5: SPACESHIP SUPERSTAR
We were back on a computer terminal looking up star ship designs. We needed a second star ship, and something bigger than a runabout. I needed a ship that was big enough to be capable of standing on its own 'two feet' while taking a small crew. Also, the ship has to be modifiable, to change the quarters decks for angel use.
I was in the shuttle bay looking over the crystalline object that the Emeria angels were trapped in. It was fascinatingly complex. The electronic details within the crystal were unexpected. This device was more than just a prison! The intricacies took a while until … we found the door.
"It has a door?" I asked. Why would a solid device have a door?
"Here it is." Marie answered. She sent a signal and the door actually opened. I stepped aboard.
"OK, this is not a solid device … it's a ship," I stated.
"What do you mean – a ship?" Pense asked.
"It's a ship. The crystalline structure houses a pocket dimension, with access to different levels of that ship. The person who used it last simply put those angels into the cargo hold. If they were on the bridge level, as I am, they would be able to steer this device through out the void. It's a void ship," I concluded.
"It's a what?" Pense asked.
"It's a void ship. A ship designed to travel in the void between universes," I replied. "It creates its own internal dimension to house those who are traveling. The internal space is just over a million cubic meters, corresponding to a sphere of about 50 meters in radius."
"But you said that it can travel through the void?" Pense was totally dumfounded. Nothing should be able to travel through the void, with the exception of planes walkers.
"That is what it was built for," I replied. "I know planes walkers can travel through the void, on their own, but physical beings can't. This ship solves that problem. By the way, the door can be opened to any deck, so those angels were simply put in the cargo hold and cast into the void, with the ship pilot less!" I finished.
"So, the ship is fully operational?" Pense asked.
"Yes it is. If we want an away team to head into the void to check out other multi-verses, this ship would be the perfect vehicle to do it. From the consoles that I have checked out this ship is built for 'planes walking' for non- planes walkers. And from the consoles, I'm pretty sure that humans built this ship."
Razia entered the shuttle bay where the void ship was housed. After a quick briefing from Pense, she turned to me. "Can we use that ship?"
"Yes, we can. I have been aboard, and with Pense I have parsed out what the ship actually does. She is a 'void ship', which is capable of crossing the void between micro- and macro- verses." I finished.
"But what about our second star ship?" Razia asked.
"I have a design in mind: A Valkrie III class frigate. She sports 5 main collimators and a pair of multi-fire torpedo tubes. Her 5 quarters decks can be reduced to three, for the angels, and she sports dual shields. In fact, she is the smallest ship with that capability. So, a crew of about 80, cloak and dual shields will make her the ideal training vessel for the Boros." I beamed.
"All right, 'make it so', to quote one of your famous captains," Razia replied. She had been studying my history!
That brought a smile to my face. Although actually after my time, Captain Picard's command became a defacto standard, and Razia would have read my naval histories, including my electronic ones. I just had to go along with it…
Our new shipyards had its first orders … to build a Valkrie III class frigate.
Alarms were ringing throughout the 'Helion. A new Romulan ship was buzzing us. A Mogai class cruiser over flew us and continued on a northbound heading.
"It looks like Relar has a new ship," I mentioned.
"That one looks more powerful," Razia stated.
"It's a full-up cruiser. Twice the size and 50% more powerful than the 'Helion."
"Only 50% more firepower?" Sara asked.
"The 'Helion is over-gunned," I answered. "Her forward firepower is equivalent to a heavy cruiser's, on a small light cruiser hull. We wanted a ship that fit our small batch of angels but still could kick some serious ass."
"Paranoid human!" Caladea quipped from the engineering console.
"You betcha. You should know my motto-"
"Nobody gets one of your angels!" All the angels on the bridge shouted, in harmony. Now my ears hurt.
A guild mage entered the bridge and handed me a newssheet. The fact that he avoided the angels clued me into reading the sheet. Angel sale? What the hell?
Somebody in my mana-less universe had put out an ad that reached the newssheets of Ravnica. There is a slave auction on Troyus, in the Tellun system. The 'feature' of this slave auction is … angels! With some research, there was also published a guide to 'the Care and Keeping if a Mana-less Angel', produced by the slavers from Troyus. It had all the details for treating your (now) mana-less angels in the mana-less universe. Thus these angels are from a mana-based universe.
"Tell the Azorius that we are leaving," I commanded.
"Where are we going?" Razia asked.
"To a planet called Troyus, in my old universe," I replied.
"And what are we doing there?" Sara had to ask.
"I'm thinking of buying a bunch of angels … "
"Buying … a bunch … of … angels," was Razia's reply.
