Episode XIV
Who said anything about a Just war?
 

 The small transport left Vasuda Key, and her Vasudan people behind, the ship sprang into the darkness of space, the glowing lights beckoning the small ship to the heavens. A wing of Perseus fighters swooped down out of nowhere and took up formation around the small transport. The sun sent beams of light streaking towards the ship; the light glinted off the hull. They passed the moon of the small Vasudan planet; it floated in space, as if hung by a thousand strings.
 “Engaging Pre-Subspace Drive sequence.” The pilot said, flipping a dozen switches. The ship began to power up. The fighter escort pealed off, they turned sharply, and fired their engines. They took up formation heading away from the transport. Their engines flared red with their afterburners. “Engines to full.” The ship began to power up. “Taking us in.” The blue light of the catalyst blocked out even the light of the sun. The swirling blue light enveloped the ship, there was a bright white flash, and the transport was in subspace, moving slowly, towards the other end of the tunnel. “Reduce speed to cruising, put her on auto.” The co.-pilot nodded slowly. The small door to the cabin opened. Dove stepped in. The pilot looked over at the co.-pilot. The man stood silently and moved passed Dove and out of the cockpit. Dove sat down into the chair. “So what’s on your mind Commander?” Dove smiled.
 “You.” The Pilot smiled back.
 “Should I be flattered? Or scared?” Dove cocked his head.
 “Perhaps both.” He said with a strange smile on his face. “You were never a GTI pilot were you?” The pilot began to laugh slowly.
 “No. Simply a student of History.” The man gave a slight bow, as if presenting himself to the grand chairman of the GTVA Security Council. “I’ve seen too many people die for no reason. That’s why I’m on this transport.” Dove nodded.
 “In the end, why did you send me out there?” The pilot began to speak. “I mean really, you’ve said you’re a student of history, but it must be more then that.” The man began to laugh, heartily, and full of life. Dove furrowed his brow. “I know that laugh…”
 “Please take your seat, Sir. We’ll be coming out of subspace soon.” Dove didn’t have time to react; the Co.-pilot pushed his way back into the cockpit.
 “Please take your seat, sir.” The co.-pilot pushed Dove out of the cockpit, the door closed slowly. But dove could here the voice of the pilot in the background.
 “Welcome to the good-guy’s team, Dove.” The door closed, Dove took a seat next to Ridow.
 “So you decided to join us.” Ridow said smiling. He turned back to Kate, quickly, without a pause. “Why would David be calling us back this quickly?” Ridow asked, Kate shook her head. Vo’rant spoke up, he had a gity look on his face, a look that told Ridow that the shady Vasudan was about to tell a joke.
 “Maybe they’re giving us a medal.” The Vasudan said.
 “No, more like a surprise party.” Kate said, falling back in her seat. Dove’s face turned to one of concern. He hadn’t herd about any transmission. “I could sure go with some cake right about now. She said, nearly laughing.
 “What transmission?” Dove asked, concern filled his face. Kate looked up at him.
“David ordered us to return to the Requiem before schedule, he refused to say why.” Dove had a look of concern melted into his face, he wasn’t changing.  “Why? What’s wrong?” Kate asked slowly. Dove shook his head.
 “I don’t know, but I can feel it, inside, something doesn’t feel right.” There was a bright flash as the ship left subspace. The another as it re-entered subspace. The small ship sped through subspace for another hour. When they came out the Amagosis station floated slowly in space. The GTD Requiem had emerged from its repair docking space, and was operating on her own power. The transport eased itself into the docking-bay. The shield formed around the transport and like an insect through water bubbled into the bay, depressing the shield as it went. The transport set down on the deck. A large crane set the swung out of control.
 “Watch that arm!” Someone yelled. The arm regained control, and fitted itself down into the Hercules class fighter. The arm moved the Hercules out unto the deck. “Keep her steady.” The deck commander said.
 “Compression failure!” An officer yelled out. The arm started to strain.
 “All hands clear the Deck, Get that Transport off the Deck!” The arm cracked off at the joint and dropped the fighter into the deck. “Too late. Everyone down!” the deck commander yelled, diving for cover under his desk.
 The Hercules crashed down into the deck and exploded into a massive fireball. Pieces of metal bounced off the walls, the transport was struck hard by a piece of flying debrey. The landing supports buckled, and the ship toppled over unto the deck. Sparks flew, as the fire raged.
 “Fire teams report to landing bay. All hands check in, is everyone all right? I want a status report, how the Hell did this happen.” The deck commander noticed the Transport rolled over on its side. “Someone get that Transport up, the Leader for the Shivans is on that thing. Come on people, let’s move!” teams rushed about, as another arm extended down at pushed the small transport up. The fire team finally arrived; they began to spray the destroyed ship with their small canisters. White foam covered the burning wreckage. David stepped out of the light; he looked around in horror.
 “What happened here?” He asked. The deck commander didn’t pause in what he was doing.
 “Compression failure, Sir. Second arm, we were transporting that old Hercules over to the station, per your orders.” The deck commander kept at his work.
 “You’ve just destroyed on of the very first Hercules fighters ever built.” The commander had no time to pause.
 “Sorry, Sir. I knew how much that ship meant to you.” David shrugged.
 “I never liked that ship anyway. Too slow.” He looked around quickly. “Get that wreckage off my Deck.” The deck commander saluted.
 “Yes, Sir.” David walked over to the fallen transport. “Don’t tell me, I don’t want to know.” The deck officer went back to coordinating the clean up operation. Kate, Ridow, Dove, and Vo’rant somehow found their ways out of the transport.
 “Well that was fun.” Ridow said slowly.
 “Maybe we can do it again.” Vo’rant said, he wasn’t smiling. They walked over to David. They didn’t salute when they met.
 “Usually officers salute their higher in command.” Kate shrugged. Ridow smiled.
 “I’ve forgotten how to salute.” He said smiling. David nodded.
 “So have I.” Kate spoke up.
 “What’s this message all about?” Kate asked. David nodded for the life.
 “Follow me.” They walked off the deck, officers ran about trying to repair the damage to the deck. The smoke filled the deck, as the special air filtration system began to blow the smoke out into deep space.

