Thursday, November 10, 2005
Epilogue
Epilogue
TimeLine: 216
Year: March 17th, 5639 A.D.
Location: StarQuest II, Unknown sector in space.
Area: TimeRunner's Quarters
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“A blue white world covered with ice and snow. Cold and hard as my heart, scarred and in pain, yet it’s not dead but only in hibernation. Lying in wait until the day comes for it to reborn. For the time to come when Althena takes her people home”.
“Althena?”
“A blue white world looking cold but its warm light baths a moon nearby. It’s moon. A world like no other. A world covered with life and created to house her people, until they can come home. A world like Earth, untouched by any evil made by modern man. Primitive and wild the world is, where people must slave and work to make their livings. Cattle to raise, houses to build, and children to care for. Despite all the hardships, the people are happy with their primitive lives. Watching their children grow, living in the untamed bliss of this beautiful world, worshiping their Goddess and learning the teachings she has given to her people.”
“They live hard, but they yet hardly live.”
“Their lives so simple as they slave in the camps. Building high tech weapons, mining ores, raping the land like how the soldiers rape their women.”
‘WHAT?!?!”
“The people are suffering now, their world enslaves.”
“Everywhere on this little moon.”
“Little moon.”
“Hanging in space is the beautiful moon, in orbit of the Blue Star. Yet it fades away into the darkness. A skull with the star of Satan on its forehead appears before the moon. Vampiric teeth, sharp and dripping with saliva bites down on it.”
“Blood leaks out from the wounds it makes on the moon. It bites down harder, making more blood stream out of the moon as if it were a heart. Like an attack dog on a human throat, the skull sinks its teeth into it. Blood spraying out staining the skull, and all the while as this happens, people were screaming. Yet amongst the yelling and dying, he heard her voice. Zeanna’s voice. Pleading for him to save her. And when he didn’t, she screamed. The scream that she made when Soldeed ended her life. Her scream mingled with those of the others dying on this moon. The death screams finally ended when the skull crushed the moon, bursting it like an overripe fruit in a display of sickly disgust.”
“NO! NOOOOOO!!!!!!!”
TimeRunner bolts up from his bed, body dripping with sweat. “Not again.” TimeRunner mutters to himself as he gets out of bed, legs wobbling. “The same dream. Why?” he asks himself. Without realizing it TimeRunner finds himself breathing hard, as if he was running a marathon. His heart pounding in his chest. He looks up to the time display on his nightstand which reads 03:34.
The day was March 17th.
“It is bad enough of what has happened to me, must I relive my own failure.” he says to himself.
“Zeanna.”
Ever since the end of Operation “Third Millennium” the Archangel Attack group was busy around the clock not only repairing, refitting and rearming the various ships and vessels of the fleet but also sending recon units on a search for the remains of the SIA’s 666th fleet. Just before the STF squadrons were able to take out the rest of the enemy fleet, they performed a massive time fold taking them away from the battle. Even though the fold was hap standard and even destroy some of their crippled ships, a good majority of the 666th fleet was able to escape the wrath of the STF squadrons.
It was a calculated gamble that not even the StarQuest II’s temporal prognostication engine could predict, let alone a young admiral. But even still it had to have been one of their worst case scenarios should ever the battle went wrong for them. So while recon and search teams were out searching all time and space for where the 666th fleet could have gone, all fleet personnel were working 18, sometimes 20, hours a day trying to get the Archangel fleet back into fighting condition.
Even though the operation was a success, the fleet was still under a war footing and on yellow alert status. Anyone not involved flying defensive screens for the fleet or manning the anti-spacecraft guns for possible sneak attacks was either doing search and retrieval for missing STF pilots or salvage of what was left of the capital ships lost in the operation. Not only that but repairs were underway on all fleet ships and refitting of all the STF’s so they could be ready for a hot scramble. Enlisted techs and Noncoms helping to get the fleet back to 100% working order including all officers not on duty were throwing themselves to help get the fleet on track. TimeRunner forgot how many missiles he helped load into the StarQuest II’s forward launch bays or the prep work needed to get all the STF’s manned and ready on the ship. It took mostly two whole days straight to get the StarQuest II to full operational war status, not counting how long it took to get replacements for the casualties and destroyed STFs and the reshuffling of the table of organization on equipment for Sonic, Shadow, Wolf, Maverick and Atheist squadrons.
For an organization that was able to fight a temporal war you’d think they could find ways to speed things up.
But as the days passed after the battle, the fleet slowly licked its wounds and prepared for the next operation that the Christian Coalition Defense Force High Command (CCDF:HC) would have them do next. Up until now mostly it was to remain on location and stand by for future orders. In the meantime most just prepared the fleet and got some most deserved sleep when the opportunity arose. Yes sadly when TimeRunner would try to sleep he was plagued by this dream. No matter what time he chose to sleep it would always come to him. Forcing him to try to work it off, assuming the dreams were just from stress. It was not easy to be an admiral, especially when one did not wish for the job in the first place.
TimeRunner tried to find every excuse in trying not to sleep. From helping out in the repair/training efforts or working on his papers that keep building up on the various sections he was in command of. But not even working him to exhaustion helped, for the dreams still came….
TimeRunner got out of bed and made his way toward the bathroom in his quarters, located on the officer’s deck on the StarQuest II. “I might as well get dressed.” He said to himself. Stepping in for a sonic shower, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. He was glad this blood shot eyes were gone and he no longer had bags under his eyes. And despite all the wear and tear his body had gone through over the years (or centuries if one counted all the time travel his body clocked in) he looked fit and lean as ever. Being an admiral hadn’t dulled his reflexes for combat nor made his body grow soft with a desk job. The muscle definition was still there along with all the scars that the war saw fit to give him. The only odd part was his angular face was beginning to grow some stubble.
“Wasn’t there something about men in the bible not shaving?” TimeRunner thought. He quickly brushed the thought aside as he stepped in the shower to clean the sweat off his body.
After a shaving and putting on his standard issue unisex CCDF uniform, TimeRunner stepped out of his quarters and made his way toward the ship’s bridge.
He was glad that there were few crewmembers in the corridors this early in the morning, despite the ship’s compliment being fewer than 400,000. So the salutes he received from the lesser ranking officers and enlisted men were few and far between. He never liked being saluted as if he were actually superior to anyone, but out of proper protocol and good moral TimeRunner returned the salutes he received with as much enthusiasm as the ones that saluted him. Thankfully he reached to turbo lift without anymore incidents.
The trip was short and with that the lift doors opened to the command center of the StarQuest II. Inside techs and other support staff continued their task of keeping the ship at full alert. Bridge officers and techs bent over their stations, thankfully not noticing his arrival. Except for one…
“ADMIRAL ON DECK!!!” Bellowed the young Yeoman that happened to glace away from her station. Practically every officer and noncom quickly stood up and gave their salutes to their commander in chief. Some chairs could be heard fall over due to some being too quick in standing for the admiral. Some officers actually removed their caps from their heads.
As all of this was happening, TimeRunner was trying his best to recover from the start he received when the young woman announced his arrival. He wanted to tell them all to stop saluting and to give the young yeoman a good brisk talking to on not getting the jump on him, but as he gazed on all the people on the bridge, seeing them giving him the respect that his rank demanded, he realized that they were not doing it out of protocol. But out of the dedication and affection that they held for him. Of the man and the character that he shows to others. No doubt they heard of all that he contributed in the operation and its aftermath. Yet he wished to tell them that he was not worthy of their salutes. For there was not just him that did all what was to be done. The ones lost in the battle, and those that now tend to the wounded. Those that took part in the battle to end the evil’s of SIA and the ones that now perform their duties to make it safe for not only Christianity to survive but all of humanity as well.
In TimeRunner’s eye, everyone that came back from the battle deserved a metal and not just those that performed beyond the call of duty. It was he that should be saluting them, for their dedication and courage to do what he thought was the right course of action. To actually think him a leader was something that he knew he was not worthy of.
“And that is why they salute,” TimeRunner thought. “Because they know what I think of them.” As he returned their salutes he swore that he would do his best not to let them down.
“As you were people, we can’t all go saluting every hard case that comes on the bridge.” Said a snide voice. The bridge crew began to return to their duties as Admiral Wilkins XVI, captain of the StarQuest II, arose from her command chair.
TimeRunner could not help but smile at the sight of his onetime teacher in the Alasram fighting arts. Every bit of an admiral, she wore the standard CCDF uniform like his and was thankful that she did not wear her traditional alasram fighting alien dress. She was a little under TimeRunner’s height by only two inches to his 6 foot height with dark shoulder length that she wore loose. Her face was one that could be stern the one moment but lovely the next. TimeRunner approached Kandace and gave her a crisp salute as was expected of him from the ones around him.
Kandace returned the salute and with her brown eyes made contact with his.
“Admiral Wilkins.”
“Admiral Matt TimeRunner.”
Matt found that address odd as they finished saluting.
