47_Reclaiming What Is Rightfully Ours

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47_Reclaiming What Is Rightfully Ours

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Reclaiming What Is Rightfully Ours







Captain’s log: First Officer recording. We are in pursuit of the ships that took our dear friends from us. It has been ten hours now and we believe we’ve closed the head start they had on us. We’ve gotten several sensor returns which indicate we are about one half to three quarters of a light second behind their group. Med bay reports Noel is recovering from her encounter. Dai, Scholar and Seelnay are continuing their examination of the ‘dream box’ recovered from the Residence. In Dai’s absence Plakia is in operational command of the fleet. It should be noted that there has been a link established between the three ships and I’ve noticed a very active link between Independence and Defiance, one would guess Plakia and Cassandra are having an involved conversation.”

*********
My conference with the Alliance was a record for its brevity, although in agreement that the Argo Guild must be defeated once and for all. Only the Dorian’s were offering support, but something about their offer seemed hollow. I accepted it with a bit of hesitation. It was then Lala informed me she had Tay in custody. It would seem Lala had enlisted Zachary’s group to do an intensive scan of the surface. Tay was located a mere three kilometers from where she had been detained. Lala was bringing her to the Administrative Complex it was there I was going to get some answers, one way or the other.

My next call was to Erin, there was an inquisitor in the Council that had successfully penetrated Tay’s mind before. If I didn’t like the answers I was being given. I’d let her have a go at getting to the truth. Time was our enemy if Jinto and Lafiel were being held hostage then we needed to know why and how much information Tay had leaked to the pirates, plus answers to a host of other baffling things that have occurred recently.

I worry about Risch, although he’s doing an admirable job of coordinating the investigation from our end, he’s preoccupied, from time to time I see him reviewing the conversation we had with Noel. I too have to wonder just how injured she really is. Dai is a capable commander, if Noel was seriously injured she would have reported it to me, that is if Noel would let her.

Atosuryua informs me that Lala and Tay are outside waiting, I make my way there. The interrogation will take place in the court yard. Tay will not be allowed to get within telepathic range of the Administrative Complex. Her mind is powerful enough to see what we are doing and at the moment Tay does not need to know anything. She is the one who needs to supply answers.

*********
“Cassandra you’re side stepping the issue. How long have you known your mothers present medical condition?”

Grandmother had been grilling me for the past twenty minutes and I finally gave in. I told her I’ve known since Jasmine and I first talked three, almost four days ago. I felt that the information need not be released; little did I know my parents would get involved in what has transpired. Everything happened too quickly it was only when I realized we no longer had the possibility of taking them back that I finally had to let the information come forth.

“Grandmother I did what I thought was best given the circumstances. I still believe had we been able to intercept and retrieve them I would not have divulged the information until it was one hundred percent verified. Be mad, disappointed or what ever your heart desires at me, but that is how I planned on doing it, keeping it secret as mother had. If I’ve answered your questions then good if not that’s all I’m going to say on the subject and that is final.”

The look grandmother had on her face I’ve seen many times before, acceptance coupled with disappointment. I really didn’t care. I wanted my parents back along with a sibling I want to cherish. Grandmother of all people should understand that, seeing she stood in the shadows, watched Mother and Uncle Duhiel grow up, and could never interfere. I thank the Great Spirit that my parents didn’t subject me to that repressive system. I might have done something drastic if they had.

*********
Zachary was studying the information Sobbash had sent the Alliance, searching for a second meaning to her data in the hopes of making some sense out of the present situation when his comm. flashed. Opening it he found an almost hysterical Captain greeting him.

“Minister we’ve just received a fleet wide order to attack Shahrazad however it’s the last part of the message this is most disturbing.”

I started the playback; the message began with the attack notice, then a question from one of the fleet commanders concerning our presence in the system. The Empresses answer was not what I expected.

“Zachary won’t attack if he interferes with the plan then he and his group are expendable.”

I order battle stations and try to raise Shahrazad and the orbital platform there is no answer. I then notify Deputy Minister Targa of the message. He said that they received it and we had a problem.

“Minister my apologies, fleet command countermanded the order and ninety five percent of the fleet responded. However the sixth fleet refused fleet command. You have fifty to sixty ship enroute to you that will not accept any orders other than the Empresses. We have executed the plan; all of the leading officials are in custody, but Her Highness and several others have given us the slip. I feel it won’t be long until we have them in custody but Zachary E.T.A. of the sixth fleet is less than two hours.”

