{"id":205,"date":"2015-07-04T12:43:41","date_gmt":"2015-07-04T12:43:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=205"},"modified":"2015-07-04T12:45:27","modified_gmt":"2015-07-04T12:45:27","slug":"the-cimalian-princess-invasion-chapter-7","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=205","title":{"rendered":"The Cimalian Princess: Invasion – Chapter 7"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

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

Chapter 7<\/span><\/p>\n

Meia rubbed her eyes in disbelief at what she saw. She stood in a room and recognized the table right away. A few chairs lined each side of the table in a room decorated in simple tan colors. The doorway led to a small kitchen. From where she stood she saw a pot cooking on the stove. She closed her eyes then opened them again hoping to be somewhere else but she still stood in the small eating area of her childhood home.
\n\u201cLittle one, clean up, dinner\u2019s almost ready,\u201d she heard her mother\u2019s voice say. A woman about her height, strawberry-blonde hair and green eyes stood there looking at Meia.
\n\u201cMomma?\u201d
\n\u201cAnd who else is there here,\u201d her mother replied looking at Meia. \u201cNow hurry up or the food\u2019ll get cold.\u201dMeia glanced at herself confirming that she indeed was still grown. The last time she\u2019d seen her mother she\u2019d been five, right after her testing. \u2018This is impossible,\u2019 she thought to herself. Her mother had placed some food on the table.
\n\u201cSit down little one,\u201d her mother said. Meia quickly sat down then realized she\u2019d sat without knowing it. The power of a mother\u2019s voice, but her mother had died by the scum from the Alliance.
\n\u201cDo you really believe that, or do you believe what you\u2019re told,\u201d her mother said. Meia noticed her mother\u2019s eyes held a twinkle of knowledge as if she knew something no one else did.
\n\u201cI don\u2019t understand, the Alliance is our enemy,\u201d Meia replied. The phrase automatically coming out.
\n\u201cThen perhaps you should stop asking the questions and start seeking them,\u201d her mother said. The scene once again began to change.
\n\u201cMother, come back!\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Tommy glanced over at the monitor as it once again showed a jump in activity. It had happened several times now. He glanced over at his patient to see if she\u2019d awakened yet. A slight twitch of her finger but nothing else. Encouraged he went back to his reports.<\/p>\n

\n

Greg walked over to where Barnes sat. He\u2019d already given his report to the President and now Agnes would be able to give his. Greg sat down next to Barnes who appeared to have a bit of a strange look on his face.
\n\u201cWell, that report could\u2019ve gone better,\u201d Greg said sitting down in the chair next to Barnes. The other senator finally looked over.
\n\u201cDid you look at your mail yet,\u201d Barnes asked.
\n\u201cNah, too many people trying to tell me what to do,\u201d Greg replied.
\n\u201cThen you haven\u2019t heard,\u201d Barnes said.
\n\u201cNo, what\u2019s going on,\u201d Greg asked.
\n\u201cWe\u2019ve lost contact with Hesslius and Vernada,\u201d Barnes replied. Greg watched as Barnes paused taking a sip of water.
\n\u201cWho else knows,\u201d Greg asked.
\n\u201cJust some top people in the government,\u201d Barnes replied. \u201cThe military doesn\u2019t know either.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat,\u201d Greg almost yelled. He managed to keep calm and not attract any attention to them. \u201cWhy not?\u201d
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know but this is beyond the explanation that this is the military,\u201d Barnes said. \u201cThe leadership of the Constrict party is really pressing to keep this secret.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd I doubt I\u2019ll get anything as I\u2019m a Demrep,\u201d Greg replied. He thought about what he been told. Something didn\u2019t add up in his mind. \u201cSo why are you telling me?\u201d
\n\u201cThose in the military listen to you,\u201d Barnes said. \u201cI\u2019ve spent the past term trying to cut and help eliminate the military to keep my job. Not it might have cost me my family.\u201d
\nGreg didn\u2019t say anything but waited to hear what Barnes would say next. He had a feeling he knew what would come, but had to hear it for himself.
\n\u201cMy daughter, Amy, she\u2019s, well, she\u2019s difficult, sometimes,\u201d he said chuckling to himself a bit. \u201cA lot like her mother she is,\u201d his eyes took on a far away look. \u201cHeadstrong and stubborn, once she latches on she doesn\u2019t let go. And don\u2019t try and change her mind unless you have facts, just wasting your breath.\u201d
\nGreg nodded his head. Everyone knew about the feuds he and his daughter had over the years. Mysteriously the feuding had stopped two years ago.
\n\u201cWell after her last incident with her lover, I think it was Kim at the time, we had a huge fight, we both said things we didn\u2019t mean. S-she said she\u2019d leave. I didn\u2019t think she would, but she left for Vernada. She\u2019s been there now for two years. We might not have gotten along but she\u2019s my daughter,\u201d Barnes said.
\nGreg sat there for a few seconds watching Barnes. He noticed that sitting next to him the man no longer seemed to be a senator, or a government official of any type, but a concerned father.
\n\u201cAll right, I\u2019ll check some things our and tell my sources at the military,\u201d Greg said making up his mind. He would tell Jack what had happened. It might help the military as well.
\n\u201cGreg, thanks. I want, no need, to apologize to her.\u201d
\n\u201cI can\u2019t make any guarantees Barnes, but I know Jack\u2019ll try,\u201d Greg said honestly taking off towards the military base.<\/p>\n

