Chapter 34

HIGH COVEN BLOOD REVERENCE DREADNOUGHT
INQUISITOR

“Go!” Andro hissed the single word as he turned away slightly from the small hatch of the docking ring and where it was connected to the hull of the INQUISITOR.

Senior Chief Joe Ranor slammed his hand down on the control box in his grip and the small, muffled explosion echoed only briefly. Ranor had volunteered to place the explosives to insure that no damage was done to his ship and that they did not lose seal containment. He was one of the new generation of Engineers within the Union Fleet, many of them humans from Earth. Many new ship captains within the fleet were specifically requesting human engineers from Earth for their commands due to the unique skill sets taught to them on Earth. While the schooling was essentially the same at both the Academy on Apo Prime and the Fleet Academy on Earth, the Earth Engineering Academy also taught extensive use of explosives and light weapons as well as theoretical quantum mechanics, giving their engineers more rounded skills for different postings throughout the Fleet and ground bases. Many of the newer skills that were taught at the Fleet Engineering Academy on Earth were being integrated into the Union Fleet Academy on Apo Prime and soon both schools would be uniform and turning out Engineers that would be more skilled than any in history.

As one of the newer Engineers, Senior Chief Joseph Ranor had a hand in creating what was taught, especially about explosives, and his skills were being used right now. The shaped charge of C9 compound was perfectly laid and did exactly as Ranor had intended it to do. The heavy sheet of ArmorPly canvas covering over the hatch directed the force of the blast and any debris straight down into the ship. It ripped completely through the five inches of solid Layered Ferro-Crystanium hull armor on the BLOOD REVERENCE dreadnought as if slicing through paper, the extreme force of the blast carrying with it pieces of hull armor into the deck of the ship and unwittingly killing three High Coven personnel that had the misfortune of walking under that portion of the hull at the most inopportune time. The C9 Explosive Compound, at least this type of it, was designed by Union engineers to be used specifically for the purpose of penetrating star ship armor. To this end it worked to total perfection.

Andro didn’t pause and before the cloud of smoke had even cleared, he lifted his arms over his face and dropped through the newly created hole in the hull of the ship, crashing right through the armored canvas sheet. In his mind’s eye Andro could see Dorian doing the exact same thing from his STRIKER only thirty some meters down the corridor he was dropping into. Jomann followed Andro a split second later, followed in quick succession by Torian, Daio and then Eliani and Brendi. Daio had joined their assault team when Murano stated with Yuri and her Immortals hitting the landing bay, Dorian and he would not need additional people. Dorian agreed with him and Deion would break from their group with his Bridge Assault team and he and Dorian would move to join him.

Only thirty seconds before, Eliani had triggered the command to activate the Gas Drones that were anchored to the hull of the INQUISITOR. In seven different locations spaced across the hull of the INQUISITOR, the oval shaped Drones that were attached to the hull used a diamond core drill head to drive down a two inch diameter tube at nearly three times the speed of sound. Each tube penetrated the hull to a depth of sixteen inches, more than enough distance to punch through the hull and enter directly into the seven different main air filtration ducts that ran through the entirety of the ship. Exactly six seconds after punching into the large ducts, two cylindrical drums inside the drones began pumping the odor and colorless gas into the shafts at nearly five hundred pounds per square inch. The air circulating units did the rest of the work for them, carrying the gas to all portions of the ship in mere seconds.

The only two locations that operated on protected filtration systems were the deck they were entering now and the bridge itself. This deck housed the quarters for Robert Moran and his son as well as senior officers.

The Neutron Gas had been devised many years ago and then refined by Union engineers and chemical experts through the years since its discovery. There had been a huge debate about use of the gas when it was first discovered since it was technically considered a biological weapon and the Union did not use such weapons of war, especially since so many vampires called the Union home and were trusted friends and family. After two long years of debate and testimony however, all seventeen vampire Senators serving at the time voting for its use, it was allowed in this form only and it was heavily monitored. This was actually only the second use of the neutron gas since the return of a Leonidas to the throne of the Union and with any luck Androcles and Eliani Leonidas hoped it would be the very last. Only he and Eliani had used this gas before and it had taken them three days to make the hard decision to use it the first time against a group of brutal vampire mercenaries that had been loose in The Wilds shortly after the Evolli War and were targeting Union assets and civilian personnel. They had used it then to save lives, just as they were doing now.

