Disclaimer:\u00a0 This work is owned by me, copyright 2006.<\/p>\n
by AJ Marks<\/span><\/p>\n Chapter 1<\/p>\n 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. \u201cCaptain Diern, contact with incoming ship,\u201d the scanner operator said. Diern turned to see what the operator had seen. One contact, the ship was still in hyperspace. 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\u2019d be punished, but she didn\u2019t care. The Alliance would pay for killing 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. Meia watched as the enemy battlecruiser went into hyperspace. Jack watched as Mary and Greg laughed over some of the antics of the senate. He couldn\u2019t 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\u2019s son were about the same age. They had tried to get them to date but the friendship ended up being one of brother\/sister. Greg watched as Jack left. The waitress placed the check on the table. He pulled out a few bills placing in the pad. John walked into a busy command center. He made eye contact with Chad who quickly made his way over to him. Disclaimer:\u00a0 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 […]
\n\u201cYo captain, what\u2019s up,\u201d John asked.
\n\u201cA mission. Seems a solar flare\u2019s cut communications with Corrius,\u201d Randy replied to him.
\n\u201cSame old same old, huh,\u201d John replied. \u201cAll right, you might need some of my pilots for relays. I\u2019ll get the guys and gals together.\u201d
\n\u201cYou have about twenty minutes till we arrive,\u201d Randy told him.
\n\u201cPlenty of time Randy,\u201d John said.
\n\u201cI\u2019ll get going then. Probably another thankless job we do for nothing. I should quit the military and start up my own flare recovery business,\u201d John said walking off the bridge.
\nRandy 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.
\nShaking his head he walked over to where Kim stood. \u201cLet me know when we arrive. I\u2019m going to see if there\u2019s any information that might come in handy for the mission.\u201d
\n\u201cYes sir,\u201d Kim said.
\nRandy walked off the bridge towards his office. He really wanted to calm his nerves a bit before the mission really started.<\/p>\n
\n
\nDiern activated the ship communicator before speaking. \u201cAdmiral Jezic to the bridge,\u201d he said. He didn\u2019t have to wait very long before the tall admiral walking onto the bridge.
\n\u201cCaptain?\u201d
\n\u201cOne contact, Alliance ship, probably a battlecruiser,\u201d Diern said looking at the scanner once more.
\n\u201cThen our illustrious opponent finally has shown up then,\u201d Jezic said. \u201cGet me Meia.\u201d
\n\u201cBy your will admiral,\u201d Diern replied.<\/p>\n
\n\u2018Revenge is at hand at last mother, yet something feels wrong,\u2019 she said to the box. \u2018No, I won\u2019t\u2019 doubt the mission.\u2019
\n\u201cMeia, incoming call from Admiral Jezic.\u201d
\nMeia 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.
\n\u201cAdmiral,\u201d Meia said.
\n\u201cMeia, prepare your squadrons. An Alliance battlecruiser is inbound. I want the second squad included this time. It\u2019s time for them to taste combat,\u201d Jezic said.
\n\u201cBy your will admiral,\u201d Meia replied.
\n\u201cFor the glory of the empire,\u201d Jezic said.
\n\u201cFor the empire,\u201d Meia said automatically.
\nThe 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.
\nAt 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.
\n\u201cStand aside scum,\u201d a voice said.
\nMeia 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.
\n\u201cI\u2019m sorry ma\u2019am,\u201d he said quickly scrambling away to his fighter.
\nMeia 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.
\n\u201cThis is Meia\u2019s fighter,\u201d she could hear Hecus say.
\n\u201cSaving the best fighter for a woman pilot. Probably inferior to me, I should have this fighter, can\u2019t you tell I\u2019m an elite,\u201d the man said to Hecus.
\n\u201cThis fighter is for the flight leader,\u201d Hecus replied.
\n\u201cI should be the flight leader, Olin, beta class citizen, you wait and see,\u201d Olin said.
\n\u201cPerhaps if you fly as well as you can talk maybe,\u201d Meia said approaching the two. She\u2019d seen Hecus notice her approach and gave the older man a wink.
\n\u201cWho\u2026\u201d Olin stopped clicking his mouth shut so quickly Meia smirked a bit at it.
\n\u201cI suggest you find your fighter and be ready,\u201d Meia said.
\n\u201cFine, epsilon,\u201d Olin said with a bit of a sneer. She watched him walk away bulling another mechanic for his fighter.
\n\u201cI added the extra cannon in the nose like you asked, had to take out the extra fuel cells but it works,\u201d Hecus said. Meia watched as he patted the fighter with affection.