“How are you Matt, it is good to see you in one piece. After hearing the charge that you led I am surprised you are still alive.” Kandace said.
“The same could be said about you my dear but God has seen fit that we live to fight another day.” Matt responded.
“Indeed.” Was all that she would say.
“Admiral Wilkins.” Spoke a voice from the lower command deck of the bridge. Wilkins walked over toward the balcony of the upper deck to view to the lower levels of the command center.
“What is it Mr. Pims?” asked Kandace. Captain Pims, second in command of SQII, finished monitoring a support tech’s screen before bringing his full attention to his commander. He was a man of average height for one of 34 years. Yet he basically fit the profile of mostly all that served aboard the StarQuest II with the exception of him being of black decent, hair cut short and uniform fitting snuggly on his body. He was assigned as Kandace’s second when Delilah Lillie resigned her commission to help format a new branch in the CCDF: Missionary Corp. Even though at times she and Prim’s never saw eye to eye on much, he was still a competent commander in his own right and a fairly decent officer when it came to battle.
“Sir, the fleet reports that they are mostly done with the recovery and salvage procedures. We should be getting the complete figures within the hour.”
“Very good Prims, I’ll take them in my relax room with TimeRunner. You’re in command until I return.” Kandace answered. She turned back to her friend. “Care for something to eat? We can while I wait for the fleet status report to arrive.”
As Matt came to think of it, he could not remember the last time when he had something to eat. “If that is okay my dear, I do not wish to be a burden.” Matt said. Kandace eyebrows beetle as she held her arms akimbo. “Not wishing to be a burden? May I ask why you came up here then?
“I just wanted to stretch my legs a bit and see what the situation is is all.”
“Can’t sleep huh?”
“Well, yes but…”
“Then we can overlook the figures together while we have something to eat.”
With that, Kandace made her way to her relax room. The StarQuest’s command set up was somewhat of a two story affair with in a confines of a room with was roughly the size of a half by half football field. The upper command deck was where the captain sat along with the tactical, communication, sensor and astronavigation stations. The upper deck was small compared to the more gargantuan lower deck which housed not only the second in command but the helms control, support systems, the ever so important temporal prognostication engine, threat assimilation stations and gunnery command center. In front of both of the decks was the view screen that practically took up the whole wall. Capable to project images including magnifications of 400% and screen within screen capabilities with just a punch of a command code from any of the stations within the command center.
The StarQuest II’s bridge was not as compact or as capable of all the functions that the original could do but it was the best the CCDF could do to mimic the first ship to be named StarQuest. But the good thing with the new ship was that instead of there being just one lift there were three and one could walk down to the lower deck from the sides.
Besides the major difference between the two is that the StarQuest II was built with human technology unlike the more alien retrofitted StarQuest I.
Matt followed Kandace into her relax room and sat down on the sofa that sat nearby a view port. He could see the last of the salvage ships depart from the CCDF New King James, which floated aimlessly out into space. It was one of the first capital ships to fall during the operation. As standard procedure, what was left would remain derelict and later destroyed by well placed mines planted by the salvage teams when the fleet has moved to a safe distance. Matt could not help but wonder what the final moments were like before the ship became “zero tolerant”.
“Earth to Matt, Hello! Please relay your time/space coordinates.” Kandace yelled, snapping Matt out of his musings.
“What? Did I miss something?” he asked.
“I was just wondering if you wanted your usual, I have the galley on the line and the chief says he can have it delivered,”
Before Matt could object, Kandace cut him off, “And don’t give me that “abusing powers” drek, that is how I eat most of the time now. Like I have time to tear myself away for this ship.”
“Time” Matt thought.
“Why can’t you just let Prims have control for awhile then?”
“I do but I would prefer to stay nearby when I’m on duty.”
“Well if you insist my dear, I will have my usual. And ask them if it is possible if they can bring up a bottle of the bittersweet elixir of life.”
Kandace gave a mockingly shocked look as she shut off her comlink. “Why Mr. T.R, I did not know you indulged this early in the morning.”
“It’s not what you think my dear; it’s my special code to the galley for my soda drink, Jolt.”
“I know silly, it’s on its way along with our food.”
Kandace got up from her desk, where she called in the order, and sat with Matt on the sofa. “But still it’s too early in the morning to be drinking such a caffenated drink.”
Matt exhaled and looked out into space, seeing the remaining ships of Archangel Fleet form up on their leader. “Like I told you, I can’t sleep. I might as well stay up then.”
“Matt, I’ve seen the work reports on this ship. You have been almost everywhere trying to help get this ship back in order,” Kandace grab a PDA from her uniforms pocket and activated it. “I have you at least working 20 hr shifts for 2 days trying to get the combat units ready and at least 16 hours working on various odd jobs from loading ordinance to going EVA outside to mend hull breaches.
“What can I say, I’ve been busy.” Matt got up from the sofa and walked to the center of the room. “And why are you keeping tabs on me all of a sudden?” Kandace got up as well and put her hands on her hips.
“Well someone has to watch your back. It’s bad enough that I can’t do that while you’re outside going tooth and toe on the front with me sitting here doing my best to be something that I’m not.”
Matt was not beginning to like where this talk was leading. “Please my dear…”
“And STOP calling me ‘my dear’, just because you came back from the dead does not make you God.”
Matt was now getting angry. “And being an admiral does not give you the right to hold back information.”
“Dido.”
“What do you mean by that my de….Kandace?”
“Matt, what’s wrong with you?”
“What makes you think something’s wrong?”
“The same reason why you are wondering why I’m dragging all of this up.”
“Stress?”
“Try again Matt.”
Just then the turbo lift sounded and the doors opened. Chief came out with a tray of food that began to make Matt’s mouth salivate. “Admirals? Am I bothering?” asked chief, no doubt sensing the tension levels in the room.
Kandace walked over to her desk and placed the PDA down. “No, it is quite alright. You can place the food on my desk thank you.” Chief bowed theatrically and did just that. He then tossed Matt a small plastic bottle.
“Careful, tis carbonated.”
“Funny, I was just going to tell you the same thing Chief.”
“Very funny admiral.”
With that said, Chief took his leave the way he came. Matt looked at the food steaming on the desk. Sure enough there was a plate of broccoli beef and a bowl of fried rise. Next to it was a plate of lamb chops, veggies with mashed potatoes and gravy. The delectable aroma wafted thru the room.
Matt looked down to his bottle drink and gave Kandace a once over.
“It would serve you right if I opened this on you my dear.”
“Now that would be childish and not becoming of an admiral Matt.”
“Let’s eat.”
Matt walked over and took the tray of food to the small table adjacent of the sofa. “Are you sure you are okay Matt?” Kandace asked.
“….”
“Well?”
“…”
“Will you stop placing the food out and look at me?”
Matt turned around to look at his friend. Even after all their years together she looked as striking as ever. She was slim and full bodied thru her rigorous workout sessions, and of genetics. Some called her athletic and others called her a knockout. But despite all that they have gone thru over the years and centuries all he saw in her was his teacher.
His comrade.
His friend.
“Well, Kandace….”
Just then, the comlink on Kandace’s desk sounds. She walks over and presses the answer stud.
“This is Kandace.”
“Admiral, this is Prims. We just received the final numbers. Shall I transmit them to your monitor?”
“If you would Mr. Prims. And thank you.”
Kandace cut the connection and glanced at Matt. “I guess we can chat later about our personal problems. Let’s get some work done.
And with that the two admirals began to sift thru all the information gained from the operation. They sat down and ate as they replayed every aspect of the battle from the monitors at their disposal, Kandace with her laptop and Matt with the built-in wall monitor. From all that was revealed by the numbers it appeared that despite the 45% prediction from the ship’s prognostication engine on the fleet being destroyed, in actuality it showed that things worked out far better than most of the CCDF analysts planned. The space tech fighters proved to be very effective in the z-gee theatre of deep space and according to analysts in the fleet the loss of the capital ships and light cruisers was acceptable.
“I never liked that in those reports Kandace,” Matt said as he finished the last calculations of the number’s report and took a pull from his drink. “It makes all of the loss and dying like nothing more than someone’s sad idea of a videogame.”
Kandace finished cutting a piece of meat from her lamb chop and made a note on yet another PDA. “What do you expect Matt, which is why they are called analysis reports. They don’t cover the personal aspect of the battle. Just the numbers. It’s not their fault that the numbers are too analytical.”
“But still, 342 estimated loss of life per capital ship. Kandace, we lost over 2 dozen capital ships. And that is just estimated losses. ESTIMATED.”
“Well if it makes you feel happy, those ships have a crew complimate of 650.” Kandace remarked.
“So basically we lost over half the crew in each capital ship.” Matt got up from the table and walked back to the view port. “Kandace, why are you not taking this hard? We lost people. People that we can’t get back. Despite what we can accomplish with time travel.”
“We are at war Matt, and people die in war. It’s something you have to expect. For you can’t save everyone.”
