Galaxy 2

Chapter 1

The jungle air was hot and humid. The calls of a thousand insects could be heard throughout the dense foliage. At length a disturbance arose from within the canopy of trees. A flock of startled magnules flew up from their perches with screeching squawking calls flapping their wings and clicking their toothed beaks. They landed again hissing angrily at the approaching intruders. Two armed figures came over the crest of a hill.

Lieutenant Commander Neil Arden stumbled down the steep hill pushing hanging vines out of his face and nearly running into his companion in front of him. His companion who was not human stood about two feet taller his neck accounting for most of this. Lizard-like, his arms were almost as long as his legs, a row of plates ran down his back, the longest being at twenty inches. After they had cleared the hill they continued to trudge on their way. At least the human was trudging. The corin seemed to be getting along just fine.

“Nassu”, Neil said to his companion. “What are we looking for again?” The corin didn’t stop or even slow down but he gave an exasperated sigh and turned his head completely around to look at his friend.

“I told you”, he said through the translator he wore on his head. “We are looking for a keurithgahtennh.” The translator had two earpieces and then a mouthpiece with a small control panel on the side. The Nassu could understand Neil but he was physically incapable of speaking the human language. The lieutenant commander made a face as he tried to repeat Nassu.

“Kirthguh— kerth— k-keurt kearthgahtuh— ket—

“Stop trying to pronounce it! You’ve been at it all mourning,” Nassu broke in.

“Speaking of all mourning, isn’t that how long we’ve been walking,” Neil retorted.

“Not all morning”, Nassu corrected. “Just half the morning.”

“Well it sure seems like all morning to me. We’ve been walking through this hot jungle for hours and I’m soaked with sweat. I feel like I could faint and you haven’t even stumbled once. I’ve already been stung by a bee—if you could call it a bee. Only it was a lot bigger and its stinger was four inches long but—

“Shh! I think I smell one!”

Nassu craned his neck and stiffed the air. “I think it’s over that way,” he whispered, indicating to their left. The two friends moved silently in the direction that the corin indicated. They carefully pushed through a line of low branches and stopped, overlooking a small valley. There in the middle of it was the biggest bull Neil had ever seen. Or was it a bear, or was it rhinoceros, or was it a gorilla? Or was it a combination of all of them? It was easily the size of an elephant. Maybe bigger. “That is a kirth— a kearth— a—

“A keurithgahtennh, Neil. A keurithgahtennh,” said Nassu.

“Yeah! What you said.” Neil stared at it for a moment then suddenly he felt a gun being pushed into his hands. “Here. Hold this,” Nassu said, crouching down and starting to crawl stealthily towards the creature.

“Um…Nassu? Where are you going??”

“I am going to bring down the keurithgahtennh,” Nassu replied casually.

“But Nassu! That thing is huge!” Nassu stopped slinking and turned to face Neil.

“There never was a corin that worried about the size of his adversary.”

“Well, there ever was a human that worried about the size of his adversary. And for a good reason too.”

“You humans,” said Nassu shaking his head. The biggest predator you have hunted is perhaps a grizzly bear.”

“Look here Nassu. You’ve got sharp projections on your tail, six inch sabers on your fingers—longer ones on your feet, spikes on your legs, spikes on you arms, jaws that could snap my neck like a twig, and a mouth full of razors—not to mentioned those wicked looking fangs in the front.

“Yes, and you have a long range, quad-barrel 40 caliber X4-3B pulse rifle with auto targeting, auto sighting, 10 firing modes, and a two hundred round energy pack. Come on.

“Why did you bring your gun for if you’re not going to use it?

“In case we meet something bigger.”

“Uh…bigger?”

“Yes. Like an adult.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” exclaimed Neil. “You’re telling me that this is just a-a b-b-baby!”

“Not a baby. This one would be a ten your old in your years.”

“Is that supposed to be comforting?”

“I was simply informing you—

“Yes, I know. You’ve been informing me this entire expedition.”

“Nassu frowned. Exaggeration seems to be a particularly human tendency.”

“I should have known better than to agree to go on a corin hunting trip, Neil muttered to himself. “When they say hunting, they’re not kidding.” The two continued towards the beast, stepping carefully and trying not to make a sound.

“I don’t know about this Nassu,” Neil whispered. “What if this young one has a parent nearby?”