I thank Targa and inform the Captain to move us to a defensive ring about Shahrazad. I try once again to raise the planet and the platform, it is to no avail. There is one last route, I hope their fleet is maintaining a data link with Shahrazad because I’m about to send Dai a surprise package. Opening the common defense link I transmit in the blind towards the network hoping that their lag time is not great and they are monitoring the ‘war’ channel. All we can do is wait and hope.

*********
“Mistress the war link is active; there is a message being transmitted by a Dorian cruiser orbiting Shahrazad.”

“Is it coded?”

“Yes Mistress it’s in the common defense code we can decode it.”

“Show me it’s contents then.”

Zachary’s message to Dai appeared on the screen, Minchi watched it carefully. When it was finished she ordered the Armada to Shahrazad at battle ready.

“That ignorant Dorian witch has just signed her own death warrant. Order divisions five and six to cross the boundary and assist the Dorian’s in rounding up that woman, plus offer one hundred thousand jewels to the ship that happens to ‘accidentally’ do away with her. In the meantime approach the Shahrazad system but do not announce our arrival, I want it to be a big surprise.”

*********
“Ariel the war link is active, it’s a coded message for the Captain marked extremely urgent.”

“Display the message on the main viewer; I’ll decide how urgent it is.”

Horrors of horrors were contained in the message. Zachary explained the pending attack upon Shahrazad and stated that as much as he tried they were refusing communications. The message ended this way.

“Dai I hope you receive this in time and have an open data link to the planet, if not my only other alternative is to take on the ships and hope for the best.”

“Battle stations, plot a course for home maximum speed, notify the fleet we’re leaving and notify the Captain...”

Plakia’s voice boomed from the communications station.

“Belay those orders, Ariel use your head, you can’t get there in time, even at factor seven, it’s not possible.”

Calmer heads analyzed the message and realized that almost twenty minutes had passed since Zachary launched it into the network. An emergency package was prepared and sent to Atosuryua in the hopes she wasn’t so overwhelmed that she’d miss it. Then the voice data stated that there was a problem and to refer to the package.

Aboard Defiance Plakia opened a scrambled link to Zachary, knowing there would be at least a fifteen minute delay.

“Zachary if by the time you receive this, the planet has not responded there is a way to get the platforms attention. Move to the location indicated and fire a low power burst at the drone. When the drone asks for identification, send this code, if you are successful, you’ll have operational control of the platform. Instruct it to auto defend and switch your ships to the code it will provide. That way you’ll not be a target. Defend the platform and the station it sits upon. That is something the planet can not do and I wish you luck.”

*********
I had stepped out of the room for not more than thirty minutes. When I returned the entire communications console was alight with messages. I moved to the ships data and found an encoded package. Decoding the package I realized why the rest of the board was alight. The Dorian’s were going to help alright, help them selves to this system it would seem. I opened a link with Zachary just before he tried to take control of the platform. Damn it Plakia you’re too trusting at times but I do understand why you did what you did.

Sobbash was interrogating Tay but this was cause for interruption. I shanghaied KO and had her monitor communications something I should have done before I took my break. I found Sobbash in the court yard, pulled her aside, and handed her Zachary’s message. Disturbed would explain how she reacted. She left Tay with Lala, her detail, an inquisitor and rushed to the complex.

*********
With Ariel’s urge to leave suppressed, Plakia was facing a couple of decisions which would affect the fleet in the next hours. First was the ships they were trailing were getting closer to their base and reinforcements contained there. Right now it was two to one odds in favor of the enemy. Intercepting them now began to make sense, since there would be no Calvary for the foreseeable future, secondarily and of greater importance they had not determined which ship Jinto and Lafiel were being held on that needed to happen and before they joined with a larger force.

Taking it upon her self she ordered the fleet to cloak and approached the ships from three different directions passively scanning them looking for Abh life signs. Jinto, while half Abh, would show up on the scanners as Abh. It was her hope to find them and if possible transport them back to the closest ship then escape unnoticed.

