Erica Olafson Adventures of the Tigershark Vol 7 Chapter 14 Kilkam
- 4 years ago
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UPWARD
The NAVINT commander had her Avatar established in the secure conference room underneath the surface of Richter 4. Also present were Cherubim, Algear Moansti, Admiral McElligott and now the Avatar of Admiral Stahl blinked into existence.
The little group was made complete by a massive alien. The large alien, the Nul All Leader was here the first time by invitation.
I was the Commandant of NAVINT that opened this top-level meeting and after she acknowledged the ones present she went right to the point.”Our friends of the Gray Cat society confirm reports we gathered. The Kermac have amassed a substantial fleet of about 5,000 ships that are on their way to the Downward sector. It appears they do know about the existence of a Seenian Depot somewhere down there and are on their way to secure it.”
Stahl’s face became even more serious than it usually was.”If those Paperfaces gain access to Seenian tech, we are going to be in for a serious ride. I am certain we still prevail, but I fear at a tremendous cost.”
Cherubim looked over her readouts, she had called up.”We don’t have contact with Captain Olafson. She and her ship are out of communication range for a while now. We do not know where she is, other than somewhere Downward. Our Golden friends do have a Bazaar down there and that Bazaar should be online with GalNet any day now. The Welcome Wagon has arrived there just a few days ago.”
McElligott sighed.”Let’s hope our girl is within communication range of that Bazaar when it does get connected, but what can she do against five thousand Kermac warships?”
Stahl crossed his arms.”I don’t think I could have more confidence in the command ability and resourcefulness of anyone than Erica, but O’Brock is right. Five thousand Kermac ships are beyond anything she could handle.”
The Nul leader said.”The Nul will render all the assistance we can, but if our information matches yours, the Kermac are far ahead and there is no way we can catch up with them.”
“Not even the latest Attikan Battleships could. Not that we have enough of them M-0 side anyway.” Stahl added.
Cherubim looked towards the Nul leader.”I am authorized to reveal all our Intel to you and recommend that you are instructed in the Blue-Blue-Red protocol. This situation is more serious than it even appears and we have no issues with the trustworthiness of Nul.”
“I am ordering our Intel to be under NAVINT auspice and share all our assets.”
McElligott got up and said.”Richard, get your big tub and the first fleet as fast as you can Downwards. Stay within range of the new relay chain. Take along assets to beef up the GalNet relays, as soon as we know where the Kermac headed we let you know.”
I had everyone gathered in our Den and waited till my senior officers had completed their reports.
“I understand your hesitation to call me, Mr. Hi. What I am saying now is not meant in disrespect, but I must say it. If a situation like this develops, your first duty is to inform me. I know we do things differently on the Tigershark and I must blame myself for setting a bad example. The next time disregard any emotional based decisions or notions what I might expect, if in doubt call. This does not mean I am second guessing you. You are my XO and if you make decisions I will back them up as if they had been made by me.”
He nodded with a serious face.”I am sorry and I apologize, I knew I made bad decisions.”
“Welcome to the club, my friend. We won’t talk about this anymore but focus on what we need to do next.”
Narth raised his hand.”Captain, I am just detecting a Long Range Telepath aboard the Uhuin. He is sending thoughts and request for instructions to the Kermac leadership. Brathering appears to be more than just a loyal Puup pirate. He is a Kermac agent.”
“I actually expected that much, how else did he get a genuine T Cruiser? What is he sending and can you intercept the answer?”
“I will attempt to do that.” Narth fell silent and lowered his shrouded head to concentrate and focus his abilities.
Sobody said. “We could go to my brother and return disguised as a Golden Sphere.”
I agreed, that might not be a bad idea, but we need to find out what our special friends decide to do.”
TheOther who currently manned communications came on over Intership.”Captain, we are being hailed by the local authorities.”
“Put them on.”
“We don’t know by what trickery you influenced the Decider, but all of you foreigners time runs short. If you are not gone soon. We open those ships and arrest any survivors for the practice of forbidden magic.”
The other pirate ships were taking off after fruitless arguments.
I was the last to respond.”This is Captain Black Velvet. I am curious just how fast?”
The buzzing respond sounded very agitated and commanding. “What a stupid question! As fast as possible!”
