Freespace – Liberation Theology
By Viper

July 7th 2740
1600 hrs.
TCS Midway Medlab:

	“Jesus!”  Higgins hissed through his teeth, “He’s got more tubes in him than a Cybrid.”  Bridgeford was lying, unconscious on a recovery bed.  “How is he?”
	
	Doctor Rember answered, “Believe it or not better than we thought, I told you if he wakes up he’ll be back on the flight line in a couple of days.”

	“Good…odds?”

	“Sixty-forty for a recovery.”

	“Best news I’ve had all day.”  Higgins smiled and turned as the chute doors behind him opened and Talvert walked onto the deck.  “Hey, how ya doing?”

	“How’s he doing.”  She asked rather pointedly.  Rember stepped out to tend to some other patients, he smiled.  Viper was expected to wake up in a few minutes, boy would they be surprised.

	“Better than they thought he’d be, odds are in his favor and a full recovery is expected.”  Higgins answered smiling.

	“That’s great…I still feel bad though.”  Talvert answered, she slumped into a chair and Higgins sat down on the other side of the room.

	“Trust me, you didn’t do anything.  He’ll be fine, like I told you, I’ve seen him beat ninety-ten odds.  He ain’t gonna die.”

	“How do you know?”  Talvert answered, the conviction is Higgins’ voice had her confused.

	“You think he wants me to command Alpha wing?”  He laughed, “He’d come back from the dead rather than let that happen.”

	Talvert smiled weakly then started to cry, Higgins got up and put his arm around her, “Careful,” he thought, “don’t let this go to far.”

	“Never thought of you as much of the crying type.”  He said.

	“Sorry, it’s just, I’ve lost way to many friends in my life, It’s gotten to the point where I try not to make anymore.”  Talvert answered and looked up, her eyes were red.

	“That’s not a good idea, you need friends who can support you and people who care about you to lean on.”  Higgins said and let Talvert lean her head on his chest.  Just then a cracked voice broke in on their small moment of tenderness.

	“If these injuries aren’t enough to kill me, the mush going on between the two of you will probably make up the difference.”

	“Josh!!”  Higgins bolted up and nearly knocked Talvert to the floor.  “You’re awake.”

	“What are you talking about I’m talking in my sleep.  Of course I’m awake blockhead, I have been for about two minutes, figured I’d let you two talk before I said anything.”  Viper said, his eyes were open and he was smiling.

	“How are you feeling sir?”  Talvert asked.

	“Well enough to be able to tell you I’m not going to die, so get off the guilt trip Lieutenant, that’s an order.  Where’s the doc?”

	“One sec.”  Higgins stepped out and called Rember, he quickly came.

	“Well, well, look who’s awake!”  Rember said.

	“Hey doc, how soon till I can get unwired?”

	“Let me check you out.”  Rember spent about five minutes checking readings and finally disconnected the machines linked up to Viper.  “How’s now sound, I want you to stay here over night, but your recovery capabilities are amazing.  Mind if I get a sample of your blood for analyses.”

	“Feel free.”  Rember left to room and Viper turned to Zack and Stiletto.”  So have you two started going out since I did go out?”

	“Shut up, she got this idea that she was the one who caused this.”  Higgins answered.

	“So I gathered.” Viper answered, “But you didn’t Lieutenant, I just happen to have very, very bad timing.”  He laughed, and then frowned.  “I’m starving, somebody please get me something to eat.”

	“Sure thing boss.”  Higgins ran out of the room and Talvert followed him.

	“Uh-oh,”  Viper thought, “those two seem to be getting awful attached.  I hope Zack realizes we ain’t sticking around much longer after this war is over.”  Then Zack came jogging back in, without anything.  “I asked you to get me something to eat.”

	“I got better, doc says you can leave, just don’t fly for two days.”  Zack said.

	“Cool, but two damn days!”

	“Shouldn’t be much of an issue, the bugs are reeling from Cardinal Spear, you just really knocked the wind out of them.”  Talvert said.

	“Thought we did.  Can you two see if you can get me transport back to the Galatea?”  Viper asked.

	“Sure, come on.”  Zack answered and both of them left.  Viper got up and looked around, his gear was on a chair near his bed, he put it on and stretched.

	“Damn, that feels good.  Bet I look a whole lot better too.”  He thought.  He grabbed his belt and fastened it around his waist then looked through the various drawers in the room.  “Where the hell is my damn gun?”  He said out-loud.

	“Looking for this Josh.”  Viper whirled just as Zack tossed his handgun to him.  He grabbed it, cocked it to power it up and holstered it.

	“Thanks Zack.  About that transport?”

	“No sweat whenever your ready, but make it quick, Galatea’s heading for the Confed border with the Union of Border Worlds.”

