Chapter 1 – Infiltration at Its Worst

The destruction left behind from the battle was devastating. Admiral Boomer’s patrol fleet had suffered the most damage. Eight of the 15 ships he had with him had been annihilated, including one of his carriers, his Solar class battleship, and all of his destroyers. The remaining ships were heavily damaged and required extensive maintenance before they would be even considered fit for battle. The Athendale itself also suffered losses to its crew and heavy damage to its hull and turrets. But the most significant problem was the loss of its main cannon at the front of the ship. Across its armor, gaping holes were lined in rows from shell blasts. The forward plasma turret was nothing more than a smoldering ruin, while many of the decks in front glowed with fires still burning on the decks. Repair vessels were sent from the station to assist the damaged patrol fleet, and save ejected pilot capsules and ship life pods.

Although Admiral Boomer’s fleet took heavy losses, the Langly station took very few hits, all of which were deflected or absorbed by its shields. The Langly station continued to launch any ships that were docked and able to help, while capsules and life pods were brought aboard. The Athendale pulled alongside the station and docked against one of its prongs. Opposite of the prong, Mavina’s Aurora slowly approached. Its condition wasn’t in much better shape. Decks had been blown out in the top and rear sections of the ship. One of its engines was now out and a large contingent of its core squadrons were damaged or out of commission. It also needed a re-supply and refit before it could go on active patrol again.

The Aurora jerked to a stop next to the platform and latched onto the prong. Walkways were extended from the platform to the hatches on the ship. After locking and depressurizing, the walkway showed a green light and the seals were unlocked. Colonel Donavan was first to step out along with two guards. They stopped at the other end and stood with a salute. Next, Captain Cestra stepped onto the walkway. The bridge had been left to Commander Roland, and while he saw to the organization of the ship and its crew, Mavina would see Admiral Boomer and receive word on what to do next.

Donavan escorted her through the quiet hall. But as they reached one of the medical stations several people were propped against the wall with bandages. One man was lying down holding his jacket while further away another lied still. A blanket had been draped over his head and the men around him had grave expressions. Donavan took off his cap as they passed by him. He followed his captain into the next corridor and down a flight of stairs. Mavina navigated through the station with solemn efficiency. The layout of the station was standard. With the exception of a few modifications, it was like every other outpost station throughout Cenaran space.

When she met Admiral Boomer, he gave her a quick salute and motioned her to follow. Gauze was bandaged to his head while his white suit was stained in blood. His arm had a makeshift cast, yet he took no notice of it. As he walked his stride was nearly perfect, and showed his years of experience during combat situations. When they reached the command room, Donavan gave both ranking officers a salute and watched them step into the room. The door closed and Donavan stood quietly outside.

“Where’s Kali, I didn’t think she ever left your side,” Boomer said with a chuckle. Mavina sighed and smiled back.

“Her core was destroyed by the Ardessa, but she’s alright,” Mavina answered. “She’s aboard that ship now, and don’t think they’ve found her yet. Though, it’s only a matter of time.”

“I’m glad she’s alright,” Boomer laughed. “Now she can brag that even ships can’t defeat her.” Boomer sat down at the end of a rectangular table, while Mavina sat near him at the corner. The room was large and had a dome-shaped ceiling. In the middle of the table was a large device for projecting images onto the table, creating holograms in the air or projecting maps onto the ceiling. Boomer tapped a switch on a small panel near him and the lights dimmed. Admiral Boomer covered his mouth and coughed. After muttering a curse he tapped the display for the Aegis unit.

“Are you alright sir,” Mavina asked. He waved it off as nothing but Mavina insisted. “How did your fleet fair…it looked like your ship took a lot of damage.”

“Oh she’s fine,” he said. “The Athendale cut it close; it’s been a while since I’ve encountered a ship like the Vengeance. But we did lose a large number of our ships. It was an intense battle and was cut short when they retreated.” Boomer clasped his fingers together and looked at Mavina. “How is your ship, I heard you had a fireworks show on your end as well. Is the Ardessa everything they said it was?”

