These are the words of Hung Nguyen. I just have permission to post them and make it easier to read. Just want to give his stuff the recognition it deserves.
I am scrunching both works into one story, maybe even adding something extra. Any new updates will be told here. Think of this as the "Remastered version". Welcoming new and old readers alike!
Disclaimer: It's been a while so I'm not too rusty. Ranma , Tekkman Blade and Vandread all belong to their respective owners, so don't bother me with all these lawsuits.
italics: Thoughts
Chapter 25 Part 3
Getting Together
Tekkaman Dagger growled with disgust as he stood before his master Darkon. What he had to tell his lord would definitely not please him in the slightest.
"Dagger, report."
The space warrior nodded as he replied. "I apologize for my recent failure to capture the crew of the Tarak warship..."
Flashback to a few hours before...
The Tarak heavy cruiser Sword Spirit was badly damaged and drifting after a prolonged battle with a horde of Spider-Crabs. The ship had been on a recon mission when it had been surprised by the Radam monsters. Though the outnumbered crew and its Vanguard squadron had fought bravely, the outcome of the battle had been inevitable. The engines had been torn completely out of their housings. Most systems were now on emergency power only. There were several gaping holes in the hull. Frayed circuitry and ruptured conduits let off intermittent sparks and puffs of gases. Its guns were mangled and blackened. Floating in the vacuum in the immediate area were the wreckages of Vanguards and human bodies. However, for every destroyed mecha, at least thirty Spider-Crabs went down before the pilot perished. The entire sector of space was littered with the gory remains of the Radam horrors. The Sword Spirit's mecha squadron was considered among the best in the Imperial Fleet, just below the level of the Fire Heart's famed Brawler Brigade.
On the devastated bridge of the ship, a lone armored figure held up the commander of the vessel by the throat. Captain Horan Crusel gasped as he tried to keep himself from blacking out. His bloodied hands gripped Dagger's armored wrist to support himself. His eyes locked with the visored helmet of Darkon's servant. His mouth was fixed in a snarl. His uniform was in tatters, along with his bridge crew. However, he remained defiant as Dagger addressed him.
"Well now, Captain. I must admit that you and your crew put up quite a fight. It took many more Spider-Crabs than I thought to break through your defenses. If I hadn't joined in, then you may have had a chance to drive them back. You certainly are sturdier than those women from Mejele."
"So... what are... you waiting for?" Horan gasped. "Finish it!"
"Oh no." Dagger wagged a finger at him with his free hand. "We're not about let such fine specimens go to waste."
"What... are you... talking about?"
Dagger smirked behind his faceplate. "You men of Tarak are quite the fighters. That battle instinct is perfect for our needs. And the fact that your genetic makeup is hardier than those women from Mejele is also in your favor. A pity that we couldn't take your Vanguard pilots alive. They would have been the best candidates."
"Candidates?"
"Yes. We intend to make more Tekkamen. And you and your crew shall be the first in a new generation of warriors to our Lord Darkon!"
"Like Hell!" Horan spat. "You aren't going to... use any man against... Tarak!"
"You don't have a choice." Dagger said matter-of-factly. "As we speak, the Spider-Crabs are already gathering your crew. Soon they shall be taken by the Tekkapods and converted into servants of the Radam!"
"Over... my... dead... body!"
The Tekkaman chuckled. "Oh, you WOULD like me to do that. And I am VERY tempted to oblige you. However, my orders are to capture as many subjects as possible, and you shall be sharing your crew's fate. You cannot die until Lord Darkon tells you to."
"I ONLY... obey... Lord... Grand Pa!" With his fading strength, he reached down with his right hand and pressed a secret button hidden on the rank insignia on his chest. A beeping noise was heard on the console behind him.
Dagger saw the flashing light then demanded. "What did you do!?"
The Captain of the Sword Spirit grinned as he said with the last of his breath. "I guess I... should have warned you. Our entire conversation... was recorded and was... just sent back to Tarak by tachyon beam. Oh yeah... by the way... you're not getting anyone... from this ship. I also activated... the auto-destruct sequence... you got fifteen seconds..."
"NO!"
Dagger threw away the captain and charged toward the console to stop the countdown. The broken body of Horan Crusel landed hard on the floor, but at this point, he didn't care about the pain that was rippling through his very being. He smirked as the Tekkaman smashed the console apart in vain. Once activated, the auto-destruct could not be halted. As the timer reached zero, he let off one final cry of defiance.
"LONG LIVE GRAND PA!"
The Sword Spirit was ripped apart as its main drive and fusion generators overloaded and exploded. Like the Crimson Twillight from Mejele, the proud Tarak vessel would meet its end in a blaze of glory. The Spider-Crabs aboard were reduced to cinders, along with the crew. Only one person survived the conflagration.
When the explosion subsided, Dagger floated alone among the burned out remains of the ship, along with the remnants of Vanguards and Spider-Crabs. Not a single Tarak man survived. Not one was left to turn into a Tekkaman. Dagger would have to return empty-handed.
Darkon was not going to be pleased.
End of Flashback...
As he had guessed, his master was indeed displeased at his recent failure.
"You disappoint me, Dagger." Darkon said with a quiet, though unmistakable tone of contempt. "You let some prime raw material slip through your fingers."
"My apologies, Lord Darkon." Dagger bowed his head while kneeling before his ruler. "I had assumed that the men of Tarak would follow their basic instincts for self-preservation, not willingly end their lives."
"It is a mistake that may cost us dearly." The Radam warlord pointed out. "Now, thanks to your bumbling, our enemies now know of our intent to convert any prisoners into Tekkamen to use against them. I suspect that they will take extreme measures to prevent this."
"Surely we can still defeat them with our overpowering numbers of Spider-Crabs?" Dagger insisted. "And we still have those Mejele prisoners that we can transform."
Darkon gave him a dismissive wave with his right hand. "And they are the very reason why we are gathering the men. You showed me yourself that those women's genetic structure was not resilient enough to withstand the Tekkaman Power Process. At this time, we've only managed to convert a few of them, but they must remain in stasis until they can be deployed in battle. The instability of their Tekkaman forms will only allow them to live for a few days, perhaps no more than several hours."
"I understand, Lord Darkon. I shall not fail you again."
"Be certain that you do not. Already I am receiving a transmission from Axe. It seems that the men of Tarak are implementing a most dire battle strategy..."
