Disclaimer: This work is owned by me, copyright 2006.
The Cimailian Princess: Invasion
by AJ Marks
Chapter 1
Randy stood in his normal spot on the bridge of the Akagi. He felt nervous at the current mission. His first as commander of a battle-cruiser. Everyone now looked at him for command decisions. He had done solar flare missions before as a second in command, but now he had his own ship and crew. Looking over he noticed a friend, Lieutenant John Reed, walking towards him.
“Yo captain, what’s up,” John asked.
“A mission. Seems a solar flare’s cut communications with Corrius,” Randy replied to him.
“Same old same old, huh,” John replied. “All right, you might need some of my pilots for relays. I’ll get the guys and gals together.”
“You have about twenty minutes till we arrive,” Randy told him.
“Plenty of time Randy,” John said.
“I’ll get going then. Probably another thankless job we do for nothing. I should quit the military and start up my own flare recovery business,” John said walking off the bridge.
Randy understood the feeling his friend had. Many in the military were leaving as salaries were cut, careers were shortened and people seemed to ignore them. Many though were highly sought after in the civilian sector. He knew that John had an offer from a firm that would pay him three times what his dad made. He wondered if John would stay after his term ended at the end of the year.
Shaking his head he walked over to where Kim stood. “Let me know when we arrive. I’m going to see if there’s any information that might come in handy for the mission.”
“Yes sir,” Kim said.
Randy walked off the bridge towards his office. He really wanted to calm his nerves a bit before the mission really started.
“Captain Diern, contact with incoming ship,” the scanner operator said. Diern turned to see what the operator had seen. One contact, the ship was still in hyperspace.
Diern activated the ship communicator before speaking. “Admiral Jezic to the bridge,” he said. He didn’t have to wait very long before the tall admiral walking onto the bridge.
“Captain?”
“One contact, Alliance ship, probably a battlecruiser,” Diern said looking at the scanner once more.
“Then our illustrious opponent finally has shown up then,” Jezic said. “Get me Meia.”
“By your will admiral,” Diern replied.
Meia glanced down at the small music box. The only thing she had left from her mother. Opening the box up a song would begin to play, but one note at a time. She allowed the song to play as she thought about her mother. Personal items such as the music box were forbidden on Cimalian warships. She understood if it was found she’d be punished, but she didn’t care. The Alliance would pay for killing her mother
‘Revenge is at hand at last mother, yet something feels wrong,’ she said to the box. ‘No, I won’t’ doubt the mission.’
“Meia, incoming call from Admiral Jezic.”
Meia sighed placing the music box under her pillow. Turning she made her way towards the console going by the mirror she noticed a stranger looking back at her. Her once reddish-blonde hair had been turned blue as an indication of her status among the pilots. An elite pilot also meant her status on board the Kitakim had a high rank despite her low class status. Forcing herself away from the mirror she continued on to the console. Activating it she waited a second until the face of Admiral Jezic appeared.
“Admiral,” Meia said.
“Meia, prepare your squadrons. An Alliance battlecruiser is inbound. I want the second squad included this time. It’s time for them to taste combat,” Jezic said.
“By your will admiral,” Meia replied.
“For the glory of the empire,” Jezic said.
“For the empire,” Meia said automatically.
The screen went dark. Meia turned as the Kitakim went to battlestations. The klaxons blared indicating the ship might come under attack. Walking out of her quarters she found the hallway to be a mass of bodies. Many were taller than her five foot three stature. Her blue hair however meant that many moved aside for her. She noticed other pilots making their way down to the hanger. Most had brown or blonde hair, a few reds. Brown and blonde haired pilots were average pilots, red were pilots who showed abilities above the normal person. Green haired pilots were aces, while a blue haired pilot was considered to be the highest ranking position a pilot could attain.
At the hanger entrance she felt someone push her from behind. Acting without thinking she spun away as a brown haired pilot went sprawling on the ground.
“Stand aside scum,” a voice said.
Meia glanced to see a flash of green hair. He had to be the leader of the second squad. She looked down at the pilot who had just missed her.
“I’m sorry ma’am,” he said quickly scrambling away to his fighter.
Meia briefly thought about punishing the man but decided against it. Looking towards her fighter she noticed Hecus, the head mechanic, blocking the way of the green haired pilot. She quickly approached as people stepped aside for her.
“This is Meia’s fighter,” she could hear Hecus say.
“Saving the best fighter for a woman pilot. Probably inferior to me, I should have this fighter, can’t you tell I’m an elite,” the man said to Hecus.
“This fighter is for the flight leader,” Hecus replied.
“I should be the flight leader, Olin, beta class citizen, you wait and see,” Olin said.
“Perhaps if you fly as well as you can talk maybe,” Meia said approaching the two. She’d seen Hecus notice her approach and gave the older man a wink.
“Who…” Olin stopped clicking his mouth shut so quickly Meia smirked a bit at it.