	“Why?”

	“We’ve been getting strange, unreadable transmissions from the Border Worlds.”  He paused and handed Viper a pad.

	“What’s this.”  Viper asked.

	“When I told Chris you were awake and coming back he told me to give this to you, that’s the data on those garbled transmissions.”

	“Man, I’m awake for five minutes and he’s already got me back to work.”  Viper complained, he scanned the pad.  “These almost look like distress calls.”
	
	“We thought the same thing, we contacted the Border Worlds and they said they never sent them.   Chris thinks they might be a bug diversion to draw off ships, so the Galatea’s heading out to the border to do some digging, the Border Worlds gave their okay so we ship out as soon as your back.”

	“So what the hell are we standing around here for.”  Viper and Zack left the room and headed for the flight deck, on the way they passed Talvert who looked at Zack, smiled and winked.  Viper turned towards Zack and saw him smiling with a far away look in his eyes.

	“Easy there pal, don’t go getting any sick ideas.”

	“What, a man can dream can’t he?”

	“Sure, just don’t let it interfere with your work.  By the way where’s my fighter?”

	“On the Galatea, had Merlin pilot it back home.”

	“Good, here we are.”  They stepped of the lift and onto the flight deck, in fact all of Alpha wing except for Zack had gone home, the only GTA ship in the bay was the Elysium transport that had just arrived.  As Viper walked up to the door the young Lieutenant who was piloting saluted him.

	“Feeling better sir?”

	“I’ll feel great when I’m on the right ship, when can we leave?”

	“As soon as your ready to go sir.”

	“So get going, I ain’t got all day.”  Viper said, smiling.
	
	“Yes sir, just have a seat.”   The pilot headed for the cockpit while Viper and Zack sat down, it was then they both noticed the Confed fighters being prepped for launch around them.  Zack keyed in the cockpit.

	“Hey, where are those Confed pilots going?”

	The response came back, “Commander Drake is sending some of her pilots to the Galatea to help us, they have better knowledge of the layout of the Border Worlds.”

	“Oh, who’s going?”
	
	“Uh…Casey, Maestro, Stiletto, and Zero.”
	
	“Cool, at least we know them.”  Zack answered then closed the channel.  The transport lifted off and glided out of the bay, it banked and flashed into subspace heading for the Galatea.

GTD Galatea:
1635hrs.

	The Elysium dropped from subspace and headed for the Galatea’s main docking bay, it glided between the doors and settled down onto the landing pad.  Technicians swarmed around it like ants to refuel it and get it ready in case it needed to be used again.  Who knew maybe Viper forgot his toothbrush.  Zack and Viper stepped of and headed for the bridge, three minutes behind them were the Confed fighters.  As they were being taken care of deck crew chief Manny Frier took a look at the weapons.

	“Whoa, Tachyon cannons and particle guns!  Damn, these guys are still in the Stone Age.”  He thought.  “We haven’t used weapons like these in 300 years.”

Bridge:

	“Well glad to have you back Viper.”  Admiral Wolf stood up and shook Viper’s hand.

	“Yeah, well I’m happy to be home.  Now about these alleged distress calls.”

	Admiral Wolf looked around then motioned to Zack and Josh and said, “My office.”  Once inside they sat down and Wolf sighed.  “The Border Worlds maintain they’re not sending them but,”  he tapped a terminal and a space map came up, “they’re emanating from the Border World capital of Tarsonis.  I think they are sending them, or someone they have captive is sending them.”

	“That’s a hell of a theory Chris.”  Viper said.  

	“I know but it’s the only one that makes sense.  I mean I seriously doubt the bugs are on Tarsonis.  The calls are on an extremely narrow band frequency and are being sent in a specific direction.  The Galatea will move into the corridor the signals have been traveling through and start scanning.  If we get anything we follow up.  Josh, congratulations you get first watch at from twenty-two hundred until zero-three-hundred in the morning.”

	“Joy!”  Viper said with sarcasm.  “Is that all?”

	“Yup.”

	“Alright, then I’m gonna go get some sleep, call me if you need me.”  Viper said and left.

Bridgeford’s Quarters:
2230 hrs.

	“Hey boss, time to get up!”  Merlin said and the lights in Viper’s room came to full strength.

	“DAMN!! Lights to one half.”  Viper shouted and the lights dimmed down.  “Thanks Merlin, I’m up.  Bridgeford to bridge.”

	“Go ahead.”

	“I’m on the way.”
	
	“Roger.”

Bridge:
15 minutes later:

	Viper walked onto the bridge and sat down.  “Status.”

	“Nothing yet boss.”  Ensign Maimford, at the sensors, said.

	“Alright Julie, keep me posted.”

	“Will do.”