\n\u201cThank Hecus,\u201d 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. \u201cFirst squad, your mission is fighter control. Second squad, attack weapon systems, Oi first and second squads are reserves.\u201d
\nThe pilots acknowledged Meia\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\n
\n\u201cCaptain White to the bridge,\u201d Kim\u2019s voice said.
\nRandy put the file he\u2019d 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.
\n\u201cWhat\u2019s going on,\u201d he asked glancing over the woman\u2019s shoulder.
\nHis 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.
\n\u201cHades, what is that,\u201d Randy said. \u201cYvette, any identification?\u201d
\nRandy waited as Yvette worked. \u201cNo,\u201d her reply came back.
\n\u201cWhat should we do captain,\u201d Kim asked.
\n\u201cRaise shields. We don\u2019t know what happened, Hans, any communications,\u201d Randy asked.
\n\u201cNo sir,\u201d Hans replied.
\nRandy 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.
\n\u201cSmaller ships are closing the distance, could be an attack run,\u201d Yvette said.
\n\u201cRed alert,\u201d Randy ordered. He looked over to see Kim standing there. She hadn\u2019t moved yet. \u201cKim, red alert, now!\u201d
\nHe watched as she snapped out of her stupor and quickly activated the red alert. The Akagi\u2019s alarm sounded as Kim\u2019s voice came over the intercom.
\n\u201cAll hands red alert, report to your battlestations.\u201d
\nRandy watched as Kim\u2019s 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.
\n\u201cWhat about Corrius?\u201d
\n\u201cSorry captain, nothing,\u201d Hans replied. \u201cIndications of messages to and from the unknown ships but I can\u2019t decipher it.\u201d
\n\u201cincoming fighters still on attack run,\u201d Kim said.
\nRandy thought about launching fighters but his fighters wouldn\u2019t be armed for a fight. The weapons systems were ready but he didn\u2019t feel right firing first.
\n\u201cCaptain, Lieutenant Reed is on the line,\u201d Kim said to him.
\nActivating the screen John\u2019s face appeared.
\n\u201cWhat\u2019s going on,\u201d John asked.
\n\u201cTrouble,\u201d Randy replied. \u201cWe\u2019ve got unknown ships in the area. We think they are approaching on an attack run.\u201d
\n\u201cWant us to scramble,\u201d john asked.
\n\u201cNo, thought about that already. But you\u2019re not armed for a fight,\u201d Randy said. The distance still closing. The fighters had entered the Akagi\u2019s weapons range.
\n\u201cWeapon lock on approaching fighters,\u201d Yvette\u2019s voice said. He could hear the strain of the situation in her voice.
\n\u201cHold, we still don\u2019t know their intent,\u201d he told them. Seconds later the fighters opened fire.
\n\u201cWeapons systems are being targeted,\u201d Kim said. \u201cShields down five percent, no damage.\u201d
\n\u201cHelm, new course, eight point six, bring the hyperspace engines online at once,\u201d he ordered. The crew raced to carry out the orders. He could hear the engines powering up as energy pulsed though them.
\n\u201cEngines ready captain,\u201d Kim said.
\n\u201cEngage.\u201d
\nThe Akagi went into hyperspace away from Corrius and the unknown attackers. Questions filled Randy\u2019s mind but no answers at the moment.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cNo,\u201d she said to herself. Vengeance slipped away from her fingers as she continued watching where the ship had been. Her superiors wouldn\u2019t like it that the ship had escaped. The only redeeming factor had been no one had been lost from her squad.
\n\u201cAll fighters, return to base,\u201d she heard over the intercom.
\n\u201cBy your will,\u201d she replied automatically. Turning her fighter she looked one last time at where the ship had been. \u2018I will gain my revenge.\u2019<\/p>\n
\n
\n\u201cWell, I think we should probably think about heading out,\u201d 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.
\n\u201cWhere are you staying,\u201d Mary asked.
\n\u201cI\u2019ve got reservations at the Royal Panther lodge. I remember hearing good things when I was here last,\u201d Greg said.
\n\u201cGood choice, I\u2019ve got a friend who works there,\u201d Mary said. \u201cShe said that many in the front desk are too lazy though.\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019ve got a busy day tomorrow, paperwork from the Akagi\u2026\u201d he trailed off as his communicator went off. He looked at in annoyance before pressing it. \u201cAdmiral White here, go,\u201d Jack said.
\n\u201cAdmiral, sorry to disturb you but the Akagi is calling in an emergency.\u201d
\n\u201cAll right, I\u2019ll be right there,\u201d Jack said turning to the other two. \u201cProbably needs some equipment. Can you make sure Mary gets home all right?\u201d
\n\u201cYeah, it\u2019ll allow us to catch up some more,\u201d Greg said.
