Shino rolled her eyes as Riaz faked a yawn, the Trevakian opposite chuckling as he sat back, the whispering dying away as the cockpit door suddenly swung open, Tregan glancing out with Captain Dugachard stood behind, his voice rising, ‘Prepare to depart…engines are moving to pulse. This will be a short trip, then prepare for a surprise…’ He grinned as expectant faces looked up, waving an enticing finger as the door behind slowly closed, ‘You will see soon enough…’ The door closed silently as the marines glanced at each other suspiciously, several shrugging as a low whir began to fill the cabin, then vibration as the occupants felt the transport slowly rise, seeming to temporarily struggle with the weight of an overloaded hold before the whirring and humming increased, the vessel moving forward slowly and passing through the green defensive field.
Captain Dugachard pushed Tregan’s shoulder plate, the two now holding overhead straps at the back of the cockpit, her voice low to avoid being overheard as they both grinned, ‘You should not tease them…they might be behind us in an attack or retreat…I do not want to be shot in the back!’
Tregan nodded, still grinning, ‘This is not the fables of that Captain Rett again…he was evil and his troops were right to shoot him.’ His eyes strained, ‘The fortress on Karagar wasn’t it? They held out for months against the Morgon bandits there…only to find out he had befriended two Silakians and was giving up some patrols as sacrifice to safeguard his own miserable hide?’
The female captain nodded solemnly, ‘That was where Karn was sent…he was killed as they escorted the survivors to drop ships…an ambush and Rett’s last gift to us…they executed him shortly afterwards.’
Tregan strained his eyes, shaking his head apologetically, ‘Sorry captain…I did not mean to bring up the past…he was very special to you…’
Captain Dugachard raised her hand, forcing a smile, ‘It is all history now…’ She glanced round, lowering to stare through the cockpit windows as the ship continued to move forward, indicating to the briefly shimmering stars ahead, ‘It appears you were not wrong when you said a short trip…’
Tregan lowered to look ahead, his chest rising as he glimpsed a sudden distortion of space, a horizontal shaft of green light appearing, the landing bay doors to a large ship rising, his eyes straining further as the seemingly welcoming glow widened, another bay opening beside it, his head shaking, ‘What ship? It must be huge…’
The pilot glancing round, ‘We will be landing in a number of earth minutes’ captain…your orders are to disembark as soon as possible…we have to go back and join the last ship.’ The eyes behind the visor glanced at each marine officer before the pilot licked his lips, the co-pilot reaching up to adjust some of the overhead controls, ‘The fleet has begun to move behind us…the attack is commencing…’
He glanced back, adjusting the steering before him before grinning in excitement, talking to his co-pilot in relish as the Trevakians stared open mouthed towards the wide bays ahead, differing coloured landing lights now pulsing across the bays to guide the transports forward, ‘Trevakians have apparently not seen them since the Darison system two centuries ago…’ He swallowed in awe, emotion in his voice, ‘This is the last of the Fahimian ships and their best, quite a spectacular vessel I have been told…and we are about to have the honour of landing on its deck even though we cannot see it in its full glory…’
The pilot’s head suddenly spun round, his tone trembling, ‘Good luck captain, it will be an honour to serve with such a determined and noble race. They have lost almost everything, but will still rise to fight by our side…’
Chapter Twenty Four: Joining with the Fahimians
Passing through the extended ember green atmospheric defensive shields, five Trevakian drop ships lowered into each loading bay, steam and smoke rising as the cold hulls creaked and screeched, the pilots grinning at the colourful illuminations and numerous bright uniforms ahead, surging lights pulsing across the dark floor to indicate landing positions. At the end of each of the surging lines of spotlights, a lone Fahimian flight overseer waved each craft forward with illuminated batons, the scarlet uniform complimented with black chest plate and helmet.
The bay seemed to narrow slightly, the sides crimson with numerous clear resin strips, the surface behind the flight overseer a mirrored black, the pulsing lights reflecting off the almost sparkling exterior plate.
Captain Dugachard’s eyes widened in realisation as she grinned, pointing to the sides, ‘Their transport craft are stacked above each other…very efficient…the bay gets bigger as they are deployed.’ She indicated to the furthest corner, looking at two vertical lines, a thick red stripe drawing her attention, Tregan lowering to stare through the front cockpit windows as the captain continued, pointing further, ‘The crane mechanics for unloading are set into the inner walls…’ Her voice trailed off as the drop ship gently touched down, the Fahimian ahead stiffening and crossing the illuminated batons to indicate a perfect landing, the black shining helmet nodding formally forward with respect.
The pilot’s head turned, a wide grin on his face, ‘They look impressive…very professionally turned out…’
Captain Dugachard grinned, ‘I think there will be more to see…I hear they can put on quite a show…’ The engine murmur slowly decreased, central doors opening in the black mirrored wall, Fahimian soldiers running into the bay, their boots cracking on the mirror like floor, the pilot grinning in relish at the dark black uniforms and sparkling silver reinforcement armour on shins, thighs, chests and lower and upper arms.