“I know. But it still bugs me my dear.”
“It bugs all of us Matt.”
Kandace got up from the table and joined Matt at the view port. “You’re the last person I expected to get bugged by this Matt. More so when you knowingly violate the temporal accords.”
Matt could not help but look over toward Kandace. “I was wondering when you would bring that up.”
Kandace just shook her head. “Like I said, I thought you were the last person to let things bug you. Especially since you were part of the group that wrote the accords.”
The Temporal Accords of Timeline 423 were enacted in the year 2025 for all organizations that had access to time travel technology. It basically placed a ban of any research or development of temporal weaponry. Time travel was tricky enough to control let alone harness. It was uanoumsly voted on by the old CCDF plenipotentiary council since temporal weapons were so erratic and practically impossible to predict on what ramifications the weapon would do in uncontrolled conditions. It was rumored that the eikanto government in timeline 211 tried to create such weapons before the accords became enacted. It is interesting to note that when timeline 211 mysteriously fell apart it was around the same time when the CCDF plenipotentiary council came to the TimeRunner and the TimeFighters for help in writing the guidelines for the Temporal Accords.
“The old CCDF council is a memory Kandace as is the temporal accords. It was only a matter of time before Soldeed and the SIA would begin to use them against us. You know this as much as I my dear. The ship’s prognostication engine said as such.”
Kandace placed her hand on Matt’s shoulder. “Just because that fancy time predictor says such things does not mean that it can happen. If my mind serves well, I think the probably factor was just only 58%.” Matt looked back out in to space. “Even still, thanks to the tretaory of that mole in Atheist squadron, we had no choice but to launch those temporal torpedoes. The engine said that the only way to counter balance the situation for it to work in our favor was to do something rash,”
“That is why I decided to launch Kandace. That is why I ordered the capital ships to run for it when the cruisers were called in. So just be glad we caught the guys sabotage before any real damage became of the StarQuest or that he never found out about the torpedo project.”
Kandace took her hand off of Matt’s shoulder. “Now who’s the one keeping information to himself?” Kandace said.
Matt walked back to the wall monitor and zeroed it. “I did what I had to do and I have to live with that. I am just glad that the torpedoes did not collapse this timeline, or destroy both fleets.” He turned to look at Kandace again. “I did what I thought was right, despite what the High Command will say when they get wind of this.”
“Matt, I’m not questioning your actions or the reason why you kept this secret from all of us. I’m just surprised you could get away with violating CCDF mandates and protocols in my fleet.”
“I can be tricky at times my dear.”
“So I have seen. Do you mind telling me why you decided to armor up and join the STF battle group during the operation?”
“Is that what you meant about me keeping information from you my dear?”
“Stop calling me that.”
“Sorry.”
“Now answer the question.”
“What question?”
“Don’t get cute with me mister.”
“Yes mommy.”
“Don’t start that either.”
“Then stop acting like that.”
Kandace began to walk toward Matt menacingly. “Damnit, why didn’t you tell me that you were going out there. You can’t just risk your life like that. You’re an admiral, not some hotshot flight armor power suit jock anymore.”
Matt leaned up against the wall and exhaled again. “And now we get to the heart of the matter don’t we my dear,” He decided that if he was not going to get grilled over the temporal accords then it was going to be about this. “I work far more effectively out in the field, not in some situation room aboard your ship.”
“Then why not use your command ship, the Time Jumper. It’s small enough to be able to tangle with a daemon squadron.”
“Kandace we have been over this, I won’t risk people to situations that I have no control over. I will not be responsible if they die under my command.”
“But you’re an admiral!”
“Against my will.”
“That’s not my point Matt.”
“Then what is it my dear?
Kandace was face to face with TimeRunner now. Practically nose to nose. “My point is you no longer have the ability to just act on your own discursion. You have a command now. You have people underneath you. People that you are responsible for. And no matter how you want things to be like it was before the TimeFighers disbanded, no matter how much you wish to still be a lieutenant, it does not change matters. You are what you are.”
“Even if it means me dying from the inside my dear?”
“Better that than you dying out there Matt.”
“And who says that I will.”
Kandace looked into Matt’s eyes yet again, and then walked back toward her desk.
“Because I am not out there with you that’s why.” And with that, she sat down in her chair. Matt looked at her as if she grew a second head. “Is that the reason why you are keeping tabs on me my dear? Are you worried that I am out to kill myself.”
“It’s like I said Matt, just because you came back from the dead does not mean you are God.”
“I’m surprised you did not say Jesus back there.”
“I know we are to strive to be like him but I won’t go there with you.”
“WWJD Kandace.”
“Spare me.”
Matt laughed and made his way back toward the sofa. “You miss it don’t you Kandace. Going out into battle and fighting the good fight. Flying around in your own FAPS unit against the enemy. Like the old times.”
Kandace averted her gaze from him. “I do at times, but I now have higher responsibilities. I have the Archangel Fleet to command. I can’t go out there no matter how much I want to,” She got up from her desk and joined Matt on the sofa.
“I’ve woken up Matt, why don’t you.”
“Kandace, what brought all this on?”
“Brought what?
“You all of a sudden become concerned for me my dear.”
“You don’t know what day it is don’t you?”
Matt froze.
“Is that the reason why you are trying to work yourself ragged Matt? As a ways to forget?”
Matt did not say a word.
“It’s the 17th Matt. Let Zeanna go.”
“I know what day it is.”
“It’s not a pleasant day for you is it?”
“March 17th is never a good day for me Kandace.”
Kandace then locked her gaze to TimeRunners again. “You can’t let her death get to you Matt. You should put it behind you.”
Matt looked back at her with as much scrutiny as he could muster. “I know Kandace, I know.”
Princess Zeanna Col’she of the Monarchy Alliance of timeframe 589 was Matt’s second in command of the elite time travel force, The TimeFighters, when he and his friends from Earth got mixed up in the world of time travel and adventure. At first they were nothing more than a time line fix-it operation, doing all they could to stopping temporal mistakes that occurred and did their best to capture one of the Monarchy Alliance’s most wanted criminals: The renegade scientist Soldeed Vain, Destroyer of Arphelag and murderer of the Monarchy Alliance’s Queen , Zeanna’s mother.
It was Zeanna that came to Matt and his friends and asked them to help her rid time of this evil enemy. It was Zeanna that created the TimePalm, a time machine that fit in the palm of one’s hand, which made time travel possible. It was Zeanna that came to rely on Matt as her friend. The one that comforted her when her mother was killed. He was her confidant, her commander, her best friend.
And he failed her on that March 17th.
Failed her…
Matt TimeRunner got up from the sofa and made his way to the view port yet again. He did not wish to speak about his situation to Kandace but he knew that she had figured him out all along.
“It has been a long time since I actually took the time to gaze out at the stars Kandace my dear. Ever since she died I’ve never taken the pleasure.”
“Matt, why do you torture yourself. You know you did all that you could to save her.” Kandace got off the sofa and stood behind her friend.
“It was all that you could do for her my friend. No one doubts that.”
He continued to look out into space. “I don’t know Kandace. Maybe if I met you sooner you could’ve taught me the Alasram Arts, trained me to move faster, think smarter, or carried more firepower into Soldeed’s gauntlet. I don’t know. If I was only lighter on my feet that day. I could’ve saved her.”
“But you didn’t Matt. Just let it go.”
Kandace wrapper her arms around Matt’s middle, pressing herself into his back. “You’re having those dreams again aren’t you?” Matt made no response to her question or to the closeness she now shared with him.
“You shouldn’t tear yourself up like this. I don’t like to see my friends suffer.”
“I’m not suffering Kandace. I’m dealing with it in my own way.”
“Letting dreams plague you that you wish not to sleep.”
“Just keep me busy and in combat and I’ll manage my dear.”
“But you can’t do everything. You’re not a superhero.”
“Perhaps if I was, I could’ve saved her Kandace.”
She let go of him with that remark and walked back to the sofa. “Matt, you can always tell me if anything is bothering you.”
She sits down and pats the area nearby her. “Please Matt.”
Matt turned from his view of the stars. “And if I don’t Kandace.”
She gave him her best concerned expression. “Please talk to me Matt. Not as your ally or your comrade or your teacher. But as your friend.”
He was not sure what made him do what he did that moment. But he was thinking that the “please” brought him to his senses.
“You know of the dreams I have right?” Matt asked.
Kandace nodded.
“Well my dear, there is something odd about the recent dreams I’ve been having,” he sat down beside his friend and after several restarts and hemming and hawing, Matt told her about the dream. He told her that it was not just Zeanna’s death that kept haunting his dreams these past days after the operation. That it was in fact something new. Something that he could not explain let alone understand.
A blue, white world.
Althena.
A world blessed with great beauty.
The skull.
Zeanna’s voice.
The dying.
