The Fedral Union
15-12-2007, 02:18
Chapter 1 Dreams (The Grail)
Star port indigo gamma sector, 5000 light years from new sol-
Ships gently shimmered in the darkness, their backs lit with green and bluish flames as they moved towards large docking rings built in to the massive rough hulled station that orbited like a beacon of light in the utter darkness and silence of space. It was a way station. For solders, engineers, traders and people alike, the Terran federation maintained it namely to facilitate expansion towards the outer reaches of the galaxy.
“That’s the last of it!” Said a portly old man standing at the door way of a long and winding metal corridor lit with monochrome white lighting, his body was built and tall, his hair grey and balding, he was the foreman of the star port indigo, in gamma sector, receiving and sending out supplies for federation colonist and posthuman settlements in the outer rim. Like all Terrans in the Federation, his body was infused with nanites, his bones made of super flexible metal, his brain artificial, and organs augmented with cyber parts. He could easily link up to any computer on the station or on planet to get things done. He motioned the last of some cargo being brought aboard the station on hover carts, of course security officers at a nearby checkpoint had to check all the cargo out, and internal sensors of the station scanned it against threats. It was odd cargo; marines had been escorting it from the UTS Orion that had recently docked on to the station following a mission to the rim. The marines marched down the hall towards the check point, their heavy boots clanking on the metal ground of the station; they were cyborgs, better faster and smarter than human soldiers.
The commander of the Indigo was a man named john styles, he was as always in the control room, looking out of the holo viewers out in to the busy space around the port, hundreds of ships docking un docking and moving around the beacon, he sighed wandering closer to the window in front of him, his tall skinny yet semi muscular body emphasized by his navy blue uniform, his soft hands put in back of him as he was standing like he was at ease , he sighed gently cursing to himself this boring assignment.
Little did he know the artifacts brought onboard the station were important, really important, and had been earmarked by several factions to claim as their own. These artifacts belonged to an ancient race that had long ascended out of their physical being. Other than that nothing was known, the commander wanted just to get out of the mundanely uninteresting work of the station before he would caterwaul and go insane. With those thoughts he turned over to his first officer L.T Commander Sandra Johnson sat on a chair looking up to styles as he began to speak, her long brown hair glimmering like silk.
“Sandra” He said with a smile coughing then going on putting his hands to his side again. “I want you to take charge I need a brake” he said as he turned around already wandering towards the door waving his hand as he exited the door swooshing open in front of him then closing as he exited.
On the Orion things were different; Commander Xavier Sat back in his conference room looking at his senior officers, his chief of security, a Tormulan By the name of Drado was already speaking in his deep growling like voice.
“Not much is known about these artifacts, however according to our translations of the inscriptions on the walls of that tomb, they seem to be valuable and dangerous, and many warnings came with them. The only common inscription that we found were those of gryphon’s and other mythical beast “
Xavier responded as he thought of what his Lizard like friend said. “Ok well we know it’s important, and we know there is one other part to it however we don’t know what it does fully, but we do know who ever finds that last part to this thing will have untold amounts of power and cannot be allowed to control it” He said that with a harsh and loud voice as his smooth white hands folded in front of him, he peered to his crew, nodding to his chief engineer. Who stood up he looked around and wandered to stand near Drado at the head of the table.
“We know Parts of this device emit exotic radiation, this radiation is deadly it affects ship systems as well, the cases they were found in shields us from them, we don’t know what this energy is, but we can tell that it could be used as a weapon to destroy ships, you saw what it did to Higgins, it’s also a paradox the pieces exist in more than one dimension and universe, or so it seems from our scans, we can’t be entirely sure.”
Xavier said with a sigh standing up and crossing his arms together his muscular tall body adorned with the naval blue uniform worn by officers of the fleet. “We have been assigned to protect this area of space from opportunist, its obvious that they will attempt to get their hands on this artifacts, we will see new and old enemies alike, This is on a need to know basis only, even the station commander wasn’t briefed on this, however the chief of security of the station was. We are to undock and begin patrols around the station perimeter at once”
The large Cruiser suddenly cleared its moorings, its massive retro thrusters pushing it back as it turned, its massive body glimmering in whatever light was present from the nebula a few light years away, its ominously large body loomed over the smaller trade ships of the area, this was a brand new cruiser class, second ship of its class, it was replacing standard federation cruisers slowly but surely.
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Security around the objects was tight, AI, turrets, marines and Mini guns dotted the room they were in, and sensors of the most advanced calibers were placed in to it. Xavier had an idea he would wait for who ever wanted these things to come and try to take them, then he would go after the last piece he wanted to make sure all of this was secure and ready. It was the waiting game now.
As standard with clack ops procedure, he sent a request to federation fleet command to send two smaller light cruisers and destroyers to assist him but they would not arrive for another few hours, due to finalization on their shakedowns.
As the Cruiser Floated Around the large station its sensors began picking up strange readings several million mega meters off the stations port bow, near a group of asteroids. An AI appeared on the bridge of the Orion, Xavier was sitting down sipping a cup of extra black coffee in rather dull looking chrome like cup, the AI appeared as a woman standing in a soft white robe, and she started to speak in her usual soft voice.
“Captain, we are detecting a spatial anomaly 500 Mega Meters off Indigos port section in a group of asteroids “
The captain raised an eyebrow he handed his chrome cup over to a young Female cyborg that then quickly wandered off to the side, and stood near several consoles. The captain nodded plugging a Bio neural wire in to the back of his head from the chair, he leaned back and started to talk as he became part of the network on the ship, all standard Federation ships use direct mind man interface systems to communicate in ship with each other while on duty.
He then said to the AI as he folded his smooth hands on to his lap. “Are Sensors detecting anything coming through is it a portal?”
“Unknown Captain” the AI said then continued as it started getting more data on the anomaly. “It looks almost like something is trying to hide however it also looks like there is a rather large gravitational pull tugging on asteroids in that area” The helms officer looked over awaiting orders from the captain. Her hands already on her glassy console, her mind interfaced with the computer.
The captain sighed as he automatically received suggestions from his bridge crew he said with a wave of his hand. “Engage engines let’s move towards that disruption in space, he was confident that it was nothing but he was also mildly afraid that he would see his first bit of combat that would echo in a long line of battles for this artifact. The Terran Reinforcements were still several hours away, and it was up to him and his lone ship to hold the line if anything should happen.
As the ominously large cruiser floated towards the anomaly it would see asteroids flying around what seemed to be a gravity well, this could only mean one thing, the only race that used gravity well technology, were the Ingarans , a confederation of wolf like creatures that banded together in a ruthless empire, the view all other races as inferior and hunt them for sport.
Xavier growled he said with a quick slam of his fists on the armrest of his chair, “Red alert! All hands to battle stations increase speed to full power, arm all weapons” Claxton glared as the order was given members of the crew rushed around to their stations franticly dropping whatever they were doing.
The Orion’s main drives were pushed to full, it rushed towards the gravity well , its ominous form glowing a bit for a split second as its shields raised. The Captain was right, three midsized Ingaran raiders stood before the larger ship weapons armed and their shields up.
Xavier said almost immediately to his con officer “Raise communications!”
The con officer responded with haste taps of his buttons raising a screen, the Ingaran junior warlord stood up infront of the screen, he started to speak with snarls and growls after each word.
“You Terrans, you stand in between us and what we want, the mighty Ingaran Confederation will take it back, and I will personally use my claws to dig in to the flesh of every pathetic Tarren citizen on this station”
Xavier replied as he stood up adjusting and correcting us uniform, he said with a harsh word looking out to the anthro wolf. “This is Terran Federation space, we will not allow you to take any part of it nor move any ships in to it, we are required to give you a warning but we will forgo that because you declared your intention. “
He then Looked over to his Tactical officer and AI then nodded saying with a commanding voice” Fire dark energy beams and pulse cannons destroy those ships”
Suddenly the darkness of space was ripped apart by blue and green glowing beams of hell lancing from the large cruiser Pulses of purple followed behind both of them striking the smaller ships shielding, the weapons fire cascade like a rainbow around the deflectors of the Ingaran ships, as they retaliated and began maneuvering around firing disruptor pulses and torpedo barrages, continued fire from the cruiser destroyed one raider, ripping through its hull and shields like if it were paper , the other two continued to lay on green disruptor fire that cascaded around the shields and dark energy field of cruiser. Torpedoes fired from the raiders got caught and destroyed with in the dark energy field.
