Chapter 1
The Mission
The shuttle had just arrived at the ship carrying the second load of the command crew. They had all been summoned to the meeting room where they would get the mission details. He wasn’t sure why Nila had come along with them because she wasn’t even an officer as far as he knew. Not that he really cared, maybe she had something important to contribute to this particular trip.
Mike was a captain, just as he and Oak were. Oak was the senior most of the three of them. Angel was a Lt. as several of the others were. Rank only mattered in the more extreme situations or in the mission planning sessions like this one. All officers were privy to the planning sessions and expected to contribute something of value.
Niles, the engineer, and Angel had certainly given their best on the last mission. They had assisted the rest of command in keeping Oison in one piece. The bonus had been a generous one. Razar recognized value and he gave it back to them in spades. Everything he did for them, not just the pay, earned him the loyalty of everyone on the ship.
Right now, he sat next to Mike who shot him an irritated look. She’d probably wanted to sit by Angel rather than him. Too bad. She might as well adjust to his presence. He’d made up his mind and she was his. Oak had asked why. A fair enough question, but he couldn’t answer it logically.
“Brother, I look at her and my heart aches. I feel like I will only ever be complete once she is at my side. Both parts of me agree that she is ours.”
Oak smiled. “Sounds like the perfect answer to me. I wish you only the best on your mate hunt.”
“Thank you. Brother.” His mate hunt, an ancient term from the days his people had been more primitive than they were now. A term that stuck and was still used today. It seemed that term would never go out of use.
“I want to address all of you about the latest mission and thank you again for your hard work on the previous one.” Flicker began.
Several screens were down around the room showing a space station. It was an odd cobbled together thing and he was unfamiliar with it.
“You may realize this is not in one of the more known territories.” Teresa said. “Razar is concerned because this backwater station seems to be a breeding ground for traitors and discontents. It will take us three weeks to get there so we considered hitting a smaller less threatening station halfway there. Razar is agreeable but has left the decision up to us. It will stretch our time in space out longer than usual. The majority will rule and all of the crew will vote.”
“Now let’s get back to our main mission.” Flicker suggested. “We will be raiding Space Station Endurance. Surprisingly, it is a station originally built and put in place here at the end of known space at the time by Earth. Its condition reflects the circumstances Earth, its colonies, and those space station still connected with Earth are in. This one has recently, the last few years or so, been taken over by the worst types of renegades, rebels, and thieves. Slavery thrives here as does any kind of illegal activity and many underground type of organizations. Our missions is clear, free anyone kept unwillingly, take down as many criminals as we can, secure anything of value to cover our costs, and shut this place down. There is a ship that will leave after we do and they will come in to clean up the dregs of the universe once we have taken out the worst of them. Questions?”
“Why did this place catch Razar’s attention?” Masters asked.
“They have slavery, death matches of all kinds, and traitors he wants taken out hide here. It is also a haven for pirates and criminals of all kinds. This will send them a message, nowhere is safe for your kind.” Teresa replied.
“Makes sense to me. I have those who enslave others and death matches make me ill.” Angel commented. Everyone nodded.
“What kind of defenses do they have?” Elm asked.
“We have some information. You need a code to dock. If you can’t get one, they have a weapon to destroy a ship. They wrongly destroyed a pirate ship on our most wanted list a month ago. It hurt their business but just briefly.” Flicker admitted. “I’m sure they have guards that are armed, but those don’t worry me as much as the possibility of an automated weapon that works against ships.”
“How will we get a code?” Oak asked.
“We have to take down one of their regular customers and go in on that ship.” Teresa said. “Communications is going to have to work hard to get that information for us.” She nodded at Angel and Nila. Those were their two communications people.
“What then?” Elm asked.
“We go pirate and take over the ship.” Flicker explained with a grin. “Every young males dream, Aye?” They all laughed. Many books for teenagers did romanticize pirates. That changed when a young male or female entered law enforcement or the military and realized how many people were hurt by pirates.
“Is that all the questions? Don’t worry, we’ll have several meetings before we take any action on the mission.” Teresa assured. “Let’s all go eat lunch now.”
Dismissed, everyone hurried to the cafeteria except a few slow pokes. Mike was one of those and he, Oak, and Angel hung back to walk with her. “This will be a tough and challenging mission.” Angel observed.