Thru it all, Kandace listened intently on Matt’s dream. Only speaking when she wanted something clarified. She found all of this interesting yet did not cross the dream out as just battle fatigue. There was a reason why her friend was suddenly not just having the usual dream about his dear friend, but another about a world and a people that he swears he knows nothing about.
After all was said, Kandace got up from her seat and paced the room. “Matt I doubt that this is just some fever dream. Or the fact of the loss you see fit to carry with you like a bag on your back,” she then turns around to face Matt who still sits on the sofa.
“Did you run the name Althena thru the ships library?”
Matt then got up and recovered his drink that he left on the table. “Yes Kandace that was the first thing I did when I awoke from the first dream. All that the libraries found on the name was some Greek goddess of wisdom in Earth’s late past. But even the actual Greek goddess name was “Athena”, not Althena.”
Matt took another pull from his drink and settled down back on the sofa. “I also did a cross check of the various planets cataloged by not only the old CCDF but by LORIS during the old TimeLine explorations project. There are some that match the blue planet covered with snow but they don’t have satellites orbiting them.”
Kandace sat back down with Matt as he took another drink. “And from what I heard about this moon, it comes no where near anything that I know of in the planetary registry.” Kandace said.
“I know that Kandace. And that is what bugs me the most. There is something about this dream that makes it more than just a dream,”
“I just wish I knew why this dream is mingling itself with Zeanna.” Matt made a frustrating sound as he got up from the sofa again. “I’m practically racking my brain over this. I can’t get any sleep over it no matter how hard I work myself to make me exhausted enough to just go out like a night. It still comes to me Kandace. And I don’t know the faintest why.”
Kandace walked back to Matt and place her hands on his shoulders. “You are my friend,” she said in a soothing voice. “And if someone should hear about this dream they would think you are in need of some counseling,”
“But I know you and your not the time to let the stress of the situation to cause you to have strange dreams of worlds dying, I’ve trained you better than that,”
Matt looked away when she said all of this.
“As much as I have been praying for you to let go and let God handle your loss over Zeanna, I can’t understand why you would be having this dream either. But there has to be some meaning to it.”
“Thanks for understanding my dear. You are indeed a true friend.” Matt said.
“I know I am, just be glad I’m here for you. You big jerk.”
Kandace then slugged him in the arm.
“But there is one thing I can do for you,” Kandace said. “I can search the Alasram records for such a world as you speak of. Some of their planetary star charts go back supposedly before the creation of your earth.”
“Thanks Kandace, but I’m not sure that even they will have what I am looking for.” Matt said as he threw away his empty bottle in the nearby trash recycler. Just then Kandace’s comlink sounded on her desk again. “What is it?” she said when she hit the answer stud.
“Sorry to disturb you Admiral, this is Prims again. We are getting a priority one transmission from one of our recon ships in hyperspace. It’s Captain Han Xell of Atheist Squadron.”
“It’s one of your spitfires TimeRunner.” Kandace said.
Matt only shrugged. “Your guess is good as mine on why he would be calling us.” Kandace gave it some thought. “You can patch in here Prims.”
“I’m sorry admiral but I can’t do that. He says he will only speak with Admiral TimeRunner.”
“Tell the captain that TimeRunner is here with me.”
There was a brief pause before Prims spoke again. “Sorry admiral but he is still resistant.”
Kandace made a frustrating sound as she hit he pause button on her comlink. “There as untrusting as you are about the High Command aren’t they?” Matt only again gave a shrug. “What do you expect when the HC won’t allow them to change their name.” Matt shot back. Kandace unpaused the comlink. “Tell the captain that we are on our way to the bridge, have him stand by.”
“Understood admiral.”
Kandace then shut down the comlink. “Well Matt, shall we see what Captain Xell can only tell you in person.”
They then stepped out of the relax room where once again the yeoman on duty announced their arrive making both admirals to speak in unison, “As you were.” Prims immediately approached Kandace. “Admiral.” He saluted.
“What’s the situation?” Kandace asked.
“Well sir, we just received the transmission only a few seconds ago. From what we can make out it comes from the hyperspace. Other than that I don’t know much else. Xell was quite insistent in not saying anything else until he saw the Admiral TimeRunner.
“Then let’s not keep the good man waiting.” Matt said as he walked toward the balcony. “Can you put the captain on the forward screen?” he asked the com tech on station. With a nod the young comtech entered her code in the console and called up the proper command. “I have him online, five by five sirs.” With a flash of the screen the image of Han Xell came up. He was a man in his upper twenties with the look of a roguish character that not even the STF’s helmet could hide. Where as TimeRunner’s face was angular, Xells was set in delicate features that almost gave him a feline look. He was practically a walking poster boy for perfect WASP breeding Matt thought.
“Admiral TimeRunner,” began Xell. “Is it safe to say that this connection is secure?”
Matt looked at the comtech to confirm if the line was as it was. She nodded. “Go ahead Xell, your safe to talk.” Matt said.
“Thank you Admiral. I am pleased to inform you that I have found the remains of the 666th fleet.” Just then another commo tone sounded. Kandace immediately took the call as Xell continued with is findings. “From what I was able to scan before they got suspicious, it would appear that they have orbited themselves around a planet and are at best trying to make repairs to their ships.”
“Are you sure that what you saw was the remains of the 666th?” Matt asked? “It’s no doubt sir, I was even able to get some pictures before I had to bug out. I’m prepared to transmit them if you so wish admiral.”
“Hold that thought captain,” Kandace interrupted. “Matt, I just received a priority one transmission from CCDF High Command. Something big is going on. Reports are coming in that the SIA is beginning to strip their fleet garrisons from all their occupied Timeframes. Confirmed sightings are now coming in that SIA installations are being stripped of their planetary fleets. The 216th, 69th and 13th SIA space fleets are now down to an estimated 13%. Smaller garrisons appear to be getting pulled from their timelines and are even abandoning some bases.”
Matt did his best not to looked shocked. “Are you saying that the SIA are practically falling back,” Matt asked. “Is it possible that we actually hurt them that badly in our operation?”
“High Command is not sure about that,” Kandace answered. “But what appears to be happening is that the SIA is pulling out of their least occupied timelines and stripping their heavily fortified occupied timelines. As to what purpose is beyond them.”
“Do you think they are planning a new offensive?” Matt asked. “I am not sure,” Kandace answered. “But I’m putting Archangel Fleet on red alert status.”
“HOLY CRAP!!!!”
Everyone on the bridge jumped when Han yelled.
Matt and Kandace turned their attention back to Han. “What’s going on captain?” Matt asked.
“Your guess is beyond me sir, but the sensor buoy I left behind in that timeline is now reading a massive time fold operation. I mean it’s off the chart!”
“Well that must explain where the missing ships are now?” Prims chimed in. “Han, can the buoy you left behind be accessed to transmit live data?” Matt asked.
“I can sure try sir. I’ll patch in the live feed for you.” And with that, Xell’s face on the screen was replaced with a static image of what appeared to be a planet.
“Can you magnify the image Xell; get us as close as you can get with it.” Matt asked.
The image began a slowly zoom in on the planet but by the time the buoy reached it’s maximum capacity, the image as so raw and dirty that it could be barely be made out.
“Clean that image out.” Kandace ordered the graphic image officer on station. The officer nodded and began to work on what he was given. Matt began to notice blinking lights appear in the outbalance of the image. “Xell what do you make of those blinks on the screen?” Matt asked. “Well admiral, I’m not specialist but I bet you dollars to demons that those are de-time folding ship coming out of hyperspace.” Xell answered.
“Sir, I ran the image thru the filtering system.” Said the graphics officer. “I’m putting it up on screen.”
The dirty image was then replace with a crystal clarity image of what Xell had stumbled upon. Many on the bridge gasped as the say what was happening before their eyes. One by one, ships began to appear from holes made in hyperspace and make orbit around their planet of choice. Small ships, large ships, recon ships, ships of various size and class were making their way from the void of hyperspace. No one had to run the images thru IFF taggers to know what kind of ships they were.
But while the bridge crew began to assimilate the new date and began to prepare the fleet for red alert, as per Admiral Wilkins orders, Matt could not help but stare at the image on the bridge screen. All the sounds around him seemed to fade away as he focused on what he saw. Ignoring the questions asked by Xell or the controlled chaos beginning to brew on deck. He ignored the SIA ships coming out of hyperspace and the onscreen IFF tags being placed on the ships by the threat computers. The ships themselves began to vanish from his mind as he realized what planet they were orbiting. He rubbed his eyes to make sure he was not seeing things and pinched himself to make sure that he was in no dream.
He wasn’t. For what he saw before him was as real as the new situation that fell before the Archangel Fleet.
A blue white planet……
And in orbit of the planet was a silver moon….
Both items that he saw in his dream………..
TimeLine: 216
Year: March 17th, 5639 A.D.
Location: StarQuest II, Unknown sector in space.