I said keeping the channel open. “Helm you heard them, they want us gone as fast as possible, so let’s go fast, forget about a gentle lift-off. Full engines!”
“Aye Sir, preparing for full engine lift off.”
The disguised Tigershark virtually jumped into space on a plume of light speed accelerated energy plasma, her shields glowing as bright as a white star forcefully punching through the atmosphere.
The chaos this lift of created was of catastrophic proportions, many thousand tons of water instantly turned into a hurricane of superheated steam cooking anything in its wake, followed by a huge tidal wave and furnace temperature air. The ships and fliers surrounding us were cooked and whatever remained scattered across a wide area.
Two Trontigmakader freighters were tossed into other ships like toys, The entire shoreline of Mustar had been washed away by a tidal wave of titanic proportions.
I said into the still open channel. “I hope that was fast enough.”
I rushed to the bridge while SHIP sounded General Quarters. I plunged into my seat while Narth appeared out of thin air into his.”The Kermac responded, Captain but I can not make sense of it. They instructed Brathering to proceed according to order set four. I do not know what order set four is.”
Fivcheer came rushing from the I.S.T. and took an open seat behind me in the secondary Control area of the bridge.”The Red Dragon has a Kermac crew member, he too noticed the LRT answer.”
Mao barked right over Fivcheer. “The Red Dragon activated all weapons and she is under full ParaDim shields.”
While I was glad he no longer had Seenian shields or the latest TransDim shields of Union tech. His ParaDim shields in triple layer configuration were still a hard nut to crack, especially for a Karthanian ship we were supposed to be.
Mao was not done.”The other ships are under full shields now and arm their weapons.”
The Red Dragon came on hailing everyone.”That doublecrossing Puup has sold us out and now he is going to pay for it!”
The Dragon opened fire the same time. While the old prototype no longer had a Translocator, he too had a few Lokis and very powerful Forced Energy cannons. The Uhuin had just cleared orbit and under shields, was too close to do anything to evade or intercept the incoming Loki torpedo and the simultaneous impact of four FTL-FE tunnel beams. Less than a heartbeat later, the other pirate ships opened fire as well. While the Uhuin was trying to get out of the direct line of fire and retaliated with Kermac line cannons of considerable strength, her shields could not deflect the Loki impact and collapsed. Several beams raked across her side and cooked off armor plating ripping big holes into her primary hull.
The retaliatory fire of the T-Cruiser hammered into the shields of the Red Dragon and the Killerbeast.
This should have been the end of Brathering, as his ship was done for, but the command module of the T Cruiser separated from the burning wreck and accelerated fast.
Narth spoke with uncharacteristic alarm in his voice. “A large fleet of Kermac warships will drop out of Quasi in less than ten minutes. The Puup is in contact with them via his LRT.”
“Shaka step on it, maximum acceleration within our disguise limits. Lay in a course for the next star, for now.”
Surprisingly the Celestial Nightmare and the Bloody Mary immediately followed us. The Kalita also changed course and committed to a Threshold run moments later.
Our sensors detected the violent explosion of the Uhuin almost at the same moment as our sensors registered the drop of at least hundred Yiee battleships accompanied by a large number of T Cruisers and K type destroyers before we managed to slip into Quasi-Space.
The wizard in charge of the Kermac fleet had left the lumbering old and slow Habyr battleships behind and used his fastest units to advance and respond to the urgent assistance request of Brathering.
It was not a moment too soon, as he dropped out of Quasi into this system owned by the Trontigmakader. His forward units immediately opened fire on Trontigmakader and other ships. He had one mission and one goal only, to secure the Celtest depot for the Kermac. With its technology, the Kermac did not need to wait for the Y’All that weren’t reliable and their arrival not certain or any time soon. The Grand Wizard was informed and authorized whatever resource might be needed.
The Galactic Council controlled by the Kermac was second to Union and their new found allies the Nul, but still one of the most potent forces in the known galaxy. This time they would not be denied and Funsecsiev the Command wizard of this mighty strike force was determined to show all these primitives what it meant to stand against the Kermac.
Unknown to anyone but his closest associates, Funsecsiev wanted to become the Kermac version of the Immortal warrior. Feared and respected by everyone.
