Tales From The Space Force Pt. 02

Colonel Thorson stood, and smiled, "Thank you commander. That was an excellent briefing, the more you know, the less mistakes can be made. I'd also like to add my comments to everyone, we have a chance to bring this to a close, I for one, would like nothing better. Only a fool thinks war is good, but sometimes it's forced on you. I'm proud of everyone here, both human and Vagan. I know you all will do what needs be done when called upon."

"The human race wants nothing more than to live in peace with all the others we found about. What we have here, now, proves that. I smile every time I see both our people together; this is how it should be and not only between us. I've learned that we are all similar and people are people no matter where we started from."

He smiled at them all once more, "I'd say more on the upcoming battle, but I don't think I could say anything better than the commander already has, so I won't try. So, good luck to all involved, be careful, but even better, be smart. Thank you all."

The meeting broke up and the colonel asked Lucas to stay for a moment. Lucas and Evelyn sat back down until everyone left, then the colonel and the Vagan commander came over to them They stood and the colonel said, "Captain Torson, Commander Kylian asked to be introduced to you as the plan was yours originally."

Lucas nodded and the commander smiled as he put out his hand, "Captain a very large pleasure, I'd just like to say that your plan was brilliant."

Lucas smiled, "Thank you sir, but I only came up with it from reading and learning from an old earth book. So, I can't take complete credit for it."

The commander smiled and turned to the colonel, "You know, I've never seen anyone with a brilliant mind, say anything different, no matter the species. They always refuse to take credit and get upset when someone tries to honor them."

The colonel smiled, "I agree, neither have I."

The commander turned back to Lucas, "Everyone learns from something young man, but only the truly wise ones know how to make use of that knowledge. I've heard about you before this, you were the first one to come over to visit and ask things, then you aided our people and ate with us. I've also heard of your expertise in cybernetics. These are all things to be proud of and I wish you luck in the rest of your endeavors and with your mate here."

Lucas smiled, "Thank you sir. I appreciate it."

Lucas and Evelyn left, then went back to their quarters. They talked for a while then had dinner, then they spent the rest of night making love and just being together.

Lucas wondered later when he was holding Evelyn as they laid together. "How many others are doing the same right now? How many have over the centuries did it when they knew their mate may not come back. Just the idea of losing her, made him hold her tighter.

Evelyn laid still; her power levels turned down. Not enough to put her in a sleep mode, but low enough to relax. She was thinking somewhat over the same things, what if I don't make it through this. She had crashed twice and she still lived, maybe not exactly the same, but close enough to still be able to love the man holding her. She felt Lucas pull her closer, then she felt his tears on her neck.

She turned in his arms to face him, and kissed away his tears. She didn't have to ask him why, she knew. She kissed him, "Lucas, I will come back to you. I love you and you love me; the Gods would never consider destroying the love we have. It's too perfect and you don't destroy perfection."

The held each other and kissed once more. Then they held each other as she turned down her power levels and he fell asleep.

They woke early and made love one more time before going to breakfast. Then he walked her to the locker room and he helped her don her flight suit. She carried her helmet and gloves and they walked over to the airlock meeting the others pilots there, along with the ones who also had mates, and lovers.

They kissed once more and she put on her helmet and gloves. She stroked his face, then she and the others made their way to the hanger.

Lucas walked slowly back into the main dome and as he did, he prayed to whatever deity would listen to look after her.

He went to the lab as he didn't want to sit in their rooms. He tried to work and then he heard the door slide open. He looked up and saw it was Ellie, he smiled weakly at her and went back to trying to work. He felt Ellie put her arms around him from behind and she kissed his cheek.

He turned slightly to look at her, "Lucas, she'll be alright. You just have to trust this."

He looked at her, "I know, I keep telling myself that." He sighed, "But I keep thinking, she was almost killed twice now, how many times can you tempt fate?"

Ellie sighed, "I wish I had an answer for you, but I don't. All you can do is hope for the best."

He looked at her once more, and nodded. "It's... just... I don't know what I'd do without her Ellie. I love her so much."

Tears ran down his face as Ellie held her onetime lover once again, letting him cry.

