{"id":228,"date":"2015-07-05T12:33:17","date_gmt":"2015-07-05T12:33:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=228"},"modified":"2015-07-05T12:35:43","modified_gmt":"2015-07-05T12:35:43","slug":"the-cimalian-princess-invasion-ch-12","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=228","title":{"rendered":"The Cimalian Princess: Invasion – Ch 12"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

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

Chapter 12<\/span><\/p>\n

Randy wandered onto the bridge of the Akagi. They\u2019d been in hyperspace for almost an hour now and were more than halfway though the flight.<\/p>\n

\u201cAny word from the advanced scout,\u201d Randy asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing yet from the Dragon,\u201d Kim replied.<\/p>\n

Randy nodded his head. Communications from HQ would be hard to maintain as the distance increased, but he\u2019d be able to get information from the Dragon easier.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re getting a call from HQ,\u201d Hans said.<\/p>\n

\u201cPut it though,\u201d Randy said wondering what now had happened.<\/p>\n

\u201cRandy, I\u2019ll make this quick,\u201d his dad said. \u201cSeems that someone from the government saw Meia in the restaurant the other day.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd,\u201d Randy wasn\u2019t sure where this conversation would be relevant.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeems the government\u2019s convinced that this proves a conspiracy is afoot by the military,\u201d Jack replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne blue haired woman mean\u2019s the military is behind this, I thought the government people were smarter than that,\u201d Randy replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was my thought, but there is something else, something that another source told me. Something is going on with the Constrict party, especially its leaders,\u201d Jack said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre they conspiring with the Cimalians,\u201d Randy asked. His mind suddenly awash thinking of ways to change the plan.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think so, but be aware of any strange messages sent out by your fleet,\u201d Jack said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI will,\u201d Randy replied. The screen went fuzzy for a second before the computers were able to restore it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we\u2019re out of time for this connections, good luck,\u201d Jack said.<\/p>\n

The screen went blank leaving Randy wondering about what they would do next. He didn\u2019t think the plan needed much revising but then again the only thing that had been settled on had been the target.<\/p>\n

\u201cSir, Info from the Dragon,\u201d Hans said.<\/p>\n

\u201cPut it though, Kim, Yvette come with me,\u201d Randy said. He quickly walked of the bridge to the meeting room to plan out their attack.<\/p>\n

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

Meia glanced at the clock one more time. The last announcement had been five minutes until contact with the enemy fleet. The ship would be going into battle with her on board. A scary thought knowing the capabilities of the Cimalian fleet. He briefly wondered which fleet they were attacking.<\/p>\n

Her inner demons had worked away at her until she thought she might have gone mad for a second. But her memories slowly cleared a bit now. She still had them all but she\u2019d sorted them out a bit more. She could now remember getting out late at night in the academy sneaking around listening to different conversations. Those conversations were now coming back to her. At the time none of them made sense to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll hands prepare for battle,\u201d the voice said over the intercom once more.<\/p>\n

Meia felt quite helpless this time. Usually when she went into combat she was an active participant of the battle. Now she sat in her quarters hoping that the ship would survive. That meant to survive the Alliance would either have to win the battle, or retreat.<\/p>\n

Sitting down on her bed she waited for what would happen next. Strangely an eerie quite came over her quarters. Perhaps everything still was a trick. If that seemed to be the case she\u2019d use some tricks from her academy days.<\/p>\n

Her quarters rocked a bit as the ship seemed to be hit by something. Meia could only guess what that had been. She quickly got up walked to the door then snuck out watching for people in the hallway. She didn\u2019t see anyone in the hallway, but that probably had to do with the fact that they were in battle. Now she had to figure out where to go. Taking a direction she quietly walked down the hallway making sure that no one saw her.<\/p>\n