Area: TimeRunner's Quarters
All works on the blog "TimeFighters: The Lunar Litany are of the sole property of Matthew Sparks-Freemont and cannot be copied, written, transmitted in part or entirety, released or used for personal use/gain without the expressed written and oral consent of myself. Exhibition of these works without my oral and written concent is prohibited. "Lunar", characters and items related to "Lunar" are the property of Working Designs.
“A blue white world covered with ice and snow. Cold and hard as my heart, scarred and in pain, yet it’s not dead but only in hibernation. Lying in wait until the day comes for it to reborn. For the time to come when Althena takes her people home”.
“Althena?”
“A blue white world looking cold but its warm light baths a moon nearby. It’s moon. A world like no other. A world covered with life and created to house her people, until they can come home. A world like Earth, untouched by any evil made by modern man. Primitive and wild the world is, where people must slave and work to make their livings. Cattle to raise, houses to build, and children to care for. Despite all the hardships, the people are happy with their primitive lives. Watching their children grow, living in the untamed bliss of this beautiful world, worshiping their Goddess and learning the teachings she has given to her people.”
“They live hard, but they yet hardly live.”
“Their lives so simple as they slave in the camps. Building high tech weapons, mining ores, raping the land like how the soldiers rape their women.”
‘WHAT?!?!”
“The people are suffering now, their world enslaves.”
“Everywhere on this little moon.”
“Little moon.”
“Hanging in space is the beautiful moon, in orbit of the Blue Star. Yet it fades away into the darkness. A skull with the star of Satan on its forehead appears before the moon. Vampiric teeth, sharp and dripping with saliva bites down on it.”
“Blood leaks out from the wounds it makes on the moon. It bites down harder, making more blood stream out of the moon as if it were a heart. Like an attack dog on a human throat, the skull sinks its teeth into it. Blood spraying out staining the skull, and all the while as this happens, people were screaming. Yet amongst the yelling and dying, he heard her voice. Zeanna’s voice. Pleading for him to save her. And when he didn’t, she screamed. The scream that she made when Soldeed ended her life. Her scream mingled with those of the others dying on this moon. The death screams finally ended when the skull crushed the moon, bursting it like an overripe fruit in a display of sickly disgust.”
“NO! NOOOOOO!!!!!!!”
TimeRunner bolts up from his bed, body dripping with sweat. “Not again.” TimeRunner mutters to himself as he gets out of bed, legs wobbling. “The same dream. Why?” he asks himself. Without realizing it TimeRunner finds himself breathing hard, as if he was running a marathon. His heart pounding in his chest. He looks up to the time display on his nightstand which reads 03:34.
The day was March 17th.
“It is bad enough of what has happened to me, must I relive my own failure.” he says to himself.
“Zeanna.”
Ever since the end of Operation “Third Millennium” the Archangel Attack group was busy around the clock not only repairing, refitting and rearming the various ships and vessels of the fleet but also sending recon units on a search for the remains of the SIA’s 666th fleet. Just before the STF squadrons were able to take out the rest of the enemy fleet, they performed a massive time fold taking them away from the battle. Even though the fold was hap standard and even destroy some of their crippled ships, a good majority of the 666th fleet was able to escape the wrath of the STF squadrons.
It was a calculated gamble that not even the StarQuest II’s temporal prognostication engine could predict, let alone a young admiral. But even still it had to have been one of their worst case scenarios should ever the battle went wrong for them. So while recon and search teams were out searching all time and space for where the 666th fleet could have gone, all fleet personnel were working 18, sometimes 20, hours a day trying to get the Archangel fleet back into fighting condition.
Even though the operation was a success, the fleet was still under a war footing and on yellow alert status. Anyone not involved flying defensive screens for the fleet or manning the anti-spacecraft guns for possible sneak attacks was either doing search and retrieval for missing STF pilots or salvage of what was left of the capital ships lost in the operation. Not only that but repairs were underway on all fleet ships and refitting of all the STF’s so they could be ready for a hot scramble. Enlisted techs and Noncoms helping to get the fleet back to 100% working order including all officers not on duty were throwing themselves to help get the fleet on track. TimeRunner forgot how many missiles he helped load into the StarQuest II’s forward launch bays or the prep work needed to get all the STF’s manned and ready on the ship. It took mostly two whole days straight to get the StarQuest II to full operational war status, not counting how long it took to get replacements for the casualties and destroyed STFs and the reshuffling of the table of organization on equipment for Sonic, Shadow, Wolf, Maverick and Atheist squadrons.
For an organization that was able to fight a temporal war you’d think they could find ways to speed things up.
But as the days passed after the battle, the fleet slowly licked its wounds and prepared for the next operation that the Christian Coalition Defense Force High Command (CCDF:HC) would have them do next. Up until now mostly it was to remain on location and stand by for future orders. In the meantime most just prepared the fleet and got some most deserved sleep when the opportunity arose. Yes sadly when TimeRunner would try to sleep he was plagued by this dream. No matter what time he chose to sleep it would always come to him. Forcing him to try to work it off, assuming the dreams were just from stress. It was not easy to be an admiral, especially when one did not wish for the job in the first place.
TimeRunner tried to find every excuse in trying not to sleep. From helping out in the repair/training efforts or working on his papers that keep building up on the various sections he was in command of. But not even working him to exhaustion helped, for the dreams still came….
TimeRunner got out of bed and made his way toward the bathroom in his quarters, located on the officer’s deck on the StarQuest II. “I might as well get dressed.” He said to himself. Stepping in for a sonic shower, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. He was glad this blood shot eyes were gone and he no longer had bags under his eyes. And despite all the wear and tear his body had gone through over the years (or centuries if one counted all the time travel his body clocked in) he looked fit and lean as ever. Being an admiral hadn’t dulled his reflexes for combat nor made his body grow soft with a desk job. The muscle definition was still there along with all the scars that the war saw fit to give him. The only odd part was his angular face was beginning to grow some stubble.
“Wasn’t there something about men in the bible not shaving?” TimeRunner thought. He quickly brushed the thought aside as he stepped in the shower to clean the sweat off his body.
After a shaving and putting on his standard issue unisex CCDF uniform, TimeRunner stepped out of his quarters and made his way toward the ship’s bridge.
He was glad that there were few crewmembers in the corridors this early in the morning, despite the ship’s compliment being fewer than 400,000. So the salutes he received from the lesser ranking officers and enlisted men were few and far between. He never liked being saluted as if he were actually superior to anyone, but out of proper protocol and good moral TimeRunner returned the salutes he received with as much enthusiasm as the ones that saluted him. Thankfully he reached to turbo lift without anymore incidents.
The trip was short and with that the lift doors opened to the command center of the StarQuest II. Inside techs and other support staff continued their task of keeping the ship at full alert. Bridge officers and techs bent over their stations, thankfully not noticing his arrival. Except for one…
“ADMIRAL ON DECK!!!” Bellowed the young Yeoman that happened to glace away from her station. Practically every officer and noncom quickly stood up and gave their salutes to their commander in chief. Some chairs could be heard fall over due to some being too quick in standing for the admiral. Some officers actually removed their caps from their heads.
As all of this was happening, TimeRunner was trying his best to recover from the start he received when the young woman announced his arrival. He wanted to tell them all to stop saluting and to give the young yeoman a good brisk talking to on not getting the jump on him, but as he gazed on all the people on the bridge, seeing them giving him the respect that his rank demanded, he realized that they were not doing it out of protocol. But out of the dedication and affection that they held for him. Of the man and the character that he shows to others. No doubt they heard of all that he contributed in the operation and its aftermath. Yet he wished to tell them that he was not worthy of their salutes. For there was not just him that did all what was to be done. The ones lost in the battle, and those that now tend to the wounded. Those that took part in the battle to end the evil’s of SIA and the ones that now perform their duties to make it safe for not only Christianity to survive but all of humanity as well.
In TimeRunner’s eye, everyone that came back from the battle deserved a metal and not just those that performed beyond the call of duty. It was he that should be saluting them, for their dedication and courage to do what he thought was the right course of action. To actually think him a leader was something that he knew he was not worthy of.
“And that is why they salute,” TimeRunner thought. “Because they know what I think of them.” As he returned their salutes he swore that he would do his best not to let them down.
“As you were people, we can’t all go saluting every hard case that comes on the bridge.” Said a snide voice. The bridge crew began to return to their duties as Admiral Wilkins XVI, captain of the StarQuest II, arose from her command chair.
TimeRunner could not help but smile at the sight of his onetime teacher in the Alasram fighting arts. Every bit of an admiral, she wore the standard CCDF uniform like his and was thankful that she did not wear her traditional alasram fighting alien dress. She was a little under TimeRunner’s height by only two inches to his 6 foot height with dark shoulder length that she wore loose. Her face was one that could be stern the one moment but lovely the next. TimeRunner approached Kandace and gave her a crisp salute as was expected of him from the ones around him.
Kandace returned the salute and with her brown eyes made contact with his.
