by Lee Watts
"I've been considering that as well, Admiral," Alexander stated.
Turning to the HPT, he called up a holographic map of the sub-quadrants of the front lines to help explain his plan.
"No one ever won a defensive war," Alexander began, "and if we're going to win this war then we have to take the fight to the enemy. Right now, the Hegemony isn't too concerned with defending non-disputed systems like these," he commented while pointing to Ramillie worlds in the projection. "This allows them to concentrate their forces only where they think we will attack, occupied Realm planets. So, let's take the fight to them. We'll fight the Ramillie in their territory, not ours. I want you to form an invasion force."
"INVASION FORCE?" Yilib blurted in disbelief.
"Precisely," Alexander affirmed. "By striking non-Realm systems, it will take them by surprise. I doubt there's a Ramillie planetary commander out there expecting the Realm to come knocking on their door. We'll hit them deep and hard. It's time they are the ones diverting resources for defense."
"It will take a massive number of troops to hold that much territory, Sire," mentioned General Dartaveer.
"Holding ground isn't what I have in mind," Alexander replied, piquing the interest of every military commander at the table. "This isn't the same as when we liberate a Realm world. We're not taking ground to keep it. With this strike force, we go in, hit their war-making ability, and get out. Then the next day we do it somewhere else, and we do it again, and again, and again. Each time we strike a random spot in their territory. I want you to hit them everywhere you can, as quickly as you can. Let them think no place is safe from attack. Make them withdraw their ships from the front lines to shore up their defenses."
"Sire, Sire," Yilib protested, holding out his hands to emphasize the point. "We would have to divert too many ships from our own lines to accomplish such a task, and we're already stretched to the limit."
"What's the minimum number of ships we need for this task force, Admiral?" the king asked.
The barrel-chested Balin rubbed his chin as he calculated.
"One," he answered.
"One?" Alexander responded in surprise, several of the others in the room also muttering disbelief.
"The new super battlecarrier," elaborated the admiral. "It will be out of the shipyards within the week, and it's a mobile battlegroup by itself."
"General, with all due respect," Yilib condescended, "you don't appreciate the economics involved here. The expenses of refitting the Dauntless to the super battlecarrier class prototype were enormous. His Excellency wouldn't risk our newest ship on such a suicidal mission."
"I don't send people on suicide missions," Alexander retorted, "and I'd thank you not to put words in my mouth," he added sternly. "I think it's a great idea, Admiral. You have a go. Now, have you given some thought to who the commander should be?"
"I have, Sire. With your permission, I would like to take command personally. No one is more familiar with the new design than me, and it would take weeks to get someone else up to speed. We need to get this operation underway as soon as possible. Besides, General Dartaveer is fully capable of running operations without me."
"I like it," Alexander said. "This is the kind of leadership that we need. Admiral, the ship is yours. In fact, I think I've spent too much time in meetings here in the palace myself. Everyone's needed in this fight, and that includes me. General Dartaveer, the day the Admiral takes command of the Dauntless you are to assume command of all Realm Military Forces."
"Yes, Sire," crisply answered the muscular, dark-skinned man.
"Admiral Balin," Alexander added, "I said I don't send people on suicide missions, so assemble your crew, pick a fight, and bring our people home."
"Yes, Sire," Balin replied with a sharp salute. Alexander noticed this was the first time the Admiral had saluted him instead of bowing. It was a compliment of the highest sort from the career warrior, and Alexander was honored by the gesture. He returned the salute then looked to Caedmon, and the two left the room. This left Yilib awkwardly remaining in the command center without a purpose. General Dartaveer and Admiral Balin looked at him, making him feel all the more out of place. Whipping his decorative cloak, he strode out of the room, angered at the snub from Alexander and convinced it was a result of Caedmon's presence. If Yilib was to regain his prominence and the king's ear, he knew the Faithful Voice must be eliminated.