“Highly unlikely,” replied Nassu. “Most keurithgahtennh have already left their parents to fend for themselves by this age. Don’t worry Neil. We’re perfectly safe in— Suddenly a deafening roar ripped through the trees, knocking leaves off their branches and scattering insects. This time the magnules didn’t simply squawk at the new comer; they flew like mad to get as far away from the vicinity as their wings could carry them, which Neil had a feeling that he and Nassu should also be doing right about now. There was only one problem with that. No wings. Out of the trees, an enormous form came charging straight at them, mouth open and fur bristled. The mouth revealed four rows of razor sharp teeth. This keurithgahtennh was about as big as four elephants.

“Run,” said Nassu, eyes wide. Neil didn’t need to be told. He was already running. Nassu and Neil sprinted through the forest underbrush at top speed, pushing branches aside and running franticly to escape the terror behind them. The beast was gaining but Nassu ran faster than Neil could.

“Nassu! I can’t keep up,” Neil cried hoarsely.

“Get on! Hurry!” Nassu stopped and lowered his plates only for a moment but it was enough. Neil leapt onto Nassu’s back and they were off again.

“If that young keurithgah-whatever is fending for itself then how do you explain that monster chasing us,” Neil shouted over the pounding of the keurithgahtennh’s feet and Nassu’s puffing breath.

“A late bloomer?,” Nassu suggested meekly. Neil could see that Nassu had been humbled by this little experience.

“Very funny!”

“Funny?”

“Admit it Nassu! You’re afraid!”

“Not afraid! I am just alarmed, that’s all!”

“Maybe he hasn’t been humbled after all,” thought Neil.

“Where is my weapon?” In the excitement Neil had dropped Nassu’s rifle but had kept his own. Although he knew that his hunting rifle was not a match for this monstrosity. He would need a military grade weapon.

“Umm… I…don’t… have it!” Nassu turned to look at Neil.

“That weapon cost 850 hezkahs looks like I’ll be getting your leave pay,” Nassu said smiling.

“Let’s concentrate on getting out of here first Nassu! The beast seemed to be getting closer. Soon the two hunters become hunted would be overtaken. The corin was fast but not fast enough. The creature had a large stride and seemed to Neil to be unusually agile.

“We’ll never make it!,” Neil shouted.

“I didn’t particularly intend to go this way!” replied Nassu trying to be cheerful in the face of imminent doom.

“At least they will say we didn’t go down without a flight! Ha ha ha ha huh… That doesn’t sound very epic, does it?

“Would you be quiet so I can go in peace!” said Nassu.

The creature was nearly upon them now. It reached down with its massive jaws towards them. Neil closed his eyes.

Suddenly a loud energy blast rang through the air and a blue flash of light blinded them. Their pursuer was stopped dead in its tracks and toppled to the ground, motionless.

“Lieutenant Commander Arden! How nice to see you,” said a cheerful voice to their left. “I see you’re enjoying yourself?” The voice was very familiar. Both he and Nassu were on the ground now. They opened their eyes and looked up. On a plateau just ahead of them were standing three humans and two corins. Neil recognized at once the one who had spoken.

“Uh… Admiral Silo. What are you doing here,” Neil asked.

“Same as you. I also get leave sometimes,” replied Admiral Silo. “Although it seems your leave has been a little more exciting than mine.”

“Now Lieutenant,” Said one of the corins to Nassu. “You know the Commander is unfamiliar with the ways of our world. You shouldn’t scare him like that.” Nassu failed to detect the corin’s humor.

“Oh! Captain Kirzza! I did not know you were coming to the surface,” exclaimed Nassu. “Forgive my informality.” He stood up stiffly and gave a salute.

“At ease lieutenant. We’re on leave. Remember?”

“Oh yes! You are correct sir.”

Neil spoke to Admiral Silo again. “Did Captain Kirzza talk you into going on a hunting trip too?”

“Captain Kirzza and Councilman Sele-Rova here,” replied the Admiral, indicating a corin standing beside the captain.

“You brought your body guards?”

"I figured that I’d need them. Looks like I was correct.

“Pretty handy to bring a heavy stunner with you, huh.”

“My body guards insisted I take one.”

“Have you got anything yet?

“Yes, we shot two megurths and one nura beast. We were just getting ready to head back to the port. Care to join us?

“Certainly! I think I’ve had enough hunting for one day. And I would kind of like to see Tom and Christen again. We kind of left without telling them. They’ll be wondering where we went.”

“I’ve already called the transport. It should be arriving shortly. Wait. There it is now.” A small ship came out of the clouds overhead and let down carefully over the plateau that the hunting party was gathered on.