\n

Jack looked around realizing that Chad hadn\u2019t returned. Of course Jack realized that he\u2019d been gone a rather short time. He\u2019d slept a few hours and eaten a meal which Mary had made. A shower and he felt like a different man.
\nNow Jack flipped though the damage report of the fleet along with the estimated time for repairs. The total count of dead from the Hood now stood at one hundred and sixty-three dead and two hundred eight wounded. Shuttles had been shipping wounded down to the planet\u2019s surface now since the end of the battle.
\nThe damage to the Hood matched her wounded crew. Main power had been badly damaged, seven of the eight hard lasers were not functional, and one of the two plasma beams had been destroyed. The fighters had fared a bit better with ten out of the thirty-two destroyed. He noticed Randy had ordered the survivors of 110 and the 161 to be used to bring the fighter compliments of the Akagi and Bismarck up to full strength.
\nThe enemy had lost three ships, one a large battle-cruiser size warship. He had a feeling that it wouldn\u2019t be the last time Pacifica would be attacked. He glanced though the list of available ships scattered around the Alliance. The First Fleet now under Rear Admiral Mark Hayes at Corestar. The Second Fleet now had been ordered to Pacifica to reinforce the Akagi and Bismarck.
\nHe heard the door open but didn\u2019t look over. He assumed it would be Chad returning to work.
\n\u201cJack,\u201d he heard Greg\u2019s voice. he frowned wondering how his friend had gotten in without permission. Then realized that the senators had special permission.
\n\u201cGreg, what bring you here,\u201d Jack asked. \u201cCome to tell me the bad news?\u201d
\n\u201cWell, I\u2019ve got bad news, not what your thinking though,\u201d Greg replied.
\n\u201cNow what,\u201d Jack said rubbing his face.
\n\u201cAre you aware that Vernada and Hesslius were attacked recently,\u201d Greg said.
\n\u201cUm, no,\u201d Jack said. He turned to look at the latest news reports but didn\u2019t see anything on that.
\n\u201cYou won\u2019t find it there,\u201d Greg said. \u201cIt seems that the military isn\u2019t important enough to tell. It appears that the Constrict party is really keeping a lid on the media.\u201d
\n\u201cI know its an election year but if this is true then its really serious,\u201d Jack said.
\n\u201cIts true, I\u2019ve been talking to my contracts back on Corestar. Things are really tense. The President\u2019s ordered a media blackout on some subjects. So far the people don\u2019t suspect anything,\u201d Greg replied. \u201cThe media is focusing on how much the military spends and comparing it to the exploration budget.\u201d
\n\u201cThe exploration unit can\u2019t protect the people,\u201d Jack said. He crossed his arms in annoyance. Things really were bugging him about the press and the government.
\n\u201cI know, that\u2019s why Senator Barnes asked me to tell you this,\u201d Greg said.
\n\u201cBarnes, what\u2019s he got to do with this,\u201d Jack asked. Things were complex.
\n\u201cWell, Barnes still has high up contacts who it seems told him about what happened. His daughter is on Vernada,\u201d Greg said.
\n\u201cAn ally then,\u201d Jack asked hopeful.
\n\u201cYes,\u201d Greg replied.
\n\u201cAll right, I won\u2019t inform anyone of where we got this information. If the military is being kept out of the loop then something serious is going on. I will say that this information I\u2019ll act on, but it also scares the Hades out of me.\u201d