	Viper took some time to familiarize himself with the Border Worlds.  Generally speaking the Union of Border Worlds was a thin strip of planets sandwiched between the Confed and the old Kilrathi Empire, now occupied by the GTA.  These planets had broken away from Confed almost right after the Kilrathi-Confed War, the overall state of the Confed fleet had made this easy.  In Confed itself there had been rumors of extreme persecution of people within the Border Worlds and it was even rumored that on Tarsonis there was a “pleasure camp,” I don’t think any elaboration is needed, for Border World officers.  For some reason Viper’s mind clicked on this.

	“Hey, those signals might be being sent from there.  If that’s true then somebody’s gonna catch it, big time.”  Viper thought, then Maimford piped up.

	“I’m getting something boss, but it’s coming in layers, we’ll have to wait for the whole message.”

	“Alright, how long.”

	“Came faster then I thought, weak audio only, playing.”

	“Help up!!  Please!!! You don’t know (static).  They hurt us, (static) only 15 (static).”  The voice was that of a young Terran female.  Suddenly a male’s voice cut in.

	“Hey!!!  You shouldn’t have (static).  You’ll have be punished I think some time with the base commander is in order.”

	The girl’s voice came back.  “No please, I’m still (static then frantic screaming).”  Finally the one last plea, the voice got considerably softer, the girl was obviously getting dragged away.  “If anybody is getting this, we’re on Tarsonis!! Help us please!!”  The link closed.  Maimford reached over and closed the communications array, then stared at her console.  Finally everybody turned towards Viper.  He was staring at the floor, when he looked up his eyes were flaming. He slapped the communicator on the chair’s arm.

	“Admiral Wolf and Commodore Higgins to the bridge.”  He rasped.  A few minutes later they arrived.

	“This better be good Josh I was…WHOA!  What’s wrong with you?”  Wolf asked.

	“Listen to this.”   Viper replied and replayed the message.  When it was finished Merlin piped in.

	“Listen guys I’ve had spy drones on Tarsonis since this started and they just found something.”

	“What!”  Viper shouted.

	“I can confirm that message’s authenticity, let’s leave it at that.”  His voice clicked off.  Viper turned towards Wolf.

	“Well, what are we gonna do?”

	“What the hell do you think we’re gonna do!  Get the troops ready we’re kicking some ass!!”  Wolf shouted at the top of his lungs.  “I’ll get clearance from command.”  He added, calming down.

	“Roger.”  Viper hit his communicator,  “All troops to the briefing room ASAP!”  He ordered and then walked off the bridge.

Briefing Room:
2415 hrs.

	“Holy shit!”  Byron said, Viper had just finished explaining the situation to the troops.  “So when we heading in?”

	“As soon as we have a plan of attack.”  Viper answered.

	“Plan of attack!  Shit, these guys are the same tech level as Confed what the hell do we need a plan for?”  Stalker asked.

	“I don’t want them executing the hostages as soon as they see us coming.  How’s that?”  Viper answered with an edge in his voice.

	“Good point.”

	“All right, you guys can all go I just wanted to give you an assesment of the situation.”  Viper said and walked off the platform before turning around.  “Oh!  The go call could come at any time so stay frosty.”  He left the room.

Pilot’s Lounge:

	Viper was sitting at a table over by the window that was looking at the Border Worlds, specifically he had the holo-imager highlight Tarsonis, ha was just staring at it while slowly drinking a glass of whiskey, and the half empty bottle was on the table in front of him.  Higgins came in, sat across from him, poured a glass and said.

	“Damn, remind me to talk to the idiot who stores half empty bottles on the shelves.”  He smiled.

	Viper kept staring out the window.  “It was full when I pulled it off the shelf.”  He said somberly.

	“Oh, guess your pretty close to drunk then huh.”  Zack downed his glass in one gulp and looked out the window as well.  “Sizing up the enemy?  They don’t look so tough.”  He added with a smile.

	“The invasion itself should be a piece of cake, it’s getting hostages out the worries me.”

	“You think the Border Worlds will execute them?”

	“If they see us coming.”  Viper answered.

	“Well then we’ll just have to keep them from seeing us, or invent some excuse as to why we’re in their space.”

	“Already thought of that, there’s a heavily ionized asteroid field in Tarsonis’ system, we can say we think we found bugs in it and use that as an excuse to put a strike force in the system.  With the ionization from the asteroids disrupting their sensors they’ll never see the dropships or pods.”

	“Ah, pure genius.  How about we toast our soon to be vanquished enemies?”  Zack said, grinning.

	“Why not?  Have a pleasant last few days guys, your numbers up.”  Viper and Zack raised their glasses in mock toast, drained them, and left.

