The following work of literature is to not be considered the official continuation of the Phantasy Star Online saga, but as one of the many stories that could be sprouted after the closure of Episode III. This is my story.
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Miscellaneous information re: date and time for the Phantasy Star series.
“The report that you were looking for, Captain,” said a cool female voice.
A voice of a male then filled the small room. “That is very good, Commander,” he said. “You may leave.”
The female then quickly turned around as if the man had said something that was completely wrong. She marched right back at him. “What do you mean ‘you may leave???’” she demanded. “Your father had dreamed of this moment for over thirty years before he died.” She stood there, wondering. “You’re afraid,” she concluded.
The man had gotten up so quickly out of his chair that it had almost knocked the woman over. “Afraid? Am I?” he asked. “Tell me, how can I be afraid when we have nearly reached our goal.” He began to pace the room. She can never understand, he thought. No one can. “Forty years of work and you tell me I am afraid! That is most ridiculous!” He began to laugh a sinister laugh, one that was heard over the last many long years. “No,” he said. “It should be you that is afraid…”
She immediately interrupted. “…afraid of what!” she spat. “Afraid of you going on another of what you call ‘ a wild goose chase?’ I know you better than that!” She had realized that she had stepped over the line. What is he going to do this time, she thought.
The man simply looked in her face and gave out a slight laugh. “You always had that laugh,” he said, quite calmly. “Your mother had always had that funny side that you now inherit.” He laughed once again. “That had always got her in trouble, at the Hunter Training Commission.”
With her face screwed up after what the man had just said, she knew that it was he that has crossed the line, not her. “My mother never worked at the HTC!” she spat. “She never worked on Pioneer 2!”
The man laughed again, how could she be so dense, he thought. I can play mind games with her all day if I really wanted to. “There is a lot about your mother that you don’t know.”
As the man continued to speak, she then felt a hint of rage that was growing inside her. “TELL ME!” she barked
The man quickly stopped laughing and stood up. “You want to know about you mother?” he asked. “Are you sure you really want to know? Well, here it is.” He sat beck down in his seat and he motioned the woman to have a seat for he knew that the tale that he would be telling her would surly is a long one.
The woman found the seat and sat down. She was looking at the man, directly into the eye. One of the man’s eye was indeed false for what she know is that she had been told the he had lost his original eye many years earlier. “Tell me,” she continued.
The man took a deep breath and began speaking the truth that he had concealed inside of himself ever since he has first me the woman that was sitting next to him. “Your mother disappeared, six years after she had left you,” he began. “As you told me, she said that she had to go for scientific purposes,” he paused and took another deep breath. “Ten years ago to the day,” he began. “She had stolen secret material out of the Pioneer A database. That material was classified as Level thirteen materials, very secret. She was put on trial and was sent to the Ragol Penal Colony on the other side of the planet.” He took a pause and noticed that the woman’s face was drawing ever so nearer, trying to get a better image from what she was hearing. “After a month of being there,” he continued. “She escaped to find you. She snuck through the transporter and appeared outside your door. She explained what I reminded you of earlier.”
The woman stopped and started to speak. “Are you saying,” she began. “That my mother… was a criminal?”
He sat there and gave a sight nod. “She was put into exile after they found out that she had escaped. The last time I had ever heard of her was over seven years ago.”
The woman had simply sat there; many things were now going through her mind. She had thousands of questions but she only found one of great importance. “When you heard of my mother,” she began. “Where was she?”
He smirked. “I’m glad you asked me that,” he began. “She sent a code that only I would be able to understand. It was in the ancient Newman language. Nobody ever bothers with that anymore, for that language is obsolete. Anyway, the code activated the transceiver and it revealed the location near the Caelum.” He pointed at the nearest map that had revealed the almost exact location. “I lost the transceiver signal about three years ago. She may have died, but then again, she could be alive.”
The woman clearly then go up and started down the hall to her cabin and quickly started to pace. She was overwhelmed with this new information about a person she had hardly ever knew, and to make matters worse, a mother that she hardly remembers
The man followed and began to ask questions of his own. “What are you doing?” her asked. “Where are you going?”
She looked up and there was a slight tear in her eye. “To look for my mother,” she replied. “I… can’t do this alone. Will you help me?”
The man face then broke into a wide smile. “Of course,” he replied. “That’s what friends are for…”
1: Lupus Silva AW 3119/9/17
Lupus Silva City
It was a surprisingly warm day in the city of Lupus Silva, which was located to the newly rebuilt Pioneer 1 Central Dome, which was destroyed five years ago when a rare hurricane struck the Silva Peninsula. The sky was clear, the temperature was warm. Normally it would rain almost everyday. It rained for eighty percent of the year and the days that it was not raining… were cherished.
Lupus Silva City was by far, the largest city in Ragol. It was the best place on the planet to live. And one of the few places on the planet that has a Resistance Group…
The man and the female entered the South entrance to the city. They had been traveling for a day and were ready to begin their search for the missing person. They had planned this trip to take many months and the female has accepted the fact that she may never be able to see her mother alive again.
“Here we are,” the man said. His face was beaming. “The Lupus Silva City. The largest city on the planet.” He ushered his companion along and entered the city. The city itself was vast. It would take days to explore the entire city. Near the center of the city was a Spaceport. From there, a person has the choice to go anywhere, however, that choice had to be approved by the Government.
As the man and woman passed the gates, a familiar voice called out. “Mister Chaos,” a voice called. “Is it really you?” The voice came closer and revealed itself in the form of a Cast.
The man called Chaos was startled and he regained his composure. “Commander Regellus Lunacara,” he said. “How good it is to see you again.” He turned to his companion then back to Lunacara. “I would like you to meet my companion. Lita, this is Regellus Lunacara. Regellus, this is Lita.”
Lita smiled. “A pleasure to meet you Regellus,” she said. She shook Lunacara’s hand.
Lunacara nodded. He turned to address Chaos. “Yes, it is great to see you again,” he said. “But the times are dangerous. Didn’t you not hear of the curfew the Government has placed on Lupus Silva. We should not be out here. Come with me.”
Lunacara walked in an odd direction and started for the alleyway. Chaos and Lita had no choice but to follow him in, to get out of site, but it was too late!
Additional voices could be heard. “HEY!” someone yelled, a Security Officer. “Come back here now!” No one came out of the alleyway. “Schulz to Command, we need a Security Team down here. There are three people, a human, a newman and a cast, they refuse to follow my orders.”
Before he finished speaking, three people appeared next to him. “Lieutenant,” the high-ranking officer said. “Where did they go?”
“Commander Kerhla,” Schulz said. “They went that way, northeast into the alley. They aren’t far ahead of us.”
Kerhla nodded and he started for the alleyway. Two additional Security Officers followed him.
“We’ve are being followed!” Lita shrieked. “They will capture us. I know it. I can hear them!” She was starting to panic. She could hear almost anything that did not sound ordinary.
“This way!” Lunacara called. He broke into a run and went around the corner. “They won’t find us in here.”
There were footsteps running behind them. “THERE THEY ARE!” someone shouted. “GET’EM!”
A RAcast cast broke into a run and went around the corner and found Lunacara, Lita and Chaos at a dead end.
Chaos and Lunacara looked around them for an opportunity to escape, but the window was closed suddenly as Pioneer 2 Security officials arrived.
Lunacara tried to reach for his weapon, he got his hand on his photon pistol which he created himself and drew it out so fast that no one had noticed that he had moved in the first place, all except the RAcast cast, which saw everything. The RAcast lifted his rifle and clicked it. “This weapon is set to level seven,” it said.
Lunacara looked up and laughed. “Level seven?” he boasted. “Maximum stun?” Security officials then began to move closer to him, he saw what they were doing. “Don’t move!” he barked. “This weapon is set to kill and I can set it to overload at anytime!”
The RAcast cast lifted his weapon fast enough and fired at Lunacara. The blast hit the weapon and it landed twelve feet from Chaos. The RAcast raised his weapon and pointed it at the Newman female standing near Chaos. “You are Lita, daughter of Litana, are you not?” the RAcast asked.
The Newman female, who is actually know as Lita said back to the cast. “Who wants to know?” she barked. “I will not tell you any information!”
A person who was standing back in the shadows then moved forward. It was Commander Kerhla himself. “Why,” he began. “We all want to know. If you won’t tell us, then we’ll take you in for interrogation! RAcast Unit XGP15A2, put Mr. Chaos and his companions under arrest and transport them to Pioneer 2.”
The RAcast unit stepped forward to Chaos. “If you resist, you will suffer,” it said. “If you do not resist, you will suffer less.” He took out three photon cuffs and put them on Lunacara, Chaos and Lita and dispensed a transporter pipe directly to the Security Wing on the ship.
Pioneer 2 Security Wing Level 51
Chaos, Lunacara and Lita, who were being escorted by the RAcast unit arrived at the Security level on the ship and moved toward the holding cell next to the interrogation room. The three were forced inside and a photon field was activated to make sure that they don’t get out.
Lita sat down on one of the benches in the holding cell. “Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked.
Chaos looked at her with a look of confusion on his face. “Tell you what?” he replied.
Lita looked up; there was a tear in her eye. “Why didn’t you tell me you were on the run from the law?”
Chaos sat down, I guess I have to tell her the truth. “I told you that your mother escaped from the Penal Colony over seven years ago,” he explained. “What I did not tell you is how your mother escaped.” He paused, trying to figure out how to make his next explanation. “You need to know the truth,” he continued. “It was… I who helped your mother escaped.”
Lunacara then interrupted, “He could not have done that without me,” he added.
Before Chaos could continue his explanation, there was an explosion and a person that no one had recognized had appeared in the room. “Take that,” he yelled. “Pathetic scum.” He looked around to see who else was in there. He noticed that Chaos and his companions were in the holding cell. The person came over to open the holding cell. “I’m Captain Mike,” he introduced himself. “From the Starship Forge.”
Captain Chaos looked at Captain Mike and noticed that he was holding the emblem of the Pioneer; an emblem that Dol Grisen had abolished from use on Pioneer 2 for his new emblem resembled a Photonic Fist. “Forge?” Chaos asked.
Captain Mike responded, “Yup. We need to get you out of here. Pioneer 2 separated from the Coral Sovereignty over twenty years ago. This place is not safe!”
Lunacara looked up with a hint of anger in his eyes. “We know!” he yelled.
