* * *
James softly knocked on the commander’s stateroom door. He was somewhat confused and apprehensive. A voice in his mind had summoned him from a deep sleep to report to Commodore Nazareth. Discovering that Nazareth was his mother had filled his heart with joy. Now his family was complete, or at least as complete as it was going to get at this time. Still, it troubled him. Mother was so much different than he remembered - not the quiet, gentle woman of bygone days. She was now a force to be reckoned with.
A charming voice called out to him. “Please come in.”
James opened the door. Much to his embarrassment, he found his mother hurrying around the room, naked. He attempted to politely turn his head away but could not, being so mesmerized by her beauty. How easy it was to forget that this woman appearing as little more than a teen gave birth to him so long ago. Being so caught up in the moment, James just dumbly stared at this flitting sprite.
Nazareth shot him a flirting glance. “You’re not that bad looking, yourself.” She stopped, staring back. “Well, come in and shut the door! I have things I wish to say to your ears alone.”
James entered the room, fumbling for the latch on the door. Nazareth had business to discuss with him but first saw a need to clear up other matters. She walked over to him and gently gripped his forearms. “Son, you and I no longer live in a world filled with silly inhibitions and petty rules. People don’t ever grow old here. They remain eternally young. You also know the customs of our old ways are buried in the past. One day you will have to accept making a covenant with me. That is a fact you have long known. It is the way of this people.”
She brushed his arm reassuringly. “Fear not, my darling. That isn’t the reason I called you to be with me.” She gave him a sly wink. “...another time, when you have finally learned to be a real lover.”
James’ mind reeled, first with the thought of sharing a bed with this beautiful woman because she was his mother and, then, when the reality of her comment sank in... ‘When you finally learn’. ‘When you finally learn’?! Wait a minute! She was accusing him of being a poor lover! That thought rankled him. He raised a hand to comment.
She stopped him, laughing. “Now that we have broken the ice, let’s be about our business.” At that, Nazareth went back to her chores. While she dressed, the commodore chatted with James.
First she asked, “Did you feel the disturbance of energy within yourself just a little while ago?”
James thought for a moment. “Yes…yes I did, but I thought it was you, for just after it happened, you summoned me.”
Nazareth shook her head, denying it so. “That wasn’t me. It was the power of the Cherubs flowing through your body. Today’s a new day. The children from the Realms Below take up their rightful positions as watchers over this universe. We now stand beside our brothers who have long held the reins of restraint against the evil surrounding us.” She put a finger to her lips. “We are part of a secret order called the ‘Seraphim’. None know of its existence except those who are members.”
She waved her arm and reached for her britches. “Enough of that. I will fill you in at a more appropriate time.”
James was curious. “How do you know these things? And why do you call yourself ‘Nazareth’ instead of ‘Mary’? Nazareth was our home.”
Nazareth snapped closed the last clasp on her britches, picked up the red blouse and sauntered with a swagger over to James. She asked, “Would Mary have acted this way, so bold and unabashed?”
James shook his head, replying she would not.
“That’s right!” Nazareth exclaimed. “’Mary’ was my given name…still is. Officially, I’m ‘MaryNazareth’, but I never use it anymore.” She walked away, slipping the blouse over her head and tucking it in. “Mary passed away some two thousand years ago. She’s gone, never to return. I’m Nazareth, trained for forty years by the Cherubs for this day. I am the coming storm of retribution, the Deathmaker.”
She stopped and introspectively studied the room while fondling a small, engraved button on her collar. “The power and wisdom of Tolohe joined itself to me this night. Once, so long ago, I offered to her all that was mine and now she has given to me all that was hers. I cannot betray such a trust. I will finish what she has started.”
Nazareth smiled at James. “And now I think I have answered your first question as well.”
James acknowledged it so and then asked, “Why have you called me to you at this time? You may know what you’re about, but I’m still caught in a muddle about what I’m supposed to be doing.”
