Dark Haven 2 - Chapter 13

[crunn]

Chapter 01 (Survivors)
Chapter 02 (Excursions)
Chapter 03 (No Place Like Home)
Chapter 04 (Rising)
Chapter 05 (Politics)
Chapter 06 (Seepage)
Chapter 07 (Getting Back)
Chapter 08 (Set Up)
Chapter 09 (All We Have)
Chapter 10 (Sphere)
Chapter 11 (Fray)
Chapter 12 (Addition)


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DARK HAVEN 2

Chapter 13 (Long Haul)


Jubilee (Halls Office)


The door closes behind Pierson and Olrasin.
Captain Hall opens a communication to Argon Fleet Command then asks to speak to Admiral Illandas.
A few moments later the Illandas appears on the screen.

"Good morning Admiral."
'He looks worse than last time.'
"Did you not sleep well?"

"No Captain, not at all. Nightmares."

"You too.
Maybe you could use some good news."

"Please."

"Monroe is alive and we just rescued the head of Paranid Intelligence who is most determined that the Paranid will join the fight against these invaders."

"Good news indeed, but how..."

Hall explains the conversation with Olrasin to the Admiral.

"And this, of course, is very bad news also." The Admiral speaks for the first time in several mizuras.
"They are only three jumps from populated space. Not to mention the Xenon Shipyard sector."

"We can hope that the Xenon will act as a buffer, delay them a little."

The pair sit in silence for a moment.
The Admiral is obviously very disturbed by all this, his brow deeply furrowed.

"Admiral...
We could destroy the gate between the Xenon sector and Teladi Way."

"Captain Hall you know better than that." Illandas almost shouts.

"Yes I know, the treaty.
But under such extreme circumstances?"

"NO! Under no circumstances!
The agreement was written decades ago just after the Earth gate was destroyed.
It was signed by all five races and by many of the Pirate cartels. The Bloodmoons are on there.
The Earth gate was destroyed and now Earth is cut-off, alone.
If we start blowing up gates every time we are threatened...
'Oh look a Xenon capital ship...'"

'He's in a mood today. Job pressure? Lack of sleep? Nightmares?'

The Admiral continues increasing in volume. "...We destroy this gate now, then we find another spore and destroy that gate, then a Xenon invasion and another gate.
The universe will very quickly become very small until we are all cut-off and alone.
If Monroe makes it back he will be celebrated as a hero then executed for his crime.
Harsh but necessary.
Fundamentally I'm against the death penalty but it makes a remarkable deterrent.
So no Captain there will be no gates destroyed...
...I'm sorry Captain, I seem to be shouting...
I don't know what wrong with me, I had a go at Reamus earlier."
'I will have to get him some noisy shoes.'

"That's alright Admiral. I think we are all on edge."

Illandas gives an appreciative nod then continues.
"The Centaur and the Victory are both less than a stazura from you. The Rama is around four stazuras away.
Once the Centaur and Victory arrive I want you, the Jubilee, to take Olrasin back to Paranid Prime. He is the best hope we have for the Paranid. I don't want to risk loosing him in some ridiculous pirate attack.
These Bloodmoons are really pushing it. That will be your mission, by the way, but I will brief you on that when your Jump Drive is fitted.
Drop Olrasin off then report to the Argon Prime Shipyard for some upgrades then call me."

"Yes Sir."

Illandas is replaced by the Argon Fleet Command Logo.

...


Jubilee (Medical Bay)

"Woooo Nasty!!" The Doctor gleefully exclaims as he examines Olrasin.
"Head wounds are very popular this season and you have a splendid one."

Olrasin looks worried and a little scared.

"Does it hurt?"

"Yes."

"And if I press here?"

"Yes."

"And here?"

"Yes."

"What about..."

"Stop it!"

"Ok just checking." The Doctor smiles.
"It's mostly bruising. And I must say the most spectacular pattern of bruising I've seen in many jazuras.
May I?"
Without waiting for an answer the Doctor take a camera, snaps a picture and puts in back in the drawer.
"The way the vibrant colours, the pinks, purples wash into each other... Quite mesmerising.
A wrench you say?"

Olrasin nods.

"Wonderful!
You won't need stitches. Pain killers and a bandage will be fine."

Ten sezuras later Olrasin is ready to go.

"Before you go, is it true what I've read about Paranid mating rituals?"

"What have you read?"

"Female displays. The mating calls, dancing, projectile... well you know, and the tassels?"

Olrasin smiles. "Every word."

"Fabulous!
I have some leave coming up..."

...


Jubilee (Bridge)


Pierson takes the Captain chair.

"Anything?"

"No."

"Good. The Xenon L's have made the right choice.
Keep up patrolling around the sector."