Captain Mike pulled out a communicator out of his pocket and turned it on. “Forge, get us out of here!” he ordered. They disappeared.
Twelve Hours Later
Governor Cale Kane was growing ever so furious. He had learned that an operative from Forge which was still in contact with the Coral home world had managed to get on his ship and rescue three high-risk criminals.
Governor Kane’s train of thought was immediately interrupted. “Kerhla to Governor Kane,” Vahn called.
Governor Kane was at the breaking point. “WHAT DO YOU WANT!” he snapped.
Kerhla then spoke again. “You have a very important visitor,” he continued. “Fleet Admiral Dolore of Forge is here to see you. She is not in a very good mood for she has a highly armed escort with her.”
“SEND THEM IN!” he snapped. The doors opened and it revealed Admiral Dolore with thirty of here security force with her. “You!” Kane yelled. “How the…”
Admiral Dolore raised here hand almost immediately. “There is no need to mince words Cale,” she yelled back. “You are a traitor. You’re lucky I don’t pull out my gun and kill you right here, right now.” She had pulled out here Photon pistol to prove that she was not bluffing.
“How long have you been on our door step?” Kane barked. “How did you get your operative on my ship? ANSWER ME!”
Dolore let out a laugh. “How pathetic of you,” she sneered. “For the last twenty three years, you have been separated from the Coral Government. This ship is over thirty years behind the times. We have invented Photon Phasing. We can disappear off your scanners. We have been here for three weeks prior the arrest of the three Coral operatives. I’m surprised you haven’t found the fourth.”
“That fourth operative is presumed dead!” Kane barked. “She was killed three years ago.”
“Wrong again!” Dolore commented. “You are so pathetic. She got into Photon stream before your Photon Warhead ever made contact with her shuttle craft!”
Chaos and Lunacara had found the room on Forge where Lita was staying, but Lita was not in that room. They had found out that she was in the next room, with a person of particular interest.
“Mom?” Lita cried out. “Is it really you?”
Here is the second chapter. Enjoy
__________________________________________________ ___________ 2: Strategic Operation
Forge Security Wing
Deck 56
Chaos looked at Litina, how could this be, he thought. I thought that she was dead. How did she get here? He had a lot of questions that he felt that must be answered, but he knew that this not the time for that because he had only reunited with her and he did not want to spoil the moment for Lita and Litina.
Lita looked into her mother’s eyes; Litina’s eyes resembled a strong blue as does Lita’s eyes. “How did you get here?” she asked. “Chaos said you went missing over three years ago.”
Litina took a deep breath; she knew she would have to explain everything to her daughter. “I did not tell him that I was leaving the planet,” she explained. “I knew that my life was in danger, Pioneer 2 Security was hot on my trail. So, I did what they had least expect; I stole one of their experimental shuttlecraft. I managed to get away, after taking minor damage. They fired a warhead, if I didn’t get into the Photon Stream, the ship would’ve been destroyed.”
After Litina had finished speaking, Captain Mike stood forward. “You may not know this,” he began. “Over twenty years ago, while Dol Grisen was in power, he had severed all contact with the home world. I know this, but the first Commanding Officer, Colin Tyrell, was untrustworthy to the Coral Command. Although he had the popularity of the people, they were reluctant to remove him. They decided to place four operatives on Pioneer 2. All of you were led to believe that you were the only operative on the ship. If you were captured, they would interrogate, even if it means subjecting you to the interrogation probe. You were to have no knowledge of any other operative of Pioneer 2.”
Captain Mike turned towards Commander Lunacara. “The sole purpose of your creation was to keep an eye on Tyrell and report to Coral Command. You were constructed in 3035, under the original intent of being a Governmental Unit,” he explained. “Litina, you were drafted and boarded the Pioneer 2 at thirty six years of age. Lita as well at eighteen. Captain Chaos, you were here ever since you were thirty five.”
After a few moments, no one was keen on speaking any further. It was Lita who drew up the courage to ask questions. “Are you saying,” she began. “That all four of us, we were under the impression we, like myself and him, were the only operatives.”
“Correct,” Mike replied. “We did this because if you knew the other operatives, it would compromised the mission. We did not expect that three of you would end up finding each other.”
They all just stood there, too confused to speak, and too tired to do anything. After tense minutes, Chaos finally then began to speak. “What was our purpose?”
Before Mike had a chance to speak, Fleet Admiral Dolore entered the room and quickly answered Captain Chaos’ question. “To make sure that Governor Tyrell was in check,” she immediately answered. “After he was removed, Dol Grisen ‘severed ties’ with Coral.” She began to laugh. “Look where it had gotten them. Forge is thirty percent faster, and more advanced. Pioneer 2 is over thirty years behind the times.
Dolore handed Mike a pad and he quickly read it. “We have orders from the Coral Command,” he explained. “Have you all heard of ‘Operation: Control?’”
“Operation: Control? That’s means we take control of Pioneer 2?”
“That is correct Captain Chaos,” Captain Mike replied. “According to mission details, Operation: Control requires the assistance of the next Pioneer-Class starship in line, namely Forge. We have to take control of the Central Tower and remove the current Commanding Officer from command!”
Lunacara then spoke up. “That would be Governor Cale Kane.”
“Correct,” Mike replied. “We have a delegate on board that will take command of the Pioneer the moment you seize it.”
“And…” Chaos began to say. “Is this… delegate?”
Captain Mike let out a shallow laugh. “The instructions clearly say that the delegate can not be revealed until Pioneer 2 has been taken control of. When it has been taken out of Kane’s control, you will be the temporary Commander until we see fit to reveal the delegate.”
“I see,” Chaos replied.
“Operation: Control will commence in six hours via. CSH,” Captain Mike finished.
Six Hours Later
There were seventeen personnel inside a Forge shuttle which included Captains Mike and Chaos, Commander Lunacara and Litina and last of all, Lita.
“Once we have taken control of Pioneer 2,” Mike explained. “We will transport over a large faction of our security team.”
Captain Chaos quickly took his turn to speak. “I would warn you,” he began. “Their security is using Enhanced Weaponry. It was created over ten years ago and it is still in experimental stages. There are many different settings that they can use on us.”
“How did they create this ‘Enhanced Weapon Technology?’” Mike asked.
“Those Enhanced Weapons are not easy to deal with,” Chaos explained. “They are incredibly powerful. They killed a lot of people using those weapons, so be extremely careful.” He looked to the Computer Specialist. “While we are there, we will need to download the main computer of all of its contents. That means we will copy everything from their computers. After the download is complete, we will need to purge their computer banks. Before we purge the data; however, we will need to send the data back to the Forge to ensure that they cannot recover the data; in case this mission fails, they will not be able to access the computers.”
“Once we are on,” Mike began to explain. “We will have twenty-one seconds before they detect us. Their sensors are decades behind, so it would give us enough time to… disable their sensors undetected. With their sensors out of the way, we can walk right through Kane’s front door and he won’t expect us.”
One of the security officers from Forge is a CAST and he took his turn to speak. “You are all armed with type three Photon Phasing Devices. These; however, have a short battery cycle and we won’t be able to re-charge them quickly enough. The battery cells only have up to forty minutes before the phasing fails,” he explained. “The weapons are type eleven Photon pistols and rifle. Each of you should have two pistols and one rifle. All of you should have an engineering kit and a communications device.”
“You must maintain radio blackout!” Mike explains with utmost importance. “Until the sensors are disabled, you are not to use the communicators. Use of the communicators after the sensors have been disabled is permitted but it is still too risky. We don’t know their frequencies, they could be listening to us over their communicators.”
One of the pilots of the shuttlecraft turned her head to tell Captain Mike that there were in transporter range and that they have enough power to transport without shutting down the Photon Phasing.
“All right,” Captain Chaos said. “How ‘bout we go in and say ‘hi?’”
It had been confirmed; operatives and military from the Forge are attempting to seize control of Pioneer 2. The communication array was running haywire, communications and announcements were overlapping each other, and no one could understand what was actually going on.
After twenty minutes of chaos, the voice of the Governor came over the communications array, as it came, everything else coming over the array had ceased.
“This is Governor Cale Kane,” the Governor called. “By order of the command, as of now 0230 hours, all citizens are to report to their designated living quarters until further notice. All those who will not comply will be placed under arrest and put in a holding cell until the operation is complete. All personnel are to report to their assigned duty posts, at once. Repeat, at once…”
After the orders were given, chaos was seemed to have been brought to order and the city center started clearing and people were returning to the living areas.
After ten minutes, it would have seemed that Pioneer 2 was deserted. One hundred RAcast units that were controlled by Commander Kerhla patrolled the city. They were roaming the city as a hundred more were roaming along the rest of the ship.
“We have received reports that prototype RAcast units, about one hundred of them, are roaming along the entire ship,” Chaos reported.
“Do they have a weakness?” Lita asked.
Litina laughed. “They only wanted to capture me because the data I stole was concerning the RAcast units,” she said. “They thought I as dead, so they may have not adjusted the plans.”
“We know of one weakness,” Captain Mike said. “Their external has a certain shielding that we can penetrate. We need to set our weapons to a frequency of 565.9866 MHz in order to penetrate the shielding. It must be precise, within 0.0018 MHz or it won’t work.”
Everyone the began to reset their weapons to the frequency, after a few minutes, they could hear three RAcast units approaching them; as soon they have gotten in range; they opened fire with everything they’ve got; they were destroyed in less than five shots. The data that Litina mentioned was correct, Lita thought. Impressive.
“I think that it is time that we ‘knock on the front door,’” Lunacara said. “Shall we?”
Everyone then began to spit into teams of two and began to split up, their orders, to destroy everything that is in their way and to capture Governor Cale Kane.
Its been a while, here is the next chapter to the revised story
3: The Weapon
Kane was sitting alone at his desk, wondering. Wondering on how many casualties that they should expect from the intruders from Forge.
Admiral Vahn came running through the door, his face as white as if he had seen a ghost. “Governor!!” he shouted. “They have broken through the defence perimeter, they have entered the city!”
Governor Kane was now getting furious. Coral Command has pulled the last move that they can make. “Deploy the weapon!” he ordered. “Target Forge!”
Admiral Vahn now knew exactly what the Governor was doing. “Sir,” he said. “I will follow you to the very end, but I will not harm any innocents, no matter how much you try and make me.”
Governor Kane got up. “You know,” he began. “You’re right. If you want it done right, you’ll have to do it yourself.”
