Chapter 50

0001 - Tempro
0003 - Conner
0097 - Ace - Zimmel
0098 - Lucy
0101 - Shelby (mother ship) - Derrick
0125 - Lars
0200 - Ellen
0301 - Rodrick
0403 - Johnathon
0667 - Marco - Brown
0778 - Jan
0798 - Celeste - Shelby (human)
0908 - Tara - Mara
0999 - Zan
1000 - Sherry - Lucie (for the moment)

Backing up from Derrick the tall sandy blonde suddenly hit a bulk head, his eyes dancing around the room. “The last I heard you were still recovering. What is this?”

Smiling a moment Derrick was about to try and explain when the hologram of Tempro appeared. “We seem to have a slight problem.” The tall man’s eyes got large as he swiped his hand through the hologram.

“Commander?! What in the hell is that!? It’s not real!” The tall man said.

Tempro turned to look at the man. “I am indeed real sir. Please refrain from doing that again Sergeant Norman! I find it rather rude!” Turning Tempro repeat what he’d just said. “It appears we have a slight problem, Sire.”

Sergeant Norman shook his head, Sire? What in the hell was going on? He thought he was dead, had consigned his self to that fact. Then suddenly he was lying on a deck able to breathe looking up into the eyes of the greatest man he’d ever had the pleasure to serve under.

“I’ll try to explain in a bit. Go have a seat then we can talk as soon as I take care of this.” Derrick told the wide eyed man as he went to a seat dropping like a stone into it. “What’s wrong? Derrick asked Tempro.

“It appears that the engines of the freighter are on overload. I am detecting critical levels climbing.” Tempro told Derrick.

“Can you amend what is causing the overload problem?” Derrick asked then went to the panel behind his visitor.

“I’m not completely able to access the system. At present I have alleviated the excess plasma pressure. I am afraid that this has only delayed the problem.” Tempro replied.

Derrick nodded as he started to type at am almost frantic pace. Hitting enter every ten seconds Derrick just hoped he had enough in to effect the change. “Yes Sire, control now at seventy five percent. I have managed to shut down two of the four plasma injectors. Total destruction averted though survival rate of all onboard is at only five percent.” Tempro told Derrick.

“Just who are you?” The Sergeant asked when his eyes got large watching Derrick’s hands. They seemed to be flying faster than the Sergeant thought was humanly possible.

Derrick only smiled at the man not stopping what he was doing. “I told you I’d explain. Let me save the ship ok? Then we can talk.”

“Save the ship? How? You aren’t going to affect anything from there!” The tall man almost shouted incredulously.

“Believe me it’s possible.” Derrick said as he kept typing at a furious speed.

“NO!” The tall man said as he rose heading for the command deck. Two electrodes came out of the wall emitting a shock to the tall man. Falling against the wall then slowly sliding down the wall a look of surprise on his face.

“Thank you Tempro, control?” Derrick asked.

“Control at eighty five percent. Now commencing the shut down of the third engine. Chances of survival have moved into fifty percent range Sire.” Tempro advised Derrick.

Nodding Derrick kept typing stopping a moment later staring at something. “Tempro, access to all engines such as these, can also be bilateral can it not?”

“Checking Sire. Yes Sire! Now accessing the fourth engine through its lateral twin engine. Shut down has started. Sire! I suggest we remove ourselves to another position I am detecting several heavily armed ships approaching!” Tempro almost shouted.

Derrick nodded, “Yes, that would be the Rangers. Go Tempro before they enter normal space!” There was a familiar whine then they were in trans-warp. Two seconds later they were outside the system. “Good this ought to be far enough.”

Walking to the tall man Derrick helped to get the man to his feet. Still a little in shock the man asked, “What the hell was that? Worse than that time my vest took three slugs!”

“That was an electric shock. Yeah I know, leaves a bad taste in your mouth.” Derrick told the man with a smile. “So how about an explanation?”

“Yeah that would be real good right now. Because as of right now; I am confused as hell!” The tall man said to Derrick.

“Ok, to start ‘bout a year ago I was way out, working for a salvage company. I was bored falling asleep when I heard something. I ignored it then decided to take a nap that’s when it all started...” Derrick started into the story. It was about an hour later when Derrick finished.

“Wait! You say six to seven years have past? She married someone else? Shit! Figures she never was one to stay loyal long. I’m so damn glad that President Maury got his in the end. Son of a bitch only cared for what he could get! Commander?” Sergeant Norton suddenly asked. “What of my daughter? Of everything I regret, missing watching her grow into a woman is the one that hurts the most.”

Derrick hid a smile he wanted to tell the man but thought better of it. The surprise that he was sure Sergeant Norman got would be worth it. “All I can tell you at this moment is she is alive. Much beyond that I can’t say.”

The man nodded as he looked at Derrick. Something was going on, though getting the Commander to tell him was impossible.

Derrick smiled, “It’s ok Dan,” the man’s head snapped up with surprise. “I think you’ll like whatever she is doing no matter what!”

Sergeant Daniel Norman, nodded to Derrick even more certain that Derrick was hiding something. Sighing he guessed he’d just have to wait. “So have long before we get back?”

“Well...” Derrick started. “I have a few stops to make before we do.”

“A few stops? What ... wait I wasn’t the only one who died am I? You’re going to try and save all of them. Alright I’m in! All the way! Who are we going after?” Norman asked excited.

“In my time the only ones that didn’t make it were you, then Jimison almost a year later during a robbery. Two years later there was a transport accident that took the lives of everyone on it, including Shilo and Grant. All of the ships were partly owned by that bastard Maury. I have looked over all the records, each of you had been manipulated to be where you were.” Derrick told Daniel through clenched teeth.