\n\u201cI know old friend.\u201d
\n\u201cWhere\u2019s the Dragon,\u201d Jack asked turning to the nearest aide.
\n\u201cJust returned here admiral.\u201d
\n\u201cGood, tell the captain to refuel and rearm, I\u2019ve got another mission of vital importance,\u201d Jack said.
\nThe aide left to carry out the order. He turned back to Greg.
\n\u201cYou know, senators have families and friends all over the galaxy, rescue a few and let them tell the stories,\u201d Jack said.
\n\u201cCould work,\u201d Greg said.
\n\u201cRight now its our best shot. If Vernada and Hesslius have been taken then this isn\u2019t pirate activity, its an invasion,\u201d Jack pondered his next move. Perhaps it was time to tell the President. A familiar face walked into the room. \u201cAh, Chad, good, your back, rested?\u201d
\n\u201cYes sir,\u201d Chad replied.
\n\u201cGood, get me the President.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Olin walked out of his quarters down to the hangar. His first act as official flight leader of the 3rd fleet. He had endured the punishment earlier and now he would be free to shape up the pilots of the fleet. Most were brown-haired meaning they were nowhere as good as he was. Entering the hangar he noticed the pilots standing in formation waiting for him.
\n\u201cI\u2019ll make this short for you all so you all can understand it,\u201d he said making sure to make eye contact with those who were of a lower class. \u201cEither do your jobs as I tell you, or don\u2019t come back. If you don\u2019t do your job, I might kill you myself. I don\u2019t tolerate failure as easily as our last weak leader.
\nHe watched noticing a few pilots wince a bit at his strong wording. He now knew who to watch, of course those who didn\u2019t show any fear of him he also would watch. He noticed what color their hair was as well to see how much ambition they had. He then turned to assignment board and activated it.
\n\u201cHere\u2019s your new assignments. I would take care to make sure you know them,\u201d he moved a bit out of the way to allow the pilots to see for themselves. \u201cOnce you have your assignment you\u2019re dismissed.\u201d
\nOlin waited a bit watching the pilots look at the board. When the last pilot left he deactivated the board. Now he had one more mission, talking to the mechanics. He quickly spotted the head mechanic and walked straight for him. The man was a Gamma class citizen and Olin wanted to make this as short as possible.
\n\u201cYou, we need to talk,\u201d Olin ordered. He watched as the man wiped his hands of gunk before walking over to where he was.
\n\u201cYou\u2019re the new flight leader,\u201d the man asked.
\n\u201cI am, and I want all fighters in top condition, no excuses,\u201d Olin said. \u201cIf we lose one pilot due to mechanical failure it\u2019ll be your head old man.\u201d
\nThe man simply raised one of his eyebrows at Olin\u2019s words. \u201cWell, sir, my people do the best they can, you know with us being Gammas and all.\u201d
\n\u201cI wouldn\u2019t pick this time to be smart,\u201d Olin said narrowing his eyes at the man. He read the name, Hecus. \u201cI\u2019ll be keeping a close eye on you Hecus.\u201d
\nOlin didn\u2019t wait to hear what the man had to say. He walked away headed out of the hangar. He decided a shower would be in order to get the stench of a Gamma off him.<\/p>\n