“Yes,” Mavina nodded. “She gave the Aurora a hard time. If they hadn’t captured Aegis, it would have been a fight to the death…” Mavina trailed off quietly, looking down.

“Don’t worry; I’m sure your sister, the Aegis unit, and your friend Meige are alright. If I remember correctly, the captain of the Ardessa is also a gentleman.”

---

The Ardessa silently moved through the ribbons of subspace. Crews in the hangar repaired cores while medics took care of the people who had been injured. In the corner of the hangar Aegis stood. Long arms locked it into the individual dock where it was kept. Teams of mechanics, engineers, and scientists tried to examine it. The insertion ship that rescued Reece and captured Meige set down in another part of the hangar. Reece stepped out.

“How’s my favorite niece doing!” A large man said with a shout. Reece jumped and ran over to him with a laugh. When she reached him the man picked her up with both arms and swung her in the air, setting her back down on the ground. “They didn’t do anything to you did they?” he asked.

“No Uncle Herman, I’m fine,” Reece said. Herman nodded to her and then dropped his hand on her head. She looked down with a sad stare and said nothing.

“What’s wrong Reecella,” he asked. She glanced at Meige, and then whispered something into her uncle’s ear. When she finished he stood up and waved two soldiers to Meige. “Escort our guest to his room,” he shouted. The soldiers complied and waited for Meige to cooperate. He did so without resistance. The soldiers moved Meige out of the hangar and into another deck level just before the crew quarters.

The layout of the Ardessa was much different from the one for the Aurora. The walls appeared like smooth marble and large arches divided the sections of the corridors. Dark purple lights instead of blue ones appeared to send power to different areas of the ship. The men aboard wore colored uniforms and pads that resembled pieces of armor. The women wore large robes draped over their uniforms of white shirts and dresses. On their head they had small caps. Near the front of the ship, there was a large recreational area that appeared as a small forum. Instead of parks, the Ardessa had a set of bathes, where the crew went to relax. Last, there was a temple near the upper decks of the ship. Those who wanted could send their prayers to whom they wished, or ask their gods for advice.

The guards stopped Meige when they reached his new room. The door opened and the two men pointed him inside. Once Meige had walked into the room, the door closed behind. He was alone for now. The room was also much different from his Aurora’s counterpart. The furniture was fashioned from coarse material that looked like wood. A thick carpet lined the floor while a curtain of silk hung over the large bed toward the back of the room. Instead of windows, two large pictured frames were set on both sides of the bed. Inside, it showed a city of large buildings with arches and towers. The pictures appeared realistic, as if watching a city outside from a pair of windows. Meige walked toward a bureau underneath a large mirror and looked down. Small objects were set on its top including one that caught his eye.

A small snow globe of Hevalon City had found its way onto the ship. Meige picked up the globe and smiled. He shook it twice and watched the small confetti of white move in a swirl. There was a miniature academy, base, and large skyscrapers. At the edges of the southern part of the city tiny colored flags were set to show the beach. For a second he forgot about where he was and reminisced. He thought of his parents, his friends, and the academy. His mind then wandered back to Kali and the smirks she used to give him.

“I’m sorry Kali,” Meige muttered, squeezing the globe in his hand. He felt his mouth tighten and held the snow globe back. He aimed it at one of the pictures and gritted his teeth. Then he stopped. He stood for a long moment until putting his arm down. He relaxed his face and set the globe back on the bureau. After closing his eyes, he tried to relax his nerves and moved back to the bed. A siren went off.

Kali cursed as the soldier in front of her slid to the floor, his hand still on the alarm. She quickly darted down the corridor without turning around. Voices shouted in front of her and she ducked behind one of the arches. A group of men passed through the hall and disappeared into another corridor. Kali glanced down the hall and then jumped from her hiding space. She sped past the corridor where the men disappeared and continued with speed and silence. When she reached Meige’s room she glanced around to make sure she hadn’t been spotted and reached for the door. It suddenly opened and she paused. Meige was standing in front of her.

