It was another day on the Christa, and Terrien was examining the
records of the crew.
" Hey! Terrien!" Harlen called.
" Oh, yeah Harlen?" Terrien asked.
" Could you pass me the hypotool?" Harlen asked.
" Sure. Catch," Terrien said, tossing Harlen the instrument. Harlen caught it.
" Thanks, man," Harlen said. He was working on a new project for Miss Davenport's class.
" So, now that Cat's back on board, how do you think the ship will be different?" Terrien asked.
" Well, Radu will need a pair of earmuffs, that's for sure," Harlen chuckled.
" Oh, yeah, the Andromedan hearing thing and the Saturnian sonic scream thing," Terrien said, " What are the chances we'll run into the Spung any time on our journey?" " Pretty good. Unfortunately," Harlan said. " I guess you're right. I mean, it's not very likely that they are going to let us get away with destroying three of their Killcrusiers or trapping Warlord Shank on Pezu's station."
" You have a point there man," Harlen said.
Cat and Suzee walked through one of the corridors of the Christa.
" Cat, I can't believe we're finally both in the same dimension," Suzee smiled.
" I know. It's amazing. I bet they don't think you're imaginary anymore, huh?" Cat smiled.
" You've said that a lot, mainly to Harlen," Suzee said slyly.
" Don't forget Miss Davenport. They were the ones who firmly thought you weren't real."
" Hmm, true. So, how's it going with Terrien and you?" Suzee asked.
" What do you mean?" Cat asked.
" I see the way you two have looked at each other since you got back," Suzee smiled.
" Oh, and you kissing Harlen and Radu didn't give you those looks for a while?"
" You kissed? Give me the details!"
" We have not kissed!" Cat cried.
" Uh huh. Well, what if I call up Terrien and-"
" Don't you dare!" Cat said. Suzee yanked the compupad out of Cat's hand. " Suzee! Give me that back!" As the two ran off, they nearly bumped into Radu and Bova.
" What's going on here?" Radu asked.
" We were messing around, Radu," Suzee said.
" And what makes you think we have to respond to you Radu?" Cat asked, folding her arms.
" Just curious. I mean, Bova and I were about to go check and see if this nebula we picked up on sensors had the right kind of matter for us to use for some engine fuel," Radu said, " And we needed to head down to the MedLab to get some containers from Rosie in the medical bay."
" Oh. Okay," Cat said. She then grabbed the comm unit out of Suzee's hands and hit a control on the jump tube.
" Excuse me. I have a Saturnian to kill," Suzee said, and jumped after Cat.
T.J. Davenport arrived on the comm post.
" Commander? Commander Goddard? Are you here?" she asked. The Commander rolled out from under a console.
" What is it, Miss Davenport?" Goddard asked.
" Commander, I'm not sure that this Terrien Walker is an appropriate addition to our crew," Davenport said.
" Missed your class today, didn't he?" Goddard asked.
" Yes," Davenport sighed.
" He was with Thelma during classes today. They were busy with a few things that might help improve our chances if we run across the Spung again," Goddard said.
" Commander, I think that you are seeing way too much of yourself in young Mr. Walker. If you think that I do not see him as another student, you are very wrong," Davenport growled.
" I'm sorry, what was that?" Goddard asked. Davenport growled. " Miss Davenport, Terrien is being very helpful with us right now, and it's probably best if we allow him some time to adjust. Not to mention he's just lost several people dear to him. The grief and impact of it probably haven't completely set in with him yet. Give him time," Goddard sighed. Davenport glared at Goddard for another couple of seconds then stormed out in frustration. Goddard chuckled. Grabbing a comm device, he turned it on. " Cat, Terrien, could you come up to the Command Post?" he asked. Moments later, the human and Saturnian came through the jump tubes.
" You wanted to see us, Commander? Cat asked.
" Yes. I wanted to know if there was anything you could do to help me figure out just how to find any weapons on the Christa like there were on her sister ship. Cat, do you remember anything from the blueprints you and Harlan found?" Goddard asked.
" I'll coordinate with Harlan to figure it out," Cat said.