\n

Meia\u2019s cry for her mother faded away. The scene before her slowly came into focus. She glanced around wondering where she was this time. She could still remember ma lot of things but everything seemed jumbled into one as if she\u2019d put her memories into a pot and stirred it around then poured it back out. A small part of her wondered if she\u2019d finally snapped and lost it.
\nA small child\u2019s laugh brought her out of her musing. Looking up she noticed her location had finally solidified. Standing in the middle of several buildings that appeared similar. Many appeared to be in ruins as if a major battle had occurred. She again heard the child\u2019s laughter drawing her towards it in a hypnotic type way.
\nRounding a corner she spotted a small child crouching down laughing. An odd combination Meia thought to herself as she continued to watch. The child quickly stood up noticing Meia standing there. Shock ran thought Meia with the realization she was looking at herself, well herself as a child.
\n\u201cHewo, I\u2019ve been waiting for you,\u201d the small girl said. \u201cWook, its beautiful.\u201d
\nMeia stood rooted to the spot unsure what to do. The girl calmly came over taking her hand and pulled Meia over to what she\u2019d been looking at.
\n\u201cSee, isn\u2019t it pretty,\u201d the girl said looking up. Meia found herself looking into her own blue eyes, yet so different. These held a passion for life that he\u2019s no longer did.
\nLooking at the ground she noticed what the girl had looked at. In the ground in the middle of the street one carefully maintained, cared for and loved flower grew. A strange contrast to the dirty, dark and destroyed world around her.
\n\u201cI knew you\u2019d wike it,\u201d the girl said still holding Meia\u2019s hand.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s lovely,\u201d Meia finally said. The girl smiled at Meia\u2019s admission.
\n\u201cI wike flowers,\u201d the girl said finally releasing Meia\u2019s hand. She then skipped off down the road leaving Meia standing there. She watched the girl leave her hair flowing in the wind in her natural color, a reddish-blonde.
\nPushing a strand of her now blue hair back she watched until the child went out of sight. Bending down she gave the ground around the flower a pat. She then decided to follow the girl and walked rounding the corner the girl had only to stop short.<\/p>\n

\n

Jack didn\u2019t have to wait very long until President Winerich appeared on the screen.
\n\u201cTo what do I owe the pleasure,\u201d the President asked. Jack thought he heard a dismissive tone with the president but ignored it for the moment.
\n\u201cI\u2019ve found out that contact with Hesslius and Vernada has been lost,\u201d Jack said. He partly wondered if the President knew yet as well.
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know what you\u2019re talking about admiral,\u201d Eric replied.
\n\u201cSir, I\u2019ve received reports that they were taken. Now I\u2019ve sent the patrol ship Dragon to check out Vernada to confirm these reports. If their true then the alliance is under attack by some unknown force,\u201d Jack said. He watched as the president rubbed his chin in thought.
\n\u201cAdmiral, the people already know the truth, it\u2019s all over the galactic web, and the press,\u201d Eric replied. \u201cBesides, everything you\u2019re telling me is circumstantial, no facts.\u201d
\n\u201cSir, you\u2019re telling me that the population knows that something is attacking our worlds,\u201d Jack asked. \u201cWhat if this is the prelude to something more sinister?\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019ve been assured by Senator Agnes and the Constrict party that everything is under control and that the military is behind everything. Frankly admiral I\u2019m a bit disappointed in your actions,\u201d Eric said taking Jack completely off guard. He hadn\u2019t been expecting an attack.
\n\u201cAnd what if dear Senator Agnes is playing you for a fool,\u201d Jack asked.
\n\u201cAre you saying one of our greatest senators is behind this? That is an outrageous, and if you continue such talk I\u2019ll have you court marshaled,\u201d the President said. \u201cNow if you stop this nonsense we can really begin to figure out what place the military has in the future of the Alliance.\u201d
\nJack opened his mouth to reply but the President had already ended the conversation. It seemed that the President trusted those in the Constrict party more than what intelligence told him. He hoped he\u2019d be able to handle whoever was attacking the Alliance while fighting the politics of the Alliance as well. Sitting down in a chair he tried to figure out what he\u2019d have to do next.
\nEnd Chapter 7
\nContinued in chapter 8<\/a>
\nComment below or send to AJMarks01@aol.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Cimalian Princess: Invasion by AJ Marks Chapter 7 Meia rubbed her eyes in disbelief at what she saw. She stood in a room and recognized the table right away. A few chairs lined each side of the table in a room decorated in simple tan colors. The doorway led to a small kitchen. 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":[3,25,10,26,28,27,5,12],"class_list":["post-205","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-original","tag-aj-marks","tag-cimalian","tag-fanfiction","tag-invasion","tag-original","tag-princess","tag-sci-fi","tag-story"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/205","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=205"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/205\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":220,"href":"https:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/205\/revisions\/220"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=205"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=205"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=205"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}