His ship, the Yokolta was the latest and most advanced Kermac battleship was bristling with weapons and excellent shields but unlike his secret role model, he didn’t believe a man in his important position should be exposed to the very front of things.
When the Yokolta dropped out of Quasi-space, most non Kermac contacts were destroyed. His ship received the escape pot with the Puup moments later.
While the Kermac spy was rushed to the command center, one of his lead team asked to report and he granted that low level less than white officer the privilege to talk to him. Ever since the last war, Kermac reluctantly modified their habit of address, at least in the military.
While he intellectually actually understood the reason for that, emotionally he regretted the loss of etiquette and culture and wished his subordinates would at least address him with half of his many titles, he so carefully crafted and decided to add to his name.
So he felt a little annoyed when Neusechfir, the lead Kermac of the Yokolta simply called him, powerful and wise and then Nuesechfir came to his actual report.”We detected several ships of advanced tech leaving the system and entering Inbetween space just as we returned to standard space. The last of these is currently running, but not before destroying two Cruisers with Union type Loki torpedoes. The craft matches the reports we have on an outlaw called Red Dragon.”
“Anything on the Celtest depot?”
“Most powerful and wise Wizard of command, we just arrived and have not begun landing operations. The individual with such information is on his way to you.”
“Begin landing operations and deploy Will Amplifiers.”
Another Kermac reported a hail from the planet.
Four insectoids appeared on the screen after the connection was made. Thanks to Brathering they received the necessary linguistic translation routines for their Tronics month ago.
“Intruders be warned, your acts of aggression are not tolerated. We are the Four Masters and demand that you retreat. We are not defenseless!”
“We are the Kermac and we are the true masters of everything you deplorable vermin. I expect you to reveal to us the location of the Celtest war depot and in return, you might be blessed to serve us, instead of being destroyed.”
Guards brought the Puup to the command center and into his presence.
“Speak without delay, report without sparing details and hope for my mercy.”
The Puup shrugged of the Kermac hands holding him and tried to present a more dignified position. “I am Indafanne Brathering, trusted ally and not a lackey.”
“Your usefulness hinges on the information you possess. We hope for your sake that you did not prematurely reveal yourself.”
“The answer and the way to the depot is known to the Anagoge. This person can be found following the instructions recorded in the Chronicles of the Seekers which are in the sealed library of the Fifth. I know where this library is.”
“And so do I as you are before Kermac, and your feeble mind is open to me. Cosporus is not where the library is, but on Trokiht, the homeworld of these Insectoids. Cosporus is but an old colony so it appears.”
We were still on course to the next star and for now, it was us who led the shrinking convoy. Mao said I am detecting massive Hyper jump signatures form the star system we are heading for, Captain. SHIP helped me calculate, it looks like over seven thousand spaceships with old-fashioned Hyperjump drives just jumped into that system.”
Shea had her face inside the tele-observation bubble and she said.”That star is an A-II supergiant without planets. There is a high probability that fleet is jumping from gravity well to gravity well and that AII is only a stop gap, the next stop would be Corspa system, with Cosporus planet and all the Kermac.”
Mao kept looking on his panels.”Say is it just me or has our shrinking convoy gained members? Without the T Cruiser, we should be seven not counting us, but we still have eight contacts following us.”
Alarmed I said.”Kermac? Unless they gained a Tech level and our Intel is that far off, they should not be able to scan into Quasi-space.”
“Narth also looked over the scan and sensor report. “This signature is inconsistent with Kermac enticers, it appears someone simply transitioned with the rest of us. Sensing other within a given distance of entangled photons while in the same quantum or Quasi-state is however within the technological capabilities of civilizations reaching Tech level 6 and the sensing distance increases with each Tech level. It is described in great detail in Lickman’s disert...”
I interrupted my brainy friend or he would have started quoting the entire scientific paper.”Mr. Narth thank you for this explanation. Can we determine who it is that follows us?”
“Not with the data available, but having Trontigmakader signatures on file the denizens of Cosporus can be eliminated.”
Elfi gestured towards a pulsing light on her console.”The Red Dragon is hailing on open channels and thus everyone within range.
The Red Dragon no longer relied on his mask and exposed his face, revealing that he was not only Thauran but the disgraced Union admiral. While we had this fact already confirmed by DNA evidence, to me it was the final proof. The last time I had seen him was in a courtroom at Lorman’s Starbase.
