Talosian Chronicles 3: Talosian Alliance (26 page)

‘I’m going to re-enable your avatar. Play dead for awhile so as not to cause suspicion, Okay?’ She typed.

Lissa nodded and Cindy turned the selector switch back to ‘AVAT’. Lissa’s image stayed on the screen long enough to smile and nod to Cindy then went dark. Cindy replaced the cover to the unit and began making her way back to the exit. She replaced the hatch and moved to put her tools away. She noticed her suit reporting atmosphere had been restored so she opened her faceplate as she reached the locker. She put her tools back and returned to the main cabin en-route to the cockpit.

“How are Sasha and Lissa doing?” She asked.

“I am getting my vision back, but slowly. I can see things to the side, but I still only see white blob in front of me.” Sasha said.

“Lissa is still unconscious” Sam said softly.

“Have you checked the autodoc yet?” he shook his head. “Okay, please do so, and if she hasn’t come out of it by then, stick her in there.” Cindy said.

She got back to the cockpit and fired up the engines to stabilize their flight. She checked the armor readings and found them almost to the overload point. She tried to arm the lasers and fire them to discharge some of the energy but the weapons were still unresponsive.

She got up and moved over to Lissa’s control panel. She began to reroute the power grid to use energy from the armor to power the ships systems. That stopped the buildup of energy and even decreased it some. She returned to her own seat and began to figure out how far they had drifted, and what the status of the enemy was.

––––––––

––––––––

"C
ommander, have you heard anything from the Damocles since losing her data feeds?" Ian asked. He was worried, but was trying very hard to not let it show. Even though Cindy had parted from his family, he still cared about her a great deal.

"No, we haven't. However, we did receive a report from the Summer Dawn. The ship attacking them was destroyed at the same time the Damocles should have arrived in the system. The report clearly says that they could not confirm the Damocles arrival in the system, but that isn't actually surprising; the Raptors were designed to not be detectable. The report was followed by a personal request from the Benesian High Priestess that she be updated concerning the status of our ship and her prayers that we recover our ship and crew unharmed," Jenny replied. Other than Ian, Cindy was Jenny's best friend, and it was clear that she was worried.

Ian nodded his understanding. "Please inform operations to send updates to the High Priestess as we get them, unless they contain sensitive information. How are they doing? Will they need our assistance when we arrive?"

"They reported that repairs were underway, however, they didn't give us a time-line for those repairs. I was about to contact them and offer our assistance and let them know our projected arrival time," Jenny said.

"I'll talk to Chief Dommer and the CMO about getting a crew ready to assist them. If it'll be needed, we'll take them in tow and bring them back to Benesia." Ian said thoughtfully. "I'll get out your hair, Commander. If you need me, I'll be in my ready room."

"Yes Admiral," Jenny said, smiling at him, sadly.

"Relax Jen, we'll find her," Ian said to her quietly.

"I hope so, Ian. I really do. We can't leave things the way they are between us," Jenny whispered back.

Ian nodded, patted her on the shoulder, and headed for his office.

"Hyperspace interface in forty-three minutes, Commander," Chekhov said.

"Thanks Mr. Chekhov," Jenny said as she looked over her shoulder to see if Ian had heard too.

Ian nodded and left the bridge to start making calls. Star Dancer had much larger engines than a Raptor, add to that the fact that they would be travelling under 'full emergency' speed, and Star Dancer would arrive on station much faster than the Damocles had. They would arrive at Beta Hydri in just over four hours once they made the jump, but they would have to drop out of hyperspace outside the system, and use the trip in system to slow down.

Chief Dommer agreed to get a crew ready to assist the Benesian ship, as well as making sure the Star Dancer was ready to tow another ship through hyperspace. Ian forwarded the Summer Dawn's damage report to him, so they had an idea what might be needed to fix the ship.

