{"id":1995,"date":"2017-05-24T07:15:25","date_gmt":"2017-05-24T12:15:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=1995"},"modified":"2017-05-27T07:41:19","modified_gmt":"2017-05-27T12:41:19","slug":"the-cimalian-princess-rebellion-part-28","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=1995","title":{"rendered":"The Cimalian Princess: Rebellion – Part 28"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Cimalian Princess: Rebellion<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

by AJ Marks<\/span><\/p>\n

Part 28<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Meia acknowledged John\u2019s good luck and turned her fighter towards the planet. This was the part she felt most nervous about, the upcoming battle on the ground.\u00a0 The battle she fought in space was easy compared to this upcoming battle.<\/p>\n

Moving her fighter into atmosphere she felt it jerk slightly as she encountered air resistance. Her ride down would get bumpier but noticed there were no storms going on in her descent.\u00a0 She spotted the signal which would identify where she needed to go set up by the resistance, or so she hoped.<\/p>\n

Flames erupted around her as she slowed down for atmospheric flight, not the high speed of space as it would rip the ship apart. The temperature inside stayed cool thanks to the shields of the Wolf II fighter.<\/p>\n

\u201cBlue one to shuttle group,\u201d Meia said.<\/p>\n

\u201cShuttle group here, heading towards the landing spot and will secure the area,\u201d the reply came back to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnderstood, heading down now, will meet you shortly,\u201d Meia replied wondering how things were going down there, and what she really should do once she arrived there.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

Randy listened to the battle though the communications, waiting for one message.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdmiral, Meia\u2019s fighter has now entered the atmosphere as well behind the shuttles,\u201d Kim said to him.<\/p>\n

Randy nodded knowing that the first part had been achieved, getting Meia and the group to the planet\u2019s atmosphere. The next part was landing on the surface and his fleet now had the job of delaying the Cimalian military or defeat it.<\/p>\n

\u201cOrder the Bismarck to head to sector sixteen and engage the carrier,\u201d Randy said.<\/p>\n

The order was relay even as he braced from the impact of the Xeno missiles launched from a battle-cruiser further away. He looked to see the layout of the enemy fleet and his.<\/p>\n

\u201cHave Hood engage the other battle-cruiser, high priority on the Xeno missile launchers,\u201d Randy ordered.<\/p>\n

\u201cBomber groups heading in on attack runs on the Warspite,\u201d Aaron said.<\/p>\n

Randy watched as the bombers closed on and hoped the defensive systems on the Warspite could take the challenge. There were no fighter squadrons in range to take on the bombers in time.<\/p>\n

\u201cCommunications from one of the shuttles, it was damage and will be forced to land in a different area,\u201d Hans said.<\/p>\n

Randy nodded knowing that fifty men were now either lost before the ground combat began or were in an area which they could not help. Either way Meia\u2019s force was now shorthanded.<\/p>\n

\u201cSir, shuttle group two is ready, shall I give them the okay?\u201d Kim asked.<\/p>\n

Randy glanced at the current situation of the battle. All over fighter groups were engaged with their opposite but the path to the planet\u2019s surface was currently too risky for shuttles.<\/p>\n

\u201cNegative, we need a clearer path,\u201d Randy said. \u201cIf they left now they\u2019d be flying right into a combat zone, inform shuttle group one of the situation.\u201d<\/p>\n

He watched as Hans relayed the message and tried to figure out what they could do to clear the path. After Meia and her group descended the path became clogged with fighters.\u00a0 He could risk the men but he wouldn\u2019t waste their lives in a reckless move.\u00a0 He would place his trust in John and the fighters to clear the path.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

Meia climbed out of her fighter and looked around spotting only three shuttles instead of four, hoping they only had some problems and were not destroyed on the descent down to the surface. Either way it meant they were now fifty men short for their assault on the palace.\u00a0 She made her way over to the commander of the group who appeared waiting for her.<\/p>\n

\u201cLost one shuttle on the way down, engine failure. Don\u2019t know about its condition or men, or even where it landed as we can\u2019t raise it,\u201d the man said to her.<\/p>\n

