Prologue

The region of space was unremarkable –- that is, until there was a bright flash and a ship appeared. The wedge shaped craft seemed to stretch until there was a second flash and the stern of the ship seemed to snap forward to catch up the the front half.

"Entrance to normal space successful, Admiral," the ships helmsman reported from his station at the front of the bridge.

The officer at the center of the bridge swiveled his chair slightly. "Congratulations, captain Selto'n," he said to the officer standing just behind him to his right. "Your ship functions better than predicted."

The officer opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off by the Communications Officer.

"Admiral, I am receiving a distress call, bearing three, two, five, mark twenty seven!"

"On speakers."

". . .der attack. Requesting immediate assistance. This is the Shavari diplomatic vessel VELORUM, ship in distress. We are under attack."

"Open a channel," the admiral snapped.

"Channel open, sir."

"VELORUM, this is the Tamaranean vessel, LUAND'R. Who is attacking you and what is your status?"

"Two DUVORT class Gordanian vessels," came the reply. "One of our escort ships has been destroyed, and the other is not holding up well."

"Understood, our ETA to you is two minutes." The Admiral turned to another officer on the bridge. "Captain Tani'a, you may set battle stations. Captain Selto'n, we are about to find out if your new weapons systems and shields are what you claim them to be."

"All hands, man battle stations! This is not a drill! I say again, this is not a drill!" Captain Tani'a called through the shipwide communications system. An alarm sounded and other crew members hurried to their stations.

"All stations report manned and ready, Captain," an officer reported a couple minutes later.

"Thank you, Commander. Navigator, engage hyperspace drive and take us in."

"Aye, Captain," The navigator replied and operated the controls that engaged the engines, then looked up at the view screen as the stars seemed to collapse together to form a white ball in the center of the screen then stretch into long streams of light. "ETA thirty seconds."

"Helmsman, stand by for evasive maneuvers, Weapons officer arm all weapons and stand by to lock on targets," Tani'a ordered.

"Entering normal space now," the Navigator announced and the stars seemed to explode to their normal appearance on the screen.

"Confirmed targets," the weapons officer announced. "Two DUVORT class Gordanian warships, and one SHAPERION class Shavari vessel. I have a lock on the nearest Gordanian."

"Fire banks one and three, stand by with banks two and four for the other Gordanian," Tani'a ordered. Beams of bright blue energy lit up the space between the LUAND'R and struck the Gordanian ship.

"Direct hits with both banks!" The weapons officer announced. "Their shields did not stop them or even slow them down," he added as the vessel exploded. "Weapons locked on the other DUVORT."

"Fire!" Tani'a ordered in triumph. Again two beams lanced out from the LUAND'R and transformed the other warship into a cloud of rapidly expanding, superheated gas.

"Long range scan shows no other vessels in the vicinity," one officer reported.

"Neither vessel managed to send out a distress signal, Captain," the communications officer added. "The VELORUM is hailing us."

"On screen," the Admiral ordered. "This is Admiral Stor'n of the Tamaranean Warship LUAND'R."

"Admiral Stor'n, this is Captain Rojan of the Shavari diplomatic transport VELORUM, I offer you my thanks and have been directed by the members of the Royal Family aboard to request that you escort us to Shavar."

Admiral Stor'n saw the gesture that the science officer gave him then replied. "I suggest we make haste in leaving this place," he said. "We are picking up some Gordanian warships heading this way."

"Understood, but unfortunately our hyperspace engines have been damaged. We are already on course and at best speed for Shavar as we speak."

"We will stay close to offer you protection, then," Stor'n said.

Rojan looked off to one side then nodded his head. "Thank you, VELORUM out."

The screen went back to it's display of space with the VELORUM in the lower right corner. "Helmsman, keep us with them, but no closer than 50,000 kilometers," Tani'a ordered.

"Aye aye ma'am, no closer than 50 K and maintain station."

Much later the LUAND'R was on her way back to Tamaran and was approaching where they met the VELORUM.

"It appears your decision to lay a couple gravitic mines was a good one, Captain," Stor'n said after the science officer reported a debris field. "That is enough debris for two more DUVORT class ships, and the communications officer picked up the distress call of one of them as it exploded."

"Then that should leave this sector clear for our run back to Tamaran."

Stor'n leaned closer to Tani'a. "That is true, my wife, but I am not going to remain in normal space during the return trip," he said softly enough so that only she could hear. "I have important news for the Emperor that can not wait that long." He then raised his voice. "Navigator, plot us a course for home at maximum speed."

"Aye, sir, course laid in and engineering shows ready for the jump to hyperspace."

"What news do we bring, my husband?" Tani'a asked.

"Engage," Stor'n ordered, then leaned back over to his wife. "Tamaran may be getting another ally against the Gordanians." He settled back into his seat. "That is, if we can find a suitable place to hold the treaty negotiations," he muttered under his breath.