Defender of the Empire: Cadet #1

by Catherine Beery

  “Right.” I said thinking fast. “Have either of you isolated the signal yet?” I asked Marius and Jason. Both shook their heads. “Right.’ I said again.

  “She keeps saying that.” Westley said softly to no one in particular watching me.

  I ignored him and turned to Jason. “Can you hail the Telmicks?”

  “Never had a problem with them. Why do you want to talk to them?”

  “I have an idea.” I replied.

  “Right.” Jason mimicked me before tapping on his console.

  The leader of the mercenaries appeared once again on the view screen. He arched a brow at us, which caused a few of the tattoos on his face to form strange shapes. “Have you decided to return the boy to us?” He asked.

  “That seems to not be a wise idea at the moment since your employers are firing at you.” I observed.

  He gave me a disgruntled look. “That was a stray shot, child.”

  It was my turn to raise a brow at him. “Really? After all this time? I think they are cleaning house. They seem to favor no one witnessing their activities.” I said. I had no idea if that was actually true or not, but it made an eerie kind of sense given how no one had once said anything at all about the Zar’dakens being on the prowl once again. I guess it could have been kept quiet, but, somehow, I didn’t think so.

  Before the leader could dismiss me his ship, and thus mine, shook violently. Because he was a Telmick he only swayed. I had the feeling that if I hadn’t been strapped in I would have been out the view screen.

  “Their shields are gone.” Westley informed me.

  I shrugged at the Telmick. “I don’t think that was a stray shot, do you? It also doesn’t seem like either of us have much time, so I propose a trade of sorts. You release us and give us that jamming signal you are using on us. We will then provide you with a decoy to get out of here with your lives. We will even keep your clan name to ourselves so you need not worry about repercussions from us.”

  The leader stared at me a moment before someone on his bridge reported something to him. His expression became cold and grim. “Very well, Child of the Fleet. Know this though, we will owe you nothing if we meet again.”

  I nodded. “Good. I don’t think I would be able to handle the strangeness of the event. Till then, Rylynn out.” I said and he disappeared from the view screen. “Let’s get out of here.” I said before anybody could say anything. Westley’s and Marius’s fingers danced the detachment dance once again. This time, it worked. We pushed away just as a final laser blast slammed into the Telmick vessel. A moment later it exploded. Our hapless LFA spun end over end as its shields were buffeted by the blast.

  Westley scrambled and the LFA stabilized and we found ourselves closer to the Zar’dakens. Wonderful. I thought as we caught our breath. I wondered if the Telmicks had escaped and found that I wasn’t sure if I cared. Cold, right? But there was no love lost between that species and I for so many reasons.

  I turned to Jason. “Did you receive the signal code?” I asked.

  He glanced from me to his console then back. “Yes. Why? What is the plan?”

  “Remember that simulation problem you were having trouble with that one day? I want to do something similar to that. I want you, Jason, to jam the communication between the darts and that warship. While you calibrate that, Marius do you think you could get the attention of the darts?”

  Marius’s green eyes danced. “I’m sure if we fire a few shots at the mother ship the little gnats will notice us.”

  “Wonderful.” I said and I actually meant it. I turned to Westley. “Think you could race a few thousand darts?” I asked.

  He glanced at the scene outside. When he turned back to me he smiled and it lit his hazel eyes. “I can get this baby to go fast. And with a little push from that planet there,” he said nodding his head toward the terrestrial planet we were near, “I’ll give light a run for its money.” I could see the spirit of the daredevil he kept hidden peering at me from the depths of his eyes.”

  “Not to sound slow, but what exactly is the plan?” Jason asked. “When do you want me to jam the signal?”

  I smiled. “Right after Westley brings us back around the planet.”

  ***

  Admiral Francesca L’Seral stared at the dying start that had been the Telmick mercenary ship. Usually this would just be upsetting because there would be no one to question. But this wasn’t usual. There were four cadets who had just died. Four cadets that she had come to save. She wasn’t the only one who was suffering. Captain Wingstar’s voice still haunted her. Ravaged despair had practically strangled him.

