Episode 1: Cry of the Abyss

Admiral Varn looked out a viewport in his private cabin. He looked at the wonders the galaxy had to offer. But he his thoughts were occupied. He was searching for a sign... yes, there it was. A soft chime echoed throughout his cabin. "Come in," Varn said without looking around. "Tell me captain, have you ever wondered what Earth was really like?" Varn spoke into the air.

"Yes, I have. I always wondered if it was as great as our elders say it was. Or was it all just one big lie?" Captain Terk replied. His mind began to wonder again how the Admiral always knew who was coming. "Sir, the report you requested just came in,"

"Put it on the table, I'll read it in a little bit. Come here captain," Varn ordered. "Look out there, that star just there," Varn said motioning to a star. "That is where our future is being held. When Bosch orders a ship there, which he will, the future of the GTVA will change. No more small civil wars to worry about. No more plantery fueds to end. No, none at all. But that will come with a price. The Great War will begin again. And our pathway home, will be seen between two artifacts," Varn spoke quietly.

Terk began to feel uneasy. Admiral Varn always began to talk like this. He would normally say something back, but he knew better. "Uh, sir, I am needed on the bridge," Terk said, trying to think of some better excuse to leave.

"Very well captain, you may countinue with your duties," Varn said, waving a hand to dismiss the young captain. Terk bowed and left Varn's cabin. Varn slowly walked over to the table and began reading the report, very carefully. "So, the NTF has been reported to be moving into Epsilon Pegasi while staging a war in Denab? No, Bosch doesn't have the man-power for such a task. So he will have to withdraw from Denab, which means a GTVA victory in Denab. But he is going to have to run the Vega defense fleet and node blockades. Plus the Aquitiane is in chase of the Repulse. Koth will be leading the spear head into Epsilon Pegasi which means... three cruisers. All Fenris class, will be moving from Capella to Gamma Draconis. Which means... his fleet will try to hide its numbers. Three Fenris cruisers... they would be newer defected cruisers, which leads to only three: Trinty, Storm, and Raker. And they all have have to pass through a ten kilometer no jump zone..." Varn spoke to himself. Varn smiled, he would have the Victory there to destroy two of the cruisers. One had to escape. Putting the report back down, he left his cabin and headed for lift. He would have the Victory there just as the cruisers arrived.

"Sir, I'm not so sure this is a wise idea... Intel says that the Neo-Terran Front will be waging a two front war," Terk said.

"The people of Intel wouldn't know if the NTF was planning a massive attack if they annouced it to the public," Varn spat, giving his opinion of the GTVA Intel Network. "The cruisers will be there, now, prepare to jump back to normal space," Varn ordered.

"Yes, sir," Terk replied and turned back to his moniter. "Drop-out in five... four... three... two... one... jump!" Terk ordered. The Victory emerged from subspace, to find itself only a few hundred meters from three cruisers. "Sir, three hostile cruisers dead ahead," Terk annouced, wondering how Varn knew that three cruisers would be running for Gamma Draconis.

"Open fire, destroy two of them, then bring us about on a vector to match our drop-out point," Varn ordered. Gunnary and helm complied. The three cruiser's anti-fighter beams opened fire, but were no match. Within seconds two cruisers fell, only the Trinty remaind untouched. It drove hard to get out of the no jump zone. The Victory rotated it hull and brought itself to bear on the vector which they had jumped out. No sooner than had the destroyer completed its turn, than a corvette emerged from subspace. The commander of the corvette didn't plan on dropping out so close to the estroyer and began to a steep climb to clear it. "Destroy it," Varn muttered. There was a low hum as the beam cannons began to draw power, and a loud screech was followed as the beam turrets began to tear apart the corvette. The corvette died, and the debris began to scatter. "Get us out of here," Varn ordered as he left the bridge. The node the Victory departed it closed just as the GVD Psamtik arrived on scene, wondering what the NTF cruisers had pleeded about on an open channel.

