Return of the Guardian King

by John E Bujanowski Jr

  Le’Jept entered a quiet and secure room to answer the COM via hologram. He was working in the COM Center in the Pereon capital city called, O’Cron. Le'Jept was in his late twenties. He had short blonde hair and several light-colored orange and blue blotches on his body. He was not a pure-blooded Axeon but the small orange blotch on the left side of his chin indicated he was more Axeon than he was Pereon. It was a disgrace for him to be considered part Axeon, from his father’s side, and he was more disconcerted he could do nothing about it. He always wore long-sleeved fashionable pullovers to hide the orange and bluish blotches that dotted his right arm and left wrist.

  The young commander answered, “This is Commander Braconna. Who is this?” he asked impatiently, his time he considered precious.

  “This is an old friend, Le’Jept. Remember?”

  Le'Jept studied the old face and said, “Officer Alphetombe'?”

  “UT! No names, please? You might be overheard. I’ll be brief, someone is coming to Kova. You might be interested.”

  Alphetombe' displayed an image of a man’s face. Several headlines were displayed above the man’s face. It was Boone Nova and the headlines read, ‘Gamma Weapon Hero Answers Eight-Year-Old Warrant.’

  Le'Jept quickly stood, stunned by the announcement. “Sir! Thank you! I know exactly what to do. I’ll see to it. Where is he?”

  “I hope you will take care of this problem. You own me, dearly. Understand?” They both nodded to each other. “He is in an old Zenith Class 2 gunship called, the Night Star. He will pass by Pereon in one day.”

  Le'Jept nodded to Alphetombe'. Alphetombe' nodded back and ended the holographic message. Le'Jept made a call to some old friends.

  …

  Rumble Leader led his two groups, Sky Leader and Deck Leader, into orbit above the planet, Isoter. His thirty-two dark brown attack ships were escorting seven Interplanetary Class 2 gunships. Rumble Leader decided they would all act as one group. He fully expected some opposition even though the Sim-Sa Gale destroyed the queen’s group of 178 ships. He anticipated some resistance once his fleet entered the atmosphere, most likely using the clouds to work against them. Sky Leader was a woman with long red hair, Deck Leader was piloting a gunship. He was an older man.

  Rumble Leader: Sky Leader?

  Sky Leader: I copy. What’s your plan, Rumble Leader?

  Rumble Leader: Due to the cloud coverage down there, I think we will enter 400 miles north of Kopiter. Nothing but blue skies there. We’ll stay in the stratosphere and maintain an altitude of 20 miles. We’ll see anything that comes at us and I fully expect more to come at us. Copy, Sky Leader, Deck Leader?

  Sky Leader: I copy.

  Deck Leader: I copy.

  Rumble Leader: Deck Leader, your gunships will follow Sky Leader group. Copy?

  Deck Leader: I copy.

  Rumble Leader: We also have a small force of High Guard attack ships approaching Kopiter from the south. They’re from the capital city [I’otta] and they will help out. Let’s do it!

  Rumble Leader headed down toward the planet, his fleet following. From a position 400 miles north of Kopiter, the skies were clear and the fleet of High Guard attack ships could see the light and dark brown rugged features of deserts, scrubland, and land masses dotted with a handful of small blue bodies of water. As they dove downward, Rumble Leader let his 2nd in command take the lead. He would monitor the attack from behind and alter his strategy if needed.

  Sky Leader led her thirty-two ships down into the stratosphere with Deck Leader and his seven larger gunships close behind. She was the first to notice ships of various sizes and speeds approach them from below. It was a surreal scene as the entire Rumble Group watched ship after ship, from locations in front of them and on all sides slowly lift off and head skyward. Rumble Group saw three separate queen forces. One from the east, one from the south, and one from the west. Sky Leader smiled and went into action.

  Sky Leader: Everyone, form a single line behind me. I will tell you when to disperse. We will engage the ships ascending from the west. They are closer. We will draw them into a single line formation. That way they can’t attack from a wide dispersed maneuver. Try to stay together once we engage. Copy?

  Everyone copied and they followed her westward. The queen’s ships headed toward Sky Group in a wide pattern. There were twenty-nine ships coming at the thirty-two High Guard ships and they were five miles out. Sky Group watched and followed Sky Leader’s amazing maneuvers.