Pulses and beams poured from multiple sources along the hull of the cruiser destroying another raider as it passed by attempting to fire its disruptors, that raider was ripped in two, part of it struck the cruisers deflectors and dark energy field the other part flew in to the vastness of space.
The last raider was not so fool hearty, the ingaran Junior warmaster sat in his chair growling as consoles exploded in brilliant flashes of light and showers of sparks , he slamed his claws on to the armrests of the chair he was in and said loudly “JUMP!” By this time the raider’s Bluish hull was charred and damaged from Dark energy beams and pulses that had struck through the shields. The Raider jumped to warp and cloaked before the cruiser had a chance to strike its final blows. Xavier sighed he didn’t relive the order for red alert because he knew that was a scouting party, the gravity well in front of the ship disappeared as the raiders did.
Xavier was correct a small group of Ingaran ships had gathered several light years out of federation space in the badlands, they were going to mount a strike against the station but it would take several hours for them to group up and jump, so he hoped at least that The Terran’s group of new ships could get here as soon as possible. Xavier Started to speak looking over to his con officer who already ran the Raiders information, the con officer looked back and said his blue eyes peering at the tall captain.
“Sir these Ingarans were from house, timber wolf”
Xavier exclaimed his heart almost jumping out of his chest as he sat down and sank in to his chair “WHAT!, that’s the lead house of the Ingarans, this means that they are after the artifact, this isn’t good there’s a fleet of ships gathering out there and if the Terran fleet does not get help here soon we will have to hold them off. I want all personnel on flight deck ready to launch fighters, and all hands to remain at battle stations. “
His order was heeded he sat back in his chair rising his hand to his chin, he looked out in to the darkness of space his emotions sinking a bit he had to remain strong for the crews sake no matter how dire the situation little did he know he would be put to the test much more than he would ever expect.
Xavier Got up he looked around and said “if you need to get lunch go get lunch but swap out with an officer next to you that goes for all tactically important stations” He nodded to his first officer Commander Justin Ramada. Justin knew what to do he stood up saluted the captain as he walked out a rather mundane looking door opening in front of him as he stepped out in to the hall.
Justin was rather young for a first officer only 20, he sighed a bit always wanting to get command of his own ship hoping he would get in battle one day, ever since he was a young boy he dreamt of commanding a starship, of course he was an orphan of the chronosian wars, both his parents died while in the line of duty, and he was left in the care of his foster mother, Johanna. He was eager, a little hotheaded; Xavier picked him because it reminded him of a young version of him.
Xavier Had wandered down to the busy mess hall through the long winding utilitarian halls of the ship that was dotted with interface ports and other devices, he wandered in to the mess hall two massive doors opening in front of him was he walked in, he smiled looking around, watching as officer moved towards tables with trays of food, he wandered over to a replication device He placed a metal tray in to the large square shaped slot of the well lit cavity in the wall that was surrounded by panels. He pressed a few buttons a a full lunch of fried beans, chicken, mash potatoes and iced tea was served, he picked up the tray and idly wandered towards the table were his senior staff was eating, he looked around smiling saying as he sat down in the booth “Hey guys, what’s up?”
The senior staff looked at him, Brex the senior engineer, who was half human and half Primean , smiled and said with a slight bow “Captain, a pleasure as always”
Brex was brought onboard by Xavier because of his experience with dark energy technology, and dark fusion cores in the Initial stages of research at the black nova facility, he was born on Tyrian, his father like normal primeans was, cold and unemotional natives of servanna, his mother was human, of course he got all his emotions were human. Xavier sighed a bit as he began to eat, the others greeting him his Tormulan tactical officer nodding “Captain Good of you to join us”
Captain Xavier Bastidas.. Every time he heard his title he would scoff at how he made it so far, In 10 years of fleet service, he was 28, looked like a 20 year old, he was born on new sol, one hundred percent human, yet in all his life and all his experiences he still could not get over his title. Even during the Tail end of the chronosian wars were he fought in fierce skirmishes as the first officer of the Pegasus, he couldn’t fathom the idea of making it this far. He was a humble man, ever since he saw his sister killed before his eyes by a chronosian, he had a tough outer shell. Since those wars he’s been involved in many major conflicts and incidents. Captured and tortured for weeks on end by Igarans, almost mind controlled by psionic dragonites , and involved in saving the lives of thousands. His personal revenge story was a different matter, before he was captain of the Orion, he watched in horror as a child who was the son of his sister, killed by an Igaran spy, only two years old, and he was killed, from that moment forward he vowed revenge on all Igarans, he vowed to kill them, his heart was encased in a wall of steel, and cold. Events of mates cheating on him and hurting him increased that wall by far.
However Public he tried to put on the show of a sane man, not hurt and resilient, though sometimes it was obvious ins his weary eyes that he was in pain, that he’s been hurt and scarred by events in his past, he toasted standing up and saying.
“To the finest crew in the fleet, were we may stand and protect our borders and this artifact, and lets all go home after!”
The room broke out in laughter as they all toasted and started to drink he sat back conversing about events on the news with senior officers..
Suddenly the ships Klaxons began to blare on and on, Xavier stood up growling as he did so he and his senior staff rushed out of the room making it to the bridge. Their worst fears had come true, an Ingaranin fleet had just jumped in to the system, and the cruiser was already on high alert. The Ingranin forces engage the Terran cruiser ,several destroyers rush out followed by a cruiser heading towards the station. Pulses of green shirked through the utter darkness of spac,e beams of greenish fire followed as Ingranin ships targeted the Orion, the Orion shook consoles flickered as beams struck the shields making them cascade with a cornucopia of colors, the captain sat in his chair held by his Gravity belt, he ordered with a loud call ”All torpedo tubes fire! All energy weapons fire!” The cruiser opened up, thousands upon thousands of torpedoes rained in bolts of blue from the Vertical launch tubes of the ship, beams crackled through the darkness of space striking the enemy shielding warping it slightly followed by pulses, multiple raiders in one go were hit and destroyed as the cruiser maneuvered in to combat potions, beams slashed across the shielding of some of the destroyers charring their bluish hulls as they penetrated them slightly.
The cruiser was being hit on all sides, its fighters lunched with little delay to meet oncoming enemy fighters they. Fighters bolted in V shaped formations firing tiny dark energy pulses filling the air with bolts and missiles, they poured out striking drones and oncoming fighters, making the explode as they maneuvered criss crossing turning and looping all around.
The Orion was in trouble its shields were being struck on multiple sides its weapons already at full capacity as it fired its large spinal mounts ripping through a destroyer, disabling and destroying other countless raiders with its energy weapons, torpedoes slammed against the bare hulls of the Ingranin frigates killing them In several shots, however they were still outnumbered and being heavily dammed by oncoming assaults
The captain was sitting up by now as his ship shook violently torpedoes striking against wavering shields, and pulses hitting his dark energy field, several junctions overhead exploded raining sparks upon the crew bellow, junctions bellow exploded as consoles simply flickered the ship rocking as fire pounded the vessel, noises of explosions and flanking could be heard as torpedoes struck shields.
Xavier growled a bit, slamming his hands on the armrest of his chair he looked up panting as tubes fell from the roof spraying coolant around the bridge, the AI came on looking to the captain.