Varn sat down in his command chair on the secondary bridge, which now served as his cabin. The chair turned around and gave the Admiral a good view out of a viewport. But there was nothing to look at. Just the tunnel of subspace. "Display file 00-132 AA," Varn spoke. There was a few wrinkles as a displayer came to life. "Enlarge item C," Varn ordered. A portrait took up all the space that the displayer allowed. "Shrink, close file," Varn spoke again. The displayer clicked off just as a chime echoed throughout the cabin. "Enter," Varn said. The door silently slid open. "Now what is it?" Varn asked, turning around to face Terk.

"Sir, Command has ordered us into Epsilon Pegasi to assist in the counter-attack," Terk said, laying down a report. "They aren't too happy with our last little performence either," Terk said.

"No, I bet there aren't. But that doesn't matter. We are not going to Epsilon Pegasi. We are going to Sirus. I want to have a little talk with Admiral Bosch," Varn replied, his voice soft.

"Sir?" Terk asked. His hands were trembling with fear. The blood had drained out of Terk's fate.

"You worry far too much," Varn soothed. "You need to learn not to worry so much." Varn turned out to look at the viewport into the tunnel of subspace. "Bosch will hear what I have to say, you are dismissed, captain."

Terk bowed. "As you wish, sir," Terk replied and stepped out of the command room. Trying to calm his fear, Terk stepped into the lift. "Bridge," he spoke. The lift began to ascend toward the bridge. "He might listen, if we're aren't dead by the time he agrees to listen," Terk mummered.

The lift door opened and Terk stepped onto the bridge. "Captain," a major nodded toward Terk. Terk nodded back. "We got some bad news. We've been ordered to help with the attack on Sirus," the major said.

"All the better, Command can't get mad at us for going there," Terk replied sitting down in his chair. His hands moved over his controls. Terk started punching buttons, trying to see if Varn had uploaded his orders into the main computer. Yes. There they were. Father down the list, but they were indeed there.

"Sir?" the major asked.

"Varn wants us to go to Sirus. Said he would give full details out to the entire crew in a few hours. And don't bother asking, I don't know anything about it, besides he wants to talk to Bosch," Terk replied.

"Captain Terk?" a voice came from across the bridge.

"Run a backline trace, and scan these lines. I want a full detail report on the status power grid C," Terk said leaning over the shoulder of a lieutenant.

"But sir..." the lieutenant replied.

"I am fully aware, scan those lines and run that trace," Terk replied.

"Captain Terk?" the voice repeated closer this time. Terk ignored the voice. "Captain?" the voice came another time. Terk could hear foot steps approaching. They stopped and Terk slowly turned around.

"Yes?" Terk replied coming face to face with the source of the voice. "Do you need something lieutenant?"

"The report you requested just came and you-" the lieutenant began. Terk cut him off in sentence.

"Yes, I said I wanted them brought to me. I did not say shouted to me. Are we clear?" Terk responded in a stern voice that matched steel.

"Yes sir," the leiutenant, trying to hide the fear in his voice and cover the lump in his throat. Terk took the report from the leiutenant and dismissed the young man. Terk sighed. He wished some of the officers knew how to follow orders to the letter.

John sat down in the mess hall with a tray. Putting his try next to Duke's, John eased down into his seat. "Hello," Duke said to John.

"Hey, hows it going?" John asked.

"Quiet," Duke replied with a grin. "Nothing exciting since that mission where we ambushed that rebel corvette."

"I know," John replied shoving a fork full of food into his mouth. Duke spotted James and motioned him over. Setting his tray down, James joined Duke and John.

"Hey," he said. "You have any idea how this big thing about us heading to Sirus on Admiral Varn's orders is about?"

"None at all, heard rumors that we are going to try and make an alliance with Bosch, something like that," John replied. A voice roared from the rear of the mess hall.

"Damn it! I'll kill you!" a voice boomed. "That was my brother!"

"Hey, calm down. He was NTF," another voice replied.

"He was family!" the other voice shouted back. Duke, John, and James managed to see what was going on through the crowd. Some man was holding a wicked-looking knife at the throat of another. John looked at Duke, and got a shrug in reply. James wasn't paying attention. His eyes were tracking something else. Then John saw it. He was tracking Samson. Samson was a marine, who never went anywhere without a sidearm. Slowly pushing his way through the crowd, Samson emerged near the man with a knife and removed his gun.