Tarsonis System:
High orbit:
July 11, 2740
1302hrs.
	Border World pilot Yankee one was looking forward to a few days of leave on Tarsonis, but something was bothering him.

	“Yankee one to base command.”

	“Go ahead.”

	“What are those GTA vessels on the Border doing?”

	“They believe they received communications from here, a young prisoner at the pleasure camp got hold of a radio and sent them out.  They were too garbled to make anything out of, we’ve passed them off as broken equipment.  That destroyer is just conducting routine sensor sweeps.  Don’t worry and enjoy your leave, we’re going to keep a close eye on them.”

	“Understood, Yankee one out.”  He closed the communication and smiled to himself.  “Dumb bastards, they ain’t got a clue.”  He set his jump coordinates and flashed out of the system, then checked his sensors.  “Great they didn’t bother to see where I was jumping to.  Alright Merlin drop this sensor field.”

	“No problem Stardust.”  Stardust had been placed in an Apollo class fighter and sent as a recon spy into Border World space, assuming the identity of a non-descript Border World pilot.  The sensor field had disguised his ship to look like a standard Excalibur class Confed fighter, the Border World had quite a few of them.  Stardust’s ship jumped out of subspace near the Galatea, Alpha wing came out to meet him.

	“How’s it go?”  Viper asked.

	“No sweat, they don’t have any idea how many damn probes and Cybrid scouts we have on that planet.  I also took the liberty of drooping a load of EMP grenades near the base defenses, very discreetly of course.  When they go off I don’t think we’ll have to worry about detection for a while.  EMP stood for electromagnetic pulse, it had a tendency to disrupt any electronic system in the immediate area when the pulse was discharged.

	“Cool, solves quite a few problems.”  Viper said, “now it’s my turn to go undercover.”

	“Huh?”  Zack asked.

	“I’m gonna become one of the guards on that base.”

	“How ya gonna manage that?”

	“We captured a Border World Corporal, I’ll assume his identity and break the hostages out right before the attack, I’m gonna lead them to that Cybrid troop we sent in.  When the guards find me boy are they gonna be surprised.”

	“When are you leaving?”
	
	“Right now.”  Viper answered with a snicker.

	“Man that is one underhanded, sneaky and un-sportsman like plan.  Damn wish I’d thought of it!”  Zack called.

	“Jesus, you really are a snake Viper.”  Halfry said.

	“Funny, see ya on Tarsonis.”  Viper flipped his fighter around and set his coordinates for Tarsonis, he downloaded the activation frequency for the EMP grenades from Stardust’s fighter and jumped out.

Tarsonis System:
1322hrs.
	
“Get ready Merlin, phase mode.”

	“Roger.”  Viper’s fighter was using a new device, the visual phase disrupter, it did the same thing as Stardust’s sensor field with one difference.  In addition to altering the sensor profile of a fighter it also projected a false visual reading, actually making the fighter look like something else visually.  Viper’s sleek Valkryie Advanced now looked like a blocky Confed model Thunderbird bomber.  The transformation completed right as a Border World patrol pilot came alongside Viper’s fighter.

	“Unidentified fighter you are ordered to stop and state your business.”

	“Corporal John Galahad here, I’m new guard for the pleasure base on Tarsonis.”

	“Understood Corporal, if you’ll just wait while we confirm that.”

	“Sure thing.  Just don’t take to long I gotta use the can fast!”  Viper answered trying not to choke.

	“Understood, I’ll make this the fastest security check in history.”  Viper gritted his teeth, this was it crunch time, he had to fool them.  If they found out his orders were to blast his way to the surface, get in that damn base and rescue as many people as he could.  The cloaked Cybrid dropships on the surface would get them out, he also had Duster in his fighter, the Cybrid had assumed the shape he had as a newboot before his activation.  Basically he was the shape, size and wait of a standard duffel bag.

	“You guys almost done?”  Viper asked.

	“Affirmative Corporal, you’re cleared, we’ll escort you in.”

	“Is that necessary?”

	“Not really but we’re heading in anyway.”

	“Roger, lets go.”

Tarsonis:
Border World Base:
1330hrs.

	“Welcome to Korhal Base Corporal, I’m General Denz, the commander.”  Viper was facing a middle aged man of about 50 in the base commanders office.

	“Glad to be here, I was told Id be appointed as a sentry guard.”

	“That’s right, we’ve heard good things about you from your previous commands and your record is exemplary.”

	“You make me sound like some sort of war hero.  Anyway I’m anxious to get back to work so could you just show me my post.”

	“Of course, let me guess you’re not getting paid for this meeting.”  Denz said with a smile.

	“You got it.”

	“Then we’ll get you working right away, follow me.”  Viper followed Denz through many corridors, elevators and sections of the base.