" Good. Terrien, you and Thelma were going over the blueprints of your ship and the Christa. What did you find?" Goddard asked.
" Nothing, Commander. My colony ship with completely inorganic, and when mixed in with the Christa's components, at the very least, it would end up injuring the ship, or maybe even killing her. And if we ever ran across the Lumanians, they might get angry and use ships with weapon capabilities like the ones that the other ship had, destroying us. Or we could be stranded," Terrien sighed.
" All right. Well, maybe we should begin researching everything in the ship's database, see if we can find anything that will help us," Goddard suggested.
" Commander, I was thinking, maybe the alterations to the ship that occurred when you crashed might have an effect on the working of certain systems. I mean, you saw how Thelma was affected," Terrien suggested.
" No, she was always like that," Goddard said. Terrien chuckled.
" I meant how her appearance changed," Terrien said.
" Oh. Well, we can investigate that and-" Goddard was interrupted by a proximity alarm. " Uh oh." Goddard turned on the communications systems. " Radu, Bova, the investigating mission is canceled. Everyone, report to your battle stations. There is a Spung Killcrusier on long range sensors," Goddard barked. Cat ran to the science station Suzee had often helmed while Terrien punched in med lab in the jump tubes to get an emergency kit. Harlen, Radu, and Bova came in by the jumptubes and Davenport and Thelma arrived from the corridor.
" Commander, what is the cruiser doing?" Davenport asked.
" It looks like it's. it's launching a pod?" Cat asked, surprised.
" Commander, they're hailing us," Radu said as Terrien reached the ComPost with the med kit.
" Screen on," Goddard said. The lizard-like appearance of a Spung appeared on the screen.
" Commander Goddard, I presume?" he asked.
" That's right," Goddard growled.
" I am Krill of the Spung Revisionist Community," the Spung said.
" The what?" Goddard asked.
" The Spung Revisionist Community. I'm not surprised you have not heard of it, as our government attempts to keep it under wraps. We are a group of Spung who wish to change our government's standing with the UPP. We wish for peace, not warfare," Krill said.
" That would explain the lack of the title 'Warlord,'" Terrien said, but he sounded suspicious.
" Commander Goddard, our leader has requested to be transported to the UPP with you. This is also to insure that should the rest of us fall, the Revisionists shall not," Krill said.
" Who is your leader?" Goddard asked.
" They will dock with you soon. You shall see. Good day, Commander," Krill said. He killed the connection.
" Wait, we didn't-" Goddard had started.
" Commander, we can't just let a Spung come on board without our permission!" Davenport cried.
" Do not worry, Miss Davenport. The Christa is an excellent judge of character. She will decide if the Spung is not going to harm us," Thelma. said.
" Be that as it may, Band, Radu, head down to the airlock and meet our. guest," Goddard ordered. Harlan and Radu nodded and punched in the airlock code in the jumptubes.
Radu and Harlan ran down the hall to the airlock.
" I don't get it. Why would any Spung want to be here with us?" Harlan asked Radu.
" I don't know," Radu said. Before either one could say anything else, the airlock began to open. All Radu saw was the bright red hair.
" Hello Harlan Band. Hello Radu," Elmira said. The Spung psychic was waiting apparently for an invitation to come on board.
" Elmira!" Radu cried. He ran towards the young Spung and grabbed her in a bear hug, though being careful not to harm her. Harlan had to jump back as Radu wheeled Elmira around, almost allowing Elmira's Spung tail to knock Harlan to the ground. Harlan then grabbed a mike from the wall and called up the ComPost.
" Commander, the Spung is friendly. And Radu is happy to see her," Harlan said.
" Her... Elmira?" Goddard asked, surprised.
" The Christa is an excellent judge of character," Thelma said helpfully.
" So I've heard, Thelma," Davenport said, annoyed.
" Mr. Band, Mr. Radu, please escort Miss Elmira to the Command Post," Goddard ordered.
" On our way," Harlan said.
" Who's Elmira?" Terrien asked.
" A Spung fortune teller, and the daughter of Warlord Shank," Goddard explained.