“Are you ready sir,” asked a voice through Admiral Silo’s communicator.

“Yes, we are all ready to leave the surface,” answered the Admiral.

“Roger. Prepare for transportation.” The corins and the humans stood to gather in a group and with flash of blue light; they were zipped up into the hovering craft. They took their seats and prepared for the ride out of Cora’s atmosphere.

“You should come to my home planet sometime,” Neil said turning to Nassu

“Nah. I would be bored; nothing to hunt,” he answered with a smile. “I hear that when you humans settled in this galaxy, you took some plants and wild life from Earth with you in order to make Ankor feel more like home.”

“Yes. At the time Ankor was uninhabited so we had the freedom to do so. Earth and Ankor have much the same atmosphere and climate so the species we brought with us were able to survive.” The transport rose into the air and began to move rapidly away from the planet’s surface. Soon the clouds began to fade, giving way to stars as they left the planet’s foggy atmosphere. The pilot changed course and headed towards a large space station hovering above the planet. The pilot spoke to the space traffic controller through the ship’s communicator.

“This is transport Delta 5652B requesting permission to dock. Security clearance: A2693 Beta. I have returned with the Admiral and his party.”

“Roger Delta 5652B. All scans of your vessel have been completed and Admiral Silo’s presence confirmed. Proceed to bay 7.” The transport continued around to the other side of the station where the pilot easily spotted bay 7. The bay doors were already opening to receive them. He entered the bay and settled down next to the boarding chute, which connected to an air lock on the side of the transport. Neil stepped out into the cool air of the station. Nassu followed behind him

“Whew! I’m glad to be out of that sweltering jungle.” Neil exclaimed. The corins were actually more comfortable in the hot, humid weather but they had lowered the temperature for the sake of the humans whom they knew were on board.

“It’s cold in here,” said Nassu. Just then a voice called from a few feet ahead of them.

“Hey Neil, Nassu! Long time no see. What have you guys been up too? The voice belonged to Lieutenant Commander Tom Callaway. Behind him, as Neil and Nassu went to meet him, Lieutenant Christen Callaway approached.

“Where have you two been,” she blurted. “We’ve been looking all over for you!” She didn’t look very happy.

“It’s kind of a long story,” Neil answered.

“Then you better start telling it.”

“Well it was Nassu’s idea. We went down to the surface on a hunting expedition and we met a keurithgahtane—keurithgahtin— k—

“You went hunting for a keurithgahtennh and you didn’t even tell us??”

“Well…”

“You were going to get the glory all by your selves for being the first to hunt a keurith successfully. I know when I’m not wanted!” Christen crossed her arms. There was a hint of humor in her tone.

“The first?”

“Right. They say that they’re uncatchable.”

“Un…catchable.” Neil shot a glare at Nassu who simply shrugged.

“So not only were you going to hunt the ugly thing, but you were going to catch it, huh?” Neil narrowed his eyes at Nassu.

“Hey Neil, next time you do something exciting we’d like to go with you,” Tom spoke up.

“It was more like a near death experience, actually. We were after a young one but then its parent came along, which Nassu said was supposed to have already left it, and we were chased until the Admiral came along with his own hunting party and he just happened to bring a heavy stunner with him. He shot the beast just before it closed its mouth over us. That thing ran faster than Nassu!”

“Okay, let me rephrase it. Next time you do something exciting that’s within the limits of sanity, we would like to go with you.”

“Nah. Christen wouldn’t be able to handle the physical exertion.” Neil looked at Nassu both were smiling.

“What?,” Christen said her mouth dropping open. It was the exact response that Neil was looking for.

“Hey!"

“Ah! Come on Christen, you get upset so easily,” Neil cut in.

“Hey, I may be a lieutenant but I easily have the energy of a lieutenant commander.”

“Ummm… Hey kids? If you’re finished over there, Admiral Rovek would like to give us a tour of the Fearless,” Admiral Silo called. “It just arrived today.” Nassu whirled around.

“The Fearless! She’s in this port? Right now!?,” he exclaimed.

“Yes. Didn’t you see the battle cruiser docked outside,” Admiral Silo asked.

“I did see one of our warships outside but I had no idea it was the Fearless. This is so exhilarating! And we’re all invited?”

“All humans present and any other Coalition officers. That’s what the corin said and that includes you.”

“Then let us proceed.” Tom, Christen, Neil, and Nassu all hurried over to where Admiral Silo was standing. He was talking to a very stout and authoritative looking corin.

