Thank you for the reviews people. Keep 'em coming. I really appreciate the reviews.
I still do not own Andromeda or its characters and I am not making any money from this story.
Chapter 2
"Code Black! Everybody to their battle stations. This is not a drill," Mainframe Rommie calmly announced over the Com.
All of the crew immediately headed for the Bridge as quickly as possible. Tyr and Beka arrived at nearly the same time and took their stations on Command.
Harper arrived seconds later slightly out of breath. "Man, who was the genius who thought to put engineering so far from Command?"
Rev arrived as Trance took her station and glance up at the large monitor. A squadron of Sabra Jaguar ships filled the screen.
"It would appear that things just got interesting," Tyr remarked as he watched the approaching enemy ships.
Mainframe Rommie appeared on monitor. "I am receiving an incoming message from the Sabra Jaguars."
That news was no surprise to Dylan. "Let's see what they want."
"To turn us into instant shish kebob of course," Harper piped up.
"Let's not jump to conclusions. We may be able to talk things out," Hunt responded. He didn't really believe talk would work, but it was ingrained in him to always us the diplomacy first.
Tyr and Beka, and Trance glared at the High Guard captain while Harper let out a snort of sarcastic laughter.
"Open a channel Rommie," Dylan directed Mainframe Rommie as he ignored the reaction of his crew.
The Sabra Jaguar's image appeared on the monitor before Dylan could respond to the wisecrack. "I am Captain Dylan Hunt."
"We know who you are Captain," The Sabra Jaguar replied. "You will surrender and prepare to be boarded."
Dylan tried not to let the Sabra Jaguar see the frown that was developing around his mouth. "I don't believe that will be necessary. I am sure that we can come to a mutual understanding without either of our ships having to be boarded. Just what is it you want from us?"
The Sabra Jaguar glared at Hunt before responding. "The time for diplomacy ended when you brought your ship into this sector Captain. We have reason to believe that you have cargo that belongs to the Sabra Jaguar pride. Now stand down and prepare for a boarding parting."
"You know we have no cargo you want. What is it you really want?" Dylan demanded.
"Your ship is transporting a data file that was stolen from the Sabra Jaguar pride. If you do not give it back to us then we will take it back by force if necessary, now prepare for boarding," the Nietzschean threatened.
I don't know what data you think we have onboard, but I can assure you that we have no data or anything else that belongs to the Sabra Jaguar pride. Permission denied." With that he pushed a button and ended the transmission.
AI Rommie raised an eyebrow. "I am going to enjoy making him regret thinking his people can board me."
"Maybe the Sabra Jaguars will just leave us alone. Were about due for a break," Dylan said, knowing it was just wishful thinking.
"And maybe we'll all sprout wings," Tyr remarked as he looked up from his console.
"Now that's a thought," Trance remarked, receiving suspicious glances from her crewmates.
Andromeda was rocked by a blast from a Sabra Jaguar ship. Dylan and the rest of the crew grabbed onto the railing near their stations.
Dylan righted himself and looked at his crew to make sure they all were alright. "It doesn't look like they're going to leave us alone. Fire PM 6s now!"
The Star Arrow missiles flew out of their missile tubes and headed for the Sabra Jaguar ships, hitting their targets. Seconds later Andromeda was hit by more pulsar bursts.
Mainframe Rommie appeared on the view screen. "My defense shields have been compromised. Shields at 63."
Harper immediately began pushing buttons on his console in attempt to repair the defense shields. "I'm working on it Rom-Doll."
"Nine Sabra Jaguar ships have penetrated my defense shields," Mainframe Rommie informed.
Andromeda's defensive rockets destroyed the Sabra Jaguar fighters, but not before she was struck. Andromeda's crew was tossed about the bridge as a result of an onboard explosion. "My slipstream drive has been disabled."
Dylan grabbed onto the railing and pulled himself up. The high guard captain looked around at his crew to see that they were unharmed. The others got up and immediately returned to their stations.
Harper was having some luck repairing the defense shields. Mainframe Rommie immediately made a report. "Defense shields at 78.
"That's not good enough Mr. Harper. We need those shields up," Dylan announced to his engineer.
Harper shrugged his shoulders at his captain. "That's as good as I can do from here. I'm gonna have to go down to engineering and do my usual genius repair job."
Dylan nodded, dismissing the engineer from the bridge. "Mr. Anasazi I need a tactical report."