“Admiral Wilkins.”
“Admiral Matt TimeRunner.”
Matt found that address odd as they finished saluting.
“How are you Matt, it is good to see you in one piece. After hearing the charge that you led I am surprised you are still alive.” Kandace said.
“The same could be said about you my dear but God has seen fit that we live to fight another day.” Matt responded.
“Indeed.” Was all that she would say.
“Admiral Wilkins.” Spoke a voice from the lower command deck of the bridge. Wilkins walked over toward the balcony of the upper deck to view to the lower levels of the command center.
“What is it Mr. Pims?” asked Kandace. Captain Pims, second in command of SQII, finished monitoring a support tech’s screen before bringing his full attention to his commander. He was a man of average height for one of 34 years. Yet he basically fit the profile of mostly all that served aboard the StarQuest II with the exception of him being of black decent, hair cut short and uniform fitting snuggly on his body. He was assigned as Kandace’s second when Delilah Lillie resigned her commission to help format a new branch in the CCDF: Missionary Corp. Even though at times she and Prim’s never saw eye to eye on much, he was still a competent commander in his own right and a fairly decent officer when it came to battle.
“Sir, the fleet reports that they are mostly done with the recovery and salvage procedures. We should be getting the complete figures within the hour.”
“Very good Prims, I’ll take them in my relax room with TimeRunner. You’re in command until I return.” Kandace answered. She turned back to her friend. “Care for something to eat? We can while I wait for the fleet status report to arrive.”
As Matt came to think of it, he could not remember the last time when he had something to eat. “If that is okay my dear, I do not wish to be a burden.” Matt said. Kandace eyebrows beetle as she held her arms akimbo. “Not wishing to be a burden? May I ask why you came up here then?
“I just wanted to stretch my legs a bit and see what the situation is is all.”
“Can’t sleep huh?”
“Well, yes but…”
“Then we can overlook the figures together while we have something to eat.”
With that, Kandace made her way to her relax room. The StarQuest’s command set up was somewhat of a two story affair with in a confines of a room with was roughly the size of a half by half football field. The upper command deck was where the captain sat along with the tactical, communication, sensor and astronavigation stations. The upper deck was small compared to the more gargantuan lower deck which housed not only the second in command but the helms control, support systems, the ever so important temporal prognostication engine, threat assimilation stations and gunnery command center. In front of both of the decks was the view screen that practically took up the whole wall. Capable to project images including magnifications of 400% and screen within screen capabilities with just a punch of a command code from any of the stations within the command center.
The StarQuest II’s bridge was not as compact or as capable of all the functions that the original could do but it was the best the CCDF could do to mimic the first ship to be named StarQuest. But the good thing with the new ship was that instead of there being just one lift there were three and one could walk down to the lower deck from the sides.
Besides the major difference between the two is that the StarQuest II was built with human technology unlike the more alien retrofitted StarQuest I.
Matt followed Kandace into her relax room and sat down on the sofa that sat nearby a view port. He could see the last of the salvage ships depart from the CCDF New King James, which floated aimlessly out into space. It was one of the first capital ships to fall during the operation. As standard procedure, what was left would remain derelict and later destroyed by well placed mines planted by the salvage teams when the fleet has moved to a safe distance. Matt could not help but wonder what the final moments were like before the ship became “zero tolerant”.
“Earth to Matt, Hello! Please relay your time/space coordinates.” Kandace yelled, snapping Matt out of his musings.
“What? Did I miss something?” he asked.
“I was just wondering if you wanted your usual, I have the galley on the line and the chief says he can have it delivered,”
Before Matt could object, Kandace cut him off, “And don’t give me that “abusing powers” drek, that is how I eat most of the time now. Like I have time to tear myself away for this ship.”
“Time” Matt thought.
“Why can’t you just let Prims have control for awhile then?”
“I do but I would prefer to stay nearby when I’m on duty.”
“Well if you insist my dear, I will have my usual. And ask them if it is possible if they can bring up a bottle of the bittersweet elixir of life.”
Kandace gave a mockingly shocked look as she shut off her comlink. “Why Mr. T.R, I did not know you indulged this early in the morning.”
“It’s not what you think my dear; it’s my special code to the galley for my soda drink, Jolt.”
“I know silly, it’s on its way along with our food.”
Kandace got up from her desk, where she called in the order, and sat with Matt on the sofa. “But still it’s too early in the morning to be drinking such a caffenated drink.”
Matt exhaled and looked out into space, seeing the remaining ships of Archangel Fleet form up on their leader. “Like I told you, I can’t sleep. I might as well stay up then.”
“Matt, I’ve seen the work reports on this ship. You have been almost everywhere trying to help get this ship back in order,” Kandace grab a PDA from her uniforms pocket and activated it. “I have you at least working 20 hr shifts for 2 days trying to get the combat units ready and at least 16 hours working on various odd jobs from loading ordinance to going EVA outside to mend hull breaches.
“What can I say, I’ve been busy.” Matt got up from the sofa and walked to the center of the room. “And why are you keeping tabs on me all of a sudden?” Kandace got up as well and put her hands on her hips.
“Well someone has to watch your back. It’s bad enough that I can’t do that while you’re outside going tooth and toe on the front with me sitting here doing my best to be something that I’m not.”
Matt was not beginning to like where this talk was leading. “Please my dear…”
“And STOP calling me ‘my dear’, just because you came back from the dead does not make you God.”
Matt was now getting angry. “And being an admiral does not give you the right to hold back information.”
“Dido.”
“What do you mean by that my de….Kandace?”
“Matt, what’s wrong with you?”
“What makes you think something’s wrong?”
“The same reason why you are wondering why I’m dragging all of this up.”
“Stress?”
“Try again Matt.”
Just then the turbo lift sounded and the doors opened. Chief came out with a tray of food that began to make Matt’s mouth salivate. “Admirals? Am I bothering?” asked chief, no doubt sensing the tension levels in the room.
Kandace walked over to her desk and placed the PDA down. “No, it is quite alright. You can place the food on my desk thank you.” Chief bowed theatrically and did just that. He then tossed Matt a small plastic bottle.
“Careful, tis carbonated.”
“Funny, I was just going to tell you the same thing Chief.”
“Very funny admiral.”
With that said, Chief took his leave the way he came. Matt looked at the food steaming on the desk. Sure enough there was a plate of broccoli beef and a bowl of fried rise. Next to it was a plate of lamb chops, veggies with mashed potatoes and gravy. The delectable aroma wafted thru the room.
Matt looked down to his bottle drink and gave Kandace a once over.
“It would serve you right if I opened this on you my dear.”
“Now that would be childish and not becoming of an admiral Matt.”
“Let’s eat.”
Matt walked over and took the tray of food to the small table adjacent of the sofa. “Are you sure you are okay Matt?” Kandace asked.
“….”
“Well?”
“…”
“Will you stop placing the food out and look at me?”
Matt turned around to look at his friend. Even after all their years together she looked as striking as ever. She was slim and full bodied thru her rigorous workout sessions, and of genetics. Some called her athletic and others called her a knockout. But despite all that they have gone thru over the years and centuries all he saw in her was his teacher.
His comrade.
His friend.
“Well, Kandace….”
Just then, the comlink on Kandace’s desk sounds. She walks over and presses the answer stud.
“This is Kandace.”
“Admiral, this is Prims. We just received the final numbers. Shall I transmit them to your monitor?”
“If you would Mr. Prims. And thank you.”
Kandace cut the connection and glanced at Matt. “I guess we can chat later about our personal problems. Let’s get some work done.
And with that the two admirals began to sift thru all the information gained from the operation. They sat down and ate as they replayed every aspect of the battle from the monitors at their disposal, Kandace with her laptop and Matt with the built-in wall monitor. From all that was revealed by the numbers it appeared that despite the 45% prediction from the ship’s prognostication engine on the fleet being destroyed, in actuality it showed that things worked out far better than most of the CCDF analysts planned. The space tech fighters proved to be very effective in the z-gee theatre of deep space and according to analysts in the fleet the loss of the capital ships and light cruisers was acceptable.
“I never liked that in those reports Kandace,” Matt said as he finished the last calculations of the number’s report and took a pull from his drink. “It makes all of the loss and dying like nothing more than someone’s sad idea of a videogame.”
Kandace finished cutting a piece of meat from her lamb chop and made a note on yet another PDA. “What do you expect Matt, which is why they are called analysis reports. They don’t cover the personal aspect of the battle. Just the numbers. It’s not their fault that the numbers are too analytical.”
“But still, 342 estimated loss of life per capital ship. Kandace, we lost over 2 dozen capital ships. And that is just estimated losses. ESTIMATED.”
“Well if it makes you feel happy, those ships have a crew complimate of 650.” Kandace remarked.
“So basically we lost over half the crew in each capital ship.” Matt got up from the table and walked back to the view port. “Kandace, why are you not taking this hard? We lost people. People that we can’t get back. Despite what we can accomplish with time travel.”
