Three Square Meals Ch. 107

Murphy suddenly realised that Binary hadn't given up and was seeking redemption, he was just choosing a different path to get it. "That's a great idea! With all the energy those new power cores have, there's no excuse for not incorporating shielded ejection pods!"

"That was precisely what I was thinking," Binary said, with a tight smile. "Maybe I can change things if they have a test pilot with actual combat experience giving them feedback."

"Let me know what you come up with," Murphy said, grinning at his friend. "If you end up saving my life, I'll buy you a beer!"

"I'll hold you to that." Binary glanced at his watch. "I better collect my bags if I'm going to catch that shuttle."

Murphy nodded. "Okay, I'll see you off."

"There's no need for a lengthy goodbye. You've been a good friend, Ryan, thank you," Binary said, sticking his hand out for a handshake.

Ignoring it, Murphy gave him a tight hug. "Take care, Eugene. Promise me you'll stay in touch."

Binary grimaced as he pulled away. "You know I hate my name."

"You started it with all this 'Ryan' shit! What happened to calling me Leprechaun?" Murphy replied with a playful grin.

"Sorry, Leprechaun, it won't happen again," Binary replied with a genuine smile this time. "I promise I'll keep you updated."

They made eye-contact and nodded to each other, then Binary turned and walked away. Murphy watched him leave, his friend looking small and alone as he crossed the massive hangar. He wished that Binary had stayed on the Zeus where he could have kept a close eye on him, but perhaps his friend was right; they were troubled by different demons and he had to trust that Binary knew how to defeat his own.

He noticed that Binary stopped to speak to someone in the corridor outside, the two men shaking hands before his old wingman walked away. Setting out for the reinforced doors, Murphy was half-way across the hangar when he realised his commanding officer was waiting for him.

"Can I have a word, Murphy?" Captain Lewis asked as Murphy approached. "I understand this is probably bad timing with Binary leaving..."

Shaking his head, Murphy replied, "No Sir, it's okay, go ahead. Binary seems happy with the path he's chosen..."

"When I suggested the Academy and he turned me down flat, I had to think a bit outside the box," Lewis said with a satisfied smile.

"Ah, so it was all your idea?" Murphy asked in surprise. "The transfer to Olympus is probably just what he needs to get over this."

"I hope so," the captain said with concern. He turned and gestured towards the corridor, then they started walking towards the bar where their colleagues were waiting.

Murphy glanced at his commanding officer and said, "So what's on your mind, Gator?"

"We'll be getting new batches of recruits at the end of the week and I've been promised that we'll be getting a full complement of Claymores to replace our Rapiers." He shook his head as he continued, "That means we need to train nearly 450 new pilots on how to fly those beasts."

"We've got no choice, we'll have to put each of our wingmen in charge of at least 2 squadrons!" Murphy said, wincing at the thought. "They might have racked up more combat flight time with Claymores than anyone else in the fleet, but the poor buggers are still basically fresh out of the Academy. I can't believe we're considering putting teenagers in charge of training 80 rookies!"

"It's worse than that," Lewis said with a pained frown. "The guy I've chosen to be the Zeus' new Senior Flight Instructor is only twenty!"

Murphy shook his head. "Damn! I feel sorry for that poor bastard; do I know him?"

Lewis laughed. "Yeah, you know him pretty well actually."

As realisation sunk in, Murphy stumbled a step and looked at his Captain incredulously. "C'mon Gator, that's crazy!"

"Is it? I saw how effective your training methods were in the Battle of Terra," Captain Lewis said, with an encouraging smile. "Besides, it's not like you'll be teaching all 450 recruits personally... you'll just be developing and coordinating the training programs for the wing commanders."

"But what if I screw it up?!" he exclaimed, eyes wide with shock. "I wasn't following a training program with my wingmates, I was just making it up as a I went along!"

"I didn't assign a new SFI after Genie was killed at Regulus because no one had any combat experience with Claymores. But you know the quirks of that ship better than anyone; you're perfect for the job," Lewis insisted.

Murphy thought about it for a long moment, then nodded and smiled at his Captain. "Alright, I accept."

