{"id":209,"date":"2015-07-04T12:46:31","date_gmt":"2015-07-04T12:46:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=209"},"modified":"2015-07-04T12:48:32","modified_gmt":"2015-07-04T12:48:32","slug":"the-cimalian-princess-invasion-ch-9","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=209","title":{"rendered":"The Cimalian Princess: Invasion – Ch 9"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Cimalian Princess: Invasion<\/span><\/h2>\n

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

Chapter 9<\/span><\/p>\n

The battle-cruisers Warspite and Enterprise arrived from the Reserve Fleet joining up with the Akagi and Bismarck. These four ships would form the backbone of the Strike Fleet. On board the new flagship, Akagi, newly promoted Rear-Admiral Randy White watched his crew work. He hoped that he\u2019d do as good a job as others thought he could. Nothing new had changed in the last couple of hours leaving him plenty of time to think about Meia.
\n\u201cCaptain, I mean Admiral,\u201d Han said. Randy understood the slip in rank, he still had to get used to it as well. He glanced over to see what Hans wanted. \u201cDoctor Leaver says Meia is awake again.\u201d
\n\u201cAll right, be right there,\u201d Randy replied. He turned walking off the bridge quickly making his way down to the med lab. He\u2019d been thinking of his plan. The Alliance needed information and Meia seemed to be the best way to get it. He hoped that by using truth and gaining her trust he could gain some information.He walked into the med lab noticing this time the woman seemed more alert and awake. Still a bit confused by everything but at least this time she wasn\u2019t armed. He noticed the guard from earlier who\u2019d been disarmed still stood guard. He nodded as he passed as the guard returned the nod. He glanced over to see the doc at his desk writing a report but paying attention to the patients.
\n\u201cDoctor,\u201d Randy said. The doctor looked up gave a nod then Randy went over to Meia. \u201cHello, do you remember anything?\u201d
\nHe watched as blue eyes narrowed a bit at him in concentration. He wondered where she\u2019d come from once more. Under different circumstances he would\u2019ve found her attractive, not his normal type but attractive non-the-less. He pulled the chair up and sat down hoping to maintain an air of calmness and openness which might help put her at ease.
\n\u201cI\u2019ll explain once more. I think last time you were a bit too confused,\u201d Randy said launching into the story again. When he finished he waited to see what her reaction would be.
\n\u201cAboard an Alliance ship,\u201d she asked.
\n\u201cYes, the Akagi,\u201d Randy replied.
\n\u201cAm I a prisoner?\u201d
\n\u201cAh, the complex question,\u201d Randy said. He had tried to prepare for this question. Meia definitely should be a prisoner, yet in order for his plan to work she had to assume she wasn\u2019t. \u201cYou are human right, not a clone?\u201d
\n\u201cYes,\u201d Meia said. He could see her frown at that question.
\n\u201cAnd your name is Meia,\u201d Randy asked.
\n\u201cYes, how?\u201d Meia asked.
\n\u201cYou told me last time we talked,\u201d Randy said. He hoped she might remember something.
\n\u201cYou, no, this is real,\u201d she said confused. Randy wondered how much might be her memories and what might be from the drug she\u2019d been taking.
\n\u201cEverything here is real, or at least it was last time I checked,\u201d Randy said with a chuckle at his own attempt of a joke. He mentally shrugged when his joke didn\u2019t go over very well with Meia. \u201cWell, ah, where do you come from?\u201d
\nHe waited as she seemed to think about that. He played the waiting game once more hoping to gain at least some information. A home planet might give the Alliance some lead about what had happened and why.
\n\u201cNowhere in particular,\u201d Meia finally replied.
\n\u201cEveryone has a home, me I\u2019m from this planet, Pacifica,\u201d Randy said. \u201cMy parents still live here. My mother even works for a local restaurant called the Usails. I also have an older sister who works in a hotel chain on Corestar, unmarried much to my mother\u2019s dismay. What about you, any family, a brother or sister?\u201d
\nRandy watched as Meia\u2019s eyes flashed anger for a few seconds. He wondered what sensitive subject he\u2019d stumbled upon. She finally shook her head no.
\n\u201cIt seems you have a lot of information about us, where to attack and that your ships are a bit more advanced, but we don\u2019t\u2019 know anything about you,\u201d Randy said.
\n\u201cMore lies then,\u201d Meia said. \u201cThe Alliance has been attacking the Cimalian Empire for years! We will destroy you.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy do they want to destroy us,\u201d Randy asked sensing he had gotten some information.
\n\u201cThe Alliance started it,\u201d Meia replied.
\nRandy thought about that but also the fact that Meia\u2019s words sounded strained, or forced. It seemed the response had come without thought, almost programmed.
\n\u201cWell, I don\u2019t know about any of this, and I\u2019m sorry if there was some miscommunication. If you\u2019ll excuse me for a second,\u201d Randy said getting up out of the chair. He walked over to where the doctor sat. He looked up.
\n\u201cWhat\u2019s up,\u201d Tommy asked.
\n\u201cCall the bridge and have Kim ask intelligence about something called the Cimalian Empire,\u201d Randy said.
\nTommy nodded his head as Randy turned to talk some more with Meia. He figured he might steer the topic away from the Empire and politics. Family also seemed to be out, there had to be a common ground he could use.<\/p>\n

