Prologue

Time: 2658

Place: Planet Orion, Horsehead Nebula, Milky Way Galaxy

"Maybe this time we can push those bastards back if you can help. The people of the Hanya Republic rest in your hands Chairman!"

(Transmission from the warring nation: The Hanya Orbital Republic President Kale Bryon to Chairman Boyle of the Democratic Order of Governments)

Ah space. The final frontier of mankind. Ever since the discoveries of Earth like planets in the year of 2133, there's been a rise in space travel from just simple space colonies that orbit Earth to full blown inter-galactic space travel. The Names Dewey. Captain Desmon "Des" Dewey. Skipper of the star destroyer: Ghost Fox, DDS 568. It's a 40 Megaton Destroy that can go around 50 lmph, which is about 4,800 mph; give or take a few miles. The Destroyer is the only one of its class. The destroyer has 4 aft tail thrusters that can go 1,200 mph each or about 12.5 lmph. The armament is eight 40in. photon blasters, four 10 in. laser cannons, four 13. Missile launchers, two 80mm chain guns, an assortment of small arms and a battalion of Space DOG Commandos. The ship can hold a compliment of 1,286 enlisted and 824 officers personal. She's the pride of the DOG's Ghost Fleet which patrols the Horsehead Nebula after the destruction of Earth.

"Sir, we have an unidentified merchant ship coming straight at us. I think it's trying to ram us!" 1st Lieutenant Karen Corevitz announced.

"Evasive Maneuvers, change heading to 0-1-9, full speed." I ordered.

"0-1-9, full speed, aye sir!" yelled out my Second in Command: Commander Bic Honres. Then the navigation officer said the same bearing out loud.

"It's coming in close! Brace for impact!" I yelled out. After waiting for the impact, nothing happened I opened my eyes and saw nothing ahead of us.

"That was close. All engines Stop!" I ordered.

"What was that?" Honres asked.

"I don't know. In my ten years of service being in the DOG's Space Fleet, I have not seen anything like that before." I replied.

"Captain! Enemy missiles heading this way! Impact in 40 seconds." My radar officer, Lieutenant Padry, yelled out.

"Use the chain guns!" I ordered. A few seconds later the missiles blew up.

"Honres?"

"Yes sir?"

"General Quarters level 2."

"Aye, sir!" Honres ran to the intercom and spoke into it saying this: "General Quarters level 2! I repeat: General Quarters level 2!" he walked back and stood next to me.

"Padry, retrace to where those missiles came from!" I ordered.

"Aye, sir!" Padry yelled out. After a few seconds he said, "Sir they came from heading 4-2-8 coordinates 2-6-8-niner-zulu-8."

"Roger that." I told him then walked over to the mike that went to the battery Control Instruction Command; or CIC. "Major Quend, fire missiles on enemy target at heading 4-2-8, coordinates 2-6-8-niner-zulu-8. Fire on my command." I told her.

"Heading 4-2-8 coordinates 2-6-8-niner-zulu-8. Firing on your command, aye sir!" She repeated back to me.

"Captain, Transmission coming in!" my communications officer, Lieutenant Poline told me.

"Put it through." I told him.

"Captain Dewey, do not engage that vessel at map coordinate 2-6-8-niner-zulu-8, I repeat do not engage, but I want you to take on its cargo who is a highly valuable VIP. She'll tell you where to go and what she's doing. You are under her command for the time being." The man on the screen told me.

"Aye sir! I'll make it the most important thing on my to-do list sir." I replied.

"Very well, Admiral Corton-out!" the screen then went black.

"Sir, we have a transmission from the ship." Poline told me.

"Very well, put it through." I told him. An image of a woman came up on the screen.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't the famous Captain Dewey and his equally famous ship, Ghost Fox. I am Queen Pracsee of the Cordon Nation on the Planet Cadone." She told me.

"I'm pleasured to meet you, your highness." I bowed.

"I guess so, Captain."

"How may I serve you, your majesty?" I asked her.

"I am heading to the planet Kymia for a peace negotiation between my people and the Kymians. Admiral Corton has already told you that you would be transporting me. I'll be arriving in 3 hours, please be in your best uniform when I arrive." She told me.

"We will be ma'am." I assured her.

"I'm pleased. Transmission out." The screen went black. I walked over to the intercom that ran through the entire ship.

"Listen up, because I am only saying this special announcement once. We are going to be escorting a highly valuable VIP on this ship so I want you guys and gals to be on your best behaviors. I want everyone in their Dress Blues except those that are sentries. I repeat I want everyone in their dress blues in 3 hours time for the arrival for Queen Pracsee. General Quarters is now over. I want all the officers in the wardroom in 1 hour, and I want you guys in your dress blues. That is all." I told them then went back to my chair and sat in it. "All engines stop." I ordered.

"All engines stop, aye sir!" yelled out Honres.

"Alright, for those that are officers go get changed into your blues then meet in the ward room in one hour. That is all." I stood up then walked away.

2 hours and 50 minutes later.

"Sir, we picked up a docking request from the transport vessel, what should I tell them?" Poline asked.

"Docking request granted. Tell them I said 'Welcome Aboard.'" I replied.

"Aye sir." Poline then told them what I said.

"Well Bic, let's go great the cargo." I told Honres while standing up then walking to the quarterdeck entrance.

"Aye sir." He replied while walking behind me