The officer immediately escorted Will and Debra to the emergency command center located beneath the palace. They headed downstairs and though a number of corridors until they reached an elevator which was guarded by two soldiers holding blaster rifles.
As the three of them approached, the guards’ gaze never left them as they tightened their grip on their rifles.
The officer stopped in front of them. “Commander Selen,” she said giving a crisp salute.
Neither guard moved. “Access code,” demanded one of the guards.
“Alpha seven two omega.”
The guards stepped aside and the elevator opened. Commander Selen led Will and Debra inside. As soon as the door closed, the elevator immediately started moving. Debra felt her stomach lurch into her chest as the elevator accelerated downward. Within a minute the elevator began to slow.
The door opened to a large well-lit room with several large screens on the walls. Dotted around the room were many small consoles where pairs of military officers typed and stared intently at the screens. None of them looked up when Will, Debra, and Commander Selen stepped off the elevator.
At the front of the room was a large table where the King sat with his military advisors. On the wall in front of them was a giant screen which showed a tactical display of the Celentus system with dots representing the location of every ship in the fleet. At a location outside the system there was a large red dot slowly moving towards the planet.
Commander Selen brought Will and Debra to the table. “Your Majesty,” she said bowing.
The King looked over. “Thank you, Commander.”
“What’s the situation?” asked Will.
Admiral Zelen, the commander of Celentus’ space fleet stood up. “About twenty minutes ago, our outer defense grid detected a ship on course for Celentus.” He pressed a button and an image of a space frigate showed up on the screen. “It’s still too far away to get good sensor readings, but we were able to get a long range image. It appears to be an Earth vessel.”
Will walked over to get a better look and nodded. “You’re right Admiral. That’s a Magellan class space frigate. Not very fast, but it has the greatest firepower and defensive capability of any ship in Earth’s fleet.”
“Have you tried contacting it?” asked Debra.
“We have, but got no response.”
King Raphul stood up. “At its current speed, the ship will reach the planet in a little over four hours. We’ve sent the closest available ship to try and get some sensor scans. That data should be coming in within the next few minutes. I’ve already ordered all available ships to rendezvous and engage the ship before it enters the system.”
The tactical display showed the six ships of the Celentus fleet currently in the system converging at a point along the Earth ship’s course just outside the Celentus system. Suddenly, the display changed with the tactical display moved to one half of the screen as the sensor data from the Earth ship began scrolling on the other side.
“There’s no one on board?” observed Debra noticing the sensors showed no life forms.
“Look at those power levels,” exclaimed Will. “They’re far beyond what that class frigate should be capable of.”
One of the other officers looked up from a console. “It seems that any power not being used for the engines is going to shields. Also sensors aren’t showing and sort of weapons.”
Will shook his head. “That doesn’t make any sense. Why would they send an unarmed, heavily shielded ship with no one aboard?” He just stood there staring at the screen, a perplexed look on his face.
Debra noticed his expression. “What’s wrong?”
Will shook his head. “I’m not sure. Something about this seems familiar, but I can’t place it.”
“Is this something from one of your assignments with Gwen?”
“That’s the thing, I know it isn’t but I’m certain I’ve seen this before.”
The Celentus fleet had rendezvoused and were now approaching the frigate. The communications from the fleet were piped into the command center.
“Fleet commander to Admiral Zelen. We are in position.”
“Commence firing,” he radioed back.
The sensor readings were still being displayed and showed no change as the ships continued firing.
“No effect, Admiral. Their shields are too strong.”
“Try concentrating your fire,” ordered the Admiral.
“Concentrating fire.”
The sensors only a minor reduction in shield strength.
“Sorry, Admiral. We need more power if we’re going to get through those shields.”
“Stay with the ship and await further orders,” replied the Admiral.”
Suddenly, Will sat up, his eyes wide. “Impossible, not even Grandle would do that,” he said in a furious tone.
“What is it?” cried Debra.
Will jumped to his feet. “Admiral, have your ships scan the frigate for alensium.”