  “Did that really just happen?” Ensign Sven asked softly breaking the shocked silence.

  Francesca shoved her grief for the kids down into a locked box that she would brave later and turned to Kem. “Kem, call all the LFGs out of the way. John, get the SCF online.” She told her weapon’s officer. Both men nodded and went about carrying out her orders. “I’ll want a point two second flash on the enemy. We’ll see then if they want to throw in the towel.” She continued.

  “The SCF is online, ma’am.” John said a few moments later.

  Francesca raised her arm, preparing to give the order, and glanced back at Kem to see if all of their people were out of the way. The flash may be very concise, but it was still the core of a star. No one wanted to chance glancing anyone they were not aiming at.

  “All behind the safety line.” Kem announced.

  She turned back toward the view screen and made to swing her arm down when Sven suddenly shouted “Wait!! There is and LFA out there!”

  Francesca froze. “What?” She snapped. “What the hell are they doing?” Sven opened his mouth to reply, but nothing came out. So he closed it and shook his head instead. “Show me.” Francesca ordered. The view screen narrowed its view to a single LFA flying straight at the Zar’daken warship. It rolled and dodged the fire aimed at it with a dexterity that had her holding her breath.

  “That is either one very skilled pilot or a very lucky one.” Ava muttered, her keen eyes glued to the little ship’s progress.

  “I do believe that both options have an equally large responsibility.” Kem said standing near the commander.

  Suddenly the LFA in question veered away from a collision course with the warship and fired a couple laser bolts at it before circling out of sight. Francesca slowly resumed her seat and leaned forward. The LFA reappeared moments later. Its speed was greater now. Which was good because it had attracted the attention of all the darts. They trailed behind the swift little craft like a long cape. Francesca’s eyes narrowed.

  “Tell me, Ava, does that look like a slingshot trajectory to you?” She asked calmly.

  Ava tilted her head in thought before glancing at her console. “It would appear to be so, ma’am.” Ava answered.

  “Kem, get me Captain Wingstar. Radio only.” Francesca said without looking away from the fiery terrestrial planet. Any moment now that little LFA would reappear with even more speed… like it needed any. She heard Kem establish the link to the Hail Mary. “Captain, do you recognize anything familiar about what that LFA is doing?” Francesca asked.

  A moment later she heard Braeden’s chuckle. The pain from earlier was fading with every moment. “Oh yes, admiral. I remember Dr. Kimbridge showing us a simulated solution to a pirate attack on a merchant ship. It had been a creative use of the surroundings to take out multiple foes.”

  “And if I recall correctly, that idea had been put forward by 5th cadet Winter who had said the original idea had come from 5th cadet Sinclair.” She said with a smile. “They are alive, Braeden.”

  At her words the LFA reappeared with the extra speed she had predicted it would have. It was almost faster than her eyes could track. And several LFA lengths behind it were the first of the darts. The ship was heading straight for the warship once again. This time it didn’t veer and Francesca found herself clutching the arm rests of her chair in a death grip. At th
e last millisecond the little craft disappeared and subsequently reappeared on the far side of the warship.

  The darts didn’t make the same micro jump.

  ***

  “YEAH!” Westley whooped as he guided the LFA to circle wide around the doomed warship. We were all grinning and laughing. I blame adrenaline. And Westley was a freaking addict. He laughed like it was all his birthdays and Christmases all at once. And to top it all off, he had been given free rein in a sweet shop.

  I was grinning like an idiot too. My idea had worked. The darts had followed us like a dream and when Jason had jammed the signal between them and the warship they had continued in their predetermined course of action: attack us. They hadn’t been told to micro jump. So they continued, completely blind to the fact that their mother ship was dead in front of them. We watched as the first several hundred whip through the char holes after us and slammed into the mother ship. Each explosion was echoed by the dart’s weapon system detonating. We stared in awe as apocalyptic popcorn bore holes through the Zar’daken ship.

