A/N: Sorry it took this long to write this part, but with everything that has happened lately, I decided to wait a while. Most of the part was written this week. Please feed me reviews and let me know what you thought about this.
A New Era, Part 6
Copyright 2001
Saran, John and Aeryn crouched down behind a large crate near the entrance to the Prowler bay. They could hear the chakran discharges coming from the east, where the commandos had drawn the Peacekeepers too, leaving the airstrips unprotected. Still, as Saran looked inside the hangar, she could she at least a dozen armed guards and nearly two dozen Prowler pilots waiting for their next orders. She drew back just in time as a Peacekeeper patrol passed by on inside the hangar.
"What did you see?" Aeryn asked when the soldiers had passed by.
"There are too many guards and those pilots are most likely carrying pulse pistols of their own. If one of them reaches the comms-system, reinforcements will be there within five microts." Saran reported. "We can't wait much longer; the Command Carriers are moving into position already."
Saran looked up as three other rebels joined them behind the crate, squatting in a half circle around her.
"We'll go in thirty microts, when the next patrol has passed us." She spoke, looking at the small group around her. "By that time, the Command Carriers will be in place, so we'll have to move quickly." Saran explained, while the rest nodded in response.
John, who was hunched opposite of Saran, could vaguely see one of the other small groups, awaiting the signal to attack. Then, seeing Aeryn readying her pulse rifle, he followed her movements.
As they heard the heavy footsteps of Peacekeepers approaching, the group ducked further behind the crate. After they had seen the three patrolling Peacekeepers pass them and the doorway to the hangar, the group quickly rushed towards the entrance.
Saran looked inside again, being the closest to the opening. Seeing that they could enter unseen, she nodded the go-ahead to the other group opposite of them. Stealthily, they rushed after the Peacekeeper patrol to silence them, while Sarans group could take out the other guards. Once they signaled the coast clear, the group followed their leader inside and spreading out, they searched for a new cover.
While the rebels were busy shooting at the Peacekeepers and preventing the pilots from reaching their Prowlers, Aeryn was busy looking for a way to reach the nearest Prowler, without getting their heads blown off. Seeing a route, she glanced sideways, where John took down one of the advancing stormtroopers.
"Good aim." She remarked as she saw the soldier fall down.
"You taught me." He replied, never taking his eyes off the scene taking place in front of him. "Did you find yourself a Prowler?"
Aeryn nodded. "Uhuh... found a clear path to it as well." She said, taking aim at an advancing Peacekeeper.
When they saw the first few Prowlers take off, Aeryn nudged John in his side. "We have to go now." She said, preparing to sprint to her target.
John nodded. "I'll be right behind you." He assured her, moving closer to Aeryn. "I'm glued to your ass." He remarked, as she was about to leave her cover.
The remark was left unanswered by her as Aeryn started to run the short distance to the Prowler. When she was midway of the distance, John saw a flash of light streak by him from behind. Before he could warn her, he saw Aeryn being knocked into a heavy looking crate, hit by the unsuspected pulse blast.
He rushed over to Aeryn, not seeing the danger creeping closer from all sides. Suddenly, he knocked into something on his path and was roughly shoved to the hard floor. For a moment, he was dazed and saw black spots in his vision. Shaking his head, he looked up. Merc was crouched beside him, holding a pulse rifle close to him. When he raised three fingers to his head; where he was sure a lump would be forming in a few minutes; he felt a small trickle of liquid making its way down. He looked at his fingers after touching the painful cut on his forehead; blood was covering them.
"It'll heal." Merc spoke, observing the human. "Come with me, I'll bring you to a Prowler so you can get out of here. I'll draw the fire away from you." He said, getting up. He was stopped when John grabbed his arm.
"Where's Aeryn? I saw her go down." John said, looking in the direction he had last seen her.
"A member of my team saw her get shot by a pulse rifle blast; he brought her into safety." Merc answered, pointing at one of the nearest Prowlers, where two other rebels were squatting near an unmoving form. "I think you'll need to fly her to one of the Carriers for medical attention. She's unconscious." The rebel added. "But we must hurry, the Peacekeepers will be here soon and we won't be able to hold all of them at bay."