 The lift began to take them up past the deck. Past the smoking wreckage, and past the disorder of the flight deck. The five of them were stuffed into the life. “I have to show you what I’m talking about, it’s best if you see it for yourselves.” Ridow looked over at Kate, a worried look on his face. Kate shared the Man’s face. The lift opened and the five of them pilled out.
 After a while, they turned a corner and walked into David’s large Admirals Quarters. A small computer screen jutted out of the small central table. “I received this message from Admiral Richard Dravus on the GTD Danton.” They sat down on the chairs surrounding the screen. David didn’t sit; he simply stood looking out into space. “System,” David began, the screen fluttered with acknowledgment and made a small beep. “Play message.” The screen fluttered and produced the image of Admiral Dravus.
 “David, it’s good to have you back. I wish this message could be a live feed, but they might trace me. This message will come in from strange channels, it can’t be avoided. Bah,” He turned away sharply; “There’s no time for this.” Dravus pulled himself in closer to the screen. “David, This morning the GTVA Security Council received this message from the NTF forces under the command of John Richtoven, who calls himself the Leader for the Shivans.” The admiral reached over, and struck a button, the screen light up with a different face.
 The face seemed familiar to Kate, strangely familiar, it’s a face she should not have known, should not have recognised, but somehow she knew him. Time stopped, Vo’tion hunched over Kate’s shoulder.
 “He hasn’t changed much in the past year.” Vo’tion said. Kate looked up at the Vasudan. A questioning look in here eyes, as if to ask ‘what?’ but she didn’t say anything. Vo’tion flung out a hand, “I wouldn’t want to ruin the Surprise.” Time Started again. The Vasudan disappeared.
  The face of Richtoven was bathed in darkness. His eyes were deep set, his hair short and black, his goatee was as dark as the night, his eyebrows were thin, like daggers above the mans eyes. He had a commanding presence, like a master looking over his dog. He spoke, his deep voice rumbled, but it had a wisp to it, as if choked by some unknown force.
 “Galactic Terran Vasudan Alliance, I am the Leader for the Shivans. You know me, as I know you. And hear this, I know you do not want a war with me, and I would like to keep it that way. I have become aware of this false Leader for the Shivans, Catherine Norrow, and I will have vengeance on this evil being. Her cursed shell will rot in hell.” The veins popped out on the man’s deep face, he pushed himself forward, and as he spoke he slammed a fist down into the desk. He suddenly drew back, trying to regain what dignity he had in the beginning of his speech. “I am declaring war on the GTD Requiem, so not interfere, if you do, the GTVA will be destroyed.” Another voice suddenly came from somewhere off in the distance. It sounded as if it had come from another room, somewhere far away from this transmission.
 “By what right do you command us? We could destroy you with a slip of our finger.” The Russian voice said. Richtoven searched the screen; he seemed to be looking directly at Kate.
 “Identify yourself.” He said.
 “That’s Dimitry Kosak.” David smiled.
 “I am Admiral Dimitry Kosak. Of the GTD Aristogoth.” The Russian admiral said slowly. “And I repeat, who are you to command us.” Richtoven smiled.
 “I am the Leader for the Shivans, and besides, I know you GTVA Security Council, very well indeed. You will give me what I want, because you cannot afford a war on two fronts.” There was mumbling in the background, and something else. Something that Kate couldn’t pick up. Someone stepped out of the shadows and looked out at the Camera, but he hurried back to the shadows before anyone noticed. The another voices.
 “We will grant you your wishes.” Reluctance was deep in the voice of whoever was talking. David spoke up again.
 “Chancellor.” He said simply.
 “Good.” Richtoven said slowly. “Stay out of my way Gentlemen, or your worst nightmare will become reality.” The screen shut off, and flickered back to the face of Admiral Dravus. He held his face in both his hands.
 “I’m sorry David.” Dravus said slowly. He took his hands from his face. “You’re on your own.” The Admiral looked around himself, quickly, as if looking for a bug. He hit a key and the screen became slightly fuzzy. Static danced along the edges of the screen. “We’re not supposed to be telling you this, but there’s a force headed towards you now. Damn, I wish Samuel Morrison was here, but we’ve got the next best thing. You can count on Dimitry and me, we’re reading a battle fleet, but it will take time, try and hold out for a little bit. And don’t give me any of Honour, or duty crap. The GTVA Security Council be damned. We’ll be there soon. One more thing, did you notice Richtoven? His accent is gone, I don’t know what that means, but we’d better keep an eye out. Try and hold out my friend. Danton out.” The screen cut off, and static filled the screen. The small display began to close down into the table. The screen sunk into the table, and glass slid out over the hole. You couldn’t even see that it was a screen.
 David paced the room slowly. Kate finally tried something.
 “We’d better get ready.” She said slowly. David nodded slowly.
 “The ships on full alert, but I don’t know how we’ll do.” He continued to pace. “All that’s left, is simply to stand here and wait, Damn I hate that. Sam would never wait around for all this to go to hell around him.” Vo’rant stood suddenly, sharply.
 “I am tired of all this, Samuel Morrison is dead, would everyone stop referring to him as if he were in the other room.” His voice had made a definite impact on David; he had grown stern, almost angry. “He was a great man, but we’ve got to do this for ourselves. We have no choice but to wait, but we will be ready, let us prepare a few surprises.” David nodded.
 “I like that Idea.” Vo’rant smiled quietly to himself.
 
