Terosan Tales

successful.”

  “Closing in on the position, captain,” Lieutenant Byrol shouted.

  “Shield up, weapons ready,” Ensign Teran added.

  “There aren’t many ships where half the of officers are female,” Zsilana spoke softly so only Feyu could hear. His eyes were scanning the room, he was watching, anticipating, judging. He must be trying to figure out how much danger we are entering into.

  “In 3... 2... 1... we’re there.” Byrol announced.

  “Visual,” Zsilana demanded, “I want their status.”

  “Their shields are up and are maneuvering into a defensive pattern.”

  “Ensign Sarsen, punch in code 359 then transmit on band M.”

  “Yes, Captain,” Sarsen acknowledged.

  “Captain, their engines are out,” Byrol shouted, “they just turned off for no reason.”

  “Personal transmission for the captain on band M,” Sarsen announced and punched in the commands to relay the message to Zsilana’s datapad.

  “Sarsen, patch a copy to Luryae.”

  “Teran, what’s their shield and weapon status?”

  “Completely nullified. At least for now, Captain, but I can’t say how long they will be down for, might be days but could be minutes. I can’t tell. Their systems are more complex than I’m used to. Yet somehow their defences came down without any effort. Do we have someone helping us on the inside?” Teran said.

  “Another incoming message Captain,” Sarsen said, “patching...”

  “Bring us about and review the on-screen annotations – we’ll spearhead the fleet by going here.” Zsilana proded her datapad. The oval viewscreen at the front bridge shone with pulsing lights where the captain outlined her strategy. “Supporting ships will skirt the edges; here, here and along here.” She scribbled more lines with her finger. “Teran, inform the boarding party that it’s time to dock, they need to be ready.”

  “Yes, captain.”

  “There are engineers to extract. Tell the boarding party that they will be at these coordinates: patching them now. Make sure they read my instructions fully for extracting the device, I’ve been given clear orders to safely remove the device without even a scratch.”

  Hush fell upon the bridge while the crew members carried out their tasks. Zsilana noted that Feyu’s eyes followed her every movement; whether she sat back or on the edge of her seat, his eyes followed. He didn’t speak and bore no expression.

  “...and docking in 3... 2... 1... engaged,” Teran’s voice broke the silence.

  “Get the boarding party on screen, let’s see their helmet feeds,” Zsilana said.

  “Doors opening. Feeds on,” Sarsen announced.

  “Boarding team, follow the engineers to the extraction point. Crew member 7 direct engineer Rayot to board our ship, he has a copy of the blueprints for the device.”

  “All going smoothly so far.” Feyu’s voice was crisp yet quiet.

  “So far, but we can’t become complacent.” Luryae stood behind Zsilana.

  The boarding team had passed through the ship undetected. The internal sensors were still down although it was anyone’s guess when they would be functioning again. Fortunately, the Kyopix spies already on board the ship had helped to disable door locking mechanisms where needed. It also helped that all the other doors were locked shut and allowed the boarding party to progress unhindered.

  “They’re by the device, see cams 3 through 6,” Sarsen announced.

  Zsilana edged forward on her seat “Team, make sure device is unhinged for removal. I’m counting on the engineers here, you guys told me you knew how to get this device out. Now prove it.”

  “Yes Captain, device is almost unhinged” came the reply, “but how do we get it out? This thing is huge. There ain’t no way this small team is carrying that thing out on our shoulders. No ma’am.”

  “Don’t worry about that crewman, you’re doing exactly what I asked, just make sure it is completely unhinged from the supports and ready to pop out when I say,” Zsilana replied. She turned and spoke into her ship’s intercom, she had another team to work from this ship, “Are the torches ready?”

  “Cutting torches ready, Captain.”

  “Start etching the hull, we’ll blow it through from this side,” Zsilana instructed then turned back to the open comm-channel to the other crew members, “Boarding team, stand back. This hull’s coming loose.”

  “Yes, Captain,” a crew member replied.

  “Any further resistance?” Zsilana asked.

  “The Terosan crew are readying a combat team to take back the engineering section. So far they’ve had no luck but we better get moving.”

  “What’s the ETA?” Zsilana looked towards Ensign Teran.

  “Only a few minutes,” Teran said.