“I suggest you find your fighter and be ready,” Meia said.
“Fine, epsilon,” Olin said with a bit of a sneer. She watched him walk away bulling another mechanic for his fighter.
“I added the extra cannon in the nose like you asked, had to take out the extra fuel cells but it works,” Hecus said. Meia watched as he patted the fighter with affection.
“Thank Hecus,” Meia said. She hopped into the fighter as he handed her the fighter interface. Placing in on her head it activated giving her access to information at a glance. “First squad, your mission is fighter control. Second squad, attack weapon systems, Oi first and second squads are reserves.”
The pilots acknowledged Meia’s orders. Her mind already went to work at different situations she might find herself in on the battlefield. Each situation she thought of a way to avoid death while killing those who killed her mother.
The Alliance battlecruiser Akagi approached the planet. The crew slowly becoming aware that several things were not as had been anticipated. Scanners indicated several large ships orbiting the planet.
“Captain White to the bridge,” Kim’s voice said.
Randy put the file he’d been reading up walking out of his office to the bridge. he noticed several crewmembers were tense at their stations looking at him with uncertainty in their eyes. Wondering what had happened in the last few minutes he walked over to where the scanner sat.
“What’s going on,” he asked glancing over the woman’s shoulder.
His eyes widened at the screen in front of him. Staring him in the face on the screen were over a dozen unidentified ships. Along with the ships there appeared to be fifty smaller craft in formation.
“Hades, what is that,” Randy said. “Yvette, any identification?”
Randy waited as Yvette worked. “No,” her reply came back.
“What should we do captain,” Kim asked.
“Raise shields. We don’t know what happened, Hans, any communications,” Randy asked.
“No sir,” Hans replied.
Randy felt out of place. His first command and already he had problems. Unidentified ships, no response from anyone to go along with a nervous crew.
“Smaller ships are closing the distance, could be an attack run,” Yvette said.
“Red alert,” Randy ordered. He looked over to see Kim standing there. She hadn’t moved yet. “Kim, red alert, now!”
He watched as she snapped out of her stupor and quickly activated the red alert. The Akagi’s alarm sounded as Kim’s voice came over the intercom.
“All hands red alert, report to your battlestations.”
Randy watched as Kim’s voice spurred the rest of the bridge crew into action. He turned to Hans to see if anything else had happened. Hans shook his head no.
“What about Corrius?”
“Sorry captain, nothing,” Hans replied. “Indications of messages to and from the unknown ships but I can’t decipher it.”
“incoming fighters still on attack run,” Kim said.
Randy thought about launching fighters but his fighters wouldn’t be armed for a fight. The weapons systems were ready but he didn’t feel right firing first.
“Captain, Lieutenant Reed is on the line,” Kim said to him.
Activating the screen John’s face appeared.
“What’s going on,” John asked.
“Trouble,” Randy replied. “We’ve got unknown ships in the area. We think they are approaching on an attack run.”
“Want us to scramble,” john asked.
“No, thought about that already. But you’re not armed for a fight,” Randy said. The distance still closing. The fighters had entered the Akagi’s weapons range.
“Weapon lock on approaching fighters,” Yvette’s voice said. He could hear the strain of the situation in her voice.
“Hold, we still don’t know their intent,” he told them. Seconds later the fighters opened fire.
“Weapons systems are being targeted,” Kim said. “Shields down five percent, no damage.”
“Helm, new course, eight point six, bring the hyperspace engines online at once,” he ordered. The crew raced to carry out the orders. He could hear the engines powering up as energy pulsed though them.
“Engines ready captain,” Kim said.
“Engage.”
The Akagi went into hyperspace away from Corrius and the unknown attackers. Questions filled Randy’s mind but no answers at the moment.
Meia watched as the enemy battlecruiser went into hyperspace.
“No,” she said to herself. Vengeance slipped away from her fingers as she continued watching where the ship had been. Her superiors wouldn’t like it that the ship had escaped. The only redeeming factor had been no one had been lost from her squad.
“All fighters, return to base,” she heard over the intercom.
“By your will,” she replied automatically. Turning her fighter she looked one last time at where the ship had been. ‘I will gain my revenge.’
Jack watched as Mary and Greg laughed over some of the antics of the senate. He couldn’t believe anything got done. A waitress came over asking if they needed anything else. When no one needed anything else she gathered up the used dishes heading back into the kitchen. Jack leaned back in his chair as Greg asked about their daughter. Their daughter and Greg’s son were about the same age. They had tried to get them to date but the friendship ended up being one of brother/sister.
“Well, I think we should probably think about heading out,” Greg said motioning his head to the window. Jack looked out seen the dark clouds approaching. A flicker of light indicated the storm would bring an electrical show with it.
“Where are you staying,” Mary asked.
“I’ve got reservations at the Royal Panther lodge. I remember hearing good things when I was here last,” Greg said.
“Good choice, I’ve got a friend who works there,” Mary said. “She said that many in the front desk are too lazy though.”
