Jak, Nell, and Aderian were moved by Jona’s determination. Rena stopped as blood dripped down the side of Jona’s large neck. She stepped back. Nell shed a tear and quickly hid it from Rena.
“I want your name!” she yelled.
“Rayne!” he mocked.
“Why were you on the Sim-Sa Gale?”
“Cause they finally captured me after all these years!”
Rena studied him; she saw truth in his tear-filled eyes. She huffed and looked at the man standing next to Jona. “I’ll be back for the other ear.” She headed for the Star Lab but stopped in the doorway. “Rayne, after I take your other ear, I’m going to start taking your feet. Think about that.” She glanced at Jak, Nell, and Aderian and added, “We need to get back.” They all left.
…
“Logan,” Jok Ta’mian muttered. “We’ll not refer to you as Commander any longer. You’ve lost that privilege.”
Commander Dowey raised his hand to object and defend himself but Jok ignored his gesture. The old gray-haired man quieted.
“We’ve no need to ask you any questions. We have all of your communications from late last night. You are leaving here and you will be taken to confinement for the rest of your days, Logan. That’s not negotiable in any way. I’m sorry, old friend.”
“Wait!” he exclaimed. “Not the Exoteric! Right? And not solitary confinement. Right? Please?”
Jok glanced at Investigator Tanner then said, “Logan, you’ve committed treason. Insurrection!” Jok asked loudly and with disgust, “What do you think you should get?”
Logan bowed his head. “Jok, I am just an old man. I won’t last long in solitary.”
“Solitary is what you deserve! Were you involved in the attack upon Copiannis?”
“No! I was not, Jok! Please? I’m telling the truth!”
“Tell me about Janek?”
Logan bowed his head. He assumed the prime had his communiqué from very early that morning.
“I will tell you about Janek.”
“You will tell me about everything you did from the first day of the Emancipation and the institution of the High Guard up to now.”
“And will I receive better treatment?”
Jok didn’t answer him immediately but Logan confessed to a number of his crimes. Jok had to leave the detention room for a short time and deal with an immediate threat to Boone and his daughter, Lorin. Jok gave an order and a small group of intergalactic runners was dispatched from Obipherion to intercept a Stellar Class II transport shuttle operated by Janek and Rowe. He discovered Janek knew about the second teleportation device in Boone’s possession and Janek was given an intercept course to overtake the Night Star. The information came from Commander Dowey.
A small group of High Guard intergalactic runners exited Obipherion and plotted a course to intercept Janek. Boone and the others were unaware of what was happening and the 5th prime wanted to keep the operation covert.
…
Rena, Aderian, Jak, and Nell arrived back at the Star Lab. Rena watched her forces approach the High Guard attack ships. Rumble Leader made his pre-planned move.
Rumble Leader to group: All ships fan out in a wide formation – shoulder-to-shoulder. Keep your distance together as tight as possible.
All ships acknowledged. They spread out shoulder-to-shoulder in a very wide formation. In response, the 178 ships from Isoter copied the maneuver and rejoiced as they saw they out-numbered the High Guard forces 3-to-1. The queen’s forces were shoulder-to-shoulder and approaching quickly.
Rumble Leader to group: We are ten minutes from engagement. Stand by, Group. Captain Eisen, you are a go for engagement. I repeat, go for engagement.
Aboard the Sim-Sa Gale, Captain Eisen smiled as did most of the bridge crew. The chime for battle stations rang out on every deck, though the flight deck remained inactive. The Sim-Sa Gale made an unexpected maneuver.
“Ms. Ellswood, how does their formation look?”
She smiled and answered, “Sir, as expected!” The crew laughed.
“Mr. Grainer? Set for jump?”
“Sir,” he answered. “We are set for jump, coordinates locked in, and ready to initiate.”
“Weapons hot?” Captain Eisen asked.
“Sir, forward laser is charged, phase cannons ready. I am go for engagement.”
Captain Eisen sat down in his captain’s chair, cautiously gripped the armrests and said, “They know all of our ships are deboarded and scattered. Let’s see what ‘we’ can do. Rumble Leader, do you copy?”
“I copy, Captain. On your orders.”
