Phoenix Rising
Part 3: Enemy of My Enemy
By Joseph W. Joiner
"The Goddess damn this thing!"
The words bounced around the room, as did the heavy tool that the angry woman threw. She stood up from under the console she was working on and clenched her fists at her sides, her chest heaving as she watched the tool land across the room with a loud clang. She shook her head and glanced about the room to see if anyone had noticed her losing her temper, and gave a start when she noticed the slender blonde woman watching her from the hatch. Shaking her head she went to retrieve the tool. "I didn't see you standing there, Commander. Forgive my outburst."
The young woman grinned, and the smile seemed to drive shadows away. "I can understand your frustration, Taliana. Muero technology is difficult to repair. I salute your efforts. You've done a remarkable job. The Phoenix is no longer the wreck it was. Getting the engines online so soon was a miracle."
The woman blushed at the praise. "We may be mobile, but the Goddess help us if we end up in battle. I don't think I'll ever get the weapons functional." She gestured at the armory station she'd been working on. "I've done all I can with this. We're out of what spare parts we could find, I've pirated other components from other systems, and even managed to adapt some Dysori tech. It's not going to be enough."
Rowena shrugged. "You've given me nothing but your best, I can ask no more."
"When do we make the jump to Sol, Commander?"
"Now that the Phoenix has shields again and can survive the Firestorm, we'll be under way in six chronauts. With luck we won't encounter any lizards in the human system. Things have been quiet there for a few months since the Muero retreated to lick their wounds after their attempted invasion."
"Do you think the humans will help us?"
Another shrug. "We can only ask. My main purpose in going there is to keep the Muero from finding us. We've spent the last month dodging the faintest sign of other ships, and I'm tired of it. The entire crew needs a rest. There is a human colony on one of the moons of the planet they call Jupiter. I think we should stop there first. Hopefully they'll help us resupply and repair the ships."
Taliana wiped her hands on a rag. "If Helena has notified Simon Christiansen about us, you may find them less than hospitable."
"I doubt Christiansen or anyone on Earth even remembers this colony. I've heard some strange rumors concerning it."
"Like what?"
Rowena looked away. "Nothing I can say with any certainty, at least right now. I'll wait until we get there to see if they're true or not."
Taliana accepted the response without question. She followed Rowena Quintus without hesitation, and if the path she placed before her ended in the cold embrace of death, then so be it. "I'll keep working here, Commander. This crate will need to be able to defend itself if the humans prove unreceptive."
Rowena smiled. "Don't work too long. Overworking yourself to exhaustion does no good for a ships Captain."
Taliana gasped. "Commander?"
"I can't be on two ships at once, and I can think of no one better to fill the position. I had once thought that Hestia would captain our first captured ship, but now it falls to you. You've earned my trust, and that of the crew."
Taliana felt her eyes watering, but she straightened her back and stood proud. "I will not fail that trust, Commander."
"I know you won't, Captain Severus." Rowena turned and left the room without another word, and Taliana sagged in disbelief. Only a few months ago she'd been a prisoner on Tanthalos, and now she was in command her own ship. Rowena had promised them great rewards and freedom if they followed her, and that vision was starting to see fruition.
She returned to the gunnery console, but found herself unable to concentrate. Her mind wandered into the past. As she began to work, her thoughts returned to that water- covered moon of Pellapolonia. She had been born on Tanthalos, the bastard daughter of an inmate. Helena may have looked down her nose at natural conception for the upper castes, but she had no qualms about sentencing both men and women to the prison moon, knowing full well that the guards cared little if the men took advantage of the situation. Women ruled Arcadius Prime, but not so on Tanthalos.
She remembered the first time she had seen Rowena. Only a child herself, she had seen the arrival of the ship that had brought the girl and her mother to the prison complex. She had also been sole witness to the first sign of Rowena's greatness, and the power granted her by the Goddess.
