Dimitri nodded in consideration, his voice low, ‘We will discuss your observations admiral and notify you in due course of our actions.’ His had raised abruptly, the screen flickering before going blank as the transmission was cut.
Chapter Ten: Galactic Preparations for Battle
Medical Bay, Galactic Freedom
Flight Officer Anjara stirred, a low moan coming from his scarred clenched lips, pain seeping through the medical bed’s lowered anaesthetic, the medical staff keen to see if the tenacious flyer was able to emerge from an induced coma, requiring further checks on a conscious combat veteran to determine if there were any deeper mental injuries. The patient’s body had sustained extensive injuries before being evacuated from the front eastern villages of Zaxon B, Fahimian medics credited with saving his faltering life with prompt battlefield treatment.
Blurred amber and red flashing lights seemed to glow above him, his body moving stiffly in pain as several scanning beams glowed green, then amber once more. Gritting his teeth, a morbid smile swept briefly across his lips, an aching body complimented with sharp painful reminders of previous flight injuries, his eyes blinking as he winced at the silhouette above, highlighted in the dimmed overhead medical bay pin lights, ‘I am still alive at least…I can feel that!’
The shadow nodded, Anjara’s eyes straining to see the figure lower to sit beside him, his vision still blurred as the man spoke, ‘It seems we are not to be parted commander…I am glad you are awake.’
Flight Officer Anjara’s rising head sank back against the rubber like pillow, grinning before drawing a sharp breath in pain, tears of relish forming in his eyes, ‘Somas, my friend…we are together once more.’ He drew a sharp breath, emotion filling his bruised and battered chest, the adrenalin beginning to seep through his muscles, ‘My loyal engineer…how long have we got before we meet the enemy again?’
Somas stifled a snigger, shaking his head in disbelief, ‘You are indeed insane commander, but my kind of madness…we reach this earth in thirty hours…a new planet for us both to defend. From rumours, the Morgons are apparently up to their usual tactics…slaughter and invasion, the Empire will need flyers sir…’
Anjara winced once more, grinning in rising excitement, his fingers twitching…mostly from surging adrenalin, but also from the depletion of the anaesthetic. He coughed, gritting his teeth against the agony, ‘I will be ready…Vipers will fly again…tell the medics I will need a boosted flight suit…ready…ready the fighter and supervise the armaments my friend…’ He yawned as the increasing anaesthetics seeped through his frame once more, Somas’s eyes moistening as he stared down at his commander, Anjara sleepily whispering, ‘…th…this time we will be ultimately victorious…we will drink with the young human Re…Rees before we fly…’ His voice drifted into slumber, ‘I…I owe him my life…’
The decorated flyer slumped back into unconsciousness, Somas smiling fondly as he looked up at the approaching medical orderly, ‘You heard my commander…he will fly…we will fly. Tell the humans the Vipers are coming and that the enemy will fear us once more!’ The orderly’s eyes widened in disbelief, nodding slightly and retreating.
Somas grinned in rising excitement, the beleaguered and demoralised few pilots he had recruited from Morasat would now reform a reduced Viper wing, the unit’s red distinctive insignia already proudly displayed across the fuselages of new enhanced silver fighters in the dispersal bays below.
Adrenalin and nervous energy swept through his chest…now he had the last key to their success, the figure that every Trevakian pilot would fly to the ends of the heavens for…the legendary Flight Officer Anjara.
Training Deck, Galactic Freedom
Riaz smiled in rising excitement as he stared across the dimly lit training facility, one of his favourite places aboard Galactic Freedom, the only area he felt able to totally relax…perhaps even longed to be at, his thoughts already dismissing an emerging addiction to the deck of ultimate fitness. He had even made a few new Trevakian friends by sight, a mutual camaraderie gradually forming as the males and females glimpsed each other at the variety of military fitness and weapon simulation machines. Nods of recognition were their only usual communication as they concentrated on the challenging individual tasks at hand, all opposing the ships computers, the cunning tactic bonding the soldiers together and deployed on similar decks across all fleet vessels.
He was intrigued by the atmosphere and machinery, the dim lights glowing above the machine he was required to visit next, low mists of cold water ejected from above when the machine deemed an exerciser required sustenance. Additional recommended fluids of varying flavours were also highlighted by down lighters after the machines had scanned the mineral and energy content of the user and determined if any additional supplements were required.
Several figures were already hard at work on the low ceilinged and pin lit deck, most of his earth colleagues now having retired to bed, Debra Hardie and Tregan seen heading for an upper viewing bar, a seemingly now common occurrence on most evenings as the two became closer. To the muscular human’s far right side, a lengthy viewing window allowed the hard working soldiers a spectacular view out into space, distant stars and planets sparking across the dark void, mesmerising to most of the resting or recovering participants.
Riaz’s eyes scanned the now familiar machines with almost emotional attachment, his muscles flexing in a warming up technique as he grinned, licking his lips and recalling the gym he frequented on earth, the equipment completely different and seeming utterly dull by comparison. The Trevakian fitness machines analysed the muscle density of the prospective user and adapted the weighted load or tension appropriately, continually varying the
