Return to Revein'sev, page 27
Running into the heart room, Race slid to a stop, turned and planted his staff on the ground in front of him, “You will not take the sword, E’nor’Ta! You have lost!”
Chipper continued climbing across her back, biting her in random places, keeping her occupied.
“Noooo!” Screaked E’nor’Ta, “Noooo, you can’t win this! Noooo!”
“It’s too late!” Race answered, “The two bloods have fused into the sword,” then, he pointed down, “See for yourself, E’nor’Ta. The healing is exactly in balance. Half Kron’Shulooka and half, Bron Vis’Ka.”
Danielle, Darnash and Ruki caught up to where E’nor’Ta stood and watched in awe as the sword’s power filled the beating heart.
Chipper finally leaped from E’nor’Ta and scurried over to Race, climbed his pant leg, up his side and perched on his right shoulder.
E’nor’Ta looked up at the beating heart with the empty eye sockets in her head and said, “You have done it, Race Jennings,” her soft voice took everyone by surprise.
An apparition began flickering next to Race as an Antarian took form.
Race looked over and exclaimed, “Gor’con!”
“Yes, my friend, Race. You have, indeed, completed this task.”
“Gor’con,” Ruki smiled as a tear fell down her cheek, “You are here.”
“Yes, my young Ruki. I am here and shall be forever and a Ma’Nuta’Dii with Race and all the rest.”
“Father?” E’nor’Ta softly voiced.
An image flickered next to E’nor’Ta, taking the shape of another Antarian, “Yes, my blind daughter. It is I, Ma’Ruuk, your father.”
The two embraced as E’nor’Ta looked up into her father’s eyes and said, “I no longer have the desire to kill. Yet, I have the power and energy to defend this realm with you.”
“That is because of the balance Race Jennings has brought to Revein’sev,” Tumaleka answered.
Dumakas stood next to his mother and looked down upon her, “Yes, Tumaleka, Race has brought balance. No more shall we be ruled by the blood spirit nor shall we be tempted by evil doing—”
“—and this balance will reflect to the world Race comes from,” E’nor’Ta finished.
“Now it is time for you to complete your last task,” Gor’con advised.
“I know, I know,” Race protested, “This is really hard, you know.”
“We understand the difficulty in this task, Race,” Ma’Ruuk nodded.
“Nonetheless,” E’nor’Ta added, “It must be done.”
Race walked up to Ruki, Danielle and Darnash and said, “It’s time for you to go home.”
“I know, Race,” Ruki said, wrapping her arms around Race, “I’m going to miss you, terribly!”
Tears welled up under Ruki’s eyes. Race took his finger and dabbed the tears off her face, “I’m going to miss you, too, my Ruki. But we’ll see each other again.”
“It will be a long time, Race.”
The two hugged again before separating. Then, he turned to Danielle and smiled, “Thank you, my Queen, for coming here and helping with this. I couldn’t have done it without all your help.”
Danielle embraced Race and then kissed his cheek. You’re most welcome, Race.”
Darnash extended his hand after Danielle and Race parted, “My, sometimes, irritating human friend—mostly antarian, now and not so irritating. You’ve come a long way in this journey.”
Race shook Darnash’s hand and smiled, “Thank you, big guy! That means a lot to me, you saying that, n’all.”
“Well, it is a truth I do say this Ma’Nuta’Dii. Take care of the realm, Race.”
“That’s my job, now,” Race smiled as the two finished shaking. “Now, for the last thing I must do. I have to break the connection to our world and Revein’sev.”
“How are you going to do that?” Ruki asked.
“That’s easy. When I do it, you’ll find yourselves waking up in Doc Lambert’s sickbay.”
“Let’s get on with it, Race,” Darnash advised, “Before you become irritating, once again.”
Race raised the staff over his head with both hands and then brought it down across his knee, breaking the staff in two. A crack of power echoed across the realm as the staff’s energy was displaced into the realm, causing the physical image of Danielle, Darnash and Ruki to fade away.