The shuttle had landed in a blast of smoke and steam. When the hatch opened the guards used their blast rifles to prod the motley collection of prisoners to their feet and out onto the landing pad. The men and women shambled almost lifelessly in their shackles. Most had been accused and convicted of high treason and sentenced to life imprisonment on Tanthalos, learning too late the cost of speaking out against Helena's politics.
Bound at the wrist and ankle with chains of titanium, they shuffled with heads down, spirits broken by the certainty of their bondage. Most were clothed in rags that barely covered them and offered little protection from the cold rain that fell. Some bore angry welts on their bodies, the marks of the nerve-lash carried by the guards. They used the lash for the slightest infraction, and the cruel weapon had already claimed two victims before the arrival of the prison ship at Tanthalos.
Now they were marched through the driving rain and the mud toward the main complex of the penal colony. As they walked with the lifeless steps of the condemned, other residents of the compound gathered along the path to watch the procession. They kept back far enough to be out of reach of the lash, but close enough to get a good view of the new arrivals.
Taliana kept her head down to keep from being noticed as she watched the prisoners, but her eyes continued to stare and she found that the prisoners were observing her and the others gathered along the path. It wasn't just the rain that made them look wretched and lost, it was something in their eyes. Something that was gone, something that had been lost or perhaps taken from them by their confinement on this remote moon near the edge of the Dysori Empire. It was if their will to live, the very spark of life had been extinguished.
Taliana's eyes found the girl called Rowena. She stood across the path from her, watching the new prisoners with the rest of them, as was customary. It was unusual for the girl to be out in the open, especially in foul weather. She stood tall, her eyes ablaze even in the dampness. A young girl, nor more than sixteen, she seemed to defy the authority of the guards with her very presence. Beside her stood an older woman, standing slightly behind the young woman in the normal position of either a servant or a guardian. Another familiar face. Hestia Demeter, former captain of the Silver Valkyries, the elite personal guard of Queen Helena, and the girl's self-appointed guardian.
The woman shackled in the front of the line stumbled and fell, pulling several others down with her. The guards were on them at once, arms raised, the lash growing bright as they were charged with deadly and painful energy. The woman shrieked as she was struck. The rain sluiced away the blood, but the gaping wound remained, as did the wails of agony. Taliana cursed the cruelty of the guards and the fear that prevented her from attacking the guards.
Suddenly the girl was there. Stepping into the midst of the guards, they lifted their lashes to strike but shrank back from the steel of her gaze, confused by the audacity of this strange child with eyes like emeralds. An aura of power crackled the air around the girl as she commanded them to withdraw without saying a word. The guards backed away. Kneeling by the wounded woman's side she gently touched her. The woman gasped and stared at the girl. No one but Taliana heard her whisper, "Dyania calls you, my sister. Will you serve her if she gives you vengeance against those that hurt you?" The woman nodded almost frantically, wincing as the girl covered the wound with her hands and lowered her head. Taliana blinked and wiped her eyes when she thought she saw a glow appear momentarily around those small hands. When the girl took her hands away, the wounds no longer bled and looked to be closing. Without another word the child stood and was swept away by the older woman.
The guards seemed to come out of a daze. Quickly they rounded up the prisoners and hurried them to the processing center. Taliana walked back to her shack with newfound strength, a goal in her mind. Anyone that could do the things she had seen was someone she wanted to know. Someone she wanted to follow.
Alarms sounded through the Redeemer, jolting Rowena from a sound sleep. She sat up, rubbing her eyes as she stood up. The ship shuddered and then lurched hard to port. She was thrown to the floor, narrowly missing the corner of the table by her bed. Scrambling to her feet she ran to the desk. Keying the com she yelled, "Report!" Static sounded for a few seconds, then Leftant Galene's voice came through loud and panicked. "We're under attack, Commander! Shields are holding but I can't say for how much longer."