  The hardest part about being captain was the limited feedback you experienced while stuck in the Captain’s chair. You had to hope that everyone was doing their job to the best of their ability. It wasn’t always obvious to tell that when all you can see if a small section of flooring or wall from a crewmembers viewscreen. The device was unhinged from the supports, so the reports had said but it wasn’t obvious from the viewscreen feeds. It should however have at least a few more pieces that attached it to the rest of the rest, Zsilana guessed, it had to be tied to the ships engine’s somehow. That’s how it propelled, surely. The overview she read from the Kyopix spies made it sound simple, yet neither she nor them were engineers.

  “Make sure the device is ready to pop. We need to move fast,” Zsilana barked to the away team. “Torches, report in, how is the etching?”

  “The etching process is almost done captain, but the hull was thicker than expected. We managed to use the pneumatic thumpers to punch through the inner hull, should be easy to lift the skin from this one captain.”

  Zsilana looked to Teran, “EM-shields and weapons still down?”

  “Still down,” Ensign Teran replied.

  Almost there. This is going to work, it’s actually going to work. Zsilana steadied herself in the chair, but excitement was building, her stomach churned, her legs stiffened and her brow became moist from perspiration. It was hard to watch. So close now. There’s a lot of credits waiting for us when we get back. A private yacht would be in order – something to cruise around in without the crew, a little something packed full of luxuries.

  “Cam 4, I need a visual to your left. Possible breach in adjoining corridor,” Sarsen interrupted.

  “Looking. Nothing,” came the reply, “I’ll scout the area and report back.”

  “Captain,” Teran shouted, “the engineers reported that the hull is ready to be pushed through. Suction team has secured the perimeter and are ready for the extraction.”

  “Then let’s make the lift,” Zsilana said, “engineers, move back from the extraction point. Crewman 2, lead them back to the ship.”

  Across an open com channel the entire bridge heard the dirty sound of a discharging bolt rifle. An archaic projectile weapon that made the bloodiest mess. Another shot thundered, it filled the bridge with electronic feedback and reverb. Cam 5 lay smashed and bloodied; dirt, blood smeared the partially working visual feed.

  “Breach! We need back up in engineering. Now!” Member 2 shouted across their com.

  “Member 5 is down,” Sarsen announced.

  “Hold tight, I’m on my way,” Luryae called out. Zsilana stood up. That was nothing she could say but watch and let Kee exit the bridge. She gulped a loud intake of air that made the bridge crew momentarily turn to watch her. For that moment when the air was held it seemed like hours. When the out-breath came the bridge crew returned to work. She couldn’t stop Luryae going, personal feelings only served to make the decision cloudy. The away team needed more leadership. It was the natural choice. ‘Be safe’, her words came out as a whisper.

  Further shots reverberated over the bridge’s com system.

  “Back up needed. I repeat, back up needed,” Crew member 3 pleaded.


  “It’s coming. Sit tight!” Zsilana shouted. “Has the lifting started? I wanted that device out of there. Now!”

  “The hull is breached and but the engineers can’t strap harnesses to the device until the fighting has stopped.”

  “Captain, we have incoming,” Sarsen said.

  “Well? Send more troops then.”

  “No, not in there. Out here. Two frigate sized ships appeared from nowhere. Visual in 3. Scanners show they are on top of the our fleet.”

  “Send out periphery ships. Fleet lead has to stick tight to target vessel.” Zsilana.

  “Ships dispatched.” Teran said.

  “Visual on,” Sarsen said, “those... they aren’t Terosan Captain. That’s Hayf frigates, it has to be.”

  “They’re only frigates,” Zsilana said.

  “Hayf frigates, Captain,” Sarsen said.

  “Look, just make sure those Hayf whatevers don’t get close to our position.”

  “Captain, this is suicide. We won’t survive Hayf frigrates. We should abort,” Sarsen said.

  “Never. No device, no payment,” Zsilanan retaliated, “We need to crush those vessels. How hard can it be?”

  “One of our ships is already damaged; retreating. A second ship now disabled. Captain, this is getting out of hand fast. We need a full reteat.”

  “Not yet, we’re too close,” Zsilana said.

  “Another ship disabled. And another. Our fleet is going down, Captain,” Sarsen said.

  “Terosan is immobilized, we can hold out long enough.” Teran added support to the Captain.

  “Focus!” Zsilana shouted, “Hayf must have a weakness, there must be a way.”

  “Luryae