The doctor sat alone in the med.-bay, he sat on one of the many beds in the room. On the screen, that stupid thing that served for a window, floated space, silent, dark, crisp. He searched the beds; there was no one there. There were no patients to treat no more lives to save. The doctor had been the Black Sparrow known as Extinguisher. Now an old man, he was at the battle where all his friends had died, he can remember their screams of pain as they died. He shook the memories off, seeing Sam again gave him hope, but watching him die was too much, his friends were dead, he should have been dead, killed at that ancient battle eighteen months ago.
 He looked down into his hands, at the needle in his hands, it had a strange futuristique look to it, it seemed strange to him. The needle was filled with poison. But not regular poison, a quick, painless poison. He would be dead in just a few minutes. He pushed himself off the bed, and walked over to the window.
 “Oh my friends, my friends. Why have you left me here.” He placed a hand on the window, he closed his eyes. He could still remember the day, images flashed before his eyes, they were caught off guard, it should not have ended like that for the Black Sparrows…

 The black sparrows flew together, one of the small craft exploded.
 “What was that?” Stonefox yelled?
 “Ambush!”
 “Break apart.” The ships pulled apart, space jerked around as Extinguisher pulled his fighter up. More fire blasted out in front of him.
 “What’s going on?” Fire licked across space.
 “Ahhh---”
 “Shit, they got Ironhorse.”
 “I have no target”
 “Neither do I.”
 “He’s on you!”
 “I can’t see him!”
 “Bank right, bank right!” Fire spread itself out across space.
 “Ahhh---”
 “Nooo! ---” Fire exploded again, another one of them had been hit, Extinguisher checked his wing. Ironhorse, Wing Nut, and Red-Hawk, had all been killed.
 “Knight watch your six!”
 “I can’t see him, I got nothing on the scope.”
 “Pull hard.”
 “Where is he?!”
 “Keep your cool pilots” Stonefox yelled. A missile arced across space.
 “Watch out Stone!”
 “What the---” Fire exploded from Stonefox’s cockpit. His ship began to spin slowly in space.
 “Stonefox, No!” Extinguisher yelled from across space.
 “Exting---” Extinguisher looked around, Knight’s ship exploded in a blaze of fire. Extinguisher looked around frantically. A missile peeled through his shields, and tore off his wing. Extinguisher shielded his eyes from the blast. He opened them, there in front of his ship floated John Richtoven. The man sat in his Loky, and smiled. He began to laugh; he pressed a finger into the glass cockpit. The image melted away…

 Extinguisher felt a tear roll slowly down his check, he moved the needle closer to his arm. The door slid open, Kate pushed herself into the room, she turned quickly and before she could say a word she froze. Extinguisher didn’t move.
 “Leave Captain.” He said simply, slowly, his face covered in his own tears. His voice quivered, but his hand was as hard as stone.
 “What are you doing?” Kate said, quietly, slowly, she stepped forward.
“Don’t come any closer Captain.” Kate froze. “This is wrong, I shouldn’t be here. I should be dead, with them.” He kept staring out into space; Kate could see the pain in the man’s face.
The too of them stood, that single solitary moment, neither moved, neither flinched. Both were totally unaware of the darkness burning in subspace just outside the ship, out there in subspace, a crew of Hate filled warriors plodded towards the small Terran Destroyer. They moved silently, but they weren’t looking to destroy, no, they were after something, something to steal. The transport was protected, and the marines prepared, this would be no easy task, and blood would be spilt. But they weren’t here to spill blood; they were here to take it.
And somewhere, off in the distance, in the darkness, beyond subspace, beyond the frontier between Shivan and Terran the man in the black coat laughed quietly to himself.
 
 

Leader for the Shivans 3: Journey from Dunwitch hill
Will continue with:

Episode XV:
Stealing Lightning