"No one needs to die here," he said, settling the gun's crosshairs on the hand of the first man. The man reacted quickly, bringing his hand out cutting Samson's hand. The gun clattered to the ground. The second man threw his elbow back into the first and sent him flying to the floor. Turning around he dove at the first. And was stopped as Samson' grabbed him. The first went for the gun but was lifted up as a Vasudan entered the fight.

"Calm yourself Terran. Violence does not need to be borrowed. There is enough blood being spilled in this rebellion as there is. We need not extra," the Vasudan said. Four marines had arrived and escorting the two men out of the room and down toward the brig.

"Thanks for the save," Samson said.

"You are welcome," Fo'tan replied. Duke, James, and John all neared Samson. "Greetings,"

"Hey," Samson added.

"Good thing you showed, hate to have answer all those questions that they would ask if that guy did indeed show up," John replied. Before anyone could respond, a voice came over the intercomm.

"All squadrons report to assigned breifing rooms. All squadrons report to assigned breifing rooms," the voice said. Duke sighed.

"Guess we just got something to do," he commented as he dashed off to his breifing room.

"This breifing may be a little bit different from those you are used, so sit down. Admiral Varn will be filling you in. Admiral Varn," the breifing officer in John's room said.

There was a faint click, and in the breifing display, Admiral Varn's image wrinkled in. "Greetings pilots. As most of you know we are en route to Sirus under orders of Command. However, I tell you this: I have no intention of cooperating with GTVA forces in that area," Varn said. There was a few rumbles of confusions. "I wish to make an alliance with NTF. I know this is crossing the line and becoming traitors, but we have no real choice. Bosch is right about one thing. We destroy him, we destroy ourselves. I know this may seem like a lot to ask of you, but I know how to find a way home. You must believe me. If anyone objects, you may speak now." No one spoke, and John thought no one in the other rooms would speak either. "Good then. When we arrive in Sirus, we will meet with Admiral Bosch. You are all dismissed... and thank you," Varn finished and the displayer got up. The officer dismissed them. John, gathering himself up after that shock, walked out.

"May I ask, what about escort?" another pilot asked.

"All squadrons will be launched to act as honor guard for the Iceni and Victory," the officer replied.

All squadrons!? John thought. Approaching a NTF warship with a message of peace with several squadrons guarding the ship isn't the best way to send the message. John thought it over. Walking out of the room, John prepared himself incase another fight broke out. And indeed it. He walked over to break it up, and something cold came up to his neck. A sidearm. "Nice and easy, let them do this their way," a voice whispered into his ear. GTVA Observers? Here? On the Victory? No way! The Observers where a group of fiercy loyal GTVA officers and pilots. I elected for their ability to follow orders, give orders, and accept orders. The man who started the fight must of been one. They're trying to stop the Victory!

Duke and James walked out of their breifing. And the stiff atmosphere told them something was wrong. "Run?" Duke asked.

"No, we might draw attention. Lets walk, fast," James replied. They quickly walked down, expecting to meet up with John or Samson. They didn't. They emerge next to John's breifing room and saw a man holding a gun at John's next. Grabbing his rank badge, Duke threw it at the man. It cut the man's hand and the gun clattered to the ground, and went off. "Shit!" Duke yelled.

"Hear me! Observers are aboard! The guy behind me and the guy who started the fight are observers! Stop them!" John yelled. John felt a cold object stab into his back, he patted his back and found the object. A knife. Pulling it out, John fell to his knees. There was an uproar of anger as the pilots bursted into a frenzy. The two observers were quickly overpowered. Duke and James rushed to John, and found Samson on there way in. They spotted Fo'tan pushing his way through the crowed to John's aid.

Samson glanced around, wondering where the marines where. There, he spotted several coming down the right hallway. He turned around and spotted more coming down the left hallway. He turned to look at the last hallway, leading out to lifts and steps to flight deck. Emerging from the right tube stepped out a man in a captain's uniform, followed by marines. From the left tube more marines appeared. From the center tube, emerge squad of marines and man followed them in the rear. Admiral Varn. Stepping out behind him were a group of medics. They walked down the hallway in perfect parade formation. Samson made a quick estimate in his head. They had planned this. The three groups would emerge at the cross-section at the same time.

