Phoenix Rising
Part 1: Beginnings
By Joseph W. Joiner
The slender figure standing at the viewport did not turn to acknowledge the sound of the door sliding open. Her hands rested lightly on her hips, but one hand occasionally moved to caress the hilt of the sword buckled at her waist. She knew who it was that stood silently behind her, and the reason for that presence. She sighed and sought to lose herself again in the swirling chaos of colors that traveling at hyper-light speeds produced around the ship shields. "Has the time come so soon, Hestia?" Her voice sounded far more confident than she felt.
"We will arrive at the coordinates you gave us within the next seven chronauts, Commander. The pilots and crews have begun preparations. All systems are operating at full capacity." Hestia could only see a dim outline by the viewport. The rest of the room lay in shadow. All the lights were off except for one in the very center of the ceiling.
"Have you ever looked closely at the mayhem around a ship, old friend?"
A reply was several moments in coming, and she knew her question had caught Hestia unprepared. "During my first tour of duty I looked at little else. The beauty draws you, does it not?"
"It does, though I have seen it many times. Your first tour was on the Prometheus, wasn't it?"
Hestia stifled a sigh. Reflecting upon years long gone was not what she wished to be doing. "It was," she said.
"I remember that ship. A glorious fighter that won many victories for the Dysori. I saw many pictos of her as a child. Were you on board when she was lost?"
Hestia shifted her feet as frightening memories swelled through her. "I was, Commander. I saw the Muero as they emerged from the asteroid field. I saw them attack using every weapon they had. Unprepared, we had no time to retaliate. The Prometheus lost power before she could fire a single shot. I barely managed to find an escape pod in the smoke and flames."
"Of more than two thousand, you alone survived. The Goddess must have smiled upon you that day."
Hestia ground her teeth; she knew where this was going. "Queen Helena herself granted me the silver laurel after the trials. I was declared innocent of the charge of treason. The silver laurel is supposed to mean that all is forgotten. No one is to speak of it again. Why do you speak of it now?"
The Commander turned at last. Moving from the shadows into the light, her golden hair seemed aflame. Vivid green eyes stared into Hestia's from a face of such beauty it was like looking upon the Goddess. Only one family of Dysori carried such elegance in their blood, which was why she followed this young woman-child. "Because I am not my aunt. I cannot help but think how similar the situations are. We intercept a Muero message of an impending attack on a helpless colony and alter course to help, just as the Prometheus did. We are alone, as they were. We are on the edge of Muero territory, again, just as the Prometheus. You are an officer on a Tritan class cruiser, just as you once were. The only difference is that now you are on my ship, and I have not forgotten the Prometheus Incident. Nor have I forgotten that you would scream in your sleep when we were on Tanthalos together. Screams in the Muero language."
Hestia grasped her own sword. "I was captured," she snarled. "They tortured me for months. They injected me with a serum so I could understand their speech. I never betrayed our people!"
"Take your hand off your sword, Captain Demeter. I am not the child you first knew and taught." The commander turned away and faced the port again. Hestia bristled but relaxed, her hand falling away from the hilt. If the Commander trusted her enough to show her back, then all was well. "I swore a vow to serve you, Rowena. On my life, I will not break that vow."
"I know that, Hestia. I never doubted it. Double check the crews, I do not wish to be caught unprepared should the Muero prove punctual."
Captain Demeter slapped her right fist over her heart and bowed. "Muero blood will stain the stars this day, Commander. I swear it." She turned and left the room, leaving the Commander alone again.
Rowena studied the stars. They had come so far in so short a time, gained so much. They had crawled from the abyss of despair and desperation and reached the embrace of the Goddess. Would it all end in a sudden burst of fire in the cold vacuum of space?
The colors arcing around the shields began to fade as the ship slowed. Through her feet on the deck she felt the stardrive power down when the ever-present vibrations stopped. A subtle bump and the Redeemer, once known as the RWS Proteus; emerged into normal space.
