Chapter 6: The Fifth Trumpet
System: Ross 128
May 23, Year 2371, 06:11 hours.
Space
The once powerful Destiny limps out of the subspace jump. Large plumes of smoke still pouring out of several holes in the hull. Electric sparks leaping between titanium beams around a two hundred meter clean cut hole in the rear of the vessel. Fires still raging, despite the majority put out by crew members. Leaks in massive fuel lines shooting streams of fire out of the destroyed engines. With all the damage, the ship slowly moves forward, although with a very noticeable list to the starboard side.
Bridge: (FORMER)GTD Destiny
A'thor gazes toward the remaining screens, most of them destroyed in the fight. The bridge was in shambles, crew members at their stations, tired from the lack of sleep in the past three days. Several still with bloody uniforms on caused by falling bridge support beams and falling into desks. None of them complained however, and A'thor knew he had the honor of leading great men. The job was still not complete, this he kept in the forefront of his mind.
"Sir"
Boaz walked up behind the battered captain.
"Seven of sixteen engines out, but still maintaining a velocity of eight m/s."
"We have nearly made it my friend. Almost to the prize."
For the first time in many days Boaz watched a smile cross the captain's face, and then something unexpected. A'thor turned to him, his eyes full of tears.
"Sir, are you alright."
"Yes my friend."
He voice cracked, but he smiled again.
"Our children will be safe to live out their lives in peace. Yes, that is something our stupidity nearly took from them."
Hearing a loud beep A'thor turned back toward the bridge.
"Report"
"Sir, we have reached the way point."
A tech below the main deck reported.
Boaz knew where they were going, but the sight of it still sent chills down his back.
Space
A massive spot light flipped on scanning the wreckage. The light moved up and down on the nameplate of the massive landing deck, some of which was still filled with hulks of cargo containers. The light also hitting a rather odd piece of wreckage. A dim red light dimly turned on, and the wreckage rotated a few times before the light faded back to darkness.
Bridge: (FORMER)GTD Destiny
"The Riviera"
Boaz shuddered slightly.
"Yes, it began here, and it will end here. Helm, activate subsystem 050333"
"Roger sir, activating on my mark, five, four..."
"Sir, what is subsystem 050333?"
Boazed inquired.
"ETAK, my good man, ETAK."
"....three, two, one, subsystem activating now.
Space
A small orb like device rose out of the middle deck, on the top of the Destiny. The round portion split into two pieces and lowered to the deck revealing a odd shaped radar like dish.
Bridge: (FORMER)GTD Destiny
"Sir, the subsystem is operational, and functioning with zero power loss."
A'thor looked over the shoulder of the head technician at the sensors station.
"Good, ping ten kilometers to begin with, and increase power and range with each successful test."
"Roger, sir"
Boaz couldn't hold back any longer.
"Sir, what exactly is ETAK?
A'thor turned to face him.
"Electrostatic Transmission, Activation, Communication device. The "C" was later replaced with the "K" to hide it's last purpose.
A loud beep sounded through the bridge, causing many to hold their hands to their ears in slight pain.
"Sir, ping was successful."
"Excellent, increase range to twenty five kilometers."
"Roger"
Another loud beep rattled the bridge. A'thor watched the sensor monitor light up with everything from pencil sized space debris to destroyed hulks of cruisers.
"Wait, what is that?"
A'thor pointed to the spot and a the technician zoomed in on the anomaly.
"Just over twelve and a half kilometers from our location."
He typed on the keyboard.
"But, it massive sir."
A'thor cracked a grin.
"How long until we can get there?"
"Around twenty one minutes."
A'thor climbed back into the command deck.
"Helm, set course for 189.251.12800. Throw all power into the engines we can spare while still maintaining life support. We are nearly...
"Sir, we have several GTVA warships jumping in a few kilos behind us, they will be in firing range in sixteen minutes."
A'thor cursed.
"Throw all power from all decks except the bridge and engineering, into the engines."
"Sir, all those people will die."
A'thor looked at the half static filled monitor pointed behind the ship.
"It is too late to stop that now."
Bridge: GTD Integrity
"Yes, we have them in sight, and we are closing in."
Allen Franklin talked over the intercom.
"Give him a chance for reconciliation and surrender, if he does not comply, destroy the Destiny."
Fowler spoke back, his voice tense.
"Order received."
Franklin nodded his head to a technician.
"A'thor this is Captain Allen Franklin of the GTD Integrity, you are to power down and surrender your vessel or be destroyed. Will you comply?
Static came through the line, and then a voice.
"I will not comply, my duty is to the human race, and my cause is just!"
"Please refrain from a sermon but how is starting a rebellion and creating chaos exactly a "just" cause?"
Franklin chuckled.
Bridge: (FORMER)GTD Destiny
A'thor placed his hand over the microphone on his headset.