\nJack got up gave Mary a kiss then walked out of the restaurant heading to the base. He hoped he hadn\u2019t pushed Randy too hard for this command. If Randy hadn\u2019t been able to handle this mission he might push his son to pursue a civilian career.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cReady,\u201d Greg said to Mary. \u201cWe should probably go otherwise the storm will catch us.\u201d
\n\u201cLead the way,\u201d Mary said.
\nThe 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.
\n\u201cWhat are you thinking about?\u201d
\n\u201cOh, I just wondered why you never remarried after Diane died. I see why now,\u201d Mary said.
\n\u201cThe marriage would be luck to last one day. And I\u2019m not for that contract joining that some of the youngsters are doing,\u201d Greg said. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t trade what I\u2019m doing for anything else though. I never say it but I\u2019m glad Jack pushed me into politics.\u201d
\n\u201cHe needs all the friends he can get from what he tells me,\u201d Mary said.
\nGreg didn\u2019t say anything. He still hadn\u2019t told Jack the real reason why he was there. \u201cI\u2019ll stop by the command center and see what\u2019s going on.\u201d
\n\u201cI have a bad feeling about all of this,\u201d Mary said. \u201cRandy\u2019s got a good head on his shoulders. So much like his father, but more so. I fear for his safety.\u201d
\nGreg didn\u2019t say anything. Mary had a strange intuition that no one could really explain. He shuddered slightly at the words before saying anything.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s probably just what Jack said, nothing important,\u201d Greg told her. He watched as Mary nodded her head. Thunder rumbled in the distance almost mocking Greg\u2019s words as the sweet smell of rain permeated the air.<\/p>\n
\n
\n\u201cAdmiral, we have the message over here,\u201d Chad said. John followed the young man over where Chad brought up the message.
\nJohn 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.
\n\u201cGet me Captain Val of the Griffen,\u201d Jack said. He quickly looked at the fleet report seeing where the Griffen currently was.
\n\u201cAdmiral, you needed something,\u201d Val asked as his face appeared on the screen.
\n\u201cI have a mission for the Griffen,\u201d John said. \u201cCorrius, we lost contact with it. I sent the Akagi and the report came back some unknown force had fired upon them.\u201d
\n\u201cPirates,\u201d Val asked.
\n\u201cPirates haven\u2019t 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,\u201d John ordered.
\n\u201cWe\u2019ll be off within the hour,\u201d Val replied.
\n\u201cGood, and Val, don\u2019t spread this around. We don\u2019t need false news stories slipping out to the press,\u201d Jack said.
\n\u201cI\u2019ll be careful,\u201d Val said. The screen went black as the communications wend dead. Jack hoped that by sending in a fast patrol ship he\u2019d be able to gain the needed information.
\n\u201cWhat\u2019s going on,\u201d he heard Greg\u2019s voice say. Looking over he noticed his friend standing by the doorway watching everything that\u2019s going on.
\n\u201cDid Mary make it home,\u201d Jack asked avoiding the question.
\n\u201cYes, and quite changing the subject,\u201d Greg replied.
\n\u201cRandy reported in that the Akagi encountered some unknown ships around Corrius,\u201d Jack said to Greg.
\n\u201cHaven\u2019t heard of anything,\u201d Greg said. Jack watched as Greg thought about it for a few seconds. \u201cNo nothing, but perhaps I should make an inquiry and see if anything\u2019s come up.\u201d
\n\u201cAny information will help. I sent Val to check things out,\u201d Jack said.
\n\u201cVal, I remember him. Tended to skirt on the edge but always came though,\u201d Greg replied.
\n\u201cThat\u2019s him,\u201d Greg said. He hoped Val would be able to come though once more.
\n\u201cOf all the times for something like this to happen,\u201d Jack said. \u201cPirates are the last thing I need to happen with the arrival of those senators.\u201d
\n\u201cThe Constricts will see this as an attempt by the military to keep funding,\u201d Greg said.
\n\u201cIf it\u2019s another Pirate War we don\u2019t have the military to fight back. Especially if they\u2019re really organized,\u201d Jack said.
\n\u201cI suppose then it\u2019s a bad time to tell you what the real agenda is,\u201d Greg said. Jack looked at his friend wanting to know just what was going. \u201cThe government is thinking about shutting down the military, or at least several bases and a fleet.\u201d
\nJack noticed Greg\u2019s words had silenced the room better than a gunshot could.
\n\u201cAnd if this is a war, then what,\u201d Jack asked looking at Greg. \u201cWhat sill the Constricts do when they start losing profits?\u201d
\n\u201cI don\u2019t\u2019 know,\u201d Greg replied in a whisper.
\nJack 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.
\nEnd chapter 1
\nGo on to chapter 2<\/a>
\nComment below or send to AJMarks01@aol.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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