“Especially for you and Nila.” Oak said with a worried expression.
“Maybe. But I’ve tracked pirates many times when I worked with my dad to be sure our ship avoided them. It may not be so hard after all.” She grinned. Oak seemed less worried after that.
“This mission will stretch our abilities. That’s not always a bad thing.” Mike commented.
“No, moving forward into unexpected areas and relationships can be good. Testing the waters so to speak.” Elm grinned at her. She shut up immediately. There was no doubt what he meant and he knew there was no good response she could give.
They entered the cafeteria where most tables were full, but Angel claimed a table for four in the corner of the room. Oak knew what she liked and he would get her lunch for her. He enjoyed that anyway because he would get her more food than she would on her own. It was a point of disagreement between them but his brother was winning. Angel looked healthier these days. Life with Oak was good for her.
His Mike looked healthy enough, but not very happy. She needed him to love and relax her. He needed her too because he wanted a mate in his life and he wanted it to be her. They’d filled their trays and Mike sat down by Angel. The seat on her other side beckoned him. There was no place he’d rather be then right by her side.
“Cook has outdone herself. This beef in wine sauce is amazing.” Angel said.
“She’s been adding new dishes to the menu to please all of us. Cook is very young to be in charge of a kitchen like she is. Teresa said she was an overachiever and good at self-defense if someone was dumb enough to attack the kitchen staff.” Oak observed.
“She’s so pretty and delicate looking.” Angel described.
“Looks can be deceiving. She came from a rough place on Earth where you learn to fight or become a victim. As one of the traded females, Razar allowed her to choose her position as long as the one in charge approved her. We are lucky to have her and the kitchen staff she chose. Hopefully, we’ll not need them to, but they can all fight well.” Mike admitted.
Elm stored away that information. It was good to know the abilities of his fellow crewmates. That could come in handy with the danger they were all exposed to. Not that Teresa wasn’t making sure everyone, even support staff, knew how to fight and were constantly increasing their knowledge and abilities. With long trips like this one, everyone worked out regularly, ate well, and got training. It was not just in fighting, but in the areas of their expertise. Some, like the engineer and Angel, received training online since they were already highly trained and capable.
All of them also got training in a secondary or even third skill. Oak was trained in weaponry and now was also training in communications with his mate. He was trained in transportation, but had now volunteered to train with mike to be a medic. That was something he didn’t believe she knew yet. Hiding his grin, he imagined what her reaction would be when she found out. For his part, spending time with her would be incredible. Hopefully, he would make advances in their relationship. First, they would become friends.
Oak had worked magic on Angel and now he would do the same on Mike. He felt energized and ready to charm his mate. The food was amazing and everyone at their table ate with appetite. Once the food was gone, they would all go their separate ways. Angel and Oak had their own quarters now. His was the same two bed unit he’d shared with Oak and soon would share with his younger brother Ash.
Ash was excited to have been accepted as part of the crew. This ship had the best reputation and only took those Teresa approved. Ash had been trained in several things that would be helpful and was an amazing warrior as most Phoenix were. They had abilities they couldn’t use except in life or death situations. Their birds burned too hot for a human or even any race except another Phoenix in bird form to survive.
A few of the royal lines had a third form that had less heat they could take when threatened but unable to take their full form for fear of harming innocents. Flicker had such a form as did his own family line. It was an amazing advantage in battle to be able to direct fire much like a flame thrower when needed. While he’d not needed it yet, it was good to know it was available.
Having eaten, he watched Mike walk away before he turned to go to the command deck. He would be in weapons for six hours before his shift changed. The weapons console was empty with one person handling most of the consoles. Now they went to eat, as others came in to take over each of controls. Soon, they would be out of Mazlan space and the risk would be higher. His position was only as needed in case they were attacked. Oak was with Angel, learning about communications.
Mike would be on call with medics covering medical most of the trip. Several had already received training and his training was reading a manual which he was doing right now. Next to him, Ranger was covering navigation which required he be watchful and alert to not any ships nearby. He also kept their path to their destination straight and sure. The male was a human, at least mostly. There was something unusual about him that Elm couldn’t quite figure out.
