I stared at the man standing on the table, he was staring back at me with his arms by his side. I was trying to quickly piece together what the implications of this man being a Twiddle and in charge of four carriers here in my solar system were.
“I am Guild Mistress Kenna Mackenzie of the blossoming Terranova, owner of MWOA254, this solar system and-”
“Lies! I have filed a complaint against you, Kenna Mackenzie, any future and current employers will now know you lied to a Galactic Federation Commander today, now let's try this again, who are you and under what authority do you prohibit our entry, by armed force, to this solar system?”
“Uh, as I just said, I am Guild Mistress Kenna Mackenzie of the Blossoming Terranov-”
“Insubordination! I have ordered you to identify yourself and your authority, twice, not spout the same garbage! I have just filed a second complaint against you, Kenna Mackenzie. Furthermore, I will have you know I have been in contact with a Mr Washington, leader of the Planetary Baron Washington Clan, who resides on the planet below. He has informed me that this planet is the only inhabited planet in this solar system. This is backed up by my ship's sensors. He has also declared that the planet does not have a planetary king. There is no way for me to confirm that, but the few other clans I have managed to contact on the surface have informed me that it is true. Therefore, I have come to the conclusion that you do not represent the planet below. I have also reached a transactional agreement with Mr Washington and will need to enter the solar system to deliver his newly purchased shuttle.”
He turned to look away, and his mouth moved, but I could not hear what he was saying, he turned to look back at me and smiled softly.
“My XO has informed me that the clerical error that occurred has been fixed, and this solar system has been classified as a combat zone once more, naturally the Twiddles Clan immediately filed for ownership of the combat zone to harvest its resources, according to the agreement made with Mr Washington the planet known as Earth will be spared. In exchange for us to harvest everything else, he will receive the fore mentioned shuttle as well as a healthy sum of credits and one orbital station.”
He stopped to glare at me, I could see the anger and hatred in his eyes. I was about to respond when he continued.
“Now, to make sure we are on the same page. Here are the facts as I see them. First, I know this solar system is a combat zone. Second, I know that the Twiddles Clan has filed a claim of ownership of this combat zone with the Galactic Federation Planetary Combat Law Enforcement Departments. Third and lastly, I know any ship that attempts to defend this combat zone from my Twiddles Clan is an enemy combatant and may be fired upon. So, Flight Lieutenant Kenna Mackenzie, who holds no authority to prevent myself or any Galactic Federation ship from entering this solar system. If you are done talking out your ass, then I would like to get to harvesting this solar system's resources. Oh, before I forget, I have also announced to the surrounding Galactic Federation Alliance ships to stand down or under galactic law article 73 subsections 24. I, Commander Leositori Twiddles, move to defend my clan's claim!”
“Uh, wait, that isn't-”
He vanished before I could tell him how wrong he was. The hologram changed, showing the solar system again. After a few Minutes of stunned confusion, an alarm started blaring as I watched in horror, the Galactic Federation Alliance ships defending the system began moving into defence positions as they started flying backwards towards the orbital station. As they did that, the four carriers had started sending all its ships out of their hangars, and they were attacking the nearest Galactic Federation Alliance ships. I watched half a dozen missiles flying between the smaller ships. My eyes were drawn to where two carriers were fighting each other. I could see the several dozen missiles being fired from one and intercepted by missiles from the other, in some cases they got close enough for the laser defences to stop them. And when those failed to stop the missiles, I watched pieces of the ship fly off into space. The hologram was so detailed that I even saw the poor unfortunate people that were blown into space float away from their ships. The overwhelming force quickly whittled all the ships defending the parameter down to scrap and salvage. Before spreading themselves out to take up defence of the area they had conquered. They then shuffled around to free up a carrier and its ships, who all started heading in towards the Orbital Station. I damn near jumped out of my skin when I heard a knocking on the command room's door. I hesitated before walking over and opening the door to see Ashley standing there.
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“You okay Ash?
“Oh, uh, yes, I was just wondering if you could unlock the game room yet?”
“A carrier is on its way to the orbital station after defeating our protection, so now probably isn’t the best time”
“Oh, that's not good, what are we going to do?”
“Activate defences and then think of what to do next.”
“Will that be enough?”
“We will have to hope so” I mumbled as I turned back and walked over to the command table, watching the ships approaching. I placed my hands on the edge of the table and started mentally moving through the menus and activated any of the defences I could find.
“Oh god, a second one of those big ships is turning towards us!”
“What?” I asked as I looked up at the hologram. All the ships were shifting around again as a second and third carrier began moving towards the orbital station, all of their ships pulling away from the perimeter to follow the carriers in.
“I guess that means an orbital station can handle a single carrier?”
“Yea, and now they are sending two more towards us”
“I'm not worried” I lied as I quickly moved through the menus again trying to find something to help when I noticed out of the corner of my eye something leave the orbital station at high speeds. I looked up at the hologram to see it intercede a screening ship and turn it into shrapnel.
“What the?”
“What was that?”
I watched as the orbital station fired again and again from guns popping up all over the station and targeting the ships. Watching them turn into shrapnel, some of that shrapnel hit other ships, creating holes and damage for my stations guns to exploit. The screening ships were all gone by the time the fleet made it halfway across and into range of guns that seemed to be designed to hit the smaller ones. They immediately began to fire upon them. The bigger gun had already begun to fire upon the carrier. I looked past them to the second wave, I couldn't help but flinch at the thought of all those poor people.
“Oh, shit! Kenna, they are firing back!”
I winced at the idea of the orbital station being hit by something. However, small shaped discs popped out of the hull and a blue shimmer surrounded it.
“What the? Did I do that?”
“I hope so, or someone else is controlling the defences”
“Wouldn't that be nice, someone helping save our bacon”
“I don't know, maybe the table is just intuitive.”
I turned back to the hologram as I saw the missiles slam into the blue, shimmering field. The destruction washing over it, leaving the hull unharmed. I breathed out a sigh of relief until I noticed the shield emitters power level indicator on the side of the command table drop from 100 to 90 percent.
“Okay, I now know what that is.”
“Not funny, Kenna, I'm trying not to wet myself in fear over here.”
“Sorry”
I looked away from Ashley just in time to watch more missiles flying towards the station. “Oh, that can't be good” I whispered, I quickly shifted my attention back to the table, trying to run through all the menus to find something, anything to save my ass and my cousins.