“We are at war Matt, and people die in war. It’s something you have to expect. For you can’t save everyone.”
“I know. But it still bugs me my dear.”
“It bugs all of us Matt.”
Kandace got up from the table and joined Matt at the view port. “You’re the last person I expected to get bugged by this Matt. More so when you knowingly violate the temporal accords.”
Matt could not help but look over toward Kandace. “I was wondering when you would bring that up.”
Kandace just shook her head. “Like I said, I thought you were the last person to let things bug you. Especially since you were part of the group that wrote the accords.”
The Temporal Accords of Timeline 423 were enacted in the year 2025 for all organizations that had access to time travel technology. It basically placed a ban of any research or development of temporal weaponry. Time travel was tricky enough to control let alone harness. It was uanoumsly voted on by the old CCDF plenipotentiary council since temporal weapons were so erratic and practically impossible to predict on what ramifications the weapon would do in uncontrolled conditions. It was rumored that the eikanto government in timeline 211 tried to create such weapons before the accords became enacted. It is interesting to note that when timeline 211 mysteriously fell apart it was around the same time when the CCDF plenipotentiary council came to the TimeRunner and the TimeFighters for help in writing the guidelines for the Temporal Accords.
“The old CCDF council is a memory Kandace as is the temporal accords. It was only a matter of time before Soldeed and the SIA would begin to use them against us. You know this as much as I my dear. The ship’s prognostication engine said as such.”
Kandace placed her hand on Matt’s shoulder. “Just because that fancy time predictor says such things does not mean that it can happen. If my mind serves well, I think the probably factor was just only 58%.” Matt looked back out in to space. “Even still, thanks to the tretaory of that mole in Atheist squadron, we had no choice but to launch those temporal torpedoes. The engine said that the only way to counter balance the situation for it to work in our favor was to do something rash,”
“That is why I decided to launch Kandace. That is why I ordered the capital ships to run for it when the cruisers were called in. So just be glad we caught the guys sabotage before any real damage became of the StarQuest or that he never found out about the torpedo project.”
Kandace took her hand off of Matt’s shoulder. “Now who’s the one keeping information to himself?” Kandace said.
Matt walked back to the wall monitor and zeroed it. “I did what I had to do and I have to live with that. I am just glad that the torpedoes did not collapse this timeline, or destroy both fleets.” He turned to look at Kandace again. “I did what I thought was right, despite what the High Command will say when they get wind of this.”
“Matt, I’m not questioning your actions or the reason why you kept this secret from all of us. I’m just surprised you could get away with violating CCDF mandates and protocols in my fleet.”
“I can be tricky at times my dear.”
“So I have seen. Do you mind telling me why you decided to armor up and join the STF battle group during the operation?”
“Is that what you meant about me keeping information from you my dear?”
“Stop calling me that.”
“Sorry.”
“Now answer the question.”
“What question?”
“Don’t get cute with me mister.”
“Yes mommy.”
“Don’t start that either.”
“Then stop acting like that.”
Kandace began to walk toward Matt menacingly. “Damnit, why didn’t you tell me that you were going out there. You can’t just risk your life like that. You’re an admiral, not some hotshot flight armor power suit jock anymore.”
Matt leaned up against the wall and exhaled again. “And now we get to the heart of the matter don’t we my dear,” He decided that if he was not going to get grilled over the temporal accords then it was going to be about this. “I work far more effectively out in the field, not in some situation room aboard your ship.”
“Then why not use your command ship, the Time Jumper. It’s small enough to be able to tangle with a daemon squadron.”
“Kandace we have been over this, I won’t risk people to situations that I have no control over. I will not be responsible if they die under my command.”
“But you’re an admiral!”
“Against my will.”
“That’s not my point Matt.”
“Then what is it my dear?
Kandace was face to face with TimeRunner now. Practically nose to nose. “My point is you no longer have the ability to just act on your own discursion. You have a command now. You have people underneath you. People that you are responsible for. And no matter how you want things to be like it was before the TimeFighers disbanded, no matter how much you wish to still be a lieutenant, it does not change matters. You are what you are.”
“Even if it means me dying from the inside my dear?”
“Better that than you dying out there Matt.”
“And who says that I will.”
Kandace looked into Matt’s eyes yet again, and then walked back toward her desk.
“Because I am not out there with you that’s why.” And with that, she sat down in her chair. Matt looked at her as if she grew a second head. “Is that the reason why you are keeping tabs on me my dear? Are you worried that I am out to kill myself.”
“It’s like I said Matt, just because you came back from the dead does not mean you are God.”
“I’m surprised you did not say Jesus back there.”
“I know we are to strive to be like him but I won’t go there with you.”
“WWJD Kandace.”
“Spare me.”
Matt laughed and made his way back toward the sofa. “You miss it don’t you Kandace. Going out into battle and fighting the good fight. Flying around in your own FAPS unit against the enemy. Like the old times.”
Kandace averted her gaze from him. “I do at times, but I now have higher responsibilities. I have the Archangel Fleet to command. I can’t go out there no matter how much I want to,” She got up from her desk and joined Matt on the sofa.
“I’ve woken up Matt, why don’t you.”
“Kandace, what brought all this on?”
“Brought what?
“You all of a sudden become concerned for me my dear.”
“You don’t know what day it is don’t you?”
Matt froze.
“Is that the reason why you are trying to work yourself ragged Matt? As a ways to forget?”
Matt did not say a word.
“It’s the 17th Matt. Let Zeanna go.”
“I know what day it is.”
“It’s not a pleasant day for you is it?”
“March 17th is never a good day for me Kandace.”
Kandace then locked her gaze to TimeRunners again. “You can’t let her death get to you Matt. You should put it behind you.”
Matt looked back at her with as much scrutiny as he could muster. “I know Kandace, I know.”
Princess Zeanna Col’she of the Monarchy Alliance of timeframe 589 was Matt’s second in command of the elite time travel force, The TimeFighters, when he and his friends from Earth got mixed up in the world of time travel and adventure. At first they were nothing more than a time line fix-it operation, doing all they could to stopping temporal mistakes that occurred and did their best to capture one of the Monarchy Alliance’s most wanted criminals: The renegade scientist Soldeed Vain, Destroyer of Arphelag and murderer of the Monarchy Alliance’s Queen , Zeanna’s mother.
It was Zeanna that came to Matt and his friends and asked them to help her rid time of this evil enemy. It was Zeanna that created the TimePalm, a time machine that fit in the palm of one’s hand, which made time travel possible. It was Zeanna that came to rely on Matt as her friend. The one that comforted her when her mother was killed. He was her confidant, her commander, her best friend.
And he failed her on that March 17th.
Failed her…
Matt TimeRunner got up from the sofa and made his way to the view port yet again. He did not wish to speak about his situation to Kandace but he knew that she had figured him out all along.
“It has been a long time since I actually took the time to gaze out at the stars Kandace my dear. Ever since she died I’ve never taken the pleasure.”
“Matt, why do you torture yourself. You know you did all that you could to save her.” Kandace got off the sofa and stood behind her friend.
“It was all that you could do for her my friend. No one doubts that.”
He continued to look out into space. “I don’t know Kandace. Maybe if I met you sooner you could’ve taught me the Alasram Arts, trained me to move faster, think smarter, or carried more firepower into Soldeed’s gauntlet. I don’t know. If I was only lighter on my feet that day. I could’ve saved her.”
“But you didn’t Matt. Just let it go.”
Kandace wrapper her arms around Matt’s middle, pressing herself into his back. “You’re having those dreams again aren’t you?” Matt made no response to her question or to the closeness she now shared with him.
“You shouldn’t tear yourself up like this. I don’t like to see my friends suffer.”
“I’m not suffering Kandace. I’m dealing with it in my own way.”
“Letting dreams plague you that you wish not to sleep.”
“Just keep me busy and in combat and I’ll manage my dear.”
“But you can’t do everything. You’re not a superhero.”
“Perhaps if I was, I could’ve saved her Kandace.”
She let go of him with that remark and walked back to the sofa. “Matt, you can always tell me if anything is bothering you.”
She sits down and pats the area nearby her. “Please Matt.”
Matt turned from his view of the stars. “And if I don’t Kandace.”
She gave him her best concerned expression. “Please talk to me Matt. Not as your ally or your comrade or your teacher. But as your friend.”
He was not sure what made him do what he did that moment. But he was thinking that the “please” brought him to his senses.
“You know of the dreams I have right?” Matt asked.
Kandace nodded.
“Well my dear, there is something odd about the recent dreams I’ve been having,” he sat down beside his friend and after several restarts and hemming and hawing, Matt told her about the dream. He told her that it was not just Zeanna’s death that kept haunting his dreams these past days after the operation. That it was in fact something new. Something that he could not explain let alone understand.
A blue, white world.
Althena.
A world blessed with great beauty.
The skull.
