Deatra was having a restless sleep, she felt empty. Something was missing in her mind and she couldn't put her finger on it. Through the haze, she could make out disjoined voices. Nothing felt right, she couldn't move and it was starting to panic her. She felt something tug at her mind a feeling she had never felt before.
Memories flooded her brain as she fought to remember what she was doing here in this lifeless place. The darkness was almost unbearable. A thought came unbidden to her, Jon was dead; the Atlantis destroyed. Sam was missing along with Oojoung and Kayla. Darkness filled her mind as dread filled her soul, her bond mate was gone and she was dieing.
Then a recognizable voice came from the darkness, "Is she still alive?"
Andie's voice responded, "She's in suspended animation for now. If I do what you have asked, it might kill her. With her bond severed, she is dieing and we don't know how to stop it."
"I do, wake her up doctor," the voice said as it faded.
The marines on Ghost Station hadn't been able to hold off the progression of Admiral Geenis and his troops. They had reached medical and Deatra; they now controlled the whole deck. Geenis had a very long talk with Andie and directly let her know that her cooperation would be with or without her consent. Andie agreed to do as asked once Geenis threatened to start killing people.
Andie now stood over Deatra's sleep chamber, "You know that if I bring her out she will most likely die in a matter of hours."
Geenis looked down at the Princess as she slept. Victory was close. Once he bonded with the Princess, it would only be a matter of time. The throne would be his as well as Ghost Station. If she died after that, it wouldn't matter in the grand scheme of things. That is if he could force the bond, a tricky thing to say the least. A technique passed down as a secret through his family for generations. He had never tried it but he understood the principals of the ritual.
"She won't die, she will bond with me," Geenis said.
Andie was shocked. Deatra was bonded to Jon and from what she understood nothing could severe that bond. Geenis was a mad man, a cunning mad man but a mad man nonetheless. Andie just stared at Geenis in shock, contempt for the man showed on her face.
Geenis looked up, "Do it doctor or I'll start killing people."
Andie balked at the thought of a mass slaughter, "It will take time to cycle her chamber, a couple of hours to prepare the chamber to bring her out of stasis."
"I have nothing but time, proceed."
Breq and Gilas had joined Marc in CIC to go over the situation. Eafiq was allowed to tag along as an advisor. They stood on the lower level around the planning table looking over the developing situation.
"They have taken control of these three levels, digging in here, here and here," Marc said. He pointed to the highlighted areas on the map that rotated before them. "Their fleet is maintaining position out side our outer markers and I have our ships on stand by. The almost complete carrier has a skeleton crew and is awaiting your orders. Three squadrons of fighters are standing by for launch orders. Our marines have set up command posts here and here," Marc said. He once again pointed to two highlighted areas on the map. "Engineering has cut power to the lifts accessible to the captured levels and we have sealed off the docking platform. There is still some light fighting happening there but we should be able to hold it."
Breq reviewed the map, "Do we know what their objective is?"
"I'm guessing, but because they made a beeline for medical they are after the Princess."
"Hrm, what would that accomplish?" Breq asked. He looked in Eafiq's direction as he said it.
Eafiq stepped closer to the table before speaking, "If he it truly after the Princess and if I understand correctly. He is hoping to bond with her and through that take control of the station."
"What?" Gilas sputtered. "He wouldn't dare. The Princess wouldn't allow him to control her."
"With Jon dead the only way to save her would to force a bond with someone else. Even though this is an outlawed ritual, from time to time it's been permitted to prevent an important person from dieing. For it to be legal, he would have to get her permission to perform the ritual. However, if he succeeded in performing it, even with out her permission, it would bond him to her. If this happened and he knew what he was doing he could control her."
"This could create a problem," Breq said. He looked over the map searching for away to break through the enemy perimeter. Nothing jumped out at him as an obvious weakness.
"You don't say, if he manages bonding with Deatra it would undermine everything we have established here. The Eutharan King and Queen would control the station and then everything will be lost," Gilas said.
"No, I don't think you see the big picture. If he bonded with the Princess, he would control everything. The King and Queen would be removed and executed. Then he would hunt down ever last royal and put them to death. Then he would remove the last threat, the Princess," Eafiq said.
"Captain Prasuh is calling from the Marudas, should I put him through?" Comm reported.
"Yes, please," Breq said.
"Admiral Breq, what are your orders?"
"Captain, for now I need you to stand by."
"Yes Admiral, the Marudas stands by ready to assist."
A thought struck Breq, "Captain, what is your current complement of marines?"
After a second Prasuh responded, "Currently I have 150 marines on board."
