Liberating Neuros
Chapter 1
The defenders of Neuros prepare for the final attack
Five vessels slinked through the inky blackness of space in close formation. The foremost was the largest and slowest of the quintet. Her once pristine shell showing the pock marks and scorching of long hard use and countless engagements against ferocious enemies. For many years she and her 500 man strong crew had performed their duty with distinction on the front line of the Imperial Navy. Now she was performing her last.
The second was smaller, built for a different purpose, one of luxury and elegance as befits the status of a Royal Yacht. Her elongated disc hull was designed to make her smooth and stable in all conditions, in air or space, it made her rather wider than she was long. The only thing to spoil her unbroken smooth lines being the output ports of the two massive Star Drives that powered her across the vast expanse of space at speeds in excess of sixteen times light speed. If they were not pushing the ship at impossible speeds, then they powered the needs of her crew and guests. She had never been pushed as hard as she was now.
The final three were a different breed again. They were destroyers, similar in shape to the yacht, powered by the same drives, but less than half the size, they were hunters. Heavily armed and fast, if the war had been going better they would have roamed as a pack, ready to harry and weaken the enemy in preparation for the fleet to engage. Now they were reduced to this, the last defence.
All these thoughts and others were being pondered by a slim figure as she stood gazing unhappily at the small fleet that formed her escort to the safety of Nektuma. Three destroyers and an ageing cruiser was all her father, King Karus, could spare from the once mighty Royal Fleet to escort the Royal Yacht and its payload of nearly a thousand refugees.
The remains of the fleet were even now preparing for a last desperate stand against the might of the Republic, before her home world fell.
She stood alone on the crowded promenade deck of her ship, gazing through the forcefield covered portal. The others that were surrounded her automatically leaving a space of misery around her, as if she had built an invisible wall around her.
Unconsciously she drew her flowing cloak around her, not because of the cold, but for the protection it might offer. She reflected again on the long and bitter war. The first that her people had faced in over a hundred generations and it had finally come to this- With the exception of a few tens of thousand refugees on her ship and a few other vessels that had left earlier- the total annihilation of her race.
It had started so insignificantly, with the Republic annexing a small outpost soon after they had discovered the Kingdom and Commonwealth. They had been forced away again quick enough, she had been part of the relief force and saw it.
But they had returned in greater numbers than could be dealt with. Since the Kingdom had been on the back foot, as its allies melted away to prepare for the inevitable invasion of their own systems. Now there was only the Nektuman Empire providing support of any nature, but that was only in the form of a safe haven, as they desperately tried to rearm for when they had to face the Republic themselves.
Her bitter thoughts were interrupted by the approach of her councillor, and aide, Marianne. She gave weak smile of recognition to her long term friend. Marianne had been a faithful companion since she was a baby. First as a nanny, then as she became old enough to take up royal duties as her guide and advisor. She loved her almost as if she was her mother. A love that was returned in complement by Marianne.
"The attack has started?" She suggested sadly.
"Not yet, Your Highness," Marianne responded flatly. "The Republican fleet has been detected massing for the attack."
"Things are going as expected?"
"There has been no other news, Your Highness."
"But I am certain Marios will survive and you will be reunited," Marianne added optimistically.
The Princess smiled weakly at the mention of her promised betrothed. He was leading an attack squadron against the Republic. She imagined his small fighter against the horribly beweaponed Repubican Warships, in their macabre dance of electric death.
No. There was going to be no survivors in the final struggle. Those that were not killed would be lead away to finish their lives in captive slavery. She would never see her blond haired beloved again. She hoped he would die quickly in his craft, rather than be made captive.
Neither made a mention of the King, her father, or her elder brother, Edrich. For the King, if their home world Neuros fell, then there was no escape. Edrich had taken his station aboard the flagship, and it would be the Federations first target. The planets first and only orbiting defensive barrier.
She shook her head and sighed unhappily. "Perhaps we should make our way to the Control Room?" She suggested. "We will hear what is happening quicker and more accurately there!"
"Your Highness!"
Sadly they moved away, the Princess making small encouraging noises to those refuges that had managed to make a path onto the small promenade deck. They were every bit as unhappy as she was, she reflected and just as scared of what was to come.
Captain Gresham greeted them cordially but sombrely, dipping his balding head to her, as they entered the ships control room.
"Your Highness. The Republic have reached the outer planets, they are gathering for the final attack!" He announced quietly.
"Can we contact Neuros?" Princess Zaranray asked hopefully.
