Seraph’s Gambit- Episode 36

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Squee

“Jump complete,” Olivia reported over the comm-net.

Squee shifted his weight, causing a rumbling sound to echo through the weapons bay. From the controls, Ariana turned around and gave him an amused look. He shrugged helplessly, “It has been many years since I have been among my people. I am nervous.”

“Not as nervous as I am, buddy,” Noah said cradling his heaviest caliber rifle in his arms.

“You have little to fear from my brethren,” Squee said.

“That’s easy for you to say. They can’t crush you like an egg.”

“There are worse things than death,” Squee said quietly.

“Yeah, like what?”

Squee cast his eyes downward, “Banishment.”

“Wait a minute; you were banished?” Ariana asked.

“In a manner of speaking.”

“What do you mean, a manner of speaking? If you were banished, then how are you going to keep them from blowing us to pieces?”

“I…” Squee started.

Noah hefted his rifle up into a ready position. He patted the weapons side, “Guess I might need this after all. Not looking so paranoid now.”

“Didn’t your mother teach you not to stroke your gun in public?” Serene said, beside Noah.

“I was not stroking her.”

“Her?” Serene said, with a large smile, “Noah, did you…name your gun?”

“No. Maybe. I…”

As Noah turned to argue with Serene, the attention of the room shifted away from Squee. He felt sudden relief at being able to shrink into the background again. Across the room, Serene gave him a quick wink before returning to verbally jabbing at Noah.

“Quiet, everyone. I’ve got a contact.” Ariana snapped.

Squee straightened up and moved to where he could see Ariana’s monitor. He immediately recognized his people’s ships. “Those are Thorack class battlecruisers. If you engage them in combat, we will not survive.”

“Well, that’s comforting.” Ariana said, “They are transmitting.”

“Unidentified ship. This is the Rokma warship, Martoth. You are not welcome here. Leave immediately or be destroyed.”

“Rokma vessel, this is the independent transport Seraph. We have an urgent need for your assistance.” Ariana replied.

“Our sensors show your FTL drive is functional. Depart immediately. There will not be another warning.”

“Well, they’re friendly,” Ariana remarked.

“They didn’t immediately kill us. That’s pretty laid back from what I hear.” Serene said.

“And now we’re being targeted. Squee, any time now.” Ariana said, gesturing to the comm controls.

Reluctantly, Squee stepped forward and keyed his handheld to the transmitter. Then in his native tongue, he said, “At the behest of Bayor, I come on a quest. This ship serves Their purposes. We must reach Okem and speak to the Elders.”

“Who is this?”

“I am Squee, Caleek of the fifth rank, voice vessel for the Gods.”

A long pause followed, and then a new voice came onto the channel, “Squee, it is regrettable that I have this duty. But you were banished from our world. I must turn you away.”

“Cru, I am glad to hear your voice.”

“As am I to hear yours. But it does not change my duty.”

“Nor does it change mine. I return on a holy mission.  I will not deviate.”

He deactivated the comm channel. Everyone in the room looked at him expectantly. Squee attempted to straighten himself to his full height, but was forced to step back a few steps to do so. Steadying his voice, he addressed Ariana.

“Captain, I suggest you raise the shields. They will begin firing on us momentarily.”

“Shields have long since been powered up,” Ariana said. “Olivia, prepare for evasive maneuvers. Vlasa, ready the FTL.”

“No, captain. We must not make any course change. If we deviate, they will destroy us.”

“What? You just said they were going to fire on us.”

“And so they will.”

“Squee, I can’t just let them destroy us.”

“Then remain on course.”

“I think you should do as he says,” Serene said.

“I didn’t ask you.” Ariana snapped.

Serene cast an exasperated look toward Squee, and gestured to Ariana as if to say ‘see what I mean?’ Squee frowned in reply, but looked uncertainly to Ariana.

“We have incoming missiles!” Olivia shouted over the comm net, “Going evasive!”

“No! Olivia, hold course. Going evasive will ensure our destruction.” Squee said quickly.

Ariana shot a dangerous glare at Squee, and for a moment, he thought she would countermand his order. While they locked each other in an intense glare, Olivia shouted desperately. On the monitor behind Ariana, Squee watched the incoming missiles drawing closer.

“Seriously, Cap? You’re just going to let them kill us?” Noah said.

“No,” Ariana said, and then she swung back to the weapons station.

“Captain?” Olivia pleaded.

“Hold course, Olivia. It’s too late to shake them now. Rotate us so I have a shot.” Ariana ordered.

“That is unnecessary, Captain. We will not be destroyed.” Squee said as confidently as he could muster.

“Not if I have anything to say about it, we won’t,” Ariana muttered.

She started firing the ship’s tri-cannon. Multiple low power bolts of energy streaked through the narrowing band of space between Seraph and the missiles. The first few overshot but seconds before the missiles impacted, a blast smashed into the lead missile. It detonated, destroying the second missile in the process and raining high-speed debris against Seraph’s shields.

“Shields held. I don’t see any damage.” Vlasa reported.

“Olivia, prepare to jump.” Ariana ordered.

“They will not fire again,” Squee said.

As if to punctuate his point, the comm system indicated an incoming signal. Ariana glanced at Squee and then accepted the call. Cru’s voice spoke, this time in the universal language.

“Disarm your weapons, and we will escort you to the homeworld. Stand by for jump coordinates.”

Continue to Episode 37

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