by Unknown
Athtari's red hair framed a fierce continence. A graduate from the same Academy class as Cadet Adam, she knew Luc well. Luc's star pupil, Caligastia, had killed her husband, G'bril. This fight would mean a lot to her.
"Sir, the Bila is in position. All squadrons are ready for launch."
Elo nodded. "Very well, Over-Lieutenant. You should be receiving the feed from the probe sent to the dark side of the planet. The ship is the Tintir-Ki. Originally a science vessel, she has since been refitted. She carries at least four squadrons of fighters, pulse cannons and torpedoes. I want you to keep her busy while I capture her captain."
"Aye, sir."
Athtari didn't waste any time asking for a rundown. Elo appreciated that. He knew she would appreciate the next tidbit. "Her captain is Luc."
A feral gleam sparkled in her eyes. The corner of her mouth turned up. "He will have no hole to run to, Captain."
Elo shared her passion. "Thank you, Athtari. Elo out."
If Luc thought Bila was just a freighter, he was about to be given a rude surprise. Enhanced with a huge hanger bay holding six squadrons of Celestial fighters and carrying the latest in defensive armaments, she was a force. Further, Over-Lieutenant Athtari was an adept commander.
The E'den shuddered. She shuddered a second time.
"Shields down twenty percent, but holding," said tactical.
Elo looked over at his gunnery officer. "Guns, I thought you were going to take care of those cannons."
"Sorry, Captain. They were protected by a missile battery. You might note I said were protected, sir. We'll be through their shields shortly."
Elo wasn't displeased with his gunnery officer. He knew Guns was the best in the Fleet, regardless of who else made the claim. Still, Guns couldn't help Elo capture Luc and a capture was what Elo wanted.
His screens showed that the Tintir-Ki's fighters had formed into two groups. One to escort the Captain's Barge and, to a lesser extent, the other two. The second group flew cover, keeping themselves between the barges and Elo's fighters. "Tactical, give me an update."
"Sir, we lost two fighters when the Melchiorians jumped us. The rest of Red Squadron is enroute with Yellow Squadron, ETA thirty seconds. We'll reengage at that time. The Bila has launched three squadrons."
Elo followed the progress of the shuttles. The Tintir-Ki was about to break the horizon. He needed to force the shuttles to turn away from their mother ship to give Yellow Squadron a chance to engage. "Tactical, I want a spread to torpedoes to detonate between the Captain's Barge and the Tintir-Ki. Don't hit the barge. I want it intact, but I don't want it anywhere near the Tintir-Ki. Got it? Make sure the Bila knows the detonation zone."
"Aye, sir."
Elo sat back to watch the show. The blips danced on his screen to the accompaniment of the rhythmic thumping of E'den's pulse cannons firing at the southern sector. It was the symphony of battle.
The torpedoes showed up on Elo's tactical screen. None of the Melchiorian fighters broke off to intercept. The torpedoes flashed past the formation and began exploding in front of the shuttles. The Captain's Barge dove down toward the planet and began streaking away toward the horizon. Yellow Squadron engaged the Melchiorians providing rear guard while Red Squadron gave chase to the Captain's barge.
Elo felt the loss of each pilot as their transponder code disappeared from his screen. A squadron form the Bila joined in. The Melchiorians were skilled, but outnumbered. Both sides suffered losses in the intense combat. One of the shuttles dropped off Elo's screen, then the second one. Elo warned the tactical officer, "I want that barge intact."
"Aye, Captain," said the tactical officer.
"Got 'em!"
Elo looked around to find the source of the outburst. It was Guns. He was all grins.
"Scratch one battery of pulse cannons."
Elo gave him a brief nod. "Good job, Guns."
"Captain, I have a hail from the Bila."
"On screen," said Elo. "Yes, Over-Lieutenant. What is it?"
"Sir, it's about the Tintir-Ki," said Athtari. "We're only receiving a minimum of defensive fire, and that short-range, small bore weaponry. No torpedoes, no pulse cannons. Mostly she's hiding behind her shields."
Elo drew his brows, thinking. You don't think she's trying to lure you in?"
Athtari shook her head in the negative. "Sir, I'm thinking this may be all she has."