	“No good trying to remember the way around, you’ll just have to blast your way out of here.”  He thought, glad he had Duster with him, and that his close and gun were just phased versions of his flight armor and Banshee handgun.

	“Here you are Corporal, this is the prisoners cell and you get to guard them.”

	“Great, so I just stand here and look important?”

	“Basically, I’ll send someone around to bring you food in a little while.”

	“Cool, thank you sir.”  Viper saluted and Denz walked away.  “Damn!  When was the last time I saluted anybody.  Well let’s get a look at these prisoners, just remember to act like a cruel overbearing dictator.”  He put on a scowl, looked through the window and nearly lost what was left of his breakfast.  Inside were about nine teenage girls who were dressed in rags.  They had been beaten, yet they looked strangely well fed.

	“Not surprising, considering what they’re used for.”  Viper fought and then turned around.  A lieutenant was hurrying down the corridor with a tray.

	“I have your lunch sir, I hope you enjoy it.”

	“Thanks.”  Viper said.

	“Have you looked at the prisoners sir, quite a nice group huh.”  He had a wicked grin on his face, Viper wanted to break his nose.

	“Yeah, be they’ll be fun.”  He fought back the rising bile in his throat.

	“Yeah, see that one in the back, she got a message off a few days ago and General Denz reserved her for himself.  Too bad she’s the best of the whole bunch and she ain’t been used yet.”

	“Jesus!  He sounds like he’s sizing up cattle.”  He thought to himself, then said out loud.  “Too bad, oh well the others ain’t bad though.”

	“Hell no!  Well I have to get back to my post, hope I see you later uh…”

	“John, John Galahad.”  Viper held out his hand and the lieutenant took it.

	“I’m Joe, glad to meet you.  Bye.”

	“See ya.”  Once he left Viper took the bottle of water that was with his food and walked over to nearest trash disposal.  He washed his hand off then dumped the food, he sure didn’t feel like eating after that conversation.  As soon as he got back to his post General Denz came around the corner.

	“Corporal I just remembered, we have a tradition here.  All new assignments are entitled to one hour of free time with the prisoners.  You may pick from any of them except for that one in the back she’s mine.”

	“Understood sir, who’ll take over the guard?”

	“That’s not a problem none of these girls have the spirit to fight anymore.”

	“Alright then, come get me in an hour.”

	“Certainly, if I may ask what’s in that duffel?”

	“Just some of my personal effects, I’ll keep it with me.”

	“Have it your way.  Enjoy.”  He sneered and left, Viper slid his card key into the slot next to the door and went in.  All the prisoners slunk away from him and looked at him with terrified looks.  Viper check what looked like a watch on his arm, in reality it was a GTA mobile sensor that was precisely to find the Galatea strike force once it entered the asteroid field.

	“Good they’re hear.”  He thought then turned to the prisoners, one of them spoke up.

	“Please, sir don’t hurt us anymore, we just want to be left alone.”  She sat down and Viper just looked past her at the wall then moved forward, he intended to blow the outer wall out.  Unfortunately one of the girls, the one reserved for Denz, was leaning against that wall and he had to get her to move, she obviously misunderstood his intentions.

	“NO!  Please no!”  Viper pulled out his gun and pointed right at her, then he pressed a button on his belt and his gun dropped its phase.  Now it looked like the Banshee gun it was.

	“Move.”  He said flatly.

	She looked at him questioningly.  “What?”

	“Move.”  He said again, this time she did, once she cleared the way he blasted a whole in the all that you could ride an elephant through.  Then he turned around and talked in a mock Scottish accent.  “What’s the matter lassies, don’t cha no a jailbreak when you see one.”  Then dropping the fake accent he said.  “Let’s move!”

	“Are you freeing us.”

	“Ya damn right!”  he dropped his own phase and his flight suit replaced the Border World fatigues.  The one who had sent the message stared at him, or specifically the bright gold GTA embroidered on his shoulder.

	“You’re Galactic Terran Alliance?”

	“Yep, names Viper, now like I said let’s move.”  Following him they ran from the room, fortunatley the wall led to the outside, unfortunately a Banshee cannon makes a very loud noise and the base guards were in ho pursuit.  After about ten minutes the girls started to slack off, they hadn’t exactly been treated great and it showed.

	“Alright, I guess we make a stand here.”  He placed Duster on the ground just as he felt the barrel of a gun press against his skull.

	“Now then Corporal perhaps we should talk.”  Denz said

	“Yeah I guess we should.”  Viper flipped a switch on Duster’s control panel and also pressed a button on his armband.

	“Why did you do this, as you can see it was foolish, the girls are ours again and you are in very big trouble.”  He turned around with his hands in the air and looked past Denz and saw several guards holding the girls back, he also saw Joe trying to kiss one of them.