The ship trembled from another hit. Rowena pulled on her jumpsuit and looked around for her boots. "What are the Muero doing here? We're light years from their territory."
"It's not the Muero, Commander. It's a Dysori battleship."
A chill swept through Rowena. She had known this day would come, but she had hoped to avoid it a while longer. "Divert power from secondary systems to reinforce the shields if you have too. I'm on my way!" The floor vibrated beneath her boots as the shields absorbed another blast of energy. "Damn them! Return fire!" She rushed from her quarters.
Once on the bridge she stood before the viewscreen and glared at the massive ship that was slowly approaching the Redeemer. It fired and the shields flared. "What kind of ship is that?" Rowena asked aloud, staring at the image.
Arden spoke from his usual perch near the rear of the command deck. Rowena hadn't seen him when she came in. "That's not Dysori doing. You're facing either a pirated ship or a new design. Last I heard the Poseidon class wasn't being updated. That ship is fifteen years old if it's a day."
The vessel had the lines of a Dysori battleship, but it had been radically altered. There was twice the normal number of cannons, and the titanium armor had been double- plated. "Can our guns even make a dent in that?" Galene was pale.
The Redeemer fired again, but the oncoming ship shrugged off the shots and kept coming. Rowena frowned. "Have they fired on the Phoenix?"
Across the bridge, the com officer answered, "No, Commander. Phoenix reports no damage. They're waiting for the order to attack, but Captain Severus says she's not sure if the cannons will fire, or how long the weapons systems will hold out if they do." Rowena thought a moment. "Signal the Phoenix to take their weapons off-line. I don't want them to get hit. Now, the next time they hit us, drop the shields." Galene spun in her seat. "Commander?"
"Do it, Leftant. No questions."
"Aye, Commander."
"Fool girl," Arden hissed. "You'll kill us all."
Long moments passed. The strange craft slowed when the Redeemer stopped shooting. Suddenly it unleashed a massive barrage. Rowena fell into the Prefect's seat and ground her teeth as her ship pitched. "Shields are down, Commander."
"Your doing, or theirs?"
Galene smirked. "Mine, but if they hit us like that again, they would have gone without my help. I hope whatever you have in mind works." The stern look on Rowena's face caused Galene to flinch, but she sighed in relief when Rowena's expression softened and she smiled. " I hope it works too. Now listen, if my guess is correct, their scans show that our shields are gone, and they won't want to damage us too much. They'll shoot again, and when we get hit, cut power to all systems."
"Aye, Commander."
The battleship had drawn broadside to the Redeemer. Rowena smiled grimly. "Gunnery officer, give them a single blast from the starboard cannons. All guns." "Aye, Commander. Firing."
A dozen red lances leapt from the Redeemer. At close range the bolts sizzled the shields and two managed to punch through to impact the armor. Other than scoring the metal, they did little damage. However, it got Rowena the results she wanted. The Prefect of the strange vessel didn't like her ship getting scorched. The Redeemer rocked violently as the powerful beams pummeled it. Scraps of burning armor littered the area between the combatants. The lights on the bridge flickered and went out. With the engines off-line the Redeemer began a slow drift.
"Nice flourish, Leftant. I think they'll buy it. Just to be sure, cut the life support."
"Commander?" The fear in Galene's voice was strongly evident.
"Just long enough to get them to stop shooting, Leftant. We won't have time to choke on bad air." She turned to gunnery officer Nemea. "Can you give me one missile without them detecting it?"
"I think so, Commander."
"Good. Galene, coordinate with Nemea. I suspect they think we're finished, so they'll prepare to board us and pull us closer. Once they do, give them our little surprise."
"Aye, Commander."
As if Rowena had looked into the future, the vessel moved closer. Two shimmering green streams of light enveloped the Redeemers hull, stopping their drift. Galene grasped her console. "We're in their tractor beam, Commander, and they're pulling us closer."
"Get ready," Rowena said softly. "Wait until they have us inside their shield radius."