*********
I awoke in a strange, cold, room with bright lighting. I couldn’t move my body, but with my eyes I glanced down my torso. No wonder I was cold, I was quite naked, turning my gaze to the left and right I see Jinto on a table in the same condition as I. I tried to speak there was a loud ringing in my ears and I passed out.

*********
“Captains log: we’ve approached our targets and the initial number of ships was wrong there are five in all. Four are standard Argo Guild raiders the fifth is a completely alien design it is also where I believe our people are being held. Heavily armored and shielded we are unable to penetrate its protective layers to see inside. Our scans of the other four ships found no Abh life forms aboard. We are gathering as much data as we can then to avoid detection we are expanding our following distance once again.”

From Discovery Robert and Arisa sent me the following report it did not contain what I hoped it would.

“Plakia our analysis of the shielding system aboard that ship is complete. We can see into it however they are going to know we are there. As far as transporting someone out of there it’s possible but we’d have to be sitting almost alongside them to get a solid lock. I wish we had more answers at this time but those are the initial results as you requested.”

*********
There was a sudden surge in the intensity of the ‘dream box’, Seelnay and I sensed it immediately. When we tried to disconnect Dai she pushed our hands away and said.

“Where are we, what is this place, why is it so cold?”

What ever caused the box to intensify had ceased and we disconnected Dai. Opening a link to the bridge, she asked Ariel one question.

“What is our present position?”

The answer along with the feeling I had made sense. We had just left close proximity of the ship they felt Jinto and Lafiel were on. What I felt was one of their minds being amplified by the device. Making my way to the bridge I initiated a conference. I believed I had a way to communicate with the hostages without the captors knowing it. We needed intelligence about that ship but first of all we needed to know if they were alright.

*********
Planetary defenses were online, long range scanners show the Dorian’s approaching the outer planets of the system. They are approaching from three directions at strength of twenty ships per group. Zachary’s group is defending the orbital platform and space station. I’ve sent coded messages to our other allies, a group has sailed from Illyuisa however it’ll be an hour or better after the Dorian’s arrive before they will. The Zon have remained strangely silent which I expected; however an acknowledgement of my message arriving would have been appreciated.

*********
“Mistress, there are four groups of Dorian ships in the Shahrazad system. Three are on an intercept course to the planet and one smaller group is in a defensive formation around their space station.”

“The smaller group is Zachary’s, tactical officer tag the other groups as hostile, time to their defensive perimeter?”

“Eight minutes Mistress. All units report in position. Shahrazad has just issued a warning to the ships to stop where they are, it is being ignored.”

“Let’s liven up the party shall we, open a link to the approaching ships, and we’ll introduce ourselves.”

*********
“Admiral we’ve received a cease order from the planet.”

“Ignore it, all ships target the defensive grid and prepare to fire.”

“Dorian ships approaching Shahrazad you are taking hostile actions which we will not allow.”

There is momentary confusion aboard the lead ship of the Dorian sixth fleet. All scans show clear yet where did that voice come from and more importantly whose voice was it.

“Proceed with the attack; it’s a phantom recording, a trick to halt our progress.”

*********

“Those pig headed Dorian’s, so like their Empress, guess its time we became a tangible threat. All units target the Dorian’s and de cloak. Open a video link to their fleet.”

“Our ships are uncloaked, their fleet is targeted the link is active Mistress, with no delay.”

*********
“Admiral, numerous ships are de cloaking around us there is a video link being established.”

Minchi, in full battle gear, appeared on the viewer, her demand was simple and to the point.

“Dorian fleet approaching Shahrazad I am Minchi of the Zon Armada, you will cease and desist or perish. You have thirty seconds to decide.”

The tactical officer was intensively scanning the area and it was not looking good for the Dorian fleet

“Confirming I have four, no five full fleets of Zon warships. We are surrounded Admiral, we’d better surrender.”

Five minutes ago it looked as if Shahrazad would fall in a matter of minutes. Now they had only seconds to decide their fate. Reluctantly the Admiral told the communications officer the following.

“Signal our surrender and ask for their terms.”

*********
Sobbash stood next to me we were both in awe. It seemed for one moment we were about to repel an invasion in the next moment space was crowded with Zon warships. The Dorian’s surrendered, Minchi accepted the surrender then did something out of character, she assigned a fleet to escort them home with this warning.