She said “Sir shielding is down to 35 percent , dark energy field levels are dropping as we have lost several port and aft guns, I suggest we retreat to the stations safety zone. If not we will be of no use to them”
The captain nodded looking to helm as a console behind him exploded and the ship rocked again, the helm officer needed nothing but that as she engaged micro warp, moving the large cruiser away from the combat zone towards the stations perimeter, The AI smiled and she looked to the captain. “Sir A terran fleet is inbound at vector one niner mark five, they will be here shortly.
Chapter 2 (The Hunt)
Xavier sighed as he sat back on to his chair; his bridge was a mess, sparking consoles, clouds of gas flowing from broken pipes. He looked to his AI as the Orion slowed to a mere Crawl, some of its hull was charred thanks to the intense fire of the Ingaran fleet that was right behind them. Xavier looked to his AI and then to his tactical officer he spoke in a commanding tone of voice.
“Turn the ship forward, all power to forward shields and weapons, let them know they’re in for a hell of a fight if they attack”
As the cruiser began to turn, its body ominously looming over the quickly evacuating freighters, multiple multi dimensional warp portals opened up, they crackled open with arcing energy lancing out in to space, A task force lead by the UTS repulse quickly moved out in to space bursting through the energetic portal, the Repulse was already on alert, two Destroyers and four frigates escorted the larger Cruiser, as it gently rumbled towards the position of the Orion, the fleet shimmered gently in the light of the nearby nebula.
Ricardo Sanchez was the captain of the repulse; he was good friends with Xavier, he sat back in to his chair, his salt and pepper hair parted in back slightly as a wire ran from his head in to the chair he was sitting in he moved his rough hands to his lap folding them as his ship came to a halt just behind the Orion. He looked to his own AI who was standing up next to him, and said in a coarse voice.
“Open a channel to the Orion. “ The AI nodded with that nod a communications line was opened, Ricardo smiled as he leaned back on his chair starting to speak.
“Look like you need help my friend, don’t worry ol Ricky’s got your back”
Xavier just smiled as the message came over somewhat broken up from his damaged comns, he looked over to his AI quickly saying, “Open a channel to the Ingaran fleet”. The AI did so waving her hands and then looking over to the Captain responding.
“Channel open sir” Xavier sighed as he started to speak, several drops of blood falling from a small gash on his forehead on to his uniform, splattering red dots on to the blue fabric. “ Ingarans, you are outnumbered and out gunned, it would be wise if you withdrew. If not we will have no choice but to decimate your fleet”
Xavier Knew what he was doing, there was no possible way the Ingrans could stand up to a Federation star base and a Terran fleet. At once, he smiled slightly, placing his hand to the cut on his forehead and placing slight pressure to stop the bleeding, he gritted his teeth as pain radiated from the wound, the palm of his hand semi soaked in blood.
The Ingrans were no fools, the Chief war master of the fleet stood up from his rather archaic looking throne of skull and bones, he growled as he slammed his paws on to the table in front of him, a necklace of canine teeth jingling as he moved about in a swift motion, his hind paws slamming on to the metal floors of his ship as he paced. He looked over his muzzle parting as he snarled towards a beta wolf helms officer. “Tell the grrawwr fleet, to Stop, Grawwwrrrr and turn back!” He was furious, it could be seen in his brown eyes, the entire bridge crew almost whimpered as they saw the alpha male in this state of mind.
The Ingaran fleet turned back, large ships and raiders alike started cloaking and warping out, the war master sat down on his chair as his large cruiser entered warp space, his hands placed upon the armrest of his chair. “ War master Silver claw “ Said a young beta wolf new to the ship, the war master almost snapped at him looking down at him, but he didn’t knowing the kid was knew he would give him a chance to figure out that when he was in this mood no one should talk to him directly. The young beta gulped down almost whimpering as he saw the war master, finally the war master responded.
“What is it beta!”
The younger wolf sighed hesitating but said “si…r .. um clan command has sent us a message.. Shall I patch it through?”
The alpha glared and nodded slightly, the beta quickly put the message up on screen, a black wolf looked in to the monitor peering at the bridge.
The war master looked at him with a slight grin coming over his muzzle, he said “Senior War master bane, what brings you to message us?” The black wolf growled and said with a deep dark voice that would strike fear in any who heard it.
“You failed in assaulting the station, no matter, if they want to hold on to those they can for the time being, these Terran fools won’t know what hit them once we gather the last piece of the Tarkana, and invade their pathetic nation. Taking those other parts for ourselves” the black wolf growled his crimson eyes peering at the silver one in the view screen. He said forcefully again leaning back on his chair in to the shadows. “I want your fleet to go to sector Ikath, and scout several planets there; we have found traces of the same radiation as those artifacts produce there, good luck and don’t fail me or I will have you eating from the emperor’s toilet” The fleet set a course Towards that sector right as the black wolf disappeared from the screen, Silver claw sighed with a gentle growl as he looked around his bridge maintaining his composure.
Mean while back in Terran space, Xavier and his crew were cheering at the turnaround of the fleet, but in his heart Xavier, Knew that wouldn’t be the last time they would see them, the Orion docked at Indigo station for repairs ,its massive body shimmering and rumbling in to a large skeletal ship yard, some of its hull singed and charred, as the light from the nebula struck it. Xavier Stood up as his ship came to a sotp in the dock, he nodded to Ramada to take the con, as he was supposed to meet his old friend Ricky on the Orion’s meeting room , he adjusted himself and started to walk out but before he wandered out the door, doctor Tammy Hoft was standing with a med kit , she was tapping her long leg on the ground as she looked at Xavier somewhat disappointedly, she said with a scolding voice. “Captain you know better than that trying to continue your duties while you’re injured, as Chief medical officer I’m going to treat you, I don’t care if you don’t like it , It’s my job now hold still!” she said as she grabbed Xavier’s hand away from his scabbed fore head cut, Xavier cringed slightly as he sighed with a chuckle, Tammy placing a metal device shaped like a puck over his cut , as soon as she removed it there was nothing there just bare skin, it looked like it was never touched or hurt , Tammy quickly placed the puck shaped device back in to the medical container and stood saluting Xavier.
Xavier shook his head opening his mouth to say something but was stopped by Tammy as she put her hands on his lips, she removed him as Xavier began walking, half way down the corridor he turned to her, watching as her tall form was emphasized by her blue naval uniform, her long blonde hair waving as he turned her head to look at him down the mundanely lit corridor. Xavier said with a slight laugh in his voice. “I was simply going to say Thank you” Tammy smiled after the comment.
Xavier and Tammy were old friends since the academy days, she had certain liberties with him, and since the academy she’s always been lending a helping hand, protecting him like his big sister always used to do, she was a person he could talk to no matter what, after his sister’s death she was there with him every step of the way, he looked up to her, even if he was an admiral he once said, “if I’m doing something stupid, stop me” That of course was made out to be many things including attempting to continue his duties while injured.
Xavier made his way down the utilitarian corridor his black boots thumping on the metal ground bellow him; he put on a smile as he wandered through The two doors that swooshed open in front of him in to the large well lit ornately decorated conference room. He looked around spotting the tall muscular captain from the repulse he smiled wider as he wandered up behind him placing his hands right on his shoulder. “Ricky!!!” he exclaimed as the other looked at him and smiled widely to. “Xavier! Long time no see!” Ricky hugged Xavier, with joy they then parted and stood looking at one another Xavier not pausing for one second, “How’s Bernice and the kids?” Ricky chuckled responding “never better we just got a new slot to move to torm. “
Xavier smiled and crossed his hands in back of him “That’s great news, so I take it you’re not hear for a social visit?” Ricky shook his head “No I’m not old friend, I have orders from Terran command over in new sol” Xavier sighed he didn’t like the sound of this, he looked up to Ricky and nodded “go on”
“The repulse, and the Orion are to scout out Sector omega, several light years out of Terran space, the last piece of that artifact you found, is suspected to be there, scout ships reported the same radiation patterns from that area , that we have found on these artifacts. The Ingrans will surely be there; as soon as the Orion’s ready we must depart.”
