Episode VII
Temple of the Ancients
 

                   We were Terran. A proud people, we were of many bloods, of many beliefs, and of many lives. In all shapes and sizes we survive. Our history has been filled with the power of the strong, and the ideals of the weak. We have seen conquerors come, and leaders go. Our history has been filled with blood, and our future just as wrought with destruction. 
                   When we moved out into space we discovered subspace, and so we started to colonize worlds, our ships grew larger, and larger. With them our power increased. Our domain surely would not end. And we could not see the end of our steadily growing empire. Then we met the Vasudans, they were strange, they were alien. We saw ourselves reflected in their image, we saw our drives, our peaks and our falls. We reached out to them, but as it is so frequent in our own history, our intentions were misinterpreted. Then the war began. 
                   Ships flew, as the war continued. We were born, we saw our own birth, and we felt the apocalypse of war. Those who were of age were trained, and trained to die. Back on Earth people called out for peace, but no peace came. And so we died. We had no legends, no prophecies to fall back on. This was not foretold. And then they came.
                   They struck like lightning attacking all systems at once. We had no prophecies of this great war, but we would make a few legends. We joined the Vasudans, we watched their home world die, and we mourned with them. They said that it was prophesied. But who could prophesies the end of a world? Whatever the cause, we continued to fight. 
                     When we searched Mars we discovered our own legend, we found our own prophecy. Our future was granted to us, and we embraced it. For now we could fight them, we called them Shivan, the Vasudans called them Sakaan.... We called him Captain, the Vasudans called him the prophesied, the Shivans called him..... the leader for the Shivans. But in the end both the Terrans and the Vasudans called him friend.

 
                     The large coffin was slowly manoeuvred into place in front of the airlock. The priests words gave Sam no comfort. The visions had almost totally stopped. Sam closed his eyes and tried to remember the events of yesterday....

                      Satoon flew in, Sam lost control, and when he came to Satoon had a full missile lock on him. Time to die Satoon had said, his missile lock was steady now. Sam had noticed it too late. The missiles were already heading towards his ship, he had to get away. His afterburner bank was slowly refilling, but there wasnt enough time. He needed more energy. 
                       The missile lock disappeared as Votion rushed in. Nooooo! Satoon yelled as the missile arced towards Votion. They were about to hit and Sam had to do something. He whipped his ship around and fired what little afterburner he had. 
                        There was a loud thud as the Ulysses smashed into the Horus, Sam was thrown forward in his seat. There was no time to think, no time to yell, not even time to grunt. He forced himself back into his chair, the missiles had found their original target. Votion had been pushed out of the way, his Horus tumbled away trying to get a foothold on the empty space. Sam opened his guns and began to fire. The missiles flew just above the shots. Sam flew in towards them He began to yell as his avengers bit into the two missiles. They exploded right in front of him. The shratinal requisite off his shields. 
                         Satoon didnt fire again. Votion recovered his craft and flew up to Satoon. It is over Satoon. An Athena flew in, disrupters firing. Satoon didnt even give up a fight. The pain, fear and anguish had all come to the surface of his face at one moment. His face was engraved with shock. 
                          The Athena destroyed Satoons shields, his engines fell and then he lost his guns. A transport latched on and carried him to the Vengeance. Votion flew up and met Sam, they flew next to each other back to the Vengeance. 
                           Thank you Sam. Votion said. Sam smiled and looked over at Votion. I guess that makes us even. Sam shook his head. 
                           Not yet Votion. Sam peered out at the red planet. I still have to get down  there, I have to find out whats going on. Votion nodded. 
                            I will go with you. Votion said. Sam looked over. 
                            Why? Sam asked, he furrowed his brow. Votion flew in closer. 
                            Because if a piece of you is down there, then perhaps I will be able to find what I am missing. Votion looked out into space. Perhaps I will find what I am looking for. Sam nodded, but first he had to go pay his respects to an old friend.....