“Admiral we will escort you back to face Dorian justice but be warned, one wrong move by any ship, will mean certain death for all of you. Understand this we have no conscious about turning your ships into a pile of debris. Our long standing feud aside, I’m permitting you to live, be happy that I’m doing that.”

It took a few minutes but once Minchi was finished Sobbash opened a link and ask her for help. Without going into too much detail, she explained where our ships were, who they were pursuing, and why. Minchi asked for a few minutes to confer with Tara but said it was in everyone best interest that the Argo Guild be dissolved.

*********
“Mistress the fifth and sixth division commanders are waiting on the link; I also have the ground forces and central command on the same link as well. Ready when you are.”

Minchi was a tactical genius when she put her mind to it. Here was the chance to remove two thorns in the Zon’s side at once. With the Dorian’s in disarray and the Argo Guild on the radar, she could strike two blows to heal two very old wounds. The first was the Demos system, taken from the Zon by the Dorian’s with the help of the Argo Guild almost a century ago. Secondly and of more importance was the destruction of the Argo Guild an old sworn enemy of the Zon for centuries. They’d finally done it they made a mistake in taking the Princess and the Count and garnered the attention that they never desired. Now if the Abh would join in on this affair, that would give what she was about to order legitimacy. However right and wrong could be settled afterwards right now there was an opening and she was going to take it.

Opening the link she said the following:

“We are sending the Dorian’s back with the seventh division escorting it. The fifth and sixth divisions will rendezvous with the seventh as it approaches Doras. I’m also sending the invasion fleet with the seventh as well. When the Dorian fleet is secured you will proceed to Demos and retake the system. In the mean time I will take the remaining four divisions and support the rescue of the former governor of Shahrazad. And then have an all out slug fest with the Argo Guild. By the next fortnight we shall have reclaim what is ours and defeated the one enemy we have remaining.”

*********
“Message from Shahrazad, well, well we have help on the way in the form of four Zon fleets, with Minchi herself commanding them.”

While Dai was away I was in command of the fleet and this information did not sit well with me at all. I knew of the Zon, Argos dispute and also figured out that Minchi coming here meant that Sobbash had green lighted the destruction of the Guild. I wanted our people back first, what happens after that is between the Zon and the Guild. Addressing the fleet I inform them that help is on the way but its still hours away. I plan on Discovery getting close enough so that Dai can link with our people. In that vein we start a discussion on how to accomplish it.

*********
“Mom, Mom, are you awake? I need to talk to you.”

Lily’s voice entered my mind and resonated. Opening my eyes I’m greeted with a sight I hadn’t seen in years, a tearful child staring at me, not that I was uncomfortable with it but why now.

Lily explain herself and I understood why the tears, it would seem we’ve located Jinto and Lafiel. Like everything else there was doubt and Lily had come to inform me and ask for my opinion. Hearing her out I had her help me to my feet, those first few steps must have been how I first started to walk because they seemed familiar. About half way to the bridge lift I took a more normal stride. Entering the lift I made my way to the bridge arriving I found…

“You’re forget one thing Ariel while Dai’s away I’m in command. I suggest we proceed with guarding Discovery and slipping in with them…”

“Forget that grandmother I think we should cause a diversion and in the confusion a team from Discovery boards the ship and rescues my parents.”

I step from the lift with Lily at my side. Negotiating the steps that lead to the center seat I look Ariel in the eye and say one word.

“Out.”

I take the seat insert my data links into the terminal and get an overview of the past couple of hours. Plakia’s infiltration of the ships ahead of us gained some useful information that she was basing her plan on. Cassandra was acting from instinct and the desire to get her parents back at any cost. I was going to find a happy medium. First thing I was going to do was take command back and get some logic to this discussion.

“Plakia I’m relieving you, Cassandra relax and let’s go at this from a different perspective. I see help is on the way and what help it is, I’ll deal with Minchi when she gets here neither one of you has the history we have and I’ll use it to our advantage. With that said an approach by this ship to within telepathic communications distance should be our first option. And with that thought I’d like to suggest the following.”

Bringing the tactical display up I use my mind to map the operation.