The pilots all prechecked their crafts, then climbed in. They strapped themselves in and connected to the craft. Evelyn ran through all the checklists for preflight, then settled back in her seat as her neural net checked everything and it told her the ship was ready for take-off. "Fighter Bravo 1-A, fighter Bravo 2-A ready for flight ops, all systems nominal."

"Roger Bravo 2-A, understood, ready for flight ops."

Evelyn listened over the coms as the others reported in, then once they all had, she heard, "Fighter Bravo 1-A to control, all Bravo units ready for takeoff."

Flight control got the message from the Alpha and Bravo units, then the rest reported in.

The coms-tech looked at Captain Snider and he nodded, "Tell them, all units launch when ready. Good luck and good hunting."

The units acknowledged the message and the Alpha units launched. Once all had taken off, Evelyn heard, "All Bravo units launch."

She watched as Bravo-1 took off, then she commanded hers to launch. The craft sped up quickly and she was off. She climbed to her position to await the others and she ran through everything to make sure all was normal once again.

Once they had all launched and formed up, they were met by the Vagan fighters. They all formed according to plan and flew quickly to the rendezvous sector.

Once there, they all deployed as they had practiced. The humans and Vagan's were interspersed and she smiled as she heard from her "Wing-man" using old earth jargon.

"Vagan fighter Omicron-5 to Earth Fighter Bravo 2-A, how are you Pilot Saito?"

Evelyn smiled, "Everything nominal Pilot Saibai. And you?"

Saibai grinned, "Same 2-A. How you feeling?"

Evelyn grinned, "Slightly nervous to tell you the truth. I've been threatened if I wreak another ship, I'll have to pay for it."

The others heard her and smiled. It was just what they needed to keep their minds off what was to come.

Captain Snider smiled, and said to himself "That's my girl." Then he got on the link, "That's correct Bravo 2-A, so just remember that. And that goes for the rest of you pilots too, I expect to see you bring them ships back in the same shape as when you left."

Once everyone had formed up, the command was given and they headed to the dark side of the moon to wait.

On earth at Space Force Command, everything was being monitored and the Earth based fighter groups were waiting with the Vagan's assigned to them over the North pole. By waiting there, they could take care of whatever showed up.

The general was extremely pleased with how everything was progressing as he and the others monitored what was happening. He smiled to himself, he just knew this was going to work. Mainly because it was originally thought up by a senior sergeant, there was nothing fancy about it, it was just straight forward smart thinking meant to accomplish something.

Lucas finally stood and decided to head to flight control. At least if he was hearing what was going on, maybe he wouldn't be so worried. He hated not being able to do or at least know something, it just wasn't in his makeup.

The door slid open and he entered. He stopped and looked around; the room was full. The colonel saw him and grinned. He came over and asked, "Needed to hear how your plan is going captain?"

Lucas shrugged, "Not really sir, I just needed to hear what was going on. Sitting in my lab was making me a bit crazy."

The colonel nodded his understanding and went back to listening and watching what was going on.

On the dark side of the moon, the combined fleet waited. Some of the pilots kept going over everything in their minds. Some war-gamed, if they do this, I'm going to do that. Some fidgeted and kept checking on everything. And some just prayed.

At the moon-base itself, the Space Marines were mustered, as were their Vagan counterparts. They were stationed in units about the complex in case any Phoban troops landed. However, it was sort of doubted they would be needed, but they were there just in case. Also, at strategic areas around the complex, they also manned the four turbolaser's that were basically immensely scaled up versions of the blasters and laser cannons in use on the fighters. These weapons were mounted on rotating turrets so they could cover the whole complex. Again, like the Marine and Vagan units, it was doubted they be needed, but better safe than sorry.

About fifteen minutes later, the coms blasted out, "Phoban fleet detected, ten minutes out at present track speed."

Once again, the pilots ran checks and prepared. Then the coms blasted out "Execute, Execute, Execute. Attack as planned."

Evelyn and Saibai shifted to attack mode, as did all the rest and they headed to intercept the Phoban fleet.

On the lead Phoban fleet ship, the sensor operated yelled out with disbelief, "Sir, combined Earth Space Force and Vagan fleet commencing attack."

