Twenty-five
"Scream definition - Give a long, loud, piercing cry or cries expressing extreme emotion or pain. There are many forms of scream, the scream of pain, the scream of frustration, a scream of anger. There is one scream however that few of us remember, and one that is so important, the first scream of life. That tiny scream marks the beginning of something great, something wonderful."
Despite the quickly gathering forces around Michaels Island and the massive force behind him, the Captain only had one thought on his mind. As soon as his vessels had docked he headed directly for his home's primary medical facility. It seemed he could hear Rachel's, his wife, scream half way across the island, from the information he had been given she'd been in labour for more than twelve hours however his child was yet to arrive. Walking across his island the Captain's walk became a jog and finally a run as he searched for his wife. Finally the screams and the medical technicians directed him to Rachel's room, he arrived slowing as he reached the door, calming himself he pushed the door open, in all his rush he hadn't noticed the screams had stopped, entering the room he found his wife sitting up in bed cradling his newborn baby. "You're late" she greeted as he entered, the Captain tried to speak but he was speechless "get over here and meet your daughter" she said her face blossoming into a smile. In all the recent troubles there was one bright spot, he moved forward and saw a tiny face surrounded in the blankets.
"Jaylen" he whispered as he perched on the edge of the bed he and Rachel had already chosen the names for both a male and a female child 'James' was the choice for a boy, named after the Captain's grandfather, while 'Jaylen' was the choice for a girl. Although the Captain had wanted a son he was more than happy to see his daughter in his wife's arms. "Beautiful" he whispered "I'm sorry"
"Why?" Rachel whispered confused by his words.
"I'm sorry she comes to a world so fractured, to an island so threatened." He explained quietly whispering leaning over he kissed her forehead.
"She has our love, and is under our care, what happens elsewhere is of no concern." Rachel said trying to ease his internal turmoil
"I may have to go elsewhere, and soon." He said quietly, because of his position within the growing alliance and his gatherings of the Captains it was now his duty to continue his path, wherever it led.
"Just return to us." She said knowing he had commitments, she worried every time his ships left dock however she knew anything less than her full support would cause more trouble than worth.
"I plan to." He whispered knowing that it may be far less simple than three little words, but for now his thoughts and attention were on something else little and just as complicated. Bringing new life to the world had added another full new level of complication to his world.
The Captains and leaders of the various islands were in various forms of arguments by the time the Captain had reached the main conference hall most were actively hostile towards the newly arrived Repossession and Lord Viper both had answered the call from the Captain to join this meeting. Never in living memory had individuals from Sectors 72,72 and 74 all been in the same place without a thud cannon or missile tube pointed at the other. Entering the room the Captain saw Senator Michaels at the centre table attempting to gain attention and the ears of his fellow leaders, the man was not a warrior nothing like his ancestors who had led those to the island surviving the great war and rescuing all they could from the floods that followed, however today he was in his own arena fighting with words and thoughts unfortunately he was also fighting a losing battle. Pushing through the gathered individuals the Captain leaped up onto one of the tables, he knew it could take his weight how he knew this was not for anyone else other than his wife to know but how he learned facts did not matter, and did not change them.
Standing on the table towering over all the others brought their attention "Listen to me!" He called out loudly quickly gathering more attention from other leaders "we need to stand together, we cannot continue to bicker about minor things our battles are not with each other." He said quickly the room was calming down others who were shouting had also calmed down "we called the leaders, the Captains, the Pirates of our neighbouring sectors here together to figure a plan to combat our common enemies."
"I have fought and destroyed our common enemies however now another front opens and we do not even know who they are. Where is Duinhir?" Repossession called out around him a gathering of pirates from Sector 72 had formed a perimeter to hold all others back members of Sectors 73 and 74 were staring back at them gathered in their own groups staring in anger, all of them had fought battles against each other, they all had experienced having their island struck down by an enemy who now stood in the same room as them.
"He is on his way, he had issues of his own to deal with before coming to join us." The Captain said still standing on the table he'd noticed that like Repossession he'd gathered allies around him Captains Alex War, Buk, Simon Hell and Phill all flanking him in different directions. Beyond them Captains Bill Hawke and Rick were covering the exits with Security Officers and marines, if trouble broke out now the Captain could foresee absolute carnage following, something he needed to avoid. "We need to work together, we all know this, deep within your darkest thoughts you know what the Draconians have become, they are a threat to our very survival."
"They have also enlisted support from Forsaken forces, Duinhir wasn't the only one who has been attacked by a forsaken force working with the Draconians. When myself, Glyn and Angie were searching for allies" Captain Grim said nodding to Lord Viper, "we encountered Draconian forces operating from Lord Daemonicus' Island, it appears he is working with them also."
"Daemonicus' lust for power has gotten himself into plenty of trouble, we all know this." Lord Viper said speaking up in support of Grim "he has always wanted power, prominence and glory. It appears he has taken this one step further by selling to the devil."
"Are we certain he was not just hostile to you?" Repossession asked "he wouldn't be the first to capture a Draconian vessel and use it in combat Duinhir already has three such craft which he has used in combat against the Draconians." Repo continued it was common knowledge that Duinhir had captured such craft but few actually knew he had used these in combat.