He said with an angry tone. “I am getting weary of this. No one said it would be easy to get to the Celtest depot, otherwise, others would have found it already. Sandovahl’s Killerbeast has sustained damage and is in need of repair and several of us still need fuel and provisions. Without the traitorous Puup as a local guide, anyone knows where to go?”
I doubt my eyes would have stayed dry, even in a sandstorm on Alvor’s Cove when I saw her. There she was, the USS Tigershark. Repaired, refurbished and upgraded. Now I knew why the destroyer was shaped the way it was. It did not fit inside, but it docked right at the Tigershark’s belly. The biggest visible changes were the docking clamps for the Destroyer and the changes to the landing gear. Circuit had used mechanical arms and special tractor guide beams to dock the Apparition. To my...
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The Dragon stood in his cargo bay and his eyes glowed as his pirates dumped loads of Iridium and other highly valuable goods only to return to get more. He cursed himself for not remembering the right planet. He was so sure he had been here before and now he could not remember any details. He was so certain the suit told him these coordinates. Of course, he had not kept any files on the coordinates but his suit knew where it was and now it was silent and did not respond to anything. All there...
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Our ship had settled down on its landing gear and Shaka powered down the Arti Gravs. Har-Hi pointed at a large number of tanks and artillery pieces that had been assembled around the vast empty plane, that was designated to us as a place to land. “I don’t think those are all for military honors. I think they are still quite nervous about us.” Narth agreed with my XO. “To describe the entire planet’s population, the terms anxiety and fear would be on top of my choices.” Mehdi occupying a...
Tobaia the magnificent had ascended upon the highest spire of her palace. The Seventh Claw spire had never seen a queen before. She stood there, her arms wrapped around her body and just below her breasts. Below her the sprawling city of Hi-Togr, the very heart of the mighty Togar empire. Malmorus, the sun had just disappeared behind the crests of the Kreigha mountains in the distance, but Torgu the largest of the planet’s two moons was soon to rise and provide its magnificent cool...
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“So how are we going to do this?” Har-Hi asked as we passed through an enormous opening, big enough for a Union battleship. I stood behind Shaka, who was inside his helm sphere and looked past our front viewports into the bewildering interior of Quarva. Sodoby said. “This rock is even bigger than mine. What a nice Bazaar it would make. “Har-Hi snickered. “That might depend on our captain’s mood. Who knows who actually runs this place. “The asteroid interior was one gigantic city that...
I was with Sodoby and Warner in our Den trying to find a prominent spot for my latest souvenir, the creepy golden mask, when Narth came in.”Captain, I am certain we have the locations of all Seenian worlds and depots. I correlated my memorized visuals with the data copy of Tyron and SHIP created a set of time adjusted Nav targets.” “We still need to follow the pirates and take them out. I was also told that finding the inheritance does not mean you can access it unless you have been judged...
As I stepped off the space-bus, a stiff breeze of wind howled over the landing field. The last time I left, it was still Longnight and winter had a hard grip on the planet of Nilfeheim. While it was still Longnight, for fourteen more months, the planet was already thawing and Shortsummer was soon upon this world. I filled my lungs deeply with the cold crisp air that carried the scents of Soakstone and Kelp brick fires, but also the savory smell of fried fish and Fangsnapper. I knew I was no...
About ten armed Trontigmakader entered the tavern, led by an insectoid in a flashy bright blue and white armor of some kind. “The four Masters declared martial law until we can determine who released the Cleanser beasts from their hold. This place has been identified as a meeting place of the Discrepant Element. You are all considered potential collaborators, perhaps even supplying weapons to these criminals. You are...” A high pitched humming voice screamed from somewhere else. “The Four...
Har-Hi had left over two hours ago with the first twenty and reported the city was orderly. The crew members with him had a good time and the locals were used to visitors and merchants from other places. He also reported that there was a market and Circuit excited. I warned him not to buy any more eggs. Even though I had to admit Fenris had turned out to be liked by the crew and more or less fit right in. Two of the minis were out near the Red Dragon watching I suspected the Red Dragon...