The commander of the Phoban fleet jumped to his feet, "That is impossible, the earth fleet has been disabled. How many craft and where are they attacking from?"

The sensor operated yelled back, "Everywhere sir, their attacking from all directions. Approximately 100 fighters, possibly more."

Evelyn and Saibai flew side by side as they dove on the lead ship, their blasters firing into it as they approached. As they got closer, it seemed that they were almost joined together as the two ships banked away to make another run on it. Evelyn was calmly directing her ship and as she looked to where she was aiming, the ship and her blasters followed as she fired. She could see large rents appear in the lead ship as pieces of it were blown off.

Her proximity sensors went off and she looked to see were the threat was from. She called to Saibai, "Saibai, check six, check six, do it just like we practiced."

Saibai smiled as he acknowledged her. "Understood Evie, just like practice." He speeded up as he sensed a fighter coming up on them.

Evelyn waited, then suddenly jerked back on her controls. The craft went nose up and she looped around behind the fighter and activated her blasters.

The Phoban pilot was completely caught off guard as one of the two fighters he was coming up on, suddenly went straight up and looped around behind him. Then he saw blaster streams going past and into his ship as alarms were going off and before he could do anything, his ship exploded.

Evelyn watched as the craft exploded. "Saibai. Splash one, coming back to attack position."

Saibai grinned, "Good work Evie, come on back and we look for some more.

The two of them prowled like a couple of wolves, sometimes she'd draw them in and sometimes he did. No matter who did it, they ended up with a kill. What they were doing was also copied by some of the others, while the rest attacked the lead mothership.

The Phoban commander didn't know what do, his ships were being destroyed systematically. Especially by that large group of ships operating in pairs. He had never seen things like that done before, they were like wild animals. Could they have been wrong about the humans? Their ships were supposed to be disabled, and they destroyed his ships without mercy.

His ship was rocked by more blaster hits. Finally deciding, he got on the coms to contact the attack group that was going to attack Earth targets.

He made contact and told them "Do not close and attack. Repeat, do not close and attack. We've been tricked, there are so many fighters we can't count them all."

The leader of that group listened in disbelief, "Are you sure? We were told they were going to be non-operational."

The Phoban commander cursed at him, "Of course I'm sure, my fleet is being taken out bit by bit. The humans and the Vagan's have joined forces and they attack us like packs of wild animals. Now do as I say and turn around and head back towards home world. I don't know how much longer we can last or what would happen if you attacked Earth, I tell you, they are merciless." His ship was rocked by an explosion.

The other leader heard the explosion over the coms, "What was that?"

The commander yelled, "You ignorant bastard, haven't you listened to a word I said? They're blowing us apart! That one you just heard disabled my engines and they still won't stop coming at us."

Unbeknownst to them, the Vagan's, with the earths help, had broken their coms and were listening to everything they said.

The Space Force General was smiling as he listened to both theirs and his people. The battle was a rout and then one of the sensor operators said, "General, our people report the earth attack fleet is retreating. Their asking for orders."

The general smiled once more, "Tell to let them go, the less they know about us the better, it will keep them worrying what we can do."

He turned to his aide, "Now, if the ones attacking moon-base will do the same or better yet, just surrender, I'll be extremely happy."

His aide smiled, agreeing.

Back in the flight control center, everyone listened intently also and smiled as they heard them order the earth attack fleet to retreat.

Lucas sat there numbly, every time he heard Evie going in to attack, he held his breath waiting to hear the worse.

The colonel watched him and came over putting his hand on his shoulder, "You all right Lucas?"

Lucas looked at him, and nodded, "Yes sir. I, maybe shouldn't have come down here. My hearts in my throat every time she goes after someone, hoping it doesn't go wrong."

The colonel nodded, "I understand son, I really do. But at least you only have one to worry about."

Lucas looked at him, and nodded his understanding. The he said with heat, "I just don't understand sir, why doesn't that stupid fucking asshole just give up, he hasn't got a damn prayer."

The colonel shrugged, "I haven't got a clue Lucas. And I agree with you."

Commander Kylian came over, "Captain, Colonel, were picking up a message from the Phoban commander. He smiled, "He's asking to surrender."