In the dose that was being used right now, the neutron radiation gas was strong enough to invade the cells of any vampire, turned or pureblood, and for lack of a better description, shut down their bodies within seconds. It did no permanent damage to the targets; the composition of the gas no where near dense enough to be lethal in nature, but it was still considered a toxin. The neutron radiation isotopes in the gas invaded the many cells of any vampire and essentially slowed their bodies down in much the same manner as a body falling to sleep; only it acted within microseconds and not over many minutes. A heavier dose would have seen the radiation isotopes begin to break down the actual cell structure of any vampire leading to certain death, but Eliani Leonidas was far too good of a doctor to overlook that. One of her mothers was a pureblood vampire, two of her sisters and one of her brothers half vampire. She had friends and men and women who were like Aunts and Uncles to her, all of them vampires. Her former lover and still dear friend Nyla was a pureblood vampire. This was not something that Eliani would take chances with and the dose she using was perfect in every way to accomplish their task but leave no lingering after effects.

The crew of the INQUISITOR were among the finest that the High Coven had to offer and they were very good at their jobs. Within seconds after seeing the dragons unload from the G9 in the landing bay, an alarm claxon had begun to sound throughout the entire ship and many were rushing to their combat stations. The command crew on the bridge did not know of the other assaults or the use of gas. The claxon was falling on deaf ears for the most part, as vampires by the hundreds were entering the corridors and compartments of the ship and being incapacitated within seconds and the bridge crew would not realize this until is was far too late.

Andro’s booted feet had barely touched the deck before he was stepping to the side to allow Jomann and the others to follow him. His Shi Viska flared to life on his left arm as he dropped into a crouch, the pommel of Saar filling his right hand, and the sizzle and pop of the blade appearing from Flatspace almost lost among the echo of their explosive entrance. Jomann moved up instantly beside him as Torian and Daio were next in quick order and then Eliani and Brendi followed. With the exception of Brendi, all of them had resorted to their partial changed forms, their eyes now those of wolves and their fangs protruding from their lips. Torian and Daio unlimbered chopped down versions of the P190. The P190A5s were identical to those weapons that Martin and Danny had been using out within Pralor space as they were better suited for close quarters combat. They were chambered for the much more versatile Kavalian 12.7mm round due to its stopping power. All of them had seen combat many times before with the exception of Brendi Faith. Their senses were on full alert for anything that might be out of the ordinary or out of place. Brendi Faith for her part was doing exactly what she and Eliani had been training to do the last twenty-four hours. She held the K14 KM in her right hand, while her left hand never left Eliani’s combat harness. Her dark eyes were wide in fear, but she was able to control it well enough to function. Their bodies were pressed close to one another and even in the midst of the situation they found themselves in, Brendi Faith could not deny the feelings that this caused in her.

Andro! We’re in! Dorian’s voice echoed to them within the Etheric Realm like a gunshot.

Breaking for the panel and bridge! Deion echoed his brother’s voice. Go get the nubous ronnus fervon!

Moving now! Dori ... you and Murano meet us halfway! Andro ordered calmly.

On our way!

Andro turned and looked at Torian and Daio. He pointed with his hand and instantly Torian hefted his A5 and began to move.

“Here!” Sherice called as they rounded the short corner, dodging the inert bodies of dozens of vampires and found themselves in the empty passage. Directly above them in the recessed corridor was the hatch that would take them up into the main maintenance shaft and from there to the bridge. Deion was gripping Mari’s hand tightly as they came around the corner and his eyes found the computer panel.

“Mari!” He hissed.