Race and all the rest that were in physical form vanished from the realm, returning to the Ela’voo. The Staff of Revein’sev crumbled into nothingness, the dust filtered to the ground, then vanished into the air, leaving no evidence of the staff that once was.
Chapter Thirty
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The Tuskin
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“All systems have been repaired,” Largepaw reported.
“Check with the rest of the fleet and ensure we are all prepared to jump to Antares.”
“Navigation set, fleetwide, to Lebencha, Captain,” Reported Eyetooth.
Comm officer, Sharpclaw turned to face Leanmane, “I have confirmed all remaining ships are synced with our navigation settings. We are ready to jump on your command.”
“Prepare all weapons systems and engage maximum shielding,” ordered Leanmane. “Open fire on any enemy ships we are closest to as we finalize this jump!”
“We are ready to engage, Captain,” Largepaw reported. “All weapons systems are online, fleetwide.”
“Jump the fleet!”
“Jumping the fleet, now!” Eyetooth shouted.
Leanmane’s fleet jumped, one ship, after the other, until all ships landed in close proximity to the planet Lebencha. The sector, already full of explosions of each side battling; one side protecting the collector and emitter stations. The other, attempting to destroy those same stations. Now, with Leanmane’s fleet arrival, the display of exploding rounds and missile detonations increased.
“All weapons are active, Leanmane!” Largepaw acknowledged. “Target locked on the remaining collector station for Delema. The fleet are targeting all Eridonian ships in sector.”
“Good! With Boldmane’s and our TPI systems active, the Eridonians are helpless with their mind tricks.”
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Antares
The Saragossa
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Malcom’s image flickered as he attempted to relay to Relegon his suggested battle strategy, “I am losing the ability to communicate, Chancellor. I suggest you prepare using Admiral Fitz’s strategy. He calls it the Fitz Blitz. Oh dear! We detect an additional forty-seven ships entering this sector. They are all Truven and are joining in Boldmane’s attack!”
Then Malcom’s image faded and vanished, leaving the Chancellor alone with his crew. Then, turning to his tactical officer, he ordered, “Prepare the jump drive for multiple close contact jumpsss!”
Lieutenant Krok sprang to action, “Yesss, Chancellor. I believe I am familiar with Admiral Fitz’sss maneuver.”
“We have to take out Boldmane’sss ssship!” Relegon ordered.
“Yesss, Boldmane,” tactician Krok acknowledged, “I’m targeting the Truven Flagssship, the Punisher! Sssynced with NAV—We’re ready to commence jump attack!”
“Execute jump!”
Relegon’s flagship darted across the gap of space, parking on Boldmane’s three-quarter and opened fire with their plasma cannons at point blank range.
The crew looked on with the Punisher firing volley after volley at the Tyrodaconda currently protecting the collector station for Gornash. Each round shot, impacted the Antarian flagship. The ship rocked and moved to and fro with each impact, the arch of shielding glowed around the ship. With the new ship hitting the Truven flag, they quickly turned their turrets on the Saragossa, hitting the Chancellor’s ship with their heavy artillery shells.
The Chancellor’s flagship rocked and shook with each round fired. The ship’s glowing energy shielding dimmed with visible holes in the bubble of protection. Sections of armor plating failed, breaking off the hull, creating new debris hazard hitting the Truven ship.
“All handsss!” Relegon shouted, “fire all weaponsss and jump usss out of here!”
“All batteriesss firing!” Krok acknowledged, pressing more commands on his console. Then, he turned and reported, “I’m sssynced with NAV. We’re go for sssecondary jump posssition.”
“Jump the ssship!” Relegon ordered.
The ship’s jump drive spun up, then fire erupted from the navigation console, throwing the ship’s pilot, officer Graxl, from his seat.
“Jump drivesss are off-line!” Reported engineer Drik. “Ssshieldsss are failing! We’ve lossst ten percent of our armor plating!”