Xavier Nodded, his first reaction was to cruse his orders but then realized it would be good to get out, and do some black ops. He smiled as he nodded to ricky, who said as his body began shimmering with white and blue outlines, “Good bye friend “talk to you via hail” His body disappeared in to thin air it seemed, Xavier sighed as he turned to walk out of the room, the Orion’s transporters were knocked out by the fight, so the Repulse had to use its own. His body moved along as his boots thumped on the metal ground, he walked towards the bridge hanging his head down fatigued from the fight, The two doors opened up in front of him, swooshing as he wandered in over looking his busy bustling bridge already cleaned up by several engineers, Brex was under several consoles with a tool kit, welding a few things together, the noises of work echoed through the large bridge, as Xavier sat down in his chair waiting, for his ship to be cleared to launch.
Several moments of silence passed, The AI turned up right in front of Xavier, as he was jacking himself in to the network of the ship, the AI smiled as Xavier looked at her his hands crossed on his lap in front of him. The AI began to speak with a cheerful tone of voice. “Sir all systems report ready, Space docks report clear for launch, systems are nominal and functional.”
Xavier couldn’t be happier but his face didn’t show it he smiled slightly and nodded raising a smooth hand and saying to his helm officer as he moved it pointing forward. “Helm Engage engines forward, clear all moorings and launch.” The helm officer nodded as she instantly calculated the commands in her head tapping on the console in front of her smooth hands running along the flashing buttons in front of her. The large cruiser moved out of space dock slowly its engines pushing it forward as blue green flames rushed in back of it lighting up the back side of the massive cruiser, it ominously rumbled out dwarfing worker bees and shuttles in the dock, it started to turn its body glimmering with light form the nebula, most of the scars of the previous battles gone and whipped off from it. The ship continued to move in to a clear patch of space, the repulse behind it , the two twin ships rumbled out facing the darkness of space. Xavier Thought in his head as he looked out peering at the utter vastness of space. ~In to the darkness we go, forever more to explore, to save, only to return home unsung Heroes of an epic fight.~ Xavier Grinned he looked over to his helm officer and moved his hand up pointing strait, he said with a commanding voice. “Engage!” with that word the entire ship shook as space opened up in front of it a grate cesium of energy flooding in to normal space, the vortex pulled the Orion forward, in to it, as the Orion and repulse disappeared in to their respective vortexes they closed crackling out of existence.
Xavier raised an eyebrow as he saw brex continuing to work on the console kitty corner from him to the right, he said with a grin. “Are you getting enough air in there, I mean we can’t afford to lose another chief engineer to electronic suffocation”
Brex looked back at the captain with a chuckle “funny sir, sorry I’m almost done just need to …..” he struggled as he continued to adjust several photonic wires, “There we go!” he said as the console re vitalized itself and started functioning, he stood up closing his tool kit placing it on the table next to the console. Brex said with a satisfied tone of voice crossing his arms together. “Well sir we have a console, all it took was some chicken, grease and a little know how” Xavier raised an eyebrow the crew stared at brex for a moment shaking their heads; brex said “what” confusingly” the Ai appeared and said with an exclamation “you used what on my circuits!” she was furious and started to go on a tangent” how dare you brex after all these years up my consoles and in my tubes you have the Gaul to pour chicken grease were it does not belong! I’m shocked” she rushed over to the poorly humiliated engineer and slapped him, Brex fell back with a blink looking around confused “I didn’t do anything!”
Xavier just said laughing lightly “Its elbow grease, not chicken grease, I shall not have you pouring chicken grease in to your work that’s an order!” The AI looked to the captain saying with a sigh “whatever it is I will not have it in my parts Brex.” The AI disappeared, Brex stood there sighing mumbling “well that went well” Xavier laughed leaning back on his chair as the ships moved through the dimensional warp space, their bodies shimmering as cornucopias of colors reflected off of their hulls, they passed by millions of stars as they moved towards their destination.
Several hours passed, Xavier was in his quarters lying on his bed peering up to the ceiling, he had just woken up a few hours ago but was lying in bed just thinking, he sighed to himself recapping all his life experiences, his other halves going with other men because they weren’t, his sister being killed, replaying in his head again and again and again. He settled in to a trance again thinking now of what will happen when the two ships arrive at that system. The AI came over the intercoms as a wakeup call, she said in a somewhat loud voice “Captain…. Caaaptin….. wake up … you know you want to”
Xavier Jumped up on to the edge of the bed with a few mumbles as his trance was broken by the female voice he looked up and said. “I’m up I’m up” The Ai just laughed, Xavier stood up wandering to the latrine several meters out of his ornately decorated room, he rested on the edge of the chrome like sink looking at himself in the mirror, Turing on the water putting his hands in there and then splashing clear warm liquid all over his face shaking it off as he woke up. He sighed saying to himself in a low tone of voice “Rob what have you gotten yourself in to, how the hell did you make it this far to captain“he shook his head as he stood up strait, wandering out of his room putting on the over shirt to his well ironed uniform.
He walked out of his quarters the ship shook gently as it dropped out of MD warp, he grumbled a bit as his feet tapped on the metal chrome ground, he reached the bridge and was somewhat taken aback as he opened the door looking at several officers clustered around the view screen, he wandered inside looking around then fixating suddenly on a little free corner of the screen, there was a planet. His eyes widened his hair stood up on edge, as emotions began running through his head he broke his secondary trance and said to his crew” all right back to your stations nothing to see here”
Brex stated the obvious raising his hand as he looked at the Captain “sir it looks like earth… exactly like earth…” Xavier sighed and looked over to brex his eyes somewhat piercing.
“I know Brex, but it could be an illusion we can never know it might be a holographic image.”
Suddenly the AI popped up again she smiled “sir the repulse is sending us a message”
“On screen” Xavier said with a professional tone of voice folding his hands on his lap again, Ricky came up on the screen sitting on his chair the same way, Rcky and Xavier were like two peas in a pod back at The academy. Ricky said “Are you seeing this two Xavier” Xavier nodded with a sigh of disbelief everyone was seeing it “yes I am, this is impossible it has to be a trick of some sort?”
“Agreed, radiations coming from it so let’s set up an orbit and beam people down. ” Ricky said his eyes panning the view in front of him he leaned back again placing his hands on the side of the arm rests. “Stay frosty Repulse out!” the screen cut Xavier sat forward on his chair as the ships moved to orbit the jewel of a planet, radiation was coming from it, both ships quietly glided the light reflecting from their somewhat rough hulls…
Mean while back at the station, Styles had just begun another tour of duty, he walked in to the stations control center looking around mumbling to him as he saw officer just lounging around. He said in a rather rude frustrated voice. “We aren’t servanna, we’re indigo station let’s get to work people”
Every one mumbled frustratingly as they started to get back to dull mundane tasks they were doing before. Styles stood there just watching as his crew preformed tasks normal to a star port, recently for the past few hours reports have been coming in about power fluctuations and fires on some decks, this was out of the ordinary. Ever since those artifacts came on board there has been nothing but trouble, utterly incomprehensible.
As styles stood waiting for more report the command center shook, the stations retro thrusters and gravity went offline for a split seconds, things started to float styles looked around growling, he said “what the bloody hell is going on” the gravity came back on every one fell styles fell on a table spilling coffee on the ground, he stood up shaking his head “Jesus Christ, this is getting ridiculous”
The tactical officer of the station attempted to tap on the console but nothing was working he looked over to styles and said “commander controls are not responding”
“Shit” Styles said “this is fucking grate” he growled out adjusting himself he wandered over to the main console looking suddenly main power cut out the entire command center went black so did the station, styles cursed himself as emergency backups came online. Styles said “this is fucking grate ok what is the situation ?The tactical officer standing in the dully light bridge across from styles said as he looked at cameras not knocked out by the power outage. “Sir all sections are locked down, emergency power is at full, we can’t get in contact with anyone else so far, we would have to assume security measure alpha one was instated as per briefing. Styles sighed again sitting down on a chair and leaning back “this never fucking fails, ok try to get communications online, until we think of a fucking way out of here.