Everything was right as snow to me. I sat in a command seat surrounded by many of my friends. We were in Union Space inside a very fast and very well armed ship and were on our way to meet the rest of my friends and crew. I was really looking forward to my ship, my own quarters and whatever mission lay ahead. I reclined comfortable, had my legs crossed and almost dozed off, looking at the soothing sight of deep space displayed on our main viewer, some stars showing as Quasi streaks of...
As I ran along Har-Hi barefoot and still wearing something akin to a hospital gown. “You know that I never flew a Dai fighter and I am also a tad underdressed.” He stopped at a bright red hole that opened in a wall. “You can fly my Wolfcraft and we acquired a few Auto Dressers.” He pointed at the hole. “Jump in, feet first preferably.” I did and found myself on some sort of metal slide, that went almost vertical increasing my speed to something unhealthy if the end was solid ground. It...
I ordered my friends and crew back to the ship. Malmoru had instant and unquestioned authority and no one asked any questions. The word was, that the White Innocent Fur had indeed prevented the darkest spirt from causing the demise of all Togar. The dark spirit, so the word among the Togar had manifested itself in the High Priestess. Something that fits well with the believes and also apparently resonated well with the rebels and dissidents. The demise of the queen, by the hand of that dark...
After nine days of event-less trans-light travel, we had dropped out of Quasi just outside the Porsthir home system. While most of the other pirates dropped well within the system, I noticed that Crimson was now doing the same cautious approach I preferred. Hans told me that Kilkam asked if he could access the bridge. I sighed and looked to Har-Hi who shared my sentiment but nodded.”He knows most of it anyhow and bridge audio can be accessed from anywhere in the ship.” I gave Hans the okay...
I went to the high-security storage facility our robots and my engineer had built after I had taken a shower and changed into a new uniform. I padded the colt and swore to myself never to leave it behind ever again. Circuit had installed a portable matter destruction furnace, next to the large transparent force field encased cylinder filled with those disgusting white maggots. Narth was with me as well as Har-Hi. Narth said. “Do you really want to destroy them all?” “You are right, maybe...
Funsecsiev the Command wizard of the large Kermac fleet felt frustrated, a little scared and cheated. Frustrated, because he was not in control of the Celtest depot, nor did he have detailed information as for how it might be reached. Scared because he did not want to return to Kermac prime without a report of success and cheated because this mission if successful could have been the door to the Tower of Wizards and the lead position of a ministry. Without the expected success, his chances...
TheOther was injured. The wounds he received from the relentless attacks of these smaller Y’All versions were too deep and too severe for his incredible healing abilities to cope with. He regretted the fact that he opted to forego the AutoDoc adjustment, Cateria recommended for months now. The original factory-issued unit, requested a species update because this amazing piece of Union technology was deploying medical nanites and his own bodies defense mechanisms fought the nanites and...
The former slaves were received like kings. The Golden and their employees went out of their way to accommodate them. Tables and benches were carried out on the big central yard of the Golden enclave. The Golden handed out food, clothing and what surprised the former slaves more than anything, weapons. I jumped on a table and said.”You are free beings now. You can walk out that gate and try to find a new home. I will ask the Golden to give all those who leave 100 polos, so you are not...
“Circuit, are you there?” “Yes, Captain but there are green vapor things in Engineering.These things affecting the injector spear blades of both Chandelier diverters. We can’t tap TransDim energies right now and I switched to secondary power.” “Can we still lift off?” “Not at the moment Captain. Most of my engineering crew is acting weird and two have pulled the auxiliary reactor down into maintenance cycle. I need to contain them and get the reactors back up. We are on battery power...
“Well, we are well past GalNet range.” Circuit said sitting behind his console. He had insisted to come along, as this was a real Karthanian freighter and not my own marvelous ship disguised as one. I had contemplated taking the Tigershark, as the Janus mask could have been easily adjusted, but I wanted Har-Hi to have all its resources available, as I was convinced he had to face more than just old-fashioned atomic bombs. “Might be as well, Mr.Circuit. It will prevent me to call back every...
Shea tried to catch her breath, her suit was in restore and repair mode and the system assured her that it would be fully functional in less than an hour. Krabbel was not so lucky and her Archa friend was missing a leg. Hans and the Y’All and the marines were unharmed, except for a few bruises. The island was destroyed, and the shaft leading into the deep had collapsed. Hans was sitting by Krabbel who assured her that the Auto-Doc of his suit kept him pain-free and that losing a leg was not...