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

John quickly turned feeling the g-forces push his body into the seat of the fighter. He grunted watching as the lasers flew past his fighter. The fighter pilot on his tail seemed to be well-trained, even very good. However the turn the enemy pilot couldn\u2019t maintain.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou won\u2019t get me today,\u201d John said. Gritting his teeth as he reversed the thrust of his fighter the enemy fighter now appeared right in front of him. the enemy pilot seemed to be taken off guard by the sudden turn of events giving John the second he needed to line up the fighter. Pressing the trigger his weapons opened fire. He looked away from the explosion of the enemy fighter as he looked around for another threat.<\/p>\n

\u201cImpressive sir,\u201d his wing mate said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, just don\u2019t do it too many times,\u201d John replied letting a breath out calming himself.<\/p>\n

\u201cSquadron 116, new orders,\u201d Kim\u2019s voice said suddenly over the intercom. \u201cRegroup and attack the largest target in sector eight.\u201d<\/p>\n

John quickly relayed the info to the rest of his squadron. He took a mental note of how many had been destroyed. Four, which meant his squadron, now consisted of twelve fighters.<\/p>\n

\u201cListen up, concentrate on large weapon systems first,\u201d John ordered. \u201cForm up with a wing mate and follow me in.\u201d<\/p>\n

The squadron made its first bombing run on the enemy warship. He hoped the fighter\u2019s weapons would be powerful enough to cause some damage.<\/p>\n

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

Meia found the elevator after some exploration. The floor she currently walked around seemed to be only a quarters deck. She\u2019d found nothing but doors to quarters. Knowing that to do anything else she\u2019d have to get on board the elevator.<\/p>\n

The door opened thankfully to an empty car. In the back of her mind she still wondered if everything was an elaborate trick. She\u2019d have to find out now.<\/p>\n

The doors closed brining a reflection of her off the door. She looked very similar to the last time. She still seemed to be that unknown woman staring back at her, the one who wanted revenge on the Alliance for killing her mother. Now however new memories had \u2018resurfaced\u2019 or been implanted. A brief second her image faltered replaced with her and her mother. Her mother never liked the Cimalian leadership, but never openly criticized it. She could remember small things that her mother said, that never made sense then but now, they made a bit more.<\/p>\n

Had her teachers drugged her for a reason? If so why?<\/p>\n

Making up her mind she pressed a button hoping it would lead her correctly.<\/p>\n

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

Randy held on as the Akagi received another missile hit. The damage control parties were working hard but if this punishment continued he didn\u2019t think the ship would hold together. He had to find a way to neutralize the missiles.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan we get a lock on these missiles soon,\u201d Randy finally asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry admiral, the missiles appear to have some sort of stealth material on,\u201d Yvette replied. She appeared to be working as hard as possible with the new weapons officer on the problem.<\/p>\n

\u201cGreat,\u201d Randy replied. There were two large enemy battle-cruisers. The Bismarck had turned helping out the London with a group of enemy cruisers. One destroyer had been lost but the enemy had lost one as well.<\/p>\n

\u201c116 is now in sector nine,\u201d Kim said.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood,\u201d Randy confirmed. Perhaps the fighters might be able to take out a few enemy missile launchers. The Enterprise had joined the Warspite in engaging the other enemy battle-cruiser leaving the Akagi one on one with the other enemy ship.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Warspite\u2019s captain wants to know if he should help you out,\u201d Hans voice said.<\/p>\n

\u201cNegative, we need that other battle-cruiser destroyed,\u201d Randy replied. He watched as Hans relayed that information. \u201cWell, it\u2019s about time for the next wave of missiles. Can we go to manual?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019d reduce effectiveness, but I don\u2019t see why not,\u201d Yvette replied. \u201cIt\u2019ll take time though to take the automatic systems off line.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t see where we have a choice, do it,\u201d Randy replied.<\/p>\n

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

Meia listened to the conversation on the bridge from behind the doorway. Several people had gone in and out but didn\u2019t see her. Now as she stood outside she heard the genuine concern in the people\u2019s voices. Randy had mentioned the missiles which Meia knew were the Xeno missiles.<\/p>\n

Could she trust a group of people who appeared to more of a family than anyone living in the Cimalian Empire. She had made a few friends, like Randy and his mother. Mary had been truly impressive making Meia wonder what her mother would think about the invitation.<\/p>\n