Elo absently tapped his fingers on his armrest while he weighed the evidence.
"Sir?"
Elo looked around. It was Commander Crane, the XO. "Yes, Commander?"
"Begging the Captain's pardon," he began, "I was on board when the Tintir-Ki was refitted. The Sultan didn't spend much on the unproven foreign captain. I believe she took her armaments and transferred them t the surface to protect whatever it is they are doing there."
Elo pondered Commander Crane's supposition. It was plausible. It did raise the question of what Luc was doing on Gliesse. Was he after the gold and iridium or was it something else? He had settled and reinforced Lieutenant S'rah's laboratory site. Obviously, he was uplifting, but for what purpose?
There was no doubt in Elo's mind that Luc still harbored ambitions to overthrow the Ancient of Days. Off loading his big guns and missile launchers would leave more room on board for troops and treasure. Elo came to a decision. "I agree."
"If that's the case, Captain," said Athtari, "I would like permission to try and capture the Tintir-Ki."
Elo considered the request. It was bold. So like Athtari. It also made a lot of sense. It would lessen the strength of the Melchiorians and deal a blow to Luc. Not to mention the captain and crew of the capturing ship received a hefty bonus from the Most High. "Granted."
The tactical officer broke in. "Sir, you might want to listen to Red Squadron. They have the barge cornered."
Elo selected Red Squadron's frequency.
"Careful, Red Two. The captain wants a capture not a kill."
"Tell that to whoever is driving that barge."
"Red Four, Red Three. What are you doing? Specify your target. That's Red Two─"
The transmission ended abruptly. Elo checked his tactical screen. Red Two's transponder was gone.
"Red Leader, Red Three. Red Four's gone rogue. He's attacking us."
Elo knew what was happening. Luc's ability as a psycophoner had grown. He could enter the minds of other people and control them. How many can he control at the same time?
It was against good practices for the captain to interfere directly in a tactical operation, but Elo couldn't sit back and do nothing while Luc took control over his people. He stepped into the battle. "Red Leader, this is the E'den, Captain Elo speaking. Disengage. I say again, disengage."
Red Leader responded, "Roger, E'den. Red Squadron, you heard the man, disengage."
Elo watched his tactical screen. The cluster of targets veered away from the Captain's Barge. Elo saw Red Four's target disappear.
"Scratch Red Four," said Red Leader.
Elo said nothing. Battlefield justice was harsh.
"Captain!" The urgent call came from the communications officer. "The probe indicates someone is dropping out of warp just beyond the planet's curvature."
A quick look at his screens showed Elo that Luc was making full speed toward the new ship.
"E'den this is Red Leader. What are our orders?"
The communications officer reported, "Captain, the probe ID'd the new vessel as a Melchiorian corvette. The skipper claims to be a Commander Caligastia."
"Captain, this is Red Leader. What are our orders?"
"Sir, " said Comm, "the Bila reports the Tintir-Ki has struck her colors."
Elo sighed. He knew he couldn't catch the barge now or the corvette once it turned to run. Corvettes were built for speed and this one already had momentum. Even if he could catch it, both Luc and Caligastia were powerful psychics and Elo had none among his crew. He accepted the hand he was dealt. Luc was going to escape. "Red Leader, E'den.
Let the barge go. Return to base."
With the surrender of the Tintir-Ki, the remaining Melchiorian fighters disengaged and were squawking the surrender codes on their transponders. The fight was over. Luc may have escaped with Caligastia, but Elo captured the Tintir-Ki and thwarted Luc's plot. All in all, it was a victory Elo was pleased. "Comm, give me all circuits." He waited for a nod from the communications officer. "Good job, men. The Fleet is proud of you all. I am proud of you. Elo out."
In the Red Mountains
Personal recollections of Ba'al
Advisor to Lt. S'rah,
Chief Scribe of the Leven,
First uplifted of the Gleven.
On the surface of Gleven See, fifteen klicks east of the southern compound, Ba'al waited in his safe hold with S'rah and her medical detachment. They were deep in the Red Mountains, their new home after fleeing the Melchiorians. Ba'al's tribe, which were the first chosen for uplifting by the Most High, took the safety of "The Great Lady, S'rah" as their personal bade of honor. Though persistent Melchiorian hunting groups still searched on occasion, the Leven, as Ba'al's people now called themselves, had survived.