Star port indigo gamma sector, 5000 light years from new sol-
Ships gently shimmered in the darkness, their backs lit with green and bluish flames as they moved towards large docking rings built in to the massive rough hulled station that orbited like a beacon of light in the utter darkness and silence of space. It was a way station. For solders, engineers, traders and people alike, the Terran federation maintained it namely to facilitate expansion towards the outer reaches of the galaxy.
“That’s the last of it!” Said a portly old man standing at the door way of a long and winding metal corridor lit with monochrome white lighting, his body was built and tall, his hair grey and balding, he was the foreman of the star port indigo, in gamma sector, receiving and sending out supplies for federation colonist and posthuman settlements in the outer rim. Like all Terrans in the Federation, his body was infused with nanites, his bones made of super flexible metal, his brain artificial, and organs augmented with cyber parts. He could easily link up to any computer on the station or on planet to get things done. He motioned the last of some cargo being brought aboard the station on hover carts, of course security officers at a nearby checkpoint had to check all the cargo out, and internal sensors of the station scanned it against threats. It was odd cargo; marines had been escorting it from the UTS Orion that had recently docked on to the station following a mission to the rim. The marines marched down the hall towards the check point, their heavy boots clanking on the metal ground of the station; they were cyborgs, better faster and smarter than human soldiers.
The commander of the Indigo was a man named john styles, he was as always in the control room, looking out of the holo viewers out in to the busy space around the port, hundreds of ships docking un docking and moving around the beacon, he sighed wandering closer to the window in front of him, his tall skinny yet semi muscular body emphasized by his navy blue uniform, his soft hands put in back of him as he was standing like he was at ease , he sighed gently cursing to himself this boring assignment.
Little did he know the artifacts brought onboard the station were important, really important, and had been earmarked by several factions to claim as their own. These artifacts belonged to an ancient race that had long ascended out of their physical being. Other than that nothing was known, the commander wanted just to get out of the mundanely uninteresting work of the station before he would caterwaul and go insane. With those thoughts he turned over to his first officer L.T Commander Sandra Johnson sat on a chair looking up to styles as he began to speak, her long brown hair glimmering like silk.
“Sandra” He said with a smile coughing then going on putting his hands to his side again. “I want you to take charge I need a brake” he said as he turned around already wandering towards the door waving his hand as he exited the door swooshing open in front of him then closing as he exited.
On the Orion things were different; Commander Xavier Sat back in his conference room looking at his senior officers, his chief of security, a Tormulan By the name of Drado was already speaking in his deep growling like voice.
“Not much is known about these artifacts, however according to our translations of the inscriptions on the walls of that tomb, they seem to be valuable and dangerous, and many warnings came with them. The only common inscription that we found were those of gryphon’s and other mythical beast “
Xavier responded as he thought of what his Lizard like friend said. “Ok well we know it’s important, and we know there is one other part to it however we don’t know what it does fully, but we do know who ever finds that last part to this thing will have untold amounts of power and cannot be allowed to control it” He said that with a harsh and loud voice as his smooth white hands folded in front of him, he peered to his crew, nodding to his chief engineer. Who stood up he looked around and wandered to stand near Drado at the head of the table.
“We know Parts of this device emit exotic radiation, this radiation is deadly it affects ship systems as well, the cases they were found in shields us from them, we don’t know what this energy is, but we can tell that it could be used as a weapon to destroy ships, you saw what it did to Higgins, it’s also a paradox the pieces exist in more than one dimension and universe, or so it seems from our scans, we can’t be entirely sure.”
Xavier said with a sigh standing up and crossing his arms together his muscular tall body adorned with the naval blue uniform worn by officers of the fleet. “We have been assigned to protect this area of space from opportunist, its obvious that they will attempt to get their hands on this artifacts, we will see new and old enemies alike, This is on a need to know basis only, even the station commander wasn’t briefed on this, however the chief of security of the station was. We are to undock and begin patrols around the station perimeter at once”
The large Cruiser suddenly cleared its moorings, its massive retro thrusters pushing it back as it turned, its massive body glimmering in whatever light was present from the nebula a few light years away, its ominously large body loomed over the smaller trade ships of the area, this was a brand new cruiser class, second ship of its class, it was replacing standard federation cruisers slowly but surely.
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d110/USFU/Warringtonclass.png
Security around the objects was tight, AI, turrets, marines and Mini guns dotted the room they were in, and sensors of the most advanced calibers were placed in to it. Xavier had an idea he would wait for who ever wanted these things to come and try to take them, then he would go after the last piece he wanted to make sure all of this was secure and ready. It was the waiting game now.
As standard with clack ops procedure, he sent a request to federation fleet command to send two smaller light cruisers and destroyers to assist him but they would not arrive for another few hours, due to finalization on their shakedowns.
As the Cruiser Floated Around the large station its sensors began picking up strange readings several million mega meters off the stations port bow, near a group of asteroids. An AI appeared on the bridge of the Orion, Xavier was sitting down sipping a cup of extra black coffee in rather dull looking chrome like cup, the AI appeared as a woman standing in a soft white robe, and she started to speak in her usual soft voice.
“Captain, we are detecting a spatial anomaly 500 Mega Meters off Indigos port section in a group of asteroids “
The captain raised an eyebrow he handed his chrome cup over to a young Female cyborg that then quickly wandered off to the side, and stood near several consoles. The captain nodded plugging a Bio neural wire in to the back of his head from the chair, he leaned back and started to talk as he became part of the network on the ship, all standard Federation ships use direct mind man interface systems to communicate in ship with each other while on duty.
He then said to the AI as he folded his smooth hands on to his lap. “Are Sensors detecting anything coming through is it a portal?”
“Unknown Captain” the AI said then continued as it started getting more data on the anomaly. “It looks almost like something is trying to hide however it also looks like there is a rather large gravitational pull tugging on asteroids in that area” The helms officer looked over awaiting orders from the captain. Her hands already on her glassy console, her mind interfaced with the computer.
The captain sighed as he automatically received suggestions from his bridge crew he said with a wave of his hand. “Engage engines let’s move towards that disruption in space, he was confident that it was nothing but he was also mildly afraid that he would see his first bit of combat that would echo in a long line of battles for this artifact. The Terran Reinforcements were still several hours away, and it was up to him and his lone ship to hold the line if anything should happen.
As the ominously large cruiser floated towards the anomaly it would see asteroids flying around what seemed to be a gravity well, this could only mean one thing, the only race that used gravity well technology, were the Ingarans , a confederation of wolf like creatures that banded together in a ruthless empire, the view all other races as inferior and hunt them for sport.
Xavier growled he said with a quick slam of his fists on the armrest of his chair, “Red alert! All hands to battle stations increase speed to full power, arm all weapons” Claxton glared as the order was given members of the crew rushed around to their stations franticly dropping whatever they were doing.
The Orion’s main drives were pushed to full, it rushed towards the gravity well , its ominous form glowing a bit for a split second as its shields raised. The Captain was right, three midsized Ingaran raiders stood before the larger ship weapons armed and their shields up.
Xavier said almost immediately to his con officer “Raise communications!”
The con officer responded with haste taps of his buttons raising a screen, the Ingaran junior warlord stood up infront of the screen, he started to speak with snarls and growls after each word.
“You Terrans, you stand in between us and what we want, the mighty Ingaran Confederation will take it back, and I will personally use my claws to dig in to the flesh of every pathetic Tarren citizen on this station”
Xavier replied as he stood up adjusting and correcting us uniform, he said with a harsh word looking out to the anthro wolf. “This is Terran Federation space, we will not allow you to take any part of it nor move any ships in to it, we are required to give you a warning but we will forgo that because you declared your intention. “
He then Looked over to his Tactical officer and AI then nodded saying with a commanding voice” Fire dark energy beams and pulse cannons destroy those ships”
Suddenly the darkness of space was ripped apart by blue and green glowing beams of hell lancing from the large cruiser Pulses of purple followed behind both of them striking the smaller ships shielding, the weapons fire cascade like a rainbow around the deflectors of the Ingaran ships, as they retaliated and began maneuvering around firing disruptor pulses and torpedo barrages, continued fire from the cruiser destroyed one raider, ripping through its hull and shields like if it were paper , the other two continued to lay on green disruptor fire that cascaded around the shields and dark energy field of cruiser. Torpedoes fired from the raiders got caught and destroyed with in the dark energy field.