Still fondling the button, Nazareth approached James. Looking down at the engraving on the button, she casually remarked, “Commodore General SarahCnidus chose this ensign for our WolfPack Marauders in symbol of the sea pirates that prowled our world while we slept in the Field of the Minds. After an in-depth study, I concluded it was also appropriate to use it on all our ships and uniforms. You see, in Asotos’ attempt to set up a world of many gods and religions, he invented gods that lived off the flesh of hapless victims.”
She stared into James’ eyes, hers filled with excitement. “High in the mountains of a land far to the north of our old home there lives a race of people who worship a god that revels in the death of others. It wears a crown of skulls removed from those unfortunate enough to fall across its path.”
“Not many years ago, a dictator in the Realms Below latched onto that god’s symbol of the skull and crossbones, giving it to a group of his elite lieutenants, called ‘SS’. The SS attempted to liquidate several races of people but especially our descendants through a holocaust of murder, torture, and imprisonment. Although led by a fanatic from the Second Realm, it was really Asotos and his henchmen who gave power to those madmen.”
She grinned. “I intend to return the favor to Asotos’ own people by using the very gods he invented, and I will show them the same kindness.”
Looking away, as if seeing far into the distance, Nazareth exclaimed, “Asotos’ world will one day quake with fear when a skull and crossbones ship appears on the horizon! The blood of our adversaries I shall paint on our hulls as a sign of greeting.”
James did not flinch. He calmly replied, “I would expect to hear little less from someone who has witnessed Asotos’ cruelty. It’s refreshing to speak with a person who sees this wicked villain for who he really is. Any who follow him deserve nothing but death! The way it’s delivered is of little importance. But this still doesn’t answer my question. What am I doing here?”
Nazareth pulled her frock coat on. “You, my dear, are to be my one companion on this long and lonely journey that we are embarking upon. You see, most of the children who have volunteered for Special Forces were born late in the Second Age. Their dander is easily raised, thus making them excellent warriors. There are few older ones among us, but none of the Seraphim.”
“Without your company, I would have no one to share my thoughts with. We must not reveal to anyone the order to which we belong. Only fellow members even know of its existence. All the children born from the Second Realm are Seraphim, or will soon be, and yet few of them are aware of whom they are. That’s what this night has all been about, the changing of the guard. Of the Seraphim from this realm, only a small number have survived until today. Most have perished in the many long wars of the past.”
She winked again. “I may need your dream shares sooner than you think, too.”
James ignored her last words, asking, “So what does a Seraphim do, magic tricks and all that stuff?”
Nazareth patted her frock coat and leaned forward, primping in the mirror. “Well yes, ‘magic’ you might say, but magic in ways you’ve never dreamed of. The power between Seraphim varies. Some have powerful mental abilities, being able to see and hear things afar off. Others are gifted with deep wisdom and discernment. Still others can control the elements. And others…well, others c
an do other things.”
When finished in the mirror, Nazareth walked over to James, cuddling close as she took his arm. James felt the softness of her breast through both uniforms. A heated tingle raced along his body, exciting him in places he was not prepared for.
Nazareth could sense James’ reaction. She said nothing, only smiled while stroking his arm. “Come with me. I have things to show you.”
The two quietly wandered down the corridors to the captain’s bridge. As they walked onto it, the night watch officer acknowledged them. Nazareth nodded and passed on to the bridge rail that looked down over the communication and battle bridges.
The bridge officer hurried over. “Commander?”
Nazareth tipped her head. “Lieutenant Commander, please clear the bridges for me. Take the crews to the main mess. I will call for you later.”
“Commodore?” quizzed the bridge officer.
Nazareth patted the woman’s shoulder. “I will not be long. When we are finished, I will send my adjunct to fetch you.”
The bridge office hesitated. Finally, she leaned over the bridge rail. “All personnel to the main mess, on the double!”
Shock and surprise filled the faces of the people but they dutifully obeyed and quickly cleared the bridges for the mess. Nazareth thanked the officer, reassuring her. “We won’t be long. Don’t worry. I will return this bridge to you as good as new...maybe better.”