S'rah sat next to Ba'al. Together they watched the battle for Gleven See. Ba'al was enraptured. The fight above them was not the first assault from the sky the planet's inhabitants had seen. They had witnessed the 'wrath of the Gods' generations ago when the Melchiorians had first arrived.
Death and destruction had been widespread as the Melchiorians sought to shock and awe the local populace into submission. Ba'al was immensely proud of his grandfather who had written about the occurrence n glyphs and pictographs. Ba'al never tired of reading them. Now it was his responsibility to write an account. He was thrilled.
Ba'al kept his eyes skyward as the battle between Star People unfolded. Quickly and precisely, he drew rings of light running the length of the pulse cannon as it launched brilliant balls of energy into the sky and beyond. He showed interceptors darting through the sky, firing lasers and phaze cannons. There were explosions and ships falling to Gliesse trailing smoke and fire.
He reached up and traced the twin scratches left by Max, the clan leader of the local Gleven tribe. Ba'al had prophesied this day. He felt the warm glow of satisfaction. It was wrong, but that did not diminish Ba'al's enjoyment.
S'rah had brought out the last operational communicator and set it to receive. She gave a running commentary to Ba'al. They all cheered the victories of the E'den and jeered when the Melchiorians shot down a craft of the Most High. Dutifully, Ba'al chronicled the event. Eventually, the sky cleared of spacecraft.
Ba'al paused in his reporting. "Great Lady S'rah, your Most High Star People have won a great victory."
S'rah's eyes sparkled as she looked down on Ba'al. "Yes, we have."
Ba'al tapped his stylus against his chin as he studied S'rah. The 'Great Lady' had been among Ba'al's people for as long as they had a history. He wondered if she respected his people as much as they respected her. Talk among the council of elders was growing hostile toward Star People. S'rah's Most High did not escape the elders displeasure as they were the ones that brought the Mel Chor. The elders felt Gleven See had suffered enough death and destruction for someone else's fight.
They wanted freedom, especially the freedom to stay out of the fights of others. Ba'al's task was to ask the 'Great Lady' about the future of Gleven See. Her continued survival, and that of her team, depended on the answer. He knew the elders would not hesitate to abandon the Celestials in the Red Mountains. Ba'al's feelings were mixed. The Celestials had made him an important person. Without them, he had no status, but without the tribe, Ba'al had no sense of belonging.
Fortunately, for Ba'al, the return of S'rah's people and the ensuing battle interrupted his task. The Celestial victory lessened the elder's leverage, and even though the hated Mel Chor lost, Ba'al knew the task given to him by the elders had not changed. A slave was a slave. Who held the leash did not matter.
Ba'al gazed at S'rah. He thought her beautiful. Not as beautiful as the Celestial, Luc, who led the Mel Chor, but her eyes held something more precious. Love. He asked, "Great Lady, I was wondering. Why did you lift us up?"
S'rah started to speak, but stopped. She hesitated a moment, then finally said, "To work the mines for iridium and gold."
Ba'al asked pointedly, "After the gold and iridium are gone, will you leave?"
"Yes, Ba'al."
"What will happen to us then? The Mel Chor taught the way of the warrior. You teach us the way of peace so that we will work the mines without trouble." Ba'al turned his clay tablet so that S'rah could see his work. "Yet, you know the way of the warrior."
S'rah said nothing.
"Were you ever intending on teaching us to fight?" pressed Ba'al. "Or were you going to keep us as slaves?"
A tear trickled down S'rah's cheek.
Ba'al felt pity of S'rah, but he felt even more for his own people. "Have you nothing to say, Great Lady?"
What would you have me say, Ba'al?"
Ba'al smiled. It was bitter sweet. "The truth, Great Lady. You say you came for resources. Our sweat and treasure. It seems to me the Mel Chor also came for resources. Our blood, which we treasure. What will the ones who come after you want?"
S'rah actually looked pleased. "You speak of want, Ba'al. Tell me, what does the Leven want?"