  Flying at twenty miles above the deck, she waited for the approaching ships to reach her altitude. They foolishly did. Since the oncoming force was now less than five miles away, she dove down toward the deck. Her fleet followed. The maneuver forced the queen’s ships to dive down as well, forcing them to converge toward Sky Leader’s single line of ships. The queen’s group was now a tighter group. With less than a mile from confrontation, Sky Leader banked away and let her group create a side-by-side formation. They flew abreast, above, and below one another, creating a tight group. They fired at the queen’s gunners and dispersed the group. Most of the queen’s gunners were quickly cut down. Ships were exploding and falling toward the planet. Sky Leader’s attack group took some damage as two of her ships were disabled. The two ships headed for the deck below.

  Rumble Leader: Sky Leader, forty-two ships are converging from the south! They’re five minutes out! I also see our High Guard ships from I’otta gaining on them. They are two minutes behind them and they only have twenty ships in all. Also, thirty-eight ships are almost on you from the east. Please advise.

  Sky Leader: I copy. Deck Leader, land your ships, pick up our two pilots, and take a defensive posture against the southern force. Rumble Leader, assist Deck Leader and command the approaching High Guard force from I’otta. Deal with that southern attack force of forty-two ships from the ground. Sky Group! We’re engaging the thirty-eight ships from the east. Follow me! High loop, downward folly! Copy?

  Everyone knew the maneuver well and were happy to oblige. They all copied and followed Sky Leader. As the third queen force of thirty-eight ships approached them from the east at ten miles out, Sky Leader quickly led half her ships -- fifteen, straight into the high sky. The remaining fifteen ships would hug the deck and head toward the thirty-eight ships from below and hopefully go unnoticed. Sky Leader was going to repeat her previous maneuver only this time, from a high altitude.

  She ascended into the upper stratosphere, drawing the opposing attack force up toward her and once again the queen’s forces grouped together. Upon reaching a high altitude, she then descended toward the oncoming force below. She banked away and ordered her fifteen ships to form a tight group maneuver. Sky Group bunched together and would fire directly upon them from above. What went unnoticed was her attack force from the deck. Her other fifteen ships were approaching the thirty-eight ships as they climbed. Seven of the queen’s attack force noticed them and engaged the deck force. Nonetheless, the seven ships that saw them and attacked were cut down due to the armor plating and powerful phase cannons of the High Guard attack ships. Both forces, Sky Force and the force from the deck engaged the remaining thirty-one ships and it resulted in a wide massive melee.

  While Sky Force engaged the remaining thirty-one ships at high altitudes, Rumble Leader managed Deck Leader and the oncoming queen force of forty-two ships from the south. The High Guard ships from I’otta were minutes behind the southern force.

  Rumble Leader: Deck Leader, disband and execute Scatter Maneuver!

  Deck Leader: I copy, Rumble Leader.

  The deck force, seven large Interplanetary Class 2 gunships each containing a dozen High Guardsmen, quickly landed and assisted the two downed Sky Force ships. A few other disabled ships managed to safely land and join them. The large gunships executed a precision landing maneuver – they landed at a 45⁰ angle with respect to the approaching southern force. It was a prepared and tactical move as the distinct ground formation allowed for minimal damage from an attack ab
ove.

  The guardsmen, made up of strong well-trained men and women, wore phase-armored gear and carried powerful phase rifles. Three guardsmen from each of the seven gunships were ordered to carry a shoulder-mounted phase cannon and each Guard leader carried a shoulder-mounted EMP cannon.

  Once the eighty-four guardsmen exited the gunships, they executed a pre-planned ground force maneuver. They dispersed over a wide area and created large diagonal rows at 45⁰ angles for minimal loss of casualties. They all knelt down, shouldered their weapons, and waited for the oncoming force of forty-two queenships. Each group leader, eight in all which carried the shoulder-mounted EMP cannons ran to the front of the formation and well beyond their squads. They would be the first line of defense.