“Sir!” Vahn said, with a high sound of worry in his voice. “You cannot!”
“You are relieved of duty, Admiral,” Kane replied. “You are to get out of my office. Nothing you say or do will stop me from deploying the weapon.
“I refuse!” Vahn barked.
“Fine,” Kane replied. “Have it your way.” He stepped over to the communications panel and pressed a button. “Central Dome Base Alpha, this is the Governor. Prepare to deploy the weapon. Target Forge!”
Admiral Vahn thought that this would be his chance to interfere. “Belay that order!” he barked.
“YOU!” Kane yelled. He picked up Vahn by the collar of his uniform and threw him out the office door with a violent punch. “Get out of my sight! Central Dome, deploy the weapon!”
“Aye sir,” a voice from the base replied.
As the order was given, the Base Officers officers then began to input the commands to activate the weapon. “The weapon will be ready to fire in fourteen minutes,” Commander Triniti said. “Targeting Forge. Targeting sequence will be complete in seven minutes.”
“Admiral!” one of the bridge officers called. “You need to see this sir!”
Dolore went over to a nearby screen and called up the sensor charts. They revealed that of a weapon on the planet surface is targeting Forge and is prepping to fire. “How long before they fire!” she called.
“Firing sequence will begin in about ten minutes,” a voice from the other side of the command centre called. “Their targeting is almost complete. Once the targeting is complete, we won’t be able to shut it down!”
Dolore only knew that she would have to do one thing. “Open a channel to Pioneer 2! Let me speak to the Governor.”
After a few moments, an image of the Governor of Pioneer 2 shown up. “Ah, Admiral Dolore, what a pleasure. Hoping to get your last words in before you and your ship is destroyed?”
Dolore was nowhere near laughing. She was furious, the most furious any one had seen her in many years. “Do you realize that if you fire that weapon,” she began. “That you WILL risk open war!”
Governor Kane laughed. “I’ve considered that,” he replied. “But what they don’t know won’t hurt them.” Transmittion was then cut off almost instantly.
“Helm,” Dolore called. “Prepare to take us in. Red Alert! All hands to battle stations!!” She activated the communications device. “All citizens are to return to their living quarters immediately. This is not a drill. Repeat, this is not a drill.” She turned off the communications device. “Target the weapon,” she ordered. “Mr. Teress, take us in.”
It was a magnificent sight from the Governor’s office of Pioneer 2. She was right, Kane thought. That ship is much bigger than this one. “Governor to Command,” he called. “Lock all weapons on Forge and fire.”
[/i]Forge[/i] suffered a nasty rock. “Continue on your present course!” Dolore ordered. The ship continued to rock and shake after taking fire from Pioneer 2. “Prepare to lock all torpedoes on the Weapon!” she ordered. Four minutes remained before firing.
“Danger!” the computer began to chant. “Collision with unknown object on planet’s surface immanent.” Dolore just ignored the computer and the computer chanted again. “Weapon firing in three minutes.”
We’re running out of time, Dolore thought. “Increase speed!”
The computer chanted again. “Warning! Increasing speed beyond safety protocol in atmospheric conditions is ill-advisable.”
“Ignore the computer!” Dolore yelled. “We’ve got to intercept that weapon before it fires!”
“Aye sir,” the helmsman called.
Meanwhile, back on Pioneer 2, Kane was having the time of his life. “Match their course and speed,” he called. “Follow them in!”
“Warning! Weapon firing in one minute fifteen seconds!” The computer blared. “Collision immanent at current speeds.”
Just a little longer, Dolore thought. It has to be here somewhere. It’s gotta be!
“Increase speed,” she ordered. The computer began the warning again. “Ignore the computer!”
“Admiral!” one of the tactical officers called. “The weapon is directly ahead! I’m putting it on screen.” The image changed and it shown a large weapons platform on the Central Dome.
“Weapon firing in fifteen… fourteen… thirteen… twelve… eleven… ten… nine…” the computer announced.
“FIRE ALL WEAPONS!” Dolore ordered. “Take that thing out!” All of the weapons were now firing.
“Weapon firing in five… four… three… two… Weapon destroyed,” the computer chanted.
Everyone was looking at the main screen. The weapon indeed exploded and the explosion engulfed the entire dome, destroying it with it.
“Take us back to orbit!” Dolore called. “Target Pioneer 2. Return the favour of firing on us!”
Governor Cale Kane knew what was exactly going to happen. His ship was going to be fired upon by a much stronger ship and possibly be destroyed. Everything he had worked for was being destroyed. Not on the ship, but also on the planet. He had one thing to do. Abandon ship. All of the citizens were on the planet surface. All that were left on board was the Forge military and his ship’s skeleton crew. “Computer,” he said. “This is a direct order. Verify Governor Cale Kane.”
It too the computer a moment to confirm. “Governor Cale Kane verified,” it replied.
“Computer,” he began. “This is a command order. Prepare to activate the escape pods and initiate auto-destruct. Ninety seconds. Authorization Kane three-three-gamma-zero-destruct.”
“Command code verified,” the computer replied. “Waiting for final order to begin the ninety second countdown.”
“This is Governor Cale Kane,” he began. “Begin the countdown.”
“Self-destruct in ninety seconds,” the computer began. “There will be no further audio warning!”
Governor Kane left the bridge for the nearest escape pods.
“Sir!” a security officer shouted. “There is a ninety second countdown on Pioneer 2.”
“What??” Dolore yelled. “Are you sure?”
“Yes ma’am,” he replied. “I am trying to hack into their computer to shut it down.” He worked as fast as he can. After about forty seconds, he finished, but countdown had not stopped. “I need a level ten code to disarm the self destruct.”
“Computer,” Dolore began. “Deactivate Pioneer 2 auto-destruct. Authorization Dolore pi-alpha-one-three
“Pioneer A autodestruct is offline,” the computer said.
“Dolore to Captain Mike,” Dolore called. “Pioneer 2 is deserted. Make your way to the forward command centre.”
“Acknowledged” Mike replied.
There was only one expression on Captain Mike’s face that wasn’t there ever since the operation started. “To the forward command centre!” he called. “There is nothing that stands in our way. They have no more experimental security units.”
Captain Chaos stood forward. “We should still be cautious,” he said. “We should split up into two teams. Lunacara, you’re with me.”
“Coming right with you,” Lunacara replied.
The group of five then split into two had began taking two different paths that should lead to the forward command centre, or even better, the Governor’s office.
After walking around Pioneer 2 or what had seemed to be hours, Captain Chaos and Lunacara arrived at the foot of the Central Tower. “Chaos to Forge,” he called. “We are going to head into the Central Tower.”
“Acknowledged,” a voice on the other side said. “Let us know when you arrive at the top of the tower.”
“Will do,” Chaos replied. Both he and Lunacara then began to venture inside the Governor Tower.
The lifts in the tower were still operational. It took Lunacara an hour to get them started up. When the first lift arrived, both he and Chaos got in and headed for the top of the tower. The process was slow. When they arrived at the top, they found that no one was there and the computers were left on. Pioneer 2 Command was a large room. It was the highest point of the city. It was a large platform with a long rod and at the end of the rod was a transporter that was used for access to the upper city levels. They came up in the middle of the disc like structure that was connected with the rod. To one side was the Operations Division and the other side was the Secretary’s desk and in the middle, the biggest desk was the Governor’s. The same desk that was used when Governor Tyrell was in power over twenty-five years earlier.
Lunacara accessed the Commander’s Computer and discovered an important order. “Captain,” he called. “I think you want to take a look at this.”
“What is it?” he said.
Lunacara looked up. “Governor Kane was not smart enough to wipe the memory core clean before he left,” he said. “He is gone to Gal-De-Val.”
“That’d be a smart idea,” Chaos said sarcastically. “Chaos to Forge. The Command Centre is under our control.”
It was Admiral Dolore’s voice that came through this time. “Good work,” she said. “I’m on my way over. Anything else while I am here?”
“Yes,” Chaos began. “We know where Kane went.”
“And where is that?” Dolore asked.
“Gal-De-Val Island.”
4. The Hunt Seabed Research Facility
2 000 Metres Below Sea Level
The Seabed Control was now the only place on Ragol that Governor Kane had control over. He arrived shortly after departing from [/i]Pioneer 2[/i], after initiating the auto-destruct.
The main doors opened to reveal the bulk of the facility. “Governor Kane,” a commander said. “What an unexpected pleasure…”
“Not now, Commander Dorlin,” Kane replied. “Pioneer 2 has been destroyed.”
“Destroyed?” Dorlin asked. “How?”
“Forge was moving into an attack run,” Kane explained. “They would’ve destroyed Pioneer 2 with a quick shot. They are using more advanced weapons than we have ever constructed. They’ve destroyed the Central Dome Facility earlier today.”
Dorlin replied. “We know that. We received an emergency distress call from them, but only seconds before they were destroyed.”
“How many people were lost?” Kane asked.
Commander Dorlin had a grim expression on his face. “We lost three-thousand officers in that attack,” he said. “At peak, there are usually ten thousand that work in there on a regular basis. Why was it destroyed?”
“I ordered them to target Forge and fire,” Kane explained. “Forge went in the atmosphere and managed to destroy the facility thirty seconds before they could fire. Did you manage to retrieve anything?”
“No sir,” Dorlin replied. “That site was instantly vaporized when it hit. Did Admiral Vahn come with you?”
“That traitor?” Kane asked. “He stayed on the ship. We won’t be hearing from him again. Is the ship complete?”
“Yessir,” Dorlin relied. “The warship is complete and is ready for launch.”
Governor Kane looked into Dorlin’s eyes and replied. “We launch in twenty-four hours.”
“Is the main computer back online yet?” Lunacara called.
“Not yet sir,” Lita called back. “It should be ready within the hour.” She turned around to speak to an engineer. “Go and get me the scanner, maybe we can use it to find out what is wrong with this trash heap.”
Captain Chaos returned to the command to find that Admiral Dolore has arrived. “I’m surprised this place held together,” he said. “These ships are supposed to undergo a refit every ten years, but in her forty years of existence, she is still on the original equipment. Its easier to say that the ship is falling apart at the seams.”
Admiral Dolore turned around. “Our main priority is to get the main computer back online,” she said. “It hasn’t been online for more than fifteen years. They’ve been relying on the secondary computer for the last twenty years. After that is done, we can discuss the future of this ship, whether to refit it, retrofit it or decommission it completely. Until then, the computer is a priority.”