\n

Jack watched as Greg made his way across the command center. The look on his friend\u2019s face said more than anything else.
\n\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong,\u201d Jack asked.
\n\u201cI just heard that the government isn\u2019t happy with what the military is doing,\u201d Greg said.
\n\u201cCan\u2019t avoid it,\u201d Jack replied.
\nI know Jack, but something seems very wrong,\u201d Greg told him. \u201cNow the Constricts are saying that the military is behind the fact we can\u2019t reach Vernada and Hesslius. What\u2019s really strange is the Winerich Administration has backed off over its stand against the military spending.\u201d
\nJack opened his mouth to speak but Chad interrupted him. \u201cAdmiral, Captain Kim from the Akagi is asking to speak with you,\u201d he said.
\nJack glanced at Greg before answering. \u201cThanks, put it though,\u201d Jack said watching as the new captain of the Akagi appeared.
\n\u201cAdmiral,\u201d Kim said. \u201cI have a message from Admiral White. He\u2019s asking for intelligence to see if we have anything on something called the Cimalian Empire?\u201d
\n\u201cCimalian Empire, no I haven\u2019t,\u201d Jack replied in confusion yet the name did strake a bit of familiarity with him.
\n\u201cWell, according to Admiral Randy it\u2019s who this enemy is,\u201d Kim replied.
\n\u201cI\u2019ll let intelligence know about this, thank you captain,\u201d Jack said as the screen went dark again. He turned to Greg who seemed deep in thought. \u201cKnow anything about this?\u201d
\n\u201cNo, well yes, maybe,\u201d Greg said slowly. \u201cThree hundred years ago there was a Charles Cimali who was elected to President of The Republic. Five years into his Presidency he declared himself Emperor of the Republic. Within six years of that time a rebellion started. A Civil War broke out called the Cimal Civil War, it\u2019s the beginning of the Alliance. It took a couple of years but the rebels, now the Alliance banished Charles and his supporters. There was no trace of them ever found. Some wreckage was found about twenty-five years later and assumed the fleet had been destroyed. Charles Cimali said he\u2019d be back to reclaim what was rightfully his.\u201d
\nJack pondered what he\u2019d just been told. A banished enemy returning three hundred years later. \u201cI guess their back then, though I doubt Charles is still alive.\u201d
\n\u201cNo but if his descendants are then they might be trying to take over the Alliance again. Some sort of manifest destiny,\u201d Greg said.
\n\u201cGreat, an enemy with an ego,\u201d Jack sighed. \u201cJust what I need.\u201d
\n\u201cI think the other question is how long have they been watching,\u201d Greg stated.
\nThat question didn\u2019t hold well with Jack. By the moves of the enemy it became obvious to him that they had been watching for some time now.<\/p>\n

