Galactic Crash Part 4


    Shen Rae would be the first to admit that she was not battle trained.  She was raised by peaceful people, and inducted into the Company as soon as she was old enough.  She basically continued a family tradition of trading.

    The rest kind of fell in her lap.  Powerful ship, financial backing and support.  The intelligent and quite capable crew, aiding her in her success.  They too were inducted into the Company, and had little real battle experience.

    Which is what made it amazing that they came up with a winning strategy to damage those large black space craft badly enough that they lost propulsion and couldn’t continue fighting.  Some of them were destroyed, the rest were adrift.

    Company protocol fortunately told her most of what she and the crew needed to know.  How to operate the energy shield, use the weapons, and jam outgoing transmissions.  But she had no idea how to handle the stranded crews, and had no facility to take them prisoner.

    So she brought the problem to the jurisdiction of Caph.  She was surprised and fascinated at the answer she got from Kiivan.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“You’re not done yet.”  Kiivan told Shen Rae as she stood on the steps of the palace, the Fighter Wing she flew over the palace in moments ago sitting in the courtyard behind her.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Excuse me?”  Shen Rae asked.  She sounded passively confused.

    Kiivan waved for Shen Rae and his guards to follow.  She thought it unusual that he didn’t want to walk alone suddenly.  

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“You fought an armada.”  he said.  “A battle group with a specific purpose in mind.  Now that they are disabled, they will be unable to contact...wherever it is they came from.”

    Shen Rae stopped, and he did too.  She looked worried suddenly.

    He nodded to confirm her worst fears.  “They will send more.  Many, many more.”  He looked behind him at his guards.  “The thing is, neither you nor I know their goals.  Whether they mean to destroy you, take control of Caph, or...or destroy it.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“And the guards?”  Shen Rae asked softly.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“If I were them.”  Kiivan answer, “I would have dropped an advance guerilla force to attack on the ground.  So if the air assault fails--”

    Shen Rae didn’t need to hear the end of that sentence to understand.  She lowered her head sadly.  “Even in success I’ve failed,”  she said.  “I sincerely apologize for getting Caph into this mess.  It’s my fault.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Nevertheless,”  Kiivan interrupted her.  He paused a moment after that, like he was searching for the right phrasing, and then he said, “I like you.  You’re different from the others who’ve come here seeking trade.  You truly put your heart into it.”

    Kiivan stopped suddenly, raised his hands in the air and clapped them together loudly.  A door opened noisily, and a group of men dressed nearly as Kiivan was stepped into the hallway.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“These are my war advisors.”  Kiivan said.  “And my best guard.  They will help you, and learn from you.  They are at your disposal, and will speak to your First Officer, and your Tactical Officer, and form strategies.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I...I can’t accept this.”  Shen Rae protested.  “You need them, on the ground...don’t you?”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“If you do not succeed up there.”  Kiivan pointed upward.  “There will be no more down here.”

    He watched as Shen Rae left the palace and called down an Energy Glider to transport Kiivan’s advisors to the Heart of Light.  It didn’t take long at all, and then they loaded into it and headed skyward with the two fighters flying beside it.

    Kiivan didn’t need the advisors at the moment, as he had already conferred with them.  He knew the danger his people were in.  Fortunately, Shen Rae wasn’t the only one who gave him a communication device.  He headed back to his quarters to retrieve the other one.

    He picked up the cellular phone sized device.  It was grey, and had a logo on it in Earth alphabetical characters - Extraordinary Endeavor Enterprises.  He thumbed the call button warily, and then cringed as he pressed it.


---


    Shen Rae arrived at the Heart of Light with barely any time to spare.  As soon as she was aboard, the Energy Shield went to full strength again.  While she ran to the bridge, Kiivan’s advisors struggling to keep up, the deck of the ship began vibrating with alarming frequency.

    She burst into the bridge, and looked around at the various holographic status displays, and at the main viewscreen.  This time it wasn’t just a few black painted space craft, it was an army.  Much larger, more menacing ships, all bristling with weapons.

