Tiva Boon: Heir of Abennelp (Tiva Boon Series Book 2) (33 page)

“No, no! The ship is dead, we have no power,” the pilot shouted.

The land around them began to crack and break with a violent burst of energy. Something emerged from the crater. It swirled with light. The metallic hull shimmered through the dirt in a rebirth of life. The roar of an engine echoed in the air, it was then Tiva saw the craft in full view.

The ship was horrifically impressive, it had no wings, no weapons, but its outer shell pulsed with blue energy much like the fires on the surface. It rose through the air and hovered over its womb.

“It’s a ship.” Ranndom’s voice quavered as he grabbed Tiva’s arm. “We have to get out of here!”

Two fighters landed on opposite sides of their ship. Tiva pushed Ranndom toward the door. “Move out.”

Everyone rushed for the exit and split up between the fighter ships. Once inside, she collapsed on the ground and pulled off her helmet gasping for air. The fighters took off from the planet’s surface and sped toward the
Tolox.
Tiva forced herself up and glanced back as the ship moved along the surface, following them, but its direction changed suddenly and it flew out of sight.

She rushed through to the cockpit and grabbed the fighter pilot. “Get me a channel to the captain now!”

He did as ordered and Maar’s voice came through. “What is your status?”

“The factory was hiding a ship, sir. It has changed its course, you must stop it.”

“We picked it up, the commandant has ordered ships to intercept.”

“Understood, we are on our way back, sir.”

“Let me help you to the infirmary, Boon.” Hemko offered her a hand out of the fighter.

“No, I must head to the command center,” she protested, stripping off the useless suit. “Anyone who is not badly damaged, get back to your stations, this fight is far from over.” She rushed out, saying no more and ignoring the objections of those behind her. The injuries would not stop her, not with all the energy built up over the last few hours. Once in the lift, she tore parts of tunic off and tied them around her thigh and shoulder, medical attention would have to wait.

She entered the command center and took up her station. The battle thus far had been one sided, the advantage to the Union. Earth fleet destroyed or disabled several of the Syndicates smaller ships and the battle gliders were taking heavy damage. It all seemed too easy.

“How many ships are after that vessel?” she asked, ignoring the stares from the others.

“Four or five, why d-does it matter? You really should see the d-doctor, Boon,” Aries said, his face drawn and tired.

“Everything on that planet was a diversion. The vessel resembles the global destroyers that landed and obliterated the colonies.”

“The commandant called for all ships to Earth, that thing is heading there!” Emerala screeched.

“That ship is a global destroyer too,” Aliri gasped. “It has the same composites of those pods, only it’s huge. A few shots…”

“Nassut, bring us about,” Maar ordered. “Cooper, coordinate your attack with the
Elysium.
”

The displayer came to life again as the
Tolox
repositioned itself and bolted for Earth. More and more Syndicate ships jumped into the area. The
Tolox
shook and trembled as Adam fired on the enemy as they passed. In the distance, the destroyer ship blew past the Earth’s moon and came to a halt just between the two planetary bodies. The outer hull twisted and illuminated before her eyes.

Suddenly, it expanded and pulsed. The consoles around the command center started beeping and whirling. The energy output of the craft went beyond anything their sensors could register. The fleet combat ships neared the vessel and opened fired. Commandant Kiam’s ship blasted the outer shell with its cannon and missiles, Maar order Adam to do the same.

“The closer we get, the more our shields drop. If we don’t fall back we’ll be unprotected!” Aliri slammed down on her console. “Come on, Ewan get us some power up here!”

With no external weapons, the destroyer could not retaliate. The barrage of the cannons continued, several of the combat ships damaging the underside of the craft. Darkness of space became light of hell-fire. Inside, the blue light of the destroyer began to grow.

The
Elysium
and its support cruisers circled around the vessel, unrelenting in its bombardment of weapons fire.

“Captain, it’s going to strike Earth!” Aries jumped from his seat, saying exactly what Tiva was thinking.

“Bring us closer, keep firing!”

“The readings are incredible…that ship has enough power to cause massive damage. If it hits the planet three or four times…” Aliri cut her own comment short. Everyone already knew the harsh truth.

Another yellow flash illuminated the space around them. The entire ship glowed blue fire. Adam continued his assault, but it did little damage now. The combat ships flew under the vessel then moved directly between it and the planet, when suddenly the tunnel of blue shot out from the destroyer.

Tiva watched in horror as the ship, and everything near it, disintegrated. Thousands of voices went silent. The destroyer’s beam dispersed slightly, but continued toward its target. Three more fleet ships entered the assault, firing every possible weapon it had.

“Its entering the upper atmosphere, it’s going to hit Earth!” Emerala cried.

“No,” Adam yelled.

The
Elysium
appeared on the displayer. Maneuvering through the remaining ships, it slammed into the middle of the destroyer and exploded. Tiva felt her knees give, too many deaths…too many voices silenced.

The hull began to cave in on itself.

Maar ordered Adam to continue firing, the rest of the nearby ships doing the same. The mass attack ripped into the enemy ship, cracking its walls, heating its core.

