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“And you’re an ass kisser, too, mister Small.”
“Yes sir, but I only speak the truth, sir.”
“Well, you did kick ass. Keep up the good work. And, little hope and prayer wouldn’t hurt,” Gilmore chuckled.
“All Ships, fleetwide, are reporting jump ready,” Lieutenant Casey reported, “All stations green and go!”
“Ten seconds,” Fleming reported.
“Commence jump at zero mark,” Gilmore ordered.
Lieutenant Fleming counted down the last seconds, “Three—two—one—Jumping fleet!”
One by one, starting with the Agamemnon, all two-hundred attacking ships vanished from Kappa Centauri. In an instant, the fleet traveled across the vastness of the first jump and began appearing at the first jump coordinates.
“SITREP!” Gilmore ordered.
“All two-hundred ships are reporting successful jump,” Lieutenant Casey reported, “Everyone made it, sir.”
“Good job, everyone!” Gilmore smiled, “Prepare for second jump in ten minutes.”
“Aye, sir,” Lieutenant Fleming acknowledged.
“Sir,” began Lieutenant Casey, “I have Zetaal’s flag ship, the Habakiri. Chancellor Zetaal, I have the admiral; go ahead.”
The hissing lizard voice echoed over the ship’s speakers, “Admiral Gilmore. Well done on the fleetwide jump. I am ready to take command of my half.”
“Thank you, Chancellor,” answered Gilmore. “We’re changing out our energy density generators to ensure we have enough jumps before we run into the Eridonian fleet. We’ll be ready to jump the first one-hundred ships in five minutes.”
“Excellent, admiral. I look forward to ssseeing the Eridoniansss ssscramble when we arrive with my one-hundred.”
“I look forward to celebrating victory with you, Chancellor.”
“Good hunting, admiral. Zetaal out.”
“Sir, our EDGs are all replaced, fleetwide. We’re ready to commence second jump prep,” Chief Shumote reported over the comm.
“Well done, Chuck,” Gilmore praised, “Start the clock.”
“Two minutes to jump. The clock is running. Call it out,” said Lieutenant Small.
Once again, the Command Support Center echoed each station as they reported their jump readiness.
“We’re green and set for go, admiral,” Lieutenant Fleming reported.
“Count us down, mister Fleming,” Gilmore ordered.
“Fleetwide jump commencing in three—two—one—jumping!”
As the first attack fleet arrived at the second coordinates, Admiral Gilmore ordered, “SITREP!”
“Scanning sector,” Lieutenant Small reported, “No contacts. The only transponder pings are ours, sir.”
“Hold our current course and speed. Ensure the fleet remains in formation,” ordered Gilmore.
“Holding fleetwide formation. Course and speed set,” Lieutenant Fleming reported.
“Fleetwide shields are activated,” reported Lieutenant Small. “All weapons systems are online and armed. Still no contacts.”
“Engage the telepathic inhibitor,” Gilmore ordered with a wide smile, “Let’s see if they’re hiding out there.”
“Engaging the telepathic inhibitor—now!” Lieutenant Small reported.
“Wait for it—” Gilmore examined the CSC table screen.
Small dots began to appear on the screen when Lieutenant Small yelled, “Multiple contacts! They’re out there, sir!”
“Engage them!” Gilmore ordered, “Target those ships and fire at will!”
“Weapons free!” Lieutenant Small nodded, his hands flew across his console.
“How many ships?”
“Still counting at one-fifty, sir—final count is one-hundred-eighty-five, sir!”
“Move the carriers to our flanks and launch all fighters,” Gilmore barked, then continued ordering, “Send the heavy destroyers to the front! I want three battleships to protect each destroyer. Move all frigates into flanking positions with the carriers!”
“Aye, sir,” Lieutenant Casey acknowledged, “All ships have been assigned per orders. They’re moving into position.”
“What’s our ETA to contact?”
“They’re five minutes out, sir,” reported Lieutenant Small.