All of them had chosen to wear the lightweight tactical headsets instead of normal battle helmets. It was a risk, as the headsets provided no protection, but instead had small sensors in the frame that fed them tactical data instantly through the small console in front of each of their left eyes. Deion determined they would be moving faster than his brothers as they had to get to the computer console in seconds. The helmets were heavier and would not allow for quickly and efficiently working on computer systems. After mulling over this for all of three seconds, Andro had agreed with him. As had Murano. It was like a shot of confidence in the arm for Deion and he swore not to let his brother or the others of their team down.

Mari’s heart was racing beyond measure as she turned her head and with wide eyes she watched Deion reach up and simply rip away the covering of the computer console with his armored hand. Breathing deeply and using all of her mother’s teachings to maintain her calm, Mari stepped up to the panel, pushed her tactical lens out of the way and flipped open the P9 Deion had given her and let it dangle from her midsection in the armored case.

“Cowen ... Ridor ... the hatch!” Deion rasped out the order as he dropped to his knee directly behind Mari. “Nara, Sherice cover! Lisi ... watch our six!”

Lisisa nodded instantly and dropped beside him in a crouch. She was not about to be left out of this mission and Andro had assigned her to Deion only because of her experience in small unit operations. It was not because he did not trust his brother to complete the mission; it was because Lisisa’s years and knowledge of doing these same missions during the Evolli War would give Deion an added advantage when they hit the bridge. On this mission Lisisa could use her abilities to wrap the shadows around her and blur, which were much more suited against fellow vampires. And it gave Deion’s team an extra lethal asset with a personal stake in the success of this mission.

Their wolf ears caught the sound of shouting voices from further down the corridor and Lisisa looked at her brother. “Those on this deck are regaining their senses fervon! We must move quickly!” She spat quietly.

Deion looked behind him. “Mari?” He questioned.

“There is an extra level of encryption on the system!” She gasped in horror as her fingers typed madly on the small computer console. A thin cable ran from her P9 to the connection in the computer on the wall.

Deion stood up and moved closer to her as he could detect her excited voice and the fear pouring from her scent easily. He pressed the front of his body against her back in such a manner that it caused Mari to gasp in shock and barely disguised delight. Deion lowered his head next to her cheek as she worked and time almost seemed to slow for her.

“You are more than capable of doing this Mari.” He spoke softly into her ear. “Be calm Aur Locarra. I have faith.”

My Flower. He had called her his flower and just his soothing voice and warm breath next to her ear was enough to relax Mari completely and fill her with resolve. His formidable physical presence gave her a sense of peace that she had never felt before, not even in the arms of her mother. This allowed her to work far faster than even she thought possible as different codes flashed across her screen almost faster than the eyes could follow. Yet follow them she did. She had dedicated her young life to learning everything she could while in school, hours upon hours of study and practical application had forged her into one of the finest graduates of the Advanced Pralor University. Feeling Deion’s powerful Etheric resonance surrounding her, calming her in a way nothing ever had, it allowed Mari to be better than even she thought she could be.

“There is no time to break the extra level of encryption! I am rerouting all Command Codes and Primary Control to my P9 through a secondary data uplink and securing them with Pralor algorithms!” She spoke confidently now.

“Disable the secondary uplink with a random, mutating coding variable so they do not discover how you did it!” Deion spoke. His attention was focused down the corridor looking for enemies and he did not see Mari’s smile of delight at his obvious knowledge and skill.

Lisisa looked back over her shoulder, her forest green eyes wide. “Carians... I hope you two know what the hell you are talking about!” She rasped out the comment.

Mari tapped on her P9 twice in quick succession and the computer console in front of her went dark.

“It’s done!” She exclaimed lifting her hands. “I’ve routed all primary and secondary control of their engines to my P9! They will not be able to alter our position or activate their engines subsystems even from the main consoles on the bridge or in their engineering section!”

Deion didn’t hesitate. “Time to go!” He said as he reached up and yanked the cable from her computer and then smashed his armored fist into the screen itself, crushing the LCD readout and well as half the console.

