Page 26

Trex

THE CALM WAS INTERRUPTED by the shaking of the Chetok and a loud boom. I stood up and exited the room.

We were supposed to be nearing the Javar Outpost.

“Who’s firing on us?” I asked.

“The Krilex are back, Captain. They are part of a blockade preventing us from reaching the Outpost. There are two unidentified ships, along with three Krilex and two Zinid vessels.”

“What do you mean by unidentified? They have to be in the Protectorate database.” I grumbled, standing behind the helmsman and folding my arms.

The crewman paused briefly and used his hands to navigate the panel, pulling up information.

“Affirmative. Although there are similar scans of the same type of ship, nobody can identify what alien race they belong to. They are categorized as unknown. First seen in our galaxy one-hundred galactic years ago, sir.”

Krin and I shared a moment of silent communication. His thoughts mirrored mine. We both speculated whether these unknown forces were behind the recent issues with the Krilex.

A thunderous vibration reverberated through my chest as the ship was struck again. Unable to contain my frustration any longer, I let out a loud curse.

The Krilex had developed a habit of retreating whenever the Protectorate approached. What is different now?

“Their weapons can’t penetrate our shields. Their efforts are in vain,” I muttered aloud, then gritted my teeth. “Hail them,” I ordered.

“Acknowledged, Captain. Doing it now.”

To my surprise, Calti Joele appeared when the bridge doors slid open.

She came over to where I was standing. “What’s happening now?” she sounded as aggravated as I was feeling.

I rotated my head to look at her while pressing my lips together. “We are encountering resistance in reaching the Outpost.”

“When will my fleet arrive?” she asked.

A helmsman replied. “Any minute now.”

“Contact them and tell them what’s happening,” she barked.

With a bristling reaction, I conveyed to the Drakkari female that she had no power here.

The starship was not under her command. She moved backward and bowed her head to show deference to me. This was not an easy feat for a Drakkari female.

The ship was violently shaken by another blast.

“Our shields were taken out by that shot, Captain.”

Flutz. I stood tall, with my back rigid.

I couldn’t risk the females or my crew, since the ship had no protection against more hits.

“We have a video transmission from one of the Krilex ships,” announced the helmsman.

“On screen.” I barked.

These confrontations were happening with alarming frequency.

With a sneer, the reptilian alien displayed its wide maw of a mouth, filled with razor-sharp teeth. His eyes were yellow glowing slits, and small horns adorned his head and neck.

His eyes bore into mine with an intense, hostile glare.

” I am Commander Zerek. I know you destroyed some of my ships, which is a punishable offense.

We’ve successfully disabled your shields.

Still, I am fair. If you return my goods, I will consider letting you leave in peace.

..if you do not return them to me now, we will destroy you. ”

I narrowed my eyes while my nostrils flared.

The aliens invading Alaran space and taking what wasn’t theirs had pushed me to my breaking point.

“If it is the females you are referring to, you do not have ownership over them. They were rescued from the Zinids by us. They are not your possessions.”

I sent instructions to Aza to fire on the ships.

Laser cannons and pulse weapons were fired in rapid succession. The Zinid ships and one of the Krilex were destroyed instantly.

“If you withdraw, we will end our assault on your ships.” I stared back at Zerek.

The Calti’s fierce glare was directed at the Krilex Commander on the screen. He laughed and met my gaze again.

“You are forbidden from entering this section of space. Leave immediately,” I ground out.

“Last chance, Captain. Send us the females, including the Drakkari.”

“We are not handing over anyone to you. Retreat or face permanent removal from Alaran space.” I warned, knowing he would likely give us no other option but to destroy them.

The creature laughed. “You’re outnumbered. Don’t you see that? The odds are against you.” He glanced at someone I could not see, and then turned his attention back to me, wearing a smug grin.

I was aware that my warriors were gearing up, checking their weapons and searching for any weaknesses in their ships. I had complete confidence that the Krilex leader was posturing.

“Return the females or die.”

I gritted through clenched teeth. “We will not.”

Then, nodding, I sent mental orders to take them down.

‘Sir, I've detected six enemy life signs that just teleported onto our ship.’

