Angelika Queen Of Mars

Chapter 17

Chapter 17 A Mission Of the Highest Regard

It had been six alyt's since the destroyers Kombaric, and Narjasic had departed their orbits around Hyach3 or Mars as the Kagorians called it. Although the two ships had split up they had recently re-joined over Parmak-3 or Pluto, where a special listening post, and booster station was installed on the frozen surface. This particular station had three androids that closely resembled Falthians stationed in it. These unique and fast acting "computers," were called Nuelskoricks. Except for devices similar to earphones projecting from where their ears would normally be, these Nuelskoricks behaved and operated just like living Nuel. Each was a highly developed machine capable of independent thought and action. Each had the ability to make any type of repair to the station even going outside. Their job was to monitor long range transmissions, and images coming from this "end" of the galaxy. They were also tasked with monitoring any transmissions, images, or craft emanating from Kagor. Their main priority however was acting as a sort of "early warning" station alerting Falth through a special Hyperspace beacon transmitting wango wave transmissions. The station would draw all its power from a small plasma "engine" as well as a solar collector that would convert gamma, and X-rays into useable energy. A station such as this was designed to operate on it's own for well over one hundred dorns. As an added precaution, each Nuelskorick was pre-programmed to display certain barely noticeable characteristics that would change should any attempt be made to tamper or otherwise alter in any way their operation.

Commanders Angelika Armun and her husband commander Draycon Aelfric had spent much time together since they were scheduled not to make contact for another four alyt's, and each wasn't happy about it, but knew the mission came first. Angelika was very proud that she was the first non-Nuelian ever to be selected for duty of this nature, and was determined to do her best. The Grocyrian's were a very old space-faring world and she was no exception. Having been a queen in royal succession, space travel was in her blood. The Falthians had recognized this, and had promoted her accordingly. Doctor Mendar Temuchin her mentor as well as Captain Boykin Yarod were also from Grocyra, helping to make this a successful mission.

Gone were the thoughts of ever return to their home world, having fled it during a take over by a radical group known as "The Eye of the Mother." Instead, their duty was to Falth and its navy, now patrolling thousands of light dorns from home in a galaxy with only a single planet supporting life. Also aboard the Kombaric was a member of the "Drenai People," Mikah Ulric, also a fugitive along with ex-queen Angelika. The Drenai People were viewed as "mystics," who could "smell," planets. Previously, he had been aboard the Narjasic, transferring to the Kombaric for a four alyt tour, before returning to the Narjasic. The plan of operation called for the two destroyers to operate at the far edge of their communication and scanner range, with the recon fighter Kor'Math piloted by captain Yarod to operate between the two.

Commander Aelfric had just finished his breakfast, when he received a call from the bridge of the Narjasic.

"Commander, we're picking up a very faint signal indicating a ship or possibly space debris it's too far out for a visual yet, but is coming through on our long range."

"Notify captain Yarod, and direct him to the coordinates, I don't want to break "formation," just yet." Within three shon's, captain Yarod was reporting back to the Narjasic,

"Commander Aelfric, we've got a visual which we're re-transmitting to you of what looks like a sizeable piece of a ship, it looks pretty beat up, no telling how long it's been floating out here."

Commander Aelfric then replied,

"We are looking at the re-broadcast now; it certainly appears to be that of a ship. Can you get close in and perhaps even try to board it?"

"We'll certainly try," replied captain Yarod. The Kor'Math slowly approached the floating hulk matching her speed with that of the debris. Then two crewmembers in spacesuits emerged from the Kor'Math on a mobile platform which approached the space junk to begin an inspection. The scanner screen aboard the Kor'Math, as well as the Narjasic showed exactly what the crewmembers were seeing from the cameras on their helmets. Powerful xenon lights were directed on all parts of the hulk, as the examination continued.

"This certainly looks like damage from plasma or plaser fire, it also looks as though this thing has been drifting in space for a long long time, judging from all this scoring, and pockmarks from small meteorites," commented one of the crewmembers.

"Hold on, what was that?" said the other one,

"Play the light up there that looks like it might be a door or hatch." As the scanner showed a hidden corner of the wreckage lit up by the powerful light, a closed door at what appeared to be the remains of a walkway presented itself.

"Zoom in on that wall," said captain Yarod, "Looks like there might be some writing there." As the camera came in for a tight close-up there was indeed some sort of sign or poster affixed to the wall. This part of the wreckage had been protected from the elements, so it was relatively intact. The sign appeared to have been painted on, so the inspection crew was instructed to cut it off, which they proceeded to do with a special torch.

Once the sign was cut out of the wall, further inspection of the door took place. The door was locked, so the latch was cut completely out. When the door was opened, a form like a body was floating in the room. Captain Yarod ordered another team out to recover the body, while the first team recovered numerous items from the room, including what looked like books, documents, tools, and a small metal box. The room gave up quite a number of artifacts besides the body which was placed in a special bag, and brought back to the Kor'Math. Before the inspection team returned from the hulk, every kiro was carefully gone over looking for clues as to what the ship it was part of was destroyed. Before wrapping up their investigation, the team placed a warning and locator beacon on the hulk alerting others to its whereabouts.

The recovered body as well as parts of the hulk were taken to the Narjasic for a through inspection. Doctor Targent performed an autopsy while special radiation dating tests were conducted on the pieces of metal, along with tests to determine the kind of weapons that destroyed it. Commander Aelfric put the Narjasic in high alert as well as notifying Commander Armun as to what he had found.