“I got it! I got it!!” Lita called from the computer console. “That should keep the main computer up and running…”
Before she could finish, the console started to spark and the power was shut down all over the ship, with the main computer.
“Emergency lights,” Lunacara called. A couple of lights came on.
Lita had reached her boiling point. She looked like she was ready to tear the place apart. “This… pile of metal… heap,” she spat. “I’d feel better if we’d just blow it up.”
Captain Chaos chuckled and turned back to Admiral Dolore. “Mood swings?” Dolore asked.
Chaos smiled. “She gets… moody,” he said. “From time to time.”
“Lita,” Lunacara called. “You need to put a regulator on the main computer, that should keep it running.”
“Alright,” she said. “I’ll go down there.” She walked over to the transporter. “Main Computer Room.” She disappeared.
Lita reappeared in the Main Computer Room, to find that the computer was right in front of her. “Alright,” she said. “It shouldn’t be hard to install the regulator on…”
There was a faint noise in the distance. Lita knew that she was not alone. She drew out her weapon to keep things safe. The sound came again, this time it was closer, the next one was even closer.
Alright, she thought. It ought to be right behind me. She slowly raised the gun into firing position, and turned around as fast as she could and found the person that she seeked.
“Don’t shoot! Don’t shoot!!” the voice said.
“Who are you?” Lita demanded. “Answer!”
“I am Admiral Vahn,” Vahn said. “I formally surrender.”
Governor Kane was inspecting the experimental warship with close eyes. Everything I said it to be, he thought. Everything.
His train of thought was interrupted. “Governor Kane, report to the Command Centre,” the intercom rang. Kane then walked to the lift and left for the Command Centre.
The doors opened, revealing the command centre. “Governor on the bridge,” the Captain called. “Sir, we are ready to launch in ten minutes.”
“Good,” Kane replied. “I think it is time to get off this rock. Is the station in the Argo System complete?”
“Fully operational,” the Captain called. “There are forty thousand casts operating that station along with five thousand newmans and humans.”
“Very good, Captain,” Kane replied. “All hands, this is the Governor. Prepare for departure. Condition Red, activate all engines and weapons. Initiate Grey Mode. Helm, prepare to depart.”
“All decks report ready,” the first officer said. “The weapons are operational.”
“Take us up,” Kane ordered. “Lock weapons on to Forge in case they decide to put up a fight.”
The ship then lifted up of the pad and went into the deep ocean. The ship emerged from the ocean and went up to orbit.
“Command to Admiral Dolore,” the Captain of Forge called. “We are reading a strange ship coming from the surface… it's Kane.”
“Lock all weapons and prepare to fire,” Dolore ordered.
“Sir, I don’t think that is necessary,” the Captain replied.
“Why is that?” Dolore asked.
“Their Photon Drive is active,” the Captain explained. “They are going into the Photon Stream.”
“Track his course,” Dolore ordered.
“Can’t sir,” the Captain said. “They have masked their Photon signature… they are gone. There is no chance of pursuit?”
“Damn,” Dolore said. “All right, let them go.” She massaged her forehead. She had been working steadily for the past thirty-six hours and she required sleep as soon as she can get it. “I’m on my back over,” Dolore said. “Inform Coral Command. Tell Chancellor Archer I want to speak to him.”
“Yes ma’am,” the Captain called from the Forge.
I know that it has been practically forever... The revisions are complete and the second installment is well underway. Here is the next chapter in the exciting series!
__________________________________________________ __________ “There can be no light without darkness nor darkness without light.
Existence begat of nothing subsequently reincarnated from an infinite life.
A law of nature proclaims its seal… ’moote deiz poom ’” -Unknown
5. War Pioneer 2Command Centre Two Years Later
Personal Log
Admiral Chaos reporting
4/25/3122
SC: 370.363151
It has been over two years since we have seen or heard from the former Governor Kane and his ship, the Executer, ever since it departed and entered the Photon Stream. We have recently finished dissecting the Pioneer computer and found out where he went and what he is planning to do. It claims that he is creating an army of two hundred thousand casts programmed for a sole purpose, to wipe out the planet of Coral, bringing on the Age of Kane, or so what he has called it. Fifteen battle ready ships have recently arrived from Coral with five thousand crew on each ship. We plan to depart for the Argo System with the newly re-commissioned starship, Pioneer 2, which will lead the offensive into battle. We plant to depart in three weeks time. We are still expecting another nineteen ships to arrive from Coral before we depart.
The Pioneer 2 was recently brought up to code. She will now be able to accommodate up to two hundred fifteen thousand troops for the war. She is more powerful than before and she is just as fast as the newly designated Forge, which was formally Pioneer B, for she is only a transport ship, not a battleship. With her enhanced shielding, we can expect her to take a lot of punishment from Kane’s fleet. Command of the newly re-commissioned Pioneer 2 has been awarded to Captain Lunacara. I will be on the small command ship, the Explorer, with incredibly fast engines, making her highly manoeuvrable. I only hope the outcome in this war is in our favour.
END LOG
Three Weeks Later
“Captain,” Commander Lita called. “Pre-launch sequence is complete. We are ready for launch.”
“Initiate launching sequence,” Lunacara ordered. “Detach from Pioneer Station. Engines at one-half.”
The Pioneer 2, a newly commissioned ship, was as massive and as impressive as ever. “For a ship over forty years old,” Lita began. “She has a lot of power. About two hundred percent more than when she first arrived here over forty-five years ago.”
“She still got life in her still,” Lunacara replied. “We will prove that in action.”
“Sir,” Ensign Lata, Lita’s son called. “The Photon Engines are ready to activate the Photon Stream.”
“Activate the Photon Stream,” Lunacara ordered. “Factor Four.”
The ship began to pick up speed, surprisingly enough, it did not lurch forward as it always did after it was first commissioned in 3077. The view of the Pioneer 2 from the Forge was spectacular. The Pioneer 2 is slightly larger than it had originally been after the launch over forty years ago. Pioneer 2 was magnificent, but an instant later, it had disappeared, into the Photon Stream.
The Government Dome on the planet of Coral was over packed. It had five thousand people too many that managed to get inside to hear what the Coral Sovereignty had to say. Most were expecting news of future launch of the Deles, expected to be launched in six months.
The Coral Sovereignty Chancellor, Lon Archer had a stocky build. He is a person of incredibly high authority. He had the role of Chancellor for sixteen years, for most of the population voted him in for his second term (one term for a Chancellor is about ten years). He had an expression on his face that was never seen since he was one of the Governors, who heard about the separation of Pioneer 2 from Coral Command.
He stood up at the pedestal, everyone then quickly grew silent. There was no sound in the entire complex. “All of you may be expecting the news of Deles,” Chancellor Lon Archer began. “I am sorry to say that the launch of the Deles has been suspended indefinitely.” There was a roar in the audience. They were hoping to get on the ship, but had to hear more of the explanation. Archer raised his hand for silence and then spoke again. “A threat that has rose,” he began again. “Former Governor Cale Kane intends to attack Coral within the next year. He has secretly placed posts on the route to Ragol and they are programmed to fire on all Pioneer-class starships that pass by that area. Admiral Daliana Dolore of the Forge has told us that Kane is currently hiding out at the Argo System, seventy-two p:):):):)cs from the Ragol System. We have sent thirty-four battle ready ships to Ragol. Fifteen have arrived. They have departed to the Argo System under the lead of the newly re-commissioned Starship Pioneer 2, captured from Kane ten years ago.” Archer stopped speaking and turned to his right and took a red document, red for being the highest priority. “I, Chancellor Lon Archer, hereby declare War on the Argo System faction under the command of Governor Kane.” He took out a pen and signed the declaration document, making the declaration legal.
“Admiral Vahn,” Dolore began. “Did you get that?”
“Yes Admiral,” Vahn replied. “Should I send a transmition to the Pioneer 2 and the fleet?”
“No,” Dolore replied, in a long tone of voice. “I will inform them myself. Captain Yi, the command is yours.” She got up and went to her office.
“Computer,” Dolore began. “Open a priority one transmition to Pioneer 2, direct to Captain Lunacara.”
After a few moments, Lunacara’s image appeared on the screen. “Admiral?” he asked.
“Things are now in motion that cannot be undone,” Dolore explained.
“And that is?” Lunacara asked.
“Coral Chancellor Lon Archer has signed the War Declaration Document this morning,” Dolore explained. “The war is open. Listen, when you arrive at the Argo System, if you encounter any of Kane’s fleet, you a cleared to open fire as soon as you arrived.”
“Ok,” Lunacara said. “How do you know he hasn’t invented new technology?”
“I just know,” Dolore replied.
“Are you sure,” Lunacara asked. “The computer never mentioned anything, so we cannot be sure. We should be cautious.”
“I guess you have a good point there,” Dolore said. “What is your ETA?”
“About sixty-four hours at Factor Four,” Lunacara replied.
“Alright,” Dolore said. “Contact me after you have arrived. Dolore out.”
The screen then became blank. ‘ I just hope that we can win this war,’ Dolore thought.
Governor Kane arrived on the command centre of his ship, the Executor and was greeted by the Captain.
“You wanted to see me?” Kane asked.
“Yes sir,” the Captain replied. “We have four million cast units that are ready to be deployed.”
“That is very good, very good Captain,” Kane said.
“Sir, there is something else,” the Captain continued.
Kane looked around at the Captain and urged him to speak.
“Our sensors show a large fleet of seventeen ships heading this way,” the Captain began. “Led by… you won’t believe this sir, but… they are led… by the Pioneer 2.”
Governor Kane was now very surprised. How can this be, he thought. I put it on auto destruct ten years ago. “How can this be?” he asked.
“And,” the Captain continued. “There is another fleet of nineteen ships led by Bordaes.”
“Let me see,” Kane demanded. His worst fear has been confirmed. He has been found. “Prepare to launch.”
“Sir, I don’t think that is wise…” the Captain said, but he was cut off.
“I said to launch!” Kane barked. “We launch in one hour.”
“Sir,” one of the officers called. “We are receiving a transmission from Pioneer 2.”
Governor Kane motioned for it to be answered to. An image of Captain Lunacara appeared on the main screen.
“This is Captain Lunacara of the Starship Pioneer 2,” he began. “Sixty four hours ago, Chancellor Lon Archer of the Coral Governor Government has formally declared war on the Coral Separatists. Fight back and you will suffer. Surrender and your lives will be spared.”