Back on Tarak...
It was only a half-hour since the death of the Sword Spirit, when Grand Pa received the final message from Captain Crusel. His wrinkled face became stern as he listened to the recording of the final moments of the once proud warship. The message ended with the words:
"LONG LIVE GRAND PA!"
This declaration was followed by an explosion which canceled out all noises. Then there was nothing but static as the transmission ended. With a withered index finger, he reached out and shut off the recording. He let off a tired sigh as his aide stood by his desk. Then, without addressing anyone in particular, he spoke.
"An entire Alpha heavy cruiser... five hundred and fifty brave men gone."
The aide then approached his liege with a data pad, ready to take down any new orders. Grand Pa noted his approach and began issuing his commands.
"Captain Horan Crusel was one of the most dedicated officers in the Imperial Fleet and the crew of the Sword Spirit is to be commended for their bravery in combat. They will be sorely missed. Crusel shall be posthumously awarded the Imperial Battle Cross, First Rank. The Sword Spirit and its crew shall be awarded the Imperial Citation of Valor, posthumously as well. As for the Vanguard pilots, each shall be posthumously awarded the Armor Star Medal of Bravery."
"Yes, Grand Pa." The aide said as he recorded each of the awards to be delivered to the surviving families.
"Furthermore" The elderly man took a deep breath as he issued his newest orders. " it is with a sad and heavy heart that I must issue this command. All members of the Tarak Armed Forces must now implement General Order 75 Omega."
This declaration took the aide by total surprise when he heard it, causing him to almost drop his data pad. He quickly recovered and asked his lord. "Excuse me, Great Grand Pa, but did I hear you correctly? Did you just say General Order 75 Omega?"
"You heard me correctly. Implement General Order 75 Omega."
The aide stood in silence in sheer disbelief. He was still in shock at hearing the most dire of orders being given by Grand Pa himself.
The elderly leader of the all-male world noted his aide's alarmed expression and nodded. "Please understand. I do NOT issue this command lightly. I have no intention of ordering the men of Tarak to throw their lives away. Therefore, this order is be executed as a LAST resort."
On the Fire Heart...
Jensen Dar stared at the report that he had just received on his desk's console. He remained silent for a very long time as he read over the final moments of the Sword Spirit. The late Captain Crusel had been a close friend of his and they had graduated from the same class at the Academy. Then his console flashed a second report, which depicted the fate of two other vessels. Then an important message followed the report. At that point, Jensen became very uneasy.
It was then that he heard the front office door beeped.
"Come in."
Hikar Fulson entered the office, a grave look on his face as he addressed his captain.
"Captain. I need to speak to you about something. I just received a Class Omega Order."
Then the door beeped again.
Come in." The captain said.
His new female First Officer entered the room with a puzzled look about her. She saluted the commander of the Vanguard squadron, then saluted to the captain. Both saluted back to her as Jensen stood up.
Aika Shan nodded to both as she spoke toward them. "Captain, I just received a very strange order on the console in my room. It says something about implementing General Order 75 Omega. I didn't find this order on that translated Officer's Handbook you gave to me. What does it mean?"
The Fire Heart's captain nodded as he replied. "I'm not surprised you don't know about it. Omega-Class orders are not written down. They're normally taught personally at the Academy to officers and master sergeants like Old Gun here. I guess the higher ups didn't take into account of our new officers from Mejele when they sent out those commands. Basically speaking, Omega-Class orders are from Grand Pa himself and he doesn't give them out without a very good reason."
"So what does General Order 75 mean?"
Both men took on an apprehensive expression as Jensen motioned for her to approach his desk's console. He then gestured at the reports on the screen.
"Look at these reports. They detail what happened to a reconnaissance fleet that was patrolling an area that had Spider-Crab sightings. This happened about four hours ago. Unfortunately, three ships did encounter the Radam and two Tekkamen."
"And what happened to them?" Aika asked, though she had a feeling that she already knew.
Jensen nodded toward her apprehensive expression and answered. "The heavy cruiser Sword Spirit suffered 100 casualties when their commander decided to activate the auto-destruct sequence. As for the cruisers Blade Breaker and Steel Will... well, they had just received General Order 75 when the Radam found them an hour ago..."
Flashback...
On the bridge of the Steel Will, Vice-Admiral Jokan Desarra looked at the readout on his console with a bit of a shocked expression. He was a gruff individual with gray hair and a stern disposition. At the time, he couldn't believe what he was reading.
General Order Seventy-five Omega?! Grand Pa cannot be serious!
Simultaneously on the Blade Breaker's bridge, Commodore Haradi Fulta was thinking the exact same thing. He was a decade younger than the vice-admiral and had russet hair. At the time, both cruisers were traveling through a sector of space just a few parsecs from where the Defense Asteroid Belt once was. It had been a quiet trip with nothing out of the ordinary happening. That is, until both vessels passed by what appeared to be a stray comet. However, that was when all Hell broke loose.
A sizzling flash of light appeared from the head of the speeding ball of ice and slashed through the stern of the Steel Will. The ship lurched to its starboard side from the impact, its engines crippled from the surprise attack. As the crew scrambled to their battle stations, monstrous invaders began appearing from within the head and tail of the comet.
On the Blade Breaker, Haradi Fulta gave out orders for his Vanguard squadrons to launch and help provide cover for the stricken Steel Will. At the same time, the large particle gun turrets and missile batteries traversed and started laying down massive barrages against the enemy. However, for every Spider-Crab that was shot down, two more would take its place. Then his main screen displayed an ominous figure appearing to lead the horrors. As his armored form became visible, the Commodore immediately recognized him from the Nirvana's profiles on the enemy Tekkamen. His blood ran cold as uttered out his name.
"Tekkamen Axe."
In the vacuum of space, the brute known as Axe smiled as he watched the Steel Will struggle to fend off its attackers. However, with its main engines offline (courtesy of the initial swipe from his Tekka-Axe), the Tarak cruiser could do little but move feebly about with its maneuvering thrusters. Confident that the Spider-Crabs would soon overwhelm the vessel, he then turned his attention to the Blade Breaker.
Lord Darkon would be pleased, if he were to bring back not one, but two Tarak vessels filled with new candidates for the Tekkapods. With that thought, he sped toward the second cruiser.
