Chapter 34
The stomach of CLERGY 6 opened, the two enormous doors spread apart and several dozen shuttles hung from their racks. The shuttle Garth and Lalia were aboard attached its self to the rack and killed its engine. The doors beneath them sealed close, a voice came on the communication device in the shuttle’s console:
“Lieutenant Lovar, Sergeant Lovar. The Captain requests you join him on his shuttle.”
Terk and Yelric unfastened their belts and lead Lalia and Garth through the hanger, Callos guards ran around shouting as they prepped their shuttles for flight. Two Callos struggled hoisting a rack of rifles unto their shuttle.
“What are they doing?” Garth asked Terk as he struggled to keep up with their fast pace.
“We will enforce an orderly transition, each of our fellow guards have sworn allegiance to the Captain over the Admiral. We are ensuring that no one is endangered by the process.” Terk explained.
“Is this a coup?” Garth turned to Lalia.
“In many ways,” She looked around the busy hanger; one Callos fastened a helmet on, “Yes.”
Captain Barras’ shuttle was larger than the rest; red and white streaks differentiated it visually, it also was the only shuttle equipped with front-facing guns. The Captain was stooped beneath it wearing goggles as he welded with his electro-grafter.
“Captain.” Yelric called, standing at attention.
“Stand down.” The Captain said, turning to face them.
“Aye sir!” Yelric and Terk called in unison, slacking from attention.
The Captain scanned from top to bottom and back again Lalia and Garth.
“I finally get to meet you both, and it is still a hurried situation. I am Captain of CLERGY 6, Elioc Barras.” He introduced himself, taking off his gloves; shaking their hands.
Garth introduced himself:
“My name is Garth Linarr; I was a mechanic aboard CLERGY 1.”
“Linarr? I worked with your father, ingenious.” Captain Barras complemented.
“I am Doctor Lalia Tarrus.” Lalia introduced herself.
“Yes, Doctor Tarrus I have heard a great deal about you.” He smirked.
“All good things I hope.” She smiled.
“Come, let’s get going. We can talk on the way.” He ushered them aboard his shuttle, “Load up!” He ordered each of his guards with a wave.
Lalia and Garth again took their seats, sitting across from Captain Barras with Terk and Yelric on each side.
CLERGY 6 took its place behind CLERGY 5, each of the vessels lined up behind CLERGY 1. The Idinium Repulsors on CLERGY 1’s side blared, the nose of the vessel glowed hot, the enormous thrusters on the aft end flared and the vessel catapulted through space.
The Captain’s shuttle began to shake, through the cockpit Garth could see that all of CLERGY 6 was rattling violently; their dock’s hinge absorbed much of the motion.
“We are currently in jump.” Captain Barras explained.
Their shuttle lifted from its platform and dropped through the enormous doors below, each of the shuttles lifted and followed through. Each icy white shuttle emptied from CLERGY 6, before them was an enormous planet; Phlasia.
Phlasia was far larger than Aurrus or Earth had been; the planet filled their cockpit view. Swirling orange and green colors composed the enormous sphere.
Each of the Callos in the shuttle were silent. They sat with mouths gaping and pressed their faces against the glass.
Their shuttle continued past CLERGY 5 towards CLERGY 1, their fleet unwavering; radio silence remained.
The enormous planet was alone, no dust or debris floated in orbit, there was no Phlasian moon. Far off in the distance, however, was a spot darker then the rest of the space around it; the Phlasian Portal.
Lalia broke the silence:
“Sir, you must know: Doctor Melric is the one behind everything that the Admiral has done. Melric is manipulating the Admiral.” She explained with urgency.
The Captain remained silent, thinking, he then spoke slowly:
“I will consider your input, if what you say is true the Admiral is still a dangerous threat. Though Melric may be manipulating him, the Admiral is still the only one with the authority to do anything. We will secure the Admiral, to ensure he doesn’t do anything foolish. Then we will arrest the Doctor.”
“What do you mean by ‘secure’?” Garth asked.
“I will arrest the Admiral if I need to, then I will assert my authority over his soldiers and order them to stand down.”
“It won’t be easy. The Admiral has called for his own militia.” Garth pointed out.
“I never said it would be.” The Captain corrected, as he spoke a flash of bright light cut across their view of the planet; the shuttle next to them exploded. It became a twisted sheet of metal, several Callos drifted into space; the lack of atmospheric pressure caused them to balloon, Garth averted his eyes before they too exploded.