“And what’s that got to do with me? CAPTAIN??” Kane asked.
“Ahh, Mister Kane,” Lunacara began. “As soon as we get you into custody, you will be charged with twenty seven different infractions of the Coral Law. If convicted, you could receive the death penalty from one of the infractions, Mass Treason.”
“I’d kill you first!” Kane roared.
“We’ll soon see that,” Lunacara spat. He instantly cut off transition. A short moment later, the fleet led Pioneer 2 appeared and began to fire on the Executor.
“Return fire!” Kane roared. “Target their Photon Drive!”
“No effect sir!” the Captain called back. “Their shielding is too strong…”
There was a beeping noise from one of the Command Stations. The Captain of the Executor turned around to ascertain the problem. His eyes widened with shock. “Sir,” he called. “We have lost two of our ships. They are still coming!”
Governor Kane knew one thing. His power was slowly fading away, along with his life. If he stayed, he could be killed, or worse, arrested. “Activate the Photon Drive. Factor Five,” he called.
“The Photon drive will be online in fifteen seconds,” the Captain called. “Sir! They are targeting the Argo Station!” He pressed a button that revealed six ships, including Pioneer, firing on Governor Kane’s pride and achievement. A moment later, the station exploded, along with every hope that Kane had to take over the Coral Command. He had to do one thing, withdraw to the Argo Base at Argo III.
“Set course for Argo III,” Kane called. “Maximum Factor!” And with that, the Executor and the surviving fleet departed for the base. Maximum Factor for the Executor was 5.2.
__________________________________________________ ___________
Just a bit of terminology, the Factor represents the speed of which the ship is moving through the photon stream multiplied by itself. Factor 1 is the speed of which light travels (186 000 mp/s), whereas Factor 5 is 25 times faster than Factor 1.
Here is the next Chapter in Chronicles of the Republic.
__________________________________________________ __________ 6. Pursuit Pioneer 2 Command Centre
“Pursuit course!” Lunacara roared. “Factor Five!” The ship, along with the entire fleet entered the Photon Stream in pursuit of Kane. “Prepare a boarding party! Bring me Kane!” Lunacara chanted.
“Aye!” Lita called. She left the command to get the troops ready for the boarding party to get Kane off the Executor.
The Executor Command Centre
The Captain stood up from his console and turned and faced Kane. “Lord Kane,” he said. “We are being pursued, they are trying to outrun us.”
Governor Kane turned around with a smirk on his face, a grimace of affability. “What is their speed and heading?”
The Captain turned around to check his console. “Apparently,” he said. “They are following us, and they are at Factor 5.1.”
Kane felt a surge of power over him. He smirked again. He had a plan and he was going to use it. “Increase to Five-point-Two,” he ordered.
The Chief Engineer turned from his Engineering Station, wide eyed. “Sir!” he said. “The engines cannot handle the pressure of 5.2. They would implode in minutes!”
Kane turned and faced the Engineer. “Do you have a better suggestion?” he asked.
The Engineer kept silent.
“Apparently,” Kane said. “You do not have a better suggestion. Helm, increase to Five-point-Two!”
There was a surge in the deck plating. The ship was beginning to vibrate. As ship increased speed, the computer began to chant. “Intruder Alert!” the computer has announced. “Soldiers of the Pioneer 2. Estimated thirty-two have boarded!”
The Emergency alarm was too loud to speak over. “SEND THE SECURITY TEAMS!” Kane barked orders to the Security Officer. “Do whatever it takes to eliminate them!”
“Right away!” the Security Officer called. “All Security Units to Deck Thirty-Five!”
Pioneer 2 Command Centre
“Sir!” Corporal Lata called. “The Executor has increased to Factor 5.2. They are trying to pull away from us!”
Captain Lunacara turned in his seat. Keep up with them,” Lunacara ordered. “Increase speed to Factor 5.3! Do whatever it takes to keep us faster than him!”
As the speed of the ship was increasing, the main computer began to annoyingly chant. “Warning,” the computer hummed. “Increasing speed beyond engine tolerance level may cause a Photon Core Breach. Increasing speeds above Factor 5.2 is ill-advisable!”
“Ignore the computer!” Lunacara ordered. “Maintain 5.3! We must keep up with them.”
The computer just kept chanting over the noise of the bridge. “Warning,” the computer began again. “Core integrity at sixty-five percent.”
“Captain Lunacara to Engineering!” Lunacara called. “Re-direct all power to the Core integrity! We need to keep it together for as long as possible!”
“Engines are operating at One hundred-twenty percent,” Commander Lita called from the Engineering Station.
“Warning,” the computer chanted. “Photon Core integrity at forty percent and decreasing. Core breach possible at fifteen percent integrity. Possible breach in four minutes.”
“Engineering,” Lunacara called. “Increase the Core integrity! Re-direct all emergency power to the core!”
“Photon Core integrity at tolerance levels. Photon Core integrity at fifty-six percent.”
“Argo III in two minutes,” Lata called. “I’m preparing to drop out of the stream!”
“Activate Condition Red!” Lunacara called. “Everyone to battle post!”
Ragol Command
“Governor!” Captain Vahn called. “The Pioneer 2 broke through the defence perimeter of Argo IX and is headed directly towards Argo III... they will arrive there in two minutes."
Governor Dolore turned around and nodded. “Captain Vahn, I have a very important mission for you, a chance for you to regain your honour,” she said.
“I am listening,” Vahn replied.
Governor Dolore took a deep breath. “As of this moment, you are promoted to Commodore,” Dolore said. “Commodore Vahn, you are now taking the command of the Falcon and the Elite Strike Force. It is a fleet of four ships. You are to depart immediately!”
“Aye!” Vahn replied and quickly left the command to the transporter.
Falcon Command Centre
“Commodore on the bridge,” a Commander said.
“Who are you, Commander?” Vahn asked
“Admiral, I am Commander Leerson,” Leerson replied. He was a newman, but on the short side of the growth. “I am your first officer for this mission.”
“Alright,” Vahn said. “Departure stations! Set a course for Argo III. Activate the Photon Drive and await my command.”
“Photon Drive powering up sir,” Leerson said.
“Velocity: Factor Five,” Vahn ordered. He looked around. This is my ship, he thought. My ship. “Punch it!”
The Falcon quickly gained speed and disappeared, with three other ships.
“Estimated Time of Arrival on the Argo System?” Vahn asked.
“At Factor 5.6, arrival time would be in six hours,” Leerson explained. “This ship has an experimental Photon Drive, it will go up to Factor 5.9.”
“Then what are you waiting for?” Vahn asked. “Increase to Factor 5.9. Call the Security Commanders and tell them to meet me in the War Room.” He got up and left the bridge. “Level eight,” he said.
After waiting for the lift to stop, the doors revealed the deck and two doors down was the War Room. He went inside and found thirty security commanders.
“What are we here for Commodore?” one of the officers asked.
“We have orders!” Vahn barked. “The Forge broke through the defence perimeter at the Argo System and has arrived at Argo III an hour ago. We are to go to Argo III and land an assault force and take the base.”
“You were under the command of Governor Kane over ten years ago!” one of the security officers roared. “What is going to make us think that you won’t be leading us into a trap?”
“I am wearing a Veridian Patch,” Vahn said. “Governor Dolore will know my exact location when she want to know it. She can detect it from two sectors away.” He pointed to the small patch over his left shoulder.
“What will we be armed with?” one of the captain’s asked.
“You will all have two Type XII Lockguns and one Type XIV Rifles as your :):):):)nal. You will also have four Type III Photon Explosives,” Vahn explained.
“Bridge to Commodore Vahn,” Leerson’s voice came through. “We have arrived at the Argo System. Estimated Time of Arrival on Argo III in four minutes.”
“Round up your men,” Vahn said. “We land in ten minutes!”
An astute Captain stood up from the Security Console. His face was white with fear. “Lord Kane,” he said. “We have lost four battalions on the surface.” He gulped, anxiety was beginning to take him. “We are losing this battle.”
“Damn,” he cursed. He stood up and stood next to the Captain at the Security Console. “Where is the Pioneer?”
The Captain hit a button and pointed directly to the viewscreen. “He’s right on our tail,” he said. “Her weapons are hot.”
An idea formed in Kane’s mind. If they cannot take the Pioneer 2 alone, then they would have to ambush it.” Prepare to concentrate all fire directly at the Pioneer,” he ordered. “I want that ship destroyed. How many ships do we have left?”
The Captain looked at the console. “Not much sir,” he said. “We have thirty-two remaining.”
Kane pressed a button on the Security Console. This allowed for Fleet-Wide communications. “All ships, this is Lord Kane,” he said. “Prepare to alter target. Target Pioneer 2. You may fire when ready.”
The Security alarm started blasting after Kane was finished speaking. No one like this sound. “Sir,” the Captain said. “Enemy forces have broken through the Deck Twelve perimeter.”
The Helm officer turned around with great speed. “Sir,” she called. “The [/I]Pioneer 2[i] is firing another barrage onto us!”
Pioneer 2 Engineering Section (Deck 65)
“Captain!” Lita yelled into the communicator. “She’s packing quite a wallop!” She looked to the Shield Status Screen. She did not like what she saw. “Shields are at seventy percent! Shields weakening!”
There were explosions all over engineering. “Shut down the Photon Core!” one of the engineers yelled. The green glow of the Photon Core had faded into nothing. The ship is to run off the main batteries.
There was a deafening roar on what sounded life the side of the ship. “Shields at forty-five percent!” Lita roared. “She cannot take this punishment!”
“Command to engineering!” Lunacara’s voice rang through. “Divert all emergency power to the shields!”
“Not much difference!” Lita replied. She looked at the screen. “Shields at…”
Before she could finish her statement, an alarm sounded followed and the computer then began to chant. “Primary Gravity Generator for Deck ninety-two is offline. Auxiliary Gravity Generator at twenty percent capacity. Repeat…”
There was another deafening roar, much more louder than before. Commander Lita checked the Shield Status screen and found the news she didn’t want. “Engineering to Bridge!” she yelled. “Shields collapsing! Shields at twenty percent.”
There was another deafening roar and Lita knew that this one had finally breached the shields. “Hull Breach on Decks thirty-one though thirty-five,” she called. “I am going to attempt to activate the Secondary Shields!”
