Vice Fleet Admiral Derrick Masters stood in front of his command chair in the Command Center of his current flagship. He had taken this ship as his flagship since his other flagship, New Destiny, was much larger and would stand out within the fleet, putting a target on his back as the leader of this fleet. Marloo, Cleemorl, and Derrick himself had decided it would be safer for him to blend in.
The allied fleet neared their destination. Morag Prime was less than an hour away. Derrick felt his anticipation building. He had thought about this moment for so long that he could barely believe it was almost time.
This battle had played out in his mind for so many years that he couldn’t even remember when it had first been conjured. Derrick knew this battle would be far from easy, but he was confident that, in the end, they would prevail.
Captain Laine on the scout ship would send them one last report on the enemy warships fifteen minutes before they exited hyperspace. Derrick’s gaze shifted to the clock. This next hour would slowly tick by. His destiny awaited him.
Derrick realized it would be wise if he took the time to send a message to Layla. Well, at least he would have a message crafted for her, in case the worst was to happen. That would at least keep him busy for a little while.
-
Captain Laine watched the viewscreen in the front of his Command Center. More Morag warships had just arrived. The Morag now had 4,498 warships in the system. An estimated 1,000 were likely still inbound. Would they all arrive before the allied fleet had finished destroying Morag Prime? It would make hunting all the ships down much easier if they all were here.
Transport vessels still loaded citizens from the surface and took them somewhere else. Laine noticed that one transport ship had stayed in the system and held its position near another one of the planets nearby. That was a little odd. He had alerted his crew to keep an eye on that ship. Why was it sticking around?
Laine had bigger problems to worry about though, than a single transport vessel. The allied fleet would arrive in less than an hour. The battle was almost upon them. Laine was glad he would only be a spectator in this battle.
How the Morag had realized they were under imminent threat of attack, the Humans may never know. There were so many possibilities, but, in the end, it wouldn’t matter. This fleet battle would be one for the record books for so many reasons. Laine felt good that he was playing a small part in it. This battle would be talked about for generations to come.
-
Admiral Collison paced the floor in his quarters. Another fifteen minutes and he would make his way to the Command Center. He had too much nervous energy and didn’t want his crew to see him that way.
Collison kept constant watch on their location. They were quickly closing in on Morag Prime. The moment that they’d all been waiting for was fast approaching.
The allied fleet remained larger than the current Morag one. So the Humans would still have the numbers advantage. The battle plan was to move in and to begin attacking the enemy as soon as they exited hyperspace. Each task group had their assignments and knew what to do.
The Humans and the Lormallians would face the Morag fleet. The smaller ships of the other allies would take on the interceptor killers. The attack interceptors would aid them in this attack. Other races would begin attacking the shipyards and the space stations. The rest would start destroying the defensive grid.
Collison smiled. Even if the Morag were expecting them, no way they could defend against an attack on all fronts. With a deep breath, he examined the holographic display more closely. They were ready. He hoped the Morag were not.
-
Morag Admiral Marcello felt more confident, as more ships arrived to help defend their homeworld. Even more ships would arrive in the next hour. As for Admiral Voxx, his fleet was still a good six hours away.
Marcello closed his eyes. He hoped the Humans did not arrive before Voxx. As much as Marcello wanted this win for his own taking, he was not sure it would be a win against so many Human ships. If the Morag had equal firepower, that would be a different story.
Currently Marcello’s fleet was in a wedge formation. He knew which direction he thought the Humans would come from, so his ships were ready. The enemy could arrive at any moment. Marcello’s fleet was as prepared as it could be.
-
Morag Admiral Voxx felt the pressure building inside his head. The Humans could arrive at Morag Prime at any moment, if there were actually a larger Human fleet at all. He would believe it when he saw it.
Voxx’s fleet pushed their hyperdrives to the limits. They’d be to Morag Prime in under six hours. Would that be in time? He hoped so.
With the additional time their secret weapon would buy them, he just might make it. Would the secret weapon stop the Humans from destroying the planet? Voxx was not sure. Obviously Addonis wasn’t either, since he had taken the two Humans and had left Morag Prime. Voxx did feel a little better that they had stayed in the homeworld system to watch things unfold. Addonis must have adequate confidence that the two Humans would keep him safe.