The Admiral eyes grew wide. “Scan the ship for alensium,” he ordered urgently.
There was silence for a moment. “Admiral, we are detecting nearly ten tons of alensium on board.”
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The Admiral looked over at Will. “How could any civilized world do such a thing?”
“I don’t understand,” said Debra.
Will paced as he spoke. “Near the end of the Trelent War, when the Trelentians realized they were losing, they started crashing ships filled with alensium into allied planets. The heat of reentry caused the alensium to explode releasing toxic gases and high levels of radiation. Thousands were killed.”
Will pointed up at the frigate. “And that ship is filled with at least ten times more alensium than any Trelentian ship ever used.”
“If that ship reaches Celentus, millions could die,” said the Admiral a mixture of fury and distress in his voice.
King Raphul stood up. “That ship will reach Celentus in just over three and a half hours.” He turned to one of the other officers. “General Clarrel, mobilize all military units and begin evacuating the population. Commandeer whatever ships you need to get everyone off-planet.”
“Yes, your majesty,” she replied before rushing off to one of the nearby consoles where she began rapidly issuing orders.
The King looked around the table, his eyes briefly resting on each person. “Do whatever it takes to stop that ship. Right now, our people need me more than you do.” As soon as he was finished speaking, he rushed over to the elevator.
“Are any more ships available?” asked Will.
“Not any that could get here in time.”
“What about overloading the reactors of one of the ships?” Suggested the Admiral.
Will looked up at the sensor display. “It looks like they threw in every reactor they could find to power those shields. I don’t know if even that would put a dent in it.”
The Admiral nodded. “Unfortunately, I think you’re right about that. However, there is one other option. We could ram it. One of our ships colliding with it at maximum speed might work.”
“It’s the only thing we’ve got left,” replied Will not sounding entirely convinced.
The Admiral immediately got on the radio. “Admiral Zelen to the Frestlin. Begin immediate evacuation and get me Captain Lurn.”
“Yes, Admiral. Frestlin out.”
In less than a minute, a new voice was on the radio. “This is Captain Lurn, go ahead Admiral.”
“Captain. The Earth ship can’t be allowed to reach Celentus. Once your ship is evacuated program your autopilot to ram it at maximum velocity. We hope that will stop it.”
“Understood Admiral. The evacuation is proceeding and will be complete in seven minutes. Frestlin out.”
The Admiral ordered the other ships to move a safe distance away while the Frestlin moved off so it would have enough distance to achieve maximum speed before impacting the frigate.
While this was going on, Debra went over to Will. “Do you think this will work?”
“I don’t know.”
“What if it doesn’t?” she asked, uncertainty in her voice.
He looked at her and shook his head before walking away.
A video link was established and the frigate appeared on the screen, devoid of light except for its engines.
The radio crackled. “We’re ready, Admiral.”
“Go!”
For a minute or so the image of the frigate didn’t change. Suddenly, a blur appeared on the screen and slammed into the frigate. There was a blinding flash of light which caused the video image to briefly disappear. When if returned, it showed a large debris field where the two ships collided.
A cheer arose in the command center, but it quickly faded as the frigate moved out the debris field showing no signs of damage.
“Damage report,” called the Admiral.
“Their shields are down about ten percent with no damage to the ship.”
“The Admiral closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair. “So we only need to ram nine more ships into it,” he muttered in a defeated tone.
The Admiral stood up and looked around the table. “Does anyone have any other ideas on how to stop this thing?” One by one everyone, including Will and Debra shook their heads.
He flipped on the radio. “Admiral Zelen to all ships. Return to Celentus at once to aid the planet-wide evacuation. Coordinate with General Clarrel to determine where you’re needed.”
The Admiral started walking to the elevator. “I’d better inform the King.”
“Admiral,” called an officer sitting at one of the consoles. “There’s an incoming message.” He paused. “It’s coming from the Earth ship.”
The Admiral spun around and headed back to the table. “Transfer it main speaker,” he ordered.