“Our target presently is surrounded by raider class ships; we’ve dealt with them before and know their weaknesses. My plan, which is open for constructive comment, is this. While the two of you are here, watching the rear most ships, I plan on taking us through here then sitting in their wake as Dai scans the ship. If we are discovered you are to take out those two ships and allow us a clear avenue of escape. IF in the confusion we are able to rescue them we will. Hopefully we’ll gather information first then plan out a rescue mission. Tactical show fours hours until they are within range of their main base, unless they change course between now and then, I’m opening up the topic for discussion.”

What I though would be a skirmish turned out to be a confession of how stubborn two Abh’s could be. Cassandra, while not raise as her mother was, had the same stubborn streak her mother did along with what she inherited from her father. Plakia on the other hand was raised Abh and resented how Cassandra was reared. In this context they finally seem to have found a common ground to work from and were in agreement with the plan one hundred percent. Lily and I were pleasantly surprised with this turn of events. I opened a link to Dai who had been monitoring the conversation and said.

“Seats being kept warm for your return, we’re ready up here, just tell me when you’re ready down there and we’ll proceed.”

Dai said they needed about ten minutes before we started our approach. Scholar and Seelnay had linked a monitor to the box so they could experience what Dai was seeing on a delayed basis. Initial tests were promising and final adjustments were being made. Then Dai inquired as to my health.

“I’m alright this chair is really comfortable too. I think I want one for my office when we get back. My worry Dai is you. You’ve spent a lot of time in the dream world are you doing well?”

“Yeah Noel I’m fine Scholar’s been a buffer. I know one thing, when we get them back its not going to be easy. Their heads are really jammed with a bunch of conflicting facts which if left unattended… No I don’t want to think about that at this time, just a heads up. We might have to restrain them once we get them back, because in their minds we are the enemy. That’s why you were attacked, just thought you should know that, so if we have to do something extraordinary, you’ll understand why.”

Dai’s words brought me no comfort whatsoever, yet that did explain the completely unprovoked attack on this ship which if they were using their sensors should have shown us as friendly… or did they? I open a link to Robert and have him pull all of the AI data from the shuttle it may answer this pressing question I have in my mind.

*********
“Your Highness we can’t escape; the fleet failed to secure Shahrazad and the Zon are searching the system. According to the dispatch we intercepted; Minchi’s put out a one hundred thousand jewel reward for your dead body. We better let our people arrest us; if the Zon get their hands on us we will surly die.”

Surrender was a word the Dorian Empress detested. However given the choice of living in shame and dying at the hands of the Zon she chose the former option and contacted the Shahrazad Embassy on Deltoke. While a member of the Alliance; Deltoke also has a treaty with Shahrazad directly. It was her hope that Governor Sobbash would intervene in the case and prevent her death. She was about to get the second surprise of her day.

*********
Alexander Dorin, Ku’s younger brother, and ambassador from Shahrazad, sat in his office overlooking the land he and Ku once played upon. A graduate of the last class of ambassadors trained on Shahrazad, Alexander had received preferential treatment, not only because of who he was, but where he was going to be stationed. Although Ku and Jinto had an exceptionally close relationship Alexander bridged the gap he was exceptionally close to Lafiel as well.

He had been following events as they were unfolding and was in contact with Shahrazad as well. The Dorian Empress calling for him came as no surprise. He knew when cornered she’d look to Deltoke for assistance. Only in this case he was under orders, which he accepted without hesitation, not to grant her asylum.

He was to give her a choice, surrender to the Zon or place herself at the will of Shahrazad law. She could also try to make her way back to Doras and turn herself into the authorities there. With the Zon combing the routes between her and Doras her chances of arriving were slim to none. Also Her Highness had a hefty reward on her head, there were those who would rather see her dead than jailed, Minchi’s added incentive made traversing space in an unarmed shuttle all the more harrowing.

Alexander delivered Her Highness the options and commented on the prospects of her arriving alive at Doras. While not received well she understood the lack of choices, as far as her retaining her freedom, was concerned.

“Ambassador you’ll at least guarantee my safety if I were to surrender to the government of Shahrazad.”

“I’m sorry Your Highness; my position will now allow me to guarantee anything until you’ve told me where you are and depending on where that is I may not be able to help you at all. Face it, you tried and failed to capture the home world. Why would Sobbash or any other member of the government want to guarantee your safety?”

“And if I were to give you my location, what assurances would I have that you’ll not inform the Zon where I am?”