He was tall for a human at well over six feet and broad. The male was in great condition and could fight well, if not as well as most Phoenix. How he had been captured was a mystery that he refused to share. Elm couldn’t blame him, it must be terribly embarrassing. Ranger was doing deep space scans to look for pirates although odds were Angel’s scans for messages were more likely to prove helpful. Audio scans went out further and once messages were translated or decrypted, they would likely know what kind of ships they were from.
“See anything?” Elm asked breaking the silence and the boredom.
“Yes, there is a large armada heading this way. It’s unusual and I’ve alerted Teresa.” Ranger said. Moments later, Teresa rushed in.
“Isolate them for me.” She ordered. Ranger immediately did as asked. “Any opinions?” Her gaze searched both their faces.
“It might be a trade group, but I doubt it.” Elm observed.
“Why?” Teresa asked. He knew she meant why did he doubt it.
“They are traveling in what most races would call battle formation. The largest ship is at the rear to protect whoever is leading them. Oison has to be aware of this group from their usual long range scans.” Elm assured.
“I contacted Razar and they didn’t know. He’s sent some officers to find out why. There will also be a message sent to this group to ask them what their purpose is. Angel will be monitoring the group to catch any communications. Since Razar has had some traitors among his technical people, they will be watched closely.” Teresa admitted.
“You think it’s an attack?” Elm asked.
“I do. If it looks like it, our mission may change temporarily. There’s a possibility if we get a large enough crew trained properly, we may divide up and take turns running missions with this ship.” Teresa informed.
“You and Flicker will lead all missions, or divide up?” Elm asked.
“It will depend on the missions. You or Oak may be running some with the officers being second or third.” She said. That information must be for Ranger who was in the top ten.
Some of their officers wanted the training to go planet side on Oison eventually. Those positions were highly desirable for those who wanted to eventually mate and settle down. Razar was sadly lacking experienced, capable, and loyal officers to run the planet’s defenses or fly the ships that protected the planet as the second line of defense. If they made it past the automated defense system, ships would be launched into space to attack any enemies that made it that far.
“Angel is messaging me. I’d best go.” Teresa left and Elm wondered where these attacks on Oison were originating from.
“I think our job security just hit the highest level yet.” Ranger observed.
“Our life expectancy just hit the lowest.” Elm added. There was no way to dispute it with all these attacks and the new race edging into their galaxy.
Earth could no longer contribute any assistance, not that they’d given much to begin with. Those left on the planet needed help, they were in no position to give any. Mazlans had the Phoenix and a few previously Earth based groups as allies and no one else. Mazlan numbers were low, but their abilities high and they had the money to buy mercenaries. Unfortunately so did their enemies.
“This is going to get nasty before it’s over.” Ranger predicted. Elm just stared at him. Talk about stating the obvious.
Their ship was set to head off the cluster of ships headed their way, but the group divided. Ranger informed Teresa immediately. “Stick with the group headed straight to Oison and keep an eye on the other group as well as you can.” Teresa instructed.
It looked like they would be close to their enemies in a few hours. Once they reached them, they would shadow them until they had reason to take action. He had a bad feeling about what was headed toward them. A couple hours later, boredom was killing him.
“What do you think will happen?” Ranger asked.
“I think they will turn out to be attackers. Once we shadow them and they are determined to be enemies we will take out their command ship. This will create fear and a loss of leadership. Hopefully, they will run. If not, we will circle around picking out random targets until they panic and eventually whoever remains will run.”
“That sounds good. You think it will work.”
“It has before. As long as we remain undetected we can attack at will.” Elm assured.
“Is this something you’ve done before?”
“I’ve applied it in a lesser way against slavers. It is a battle strategy from my people’s past. We study many of them when we learn in our military.”
“I didn’t know your people had a military.” Ranger admitted.
“Few do until it’s too late for them.”
Ranger looked unsure and like he wanted to ask questions, but he didn’t. Silence fell between them as they both did what they were there to do for a couple more hours. They were drawing near the enemy ships when replacements came for both of them. Teresa would probably be switching out crew members in essential positions every few hours to ensure everyone at a console was fresh and fully aware.
Elm went to his room to catch some sleep taking his com with him and setting it near his bed. Once he showered and dried off, he set his alarm at eight hours knowing his com would alert him if he was needed. Regardless of all the excitement he fell asleep right away. His alarm woke him letting him know nothing serious had occurred yet. A loud noise erupted from his stomach telling him he’d best go eat.