" Shank? Warlord Shank? I remember hearing he was in charge of the attack fleet that destroyed the colony ship! And you're just letting his daughter come onboard our ship?" Terrien cried.
" She has a previous record with us. She helped us escape Warlord Shank's Killcruiser. And he somehow disabled her abilities when we discovered the Christa's sister ship," Goddard said.
" And she sent a psychic message to Radu, warning him that the Spung were coming to destroy the Christa while we were stranded on the alien planet," Rosie added.
" But, Commander-"
" Mr. Walker, Elmira has proven her worth to this crew in the past. She can be trusted, and she will be given the same amount of respect as you would give to me. Is that clear?" Goddard barked.
" Yes, Commander," Terrien sighed.
" Commander, if this is all, should we stand down from red alert?" Cat asked.
" Right. Mr. Walker, perhaps it would be best if you went and followed in with what our plans were before the Spung arrived," Goddard said.
" Yes, sir," Terrien mumbled. He headed down the jumptubes just as Elmira, Harlen, and Radu arrived through the doors.
" Who does this Spung think she is, coming on board with no warning," Terrien muttered, pulling up something out of the database at random. His anger at Elmira suddenly left his mind. " What in the..." Suddenly, the ship rocked.
" Battlestations! This is not a drill!" Goddard barked.
" What is that?" Goddard asked.
" It resembles a Spung Super Killcruiser," Thelma said matter-of- factly.
" A Super Killcruiser?" Cat cried.
" Rumors were flying around near the end of the war about Super Killcrusiers, but that's all the UPP thought they were- Rumors," Goddard said.
" Well, we can confirm that for the UPP- After being blown up to oblivion!" Davenport cried.
" Sending a message to the UPP after being blown up is a physical impossibility, Miss Davenport," Thelma said calmly.
" How very reassuring," Bova said.
" Band, keep us one step ahead of them. Cat, where's Krill's Killcruiser?" Goddard barked. Before Cat could say anything, there was a blinding flash of light. When it died down, the Super Killcruiser was blasting at a debris field.
" If I had to guess, I'd say that the Super Killcruiser is finishing it off now," Cat sighed.
" And we're probably going to be next," Bova said.
" Not helping," Goddard growled. " Suzee, can we make a hyperspace jump?" he called down to the engine room.
" Not for another ten minutes," Suzee grumbled.
" We'll be a debris field by then!" Radu cried.
" Perhaps I can assist you," Elmira said, " As there are a few female Warlords in the Spung hierarchy."
" Any Spung Warlord would know that you're Warlord Shank's daughter," Goddard brought up.
" Do we have much choice, Commander?" Rosie asked. Goddard paused to look at the Super Killcruiser, nearing the complete destruction of the debris field.
" All right. Thelma, try and synthesize a Warlord uniform for Elmira," Goddard ordered.
" Yes, Commander," the android said and shook as she began synthesizing the outfit, which she promptly began to pull out of her mouth.
" How does all that fit in there?" Harlan asked, turning away. Thelma finished and, with a smile, gave the outfit to Elmira, which she took with a slight grimace. Elmira walked out into the hall to change. Thelma pointed to the Super Killcruiser.
" Danger, Harlen Band. Danger," she said, motioning to a frag torpedo the Killcruiser had just fired.
" Whoa!" Harlan said, turning the ship harshly to the right, barely avoiding the torpedo. Elmira entered, looking very dangerous in the Warlord outfit.
" Elmira, please, stand in front of Mr. Band. Rosie, hail the Super Killcruiser. Everyone, try and look conquered," Goddard ordered. Thelma promptly knocked her activation crystal slightly out of its socket, turning her off. Davenport reached for it.
" No, no. Leave her like that," Goddard said.
" They're responding," Rosie said. A lizardly Spung face appeared on the screen.
" I am Warlord Kram. You shall be-" Kram stopped when he spotted Elmira. " What?" he asked, his eyes narrowing.
" I am Warlord Kricha. This vessel is under my command. You will cease fire and return to Spung space immediately," Elmira ordered. Kram glared at her, then smiled.