***

The massive orbital platform floated high above the light-green gas giant, illuminated by the cool blue light of the star in the centre of the Alamak system. Squat and octagonal shaped, the tan-coloured refinery had lain dormant for over seventy millennia, bearing witness to an eternity of petty squabbles as the facility changed hands over and over again. The new owners were very different from the previous bands of pirates that had claimed the Underworld, not just with the clarity of purpose they possessed, but also with the ancient knowledge they brought with them.

Vast collection rods descended into the dense atmosphere of the planet, siphoning off the almost endless reserves of Helium that swirled below in terrible storms. Above the ancient facility, waste gasses vented out into space, creating a bright swirl of colourful plumes. Surrounding the orbital facility were a comprehensive network of turrets, half of which were the same sombre tan as the refinery, the rest had a chrome finish that gleamed in the sunlight.

The shiny silvery surface matched the hulls of the Enshunu battleships that coasted towards the station, the three warships surrounded by a host of escorts. Their path towards the Underworld was unobstructed, salvage craft having worked around the clock to clear away all evidence of the previous battle. They had done such a thorough job, it was if the mercenary and pirate warships had never existed, the wreckage and fields of debris a fading memory.

A shuttle dropped out of the underbelly of the largest Enshunu capital ship, manoeuvring fins deploying as it left the confines of the hangar. Orange retro-thrusters burst into life and it peeled away, heading directly towards one of the four enormous docking bays that surrounded the Underworld. It glided inside, flying over a host of chrome-coloured cruisers and destroyers that were lined up in orderly rows, the vessels being refuelled after their long journey through the Unclaimed Wastes.

Vizier Sag'kalyak stood at attention, scarlet eyes locked on the shuttle as it descended towards the vacant landing pad. There was a roar of thrusters as it touched down, landing gear compressing to absorb the shock of the contact with the deck. The retro-thrusters had barely cut out when the ramp lowered and an armoured figure strode out, cowled scarlet robes covering the chrome encasing his body. Accompanying him were a squad of the elite Aytekin Guard, clad head-to-toe in bulky chrome armour and wielding long rifles illuminated by pulsing red lines along the barrel.

"Excruciator Gal'mayda, you honour us with your presence," the Vizier said in his grating voice, lowering his head in submission. "Welcome to the Sarkhon Refinery."

The Excruciator's face was hidden behind a malleable metal mask, its expression twisting into a contemptuous look of disdain. "I wished to oversee the final preparations personally; there must be no setbacks before we mount our offensive."

Sag'kalyak turned and gestured for his revered guest to accompany him deeper into the facility. "We have brought most of the systems online and the auto-repair function has been engaged. Temporary defensive turrets have been established until we can restore the original Achonin emplacements. The existing turrets are operating at only 8% efficiency, but such degradation is to be expected after millennia of neglect. Full power will be restored when emergency maintenance has corrected the decay in the Central Core."

"And what of the Primary defences?" Gal'mayda asked in fascination, recalling the hundreds of hexagonal alcoves embedded in the Achonin facility. "Are they still intact?"

"They lay untouched all this time," the Vizier said smugly, smirking behind his golden mask. "The pitiful fools squatting here had no idea what lay concealed just beyond their reach."

They walked out of the docking bay into the central processing plant and Gal'mayda's inscrutable gaze swept over the humming machinery. Long circular shafts ran up to the ceiling high above, the interior of the refinery well-lit with a warm orange glow that radiated from octagonal lanterns embedded in the walls. Sections of the upper level were still plunged in darkness, but as they watched, lights flickered on in one area then strobed wildly in an odd swirling pattern. The disconcerting lightshow stopped as suddenly as it started, the amber illumination briefly revealing a tan-coloured figure that scuttled away, disappearing into another darkened area.

"I never cease to be amazed by the technical marvels of the Achonin. It is tragic that they left so few artefacts behind..." the Excruciator muttered, his harsh voice tinged with regret.

Vizier Sag'kalyak nodded, lost in thought as he followed the Excruciator's gaze. "The Maliri were thorough in their depredations."

"I have often wondered how they were able to succeed when...we could not..." Gal'mayda's troubled voice trailed off, as he mulled over that perplexing conundrum. "Have there been any more sightings of that Maliri slut or the one that assaulted this place?"

"John Blake has not returned to the Unclaimed Wastes," the vizier said, sounding anxious. "Instead, he chose to wreak untold devastation upon the Kintark. Our surveillance devices in the Empire have picked up... disturbing... transmissions from the Terran Federation."