Pulses and beams poured from multiple sources along the hull of the cruiser destroying another raider as it passed by attempting to fire its disruptors, that raider was ripped in two, part of it struck the cruisers deflectors and dark energy field the other part flew in to the vastness of space.
The last raider was not so fool hearty, the ingaran Junior warmaster sat in his chair growling as consoles exploded in brilliant flashes of light and showers of sparks , he slamed his claws on to the armrests of the chair he was in and said loudly “JUMP!” By this time the raider’s Bluish hull was charred and damaged from Dark energy beams and pulses that had struck through the shields. The Raider jumped to warp and cloaked before the cruiser had a chance to strike its final blows. Xavier sighed he didn’t relive the order for red alert because he knew that was a scouting party, the gravity well in front of the ship disappeared as the raiders did.
Xavier was correct a small group of Ingaran ships had gathered several light years out of federation space in the badlands, they were going to mount a strike against the station but it would take several hours for them to group up and jump, so he hoped at least that The Terran’s group of new ships could get here as soon as possible. Xavier Started to speak looking over to his con officer who already ran the Raiders information, the con officer looked back and said his blue eyes peering at the tall captain.
“Sir these Ingarans were from house, timber wolf”
Xavier exclaimed his heart almost jumping out of his chest as he sat down and sank in to his chair “WHAT!, that’s the lead house of the Ingarans, this means that they are after the artifact, this isn’t good there’s a fleet of ships gathering out there and if the Terran fleet does not get help here soon we will have to hold them off. I want all personnel on flight deck ready to launch fighters, and all hands to remain at battle stations. “
His order was heeded he sat back in his chair rising his hand to his chin, he looked out in to the darkness of space his emotions sinking a bit he had to remain strong for the crews sake no matter how dire the situation little did he know he would be put to the test much more than he would ever expect.
Xavier Got up he looked around and said “if you need to get lunch go get lunch but swap out with an officer next to you that goes for all tactically important stations” He nodded to his first officer Commander Justin Ramada. Justin knew what to do he stood up saluted the captain as he walked out a rather mundane looking door opening in front of him as he stepped out in to the hall.
Justin was rather young for a first officer only 20, he sighed a bit always wanting to get command of his own ship hoping he would get in battle one day, ever since he was a young boy he dreamt of commanding a starship, of course he was an orphan of the chronosian wars, both his parents died while in the line of duty, and he was left in the care of his foster mother, Johanna. He was eager, a little hotheaded; Xavier picked him because it reminded him of a young version of him.
Xavier Had wandered down to the busy mess hall through the long winding utilitarian halls of the ship that was dotted with interface ports and other devices, he wandered in to the mess hall two massive doors opening in front of him was he walked in, he smiled looking around, watching as officer moved towards tables with trays of food, he wandered over to a replication device He placed a metal tray in to the large square shaped slot of the well lit cavity in the wall that was surrounded by panels. He pressed a few buttons a a full lunch of fried beans, chicken, mash potatoes and iced tea was served, he picked up the tray and idly wandered towards the table were his senior staff was eating, he looked around smiling saying as he sat down in the booth “Hey guys, what’s up?”
The senior staff looked at him, Brex the senior engineer, who was half human and half Primean , smiled and said with a slight bow “Captain, a pleasure as always”
Brex was brought onboard by Xavier because of his experience with dark energy technology, and dark fusion cores in the Initial stages of research at the black nova facility, he was born on Tyrian, his father like normal primeans was, cold and unemotional natives of servanna, his mother was human, of course he got all his emotions were human. Xavier sighed a bit as he began to eat, the others greeting him his Tormulan tactical officer nodding “Captain Good of you to join us”
Captain Xavier Bastidas.. Every time he heard his title he would scoff at how he made it so far, In 10 years of fleet service, he was 28, looked like a 20 year old, he was born on new sol, one hundred percent human, yet in all his life and all his experiences he still could not get over his title. Even during the Tail end of the chronosian wars were he fought in fierce skirmishes as the first officer of the Pegasus, he couldn’t fathom the idea of making it this far. He was a humble man, ever since he saw his sister killed before his eyes by a chronosian, he had a tough outer shell. Since those wars he’s been involved in many major conflicts and incidents. Captured and tortured for weeks on end by Igarans, almost mind controlled by psionic dragonites , and involved in saving the lives of thousands. His personal revenge story was a different matter, before he was captain of the Orion, he watched in horror as a child who was the son of his sister, killed by an Igaran spy, only two years old, and he was killed, from that moment forward he vowed revenge on all Igarans, he vowed to kill them, his heart was encased in a wall of steel, and cold. Events of mates cheating on him and hurting him increased that wall by far.
However Public he tried to put on the show of a sane man, not hurt and resilient, though sometimes it was obvious ins his weary eyes that he was in pain, that he’s been hurt and scarred by events in his past, he toasted standing up and saying.
“To the finest crew in the fleet, were we may stand and protect our borders and this artifact, and lets all go home after!”
The room broke out in laughter as they all toasted and started to drink he sat back conversing about events on the news with senior officers..
Suddenly the ships Klaxons began to blare on and on, Xavier stood up growling as he did so he and his senior staff rushed out of the room making it to the bridge. Their worst fears had come true, an Ingaranin fleet had just jumped in to the system, and the cruiser was already on high alert. The Ingranin forces engage the Terran cruiser ,several destroyers rush out followed by a cruiser heading towards the station. Pulses of green shirked through the utter darkness of spac,e beams of greenish fire followed as Ingranin ships targeted the Orion, the Orion shook consoles flickered as beams struck the shields making them cascade with a cornucopia of colors, the captain sat in his chair held by his Gravity belt, he ordered with a loud call ”All torpedo tubes fire! All energy weapons fire!” The cruiser opened up, thousands upon thousands of torpedoes rained in bolts of blue from the Vertical launch tubes of the ship, beams crackled through the darkness of space striking the enemy shielding warping it slightly followed by pulses, multiple raiders in one go were hit and destroyed as the cruiser maneuvered in to combat potions, beams slashed across the shielding of some of the destroyers charring their bluish hulls as they penetrated them slightly.
The cruiser was being hit on all sides, its fighters lunched with little delay to meet oncoming enemy fighters they. Fighters bolted in V shaped formations firing tiny dark energy pulses filling the air with bolts and missiles, they poured out striking drones and oncoming fighters, making the explode as they maneuvered criss crossing turning and looping all around.
The Orion was in trouble its shields were being struck on multiple sides its weapons already at full capacity as it fired its large spinal mounts ripping through a destroyer, disabling and destroying other countless raiders with its energy weapons, torpedoes slammed against the bare hulls of the Ingranin frigates killing them In several shots, however they were still outnumbered and being heavily dammed by oncoming assaults
The captain was sitting up by now as his ship shook violently torpedoes striking against wavering shields, and pulses hitting his dark energy field, several junctions overhead exploded raining sparks upon the crew bellow, junctions bellow exploded as consoles simply flickered the ship rocking as fire pounded the vessel, noises of explosions and flanking could be heard as torpedoes struck shields.
Xavier growled a bit, slamming his hands on the armrest of his chair he looked up panting as tubes fell from the roof spraying coolant around the bridge, the AI came on looking to the captain.
She said “Sir shielding is down to 35 percent , dark energy field levels are dropping as we have lost several port and aft guns, I suggest we retreat to the stations safety zone. If not we will be of no use to them”
The captain nodded looking to helm as a console behind him exploded and the ship rocked again, the helm officer needed nothing but that as she engaged micro warp, moving the large cruiser away from the combat zone towards the stations perimeter, The AI smiled and she looked to the captain. “Sir A terran fleet is inbound at vector one niner mark five, they will be here shortly.