The elderly Captain nodded, waving them towards the communications desk.
Dutifully the signaller raised Neuros and they waited impatiently for a response from her father.
"Zaranray?" It came, but without a visual signal. She almost did not recognise the voice. Her fathers voice was normally so strong and challenging. Now it seemed like a defeated whisper.
"Father!" She responded in relief.
"You should not have contacted us," he declared. "They will detect the signal."
"I wanted to know what was happening!" Zaranry protested. "I should be with you and Edrich. I am one of the Navy's finest pilots!"
"Yes. You are a fine fighter pilot," he agreed. "But one more won't make a difference here. The enemy is at the door and in greater numbers than before. We are outnumbered thirty ships to one. You must get away safely and look after our people. That is your duty and you must do it. That is why I have remained, to keep the Republic from finding you!"
"But Father!" She protested again.
"Captain Gresham?" King Karus redirected his voice to the yachts master.
"Yes, My Lord?" He responded immediately.
The Kings voice softened considerably at hearing his voice. They went back many years. It was Gresham that had taught him as a boy how to surf the solar waves. He should have retired years ago. It was because of his standing and friendship with the King, that he was made the Master of the Yacht forty years ago and why he was still master ten years after he should have retired.
"You are prepared for the worst?" He asked cryptically.
"My son has his orders and 509 is prepared. He has chosen people he trusts as his crew. They will protect her to the last," Gresham assured his Master.
"Thank You, my friend!" he sighed and closed the communication.
"Get my Father back!" Zaranray demanded in confusion. "What have you planned for me?"
"He asked me to put you and and a good crew aboard the 509 if we were discovered." Gresham explained. "For safety!"
"But the 509 is a racing skiff. You used to run it in the Circumference Race!" Zaranray exploded in anger. "It has no armament, how can it be safe!"
"Do you remember how far the Circumference Race is? and the record and who holds it?" Gresham demanded.
"How can I not!" She cried. "I was with you when you won it for the third time! 5000 light years around the space quadrant in 103 days. But that is not safe!"
"It is safer than this ship if we are attacked. She will outrun anything the Federation has and will carry you to Nektuma and beyond. If there is a good enough pilot. You and my son are such pilots and he will follow your instructions," he vowed. "Once you have escaped!"
Given little alternative she left it at that, though her frustration and anger boiled inside her. "Are they broadcasting reports from Neuros?" She asked more mildly, regaining control of her senses.
"Yes, Your Highness," the signaller responded automatically.
"May it be put upon the speaker, Please, Captain? I would like to hear what is happening, rather than second hand reports!"
"Very well, Your Highness!" Gresham sighed. He was torn between the need to know, but terrified of the news they would hear. He waved to the signaller, who complied.
***********
King Kaurus looked around the council chamber he was sat in. It would be the last time he would see the tiered benches and elegant murals of the hall again. It had been here that he had overseen the development of the Kingdom and Commonwealth for nearly fifty years. Listening to the debates of the delegates from over sixty planets, as they enacted laws and political ideals, occasionally interrupting to break deadlocks, giving final judgement, approval or disapproval as seemed to be the most correct.
It was how it had been for nearly eight hundred years, when his ancestors had decided that the individual planets of the Kingdom should be individually responsible for their own governance, by their own people. Each planetary council was controlled by a council of twelve that had given up all external interests for the remainder of their natural lives and 60 others elected for a term of three years only. The first group giving stability, the second innovation. Their efforts were overseen and occasionally over ruled by the Royal Council, formed in a similar fashion, forming a galactic policy on basic rights and regulation.
For eight centuries it had worked, the Kingdom had found self protection and prosperity. Now it was about to collapse. The Kingdom had become weak in its peace and prosperity he realised. The Republic were working with a single militaristic goal. The domination of the Galaxy and were prepared to crush all those that were prepared to protest.
His musings were interrupted by a noisy argument as two people entered the chamber and approached him.
One came to within ten paces of the King and knelt before him respectfully. "Sire! The enemy is approaching. We should vacate this place and move to the command bunker."
The old King looked down kindly on the Commander of the Royal Protection Force. "Will that make me any safer, Colonel?"
"It will withstand more damage than the Council Chamber, Sire!" He opined stoutly.
"I suppose it will," Kaurus agreed sadly. "I will be along directly. Thank You."