Together, they moved closer to Aeryns position, with Merc stopping every few paces to exchange shots with a few remaining Peacekeepers. As John reached her, he sunk to his knees and felt for any sign of life. Relieved, he could feel the beat of her heart and he let out the breath he had been holding when he felt her breathing.
"It's best you hurry to get her into a Prowler, sir. Once you're on the Carrier, the med-techs can take care of her." The young Sebacean sitting across of him said.
John nodded in return and silently gathered her still form in his arms. Then, he walked the few remaining steps to the Prowler and setting her down inside; he turned back to retrieve his pulse rifle. However, the young Sebacean had already thought of the weapons and handed them to John.
"Good luck, Crichton." Merc spoke behind him, his weapon slung over his shoulder; confident the battle in the hangar had ended; at least for now.
John only nodded again, his reply unspoken, but understood by the warrior. Then, he jumped in the pilot's seat and closed the canopy. As he flew out of the hangar, he could see the reinforcements of the Peacekeepers approaching in the distance.
**********
D'Argo watched the forward viewscreen as the Rebel Command Carriers moved closer to the planet and their enemy. Once they were closer, he could see flickering star-like objects: the Prowlers that were escaping the planet and those engaging the Peacekeepers into battle.
"I hope our ships will reach them in time." Braerc, the captain of the Carrier, spoke as he came to stand next to D'Argo. "Otherwise, their courageous mission would've been in vain."
Hearing the Sebacean speak these words, D'Argo nodded. From the corner of his eyes, D'Argo observed the young man, who was turning towards him. Braerc was still a young man, and very well built. His dark eyes shone with life and intelligence, and D'Argo assumed that standing before him was no regular Peacekeeper. This was probably the very reason he had taken side with the rebels.
"What do you think of our rebellion, Ka D'Argo?" The captain asked, naming the Luxan by his old rank. "Knowing your feelings towards the Peacekeepers, of course." He added.
"The Peacekeepers were getting to much power over the universe and a threat to every species. I think someone needs to tell them they aren't wanted anymore." D'Argo spoke, looking out in space. "Therefor, I wish I could've gone down to the planet to personally show them."
Braerc smiled, pleased with the response he had gotten to his question. As he opened his mouth to say something, a young Sebacean stopped by his side.
"Captain, we're in range of their frag-cannons. The Peacekeepers are moving them in position." The rebel reported. "Our cannons are ready to fire."
"Good." The captain nodded. "What is the status of the Prowlers?"
"They're moving out of the vicinity of the Carriers, if we fire now, we can take some of the enemy's Prowlers with the blast." The man suggested.
"Very well, fire at will." Braerc said, turning back to D'Argo. "Your friends will be alright, I assure you."
D'Argo nodded and watched as the ship's frag-cannons fired their first round. The discharge could be heard all over the ship and D'Argo could feel the Carrier tremble a little. On screen, he could see one of the Command Carriers taking the brunt of the attack, with a part of its hull exploding. The fireball took a dozen Prowlers with it, lighting the darkness of space.
A few microts later, the Peacekeepers had their frag-cannons in position and the rebel Carrier could barely avoid the blast. It wasn't long before D'Argo heard the now familiar rumble of the cannons discharging and the tremor that followed it. Again, a number of Prowlers were hit by the blast, as well as another Carrier, this time damaging it less. By now, the other two Carriers had moved into range and began firing at the enemy, taking out the most damaged Carrier. This lead to such a bright explosion, that D'Argo had to shield his eyes against the light.
When he could see again, space was filled with debris of the destroyed Command Carrier.
From the moment the Carrier had exploded, everything seemed to move faster. One by one, the Peacekeeper Carriers were destroyed or badly damaged. As the last one limped away, taking with it many of the surviving Prowlers, the rebel crew cheered.
"We've done it!" cried Braerc, a smile on his young face. Then, as realization dawned, the smile disappeared. "They'll know we're alive and will do anything to stop us. The Peacekeepers will hunt us down." He said, looking at the debris floating towards them.