James secured the doors and quickly searched the decks for stragglers. Nazareth called down to him, “They’re gone! Not to worry.” She waved him back up to her.
When James reached the captain’s bridge, he observed his mother with her head down, eyes closed, touching her temples with her fingers. She slowly turned to James. “The battle group’s commanders should be opening their orders now. It will not be long before our enemy discovers he has miscalculated his adversary. If the room is dark, do not assume it is empty.”
Nazareth took James’ arm. “Magic is as magic does. My son, I will show you something that you may call ‘magic’, but it is not. Long ago, the Cherubs used their power to help build this universe. I’m only going to tap into the residue that remains from those days. In other words, I have been given the tools that allow me access to that energy. Watch and learn.”
Spreading her arms forward and wide, Nazareth extended her fingers and dropped her head. Calling out in a strange, staccato language, she began a chant. “Calleck Callick Zamballie Awkti-awanah CosainBie Fininnie GuuSognnah GuuSognnah!”
James felt the hair rise up on the back of his neck and then on his head. He watched his mother’s hair float up until it stuck straight out. The air snapped and crackled as sparks shot around the bridge. Static fire jumped from James’ fingers to his legs while racing up and down his body.
Nazareth repeated her chant and, in rapid succession, repeated it twice more. A shudder raced along the hull of the Chisamore. It groaned as if in pain as lights flickered and dials spun wildly. Balls of fire ricocheted off the walls, ceilings, and deck-plates, screaming like wild beasts as they shot off in every direction. James watched in amazement as these burning missiles darted this way and that, sometimes missing him by only inches.
Suddenly, blinding, jagged flames exploded from Nazareth’s fingers. The captain’s bridge lit up in a blaze as static energy pummeled the inner hull. James watched, mesmerized, seeing his mother slowly rise into the air while her body began to glow like the sun.
The static fires continued to grow in intensity and glory, the noise becoming deafening. Then, in one final gasp, a giant energy blast erupted from Nazareth in a shattering roar. The force threw her into James, knocking them to the deck.
Regaining his senses, James struggled to stand, taking his mother’s hand to assist her. “Are you all right?!” He asked as he glanced around the bridge. All was now quiet. In fact, it looked liked nothing had happened.
Nazareth managed to get up, rubbing her hip where she had hit the deck hard. Looking around, she exclaimed, “Hadn’t expected that! I’ll have to be more careful next time.”
“Mother!” James cried. “What does this vision mean?! How am I to understand it?!”
Still looking around, Nazareth answered, “It wasn’t a vision. What you saw really happened.”
James wondered, “What does it mean then?”
Nazareth walked over and gripping the bridge rail, she cocked her head as if listening. Soon the commodore turned around, wearing a huge toothy grin. “It lives!”
“What?!” James cried. “What lives?”
Walking back to James, she looked up into his eyes. “I have given my spirit to this ship. It is no longer just a machine. It is a part of me. We are now one in mind and heart.”
“What?!” James was so confused.
Nazareth grinned, “Let what I have said suffice for now. Our need is to defeat the enemy. I have just increased our odds.”
She smoothed out James’ jacket and straightened out his lapel. “Now be a good darling and go tell the crew they may return to the bridge. After that, will you please gather my officers together in the war room? I’ll be there shortly.”
As James neared the exit, Nazareth cautioned, “Remember, keep this secret, just between you and me.”
In the wee hours of the morning, Commodore Nazareth met with her leading officers. She swept her hands to and fro across the map table, describing the battle plan. “Asotos has two armadas far to the east of our MueoPoros battle fleets. He has already unleashed most of his fighters and heavies on them, which are now less than three hours’ striking distance.
“Being overly cautious, the fool has forced his fighters to fly close to their fuel limit if he gets slowed down or stopped. His plan is to close the distance by following his fighters in, meeting up with them as they return. He has also held too few fighters in protective reserve, feeling confident that no one can touch him.”
