Olissua watched the ripples in the detection field pulse as the unknown vessel moved closer to them. Various thoughts crossed her mind, who were they? Were they in league with their enemies or a new unknown? She hadn't been trained in how to make first contact and the ADF's track record of always getting shot before people want to talk made her uneasy.
"Commander," Coms said.
Olissua turned, "Report."
"Commander, I am receiving messages from the Marudas to the Atlantis. They're requesting help and say they're under heavy attack," Com reported.
Olissua's brow furrowed, "From who?"
"I'm not sure, but it sounds like from the Eutharan and an unknown vessel type. They're reporting heavy damage and are being over whelmed," Com reported.
Olissua looked back towards the holo display watching the red blip slowly moving away from their position. Were they friend or foe? Did they even know they were shadowing this vessel or was it a fluke?
"Tactical, we're about to break silence to assist the Marudas. I want that vessel targeted and scanned, if it so much as rattles a hull bolt I want it neutralized. Try not to destroy it as we don't know who they are," Olissua said as she sat down in her chair. "Con plot a course to the Marudas and engage as so as we break cover."
"Course plotted Sir," Con reported.
Olissua flipped on the ship wide channel, "This is Commander Olissua, we're about to engage an enemy that is assaulting one of our ships in orbit around Eutharan. We have trained for this for the last two months, before the first beam was even laid in our shipyards. The new personnel brought back by the Atlantis has made this vessel one of the most advanced in this galaxy. We will save our people and show these people what we can do, god be with you all."
Olissua turned back one last time to look at the holo display before issuing the orders to make the jump. "Bring us to Condition Red, battle stations. Execute Jump." Seconds after Olissua finished speaking they disappeared in a flash of light. The Unknown vessel immediately changed course and made a hyperspace jump.
The Marudas shuddered as another barrage from the surface of the planet struck her shields. She was trapped in orbit by a fleet of ships, if she climbed to move out of the planetary guns, the ships and orbital batteries opened fire. Carla had received several requests from the surface of the planet for their surrender.
Carla shook violently in the command chair as the ship shuddered around her. She thumbed the com unit to life, "Medical, what is the status of Captain Prasuh?"
"He'll be out of commission for a couple weeks at the very least. He has a broken arm and several broken ribs, he's in surgery right now to repair some internal damaged caused by the broken ribs," a female voice reported.
"Thanks," Carla sighed. She was in a spot and wasn't sure how to proceed. There was a lot of innocent people on that planet that had no clue what was going on. Yet they couldn't take much more of those barrages from the planet. When the attack first started it had been a surprise and a lot of the crew took minor injuries. Captain Prasuh had been leaning over the rail working on a conduit and slipped and fell in the holo pit. Carla assumed command, being the next highest ranking command officer. That's when she found out there was no communications with the surface of the planet and that long range communications were also being jammed. She had ordered a low power distress signal, with their current situation, sent every minute; her hope was the Atlantis would respond.
Carla had ordered the Marudas to be moved into a higher orbit out of the planetary guns. The moment they started gaining a higher orbit, six battleships exited hyperspace along with their escorts. Then four more unknown vessels uncloaked and opened fire, the combined fire from the vessels was more than the planetary guns. This forced the Marudas and her crew to fall back to the lower orbit. It told Carla that whoever was behind this wanted them to stay put. They were also not interested in the Marudas' destruction but preferred to capture it intact. Like that would ever happen, she would order it scuttled before she let it fall into enemy hands.
Jon was standing out on the balcony connected to his room talking to Deatra when the first planetary guns fired. Jon spun around as he thumbed his com unit. "Admiral Hunter to Marudas," he was greeted by silence.
He repeated himself twice more before her tried contacting his sister, which was not successful either. "What the hell is going on?" Jon said as he threw open the doors to his room.
"Captain," Jon said. "Bring our section up to Condition Red, no one in no one out; I think we're under attack. Standard communication protocols, I was continuous communication between all sections."
The Captain saluted, "Yes Sir."
Jon started walking down the hallway towards the main doors to their section, his guards falling in behind him. He was going to get to the bottom of this and god help whoever was behind this. Deatra took his arm as she caught up and fell into to step beside him.
"Jon what's going on? Why are the Planetary guns firing?" Deatra asked.
Jon glanced over at her and smiled, a smile that chilled her, "I don't know, but I intend to find out."
"You don't think..." Deatra started, but stopped when Jon nodded.
"Yes I do," Jon said flatly.
"Oh my," was all Deatra said, it was enough.
"Nice welcome home, huh?" Jon said. Deatra remained silent and it spoke volumes.
Jon knew what was going on, but not who was involved. Although, he had a pretty good idea of that too. As Jon turned the last corner before he reached the main doors, one of his marines met him.
"Admiral, I intercepted a broken transmission from the Marudas," the young man reported.
Jon stopped, "What is their current situation?"
"They're taking fire from the planetary guns and are trapped in a low orbit by a small fleet. All reports I have intercepted say the damage is medium to light and demands for surrender has been issued," the marine reported.
"Thanks, that's what I needed to know. I want you to keep trying to establish communications with them and let me know if their situation changes," Jon said as he continued on his way. "Have we had any communication from the landing field?"
"No Sir," the marine reported.