She knew then what her mother would want her to do. She stepped forward onto the bridge.<\/p>\n

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

Randy watched the screen waiting for the launch of the next wave of missiles. The targeting systems were still undergoing the switch.<\/p>\n

\u201cClose the distance,\u201d a voice said. Randy recognized it but turned anyways to see Meia standing there. He wondered how she\u2019s managed to get up to the bridge unnoticed but he had other pressing concerns.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat,\u201d Yvette said before Randy could say anything. \u201cIf we close the distance then the lasers are more effective.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe main offensive weapon of the Yuliv battle-cruiser is the Xeno missiles,\u201d Meia quietly replied. \u201cIts problem is within fifteen clicks the missile doesn\u2019t have time to arm.\u201d<\/p>\n

Randy thought about that logic. He had to know if Meia had told the truth. Sure there would still be the impact of the missile itself but the explosive wouldn\u2019t arm. It might be a gamble worth it.<\/p>\n

\u201cHelm, close to within ten clicks,\u201d Randy ordered.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut\u2026\u201d Kim said.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo buts, do it,\u201d Randy ordered. He looked over at Meia hoping she\u2019d told him the truth.<\/p>\n

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

John watched a bit surprised when the Akagi suddenly turned closing the distance with the enemy battle-cruiser. He hoped nothing had happened on board the ship as it closed to ten clicks. At that distance it would be point blank for the plasma beams, which were only effective to eight clicks. He turned his attention back to the enemy weapon systems. He had lost a few more men in his squadron but he also knew that they had managed to destroy two of the enemy\u2019s lasers.<\/p>\n

\u201c116, head to sector seven and reinforce the 200,\u201d Yvette\u2019s voice said giving them new orders.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnderstood,\u201d John replied relaying the new order to his squad. The 200 had received heavy losses already. His noticed on the scanner as the next wave of missiles were launched. His scanner had a hard time tracking the missiles, not because of their speed but some sort of stealth material on it. He noticed only three launched indicating either one had run out of missiles or had been damaged.<\/p>\n

Turning his fighter he headed towards sector seven with the rest of his squad. A large flash indicated a large ship blowing up. Looking around he noticed that one of the enemy cruisers had been destroyed.<\/p>\n

Lining up another enemy fighter he pressed the trigger watching as another enemy fighter was destroyed at his hands. That kill gave him six for this engagement.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks,\u201d a voice said.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust keep your head up next time,\u201d John replied scanning nearby space for the next fighter. He also quickly checked to make sure no enemy had gotten behind him either. With no more time to think about the Akagi he fully joined the battle.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cImpact in three, two, one, now,\u201d Kim\u2019s voice said.<\/p>\n

Randy felt the ship shudder a bit from the impact but nothing like what had happened earlier. That meant Meia had told them the truth. He glanced at her for an explanation.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Xeno missile is highly unstable when armed. For that reason the missile isn\u2019t armed until after launch. There have been incidents of missiles detonating in the tubes before launch,\u201d Meia explained. \u201cThe arming mechanism requires several seconds to arm during which the missile travels about fifteen clicks.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a slight advantage,\u201d Tell the Warspite and Enterprise to close the distance as well,\u201d Randy ordered before turning back to Meia one more. \u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

He noticed that she suddenly found the floor very interesting. He\u2019d have to talk to her about that but he returned his concentration back on the battle at hand. The cruiser Fitch had reported heavy damage, but the enemy had lost one cruiser giving him an advantage now.<\/p>\n

\u201cEnemy battle-cruiser heavily damaged. Scans showing high energy levels,\u201d Yvette said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHelm, back us away,\u201d Randy said. At ten clicks the Akagi would probably be damaged by the explosion.<\/p>\n

\u201cEnemy reactor going critical,\u201d Yvette said.<\/p>\n

The enemy ship began to tear apart from the inside as the outer hull failed in multiple areas. A large explosion indicated the doomed ships last act.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll hands, brace for impact,\u201d Randy said. He hoped the shields were up to the task.<\/p>\n