“I give it,” he muttered.
Aboard the Ambulas: “Ma’am! Look! The High Guard is turning back! Ha!” she laughed as Rena, Jak, and Nell joined in. Aderian, though, suspected something. They noticed.
Rena asked, “Adere, what’s wrong?”
As he watched, they saw something appear on the massive hologram.
“Mr. Grainer! Initiate!”
The thirty-nine High Guard ships turned and headed back for Xeraxes. It was a temporary move, though. The Sim-Sa Gale jumped from the orbit of Xeraxes to the outer orbit of Isoter. It appeared exactly where it hoped it would – seconds in front of the 178 ships from Isoter. Most of the queen’s forces were in a long line, abreast of each other.
“Sir!” Ellswood quickly exclaimed. “Adjust 2⁰ port!”
Mr. Grainer made the adjustment quickly and without answering. He added, “Weapons, now! Alignment complete! They have reached our line of fire!”
Captain Eisen stood and studied the hologram – a line of 178 ships, abreast, were fired upon with the Gale’s forward-mounted laser in conjunction with a host of phase cannons. The Gale pummeled the successive line of ships.
“No!” Rena shouted as the Gale appeared out of nowhere. “COM,” she yelled. “Warn them! Tell them to disperse!”
Rena stepped closer to the surreal images of planets, ships, and the mighty Sim-Sa Gale. Jak, Nell, and Aderian gasped. Qwi'mae placed her hands on her face in an attempt to hide her expression of horror. Most of the queen’s ships briefly exploded then began to horrifically list and drift, decimated in space. Shock filled the Star Lab as rejoicing filled the bridge of the Sim-Sa Gale.
Ms. Ellswood exclaimed, “Sir, I’m counting now but it seems the maneuver was a tremendous success! Uh, seventy-five, eighty-seven, Sir! Well over a hundred are now listing in space!”
“Mr. Grainer, keep your distance. Rumble Leader?”
“Sir, standing by.”
“Proceed with your orders. I will recall some of our ships to seek survivors.”
“Copy, Sir! I’m tracking seventeen ships fleeing toward Isoter. I will engage them. Rumble Leader out.”
Captain Eisen sat down and sighed. “Ms. Ellswood, we will assist survivors. See if you can track any. Mr. Jamisen, listen to the COM and see if there are any distress calls. We don’t want them to think we are cold-blooded.”
Everyone responded with an ‘Aye-aye-Sir.’ The Gale slowly approached the drifting ships to search for survivors. There were a few.
Aboard the Ambulas, disbelief overwhelmed Rena and her crew. She glared and fumed as hatred and fury ignited more evil plans.
Rena said, “Qwi'mae, contact Crenna, on Isoter. Have them evacuate the compound as soon as possible.” She stormed toward the exit and huffed, “They will pay for that!”
“Rena?” Aderian asked. “Where are you going? What are you doing?”
She stopped and gazed at him. She answered, “First, we are repairing all of our systems, then we are going to the Exoteric, I ‘know’ Kwelling is there. Others are there as well. Then, we are dealing with Obipherion once and for all! They will pay! Dearly! And I’m going to dissect that brute down there piece-by-piece and send the recording to every High Guard outpost!”
“Don’t do that! I think you need to go and cool off, first! We’re all angry right now and that’s how mistakes are made!”
She slowly walked up
to him and came face to face. “Adere, I’m so glad you said ‘we’ are all angry because, for a moment, I thought you were getting soft for that infiltrator. Are you getting soft? Adere?”
Aderian smirked and answered, “Rena, I’m not getting soft, I’m human. You… you are something else right now and it scares me.” He glanced at Jak, Nell, Qwi'mae, and a few other workers. “It scares all of us.” Rena frowned. “Please? Go and cool off. Think about what you’re doing.”
Rena huffed, stormed out of the exit and they followed her at a distance. He wanted to make sure she wasn’t going to carry out her last suggestion. Aderian didn’t know who exactly the man was but he knew he didn’t deserve a slow death. As Aderian, Jak, and Nell followed, they saw Rena go to the bridge.
“Jak, Nell, follow her. Make sure she cools off. OK?”
Jak and Nell nodded then left. Aderian headed for the brig.