\n

Jezic watched from the bridge of the Kitakim as the battle-cruiser Esta came into view. The ship replaced the lost Oi from the battle around Pacifica. High Command hadn\u2019t been pleased upon learning that one of the fleets had lost a major warship. They deemed that the scouting party would suffer punishment for the lack of info on Pacifica leading to the loss. He thought it was ironic considering the scouting party was already dead.
\nHe turned to see Olin walk in to report on the fighter groups. He acknowledged the young man waiting for him to report.
\n\u201cAdmiral, all fighter groups are ready,\u201d Olin said.
\n\u201cVery good,\u201d Jezic said.
\n\u201cSir, when are we moving out so I can have my pilots at maximum efficacy,\u201d Olin asked.
\n\u201cNot for another day or two,\u201d Jezic replied. \u201cWe\u2019re waiting from word of the 2nd CF. They\u2019re still securing Vernada. The 1st CF had no problem with Hesslius. Once the 2nd CF is cleared they are joining us for another assault on Pacifica. High Command considers it a high target with so many large warships.\u201d
\n\u201cUnderstood, I won\u2019t let you down admiral,\u201d Olin replied. \u201cWe\u2019ll destroy them this time.\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019d hope so Olin, for your sake. You were shielded a bit by your former leader, Meia. However next time failure will be placed on you,\u201d Jezic said. He didn\u2019t mention anything about that he knew Olin had attacked Meia. He didn\u2019t care about such trivial things. Olin would get his chance then Jezic would make up his mind.
\n\u201cBy your will admiral,\u201d Olin replied. Jezic watched the green haired man walk off the bridge.
\n\u201cBetas,\u201d Jezic said to himself gaining a strange glance from nearest crewmember. \u201cBe glad you don\u2019t have to deal with them.\u201d
\nJezic turned to the communications station ordering the captain of the Esta report in to him at once. He still had a lot to do before the 2nd CF arrived.<\/p>\n

\n

John walked onto the bridge looking around for Randy. He noticed Kim standing not far away. Not seeing Randy he decided to see what she was up to.
\n\u201cLooking for Admiral Randy,\u201d Kim asked him as he approached.
\n\u201cAdmiral Randy,\u201d John asked a bit confused.
\n\u201cYeah, Admiral White is Randy\u2019s dad, always will be. Calling Randy Admiral White just sounds strange, so Admiral Randy,\u201d Kim replied logically.
\n\u201cWell, since you put it like that, yeah, sounds good,\u201d John said. \u201cSo, have you seen him?\u201d
\n\u201cNot lately, last I heard he was down in med lab. I think he\u2019s with our guest,\u201d Kim told him.
\n\u201cThanks,\u201d John said turning to walk off the bridge. He quickly made his way down to the med lab. He had only seen this strange guest a few times, each time the woman had been unconscious. He arrived a few minutes later and glanced in from the doorway.
\nThe doctor sat at his desk, which seemed normal. A few nurses were seen treating the few remaining patients from the battle who would be going back to their stations soon. He took a few steps in noticing Randy off to one side. He seemed to be talking with the strange woman, what was her name, oh yeah, Meia. He noticed the blue hair making her stand out in the middle of everyone.
\nHe looked at her noticing nothing that made her the remarkable pilot who almost killed him in combat. He noticed the blue eyes matching her blue hair, or making her eyes stand out even more than normal. He slowly walked towards the two of them.
\nJohn could see that Randy had his back to him but the woman could see him. For a brief second he felt as if he\u2019d just been scanned by her eyes as she gave him a once over. It almost seemed like a predator looking at another predator yet he knew who would win, she would. Puzzled he took a breath then continued on.
\n\u201cSo its true you do have blue hair,\u201d he heard Randy ask.
\n\u201cYes,\u201d she replied. \u201cI think you have company,\u201d she said causing Randy to turn around. John watched as Meia adjusted her pillows then effectively ignored them.
\nHe looked over at Randy and had the feeling that the interrupted something. The look faded quickly but it left John wondering what had gone on between the two of them.
\n\u201cWhat\u2019s up John,\u201d Randy asked.
\n\u201cI\u2019m just reminding you that you wanted to brief the pilots,\u201d John said. He wondered if his friend had forgotten.
\n\u201cOh, right,\u201d Randy said. He glanced down at the data pad in front of him. \u201cDidn\u2019t notice how late it\u2019s gotten. I\u2019ll be right down there.\u201d
\n\u201cNo problem,\u201d John said. He glanced back at Meia then Randy before heading out of the Med Lab. He had a feeling that something more than the plan was going on between the two of them. He\u2019d keep an eye on Randy just in case. He walked towards the elevator to take him to the briefing room.<\/p>\n