The vessel erupted, the shock wave lashed out, knocking the
Tolox
back, tossing the crew from their feet and chairs.

Silence.

Tiva shook off the trauma and pain, forcing herself back up. The space around the
Tolox
was still, the colors of space darkening back to normal.

Just as quickly as it began, it ended.

“The Syndicate is retreating; half the ships have jumped already,” Aliri announced.

“Yeah, well their plan backfired…” Nassut called down from the hub.

“Is everyone okay?” Aries asked.

“Get me a channel to the fleet,” Maar barked.

“I have some guy named Fayt, sir,” Emerala squeaked. “He’s ordering everyone back to the rendezvous point.”

“How many ships d-did we lose?”

“I’m not sure, thirty, thirty five?”

“If this is any indication of what they are capable of during a sneak attack, there’s no telling what they can do in an all out assault,” Adam added.

“I have some more information, incoming, sir.”

“Let’s have it Teer,” Maar said, sitting back down in his chair.

“One of the Fleet ships captured Syndicate operatives trying to sneak out of the area after the first strike. According to them, the Triune Syndicate infiltrated Mars two years ago. Their plan was to build several of these destroyers and unleash them on the Union.”

“They have o-others?”

“Two, at the moment. One somewhere in Aillo, the other is near Ovvella Base.”

“We have to warn the Union,” Aliri exclaimed.

“They’ve already dispatched one of the fleet vessels.”

“It’ll take them a week to reach anyone,” Adam huffed.

“We can’t jump, we’re too damaged.” Ewan replied as he stepped through the lift doors. “The fleet’s offered to patch us up.”

“Are we just going to stand by and do nothing? Once those Syndicate ships contact their superiors, they’re going to hit us with those other destroyer things,” Adam grunted.

“They aren’t ready,” Emerala interjected. “At least, that’s what the prisoners are saying. And from what I’ve gathered after their treatment, they’re telling the truth.”

“So, what now?” Raife dipped his head down through the hub. “We’re stuck here?”

“I will consult with the fleet, everyone get to work on repairs.” Maar rose from his seat and vanished inside his office.

“Is everyone okay?” Aries repeated. Bobs of heads followed. “Good, I’ll head down to th-the infirmary for a casualty report. You all did a f-fine job.”

Tiva worked with Ranndom and Hemko coordinating triage for the injured on the ship and other vessels without an infirmary until the middle of the night. Any sign of the Triune Syndicate was out of range of their sensors. The retreat was no ploy; they were gone. The combat ship sent out to inform the Union was able to relay the message to the
Venture—
Hill’s ship—still two days away. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief knowing the information would reach the Ambassadors quicker than expected.

When Maar finally returned and called shift change, Tiva could barely move from her station. Slowly, she walked toward the lift, supporting herself against the wall. Adam turned and met her eyes then jumped up from his seat and caught her just as she fell into his arms.

“I’m taking you to the infirmary, m’lady,” he picked her up and entered the lift.

“No, please, I just need rest…the wounds are almost healed.”

“I have some supplies in my room.” He smiled. “I’ll patch you up if you’re that opposed to seeing Hino.”

“He will force me to medicate, I do not want that.”

“You don’t have to convince me, I don’t like doctors any more then you do. I’ll take care of you.”

He carried her inside his quarters, set her down on his bed, and then began ransacking his room. She carefully took off her tunic, peeling the saturated cloth from her skin. Her shoulder throbbed; the cut went deeper than she thought. Adam sat down beside her and gently brushed back her hair.

“Ouch,” he cringed.

“It does not hurt as much anymore.”

“Take off your undershirt. I can’t get to the whole cut.”

“Give me the bandages; I will take care of it.” She held out her hand.

“Tiva, just take it off…”

“But,” she started.

“Okay, fine.” He released Cala from her sheath and slit the back of her shirt in half. “There…huh?” His fingers traced the scars on her back. He muttered and followed the two whip scars. “That bastard did this to you, didn’t he?”

Tiva hung her head, “Yes.”

Adam tended to her shoulder, silently, yet she knew the rage boiling inside of him. Perhaps he was angry with her hiding it so long, but more than likely he wanted to cut Pethor’s heart out.

The cool ointment stung and she sucked back the pain. Gently, he covered the cut and secured the bandage in place. He untied the scrap of cloth from her leg and tugged at her pants. She pushed them down, allowing him to clean and cover the other cut. When he was through, he gathered the scraps and disappeared into the lavatory.

Despite the elevated temperature in the room, she began to shiver. She reached for her shoes and a sharp pain rode down her arm. Utterly helpless, she wrapped an arm around her stomach and waited for Adam to return. Cala was still lying on the bed. She, too, remained unusually quiet.

When Adam walked back in, he was showered and changed in his sleep pants, holding an extra shirt. “Need help?” She nodded and he knelt before her, taking off her shoes and pants carefully. “Here, give me your arm.”
“I cannot move it.”

He sighed and tossed the shirt aside. “All right.” After stripping the covers from the bed, he picked her up and repositioned her then turned off the lights. “Lay on your good side.”She did, and Adam drew her close, carefully resting his arm around her waist.