She took a breath wanting to send men to find the shuttle but knowing she didn\u2019t have the manpower to do so.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve got scouts heading towards the palace even as we secure the landing site,\u201d he continued updating her.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you captain,\u201d Meia said.<\/p>\n

\u201cUm, there is one thing, with fewer men it will be harder to defend this position,\u201d he said to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs you saying we should abandon the area?\u201d Meia asked, fi they did that then she would have to join them.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes ma\u2019am, we can leave a few, but securing the area will be difficult,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Meia had to give that some thought before finally coming up with a reply. \u201cLead on then.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSquad six, you\u2019re with Meia, make sure nothing happens to her,\u201d the captain said to a young man who gave a salute.<\/p>\n

The group moved out even as the squad formed a ring around Meia as she crept along silently with the group using her skills to remain quiet. They moved forward before coming to halt and the commander came back to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere appears to be fighting up ahead, we don\u2019t know who is who,\u201d he said to her as another person tapped him on the shoulder.<\/p>\n

\u201cSir, General Porkins says reinforcement are delayed due to the battle in space, they can\u2019t provide a clear path and the admiral isn\u2019t sure when they will arrive.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHades,\u201d the commander said then looked at Meia. \u201cIts your call, we\u2019re up to it, but looks like we\u2019ll be it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meia looked around at the men knowing it was up to her as they waited for her decision. She had no idea how this battle would go, or how they would make the final destination.\u00a0 They might get a few more from the resistance depending on how many they were able to organize.\u00a0 It would be easy to wait for reinforcements but she had a feeling Enforcers were already on their way.\u00a0 They could not hold this position forever, and she had no idea how the battle would unfold in space.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe go,\u201d Meia finally said making up her mind.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou heard the lady, we go,\u201d the commander said looking around at the group. \u201cThird squad, left flank, seventh, right, second squad rear, the rest with me, move out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Each squad quickly moved to their position as the men fanned out once more and headed onward. Shooting up ahead caused her to flinch and look around but saw nothing.\u00a0 The others appeared tense but no one jumped at every little noise.<\/p>\n

\u201cBit different than flying, eh lieutenant?\u201d the closest to her said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Meia replied nodding her head in agreement.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were like you on the way down, but now, this is our environment,\u201d he said to her as they moved on. Meia tried to stay out of the way as much as possible.<\/p>\n

\u201cSir, getting some resistance on the flanks, but forward is clear,\u201d Meia heard the report come into the commander.<\/p>\n

\u201cKeep an eye out for traps, but proceed,\u201d the commander replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cAny sign of the resistance?\u201d Meia asked gaining some courage to ask the question.<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry, nothing yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meia swallowed at the news knowing it could mean many things, one of which her uncle planned a lot of this and they were walking into a trap. She kicked herself for now waiting for the reinforcements but for now all they could do was go forward.<\/p>\n

They moved along forward where she could hear even more PRG fire, and it seemed to be heavy fighting up ahead.<\/p>\n

\u201cCaptain, scouts reporting in, there\u2019s a firefight up ahead between locals, the palace guards and a group of armed men who called themselves Enforcers approaching from that direction,\u201d the man said pointing in a direction opposite from the firefight.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Enforcers are on the Emperor\u2019s side, the locals are probably the resistance,\u201d Meia said quickly.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, squad six will engage the Enforcers, the rest will engage the palace guards,\u201d the captain said.<\/p>\n

Meia moved along keeping out of sight, something she felt more comfortable with even as the commotion grew louder. She watched as a few others moved ahead and then Brad came running back towards her with some important information.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve met up with the group led by Greg,\u201d Dave said. \u201cThey are up ahead in the firefight.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, we\u2019ll have a few squads go and join them,\u201d the commander said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSee if Greg and came back here, we need to know what is going on and how we\u2019re going to get into the palace,\u201d Meia said.<\/p>\n