" Nice try. You think I am not aware what the daughter of the Supreme Warlord Shank looks like? You will surrender or face the same fate as the ship we just eliminated. I give you... three of your minutes to think it over," Kram snickered. He pressed a button off screen, killing the feed.
" Nice try," Goddard said. " Suzee, engine status?"
" Give me three and a half minutes, and we'll be out of here," Suzee replied.
" Band, Kram will be back on in a few minutes. Prepare for some fancy flying in case I can't hold him off for the few seconds Suzee will need to get us out of here," Goddard ordered.
" I'm on it, Commander," Harlan said. What was left of the three minutes flew by. Kram's image reappeared.
" Well. Have you decided to surrender to me?" Kram snickered.
" We... need some time to get our affairs in order," Goddard said.
" You will stop stalling and surrender or we will destroy you," Kram growled.
" You wouldn't dare, not with the daughter of Warlord Shank on board!" Radu cried.
" Warlord Shank has declared her a 'casualty of the war with the United Populated Planets.'" Kram snickered.
" What war?" Goddard growled.
" The one that will start with your deaths," Kram cackled, ending the link.
" Suzee..." Goddard started.
" Harlan, it's time to put those piloting skills you boast about to the test," Suzee said.
" We're outta here," Harlan smiled. The Christa rocketed away as Kram's Super Killcruiser fired a frag torpedo.
" Commander, we've got to talk," Terrien said, coming up across Goddard as he walked towards his room.
" Mr. Walker, I've got to help assess the damage the Super Killcruiser inflicted on us. So, if it's not absolutely important-"
" But Commander, I may have figured out something about the ship," Terrien said. Goddard stopped in his tracks.
" What?"
" Or... something like that. I unintentionally accessed while... uh... I was mad at Elmira, who I understand tried to help us out against the Spung-"
" The point, Mr. Walker?"
" Oh. Right. The Christa was built by the Lumanians, as you know- but only two years ago! Commander, there is a complete database of Lumanian ships here, and the one the Christa encountered was a year and a half older. When the ship crashed on that planet, it reset the ship's biological clock. Sir, the ship is the reason the Spung want us: They've captured Lumania and want all its technology for themselves."
" Hey! Terrien!" Harlen called.
" Oh, yeah Harlen?" Terrien asked.
" Could you pass me the hypotool?" Harlen asked.
" Sure. Catch," Terrien said, tossing Harlen the instrument. Harlen caught it.
" Thanks, man," Harlen said. He was working on a new project for Miss Davenport's class.
" So, now that Cat's back on board, how do you think the ship will be different?" Terrien asked.
" Well, Radu will need a pair of earmuffs, that's for sure," Harlen chuckled.
" Oh, yeah, the Andromedan hearing thing and the Saturnian sonic scream thing," Terrien said, " What are the chances we'll run into the Spung any time on our journey?" " Pretty good. Unfortunately," Harlan said. " I guess you're right. I mean, it's not very likely that they are going to let us get away with destroying three of their Killcrusiers or trapping Warlord Shank on Pezu's station."
" You have a point there man," Harlen said.
Cat and Suzee walked through one of the corridors of the Christa.
" Cat, I can't believe we're finally both in the same dimension," Suzee smiled.
" I know. It's amazing. I bet they don't think you're imaginary anymore, huh?" Cat smiled.
" You've said that a lot, mainly to Harlen," Suzee said slyly.
" Don't forget Miss Davenport. They were the ones who firmly thought you weren't real."
" Hmm, true. So, how's it going with Terrien and you?" Suzee asked.
" What do you mean?" Cat asked.
" I see the way you two have looked at each other since you got back," Suzee smiled.
" Oh, and you kissing Harlen and Radu didn't give you those looks for a while?"
" You kissed? Give me the details!"
" We have not kissed!" Cat cried.
" Uh huh. Well, what if I call up Terrien and-"
" Don't you dare!" Cat said. Suzee yanked the compupad out of Cat's hand. " Suzee! Give me that back!" As the two ran off, they nearly bumped into Radu and Bova.
" What's going on here?" Radu asked.
" We were messing around, Radu," Suzee said.
" And what makes you think we have to respond to you Radu?" Cat asked, folding her arms.