  Rumble Leader flew over the surreal sight – his ground force gallantly preparing to fight. He flew over them and headed straight for the oncoming force just seconds away. The ground force yelled and shouted as they witnessed the gall and courage of their fleet commander. His armor-plated attack ship took on the fiery blasts from the two lead gunners – the gunners, though, were unable to converge upon Rumble Leader all at once. Rumble Leader flew into the evil-driven fleet and sent heavy barrages of phaser fire, attempting to punch a hole into the mighty force. He suffered heavy damage but successfully destroyed more than a handful of the fragile gunners. The ground force shouted and cheered. Then the force of forty-two ships, now cut down to thirty-six, arrived at the ground force. The queen’s pilot’s laughed at the feeble attempt from the High Guard.

  The ground force squad leaders fired successive EMP blasts. Several lead ships were hit and suddenly malfunctioned – the pilots wondered what was happening to their ships. They slowly drifted and caused several crashes. The force was now cut down to twenty-nine. They began strafing the ground force. The ground force fired back and many hit their targets. Handfuls of guardsmen fell as handfuls of ships exploded and fell to the ground in fiery heaps.

  Sky Leader and her remaining ships regrouped and headed toward the ground force. The queen’s ships, having made one pass over the ground force, saw Sky Force approaching. They bolted. Sky Leader quickly assessed the battle. Rumble Leader safely landed his damaged ship.

  Rumble Leader: I’otta force! Protect my men on the ground. They are being strafed! Sky Leader, assist!

  I’otta Leader: I copy! We’re here!

  Sky Leader: I copy! We’re here, too. We have them on the run! Deck Leader, board your men, take the compound!

  Sky Leader designated some of her forces to chase the surviving gunners fleeing the battle. She had some ships assist those shot down and some who had ejected safely. She also ordered one gunship to gather the guardsmen killed from the strafing gunners and she had some escort the gunships to the compound.

  Rumble Leader was picked up by one of the gunships and he joined his men as they landed and took the compound with little opposition. The queen’s small fighting force inside the compound consisted of a few dozen men and women who refused to follow her orders to evacuate. They felt their 178 ships in space and their sixty-seven gunners from the ground would be enough to defend their cause. They gravely miscalculated.

  The battle assessment was quickly sent to the Sim-Sa Gale which in turn sent it directly to the Court of Primes. The court decided the presence of more High Guardsmen were need immediately on the planet, Isoter. Hundreds of guardsmen were then dispatched from Efferium and Xeraxes.

  Chapter 15

  The Night Star had sailed beyond the 3rd system of Arkitrosis and would soon pass by the 2nd system, Pereon. Boone tried to keep to himself but he was continually bombarded with questions and encouragement. Phia also made it a point to interfere with any private meetings he might have with Lorin. She was very jealous of Lorin and Lorin knew it and tried to talk to her about it but Phia didn’t believe her. She was too obsessed with Boone to listen to reason. Phia’s animosity toward Lorin grew stronger as the days passed.

  In spite of the ridiculousness of it, Boone agreed to train with Pryce and Terra in hand-to-hand combat. The only thing Boone found beneficial was the physical exercise and the needed distraction. After a full afternoon of exercise with everyone, followed by a hot meal together, Boone went into his cabin on the third deck, slid the door shut, and tried to sleep.

  Everyone saw the anguish he was in but thought it best to let him have some quiet time, everyone but Phia and Lorin. They could not let Boone emotionally fall apart and do nothing. They followed close behind but unaware.

  Boone’s sleep fled from him. Moments later, as he lay face up on his bed with tears trickling down his face. His mind was reeling with a host of emotions and concerns and he wished for the one thing he loved to do – flee. He desperately wanted to climb up into the shuttle, detach unaware, and head for the nearest desolated place he could find. It’s what he always did and he loathed the flight he was on and the reasons for it.

  “Pereon is one day away. This is really happening! I’ve never done this before but my mom says it’s true, Zay'Geis says it’s true, even the 5th prime. So, Lord, I am asking. Please? Help me.” Though he didn’t speak a word, he felt something stir inside of him. He wiped his tears as quickly as they came. “Please? Please? Help Jona. Please, Lord? I am asking for that. Bring him back to me. Stop me from making these very foolish decisions! Help him!” Boone blew out a loud long stressful sighed. He added, “Jok said You would bring on them their own iniquity, and You will cut them off in their own wickedness. When?” he cried and whimpered with disgust. “When, Lord? When?”