“Admiral,” Nassu addressed Rovek. He gave the corin salute. The humans shook hands.

“Let us be off,” Said Admiral Rovek. “We will board through air lock 17.” The group walked down a corridor until they reached air lock 17. Two guards moved to let them enter. They passed through the docking tube and into the hotter atmosphere of the corin vessel. There was an escort ready to meet them.

“First I will introduce you to the bridge crew and the captain of this fine vessel,” Admiral Rovek announced. The tour group sat down on a deck transport.

“Bridge,” Rovek told the computer. With a low hum the deck transport took off for the bridge. Stars sparkled brilliantly outside as they passed through a transparent tube on their way. In thirty seconds they arrived at the bridge, which was on the other side of the massive cruiser. They got off the transport and the door to the bridge opened and they stepped through.

“Our guests have arrived, sir,” announced the escort to the captain. As the group entered, the bridge crew stood up. In the middle of the room on an elevated platform stood the captain who greeted them warmly.

“Greetings gentlemen,” he said. “I am Captain Arva. Welcome to the Fearless; the pride of the Corin 4^th fleet. This is my first officer Norseth.” He indicated a corin to his left.

“Bridge, this is Admiral Silo; Chief admiral of all Coalition naval forces," Rovek continued. "And these humans with him are Lieutenant Commanders Tom Callaway and Neil Arden. The female is Lieutenant Christen Callaway. You know Councilman Sela-Rova and Captain Kirazz. Our fellow corin here is Lieutenant Nassu. He is one of our best fighter pilots and he commands a Coalition fighter squadron.”

Norseth approached Admiral Silo and held out his hands, palms up. Silo knew the corin greeting. He extended his own hands and held them over Norseth’s hands palms down. Norseth then bent his knees and bowed down until his head was level with Silo’s chest. He got back up and did the same with Tom and Neil only with them he bowed to where his head was level with theirs. When he came to Christen she was about to hold her hands out also but Norseth had a different greeting for her. Neil indicated to Christen to raise her hands up at the elbows. She did and Norseth touched his palms to hers and nudged her hands outwards.

“This here is my security chief Kothe,” Captain Arva continued. “This is my tactical officer Hovack, this is my helmsman Neezeer, and this is Ekriff; my sensor man.” Each of the corins went around the group and did the same as Norseth.

“Greetings to you too Captain,” said Silo. “Let me demonstrate the human greeting to you. He took Arva’s hand and shook it. The corin then indicated to the rest of his crew to receive the greeting also.

“Now that we have dispensed with the pleasantries let me give you the runabout of the bridge,” Said Arva. He led them around to the front of the bridge where a large view port looked out into space.

“Here,” he said pointing to a control panel, “Is our weapons console. The main batteries are controlled from here as well as our compliment of torpedoes and rockets. We have state-of-the-art weapons control systems and large power banks to allow for superior fighting power. No other ship in our fleet has such advanced systems.” He then walked over to another panel.

“Here is where our sensor package is located. We have long range and exceptionally accurate external and internal sensor systems.” He pointed to the helm.

“Excellent maneuverability and speed. You won’t find anything like it elsewhere.”

“I think he may be pushing it a little now,” Christen whispered to Neil. “Out cruisers easily have—

“Don’t take it personally, Christen, “Neil said. He’s just trying to impress the Admiral. Let him brag.” Captain Arva continued to go around the bridge speaking proudly of his grand ship.

“Might I go with you and Admiral Rovek now to view the rest of the ship,” Arva asked Admiral Silo.

“I think that would be a great idea,” said Rovek without waiting for Silo’s answer. “Let us proceed.” They all boarded the transport again and headed for the reactor room.

******

After the lengthy tour the visitors were ready to leave and after saying their farewells, they went to the boarding area to go back to the station.

“Well that was boring. Tom jokingly whispered to Neil, Christen and Nassu as they left the ship. “Admirals. They just talk and talk.” Their voices disappeared down the docking tube.

“Wow,” said one of the corin guards to his companion, inside the boarding area of the Fearless after the party had left. “Can you believe Admiral Rovek came aboard?”

“It was kind of unexpected but this is the Fearless you know,” his friend replied. “I hear the inspector is coming on board as well this evening.”

"The inspector?” asked a third guard disgustedly. “I’ll be in the next galaxy if you need me.”