One of the obsevers pulled out a knife and slid it back and forth between the crowd of pilots. A large Vasudan emerged and knocked him aside with a powerful blow. The obsever knew it was over. He spotted Varn and troops coming. Pulling out his sidearm, he put it to his head and fired. Blood splatted over the ground.

John eased up, supported by Duke and James. "Easy now... you're gonna be just fine," Duke soothed John.

"Yeah, just take it easy," James added. "MEDIC!" he shouted. A medic hurried over.

"We're going to have to get you the med lab to fix you up. Just take it easy now," the medic added. "Take these, they will help remove the pain."

"Wha... what are they?" John managed.

"An older pain killer, but they are still the best we have," the medic replied giving Duke the pills.

John awoke in a bed, Fo'tan sat next to the bed in chair. "Good morning, John," Fo'tan spoke.

John? John thought back, Fo'tan rarely called him John. Was I that close to death? "Good morning, Fo'tan. How long have I been out for?" John asked with a hint of distant pain in his voice.

"Two days," Fo'tan replied.

"Two days?" John replied, with a shocked look on his face. The door to his room slid open and in came five figures. Duke, James, and Samson showed up. He knew them. It took his brain a second to process who the others were. When he did, he gave a salute. "Sir," he said.

"At ease," Varn replied. "I would like to thank you for uncovering those Obsevers," Varn said. "Captain,"

Terk removed a small medal case. "For outstanding service to the GTD Victory and her crew, you are hearby promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. Congratulations," Terk said removing the rank case on a table next to the bed.

"Now you will forgive us for being haste like this, but we have bridge duties to attend to. We meet with Admiral Bosch in one hour," Varn said.

"Admiral, one question if I may," John spoke up, finding his voice.

"Yes?"

"Will it be possible to get me out of this bed and into the cockpit of my fighter?"

"I'm sure it can be arranged," Varn said smiling. Varn and Terk walked out of the room leaving the friends alone. They each smiled at John.

"Looks like you got duties, Lieutenant," Duke said giving a grin.

Admiral Varn stood at a view port, with Captain Terk at his side. They looked out at the countless stars that dotted space. Terk stirred a little in impatience. Varn calmed him with a wave of his right hand. "Calm yourself, captain. They will be here," he said. Out in space, several blue vortexes appeared. "Like I said, they will be here," Varn said with a smile.

The Iceni had arrived with numerous support ships. "This is Admiral Varn onboard the GTD Victory to NTF Command Ship Iceni, do you copy Bosch?" Varn spoke into the comm unit.

"This is Admiral Boschl, Iceni, what do you want?" Bosch's voice came back.

"To form an alliance," Varn replied quietly.

John rolled his fighter around and formed up with his wing leader. All around the Victory with fighter wings. Bombers, heavy fighters, scouts, light fighters, everything. "Beta, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon, Zeta wings of the 133rd Swordmen, we got new orders. We are to escort the Iceni within a range of one kilometer from the Victory. Lets go do!" Alpha One's voice cut in over John's speaker. The wing leaders complied and they squadron dashed off to take up escort position.

The captain of the NTC Trinty looked out a viewport, his eyes dashing from side to side. The engines remained disabled. His techs couldn't fix them. They didn't have the parts. His eyes still dashed, he spotted debris from the NTC Watcher, NTC Redemption and NTC Loyal. And other pieces of debris that weren't Terran or Vasudan. "Oh my god... oh my god... they're everywhere... they're all around us... the prophecy was right... they would return... we can't stop them... prophecy doesn't lie... oh my god... they're everywhere... we aren't safe... what have we done? What have I done? No... no... no... it can't be true... but it is! We weren't safe.... Lord save us all..." the captain mummbled.

Out in the dense nebula, a SD Ravana class destroyer dirfted through the clouds. A thud was heard all as the next wave of fighters were launched. This wave was going to finish off the Trinity. They Shivans were lurking and preparing to reclaim their title as 'The Great Destroyers.'