‘Can you tell me the location?’ I asked, feeling a tightness in my chest.

“The guest quarters and...” His sentence was interrupted by the sudden appearance of a Krilex warrior on the bridge.

With something covering his ear holes, he dropped a small disk onto the floor, its metallic clang echoing in the room.

A high-pitched sound vibrated on contact with the floor. Agony tore through me, making it impossible to move. Before losing consciousness, I sent a mental warning to Orin to protect the females.

“CAPTAIN?” A DISTANT voice echoed. “Captain, can you hear me?” this time the voice rang out across the bridge as I opened my eyes.

In an instant, I was off the floor and opening my thoughts in search of Grace.

My heart froze when I couldn’t detect her presence.

She was no longer on the ship.

As the helmsman stirred, I gazed at the holo-screen at the helm and witnessed a formation of Drakkari vessels encircling the last two Krilex ships. The two unidentified ships had disappeared.

“Captain, can you hear me? Should we unleash our firepower on these reptilian scum?”

Filled with panic, I pushed the communications button. “Negative! They’ve taken the females. They are aboard one of the enemy ships.”

I prayed they hadn’t been taken by the unknown ships.

Dril took over the helm as I sat down in my chair, still trembling from the unfamiliar weapon’s aftermath.

The helmsman moved his hands over the panel, causing the main screen to illuminate with the image of a female Drakkari warrior.

“Captain Grilock here. Are you and your crew alright?” The Drakkari Commander bowed her head in greeting. The equivalent of a Drakkari salute. “Captain.”

My lips came together in a tight line. “I think we’re good. The Krilex boarded our ship and used a new weapon, which left everyone unconscious. The females have been taken.” My voice was brimming with anger that I struggled to suppress.

Zerek and the other Krilex would be held accountable for taking the females. No one would escape the consequences of touching my K’sha.

“I understand. I will send teams, armed and ready, to neutralize those on the two ships. But Captain, just as we approached, two unknown ships vanished.”

She kept her thoughts to herself, but the strain in her voice hinted at what we were both thinking.

My heart raced as I sent Dril a telepathic message, urging him to scan the two remaining Krilex ships. He turned in his chair to face me and said, “There are five life signs other than Krilex, but they seem to be unconscious.”

I nodded, feeling relieved. They failed to escape with the females. We had the opportunity to save them.

“We will join you on those ships, Captain Grilock.”

I motioned for some of my warriors to accompany me. At that moment, I saw Krin standing up. I gestured for him to come along and I would fill him in on the way.

WE TELEPORTED ONTO Zerek’s ship and discovered the Drakkari were already engaged in combat with the aliens. The male and female Drakkari warriors were effortlessly defeating the Krilex, outnumbering them four to one.

“Spread out. Find the females,” I commanded my warriors.

Krin turned to me. “We will find them. Go take care of Zerek.”

Grinding my jaw, I nodded in agreement. I was familiar with Krilex vessels from previous boardings, so I knew my way around their different ships.

The halls were already littered with bodies as I stormed toward the bridge, searching for Zerek.

He would be made to pay for taking my K’sha. Gods help him if any harm came to her.

Two dead Krilex bodies were propping the bridge door open, which I stepped over to enter. The remaining crew were in combat with the Drakkari.

“Save the flutzing Captain for me,” I yelled, racing toward Zerek.

With perfect timing, he turned and caught my fist square in his jaw with a crack, sending him stumbling backwards.

A brief shake of his head was followed by a sudden lunge at me, but I struck him again before he swiped at my arm and chest with his massive claws, drawing blood.

He taunted, saying, “We are not as weak as you believed.”

I grabbed my sword and moved away to dodge his claws a second time.

He sneered with contempt. “With our new friends and their technology, Alaran space will bel-”

With a battle cry, I leaped into the air and cut him down where he stood. I gazed down at him, standing over his lifeless body.

“You talk too much, you worthless grik .”

As I wiped my blade off, Krin’s voice echoed in my mind.

‘Captain, We have located the females, but we will need help to transfer them to our ship.’

‘Why? Have they been injured?’

‘No, sir. They are unconscious .’