“Keep firing!” Relegon shouted over the alarms that blared and more fires erupting from other bridge stations.
“Get those enginesss online! Increase ssshieldsss on our ventral and pivot usss one-hundred-eight degreesss!”
The pilot quickly pivoted the ship, bringing the top section around to take the hits. With the energy field strengthened, each detonation displayed the bubble of protection.
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The Punisher
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Boldmane sat confidently on his bridge, all weapons were firing at the Tyrodaconda, “Keep hitting them! They can’t take very many more direct hits from us. They’ll soon crumble at my command!”
The Punisher rocked as the Saragossa jumped into close proximity.
“What’s happening!?” Boldmane shouted.
“It’s Chancellor Relegon’s ship, the Saragossa! They jumped in close proximity and are firing at point-blank-range!”
“Switch targets to the Saragossa! Fire everything we’ve got!”
“Acknowledge!” Tactician, Largepaw reported. “They’re taking damage!”
“Keep firing!”
“We’ve taken their jump drives down! They’re shields are weakening!”
“They’re rotating position!” Sharpclaw reported.
“They’re putting their ventral shields at our weapons. Keep firing!”
“We’re damaging some of their armor plating!”
“Good… very good!” Boldmane laughed in his seat.
“Wait!” Largepaw shouted with panic. “We’re being targeted by the Tyrodaconda!”
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The Saragossa
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“I sssuggessst you get thossse enginesss online!” Relegon again ordered.
“Chancellor!” Krok reported, “The Tyrodaconda isss charging weaponsss! They’re plotted an intercept course to the Punisssher!”
“Navigation ssstation is ready asss sssoon as we have those drivesss,” Dirk reported next.
“All Antarian ssshipsss in sssector are firing weaponsss!” Krok again reported.
“Thisss isss excellent newsss!” Relegon smiled acrossss his lizard lips.
“Incoming missssile ssstrike! Punisher isss their target, but we’re too close!”
“Missssiles impact in thirty santarosss!”
“Enginesss are online!” Dirk shouted over the ship’s noise.
“Jump usssss!” Relegon shouted next.
Graxl quickly pressed his commands, sending the ship to their secondary jump coordinates. As the Saragossa’s jump drive activated, the negative energy density generators created the energy bubble for the jump, tearing a gash, the shape of a sphere, from the side of the Punisher as the Saragossa departed.
The inbound missiles struck the opposite side of the Truven flagship. With the already damaged battleship, the missiles passed through the shields and erupted in a bright flash as the munition’s payload detonated on impact.
Relegon pumped his fist at the sight of the flagship began exploding into several sections as the Saragossa settled into their new position, not far from the Punisher’s burning hulk.
“Boldmane isss no longer!” Relegon cheered with success.
“There isss an escape craft that departed,” Krilza reported.
“That isss likely, Boldmane! Can we intercept that transssport?”
“Negative, Chancellor,” Krok reported, “They did an emergency jump from the sssector. However, their telepathic inhibitor isss now dessstroyed,” Krok reported. “The Antarian misssilesss ripped through their hull!”
“Incoming messsage from the Tyrodaconda.”
More missiles left the Antarian ship as it turned toward another target, “This is Emperor Akua. It would appear balance has been restored to the realm as we are able to fight our enemies, once again. Join with me in targeting the Tuskin and to take out the last telepathic inhibitor in sector!”
“Yesss, of courssse. I am directing my nav officer to form up. And I thank you, Emperor Akua, for saving the Sssaragossssa from certain dessstruction.”
“We must hurry!” Akua urged, “They’ve already taken out the Delema collector. They’re moving to the emitter station at Delema!”
“Our intercept coursssse issss plotted, Akua,” Relegon smiled, “The Tussskin isss in our target sssolution on their port ssside.”
“We have opened fire on their starboard!”