"How long until we reach our way point?"
"Thirteen minutes sir."
"And until they get within firing range?"
"A little less than eight."
A'thor cursed, then removed his hand.
"My cause is righting a wrong we caused long ago. A wrong that sent billions to their early graves. A wrong that we had full control of!"
"And what wrong would that be?"
"By un-locking the first Knossos!"
Bridge: GTD Integrity
"You are out of your mind, you old fool. You are stupid beyond imagination if you think I would believe such lies."
Franklin nodded to the technicians.
"Power up forward beam cannons."
The technician nodded.
Bridge: (FORMER)GTD Destiny
"Sir, they are powering up beam cannons and will be in firing range in two minutes."
A'thor put hand on his head.
"So, be it, send the packet to all GTVA ships, it may buy us a little time."
The technician furiously typed on his keyboard.
"Message sent sir."
Bridge: GTD Integrity
"Sir, we have an issue."
Franklin walked over behind him.
"Report."
"Sir, a file just infiltrated out network, apparently it had a virus attached and breached the GTVA Security Network with astounding speed, and has currently reached all operating ships in the GTVA fleet.
"What is he doing?
"What am I doing?"
A voice came from the communication speakers.
"I am shedding a little light in the shadow of our past, our WHOLE past."
A'thor laughed.
"You are mad."
Bridge: (FORMER)GTD Destiny
"No, I was one of the few who knew too much, knew what we had done, and is now trying to right a wrong.
"SIR!"
A technician screamed. A'thor looked up and out the front facing screen and his heart sunk.
Space
Four Kilometers ahead of the Destiny, space seamed to twist and distort. A black shadow materialized out of the void, and slowly the shadow gained color as light began to reflect of it's surface. With a bright shimmer the object became solid, a Knossos. With sluggishness, the pieces began to move, interlocking with each other creating a ripple that shook the space around the area.
Bridge: GTD Integrity
"Sir, we are now picking up a signature on sensors that matches a Knossos subspace portal."
Franklin stares transfixed on the device he watched appear out of the void.
"Send an emergency message to Command, we need further...."
"Sir! Multiple incoming subspace signatures!"
Space
Multiple subspace portals open in the center of the Knossos. The first ship to emerge cruises out as the portal closes behind it. It's surface black as space itself. Blue sparks fly between the front spikes, and the whole ship flashes red.
Bridge: (FORMER)GTD Destiny
"Signature Confirmed, cruiser class, Rakshasa."
A tech yells across the bridge.
"Orders, Sir!"
Boaz calls at A'thor.
"Failure, I failed, we failed."
Boaz hears A'thor say, then he hears a familiar click. Boaz turns to look at A'thor, and in what seams like slow motion, he watches A'thor raise his sidearm to his chin and pull the trigger. A'thor's head jerks, and he collapses on the bridge floor. Boaz looks at A'thor for a second before his mind catches. He steps over A'thor's lifeless body to the edge of the command deck.
"Helm, turn us around toward the GTVA Fleet. Hail them for assistance."
"Acknowledged sir."
He grabs the railing as the ship turns. Not nearly as graceful as it was without damage, monitors fall off desks and technicians hold on to anything they can grab. Boaz grunts as his holds himself steady, but looks once more out the front facing screen, revealing the massive incursion now occurring. The view turns, and after a few moments of the hard right turn, the ship levels out with a view of the GTVA fleet before them.
Nearly there, he thought.
"Sir! The cruisers are firing their main beam cannons."
Space
Three Rakshasa class cruisers catch up to the Destiny, all firing their primary beam cannons. Tracks are burnt into the hull, while decks are ripped out, some totally collapsing. Then the rear third of the ship snaps with enough force to send the two halfs in opposite directions with the rear portion colliding with one of the cruisers, basically vaporizing it. The other two cruisers continue attacking, their beam cannons penetrating all the way through the front of the vessel.
Bridge: (FORMER)GTD Destiny
The structure crack catches Boaz off guard. He is thrown over the command deck railing unto the lower deck ten feet below. Technicians are thrown side ways into walls, along with desks, computer monitors and support beams. Several of the destroyed monitors come crashing down.
Boaz pushes a desk off of him, his arm shattered and bleeding. He looks around the darkened bridge, moans coming from within the wreckage. The ship rumbles so hard he loses his footing, then he is blinded by light.
Bridge: GTD Integrity
Franklin watches as the Rakshasa cruisers cut with their beam cannons until the reach the tip of the Destiny. The beams then desist as the cruisers continue toward him.
"Fire primary beam cannons!"
He watched the main beam cannon hit the mid-line of the cruiser, ripping it in half. The a flash caught his eye and he looked up to see the front remaining half of the Destiny detonate in a massive explosion.
"Sir look!"
A tech screamed.
"Take evasive act...........................