while Shotzgren continued to monitor his instruments.
The two were bounced back and forth within their restrains. Dumakas let out a laugh as he cinched his straps even tighter, “Haa, haaa! To the glory of battle!”
“To the glory!” Shotzgren repeated with glee.
“Keep her steady!” Dumakas shouted to his first in command.
“I’m doing the best I can! I fail to understand how the humans pulled off flying inside this stream? Our hull is heating up! Shields are failing! We can’t stay here for much longer, my Lord!” Shotzgren shouted over the noise of the tempestuous flight path.
“I’m holding position! Fire up the jump drive! Set course to take us to a low altitude around Glavin!”
“Yes, my Lord,” Shotzgren voice shook from being knocked about. “Spooling jump drive...course is set...and in three...two...one...commencing jump!”
The sudden quiet was deafened after the tumultuous event. Their ears popped with the swift pressure difference as they completed the short atmospheric jump.
Shotzgren shook his head and then looked out the front window at an approaching mountain peak. He looked over at Dumakas who was still dazed from the jump, “Pull up! Pull up, my Lord!”
Shotzgren grabbed the controls, followed by Dumakas assisting him in pulling the small shuttle nose up, averting collision.
“Systems check!” Dumakas ordered, not able to wipe the crooked smile from his face.
“All systems check well, my Lord. That was a close one.”
“Oh, thee of little faith, did I not tell you we could do this?”
“Yes, my Lord,” Shotzgren pressed more commands on his console, “We have not been detected, and I’m picking up our signal. We have clearance...”
A loud bang was heard by the two followed by several alarms ringing. A look of panic grew on Shotzgren’s face, “Power failure, my Lord! All systems are off-line!”
“Compensate you incompetent Gorech!”
“I am unable to, my Lord. All systems are down. We’re going in!”
Dumakas tightened his grip on the controls, pulling the shuttle’s nose as high as possible. He turned the descending vessel toward their Glavin outpost, a click from the base camp before slamming the belly of the ship into the ground. It slid across the landscape, scraping dirt and vegetation with it. The hull groaned its complaint as it screeched to a halt.
Sparks threw into the air from the crashed instruments. Smoke filled the small cabin. Dumakas unbuckled his harness and climbed from his seat. Grabbing the emergency release lever, the door to the shuttle blew off, giving them fresh air once more.
He returned to help Shotzgren from his seat and the two exited the burning craft.
Shotzgren coughed the smoke from his four lungs. He leaned his large hands on his knees and then spit the blackness from his lips.
Dumakas roared with laughter, “Come on, my faithful second,” he gave him a slap on the back, “We’re not far from the camp, just a short hike.”
The black smoke diminished as the fire form the shuttle crash died down. The two made their way to the base camp.
________________________
Serintin Palace
Shuttle Landing Bay
________________________
“Come, my Lady,” Tumaleka begged, pulling on Danielle’s fur sleeve.
The shuttle door lowered and the Empress’ entourage exited the ship. “You’re needed in the war room!”
“We received word that Dumakas’ army is about to attack the palace.”
Danielle turned to one of the palace aides that met them at her shuttle, “Is this true?”
The aide briefly bowed, “Yes, my Lady. We are getting reports that a small ship crashed outside of Glavin a short time ago.”
Danielle took off running toward the palace war room, Tumaleka kept close behind, “Do you have any more intelligence? How many men does he have, and what is his ship count?”
The aide explained to Daniele as they quickly made their way down the corridor, “We do not have a complete headcount, my Lady. However, we do know they have acquired a few anti-aircraft guns from the Glavin province.”
“Do you know how many?”
“As many as three, no more than seven.”
“Inform the fighters to be on watch for incoming weapons fire. I want guards posted at every entrance! We need to fortify our perimeter!”
“Dumakas is a wise Emperor, my Lady,” Tumaleka insisted, “He knows the palace staffing.”