She moved across the dark room to the couch and slumped onto the soft cushions. In less than half a day she would lose the first of her followers, and that thought staggered her soul. They had fought so hard already, and all of them had sworn to die at her command, even the few men among them.
Her brow furrowed as the memories swelled. The darkness of the room grew denser as she fought to stay conscious. This must not happen now! The attack could last for mere moments, or hours, and it must not take her when they were so close. She struggled to sit up, to ride the wave of gloom and ascend into clarity again, and failed.
Images.
Scattered forms and words without meaning, jumbled like the pieces of a child's puzzle.
Coming together to form a picture from another time.
"The child is female, lady Queen, and innocent. Do not blame her for my crime." A plea, but one made in a voice full of pride. She was only four years old, and her mother had brought her to see the Queen of the Dysori.
"The child is an abomination, Persephone. Do you expect me to accept it into my home as if it were not born of a man's seed?" A different voice, similar, but stronger. From her crystal throne the Queen stared down at them with eyes as cold and hard as granite.
"Her name is Rowena, and she is still of royal blood, if only by half. You cannot deny even that much of her heritage, Helena."
"Do not think that by giving her our mother's name that you will soften my heart and gain mercy."
"So she is to die? The Goddess will not look kindly upon the death of a child, no matter her parentage." The Queen rose, her gown sparkled in the light, and Rowena knew she would never again see a woman so beautiful, or powerful. Raven black hair fell in curls to her perfectly sculpted shoulders, and the crown upon her brow cast rainbows throughout the room. She held a long silver scepter in her hand, and used it to punctuate specific words.
"Even I will not condemn a child to death. The two of you are banished from this palace. Raise her on Tanthalos if you can." Her mother grabbed her and pulled her close, arms firmly around her. "Among the criminals and the insane, Helena? What kind of life is that?"
"A better one than death, Persephone. She is the child of a man, and that fact alone will keep her from amounting to anything worthy of your blood in her veins." Two more women wearing the armor of the Queen's bodyguards marched to the dais and saluted the Queen. "High priest Quintus cannot be found, milady. His room at the temple is empty, and none will admit to seeing him leave, or to knowing of his plans." Anger passed over the perfect features of the Queen. "No matter. He is a man, and will find few to help him. If he is found, take him to Tanthalos as well." She turned her gaze upon the woman and child standing below her. "Enjoy the life you have brought upon yourself, dear sister."
Hands grabbed them.
She fell into darkness again.
Sounds pierced the darkness and she opened her eyes. The alarm klaxon was sounding throughout the ship. Someone was pounding on the door. She wiped sweat from her brow and thanked the Goddess this attack had been brief. Keying the door it slid open to reveal the face of Captain Hestia. The elder warrior's expression was one of almost giddy anticipation.
"The Muero have arrived, Commander."
Rowena nodded. "Are they aware of us?"
"Not yet. Your idea of staying within the star's corona to mask our presence was brilliant. Their scans swept right over us."
"How many ships?"
"Only one. A small Claaw class destroyer. They must not be expecting much resistance. Sometimes they are almost too careless in their pride." Rowena stepped into the corridor. "Then let us avenge the Prometheus. Be sure that no more ships emerge from the Firestorm. Let the attack begin." The door slid shut behind them.
Rarrkar Hargruun flexed his claws and drummed them on the console. The view from the main screen showed his ship approaching the planet the Dysori had named Calibos. The orbital defenses were not yet aware of the approach of his ship. The Kraang was a small destroyer, but more than a match for this remote outpost. With the conquest of this planet he would be assured of a more prestigious command. Perhaps even on one of the new Taalon juggernauts. The discovery of this Dysori outpost had been his and his alone, as would the glorious victory.
He turned to the shorter Muero at the helm, "Charge the main weapons. Target all satellites and communication systems. Once we have disabled the defense grid, launch all fighters and attack the main colony. Let the pilots know I want prisoners."
"I doubt there will be much useful information from these civilians, Rarrkar."
"True, but this cruise has been long and the crew without sport for too long.
