Alutia Rising, Anniversary Edition (Alutia Rising Series, Book 1) (47 page)

The HZBF invasion fleet suddenly abandoned
all attempts at concentrating on individual targets, splitting
their fire between the 16 remaining ABF battle group signatures and
the TSB fleet. The ABF kept closing, now at 250,000 kilometers,
while the TSB fleet was doing its best to imitate an irregular wave
pattern while keeping their range to target at just under 500,000
kilometers.

The 10 remaining ABF battle group signatures
crossed the 150,000 kilometer range marker when a lucky LPA shot
struck the real ABF fleet. In almost instantaneous response, 200
ABF starships opened fire as one. Four of the five remaining HZBF
super-capitals blew, plasma beams blowing through the starships at
point blank range...taking 80,000 human lives in a blink of an eye.
Eight capital ships followed suit, having been, along with the
super-capitals, the primary targets for the ABF’s plasma cannons. A
few survived the wave of destruction, but all were spewing
substantial amounts of atmosphere and debris...a slow death for
those that could not escape. More than half the remaining HZBF
dreadnaughts and battleships were destroyed, pummeled by thousands
of simultaneous large LPA strikes...the survivors useless, knocked
out of the fight. The remaining cruisers, corvettes, and frigates
that were not screening the direction of the ABF attack, were only
slightly damaged and able to return fire, destroying a few ABF
screening frigates and corvettes, while disabling one battleship
and dreadnaught.

“Ma'am, they're surrendering!” Lt.-Commander
Xi shouted. An emotional cheer echoed across the bridge.

“Cease Fire!” Captain Aysi shouted. “All
rescue personnel to the shuttles! Helm...bring us in, we need to
help search for survivors!” The excitement rolling across the
bridge was not felt by Daniel, his plan had failed...his life was
forfeit.

Fear started to overwhelm him as the full
weight of what
had
befallen began to sink
in...he'd chosen the wrong side...he was a traitor. He glanced at
the cheering Lt.-Commander Xi, showing an expression of such
happiness that he couldn't believe he had fallen into her trap.
Covering his own face with his hands, he sighed in resignation
...what fate did she have in store for him?

An ominous air flowed down the steps from the
passenger compartment onboard the NHA Shuttle ABF Golden Sun, Sir
Simwa’s private starship. Tiana glanced over her shoulder at the
line of nervous children who kneeled just outside the shuttle’s
entry, waiting nervously. She nodded to Regalia and Donnlie who
were at the head of the line. They rushed passed without question,
down the step towards the abandoned crew quarters and engineering
as the rest of the children followed close behind.

“Watch over them for me, Gil’Da,” she asked
the old servant who’d taken up the rear.

“Of course, My Lady,” she nodded, following
the last of the children, leaving Tiana alone with the two oldest
trainees, Tomi and a shy boy named Yaz.

“Head to the bridge and get us ready for
launch,” she instructed, “I want to be well clear of the fleet base
before Commander Talan figures out what has befallen,” Tomi turned
to Yaz and they both nodded, rushing towards the bridge. Tiana
watched them vanish, “I hope I don’t regret this,” she muttered,
still uncertain of the wisdom in placing her trust in the two 15
year old trainees, knowing well she had few other options.

She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath;
you can do this Tiana
, before drawing her laser arc.
Carefully, she tiptoed up the steps, knowing there were two
individuals of unknown affiliation currently restricted to the
shuttle’s passenger apartment, and Tiana hoped they weren’t loyal
to Sir Simwa or Duke Zehman. Though even if they were, she would
still have to deal with them, one way or the other.

As soon as her head crested the top step she
noticed movement.
Come on Tiana, they’re trusting you,
she
scolded when she hesitated. With trembling laser arc in hand, she
rushed up the last few steps.

A lavishly decorated sitting room greeted
her. Emerald and gold inlaid furniture circled the room; while
elaborate wall coverings and programmable matter art flowed over
ever surface. Sitting upon an oversized, cushioned chair in the far
corner, was a woman with a regal appearance. Her long, wavy brown
hair was tied in single braid to tumble over her dark emerald gown
that left little to the imagination. Tiana leveled her laser arc,
causing a mischievous grin to cross the woman’s luscious lips.