Zeanna’s voice.
The dying.
Thru it all, Kandace listened intently on Matt’s dream. Only speaking when she wanted something clarified. She found all of this interesting yet did not cross the dream out as just battle fatigue. There was a reason why her friend was suddenly not just having the usual dream about his dear friend, but another about a world and a people that he swears he knows nothing about.
After all was said, Kandace got up from her seat and paced the room. “Matt I doubt that this is just some fever dream. Or the fact of the loss you see fit to carry with you like a bag on your back,” she then turns around to face Matt who still sits on the sofa.
“Did you run the name Althena thru the ships library?”
Matt then got up and recovered his drink that he left on the table. “Yes Kandace that was the first thing I did when I awoke from the first dream. All that the libraries found on the name was some Greek goddess of wisdom in Earth’s late past. But even the actual Greek goddess name was “Athena”, not Althena.”
Matt took another pull from his drink and settled down back on the sofa. “I also did a cross check of the various planets cataloged by not only the old CCDF but by LORIS during the old TimeLine explorations project. There are some that match the blue planet covered with snow but they don’t have satellites orbiting them.”
Kandace sat back down with Matt as he took another drink. “And from what I heard about this moon, it comes no where near anything that I know of in the planetary registry.” Kandace said.
“I know that Kandace. And that is what bugs me the most. There is something about this dream that makes it more than just a dream,”
“I just wish I knew why this dream is mingling itself with Zeanna.” Matt made a frustrating sound as he got up from the sofa again. “I’m practically racking my brain over this. I can’t get any sleep over it no matter how hard I work myself to make me exhausted enough to just go out like a night. It still comes to me Kandace. And I don’t know the faintest why.”
Kandace walked back to Matt and place her hands on his shoulders. “You are my friend,” she said in a soothing voice. “And if someone should hear about this dream they would think you are in need of some counseling,”
“But I know you and your not the time to let the stress of the situation to cause you to have strange dreams of worlds dying, I’ve trained you better than that,”
Matt looked away when she said all of this.
“As much as I have been praying for you to let go and let God handle your loss over Zeanna, I can’t understand why you would be having this dream either. But there has to be some meaning to it.”
“Thanks for understanding my dear. You are indeed a true friend.” Matt said.
“I know I am, just be glad I’m here for you. You big jerk.”
Kandace then slugged him in the arm.
“But there is one thing I can do for you,” Kandace said. “I can search the Alasram records for such a world as you speak of. Some of their planetary star charts go back supposedly before the creation of your earth.”
“Thanks Kandace, but I’m not sure that even they will have what I am looking for.” Matt said as he threw away his empty bottle in the nearby trash recycler. Just then Kandace’s comlink sounded on her desk again. “What is it?” she said when she hit the answer stud.
“Sorry to disturb you Admiral, this is Prims again. We are getting a priority one transmission from one of our recon ships in hyperspace. It’s Captain Han Xell of Atheist Squadron.”
“It’s one of your spitfires TimeRunner.” Kandace said.
Matt only shrugged. “Your guess is good as mine on why he would be calling us.” Kandace gave it some thought. “You can patch in here Prims.”
“I’m sorry admiral but I can’t do that. He says he will only speak with Admiral TimeRunner.”
“Tell the captain that TimeRunner is here with me.”
There was a brief pause before Prims spoke again. “Sorry admiral but he is still resistant.”
Kandace made a frustrating sound as she hit he pause button on her comlink. “There as untrusting as you are about the High Command aren’t they?” Matt only again gave a shrug. “What do you expect when the HC won’t allow them to change their name.” Matt shot back. Kandace unpaused the comlink. “Tell the captain that we are on our way to the bridge, have him stand by.”
“Understood admiral.”
Kandace then shut down the comlink. “Well Matt, shall we see what Captain Xell can only tell you in person.”
They then stepped out of the relax room where once again the yeoman on duty announced their arrive making both admirals to speak in unison, “As you were.” Prims immediately approached Kandace. “Admiral.” He saluted.
“What’s the situation?” Kandace asked.
“Well sir, we just received the transmission only a few seconds ago. From what we can make out it comes from the hyperspace. Other than that I don’t know much else. Xell was quite insistent in not saying anything else until he saw the Admiral TimeRunner.
“Then let’s not keep the good man waiting.” Matt said as he walked toward the balcony. “Can you put the captain on the forward screen?” he asked the com tech on station. With a nod the young comtech entered her code in the console and called up the proper command. “I have him online, five by five sirs.” With a flash of the screen the image of Han Xell came up. He was a man in his upper twenties with the look of a roguish character that not even the STF’s helmet could hide. Where as TimeRunner’s face was angular, Xells was set in delicate features that almost gave him a feline look. He was practically a walking poster boy for perfect WASP breeding Matt thought.
“Admiral TimeRunner,” began Xell. “Is it safe to say that this connection is secure?”
Matt looked at the comtech to confirm if the line was as it was. She nodded. “Go ahead Xell, your safe to talk.” Matt said.
“Thank you Admiral. I am pleased to inform you that I have found the remains of the 666th fleet.” Just then another commo tone sounded. Kandace immediately took the call as Xell continued with is findings. “From what I was able to scan before they got suspicious, it would appear that they have orbited themselves around a planet and are at best trying to make repairs to their ships.”
“Are you sure that what you saw was the remains of the 666th?” Matt asked? “It’s no doubt sir, I was even able to get some pictures before I had to bug out. I’m prepared to transmit them if you so wish admiral.”
“Hold that thought captain,” Kandace interrupted. “Matt, I just received a priority one transmission from CCDF High Command. Something big is going on. Reports are coming in that the SIA is beginning to strip their fleet garrisons from all their occupied Timeframes. Confirmed sightings are now coming in that SIA installations are being stripped of their planetary fleets. The 216th, 69th and 13th SIA space fleets are now down to an estimated 13%. Smaller garrisons appear to be getting pulled from their timelines and are even abandoning some bases.”
Matt did his best not to looked shocked. “Are you saying that the SIA are practically falling back,” Matt asked. “Is it possible that we actually hurt them that badly in our operation?”
“High Command is not sure about that,” Kandace answered. “But what appears to be happening is that the SIA is pulling out of their least occupied timelines and stripping their heavily fortified occupied timelines. As to what purpose is beyond them.”
“Do you think they are planning a new offensive?” Matt asked. “I am not sure,” Kandace answered. “But I’m putting Archangel Fleet on red alert status.”
“HOLY CRAP!!!!”
Everyone on the bridge jumped when Han yelled.
Matt and Kandace turned their attention back to Han. “What’s going on captain?” Matt asked.
“Your guess is beyond me sir, but the sensor buoy I left behind in that timeline is now reading a massive time fold operation. I mean it’s off the chart!”
“Well that must explain where the missing ships are now?” Prims chimed in. “Han, can the buoy you left behind be accessed to transmit live data?” Matt asked.
“I can sure try sir. I’ll patch in the live feed for you.” And with that, Xell’s face on the screen was replaced with a static image of what appeared to be a planet.
“Can you magnify the image Xell; get us as close as you can get with it.” Matt asked.
The image began a slowly zoom in on the planet but by the time the buoy reached it’s maximum capacity, the image as so raw and dirty that it could be barely be made out.
“Clean that image out.” Kandace ordered the graphic image officer on station. The officer nodded and began to work on what he was given. Matt began to notice blinking lights appear in the outbalance of the image. “Xell what do you make of those blinks on the screen?” Matt asked. “Well admiral, I’m not specialist but I bet you dollars to demons that those are de-time folding ship coming out of hyperspace.” Xell answered.
“Sir, I ran the image thru the filtering system.” Said the graphics officer. “I’m putting it up on screen.”
The dirty image was then replace with a crystal clarity image of what Xell had stumbled upon. Many on the bridge gasped as the say what was happening before their eyes. One by one, ships began to appear from holes made in hyperspace and make orbit around their planet of choice. Small ships, large ships, recon ships, ships of various size and class were making their way from the void of hyperspace. No one had to run the images thru IFF taggers to know what kind of ships they were.
But while the bridge crew began to assimilate the new date and began to prepare the fleet for red alert, as per Admiral Wilkins orders, Matt could not help but stare at the image on the bridge screen. All the sounds around him seemed to fade away as he focused on what he saw. Ignoring the questions asked by Xell or the controlled chaos beginning to brew on deck. He ignored the SIA ships coming out of hyperspace and the onscreen IFF tags being placed on the ships by the threat computers. The ships themselves began to vanish from his mind as he realized what planet they were orbiting. He rubbed his eyes to make sure he was not seeing things and pinched himself to make sure that he was in no dream.
He wasn’t. For what he saw before him was as real as the new situation that fell before the Archangel Fleet.
A blue white planet……
And in orbit of the planet was a silver moon….
Both items that he saw in his dream………..
# posted by TheTimeRunner : 11/10/2005 11:37:00 AM