“That’ll give us plenty of time to get all our ships into position,” Gilmore nodded, “Okay, for the rest of the fleet, send them back to the rear position and make ready for our second attack wave in ten.”
“Aye, sir,” Fleming acknowledged, “I’m slowing speed to take the rear position.”
“Our carriers are in position,” Lieutenant Small reported, “All fighter squadrons have launched. They will engage with the enemy ships in two minutes. Our destroyers have taken position and will commence firing in one.”
“We have inbound missiles. Multiple targets!”
“Okay, let’s see what firepower the Eridonians have?” Gilmore nervously chuckled, “Launch fleetwide countermeasures!”
“The destroyers have engaged their targets, sir,” reported Lieutenant Small. “All battleships have engaged and are defending the destroyers.”
“Where are the frigates?”
“Coming into position, sir—They’re firing turrets at all enemy targets, now!”
“Excellent!” Gilmore praised, “ETA to when Zetaal will show up?”
“We’ve cleared the space for their jump. Two minutes, sir,” Lieutenant Small again reported. “Countermeasures launched, sir! Inbound missiles will hit in twenty-seconds.”
“I’m getting reports from two fighter squadrons that they’re intercepting some of those missiles.”
“Thank you, mister, Casey.”
“Countermeasures ninety-percent effective,” Lieutenant Small exclaimed, “Some have made it through! Target locked! Brace for impact!”
________________________
Truven Attack Fleet
The Tuskin
________________________
“Message coming in,” Sharpclaw reported, “It’s Captain Largeeye. He has returned from Kappa Centauri.”
“Most excellent news,” Captain Leanmane nodded. “Have him dock with us immediately.”
“Aye, captain,” Sharpclaw acknowledged. “Largeeye reports he has the telepathic inhibitor and it’s ready to fit into our ship’s systems.”
“Even better news. How far out is Captain Largeeye?”
“Two malendrons, captain.”
“Very good. What’s our fleet status?”
“We have reprogramed our nav computers and are set to jump to Betelgeuse on your orders,” navigation officer, Eyetooth reported.
“Very well. Let’s wait until our telepathic inhibitor is online to ensure we’re no longer being fooled by any Eridonians.”
“Yes, captain; understood.”
“In the meantime, I will meet with Largeeye in the landing bay upon his arrival,” Leanmane ordered, “Largepaw: take command of the bridge in my absence. Hoshiko; you will accompany me.”
The two exited the Tuskin’s bridge and headed to the flight deck where Largeeye was landing his transport. The air in the landing bay pressurized and the Truven exited his ship. Seeing his captain at the landing bay entrance, he grew a wide smile. Meeting halfway across the flight deck, the two greeted each other using their customary roar.
“Well done, Largeeye,” Leanmane said, then pointed to the deckhands, “Get that inhibitor offloaded and down to engineering. I wish to launch our attack on Betelgeuse as soon as you have this device online!”
“Yes, captain,” the deckhands acknowledged, then jumped into action.
“Come with me, Largeeye. You have earned your place with me on my bridge.”
“Thank you, captain. But if it’s all the same to you, I would rather remain here and fight on the front lines,” Largeeye answered with a roar.
“You need not worry, Largeeye; you will get to fight. There will be plenty of time to return to a fighter.”
“Very well, captain. I shall follow you.”
The two made their way to the bridge, where Largepaw sat in the captain’s seat. Then, quickly stood and relinquished command to his captain.
Leanmane sat in his chair with Largeeye standing beside him, “I thought you would appreciate the view as we activate the Eridonian telepathic inhibitor.”
“Yes, captain,” Largeeye smiled, the rest of the crew gave soft roars as they congratulated this transport captain’s success. “It will be a glorious day for all Truven to expose any further Eridonian interference.”
“Well stated, Largeeye.”
“Captain, our engineering team reports that the ETI has been installed and is ready to activate,” Sharpclaw reported.
“Most excellent,” Leanmane smiled, then roared his order, “Engage!”
“Scanning the sector, captain,” Largepaw reported, “No contacts. The telepathic inhibitor is active. There are no Eridonians in this sector!”