After we had triaged the wounded and contacted the Union Carriers, the news spread fast. There was an intense but very short space battle. The Na tribe and their closest allies had used their ships to bring the non-Dai troops to Thana Shoo, with many Muta-Kerr and Shiruti still in the ships. They were intended to take over the mothers and battleships of the non-compliant tribes. The Dai were fired up with anger and flew their fighters with a merciless vengeance. However, the true difference...
Not just a destroyer showed up, but the entire Hi tribe and a substantial part of their allied and associated Tribes. Jarsumat Port was now filled with ships of the Hi tribe, unloading surface tanks and troops. Har-Hi and I had passed the time talking, playing the local game of dice and having a meal of spicy stew. We were a bit surprised seeing surface troops and tanks land instead of the expected destroyer. The Tar himself had come dirtside and greeted us. That the Tar felt embarrassed...
The Stellaris scientist-led us through several connecting tube tunnels and stopped at another airlock module. Space is limited, unfortunately, and we can’t accommodate Nul or ... is that a Y’All?” I put a firm tone in my voice.”Is there a problem with that?” “Oh no, I voted for their admission. I just noticed the Ensign rank insignia and wondered how it managed to get to be an officer that fast.” “He joined the Union as an individual ahead of his kind. This is Ensign TheOther, a valued...
The thing didn’t move. Narth said. “I am holding it. It is strong but not unmanageable. “SHIP called. “The asteroid has revealed previously unknown weaponry. It is taxing our shields to almost 20 percent. ““Are you in danger?” “Oh, no captain. That tech is quite advanced, and I think it is Orlan but Mao took those weapons out with kilo loads. I was just reporting. “I dialed my TKU to 10 and said. “It’s going to get mighty hot in here. Narth your shields are on, right?” “No, captain. I...
The woman that stepped through a shimmering portal of dark red light, had dark grey skin, long white hair and wore a skimpy outfit which was an odd combination of bikini, medieval armor, and wispy veils. Her eyes had no pupils but glowed in the same dark red light as the now dissipating portal. Stahl suddenly remembered Sunday school and stopped himself to actually make the sign of the cross. However, he was never really intimidated, by anyone. The Eternal Warrior got up, like the old...
The words of the Pale Ones almost seemed to linger as a hushed silence took hold of the assembled Dai. It appeared everyone was waiting for the Cam’s response. Completely out of character for a usual stern and serious Dai Than, Elf-Na grinned. It was an evil smile no doubt. “And I intend to do just that, but not in the arena. The Arena is sacred and for Dai Than only. You question my word calling that traitorous Hi tribe, Okthi and reject it. I reject his declaration that this Union female,...
Lia and her crew of outcasts, dropped out of Quasi-space at a star system eighteen light-years from the trans-spatial gate. According to her admittingly outdated information, this was the homeworld of the Farnok. They were hailed almost immediately and after a few moments, Squack language communications were established, confirming the fact, that this was not the first trans-galactic contact. The being appearing on the viewer was covered with short brown fur and had general similarities...
Har-Hi was led to a Wisdom keeper, who was without question an old Dai. The revelation that there was a Dai was quite a surprise for Har-Hi. He had not expected that, but since he had become a Union officer and traveled with Erica, he had met and seen the unthinkable. Living dust clouds, planet surface covering creatures and a planet-bound, desert scavenging Dai. He had met Dai that were born in captivity and knew a Dai tribe leader was engaged in selling Dai Than as slaves. Meeting a Dai...
The Dai Nest so I learned a week later, was a huge space station in an otherwise empty star system. It was deep in Union space. The star had been named Dai-Core. The station was made of several Gigamon stations, interconnected with girder-like structures that acted as docks and mooring arms for Dai ships and the humongous Dai Mothers. The system and the station were busy. From my visually unaided vista, a simple viewport I counted eleven Dai Mothers, I was sure there were many more outside...
The Thauran now known as Red Dragon cursed at the Situation and cursed his Sensor Operator.”You said you detected the Silver Streak in Orbit. Where is it?” “I swear to you it was there one second and now it’s gone. I think she went over the Pole. Adjusting for magnetic interference now.” “What a worthless idiot are you? Is she there or not?” “No Captain I cannot detect her ship anywhere in the system, maybe our Sensors were damaged.” “Of course your sensors are damaged. She can’t simply...