“None whatsoever, I believe you’re beginning to understand the position your actions have placed you in. I will tell you this, if you can make it to this location and surrender yourself to the commander of this ship. The Zon will not be able to lay a hand on you; however, if you think the Great Council will go easy on you then you are sadly mistaken.”

The location of the ship and an image of not only it, but its Captain appeared on the display. The Empress thanked the Ambassador and closed the link without further comment.

*********
Captain’s log: Noel Ekuryua recording, we successfully penetrated the pirate group and have made contact with Lafiel. She was of little assistance in gleaning information about the ship however what was viewed in her look around has given us their location, well sort of, they are in a confinement room surrounded by a force field. We got close enough to scan into the ship and determine there is one place on the port side amidships that is radiating an energy pattern consistent with that kind of confinement field. To remove them we will have to disable the field, its output directly interferes with our transporters. Although Robert and Arisa are studying the pattern and attempting to modify the pad aboard Discovery to negate the fields affects. This will take time, something we are running short of.


Two other issues should be addressed as well; one, there is a group on the edge of our sensors heading this way, no doubt Argo Guild reinforcements and from astern we get momentary ID beacons from the Zon Armada. It would seem in the next hour or so we’ll be in the middle of two forces, neither of them knows the other is there. And both, once they find out, will be hell bent on destroying the other. I know Minchi is maintaining communications blackout but she needs to know the current situation. In that vein I’ve sent Defiance to intercept the Zon Armada and communicate with Minchi, in person if need be, our position and progress since the last communication with Shahrazad. Plakia should be intercepting the Armada just about now. I hope to see Minchi shortly or at least have some acknowledgement of my message to her.

*********
The Ministry of Information is alight at this hour; Kenesh has just received word of the attempt by the Dorian’s to take Shahrazad and the subsequent intervention by the Zon in the matter. Her staff, already overwhelmed by the events of the past seventy two hours, are now facing the realization that Shahrazad and the Zon are about to enter into conflict with the Argo Guild. If the reason for said conflict was Jinto and Lafiel then she wondered why Sobbash hadn’t contacted her, unless things were moving as fast there as they were here. She opened a link to the planet it went unanswered.

*********
“Mistress, a warship from Shahrazad is approaching at high speed. There is communications, in a tight beam, directed at this ship, shall I open the link?”

“Open the link; receive only, depending on who it is and what they have to say I might answer them.”

The link opens and Plakia is being displayed on the main viewer, she knows it is receive only, so she proceeds to relay Ekuryua’s message to Minchi.

“We’ve located the abductees, they are aboard a ship that does not fit the database, and here is the information we presently have. Also you should know there is a group on an intercept course to the ships we are following. Noel Ekuryua wishes you to communicate with her directly concerning the abductees and the approaching ship before you take any independent action.”

The message ends and the ship slows its approach. Aboard the Zon flagship Minchi now considers Noel’s words. Their past meetings have always proven beneficial to both parties and it would seem this time Noel understood Minchi’s position before she had the chance to state it. Although annoyed Minchi was impressed with Noel’s gutsy move of sending another ship to intercept her before she reeked havoc upon the Argo Guild. The decision was made to rendezvous with Noel and discuss a plan of action before the opposing group arrived. She had enough fire power to take on the ships from Shahrazad in an unfair fight. But her grudge was with Argos, not them at least not now; it depended on what Noel had to say.

“Send the following message to the ship from Shahrazad, lead on we will follow.”

*********
“We’ve received a message from the Zon. It says lead on we will follow. That is all Plakia. The link is closed.”

“Reverse course and proceed to our ships, then establish a link to Discovery.”

“Course is reversed and Ekuryua is on the link waiting for you.”

“Very well, estimated time to our fleet and time to the Argo groups rendezvous.”

“Twenty minutes to our arrival at present speed and a half hour until the enemy group rendezvous, unless they increase their speed.”

“Nice, Noel will have a few scant minutes to convince Minchi before all hell will break loose. Open the link to Discovery.”

*********
We had been monitoring Defiance’s progress and when we saw there was communication between them and the Zon followed by Defiance returning with the Zon in trail. We figured that Plakia had been successful. What we didn’t know until we received word from her was how brief the exchange was.

Defiance is coming on line Noel.”