“Yes, I know said the second guard. He put on a face as he impersonated the inspector. “Your quarters are a mess! I don’t know why I put up with this job,” he said in a taunting voice. All three of them burst out laughing. After they had calmed down, there was a brief pause as they started to think about other things. Suddenly one of them spoke up.

“Do you smell something,” he asked, nudging one of his companions.

“No. Why?” replied the corin.

“I smell something funny, unfamiliar.”

“I don’t smell anything.”

“Oh well. It’s gone now. I guess it was noth—" There was a sudden flash of light and he went down in a heap upon the floor. There was another flash and the second guard went down. Motionless. The third guard grabbed his rifle and swung it off his shoulder pointing it around the room.

“Who’s there? What’s going on? Security! We need you fa— “ A third flash and he too joined his companions on the floor. Several other crewmen came rushing in.

“What is it? Norvah? Kurth— They took one look at the bodies on the ground and they all drew their weapons.

“Alert the Captain! We have intruders on board, yelled the leader. Alarms began to go off all over the ship.

“Something just past by me! I felt the air,” yelled another corin.

“I know there are intruders about but I don’t smell anything! Something’s not right here,” the leader said. “Quick! You three go down that passage and the rest of us will head down the other one!” The leader began to bark orders to his men. “And call for back up!”

“Yes sir!” the other corins said, hurriedly obeying. Back at the bridge, the crew had received the alarm.

“Sir we have received word of a security breach but my sensors aren’t picking up anything,” Ekriff reported to the Captain.

“We have three crew members dead and your sensors read nothing!?” he replied.

“No sir.

“This doesn’t make any since! Have security teams been dispatched?”

“Yes sir.”

Back in the halls of the Fearless another corin was shot at the door to the reactor room. The other corins with him scattered and yet another met his end.

“Did you see that,” one of them said to another who was crouching behind a console with him. “That laser bolt came out of nowhere!”

“Yes! I saw,” he replied. Suddenly the reactor room door was blasted open. And more bolts began to fly.

“Take cover,” one of the survivors outside yelled into the room. The reactor chief watched as some of his men, having no time to react, fell. The chief ducked down behind a console.

“What is happening,” the chief asked his Lieutenant beside him.”

“We don’t know sir! There is obviously someone here but we can’t find them,” said the Lieutenant.”

“My men are dieing and they can’t even face the enemy. They are dieing in disgrace!” A sudden anger welled up inside of him and as he felt something whoosh by him he lunged at it, slashing with his claws. There was a sound of ripping cloth and suddenly a head appeared floating in the air.

“A stealth suit,” he said to himself. He was astonished at what he realized next. It was a corin. A corin was killing his own people. The chief knew immediately what was going on now.

“Renegades,” he exclaimed aloud. Their eyes met. They stared at each other for a few moments and then the Renegade raised his weapon and the chief knew no more.

All at once other corins appeared out of nowhere and soon a dozen renegades surrounded the remaining crew. One of them who appeared to be the leader spoke to them.

“Now you know who has invaded your ship,” he began. Behold as we now destroy it!” One of the others went over to a console and began to switch some of the controls. Soon a hum was heard that got louder and louder.

“You’re overloading the reactor,” a prisoner screamed.

“Yes. I know.” The leader looked at him coldly. “When they ask any of you who defeated you, tell your traitorous government my name is Zheroth and I fight for the dignity of our people!”

With that, the renegade corins stood together in a group and with a flash of blue, they were whisked away to a small transport waiting outside the massive war ship. The transport turned about and rocketed away at full speed.

On the bridge the Ekriff noticed an alarm on his console screen.

“Sir,” he said. I am showing a massive power overload! Captain Arva turned his attention towards his sensor man.

“Compensate, he ordered.

“I can’t! The overload is too great, replied Ekriff.

“Eject the reactor!”

“No time, Captain! We have less than fifty seconds before we blow!

“Abandon ship! All hands! Abandon ship,” the Captain yelled franticly into the ship wide communicator. An explosion rocked the vessel. Crewmembers were thrown against the walls. The bridge crew jumped up and headed for the escape crafts.

The captain ran down the steps of his platform but as he neared the bridge door, a power meter rose sharply on the relay next to the door. He stared at the meter, paralyzed, his eyes widening. He swore in Coranese. The power relay exploded and the Captain was thrown across the room slamming into the opposite wall.

Another explosion ripped through the ship and then another and then another. The vessel was torn in two and slowly sank down towards Cora. Escape craft flowed steadily from the dieing hull. It was over. The Fearless was no more.