-
Human High King Bramdon Starguard watched the Morag surrounding him. They were not speaking to each other at all. They said not one word. They seemed to be communicating somehow though, based on the looks they gave each other and the expressions they shared. How could they be communicating? How fascinating it was to watch. Could they possibly be telepathic? He knew of only one species with that ability, and they were not Morag.
The King and Queen’s current situation would be hard to figure out, if he could not hear the Morag communicating with each other. He tried to catch a glimpse of the viewscreen in the Command Center when the door opened, but, so far, he hadn’t been very successful.
The Morag who called himself Addonis had disappeared into the Command Center. His family was still in the room with Bramdon, giving him and Claire looks that could kill. Bramdon just smiled at them in return. He was in the hands of his enemies. He had yet to figure out how he and his wife would get out of this situation alive.
Of course he had thought that before, when the Druins had come to Golan Four. They had banished his son Aiden, his brother and sister-in-law, and others of the Royal Court to the Bacchus Region of space. That was so far away. He wondered how they had fared. He may never know. He hoped Aiden had had a good life and had had many children to keep himself busy.
Layla had escaped with his niece, Krista, to a secret base in the same star system where Aiden had been banished. Bramdon wondered if they had ever seen each other again. He would give anything to see his children again.
Bramdon’s mind wandered farther back in time to his first son, Soren. He had disappeared when a Confederation fleet had come to gather Humans to take to the Confederation. Maybe Soren had lived a long full life too. He had never been happy being a part of the Royal Family. He didn’t like being told what to do or how to do it. He also hated being the center of attention.
In Bramdon’s mind, all three of his children had gone on to have wonderful lives. Bramdon had spent a considerable amount of time picturing it in his mind. He was certain Claire had too.
Addonis had said Layla was the leader of the Human Empire now. She must have been in cryo for a long time. Of course she could be much older than the last time he had seen her. She may even appear older than he did. That would be odd. Oh, to see her again.
Bramdon kept watching the Morag in the room. He was only one man. He could not challenge any of these Morag. The Morag were much larger than he was. Even the children were only slightly smaller than Bramdon.
Would anyone in this Human fleet recognize him? Or would he and Claire face their deaths soon? He wished he could get into that Morag Command Center. The Human fleet must not have arrived yet though. The Morag he could see seemed pretty calm. If they had a large enemy fleet in the system, Bramdon imagined they’d be a little more concerned.
Bramdon wondered how large of a fleet it would be. If only he could get inside that door. Maybe when the Humans appeared, Addonis would come and get Bramdon. How many ships did the Morag have? How did they learn of this upcoming attack?
Maybe Bramdon would get the opportunity to at least talk to his daughter, before he died. He hoped she wouldn’t watch it. Did Layla already have children? Addonis had mentioned she was soon to have a child. Was this her first one?
Bramdon had so many questions he wanted answered. He was so close to his chance to go home. Wow. Home. What that would feel like to walk into the Imperial Palace. Did it even still exist? It had over one thousand years ago. Most of the citizens of the Empire would not even know who he was. Layla, Krista—was Krista still alive too?
There didn’t seem to be any weapons in this room or in the Command Center, at least not within his view. Bramdon would continue to watch and to wait. There had to be a way for him and Claire to make it out of this alive. There just had to be.
-
Addonis cringed each time the alarm sounded, indicating new vessels were exiting hyperspace into the Morag homeworld system. Each time, so far, they had been Morag ships. He was well aware that, one of these times, that would change. How much longer would it be? That was anyone’s guess. Maybe the next alarm would be the signal that the Humans have arrived. Hopefully it would be more reinforcements for the Morag.
His prisoners were still behaving themselves. Addonis had them in the room next door to the Command Center of the transport vessel. He wanted them close, in case he needed them. He was not worried that the High King would try anything, not with so many Morag on board. Any of them could easily kill either one of the Humans with their bare hands. No need for weapons.
Although they did have a few weapons on board. Not anywhere near the two Humans, however. He did not trust the Humans not to try to save themselves, if given the opportunity. If the Morag were to survive the day, it would be because these two Humans were used as a bargaining chip. What could Addonis bargain for? How much were these two Humans worth? That depended on who he was talking to.