Chapter 2 (The Hunt)
Xavier sighed as he sat back on to his chair; his bridge was a mess, sparking consoles, clouds of gas flowing from broken pipes. He looked to his AI as the Orion slowed to a mere Crawl, some of its hull was charred thanks to the intense fire of the Ingaran fleet that was right behind them. Xavier looked to his AI and then to his tactical officer he spoke in a commanding tone of voice.
“Turn the ship forward, all power to forward shields and weapons, let them know they’re in for a hell of a fight if they attack”
As the cruiser began to turn, its body ominously looming over the quickly evacuating freighters, multiple multi dimensional warp portals opened up, they crackled open with arcing energy lancing out in to space, A task force lead by the UTS repulse quickly moved out in to space bursting through the energetic portal, the Repulse was already on alert, two Destroyers and four frigates escorted the larger Cruiser, as it gently rumbled towards the position of the Orion, the fleet shimmered gently in the light of the nearby nebula.
Ricardo Sanchez was the captain of the repulse; he was good friends with Xavier, he sat back in to his chair, his salt and pepper hair parted in back slightly as a wire ran from his head in to the chair he was sitting in he moved his rough hands to his lap folding them as his ship came to a halt just behind the Orion. He looked to his own AI who was standing up next to him, and said in a coarse voice.
“Open a channel to the Orion. “ The AI nodded with that nod a communications line was opened, Ricardo smiled as he leaned back on his chair starting to speak.
“Look like you need help my friend, don’t worry ol Ricky’s got your back”
Xavier just smiled as the message came over somewhat broken up from his damaged comns, he looked over to his AI quickly saying, “Open a channel to the Ingaran fleet”. The AI did so waving her hands and then looking over to the Captain responding.
“Channel open sir” Xavier sighed as he started to speak, several drops of blood falling from a small gash on his forehead on to his uniform, splattering red dots on to the blue fabric. “ Ingarans, you are outnumbered and out gunned, it would be wise if you withdrew. If not we will have no choice but to decimate your fleet”
Xavier Knew what he was doing, there was no possible way the Ingrans could stand up to a Federation star base and a Terran fleet. At once, he smiled slightly, placing his hand to the cut on his forehead and placing slight pressure to stop the bleeding, he gritted his teeth as pain radiated from the wound, the palm of his hand semi soaked in blood.
The Ingrans were no fools, the Chief war master of the fleet stood up from his rather archaic looking throne of skull and bones, he growled as he slammed his paws on to the table in front of him, a necklace of canine teeth jingling as he moved about in a swift motion, his hind paws slamming on to the metal floors of his ship as he paced. He looked over his muzzle parting as he snarled towards a beta wolf helms officer. “Tell the grrawwr fleet, to Stop, Grawwwrrrr and turn back!” He was furious, it could be seen in his brown eyes, the entire bridge crew almost whimpered as they saw the alpha male in this state of mind.
The Ingaran fleet turned back, large ships and raiders alike started cloaking and warping out, the war master sat down on his chair as his large cruiser entered warp space, his hands placed upon the armrest of his chair. “ War master Silver claw “ Said a young beta wolf new to the ship, the war master almost snapped at him looking down at him, but he didn’t knowing the kid was knew he would give him a chance to figure out that when he was in this mood no one should talk to him directly. The young beta gulped down almost whimpering as he saw the war master, finally the war master responded.
“What is it beta!”
The younger wolf sighed hesitating but said “si…r .. um clan command has sent us a message.. Shall I patch it through?”
The alpha glared and nodded slightly, the beta quickly put the message up on screen, a black wolf looked in to the monitor peering at the bridge.
The war master looked at him with a slight grin coming over his muzzle, he said “Senior War master bane, what brings you to message us?” The black wolf growled and said with a deep dark voice that would strike fear in any who heard it.
“You failed in assaulting the station, no matter, if they want to hold on to those they can for the time being, these Terran fools won’t know what hit them once we gather the last piece of the Tarkana, and invade their pathetic nation. Taking those other parts for ourselves” the black wolf growled his crimson eyes peering at the silver one in the view screen. He said forcefully again leaning back on his chair in to the shadows. “I want your fleet to go to sector Ikath, and scout several planets there; we have found traces of the same radiation as those artifacts produce there, good luck and don’t fail me or I will have you eating from the emperor’s toilet” The fleet set a course Towards that sector right as the black wolf disappeared from the screen, Silver claw sighed with a gentle growl as he looked around his bridge maintaining his composure.
Mean while back in Terran space, Xavier and his crew were cheering at the turnaround of the fleet, but in his heart Xavier, Knew that wouldn’t be the last time they would see them, the Orion docked at Indigo station for repairs ,its massive body shimmering and rumbling in to a large skeletal ship yard, some of its hull singed and charred, as the light from the nebula struck it. Xavier Stood up as his ship came to a sotp in the dock, he nodded to Ramada to take the con, as he was supposed to meet his old friend Ricky on the Orion’s meeting room , he adjusted himself and started to walk out but before he wandered out the door, doctor Tammy Hoft was standing with a med kit , she was tapping her long leg on the ground as she looked at Xavier somewhat disappointedly, she said with a scolding voice. “Captain you know better than that trying to continue your duties while you’re injured, as Chief medical officer I’m going to treat you, I don’t care if you don’t like it , It’s my job now hold still!” she said as she grabbed Xavier’s hand away from his scabbed fore head cut, Xavier cringed slightly as he sighed with a chuckle, Tammy placing a metal device shaped like a puck over his cut , as soon as she removed it there was nothing there just bare skin, it looked like it was never touched or hurt , Tammy quickly placed the puck shaped device back in to the medical container and stood saluting Xavier.
Xavier shook his head opening his mouth to say something but was stopped by Tammy as she put her hands on his lips, she removed him as Xavier began walking, half way down the corridor he turned to her, watching as her tall form was emphasized by her blue naval uniform, her long blonde hair waving as he turned her head to look at him down the mundanely lit corridor. Xavier said with a slight laugh in his voice. “I was simply going to say Thank you” Tammy smiled after the comment.
Xavier and Tammy were old friends since the academy days, she had certain liberties with him, and since the academy she’s always been lending a helping hand, protecting him like his big sister always used to do, she was a person he could talk to no matter what, after his sister’s death she was there with him every step of the way, he looked up to her, even if he was an admiral he once said, “if I’m doing something stupid, stop me” That of course was made out to be many things including attempting to continue his duties while injured.
Xavier made his way down the utilitarian corridor his black boots thumping on the metal ground bellow him; he put on a smile as he wandered through The two doors that swooshed open in front of him in to the large well lit ornately decorated conference room. He looked around spotting the tall muscular captain from the repulse he smiled wider as he wandered up behind him placing his hands right on his shoulder. “Ricky!!!” he exclaimed as the other looked at him and smiled widely to. “Xavier! Long time no see!” Ricky hugged Xavier, with joy they then parted and stood looking at one another Xavier not pausing for one second, “How’s Bernice and the kids?” Ricky chuckled responding “never better we just got a new slot to move to torm. “
Xavier smiled and crossed his hands in back of him “That’s great news, so I take it you’re not hear for a social visit?” Ricky shook his head “No I’m not old friend, I have orders from Terran command over in new sol” Xavier sighed he didn’t like the sound of this, he looked up to Ricky and nodded “go on”
“The repulse, and the Orion are to scout out Sector omega, several light years out of Terran space, the last piece of that artifact you found, is suspected to be there, scout ships reported the same radiation patterns from that area , that we have found on these artifacts. The Ingrans will surely be there; as soon as the Orion’s ready we must depart.”