  Desperate lasers tried to stop the flood of kamikaze darts, but they were futile against the sheer numbers against them. Something critical was hit and the anemone shaped warship lit up from the inside before exploding. The resulting shock wave lit the hydrogen gas in an ever expanding bubble. It caught up to us in no time and sent us cruising toward the two waiting Legion Fleet starships.

  “Anyone want to bet how much trouble we are in?” I asked. Each of the guys glanced at me before turning away again.

  Westley tilted his head and after a moment he said. “Whatever happens, we’re in it together.”

  Chapter 29 – A New Favorite Word

  “Well, let’s see where they want us.” Westley said once we were close to the waiting starships. “Jason, patch me through to both of them. Radio if you will.”

  “Done.” Jason said once he hit the proper button.

  “This is 1st cadet Trin requesting permission to dock.” Westley said

  “There is a spot for you on the Terrenza, cadet.” Admiral L’Seral’s authoritative voice said.

  Westley swallowed. “Thank you, admiral.” The transmission from the Terrenza ended once he was done. Westley gestured for Jason to turn off the other when it was clear that the Hail Mary would remain quiet.

  “Is it just me, or did that actually sound like we are in for it?” Marius pondered aloud.

  I sighed, resigned. “We are in for it.”

  “But we just ended the battle!” Jason protested.

  I gave him a sideways look. “That may be, but we also put them in danger by being here.”

  Jason blinked. “But I didn’t have any choice in the matter. I was kidnapped!”

  “Yeah, but we broke orders to come get you ourselves.” I replied.

  Marius turned back to give him a mischievous grin. “We also borrowed this ship without permission.”

  “What?”

  “And now we are returning it.” Westley said piloting the LFA to the open shuttle bay of the Terrenza. With an enviable ease he brought the ship to rest at a lit space and turned off the engine. The shuttle bay doors closed and we disembarked. We were met by medical staff who were quick to see if we needed medical attention. Except for a couple scratches from the original fight on the Telmick ship that Westley and Marius bore we were fine. Jason still had a couple of bruises from his earlier ordeal, but they were light and not even worth the attention given to them.

  Perplexed at our incredible good luck, the medical staff had no choice but to send us on our way. They still had to deal with injured pilots and the backwash from the Hail Mary. We were not quite sure where to go at first, but a crewman soon collected us and brought us to a small meeting room. There were refreshments on the table. Sharing a glance we entered the room. Westley sat down and pondered the table. Marius stood by the wall a little ways down from the door and twirled a throwing knife. I could tell that he was chatting with Zara. His eyes grew slightly distant when he conversed with her. I can only imagine what I look like when I’m talking to the peanut gallery in my head. Meanwhile, Jason and I were playing a mental game of Battle Ship. Jason and I were the only ones to touch the food.

  That was how Commander Ava Singclarion, as she introduced herself, found us. We were quick to stand at attention upon her entrance. She looked us over a moment with a steady navy blue gaze before she said in a crystalline voice “Come, they are ready for you.” Brows raised, we followed her from the room. Commander Singclarion led us to the captain’s private dining room. Waiting for us were Captain Wingstar, a bandage over a gash in his temple, and Admiral L’Seral. Next to the captain was another man with the same silver star that Commander Singclarion had on her collar.

  We followed after Westley and copied his example of standing at attention. We were now expecting a firm word or many for what we had done. I was struggling to stay still under those intense stares. Admiral L’Seral’s bright blue eyes seem to see all the way to our souls. I had to glance at Captain Wingstar to keep from squirming. And that was where I saw something I couldn’t explain. The captain had always had an amazing poker face, but now I could see a tangle of turbulent emotions fighting behind his gaze. They were too stirred up that I couldn’t make sense of them.

