Chapter 8

Planet Toledo, Omicron Minor System

Juni and Trent had were interrupted in the middle of their drinks to participate in a meeting that Orillion was holding to further discuss what the Order could do about the Invaders. Now the two colonels were walking down the hall to the research lab, where the meeting was taking place.

As they reached the lab door at the end of the hall, both Trent and Juni were stopped by a woman dressed in garbs that signified her participation in the Order. She was a very tall woman, probably around six-foot five, with a stern face, in her mid-fifties with graying hair. She was probably a Corsair in her earlier days.

"Identification." She spoke with a very serious voice.

Juni pulled out her ID first and flashed it toward the other woman, who quickly scanned it with a well-trained eye. She saluted.

"Colonel Zane, you may proceed. Commander Orillion is expecting you.

"Thank you." Juni pocked her ID card and proceeded through the door. Trent stepped forward, showed his card and also received a salute.

"Colonel Trent, you may proceed."

Trent entered the research lab.

Like much of the rest of the base, the walls here were coated with a silver-gray alloy that was traditional of libertarian technology. There were tables and shelves strategically scattered throughout the large enclosure, upon which rested books, papers, scientific equipment, alien artifacts, and sitting on one certain table mounted against the wall, a glass case which Trent saw contained a nomad parasite, probably the one which had taken Chancellor Niemann as its host.

Trent approached the table where six other people were gathered, including a corsair, and a bounty hunter, a Blood Dragon, as well as Juni and Kendra Sinclair, now one of the leading scientists of the Order. Trent approached the table and stood in between Juni and Sinclair, exchanging nods. He vaguely wondered just how well Kendra and King's relationship actually was.

Orillion was obviously very agitated by the Order's monumental defeats at the hands of the Invaders. He had become somewhat fidgety, and was now susceptible to fits of anger. The majority of his forces had been destroyed within two weeks! Great pilots were unanimously slaughtered when their wits and cunning were overpowered by brute force!

Orillion took a quick glance at Trent and Juni. At least his two best pilots were still with him. He was thankful for that.

Orillion took a deep breath and began the meeting. "Now that everybody is here, we will discuss our…" Orillion paused, carefully choosing his words. "…Problem, with the Invaders." Orillion stared at the attentive faces of his soldiers. He hated when he had to admit that a foe had the upper hand, which was especially true in this case. "Does anyone have a lead that will help to even the odds?"

For Juni, this was the best time to suggest her theory. "Sir," she started, "I may have an idea about their technology."

Everybody gave Juni their full attention as she began to reveal her hypothesis.

"I believe that the Invaders have acquired teleportation technology. I think that's the reason why they suddenly disappear and reappear in battle."

There was a murmur of approval among the table.

Sinclair objected. "That's impossible! No living thing can survive the matter-antimatter explosion required to pull off such a feat! Not to mention the unspeakably large amount of power required!"

"That may be true," Orillion said, "But the idea that they teleport fits the known data. But even so…" Orillion thought back to his first encounter with the Invaders, "That doesn't explain why they only flew into the asteroid field during the first attack."

"Maybe they didn't want to make a mistake and teleport into an asteroid?" Trent said, half guessing.

There were more murmurs of approval, and Orillion beamed at Trent. "Great observation, Colonel Trent! This will give us a huge advantage."

"Oh… thanks." Trent was surprised that his guess was right.

Suddenly the communications speaker burped static, followed by an urgent voice. "Commander Orillion! An Invader battleship has appeared beside the Nomad jumpgate!"

"Go to code red! Evacuate the station!" Orillion shouted back.

"Aye, Sir!" The speaker clicked off.

Orillion dismissed everyone at the table, minus Trent and Jun'ko. He then turned his attention to his two Colonels. "We don't have enough fighters left to drive them off. We have to get everyone that is left away from here. I want you to protect the transports out of here."

"Yes, Sir!" Juni saluted.

Trent looked at his fiancée. "Dammit, how can she mindlessly agree to these suicide missions?" Nevertheless, he wasn't about to let his future wife be taken away from him. He needed to go with her, to cover her back.

Orillion swiftly moved from behind the table. "I'm coming with you on this one. Let's go! Quickly!"

"I hope my Sabre has been repaired," Trent said to himself as the trio ran out of the room.