“That’s all very interesting, Tumaleka, but what about the palace? How many Antarians do we have here, and what other weaknesses to the palace are there?”
They reached the palace war room, the aide answered before Tumaleka had the chance, “The palace currently has two hundred elite guards on duty at all times, my Lady.”
“Only two hundred?”
“Yes, my Lady. There has never been an issue in times past.”
“In other words,” Danielle added, “There’s never been a coup before?”
“A coup? My Lady, we have no word as such.”
“You don’t know what a coup d’état is?”
“The Nanites must be malfunctioning,” Tumaleka said. “I do not understand.”
“It means a hostile takeover, as in a takeover of this current government.”
“No. Certainly not, the blood lust within the Emperor kept all Antarians in order.”
“Then why does not my blood, blood of the adolescent beast, keep all Antarians in order?”
“It is because Dumakas partook of the child beast. He tasted first blood, you partook second. I am afraid he will have a great following, my Lady.”
“You are incorrect, madam, I took of first blood. What about the palace walls. How secure are we here?”
“Dumakas could break through and storm the castle. That would be his plan,” Tumaleka said, “err, that is what his plan would be.”
Three booms were heard, followed by three explosions on the Northwest wall. Two more shells detonated, shaking the floor beneath them.
“They’re attacking!” the aide shouted. “I’ll send reinforcements to fight them off!”
“Concentrate our fighter squadron on the northwest. See if we can get a count down there!” Danielle ordered.
“Ma’am, I have confirmation from our air support. They have spotted forty to fifty warriors approaching the northwest wall.”
“Engage the enemy at that front, but don’t take any from the southernmost wall.”
“My Lady? We are very short staffed at the palace,” the aide said.
“Hold them off for as long as we can. Send more troops from around Serintin. I need a battleship. Have them dispatched to the west side and lay down a few missile strikes. Take that front out!”
The aide busily tapped out the commands on their portable console while Danielle turned to Tumaleka, “I need you to take two guards to the prison cell. Release Laboolaron and any other prisoner you have.”
“I do not think that is wise, my Lady.”
“We need all the help we can ge
t...now move!”
Tumaleka ran off toward the holding cell, Danielle made one of the guards hold back a moment, “Keep an eye on Tumaleka. I sense deceit within her heart.”
The elite guard silently nodded his agreement, clenched his sword handle tightly, and took off to catch up with the others.
Danielle turned to her aide once more, “Is there any defense you may have besides shooting at the warriors from the walls? Does the castle have any heavy artillery, anything at all?”
More booms sounded, followed by falling dust from the old bricked walls as they crumbled and settled to the floor.
“There is one thing.”
“Well? We don’t have all day?”
“It’s up there on the top of that spire,” the aide said, pointing his large hand in the air.
Danielle followed the tower with her eyes twenty yards away and sixty feet high, “Up there?” she gulped.
“Yes, it’s an old system that was installed before the time of Gorax the Great. If you can get up there and activate the system, it will electronically reinforce the walls.”
“So, like a force field?”
“Yes, yes. A force field will be activated. Dumakas will not have a chance to break through.”
“How do we turn it on?”
“First, we have to access that room. No one has been there for centuries.”
“How do you know it still works?”
“We do not, but it’s our only shot.”
The palace rocked more with several incoming shells from the south.
“They’ve opened fire on a second front, my Lady! I’m afraid we do not have much time!” the aide panicked.
“Do you know how to activate that machine up there?”
Laboolaron came around the corner and entered the war room with the two guards and Tumaleka.
“My Lady? What can I do to help you?” Laboolaron said, going down to one knee.
“Stand to your feet. You are not yet pardoned. However, I need all the help I can get. Dumakas is going to storm the palace.”
“By your word, my Lady,” Laboolaron said, standing to his feet, “I am here as your servant.”
Danielle climbed on the back of her aide, “You will take me to that power room. Laboolaron, I need your expertise in fighting Dumakas. He is attacking on two fronts.”
Warlords Saga Page 37