	“I wouldn’t do that Joe.”

	“Oh yeah why not?”  He asked as the girl tried to struggle free.

	“Cause it gets my friend here very angry.”  Viper said with a nod towards the still rolled up Duster.

	“What are you talking about?”

	“Silence!  Now Corporal I believe an execution is order, and I believe to finally break their spirits the prisoners will witness it.  Guards force them to face this way.”  Viper put on a defiant expression but inside he was laughing his head off, Duster was generating a shield around him and was ready for voice activation, not only that but several Cybrid patrols were already standing right behind him, cloaked.

	“These guys are really gonna get it.  Especially when the Galatea starts dropping Marines right in their capital.”

	“Any last words Corporal?”

	“Yes, I really wouldn’t do this if I were you, cause you see I have a great tactical mind and am known escapes.”

	“You won’t get away from this.”  Denz fired and Viper dropped to ground and lay still.  The girls screamed as the guards started to drag them away, as soon as Denz turned around Viper stood up pointed his gun and fired right past his head.  Denz spun around with alarming speed, considering his width.

	“How did you survive that!?”

	“I done and told you once you son of a bitch, I’m the best that’s ever been.”  Viper rasped then shouted.  “Duster warform mode!!”  Duster sprang into the air and opened up to his usual form, he hit the ground and leveled his lasers.

	“Call the shot boss.”

	Viper hit another button on his armband and three Adjucators, four Shepherds, and two Executioner class Cybrids decloaked behind him.  “You guys are just really stupid aren’t ya?”  He pointed to his shoulder and said very slowly.  “G…T…A; Galactic Terran Alliance.  You know what that means, I hope?”

	“Um, maybe we can discuss this?”  Denz asked, he was scared now.

	“Bull shit pal, you’re toast, by now the Galatea is landing marines right in your capital city.”

	“Prove it.”  Joe sneered.  As if on cue a drop pod crashed into the ground about 100 meters behind him, he whirled around just in time to see the pod explode and an Arclite siege tank roll out.  The tank changed into siege mode, specifically it anchored itself into the ground and extended a giant shock cannon.  As it fired at the base building after building exploded while the marines that were inside of it stormed out, half headed for the base while the rest came to within 3 meters of Joe.  They pulled out their guns, leveled them and said.

	“You boys wanna let them girls go, NOW!  How’s it going boss?”

	“Not bad, how’s the operation going.”  Viper said smiling and barely able to keep from rolling on the grass with laughter.

	“This is the easiest thing we’ve ever had to do.”

	“I thought you’d say that.  Now General, like my friend said, let em go.”

	“And if I don’t?”  Denz said.

	“Allow me!”  Duster sprang about twenty feet in the air and fired his lasers on the three meters of turf in between the Marines and Denz, a crater formed.  “How’s that?”

	“Um, uh let them go.”  Denz stammered out, the Border World guards released their holds and instantly the GTA marines rushed forward, forced the guards to the ground and held them down with their guns.  Joe kept struggling while the marine guarding him rasped.
	
	“Quit it now or you’re gonna end up with a spent uranium shell in your next boy!”  He cocked his gun and Joe stopped struggling.  Viper laughed and hit his communicator, “Bridgeford to Galatea.”

	“I’m listening.”  Wolf’s voice came back.

	“Rescue successful and we’ll be bringing guests, namely the prisoners and the damn guards.”

	“I’ll get the galley to bake a few cakes for the prisoners and boil some crow for the guards.”

	“And for desert I think some humble pie is in order.”
	
	“Sounds good to me. You want pickup?”

	“Why not, how’s the invasion going?”

	“We won, well we’re definitely gonna win, we’re just looking for the commanders of now.”

	“Alright, now how about that pickup.”

	“Dropship on the way.”  Wolf said and closed the channel,  Viper turned to the Cybrids.

	“Thanks guys, head home.”

	“Acknowledged returning to base.”  They said and blasted off for the Galatea, Duster stayed behind.

	“Mind if I stick around boss?”

	“Feel free.  Shouldn’t be too long though.  By the way why do you have particle beam cannons installed?”
	
	“Figured it’d be more impressive.”  Particle beam cannons were basically electromagnetic shot guns, they had almost 50 times the power of a regular laser and were capable of punching through almost anything in one shot.

	“It certainly was.  But don’t they reduce your top speed because of the weight.”

	“Yeah, but it’s not like any of these guys could outrun me.”

	“Good point,”  Viper looked up, “ah our ride is here.”  A GTA dropship landed about twenty meters away and the marines started to herd the Border Worlders towards it.

	“We’ll ride with them in the back you guys take the front.”  The leader said as he climbed in.