"I have used them in combat and I have used aircraft in combat against the Draconians." Duinhir said entering the room flanked by his son Admiral Alalcamenos "however that is not the reason I was targeted by a Forsaken force. I was targeted because of the information I hold" he said quietly moving through the Captains stopping short of the Captain's group of Captains, as he approached the Captain jumped off the table and approached the Admiral. The Captain noted that Duinhir was wearing his dress uniform from his Republic days a green uniform with a golden star-burst covering his left shoulder, Alalcamenos also wore the same uniform. "I didn't realize exactly what I held until after the attack against my own home, Alalcamenos and my wife's Rowan's home." He said Repo had also moved through his group of pirates to join them "we were all members of the Republic, Alalcamenos perhaps only a child at the time but we all had copies of their information database similar to those held by yourself Hayden. He said looking at Repossession, the other Captain realized what Duinhir meant.
"Captain I need to contact my warships" Repo said looking at the Captain, who nodded Senator Michaels appeared at Repossession's side and led him to a communication array.
"During my Republic days, I could see the days of the Republic were numbered and like Hayden, myself and Rowan made moves to secure as much material and information as we could to keep our chances of survival alive and well." Duinhir explained to the Captain "behind closed doors I know there were others within the Republic doing exactly the same, a shadow government group known as Section 13. I didn't know who these people were but I knew they were in for their own game at the expense of anyone and everyone."
"What has this got to do with the Draconians and the Forsaken fleet that attacked you? Duinhir you may have strength but you are living in the past." Simon Hell challenged beside him Nine-won-three, PBO and Seaking all stood nodding their agreement.
"I was getting to that Captain Hell, you see this shadow group survives under another name trying to hold onto the information that they are behind the Draconians and much of the troubles that brought about the final days of the last great conflict that caused the Republic's fall." Duinhir explained from his pocket he produced a picture which he handed to the Captain. It was a picture of the destroyed tilt-rotor aircraft that had crashed into his base. "The Shadow Government, Section 13, Kixeye Corporation, names all blend into one when you look at them in some ways." Duinhir said the room was almost completely silent "when I dug into my records and then looked through those on the captured Draconian vessels I now possess I found similarities." He said looking around the room at the other Captains "Section 13 created the Draconians, they created the scourge that has caused us so much trouble, they created them as shock troops for the Republic in its falling days just after myself, Rowan and Repossession left." Duinhir said "unfortunately these shock troops arrived too late to help the Republic and eventually caused its very destruction when they turned on their creators." he explained "the next we saw of these shock troops was when the Draconian Imperial Empire tried to assert itself on us all, then Section 13 returned in its new guise as Kixeye Corporation. If you look further back in history as far back as 2011 when they created a series of games, their power slowly gathered until they became one of the few companies to be in a position to survive the last great war. Now they are almost nothing like their origin, carrying the name only." Duinhir continued as Repossession entered and moved to join the group.
"My island was attacked six hours ago by a joint Kixeye and Draconian attack. My people drove them off however our my home is badly hurt."
"We will understand if you must leave." Captain Mark Red said quietly, the Captain knew Red and Repo had been rivals for a while each throwing fleets at the other but he also knew that they both respected each other as well.
"My people are well trained, they know their duty, already repairs to my island and its defences are under-way. I am more interested in what we are going to do now that we have two fronts to take care of?" Repossession challenged, around the room there was a murmur from the others as well, they looked for action.
"Inside my records I found references to a Draconian Central Command, and Kixeye's Command Headquarters." Duinhir said again his words bringing silence to the room "Sector One." The two words that would define a generation a goal, a target, a destination, an end game.
"Sector One is over six months from here." One of the pirates objected "how can we travel that far, we will never be able to lock onto our home islands beyond all the recall beacons. Going that far could take us away from our homes and our people forever." He continued the Captain stood there thinking his daughter only just born could be without her father because of one choice. Around the room he could see they were wavering some calling for a purely defensive stance against the Draconians and Kixeye, others wanted to go back to their own islands and become isolationist, the precious alliance they had formed was beginning to fracture.
"Ladies and Gentlemen" Senator Michaels said trying to keep his voice equal "my island will fully support such a journey and mission if others will support it also."
"You cannot speak for your military Michaels, no offence but we need to hear it from one of the Captains" Alalcamenos challenged immediately showing the respect and power the pirate captains wielded Senator Michaels had gained the support of all the people of Michaels Island to gain his position and yet on the seas he had nothing, no power and no respect. With this again the room was becoming rowdy, the Captain brought himself to attention standing to his full 5ft 8inchs tall he'd never been the tallest but now he needed show his strength.
"I will support this." The Captain said, he had no idea how he would tell Rachel this or say goodbye to Jaylen. Rachel's words 'just come back to us' she'd said he knew that it was something that needed to be done. "Return home, talk to your peoples, assemble your greatest fleets and return. When we are ready we will sail to Sector One and bring an end to this conflict. Pirates, prepare for battle." He said boldly preparing the road to hell.