I had been in deep space before and knew how cold space was. Yet standing here on that frozen plane with these bizarre tooth or needle-shaped rock formations, with a bright star just over the horizon giving it all a bluish shine, made it look colder than anything I had seen before and I came off a very cold world myself. Not that I felt any of it, I wore a disguised Atas battle suit, made to look like a piece of undefinable alien hardware and I also wore Tyron Suit. While he assured me I...
Har-Hi had finished his report and waited for Stahl’s response. There was none, at least not right away. The Old Admiral was staring at the Dai and then wiped his mouth. “You guys found the source of the Y’All?” “Yes, Sir we are quite confident that the Crucible is indeed that source. Along with my verbal report, I have transmitted all data we were able to gather. “While we are all confident, our Captain will succeed in destroying this source. She felt that this was a number too big for...
Deep in the bowels of Quarva, Meeze reached a rock chamber, no outsider had seen since the Mara had left so long ago, There was very little light, the faint lumination that came from dim glowing mushrooms did little to reveal more than vague shadows. Meeze had little need for light, his species was well adapted to dark places and lightless crevices. There in the darkness, something big lingered, then moved and shifted. A malleable, mass oozing with stringy goo shifted its position and a...
We didn’t have to fight the Merrimac destroyer. The mercenaries immediately signaled surrender. They all were Union citizens, and according to Hans, checking the files. They did have a notice to appear issued, but were still citizens and not yet charged with anything. The ship was bristling with illegal mil-tech, but it was registered to Nick Harlequin and not to any of the surrendering mercenaries. They also reported the demise of Chucky Harlequin and wanted to know if there was any bounty...
I knew I should have paid more attention to the Laurin Oghr, especially since I knew about the Bunthik subculture. The only excuse I had was the fact that I was drunk, but then this was no excuse because I should not have left my guard down like that in an environment that was less than familiar to me. I should have suspected the presence of more than one spy. If the situation was as serious as I believed it was, the opposing actors namely this Cam Elf-Na would not give up easily. All this...
The USS Braddock swung into orbit around one of the most mysterious worlds in the entire Universe, Narth Prime. She was the first Non-Narth vessel ever to do that in over a thousand years. Captain Mike Anderson was very aware of that. No active scanning was done. He gave strict orders not to activate any probing rays or scanners other than the passive ones needed for spaceship operations. The planet was as unusual as its inhabitants and reputation. It had no visible surface features from...
Hans due to his size and strength was often seen as a bruiser with tremendous strength but little else. This was not the case since he was with the Olafson gang. He was asked about his opinion about other things. The woman across him was about as opposite as a being could be to a Saturnian, she was a Delicate. While Brana was certainly not a member of the original gang, she like the rest became like family. She had just stepped into his security office and without any hesitation floated...
A muscular being covered with a brown shroud came running our way. It had a nonhuman snout sticking out from under his hood. What was exposed of him was covered with a short gray fur. In his right, he held an elegant looking weapon. It appeared to be an energy beamer of sort, he had fired it twice into the direction he was coming from. Now he turned and with it his weapon and he aimed at me. Lucky for me I was close, unfortunate for him, I had already drawn the Dai blade. I moved fast into...
The Kermac High Circle of Wizards listened to the report of their spy. He had shown them a recording of the Assembly proceedings as well. Vorneun the Intelligence wizard looked perplexed.” Can someone tell me what is going on here? I never even heard of the Fornax Cluster, what were they talking about Kermac in Y’All ships?” He addressed Nachacht the Military Wizard as he expected him to have done something in secret, but Nachacht looked as surprised but the Grand Wizard clenched his little...
After I was reunited with my friends and my ship we left Karthanian space and returned to the space dock of Fantlemo Brthail. The Karthanian engineer had returned with us. He told us, that with the First Engineer active, the old Guildmasters would be swept away; and he realized that he no longer wanted to be a Guild leader. He rather returned to Itheamh and helped rebuild it and run his space dock. In order to maintain our cover, he reverted to his alter ego of Fantlemo Brthail and only...