Nazareth stood up. “Here’s our battle plan: We are too far away to hope to achieve an intercept with Asotos’ fighters. Our brothers on MueoPoros will have to deal with them on their own. The Dredges battle groups will reach the end of the CastenRill Asteroid Fields in about two hours. That will put us between Asotos’ armadas and his fighters. Once there, we will send most of our fighter squadrons to the west, while the heavies and the battle groups turn east.
“If things work well, the returning enemy fighters will be low on fuel and munitions. This should help reduce their fighting edge over our older and inferior fighters, tipping the scales in our favor. Meanwhile, we are going to plow right into Asotos, hitting him with everything we have.”
Nazareth swung her fist. “It will be a simple knock-down drag-out fight. The one who hits hardest wins!”
She raised her hand, extending a finger. “This is how it will work: Admiral ZabineaTizkertinah has gathered the remnants of TaqaEsem’s fleet and added it to hers, which is newly arrived from the Trizentine. Although our WolfPack Marauders have maintained a constant harassing of the enemy’s two troop transport armadas and supply convoys, the majority have pulled away and now add support to Admiral Tizkertinah.
“As I speak, the admiral is descending on Asotos’ companion armada which sits Q-north and slightly arrears of his. By the time we break clear the asteroid field, Tizkertinah’s ships should be fully engaged.
“About the same time the admiral becomes engaged, Dredges Battle Group II, which is running further off to our east, will emerge from the middle of CastenRill star system at the far end of its asteroid field. This will put the CortneyBay and its accompanying ships just to the east and Q-south of Asotos’ personal fleet. He will not be pleased. About twenty minutes later, the Chisamore, leading Dredges Battle Group I, will appear directly at his front.”
Nazareth began to slowly pace. “We will do one more thing that Asotos will not expect.” She turned in order to see the expression on her officers’ faces. “We
are going in along with our remaining fighters and heavies.”
Although no one spoke, Nazareth could see the surprise and disquiet growing among her officers. She grinned. “And that is what I think you’ll see on Asotos’ face, too!
“Standard combat procedure is to send your smaller attack ships in to soften up the enemy. When they have accomplished their mission, you advance your battle fleet, holding back with your carriers, keeping them from harm’s way.”
“Well...” Nazareth shrugged. “We have no carriers.” She stamped her foot. “...unless you call this antique a carrier. By the standards of the day, we are little more than a hodge-podge battle fleet, more fit for the junkyard than a battle engagement.”
She shook her finger, “Look! The asteroid field will keep us hidden. When we pull out from it, Asotos will be taken by surprise. And I assure you that fool has no idea we are even here! He hasn’t bothered to shine a light into the dark room!”
“When we attack, hell-bent on his destruction, he will not know we are the main body. For us to act so boldly, he will conclude that our main body of dreadnaughts and carriers remain hidden in the asteroid fields while the expendable old junk is thrown at him. He will hold back, keeping in reserve much of his remaining strength for when the real power strikes.”
Nazareth’s energy and charisma were contagious. Her eyes grew wide with excitement as she continued on. “Asotos appears to his people as self-confident and stalwart. Let me tell you the truth: The man is a miscreant, braggart, and coward! He will willingly surrender your ass to protect his, but he will not risk his own, at all cost. By hitting him directly, we will help defeat his entire navy.”
“If we do it right, Asotos will pull his fleet away from the main battle, fearing our hidden forces. He will be so concerned about his personal welfare, he will leave his other armadas to their individual fates. Without their commander directing them, coordination among the armadas will break down, decreasing their effectiveness and reducing their advantage of superior numbers.”
Nazareth waved her hand. “Strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter! In this case, the weasels will scatter.”
She finished on a grave note. “Our job is not to destroy Asotos’ armada. That is something I think we could not do anyway. We are to remain a distraction for him until this battle is decided. If that should cost all of us everything, it will have been a small price to pay for the salvation of the fleets around MueoPoros. Let us then be at our duties with diligence and vigor!”
As her officers hurried away to their stations, Nazareth took James’ hand. “Son, let us retire to the captain’s bridge. We shall face the future fates there, together...”
* * *
SECTION 19
GLORY RIDE