These Dysori females should prove entertaining. Besides, I'm hungry." A blast of light impacted the forward shield. "The Dysori are aware of our presence, Rarrkar. The lasers are more powerful than we expected. Shields down twelve percent."
Hargruun cuffed the younger soldier for speaking when not asked. "I noticed." Another laser burst against the shield. He growled with annoyance. "Destroy that nuisance."
A moment later the defense satellite was only so much space dust as the Muero beams tore it apart. "Another satellite targeting us, Rarrkar. It's out of range of our beam weapons. Should I launch a missile?"
Hargruun fixed the underling with a baleful glare. "I said destroy the defense grid, hatchling. Do you need my instruction on how to do so?"
Withering under the glare of his superior, the helm officer used his claws to flip several switches. The sound of hissing from far below decks signaled the launch of the missiles. Several moments later there was a flare of pale light. A moment later there was another. He continued until his monitor showed that all satellites were destroyed. Rarrkar Hargruun growled with anticipation. "Launch the fighters."
Rowena watched as the destroyer began its attack. The Muero were relentless. Already the planetary defenses were destroyed, and what few ships the colony possessed were rising from the surface. Against a destroyer the few single seat Chimera snub fighters would be as effective as a glowbug charging a tusked swamp lizard. If they took even a single shot from a particle weapon at close range they would be vaporized.
"When do we engage them?" Hestia murmured.
"When they think that nothing can stop them, we will strike. Their shields are weakest around the engines. When we have an unobstructed shot, launch a thunderstrike torpedo and we'll see if we can disable their defenses somewhat. Once their shields are down, launch the fighters. If we come at them out of this star, they'll be momentarily blinded. Right now the advantage is ours. Let's hope those fighters from Calibos distract the Muero and give us time to knock out the hangar decks. Once the fighters are out of commission, we concentrate on the destroyer's weapons."
Hestia frowned. "You sound as if you plan to capture that ship."
Rowena nodded. "I do." She watched dispassionately as the screen showed the destroyer slowly turning. Its weapons and hangar bays were aimed at the surface. The large and bulky stern of the ship drifted into range. Another moment and they would have a perfect shot. "Imagine it, Hestia," she said. "After some restoration and rebuilding we could have a recognized Muero destroyer in our growing fleet. Imagine the havoc we could wreak when we fire on the Muero with one of their own ships."
Hestia crossed her arms under her breasts. "A good plan, if we can pull it off. With your permission, Commander, I will go to the launch bay and prepare to take the fight to the Muero."
Rowena nodded and winked at the Captain as she saluted and then strode purposely from the bridge. "Fly fast, old friend," she said. Turning to the gunner, she said the order she'd waited five years to give. "Take us out of the corona, target the destroyer, and fire all forward batteries. Launch the thunderstrike as soon as we're clear."
"Aye, Commander."
The glare from the star's corona faded and the Muero battleship image became sharper as the engines surged and pushed them closer. Rowena heard a dull thump as the missile was launched. It streaked away from the Redeemer, leaving a trail of frozen exhaust in its wake. In seconds it locked on the heat signature of the Muero engines, and then the secondary launch system fired, pushing it to a speed that the turrets on the destroyer could not track.
Alarms sounded throughout the bridge. Rarrkar Hargruun whirled around, talons flexing as his eyes fixed on the systems monitor. The nearest underling flinched away as the Rarrkar roared, "What is happening?"
The ship shuddered and then pitched as the Dysori missile exploded against his ship. He fell against the underling. "Report!" he bellowed.
"Shields are down!" one of the crew yelled. "A ship is coming out of the Calibos star." Red eyes wide with fear scanned the screen before it. "It's a Dysori vessel, Tritan class heavy cruiser. All weapons are locked and targeting us!" Explosions rocked the ship. Panels blew out in showers of sparks. The bridge tilted again, pitching Hargruun to the floor. "Fire rear cannons! Give them everything we have!"
"Targeting computer is off-line, Rarrkar. We would be firing blind."
"They have to be close. Fire a full barrage. Some of them will hit."