Aboard the Blade Breaker, Commodore Fulta's crew desperately fought to defend their ship, while their Vanguards continued to fight off the Spider-Crabs that threatened the Steel Will. However, it was a losing battle as more Spider-Crabs pierced the hulls of both ships and began wreaking havoc. These were smaller versions than normal, which made them perfect for infiltration. It was then that one of the bridge officers cried out.
"Commodore! Tekkaman Axe is on an intercept course with us! I'm also receiving reports on several hull breeches by Spider-Crabs on decks 12, 15 and 20!"
"Have all remaining batteries concentrate their fire on Tekkaman Axe! Shoot him down!"
It was then that the main screen came to life, showing the bloodied and bruised visage of Vice-Admiral Jokan Desarra. Behind him, his bridge was in ruins.
"Belay that order!" The Vice-Admiral commanded.
"What?!"
The older man took on a solemn expression as he gave the Commodore his final commands. "Commodore, the Steel Will is lost. The Spider-Crabs have just reached our main reactors and shut them down. We can't fire back."
True to his words, the guns on the vice-admiral's ship shut down and became useless. More Spider-Crabs penetrated the hull and started gathering up the helpless men.
Desarra took a deep breath and said, "Commodore, you must implement General Order Seventy-five Omega! Aim your guns at coordinates 79-49-26! Target the Steel Will!"
"WHAT?! I CAN'T DO THAT!" Haradi protested, not believing that his superior had just ordered him to fire on his own ship.
"You must fire on us now! That initial attack had damaged the auto-destruct system! You must detonate our remaining ammunition and ordinance storage bays. Do it now!"
The Commodore gripped the arms of his command chair in frustration as the screen then depicted a scene of carnage where the bridge doors blew open and the Radam horrors entered. The screams of the bridge crew galvanized his resolve as he barked out his commands.
"All forward guns and batteries! Aim at coordinates 79-49-26! Target the Steel Will! OPEN FIRE!"
The guns of the Blade Breaker let loose with a murderous barrage that took out anything in its path. Spider-Crabs that were still out in space were torn apart. When the shots reached the Steel Will, they struck the areas where the ammunition, power packs, and missiles were stored. The ship shuddered from the impacts, then was engulfed in a series of explosions. The Steel Will and all those aboard, including their Spider-Crab invaders, perished.
As the ship died, all remaining Vanguards then turned their attention to protecting the other vessel. They all began attacking Tekkaman Axe, but he causally annihilated all who opposed him, thinking that collecting individual pilots would be too much trouble. It would be more efficient to capture the remaining ship and all of its crew in one fell swoop. However, as the last of the Vanguards fell, the commander of the Blade Breaker came to a decision. With his ship now infested with Spider-Crabs and the Tekkaman approaching, there was only one option left... General Order Seventy-Five Omega.
With a solemn expression, he activated the auto-destruct sequence.
Thirty seconds later, Axe was engulfed by the explosion as he approached the hull of the Blade Breaker. Like Dagger, the Tekkaman cried out in frustration. Though he would survive the blast, his intended prisoners would not. At this point, he began to regret killing those Vanguard pilots. Now, he too would have to return with nothing to show for his efforts.
Back to the present...
"They fired on their own comrades?!" Aika said in total disbelief.
"They were fulfilling Grand Pa's General Order Seventy-Five Omega." Jensen let off a sad sigh.
Old Gun then explained. "Basically speaking, the order is to fight to the last man, and leave NO survivors for the enemy. Being taken prisoner is NOT an option and we are to prevent that from occurring by any means possible."
"And that includes killing your own men?!"
Hikar Fulson nodded. "The order includes all Vanguard pilots and the Armored Ground Forces, as well as the crews of the Imperial Fleet and the Sentinel Stations. And if it comes to it, this order also includes the general populace of our home planet. I've already given the command for my men to arm their self-detonation switches every time before they go into combat. If necessary, I could detonate them remotely from my Vanguard."
"You can't be serious! Why are you following such a crazy order?!" Aika asked.
Jensen took over the conversation. "According to the last entry by the captain of the Sword Spirit, the Radam are trying to capture Tarak males to turn into Tekkamen to be used against us. I would guess that Lord Grand Pa wishes to prevent that from happening. From a strategic point of view, I have to agree with him. Right now, we are barely equal to the Radam forces with the alliance between Mejele and Tarak, as well as the other human worlds and the Nirvana's Tekkamen. If the Radam were to produce more Tekkamen, it would tip the scales in their favor."
Aika couldn't help but agree. Just two Tekkamen had done a lot of devastation the last time they were in Tarak space. An entire army of them was too horrible to imagine. Then she realized something.
"What about the women of Mejele and those serving on Tarak ships? Does the order apply to us as well?"
Jensen remained silent for a long while before replying. "No. It does not. Apparently, the Radam are not after more Mejele prisoners, nor have we seen any evidence that they had transformed the ones they already have into Tekkamen. I'm sorry to say this, but we can only assume that NONE had survived the process, or we would have been conquered by now. Do not worry though. If we must fulfill the order, then we shall make certain that you and your comrades will be safe before we meet our end. That is my promise."
The former Mejele commander was rendered speechless after her superior had promised her safety before he would die. The men were WILLING to place the women's safety before their own?
Jensen then added, "Now don't get me wrong. We men value our lives as much as you women value yours. We don't just carelessly throw our lives away. And frankly, I feel that General Order Seventy-Five Omega works just much against us as it does for the enemy. At times, I think it works more for the enemy then it does for us."
"You do?" Aika was shocked to hear a man actually disagree with Grand Pa's decisions.
The captain nodded. "I do and so does Old Gun here. Even if the Radam doesn't get any prisoners to convert into Tekkamen, and if the Tarak men were able to escape capture by killing themselves, that only leaves the Radam less enemies to deal with later. We can always make more ammunition and Vanguards, but replacing good fighting personnel is a LOT harder. We are literally cutting down our own fighting power every time we implement Order Seventy-Five. Therefore, it is up to the discretion of the commanding officers to decide when and IF to execute the order if there is ABSOLUTELY no other options."
"I see."
Jensen noted his First Officer's understanding of his words, then put in his final comment. "We're not cold machines that blindly follow commands. We're flesh and blood, just like you women. I'm hoping that everyone will realize that when the Radam finally come for us."
Meanwhile, the ship's Mess Hall...