It must be handled delicately, Yilib realized as he thought of the power Caedmon possessed. Plotting as he went, Yilib smiled as his mind stuck on the means of his nemesis' demise. Yes, he mused, and then Alexander will order Caedmon's execution himself.
CHAPTER 3
"Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations..." – Deuteronomy 32:7
(1,000 years ago)
Gareth held up a hand to shield his eyes from the blowing particles as Merrick's ship lowered to the sandy ground near the battle-worn temple on Dalban II. It was there where a group of Guardians had only days prior wrested a dimensional portal and the activating keys from Dridmor overlords. With the whine of the engines dying, the ship's gangplank extended and the immortal stepped into the bright, midday sun. The desert's dry, super-heated air hit Merrick like a wall, temporarily taking his breath away.
"Ah, My Dear Friend, welcome back," Gareth greeted with a broad smile. "How'd it go?"
"Time will tell," Merrick answered pensively.
"What's wrong? I thought you'd be a little more upbeat. You won - those Dridmor are locked away forever."
"No, not forever, and that's the problem," Merrick replied with a faraway look. Shania's warning about how they should have finished off the evil ones while they had the chance echoed in his mind. "I may have made a terrible mistake by not destroying them."
In an attempt to distract Merrick from his misgivings, Gareth filled him in that the last of the other Guardians had returned to their worlds.
"Where is Shania?"
"She wanted to spend some time in the village where those Elderite prisoners live. We'll pick her up on the way off world. I've got the old bird ready, and we can take off whenever you want. I attached some anti-grav couplers to that portal thing and loaded it onboard. Are you flying with me or are ya going to follow in that other ship?"
"Neither," Merrick answered with a shake of his head.
"You're not coming with me? There's nothing left to worry about; the Ramillie are gone so there's no need to keep the location of The Vault a secret anymore. Don't you want to know where I've been storing the treasures and weapon all these years?"
"Of course, I'm curious," Merrick admitted. "Shania and I have worked with your family for generations in safeguarding everything there, but now it's more vital than ever that The Vault remains hidden, and this time, don't pass the knowledge of its location to the next generation."
"Why?"
"Because the portal will be hidden there, and its location must never be found. You heard what that seer said, The Cloud will collapse one day, and when it does, Koraden and the others will search out the keys and the portal. If they ever get it activated, the Dridmor will pour into the galaxy and destroy everything in this universe. No, the location of The Vault dies with you, my friend."
"Merrick, surely I can tell you. I mean, there's no way someone could force the information from you is there?"
"There's more than one way to get someone to divulge information. I might be followed, or somehow be deceived into giving the location away. You haven't shown your son yet have you?"
"No, I've let him know each first born in our family takes on the identity of the Vault Keeper, but I haven't shown him where The Vault is yet."
"Good. Make sure you never let him, or anyone else know. After you drop off the portal, then start loading the treasures to return them. Shania and I will wait for you at our normal rendezvous point then we'll split up and take the treasures back to where they belong while you make the next run."
"My family's been hi
ding treasures at The Vault for generations; it'll take months, maybe years to return all."
"Hey, you were well paid for your troubles, weren't you?"
"True enough," Gareth admitted with a shrug.
"And I'm sure you'll probably get some additional tokens of appreciation during the returns," Merrick added.
"You really think so?" Gareth questioned hopefully with a greedy gleam sparking in his eye. The thought of adding to the already substantial wealth his family had stowed in The Vault energized him.
"Oh, what about the weapon?" Gareth asked. "Do we keep the master plans there or what?"
"We'll figure that out later. Let's start with the treasures; that will take long enough. I'll pick up Shania. How long do you think it will take you to get loaded and return?"
"I'd say… three days - four max."
"Okay, I'll see you then."
Gareth, with the lopsided smile of a rogue, gave a half salute then headed into his ship and took off for The Vault. When he, at last, reached the clandestine planet, Nicole Bruman was there to meet his ship. She accompanied the treasures brought during Gareth's previous visit to The Vault. Overjoyed at the news of how the Abduction had come to pass, she pleaded for Gareth to let her go back on the first trip so she could reunite with her husband, Amos. Agreeing, Gareth enlisted her help in unloading the portal and securing it in the ruins of a structure he used to store valuables. The ruins were all that remained of a civilization that long since passed into oblivion.