"Show me," Gal'mayda demanded.

They reached a newly-installed metal platform, the grey metallic finish oddly discordant in the muted browns of the refinery. The Enshunu stood on the lift, the honour guard fanning out to surround them. As soon as everyone was in position, the platform began to rise, making a loud clacking noise as it climbed the four rods at its corners.

When they reached the gantry at the top, Sag'kalyak pointed towards the gaping hole in the wall that led to the command centre. "Blake's handiwork."

Gal'mayda stayed silent as he stepped through the circular portal, his gaze fixed on the huge round door that had been smashed out of the frame. The Excruciator's eyes widened behind his mask as he took in the size of the metal disc that had slammed into the wall inside, he estimated that it must have weighed several tons at least. He looked back at the vizier who slowly nodded, blood-red eyes watching the Excruciator intently.

Visibly shaken, Gal'mayda couldn't help glancing back at the disc as they walked deeper into the complex. There was a quiet hum of machinery from the first several rooms they passed, the interiors spotlessly clean and lit by a soothing orange glow from more octagonal lanterns. Further inside, the doors to the rest of the rooms were sealed, but the sound of frantic activity from within reached their ears.

The vizier led his guest up a ramp into the control room, where a dozen robed Enshunu were operating brass consoles. He turned towards his staff and clapped his hands together, the sharp crack drawing their attention. "All of you, out now!"

They bowed to him and filed out of the room, leaving the Vizier and the Excruciator alone. Sag'kalyak watched them depart down the ramps, then walked over to the central console, where the control rod jutted out from an ornate panel. A peculiarly shaped curved screen jutted up from the brass housing that displayed a representation of the Alamak system. He pressed a series of glyphed icons on the console and the map was replaced by battle footage, the images distorted slightly by the curvature of the screen.

Gal'mayda watched the initial few minutes of fleet combat between the Terrans and Kintark without comment, but he grew more distressed as the Maliri fleet entered the battle of Terra. The Excruciator then gasped in alarm when the Lion and three of his Lionesses landed on Terra, watching in disbelief as the Paragon-suited women opened fire on the Kintark with their Reaper Cannons. By the time Blake defeated the draconic Emperor, Gal'mayda stood frozen stock-still, a shiver of terror running down his spine.

"It cannot be!" Gal'mayda finally hissed in consternation. "Blake is one of the Old Masters!"

"He has claimed the Maliri and they are now on the ascension," Vizier Sag'kalyak agreed, his grating voice underscored with fear. "Events are unfolding exactly as warned by the Codex of Kal'hadeem."

The Excruciator paced back and forth, growing more agitated by the second. "Why didn't you forewarn me of this?!"

"I dared not transmit this data back to our homeworld!" Sag'kalyak exclaimed, darting a fearful glance at the image of John Blake frozen on the screen. "I have followed the directives from the Cabal of Patriarchs and reclaimed the Sarkhon Refinery, but I urge you to consider a complete withdrawal from the Unclaimed Wastes! We must not draw Blake's attention, the results would be catastrophic!"

Gal'mayda clenched his fists and threw his head back as he howled in anguish. "A thousand curses on the Maliri! Those wanton whores will be the death of us all!"

***

Commodore Ken Papados walked into the huge auditorium, nodding respectfully to the familiar faces he saw amongst the sea of senior officers. This ceremony was attended by only ship Captains and their Executive Officers, but with so many vessels stationed at Olympus Shipyard, the crowd still numbered in the thousands. Everyone was wearing full dress uniform, the sombre grey contrasting with the gold epaulets on their shoulders and rank insignias across their chest. As Ken took his place amongst the rows of naval personnel, he glanced at his fiancée who stood to his right.

Commander Valentina Kowalski had her blonde hair braided and curled into a bun below her peaked hat. While the look was severe, it also revealed more of her pretty face. She glanced his way and gave him a pensive smile, her expressive ice-blue eyes flashing with tightly controlled emotions. He knew these kinds of ceremonies were always hard on her, having lost her father in service while she was barely a teenager. Val met his concerned gaze and nodded as if she knew what he was thinking, then turned back to face the stage.