He turned to the second, who had still made no move of respect to his monarch. He recognised him, with some distaste, as Councillor Trellure, a peoples representative from Jurran. Full of deceit and self importance. He wondered how their system of government could elect such an undesirable representative. One that so openly worked for his own goals. He had been lobbying hard to make it possible for peoples representatives to stand for office as often as they wished, before the war. Since he had been lobbying even harder that they should capitulate to the invaders. Letting them take what they wished.
Kaurus attempted to prevent the Councillor from placing his well versed demand, by answering it before he spoke. "I am not about to capitulate Councillor. We know what the Republic does to those that lose. They will not give you anymore authority. They will take what you have."
"You are an old fool!" Trellure shouted. "If we hadn't resisted in the first place and found peace..."
"We would be in exactly the same place," Kaurus snapped back irritably. "Probably worse. You could be in command of the black market in the Kapchuron Mines. Trading stimulants to the slaves. Colonel take this fool away!"
"Sire!"
"You must surrender. They will let us live in peace!" Trellure screamed.
"Come along, Sir. Bow before the King, then we can leave him in peace," the Colonel announced patiently, taking his arm.
To the horror of the Colonel, Trellure spat at Kaurus.
Kaurus shut his eyes, in time not to see what was about to happen. There was a soft Whumpf and a thud, then there was the Colonels voice. "I am most dreadfully sorry Sir. The floor is dreadfully slippery here!"
Kaurus opened his eyes again in time to see the Colonel lifting the Councillor from the floor in an armlock and pushing him towards the door. Despite himself he smiled. If he had seen the blow the Colonel had undoubtedly given the councillor, he would have no choice but demand the arrest of the loyal soldier. There were limits even now.
Quietly he rose and headed for the control room.
*********
The scene in the Pilots Briefing Room aboard the Battleship Nigiria was typical of such rooms through out the galaxy, where aircrews prepared to enter battle. It was enclosed, badly ventilated, poorly lit, generally noisy and smelt of sweat, as three hundred pilots and their navigators prepared themselves for what was to come in there own ways.
Some were sitting silently in deep concentration. Others were exchanging cheerful banter. A few were quietly trying to write a letter to which ever relative survived the forthcoming events. There was similarity in purpose in the disparity of action, they were all trying to prepare themselves for the terror to come.
Squadron Leader Marios and his co-pilot Elana came firmly into the second category. Exchanging banter and japes with other pilots of their squadron.
"If it gets tough, pop your canopy and smile at them, Herbert!" Marios advised his second flight commander.
"Yes. One sight of that gap filled mouth will have them turning and running," Elana agreed with him happily.
Herbert gave them a glare that gave them a full sight of a mouth only half filled with teeth. "And you're going to try and hit something for once?" He was sensitive about the gaps in his teeth, even more so about how he had gained them. Rumour had them linked with a lady.
They were time honoured witticisms, well worn and trodden in. But they still had value in certain circumstances- Like when most were expecting to die.
The general hubbub in the room gently settled down as the Admiral of the fleet, Prince Edrich and his aides arrived and took their place on the dais at the front. He watched them taking their places. Calmly scrutinising them through piercing blue eyes that never seemed to blink.
"I am not going to detain you. There is no time!" He boomed. "We now possess the details of our enemies strength. Forty Battleships, 120 Heavy Cruisers. We don't know how many fighters they have, but they are weak in lighter escorts."
"With that in mind, these are the deployment rules. Torpedo squadrons 1 to 8 will deploy behind the Republican fleet and target the power systems of the Battleships. Disable half their fleet and we can gain several hours for the evacuating ships to get away. Fighter squadrons 1 to 4 will provide escort. Squadrons 5 and 6 will delay the enemy fighters. What ever happens the Torpedo craft must get through!"
"When you start your attack runs I am going to send our remaining destroyers in to cover. They are small enough to be able to avoid the gunnery from their warships. With luck they may disable a few more."
"Once your torpedo's are away. You will disengage and retire behind Neuros. There is a freighter there that will allow you to rearm and take you to safety, if such a thing still exists."
"Good Luck Ladies and Gentlemen."
"We come back for another attempt, Sir!" Marios demanded from his seat.
The Admiral shook his head sadly. "We have one battleship and ten cruisers. I can only offer a token defence, but it will be a hard fought token. We predict by the time you can rearm the Republic will be landing on Neuros itself. You particularly Squadron Leader have an order to carry out if you can. You are to find and protect Princess Zaranray!"
"Sir!" Marios subsided into silence again.
"If there are no more questions, then go to your craft. You will be launching in fifteen minutes."
Issue: 2
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