The officer glanced down, reading from her console once more, ‘Engineers have sealed all the lower breaches…some Morgon forces still holding out above deck eighty…Fahimian commandoes, earth Ghurkas and our own Trevakian marines are preparing to storm their positions…there are still some earth soldiers on the planet’s surface, all in security positions…or shallow graves…’
Admiral Shadian nodded grimly, ‘The rest? The few ships from 9th and 10th fleet I chose are on their way to this human ‘earth’…any more in the vicinity that can assist us? We could use them to attack enemy defensive positions…two are not enough with the Morgons still in orbit.’
The intelligence ensign stared across at her commander, ‘Apart from the two battle cruisers that remained to guard us, there is no news of further support from fleet…in fact, no messages at all.’ She glanced up reassuringly, ‘This may be attributable to the delay in our two computer codes merging Admiral…not due to lack of incoming comms. Intelligence believes there could be additional vessels sent to us and will attempt to open covert channels to the fleet once the merge is completed. I currently consider all spare vessels from the two fleets are now too far towards Planet Earth to recall…the empire must wish to destroy the enemy’s warships as per orders and perhaps we should support that sir, this is a great opportunity…now we know where they are.’
The Admiral of Alexion One grimaced, his arms lowering to his hips in frustration, ‘Then we must presume this is all we have then…I need urgent communication with both the Fahimians and the commander at Morasat…if we can move our orbit with the cover of the cruisers, we could bring direct fire onto the Morgon positions, wear them down and prevent others from escaping. We will need coordinated help clearing the enemy’s remaining ships from space.’
The female intelligence officer smiled fleetingly, her adrenalin rising, ‘Yes Admiral…I will arrange an immediate meeting…probably on the planet’s surface.’ She glanced down as Shadian smiled in approval, pinching his upper nose with weariness and slumping back in his chair, the station shuddering once more as the upper guns fired out into dark space.
Then he stiffened, the low red alarm lights suddenly pulsing across the damaged bridge, Alexion One’s internal voice activated warning system activating, the female voice stern, ‘Alert! Caution! Space distortion detected…vessel or vessels uncloaking in planet orbit! Alert!’
Admiral Shadian rose to his feet abruptly in shock, shouting across at his six ensigns, ‘Show me on screens! Surely they must be ours?’
The startled intelligence and operating officers’ hands moved across their screens frantically, the screens at the end of the bridge flickering, one shouting desperately as they stared down at the flickering lights, ‘Some sensors offline…limited pictures will be available…’
Shadian shook his head, his body shaking in anticipation as he stared at the static filled screens, biting his lower lip with stress as his voice rose, ‘Let me see…where or what are they?’
The female intelligence officer grimaced, her jaw dropping open as she stared down to the display, ‘Two vessels Sir…uncloaking near the Morgon ships…’ She glanced up in regret,’ …we must presume enemy craft…they…they are….’ She stared downwards once more, the screen flickering and damaged sensors attempting to decipher the readings, her voice rising with excitement and dread, ‘Unknown ships Admiral…computers have no recognition…wait!’
Admiral Shadian shook his head in exasperation, shouting across the bridge, ‘Wait? I need information…what have we got?’
The operators jumped at the ferocity of the order, one rising to his feet near the intelligence officer, ‘Admiral…unknown ship is hailing us, images prevented…voice only. We have no translation…’
The female intelligence ensign interrupted in amazement, ‘Translation and identification coming from merging Fahimian files…dissecting information now and awaiting transformation…in 3-2-1…on our own speakers…’
The space stations female voice broke through once more, ‘Translation from incoming signal received and deciphered…message as follows…’ There was slight pause as the messages were re-checked by Alexion One’s systems for accuracy, then a burst of static, a menacing male voice surging through the speakers, ‘Message Alpha. This is Vice Commander Zett of the Terraxile Hive…we have been sent here on the instructions of our Emperor. We come in peace from the far side of the Kliskoe System…beyond the destroyed Fahimian Republic. We understand the Fahimian vermin are under your protection and we demand you relinquish them for destruction…they are the last of their people and we are honoured to be assigned to their liquidation…’ There was a slight pause, then the computer generated voice continued, ‘…our signal will remain open for you to respond, you have limited time.’
Admiral Shadian’s eyes widened in horror, his teeth grinding as he grunted in disgust, ‘Get me the nearest Fahimian dignitary…I want to know what is happening…scan their files for detail, who are these ‘Terraxiles’?’
The female intelligence ensign nodded, ‘Yes admiral…scanning in progress, but we advise you to reply…delay them, perhaps find out more?’ She turned to a male colleague, hissing, ‘Get it done!’ The young ensign nodded, his head dropping to stare at the screen before him.
Shadian nodded in rising shock, ‘Very well…advise them who we are, that our empire respects the existence of other races and that we are unable to relinquish an ally, no matter how recent to such threats…advise this ‘Zett’ that we are open to peaceful negotiations and that I am in position as Admiral of this space station to represent the Trevakian Empire. That we have no interest in confronting their race, but simply to work in harmony with them…as we do with all other races that are aligned or share similar principles with our Empire.’
The officer nodded respectfully, a faint smile fleetingly passing across her face from the
