Lost Empire Ch. 59

"Yes sir, they can basically do it themselves once we load all the parameters." Kimison replied.

"Good get on it with Zan and Shelby. I want them ready as soon as possible. We may have a possible location on Sherry." Derrick advised both men.

"Yes Sire, we'll start the upload as soon as possible. We just finished another section that might also provide more for them. I'm not sure if we should include it without testing." Rayburn stated.

"You have a few hours, get on it you two." Derrick told them as they saluted then vanished. "Alright Lucie, talk to Shelby for a while to familiarize yourself with her and her systems. As I said she is a mother ship so her systems are more what the others are made from."

"Yes sir, I'll do all I can." Lucie said as Derrick nodded then he also vanished.

Shelby blinked as she watched the young woman standing before her. "Is there anything that you wish to know Miss Hartwell?"

"At the moment I am at a loss of questions for you. I just hope that we can find who is calling me." Lucie replied.

Shelby nodded at Lucie's words. "Derrick has said that you are the most sensitive to all the ships. He has said that even he can't hear a few that you have." Here Shelby bowed to Lucie shocking her. "I wish to thank you for all that you have done so far."

"I only wish to help them. They sound so alone and weak when I hear them, it... it is hard to take at times." Lucie replied.

"I think that we both know that you are doing far more than that, Miss Hartwell." Shelby told the shocked woman.

Lucie was about to open her mouth to reply when she cocked her head to one side. "Yes? I am coming in a few hours. It will take that long before... Yes, I can ask if you wish." Turning toward Shelby Lucie asked, "Is it possible that we take another ship? The one I am taking to ask if Lucy could come. I thought at first it meant me, and then they said the ship EIG-98F Lucy."

Shelby's face was immediately covered with a huge smile. "I'm sure that can be arranged. The both of us are just coming off our re-gens. I think it would be good for her to get back into the action."

Lucie was thinking about it then nodded. "It might be better for us to have a third ship. I just hope that these upgrades that the Commanders are doing work."

"I'll let the emperor know." Shelby replied then was quiet a few minutes. "Derrick says that it was fine. He actually expressed thanks for the suggestion."

Lucie smiled as she nodded settling down to talk and wait.

It was over two hours later when Shelby announced that she was ready. Lucie nodded as she readied the few things she'd take with her. "All ships are ready Miss Lucie. I will have you aboard in a moment." Shelby told her.

Appearing on Shelby's command deck Lucie sat as an idea formed in her mind. "Shelby? I had a thought. If they attacked not long after we appeared is it possible that they might actually be waiting for us?"

Shelby thought a moment then agreed. "It is more than a possibility. With the upgrades we have all had I hope they are enough."

A moment later three holo-grams appeared standing before Lucie though Zan was well back from the others. "Miss Hartwell has an idea that merits our attention. Miss Hartwell?"

Walking in front of the two female holo-grams Lucie was quiet a moment. "I've been thinking about when Sherry and I appeared. It almost appeared that they were there waiting for us. It might be more prudent if we go in at full shields and light screens. As the emperor said any advantage we have might be what saves all of us. I want Sherry or whomever I am hearing though, they are growing weaker."

All three of the ship's holo-grams nodded their agreement. "I think this will provide us a better chance of success." Lucy stated.

Lucie turned to look at the skinny, young blonde visage of Lucy. "I remember reading about you saving the empire. How you sacrificed yourself." Shocking Lucy, Lucie bowed to the hologram. "I am proud to have you helping." Looking at Zan without speaking Lucie gave him a look of disdain before she turned to sit in the command chair. "Remember we go in completely battle ready. I just hope what I am feeling holds true."

All three of the ship's holo-grams nodded Zan still quiet in the back. A moment later Lucie was alone with Shelby. "We need to go the voice is growing weaker by the moment."

"Yes Miss Hartwell, both of you follow me at one and one and a half minute intervals. These are the coordinates of the first stop." Shelby told the others, winking out Shelby appeared not far from where Sherry's last position was.

Searching at first Shelby detected nothing, a moment later there was a huge shimmering ahead of Shelby. "That's them! They are the ones that destroyed her," Lucie was shouting.

A crackling of the radio shocked Shelby and Lucie a moment. "We are the Tendrax; surrender your technology we will allow you to live. We know you are vulnerable to our energy."

Shelby smirked as she could see that they were trying to render her helpless. Looking over her readings she told Lucie she had a reading on the lead ship. Lucie smiled, "Open fire, the others will be here soon. Open a channel Shelby." Lucie ordered. "To the Tendrax, you destroyed one of our ships without provocation. Therefore here is our answer." Nodding to Lucie watched as Shelby destroyed the lead ship along with ten others around it.

There was a great amount of shouting as the rest of the Tendrax fleet shimmered into sight. A moment later several ships at the back of the fleet exploded. "Good work Lucy," Shelby stated as Lucy took out another twenty then vanished.

The Tendrax were trying to reform when Zan dived in a minute later taking a good twenty more. "Shelby!" Zan shouted, "Watch your flank!" Diving in behind of Shelby Zan's side was raked by enemy fire.

"Lucy, form up with us!" Lucie shouted as Zan limped nearby opening fire with all he had. "Protect Zan!" Lucie was ordering surprising herself. All three ships were side by side as they released a hellish barrage of firepower that ripped the Tendrax fleet to shreds.

Looking around Lucie saw that the battle was done. Nodding her head she was about to speak when she cocked her head to the side, "Sherry? She's near!"

Shelby appeared smiling then her smile faded. "It appears that the new shielding helped, though it appears that all three of us are without our trans-warp. I..." Shelby was starting when the space behind them rippled then a rift appeared. Then Lucy's wing mate Ace appeared.

"I take it things went far better this time?" Captain Zimmel stated.

"Much better though we are all without trans-warp." Lucie told him. "We still have to get Sherry."

Zimmel's eyes rolled as he thought damn, civilians!