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

Meia glanced at the screen showing the enemy ship. As it exploded she only thought of another ship she\u2019d helped destroy. She felt bad for the lower-class workers on board the ship. They didn\u2019t deserve such a death but yet for the first time in a long time she felt free. It had been her decision to help the Alliance. Looking around the bridge she noticed several members of the crew looking at her. Some had suspicion in their eyes but others held gratitude. For now she ignored their stare watching to see how the battle would end.<\/p>\n

\u201cSir, should we help out the Bismarck, or the Warspite and Enterprise?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHead over and help out the Warspite and Enterprise,\u201d Randy replied. \u201cAll weapons to open fire the moment we\u2019re within range.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUnderstood admiral.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meia glanced back up at the screen where laser fire could be seen. She also saw small explosions here and there where a fighter was destroyed. A larger explosion occurred as someone said the London had been destroyed. Several people were quite at that unwittingly giving Meia another clue in her decisions.<\/p>\n

\u201cWeapons firing!\u201d<\/p>\n

Meia noticed the weapon fire on the screen heading towards the Cimalian battle-cruiser. Then her thought went to which fleet this had been. After Pacifica she didn\u2019t know where the 3rd CF would be headed. A brief thought went to Hecus, the head mechanic who treated her the best, almost like a father.<\/p>\n

\u201cEnemy battle-cruiser taking damage, Enterprise has taken heavy damage as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEnterprise, pull back, we\u2019ll cover you,\u201d Randy ordered.<\/p>\n

\u201cEngines damaged, reactor is going critical,\u201d the reply came back.<\/p>\n

\u201cAbandon ship, do you hear me, abandon ship,\u201d Randy yelled.<\/p>\n

Meia waited as only static came back. Seconds later another larger explosion lit the bridge. Only the beeps from the monitors were heard across the bridge.<\/p>\n

\u201cEscape pods?\u201d Randy asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, a few admiral,\u201d the reply came.<\/p>\n

Meia heard Randy give the order to pick up the survivors as the rest of the crew went back into action. For a brief point she wondered what the point was. All the destruction the Cimalians had brought to regain their glory and repay the Alliance back for what they\u2019d done. But if what Randy had mentioned the Alliance didn\u2019t even know about the Cimalian Empire. That thought brought up something else, if the Alliance wasn\u2019t behind the rebel attacks, who was. A small part of her mind had the answer but for now her attention was brought back to the present.<\/p>\n

Another large flash occurred bringing a small cheer this time. One of the enemy ships had been destroyed. She realized it had been the other battle-cruiser. Part of her wondered if either ship had been the Kitakim.<\/p>\n

\u201cSecond enemy battle-cruiser destroyed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRemaining ships,\u201d Randy asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cRetreating admiral.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPrepare ground forces, have Commander Jorkins report to me at once,\u201d Randy said.<\/p>\n

Meia watched as Randy made his way over to where she stood.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to say thanks again, a lot of people owe their lives to you,\u201d Randy said.<\/p>\n

She glanced at the big screen then back at Randy. \u201cNot everyone on board those ships were your enemy.\u201d<\/p>\n

She walked off the bridge without saying anything further. So many deaths, all for the glory of a forgotten past.<\/p>\n

End Chapter 12<\/p>\n

Continued in Chapter 13<\/a><\/p>\n

Comment below or send to AJMarks01@aol.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Cimalian Princess: Invasion by AJ Marks Chapter 12 Randy wandered onto the bridge of the Akagi. They\u2019d been in hyperspace for almost an hour now and were more than halfway though the flight. \u201cAny word from the advanced scout,\u201d Randy asked. \u201cNothing yet from the Dragon,\u201d Kim replied. Randy nodded his head. Communications from […]
Continue reading…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[3,25,26,28,27,5,12],"class_list":["post-228","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-original","tag-aj-marks","tag-cimalian","tag-invasion","tag-original","tag-princess","tag-sci-fi","tag-story"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/228","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=228"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/228\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":240,"href":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/228\/revisions\/240"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=228"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=228"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=228"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}