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“My alliance with the human, Admiral Fitz, isss ssstrong. I have pledged my sssupport to prevent the Antariansss from being dessstroyed. It is a hard thing to do, yesss. However, for the greater good of thisss galaxy, I implore you to follow me asss your Chancellor and not Zetaal. He isss a traitor and hasss attempted to kill me more than once.
“We mussst protect Antaresss. They are now the peacekeepersss of the galaxy and no longer warlordsss. If they are eliminated, the balance in this sssector will be in jeopardy. The Truven will not ssstop at dessstroying Kapa Centauri, but all Centaurians. They will never stop and will enforce their rule over all.
“Join me and my new flagship, the Sssaragosssa thisss day. I have toiled over thisss decisssion many nightsss and I have concluded that, thisss isss the right thing to do. The greater caussse outweighsss the dessstruction of our home world. We can rebuild. We are rebuilding. But if we allow the Truven to rule, all will be lossst. We ssshall no longer be able to rebuild our home world if Boldmane isss allowed to continue hisss deadly quessst.
“Join with me thisss day and we will depart Theta Centauri with a new caussse. Weather you decide to join my alliance with the humansss, or not, I will continue to fight againssst Zetaal and hisss movement until I breathe no more. I will bring Zetaal to justice for hisss treasssonousss actsss and of my attempted asssasssination.
“Zetaal’s followers tried to take usss out on our way here. Hisss followersss are dangerousss. They attacked my ssship and freed Zetaal from hisss imprisssonment. Now a free Centaurian, he will not ssstop until hisss persssonal vendetta isss achieved.
“Unfortunately, Zetaal’sss ssshort sssightednesss will ultimately resssult in the death of every Centaurian at the handsss of the Truven, ssshould he be allowed to continue.
“Thisss has been revealed to me by the Eridonian, Malcom. They are fighting to sssave the Antariansss to keep balance in the galaxy.
“If you are with me and sssupport me asss your true Chancellor, then form up with my ssship. We ssshall depart Theta Centauri in one sssantagon. Our first mission will be to help the Eridonian fleet battling Zetaal’sss movement. The Eridoniansss are currently keeping asss many ssshipsss from reaching Antaresss as possible.
“Asss your Chancellor, I ssshall sssee to it that Zetaal’sss movement isss defeated for the sssurvival of all Centauriansss.
“Together we ssshall ssstand—divided we ssshall fall. I ssshall sssee you in battle. Make your decision and join with me now. Chancellor Relegon sssigning off.”
The comm link was cut as Chancellor Relegon turned to his communications officer, “Krilza; how many shipsss are with usss?”
“All two-hundred battleshipsss have acknowledged their sssupport to you, my Chancellor.”
“Mossst excellent, Krilza! Prepare the fleet for our jump. I want every ssship sssynced and ready for battle. Asss I have sssaid, our firssst objective isss assssisting the Eridonian fleet. I owe them my gratitude for sssaving my life.”
“My Chancellor,” the ship’s pilot, Graxl, reported, “All shipsss are programmed to new jump coordinatesss. I have confirmed all navigation acrossss the fleet are sssynced and ssstanding ready for jump.”
“We are approaching the one sssantagon mark,” Krilza reported.
“Prepare for fleet jump,” Relegon ordered.
“Jump prep complete, Chancellor,” Graxl reported.
“All weaponsss sssystemsss are online and at the ready,” Krok reported.
“Jump the fleet!” Relegon ordered as he swiped a downward motion with his hand.
The fleet of two-hundred battleships moved to their new coordinates in two seconds. The bleeding stars returned to normal as they completed their jump.
“Ssstatusss report!”
“Multiple shipsss in sector! Zetaal’sss ship isss here asss well asss Boldmane. There are approximately two hundred Eridonian ssshipsss in sssector. They are currently keeping Zetaal’sss feet from jumping away.”
“All shipsss, attack Zetaal’sss fleet,” Chancellor Relegon ordered,” Helm: ssset courssse for Zetaal’sss ssship and target them! I want him sssstopped!”
“We are two santagons from target sssolution,” Krok reported.
“Chancellor,” Krilza reported, “I am getting a messsage from the Eridonian ssship from Malcom!”