The incident with the dust cloud was now over six weeks ago. Down here in completely unexplored space, it really hit home how big our galaxy really was. Back home in the Upward sector with Hyper Highways and Space trains; with known planets and systems and of course with everyone connected to GalNet space did not feel as empty and vast. We had crossed the gap and now steadily went further down the Coreward sector. Our sensors picked up some space traffic now and then, but in general, this...
The Thauran behind the altar thundered with a deep voice.”What is this?” “Itz ze Meeze, stoopiz. Meeze goez now, whenz the Meeze comz backz. Ze girlz Soburz iz bettzer reazy zo goez.” Men drew weapons, none appeared to be of Union origin and aimed it at the Wheeze. One of them said.”I never have seen a creature like that, and I can not identify the hardware it is wearing but it speaks a very garbled version of Union standard.” “Pffz youze triez to doez ze speakiz witz a ringmouz, noz...
I returned to the table where Har-Hi was talking with the former pirate captains and a former Union fleet petty officer, who had dealt with the Worm and now paid the price. “We need to get back to the ship, right away. “Har-Hi didn’t lose a second and got up, tossed a few Iridium coins on the table and was ready to follow me. Lemakr, the Togar said. “What about us, Black Velvet?” “I have all the crew I need and I am in a hurry, figure it out. “I was torn between showing them some sort of...
The disguised Tigershark dropped out of Quasi-Space and as it has become our routine just beyond the utmost Elfi said. “Looks like they had contact with our galaxy before. Communication is now possible. They respond to Squack.” I got up, Har-Hi held my mask. “You should wear it, it is part of your Black Velvet trademark and flair of mystery.” “You think I have that? I mean a flair?” “In spades, Captain and I begin to learn to like this Do suit, complete with mask. It gives me that...
He had been here once before, time of other realms had no meaning here. The ground he stood on, was a polished hard surface of highly reflective properties and stretched into every direction and into infinity. The universe with all its clusters and superstrings reflected in it from the infinite sky above this surface. This was the Plane of Eternity, a place beyond the Omniverse itself. Lumis remembered when he was brought here the first time. Then, he did not listen to the name of Lumis....
This situation reminded me of my first visit to Sin 4. I did not know where I was, brought here against my will. Abducted, stripped of everything I owned. I was once again bare feet, had several blisters and burn wounds. My hair was a mess, at least In didn’t have to go pee. Darn it thinking about it, made realize I actually did. I was still running across that landing field, not knowing where I was going, but I knew I still stuck out like a sore thumb, being the only pin skinned human. The...
I was sitting on the main diagnostic table of our sickbay. Cateria had taken me out of a regen tank just moments ago and was now examining me. “What did you do, Captain? Fight a blast furnace” I could not find the emotions to smile, Tyron’s demise was heavy on my mind. “What I faced was certainly hot enough to melt metal. “Har-Hi was standing outside the privacy bubble and said. “Whatever you guys did, worked the run-away Orlan equipment is inactive and we can no longer detect any random...
The USS Gromsmaro was not a supply transporter and not a unit of the Science Council. She was a full sized, late model Union battleship under the command of Captain Bronbohr, a four meters tall Vvolti. Bronbohr was not the most liked commanding officer in the Union fleet, but there was hardly one more correct or fair. His ship and crew were among the top ten vessels in the entire spatial navy in terms of response to alert times, simulated battle honors, efficiency ratings and so forth. The...
The news of Eric Olafson being on trial had reached Nilfeheim. First noticed by Lars Igvarhein the owner and operator of Nilfeheim Radio. That Eric had become Erica was not widely known, but his legend had grown. Isegrim, Siegfrieda, Exa, and Elenna had traveled to Hogun’s Tavern. The place was packed to standing room only. Hogun had his GalNet terminal active on GalNet One and the system displayed the proceedings on the largest field screen setting possible. Aunt Freydis was assisted by...
The latest development transmitted in the tightly packed guest room of Hogun’s Tavern was greeted with cheers and raised tankards. Gunnar Peerson said. “I guess we only hear now, what a hero our Eric Olafson really is.” “It is the strong arm of an Olafson and the sharp mind of a Ragnarsson paired with the virtues of a true Norse that is at the core of Isegrim’s firstborn that enables such deeds.” Proclaimed another. Isegrim shouted. “Mighty brother Hogun, open barrels and let your kitchen...