"There s a slave auction on Troyus. Apparently they have 'angels' for sale. If they are fellow mana-verse angels," I answered.
"You are going to liberate them, as your rescuing gene commands," Razia concluded.
"Aww …"
Another double angel hug ensued. The command chair groaned under the strain. This time we left part of our crew behind. I had the split between the two ship's crews. The only person assigned to the Valkrie III, was left onboard, Ericanj. He was going to guide the 'Helion in this trip. I had left the center seat for him. When Ericanj entered the bridge, there was a ship on the main crew screen. It was a Valkrie III, with modifications. "That's going to be your new command," I informed Ericanj. "We don't have a name for it yet."
"That's OK," Ericanj stated. "We will be on your back, whatever the name is. That ship is a sweet little ship, with a lot of firepower in it, for its size. We should be able to be capable of standing toe to toe with the best…"
"That is why I have commissioned that ship. It's the smallest ship that I would plan on having angels inhabit, as a starship. Your capabilities would be the range of a simple frigate, with a frigate's duties." A frigate could do most of the military duties of a ship, being the smallest of the 'capital ships'. I wasn't going to put my angels in a position to compromise their protection. They might be in control of a small starship, but it will be a full ship with all the benefits of such. Even when I'm not there my motto continues, as I build a second starship for the Boros.
"Well, nobody gets one of your angels," Ericanj stated.
In the short time with us he learned my motto. I just thumped him on the shoulder. "What do you think of my second starship?"
"It's perfect," Ericanj stated. "It's big enough to sport real defenses while small enough to fit our young crew."
"I don't want you all to be running round in runabouts." I was not willing to compromise my ship choice, and Ericanj noticed.
"Now that I understand you, I won't fail you. I'm at your side, whatever it takes." Ericanj stated.
"Well, then, Commander, you need some center seat time." I left the center seat and directed him to it.
"Commander?" Both Ericanj and Razia stated.
"Yes, Commander. If he is going to command a ship, his rank must be at least 'Commander'. Usually it's a captain that commands a ship. But a Commander can captain a frigate, under usual naval tradition. We have just a candidate for this assignment…" I directed Ericanj to the center seat…
"All right then …" Ericanj stated.
"Don't look at me, I'm not here, …" I stated as I left the bridge.
The trip to Troyus was uneventful. Ericanj's first command was rather quiet. But the fun was to ensue in the future. One of the things that we needed to confirm was this 'angel sale' of slaves. Being an Orion planet I was expecting a real sale of mana-verse angels….
Sure enough there were angels for sale. There were three angel 'slaves' up for auction. They commanded premium prices, and had a reserve of 100 bars of latinum. That's the kind of money that makes a good down payment on a small starship. Luckily I keep a substantial portion of my personal fortune on board. I ship my bars of latinum on pallets.
John, Tony, Allan, and myself had beamed down to the planet. We checked into the most luxurious hotel we could find. It had a casino attached. After throwing some money around – just enough to establish our selves as high rollers, we registered as buyers at the auction.
"Are you interested in the Angel Sale?" The auctioneer's assistant asked?
"That's what we are here for," I replied.
"Then you need to leave on deposit 100 bars of latinum," he sneered.
"Fine. Where and when do you want to take delivery of the latinum? I will have a team bring it down from my ship," I replied. He didn't expect me to not flinch at that.
"You are not worried about our security?" He asked.
"Of course not. But cross me, and I will blast this entire planet into rubble. I am the owner of the advanced warship in orbit." It was a fact, when the Parhelion II entered the system she became the most powerful ship there. The planetary defense forces were a trio of gen-3 cruisers. In fact I could probably wipe out every ship here in orbit. I had a funny feeling that I might have to…
The auctioneers were not expecting my delivery method! Six uniformed minotaurs, carrying phaser rifles, were the guards of the shipment, escorting the human with the anti-grav pallet. The latinum was delivered without trouble.
"We are beginning to attract too much attention," I mentioned to John, while we were walking through the casino. We had picked up a tail. There were three thugs flanking us when we entered the elevator. They entered the next one. I pressed the button for the floor below ours. We stepped out, drew our phasers (I refused to be disarmed here, and when they saw how much latinum I deposited in the casino safe they relented) and hit the stairwell. Peering through the stairwell door, the three thugs were armed with disruptors, but were confused when the elevator we were in was empty. Stupid. I stepped out the door and shot all three of them before they could react.
When they came to they were hanging upside down from the balcony railing. "Who sent you?" John asked.
"Nobody!" The first one replied.
"Wrong answer." I fired my phaser, neatly slicing the rope. His screams disappeared into the darkness, as he fell 140 floors to the ground below.
"Have you a better answer?" John questioned from the second.