“I’ve got a busy day tomorrow, paperwork from the Akagi…” he trailed off as his communicator went off. He looked at in annoyance before pressing it. “Admiral White here, go,” Jack said.
“Admiral, sorry to disturb you but the Akagi is calling in an emergency.”
“All right, I’ll be right there,” Jack said turning to the other two. “Probably needs some equipment. Can you make sure Mary gets home all right?”
“Yeah, it’ll allow us to catch up some more,” Greg said.
Jack got up gave Mary a kiss then walked out of the restaurant heading to the base. He hoped he hadn’t pushed Randy too hard for this command. If Randy hadn’t been able to handle this mission he might push his son to pursue a civilian career.
Greg watched as Jack left. The waitress placed the check on the table. He pulled out a few bills placing in the pad.
“Ready,” Greg said to Mary. “We should probably go otherwise the storm will catch us.”
“Lead the way,” Mary said.
The two of them walked silently out of the restaurant. Greg noticed that Mary seemed to be in deep thought. A position he never quite liked.
“What are you thinking about?”
“Oh, I just wondered why you never remarried after Diane died. I see why now,” Mary said.
“The marriage would be luck to last one day. And I’m not for that contract joining that some of the youngsters are doing,” Greg said. “I wouldn’t trade what I’m doing for anything else though. I never say it but I’m glad Jack pushed me into politics.”
“He needs all the friends he can get from what he tells me,” Mary said.
Greg didn’t say anything. He still hadn’t told Jack the real reason why he was there. “I’ll stop by the command center and see what’s going on.”
“I have a bad feeling about all of this,” Mary said. “Randy’s got a good head on his shoulders. So much like his father, but more so. I fear for his safety.”
Greg didn’t say anything. Mary had a strange intuition that no one could really explain. He shuddered slightly at the words before saying anything.
“It’s probably just what Jack said, nothing important,” Greg told her. He watched as Mary nodded her head. Thunder rumbled in the distance almost mocking Greg’s words as the sweet smell of rain permeated the air.
John walked into a busy command center. He made eye contact with Chad who quickly made his way over to him.
“Admiral, we have the message over here,” Chad said. John followed the young man over where Chad brought up the message.
John quickly scanned though the message frowning at what he just read. Randy reported the Akagi coming under attack by some unknown force. He quickly thought about what he might need to do next. He needed information on what had happened at Corrius.
“Get me Captain Val of the Griffen,” Jack said. He quickly looked at the fleet report seeing where the Griffen currently was.
“Admiral, you needed something,” Val asked as his face appeared on the screen.
“I have a mission for the Griffen,” John said. “Corrius, we lost contact with it. I sent the Akagi and the report came back some unknown force had fired upon them.”
“Pirates,” Val asked.
“Pirates haven’t had any organized force in over a hundred years. Whatever is there might be able to take on a battlecruiser. I need you to recon the area,” John ordered.
“We’ll be off within the hour,” Val replied.
“Good, and Val, don’t spread this around. We don’t need false news stories slipping out to the press,” Jack said.
“I’ll be careful,” Val said. The screen went black as the communications wend dead. Jack hoped that by sending in a fast patrol ship he’d be able to gain the needed information.
“What’s going on,” he heard Greg’s voice say. Looking over he noticed his friend standing by the doorway watching everything that’s going on.
“Did Mary make it home,” Jack asked avoiding the question.
“Yes, and quite changing the subject,” Greg replied.
“Randy reported in that the Akagi encountered some unknown ships around Corrius,” Jack said to Greg.
“Haven’t heard of anything,” Greg said. Jack watched as Greg thought about it for a few seconds. “No nothing, but perhaps I should make an inquiry and see if anything’s come up.”
“Any information will help. I sent Val to check things out,” Jack said.
“Val, I remember him. Tended to skirt on the edge but always came though,” Greg replied.
“That’s him,” Greg said. He hoped Val would be able to come though once more.
“Of all the times for something like this to happen,” Jack said. “Pirates are the last thing I need to happen with the arrival of those senators.”
“The Constricts will see this as an attempt by the military to keep funding,” Greg said.
“If it’s another Pirate War we don’t have the military to fight back. Especially if they’re really organized,” Jack said.
“I suppose then it’s a bad time to tell you what the real agenda is,” Greg said. Jack looked at his friend wanting to know just what was going. “The government is thinking about shutting down the military, or at least several bases and a fleet.”
Jack noticed Greg’s words had silenced the room better than a gunshot could.
“And if this is a war, then what,” Jack asked looking at Greg. “What sill the Constricts do when they start losing profits?”
“I don’t’ know,” Greg replied in a whisper.
Jack realized his friend had told the truth. He could only hope that this was an isolated incident. The round of rain filled the silent room as dull thunder rattled the walls.
End chapter 1
Go on to chapter 2
Comment below or send to AJMarks01@aol.com