The Redeemer shuddered as the shields absorbed a few stray blasts. "We must have hit them harder than we thought." Rowena smiled, "They don't seem to be targeting us. Lock missiles on the hangar bays. Keep firing the lasers. Target environmental systems. If we take out their life-support, all we'll have to do when we take control is pitch out the trash." Taliana turned and looked at her leader as a shiver crept up her spine. She had never before heard a voice so without pity. True, the Muero didn't deserve it, but to hear a Dysori speak so easily about inflicting cruel death was not natural. Rowena's fixed stare seemed to impale her. "Do you have a problem carrying out my orders?"
"No, Commander. Targeting life-support systems."
A lieutenant who's name she couldn't remember stepped up and saluted. "All fighters report ready to launch, Commander." She nodded. "Launch all fighters."
It took only a few heartbeats before the space surrounding the Redeemer was filled with the sleek shapes of a Hestia's squad of a dozen Shrike gunships. The fighters seemed to leap away from the Redeemer. The Muero destroyer was shooting flames from one of the hangar bays, the other was on fire but still intact, and a half dozen fighters shot through the flames into space, firing their cannons. One of the Shrikes veered away from one of the Muero ships and into the sights of another. It wobbled as it was pounded, and then exploded. Rowena cursed as her heart clenched. Every death was one she felt personally, like a pinprick to her soul. Two Shrikes swooped in behind the Muero and opened up with their plasma cannons. It disintegrated into countless pieces and an expanding cloud of burning fuel.
"For every one of ours, we will kill a hundred of them," Rowena whispered. "I swear by the Goddess we will." The heavier Muero fighters knew they were outclassed, but doggedly kept fighting until the last of them was gone. "So it begins," she said to no one. "You will see, Helena, I am worthy of my mother's blood. I am even worth of my father's."
Rarrkar Hargruun crawled across the sloping deck. Thick blood oozed from a dozen shrapnel cuts. He could only see out of one eye, the other was a gaping ruin. The bridge crew were all dead, some slumped at their posts, several more scattered in pieces. What had gone wrong? Where had that Dysori ship come from? Their intelligence had said that this colony was unprotected. Now his ship was wrecked, and he could feel his life slipping away. As he gasped for breath he realized that either his lungs were damaged or the life support systems were hit.
The viewscreen showed the enemy ship maneuvering into position above them.
So, they intended to board and capture the ship did they? He struggled across the blood- streaked floor toward the command console. His last act would be to blow up the Kraang, and take those puny Dysori with it. Death would be quick and glorious. One talon stroked the button that would key the detonation. Just as he was about to push it, another light on the console began to flash, and his single eye widened.
The alarm klaxon sounded. "By the Goddess, now what?" Rowena demanded.
"Enemy vessel entering the system, Commander. It emerged into normal space twelve micrauts ago."
"What is it?"
"Scanning, Commander." Lights flickered on her screen as every known Muero ship outline flashed onto the distant shape of the intruder. At last one froze, and Taliana went pale. "Positive identification, Commander. It's a Menaace class juggernaut." Blackness crept in the edge of her vision. Fear wrapped icy fingers around her heart. She gripped the arms of her seat until her knuckles were white. "Dear, Goddess. Recall all the fighters. Get them back before that thing gets here!" Taliana keyed the con and shouted, "All fighters return to base! All fighters return to base! Enemy juggernaut entering system." She turned to Rowena. "What about the colony, Commander?"
Rowena stared at the screen where the image of the Muero starship was growing larger by the micraut. The ship dwarfed the Redeemer, and against it they stood no chance. "We don't have a choice. The colony is on it's own. Once the fighters are recovered get us out of here."
The Menaace is launching fighters, Commander. I read thirty Scaar type interceptors. They'll outrun our Shrikes before half of them dock. What do we do?"
Panic was threatening to take hold. This was not going as planned. What could she do? Tendrils of darkness were slipping into her sight. If she blacked out now...
"Drop a fusion mine on the hull of the destroyer. Give us enough time to get clear and then remote detonate it. The explosion will mask our retreat."
"And the fighters, Commander?"