“Put it on!”
An image of a short balding humanoid filled the visual screen at the Chancellor’s console, “It is good to see you, Chancellor Relegon.”
“Yesss, it would appear you’re two sssidesss are evenly matched,” Relegon answered.
“Yes. However, we are not able to use our telepathy. The Truven flag ship has a telepathic inhibitor. I am afraid that we will not be able to hold Zetaal’s fleet from jumping much longer.”
“We are lessss than two sssantagonsss from target sssolution! We are hitting Zetaal’sss ssship, first.”
“One sssantagon to target range!”
“Good luck, Chancellor,” Malcom responded. Then the screen faded to black.
“Fire all weaponssss!”
Zetaal’s ship turned away from his fleet, fire issued from the ship’s rear arc as they attempted to flee from Chancellor Relegon’s attack. Missiles flew from the Saragossa, striking the escaping battleship.
“Zetaal iss ssspooling their jump drive,” Krok reported.
“Fire again!”
Three plasma cannons fired multiple times at pointblank range, hitting Zetaal’s ship.
“Their ssshieldsss are down,” Krok reported, “They’ve taken sssubstantial damage.”
“Hit them again!”
“They’re gone, Chancellor,” Krok reported, “They were able to initiate their jump drive.”
Just then, the Saragossa shook and rocked, “Boldmane is attacking! No damage to sshieldsss!”
“Return fire!”
“Targeting,” Krok reported.
The two battleships slugged it out. The Saragossa firing their turrets and plasma cannons repetitively. Boldmane’s guns fired at the Chancellor’s ship, each exploding round illuminated the arc of protection around the Saragossa.
“Our fleet hasss engaged the Truven fleet,” Krok reported. “I’m detecting multiple jump drivesss ssspooling!”
“They’re preparing to leave,” Relegon surmised, “They know they are outnumbered with our fleet’sss arrival.”
One by one, the Truven and the remaining Zetaal fleet, jumped from the attacks from the Eridonian and the Chancellor’s fleet.
“Incoming messssage from Malcom,” Krilza reported.
“Put him on.”
Malcom’s image illuminated Relegon’s console once again, “I suggest we prepare to jump our combined fleets to Antares. That is Boldmane’s current destination. It is imperative we stop them from their attack.”
“Our fleet isss jump ready, reportsss my navigation officer.”
“Very well, Chancellor,” Malcom smiled, then nodded. “We are no longer subject to the telepathic inhibitor. We know we can arrive before Boldmane’s fleet. They jumped to regroup before launching their main attack at Antares.”
“Give the word and we will form up at Lebencha. From there, we will sssplit our forcesss evenly acrossss each collector and emitter ssstation.”
“I suggest fifty ships assigned to each of the six stations, leaving the remaining one-hundred ships to fly first line of defense,” Malcom added.
“I agree, Malcom,” Relegon nodded.
“We are commencing our fleetwide jump, now,” Malcom’s image faded from the screen as Malcom’s ship jumped from the sector. Then, each of the Eridonian ships left.
“Jump the fleet,” Relegon ordered.
Each of the chancellor’s battleships sped across the vastness of space, forming up around the fourth planet, Lebencha, at Antares.
“We’re picking up the Eridonian fleet asss well asss a mix of Draconian and Centaurian,” tactical officer, Krok reported, “All transponder codesss identified as non-hossstile.”
“Excssellent,” Relegon smiled, then licked his lips with his split tongue. “Get Malcom on the comm.”
“Patching ssship to ssship now,” Krilza nodded, then transmitted, “Attention Eridonian fleet. Chancellor Relegon on the Sssaragossssa requestsss to ssspeak with Malcom.”
The ship’s comm system crackled static before Malcom’s voice cut in, “Very good of you to form up. We detect you have already dispatched your ships to form up with ours at each collector and emitter station. Very efficient, Chancellor Relegon,” Malcom paused with closed eyes, then opened them and returned to the screen, “We should add Akua, the Emperor of Antares, to this channel.”
“Why do you not use your telepathy and join usss together to ssspeak. Isss not that method more efficient for Eridoniansss?”
