The Scalian Legacy
Chapter Thirty Three

Admiral Alterman, Captain Malarde, Commander Rivas and several others were on the bridge of Captain Malarde’s ship, The Explorer. It was one of a dozen battlecruisers joined by nearly a hundred smaller fighters that were ready to engage. The entire fleet of Drumans, Pendorans and humans in the area were all set for this offensive to save humanity. Tensions were high as the fleet waited for word from the Pendoran cruiser, which had been sent to section D47 of the Scalian Sphere on the pretext of looking for a fighter that had sent an emergency signal.

“Sir, the Pendoran cruiser is signaling us,” Communications Officer Haley announced.

“Add him to our command channel so that the entire fleet can hear the news,” the admiral commanded.

The bridge of the Pendoran cruiser, with its captain in the middle, appeared on the holographic display on the bridge of The Explorer. He began to bubble in the Pendoran language, but the translator kicked in right away. “There is only minimal debris. The fighter is not here and was likely allowed into the sphere.”

This brought sighs of relief from many onboard The Explorer and several other ships that were listening on the channel. Admiral Alterman was all smiles. He knew the odds still were long, but this at least gave them a chance.

“Captain,” the admiral began, addressing the Pendoran captain. “I thank you for your soldier’s great sacrifice. If we are successful, he will be a very big reason for it. Humanity will be forever in your debt.”

Pride gurgled within the Pendoran captain as he simply bowed in reply.

“You know what to do next,” the admiral added.

“Yes, sir,” the Pendoran said.

The admiral addressed all of the ships on the channel. “All right, everyone. This is just the start. We need to prepare ourselves for the next step. All ships ready themselves for a gravity well jump. Once we get the word from the Pendorans that the shield is down, we all start as planned in coordinated fashion. We only have a minute or two to get through that shield. Any last minute questions?”

There was silence on the channel, as the admiral had hoped. While they all were exhausted, they had prepared their plans and maneuvers for hours. There shouldn’t be any questions at this time.

As it turned out, however, Captain Malarde, who was next to the admiral on the bridge of The Explorer, did have a question. “Sir,” she whispered to Alterman, “how long do we wait?”

The admiral turned to her and smiled. “Until we’re not here anymore,” he said. “There is no plan B, captain. This is it.”

Admiral Tarza was still in his office with Hargue and Nramal. He focused on the holographic display from the hangar bay where the Pendoran fighter was surrounded by a dozen Scalian guards and a Scalian shield beyond them. The Scalian guards were preparing to forcibly invade the Pendoran fighter when another urgent communication came in.

“Admiral.” It was Rauug once more. “We just received a query about a missing Pendoran fighter from a Pendoran cruiser that arrived just outside of section D47 of the sphere. How should we reply?”

“Just let them know that we have no idea what they are talking about.” The admiral was still transfixed on the holographic display as he answered the captain’s query. “We haven’t seen anything.”

“Yes, sir.”

The captain then severed the communication.

Tarza then laid back in his chair to watch whatever his guards might discover in the Pendoran fighter. Suddenly the front of the Pendoran ship fired a photon blast into the shield! A sudden bright flash turned the holographic image into a solid large, bright, square light bulb for an instant. The Seguura shook. As the light subsided, Tarza saw that the Scalian soldiers within the shield had all been scorched out of existence, but the shield was still in place, unchanged.

The Pendoran fighter was also still there, fully intact, albeit not in the same position as before the blast. The fighter must have been jostled by the blast; it was now positioned with its rear raised up against the back side of the hangar and its nose facing the hangar’s floor. It also tilted slightly to the left as it balanced oddly in place.

“Sir.” It was an alarmed Rauug on yet another urgent call to the admiral. “The Pendoran fighter just powered up briefly, raised its shield and fired a ..”

“Yes, I saw it, captain,” Tarza interrupted answered calmly. “Any damage to our ship?”

“None, sir.”

“Excellent. Please send another set of guards to the fighter to retrieve the stowaway within.”

“Sir, we are still not registering any life signs,” Rauug retorted.

“Trust me, captain. There is someone in there. Now, please go get him.” The admiral ended the communication as the captain was answering, “Ye..”

“I believe we have our final paradox on his way to us!” Tarza turned to his aides with a broad smile. “We have done it again! We were given one final challenge and overcame it. We always find a way to have it end as it’s supposed to—with us as victorious.”

The admiral was mostly talking to hear himself speak, and his aides knew better than to interrupt or contradict. Tarza had been hand-picked for this contingency years ago by the emperor because he had already accomplished it multiple times in previous timelines. Why would this one be any different? With each victory, his fame and importance grew within the Senior Council. Would he soon rival the emperor? Maybe in the next time line, he would become emperor.

“Anybody want a drink to celebrate?” Tarza asked.

His aides nodded.

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