Chapter 5: Live Free or Die

"The most heroic word in all languages is revolution."
Eugene Debs

----------

Several weeks later after the war with the Drago-Kazov, the Andromeda was orbiting Mobius when a courier ship entered the system looking for Captain Hunt. Dylan and Rommie were in command as a human appeared on-screen.

"Captain Hunt my name is James Franklin and I represent the newly established government of Carbis III. We've recently overthrown the former Nietzschean overlords and have driven them off-world. However they are returning in force and we have no way of stopping them. We desperately need your help." Dylan nodded.

"Very well Mr. Franklin, I'll gather my people and meet you at Carbis." Franklin sighed.

"Thank you Captain." With that the signal went dead and the small ship turned around and headed home. Dylan began to walk off the bridge.

"Rommie order everyone back onboard and then set course for Carbis and transfer all available data to my quarters." Without waiting for the reply Dylan left. Soon everyone was onboard and the mighty warship got underway.

-----------

As the Andromeda exited slipstream in the Carbis system Dylan explained the situation to his crew.

"These people recently removed the Drago-Kazov from power and we're here to ensure that they stay free."

"The Drago-Kazov will want to retake the capital by force. It would be an embarrassment to them to have to destroy it. More likely they will nuke an outlying city with minimal input to the harvest that they take." Tyr commented. Dylan nodded and turned to Rommie.

"My guess would be Siudo. It's a remote city of about thirty thousand on the northern tip of the main continent."

"Also it is not near any major animal migration routes." Added Rommie.

"OK. First we need to evacuate that city to nearby villages and hamlets then were have to prepare the capital for attack." Dylan began to walk off of command. "Tyr, Trance, Rommie you're with me. Beka prepare a nice surprise for the Dragans." Beka smiled and through a mock salute.

"Aye aye Captain." As the group reached the hanger deck Dylan stopped.

"Trance, Rommie head to Siudo and begin the evacuation with Tyr and I deal with the government." They headed their separate ways with Rommie and Trace taking slip-fighters while the guys took the Maru.

----------

As Dylan and Tyr left the Maru they were greeted by Franklin and another man.

"Captain Hunt thank you for coming." He spotted Tyrs' bone-blades., "Why did you bring this Uber with you?" Dylan gave the man a tense smile.

"This is my weapons officer Tyr Anasazi. He is of a different pride than the Drago-Kazov and is a loyal and trusted member of my crew and you will treat him as such." Franklin took the Captain at his word but never took his eyes of the Nietzschean.

"As you will." He turned and indicated the approaching party. "My I present Consul Gregory, newly elected head of our government." The man shook hands with Dylan but backed away from Tyr who threw him a cold smile.

"An honour to meet you Captain. I'm just sorry it couldn't be under better terms."

"As am I." The group began to walk towards the government building as Gregory explained the situation to Dylan while Tyr examined the approach to the building for possible ambush locations. As the group entered Tyr spoke up.

"Excuse the interruption Consul but is this the only entrance to this building." Gregory nodded.

"Yes it is." Tyr stopped.

"Then with our permission I'll begin to prepare a surprise for the Drago-Kazov."

"Very well. Mr. Franklin will sty with you as he is head of security." With that Dylan and Gregory walked off leaving the other two to examine the building.

"How much do you trust the Nietzschean?" Asked Gregory once he was out of earshot of Tyr.

"I trust Tyr to be Tyr." Replied Dylan. Noticing the bemused look on the Consuls face he continued, "Tyrs' pride was wiped out by the Drago-Kazov."

"Ah. Very well then let me show you our central control centre."

----------

Eventually Siudo had been evacuated and several other cites as well. Trance had returned to the Andromeda and Rommie had joined Dylan and Tyr to help defend the capital. The three walked towards the capital building to take up defensive positions. Standing guard over the building, down side alleys out of sight were Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum. Just then alarms across the capital sound.

"Dylan, I've just be told by myself that a fleet of Nietzschean design is approaching."

"How many?"

"Fifteen cruisers, twenty-five destroyers and three troop transports along with fighter support."

"Obviously they want the planet back." Remarked Tyr. "Though the fleet dose seem unusually large for a backwater planet."

"This planet served as a local command centre for the surrounding systems." Commented Rommie. "It's location makes it critical to their control of the entire sector."

"So I guess they want it back?"

"Yes."

"Well tough because we were here first!" With that Dylan walked of towards the control centre as Tyr and Rommie exchanged looks before following. Over the following six hours the battle raged on both the planet and in orbit as the Andromeda and every available ship tried to hold off the advancing fleet. Soon only the Andromeda was left.

"Andromeda, raise Dylan on the planet." Quickly the main viewer showed a bruised captain Hunt.

"Beka?" The ship shook as another missile penetrated the defence grid.

"Dylan the local boys are toast and we're running out of offensive missiles."

"OK. Fall back to Enkindu and round up some support."

"But Dylan what about you?" Dylan shook his head.

"We're pinned down here. There's no way we can get out without backup. Get away and find some, we'll be OK."

"You three stay alive or I'll kill you myself." Beka closed the link and called Harper, who was busy trying to keep the ship together.

"Harper get up here, we're leaving."

"But what about Rommie?"

"Either we leave now and get help or we die." He could be heard huffing over the comlink.

"Fine, but we had better come back for them."

"We will Harper. We will." With that the Andromeda moved of and entered slipstream.

----------