                            Jacksons coffin was placed into the airlock, and everyone saluted. The priest spoke the usual words, but Sam ignored them. The small grey pod was shot into space. It flew silently towards Earth, It was exactly positioned so that the gravity of his home world would commit his body to the sun. The world which gave him birth would be the last to say goodbye. 
                             All the planets seemed to watch as his body left, in silent mourning. Votion appeared in the doorway, Sam turned and walked out with him.
                            The Vasudan Parliament didnt want to deal with Satoon since he committed his atrocities in Tehran space. His crew have returned to the VPN, and Satoon has been sent to Terra for trial. Sam nodded. Terra was the other name for the Earth, and so was it used. They walked down to the docking bay. There were five ships prepped for launch. Sam widened his eyes. 
                             Five ships? Sam asked, Votion shrugged. The door opened, the two of them spun around. 
                             Didnt think youd be going without us did you? David stood in the doorway, Stonefox was already walking across the deck. David moved aside to reveal another face. Susan walked in. 
                              Or me. She said smiling. She walked up to Sam. What did you want to say to me. Sam smiled, Susan had the look of a cunning fox in her eyes. 
                              When all this is done, do you want to join me for dinner? Susan nodded. 
                              I know a great place on Altair three. She reached up and gave him a kiss on his cheek. She pulled back and started towards one of the Valcurys.
                              That was different. David said, he slapped Sam on the back. Common, we got a ball of dust to check out. Stonefox tossed Sam his helmet. Votion was already slipping his on. Sam reached down into his cockpit and checked his sword. It was still there. He jumped in, the Admiral stood on the Deck just above him. He nodded slowly. Sam saluted and the Admiral returned the favour. 

                               The ground of Mars was harsh and red. They were far away from the domes of the Martian cities. They were in the untouched lands. They had removed most of the heavy bulk. Susan carried a standard Tehran assault cannon, it hid most of her arm and she held the metal rod with her other hand. She gave the crater a quick scan. Sam had drawn his sword, he clutched it hard with two hands. David didnt have a weapon, instead he carried a small portable scanner. He pointed to a small hole in the centre of the crater. 
                                The air was stale, the half terra formed planet had breathable air, but not much else. There was a small Terren camp next to the hole. Stonefox had a new version of a Barretta, it hadnt changed much over the years. Their small party walked up to the building and slowly opened the door. Looking in they found the tablets lying on the table. 
                                 This place is deserted. Sam said. Votion was holding a Vasudan pistol of some type, too large for a human, but Sam didnt know if that meant that it was too small for a Vasudan or not. Sam blew on the tablet, the dust flew. The five of them peered down at it. Sam slowly read it out loud. Sakaan, the Legends are true. The key lies in the Darkness, and the Apocolipse. They all looked at each other. 
                                 What is that supposed to mean? Susan said. Sam shook his head. 
                                 I dont know, but I think well find out down there. Sam motioned with his head towards the hole. They emerged from the bunker and looked down the hole. Votion shrugged and started down the ladder. Sam started after him, but stopped. Listen, you guys, stay here, this is something that me and Votion must do alone. David grew stern. 
                                  What? You dont know what youll find down there. Sam nodded. 
                                  Youre right, but we must do this alone. David started to say something but Stonefox held him back. David looked over at him, Stonefox shook his head. David pulled back. 
                                   Watch your back. Susan said. Sam nodded.
                                   I will. Sam started down the ladder. 

                                    Sam stopped at the bottom of the hole. There, held solid in the rock, was the door to a mighty ship. Sam fell to the floor.....

                                      ...... that ship was under attack, it explodded.... fire licked the walls..... people rushed.... the ship died.... it fell from the heavens.... it crashed into the bright red rock..... ships flew over head..... they ignored the fallen craft..... 

                                     Sam forced himself up, the vision was gone now, he staggered to the door and fell across it. Votion came closer but Sam waved him off. He shook his head and looked around. There were two panels, they had English writing on them. They looked like keypads that had been jury rigged into the wall. There was a hole in the floor from where the table had been. Light sticks lined the area around the door. Sam and Votion each walked up to the pads. 
                                      These must open the door. Votion said. But what is the key?  Both their faces lit up.
                                       Darkness, Apocolipse. They said together. Both Sam and Votion typed the words in, Votion one and Sam the other. There was a loud beep but the door didnt move. Sam thought for a moment. And then he remembered what he had heard. 
                                       Yami-Auqushinaqu. Sam said slowly. Votion frowned. 
                                       What does that mean? Sam shook his head slowly.
                                       I dont know, you try Yami, Ill try Auqushinaqu. They typed in the words. There was another beep and the door started to open. A long creeking sound filled the chamber. Sam and Votion stood in the way as the door opened, bright light filled the cavern. The blue light spread from the door. Sam squinted to get a better view of it. He raised his arm to shield his face. When the doors were open the two figures stepped into the new room.
                                       It looked much like the bridge of some ancient vessel. Most of it had been destroyed, and it opened up into the endless abyss of a red canion. The controls were written in an unknown language, and in the center was a glowing blue cylinder. It was as high as the cavern, but it was cut in two pieces.  As they continued in a face was projected beween the two halves of the cylender. The face was Sams. The two men gasped. The face smiled.
                                        If you are seeing this, it started, then that means that you are me, and I, you. You are probably wondering how your face got here, well I cant tell you that. What I can tell you is that these visions you are having will stop now, like ripples in a pond, those visions of things, both, that will be or may be. Sam looked over at Votion and then back to the projection. The biggest question on my... the Image gave a slight laugh. Your mind is: are you the leader for the Shivans? Well as much as it pains me to say, yes we are. I cannot tell you what the future holds, but what I can do is give you something. The Ancients discovered another power, one that they could place into inanimate objects with no moving parts. A column slid up in front of Sam. Place your sword there. Sam put his sword in the machine. Blue light filtered through it, when it stopped the blade had a glowing blue diamond marked on it. Sam reached out, took the sword. This blade is unbreakable, and it will slice through anything, even the hardest steal. Sam slid his sword back into its scabard. Votion, if I remember correctly you came to this place looking for something you lost, you dont know what it is. You lost a friend, but the truth is that you never really lost that, remember that. The face turned back, and then looked at the two of them again. I must leave now, dont forget to leave this message to yourself. the image smiled and then was gone. Sam looked at Votion, and Votion locked back at him. Then Sirens blared. 
                                         WARNING, STRUCTURAL COLLAPSE IN 10 MINUTES A voice said from nowhere, Sam and Votion started to run. The cave started to break away. The noise was unbarrable. They started up the ladder as the floor fell away beneith them. The walls were beginning to give way. Rocks fell down into the burning pit of lava. They emerged from the hole, the earth still shaking. 
                                          Run! Sam yelled as they started across the crater. Run. David, Stonefox and Susan loked up, they noticed the falling ground and began to run. They reached their ships, the ground went out from beneith them. They started up their engines and flew up and out of harms way. The burning lava soon cristalized into hard rock again. That was obviously planned. The five ships headed away towards the Vengence. Sam cheked his sword one last time before putting it into its usual spot. He sat back into his chair and blew out a long breath. 