“Noel listen to what I have to say carefully, the Zon are following us and nothing more. Minchi would not discuss anything until she gets there. Also, and of more importance, this is the scan we took of Minchi’s fleet. You’ll notice the absence of first line ships and the excess of support ships. Noel it’s my opinion that there is another Zon force comprised of their first line ships heading else where. While what Minchi has with her is sufficient to defeat the Argo Guild, with our assistance, just where in the heavens are her first line ships at?”

I review Defiance’s scan of the Zon ships and rapidly come to the same conclusion, Minchi’s force would have been first line about ten years ago. We are getting further from the last comm. satellite our real time lag is approaching one half hour. I package the scan and send it home marked urgent. I hope Sobbash might be able to shed some light on this development. For the meantime I’m waiting for Minchi to arrive so we can ‘converse’ and develop a plan of attack and rescue.

*********
With the Empress on the run I’m at liberty to tell Sobbash everything I know and have done. Our conference lasted a mere twenty minutes. At this time I’m on a shuttle enroute to Shahrazad for further conversation with the government as Doras leader, a position I never wanted and do not plan on keeping very long. We are a few minutes from touchdown and for the first time in my life I find myself quite nervous.

*********
Tay had put up a mental wall; the inquisitor from the council was making progress in breaking through, although Tay was violently fighting her. Sobbash had called earlier for Mia to come from the village and she had arrived along with the inquisitor. She was there to monitor the medical condition of both subjects, but Sobbash wanted her to make Tay ‘more cooperative’.

“Mia I’ll come to the point, give her something to knock her out cold if necessary. She has information that we need desperately, I, we don’t have the luxury of a lengthy interrogation to get to the truth. The fleets about to engage the Guild with the Zon, I wish I knew how Minchi knew what was going on around here, she showed up at a very convenient time, almost too convenient.”

I’m torn between my oath as a doctor and my friends who are in danger. I hope the Great Spirit forgives me for what I’m about to do, but in my heart I feel it must be done. From behind I administer a very potent agent to Tay she is unconscious in a matter of seconds. The inquisitor starts delving into Tay subconscious mind and gets a startling revelation.

“Get me a tablet with network access and hurry.”

A tablet arrives and data is fed into it. The access point of the Guardians server network comes up and with a code entered the entire Guardian’s network is opened up for examination. A program labeled ‘monitor’ is running on several servers, once accessed it shows the data feed coming from Discovery. What is of interest is there is little lag in the stream. Orders are sent to Discovery to make the feed live once again. It is also at this time we find out about the package Noel sent concerning the Zon fleet.

*********
A sonic boom is heard as Zachary’s shuttle makes the overhead just west of the island. Sobbash leaves Tay with Lala, the inquisitor and myself then heads for the docks. Minutes later she arrives with a bewildered Zachary at her side. Showing him the data from Noel concerning the Zon fleet his faces pales. He opens a link to his ship in orbit and asks for a link to the Ministry to be opened. The response from the ship makes his face grow paler.

“We are unable to contact anyone on Doras, communications are being interfered with. I’ll try the relay stations directly and see if I can get a response.”

Zachary thanked the Captain and closed the link. Taking in a deep breath and letting it out slowly he looked us in the face and said.

“I know where the front line ships are, they have blockaded Doras and are probably on their way to liberate Demos. Sobbash I’d gladly give the Zon, Demos if I were in the position to do so. But with communications as they are, our planetary defense forces will fight to the bitter end to keep the Zon off that world. It will be a massacre of galactic proportions and start a war between the Alliance and the Zon. I know you’re overwhelmed but it would seem we now need your help too.”

Sobbash stood there taking in what Zachary had said. She closed her eyes and turned her head skyward. A gentle breeze blew her hair from her face; you could see the veins pulsating in her temples. Unconsciously I took my scanner and made a pass over her. Her readings while elevated were stabilizing in a few moments she opened her eyes and her mood had completely changed. She asked that the inquisitor continue to probe Tay’s mind and record her findings. She asked that Lala and I remain here to keep an eye on Tay, then she and Zachary made their way to the Administrative Complex.

*********
Divisions five, six and seven of the Zon Armada occupy the Dorian system. The commander of the invasion fleet, along with the other commanders, is in a conversation on how to proceed from here.