“Fleet course to Betelgeuse is confirmed. We’re ready for jump,” Eyetooth reported.
“All ships stand by!” Leanmane roared, “Jump the fleet!”
All fifty Truven attack ships traveled the vastness of space, arriving at the Betelgeuse sector in a flash.
“Multiple contacts!” Largepaw reported, “It’s a mix of Earth vessels and Centaurian battleships.”
“Any signs of Eridonians?”
“No, captain. I’m not scanning any Eridonians.”
“The Centaurian ships have set an intercept course. ETA to engagement is five malendrons.
“Set course to engage all enemy ships! Fire at will!”
“Aye, captain,” Largepaw smiled, then roared his satisfaction of having a real battle.
“Largeeye, you may return to the flight deck where you will fight a good fight!”
“Thank you, captain,” Largeeye roared, then turned to exit the bridge.
Chapter Eighteen
________________________
The Realm
________________________
Race and Ruki reached the gate of Rantuarie after crossing the looking-glass mirror within In’gula.
“It’s so quiet,” Ruki commented. “I don’t hear anything.”
“Not even the harmonic music from any of the plants or the discharges in the atmosphere.”
They both gazed at the gate with the rear of the fire dragon frozen in the cement. The dragon’s tail extended out and away from the gate and was only a few feet from where Ruki stood.
“Will you look at that?” Race exclaimed.
“I think that thing’s moved since we saw it last,” Ruki stated. “I remember it wasn’t as far though and the tail of the fire dragon has more definition to it.”
“I think you’re right, my Ruki.”
“Which means someone’s been trying to open the gate.”
“And they’ve not been able to cross because of how the fire dragon is manifesting.”
“I don’t like it, my Race.”
“I don’t either. Danielle and Darnash must be having difficulties with crossing.”
“Well, I don’t think they can activate the gate long enough. That creature is getting ready to cross into our realm!”
“I think that’s kind of a bad thing, my Ruki.”
“Kind of? It’s very bad!”
“Look!” Race exclaimed.
The tail on the fire dragon began fading from cement to physical form. The gate shimmied and flickered.
“They’re trying to cross over!” Ruki shouted.
Race held up the glowing staff, aiming its tip at the shimmering image beginning to form.
“I gotta stop this dragon from crossing!” Ruki shouted once again over the rushing wind that pulled at them.
Taking hold of the twitching tail, Ruki tugged and pulled on the creature as the image of the gate solidified, displaying Darnash and Danielle on the other side.
Race and Ruki watched as a blue colored beam shot out of a device sitting on a tripod. Darnash made careful adjustments to knobs on the side of the machine, but the beam no longer surrounded the gate and the fire dragon continued transforming out of the solid cement.
Danielle watched as Race held the glowing staff outward, aiming it at the gate and intercepting the blue beam from the quantum-phase inducer.
“No Race!” Danielle shouted, “Get out of the way!”
The blue colored laser shot a single beam that the glowing staff intercepted and began absorbing.
Darnash frantically attempted to widen the beam, but was unsuccessful, “I can’t hold the creature! It’s going to escape!”
The dragon blew fire from its teeth-filled jaw, making Danielle duck while Darnash jumped backward to avoid the deadly blast from the now fully formed beast.
It continued shoving itself through the gate, its wings crumbling more of the gate as it pulled through.
“Turn it off!” Danielle shouted over the noise of the rushing wind, “Turn it off, Darnash!”
Darnash reached over to terminate the cross-way, but the dragon blew more fire from its mouth, causing the hair on his hands to singe, “I can’t!”
“Look out! It’s coming through!” Danielle screamed.
The beast took a step through the gate, its first claw fully planted on the ground. Then, it pulled its second claw through, while blowing more fire with a mighty roar. Then it jumped through the rest of the way, its’ wings now fully extended and dragon body transformed from fire to flesh, then it took off, flapping its wings. Its tail wrapped around Ruki and held her before pulling her through the gate. She screamed as the dragon let go of her. Then, she landed on the ground, rolling twice before coming to a stop. Ruki laid face down and unconscious. The dragon flapped its wings and flew from the gate area, vanishing within the darkness of the corridor.