As Addonis sat in the chair behind the command chair, alarms once again rang out. He rolled his eyes. His heart could not take much more of this. Addonis moved his gaze to the viewscreen to confirm the ships were, indeed, Morag. What he saw turned his blood to ice. A chill swept over his body, and his eyes grew wide with fear. What was this? Whose ships were they? They did not look like any Human ships he had ever laid eyes on.
Addonis reached out to Admiral Marcello. What fleet is this? Whose ships are these?
Marcello was also stunned and confused. I have no idea. I have never seen any ships like these before.
How many are there? asked Addonis.
Six hundred and counting, replied Marcello. Maybe that fleet that the Zynth sensed wasn’t Human after all. That would give us the weapons advantage. At least it should. More are still dropping out of hyperspace. Where are these ships coming from? Our scans show over two hundred different types of ships.
Are these multiple races allying together to come against us? asked Addonis.
It looks that way. Who could organize such an offensive? asked Marcello.
A few races come to mind. Including the Humans and the Lormallians, replied Addonis.
We are sensing Lormallian ships now exiting hyperspace, replied Marcello.
How many ships are there?
Our scans currently show five thousand and counting, Marcello said coldly. How many more ships could there be?
Are there Zang and Morphene ships, as well as Lormallian? asked Addonis.
Not yet. Now over one thousand Lormallian ships have exited hyperspace. Oh no. Now we are sensing Human ships, said Marcello.
Reach out and see if you can access the minds of any of the other races, said Addonis.
I have already. I haven’t yet accessed anyone. I will keep trying.
Addonis sat back in his chair. This was not only a Human attack but a coordinated one with multiple races. He felt sick to his stomach. He swallowed down the bile rising in his throat. He must be strong. Would his secret weapon work with so many other races involved? There was only one way to find out.
Councilor, now over thirteen thousand enemy ships are in the system. Of those, two thousand are Lormallian, and almost three thousand are Human. The Lormallian ships and the Human ones are closing in on my fleet fast, replied Marcello.
We must stand strong. I will prepare our secret weapon. It needs to be used immediately to stall for more time. I will contact Commander Mazin to send out the message. Do not fire on the enemy fleet, not until they fire first. We must wait to see if the weapon works.
After Addonis contacted Commander Mazin to release the video of the two Humans, Addonis waited for a response from the Human fleet. How long would it take? Addonis sat forward in his chair, anxiously waiting to see if his plan would work.
-
“Admiral Collison, we have received a message from the surface of Morag Prime,” called out the communications officer.
“Surely they are not preparing to surrender so quickly,” replied Collison. “Put the message up on the viewscreen. Let’s see what they have to say.”
Collison expected to see a Morag come up on the viewscreen but was surprised when he saw a Human man and woman there instead. What was this?
“Hello, I am High King Bramdon Starguard of the Human Empire. I have been in cryo for over one thousand years. I have been taken out of cryo and now plead with you, my fellow Humans of the Empire. Please do not destroy Morag Prime, as my wife, Claire, and I are held captive there. Again, do not fire on the planet. My wife and I are here.”
Collison was wide-eyed and immediately sent a message to Admiral Derrick Masters. Was this Human really who he said he was?
-
Derrick had been surprised to receive a message so quickly from the surface of Morag Prime. He doubted the Morag were surrendering, but still he was curious about this message. “Put the message up on the viewscreen, so we can see what the Morag have to say.”
Derrick stood to get a better view of the screen from his position. When the viewscreen changed to the video message, Derrick’s heart nearly stopped. He inhaled a deep breath and immediately sat down. His mouth was open in shock, as he listened.
Derrick had no doubt at all that he was staring at Bramdon Starguard, his father-in-law. Derrick and Layla had been told Bramdon had been executed, along with his wife. How could they be alive now and sending this message?
“Admiral, we are receiving a message from Admiral Collison,” said the communications officer.
“Put it up on the screen,” Derrick ordered.
“Masters, is this man who he says he is?” asked Collison.
“Yes, he is. I don’t know how this happened, but that is Bramdon Starguard,” replied Derrick.
“What do you think we should do?” asked Collison.