“Shall I consider myself your hostage?” Her
sultry voice flowed with obvious amusement. Tiana stared,
dumbstruck, having not expected to find a noble lady in such a
place, having unconsciously assumed those onboard were servants or
crewman. The noble woman laughed with delight, seeming to enjoy
Tiana's baffled looked.

“Where’s the other one?” Tiana squeaked,
deciding it best not to get caught in this mysterious woman's
pace.

“I believe you mean Til'Ma, my servant...who
has been stuck with me on this star god forsaken shuttle for the
past six months,” the fire that crept into the woman’s tone caught
Tiana by surprise. She was about to inquire further, like a proper
lady should, but remembered she had more important things to take
care of first.

“Wait here and do not contact anyone,
understood?” Tiana tried to force authority into her voice, but it
made her sound all the more childish while in the presence of the
regal woman, who overflowed with feminine sensuality.

“I wouldn’t dream of it, my dear,” she
responded with a laugh. The fire burning behind her eyes obviously
not aimed at Tiana. She studied the woman for a moment longer,
unable to think of any other options, deciding to trust her.
Holding back the urge to curtsey, she nodded, before rushing back
down the stairs to the crew quarters, where Gil’Da waited with the
children.

“Gil’Da,” she took a deep breath, already
knowing the response to come, “this shuttle is home of a noble
woman and her servant. Do you mind accompanying me to help deal
with her?” Gil'Da stared in silence, then cleared her throat.

“My Lady, it is your duty and responsibility
to deal with nobility,” she started to lecture, but paused when she
caught Tiana’s pleading eyes. She cleared her throat again, “but in
this case, I shall accompany you, though that is all,” Tiana
couldn’t hold herself back, hugging the old servant. “My Lady,
think of your surroundings,” Gil’Da scolded, but with less than her
usual vigor.

“Of course, I’m sorry, Gil’Da,” she
apologized, “Donnlie, Regalia, please watch over the trainees, we
will be back soon,” Regalia and Donnlie nodded vigorously...
too
vigorously
, she thought, they having become thick as thieves
since Donnlie named himself Regalia’s guardian and protector.

They returned to the passenger apartment to
find the noble woman sipping casually from an ornate mug, while a
common beautiful servant stood idly at her side. Tiana studied the
young woman, who started to blush crimson when she noticed Tiana’s
intent gaze.

“Would you care for a drink?” the noble woman
asked as she watched the exchange with a grin Tiana could only call
mischievous.

“I am Lady Tiana,” she curtseyed, “and this
is Friend Gil'Da. May I request your name?” Gil’Da bowed as Tiana
fell naturally into the graces of the court she'd mastered through
rigorous training and experience. The lady in emerald gazed at
Tiana, taken aback...or at least acting the part.

“Typically I'd find it uncouth for a noble
lady to be taking hostages,” her words didn’t match her sultry
tone, “but I am so very bored of this life, you do see,” she stood,
waving her hands absently at her surroundings. “I am Lady Vickie,”
her crisp curtsy put Tiana’s to shame, “and I am humbly under your
command,” she winked, and though Tiana thought her words honest,
her heart screamed that this was a dangerous woman that could not
be trusted. Lady Vickie gestured to the couch opposite hers before
returning to her seat.

“Til'Ma,” Vickie waved to the servant as
Tiana and Gil’Da sat without question, “two Bulitia Sweets,” she
paused, eyes questioning. Tiana nodded that she would be fine with
the beverage mentioned, “if you'd be so kind, dear,” the servant
curtsied. The moment she exited the sitting room, Tiana’s jaw fell
open and a furious blush crossed her cheeks.

Til’Ma’s white dress, when viewed in a
different light, was completely transparent. Vickie, having seen
her blush, leaned forward with a devious smile that clearly told
Tiana what she had begun to assume; that this woman was a
traditionalist paramour or realist romantic...she desperately hoped
the latter.

“One must make due when caged, my dear Lady
Tiana,” she leaned back, guiding her single brown braid to fall
across her exposed cleavage. “It is one of my few amusements and
Til'Ma really does enjoy the attention, I assure you. But that is
neither here nor there,” she grinned, caressing the braid like one
would a pet. “I would so very much like to know exactly how a noble
lady such as yourself was forced to resort to stealing a starship,
and taking poor little old me and Til’Ma hostage?” Vickie
questioned with obvious delight. Tiana glanced to Gil'Da, finding
her expression one of stone
; she never did like paramours or
romantics,
meaning she would be of little help.