"I don't know. He didn't say his name! Honest! Just kill me. I face a worse fate if I tell you!"
John put his hand up. He pulled out his phaser, leaned over the balcony and fired into the thug's arm. It burst into flames, and was amputated. John was using the heat setting. The thug screamed while holding his burnt stump. "You had better come up with a better answer than that or you lose both arms!"
We overlooked something. The third thug had a boot knife, and preferred 'death over dishonor'. He sliced through the rope and plunged to his death.
That left us with the 'one armed man' to interrogate. Too bad both our Vulcan's were onboard the Nimbus III.
"Haul him up," I commanded.
"Why?" John asked.
"We won't get any information from him. But we can send a message," I informed.
"What are you doing?" The thug asked.
"Go to your master and give him this message. Mess with us and I will find you. Then I will hunt down everyone who is genetically connected with you and kill him or her. Then I will destroy any abode that houses them. I may even sterilize the entire planet, if I'm pissed off enough. Now Go!" I shoved the one armed thug into the hall and slammed the door.
Auction time. The slave auction started with an assortment of 'regular' humanoid beings, mostly female. It became apparent what the theme of this auction was. All the beings for sale were destined to become sex slaves. Another script was unfolding. The 'Helion was moving out of orbit.
"Where are they going?" The port master wondered as the cruiser left orbit.
"They are … entering geostationary orbit above the auction site," one of the controllers stated.
"That won't help them. If they think that they can buy their way out they have another think coming."
The controller was nervous. "Do you think that angering that powerful ship would be helpful?"
"Only if we get what we want out of them," the port master answered.
But I was here for one purpose only. It took discipline to not just start shooting, to try to free everybody. But even with my advanced ship that could be fatal…
We waited and waited. Eventually we got to the 'Angel Sale'.
"Next up is a special auction. We have an 'angel sale'! There are three angels up for auction. Fulfill your wildest fantasies! The bidding for each will begin at 100 bars of latinum, so registered bidders, have your cards ready!" The auctioneer announced. The three angels were brought out. They were bound in shackles, with their wings tied down by straps. They were dressed in scanty clothing. All three had red streaks under their eyes, about mid-nose height. I recognized this as prolonged agonizer use. These angels had been tortured into submission!
"First up is Sirael. Her measurements are 37 – 25 – 36. She would make any male extremely happy. Bidding starts at 100 BARS of latinum!"
That made most of the people here spectators. Only the very wealthy had that much money, and they had to register with the reserve to participate in the bidding.
The bidding rapidly hit 500 bars of latinum, and I was in the thick of things. When we hit 1000 bars of latinum I was challenged by the only other bidder. "We know about Count Iblis, but he has a point," the auctioneer stated. "We don't know that you can honor your bid."
"Very well," I stated. I spoke into my communicator, and then informed, "you need to stand down your shields."
"You have a one minute window starting now."
I didn't need a minute. As soon as the shields dropped a transport occurred. Six heavily armed minotaurs materialized with a complete pallet of latinum. Anybody familiar with it would have realized that I had beamed down 7500 bars of latinum. "Do I need to beam down some more?" I sarcastically asked.
Count Iblis backed down. "No. It's quite alright," the auctioneer said.
I had won Sirael for 1200 bars of latinum.
"Next up is Arediel, 35 – 25 – 37 …" At this time the 'Helion cloaked and disappeared from every bodies' sensors.
When the bidding ended, I had bought all three angels that were for sale. I was pretty sure that they were Serra angels, trapped by various forces. I now 'owned' Sirael, Arediel, and Elariel.
"What do you want us to do?" Was the angels' response to my purchase. They seemed to expect to remain in their shackles. Considering the scanty clothing they were in, they expected the worst.
"Nothing right now. We need to safely get you off planet…
I was the proud owner of three angels. Total cost, 3300 bars of latinum. Now to get 4300 bars of latinum and 3 angels off the planet.
After the auction an announcement came over the general frequencies. "Sorry to inform everyone, an ion storm has blocked access to orbit. It will be a few hours until it clears."
"Want to bet that is against us?" I asked of John.
We all had our phasers out. "So what now?"
"We beam up to the 'Helion. She is under the ionization.
I pulled out my old fashioned communicator and called my ship. Apparently the auction site was still shielded. I ordered the Ordruun to pack up the remaining latinum and put it into their packs. They did that quickly, each carrying 850 bars in their minotaurs-sized backpacks. "Leave the last 100 as a tip," I concluded. We headed for the exit.
It soon became apparent that nobody wanted us to leave. To bad for them. It looks like there will be a lot of killing, as the Minotaurs unlimbered their phaser rifles and racked a grenade into the attached launcher.