The food available in the cafeteria was a selection of lunch and breakfast foods. He loaded up on breakfast mostly. A cup of coffee and an OJ finished off his tray. Seeing Oak and Angel, he joined them. “Any news?” He asked as he sat down.
While they brought him up to speed, he ate his food. Oak looked fine, but Angel had obviously been up since she’d come onboard. Once he was through eating, he said his goodbyes. “Take care. This is a serious matter. Angel is going to bed now, but I’ll be in communications if you need me.” Oak informed.
“Get some rest, Sister. I’ll see you in a bit I suspect, Brother.” Elm said.
He headed to the bridge to see if Teresa was there. It was best not to disturb her by calling her com. There was no way of knowing what she was in the middle of. Her getting any rest at all was unlikely since she was such a hands on leader.
Flicker was on the bridge looking rough. “Where is Teresa?” He asked.
“I finally talked her into lying down for a while. There are many others that can step in for a while and I promised if anything serious happened, she would be woke.”
“I’m surprised she agreed.” Elm grinned.
“I told her she needed to be rested if all hell broke loose so she could think clearly. If nothing else happens soon, I’m putting Oak in charge with you as a backup and going to join her.”
“We would wake you if needed. You know that. Angel just went to rest too. She looked rough.” Elm admitted.
“Trying to tell me I look bad?”
“Of course not. Just saying right now seems like a good time to rest with half the command crew or more up. That’s all.”
“I believe you’re right. Let Oak know he’s in charge and assist him all you can.” Flicker ordered before he strode away.
“Oak?” Elm said after pressing his com button.
“Yes?”
“Flicker says you’re in command until he or Teresa inform you they’re back. I’m your second.”
“Thanks for telling me. I’ll be in communications if you need anything. You take the bridge.”
“I’ve got it. I’m here right now.”
“Thanks. Just let me know if you need me.” Oak said before he turned his com off.
Now Elm got updates from all the consoles. Ranger was back on navigation. “We’re trailing them and there are still headed for Oison. The other group is still headed away but they have slowed. I suspect they will head to the back side of the planet soon.” Ranger concluded.
He looked up the last report from communications and saw the group of ships told Razar they were there for trade purposes. Scans has shown all the ships had full crews. That was odd for traders but they had said they took passengers too. They had an answer for everything. Razar wanted to get more information before they took an action they might regret.
Caution was a good idea most of the time, but they were traveling fast and soon they would have to make a decision. Hopefully one they could live with. Oak was looking for any communications having relieved Nila so she could rest. Elm had thought they were adequately staffed until this had happened. Now he wished they had twice the crew they had. When all the consoles and equipment had to be monitored, that required a lot of people.
His hope was before action had to be taken, Teresa or Flicker would be available to make that decision. It wasn’t that he couldn’t decide, it was that there was information he was sure he didn’t have and they did. What Razar would expect them to do was something only they would know. His com flashed, it was Oak.
“Brother, what’s up?”
“They are sending messages between ships. It encrypted, but it’s an old Earth code. They are planning to attack Oison. I’ve sent Razar a copy of the message and I’m waiting for the reply. Someone needs to wake Teresa or Flicker. Hell, maybe both of them.”
“I’ll send someone. At least they’ve had four hours of rest.” Elm got on his com and sent one of the young boys to wake them. Now all they had to do was wait, but not for much longer.
Ten minutes later, Teresa and Flicker walked in. “We have a plan and we need a dozen volunteers.”
“I’ll go.” Elm said. “Oak probably will volunteer as well once he knows.”
“Knows what?” Oak asked as he entered the bridge. “Angel is up and monitoring communications now.”
“We need a dozen volunteers. Razar wants the big ship, the one in command of the group taken. The flash tech we have is rare and few know it exists. Properly armed, a dozen stealthy warriors can take the ship a section at a time. Once you have it, we’ll decide what to do next.
It was amazing how quickly she got her dozen volunteers. This crew he was on all took the high risks just by being on this ship. Most of those who were on the raiding teams volunteered for anything. He and his brother always did, though now that he was mated, Oak might not be as eager to leave.