Captain Ra’Jinn sat down heavily in her command chair. “XO Na’Edin, please tell me we are finally fully loaded?”
Na’Edin confirmed with Adam that cargo bay 1 and 2 were indeed filled to capacity with full stasis pods. “We are fully loaded, FC probe is back in cargo bay 3, we have clearance to leave.”
A shudder gently rocked the Unwavering Message, “We’re cutting it close, cut the dock lines, we need to get out of here now.”
Out of the front view screen Ra’Jinn saw the Imperial shuttle explode as one of the long range missiles struck it amidships. “Adam, please tell me the Empress wasn’t on that ship!”
Adam answered back immediately, “Negative, however, I have stopped your departure, the Empress and her staff are in route to your vessel now.”
Ra’Jinn looked to Na’Edin, “XO, see to it the Empress makes it aboard, take the Gunny Sargent with you.” Na’Edin nodded and quickly left the bridge with Sargent Ka’Norell in tow.
Captain Ra’Jinn turned back to the front view screen and watched as multiple vessels exploded as the Jennifers staged another attack run on the shipyards. The 1st fleet had put up a hell of a fight, aided by Adam they even brought down a Jennifer or two, but hundreds of them were nothing more than broken wreckage above Le’Nerra.
Moments passed as more explosions rocked the vessel as the Jennifers started attacking the structure itself. Suddenly XO Na’Edin came through her chair’s communicator, “The Empress is aboard, get us out of here!”
Adam took manual control of the vessel and blew the moorings while firing the nose thrusters to back the Unwavering Message out of dock. He suddenly gunned the main engines and went under the structure as something fast and full of explosives hit where the ship was moments before. He continued to keep the vessel under and even through parts of the shipyard as he weaved his way away from the battle.
Captain Ra’jinn’s blood went cold as she heard Adam let out a stream of words, probably explicatives in Terran. She looked towards the rear viewscreen to see a Jennifer rise above the structure.
______________________
Captain Ta’Kinar shouted to his helmsman, “There she is, just below us! Bring us down, we’ll act as her wingman!”
Tactical Officer Das’Lurra shouted over the noise of the battle damaged bridge. She had taken a hit from one of the Jennifers, it had taken out her warp drive and one of her reactors. “Sir, a Jennifer is on their tail, it’s lining up for a shot. I don’t know who’s at their helm but I didn’t know those old tubs could move like that.”
Ta’Kinar mumbled to himself, “Probably Adam or Simon, as that is the most valuable thing in this system right now.” He then projected his voice, “Tactical, how are our weapons?”
Das’Lurra shook her head, “Only two laser cannons online, and they didn’t even scratch the paint on the last one. We’re out of torpedos, photon cannons don’t have enough power to fire.”
Ta’Kinar sighed, he knew what he had to do, he stood, pulled down his uniform with a hard tug and spoke from the diaphragm, “Computer, all ship communication.” He waited for the chirp, “All hands, abandon ship, you have 30 seconds to get to escape pods.” He then walked over to the helmsman, “You are relieved son. Now run!”
The bridge crew hurriedly walked to the escape pods that lined the outer hallway. Captain Ta’Kinar took over the helm, “Well old girl, I barely got to know you.” He took control of the yoke and forced the vessel down hard, pushing the throttle forward so hard the plastic handle cracked in his hand.
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
The Empress Protects lurched downwards as klaxons sounded warning of imminent collision, he silenced them as he watched the huge Jennifer vessel come into view as it surged up from under part of the shipyard. His view screens showed escape pods rupturing from the sides of the vessel like fireworks.
He looked back to the forward view screen, the Jennifer was coming up fast! It seemed to suddenly become aware of the threat and tried to vier off to port, but there was nowhere it could go, still partially hemmed in by the moon spanning ship yards.
Ta’Kinar smiled viciously, “For the Empress!”
His ship collided with the Jennifer and smashed it into the decking of the shipyards, both vessels turned into tumbling twisted metal before the fusion bottle onboard The Empress Protects detonated.
_______________________
Captain Ra’Jinn shouted, “Adam, what in the name of the goddesses just happened?” To her something very large just smashed the Jennifer like a bug before exploding violently.
Nora walked onto the bridge at that moment, she looked up at the ceiling, “She should know Adam.”
The Unwavering Message cleared Le’Nerra and activated its warp drive, two other ships from the 1st fleet joined them in warp.
Adam spoke through the command chair as Executive Officer Na’Edin and Gunnery Sargent Ka’Norell took their places at their stations. “Captain Ta’Kinar of the vessel The Empress Protects intentionally rammed his damaged vessel into the pursing Jennifer to ensure the survival of the Empress and the Empire.”
Ra’Jinn was stunned silent, she tried to speak, but nothing would come out. Nora walked over and took her hand. Her eyes teared up, “He’s really gone?”
Nora nodded her head, “Yes, he’s gone.”
The Captain looked around her bridge, everyone else seemed stunned too. “I uh, need a moment… XO, you have the bridge.” She stumbled out of her command chair and went to her ready room.
After the door closed she sat down behind her desk and put her head in her hands and wept.
_______________________
Adam turned over control of the Unwavering Message back to the helmsman now that they were in warp. The last transmissions from the 1st fleet was that they would buy as much time as possible for the Empress to escape. He turned to the resources at his disposal, namely the FC probe.
It was ancient, obsolete, but far more advanced than this ship or the two escorts. “Nora, I’m going to start making some upgrades with the probe. Let the crew know not to be alarmed if the ship makes some weird noises.”
Nora answered back, “I’ll have Na’Edin make a ship wide message. I’m at a loss as to what even you can do with that old hunk of junk.”
Adam smiled to himself, “I’ve still got some surprises, let’s see if we can soup up this old tin can.” He then entered the probes firmware and began to make some modifications.
_______________________
Thirty minutes later Captain Ra’Jinn stood outside her makeshift Ambassador suite that was put together when they first met the Terrans. She pressed the button to request admittance and waited with her hands behind her back.
A young lady that she recognized as the Imperial historian beckoned her inside. The small accommodations housed six people, and sitting on the bed was someone the Captain almost didn’t recognize at first.
She looked pale and gaunt. Her Imperial robes were wrinkled, her hair was tossed, and she seemed to be in shock.
Captain Ra’Jinn stepped up to her and brought her closed fist to her secondary heart, “Your Majesty, I’m sorry to meet you again under such circumstances, but I wanted to welcome you aboard myself.”
The Empress looked at the Captain but didn’t really seem to see her. She turned to Ambassador Jah’Nea, “Is the Empress okay?”
Ambassador Jah’Nea looked down, “We escaped the palace, but the crown prince and her cousin were on a separate shuttle to the shipyards. They didn’t make it.”
Captain Ra’Jinn looked around, before making a decision. “Everyone out.”
The Imperial confidant began to speak before the Captain interrupted her, “This is my ship and unless the Empress overrides my orders you will abide by them, now get out!”
The five other members of the Imperial entourage filed out of the room and shut the door. Captain Ra’Jinn turned and walked over to the Empress. She kneeled down and took one of her hand in hers. “They wouldn’t leave you alone long enough to grieve would they?”
The Empress looked down to the Captain and shook her head. Captain Ra’Jinn stood and then dropped beside her on the small bed and brought the Empress’ face to her shoulder as she embraced her. “I lost someone special to me today as well, and now that they are out of the room, you have the time to cry.”
Ra’jinn heard a small wail into her shoulder, it went on until she worried the Empress would pass out before she loudly breathed in and sobbed. The Captain remembered Ta’Kinar’s smirk when he was up to no good and began to mourn all over again.