"You will succeed." D'Argo said, laying his hand on the rebel's shoulder. "With this victory, many of the Peacekeepers will know of the rebellion and join your cause."
Braerc looked up and nodded. "Time will tell, my friend." He said, mimicking D'Argo's move by laying his hand on D'Argo's broad shoulder.
"Captain, the Prowlers form the planet are returning to our Carrier." A lieutenant spoke from where he stood behind his console.
*********
John had watched as a few well-aimed shots from a frag-cannon destroyed the large Command Carrier. He had seen how the ship had exploded, leaving nothing but debris and torn bodies, still burning from the explosion.
His Prowler was following Saran to a safe position, drawing some of the Peacekeeper Prowlers with them. As they dealt with the Prowlers, the rebel Carriers fired upon the larger Peacekeeper vessels, destroying them effectively, leaving one behind crippled.
As John watched the Peacekeepers flee, Saran contacted him.
"John, we can land the Prowlers on one of our Carriers. They said one of your crew is with them, waiting for your arrival." Saran spoke. "Follow me, I'll lead you to the landing area."
John nodded to himself and glanced backwards for a moment. Aeryn was still unconscious; he sped up his Prowler to reach the Command Carrier sooner. He followed Saran until the large ship was looming in front of him; the outer doors already opened. John felt the pull of the Carriers docking web leading him to a location to set down the Prowler.
When he had landed the Prowler and he was lifting Aeryn into the arms of two awaiting rebel soldiers, he saw D'Argo approach him.
"What happened?" The big Luxan asked as he halted at John's side. "You're injured." He stated, extending his hand to touch the cut on his head.
Crichton pushed D'Argo's hand aside, taking a few steps in the direction the two soldiers carrying Aeryn had taken.
"It's nothing." John replied. "Aeryn's worse."
He turned around when he felt D'Argo touch his shoulder.
"She'll be alright; they'll take good care of her." D'Argo said, looking up and over John's shoulder, causing Crichton to turn around.
"Saran..." he greeted the approaching Sebacean. "This is D'Argo, he's from Moya." John spoke, introducing.
"I know, my brother told me." Saran responded.
"Your brother?" Asked D'Argo.
"Yes, Braerc is my brother and captain of this vessel." Saran replied. "He told me about D'Argo." She said, turning to Crichton. "You fought well." Saran spoke and noticing the gash on his forehead, she too lifted her hand to touch the wound. "I'll bring you to medlab, they'll need to take a look at this." She said.
Crichton nodded and allowed her to lead him to wherever they had taken Aeryn, followed by D'Argo.
He followed Saran into a large room; medlab, Crichton assumed; and spotted Aeryns silent form almost immediately. Two med-techs were hovering over her, examining her wounds and rousing her. Before the approaching med-tech could usher Crichton to a nearby examination table, he walked over to Aeryn and took her limp hand in his hands. The two med-techs silently took a few steps backwards and were met by Saran and D'Argo.
As his thumb stroked her hand, Aeryns eyelids fluttered for a microt, before she opened her eyes and looked in his blue eyes. Crichton's face lit up with a smile and drew her to him, hugging her.
"Crichton..." She said, pushing him away a little, "where are we?"
"On a Command Carrier. You got shot and knocked unconscious. I piloted the Prowler up here." He answered.
For a moment, Aeryn wanted to make a remark about his piloting skills, but when she saw the gash on his head, her hand involuntary moved to touch it softly and Crichton let her.
"You're injured..." she whispered, wiping at the blood.
"It's nothing, sunshine." He replied, kissing her fingers. "It'll heal."
Aeryn smiled at him, but before she could say what she wanted to say, Saran joined Crichton at the bed.
"She needs to rest now and the med-tech wants to examine your head wound." She said and after John nodded to her, she stepped back again and walked out of the room. She was replaced by a med-tech, who administered an sedative. Almost immediately, Aeryn closed her eyes again. Crichton placed a soft kiss on her forehead, before going with the med-tech to a nearby bed.
To be continued...
Don't forget to review after you've read this story. Thank you kindly.