“You are quite correct in what you say, Chancellor Relegon. Telepathic communication is much more efficient for Eridonians. However, when speaking to multiple races, interpreting multiple languages, adds the element of fatigue. We tire quite quickly in doing so. We must be ready when Boldmane and Zetaal’s fleets arrive. We cannot allow them any advantage by not being at maximum performance.”
“Krok: call for the emperor to join usss. Put them all on thisss channel.”
“Ssstand by,” Krilza acknowledged, “Attention: Antarian leaderssship. We request the emperor, Akua, to ssspeak with Chancssellor Relegon and Malcom of the Eridoniansss.”
“This is the Tyrodaconda,” the gruff antarian voice echoed over the radio, “Stand by. I have Akua. Go ahead.”
“Emperor,” Relegon began, “I have Malcom on thisss channel. We have arrived to help defend your ssstationsss.”
“We thank you all for your help,” Akua explained, “We did not expect such a supportive response as this. The destruction we have caused in this galaxy, is unforgivable.”
“The only reassson the Centaurians, that follow my flag, are here,” Relegon added, “isss due to the alliance with Earth and Admiral Fitz. Asside from that, you, emperor Akua, you were not directly responsible for the war crimesss that thisss galaxy suffered.”
“Again, we are grateful for your support and, as emperor, I shall see to it once this current conflict is resolved, I will do everything in my power to help rebuild the worlds that the Warlords destroyed.”
Malcom cut into the comm, “That is a most gracious offer, Akua. The Eridonians are pleased and will also help facilitate this.”
“We must remain at the ready,” Akua continued, “We have reports that our stations at our outer most planets have been attacked. The Draconian ships failed at keeping Zetaal supporters from taking out several of our emitter and collector stations. They very well could be ready to target Lebencha at any moment.”
“I understand that all Antarians will not engage in battle,” Malcom asked.
“You are correct, Malcom. Our blood spirit was removed by the Bron Vis’Ka. We cannot engage in fighting, even to defend ourselves at this time.”
“Yes,” Malcom answered, “Until balance is restored in Revein’sev.”
“We are hopeful that those tasks will be completed, giving us some of our ability to defend ourselves.”
“Ssscanners picking up multiple ssshipsss jumping in sssector!” Krok reported, “It’sss the Boldmane and Zetaal’ss fleetsss we encountered, Chancellor!”
“Ssscan for Zetaal’sss ssship!”
“Zetaal’sss ssship isss not with them,” Krok reported, “I sssuspect his ssship sssustained enough damage preventing them from completing their jump.”
“He’sss out there, sssomeplace. Let’sss hope hisss ssship isss damaged enough to continue hisss absssence. Prepare to engage the attacking force!”
“Enemy sshipsss are two minutes out!” Reported Krok.
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The Agamemnon
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Admiral Gilmore paced down in the CSC pit. He grew angrier by the minute, knowing that Admiral Fitz took out two of his battleships, “How soon can we resume the battle?”
“The ship will be repaired and jump ready in twenty minutes,” the chief echoed over the internal comm link. “I’ll get it done faster if at all possible.”
“Make it possible, mister!” Gilmore cursed, then look over to his comm officer, “Get word to the other two ships that we’ll be jumping in ten. I want to catch Fitz!”
“Aye, sir. Sending orders now.”
“Scanner contact!” Lieutenant Small shouted, “Centaurian transponder!”
General quarters!” Admiral Gilmore shouted. “Confirm who that is!” Gilmore ordered.
“It’s Zetaal, Admiral—confirmed, it is Zetaal’s ship and they’ve taken some damage.”
“Stand down general quarters and open a channel!”
“Zetaal’s voice echoed over the cracking and distorted link, “Admiral Gilmore! It issss good to sssee you!”
“Chancellor Zetaal,” began Gilmore, “What’s your status?”
“We were damaged during an attack with the Eridonian fleet, only it wasss Relegon’sss ssship that damaged our jump drivesss. He has amassssed a fleet of two-hundred ssshipsss! Our fleet jumped to our emergency holding coordinatessss.”
“Where is your fleet? We’re only detecting your battleship.”