Siloma Ianesk sighed as she gazed at her plate of nutrition pills with a totally bored expression. She absently twirled the spoon in her hands as she contemplated consuming the horrid things or send them out with the rest of the garbage during her next work detail. It had been about ten days since her foul-up with the ventilation system, and her punishment of hauling garbage and cleaning up after everyone else had gotten old pretty fast. She was beginning to wonder if her mess and latrine duty would ever end.
At that point, two of her female crewmates approached her with similar trays of food pills. Shenia Acron and Marika Sterlano nodded to her and asked as if they could sit with her. With Siloma's assent, the pair sat down in front of her. They noted their friend's depression and started to converse with her to alleviate her mood.
"So how have you been doing?" Shenia asked as she took a spoonful of food pills. She chewed thoughtfully for a few seconds, paused, then swallowed. She followed through with successive spoonfuls. She didn't seem to express distaste over the pills in the slightest. Beside her, Marika also consumed her lunch without any complaints.
The young engineer's face scrunched up at the sight of her comrades eating those hated 'Tarak nutrition nuggets'. After watching them eat for a minute, she finally had to ask, "How can you EAT those things?"
Both stopped in their meal and shrugged their shoulders simultaneously as Marika replied. "Well, they aren't THAT bad. And after a while you get used to them. I guess you could call it an acquired taste."
Shenia nodded. "It's not like we don't have much variety on this ship and these pills do have their good points."
"What good points can these things possibly have?!" Siloma asked incredulously as she gestured to her own plate.
"Well, for one thing they're not fattening. I think these things are better than any diet I've ever had on Mejele."
"I noticed that, too!" Marika agreed. "I found out that I lost FIVE pounds during the last week when I started eating these things!"
The dark-haired Shenia nodded again as she addressed the younger girl. "You eat a small plate of these, and you aren't hungry anymore. It beats those appetite-suppressant pills on Mejele. I lost an inch off my waistline. I'd say in another two weeks or so, I'll finally be able to fit into that old dress of mine."
"Really?" The teenager asked as she looked down at her plate and reconsidered her thoughts of dumping her meal.
Marika nodded again. "It's really easy to count calories with these things. They do save space and are easy to keep. I mean, I remember how hard it was to keep leftovers in my fridge. They always spoiled by the time I finally got to them."
Siloma looked upon her friends in disbelief, then decided to change the subject when she noticed something. "Shenia, were your eyes always brown? And I don't remember your face that shade of skin tone before."
"Hmm?"
The engineer pointed at her friend's face. "Your eyes. I remember them being blue. And your cheeks are less rosy."
"Oh. Well, I lost my colored contacts. I don't need them really, and having sky blue eyes was a fad in the neighborhood I lived in. As for my cheeks, well I ran out of makeup two days ago. Do I look all right?"
"Actually, you look great." Siloma assured her. "I can't understand why you wanted to cover yourself up like that. I think your face looks better without makeup."
"You know, it's strange to say this, but someone else told me that yesterday."
"What's so strange about that?"
Shenia's cheeks blushed slightly as she replied, "It was a MAN who said I looked better without makeup."
Sitting at a table nearby, Carden Zemer, Sosike Tamar, and Kir Lesat were also eating lunch. As they ate and talked, their attention began to focus toward the trio of females.
"So you think she's cute?" Kir asked the lieutenant. "She's a woman!"
Carden shrugged. "Well she's not THAT bad to look at. I mean after she got rid of all that gunk on her face, and I got to see her brown eyes. They got this kind of... I don't know... cute look. I can't describe the feeling, but every time I look at those eyes, I get this kind of warm gooey feeling. I mean, now that we know that they're not going to suck out our innards or anything, I could get used to having women around. C'mon guys, don't tell me you haven't been feeling something about them."
Both men paused for a moment, before slowly nodding. Sosike first admitted to his changing attitude toward the women.
"Well, I have to admit that I was really skeptical about the captain volunteering the Fire Heart for this mixed-gender military. But after the first few days, I got used to seeing women around. There's something about them and their presence kind of brightens up a place. It always seems lighter and more easy going whenever they're around. I can't put my finger on it, but they emanate a kind of warmth."
"I felt that, too!" Kir agreed. "And have you noticed how they moved? It's a lot lighter and, I don't know, smoother. And those curves on their bodies? Did you ever notice how soft they are in some places and firm in others? I'm starting to feel things that I'm not too sure I SHOULD be feeling about women."
Back at the girls' table...
"And did you ever notice the men are hard in just about every part of their bodies? They got a lot more muscle than women." Marika commented. "I saw some of them in the Engineering Section lifting some heavy equipment without their shirts on. Seeing them lift and strain made me feel, I don't know, wild."
"Wild?" The other two girls repeated.
"I really don't know how to describe this feeling. The way they move and react. It's harder and more direct. I wouldn't call them graceful, but they're more solid and rugged."
Shenia gave her friend a look of understanding. "I think I know what you're talking about. I've noticed that the men are straight-forward and aren't afraid to voice out their opinions. It's kind of refreshing to get honest answers, instead of the runaround. In a really strange way, I find that part of their personality rather charming."
"Charming? We're talking about men!" Siloma insisted.
"And that's what I find disturbing." Shenia admitted. "The fact that I am actually starting to see something in men that I like."
Both the men and the women of the Fire Heart were not the only ones who were feeling the ancient, though faint, emotions of the genders interacting with each other. Several incidents began occurring on many other vessels that were participating in the mixed-military plan. Even the hard-core extremists against the opposite sex started to find themselves confused, afraid, and in many cases, unknowingly attracted toward their supposed hated enemies.
The Mess Hall of the Destroyer Sky Blazer...
"Hey, Clon." A young lieutenant asked as he waited in line with his comrades to get his lunch. In his hands was an empty tray, plate, and utensils.
"What is it, Verin?" His friend replied.
"Have you noticed that those women are always FIRST in line for chow?"
Clon looked toward the front of the queue and saw that the female members of the crew were eagerly taking large scoops of food pills at the dispenser.
"Now that you mention it, I have been seeing those women crowding the food dispensers lately. What do you suppose is going on?"
"How should I know? When they first came aboard, they wouldn't come within a hundred feet of a food pill, but now they can't seem to get enough of them."
Clon took on a thoughtful look, then remembered something. "Hmmm, I wonder if it has anything to do with that weird ritual I saw a couple of days ago."
"What ritual?"