“They gave in rather quickly, that coupled with the orders issued from the Alliance for them to stand down helped as well. Time is of the essence while communications are blacked out on this end we have no idea if Demos was warned about our arrival. If they were, we can expect resistance, if not, we might be able to retake the system with minimal civilian casualties. But we need to act and swiftly, Mistresses orders were to recapture the system in a fortnight we can do that so let’s get a move on. The fifth division will remain here and watch the Dorian’s, the balance of our forces will make for Demos without delay. Are there any questions?”

The Dorian’s watched as a mass of ships moved from the system then disappeared from their scanners. The race to retake Demos was on.

*********
“Governor Sobbash I’m sorry but the sight of three Zon frontline divisions sitting in orbit around this world it left the Alliance with little to do but agree with there request. Doras is under military quarantine until their Empress is in custody. This is to prevent another attack upon your system or any other target she might have given their commanders to carry out. While Dorian Fleet Command assures the Alliance that they control the fleet. Without central leadership we can’t allow a force of that size to be autonomous. Understand me when I say this we did not come to this decision lightly. Now governor if you’ll excuse me we have other pressing issues around here to take care of. Good day Governor Sobbash.”

*********
The link closed; Sobbash turned to Atosuryua and asked this of her.

“Where is the group that left Illyuisa presently located?”

“They are entering the system as we speak and I have Eliana on standby.”

“Put her on, we need to talk; Zachary stay here this concerns you as well.”

Eliana, fleet commander and first princess of the Illyuisa appears on the screen, an old friend of Sobbash’s she hasn’t seen her since she took office as governor. Her first statement was of interest.

“You called me here because you were supposedly hip deep in Dorian ships; however we are only detecting six ships. I’m sure there’s a good explanation for this right Sobbash?”

Sobbash explained the past hours and requested that Eliana stay in the system, so she could release Zachary and his group hopefully to prevent a war, which she explained that in detail to Eliana as well. Her response while candid was also to the point.

“You know I could care less if the Zon and Dorian’s annihilate each other. Removing those two women from power would only be a blessing to the Galaxy. Be it known right now I’ll defend you and your world but we will not get into anything concerning Doras or the Zon Empire. Just so we are perfectly clear on this subject Sobbash, I’ve given you not only my Governments position but my own as well.”

Having Zachary step into the conversation Sobbash introduced him as the new leader of the Doras and restated her request then added this.

“I know how you love those two nations but I must make you aware of the facts as they are. Minchi put a hefty price on the Dorian Empresses head and in that vein Zachary and his followers have lead a bloodless coup. But if this Demos affair goes badly, as I fear it will, you, me and the rest of this part of the galaxy will be involved in a war which will make the Four Nations affair look like a picnic. You know as well as I do what weapons of mass destruction both side have at the ready. You really want all of that unleashed?”

“Fine Sobbash, as always you’ve made your point and rather vividly this time. Zachary only because I don’t want an interplanetary war I’m granting you and your ships safe passage through our territory. If you leave within the hour you should be able to intercept the Zon as they arrive at Demos or at least order your people to surrender. I have no idea what your plans are but given what I know and being outnumbered at least a hundred to one. I would hope you will try a diplomatic solution. Then again you are dealing with the Zon aren’t you, either way; I wish you success in your endeavor?”

The link closed, Sobbash turned to Zachary and said.

“This is all I can do for you at this time, I suggest you return to your ship and make haste to Demos. We’ll monitor your communications but outside of this I can offer no further assistance. And Zachary, try to survive this, I’m still looking forward to that Dorian repast you promised the last time I helped you out, okay?”

Zachary smiled and left the complex, minutes later I heard the shuttle depart from the lake. Looking skyward I could see the contrails the shuttle was leaving as it moved towards space.

Greta came to my side, she notified me that Atosuryua had forwarded our meeting notes to Noel in the hopes she would get them before her meeting with Minchi. Now knowing why Minchi was in this region of space made me feel a little better it would seem she planned on taking Demos from the moment the Dorian’s showed weakness. But was she still somehow connected with Jinto and Lafiel’s kidnapping? That would be Noel’s problem to ascertain, right now I had another contact to make and when I reported what we’ve discovered. Kenesh is not going to be thrilled in the least.





To Be Continued In: Of Demos Doras Jinto and Lafiel.

"Ah! You don't know my name?
Its very simple, Lafiel you shall say.
In return I'd like to call you Jinto."


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