“To King Raphul and the people of Celentus,” came a voice from the speaker that Will didn’t recognize. “You are currently harboring two fugitives from Earth; Will Power and Debra Corlander. We demand their immediate return.”
Will and Debra looked at one another. They already knew where this was going.
“You are to take the fugitives to the largest moon of your system’s fourth planet,” continued the message. “Once we have them in custody, the ship currently approaching your planet will change its course.” The message ended and a set of coordinates appeared on the screen.
The message ended and everyone turned to look at Will and Debra. “We haven’t much time,” said Will, doing his best to sound calm. “It will take at least an hour to reach the fourth planet.”
The elevator opened and the King rushed into the room. “I will not have it,” he roared as he reached the table.
“I’m sorry, your Majesty,” said Debra in a soft voice. “But Will and I can’t let a whole planet suffer because of us.”
“But you are both innocent,” cried the King.
“Yes we are,” answered Will. “However, that doesn’t change the fact that Celentus is in danger.”
“There must be something we can do?” declared the King.
Debra shook her head. “Not this time. Today you made us citizen of Celentus and like any good citizen, we need to do what’s best for the planet.”
The King hung his head, knowing he had no choice. He looked over at Admiral Zelen. “Have our fastest ship made ready to transport Captain Power and Debra.”
“Yes, your Majesty,” replied the Admiral in a cracking voice.
Debra went over to the King and wrapped her arms around him. “This probably isn’t allowed,” she said with tears in her eyes, “but who cares. Thank you for everything.”
The King tried to smile, but failed. “I only wish we could’ve done more.”
“The ship will arrive at the landing field in ten minutes,” declared the Admiral. “A hoverjet is waiting to take you there.”
“Thank you Admiral,” said Will giving him a salute.
He turned to the King. “Your Majesty, can I ask for a favor?”
“Of course.”
“Please finish the repairs on my ship.” He looked over at Debra and smiled. “When this is all over we plan on coming back to get it.”
“It would be my pleasure,” answered the King.
Will and Debra walked over to the elevator and as they reached it, every officer in the room stood at attention and saluted them. A wide smile came over Will’s face as he came to attention and returned it.
Standing there alone in the elevator, Debra looked up at Will. “So is this it, has Grandle won.”
Will shook his head. “As long as we’re alive there’s always a chance. We just have to find it.” He patted her shoulder. “Besides, I promised you a vacation when this was all over and I always keep my promises.”
The elevator took them to the roof where the hoverjet was waiting for them. Climbing aboard, they sat there in silence as they flew to the landing field. The field was filled with people lining up to board ships which lifted off as soon as they were full. The hoverjet landed in an area away from the crowds by a small space cruiser. Will and Debra got out of the hoverjet and hurried to the cruiser. They were surprised to see Commander Stelia at the controls.
Will and Debra strapped themselves in as she began the countdown sequence. Soon they were in the air heading for space. “I’d hoped to see you both again,” she said as they reached orbit. “However, I’d hoped it would be under better circumstances.”
“Maybe next time they will be,” answered Will.
She smiled and shook her head.
Once in space, Will and Debra got up to put on spacesuits. Will picked up a blaster and looked at it for a moment, but then put it back. “Can’t risk Celentus,” he said to Debra.
After an hour they approached the fourth planet and Commander Stelia set course for its largest moon. The coordinates put them in the middle of a large flat crater which had no places to hide. Will nodded. “They can’t miss us here.”
The ship slowly descended to the surface. When it landed, Will and Debra got up. “Thanks for the lift,” said Will with his best attempt at a smile.
“Good luck,” replied Commander Stelia.
“Thanks.”
Will and Debra put on their helmets and stepped into the airlock. The door slid shut behind then and the hiss of air being evacuated could be heard. In a minute the sound was gone and the exterior door opened.
They stepped down onto the surface and walked away from the cruiser. Once far enough away, they turned around and watched it lift off. They continued watching until the ship was out of sight.