Daniel was nodding his head. A lot of things that had happened the day before were starting to make sense. “What about Jimison? Shit! The bastard President owned that also didn’t he!!?”

“Yes! I intend to get all of you; I am still trying to reunite the empire. I have Hartwell; he’s my space fleet Commander. Dempsy,” Here Derrick sighed.

“Still trying to stay an enlisted I guess?” Norman said with a smile.

“Oh yes! Though how I got him to accept the rank of Colonel for as long as I have is beyond me. Then again it might have to do with the hunt for Trianas Macley. Plus the fact that he finally ended her.” Derrick replied.

“So he finally restored his honor. Damn straight! Oh, sorry sir.” Daniel, said.

Derrick nodded. “It’s quite alright Dan. After the hell she and her husband tried to put us all through, I for one am glad she’s gone. So, if you’re game I think it’s about time we got the team back together.”

Sergeant Norman snapped to attention, “As I said sir I am in all the damn way!”

Smiling Derrick nodded as he started to type instructions into Tempro’s command console. Moving to the command seat he advised Sergeant Norman to get secured. “Alright Tempro as per the instructions I gave you, advance”

“Affirmative Sire!” Tempro replied to Derrick. An odd red wave flowed out from the front of Tempro then the ship moved into it. It seemed they were only in the wave a mere minute then they were back out.

“Position?” Derrick asked.

“We are two weeks short of a year after the freighter incident. We are on the dark side of the number one old Republic export world. Light shield has been activated no indication of detection Sire.” Advised Tempro.

“Status of your IMT?” Derrick inquired.

“Well over fifty percent of the changes you originally made have been corrected. I suggest another twelve hours are required to ensure we don’t have any problems like last time.” Tempro said.

“Good, we have almost that long before we move. Shelby I want you in orbit also for back up. With everything that has happened lately I want to make sure this time.” Derrick told Shelby.

“I stand ready to help Derrick.” Shelby replied.

Derrick looked over at an almost completely confused Norman when he stated. “What can I do? He was my friend also, sir.”

“So I take it you are volunteering?” Derrick asked.

A smirk came to Norman’s lips, “As if you really have to ask? Told you sir anything I can do, I’m in all the way.”

“Good,” Derrick said a huge smile on his face. “Here’s what I’m going to need you to do...”

Lucie Hartwell was walking toward the command deck when she ran into her brother. “Have you got any word from our brother or uncle?” Joseph Hartwell asked her.

“Me? I thought you would know by now. I just got back an hour ago.” Lucie replied. “I thought you had command over the entire fleet as it is.”

A look of frustration crossed his face as he replied, “I did though if you remember right before, all this happened I was forced off duty. Unfortunately I remain there until the Emperor releases me back to duty. Therefore sister of mine I have no access to anything!”

Lucie face changed to a grimace then she pointed a finger poking Joseph in the chest. “Look damn it! Don’t blame me for your stubbornness! Had you gone to him in the first place instead of trying to do it all yourself, then YOU wouldn’t be in this situation! Personally I think he should have busted you down in rank too. Problem is he depends on you more than you think!” Poking Joseph hard again she finished, “You’re damn lucky you too are such good friends. Remember that! You are friends not enemies Let the man help you! Or the next time it won’t be him you have to worry about!”

With that Lucie Hartwell turned in a huff storming away down the hall. Joseph could only stare after her shaking his head. Damn! When had she gotten this forceful? Then a smile crossed his face, damn if he didn’t like it!

Moving off a few ideas started to form in his mind. Ideas his sister had helped to get started. He wasn’t completely cut off; almost, but not quite all. Nodding he started toward his quarters we’ll see he thought we’ll see!

Kimison was monitoring the time line, watching. More and more things were starting to move to where he knew they should be. A sudden flashing on the console drew his attention. Nudging Rayburn the other man looked at the readings as his eyes went large. Looking at the chronological order of events then what year it was he looked at Kimison in shock.

“Empress!” They both yelled as they both started to enter data as fast as they could.

Shelby quickly was behind them. “It appears we have another reading on them Mam.” Kimison stated.

Looking over the data Shelby’s eyes went large. “You’re both sure? Six and a half years ago? Where was this anomalous reading detected?” She asked.

“Just after the hatch failed on the cargo ship Contra, it ... Oh my god!” Kimison said as he face suddenly went ashen white. “That’s the ship...” Kimison started then choked up.

Rayburn was rushing to Kimison before the man finished speaking. Rayburn’s face was also ashen as he looked at Kimison. “Are you thinking what I am?” Rayburn almost whispered.

Kimison could only nod, then stated to a slightly confused Shelby. “He going after them, I just know it!”

Shelby looked again at the data still unsure, “He’s going after whom?”

“The rest of us; the rest of the squad. My god! He could actually do it!” Kimison said in awe.

Shelby’s mouth dropped open, the rest of his squad! Everyone of them were the best in a very long time. Then they were thrown away like so much garbage after they were put out. Shaking her head this wouldn’t happen as long as she or Derrick were alive!

“So he’s almost back! Good! I just hope he’s not upset that we waited to execute the Duke. Even as worthless as he is!”

Kimison and Rayburn both smiled, “No I think he will be extremely pleased. The fact that you took him with as little bloodshed as you did. The Commander always liked it that way, the less death the better.”

Shelby smiled she knew Derrick pretty good though no where as well as these men. A moment later Lucie Hartwell appeared at the command door way.