 
                                        Sam opened his eyes. The transport was getting closer to the Galatea. Sams Ulysses had been safely transported there, along with Votions horus. They had gotten a few days shore leave, and Sam had shown Votion around a few places he knew on Earth. Susan was waiting for them on the Galatea, but Sam knew that Wolfe would have another mission ready for him as soon as they got in. 
                                         The Transport set down in the docking bay, and sure enough Wolfe was waiting for them as soon as they got out of the transport. Welcome back gentlemen. he handed them the usual breifing reports. This time we have an inside problem. We believe that Admiral Newshire and the crew of the Olympus want to defect to the Hammer of light. Sam shook his head. I know you dont like it Captain, but we hope that we are wrong. That is why we are sending you two in. You leave immediately. Here are your transfer forms. He handed them the slips. You are to observe the crew, and if they do wish to defect then you must... Wolfe swallowed. Sabotage the ship. Sam nodded grimly. Dismissed. Sam looked at Wolfe. 
                                        I will enjoy the look on your face when I prove you wrong, sir. Sam said. Wolfe nodded. 
                                        So will I Captain, Sam and Votion turned to leave. So will I. 

                                        Sam and Votion pulled away from the Galatea. The Olympus was half way across the system. They jumped into subspace. Sam hoped that Wolfe was wrong. They emerged from subspace a little while later, there, floating in the middle of space, was the Olympus. One of the grandest ships ever built. Sam was determind to prove that his old friend would not abandon the GTA and the oath they both gave so many years ago. 
                                        The lights on the landing platform guided them in. Sam guided his ship in with Votion not far behind. He brought it in and landed on the deck. A crew from Triton Dynamics rushed in to take readings and make sure the ship had suffered no major damage from the fight. They were almost ready to release their grand marvel to the GTA. They were almost ready to give her up, but who really benefited from this deal was yet to be seen. 

 
                                         Cronis floated down the long hallway to his commanders office. As usual he passed a few other Shivans in the corridor. The commander wanted to show him something, but Cronis didnt know what that was. The door slid slowly open and Cronis floated in. The room was dark, and the bits of red that filled the room looked like blood splattered on the wall. The other Shivan passed Cronis a long sheet. 
                                          What is this? Cronis asked. 
                                           Our friends have provided us with the new information on the Ulysses. he paused for a moment. The ship that you requested has been delayed. Cronis pulled back. 
                                           What do you mean, delayed? The other Shivan grew stern. 
                                           I mean exactly that, Cronis, now return to your post. The leader for the Shivans has returned to the Galatea, and has moved to the Olympus. I do not want you to disapoint me. Cronis nodded and floated out of the room. He would find his prey. It was time for his move, he now knew how to finally get rid of the Leader for the Shivans, once and for all. Cronis laughed secretly to himself. 
 
                                          The Demon class cruiser moved slightly over to one side, and then out of nowhere it engaged its massive engines and flew out into space. It sped up and with one thrust moved into subspae. The blue swirling light engulfed the craft as it disapeared from view. Space was about to get a lot more conjested. 
 

                                                             To be Continued...