“Let’s get out of here,” Kali whispered, looking down the hall again. From the corner of her eye Meige made no motion to move. She picked her head up with a frown and raised her voice, “Meige, snap out of it we have to—”

She stopped as Meige hugged her tightly. She felt his strong grip around her body and stared forward. For a moment, she forgot what was happening and just stood quietly. Her face became hot and her spine tingled. She quickly shook her head as the alarms came back into focus. She placed her arms in front of his chest.

“What’s wrong with you,” she shouted, shoving him back. She turned away pretending to check the halls again.

“I thought you were dead,” Meige muttered back. A wave of relief passed into his mind and he laughed.

“Well I’m not,” Kali answered harshly, still feeling warm. She scowled and turned back to Meige, “Now come on, we have to go.”

"Wait, how did you get here? Weren't you in the Valkyrie?" Meige asked.

"I ditched it before it was blown up. After getting aboard this ship I found a guard and—” she smirked“—pursuaded him to tell me where you were. Now if you don't mind, I'd like to get out of here."

Meige nodded and they both ran down the hall. A door opened and a young woman stepped out. She screamed and Kali cocked her leg back. She heard Meige gasp from behind and hesitated.

“You can’t just pummel her! She’s not even armed!” he shouted.

“Shut up!” Kali replied. She hit the girl across the shoulder with a chop instead and watched her slump to the ground. Kali groaned and pulled Meige forward. They continued down the hall and slid around a corner.

“There they are! Get them!” a soldier shouted. Kali grimaced and turned around pulling Meige again. They backtracked down their previous hall until reaching a different corner. As they rounded it, a door slammed downward behind them. Kali groaned but continued to retreat. They went around another corner and heard another slam. Kali slowed down and stepped into the next hallway. Reece was standing in shock looking at the metal wall that had just appeared.

“Hey! I’m not the intruder what are you people doing!” she shouted, adding a stomp with her foot. She muttered and turned around to see Kali and Meige staring back. “Meige! Kali!?” she shouted in surprise. “You’re alive! I mean—” Reece tried to frown “—so you’re alive huh?”

“That’s right, and we’re getting out of here,” Kali answered. Reece looked up and tapped her lips.

“But I don’t want to leave,” she said.

“Not you,” Kali groaned, “Meige. We’re not going to stick around to find out what people want with Aegis or him." Kali put her hand up and slowly approached Reece.

“I can’t let you do that. Meige and the Aegis are staying here,” Reece said as she took an offensive stance. “You’ll have to get through me.”

“With pleasure,” Kali muttered. She stopped just a few meters away and leaned forward. Reece took a step back and quickly checked Kali’s stance.

“I don’t think this is necessary,” Meige said. The two girls ignored him. Before he could ask them to stop, they snapped toward each other with lightning speed. Meige winced and turned away as he heard their fists connect. Reece pulled back holding her hand, while Kali leaned for a low attack. Reece jumped into the air just high enough to evade a sweep, and then kicked back. Kali held up her arm to block and Reece quickly dropped back to the ground. She spun her body to mimick Kali's sweep. Kali rolled backward to avoid the attack. Reece slid to a stop and ran forward. Kali blocked her kick and swung an arm to strike her in the side. But Reece ducked down and jumped back. They stared at each other taking another stance and watched.

“Really, can’t we call a truce or something,” Meige muttered. Kali shouted and slung her foot at Reece again. Reece barely put her arms up to block, but the blow was so strong it launched her backward into the wall. She hit it with a muffled thud and slumped to the ground. She shook her head and then quickly ducked under a hard punch by Kali. As Kali looked down, Reece glared at her and kicked her chest with both feet. Kali winced as the force crushed her ribs and flung her backward, skidding past Meige. She quickly recovered and slid to a stop. Kali coughed, wiping blood from her mouth while Reece stared forward. Blood trickled down her back. She tried to move her fingers, but her wrist jolted in pain. Meige glanced between them and groaned. They charged each other again, hoping to land a staggering blow. But just before their attacks connected, Meige quickly maneuvered between them.