    The status displays were all swimming with warnings and targeting information.  The viewscreen showed bright blue flashes as missiles and plasma weapons impacted the Energy Shield.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Why haven’t they spoken to us?”  her First Officer asked.

    Shen Rae stumbled a bit as she tried to make sure Kiivan’s advisers were seated before she took her own.  “Because that would make them co-conspirators.  Silence guarantees they were just following orders, whatever they may be.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Either way.”  Shen Rae announced, sounding both more cold and more confident, “I’ve had enough.  Destroy them all, and then search the debris field and find out where they’re from.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Do they have a control ship?”  one of Kiivan’s advisors spoke up.  “Perhaps you can focus your efforts on it, and the rest will retreat.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Jai?”  Shen Rae asked her First Officer.  “Are they communicating with a central ship?”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“They seem to be communicating on a single encrypted frequency,”  the Communications Officer piped up.  “It’s being transmitted from this ship.”  He pressed a few buttons, and highlighted one of the ships on the status displays.

    Shen Rae finally sat down, and gripped the arms of her Captain’s chair.  “Launch all fighters, keep the others busy.  Target the communications hub...and destroy it.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“We have another problem!”  Jai Yoon announced.  “Two ships broke formation.  They’re headed to the surface.”


---


    The dining hall in Kiivan’s palace had been cleared of all furniture and staff at his order.  The doors and windows were closed and sealed.  He stood alone in the center of the smooth, clean floor, and tiled ornate walls awaiting the response to his call.

    There was a loud crack like a bold of lightning, and then a solid puff of air, like an explosion, but not quite as violent.  The sound echoed loudly off the walls, and left Kiivan’s ears ringing.  The room filled with a chilling fog.

    As the fog started to clear, he could see in the center of the room a young woman with long, deep blue hair, and brilliant blue eyes, staring back at him.  She was dressed entirely in a white two piece athletic suit accented by pink geometric shapes that complimented her figure, and white ankle high boots.  He was a little concerned, because he didn’t recognize her.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I’m Anna.”  the girl introduced herself.  He grew even more worried when he realized she was smaller than his fiancee, and most of his female attendants.  “Yuki Shiro received your request for assistance.  As the Lair Legion is occupied, she sent me as the someone with the most experience.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“You’re a Lair Legion member?”  he asked.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“No.”  Anna replied.  “As I mentioned, the Lair Legion is occupied.”

    Kiivan then remembered some of the communications he had been getting about the Lair Legion from Earth.  “You’re the android.  I’ve never seen such an interesting machine so close before.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“You have.”  she corrected him as she stepped closer.  “Yuki’s body is designed much like mine, only mine is a few years’ more advanced and has a few tactical weapon modifications.  Which is why I’ve been sent to help you.”

    He couldn’t help but laugh, as he smiled at Anna.  “Ah, the people of Earth still hold so many surprises.”

    Anna smiled too.  But then her smile disappeared as she went to work.  “You asked EEE to send someone because you feared a ground invasion was imminent, and you wish to protect the lives of Caphans.  I was asked to help lead your ground forces, and protect them and the city.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“And you’re equipped for that?”  Kiivan asked.  “I apologize for my skepticism, but there is a lot at stake.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Why Kiivan,”  Anna responded with a disarming laugh, “Where is your faith in the Lair Legion?  I may not look like much, but if they sent me...obviously I have a trick or two up my sleeve, so to speak.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Point taken.”  Kiivan said.  He indicated for Anna to walk ahead of him.  “If you don’t mind then...we have a lot of work.  Let’s get started.”


TO BE CONTINUED


-- Story written and copyrighted (C) 2009 by Jason Froikin, and may not be 
--    reprinted without permission.  
-- Yuki Shiro designed by Jason Froikin, based on designs by Masamune Shirow
--  Liu Xi Xian and the Psychic Samurai are original design by Jason Froikin
--  Lara Night is an original creation by Jason Froikin