“I would be more than delighted to inform you
on the current situation, Lady Vickie,” she let herself calm. “But
first you must answer my questions. For it wouldn’t be proper for
the hostage taker, no matter she a lady or not, to have to answer
first to her hostage,” Tiana responded naturally.

“Well played, my dear,” Vickie laughed with
delight, “please, ask me anything,”

“Thank you. I am most curious as to why such
a lovely noble lady as yourself is caged on Sir Simwa's private
shuttle?” The moment Sir Simwa's name left her lips, Vickie's
expression went dark, a flame blazing forth from her eyes,
threatening to burn any who dared move too close.

“That pompous ass is my fiancé,” she seethed,
“as much as he refuses to admit it! He hides me like I am some
hideous creature that eats young children and spits fire,” she
raged, her words full of such venom that Tiana felt the urge to
sink into her seat. “It is all political, you see, and neither of
us has any like for the other. But he has gone too far this time,
forbidding me from leaving this shuttle or contacting anyone for
the last six months! When he finally returns, I will take great
pleasure in castrating him before I slit his bastard traditionalist
throat,” Tiana felt as if a raging inferno burned before her, the
unadulterated revulsion and resentment that flowed forth making it
impossible for Tiana to think Vickie spoke anything other than the
truth.

“Sounds delightful,” Tiana found herself
caught in Vickie’s pace, “and I know of a great many others who
would be pleased to assist you,” Vickie's expression shifted,
showing actual surprise.

“Well now,” Vickie leaned forward, a hint of
amusement flashing in her eyes, “what has that noble piece of
traditionalist rubbish been up to now?” Vickie questioned as Til'Ma
reemerged with their beverages.

“I shall start from the beginning,” Tiana
quickly touched on the important galactic changes that had occurred
recently, like the formation of the Alutia Duchy through the
removal of holdings from the Hulk'Zif and Bar'Vac Duchy's, followed
by the actions of Sir Simwa on Earth and his subsequent
confinement. Vickie collapsed in boisterous laughter when she heard
of his lies and Tiana had to wait to continue. She then explained
how they suspected the plot was so the traditionalists could
finally get their long awaited revenge on Knight Captain Quinn.

“That doesn't sound like a plan Duke Zehman
would agree too,” Vickie interrupted. “He is much more...direct. If
he wanted revenge, he would have just sent an assassin, not
pursuing such a roundabout method. He has agents in almost every
court in the galaxy that would be more than willing to carry out
such a deed without anyone being the wiser. There must be something
else going on...something far, far worse,” Vickie fell into her
thoughts, so Tiana decided to move on. As she started explaining
the assassination attempt on Sasha, vivid memories stormed back
with each word, and she began to shiver uncontrollably. Gil'Da slid
her arm around her, providing Tiana some reassurance, allowing her
to finish the story without pause.

“That is much more like the duke, dear. He
loves to use neural gas because of the way it destroys the brain
utterly. So even if the body is healed, they will no longer be a
“threat” to him. This grand duchess of yours is quite obviously in
the way of one of his grand schemes, so he ordered her disposed of.
He does love his intrigue, you see, and is renowned for slipping
his own guards, or blackmailing existing guards of his allies and
enemies, so that he can deal with them at his pleasure,” Vickie
sighed, shaking her head in disgust. Tiana took a moment to regain
her composure.

“Once we reached the TSB Fleet Base, we met
Commander Talan, headmaster of the TSB General Training School, who
provided us with quarters to await the TSB fleet’s return. It was
shortly after this that Grand Duchess Sasha disappeared, and at the
time none of us knew why or where. Then, a few hours later, a young
TSB Trainee by the name Donnlie appeared and warned us about
Commander Talan's plan to sell the grand duchess to Duke Zehman for
a promised noble title,” Vickie held up her hand to interrupt.

“The duke would never provide noble titles
for such a thing. He loves to offer up grand rewards, then never
deliver, another of his well-known “traits”,” Tiana stared
curiously at Lady Vickie, deciding to ask the question that was
itching in the back of her mind before continuing.