"Ghost show me where the Marudas is docked."
The outline of the Marudas appeared three levels below where the Braous. Breq thought for a second as he calculated the odds in his head.
"What are you thinking Admiral?" Marc asked.
"I'm thinking of dispatching the marines from the Marudas with Prasuh in command to take the Braous out of their hands," Breq said.
"I don't know about that Admiral. Ghost zoom into the Braous' docking platform." The image shifted as Marc started to point at the entry and exit points. "They have these positions fortified. We have cut power to the doors to keep them on their ship though. That's the only reason we haven't lost the docking platform." Marc said.
Breq turned towards Eafiq, "How many of you crew are loyal to you?"
"What do you mean loyal?"
"I mean if you went down there and ordered them to surrender. Do you think they would do it?"
"Maybe, most of Geenis' followers should be on the station. What's left on the Braous should be loyal to me. But I'm not for certain and I wouldn't make any bets."
Breq though for a couple seconds, "Ok, lets do that see where we get. It can't hurt us to try, might even save some lives. Eafiq go with Gilas and meet Prasuh in the docking platform. Captain Prasuh, gather your marines and proceed to the Braous' docking platform. Try to talk them down and gain control of the Braous. If you can't then I want you make sure they're secure and then try to break the siege on medical."
"On my way Admiral," Prasuh said.
Eafiq and Gilas nodded and left to meet Prasuh.
"Marc get me the Captain of the Eutharan fleet."
Captain Drig sat watching the ADF vessels that had positioned themselves between him and the station. His orders had been clear, bring the fleet secretly to Ghost Station and destroy any resistance. Geenis had made it clear to him that this was the King and Queen's bidding. Since Geenis spoke with the King and Queen's voice he followed the orders.
The sensors on his ship told him that the defensive platforms were all active and trained on the various ships in his fleet. The guns he had never seen before and even though they gave off no energy signatures he wasn't prepared to test if they were active or not. So, he waited for word from the station and Geenis. From what he had gathered, the station was manned by Invaru and had captured the Princess.
Scans of the system had turned up at least a dozen Invaru ships, including a Titan class vessel. There were also two Eutharan vessels and two Buranis vessels. The Atlantis last reported here wasn't showing up on scans. That could be good or bad, it depended on how you looked at it. Good that she was somewhere else, bad that she could be hiding and waiting for them to make a move.
"Captain we're receiving a transmission from the station," Comm reported.
Finally, Drig stood up, "Put it through."
The face that appeared was not the one he was expecting it was an Invaru. Everything he had been told seemed to be coming true. Drig sorted his thoughts before he spoke, "What can I do for you?"
"You can leave this system Captain. We don't want a fight with you," the Invaru said.
Drig smiled, "I'm sure you don't, but I have my orders. Mr.?"
"My names Admiral Breq, second in command of the ADF. I'm sorry I didn't catch you name either."
"Captain Drig, commander of the Eutharan 3rd fleet."
"Well Captain Drig, like I said we don't want a fight with you. If you would be so kind as to remove your forces from this system I'd be grateful."
"Admiral, I have my orders and they order me to approach the station and to help free the Princess you have captive there. Although, I'm a bit hesitant in doing so because of your defensive batteries. The computer has identified and unknown weapon type with no energy signature."
"I'm sorry but that weapon is classified need to know and frankly you don't need to know. But, I will tell you this, come any closer and I'll give the order for those batteries to open fire. As for the Princess, she has never been or ever will be a captive. In fact she is the bond mate of the leader of the ADF."
"Are you trying to tell me the Princess has bonded with an Invaru? I highly doubt that would have happened Admiral."
"No she bonded with a Human male. The humans and your race share many similarities. Now, if you don't mind me asking, who gave you these orders?"
Drig though for a second before replying, "It's no secret, by now he should be assaulting the station from within. Admiral Geenis gave the orders for the fleet movement and battle plan to capture the station."
"Geenis is a fool, right now he is trying to force a bond with the Princess. He plans on taking over this station and the Eutharan home world. He wants to crown himself King."
"Enough of this deception. I'll talk to you when I have you in my brig. Drig out."
The connection was severed, but it left Drig with doubts. What if what the Invaru said had been true? His own loyalty to the King and Queen demanded that he at the very least check it out. Geenis was known as an ambitious man and something like this wouldn't be that possible.
"Comm get me a connection to fleet command on Eutharan," Drig said. He sat back down waiting for the confirmation of a connection. The fates help Geenis if this had been all for his personal advancement.