Bright flashes of light emanated from the Tuskin as the ship’s reactor erupted. Then, darkness surrounded the destroyed ship, now in several sections accompanied by additional detonations as each section continued burning any remaining oxygen.
Malcom’s image immediately flickered on each of their bridges, “You may cease fire all weapons for now. With the destruction of the Punisher and Tuskin, the telepathic inhibitors have been eliminated. We are now able to implement an illusion to all attacking ships. We have provided the image of five-hundred new Eridonian attacking battleships. All enemy ships are spooling their drives and are plotting their retreat.”
“I can confirm that, Chancellor,” Krok reported. “All enemy shipsss are jumped away from thisss sssector!”
“Mosssst Excsssellent!” Relegon nodded with praise.
“Chancellor,” Krilza reported, “Emperor Akua isss ssstill on the line.”
“Emperor Akua,” Relegon began, “It would ssseem we have become victoriousss in our battlesss this day!”
“Yes, Chancellor Relegon,” Akua answered over the comm, “It would appear that the Eridonians have succeeded in tricking our enemies for the time being. However, it also appears we have suffered major damage. I am getting reports that all outer planet energy collector and emitter stations have been destroyed. Here at Lebencha, we have lost the collector stations for all three moons and two emitter stations; the only one remaining is the emitter station for Delema.”
“We are sssorry that we couldn’t do more to prevent thessse losssesss, Emperor.”
“Not to worry, Chancellor Relegon,” answered Akua, “We really needed to find alternate sources of power. Draining Lebencha of its precious resources has had lasting effects on each of our moons and nearly losing Serintin. It is time we actively pursue other resources to sustain Antares.”
“Very well, Emperor,” Relegon began.
“—However, Chancellor,” Akua cut Relegon off, “I believe it is imperative that we send a few ships to inform Admiral Fitz of our victory and to have them rejoin us here at Lebencha.”
“Sssend usss the coordinatesss of where the Rocinante isss expected to be and we will go to them.”
“If you would like, Chancellor,” Akua offered, “The Tyrodaconda will be more than happy to join with you.”
“Transssmit the coordinatesss and we shall, indeed, go together.”
“Coordinates have been transmitted. We can jump when you are ready, Chancellor.”
“Commence jump on my sssignal—Jump!”
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Rocinante CSC
________________________
As the Rock plunged closer to the surface of the planet, Erica piloted the ship towards the first body of water, “I don’t know, Skatie. That looks pretty small for us to skip off.”
The engine control board flickered and came to life. Then, other systems lit up as power was restored across every CSC station.
“We’ve got full power!” Shouted Chief Kelly over the comm link.
“Engage full power to those engines, NOW, Lieutenant!” Jed ordered.
The ship groaned as the engines kicked in, sending the crew back into their seats and auto restraint systems. The ship’s nose pointed upward as Erica gained flight controls, once again.
The bright sun shined brightly in their eyes through the ship’s forward view screens as they gained momentum.
“Reaching breakaway speeds,” Erica shouted over the noise from the outside. “Orbit in twenty-seconds!”
The massive thrust rocketed the Rocinante upward, higher and higher in the planet’s atmosphere as Erica regained flight controls, “Orbit capture successful, Admiral!”
“Damage report!” Commander Jameson barked.
“We’ve sustained damage to our aft shielding and one thruster pack. We lost some armor plating, but nothing significant to warrant any structural integrity issues.”
“How long before those shields are back up?” Jed asked.
“Aft shields are operational, sir,” Chief Kelly answered over the comm, “Just down to forty-percent. They’ll be full charged up in ten minutes, but we are battle ready.”
“Very well, Chief. I want all our systems double checked and rechecked before our jump,” Jed ordered.
“I’m getting an urgent call from Doctor Lambert, sir,” reported Lieutenant Henderson.
“Put him on!” Jed ordered.
“Admiral,” Lambert’s voice echoed over the ship’s comm, “Do you mind not rocking the ships so much? I’m having a rough time of it down here keeping our patients from really dying!”