'So where's my Xenon M?...
There, almost at the Trade Station,
Command - Stop
Lets take a better look at it now. Shinny silver. Sleek.
I always liked the look of them.
A single 5MW Shield.
Two Rudder Optimisation.
Six Engine Tuning.
Three Silkworm Missiles.
88% hull and a current top speed of 83.
Do I keep it or sell it?...
It would be fun cruising around in a Xenon ship, scare everyone...
What am I talking about, I'm cruising around in a Corvette right now... It's not mine though.
I wonder what the regulations are on owning ships. I sold my disco before I joined Argon Fleet and the Lifter was Terracorp property.
I'll look it up.'

Pierson searches the computer.
A few mizuras later he finds the relevant section.

'Here we go...
I see, there are no rules against owning properties or ships. But if it interferes with duties the punishment ranges from demotion to court-martial.
So I wont let it interfere.
That short trading excursion has really put me in the mood.
I have a little over three million in the bank. I can afford to repair and upgrade the M.
Also I think I'll buy one of those fancy new Mercurys, I do miss my old Lifter though...
No, Merc it is.
The M can run escort and I can do some remote trading with the Merc.'
"Excellent!"

The Ensign looks up at Pierson wondering what is so excellent, but the Lieutenant is completely absorbed in whatever he is doing.

'Ok. I'll send the M to the Omicron Lyrae Wharf for repairs and order the Merc from there.
Command - Dock - Omicron Lyrae Wharf
Denied.
What?
Information.'


"This facility is temporarily for military use only."

'Of course, rebuilding the fleet.
But I am military... My ship isn't.
Omicron Lyrae Shipyard... same.
Argon Prime... same. Though that's too far anyway.
Where else? Light Of Heart, no too far.
I can send the M to Ocean Of Fantasy for the repairs, only 2 jumps.
But where can I get the Merc?
Command - Dock Ocean Of Fantasy Wharf'

"Accepted"

'Hmm... What about a Dolphin?
Nice cargo hold, far too slow, easy pickings for pirates.
What else?
Ah PTNI Head Quarters, Teladi, that's not too far.
Vulture, reasonable speed and cargo. Looks very similar to the Merc.
Perfect.
I'll order one of them now.
Contact - Trade with station - ...'

The Captain steps onto the bridge.

'Oh, the Captain.
Cancel.'

"How are things?"

Pierson quickly glances up at the sector information.
"Quiet."

"Good."

...


Titan (Tirnok)


"General, our tugs have arrived."

"Thank you Commander.
Contact them."

The pilot of the first tug speaks. "Good morning General. We are here to take you back to Argon Prime."

"Yes, thank you."
'Oh how embarrassing.'

"Please make sure your engines are off, strafe drive too if you have one."

"They are off."

"Very good, firing grapples now."

The two tugs each fire their magnetic grapple at the nose of the Titan. You can almost hear the metallic clunk as they connect.

"Ok General, hold onto something, here we go."

The two minuscule tugs start off towards the south gate.
The cables pull tight and for a few sezuras there is no movement at all.
Their small engines glow brightly as they strain against the titanic weight.
Then slowly, very slowly they start to move. The titan is gradually turned to face the south gate and they begin the slow crawl home.

'This is so embarrassing.
They could have sent a few more tugs to speed this up.'

The General shakes his head and turns away from the main observation window.

...


Jubilee (bridge)


"The Centaur and the Victory have arrived Captain.
They are contacting us."

The faces of the two Captains appear on a split screen.
Captain Hall speaks first

"Welcome to Teladi Way, gateway to Hell."

The Captain of the Centaur smiles. "Feeling a little dramatic today Captain Hall?"

"No, not even slightly." Hall returns the smile.
"We have two gates. One leads to a Xenon Shipyard sector which is in the process of building a very large fleet. The second gate leads to ... well I'm sure you know all about that."

"Bring it on!" The tempestuous Captain of the Victory exclaims.
"They'll have to get through us first.

Hall shakes her head feigning dismay.
"Enjoy.
We are leaving.
Hall out."

The communication is terminated.

"Pierson, to Paranid Prime, top speed."

"Yes Sir!"
'Good, get us as far away from here as possible.'

[steveo1259]

nice read for the summer hols hope theres more soon

[sapleas001]

Wow! Really good! I love the doctor's character. She is so cool. And the Admiral really does have the weight of the galaxy on his shoulders. But overall very good

[KiwiNZ]

Excellent new chapter. I like the few funny bits! So Pierson keeps the M, would have done the same, one of the best fighter ships at the time. I guess Hall an her crew are more than happy to leave the sector for some time. Knowing you can do sod all when the enemy emerges yet have the duty to stay there must be killing them.

Looking forward to the next chapter!

[Mastermue]

Fantastic read crunn!
The doctor/Olrasin conversation was really funny!
Nice one mate!

Perched....not quite so close to the edge of the seat for the next part!