There was another groan. “Hull Breaches on the following Decks: thirty-eight through forty-seven and eighty-eight through ninety-one.” There was a further deafening roar. “Structural Integrity is down to forty percent.”
“Command to Engineering!” Lunacara called. “Activate the Photon Drive and prepare for Factor Five…”
Commander Lita looked at the diagnostic screen behind her. Her worst fear has been confirmed. “The Photon Drive is offline.” There was a blazing alarm sound, this only meant one thing. “Shields are down!”
“Can you transfer power to the shields?” Lunacara roared.
Commander Lita looked back at the diagnostics screen. “We can’t,” she said. “The Photon Core is down and we only have thirty percent power left.” She thought for a moment and an idea came to her. “We can polarize the hull.”
There was no response for a moment, at first Lita thought the worst, but a voice trailed through. “Polarizing the hull?” Lunacara asked.
Commander Lita pressed up the codes to activate hull polarization. “In theory,” she began. “Polarizing the hull makes it as if the hull is eight to nine times thicker… making the hull itself thirty meters thick.”
There was another sound of silence, followed by static. “Communications are down,” an Operations officer called.
“Polarize the hull!” Lita ordered.
As the hull polarized, the ship seemed to slow down. The weight of the hull thickening caused enormous stress on the engines, causing the ship to act sluggish.
Pioneer 2 Command Centre
The tactical officer looked up from his view screen. “The hull has been polarized!”
Lunacara stood up from his chair. “Target the Executor!” he ordered.
The Tactical officer behind him told otherwise. “Not necessary sir,” he explained. “The Executor is on auto-destruct. Escape pots launching.”
“GET OUR PEOPLE OUT OF THERE!” Lunacara roared.
“Too late,” the Tactical officer replied. “She is breaking up.”
One swift explosion and the Executor was destroyed.
Thank you for the compliment, but I choose to remain with my Science Fiction notation of writing. This is my writing style.
__________________________________________________ ___________ 7. Full Scale War Argo III Compound Base
Four of the strike ships that were under the command of Commodore Vahn had landed and it was time for Commodore Vahn to regain his stand and his honour. “Destroy everything in your path!” he roared. “Arrest all who get in your way!”
Commodore Vahn walked as he was in stealth. He snuck inside the Main Complex undetected. He knew that the Executor was destroyed and he knew exactly where Kane was. He had one desire, to arrest Kane and bring him to justice. He found a climbing tube and got in and started to climb to the top of the base tower.
Argo III Compound Base
2.3 Kilometres (1.4 Miles) Underground
“Lord Kane entering the Command!” one of the security officers called.
One of the Captains in the Compound stood up to speak “Sir!” he called. “Commodore Vahn of the Ragol Military has landed four ships with a strike force of twenty-thousand. They intend to take the Compound…”
“Sir!” the security officer called. “Vahn is in here, this Compound, about a half mile up.”
Kane has smile that was showing up on his face. Admiral Vahn, he thought. I thought he would’ve been executed. “Give him a clear path to my office. I will take him myself.” I have waited ten years for this moment. He went to the lift and left for the top floor, level five.
Lord Kane’s Office
Commodore Vahn had arrived on the top floor. There is no one here, he thought. Piece of cake. He moved slowly to a door marked “Lord Kane’s Office” and opened the door, to find out that Cale Kane himself, was expecting him.
There was a voice on the other side of the door. “Come on in,” Kane said. “Don’t worry, we are alone on this deck.”
Vahn pressed a button on his belt, everyone of the strike force would now know where he was and ha hoped that all twenty thousand were now converging on to the tower. He wielded his rifle and went into the office. “Governor Kane,” he said.
“Ah, Admiral Vahn,” Kane said. “It has been too long.”
Commodore Vahn laughed. “That’s Commodore Vahn!” Vahn spat.
Kane laughed. “Why do you carry that weapon with you?” he asked. “You are afraid that I will attack you, won’t you?”
To show that he was not afraid, Kane put his weapons outside the office. All of them, but one, his razor sharp claw. “I don’t take orders from you anymore,” Vahn said flatly.
“I know,” Kane said. “Perhaps it would surprise you to know that I have a battalion of my super-army on a direct course for Coral as we speak.” He was hoping that Vahn doesn’t call his bluff.
“You’re lying!” Vahn barked. “All the other compounds are destroyed.” A grimace of affability was forming on his face. “The cast control centres have been destroyed. You have lost your control.”
“Then I guess we should deal this out then,” Kane said. “Hunter to Hunter.”
“Bring it on!” Vahn roared. He was smiling like a maniac now. “I have a battalion of military officers converging on this Compound as we speak. Let’s hear. Commodore Vahn to Squad Leaders, status.”
“Alpha team has taken the North Entrance to the Compound,” the alpha team leader stated.
“Beta team taken the main entrance to the Facility.”
“Gamma has taken the south exit.”
“Omega team infiltrating the Compound as we speak. We control The Command Centre.”
“As you can hear,” Vahn began. His eyes were gleaming in the pale light of the room. “We have taken control of the Compound. Give up, and you will be commuted the charge of treason, which does earn the Death Sentence.”
“NEVER!” Kane barked.
“Then defend yourself,” Vahn said. He was wielding the claw and was ready to strike down Cale Kane with all his might.
Kane lifted a Lord’s Lockgun and locked the target onto Vahn. “You were always stubborn,” Kane said. “Perhaps an electric shock will subdue you.” He pulled the trigger and an electric shock hit Vahn and he collapsed, unconscious.
Kane walked around his desk and pointed the gun at Vahn’s head. “Now, die!” he yelled.
Before he could pull the trigger, the doors burst open and it revealed Captain Lunacara, Commander Lita and Governor Dolore.
“Dolore!,” Kane yelled. “How the…”
“YOU ARE UNDER ARREST WITH TWENTY-EIGHT INFRACTIONS TO THE CORAL INTERSTELLAR LAW!” Dolore yelled, with pure anger. She was ready to pull the trigger “You are wanted, dead or alive. There is a ten million meseta reward for your head. If you don’t surrender, then it may be difficult to commute the death sentence.” She squeezed the trigger ever so slightly.
Kane raised his weapon, “You won’t take me back alive!” he roared.
Lunacara raised his weapon to target Kane, but before he had the chance, Kane has miraculously disappeared.
“Where did he go?” Dolore roared. “He couldn’t get out of here that fast.”
“Governor,” Admiral Chaos said, “I am detecting a Transporter Signal He transported out of here.”
“Transported?” Lunacara asked. “How? Personal transporters haven’t been invented yet.”
Governor Dolore stood there. “God knows how he could’ve done it,” she said. She stepped over to the desk. “Someone must’ve snatched him out of here.” Dolore knew that she would have to do one thing, to go back and get Kane. “Governor Dolore to Captain Mike,” Dolore called into the communicator. “Transport down to the surface.”
“On my way,” Captain Mike replied. A moment later, he appeared in the Transporter booth outside the office and entered the room. “You called for me?” he asked.
Dolore turned around and found him standing there. “Are you familiar with the ‘Sight to Sight?’” she asked.
Captain Mike smiled. “Well versed,” he replied. The smile instantly disappeared. “What are you thinking?”
Governor Dolore gave Mike her scanner and he read what was on it. “I want you to determine where he went,” she said. “You are the best man for the job, or better yet, the only man for the job.”
“I’ll get right on it,” Mike said.
“Well, we do have a rough idea of where he is not,” Dolore explained. “Scans show that he is no where within two-hundred miles of this Compound.”
“Two-hundred miles?” Mike asked. “That’s a bit far fetched for the Sight to Sight theory.”
“That does not matter,” Lunacara said. “He probably went to another secret location to start another major attack.” He paused to think up something quickly. “Possibly somewhere we did not detect in our original scans.”
“Either way,” Dolore said. “As long as he is out there, the War still wages on. Captain Mike, you have your orders.”
Lord Kane has a rather large smile on his face. Twice he escaped the clutches of Dolore, and twice he manage to fool them at the same time. He feels as if he belonged to cloud nine. “Prepare for the invasion force,” he ordered. “We are going to invade Ragol!”
“Aye sir,” one of the Admiral’s called. “We’ll be ready.”
“One other thing,” Kane said, this stopped the admiral in his tracks. “If you find resistance on the Planet Ragol, do what you must… Eliminate the people if they rebel!”
The Captain had a difficult time trying to get used to these orders, it means that they would end up targeting innocent people… what Kane is suggestion is… inhumane. “No,” he said.
Kane turned around, his face was white with anger. “What did you say?” he asked quietly.
The Captain looked up from the floor. The light was gleaming in his eyes. “I said no,” he said. He started to shiver in fear. “I pledged my allegiance to you. I will follow you into battle. But I will not harm innocents.”
Kane was now purple with rage. He appeared to be absolutely choking with rage. He turned to one of the Admirals behind him. “Kill him,” he ordered.
The Admiral lifted his weapon and shot the Captain, directly at the heart, disrupting it… killing him.
Kane looked at the body, then looked to all the other faces around in the room. “Is there anyone competent enough here to follow my exact orders?” he shouted. “Or will other people here have to die?”
Before another person could speak, there was a violent shockwave… it was as if the planet itself is being bombarded. “Sir!” a Commander shouted. “The Ragollian Military is bombing the planet!”
‘NO!’ Kane thought. ‘My work, they are going to destroy my work.’ He went over to the Tactical station and pressed a button. “Prepare to fire the Tri-Nucleic Torpedo!”
The Commander looked at him in the eyes. “SIR!” he said. “IT HAS THE POWER TO DESTROY THE ENTIRE STAR!”
“Fire the damn rocket!” Kane yelled. He noticed that the Commander did not press the ignition button. He forced his way through, but before he pressed the button… he disappeared.
Pioneer 2 Brig
The doors of the brig opened and Governor Dolore, Captain Regellus Lunacara and Commodore Vahn walked through the door.
Kane stood closer to the force-field and looked at Dolore in the eyes. “So,” he said. “It comes down to this?”
Governor Dolore took a pad from Captain Lunacara. “Former Governor Cale Kane,” she read. “By order of Chancellor Lon Archer of the Coral Sovereignty, you are placed under arrest. You are charged with treason, and inflicting an all-out war.”
Kane laughed. “You can’t put me in jail and keep me there forever!” he yelled. “I’ll get out! And rest assured, I’ll destroy this pathetic Republic and I’ll destroy Coral!”