“Let’s continue with our plan to destroy everything, but let’s hold off on firing at the surface of the planet. We must speak directly with the High King. Not just see a prerecorded message. They may have already moved them, for all we know,” replied Derrick. “I will respond with a message. You continue to advance on the Morag fleet. I will keep my flagship farther back and try to figure out what’s going on.”
“Will do. Good luck,” replied Collison, as the message faded to black.
What would Derrick say? Should he send a message to Layla? No, he needed to figure out what was going on first. “Prepare to send my message,” Derrick said, as he thought about what he wanted to say.
Derrick signaled to the communications officer to begin the recording. “Hello, I am Admiral Masters of the Human Empire Fleet. I wish to ask a few questions to confirm that this message is truly from High King Bramdon Starguard. Questions he will respond to immediately, in live video. Not a prerecorded message. I want to speak directly with the High King. We will continue our attack until my demands have been made.” Derrick nodded his head to the communications officer to stop the recording.
“Let’s hope this works,” Derrick said, as he sat back down in his chair and laid his head in his hands. He ran his fingers through his hair. How would this work out? They could not sacrifice the overall mission for the sake of two lives, even if it were the High King and his wife—Layla’s parents. How would Layla react to him putting the mission above the lives of her parents? Would she understand? Or would she never forgive him?
-
Addonis watched the message from the Human admiral. Doesn’t this Human look familiar? Addonis asked the crew in the Command Center of the transport vessel. Get my wife, Zyla, in here.
Soon Zyla walked through the door. Does this Human look familiar to you?
Yes. This Human married the High Princess of the Empire. Why do you ask?
He’s here with the fleet. As he spoke, Addonis noticed Zyla’s gaze shift to another one of the viewscreens. Is that the Human fleet?
Well, it is a mixed fleet with Human, Lormallian, and numerous other races combined, Addonis replied, trying not to let the fear come out in his reply.
Can we win? asked Zyla.
I do not know. It depends heavily on how good the weapons are of all these other races.
What about your secret weapon?
This Human Admiral wants to talk to the High King directly. He wants to ask him questions to confirm it’s really him.
What will you do? asked Zyla.
I don’t think we have much choice. We must prove it is who we say it is, or our secret weapon is useless to us.
What do you need me to do?
We need a spot to do the live video, where the Human admiral cannot tell we are not on the planet. We will threaten the High King that, if he tells the admiral that he’s not on the planet, we will kill his wife.
I will get it set up, replied Zyla.
Make it quick. We have no time to waste.
-
High King Bramdon Starguard still closely observed the other Morag around him. They seemed to be a little more worked up now, than they had been previously. Maybe this was a sign that the Human fleet had arrived. Bramdon was even more certain when Addonis called his wife into the Command Center. When she returned, she did not look happy.
She disappeared down the corridor and a few minutes later reappeared and went back into the Command Center. If only Bramdon knew what was going on. It was driving him crazy, being in the dark.
Then Addonis and his wife reappeared and said, “Follow me. I need you to speak to the Human admiral. He does not believe you are who you say you are. If you give him any hint that you are no longer on the planet, I will kill your wife right in front of you. I’ll also be sure to record it and send it to your daughter. It won’t be pretty.”
Bramdon did not doubt what Addonis told him. “Okay, I will not reveal that we are not on the planet.” He looked over at Claire. She looked a little worried.
“Stand here, please. We will put the communications through. Remember. Be very careful with what you say,” said Addonis.
Bramdon took a deep breath. It would feel so good to see another Human. One who might even know his daughter. The screen was full of static for a moment, and then the Human admiral appeared. One who looked somewhat familiar to him. Bramdon smiled. This was the captain who had been responsible for getting Layla and Krista to safety.
“High King Bramdon Starguard, I am Vice Fleet Admiral Derrick Masters. We have come here with an allied fleet of over thirteen thousand ships to destroy the Morag fleet and their homeworld of Morag Prime. If your daughter could see you now, she would send her love.”
“Thank you, Admiral Masters. Please convey our love for her and her family. We may never have the privilege of seeing her again, but I know she’s capable of leading the Empire into the future,” Bramdon said.
“She is doing well as the High Princess of the Empire. You would be proud. I do not see your wife there with you. Is she okay?”
