Sci-Fantasy 6

The Reconciliation

Painfully pulling herself up onto her feet Laidriana looked around the wreckage of what had once been the bridge of her ship. The premature jump had wreaked havoc among the bridge crew and systems. All of the bridge computer terminals seemed to be offline. She could only see one other figure that was on their feet. Several more figures were stirring on the deck, and even more were laying motionless there. She could see there was a huge crack running down the length of the main view screen, as well as several terminal screens that had blown out and were smoking. One of the chairs had even been ripped from the deck and had been thrown across the bridge.

Looking around at the bodies strewn about the bridge she spotted the one she had been looking for. Upon closer examination if the body she was able to confirm that it was Captain Draid. Though his face was bloodied and deformed the rank insignia on his collar indicated that it could be no one else but him. He was undoubtedly dead. Great now I am in command.

She quickly straightened up and looked around the bridge again. "Who else is conscious?"

"I am ma'am" said the junior helmsman, Ensign Vidraj, the only other officer who was even on his feet.

She also herd several other acknowledgements from figures laying on the deck. Surveying the origins of these responses she discovered Lieutenant Maykis, the senior tactical officer, Lieutenant Brativ, the junior chief-engineer, and Ensign Sagiz, who had currently be assigned to the science station.

Among the others who were likely dead she identified the Captan, of course, Lieutenant Sekoe, Lieutenant-Commander Larvis, and several crewmen who she did not know by name.

Turning to look back at her conscious officers "Vidraj, I need a ship-wide status report now.

"Yes, ma'am," he quickly busied himself in trying to reactivate one of the damaged bridge terminals.

She slowly sat down in the command chair and attempted to establish a comm. channel to anyone else on board the ship. After several failed attempts she decided that it was likely a lost cause and the comm. systems were likely offline.

She leaned back in her chair and let out a great sigh as she ran her hand through her long flowing black hair. The whole thing had happened so fast. One minute she had been at her station and everything had been normal. Now, not more than an hour later the Captain was dead, she was in command, and her ship was in shambles. Not to mentions the bodies that were laying on the deck of her was suddenly jarred out of her train of thought when she realized Ensign Vidraj was standing over her and looking at her. Regaining her composure and sitting back up she looked directly at Ensign Vidraj.

"Yes, what do you have to report Ensign?"

Vidraj was a young man with a warm face and a medium build. He had bright yellow hair that clashed horribly with the navy blue color of his uniform. "Weapons, shields, long-range communications, shipboard communications, and hyperdrive are all offline. The long-range sensors are a bit messed up but overall they are operational."

"Thank you Ensign. Lieutenant Brativ" she said as she motioned to him to approach.

Lieutenant Brativ was a small gangly man with dark brown hair and a distant look on his face. "Yes, ma'am, how may I be of service?"

"I would like yourself and Ensign Vidraj to proceed down to engineering and see what can be done about fixing the communications systems.

They both gave swift salutes and marched off of the bridge.

Laidriana slowly rose from her chair and strolled over to stand by Lieutenant Maykis. "Lieutenant, how are you feeling?"

Lieutenant Maykis was a very large intimidating figure who was practically bursting out of his uniform due to the mere mass of his muscles. He had pitch black hair and a visage that could haunt the nightmares of schoolchildren for years.

"I am fine ma'am, thank you for your concern."

His voice was deep and his tone so cold it made Laidriana's hair stand on end. "Lieutenant, could you please see what you can do about bringing the shields back online."

Maykis adjusted his mountain-like shoulders so he could look down into Laidriana's eyes. "Yes, ma'am, I will be in Tactical Operations if I am needed." With that he walked off the bridge ducking his head down to avoid hitting it on the door frame.

Looking around the bridge Laidriana realized that only herself and Ensign Sagiz still remained. Laidriana knew very little about her. She was a rather small and lean woman with short blondish hair. Her service record indicated that she was able to harness magic to enhance her senses and temporarily increase the power of her mind.

She had most likely employed this ability since Laidriana could see that Sagiz had repaired the science station terminal and was attempting to optimize the sensor efficiency.

"Ensign?"

Sagiz halted her repairs and cocked her head back to look at Laidriana. "Yes, ma'am"

"I would like you to stop what you are currently working on and direct your efforts to repairing the helm station."

With swift grace the like of which Laidriana had never seen Sagiz moved to the helm control station and began effecting repairs.

Suddenly there was a burst of static from the comm. panel on the arm of the command chair. "Commander, this is Brativ. We have shipboard and long-range communications back online."

Relieved by this good news Laidriana heaved a great sigh. "Very good Lieutenant."

"Ma'am, there is one thing. We received a coded transmission from fleet command five minutes after the attack on Olmagyus began. In all of the commotion of the battle it was overlooked. It is tagged as a priority one message. I am forwarding it to the Captain's office."

"Thank you Lieutenant. Please begin repairs on the hyperdrive immediately."

"Yes ma'am"

The comm. switched off. Laidriana stood still for a moment then turned back to Ensign Sagiz. "Sagiz, I need to step out for a moment, you have the bridge. Alert me if any thing comes up."

Not even bothering to look up from her work, she gave a swift thumbs up and a hearty "Yes ma'am".

Laidriana walked off the bridge to the side door that lead to the Captain's office, now hers she supposed. She strolled purposefully across the room and sat down behind the desk. She turned on the computer panel on the desk and opened the waiting message.

-Automated dispatch to all Brotherhood commanders,

Several moments ago the Terran Empire launched a full scale assault against

Brotherhood Fleet Operations and our home world of Tarnassya. Both targets

were hit with several gigaton nuclear explosions. As of this moment The Elven

Brotherhood no longer exists. All commanders are hereby given personal

possession of their respective ships. What we have feared for years has

occured, and we were not ready. Good luck, keep our race alive and avenge

those who have fallen today.

Message sent by Brotherhood Council Chairman-