Chapter 1Ф
General Marnax met with Ned immediately following his successful ambush on the Imperial norithanium convoy. He quickly gathered Marvis Harvey, Smardwurst Varlon, Mirana Kelar, and Ambelshack Devorion together to hear Ned’s report. Marnax had the room flooded with greenish mist before they began so as to make sure that the Shadow Master was not there; in theory, even an invisible person would displace the mist and so be revealed. There was tense excitement as Ned described his battle with Rax and Dren, and everyone listened in shock as he told of how the Shadow Master had come to him.
“If this ‘Shadow Plasma’ can annihilate Ned’s power, then trying to use Ned against Dark Viper is even more hopeless than I thought,” Major Harvey declared dismally when Ned had finished.
“Maybe not,” Marnax said. “If it were really out to destroy us, surely it could have done so already. It must have some other motive.”
“Ned’s conversation with it would certainly support that,” offered Smardwurst. “What do you think of this ship it mentioned? The one that could destroy even Devastator?”
“I’ll tell you what I think,” said Mirana, who had not spoken since the meeting began. “I think I want it.” Everyone turned to look at her, so she continued. “Rumor among the Imperial elite is that there is a secret warship under construction at the Sigma Omicron shipyard. Its name is Nemesis. If this Shadow Master is right, then we absolutely can’t let the Empire use it, even once.”
Harvey pounded his fist on the table. “Sigma Omicron! This is obviously a trap! Why else would the Shadow Master tell Ned about this ‘secret’ technology?”
Smardwurst’s bulging eyes looked upward thoughtfully. “Perhaps it is. However, that does not mean that we should automatically discard the idea. Remember, Brenaria was also a trap, but the result of playing along was the elimination of two enemy Plasma Masters.”
Marnax held up a hand. “Wait. I think the immediate question here is whether or not taking Nemesis is even possible. We have waited too long since Ergana Prime; we must strike at the Empire soon, and we must do it with all of our strength. Sigma Omicron is too far inside Imperial space to be a viable target. Mirana, you think we can get this ship away from them?”
“Not a chance.” Mirana raised an eyebrow. “I can get it away from them.”
“How?”
“I can lead a small, disguised group into Imperial space, get us into Sigma Omicron, and get back out with Nemesis. But I won’t do it for free.”
“Oh, of course!” Harvey was appalled. “And what, exactly, did you have in mind as payment?”
Mirana stared laser bolts through him. “When we’re done, I get to keep Nemesis. Indefinitely.”
“No! Absolutely not! Why are we even listening to her! You must be out of your mind, mercenary!”
Marnax was equally surprised, but he exercised a bit more tact. “Mirana, that does seem a bit steep. What motivation do we have to support you in this if you keep the ship? Would you accept something else as payment?”
“No, but you have my promise that I will use Nemesis to fight with you against the Empire until the war is over. After that it’s mine to do with as I chose.”
“Every battle, including the one we’re about to wage.”
“Every battle, including that. If I get there in time. I’ll be pressed for time as it is.”
Harvey saw that he was losing ground once again. “General…”
“I don’t think we have much of a choice. As long as Nemesis fights on our side instead of the Empire’s, I think it’s worth the cost.”
“And one more thing,” Mirana said. “I lead the mission; I pick the team.”
“I’ll go,” Ned volunteered.
“No. Invincibility won’t help us here. We need stealth and experience, and that’s not you. Gerran, give me a list of your best reconnaissance people and I’ll pick from them. The sooner I leave the better the chance I have of getting to Sigma Omicron before Nemesis is launched.”
“I believe you have yourself a ship, Mirana. And the rest of us have a battle to plan. Remember, everyone, no one speaks a word of what has been said here unless I order it, except that Ned has defeated Rax and Dren and destroyed their Crystals. From now on we’ll flood the room with frinoxidine before every meeting, just in case the Shadow Master tries to listen in. Screen all incoming spacecraft in the same way. I want to keep that thing off this ship if it’s at all possible.”
“General?” It was Ambelshack who spoke.
“Yes?”
“I have a suggestion as to what Ned might do in relation to our next attack. If he can extend his invincibility shield outward a little, he could envelop an entire starfighter.”
“I’d be unstoppable!” Ned nearly jumped to his feet. “Yes! I’ll just need to build up my strength so I can resist repeated attacks without losing consciousness. I could just sit in your power reactor or something to build up my resistance!”
The idea seemed good to Marnax. “I won’t have you tearing up my power reactor with your Plasma, but I will make whatever arrangements you need to increase your power. You should also train on the starfighter simulators. Captain Devorion will be busy with me. Can X teach you?”
“Yes! This is perfect!”
“Good. Now. Major Harvey, would you briefly explain the plan for our next attack on the Empire?”
“Certainly.” Harvey activated a large viewscreen on one wall that showed several planets and the positions of StarBlazer and Anacron forces. He indicated locations on the map as he spoke. “Since Ergana Prime, Anacron has attacked outposts at Norisa and Chenardus, as well as the planet of Asaran. We drove them off from all three, and Galactron was not even there. Also since Ergana Prime we have retaken our outpost at Threlia Four, with most of it intact. If you notice the locations of these battles, the Anacronians could easily have supplied their forces there with plenty of reinforcements and swept us away, or at least taken fewer casualties than they did. In light of these and other recent battles, I believe they are massing their forces at Moldrona Kren. Doing so would give them an excellent chance at taking Pendarus and Tarlonus, and that would nearly cut us off from a large portion of StarBlazer space. In response to this we plan to mass forces here, here, and here. This will make it seem as though we are about to attack one of these systems here, but should give us the opportunity to combine forces near Moldrona Kren within twenty hours’ notice. The Empire will become suspicious when our forces there get too large, so our best chance is to spread the word quickly and act before they have a chance to analyze our movements. I believe we can mobilize a sufficient armada and strike at Moldrona Kren in ten days.”
“Thank you, Major. Does that seem reasonable you, Captain Devorion?”
“Yes, it does. You’ll have Starhawk and a vast fleet of starfighters at your service, plus one invincible Plasma Master. We can’t lose.”