Verin's friend shrugged his shoulders. "Well, remember that green-haired female that was assigned to Navigation? I was passing by her quarters and she had her door open. She was standing on this flat white board. She looked down at the board, then started jumping up and down like a maniac. She started shouting out happily, 'I lost ten! I lost ten! Thank you pills!' I didn't know what to make of it."
"Ten? Ten what?"
"You got me. She still has all toes and fingers, so I'm pretty sure she wasn't talking about those. Then she started bragging to her friends on the comm about how she was finally a size eight."
"Size eight? That can't be right! I've seen her feet! There's no way her shoe size is eight!" (1)
"That's what I thought, too. I couldn't understand why she would be happy about her feet getting bigger. And I still can't figure out what she lost ten of."
Both men then started to stare at the women as they gulped down their food pills with gusto.
The Vanguard hangar of the Cruiser/Carrier Battle Scar...
A red-haired mechanic couldn't help but stare as she watched a large, well-muscled crewmember continually move cannon shells from a transport lifter to the loading conveyors. She was so engrossed in watching him, that her blonde compatriot noticed that she was absently working her console and loading the torpedoes to the main firing tubes backward!
"Wendin! What are you doing?!"
The person in question snapped back to the present as looked down at her workstation. She gulped as she realized her mistake and worked the controls to correct the potentially dangerous situation. After repositioning the ordinance, she gave her comrade an apologetic look.
"Sorry about that, Kian."
The blonde shook her head and said, "Honestly! I can't believe you're so hung up on that Corporal Jenner! He's only a man after all!"
Wendin immediately protested. "Yeah, but look at him! He's so big and strong! And the way he lift things with those big hands! I never seen anyone so powerful and so..."
Kian snorted in disgust. "Oh come on! I've seen plenty of women on Mejele with big muscles and they didn't do anything for me! What's the difference between them and big muscles on a...?"
It was then that Kian got a good look at Corporal Jenner as he removed his shirt and bent over in his tight-fitting pants. At that point, both girls' attention became solely fixated on his broad shoulders, wide back, powerfully built chest, sinewy arms, rock-hard abs, washboard stomach, and tight rear. They began licking their lips when they noticed how the sheen of sweat glistened off his bronze skin.
At that point, they wondered just why it had suddenly gotten hot in the hangar.
The bridge of the Supply Ship Free Arsenal...
"Your coffee, sir."
The captain nodded to his new female aide as he took the cup and brought it to his mouth. He paused for a moment as his nose caught an unfamiliar odor from the cup. He gave the girl a puzzled look, then took a sip. His eyes widened as he tasted not his usual Tarak blend of coffee, but something entirely different. He licked his lips and took another sip. The second taste was even better than the first. It tasted like coffee but there was a certain something that made the usual bitter taste seem smoother. He looked back at the aide with a look of amazement.
"This is coffee?"
The girl nodded with enthusiasm. "Yes sir. It's coffee from Mejele. I prepared a double-mocha latte with mint cream!"
"A double-what with what?"
"It's a flavor of coffee that we served on our home planet."
"Flavors? You mean there are other flavors of coffee?"
"Yes. If you don't like this, I can whip up a chocolate spice cappuccino, or maybe a French vanilla espresso with whipped cream? Ooh! Maybe I can make you a cup of my special roast almond, triple chocolate latte with sprinkles!"
The captain stared for minute at his new aide, then gazed down at the coffee mug in his hands. He then shrugged as he began sipping at the coffee and savoring its taste.
I don't know if women are really monsters or not, but at least they know how to make a damn good cup of coffee!
Little by little, the men and women began to rediscover each other. And soon their newfound attitudes toward the opposite sex would be put to the test as the Tarak Intelligence Division intercepted an enemy transmission, which would give the people of Mejele and Tarak a chance to strike back at the Radam.
However, what they wouldn't know was that Darkon would have very grand schemes to hasten their defeat and subjection.
Two days later...
On the bridge of the Radam flagship (formally belonging to the Harvesters), Darkon looked upon Dagger and Axe with disdain. He was not at all pleased with their recent failures to capture new candidates for the Tekkapods, but with his new strategy in motion, he would give them the chance to redeem themselves. Since this plan was going to require some finesse and subtlety, he had decided not to include Saber in the new mission. With his burning bloodlust for his half-brother's demise, the Crimson Tekkaman would likely slaughter anyone who got in his way. The Radam Warlord continued to contemplate as the Radam prepared for the next encounter with the united forces of Mejele, Tarak, and all those who opposed them.
Meanwhile on the bridge of the Nirvana...
"Captain."
"Yes, what is it BC?"
The First Officer and former Tarak spy nodded to Slade's mother. "We're being hailed by a Tarak Carrier/Cruiser, Registration Number ITSF-978CC." She paused as she read the identification profile, then said, "It's the Fire Heart. It's from the 487th Division of Task Force 12. Its commander is Captain Jensen Dar."
"Captain Dar, eh? Do you know of him?" Magno asked.
Buzom nodded. "He's one of the youngest officers to ever command a starship, but he's quite capable. I've seen his record. He finished third in his class at the Tarak Academy and is considered to be an exceptional tactician. He's courageous, and not afraid to take chances if the desired results are achieved. In fact, he was the first commander to volunteer his ship for the mixed-gender military program."
"Really? That says much about him right there." The aged woman became very intrigued. For a Tarak commander to volunteer his ship to have females serve aboard it, meant that there were those who did not believe in the 'women were monsters' propaganda and were willing to work with them. Perhaps there was still hope for the human race. She then told her First Officer to open hailing frequencies.
As the main screen flashed on, the pirate captain nodded toward the image of the Fire Heart's captain.
"Captain Jensen Dar, I presume?"
The Tarak commander nodded back to her. "It is. And you are Vivian Magno of the vessel Nirvana, formally the Ikazuchi?"
"I am. And to what do I owe the pleasure of your call?"
"You're very direct. Very well, I'll get straight to the point. I have just received orders to report to the Command Satellite to take part in a strategic conference for a planned offensive against the Radam. The Fire Heart has been chosen to spearhead the operation. However, since you and your crew have had prior experience in battling the enemy, Lord Grand Pa thought that inviting you to the conference would be in everyone's best interest."
"I see. And the fact that my crew consists almost entirely of females and that I myself am a woman does not bother you?"