Dolore laughed… Kane had other things coming to him…
8. Kane’s Trial Ragollian Republic Council Chamber
6.12.3123 – (39 Years After the Central Dome Incident) SC: 370.374247
It had been over a year since the leader of the Kane Republic has been captured, but the War still wages on in small conflicts. Cale Kane had been captured directly from the Argo III battle site and has been dragged back to Ragol III to stand trial in the newly constructed Republic Tower.
The Republic Tower… a symbol of the Ragollian Republic, has been constructed in the Lupus Silva district. It stands a mighty two hundred stories tall. It is the centre point of the entire Republic.
The Council Chamber on the first floor was especially packed on a day like today. Lupus Silva is a large city, but not many people visit the Tower on a day-to-day basis. People usually only visit on important occasions and special occasions. This occasion however, counts as both. People can see the end of Kane and can see a new beginning in the Republic. There were two thousand people in the chamber and many automated cameras were hovering through out the entire hall, broadcasting throughout the Republic and beyond.
The door next to the Governor seat opened and Admiral Regellus Lunacara stepped through the door and stood at the podium, which were ten metres in front of the Governor seat. “Attention,” he said. “All rise for the Governor.”
Everyone in the room began to rise, just as Governor Dolore was entering the room. She stepped to the Governor seat. “As you were,” she instructed, right before she sat down.
Everyone took their seats again. Admiral Lunacara pressed a small button on the podium, this allowed for communication to move outside the room. “Bring in the accused,” he instructed.
There was a humming sound and a small hole opened up in the centre of the court. People began shouting “Kane, Kane, Kane,” over and over again, just as Kane was rising up, in the box, waiting to begin his trial.
Admiral Lunacara banged the gavel; this silenced the entire Court Chambers. “Captain Nolati,” Lunacara called. “You may proceed.”
Captain Nolati stepped forward. He had a grin on his face. He is the son of the most prestigious officer in Coral history, he had some of that reputation from his father. At sixty-one, he can do anything. “You are former Governor Cale Kane,” he said. “Are you not? From whom did you succeed the position of Governor and why?”
Kane looked up with a grimace of affability. He took a breath and spoke. “I am Cale Kane,” he replied. “I took the position of Governor from Dol Grisen in 370.2, after the investigation of the ‘Great Shadow’ was completed… after the CARDs that he ordered created were sealed away… forever.”
Nolati stepped closer to Kane. “You told us who,” he said. “But you did not tell us why. Tell us why.”
Kane took a deep breath and looked at Dol Grisen, who was sitting on the front row bench, ready to object to anything. “He was incompetent,” he said.
“Objection!” Vice-Admiral Pentaglass called, who was former head of the Technology Division of the Republic. “The accused has made a deliberate shot at the reputation of my client.”
Lunacara looked at Pentaglass. “Sustained,” he said. “Continue.”
Nolati nodded. He looked at Dol Grisen, then he looked at Kane. “So, you said you had taken the Governor position from Grisen in 3106. That made you Governor for about fifteen years,” he said. “And tell me, do you have any regrets of the those fifteen years?”
Kane looked at Flowen,” No,” he replied.
Nolati nodded and looked at the Admiral Lunacara. “The defence rests… for the time being.”
Admiral Lunacara nodded. There was a murmur in the Chamber. Admiral Lunacara banged the gavel to silence the room again. “Vice-Admiral Pentaglass,” he said. “You may proceed.”
Pentaglass stood up. He was in his early sixties. He walked over to Kane and looked at him directly into the eye. He smirked. “I would like to call up…” he began. “Former Governor Dol Grisen to the stand.”
Dol Grisen stood up and stepped out of the front row and stood at the podium, which was situated to the left of Kane.
Vice-Admiral Pentaglass looked at Lunacara, and then to Grisen, then nodded. “Mister Grisen,” he said. “When did you take the position of Governor and how long did you have it?”
Dol Grisen took a small breath. “370.05,” he said. “I had that position for fifteen years, until 0.2, just as Kane had said it.”
Captain Flowen was at his feet in an instant. “Objection,” he called. “He has made direct reference to my client. I order that it be stricken.”
Lunacara looked at Flowen. “He may make any reference he wishes,” he said, “Objection denied. Continue Vice-Admiral.”
Pentaglass nodded. “From whom did you succeed the seat of Governor from?” he asked.
Dol Grisen slightly laughed, but barely enough to notice. “From Colin Tyrell,” he said.
Pentaglass nodded. “Can Former Governor Tyrell please stand up,” he said.
One person stood up. He appeared to be nearing the age of ninety. He looked as if he still had some energy left, but psychologically, all of his energy seemed to have left him in 369.98 when he found out the news of his daughter’s death.
“Is this the same man who you succeeded?” Pentaglass asked.
“Yes,” Grisen whispered.
There was a slight murmur in the Chamber. Admiral Lunacara did not bother bang the gavel. The entire hall quickly fell silent when Pentaglass was about to continue.
Vice-Admiral Pentaglass looked at the people in the Chamber. “So you have heard that Dol Grisen had taken command of the Pioneer 2 in 370.05,” he announced. “A change in power, one might call it. Mister Grisen, I am going to ask you why? Why did you take command of the Pioneer 2 in 0.05?”
Dol Grisen looked over at Tyrell, then to Pentaglass. “After the explosion of the Central Dome in 9.98,” he began. “A major investigation took place that turned up shocking evidence. Governor Tyrell had ordered those reports sealed in 9.99 so that no one can look at those reports. Those reports were dangerous. In 370.0, I implemented an internal investigation of the Command Structure of the Pioneer 2. I chose to do this because it had been three years since we had arrived to this planet and we have not set down on the soil.” He looked over to Tyrell. He could barely make out a tear running down Tyrell’s face. “In 370.03, I concluded at the end of the investigation that Governor Tyrell had been holding back on his promises. In 0.04, it had been concluded by the Coral Soveriengty that Governor Tyrell had no apparent evidence of the explosion. Like I had said earlier, he had those documents sealed. There is a good chance that those files were destroyed in 0.02 because of his fear that he would lose command. Evidence points to Tyrell that he destroyed those files, and in 0.05, he was ordered to step aside and I took the position of Governor from 0.05 to 370.2.”
Pentaglass nodded. He waited a moment for Dol Grisen to recollect their thoughts. It had been over thirty years since they had to revisit the subject of Governor Tyrell’s dismissal by the Coral Sovereignty. “Mister Grisen,” Flowen begun. “In 0.06, a year after you took the position of Governor, you cut off all primary communication with Coral. Why?”
Dol Grisen looked up. “I only cut off communication to make an attempt in creating a separate government, that would be capable to withhold itself on its own,” he said. “Coral was preventing me from doing that, so I had no choice.”
Pentaglass nodded. “Very well,” he said. “You may take your seat.” Pentaglass walked over to the small table that was next to his seat. He picked up a pad and read what else that he is planning to do on the list.
Admiral Lunacara stood up from his seat and looked at Pentaglass. “Vice-Admiral,” he began. “Are you calling up anymore people to present statements?”
Admiral Pentaglass raised a finger. “One moment please, Admiral,” he replied. He pressed a small button and placed the pad back on the table. “People of the Chamber, I call forward… Former Governor Cale Kane!”
There was a heavy uproar in the Chamber. People began to chant over and over again… “Kane, Kane, Kane…” Much louder than before. Admiral Lunacara banged his gavel a few times, but without success, the people got louder and louder.
Admiral Lunacara activated the megaphone subroutine in his computing device. “SILENCE IN THIS CHAMBER!” he roared. This got the entire Chamber silent incredibly fast.
Admiral Lunacara then looked toward Admiral Pentaglass and nodded. Captain Flowen stepped forward and began addressing Kane. “Cale Kane,” he began. “When did you take command of Pioneer?”
Kane scoffed. “0.2.”
“How?” Pentaglass asked.
Kane stood up and looked at everyone in the room… people who used to support him, people who hated him, people who just do not care for politics anymore, the Chamber was full of them. “I took the position as Governor after Dol Grisen was thrown out by the people and the opposition in the Government.”
Pentaglass nodded. “Why?” he asked.
Kane took a short breath. He knew he had to tell the truth somehow. “The Great Shadow Incident,” he said. “When word got out of the Great Shadow and its incredible dangers, people lost faith in their Government. They threw him out and I came in and took my spot, until Dolore threw me out.”
“Objection!” Dolore’s Aide called. “The accused is not to make any unnecessary references to the current Governor of this planet.”
“Noted,” Lunacara called. “Continue.”
“One last question Kane,” Pentaglass continued. “Did you play a key role to give Dol Grisen his power?”
There was an uproar in the Chamber. Lunacara pounded the gavel three times to get the Chamber quiet.
“Objection!” Commander Flowen yelled. “My client’s pre-Governor history is not on trial here!”
“On the contrary!” Pentaglass intervened. “New evidence had been uncovered that Cale Kane was at indeed, the very heart of that matter. This man’s record shows him to be a rule breaker. He broke the law on several different occasions!”
“Continue,” Lunacara said.
“Indeed, the records show that Cale Kane was Dol Grisen’s right hand man,” Pentaglass raved on. “But what the original records did not show is that Cale Kane destroyed the Central Dome files to get Governor Tyrell removed from power.” Pentaglass looked at Kane with pure rage and pure fury. “DO YOU DENY THAT YOU DESTROYED THOSE FILES? DON’T WAIT FOR THE SIGNAL TO ANSWER! ANSWER ME NOW!”
Kane looked at Pentaglass. “I cannot deny it.”
“YOU DESTROYED THE DOCUMENTS?” Pentaglass blasted.
“Yes,” Kane answered
“TO GIVE GRISEN HIS POWER?” Pentaglass roared.
“That is how it was done,” Kane replied
“And did you realize that when you did that, we would eventually find out?” Pentaglass, slightly calmer than before.
“No,” Kane said.
“And did you also realize that we figured this out for you only destroyed those files to ensure your own command?” Pentaglass spat.
“OBJECTION!” Flowen yelled.
“SUSTAINED,” Lunacara shouted. “Continue.”
“Did you realize we would find out?” Pentaglass said.
“No,” Kane said
“OBJECTION!” Flowen said yet again, but he was clearly ignored.
Pentaglass was now fuelled with rage, he could go on and on forever. “Now, final question,” he said. “Are you aware that you are also responsible for the actions of the Governor?”