\n

Randy glanced back at Meia noticing her again guarded face. It had taken him this long to begin to see the person under all the defenses she\u2019d built up. He had told her much of his own youth, adventures that he and John over the years. He had only hoped she hadn\u2019t been bored. Her face had showed curiosity and he hoped some ground had been gained.
\n\u201cLooks like duty calls, the life of an admiral,\u201d Randy said with a small laugh.
\n\u201cAdmiral, eh,\u201d Meia said in almost a question.
\n\u201cYeah, something about that they think I\u2019m a good leader,\u201d Randy replied. \u201cI\u2019m not sure about that yet, but I guess time\u2019ll tell. I need to go brief the pilots.\u201d
\n\u201cDo you discipline them as well,\u201d Meia asked. Randy was a bit surprised by Meia\u2019s question. She hadn\u2019t asked a question since the first part of their talk.
\n\u201cWell, that\u2019s a part of the position of leader, but I\u2019ve got the best fighter leader in the universe so I don\u2019t have to worry about it much,\u201d Randy replied. \u201cIn fact you met him just now. He\u2019s a bit abrasive at times, but he\u2019d give up his life for a friend.\u201d
\n\u201cHave you ever used the electowhip on him,\u201d Meia asked.
\n\u201cThe what,\u201d Randy asked not sure what she\u2019d just asked.
\n\u201cNever mind,\u201d she replied quickly. Randy watched as she focused her gaze on the ceiling. He could tell the conversation had ended.
\nThe \u2018electowhip\u2019 seemed to sound like a punishment thing. Did the Cimalins use this along with drugs to keep the people in line? He\u2019d think about this after his briefing with the pilots and perhaps John might have a idea for him.
\nWalking up to the doc another idea came to him. Tommy glanced up as Randy approached.
\n\u201cWhat\u2019s up admiral?\u201d Tommy asked.
\n\u201cWould it be possible to have her released for a couple of hours, say a meal planet side,\u201d Randy asked.
\n\u201cPlanet side, well,\u201d he said taking a look at the scans from Meia on his monitor. \u201cShe\u2019s stable, has been since she woke up. If nothing else goes on then I\u2019d give you the green light.\u201d
\n\u201cGood,\u201d Randy said thinking of what he had to do.<\/p>\n

\n

Meia watched out of the corner of her vision as Randy left the room. She still had a lot of unasked questions but she didn\u2019t want to give up too much information. What puzzled her was his reaction to her question. It had been as if he\u2019d never heard of the electrowhip. Its creation had been attributed to the Alliance. She wondered then how they punished people who didn\u2019t carry out their orders.
\nThen the dreams that she\u2019d been having. None of them mad any sense to her. Her head seemed clearer now than before as well. Her mother\u2019s death seemed to be different as well. She had two versions in her mind. A long-lost memory of when she\u2019d been young and snuck around the academy. She\u2019d overheard several men talking about her mother but she couldn\u2019t remember what they\u2019d said.
\n\u201cWell, how are you feeling today,\u201d the doctor said walking up to her bed. She watched as he read her chart while waiting for her reply.
\n\u201cFine,\u201d Meia finally replied. She watched as he jotted something down on the data pad.
\n\u201cSeems everything\u2019s in working order. You should be out of here in the most a day or two,\u201d he told her. She watched as he went back to his desk leaving her to think about what he\u2019d said.
\nReleasing her seemed like a logical step but then what. Would they be taking her to a prison? Perhaps a containment camp or even worse, executed for her crimes against the Alliance. She couldn\u2019t blame them if they did. She\u2019d killed several of their pilots and had a hand in the destruction of the defenses of the first planet the Cimalian Empire had attacked.
\nShe glanced around seeing the different people in the med lab. Were they all the same class citizen. If they found out she was an Epsilon class would they even consider her worth talking to or keeping alive. Her rational mind reasoned that things were different in the Alliance, but the movie portrayal of their soldiers, eager to kill Cimalian people and the strange torturous things they would do to gain information kept coming up in her mind.
\nShe wondered briefly if perhaps she\u2019d been drugged or not. It might explain her strange dreams but another part of her didn\u2019t believe that. It also contradicted what she\u2019d seen of the doctor and Randy. Both seemed truly interested in her and her health, not who she was.
\nHer thought\u2019s drifted once more to her mother. Everything seemed confusing to her. Even her memories of her mother were different. She remembered things that she hadn\u2019t before. One had been her mother telling her she was very important, a princess. Now she could remember a look that seemed strange to her, one of hope when she said it.
\nMeia wished she had some of that hope now.
\nEnd Chapter 9
\nContinued in Chapter 10<\/a>
\nComment below or send to AJMarks01@aol.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Cimalian Princess: Invasion by AJ Marks Chapter 9 The battle-cruisers Warspite and Enterprise arrived from the Reserve Fleet joining up with the Akagi and Bismarck. These four ships would form the backbone of the Strike Fleet. On board the new flagship, Akagi, newly promoted Rear-Admiral Randy White watched his crew work. He hoped that […]
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