Jensen did not even hesitate to answer. "Whether you're a woman, a man, or something else entirely is irrelevant in this matter. What we need are those with expertise and valid opinions on how to best handle the Radam. Since the Nirvana has had the most encounters with the Radam and their tactics, then it would make no sense to exclude you from any strategies that we intend to use against them."
Magno smiled at the man's honest reply. "I can see that you're quite the sensible and practical man, I mean person."
Jensen smiled at the offhand compliment. "The conference is at 1700 hours on the 7th level, section 47, tactical room 92. My First Officer and I will see you there. Until then, Captain Magno."
At that point, the main screen went blank as the Tarak commander signed off.
Magno sat back in her command chair and remained silent for a long while. Then she turned to her second in command.
"Quite an interesting young man. Reminds me of my son. Tell me more about the captain of the Fire Heart."
The darker-skinned woman, formally a man, nodded as she continued her description. "Captain Dar is also known to be a bit unorthodox, and has been known to enlist some of the most questionable of recruits."
"How questionable?"
"His crew mainly consists of military dropouts, undesirables, problem cases, those who are continually insubordinate, those with discipline issues, and in several instances, those who have criminal records."
"Really?"
"And despite all that, the Fire Heart is considered the most efficiently run vessel in the fleet with an outstanding combat record. This says much about Dar's leadership skills and ability to get the most incompatible of personalities and attitudes to cooperate for the greater good."
"Sounds a lot like the crew on the Nirvana, don't you think?"
Buzom gave her captain a puzzled look.
Magno responded with a whimsical expression. "Oh come now, BC. Surely you could see the similarities? We've got those who have nowhere else to go, those with criminal records, the undesirables, the disenchanted, and a LOT of girls who didn't agree with the government or the ideals of our former planet. We've been through a lot together and just about everything we've done has been unorthodox."
The First Officer considered her words, then nodded in agreement. "I can't argue with that kind of logic. I suppose we really are similar, though we may be different in terms of Vanguard pilots."
"How so?"
"The Vanguard Squadron under Dar's command is among the best, if not THE BEST of the mecha fighters."
"They're that good, eh?"
BC nodded again. "The Fire Heart is home to the 152nd Vanguard Platoon of the Space Marine Corps. They're better known by their call sign, the Brawler Brigade."
"Brawler Brigade?"
"A bit colorful though very accurate description of the unit. They're led by Gunnery Sergeant Hikar Fulson. His crewmates call him the Old Gun. Now I'm not saying that Slade didn't do an exceptional job of training the Warrior Squadron. I'd rate them to be Level A recruits for the Vanguard Divisions. However, the Old Gun's unit is rated to be Triple S. They may take hits that would normally reduce a Vanguard into scrap metal, but they always pay back the enemy TEN times over. We should consider ourselves lucky that we went up against raw trainees during our raid on the Ikazuchi. Old Gun's unit would have torn our Dread squadrons to pieces."
"You seem to have very high opinion of this captain and his crew."
"I met them once at an awards ceremony. It was about a year before I joined up with your crew. I've followed their exploits and I consider them to be not just good soldiers, but also good people who put the welfare of others before themselves. I've read secret reports and heard from various crewmembers of what Captain Dar has done in the past in order to make things work. He's persevered each time, despite the bureaucracy, paperwork, and of course all the pompous upper brass who didn't understand what was needed to get the job done. Some of his deeds have bordered on being criminal, though never proven. One time, a minor lieutenant related to me a story about one of his escapades."
"Do tell. I'm getting more and more interested about this crew and their captain."
BC smiled as she began telling the story. "It was about two-and-a-half years ago, when Dar first took command of the Fire Heart. At that time, it was poorly-equipped and supplied. They were suffering from a lack of spare components, supplies, and unfair food rationing. Captain Dar did all that he could to keep the Fire Heart going and get it up to minimum fleet standards, but it soon became clear to him that going through regular channels was not going to work. So, he found a shortcut."
"I can't wait to hear this."
BC's smile became even more pronounced. "Simply put, Dar decided to make like a pirate and take the things he needed."
"Now I'm REALLY starting to like this captain."
"Well, that's what he did. The lieutenant who told me this, swore by it. Dar staged several covert operations to raid some high-ranking officers and politicians of their secret food caches. Many of his crew, who hadn't been eating enough for weeks, were finally getting three decent meals a day. As for the spare parts and supplies, you do recall my telling you of his enlisting of those with criminal backgrounds? Well, he put those skills to use as they hacked into quartermaster databases and supply depots to reroute the needed material indirectly to the Fire Heart, instead of going to some overfed crews and ships belonging to arrogant commanders. The upper brass were so upset over the robberies, they had thought it was the work of some anti-government terrorist group. They kept sending orders to the Fire Heart to track down the culprits."
At that time, Magno let off a chuckle at the tale. "And he got away with it?"
"No one has EVER been able to come up with any evidence linking him and his crew to the crimes. They left nothing for the authorities to trace, and they only stole enough to get themselves started. Now they're the most efficient ship in the fleet and Captain Dar had set up a system to make certain that his crewmates are never without the necessities."
"A captain who puts his crew's welfare before his own is all right in my book. I look forward to seeing him and his First Officer. By the way, what kind of man is his First Officer?"
BC smiled again. "That's another thing about Captain Dar that's unique. His current First Officer is from Mejele."
The Command Satellite, 1700 hours...
Magno, BC, and Slade walked down the hallway toward the Conference Room where the next offensive plans would be made against the Radam. The pirate captain and her second were expecting tension from the bigheaded members of the upper brass when they would arrive, but hoped that the common enemy would keep the more sensible people focused on the task of defeating Darkon's forces. As for Slade, Grand Pa had requested that a representing Tekkamen be present.
The three arrived at the Conference Room door and were admitted inside. Inside was a large table that was surrounded by admirals, commodores, and high-ranking officers. In the center of the table was a holographic screen that was currently projecting an area of space beyond Tarak's solar sector. Sitting in a large, ornamental throne was Grand Pa. Beside him was Grand Ma.
Magno nodded to them and looked about the room. To her disappointment, she noted that there were very few females present, which meant that whatever plans were made were most likely going to be male-dominated. Then she caught sight of Captain Jensen Dar at the table and a certain female sitting beside him.
So this is Dar's First Officer, eh?
When Magno and the others took their seats, the meeting began.