Xavier Nodded, his first reaction was to cruse his orders but then realized it would be good to get out, and do some black ops. He smiled as he nodded to ricky, who said as his body began shimmering with white and blue outlines, “Good bye friend “talk to you via hail” His body disappeared in to thin air it seemed, Xavier sighed as he turned to walk out of the room, the Orion’s transporters were knocked out by the fight, so the Repulse had to use its own. His body moved along as his boots thumped on the metal ground, he walked towards the bridge hanging his head down fatigued from the fight, The two doors opened up in front of him, swooshing as he wandered in over looking his busy bustling bridge already cleaned up by several engineers, Brex was under several consoles with a tool kit, welding a few things together, the noises of work echoed through the large bridge, as Xavier sat down in his chair waiting, for his ship to be cleared to launch.
Several moments of silence passed, The AI turned up right in front of Xavier, as he was jacking himself in to the network of the ship, the AI smiled as Xavier looked at her his hands crossed on his lap in front of him. The AI began to speak with a cheerful tone of voice. “Sir all systems report ready, Space docks report clear for launch, systems are nominal and functional.”
Xavier couldn’t be happier but his face didn’t show it he smiled slightly and nodded raising a smooth hand and saying to his helm officer as he moved it pointing forward. “Helm Engage engines forward, clear all moorings and launch.” The helm officer nodded as she instantly calculated the commands in her head tapping on the console in front of her smooth hands running along the flashing buttons in front of her. The large cruiser moved out of space dock slowly its engines pushing it forward as blue green flames rushed in back of it lighting up the back side of the massive cruiser, it ominously rumbled out dwarfing worker bees and shuttles in the dock, it started to turn its body glimmering with light form the nebula, most of the scars of the previous battles gone and whipped off from it. The ship continued to move in to a clear patch of space, the repulse behind it , the two twin ships rumbled out facing the darkness of space. Xavier Thought in his head as he looked out peering at the utter vastness of space. ~In to the darkness we go, forever more to explore, to save, only to return home unsung Heroes of an epic fight.~ Xavier Grinned he looked over to his helm officer and moved his hand up pointing strait, he said with a commanding voice. “Engage!” with that word the entire ship shook as space opened up in front of it a grate cesium of energy flooding in to normal space, the vortex pulled the Orion forward, in to it, as the Orion and repulse disappeared in to their respective vortexes they closed crackling out of existence.
Xavier raised an eyebrow as he saw brex continuing to work on the console kitty corner from him to the right, he said with a grin. “Are you getting enough air in there, I mean we can’t afford to lose another chief engineer to electronic suffocation”
Brex looked back at the captain with a chuckle “funny sir, sorry I’m almost done just need to …..” he struggled as he continued to adjust several photonic wires, “There we go!” he said as the console re vitalized itself and started functioning, he stood up closing his tool kit placing it on the table next to the console. Brex said with a satisfied tone of voice crossing his arms together. “Well sir we have a console, all it took was some chicken, grease and a little know how” Xavier raised an eyebrow the crew stared at brex for a moment shaking their heads; brex said “what” confusingly” the Ai appeared and said with an exclamation “you used what on my circuits!” she was furious and started to go on a tangent” how dare you brex after all these years up my consoles and in my tubes you have the Gaul to pour chicken grease were it does not belong! I’m shocked” she rushed over to the poorly humiliated engineer and slapped him, Brex fell back with a blink looking around confused “I didn’t do anything!”
Xavier just said laughing lightly “Its elbow grease, not chicken grease, I shall not have you pouring chicken grease in to your work that’s an order!” The AI looked to the captain saying with a sigh “whatever it is I will not have it in my parts Brex.” The AI disappeared, Brex stood there sighing mumbling “well that went well” Xavier laughed leaning back on his chair as the ships moved through the dimensional warp space, their bodies shimmering as cornucopias of colors reflected off of their hulls, they passed by millions of stars as they moved towards their destination.
Several hours passed, Xavier was in his quarters lying on his bed peering up to the ceiling, he had just woken up a few hours ago but was lying in bed just thinking, he sighed to himself recapping all his life experiences, his other halves going with other men because they weren’t, his sister being killed, replaying in his head again and again and again. He settled in to a trance again thinking now of what will happen when the two ships arrive at that system. The AI came over the intercoms as a wakeup call, she said in a somewhat loud voice “Captain…. Caaaptin….. wake up … you know you want to”
Xavier Jumped up on to the edge of the bed with a few mumbles as his trance was broken by the female voice he looked up and said. “I’m up I’m up” The Ai just laughed, Xavier stood up wandering to the latrine several meters out of his ornately decorated room, he rested on the edge of the chrome like sink looking at himself in the mirror, Turing on the water putting his hands in there and then splashing clear warm liquid all over his face shaking it off as he woke up. He sighed saying to himself in a low tone of voice “Rob what have you gotten yourself in to, how the hell did you make it this far to captain“he shook his head as he stood up strait, wandering out of his room putting on the over shirt to his well ironed uniform.
He walked out of his quarters the ship shook gently as it dropped out of MD warp, he grumbled a bit as his feet tapped on the metal chrome ground, he reached the bridge and was somewhat taken aback as he opened the door looking at several officers clustered around the view screen, he wandered inside looking around then fixating suddenly on a little free corner of the screen, there was a planet. His eyes widened his hair stood up on edge, as emotions began running through his head he broke his secondary trance and said to his crew” all right back to your stations nothing to see here”
Brex stated the obvious raising his hand as he looked at the Captain “sir it looks like earth… exactly like earth…” Xavier sighed and looked over to brex his eyes somewhat piercing.
“I know Brex, but it could be an illusion we can never know it might be a holographic image.”
Suddenly the AI popped up again she smiled “sir the repulse is sending us a message”
“On screen” Xavier said with a professional tone of voice folding his hands on his lap again, Ricky came up on the screen sitting on his chair the same way, Rcky and Xavier were like two peas in a pod back at The academy. Ricky said “Are you seeing this two Xavier” Xavier nodded with a sigh of disbelief everyone was seeing it “yes I am, this is impossible it has to be a trick of some sort?”
“Agreed, radiations coming from it so let’s set up an orbit and beam people down. ” Ricky said his eyes panning the view in front of him he leaned back again placing his hands on the side of the arm rests. “Stay frosty Repulse out!” the screen cut Xavier sat forward on his chair as the ships moved to orbit the jewel of a planet, radiation was coming from it, both ships quietly glided the light reflecting from their somewhat rough hulls…
Mean while back at the station, Styles had just begun another tour of duty, he walked in to the stations control center looking around mumbling to him as he saw officer just lounging around. He said in a rather rude frustrated voice. “We aren’t servanna, we’re indigo station let’s get to work people”
Every one mumbled frustratingly as they started to get back to dull mundane tasks they were doing before. Styles stood there just watching as his crew preformed tasks normal to a star port, recently for the past few hours reports have been coming in about power fluctuations and fires on some decks, this was out of the ordinary. Ever since those artifacts came on board there has been nothing but trouble, utterly incomprehensible.
As styles stood waiting for more report the command center shook, the stations retro thrusters and gravity went offline for a split seconds, things started to float styles looked around growling, he said “what the bloody hell is going on” the gravity came back on every one fell styles fell on a table spilling coffee on the ground, he stood up shaking his head “Jesus Christ, this is getting ridiculous”
The tactical officer of the station attempted to tap on the console but nothing was working he looked over to styles and said “commander controls are not responding”
“Shit” Styles said “this is fucking grate” he growled out adjusting himself he wandered over to the main console looking suddenly main power cut out the entire command center went black so did the station, styles cursed himself as emergency backups came online. Styles said “this is fucking grate ok what is the situation ?The tactical officer standing in the dully light bridge across from styles said as he looked at cameras not knocked out by the power outage. “Sir all sections are locked down, emergency power is at full, we can’t get in contact with anyone else so far, we would have to assume security measure alpha one was instated as per briefing. Styles sighed again sitting down on a chair and leaning back “this never fucking fails, ok try to get communications online, until we think of a fucking way out of here.