"They are in the hands of the Goddess now. There are five hundred on this ship, Lieutenant, I cannot sacrifice all of them for our few out there." She pushed back the darkness with her anger and despair. Hestia was out there. Hestia, who had begun this journey with her on Tanthalos.
"Mine dropped and armed, Commander. Hangar deck reports four Shrikes on the flight deck."
"Move us away at full thrust. Is one of the Shrikes Captain Hestia's?"
"Negative, Commander. The Captain is guiding the rest of the squad into the bay."
Her eyes were watering. "Very well. Engage the stardrive the instant before the mine goes off."
"Aye, Commander."
The remaining Shrikes were scattering, having been waved off as the Redeemer sought to escape the oncoming Menaace. Most were already on their way to Calibos. Rowena watched as they flew toward the surface and wondered which one was Hestia's.
"Distance from the destroyer?"
"Not enough to escape the blast, Commander."
"Damn, and the Menaace?"
"Closing to within weapons range in four marks. We're going to get hit."
An idea was forming. "Is it going to come close to the destroyer?"
Taliana grinned. "Close enough, Commander." Then her smile faded and she looked stricken. "Confirming Captain Hestia's ship destroyed, Commander."
Rowena gasped and wavered in her seat. "Any sign of her ejection pod?"
"None."
"Keep us moving, don't let that killer get too close."
The tension on the bridge grew thick as they waited and watched the Menaace draw nearer by the moment. Sensor sweeps showed the Muero weapons fully charged and targeting them. The Scaar fighters were engaging the Shrikes. Several more of her people were gone. The rest would no doubt be captured. She hoped Hestia had found a warrior's end in battle, as she had always wished. Blasts began to pound the shields, which almost immediately weakened from the onslaught. Another particle beam tore through the shields and the Redeemer shuddered as she took a wound. Chunks of hull and armor plating begin to drift lazily in the wake behind the ship.
"They're targeting the engines. Another hit like that and we'll be dead in space." Taliana's monitor beeped. "We've cleared the blast radius, Commander."
"Detonate the mine and take us into the Firestorm. Full power to the engines!" A new star bloomed in space as the mine exploded. The engines of the destroyer added to the blast. The ball of flame enveloped the Menaace as the concussion wave slammed into it. Having not expected a return attack, the Rarrkar of the Menaace had not raised the shields. The huge vessel was rocked and spun out of control. The ship was staggered but quickly recovered. More than half of the Scaar fighters vanished in the blast.
The Redeemer's engines flashed and the ship leapt into the Firestorm. A single tear crept down Rowena's cheek. "Goodbye, dear friend."
She woke to silence, pain and cold. The frigid steel of the floor was pressed against her back, and she shivered. Sitting up she was horrified to discover that she had been stripped of every article of clothing. The cell was small, barely large enough to allow her to stretch out or stand erect. She knew it at once. A Muero detention cube. She was a prisoner. Soon they would come to either interrogate her, or feed upon her.
The Muero liked their meat freshly killed.
She wrapped her arms around herself and shivered with both cold and fear. Years had passed since she had last been held in a cube, but she remembered every moment of her imprisonment. She also remembered the Muero that had tortured her every day for months. His name had been... Rilnoork. She still saw him in her nightmares, where he taunted her by saying that perhaps the next day, she would grace his table, as the main course.
Some unknown time later the lid of the cube slid back and she was lifted out by one arm. She dangled in the grasp of a Muero soldier. It regarded her with contempt. The scaly skin glistened with the thin coat of slime they exuded. She coughed as the smell hit her. The Muero were not exactly fragrant. "By the Goddess you stink," she said in the harsh language. Speaking the strange tongue hurt her throat, but she saw that her words had been understood. The Muero tossed her across the room.
She slid to a stop at the feet of another of them. Grabbing her by one arm it lifted her easily until she hung directly before what passed for its face. Her arm was agony, but she held back the scream.
The Muero opened its mouth and spoke in Dysori. "Hello, Hestia. It's been a long time."
This time there was no holding back the wail.