Aika Shan didn't even know why she was even at this tactical meeting. From the looks she had gotten from the high-ranking Tarak officers and the lopsided ratio of females to males, she had a feeling as to how the conference was going to go. When Jensen told of the upcoming tactical meeting, she initially turned down his invitation to attend. Then when he pulled rank and turned the invitation into an order, she had no choice but to obey. However, he then surprised her when he contacted Vivian Magno and invited her to take part in the planning against the Radam.
She put those thoughts aside as the holographic panel in the center of the table lit up. An aide began explaining the images being displayed.
"This information was obtained by the Intelligence/Reconnaissance Divisions at Sentry Station A-9. As you may or may not know, the Imperial Fleet has several outposts located on the edge of Tarak's system and each have been monitoring the enemy transmissions for the past few days. They have also been gathering information about the Radam's strength, numbers, and movements."
The holograms then started to show images of the Radam's main weapons. Several different variations of Spider-Crabs and the known enemy Tekkamen were prominently displayed as the aide continued. "As you all must know, the bulk of the Radam forces consist of several types of Spider-Crabs and the armored warriors called Tekkamen. Apparently, the Spider-Crabs are used as cannon fodder and seem to react instinctively. The Research and Development teams have studied their remains and have come to the conclusion that the Spider-Crabs are not actually sentient and can be considered as techno-organic automatons. This is further supported by the information provided by the Nirvana and its encounters with the Radam and the former Harvester Fleet. It is both their theory and ours that the Spider-Crabs are actually transformed Cube Fighters. As such, though they are able to withstand great amounts of damage, they can be stopped individually. However, their sheer force of numbers is extremely problematic."
The display then concentrated on Darkon's Tekkamen. "The enemy Tekkamen that are known to us are Saber, Axe, Rapier, and Dagger. We consider these to be the commanders of the Radam battle forces, by directing the Spider-Crab hordes and supplement the battle forces. The Tekkamen have proven to be invulnerable to virtually all types of conventional weaponry and even heavy-grade particle beam cannons. And I need not remind anyone present of the horrendous casualties we suffered two weeks ago from just two Tekkamen, and the recent losses of the Steel Will, the Sword Spirit, and the Blade Breaker."
"Are you saying that these Tekkamen can't be stopped even with a 100-megaton quantum-burst warhead?" One of the admirals asked.
Before the aide can answer, Slade spoke. "No. That won't stop them. I should know. I've taken that kind of punishment before and I survived. You can be certain that those other Tekkamen will be just as tough."
These words put the Tarak and Mejele officers on edge. They were just barely able to hold their own against the Spider-Crabs. What would happen to them if the Radam were to attack them with all of their Tekkamen?
It was at that point that the aide provided some good news. "As powerful as the Tekkamen and Spider-Crabs are, we have learned an important factor about them. They are NOT infinite. And now we have an opportunity to reduce their numbers and increase our chances of defeating them when they finally attack Tarak."
This caught everyone's attention as the aide manipulated the hologram screen controls. "With all the intelligence gained through our own sources, as well as from our allies, we have learned that the Radam forces need a continual supply of resources to sustain their immense numbers of Spider-Crabs and their Tekkamen. All of the former Harvester Cube Fighters, by our estimates, have been expended and creating a Spider-Crab from scratch takes a huge amount of energy and material. To produce a Tekkamen requires a hundred times more. We have intercepted and decoded several enemy transmissions stating that the original amount of resources taken from the Harvesters is nearly exhausted and that the planet Mejele will soon be unsuitable as a breeding ground for Spider-Crabs."
That last bit of information made all the Mejele officers and Grand Ma apprehensive. Aika was the first to voice out their fears.
"Are you saying that even if the Radam are defeated, we can never return to Mejele?"
The aide took a deep breath, glanced toward Grand Pa for a moment, then replied in a solemn voice. "I'm sorry. According to all reports, the Radam have practically gutted your home world. They are planning to leave it and conquer other planets in order to feed their war machine. Tarak is their primary target since it is strategically located. Though it is barren, they want the citizens as Tekkamen and can use our world as a jump-off point to conquer the other human-populated planets."
Aika and the other women were struck dumb at his words. Their world was gone and they were forever resigned to live on Tarak with the men. All hopes of ever returning to Mejele were dashed. However, she immediately steeled her resolve as she silently vowed revenge on the Radam for the loss of the women's world.
The aide continued. "Though the loss of Mejele is regrettable, its imminent demise has given us some valuable information. The Radam can be stopped and if we deny them the resources they need to survive, then we will prevail. And now, we have just discovered that a very large contingent of their forces is heading toward a strategic position just outside of the Tarak system. The target is this." The display switched to an image of a large planetoid.
"This is K-97, one of our most heavily-armed outposts, aside from the Sentinel Satellites, and is completely self-sufficient with its own manufacturing plants and resources. Many of our capital ships have used K-97 for re-supply, repair, and refit. The Radam are planning to take over K-97 and use it as a base of operations against us. If K-97 falls, then the enemy will be in position to strike directly at Tarak once the interference waves subside. We have very good evidence that the Radam will send a large invasion force, consisting of four carriers, and several smaller defensive vessels for protection."
"Carriers?" Another Tarak officer asked.
"What we refer to as enemy carriers, are actually these." The aide then presented them with images of large, mile-long, wedge-shaped vessels that looked like oddly-formed fish. "We have learned that the Spider-Crabs have limited range and are normally stored in hibernation in these vessels until they are deployed. We estimate that each carrier can hold up to an average of three hundred Spider-Crabs with a limited ability to produce more. We're talking well over twelve hundred to be brought against K-97. According to all reports, the Radam possess at least ten of these carriers. So far, they have used them sparingly, and our allies have been able to hold them at bay. They haven't mounted any major offensive after the conquest of Mejele. This means that they are building up their forces and gathering material for an all-out invasion of Tarak. We have an opportunity to even the odds. If we can take out these four carriers, then we can set the Radam back and provide us with more time to prepare. Furthermore, the boost in morale would be substantial. Members of the War Council, it is in the best interests of everyone that we strike a great blow against the invaders!"
At that point, there was a cheer among the Tarak and Mejele officers as they unanimously agreed to the proposed plan to bring the fight to the Radam. Several hours would pass as they debated the best way in which to face off against the attack. Most of the officers and even those from Mejele voted to send out everything they had to annihilate the invasion force. It was about to be the main plan of action until one voice called out.
"I don't like it!"