The image on the screen crackled as the ship reeled them in. "We're inside their shields, Commander."
"Thunderstrike locked, Commander."
"Launch the missile!"
The missile streaked from the Redeemer. At such close range it could feasibly cripple the large ship. Rowena sat back and grinned as she waited for her moment of triumph.
Seconds before impact the ship fired a single laser, disintegrating the missile into fragments.
Rowena's smile faded. "How in the name of Dyania did they do that? No Dysori system can track a thunderstrike."
Galene turned slowly in her chair. "The Prefect of the ship is hailing us, Commander."
Rowena swallowed hard, a cold lump of dread in her throat. "Put her on viewer, Leftant."
The screen flickered, changing from a view of their attacker to that of a powerful and beautiful Dysori warrior. She was reclined casually in the Prefect's seat, her expression stern. Her dark blonde hair was only shoulder length, short by Dysori standards. Behind her, Arden gasped and shrank back into the shadows. "I am Josidynn Prosidius of the Artimus," she said. "A nice maneuver, but I invented the 'crippled ship' ploy. Prepare to surrender your vessel."
Rowena stood. Her back stiff, she steeled herself to speak firmly. "I am Commander Rowena Quintus. Take us if you can." She glanced at Galene. "Restore power to all systems and target that ship." She stared hard at the woman as the lights and consoles came back up. "You may hurt us, but I promise this ship will go down fighting."
Josidynn leaned forward, as if to get a closer look at the younger woman. "Aren't you a little young to be a Prefect? Or is Helena recruiting from the nurseries?" "I do not serve the house of Myrianis, nor do I follow Dysori military protocols. We are privateers fighting the Muero."
Josidynn blinked and appeared to be considering. Then she sat back and laughed. She waved a hand to someone out of view. "Take weapons off-line." Turning back to the screen she smiled, but the smile never touched her eyes. "So you're the upstart that's thrown a wrench into Helena's war efforts. I've heard of you. Governor Riannus wants her ship back."
Rowena tried not to smile in return, but failed. "I'm not done with it yet," she said.
"I don't doubt it. Well, my mistake. I thought your ship was escorting a captured destroyer back to Arcadius Prime. I apologize for firing on you, but I'm not helping Helena's lackeys fight her personal war with the Muero."
"I've heard of you as well, Prefect. I think we should talk. Would you care to come aboard and discuss our mutual distaste of Helena's dynasty?" Josidynn's cool demeanor seemed to thaw just a bit. "I'd love to."
After meeting at the airlock, Rowena led Josidynn on a quick tour of the Redeemer. The older woman seemed impressed, but said little; other than to comment on an apparent modification and asking if that was Rowena's doing, or Riannus'. She had arrived with more than a dozen technical personnel to help with repairing the damage her ship had inflicted. Rowena had been properly grateful even as she appraised the former Dysori general.
Josidynn Prosidius had always been a powerful icon in the Dysori Empire. Even on remote Tanthalos her name was known as one of the most brilliant tacticians in history. The death of her mother Senator Hermia and the events that had occurred at Sorvius One had led her to abandon the Empire when her sister Karynn had been promoted to High Prefect and Senator over her. She now fought against her former comrades and sought allies in her quest to remove Helena from power.
They made their way to the command deck, where Josidynn showed the crew ways to make the weapon and shield systems operate more efficiently. She spoke softly, but the aura of authority and power around her left the crew awestruck. Only when she and Rowena started to leave did she pause, staring into a dimly lit corner of the bridge.
"Why do some of your crew hide in shadows?" she asked subtly.
Rowena knew at once whom Josidynn was speaking about. "None of my crew would. Come out, Arden."
The cloaked figure appeared from the darkened corner. "Forgive me," he said.
"My presence on this ship is not one the Commander is proud of. I sought only to spare her the shame of having to introduce me." He bowed, but his eyes never left Josidynn's. "I am known as, Arden."