"Commander Armun, we've encountered a large piece of a spacecraft drifting in space. It appears to have been destroyed by some sort of plasma or plaser weapon. We've also recovered the body of what appears to be a male of undetermined race."

"The large ears on this fellow suggest he's from am unknown race. Since his spacecraft appears to have been destroyed by weapons, we are going on full alert, I would suggest that you close in to half distance and go to full alert as well. I've instructed captain Yarod to remain between us on full alert as well."

Angelika then appeared on the Narjasic's scanner screen,

"Message received, we will move to half distance, and maintain communications with the Kor'Math, going to yellow alert." The next cycle Doctor Targent reported that the recovered body was that of a male in his early thirties.

"He appears to have died from suffocation," reported the doctor.

"Probably in his room when the ship was attacked. I've got to run some more tests, but my best guess is that this fellow has been dead for almost forty dorns. He's been floating in his room all this time, protected from space debris, which has preserved him. I must say commander his exceptionally large ears indicate a race we know nothing about."

"No telling how far that wreckage has drifted in all these dorns," replied commander Aelfric, "Still, we've got to keep our eyes open, and scanners operating at maximum power." Mikah was starting to make progress deciphering the language from the sign they had taken, as well as an electronic book found in the room, although he needed a little more time at his task.

Although the Kombaric and Narjasic remained on high alert, their scanners picked up no more signs of space debris, or alien craft. When engineering, and doctor's Ulric, and Targent released their final reports everyone was greatly surprised.

"From what I've been able to determine," said doctor Targent, "We are definitely dealing with an unknown race. " The size of the ears indicate an acute sense of hearing, but the ears also acted as a sort of heat transfer mechanism judging from the amount of blood vessels in each ear. It also looks as though they come from a very tropical planet, certainly a warmer climate than on Falth. The lungs are smaller and the heart is slightly larger than ours. The brain has shrunk but I suspect that it may have been slightly larger as well. The head also contained more blood vessels as well."

Engineering tests confirmed that it was a plaser type weapon that destroyed the ship although burn tests indicated the weapon in question was weaker than the plasma cannons of the Falth.

"Judging from the scarring, and damage from small meteorites," said the chief engineer,

"That thing has been drifting out there almost forty-five dorns, give or take a few. The metal is an unusual composition of druidism, and morpherion, I've certainly never seen anything like it. They will certainly want to see this back at Andara, as well as naval development." Both Mikah Ulric, and Dr. Partha Karak had worked diligently on deciphering the sign cut off the bulkhead coming up with a rough translation.

"Surprisingly, the language appears to be very similar to one of the Kagorian languages we translated while on Hyach 3," reported Mikah. "It appears to be a sign indicating emergency exit locations."

"Well Angelika, it looks like we've got a mystery on our hands," said Commander Aelfric to his wife, as they discussed the report over a secure communication channel.

"Doctor KranKarak is running some models through the ship's navigational computer trying to determine a possible trajectory this thing may have taken, but it's pretty much a wild guess. However she's sure the results might give us a rough guess as to what sector this might have originated in."

"There is always the chance that wreckage came through a black hole as I did," replied commander Armun.

"If that's the case, no telling where it originated, from the description of the body it certainly didn't come from any galaxy I'm familiar with." Both commanders agreed to stay out two more alyt's before working their way back towards Parmak 3 so they could relay their report back to Hyach 3, and home. For the time being captain Yarod and the Kor'Math were operating well ahead of the destroyers, acting as an advanced "screen" watching out for anything unusual.

Slightly over an alyt later the Kor'math's scanner started picking up indications of a small cluster of moons in the presence of a modestly sized star acting as a sun. As captain Yarod and his crew drew closer, three of the "moons" indicated life on them.

"Look lively people," announced the captain, "No telling what we'll find." Immediately notifying the destroyers, Yarod approached the farthest planet first.

Suddenly the scanner began to indicate four smaller craft quickly approaching from the planet's surface.

"Battle stations, we've got company," announced the captain. As soon as the unknown craft were in range, they began to open fire. Captain Yarod flung the Kor'Math into evasive maneuvers flipping his ship over and deploying two "slappers," which were designed to fool enemy craft into thinking they were fighters firing small plaser cannons, but registering on enemy scanners as real fighters. This drew off two long enough for Yarod to open fire on the other two. The Alsett Mark III cannons tore the two craft apart with the two that had gone after the slappers quickly diverting towards the Kor'Math.

Allowing the two craft to come up behind him, captain Yarod released a "repulsor," which exploded with the effect of a small sun going nova, and blinding the scanners of the two remaining craft. He was then able to get the drop on them destroying them as well. Reporting back to the Kombaric, captain Yarod then maintained his position until both destroyers showed up. When they were close, all three vessels moved to take up an orbit over the planet where the four fighters originated from. As they did so two dozen fighters rose from the planet's surface, and the fight was on. Captain Yarod was quickly joined by the two fighters from the Narjasic who helped keep the unknown enemy off him. Both destroyers threw up "drogs," which were small flying robots that interlocked with each other forming a wall of fire. A determined foe could break through, but it would be a costly effort. Six craft were immediately destroyed or disabled, the others were then confronted with several pulse cannon that threw out tiny robotic missiles that exploded with extreme velocity sending tiny darts of Correlett crystals which tore through the hulls of the attacking craft. Five more fighters were destroyed.

Those craft that were able to escape the crystals were stopped by the heavy plasma cannons that threw up an impenetrable fire that quickly put an end to them. When the remaining craft saw how outnumbered they now were they tried to make a run back to their home planet; however captain Yarod with the two fighter escorts gave chase. The effort was futile, as the Kor'Math was much faster.