It took two days to select and load the first group of treasures. Nicole wanted to be on the modest bridge of the Vault Keeper's ship for the best view during the space flight. Gareth, however, insisted she only entered the bridge when they were about to make planetfall. That way there was no possible way she could ever locate The Vault planet again.
Stars appeared as elongated lines as the ship traveled multiple factors of light speed, but the streaks of light returned to dots when Gareth disengaged the lightdrive. Due to inertial dampers, a gentle rock of momentum was the only clue of the ship slowing. Banking smoothly, Gareth set an approach for the fourth planet of the system. It would be several minutes before they reached the surface, so he set the autopilot and rose to get Nicole. The bridge door automatically opened as he approached. Not expecting anyone, he almost collided with the person standing on the other side.
"Who are you?" Gareth asked in surprise upon seeing the dirty, leering man.
"Lamar," he sneered, leveling a blaster at Gareth. "Now, get back in there."
Lamar motioned with the pistol, convincing Gareth to ease backward.
"How'd you get on my ship?" Gareth demanded.
"I'll ask the questions. Where are we?"
Figuring the ruffian had no clue about starship navigation, Gareth decided to answer the question.
"I'll tell you the X, Y, and Z coordinates down to the tenth sub-quadrant level if you want, or let you know we're in the Norin globular cluster, or the sector designation, or-"
"SHUT UP! Just tell me where we are."
"The Orlin system. How'd you get on my ship?"
"Stowed away back on Dalban II. I was gonna sneak off once we got back to civilization, but then I heard you talking."
"You were one of the Elderites?"
"One of those idiots? Hardly. You, I heard you talking to that other guy back on Dalban; you… you're the Vault Keeper, aren't you?"
"The current and only," Gareth answered flamboyantly.
"Don't you mean the one and only?"
"No, actually, see I'm not the first so therefore can't be the one. However, I am the one right now, so I guess you could say that. There is only one at a time, we'll there is usually a brief overlap period, meaning I'd be the two and only, but-"
"Never mind," the gunman cut him off."
"Now, My Good Man, if you're thinking about turning me in, I'm afraid you'll find the price on my head has recently gone down. The Ramillie are gone so there's no one to pay you. You know… the Immanent Abduction. I guess it needs a new name since it has finally happened. Maybe we should call it just The Abduction."
"Shut up. No, collecting the reward on your head isn't what I had in mind," the hijacker hinted with a sweaty-toothed smile.
"My Dear Man, if all you want is an autograph, or perhaps a commemorative photo of the notorious Vault Keeper, all you had to do is ask. I'll be happy to-"
"Shut up," Lamar demanded while extending his weapon. "What are you, some kind of a nut? What I want is what you've hidden all these years, the treasures."
"What do you want with them?"
"The way I see it, everyone who had you had something away would pay a hefty ransom to get it back. I'll cut you in for some of the take if you play your cards right. Get in that chair and land this thing."
"What if I don't?" Gareth asked with calm confidence.
"Then I'll blow your head off," Lamar threatened in exasperation at such an obvious question.
"I think you're bluffing."
"Oh, and why's that?"
"Because you need me to fly this ship. If you kill me, then you'll die in the crash too, and we both know it."
"I'm not as dumb as you think. See, I saw where that vault planet is, so I don't need you to find it again. Plus, I know this ship's got escape pods, and they land on their own - all you have to do is hit the launch button."
Gareth grimaced.
"Drat, I hadn't thought of that."
"So, get this piece of junk on the ground."
Taking a seat, Gareth spun his chair back toward the viewport and clicked on his seat restraint. Moving his hands over the controls, the Vault Keeper smiled in anticipation. With the blue haze of the planet's upper atmosphere filling the view, the ship gave a slight buck as it encountered the winds.