“Yes, she is right here.” Bramdon motioned for Claire to come stand beside him.
“I hear our daughter is soon to be a mother,” Claire said, tears in her eyes.
“Yes, she is,” replied Derrick.
“Will this be her first child?” asked Bramdon.
“Yes, it will be. I am sorry that I have to confirm your identity. We wanted to ensure that your message was not prerecorded and that you were, indeed, still here in the system. For me to know without a shadow of a doubt that you are who you say you are, I have one question for you to answer.”
“Okay. What is it?”
“What was the project called that created a safe place for your daughter when the Druins attacked all those years ago?”
“Sanctuary,” replied Bramdon, without hesitation. How could he let Derrick know they were not on the planet, without letting the Morag realize what he was doing? He needed to think quickly and act quickly, or he would lose his chance. “Sanctuary was created in the event we needed to get the Royal Family or part of it to safety, in the event of an invasion or serious threat from the Confederation. We created a safe place, far away from where we were, that wouldn’t be found. This was where Layla and her cousin, Krista, were taken. They were taken there by a trusted captain. Someone I could depend on to get them to safety.”
With that, Bramdon smiled at Derrick. “That captain was very good at piloting the transport vessel that took them to safety.” At this point, Bramdon moved his gaze around the room, without moving his head. He hoped Derrick would realize his message. Bramdon couldn’t take the chance of being too obvious.
“I think that is enough,” said Addonis. “You have your proof now. Stop your attack on our homeworld.”
“We will not fire a shot at the surface of your planet, until we know the High King and his wife are safe,” replied Derrick, and then the screen went dark.
After that, he and Claire were escorted back to the other room, and Addonis and his wife went back to the Command Center.
-
“Well, how did that go?” asked Colonel Bryant.
“It is the High King and his wife. I met them personally a long time ago. They do not look much different from the last time I saw them. The only thing that puzzles me is that he said I took Layla and Krista to safety in a transport vessel. That is not true at all. It was on the Destiny, which was not nor has it ever been a transport vessel. Let’s replay that part again. Maybe I missed something.”
Derrick watched as the message was replayed again and again. It did seem that Bramdon looked around a lot when he said that. Was he trying to tell Derrick something? Wait. Was he trying to say that he’s on a transport vessel? Which would mean he’s not on the planet. He must be in the system though, for him to communicate so quickly with him.
“Get me Captain Laine immediately,” ordered Derrick.
In a matter of moments, Captain Laine appeared on the viewscreen. “Captain Laine, are there any transport vessels still in the system?”
“Yes, many are still leaving the planet.”
“Are any not leaving the system?”
“One left the planet hours ago that is staying hidden near the second planet from Morag Prime. I have been keeping an eye on it. I thought it was odd that it didn’t leave the system with the rest of them,” replied Laine.
Derrick smiled. That had to be it. “Thank you, Captain Laine. I need you to follow that transport vessel if it leaves the system. I have reason to believe very important Humans are on that ship.”
The transmission ended, and Derrick said to his XO, Sheena Bryant, “I think the High King was trying to tell us that he’s not on the planet anymore. He’s on a transport vessel.”
“Why do you think that?” asked Bryant.
“It’s the part of the message where he said how I took Layla and Krista to safety on a transport vessel. Then he looks around the room he’s in, with only his eyes. He’s careful not to move his head. See? Bring up the video, and look for yourselves.”
The video played again, and he showed the crew what he had referred to. “What do you think? Could that be it?”
“Possibly,” replied Bryant. “But what if you are wrong?”
“I don’t think I am. Right now, we will eliminate this fleet and the rest of the targets in this system. Captain Laine will follow that transport vessel if it leaves. We will stop before we destroy the planet. Maybe we will reach out again and see how the Morag want to negotiate the release of the prisoners.”
“How will the other races in the allied fleet feel about that?” asked Bryant.
“I am not sure. I doubt they will like it much. Let’s destroy these other targets first. Then we will worry about that, when the time comes.”
Derrick refocused his attention on the battle unfolding before him. How would he manage to save the High King and his wife from the Morag, while also not compromising their allied mission? He had his work cut out for him, and he had a lot to think about. First though, he had an enemy fleet to destroy.