Built from marble, the white stone was polished to a sheen, reflecting the golden symbol of the Terran Federation that dominated the back wall of the auditorium. The winged sword pointed towards an eight-pointed star, representing the strength of Terra born aloft to the heavens. Normally the sight of that symbol was an inspiring one, but this day they were paying tribute to those who had lost their lives defending humanity's place amongst the stars.

The last people to enter the auditorium were the members of the Admiralty present at Olympus. They filed in and marched across the hall, taking up the first two rows of the audience, directly in front of the stage. The lights dimmed and a hushed silence fell in the huge room, all eyes turned to the stage as a spotlight illuminated the Fleet Admiral in a soft glow. She walked across to the lectern, moving with a nobility and elegant grace that drew the eye.

Standing before the audience, she took a deep breath, her expression one of deep sadness. "We have gathered here today to honour the brave men and women that laid down their lives to protect the Terran Federation in its darkest of times. Never before has humanity teetered that close to the brink of absolute disaster; if not for their sacrifice, we would now be facing a bleak and uncertain future under the brutal oppression of an alien race."

"I wish that I could give a heart-warming eulogy for each and every one of those courageous souls, for they deserve nothing less. However, it is to my profound regret that I was not fortunate enough to know all those heroes personally, as I'm sure I would have been the better person for that privilege. I mourn their loss, just as I grieve for the friends I lost in that terrible battle, and I am left holding tight to the cherished memories I shared with them."

Devereux stopped for a moment to compose herself. "I have proudly served the Terran Federation for the last 34 years and in all that time, the most harrowing part has always been the loss of comrades who fell in the line of duty. I am all too familiar with that terrible feeling of anguish when loved ones are taken away long before their time and now as your Fleet Admiral, I pledge to never take lightly the decision to commit our forces to battle."

She stood taller as she gazed out over the crowd. "Our losses defending Terra were catastrophic, as all of you are painfully aware, but the battle for our homeworld was not the only place we lost good men and women. In the Dragon March, over 300,000 personnel were killed in a horrific act of barbarism that should have no place amongst civilised spacefaring species. If not for the actions of three dauntless captains and their crews, there would have been no forewarning of the Kintark invasion... If not for them, I have no doubt that a great many of you standing before me would not be here today."

"Captain Galen Skotari and Captain Andrew Fowler fought a desperate battle against the Kintark horde, knowing that they had no chance of survival. Yet they willingly sacrificed themselves so that word of the alien onslaught could reach Terra and give our forces time to gather and defend our homeworld. The third valiant captain who managed to break through the Kintark blockade and alert us to that threat is with us today. Commodore Camilla Tovaskaya has agreed to accept awards on behalf of her comrades."

Turning to her left, Devereux gestured across the stage and a second spotlight shone down, revealing a blonde in dress uniform. Tovaskaya held herself with quiet dignity as she walked across to the Fleet Admiral but every officer in attendance could see that she fought an inner battle to maintain her composure.

Devereux looked into the blonde's eyes and said gently, "For the incredible bravery that you showed in the face of overwhelming odds, I am proud to award you, Commodore Camilla Tovaskaya, the Stellar Cluster for exceptional gallantry." She paused to pin the golden medal to Tovaskaya's chest and her voice was tinged with sadness as she continued, "I also wish to posthumously award the Stellar Cluster to Captain Galen Skotari and Captain Andrew Fowler."

The Fleet Admiral then handed the young woman two black boxes, each with the Terran Federation insignia on the lid. Tovaskaya accepted them and bit her lip as it quavered, her eyes welling up. Devereux saluted her, an action silently mirrored by every officer in the auditorium.

"Would you like to say a few words?" Devereux asked kindly.

Tovaskaya nodded and walked up to the lectern as the older brunette stepped clear. Clearing her throat, she said in a voice trembling with emotion, "Galen and Andrew were two of the bravest men I've ever met. They acted decisively and with incredible clarity of purpose, neither of them hesitating for a second as they willingly traded their lives for mine..." She faltered, her voice cracking for a moment until she swallowed thickly and continued, "...so that I could get word back to High Command about the Kintark invasion."

"I have many stories I could tell you about each of those wonderful men, but I don't think I'm able to share those precious memories yet; the pain of their loss is still too great." Her eyes filled up and she said in a choked voice, "I can tell you that my deepest regret is that I will never again hear Andrew's infectious laughter... or see Galen's gentle smile. The galaxy is a bleaker, greyer place without them."