Chapter 13
The Night Star left the Obipherion star system. Commander Shadowback had turned back for Obipherion after a warm and honorable salute, goodbyes were all said, and everyone was seated and anticipating a very long-awaited explanation from Boone. The silence was nerve-racking and Boone noticed. He was studying the instrumentation, making a slight course correction, and contemplating his demise. He smirked then slowly turned his cockpit chair around to face them all. Terra was seated in the cockpit chair next to him. Lorin and Pryce sat behind them, and Phia and Mace sat behind them. They waited. Boone bowed his head and sighed.
“I guess this is it. It’s my turn, huh?”
Lorin was the first to speak. “I promise you, you ‘will’ feel much better after you do. Just start from the beginning. OK?”
Boone glanced at Pryce; he nodded. Boone sighed again and wiped his face. Then he proceeded to explain a very painful day.
“It was not a good day to start with. I got into a big argument with my dad. Hmm, I never called him dad. It was always, Sir or Colonel. We had been arguing all that day. Well, actually, he yelled and I listened. Finally, that evening, I told him I already joined the High Guard. My junior Kovan flight status allowed me, and Mace too, to be junior officers in the High Guard.” Boone bowed his head and wiped a tear. “My dad, he was furious. He practically disowned me. I don’t know why he hated the new system so much but when I left, well, those were our last words.”
Everyone watched and listened with compassion. Mace sat with his arms folded and a despondent look on his face.
“I lifted off in my flyer and went to Mace’s house. We were going to spend the night there. This was the day before the signing. The next morning, we would report to the Kovan Defense Force Command deck. We were all supposed to stay there and witness the signing on massive holograms. They were signing the declaration on Abdom Center. After they signed, we would all become High Guardsmen. That was the plan. But,” he sighed.
“Someone tried to take advantage of the forgiveness act?” Lorin asked.
“Yes,” Boone answered. “The moment the signing was done, all off-world prisoners were to be released. That’s what my dad hated. I don’t blame him! There should have been trials or something.”
“Boone,” Lorin added. “It was a key condition in the treaty. They wouldn’t have it any other way. The wars would be over.”
“I know,” he muttered. “But, some of them were just murderers. Anyway, I got to Mace’s place, had something to eat, then my mom calls. She’s frantic! She said the Bray family, Lucas, his wife, Blake, and his daughter – our friend, Jess, called for help. They were asking for my dad but dad was… I don’t know where he went! He wasn’t there! So, mom called me.” Boone looked at Mace; Mace had a concerned look on his face. Boone added, “My mom said the Bray’s left Abdom Center a few days ago and were on the outer edge of the Kovan System during a no-fly order. They were going to land on Kova to comply.”
Lorin nodded but looked confused. Pryce said, “Lorin, the day of the signing all ships were grounded.”
“Yeah,” Terra added. “All ships in every system! So, Boone, this was happening when?”
“About nine hours before morning, nine hours before Emancipation Declaration Day. My mom said the Bray’s told her they were being followed then they were shot at. By some ship.” Boone looked at Mace.
Mace continued, “We bolted out of there! But, we didn’t have anything to fight with or protect them. Our flyers were too slow and the weapons on them were worthless. They couldn’t shoot down a… well, we went back to Boone’s.”
Boone said, “We took the Gua… Night Star and launched. My dad was nowhere to be found. My mom didn’t know where he was! We flew up and orbited Kova and searched for the Bray’s.”
Mace said, “That took a while, too. We finally contacted them and we gave them instructions on how to evade the Amity’s phase cannons. They were being fired upon! We were mad!”
Phia asked, “Why were they fired upon? Who fired? Wasn’t that against the law? Didn’t the Kovan Defense react?”
“No,” Mace replied. “The hails from the Taurus 7 went unanswered. They were on stand-down, getting ready for the signing. So, Boone caught up to that ship.”
“That ship,” Boone said, “was a Pereon luxury liner and it had weapons for self-defense. And while it was shooting they were broadcasting as though they were being fired upon! I was furious. Liars! Evil liars! I’ll never forget that day.”
Boone: Taurus 7, Mr. Bray? This is Guardian King! Are you all OK?