The Prefect stared at him with hard eyes. "We have seen each other before, I think," she said. "Where was it?"
Arden shook his head. "I would most certainly remember such a meeting. One does not meet a woman of your beauty and grace and then forget it."
The temperature on the command deck seemed to drop. "You have the human ability to incorporate exaggerations into your compliments. Perhaps you are correct. I do not think I would forget such a meeting either." She left the bridge. Rowena glared at Arden, who returned her stare without blinking. Then she followed Josidynn into the briefing room.
The commander of the Artimus was standing at one of the viewports, watching her crew make repairs on both ships. Wearing environment suits they floated gracefully in the cold vacuum of space. "Another twenty micrauts, I think," she said. "Then we can both get under way again."
"Where do you go from here?"
Josidynn turned to her with a wry grin and a suspicious glint in her eyes. "That would be valuable information, would it not?"
"I assure you..." Rowena began, but Josidynn lifted her hand. "If I believed you capable of that, I'd kill you now." She faced the viewport again. "There was once a time when I would have given my life for Helena and the Empire. She rewarded my service by betraying me. That is unforgivable and will be her undoing. Somehow I feel that I can trust you, despite your youth and inexperience." She turned and ran her fingers through her hair. "I've never ignored my instincts. I don't think I'll start now." Rowena joined her at the port. "My mother was possessed of a gentle nature and a compassionate heart. She was able to find peace by forgiving Helena. I never will. We were both betrayed by the same woman, Prefect."
"Call me Josidynn." They watched the repair crews in silence for a moment.
"What did she do to you?" she asked at last.
"Banished my mother to Tanthalos. I was four years old. My mother died when I was eight."
"Tanthalos?" Josidynn stared at the girl. "Your mother was Persephone?" When Rowena nodded the Prefect shook her head in wonder. "Everyone at court thinks you both died. Helena would have a stroke if she knew you had survived." She clapped Rowena on the shoulder. "By the seven hells of Argos, I'm standing with an heir to the Dysori throne! "
Rowena smirked. "Hardly. I was born of a man's seed, remember? Besides, the Queen has two daughters of her own."
Josidynn shrugged. "There are many that wouldn't care about that. If Helena is removed from power, her daughters lose their claim. I've met those two pampered brats. Either one would be worse than Helena." She sighed and went on. "Persephone should have been our queen. She would have been a far better leader than her older sister. This war would have ended long ago, and I would not have lost my own mother."
She turned and saw Rowena angrily wiping away a tear. It was unusual for Josidynn to feel uncomfortable, but seeing the grief of this young woman troubled her. She wanted to comfort the girl, but a warrior's pride held her back. She pretended not to notice Rowena's sorrow and continued. "If Helena's daughters lose their claim, you would be the next logical choice to assume the throne. Many in the Senate want Helena gone, and all they need is someone with a legitimate claim. That could be you, Rowena."
"I wouldn't want it."
"You might not have a choice." She shrugged as Rowena looked at her askew.
"Once the Senate learns you live, it may set things in motion for Helena's removal. That was the real reason she had you and your mother banished. She was afraid of giving the Senate an option." She turned to Rowena and grasped her by the shoulders. "The Dysori need a true warrior on the throne. That is the way it has always been. Helena is a politician, not a warrior." She gestured toward the vast emptiness beyond both ships.
"Once we would have driven the Muero from the stars for daring to attack us. Helena has kept the Dysori in this war for too long, and now they stand on the edge of defeat, their resources almost gone, while the Muero continue to conquer other worlds, and with every conquest they grow stronger. The Dysori will lose this war unless a true leader comes forward."
Rowena threw off Josidynn's hand and stalked away. "I don't want to lead them," she growled. "I want everyone that betrayed my mother to pay for what they did. I want my aunt to pay. I want to destroy the Muero for every death they have caused. I didn't begin this quest in order to become the savior of the Dysori."