" Just curious. I mean, Bova and I were about to go check and see if this nebula we picked up on sensors had the right kind of matter for us to use for some engine fuel," Radu said, " And we needed to head down to the MedLab to get some containers from Rosie in the medical bay."
" Oh. Okay," Cat said. She then grabbed the comm unit out of Suzee's hands and hit a control on the jump tube.
" Excuse me. I have a Saturnian to kill," Suzee said, and jumped after Cat.
T.J. Davenport arrived on the comm post.
" Commander? Commander Goddard? Are you here?" she asked. The Commander rolled out from under a console.
" What is it, Miss Davenport?" Goddard asked.
" Commander, I'm not sure that this Terrien Walker is an appropriate addition to our crew," Davenport said.
" Missed your class today, didn't he?" Goddard asked.
" Yes," Davenport sighed.
" He was with Thelma during classes today. They were busy with a few things that might help improve our chances if we run across the Spung again," Goddard said.
" Commander, I think that you are seeing way too much of yourself in young Mr. Walker. If you think that I do not see him as another student, you are very wrong," Davenport growled.
" I'm sorry, what was that?" Goddard asked. Davenport growled. " Miss Davenport, Terrien is being very helpful with us right now, and it's probably best if we allow him some time to adjust. Not to mention he's just lost several people dear to him. The grief and impact of it probably haven't completely set in with him yet. Give him time," Goddard sighed. Davenport glared at Goddard for another couple of seconds then stormed out in frustration. Goddard chuckled. Grabbing a comm device, he turned it on. " Cat, Terrien, could you come up to the Command Post?" he asked. Moments later, the human and Saturnian came through the jump tubes.
" You wanted to see us, Commander? Cat asked.
" Yes. I wanted to know if there was anything you could do to help me figure out just how to find any weapons on the Christa like there were on her sister ship. Cat, do you remember anything from the blueprints you and Harlan found?" Goddard asked.
" I'll coordinate with Harlan to figure it out," Cat said.
" Good. Terrien, you and Thelma were going over the blueprints of your ship and the Christa. What did you find?" Goddard asked.
" Nothing, Commander. My colony ship with completely inorganic, and when mixed in with the Christa's components, at the very least, it would end up injuring the ship, or maybe even killing her. And if we ever ran across the Lumanians, they might get angry and use ships with weapon capabilities like the ones that the other ship had, destroying us. Or we could be stranded," Terrien sighed.
" All right. Well, maybe we should begin researching everything in the ship's database, see if we can find anything that will help us," Goddard suggested.
" Commander, I was thinking, maybe the alterations to the ship that occurred when you crashed might have an effect on the working of certain systems. I mean, you saw how Thelma was affected," Terrien suggested.
" No, she was always like that," Goddard said. Terrien chuckled.
" I meant how her appearance changed," Terrien said.
" Oh. Well, we can investigate that and-" Goddard was interrupted by a proximity alarm. " Uh oh." Goddard turned on the communications systems. " Radu, Bova, the investigating mission is canceled. Everyone, report to your battle stations. There is a Spung Killcrusier on long range sensors," Goddard barked. Cat ran to the science station Suzee had often helmed while Terrien punched in med lab in the jump tubes to get an emergency kit. Harlen, Radu, and Bova came in by the jumptubes and Davenport and Thelma arrived from the corridor.
" Commander, what is the cruiser doing?" Davenport asked.
" It looks like it's. it's launching a pod?" Cat asked, surprised.
" Commander, they're hailing us," Radu said as Terrien reached the ComPost with the med kit.
" Screen on," Goddard said. The lizard-like appearance of a Spung appeared on the screen.
" Commander Goddard, I presume?" he asked.
" That's right," Goddard growled.
" I am Krill of the Spung Revisionist Community," the Spung said.
" The what?" Goddard asked.
" The Spung Revisionist Community. I'm not surprised you have not heard of it, as our government attempts to keep it under wraps. We are a group of Spung who wish to change our government's standing with the UPP. We wish for peace, not warfare," Krill said.
" That would explain the lack of the title 'Warlord,'" Terrien said, but he sounded suspicious.