The colonel nodded quickly, "Perfect, I'm glad he's coming to his sense's finally. How do you feel about it?"

The commander nodded, "I have no desire to kill them all, let him. Maybe it will do some good."

Lucas sighed in relief, then thought for a moment. "Sirs, if I can make a suggestion?"

They both nodded, "We need for him to see what we want him to see. Put the fear in him of ever attacking us again. A roman emperor once said, "I don't care if they love me, as long as they fear me. We need to make these people fear us and make them afraid of what we'd do if they tried anything like this again. I think we have a start on that, but better to reinforce it."

Commander Kylian smiled, "Yes, I love this idea captain. You really need to let me read these books you quote so well."

He looked at a smiling colonel, "Maybe we should start an officer exchange program."

The colonel nodded, "That just might be a fit reward for someone who comes up with things like this." He smiled at Lucas.

Lucas looked at him, "Sirs, if you really want to reward me, how about just busting me back to Sergeant?"

Commander Kylian walked back to the com-station smiling, he liked this human. "Sergeant, will you please connect me to the Phoban Commander?"

The com sergeant nodded, "Yes sir, just give me a moment." He ordered the computer to make the connection, "Ready sir, I've also put it on the open line so all can hear it, including his people."

Commander Kylian nodded, "Thank you sergeant."

Then he proceeded, "Vagan Commander Kylian to Phoban Fleet commander. Affirmative, understood you wish to surrender. Myself and Colonel Thorson, the commanding officer of the moon-base agree to your surrender sir, wise choice. Can you come and speak with us here?"

Then he added, "We both personally guarantee your landing parties treatment and safety." Then he looked over at Lucas, "However, what's left of your fleet will be under watch by our Defense Unit while we talk."

On the Phoban ship, the commander of the fleet sighed in relief. Then shook with a little fear as he heard the fleet of ships that decimated his, called only a unit, how many did they have? How could we have been so wrong? I think I will personally shoot some of our spies and planners when I get back. If I get back, that is.

He looked around at the devastation wrought on his ships, the took a deep breath, "This is Commander Napien, commander of the Phoban fleet. Yes, Commander Kylian, we would like to discuss our surrender."

"If it's acceptable to you, I have a shuttle I can use to come to the moon-base and meet with you and the earth commander. I will have two of my aides with me, if that is also acceptable."

Commander Kylian and Colonel Thorson smiled at one another, "Yes, that's acceptable to us. We will send you landing grid coordinates."

Commander Napien sighed in relief, "Thank you commander, would a half an earth hour be acceptable?"

Commander Kylian smiled once more, "Yes sir, that's acceptable to us. However, to make sure no more damage is done to your ships, I would suggest that they stay in their present locations for now and I will have our pilots go to stand-down mode. I don't wish for any... ah, accidents, shall we say."

Commander Napien cringed as he heard the commander said, "Accidents."

"Yes commander, I understand and will send that out immediately."

Kylian smiled at Thorson, "Wonderful commander. We agree to the truce and we will await your arrival for further discussion on your surrender."

He motioned the com-sergeant to cut the connection. The he sent to their fleet on the open channel, "All Earth and Vagan fighters, go to stand-by mode, repeat, stand-by mode. A truce has been established, and the Phoban commander has decided to surrender. However, maintain vigilance until notified differently."

Then he grinned evilly. He had heard and seen the damage caused by the flight team of Saito and Saibai. He looked over at Lucas, then sent. "Commander Kylian to attack-team Brave 2-A, Saito and Saibai. The commander of the Phoban fleet will be shuttling down to the moon base in one half earth hour to discuss surrender. Would you please escort him down?"

Evelyn and Saibai acknowledged him, "Pilot Saito to Moon-base, understood sir. Escort Phoban commander to moon-base. We'll be standing by sir."

The Phoban commander was stunned as he heard the message sent to the ones that had the call-sign of the fighters that caused so much damage to his ships. Not only was the team that did most of the damage going to escort him, it was an earth female that was leading. He looked at his aide, "If the earth females are that vicious, just how bad can the males be?"

He threw a piece of a control console across the ship. "I swear by all the gods; I'm going to shoot some spies if we ever get home alive."