Taurus 7: Finn? Is that you? They are firing at us! We’ve been hit! What do we do? Kova Command ordered us to land but they won’t answer!
Boone: It’s Boone, Mr. Bray. Stand by!
Boone nodded to Mace then Mace flipped a switch.
Boone: Kova Command! Emergency! Do you copy? Taurus 7 is under attack! Respond!
Kova Command: This is Kova Command. Guardian King? Commander Finn? We are tracking you. You’re supposed to be grounded. What’s your status? You’re cutting it close. Two hours until midnight! You have grounding orders.
Boone: Haven’t you been tracking Taurus 7?
Boone checked his console for the attacking ship's designation.
Boone: It’s a Pereon starliner chasing a transport!
Kova Command: You’re not Commander Finn. Who is this?
Mace: Answer the question! That Pereon starliner is…
Kova Command: This is an order, Guardian King. Do not engage that starliner. It is a diplomatic vessel and it is on business concerning the declaration! You are ordered to land.
Mace: It’s firing at the Taurus!
Amity Solace: This is Pereon starliner, Amity Solace! I am Pereon diplomat, Yulee Braconna, under-secretary to the defense minister! The Taurus 7 is firing upon us, trying to stop the signing of our planet terms agreement! Help!
Boone looked at Mace; they glared at each other.
Boone: What did he say? I can’t believe it! Kova Command, that’s not true! They are lying.
Kova Command: Guardian King! You are ordered to disengage!
Boone studied the position of the Taurus and the Amity. The Amity was gaining on the Taurus every time the Taurus adjusted to port or starboard. The Amity had fired upon the Taurus several times and hit a vital substation in the ship's aft section. Boone surmised that was how the luxury liner was gaining on the Taurus.
Boone: Taurus! You are one minute from Kovan orbit. Fly directly at me!
Taurus 7: OK.
Boone: Break off on my mark!
Boone jetted toward the Taurus. The Amity was lined up with the Taurus and the Guardian King in a straight line.
Boone: Now!
Boone shouted. Mace launched a flurry of powerful phaser fire just as the Taurus adjusted to port. The Amity adjusted as well and broke off to its starboard. A few blasts from the Guardian King grazed the Amity and Boone flew right between the two dispersing ships.
Kova Command: This is Kova Command! Guardian King! You are ordered to let the Amity pass! You are in danger of…<
br />
Mace: Hey! Can’t you guys hear what we’re saying?
Kova Command: We are launching ships, Guardian King!
As the Taurus took advantage of the Guardian King’s cover fire, it headed for the planet which was just seconds away. The Guardian King slowly banked to its port to rejoin the fracas but the Amity had already targeted the Taurus immediately after the Guardian King flew past it.
Amity Solace: Help! The Taurus and the Guardian King is firing upon us! What is this? Help! Kova Command!
The Amity fired consecutive blasts. The Taurus was hit and an engine caught on fire. High above the planet, the Guardian King was bearing upon the Amity. Boone nodded to Mace and Mace launched a steady volley of phaser fire. The Amity was struck. A section of its wide wing was devastated. It slowly spun toward the planet in a wide pattern, its engines trying to compensate while a short distance away, the Taurus slowly burned on its way down into the thermosphere. Boone and Mace looked at each other.
Mace: Boone, who do we follow? I say we follow Jess!
Boone: Me, too! But, if we save that diplomat, we can turn him in! The truth will come out! Right? And won’t the Bray’s make it down alright?
Mace checked the console: No! We are directly above the Tahonic. (Kova’s largest ocean). Boone!
They both immediately stood and peeked over the wide instrument console of the Guardian King. They saw the Amity’s after-explosion. It blew apart and pieces of it quickly dispersed and began to flare and catch fire as it fell through the thermosphere toward the vast ocean below. They sat down and glared at each other.
Boone: Let’s follow Jess. Hope they make it.
Taurus 7: Boone? I don’t think we’re gonna make it.
Boone: Ha, of course, you are. I’ll talk you through it.
Boone looked at Mace and glared, hoping he could.
Boone: Cut your engines! Now!
Taurus 7: OK.
Return of the Guardian King Page 16