Beth also agreed to have a crew ready to assist the Summer Dawn. She was also distracted because she was worried about Cindy. "It's really odd, Ian. The twins aren't upset, but they are clearly acting differently. It's almost like they know something is wrong with their mother," Beth explained. "It's kinda creepy in a way."

"I'd say it's heartening. If they do feel their mother, the fact that they aren't screaming reassures me. As it is, it tells me that they know she's in trouble, but isn't panicking," Ian replied. "We have a couple of hours before we drop out of hyper, I'll come down and visit all of them."

"They'd like that," Beth smiled. "They really enjoy your visits."

"I enjoy visiting them. I just wish I could do it more often during the day," Ian said. "I'll pass on any new information about the Summer Dawn or the Damocles as soon as I get it."

"Thanks, Ian. I'll see you when you get here," Beth replied, and disconnected the channel.

––––––––

O
n the bridge, Jenny noticed that Star seemed to a bit more cheerful than was usual for her. "You seem to be excited, care to share and cheer up a friend?"

"I apologize, Commander." Star said slightly abashed. "Even though the situation is very serious, this will be the first time I have left this system since the crash."

"I can see how that would be exciting to you," Jenny replied. "I admit that if the circumstances were different, I'd be excited about it too. After all, we're the first people of Earth to leave the sector. Yes, we have jumped to Centauri and back many times, but that just isn't the same. It's like finally leaving our safe harbor for the open ocean."

Since they were talking close to him, Chekhov couldn't help but over hear them. "It's very exciting for me too, Ma'am." The Lieutenant added. "Even though I've had to plot long jumps before, this is the first time we are actually going to use the plot."

"I think it's a lot of firsts for all of us, Chekhov, in fact, Star is the only one of us here that has done such a long jump before," Jenny replied. "I take it, you're finished with your plot then?"

"Yes Ma'am, I've loaded it into the nav-comp," Chekhov replied.

"Say Chekhov, I heard that the scientific community back on Phoenix Base has awarded you a Doctorate in Physics. Is that true?" Jenny asked. She knew it was since she had been the one to authorize his extended education request.

"Yes Ma'am, I presented my thesis and dissertation last weekend," Chekhov replied proudly.

Jenny nodded. "So I'd heard. But, I never learned what subject you picked."

"Hyperspace travel, and alternative methods to traverse long distance space. After my presentation, I was asked if I was planning to continue my research. I am, but only when my duties here allow for it. There are a couple of other folks back at Phoenix that are using my research as well. Maybe between the three of us we can come up with a faster mode of travel," he finished. He was clearly excited about his research.

"It sounds pretty exciting, I'd like to hear more about it later, when we're not so busy," Jenny said, smiling at the man.

"I'd be happy to tell you all about it, Commander. Just let me know when," Chekhov said, and turned back to his terminal, smiling.

Star and Jenny moved back toward the Commander's chair. "He really is on to something. If he can get it to work, it would all but eliminate hyperspace transit time between two points."

"Really, I thought this was going to be one of those purely theoretical things," Jenny asked. She made a note to herself on her tablet to submit a promotion request for Chekhov.

Star nodded agreement. "It is for the moment, however, once they get the math hammered out, this could become a revolution in travel."

––––––––

––––––––

"A
mbassadors, as you know we have some special visitors today," Terran Ambassador Grimes announced. "It is my distinct honor and privilege to introduce to you, Councilor Noren, chairperson of the Talosian High Council, Leaders of the New Talosian Alliance of Planets." As the diminutive woman stood, the Ambassador took his seat.

"Ladies and gentleman of the United Nations of Earth, I bid all of you greetings from myself and my people. Accompanying me today are the two highest ranking members of our military, the Talosian Defense Forces." She motioned to Admiral Goya. "This is Admiral Goya, Supreme Commander of our defense forces." She then pointed to Pan. "The other gentleman is Admiral Pan, Chief of Operations for the defense forces."