	“Alright, sure you won’t have any problems?”

	“Might need to keep me from killing these guys, but otherwise no.”

	“I said problems.”  Viper smiled and opened the door of the dropship he motioned for the prisoners to get in and then climbed in after them, he went immediately to the cockpit.  “Hey, Cougar since when do you pilot dropships?”

	“Wasn’t like we needed bombers on this mission, so I volunteered.”  Cougar was the squadron commander of a group of enigmatic pilots called Nova Squadron.  They got the name from the fact that since they only flew bombers they had a tendency of turning their targets into supernovas.  “Strap yourselves in people we’re heading up.”  He said and pulled Viper into the seat next to him.

	“Hey!”

	“Sorry boss, but you know the regs gotta be in a seat when we lift.”  He said apologetically, he started the engines and the ship lifted off, fast so fast that Viper was pinned into his seat.
	
	“Next time let me strap in would ya?”

	“No promises.”  Cougar said smiling, then they both looked back as one of the civilians screamed.  Viper bolted up and ran back.

	“What?”

	“Out there.”  One of the girls said shaking and pointing to a window  Viper went over, looked out the window and cursed.

	“Damn, HOL fighters, this is very bad.”  He turned towards the cockpit and yelled.  “Cougar get us out of hear.”

	“I can’t to disguise the transport’s signature I had to freeze the jump drive, I try to fire it too soon and we’ll back one hell of a bright flash.”  “Freezing the drive” was the slang term for shutting them down cold.

	“Right, ok well then I guess I have one other option.”  He tapped his communicator.  “Bridgeford to Higgins.”

	“Alpha 1 here go ahead.”
	
	“Can’t believe I’m actually asking you for help, but get your ass over here we got HOL incoming.”  He staggered as the transport was rocked by enemy fire.  “Like I said get here now!”

	“On the way what’s the opposition?”

	“Nine Horus interceptors.”

	“Is that all!”

	“Yeah, take um down NOW!”  Viper yelled.

	“On the way, hold tight.”  Zack answered and closed the link.

	Viper turned towards the civilians, “Don’t worry those boys are the best we got.”  Then he staggered and fell against a bulkhead as the transport was rocked again.  Cougar’s voice came through his communicator.

	“Far be it from me a lowly captain to order a vice admiral but, would you mind manning that rear turret boss?”  There was an edge of urgency to his voice, Viper jumped into the seat that ran the turret and saw why, the transport’s rear shield quadrant was nearly gone.  Viper activated the virtual display and started searching, before long he found a target, unfortunately it was out of range, plus the Horus had a significantly longer range than the transport, meaning it could stand safely back and still score hits.

	“Mental note, get command to put longer range turrets on the Elysium.”  Viper thought to himself, then called up Cougar.  “I got the Horus that’s hitting us but he’s out of range, on my mark I want you to break hard, bank left and down 33 degrees and activate reverse thrust.  That should drive us back towards him far enough for me to get in range and it might confuse him.”

	“Roger, standing by.”

	“Three…two…one…mark!”  The transport slowed banked then shot backwards at the interceptor, as soon as the turret was in range Viper blasted away and the Horus was forced to break off.  Viper followed him with the turret and didn’t let up until the interceptor was destroyed.  “One down eight to go.”  Viper said and then Zack’s voice came over the speakers.

	“Heads up people, Alpha wing here.”

	Viper opened his channel, “Glad to see you.”

	“I bet you are.  Hold on and we’ll clear these shell-heads out.”  It took about five minutes to clear the HOL ships out of the region, when all were dispatched Higgins radioed the Galatea.  “Alpha to Galatea your clear to jump in.”

	“Understood Galatea inbound.”  The rescued prisoners all ran to Viper’s display. He turned to them

	“Let me guess you want to see the Galatea.”  He said smiling.

	“Uh-uh, if its not to much trouble.”

	“No sweat, Bridgeford to Galatea.”

	“I’m listening.”   Wolf’s voice came back.

	“Our new friends want a look at you could you give me entry coordinates.”

	“Sure thing, we’ll breach space at 634 mark 3, above you by twenty degrees.  You got that?”

	“Yep,” Viper panned his turrets viewpoint around to the designated coordinates and locked the turrets firing mechanism.   No sense risking shooting at his own ship.  They waited about three minutes and then space opened up, a huge jump node appeared, many time larger than the Galatea needed, Viper noticed.  And then the entire Galatea battle group came out.  “What the?  Oh right those new jump drives that allow ships to use the same nodes.”  He thought.  Then turned to the civilians, “Hey pick your jaws up of the deck.  I guess you’re impressed.”

	“Whoa, that’s some fleet.”  One of the civilians, the one who had been scared of Viper in the cell remarked.