Deatra slowly opened her eyes as the drugs wore off. Standing before her was Geenis and behind him was Andie. She took a second to look around the room and noticed the Eutharan marines stationed in various places. Her eyes fell on Geenis once more, his face split into a large grin.
"Princess, how do you feel?" Geenis asked.
She ignored him as she swung her feet off the edge of the bed, "Andie, why have I been awakened? Did Jon survive the Atlantis' destruction?" She raised her hand to her forehead, "No, I still can't sense him."
"Deatra, I was for..." Andie started. Geenis backhanded her hard enough to send her flying.
"Don't you dare speak unless I say you can," Geenis snarled.
Deatra stood up from the table and faced Geenis. Her eyes burned in a controlled anger, "How dare you touch her and command her to not answer me. I demand to know what is going on here."
Several of the marines shifted uneasily.
Geenis looked at her and smiled, "I'm here to bond with you and save your life."
Deatra was stunned, she was already bonded how could Geenis think to bond with her? There was more going on here than met the eye. The marines in the room shouldn't be here. Where were her personal guards? She stared at Geenis as though she was probing for something.
"Where are my guards?" She asked.
"I'm afraid they didn't want to cooperate and have been detained for now. As soon as we finish the bonding ritual I'll release them."
Geenis was mad, that ritual was illegal. "We're not performing any ritual Admiral. You will release my guards right now."
Geenis stepped around the bed and approached Deatra. He reached out and grabbed her wrist in a vise like grip. He yanked her towards him until they were face to face. He stared deep into her eyes and saw the panic under the fear. She would break and there wasn't a thing she could do about it.
"Yes we are Princess. You don't have much of a choice in the matter. It's the only way to keep you alive long enough for me to take the throne."
Deatra gasped in surprise, he was crazy.
Geenis leaned down and locked his lips on hers in a deep kiss. He let go of the wrist he was gripping and moved both of his hands up to her face. His fingers hit the 10 points needed to start the bonding ritual. Now it was only a matter of time before she was his. She struggled and tried to break free from his grip. However, no matter how hard she fought he wouldn't release his grip on her.
At the edge of the system, two large fleets of black ships exited hyperspace and started towards Ghost Station. Shortly after their return to normal space, one smaller fleet exited hyperspace and cloaked.
Quellis stood on the bridge of command vessel watching the deployment of the fleet. In just a matter of hours, he would be standing on Ghost Station amid the bodies of his enemies. Word had come to him that this was the time to attack. The station was at it weakest right now. The battle on her and the Eutharan fleet at her doorstep added to the confusion.
"Tell the fleets go to their assigned coordinates and to prepare for the attack," Quellis said.
"Relaying your orders now Adjunct," Comm reported.
"Have them ignore the Eutharan fleet and to concentrate on the ADF ships."
The ADF ships presented more of a danger with their new weapon systems and their ability to detect his ships. Quellis sat back down in his command chair and waited for word of the fleet that they were in position. The battle would start soon and they would be taken by surprise, he had done everything as ordered.
Breq was furious at the dismissal of the Eutharan Captain. How blind could people be, never mind he knew that answer. The Invaru people had been blind to what the Emperor had been doing for thousands of years. All he could do was hope the he had put enough doubt in the Captain's head. If he hadn't things were going to spiral downward and fast. He just had no idea how fast things were spiraling out of control.
Prasuh and Gilas stood by while Eafiq spoke to his second in command about the situation. The trip here had been uneventful and it had been easy to go around the areas of the fighting. Eafiq was standing at a terminal in the control room.
"Saeo what is your status?" Eafiq asked.
"We're ok so far. What's going on out there? Geenis called for reinforcements saying that the Princess had been kidnapped and was being held against her will."
"Well that's partially true. He's the one who kidnapped her and is holding her. He is going to try to do a ritual bonding. What I need to know is did you have anything to do with this?"
"What? No, I didn't know this was going on."
"I think he is after the throne through the princess."
"That could be possible, he's always been an ambitious man. He told me had orders from the higher ups. I don't think they told him to do this though."
Something wasn't right, Eafiq had known his second in command too long, he was stalling. He could also be trying to save his own hide. Either way they couldn't trust him or the people on the Braous.
"Ok, Saeo stand by for my orders."
"Yes Captain."
Eafiq cut the communications link and walked back to Gilas, "We can't trust anyone on the Braous. I would say keep it locked down and try to rescue the Princess."
"I'll tell Breq of our findings," Gilas said.
Things were worsening and Gilas hoped it would be over soon. But right now their primary objective should be the Princess. She would be able to command the Eutharan people to stand down. That is if they will listen to her and what she had to say.