" Commander Goddard, our leader has requested to be transported to the UPP with you. This is also to insure that should the rest of us fall, the Revisionists shall not," Krill said.
" Who is your leader?" Goddard asked.
" They will dock with you soon. You shall see. Good day, Commander," Krill said. He killed the connection.
" Wait, we didn't-" Goddard had started.
" Commander, we can't just let a Spung come on board without our permission!" Davenport cried.
" Do not worry, Miss Davenport. The Christa is an excellent judge of character. She will decide if the Spung is not going to harm us," Thelma. said.
" Be that as it may, Band, Radu, head down to the airlock and meet our. guest," Goddard ordered. Harlan and Radu nodded and punched in the airlock code in the jumptubes.
Radu and Harlan ran down the hall to the airlock.
" I don't get it. Why would any Spung want to be here with us?" Harlan asked Radu.
" I don't know," Radu said. Before either one could say anything else, the airlock began to open. All Radu saw was the bright red hair.
" Hello Harlan Band. Hello Radu," Elmira said. The Spung psychic was waiting apparently for an invitation to come on board.
" Elmira!" Radu cried. He ran towards the young Spung and grabbed her in a bear hug, though being careful not to harm her. Harlan had to jump back as Radu wheeled Elmira around, almost allowing Elmira's Spung tail to knock Harlan to the ground. Harlan then grabbed a mike from the wall and called up the ComPost.
" Commander, the Spung is friendly. And Radu is happy to see her," Harlan said.
" Her... Elmira?" Goddard asked, surprised.
" The Christa is an excellent judge of character," Thelma said helpfully.
" So I've heard, Thelma," Davenport said, annoyed.
" Mr. Band, Mr. Radu, please escort Miss Elmira to the Command Post," Goddard ordered.
" On our way," Harlan said.
" Who's Elmira?" Terrien asked.
" A Spung fortune teller, and the daughter of Warlord Shank," Goddard explained.
" Shank? Warlord Shank? I remember hearing he was in charge of the attack fleet that destroyed the colony ship! And you're just letting his daughter come onboard our ship?" Terrien cried.
" She has a previous record with us. She helped us escape Warlord Shank's Killcruiser. And he somehow disabled her abilities when we discovered the Christa's sister ship," Goddard said.
" And she sent a psychic message to Radu, warning him that the Spung were coming to destroy the Christa while we were stranded on the alien planet," Rosie added.
" But, Commander-"
" Mr. Walker, Elmira has proven her worth to this crew in the past. She can be trusted, and she will be given the same amount of respect as you would give to me. Is that clear?" Goddard barked.
" Yes, Commander," Terrien sighed.
" Commander, if this is all, should we stand down from red alert?" Cat asked.
" Right. Mr. Walker, perhaps it would be best if you went and followed in with what our plans were before the Spung arrived," Goddard said.
" Yes, sir," Terrien mumbled. He headed down the jumptubes just as Elmira, Harlen, and Radu arrived through the doors.
" Who does this Spung think she is, coming on board with no warning," Terrien muttered, pulling up something out of the database at random. His anger at Elmira suddenly left his mind. " What in the..." Suddenly, the ship rocked.
" Battlestations! This is not a drill!" Goddard barked.
" What is that?" Goddard asked.
" It resembles a Spung Super Killcruiser," Thelma said matter-of- factly.
" A Super Killcruiser?" Cat cried.
" Rumors were flying around near the end of the war about Super Killcrusiers, but that's all the UPP thought they were- Rumors," Goddard said.
" Well, we can confirm that for the UPP- After being blown up to oblivion!" Davenport cried.
" Sending a message to the UPP after being blown up is a physical impossibility, Miss Davenport," Thelma said calmly.
" How very reassuring," Bova said.
" Band, keep us one step ahead of them. Cat, where's Krill's Killcruiser?" Goddard barked. Before Cat could say anything, there was a blinding flash of light. When it died down, the Super Killcruiser was blasting at a debris field.
" If I had to guess, I'd say that the Super Killcruiser is finishing it off now," Cat sighed.
