USS Franklin Roosevelt
Chig Territory
June, 2065
Silence hung in the air after Lieutenant Peter Johnson finished telling his story for the
second time that day. Clearing his throat Glen Ross walked over to the pilot and
placed a supportive hand on his left shoulder.
"Thank you son, for telling us." Ross began exchanging a glance with Grey, "You just
concentrate on getting better, leave the rest to us."
Ross turned and started to walk away but Johnson's soft voice halted him at the foot of
the bed.
"Commodore, when you make up the strike team I'd like to be part of it."Johnson suggested.
Ross turned slowly to face the young pilot. He choose his words carefully, "Get some
rest, Lieutenant. I'll talk to your doctors and we'll see what we can do."
"Thank you, Commodore." Peter replied before finally allowing his eyes to close, sleep
came quickly.
Operation: Homeward Bound
Aerotech pleasure ship, Bacchus
First week of March, 2065
Lieutenant Paul Wang found himself drifting in and out of conscious. He was once
again in the small cell. He hadn't seen or heard anything about Shane since she had
tried to escape and reach a radio in the upper decks nearly a month and a half ago. All
he knew was the torture sessions on Vanessa and himself had increased with a
vengeance.
Shane must be dead. Paul thought bleakly as he stared into the darkness, Otherwise
she would have contacted us somehow or we'd be out of this hell hole.
He was nearly blinded by the harsh florescent light as the heavy metal door swung
open and a human weight was tossed inside. The body fell with a sickening thud at his
feet.
With an effort Paul urged his wounded limbs to move as he crawled over to see who
the limp form was. Turning the body onto its back Paul saw it was Vanessa. With
frantic fingers Paul searched for a pulse. a sigh of relief escaped him as he found a
faint, but strong one. In the limited light he tried to decipher the new injuries from the
old ones.
"Vanessa, its Paul. Can you hear me?"The young man asked.
When only silence answered him Paul maneuvered as best he could in the small space
until he was positioned near her shoulders. Paul hadn't found any broken bones, but
her still being unconscious worried him. He decided to keep talking to her, if nothing
else it would make him feel less helpless.
"Vanessa, did I ever tell you about the kitten one of my sisters brought home?" Shifting
from kneeling to a sitting position Paul gently took her hand in his as he continued his
story.
"I think I was ten, Sarah was seven at the time. There was barely enough food to feed
the six of us that winter and she walks in holding this shivering mound of black fur. You
would have instantly fallen in love with it, but my father." Paul shook his head at the
memory, "He took one look at it and ordered Sarah to put it outside. I have to give her
credit though she stood her ground. I think it was more the fact that it was sixty below
zero with the wind chill and a week before Christmas that my father had a change of
heart and allowed her to keep it."
He hadn't noticed that Vanessa had regained conscious until her soft voice asked,
"Paul, what did she name it?"
Paul smiled as he helped her into a sitting position, "Shadow because the cat never left
her side."
USS Franklin Roosevelt
Chig Territory
June, 2065
It was a small group that gathered in one of the Roosevelt's conference rooms half an
hour later. Ross and Grey had decided to keep the news of a new Chig weapon on a
need to know basis. Seated around the table were McQueen, West, Hawkes and
Kylen. Nathan had thought her knowledge of the Chigs from her months of captivity
might be useful.
Ross and Grey stood at the front of the table, a map of the sector of space in question
projected on a screen behind them. Ross glanced at Lucas Grey who nodded,
indicating that the Saratoga commodore should begin.
"I really hate to be the one to say this, but in this War we may have underestimated the
Chigs." Ross saw McQueen open his mouth to protest and held up his hand, "Let me
finish."
McQueen's mouth instantly snapped shut and he leaned back in his chair, waiting for
the Commodore to continue.
"As I was saying I think we may have underestimated the Chigs by not thinking they
were working on any other weapons since we destroyed Chiggy Von Richtovan a year
ago. Lieutenant Johnson's story confirms a rumor that's been circulating Intelligence
scuttlebutt recently."