Ba'al felt the gleam in his eyes. This was his opportunity. The council of elders sought only information to make a decision. Ba'al wanted more. He wanted to shape destiny. "We want to be free. We want to be Star People."
S'rah held out her hand. "Then let us make an agreement."
The Leven
Personal recollections of Ba'al
Advisor to Admiral S'rah
Chief Scribe of the Leven
First uplifted of the Gleven.
Ba'al entered the warmth of his office. He was glad to get out of the cold Gleven See winter. Scientists had recently declared that their planet was in the Goldilocks zone. Ba'al harrumphed. If that was the case, he thought, this Goldilocks must be one of the hair covered Gleven.
Gleven See's chief historian shuffled to his desk and settled heavily in his chair. He was tired, more so every day. He looked around at the thin veneer of wood paneling covering the chalk and limestone material that made up the walls of his office, those that weren't covered by bookshelves. It was pleasantly comfortable. It certainly provided a lot more warmth than the smoky draft of the bare rock cave walls he had known in his youth.
He poured himself a glass of water and reached into his desk drawer for one of the tablets his quack of a doctor pushed on him. It was for his heart, or circulation, or some such. The ever-increasing medical profession was forever discovering some new malady that only their tablets could cure. He swallowed the medicine and leaned back in his chair.
His nephew, Darius, would arrive soon. Ba'al planned to turn the position of chief historian over to him. Then Ba'al could rest. He picked up his stylus as a firm knock sounded form the door.
"Come in."
A young man entered. Barely a season past his age of responsibility, Darius still looked an adolescent. Not even his short beard and mustache added age. Only the trimming of his mane, the hand-width band of hair running from neck to waist, marked his adulthood. He stopped a pace inside the doorway.
Ba'al tapped his stylus against his chin. "Well, come in. Close the door. I don't bite. Despite the stories."
The young man shifted from foot to foot. He surveyed the office. If he was impressed by the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves filled with scrolls and books with rudimentary bindings, he gave no indication.
Ba'al withheld judgment of his kin, for the moment at least. "So, you're Darius."
Darius stared back firmly, without flinching. "And you're crazy Uncle Ba'al."
Ba'al chuckled. "Spoken like my sister's son. I've often accused her of having some Coven in her. Come, sit down." Ba'al used his stylus to indicate the chair before his desk.
"Are you here out of your own interest or did she make you show up?"
Darius closed the door and took off his long cloak. He hung it on the peg beside the door. Like his uncle, he wore long trousers and a collarless, long sleeve shirt. He also had a pair of dark glasses tucked in his neckline. "For some reason my mother thinks this is a good idea. Mogg only knows why. Your name causes her a lot of grief in the community."
With the onset of progress and enlightenment, the true history of Gleven See had fallen into the realm of myth and fable. Ba'al's writing was considered imaginative scrawling. That he still claimed them to be historical gave him the mantle of 'Crazy Uncle Ba'al.' However, Ba'al wasn't the only one with a history.
"My name?" asked Ba'al, "Or is it your association with the newest manifestation of spiritual revelation?"
Darius stopped in his tracks. He did a double take. "You know?"
Ba'al sat straighter. Of course he had heard the stories of the half-breed Coven spewing his version of the past across the major towns of Gleven See, disguising his distortions as religion. And he knew of the young Leven that often stood by his side. He felt his mane quiver in agitation under his shirt. "I'll tell you what I know. The Leven did not swing out of trees one day and suddenly decide to be human."
The change in Darius was immediate. His eyes brightened. His voice took on the tone of wonderment. "No, we did not. Mogg experienced a visit on a summer day. The creator, who cannot be named, told him of a great change. A change that would alter the Gleven forever─"
"Let me guess," said Ba'al. "Children born will grow to be taller and more intelligent. Speech will be taught to them. They will learn how to till the soil and tame the wild beasts. They will lose the hair that covers most of their bodies─"
"Yes!" said Darius, excited.
Ba'al shook his head. He couldn't believe his nephew was so gullible. "An interesting story. The first time I heard it was from my grandfather Rueben, your great, great uncle. The second time I heard it in more detail from the creator herself."