Another laser darted across the space, narrowly missing their shuttle.
“They are shooting at us!” Garth exclaimed, shaking in anxiety.
A flash again darted across their shuttle, their shuttle rolled once; the console in front of the pilot shot out a shower of sparks. The pilot grunted and fell face down into the console, unmoving.
“Lieutenant, get us out of here.” The Captain ordered, Terk unfastened himself from his seat and crouched into the cockpit. He slid the pilot from his seat and took the controls; the shuttle banked to the side as another laser flashed past.
“Is he dead?” Garth asked.
Lalia leaned from her seat to hoist the pilot onto her lap, she felt for his pulse:
“No, he is unconscious.” She examined his face, which had been scarred with shrapnel; “I need to remove these.” She said calmly.
“But you aren’t a medical,” The Captain began, the ship banked to the other side dodging another laser, he grunted; “Doctor.” He finished.
“No, but that doesn’t mean I can’t help.” Lalia directed, “Give me that kit.”
Yelric passed to Garth who then passed the container to Lalia; she pried it open; the individual pieces fell across the floor.
“Damn!” Lalia cursed, Yelric unfastened his belt to crouch on the floor to retrieve the pieces.
“Hang on!” Terk shouted back, a volley of lasers shot their direction from CLERGY 1. He pulled back on the throttle lifting the shuttle up sharply, Yelric scrambled to reach his seat, Garth reached out to hold him. Garth pulled him down and hugged at him tightly as the ship rattled.
The shuttle pulled higher and higher, the lasers each barely missing the spot where the ship had been seconds prior. Garth gritted his teeth.
The lasers stopped and the shuttle leveled back out.
“They have stopped shooting, we are within landing range. Prepare to board?” Terk turned to ask the Captain.
Barras responded, exhaling to catch his breath:
“Patch me through to the surviving shuttles.” He commanded.
Terk passed him a wired communication device from the front console, it had several singe marks.
Captain Barras addressed his soldiers:
“This is Captain Barras. You have each professed your allegiance to the Convoy’s best interests, over that of your allegiance to the Admiral. Admiral Latarr has made several dangerous decisions, but now in an act of cowardice he began to shoot upon his own kind. We will board CLERGY 1 and ensure that the Admiral and any conspirators are subdued. There will be, in all likelihood, some form of resistance. I would hope we each practice restraint and preserve the life of our brothers and sisters aboard CLERGY 1, but know that they have been deluded. Protect yourselves and the lives of others, and to all of you; Phlasia and luck.”
After he had finished, Garth thought out loud:
“Sir, were you able to figure out where we had entered CLERGY 6 from?” He asked.
“No. All of the tapes in CLERGY 6 were torn out; I assumed you were responsible; the security hub
was vandalized.” The Captain said accusationally.
“No. We didn’t destroy the tapes.” Garth defended himself, before continuing;
“We boarded the vessel from the structurally weak point behind the repulsors; we could gain entry that way again.” He explained.
“Lieutenant. Take us to the repulsors.” The Captain ordered.
Lalia finished removing the shrapnel from the pilot, she dabbed at his face with a swab.
“You aren’t sending just the two of us in are you?” She asked.
“No. Sergeant Lovar and I will escort you both.” He nodded towards Yelric.
Their shuttle lowered against the side of CLERGY 1 beneath the repulsor, each wearing a survey suit and gun. They lowered themselves through a hole Yelric carved with an electro-grafter. A single Callos saw them in the hall and remained frozen in fear.
As the four walked past quietly, Garth pursed his lips and held a finger to them:
“Shh.” He hissed. The Callos fainted and collapsed to the floor.
Captain Barras took the lead, Yelric to his side with a holo-foil layout of CLERGY 1.
“Sir, do we go to the bridge or to the laboratory?” Yelric asked.
Barras turned to Lalia and Garth;
“I apologize. You will be doing this alone; I need to take the bridge. Otherwise many more lives will be lost in a battle aboard the vessel. If I can take the Admiral, then I can force his soldiers to stand down. Once I have done this I will meet you in the laboratory.” He finished, both Lalia and Garth reluctantly nodded their heads in understanding.
“Go.” Garth told him, Yelric shook Garth’s and Lalia’s hand giving them the map.
The Captain gave them each a salute, then he and his Sergeant turned down the hall towards the bridge. Lalia and Garth continued down their corridor; to rescue Miles.