Grey stepped toward the center of the room, "And what is more deadly about this
weapon is that we have, at the moment, no way to detect its presence. At least with
our friend Chiggy Von Richtovan there was a wave on LDAR to announce that it was
there." Grey's Irish burr paused as he looked at the group gathered. He was telling
them nothing they didn't already know.
Ross picked up the story, "The computer data that was brought back to the Saratoga
by the survey missions does not look promising. All we know at this point is that
whatever it was it left a huge energy residue. Bigger than anything we've ever come
across."
Nathan felt Kylen stiffen and turned to look at her, concern instantly crossed his face
as he saw her frightened expression.
"Kylen, what is it?" Kylen wasn't quite sure what was happening to her. She had, had
several panic attacks during the six months after she returned to Earth. This was
similar, but yet ten times more intense than anything she'd experienced before.
Nathan's fear escalated when she didn't respond. He knew bringing her into this
meeting was too soon. But he thought that helping them figure out what this new
weapon was might also help her face her memories. Help her deal with what had
happened last year. Now as he saw the almost panic stricken expression on her face
Nathan knew how wrong he had been.
Gently he took her hand in his, "Kylen, I'm sorry. If this is too much for you, we can
leave."
Finally getting her breathing and rapid pulse under control enough so she could talk
Kylen squeezed Nathan's hand smiling at him briefly, "I'm alright, Nathan. Sorry for the
interruption, Commodore."
Ross smiled, "No apologies necessary, Kylen. You heard Lieutenant Johnson's story.
When you were held by the Chigs does this sound like anything you saw?"
Kylen winced slightly as her mind went to unwanted memories. Memories she had long
since buried and shoved in the deepest, darkest corner of her subconscious.
Swallowing hard she looked Ross in the eye, "Even with all the therapy I've had over
the past year, Commodore most of the time since the Tellis colony was attacked until I
saw Nathan on the rescue ship is all a dark blur."
Ross leaned on the table, "Anything you can tell us, no matter how small it seems to
you could help us unlock the mystery of this thing."
Operation:Homeward Bound
Aerotech pleasure ship, the Bacchus
First week of March, 2065
Captain Shane Vansen gratefully welcomed the soothing blanket of darkness as sleep
overtook her. Every single muscle and limb in her body ached from the torture sessions
she had endured.
Shane's mouth drew into a tight line, she would be damned if she let them know how
much pain she was in. She had been so close to freedom. So close to getting them a
rescue. After their Christmas celebration the Wildcards had waited and watched their
enemy, looking for any weakness. Any opportunity to escape.
Close to Valentine's Day she had finally found one. Her old friend Handsome Alvin.
Whatever they were paying him to do it seemed like he really didn't have much of a
purpose. While Sewell-Z and Leia did the dirty work Alvin usually hung back in the
shadows, watching.
Shane struggled into a sitting position wincing as she once again hit her head on the low
ceiling of the small room. In her plan to escape she had finally relented and agreed to
play a game of pool with Alvin. That at least got her out of the cell and able to better
scout their surroundings.
Half way through the third round it seemed fate, a Guardian Angel or something similar
was watching out for them. The power failed, nearly ship wide. As the game room
plunged into darkness Shane had grabbed the only weapon she had, her pool stick.
Alvin had either been too cocky about his safety or had really been caught off guard
when she had thrust the stick into his left 'eye'. While the AI swore and doubled over in pain Shane
had ran for the door skirting into the hallway as she made her way to the upper decks in search of a radio.
Unfortunately she had only made it up three decks, far from the lights and sounds of
the intergalactic casino. Shane had just reached a stairway and was on the sixth step
before a hand clamped around her left ankle, causing her to loose her balance and
slam into the metal stairs. Shane had kicked him in the jaw with her free foot, briefly attaining her freedom before
Alvin caught her again.