  Admiral L’Seral’s lips quirked up on one side and she saluted us. Her action was quickly followed by the other officers in the room. I felt like I had been slapped in the face I was so stunned. I must not have been the only one, because Admiral L’Seral actually grinned at us.

  ***

  After our shock at being saluted by our commanding officers instead of being reprimanded as we had expected, we were invited to dinner. Which explained why they had us brought to the captain’s private dining room. None of us were fools to turn down the meal. A few other senior officers joined us from both ships. The table was a wee bit crowded, but the food was amazing. Stories were told, each giving an idea of their view of events.

  I was quiet for the most part, content to simply be. One of the things I did say was to apologize to Captain Wingstar for the damage done to his ship and crew. Some had died when the Hail Mary was crippled. Others, from both starships, had been lost to Zar’daken darts.

  The captain looked at me for a moment before saying “do you remember when we first met?” I blinked at him before nodding. “Then I assume you remember our conversation.” He continued. “The one where I pressed you for your side of the story?” he clarified in case I had forgotten. How could I have? When I had refused to clear my name he had asked if it had been a coward who had led the hunting Telmicks away from her fellows. Would a coward intentionally attract attention to herself? He had then asked me why a second time. And I had finally told him what my goal had been to be a distraction. When he had asked what my plan had been if I had been caught I had told him that I had hoped I was either dead or in a coma. Not in those words, but close enough. “I remember, sir.” I said aloud.

  “You had put others before yourself; others who had never thanked you, indeed never understood what you would have given for them if we hadn’t transported you out of harm’s way. And now you and your friends put yourselves at risk to save a friend.

  “My entire crew, and the admiral’s crew, chose as you did. And they have more experience and years than you do.” I was told.

  “And now he is saying we are old.” The man who had stood near the captain when we entered said. From the quick introductions I knew him to be Commander Race Quinn. He leaned past the captain to meet my gaze. His humor muted slightly as he continued. “Despite that, the captain is right. We know what we are risking every moment we are on a Legion Fleet starship or wearing the uniform. Besides,” he added with a shrug, “we would have had the fight at some point. I, personally, am glad to have that one over with. The added bonus is we now know the Zar’dakens are up to their old tricks again.”

  “Speaking of the fight being over, what a way to have it end!” Commander Singclarion gri
nned. “Whose idea was it to slingshot around like that and use the Zar’daken’s weapons against themselves?” she asked.

  “Rylynn.” Marius said with a grin. My other two friends nodded.

  I soon found myself the subject of everyone’s interest. It made me uncomfortable. So I deflected, which amused Marius apparently. “That’s all I did.” I said. “The guys did all the hard work. Westley piloted, Marius fired the pot shots, and Jason jammed the signal between the darts and the central computer.” Happily, my ploy worked and the attention went to the boys. Marius shook his head slightly, but engaged in the conversation directed at him.

  Once the conversation was away from me I glanced at captain Wingstar and I met his gray eyes with my own. “You really don’t know what to do with positive attention, do you?” he asked.

  I flushed slightly. “It’s true though. They did all the work.” I repeated.

  “But you came up with the idea.”

  I looked down at my plate before looking back at him. “Captain, may I ask you something?”

  “Sure.” He said taking a bite of the juicy steak.

  “Why did you recommend me to join the Legion Fleet? We only talked the once and Admiral L’Seral told me that you rarely make recommendations.”

  “Because you are what the Fleet needs. You are determined, resourceful, and self-sacrificing.” He replied. He fell silent and I thought that was the end of it when he sighed. I guess he had had an internal debate with himself. “Though those are sound reasons on their own, there is another.” I cocked my head at him when he paused again. He met my gaze and said “I knew your parents, Rylynn. Giving you a place to belong was the least I could do for you and their memory.”

  I stared at him, trying to understand how a Legion Fleet captain could possibly know my long dead parents. How could a pair of colonists know him? Had they been business friends? I knew only that my parents had been good people. That had been the only thing Aunt Sylvie would ever divulge about them. I knew little else and none of that could help me with this mystery.