Dave nodded as men moved out and forward but Meia, her squad and the commander all stayed behind hearing the fight almost intensify but Dave returned with Greg.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re early,\u201d Greg stated looking around at the men around her.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had a slight problem, had to leave ahead of plans,\u201d Meia replied to him. \u201cWhat\u2019s the situation?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFighting started a few minutes ago, but the palace is already on alert, guess it\u2019s a good thing your fleet showed up early then,\u201d Greg said. \u201cSome of the palace guards are supposed to be friendly, but so far haven\u2019t had any luck there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meia still felt skeptical about that but said nothing at the moment. Palace guards would be friendly when they were all loyal to her uncle.\u00a0 He wouldn\u2019t run the risk of having someone who might turn on him be so close to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a breakthrough,\u201d the commander said, who had been paying attention to the battle. \u201cMove out.\u201d<\/p>\n

The group started running before Meia even had a chance to think about what was going on. She felt slightly foolish for running straight into the palace but the fighting continued as the men caught others unware that a breakthrough had been achieved.\u00a0 A few calls for medics rang out and she noticed a few people being treated but they continued forward.\u00a0 Around the next corner was another group of guards as they looked on Greg seemed to spot something.<\/p>\n

\u201cBlue patch, that\u2019s what our contact said would be willing to help us,\u201d Greg said as Meia looked over to see the patch in question.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sure?\u201d the commander asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I\u2019ll make contact,\u201d Greg said moving forward to talk with the guards.<\/p>\n

\u201cTake someone with you,\u201d Meia said as a few others stepped forward and made their way forward with Greg.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m with the resistance group, are you the guards we were told about?\u201d she heard Greg ask.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d a voice said, but not from the guards, but a female voice Meia thought she recognized.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur contact, didn\u2019t expect to hear you here,\u201d Greg stated.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy not, I\u2019ve planned this all along.\u201d<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

Randy watched the scanner again as the Cimalian battle-cruisers moved into the pathway which would shuttle would take to the planet. Things seemed to be getting worse.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy is it I don\u2019t like the feeling of this?\u201d Randy said more to himself than anyone else around him.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf what sir? Aaron said, hearing the question.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis fight, everything, their deliberately blocking our path to the planet, almost as if,\u201d Randy stopped as a sudden thought. \u201cOh goddess, this isn\u2019t good.\u201d<\/p>\n

He looked over to see the rest of the bridge crew looking at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean, we appear to be winning,\u201d Kim stated.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor now, but as Meia said, the real battle is on the planet\u2019s surface, as long as we can\u2019t reinforce the troops down there they have the advantage,\u201d Randy said to them. \u201cIts like they knew what we\u2019d be doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou mean they knew our plan?\u201d Toni said not looking up from the weapons console.<\/p>\n

\u201cBasically, yes, that\u2019s what I\u2019m saying,\u201d Randy said. \u201cAnd they might be down on the planet with Meia at the moment.\u00a0 Can we get a message through to the troops down there?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry sir, we\u2019re currently being jammed by the enemy fleet,\u201d Hans said. \u201cStarted up a few minutes ago after mentioning we couldn\u2019t send reinforcements down.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHades,\u201d Randy swore looking around.<\/p>\n

\u201cIncoming fleet in hyperspace, probably the one which tracked us down earlier,\u201d Toni said. \u201cBe here in almost twenty minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Randy knew things now looked bleak as the Cimalian fleet approached. There was still a lot of battle to undertake and he could abandon the planet and Meia but he hoped she could end this battle quickly.<\/p>\n

\u201cTell the Hood to follow us, we\u2019re engaging that battle-cruiser and destroying it now,\u201d Randy said giving a new order. \u201cCruiser squad take up flanking positions on either side, we\u2019re going straight at them.\u201d<\/p>\n

End part 28<\/p>\n

Continued in part 29<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Cimalian Princess: Rebellion by AJ Marks Part 28 Meia acknowledged John\u2019s good luck and turned her fighter towards the planet. This was the part she felt most nervous about, the upcoming battle on the ground.\u00a0 The battle she fought in space was easy compared to this upcoming battle. Moving her fighter into atmosphere she […]
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