Unable to position his arms or legs to properly block their lightning speed, he felt a heavy crack against his stomach and a blinding strike against his back. Both Reece and Kali shrieked as they retracted their arms. Meige fell to his knees holding his stomach. A strange mix of pain and disorientation put him on the edge of his consciousness, and he forgot what had just happened.

“Meige, you idiot!” Kali shouted, trying to hold him up.

“I’m sorry Meige, it was an accident!” Reece cried. She rubbed his hand and glared at Kali, “This is your fault!”

“My fault!” Kali shouted back. “You’re the spoiled brat! Go play princess with your own people!”

“Spoiled! At least I have grace and etiquette!” Reece yelled. “If it weren’t for your chest, I’d swear you were a man.”

Kali widened her eyes in shock. She screwed her face in embarrassment and opened her mouth to yell back, but was lost for words. Reece’s words left a terrible feeling that twisted her insides. Reece stared at Kali and then covered her mouth trying to suppress her laughter.

“I knew it!” she laughed. “Did I say something that made you feel funny?”

“Why you little…” Kali shouted in outrage. She heard footsteps behind, and quickly turned.

“Stop right there!” a soldier shouted. Behind him, Herman stepped forward and looked at the three people trapped in the hall. Kali and Reece turned around and held Meige up to his feet. Herman chewed his teeth while looking at the small trails of blood and cracks in the walls. He sighed.

“Take them to the medical chambers,” he quietly said with a wave. The soldiers saluted and then parted to let Reece, Kali, and Meige through. Reece frowned at Kali, until she reluctantly followed. Meige was still dazed while the inside of his head played with his senses. Once they got to the medical chambers, two nurses helped him onto a table. Another woman stepped from the backroom and looked at both Kali and Reece.

“You’re the intruder aren’t you?” She said, eyeing Kali suspiciously. “Alright, you're injured so onto the table with you. Hitting my nurses or not, I have a job to do.”

Kali looked to one of the girls tending to Meige and realized she was the one hit earlier. The girl quickly looked away and stepped into the backroom nervously.

“You too Princess Reecella,” the doctor shouted. Reece frowned and climbed onto a table opposite of Kali. Meige rubbed his head and was given a set of small capsules to swallow. After drinking water, he was sent out of the room to wait outside. The door closed and the doctor turned back to Kali and Reece.

“Alright you two, I was told that you both might have more serious injuries,” the woman said, folding her arms. “Strip your clothes and we’ll fix you both up.”

Kali grimaced and unzipped her flight suit. Reece whined out loud, but the doctor gave her a warning. Reece groaned and began taking off her jacket and shirt. Once she stripped down to her undergarments she touched her back and felt a sting course through her body. A small gash had been cut just below her shoulder. She groaned again and sat back down on the table. Kali folded her suit and set it down on the bench. Reece glanced at her body and smiled devilishly.

“I take that back,” Reece laughed. “You’re as much a woman as my sister.”

Kali looked up and quickly spun around. Even though she was wearing undergarments as well, Kali’s arms moved to cover her bra and panties.

“If we weren’t aboard this ship right now…” Kali said, grinding her teeth.

“Stop this,” The doctor said, clapping her hands. Kali sat back on the table and straightened herself. Reece stuck her tongue out but Kali ignored her. The doctor tapped Reece on the head and pressed on her wound. Reece yelped and moaned, kicking her feet lightly. A nurse helped the doctor clean the wound and they attached a small device over it. The rest of her body was checked for injuries, and a small cast was placed over the hand she used to punch Kali.

Kali was also checked for injuries by the nurses. Her ribs had been bruised and damaged, as well as some of her organs. A thin pad was wrapped over her chest and stomach while another was set over her thigh. Last, a small cast was put over her ankle. The doctor stepped toward Kali and finished checking her too. But as she reached for her headband, Kali jerked away with a frown. The doctor gave her another suspicious stare but Kali rubbed the headband and looked away.