Hello, Tempest. We’re all a little beat up, just like you. Hold together for me for one more mission. Then we’ll all get some overdue R and R.
I engage the hyperspace engines and signal Elix we’re about to launch for Denji. He confirms on my screen that he’s ready.
Ihna’s distress beacon appears on the ship’s navigation and my wristband. I send her a message requesting their status.
Ihna: in the Morzivon cave. I can’t get to my ship. Novarks are fighting ghostships and the Nebulous Empire. I don’t understand what’s happening or why they’re all here.
“I know she’s not pretty,” I call back to the other three. “But help me get her ready, please. Missiles are manual-loaded. I think we might need them.”
Keo takes his sister into the back and helps familiarize her with the heavy weapons, while Aurelius seems to know exactly what to do.
As the stars blur and we near the drop-out zone, Gashnaar opens something on a screen. “All the refuges are children, or mooostly?” he asks.
“Yes.”
“Do yooou take them or are they sssent to yooou?”
“Sent by families or living in refugee camps.”
“Do yooou have documentsss for all of that?”
I shrug, not wanting to give him a clear answer. “I’m prepared to handle Sol Federation agents. It’s the relations between species I’m more concerned about.”
He primes the launch tubes. “That’sss my point, thooough. Nebs fighting with Novarks and ghooostfleet above a refuge colony makesss me think they could believe they’re ssstealing each others’ younglingsss.”
I slow the engines and drop us out of hyperspace. “This camp has thirteen species. It’s not like the Novarks are holding ghostfleet children hostage or vice versa.”
Smoke clouds the skies of the green planet of Denji as we approach. Ghostfleet has teamed up with Novarks against a fleet of Nebulous berserkers.
“Oh, shit.” Teol straps in behind me again. “That’s a chaotic mess!”
Elix pulls up beside us as we head for Ihna’s beacon. “Cloaking. See you on the ground,sliaahmani,my mate.”
His ship disappears to guard us without alerting the others. I do no doubt that the other ships know we are here. They just have other things to worry about.
Since I’ve only heard from Ihna, I have to believe the other camp leaders are dead. Watching the battle makes me thinkabout the portal that Elix mentioned, the ghostfleet waiting beyond it, waiting for us.
Tempestshudders as we descend the turbulent skies toward the planet’s surface. Denji is jagged, covered in mountainous terrain with lush valleys between. When the camp comes into view, I start to put everything together.
A Nebulous Empire cruiser has landed in the fields of grain. Beside it is a ghostfleet ship of similar size, something meant for hauling soldiers, large, but still only half the size of my vessel.
Shots streak down from above, lighting up my hull in fractal blues that smoke. The Nebulous Empire has figured out I’m here.
Gashnaar fires up at the Empire ship. The missiles hit a berserker, but barely make a dent in their shields.
Green blasts zing out from an invisible object that arcs in front of us and disappears overhead.
“Shit,” Teol breathes out behind me.
“It’s okay,” I say, hoping I convey confidence. “Tempestis built to endure star-level heat.”
Aurelius grunts in distrust. “She’s got a good shield and strong hull. But she’s not meant for this level of gravity.”
“That’s what all my mods were for.” I land us in the upper valley by the cave’s entrance. Resting a hand on Gashnaar’s shoulder, I give it a squeeze.
He glances at me, gives me a nod he’s ready to take over piloting so I can focus on the kids. I get up from my seat. “I want the children aboard and in the central quarters. It has extra shielding. We will transport them to the next site, permitting we are not followed. We’re relying on MONA and Elix for that portal.”
Aurelius rights his rifle and hustles to the rear ramp with me. “Sorry I didn’t bring my ship. Relations with my kind aren’t great. Didn’t want to make things worse. But I’m here.”