"Keep trying to raise them too," Jon said.
Standing on either side of the main doors was the rest of Terri's raptor team. When they saw Jon approaching, they saluted him. "Status?" Jon asked.
"All quiet here Sir," Roelien reported.
Jon nodded, "I have a mission for you and your team..."
Terri crouched behind the Raptor as they exchanged fire. Threats of them being shot down made them hold their position. The kids and command staff were safely hidden away in the shuttle. Unknown to anyone was that small group of specially trained women that were making their way towards Terri's position.
The Eutharan marines made a push to over run Terri's position. It was at that time when Opellissa and her group descended on to Terri's position. Before any of them realized they were being attacked from behind, Opellissa had a small blade inserted between the crack in Terri's helmet and chest armor.
The rest of the females formed a protective circle around their leader as she spoke, "We mean no harm to the Princess and you have more important things to worry about than us. The Princess will be returned to the Palace in one piece, please give her brother this message. If you want your sister back please come to the Eutharan temple of truth, in one day."
"Oh, he'll be there and you won't like it. You had better let me go now if you know what's good for you," Terri spat. She tried to move her arm, but it was immobile.
"I have a restricting field on your upper body, you won't be able to break free," Opellissa said. "I will enjoy meeting your brother, he is some what of a legend."
"It will be a short meeting for you, of that I assure you," Terri retorted. "If he doesn't tear you apart his wife Princess Deatra will."
At the mention of the Princess' name Opellissa stumbled as she took a step. All the females under Opellissa's command glanced back at her, eyes wide. Thoughts blurred through her mind, her sister was supposed to be dead...
The Atlantis was the first to arrive at Eutharan, she started communicating with the Marudas on their close range secure channels. By the time communications were established all of Atlantis' fighters were launched and approaching the enemy fleet.
"Marudas, this is Atlantis actual," Rick said.
"Thank god," Carla's relieved voice responded.
"Where's Captain Prasuh?" Rick asked.
"He was injured in the initial attack. I have command of the Marudas," Carla replied.
Rick rubbed him temple, "Understood, what is your situation?"
"We're trapped in low orbit and besieged by the planetary guns. When we tried breaking orbit to get out of their range the enemy fleet opened up on us. They're demanding our immediate unconditional surrender," Carla replied.
Rick stood up and switched the view on the holo display to show the complete battlefield. He briefly wished Jon was here and in command to make to important calls, every thing he thought of would cost lives. "How long until you have shield failure?"
"Shields seem to be holding at 65%, we have minor buckling to the forward super structure. Fold engines are offline, whatever they hit us with in that first barrage scrambled some of our electronic systems. Engineers are working to get the engines back online, but I have been warned that folding so close to the planet could create problems," Carla reported.
"Yes, you could take part of the planets atmosphere with you or even create a global shift. What is the status of your fighters?" Rick asked.
"Launch bays two through five are offline, I can launch about one quarter of my fighter complement. We're working on that problem too," Carla replied.
Unknown to both ships another player in the game had arrived. The long sleek vessel under the command of Olissua sat quietly listening to the reports between the two ships as they took in the field. Olissua ordered condition black when they came out of fold, so they could maintain a bit of an upper hand.
"Scan those four unknown ships, I want to know what they are capable of," Olissua ordered. "Con move us closer to the Atlantis and prepare to establish communications. Have all fighters stand by for rapid launch and deployment."
An alarm went off on the bridge, "Sir, a contact just dropped out of hyperspace in close proximity. It's the same configuration as the one we were tracking earlier," Tactical reported.
"Range and status?" Olissua said.
"Ten kilometers out and closing slowly, status unknown, it appears cloaked," Tactical reported.
"Do they know we're here?" Olissua asked.
"Unknown Sir, they're moving in a straight line," Tactical said.
"Con shift ten points starboard," Olissua said.
"Yes Sir, ten points to starboard," Con replied.
Olissua waited a few seconds after the maneuver then asked, "Tactical have they changed course to intercept?"
"Negative Sir," Tactical reported.
"Ok, if it uncloaks and charges weapons, I want it turned to dust. If it changes course to intercept us I want another course change to see if it's tracking us," Olissua said.
"Yes Sir," both Con and Tactical responded.
Jon with Deatra in two, accompanied by two squads of marines strode towards the meeting chambers. The marines had orders to shoot anyone who stepped in the way, so far they haven't had to. The halls were strangely uninhabited and quiet, Jon hadn't seen anyone in the last five minutes. It made him nervous, Jon slowed his stride then stopped completely. Even the regular guards weren't at their stations, that was very odd.
"Fall back to our section, double time," Jon ordered.
Deatra looked up at him, "Jon what's wrong?"
Jon looked down as they made their way back, "No guards, halls all quiet. It has never been like that since I have been here."
Deatra nodded, "I thought it was a bit strange, but I wasn't sure. I'm usually at court all day. So I take it you think it's a trap?"
"Yes and I fear it's already been triggered," Jon said.
Then the whole group stopped which made Jon and Deatra stumble a bit. Arrayed before them, ten feet before their doors was the entire palace guard.
One word escaped Jon's lips, "Shit."
Thanks to all my fans for making this possible, remember feedback is welcome.
Thanks to my editor BoB_McC
Siath