The Nietzschean barely glanced up from the monitor in front of him. His Nietzschean breeding had allowed him to multitask with great ease. "The Sabra Jaguars have us outnumbered. They appear to be attacking in waves. The first wave of fighters attacks then retreats, making way for the next wave of fighters to attack. They have enough fighters in their fleet to keep this up for longer than we can."
"Fire the PM 6s again. We don't want them getting any closer," Dylan ordered.
Harper stopped off at the machine shop to get the supplies he needed to repair the sensors. When he got to engineering and began working on the defense shields he had his work cut out for him. "Dylan, this is gonna take me a few minutes to get the defense shields back up to max power."
Dylan rolled his eyes upon hearing the information over the Com. "We don't have a few minutes Mr. Harper."
"So tell me something I don't know," the engineer retorted. "I'm going as fast as I can Boss."
While Harper continued tinkering with the defense shield grid other crew members desperately tried keeping the Sabra Jaguar ships from getting through Andromeda's defense shields. Dylan watched the enemy ships on the monitor while Beka began piloting Andromeda into a better position and Tyr analyzed the data.
Holo Rommie materialized on the bridge. "Two Sabra Jaguar fighters have penetrated my perimeter defenses and are heading to the hangar deck."
Dylan walked quickly over to Tyr's station. "Mr. Anasazi and Rommie go to the hangar deck and give our guests an Andromeda Welcome."
"With pleasure Captain," AI Rommie replied before following the Nietzschean off of Command.
Rommie and Tyr met the Sabra Jaguars as soon as the invaders were on the ship's decks. Tyr fired shots from his force lance.
Rommie used a few martial arts moves on one Sabra Jaguar before kicking him hard against a wall. The avatar enjoyed flexing her mechanical muscles. "When my captain denies you permission to board, he means it."
Tyr noticed a far away look on AI Rommie's face. He knew it meant the avatar was processing new information. "What is it avatar?"
"Harper has repaired my defense shields. They are now at 99.2 effectiveness," the avatar informed.
"Good. Are there any Sabra Jaguars left on board?" Tyr asked.
Rommie rolled her eyes as her face took on the far away expression again. The AI tilted her head and started heading up the corridor with Tyr close behind. "There's several left Sabra Jaguars left and Harper's about to run right into one of them. Harper there are Sabra Jaguars heading for your area."
A scowl crossed the Earther's face. "Okay I'm outta here then."
As Dylan's eyes scanned the bridge he noticed Trance was no longer present. He hadn't heard her leave. He didn't even know how long the purple girl had been gone from the bridge or where she was headed. "Anybody know where Trance went?"
Rev paused from his silent meditation. "I was in the middle of saying a prayer for our protection. I did not notice Trance's departure."
Beka merely shrugged her shoulders before returning to piloting Andromeda. Holo Rommie materialized again in front of her captain halting the tirade he was about to start.
"Trance is heading for engineering," Holo Rommie answered.
"Great. What is she doing going there?" Dylan asked. He was now officially exasperated.
"I am detecting the presence of a lone Sabra Jaguar about to meet up with Harper. Trance may be trying to head him off."
Trance hurried to reach the Sabra Jaguar as fast as she could. She could be surprising quick when she wanted to and quickly made up the distance between Command and Engineering. Trance met up with the engineer just over halfway to Engineering.
"Trance what are you doing down here?" Harper asked between gasps for breath.
Trance grabbed the engineer's arm and began leading him down the corridor towards the Bridge. "It's dangerous down here Harper."
"Yeah, I know. There's a Sabra Jaguar loose and he's headed this way,' he informed. The words were no sooner out his mouth then the Sabra Jaguar appeared around the corner up ahead.
The Sabra Jaguar drew his weapon and was about to fire at Trance when Harper shoved his Purple Princess out of the line of fire just in time. Harper tried to fire off his gun, but was too late. The engineer took the full force of laser fire.
Tyr turned the corner and shot Sabra Jaguar from behind. The Sabra Jaguar dropped hard to the deck. Rommie staid at the corner acted as a lookout.
Tyr gave him a cursory glance at the dead Sabra Jaguar as he walked past the intruder to Harper. Trance was already kneeling down beside the fallen engineer. Trance tried to stem the flow of blood from Harper's chest wound.
"Hang on Harper," Trance encouraged as she helped Tyr lift up the engineer.
Tyr carefully carried Harper to Medical with Trance trotting beside. It never failed to surprise the Nietzschean how light and fragile Harper's body was.
Rev rushed to Trance's side and put his furry arms around the purple woman. "Everything will be alright Trance. Master Harper is tougher than he appears.