"Weapons free on any and all targets," I ordered.
The shooting commenced. The Minotaurs took out many groups of thugs, while I used my gun-kata to take out specialty targets. I was pretty sure these thugs were all under Count Iblis, as they were the same quality as the previous thugs at the casino.
"We did this just to free three angels?" John queried.
"I'd do it for just one! Ask Pense-"
"OK! Point taken!" John responded.
"Free us?" Elariel asked.
"Of course! Serra angels need to be free," I answered. Elariel was surprised that I knew what she was.
We blasted our way into the streets. We headed into a nearby alley, angels in tow and still in chains. "I need to do something about this. We also need to get out from under the shield…"
"Like you are really going to let us go…"
"Like I said, I bought you to free you," while removing their shackles. They were in total shock.
"You know we can just fly away," Sirael stated.
"If that is your wish then do so. You are free," I responded with. The three angels flew away, disappearing amongst the buildings. Then a few minutes later they returned.
"As if there is anywhere on this planet that we can be free!"
"Then you need to trust me on this. We need to get out from under this shield to reach our ship," I replied. Whether they trusted me or not, the angels stuck with us. We sidled through back alleys and blasted our way outward when necessary. Eventually our ship contacted us.
"K'Tee to Stephen, you are out from under their shields."
"Prepare to beam us up," I ordered.
"We will go with you. So what do you really want?" Elariel asked.
Then I addressed the angels. "I want …" the transporter beamed us up.
"You to integrate with the Boros angels," I concluded. By that time I had introduced the Boros angels to the group. Razia had presented herself to the other angels. "Stephen Michael works for me. You are now free. If you wish you can stay with us, be taken to either Ravnica or Alara, or stay in the mana-less universe."
The new angels looked back and forth between Razia and myself. They quickly detected the life-links.
"Thank you. We were expecting a more hideous fate, when one human bought all of us, and considering what we are dressed in." Sirael stated.
"Like we would be beaming another angel down to an angel slave auction! NOT." I mentioned.
"If we stay with you, what will the future bring?" Arediel asked.
Razia answered. "You will go to the next Boros Starship academy, and join the angels and mortals on one of our starships."
"We are … on one of your starships? How did you get a starship?" Elariel finally spoke up.
"Yes we are, and he had it built at a shipyards here in this mana-less universe." Razia pointed to me.
"Yes I came from this universe and I'm that rich. Where do you think that the money to buy you three came from?"
"You bought us … just to free us? Really?" Arediel asked. She looked skeptical.
"Yes, the rescuing one did," Razia interjected. "It's his nature. I was rescued twice by this man, and Sara was also rescued by him." Razia gave me an embrace. "The mortals also on board are the equals to the angels, and staying with us means working with them."
We were definitely wanted. All of the ships in orbit were scanning. The trap was sprung, but the prey had a 9th generation cloaking device. We passed by the search fleet with impunity. Oops. I thought about shooting down the fleet, but decided to disappear instead.
Sirael, Arediel, and Elariel entered engineering in their new gray cadet uniforms. The next academy wouldn't be for a while, when there were enough suitable candidates, and the Nimbus III was built, but that didn't mean they couldn't start training. All three chose engineering. They fell victim to mana-less technology and desperately wanted to know how to deal with it. Never could have too many engineers, either.
When the Parhelion II landed back on Sunhome, sure enough there was another small batch of angel refugees at Sunhome. You would think that there was an angel hotline out there. But there is, Reya and Elspeth. Those two are incorrigible! There was a beep at my quarters' door. It was the three ex-slaves. "We have a question for you …"
"Well, this is liberty hall. You can spit on the mat and call the cat a bastard." I led them to the chairs around my desk. The 'Helions' captain's quarters were expanded and included my office. They were totally confused by the phrase. "That means you can speak freely here."
"We thank you for rescuing us, as it has appeared that you rescued all the angels aboard this ship." Sirael stated.
"I had help."
"What is your relationship with Razia and Sara?" Elariel asked.
Here we go again. "I am their life-linked companion and lover."
"Both?" Elariel was shocked.
"Yes, both. I'm going to be busy enough keeping my angels satisfied that you didn't have any worries from me!" I just smiled.
"So your relationship is mutual?" Elariel kept going …
"Yes it is," Razia answered as she entered our quarters. She gave me a huge embrace and smooch. "Very mutual!"
Our three new Serra angels were satisfied with their answer.
On the bridge the next day we had already landed the starship atop Sunhome, and took up our 'rightful position' as guardian of Ravi. By now Ericanj had settled into his command role, and that ship was becoming a well-oiled machine. Just a few fitting out of details and that ship was ready to roll. Next it was Alejo's turn…