"Better strap in, it's gonna be a bumpy ride," Gareth warned with a grin.
Suddenly the ship flipped upside down, and Lamar found himself slamming into the ceiling. Deactivating the inertial dampers and strapped in, Gareth was prepared for the sudden inversion. Going into a barrel roll, the craft was a contained cyclone of loose equipment that went slamming into bulkheads, deck plates, and control panels. Righting the ship, Gareth heard the reassuring "Oof" of Lamar thudding to the floor. Quickly unfastening his restraints, Gareth turned around and looked for the pistol, but found it still in Lamar's hand.
In the back of the ship, thrown about like a rag doll, Nicole Bruman slowly rose from the floor. Staggering to a communication panel on the wall, she hit the button.
"Gareth?… Gareth, this is Nicole. What's going on?"
Releasing the button, she heard the worst kind of answer, nothing. Placing a hand over her side that was hit with a loose, flying crate, she started for the bridge.
In the tiny command room, Lamar, dazed but still tightly gripping the blaster, shook his head to clear it. Gareth bounded forward, stomping his heel hard down on Lamar's wrist, snapping bones and pinning Lamar's hand to the deck. Swearing, the trapped man tried to yank his hand free, but Gareth's full weight was too much. Using his free hand to reach into his boot, Lamar pulled a small dagger and thrust it into Gareth's leg.
"AAHH," Gareth shouted and staggered backward before Lamar could stab again.
Wrist broken, Lamar was forced to discard his blade to grab for the blaster with his only working hand. Pushing past the pain, Gareth rushed forward again, diving to the floor in an attempt to wrest possession of the weapon. Struggling for control of the pistol, the two men tumbled and strained with all their might. Lamar held the gun, his finger on the trigger, but his other hand was useless. Gareth strangled his opponent's wrist, slamming it against the deck in an attempt to loose the weapon from the other man's grasp. Lamar rolled till he was lying on top of Gareth, who still held Lamar's hand like in a vice-like grip. Trying to jerk free, Lamar tensed his hand, and the weapon fired. The blast of energy slammed into one of the many control panels in the room, sending sparks flying and smoke rolling. Each combatant s
truggled all the harder, resulting in two more shots discharging, and then a third. The last hit squarely against the front viewport - spider webbing the glass.
"IDIOT," Gareth shouted, "YOU'RE GOING TO KILL US BOTH!"
Lamar blared profanities as he kept fighting, causing another shot to go off - that one punched through the glass. Furious wind rushed into the cockpit, forcing Gareth to release his hold on Lamar to grab onto something. Too stubborn to let go of the weapon, and unable to use his other hand, Lamar didn't catch onto anything and quickly lost his footing. The wind ejected him out of the gaping hole in the front of the craft. Flailing wildly, he plummeted helplessly to the ground, shouting in anger and fear all the way.
"Abandon ship. Abandon ship," announced a calm automated voice via the ship's intercom. The passageway to the bridge suddenly became a wind tunnel, causing Nicole's hair to whip in her eyes and her clothes to flap like a flag in a storm. Emergency doors atomically slammed into place, isolating the rest of the ship from the hull breach, but also cutting off Nicole from the bridge. She ran toward the door.
"GARETH! GARETH," she cried out while pounding on the thick steel but there was no answer, and she could find no means to open the barrier. On the other side of the door, Gareth clung to the back of the copilot's chair for dear life. Air rushing all around, he strained every muscle to get into the seat and strap on the restraints. Reaching for a control panel, the gale made controlled movement almost impossible. Gareth struggled desperately to right the quickly plummeting craft. Damaged from Lamar's weapon, the engines had gone out, and the standard controls were unresponsive. Realizing his only hope of avoiding a crash was to access the emergency bypass relays, Gareth looked at the panel on the opposite side of the compartment. With the mighty, pulling winds, he knew the possibility of surviving to reach the panel was slim. Weighing the chances of survival between slim and none, Gareth opted for slim and un-clicked his seat restraint.