"Now, now." Alvin said as he had dragged her back down the stairs and propping her
into a standing position, "This is no way to play nice."
Shane had glared at the AI, barely resisting the urge to spit in his face, "I don't play
nice."
After that she had gotten a lecture from Sewell about the futility of trying to escape and
was tossed back in the footlocker. Shane now knew this was their form of solitary
confinement. She hadn't seen Paul or Vanessa since Christmas and could only imagine
what the AI's were telling them about her fate.
Giving up on sleep Shane's eyes snapped open. As she drew herself into a sitting
position she was more determined than ever to escape from this hell hole. Staring into
the darkness she was reminded of the old adage, 'If at once you don't succeed, try, try
again.'
USS Franklin Roosevelt
Chig Territory
June, 2065
The terror of being a prisoner of war returned to Kylen full force as unwanted
memories surfaced. Ross's deep voice broke into her revere drawing her back to the
present. Blinking she forced herself to focus on what he was saying.
"...Johnson said one squadron member mentioned Angels before he threw his
Hammer into a spin. Does that mean anything to you?"
Nathan watched with growing concern as some of the sparkle seemed to fade from
her blue eyes. This was too much for her.
"Commodore, maybe we should take a short break. Give her a chance to
recuperate."
Kylen shook her head, "No Nathan, I'm alright. I want to help."
She looked at the two Commodores, "After the initial attack those who survived
managed to allude them for a few hours. We gathered what supplies we could salvage
and headed into the hills."
"The phototags." Nathan said softly remembering how he had found Kylen's
identification tag hanging with others in an overturned shelter. That had been the first
indication he had that she was still alive.
Kylen glanced at him before nodding, "Yes, we left those there hoping that if a rescue
came they would find them and know where to look for us." She paused swallowing
hard as the memories became darker, "We tried to move quickly but many of us had
been severely injured in the attack. Just before twilight they caught up with us. Those
who resisted were shot on sight. The survivors were immediately herded into one of
their shuttles."
"I saw." Nathan recalled, "But I was too far away to help."
Kylen squeezed his hand, "I'm glad you didn't try, you would have been killed instantly.
After their shuttle took off it met up with a larger ship in orbit. I don't know how to
describe the feeling that overcame us as we saw it looming ahead. It was like it
pulsated evil. After they unloaded us the shuttle went back to the planet.
As it descended I noticed the shuttle had white and yellow lights that illuminated when
it accelerated." She looked at Ross," Perhaps that's what Bonavia saw. The yellow
and white lights could have blended together to look like an angel to him."
USS Franklin Roosevelt
Chig Territory
June, 2065
Lieutenant Colonel John Oakes returned to his quarters. He had less than twenty
minutes to change and shower before he had to brief the 44th on their upcoming
mission. As he absently clicked on his computer to the Earth News Network John
figured it was just as well that Ross had pulled West out on special assignment. After
the scene in the Crow's Nest the tension in the 44th had escalated.
Just as he was about to step into the shower snippets of a news story caught his
attention. He focused his gaze back on the small screen in time to see a red haired
woman in her thirties standing somewhere with palm trees in the background.
"...Breaking news from Los Angeles this afternoon. The CEO of Aerotech
industries, John Bennett has retired. Allowing vice president Michael Lane to take
over. Ambitious is the nicest word anyone in Aerotech could say about the California
native. Lane has long been feared in the computer business as a 'take no prisoners'
business man when it came to allocating new companies to come under Aerotech's
wing."
"In other related news an Iowa company has created a new computer chip that has
created great excitement in the computer industry. Some experts say that this
advancement could leap the industry forward thirty yea..."
Oakes snapped the computer off. He retraced his steps to the shower, the gold aviator
wings resting on top of the computer monitor catching his attention. There was one
thing he could do in Shane's memory that could have lasting affects on his career, but
so be it. He had lived in this limbo long enough now was the time to end it. Seeing he
only had ten minutes left to make his meeting Oakes quickly walked into the bathroom
and shut the door.