Danielle rose from her feet and stood with Darnash in shock, helpless at what they were witnessing.
The blue beam from the quantum phase inducer traveled down the staff sparking and issuing bolts of lightning, now surrounding Race’s hands before traveling up his arms and around his torso. Darnash shook the shock off himself and quickly returned to the cross-way and began shutting down the link between their world and Revein’sev. Before the cross-way gate terminated, they watched as the swirling lightning discharged down his thighs, lower legs and feet as the lightning moved up his neck and surrounding his head. The power from the quantum phase inducer encapsulated Race, his flesh melted off his body. Then the muscles vaporized, finally his skeleton turned to ash. The fiery staff dropped to the ground. The glowing staff continued to arc and discharge the power it had absorbed.
Danielle screamed out in despair, “—RACE—”
Darnash terminated the quantum phase inducer beam as Danielle rushed over to his side, “You’ve got to get the gate open again! Race!”
“I know, my Queen. I was witness to his death as well.”
Fiddling with the controls, Darnash adjusted the fixer and quickly reopened the gate. The cement began to crack and crumble. Dust fell from the top of the fractured gate as the image slowly formed once more. The gate flickered and sparked the image, not being able to fully create the passage.
The two looked on at the staff, which no longer glowed. It appeared dead and hopeless.
Tears fell from their eyes as the event took hold in their minds.
Turning away from the sight, Danielle held her face in Darnash’s shoulder and sobbed, “No! I can’t believe he’s gone!”
“Wait!” Darnash said, now pointing at the staff, “Look! Life is returning to the staff!”
Danielle returned to the sight and wiped her eyes dry to help focus on what she was now witnessing.
Ruki stirred and slowly opened her eyes. Rising to her feet, she came to the two and stood by them, “What’s going on?”
“I do not know, my Empress,” Darnash answered.
“We just saw Race die!” Danielle blurted out.
“Die?!” Ruki exclaimed, “What are you talking about?”
“The quantum phase inducer beam was intercepted by the staff,” Darnash explained, “But look!”
As the three gazed through the flickering cross-way connection, they saw a red-colored fog swirling around before moving to the staff, raising it from the ground. They watched as a hand formed around the center of the staff and its glow returned. Arms formed and then a body of a half-man, half-antarian appeared before legs and his head finished.
“RACE!” Danielle exclaimed, “You’re alive!”
“Hi everyone,” Race answered with a wave. “I’m not, but that’s okay. I was trained for this.”
“What are you talking about,” Ruki protested, then demanded, “What’s going on?!”
“This was the only way. I’m sorry, my Ruki. I couldn’t tell you this was going to happen, or you would have tried to stop it.”
“Damn right, I would have stopped it!” Ruki again protested.
“But you see, this is how it has to be. You can’t cross back over. None of you can cross the gate. The dragon saw to that.”
“Race is correct,” Darnash nodded, “The dragon has caused the gate to become unstable. It will not support anyone or anything crossing.”
“Why, my Race? Why did you do this?”
“I’m the only one that can restore balance to the realm. Danielle can’t because of her blood.”
“Because I’m the cause of the imbalance with the Bron Vis’Ka, isn’t it?
“Yes. I’m the only one that holds the Kron’Shulooka. That’s because of my worm infection.”
“Race does speak a truth this Ma’Nuta’Dii. The Myesa Nagiomi has changed him,” Darnash added.
“I didn’t plan it this way, Ruki. I’m so sorry, but there’s nothing I can do to fix this. I had to die. My flesh has to be transformed to a noncorporeal being in order to fix the realm. I’m not done yet. I still have to take the sword from the realm’s heart and use it to awaken the subdued Shabe’Tu.”
“No Race!” Danielle now protested. “You can’t awaken that beast or the Antarians will return to being Warlords!”