“DO NOT ANSWER!” Flowen yelled.
Admiral Lunacara stood up incredibly fast, it made everyone jump as they saw him rocket up with such sheer force and speed. “CALE KANE,” he bellowed. “UNDER THE ORDER OF THIS COURT, YOU ARE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION!”
Cale Kane gulped. He knew that this would not be the end. He knew that he would rise up in power and destroy the Republic, that this court trail was only a set-back. “As Deputy Governor at the time,” he said. “I am also to share a level of responsibility for the actions of the Governor.”
Vice-Admiral Pentaglass took a deep breath. “Sir,” he said. “The State rests.”
Admiral Lunacara banged the gavel. “Jury members,” he called. “You heard all the testimony, you are to decide on the verdict. You have one hour to do so.”
After finish saying that, all twenty-four members of the Jury stood up and left the Chamber.
One Hour Later
Admiral Lunacara returned into the room. He found that the jury had returned. “Have you reached a verdict?”
A young man stood up. He appeared to be a Lieutenant. He stood up to the Jury Podium and began to read the card. “We…” he began, “the jury find the accused… Former Governor Cale Kane… Guilty of all Charges.”
Admiral Lunacara nodded. He reached for the card and signed it and stamped the Official Seal of the Republic.
Commander Flowen stood up. “I want to note for the record,” he said. “That the evidence against my client is not solid and not written in stone, but is entirely circumstantial. I request the court to consider this in the sentence pronunciation.”
“Noted,” Admiral Lunacara said. He picked up another card. “Former Governor Cale Kane. I hereby find you Guilty and with the notice of Commander Flowen, the sentence of death has been… commuted. It is the judgement of the Republic that you are to spend your remaining years at the Venetta Prison Colony of Venetta VI. No parole will be granted and no reprieve will be spent on your account.” He stood up, gathered all of his pads and stepped out of the room, with Governor Dolore following him. Kane has been sentenced to an eternity of hard labour.
Personal Log
Admiral Regellus Lunacara Reporting
7.13.3124 SC: 370.386576
It had been over a year since Cale Kane had been sentenced to almost an eternity at the Venneta Prison Colony. I have read reports that his health is deteriorating and that he is failing. I have reason to conclude that he is dying. Although it was my ultimate choice to send him there, I could not ignore Captain Flowen’s plea that the evidence was not solid enough to call for Regulation 5D… Execution for High Treason. Apparently, doctors at the Prison Colony estimate that he has less than six weeks left in him. It is not apparent that he has been poisoned, but we cannot rule out the possibility he smuggled poison inside the Colony. I knew that he may find a way out or die trying, and I believe he is choosing to die trying.
I have received excavation reports that the Ragol Ruins are being searched again for evidence of the explosion. I have been asked by Governor Dolore to search the ruins and make any attempt in getting Former Governor Tyrell a pardon from the Coral Sovereignty. I believe that it may be too late for Tyrell to get a pardon. He is suffering from a recurring emotional shock and receiving a pardon may make matters worse. Dolore wants me to continue the investigation anyway. END LOG
Admiral Lunacara pressed the small button his desk. This button ends the Personal Log that he was just recording. It had been a cold miserable day as usual in the Lupus Silva District. The weather is raining, it’s cold. It is enough to make one person to decide to stay inside for the day.
The intercom of the tower beeped and a voice trailed through. “Attention,” the voice said. “Admiral Lunacara… report to the Fleet Room.”
Lunacara tapped the communicator on his desk. “On my way,” he replied. He stood up from his desk. The desk was solid oak with a computer terminal in the centre of the desk. He walked over to the door and pressed the button to the side. The door slid open, allowing him to walk through. He turned right and went down the corridor to the first right and entered the lift. “Level Sixty-Five,” he said. The turbolift hummed and started to go up.
The turbolift stopped and the door opened. ‘Level Fifty-Seven,’ Lunacara thought. ‘I need eight levels higher.’ He noticed that through the open door, Captain Chaos stepped through the door.
“Admiral,” Chaos said. “You have been summoned to the Fleet Room as well?”
Admiral Lunacara looked toward Chaos and nodded. “I am wondering why myself.”
Captain Chaos scoffed. “Tell me about it,” he said. “I have absolutely no clue what is ever happening around here. Ever since the end of the Kane War, everything became hectic.”
Lunacara nodded. “I know what you mean.”
The lift stopped at Level Sixty-Five and the door opened. Admiral Lunacara stepped out, followed by Captain Chaos. They were walking down a short corridor. They found a sign that directed toward the Fleet Room… second left in the corridor. They turned left and noticed that the Fleet Room was at the end of the very small corridor.
They arrived at the door and Lunacara pressed the Red button on the door. The door opened up and he found eleven familiar faces inside the room.
“Admiral on Deck,” a female voice called… with a newman sound to it.
“As you were,” Lunacara said. He looked at the person who owned the voice. He recognized her face. “Captain Sil’fer.”
Captain Sil’fer produced a smile on her face. “That’s who I am sir,” she replied.
Admiral Lunacara looked around the room. He knew all of the faces. Captain Kylria, Commander Viviana, Commander Kranz, Lieutenant Teifu, Captain Guykild, Commander Saligun, Ensign Stella, Commander Glustar, Commander Ino’lis, Lieutenant Commander Orland. But there was one face missing.
Admiral Lunacara turned to Sil’fer. “Where is Admiral Relmitos?” he asked.
Captain Sil’fer looked away slightly. “It has been almost twenty years since we knew him as Relmitos,” she said… a tear running down her cheek. “Admiral Nef Miyama… who is best known as Relmitos… died last night at 214 years of age.”
Admiral Lunacara staggered slightly. “214?” he repeated. “214…”
The door to the Fleet Room opened before he could finish speaking. Governor Dolore entered the room, carrying a pad with her. “As you were,” she said. Everyone in the room relaxed and Governor Dolore took a breath and began to speak. “It is my duty to report,” she began. “That former Governor Cale Kane has died at 0650 Ragol Time at the Venneta Prison Colony.”
Admiral Lunacara looked up. He was holding Sil’fer in his arms, trying to comfort her. “Kane finally died?” he whispered.
Governor Dolore nodded. “Last night,” she said.
Admiral Lunacara led Sil’fer to the nearest chair and sat her down. He stood up and looked at Dolore. “Search the Galaxy,” he said.
Governor Dolore looked at Lunacara as if he had just told a joke. “What do you mean?” she asked.
“Search the Galaxy,” Lunacara repeated. “I know for a fact that Kane had himself cloned and that clone is hidden somewhere far from here. We need to get that clone before someone close to Kane resurrects the clone.” His eyes turned red. “I for one will not allow that tyrant to return.”
“Where do you suggest we look?” Dolore asked.
Lunacara looked at Dolore. “His last known location,” he said.
Governor Dolore looked at Admiral Lunacara. “You cannot be serious!” she spat. “Argo III has been declared off limits by the Coral Sovereignty. We would need the permission of Chancellor Archer to enter the system.”
Admiral Lunacara looked up. “Are you saying that Argo III is outside the Ragollian Republic influence?”
Governor Dolore pressed a button on the computer screen and pressed a few more buttons. This revealed a map of the entire Ragollian Republic. “Argo III is three million kilometres outside the influence.”
Admiral Lunacara sighed. “Then I guess we will have to find a way to get in there and get out undetected,” he replied.
Captain Kylria looked at Admiral Lunacara. “How do you know if the clone is even there?” she asked. “For all we know it may be on Ragol V.”
Governor Dolore nodded. She apparently agreed with Kylria. “She does present a valid point Regellus,” she said. “I think we should search our ‘backyard’ before we can conclude he is not in this system.”
Admiral Lunacara nodded. Looked to Kylria. “Captain,” he said. “Contact Pioneer 2. Tell them I am preparing to transport aboard.”
Captain Kylria nodded. “Will do Admiral,” she said. She took a seat at the desk and started to write up a transcript of a message that would be sent to the Pioneer. “Message sent,” she said.
Lunacara nodded. “Very well,” he said. “Governor Dolore, if you will excuse me.” He turned around and stepped out of the room back into the corridor.
Seabed Research Facility 27 Kilometres from Gal De Val Island
The Seabed Research Facility. This facility was supposedly abandoned after the failure of the Olga Flow Experiment. Some of the Facility is inaccessible now that forty years of degradation has taken place. Some places were either completely flooded or blocked off. But, there are some places that were never touched at all… Rumour had it that the Seabed Facility was the fallback point for Kane and that he had people inside the Facility working ever since he was captured… waiting until they had to execute Plan C3… introducing the clone of Kane.
There is a small Commanding Centre near the exact centre of the entire Facility. There was a small amount of people working inside the room. One was monitoring the sound, the transmittions coming and going from the planet, and one was waiting for the order to execute the plan.
“Sir,” a young officer, barely thirty years old called. “I have just received word that Cale Kane has died on the Prison Colony.”
An older man, about forty years old, turned around. “Are you sure?” he asked. “We better not get ahead of ourselves.”
The younger person nodded. “Very positive sir,” she said. “Listen for yourself.” She handed the earpiece to the older person and he listened on the communications line.
He placed the earpiece back on the desk. He went over to a Communications Terminal. “Doctor Xavior,” he said. “This is the Captain. Report to the Command Centre at once.”
There was a hissing sound to the side and the door opened; Doctor Xavior stepped through the door. “You called sir?” he asked.
The Captain turned around to find Xavior in the room. “We have received word that Kane has died on the Prison Colony.” He picked up the pad that was sitting on the desk. “You are going down to the Bio Lab and activate the clone.”
“Yes sir,” Xavior said. He took the pad and entered the Turbolift; he was heading down three floors to the Bio Lab.
The door opened and he stepped out of the lift. The air was damp in the lab. This lab has not been entered for three months… after the clone was checked. He stepped inside and went over to the Bio Bed and activated the Monitor Screen. “Computer,” he said. “Recognize Calus Xavior.”
“Calus Xavior recognized,” the computer said.
Doctor Xavior sighed. This was a moment he was waiting months for. “Computer,” he said. “Inject the Kane Clone with twenty cc’s of Cortisone.”
There was a slight hissing sound. The injection was in progress. The clone opened his eyes… Cale Kane has been reborn.
Chronicles of the Republic.
The revisions are complete and the second installment is well underway. Here is the next chapter in the exciting series!
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