She turned back to face the assembly. "Our purpose in coming here today, other than to extend our hand in friendship, is to try to convince you to agree to the promotion of Ian Williams from the rank of Commander to the rank of Admiral. Admiral Williams is not a member of our military, nor is he a member of our Alliance. However, the Terran Council has agreed with our advice to promote him from his rank of Commander to that of Admiral. The reasons for our suggestion are because of his current duties, as well as his past actions in his role as Commander, and as the guardian of this planet and sector of space.

"This amazing young man has accomplished far more, in a short amount of time, than anyone we have ever seen before. Just so you know exactly what I mean by that comment, our recorded histories extend back over nine-thousand of your years. For the last seven thousand years we have been space faring.

"If we set the battle with the Caldarian Super-Nova aside for the moment, and just look at what he has been doing since then, I'm sure you will agree that such an undertaking needs someone not only intimately familiar with this system, but also with the equipment being built in order to run it. Although I am told that most of the projects actually began before the arrival of that Caldarian ship, the simple fact that he knew they would be needed and planned for them makes Ian Williams the only logical commander for the defense of this entire sector. If we add to that, his uncanny and unorthodox tactics and strategies, he becomes the only candidate qualified for the position.

"The Terran High Council has already approved his promotion, and in point of fact, I am told that is all that is needed to promote him. But, in the time I've gotten to know this amazing young man, I believe he would feel much better about accepting such a rank if this assembly also agreed with us. I should tell you that one of his main arguments against accepting the promotion was not only his young age, but his inexperience.

"To address that, I would like to let Admiral Goya speak," Noren said, and stepped back to let the larger man take the podium.

Unlike Noren, Admiral Goya did not speak English, and as such needed a translator. Mathias from the moon base offered to perform that function for him.

Goya nodded to the assembly. "Good evening. There is not really all that much I can add to what Councilor Noren has already said other than to say that I am very impressed with your guardian. In my career as a military officer, I have fought on both sides, in many battles. I have seen more friends die than I ever wanted to, and have ordered many more out to their deaths in battle. If I would have had someone like Ian Williams with me, we might not have won all those battles, but I can say with certainty that many more of those friends I saw die would have lived simply because Ian Williams would have found a way to keep them that way, and still have dealt considerable damage to the enemy.

"As commanders, it is far too easy to become complacent, seeing our soldiers and sailors as little more than statistics. Ian Williams is not capable of that. Every battle and every fight he will be forced to engage in, he will know, and feel every death as his own. All that being said, and as compassionate as he is, he does not let those losses affect his ability to fight.

"In our own military academies, you can ask any professor of strategy the odds of a single heavy cruiser defeating a Caldarian Super-Nova in direct one on one battle, and you will get the same answer. A heavy cruiser, like the Star Dancer, should not have survived for more than ten minutes in a battle with a Super-Nova. I believe the term you have for this is 'over-whelming force'. By any account we know of, it should take a minimum of three ships like Star Dancer to have the slightest chance of success. Five of those ships will almost even the odds.

"Ian Williams is very young to wear the rank of Admiral. This I will not argue. However, Ian Williams is not a typical young man of his age. Star Dancer was not equipped in any special way during the battle with the Caldarian ship. By all accounts, this planet should be in Caldarian hands right now.

"The simple fact that it's not, is a testimony to how unusual a young man Ian Williams truly is. To judge him simply by his age would be a mistake of the highest order," Goya said.

The Ambassador from France had indicated she would like to ask a question, and Goya nodded to her. "Yes Madam Ambassador?"

"Admiral, if I may ask, how old is the youngest Admiral in your own military? Ambassador Leclerc asked.

"We do not promote based on age, but on aptitude and ability. The youngest Admiral we have is Admiral Greel deArgus who has just turned thirty in your years. By comparison, I am the eldest at one hundred and five years." Goya replied. "By your calender"

Ambassador LeClerc looked shocked at the admission of his age, but continued on. "So you are telling us that you would select Commander Williams to promote to Admiral over more experienced men?"