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Marlena sat in her ready room. She was sickened on seeing the Ensign Jackroy turned into an insectile creature. She hated the Vvong thinking how it corrupted Duke Volterus and also a member of her crew. She hoped that Ensign Jackroy was the last traitor on board.
She was waiting for Yaddle to finish fixing the cloaking device and his team of engineers to fix the ships many problems. She was nervous the Vvong ships would find them floating in the many planets of Saturn.
The many computer scans showed the Vvong ships were not close to this sector. Yaddle assured her that he could fix the cloaking device.
Her front door chimed.
“Come in,” she said.
Yaddle and Commander Giles walked into her room.
“What's the progress on the cloaking device?” she said.
Yaddle said, “If I had all the parts, I can fix it in a few solar cycles, but I don’t. I can only offer a partial repair.”
Captain Marlena nodded and said, “Commander Giles, is there another way to penetrate the Vvong line of ships?”
He said, “We have been analyzing the Vvong defense, and it was impregnable, but we did contact Duke Grendel's fleet.”
“What? When did this happen?”
“Just recently,” Commander Giles said.
“What is their status?” She said.
“They have lost several of their ships, but they are still fighting. Your parents are fine, Captain. They wanted to talk to you, but the Duke had to go into a meeting,” Commander Giles said.
Captain nodded. She was relieved but didn't want to show them how she felt. Yet, Captain Marlena was getting an idea.
“Can you get General Romo back on communications?”
“Yes,” Commander Giles said. He was about to turn back toward the bridge but he stopped. “Captain, you got an idea?”
“Yes,” she said. “I think we can use some type of diversion to get past the Vvong ships.” She stopped and then said, “Commander, can you find the Alpha’s on the surface of the planet?”
“Yes, their magical energy signature should show on our sensors,” Commander Giles said.
“Good,” she said, “Yaddle get the engines prepared for a jump. How is our other holo-systems?”
“We have everything working but not in full capacity,” Yaddle said.
“How about shields and weapons?”
“They are working fine,” Yaddle said.
Captain Marlena nodded. “Good enough.”
The two men left the ready room, and she was left to mull things over. She touched Merlin's Amulet, and she felt reassured it was still attached to her necklace.
***
“GENERAL ROMO, I'M GLAD that you and Duke Grendel are still here,” Captain Marlena said.
Duke Grendel said, “Yes, my dear, I’m glad we're still alive. And I knew you called because you want us to help you.”
“Yes, you already know of my plans. I sent you a preliminary draft and I want you to know about that,” Captain Marlena said.
She was looking at the two men through the Holo screen in her office.
General Romo said, “Yes, the plan is good. But I also want to talk about the traitor you had on board of your ship.”
Captain Marlena nodded. “Yes.”
Duke Grendel said, “You were right about somebody was giving the enemy information. We uncovered a small group of radical crew men and women who were trying to sabotage our engines. Thanks for the information.”
“You’re welcome,” Captain Marlena said. “So, do you think the plan will work?”
General Romo shook his head, “Yes, the Duke, and I have spoken about this. It will work but we might have problems.”
“Yes, I know, but I think if you leave this solar system they will leave you alone,” she said.
Duke Grendel said, “We also wanted to discuss other things.”
“Go ahead,” she said. Marlena didn't like the sound of this.
“If we leave the solar system, we cannot help you,” Duke Grendel said, “and we are not sure if it would work this way.”
“What do you propose?” She said.
“We want to launch another attack, but we think we can get help?” General Romo said.
“Where can we get help from? We don’t know anybody,” she said.
“We will talk to the Elf Princess in Middle Earth,” Duke Grendel said.
Captain Marlena said, “l don’t know about who you are talking about.”
Duke Grendel said, “Before the Elf Queen died she told me about her daughter is in Middle Earth.”
“If this is true,” Captain Marlena said, “how can they help us. We’re in space and these elves are in Middle Earth. Don't have the skill or aptitude to help us out here.”
Duke Grendel said, “We can communicate with her through a magical portal. There is a mage from the Wizard Conclave who can help us.”
“Well,” Captain Marlena said, “just be careful. We don’t know the elf Princess will help us.”
General Romo said, “We will have to try. We don’t enough soldiers and ships to fight against the Vvong. We are only here because the enemy is waiting for the Queen Vvong to come here.”
“We’re ready. You know where you're hiding. Tell me when you are ready.”
“We will be ready soon,” Captain Marlena said. She nodded to them and the Holo screen went dark. She stared out of her portal window and looked at the large moon they were floating close too.
Captain Marlena pulled up a schematic of the Solar system. She saw where she was stationed at in Saturn and her dad’s fleet orbiting Mars. They were close enough to reach each other. She noted on the sensors the Vvong ships on the outer edge of the solar system and the enemy ships to be converging at a certain area. This must be where the Queen Vvong ship would be entering the solar system.
Captain Marlena’s plan was simple. Her dad’s fleet was going to attack the line of Vvong ships encircling the earth. Thus creating a diversion. Then her ship was going to flight under their sensors. She hoped.