“Our jump drivesss failed mid jump. We ended up at these coordinatesss,” Zetaal explained. “Might I ask what you are doing here?”
“We were Fitz hunting. We found him and discovered he’s flying in a random pattern around Antares with two additional ships: The Bristol and Primrose. They pulled the Fitz blitz on us. We sustained some damage of our own and lost two battleships!”
“Ssso, you ran like cowardssss?” Zetaal protested.
“We ran, yes. He took us by surprise, but the ol’ sayin’ goes: fool me once; shame on you. Fool me twice; shame on me. I will not let him take us by surprise, again.” Admiral Gilmore paused, then continued, “Might I add that you ran like cowards, too!”
“There isss a big difference with fighting two-hundred shipsss matched with two-hundred. Then Relegon came with two-hundred, outmatching usss two to one. You had five battle ssshipsss fighting two Earth ssshipsss and one Draconian. That ssshould have been favorable oddsss for you.”
“I’m not going to mince words, Chancellor. Suffice it to say, we know where he is. We’ll be ready in five more minutes if you wish to go Fitz hunting with us, you’re more welcome to join in,” Gilmore finished, then added, “That is, if you’ve repaired your ship and are ready for battle?”
“Yesss, my ssship isss now jump and battle ready! How about we sssurprise Admiral Fitz and use hisss own tacticssss?”
“I like the way you think. Can you elaborate what your idea is?”
“We launch all our fighter groupsss. They hold back and will enter the battle after two-sssantagonsss of battle. Thessse fightersss can jump in clossse to Jed’s sshipsss and take out their jump drive. Then you can fire off the final shot, eliminating Admiral Fitz, once and for all!”
“That’s an excellent idea, Chancellor,” Gilmore smiled, then began stroking his chin in anticipation. “I’ll have our chief coordinate that, but I think we need to send a scout to verify their still at those coordinates.”
“Agreed. Sssend usss the jump coordinatesss and we’ll sssync up with your fleet’sss NAV.”
“A hunting we will go,” Gilmore sang, “a hunting we will go. Hi ho the dairy o’, Fitz hunting we will go!” Gilmore laughed over the comm link, infecting Zetaal, adding his hissing laughter at the thought of finally taking out Admiral Fitz.
Chapter Twenty-Five
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The Rock
Combat Support Center
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“Jump complete,” Commander Jameson smiled. “The sector is clear, Admiral.”
“Get the Primrose on,” Jed ordered, “Then, I want Mister Hudson taken to an interrogation room, so I can press him on his intel while we’re between battles.”
“Right away, Sir,” Lieutenant Henderson acknowledged, “Primrose, Rocinante: Admiral Fitz for Skatie. Please stand by.”
“Sir,” Lieutenant Collins reported, “I have a security detail on the way to move Mister Hudson.”
“Very good,” Jed nodded, “I want you down there to personally oversee this. I’ll be right behind you in a couple minutes.”
“Aye, sir,” Lieutenant Collins acknowledged, “I’m on my way.”
The comm speakers crackled static, then the voce of the Primrose’s comm officer broke in, “Rocinante, Primrose: I have the Draconian Empress on the line. Go ahead.”
“Skatie,” Jed began, “Do you have time to come over to the Rock?”
“Yes, Admiral,” answered Skatie, “Captain Rothgarson says he’s got everything under control. I can get away.”
“Great. I look forward to seeing you. Jed out,” then he turned to his comm officer, “Open a channel to the Bristol.”
The radio crackled more static before Captain McCartney’s voice broke in, “Admiral?”
“Captain McCartney, how are your repairs coming?”
“We’re nearly finished with our PDS. We’ll be battle ready in thirty more minute.”
“Stay sharp. We’ve pissed Gilmore off. We should be ready for him to show up at any time.”
“I understand, sir,” McCartney answered, “We’ll be ready, sir.”
“Good deal, Captain. Skatie is heading over for a quick meeting with me. Do you think you have the time to join us?”
“Sorry, Jed. I can’t make it this time. Not if we’re going to get our PDS online.”
“Understood, Captain. I’m heading down to interview Mister Hudson. We need to get his information sorted out, sooner rather later if we’re going to try and stop the President from taking us out.”