Everyone turned in shock at the owner of the voice. The person who had stated his disapproval stood up. Everyone, including his own First Officer, became silent as Captain Jensen Dar faced Grand Pa. Then the old man addressed the young officer.
"Captain Jensen Dar. You disapprove of the idea of sending out the bulk of our forces to meet the impeding threat?"
"I do, Lord Grand Pa. Though I do agree that a victory at this point would boost morale immensely, I cannot go along with this idea of sending out everything we have. It's too easy, sire. I feel that this is playing into the Radam's hands. Station K-97 is important and must be defended, however, we cannot just blindly send out good fighting men into what could be an elaborate trap."
"A trap?"
"Yes, sire. And there are others who agree with me and have some ideas of how to counter."
"Who?"
Jensen then gestured to the officer to his right. "May I present to you my First Officer, Aika Shan. I believe she will be able to explain fully why we should not proceed with a full-scale assault."
This made the Tarak men gasp in horror while the Mejele women gasp in disbelief. A man was actually suggesting to let a women plan out the attack?
Aika found herself in a state of shock as her captain motioned for her stand in front of Grand Pa and the War Council. It was true that she didn't agree with using all of their forces to repel the invasion, but for her captain to suggest that she give her opinions to the council was absolutely unbelievable. Jensen gave her a reassuring smile and waited for her to rise from her seat. As Aika gazed into the blue depths of her commander, she felt a confidence rising within her. She gave him a nod and rose to face the leader of Tarak and the former ruler of Mejele.
Then she spoke.
Some time later...
"You wanted to speak with me, Commander?"
Aika nodded as she walked into the captain's office and sat down in front of his desk. She took a deep breath and paused for a moment to collect her thoughts. She then said, "Captain, I would like to talk about what happened at the Conference today. I would like to know..."
"Why I spoke out against the War Council and suggested that you explain the reasons?" Jensen finished.
Shan nodded vigorously. "Yes."
"It's quite simple, Commander Shan." Jensen replied with a slight grin. "While the upper brass were all gung-ho on taking the Radam head on, I saw by your expression that you agreed with my opinion to meet the enemy with caution. You know as well as I do, that the Radam are after the men to turn them into Tekkamen. Bringing out a large force would give the enemy an excellent opportunity to capture some of our number. Even with General Order Seventy-Five Omega, there's no sure guarantee that we'll be able to prevent them from taking anyone. Furthermore, if something goes wrong and we lose a large part if not all of our ships and men, then Tarak will be left defenseless."
"I see. But even though I agreed with your opinions, I didn't expect you to have me suggest the plan of repelling the invasion, much less have the rest of the War Council go along with it!"
"That's also easy to explain." Dar said. "I read over your combat record and tactical ability. You're very insightful when it comes to countering enemy maneuvers and your previous experience with the Radam is also in your favor. It would have been a waste not to use that expertise. Since the representatives from the Nirvana supported your opinions, that gave your ideas merit on how to handle the Radam. And when that Tekkaman Slade powered up and transformed, even those stubborn idiots from the Tarak brass listened." Jensen chuckled a bit at the memory.
"I still can't believe that they're all going with my suggestions, especially with those from Tarak. And I still can't believe that you..."
"Commander." The Fire Heart's captain stood up and looked her in the eyes. "It's not a question of gender that I judge any of my new recruits. It's a question of ability and whether or not the person can do the job. I make it a point to give each new crew member a chance to prove his or her worth. If you can't do that, then you have no business whatsoever to be on the Fire Heart. Which is why I decided to let you show those pompous admirals and commodores what you are capable of. This also to help smooth things over between the genders and promote more cooperation. We need that unity if we are to defeat the Radam. Does that answer all of your questions?"
Aika nodded, then asked, "Oh, and speaking of giving each person a chance to prove his or her worth, I was wondering if..."
"You were wondering about Engineer First Class Siloma Ianesk, correct? I've been considering about her current punishment. As of now, her punishment is to be temporarily suspended during the course of this operation and she will be on probation. If her conduct and performance is satisfactory, then she will be reinstated to her normal position with all privileges restored."
"Thank you, Captain."
Jensen Dar nodded as he then reached for the general comm button on his desk's console. He then addressed the crew.
"Attention all hands. Attention all hands. This is the captain speaking. The Fire Heart has just received orders to take part in a major offensive against the enemy. All leaves and disciplinary actions are to be postponed until after the operation is over. All hands to your stations! We are on combat alert! This is not a drill! Repeat, this is not a drill! It's time we show the enemy why the Fire Heart is the point of Grand Pa's Knife!"
In her quarters, Siloma Ianesk stared at the intercom in amazement. All of a sudden, she was no longer hauling garbage. She shook herself out of her stupor as she quickly hauled out her coveralls and prepared to meet with the rest of the Engineering Staff.
At the same time, on the bridge of the Nirvana, Magno and her crew were also preparing to move out. As she sat in her chair, she thought back fondly to the Tactical Conference. She was very impressed with Jensen Dar and how he defended the opinions and ideas of his Mejele First Officer. Then, when the more obstinate Tarak officers started to protest, they immediately became silent when Slade transformed. That allowed Aika Shan to fully explain her ideas on how to meet with the enemy and even the male officers had to agree that her tactics were brilliant. In the end, the full-scale attack was barely outvoted in favor of Shan's counter-attack plan.
Now, the alliance between Tarak and Mejele would soon be tested in the heat of combat.
To be continued...
Preview...
Slade: "For once, we're going to take the offensive against the Radam. In order to protect a space station, the forces of Tarak and Mejele go off to fight some hidden carriers. I also come along with Dita and Ghaleon."
Dita: "I'll have to learn more about fighting as a Tekkaman sooner or later. More of those bad Tekkamen are there, too! Hopefully, we're enough to stop them!"
Slade: "Dammit! They're all over us!"
Dita: "Slade... when this is all over, what will you do?"
Slade: "Huh? Where'd that come from?"
Dita: "Next time, on Tekkadread Remastered: 'Battle of K-97'. Slade... if you don't have a place to return to... then maybe..."
Author's Notes
Wow! This was a long one and I needed to break it somewhere. In the final part of chapter 12, we'll see the men and women in their most intense confrontation with the Radam, and we'll also see some more development between Slade and the girls. We'll also get another surprise as well. See you there!
(1) Dress size eight. Of course the men of Tarak don't know anything about dresses.
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