  During Boone’s humble prayer, he didn’t ask much for himself. He was too ashamed. The words Zay'Geis spoke days ago echoed in his mind.

  “Boone? Aren’t you the one to always say people should do the right thing? Don’t you say that a lot? You didn’t do the right thing that day and I think you have been paying for it all this time. This whole matter is about your integrity. Don’t you think the Father wants you to do what’s right? Don’t you think the Father has been calling you to go back there and make things right? Boone, do you hear Him calling you back?”

  He rolled onto his belly, buried his face in his hands and quietly wept. He finally accepted the simple fact his mom and Zay'Geis had explained to him – past mistakes are very, very costly. He cried and prayed for forgiveness.

  Standing outside his door, Phia and Lorin could not listen to his crying and do nothing. Though they didn’t know what he was doing or going through, they decided to intervene. Mace, Pryce, and Terra were standing behind them encouraging them to leave him alone. But, Phia and Lorin couldn’t do it. His door slid open and he sat up on his bed. They slowly and carefully entered. Mace, Pryce, and Terra stood in the doorway, afraid to enter but needed to see what would happen. Everyone was speechless and everyone had a tear to wipe. Lorin sat down on his right side as Phia sat down on his left side. They both put their arms around him.

  “Zay'Geis thinks prayer will help me.” He looked at Mace. “Us.” Mace nodded. “I want everyone to pray for Jona. I’m afraid. And I know I made another dumb decision telling him to go.” Boone bent over and put his face in his hands again and quietly cried.

  At the mention of Jona’s name, everyone had more tears. “I made a very bad decision a long time ago, with the Guardian King.” He looked up at Mace then he stood and went over to him. “Mace,” he mumbled. “This is all my fault. Zay'Geis said I should have gone straight to Command. I’m sorry, buddy. I’m so sorry.” Mace and Boone hugged and Pryce joined in.

  Phia said, “Boone, you don’t know that for sure. You might be right but maybe you did the right thing.”

  He looked at her and thought she was crazy but Lorin was nodding.

  “Boone,” Lorin said. “If the COM officer had something to do with all of this, she’s right. You might have been caught up in worse trouble. We don’t know.”

  “I know this doesn’t sound like me,” Boone said. “But my mom says prayer works. So does Zay'Geis. I want everyone to s
ay a prayer for Jona.”

  “OK,’ Phia replied. “We all will.”

  Lorin said, “Boone, maybe we should call your mom. I think you would feel a lot better if we could all talk to her. And your dad, he might have some answers, too.”

  “OK!” Boone answered quickly. “That’s a great idea. Mom is good with the prayer and wisdom stuff and dad, well, I haven’t spoken to him since the day he told me to leave Kova and gave me the Guardian King.”

  Terra said, “It’s 2 AM there, now. We should wait till morning.”

  “Yes,” Boone answered. “We’ll wait. I feel better, though. I gonna ask Him again for Jona. Terra, is there any way we can find out how he’s doing? Or what’s going on?”

  “I’ll see.”

  The Pereon system had eleven planets, two which were habitable, Pereon and Coregon. Pereon was warm and dry. Coregon was larger and lay beyond Pereon’s orbital path and was much cooler. It had some very cold land masses which were barely livable. On occasions, both planets experience varying forms of climate change when their orbital paths near each other.

  Pereon’s outermost planet was called, Noksis. Noksis was a gas covered planet and very toxic. On one of Noksis’ small barren moons, a small group of ships sat and waited – a luxury starliner, an old rugged attack ship which flew escort for the starliner, two well-maintained space gunners, and a small cargo ship. They waited for Boone Nova and the Night Star to pass by.

  …

  Aderian scurried from alcove to alcove, hiding and making his way toward the back of the ship. Jona followed close behind. They were on the lowest deck and were heading toward the very top of the ship – an egress bay.

  “What’s your plan?” Jona demanded as they cautiously hid and ran from alcove to alcove. Aderian led him into an empty room.

  “Look, we don’t have time to waste. She is going to find out any minute. Granted, we could hide from them for years aboard a ship this size but we need to get off before she reaches Adjelon! So, if you want to live, stop slowing me down with these questions!”