" And we're probably going to be next," Bova said.
" Not helping," Goddard growled. " Suzee, can we make a hyperspace jump?" he called down to the engine room.
" Not for another ten minutes," Suzee grumbled.
" We'll be a debris field by then!" Radu cried.
" Perhaps I can assist you," Elmira said, " As there are a few female Warlords in the Spung hierarchy."
" Any Spung Warlord would know that you're Warlord Shank's daughter," Goddard brought up.
" Do we have much choice, Commander?" Rosie asked. Goddard paused to look at the Super Killcruiser, nearing the complete destruction of the debris field.
" All right. Thelma, try and synthesize a Warlord uniform for Elmira," Goddard ordered.
" Yes, Commander," the android said and shook as she began synthesizing the outfit, which she promptly began to pull out of her mouth.
" How does all that fit in there?" Harlan asked, turning away. Thelma finished and, with a smile, gave the outfit to Elmira, which she took with a slight grimace. Elmira walked out into the hall to change. Thelma pointed to the Super Killcruiser.
" Danger, Harlen Band. Danger," she said, motioning to a frag torpedo the Killcruiser had just fired.
" Whoa!" Harlan said, turning the ship harshly to the right, barely avoiding the torpedo. Elmira entered, looking very dangerous in the Warlord outfit.
" Elmira, please, stand in front of Mr. Band. Rosie, hail the Super Killcruiser. Everyone, try and look conquered," Goddard ordered. Thelma promptly knocked her activation crystal slightly out of its socket, turning her off. Davenport reached for it.
" No, no. Leave her like that," Goddard said.
" They're responding," Rosie said. A lizardly Spung face appeared on the screen.
" I am Warlord Kram. You shall be-" Kram stopped when he spotted Elmira. " What?" he asked, his eyes narrowing.
" I am Warlord Kricha. This vessel is under my command. You will cease fire and return to Spung space immediately," Elmira ordered. Kram glared at her, then smiled.
" Nice try. You think I am not aware what the daughter of the Supreme Warlord Shank looks like? You will surrender or face the same fate as the ship we just eliminated. I give you... three of your minutes to think it over," Kram snickered. He pressed a button off screen, killing the feed.
" Nice try," Goddard said. " Suzee, engine status?"
" Give me three and a half minutes, and we'll be out of here," Suzee replied.
" Band, Kram will be back on in a few minutes. Prepare for some fancy flying in case I can't hold him off for the few seconds Suzee will need to get us out of here," Goddard ordered.
" I'm on it, Commander," Harlan said. What was left of the three minutes flew by. Kram's image reappeared.
" Well. Have you decided to surrender to me?" Kram snickered.
" We... need some time to get our affairs in order," Goddard said.
" You will stop stalling and surrender or we will destroy you," Kram growled.
" You wouldn't dare, not with the daughter of Warlord Shank on board!" Radu cried.
" Warlord Shank has declared her a 'casualty of the war with the United Populated Planets.'" Kram snickered.
" What war?" Goddard growled.
" The one that will start with your deaths," Kram cackled, ending the link.
" Suzee..." Goddard started.
" Harlan, it's time to put those piloting skills you boast about to the test," Suzee said.
" We're outta here," Harlan smiled. The Christa rocketed away as Kram's Super Killcruiser fired a frag torpedo.
" Commander, we've got to talk," Terrien said, coming up across Goddard as he walked towards his room.
" Mr. Walker, I've got to help assess the damage the Super Killcruiser inflicted on us. So, if it's not absolutely important-"
" But Commander, I may have figured out something about the ship," Terrien said. Goddard stopped in his tracks.
" What?"
" Or... something like that. I unintentionally accessed while... uh... I was mad at Elmira, who I understand tried to help us out against the Spung-"
" The point, Mr. Walker?"
" Oh. Right. The Christa was built by the Lumanians, as you know- but only two years ago! Commander, there is a complete database of Lumanian ships here, and the one the Christa encountered was a year and a half older. When the ship crashed on that planet, it reset the ship's biological clock. Sir, the ship is the reason the Spung want us: They've captured Lumania and want all its technology for themselves."