Operation:Homeward Bound
Aerotech pleasure ship, the Bacchus
Third week of April, 2065
Lieutenant Vanessa Damphoose didn't know why the AI's had allowed her and Paul to
be kept in the same cell, but she was grateful. The word grateful sounded strange in
her mind but that's how she felt. Grateful to her captors and torturers for allowing her
the last place of peace and solace that she had. Being able to see a friendly face some
how made the existence she was in bearable.
Vanessa huddled in the corner of the small dark room, never feeling more alone in her
life than she did at that moment. Leia had come and taken Paul away several hours
ago. Paul hadn't told her what went on in his 'question sessions' as the AI's called
them. She hadn't pushed knowing he was still reeling from what Elroy put him through.
Vanessa shielded her eyes with her right hand as the heavy metal door was yanked
open and Paul's limp body was tossed back inside like somebody's sack of potatoes.
"You'd think I'd be used to this by now." Paul commented in a weak voice as he
struggled into a sitting position.
Vanessa wrapped her arms around his shoulders in a comforting embrace.
"Paul, what do they want from us?" She asked in a voice thick with tears, "Its been
months and they keep asking the same questions."
"I think I know." Paul replied softly, "But I have no idea how to rectify it. They
obviously think we saw more than we did of the Chig on Anvil."
Vanessa blinked,"You think this all goes back to Roundhammer? What could have
been in that cave that was so important?"
Paul turned to face her, "The only thing we saw in that cave was unborn Chigs.
Cooper was the only one who was in there for an extended amount of time."
Vanessa frowned, "You think he saw something and didn't tell the rest of us?"
Paul shook his head, "No, I think he might have seen something that he didn't think
was important at the time. Something that might have seemed like it belonged there yet
seemed out of place at the same time."
Vanessa sighed, "How do we tell them what they want to hear if we don't know what
that is?"
Wang squeezed her hand, "We'll come up with something." He assured her hoping he
sounded more confident than he felt, "There has to be a way out of this mess."
USS Franklin Roosevelt
Chig Territory
June, 2065
Roosevelt's Commodore Lucas Grey leaned against the wall near the door while Glen
Ross began to pace the front of the room. McQueen leaned forward his hands folded
in front of him on the table as he looked at Kylen. "So these 'Angel' ships. Do you
remember anything more about them? What color were they? How big?"
Kylen shook her head, a frown on her face, "Sorry Colonel, most of what happened
after that is still a blur. I do remember that they were about as big maybe a little smaller
than our Hammerheads."
"Thank you Kylen." Ross said finally stopping in the center of the room turning to face
the group, "Okay. So now we have a rough idea of what these ships look like. That
still doesn't help us detect them if they don't show up on LDAR. Anyone have any
ideas on how we can protect ourselves from these things if we have no idea when
they'll strike?"
Grey took his glasses off absently using a handkerchief to remove a spot before saying,
"We know from the Valley Forge's data recorder that they saw a brief burst of yellow
light before the computer went down."
Hawkes straightened in his chair, "Now that we know what to look for maybe that's
enough of a warning."
West shook his head, "No, if we tell people to look out for yellow lights we could have
squadrons shooting at stars or each other before this is through. We need to know
more."
"Agreed." Ross said quietly.
Lost in his own thoughts Grey jumped slightly as the door was opened suddenly.
Lieutenant Colonel John Oakes entered the room a grim look on his face.
"Sorry to interrupt, Commodore." Oakes began turning to face Grey.
Grey raised a red eyebrow, "Can't this wait, Colonel? We're in the middle of
something here."
Oakes looked at West, "I'm sorry, Sir what I have to say can't wait and may effect
what you're planning." Grey looked at Ross questioningly.
Ross nodded motioning Oakes to an empty chair next to McQueen, "Have a seat,
Colonel."
"Thank you, Sir."