"You're already a leader. I see the way your people are devoted to you and your cause. The rest of the Dysori would follow you, I'm certain of it."
Rowena sat down and leaned on the conference table. She covered her face with her hands and spoke through them, her voice muffled. "I pray that it never happens. I feel responsible enough for my crew, I can't imagine feeling that way for an entire world. Besides, long ago I rejected the name of Myrianis and took my father's name as my own. That wouldn't sit well with many members of the Senate."
"There are several male senators, Rowena. I imagine they would support you above all others. Don't dismiss this too hastily."
Rowena sighed. "I don't want to be a queen, Josidynn. If I survive my quest, I plan to find a nice little out of the way planet and live out my life in peace."
"Looks like the repair crews are finishing up," Josidynn said, changing the subject. "I've decided to give you what help I can. I'm going to give you a few of our spare fighters. Your pilots shouldn't have too much trouble flying them. I'm already behind my schedule."
Rowena lowered her hands. "You never did say where you were going."
"Why do you want to know? Are you thinking of coming along? I'll admit the idea of two more ships is appealing."
Rowena smiled passively. "That thought had occurred to me. Your fight is my fight. Whatever assistance Phoenix Fleet can offer is yours, but do you think your crew would follow my orders any more than my crew would follow yours?"
Josidynn rubbed her bare arms as if cold, even though the Dysori were rarely effected by temperature. "You're probably right, but I appreciate your offer, and I may call upon that promise in the future. Today our paths lie in different directions. I know you're headed for the Sol system. As for me, I'm going to find the Corsairs of Nephalis. They have ships and pilots and everything I need to bring Helena and the Senate to their knees." She lifted her fist to her heart in the Dysori salute. "I wish you luck, cousin." Rowena returned the gesture. "And to you, cousin."
Josidynn stopped as the door to the room slid silently open. "One more thing. I didn't want to say anything in front of your crew, but I don't think you should trust Arden too much."
Rowena's eyebrows lifted. "Oh?"
"I'm certain I've seen him before, when I was on Earth. I remember that scar. He was with a Terran agent named Jon Crowne. I don't know what his reasons are for being here with you, but be careful."
"I will. Tell me one thing if you can."
"I'll try."
"Can we trust the humans?"
"When the time comes, I'll reveal something to the humans that will turn them against Helena. I'm not sure about Simon Christiansen or his people. I would step softly with them, but do not trust them fully."
"Thank you."
Josidynn nodded. "I think your mother would be pleased with her daughter. You have her spirit guiding you, I think." Without another word she left the room. Rowena returned to the port and watched as the last of the repair crews were taken aboard their ships. "Dear Goddess, is this the true path?" she whispered.
The Artimus was gone. They had watched it make the jump into the Firestorm only moments ago. Josidynn had been true to her word. A dozen sleek Dagger-class mercenary fighters now rested in the hangar under the loving attention of Sergeant Tyrellius. The pilots were already debating over who would get to fly the new fighters. As a bonus, the computer now had some of Josidynn's tactical brilliance to draw on.
Rowena reclined on the couch in her quarters, the only light coming from the stars. Occasionally she sipped from a chilled glass of ambrosia, the sweet liqueur relaxing her muscles and sending pleasant warmth through her body. She had learned much this day. The path that Dyania had set before her had grown rocky, and she was no longer sure of her way. Her mother had said that no obstacle could not be overcome, no matter how difficult. Despite the difficulties, she would do as the Goddess commanded, even if her will led to a throne.
Space was vast and mostly unexplored, and sometimes it could lead to loneliness. The last few months had been very lonely, but now with a new ally she didn't feel as so anymore. The fact that Josidynn was a Dysori rebel was of little concern. Somehow she knew that they would meet again, and when they did, they would stand together before the Senate and the Queen.
If it cost her everything, she would have her vengeance on Helena.