	“Yeah, we’re awfully proud of it.”

	“Which one’s your ship?”

	“The big, purple, blocky one.  It’s the GTD Galatea, the fleet flagship.”  Just then Cougar’s voice came over Viper’s communicator.

	“Uh Josh, we have a problem.”

	“Yeah?”

	“The Vasudan fighters knocked out our auto-landing system, I’ll need help to bring this in manually.  Get up here would ya.”

	“Sure thing.”  Viper got up and headed for the cockpit, he sat down next the Cougar and put on a headset, he opened a channel to the passenger compartment and talked to the civilians.  “Strap in girls, this could get bumpy.”  Then he commed the compartment where the marines were and repeated the warning.  “…oh by the way how are our friends behaving?”

	“A bit restless but they’ll keep till we get them on a prison transport.” 

	“Good, if they get antsy just stun em into la-la land.”  Viper answered and closed the communication.  “Alright Cougar let’s bring this baby in.”

	“Glad you’re here, I’ve never done a manual landing before.”

	“Great.”  Viper smiled and started to line up the transport with the Galatea’s docking bay.  Meanwhile the recently rescued prisoners were trying to pass time with conversation, something they hadn’t really indulged in while they were captive.

	“Well, at least we’re free.”  One of them said.

	“Yeah, but what do we know about these guys?  I mean how do we know we aren’t going from bad to worse?”  Another answered.

	“Kari, these guys don’t seem to have the same mentality as Denz and his men had.”

	“Maybe but I still don’t trust them.”  Kari had been abused the most out of the whole group.  Just then the ship lurched up and the door to the cockpit slid open, Viper hadn’t bothered to lock it.  Kari turned towards it and yelled in.  “You want me to close that thing?”

	“Nah, don’t worry about it.”  Viper said and turned to Cougar, “Jesus Brian, warn me next time your gonna do that.”

	“Sorry boss, we were to far of the glide path.  I’ll circle around for another pass.  Galatea you ready with that tractor pulse?”

	“Yup, just stay on the glide path and we’ll pull you in.”

	“Affirmative.  Cougar why didn’t you tell me the landing thrusters were out?’

	“Just found out.”  Cougar answered smiling as he lined the transport up for another pass.  Viper rolled his eyes and started bringing the shock absorbers online, this was gonna get bumpy.  The transport banked and a green beam shot from the Galatea and engulfed the transport, as the beam recoiled it pulled the transport towards the docking bay.  At 100 meters the beam shut off and Cougar guided the transport in and centered it over a landing pad, almost.  The transport caught the edge of the pad and lurched straight up, Viper flipped of the front thrusters and the ship came crashing down, quickly Cougar cut the engines and the transport shut down.

	“Damn, some landing huh?”  Viper said as he got up.

	“Seriously, hope I never have to do that again.”

	“Ever heard the phrase ‘a fools hope?’”

	“Alright…alright I’ll practice.”  Cougar hopped out his door as Viper headed back and opened the main door.

	“Everybody off, last stop.”  He said and the civilians climbed out of the transport and onto the flight deck, the Galatea’s chief medical officer was waiting for them.

	“Ladies I’m Doctor Franklin I’d like to take you to Med-Bay for some tests to make sure you’re alright.”  The civilians looked apprehensively at Viper.

	“Go ahead, don’t worry about it.”  He said smiling as Franklin lead them away.  Viper turned and saw Zack and Chris walking towards him.

	“Not a bad days work, eh Josh?”  Wolf said and slapped him on the back.

	“Nope, not to bad at all.”  Viper said and turned to Zack,  “How’s my wing?”

	“Just fine, and if your wondering our Confed friends performed flawlessly.  Save that one time when Stiletto accidentally shot me.  I got her back though, she learned to stay out of my line of fire.”  Zack answered with a grin.

	“Careful, it wouldn’t take to many hits to take one of those rust-buckets out.”  Josh answered.

	“I know, don’t worry I was careful, I used the Flail cannon.”  Zack said, then all three of them noticed Stiletto running towards them.

	“I heard you rescued some prisoners, is that true?”  She said, out of breath.

	“Yeah, what of it?”  Viper answered, confused.

	“Was there a girl named Jessica in the group?”

	“I don’t know, they’re down in Med-Bay why?”  Viper answered still clueless.

	“She’s my sister.”  Stiletto answered, she seemed scared.

	“Excuse me!”  Wolf said wide-eyed, he hadn’t expected that answer.

	“My sister was running a mining operation in the Border Worlds when they broke away, we haven’t heard from her since.”  Stiletto answered.

	“Well, like I said, they’re in Med-Bay, come on we’ll show you how to get there.”  Viper said and started to walk away.