His arm then encircled Mari’s small waist and he and Lisisa blended even further into the recessed portion of the corridor. Lisisa went up first as Cowen leaned out of the upper hatch and grasped her hands, pulling her through the hatchway with barely any effort. Her petite form shot up into the opening and vanished from sight, just as Mari came under the hatch and looked up. Deion was lifting her up even as Cowen reached down once more and snatched her arm. Mari almost released an involuntary shout at the strength with which Cowen hauled her up, but then she was rolling to the side out of the way as he reached down once more. She turned her head and saw Deion’s hand clamp onto Cowen’s forearm and then he was lifting once more. Deion grunted as he rolled to the side and came to rest almost burying Mari under his large form. He looked down into her face and saw her blue green eyes staring at him so bright and beautiful, his chest pressed tightly to hers and his leg between her own. Deion Leonidas didn’t know what possessed him to do such a thing, but her orange clove scent was nearly unbearable so close to him as she was and even in the life threatening situation they were in he could not help himself. He lowered his head quickly and covered her moist lips with his own. Mari’s eyes went wide, not from her surprise at his actions, but at what his kiss ignited within her and the way her body reacted.

Deion pulled back quickly and flashed her a heartbreakingly gorgeous smile, flashing his long dual fangs at her. Vicious dual fangs that were utterly beautiful to her. “I’m sorry ... I’ve wanted to do that since I first saw you.” He stammered the words.

“Eight seconds!” Cowen called out in a harsh whisper as he secured the hatch.

Mari could only gasp once more as Deion lifted his powerful body from atop hers and was moving before she could draw in a breath. She felt Lisisa’s hands grab her arm and pull her to her feet just as quickly and she looked into her eyes. Lisisa grinned at her from under her headset, her own dual wolf fangs so very evident.

“Their timing for such things is typically horrid!” Lisisa told her with a smile. “They take after our father! Come!”

Mari could only follow Lisisa as they began to sprint down the massive maintenance shaft. Horrid though his timing may have been, Mari could not deny the feelings Deion’s simple kiss had caused to come rushing forth within her. His soft lips had ignited a fire within her and Mari decided right then she had no desire to resist the feelings rushing through her. No ... she was not going to resist them in the least. She was going to embrace them and all that it brought to her.

The trip was amazing to say the least.

Sarlana had never been able to view the stars as she was now in her last voyage through them. She had been confined to the lower decks of a City Ship with those of her kind as they prepared for their Seed Mission. The Pralor Corvette was comfortable yet designed for combat she knew. The Flight Crew had gone out of their way to make her and Conlar feel at ease, but Sarlana knew their actions were by direction of the Dahakoan Androcles more than anything. Like his father, he was a natural born leader of men, and no doubt others followed him with little or no question. The Dahakoan Dorian Leonidas also had this trait she knew, and it would develop quickly now that he and his bonded brother Ryner were with his brother and Elynth. Sarlana had spoken their names over and over many times in the last few hours, delighted beyond belief to be able to speak them openly. The four of them were a dominant force within the Etheric realm, not only because they were Dahakoan, but also because they were Praetorian warriors. Their Etheric resonance was staggering even from this distance, as was their father’s, for she could still feel Martin even as they drew further away from Manne. Their Etheric abilities had been one of the reasons that the Darastrixi and Pralor people cultivated such a close bond between them.

Sarlana didn’t question for a moment that they could sense her own powerful Etheric resonance growing closer, and while they might not understand what she represented for them, the two brothers trusted in their father completely. Teniri had remained with Arzoal on Manne, not wanting to leave the side of the Elder Mother who had placed so much trust and faith in her all those years ago. There was still so much she could learn from Arzoal and Sarlana had agreed with her.

Sarlana turned her head from the long couch she was sitting on as she felt the ship revert back to normal space from its third and final Quantum jump. She held tightly to the steaming mug of the liquid they called coffee, not wanting to spill its contents. She had never tasted such a thing and it electrified her taste buds. The friendly elven pilot had told her what it was, and that it was a special blend made by the youngest Queen Aricia. Conlar had just entered the main cabin and he turned from where he was pouring himself of cup of the coffee as he too felt the very slight tug in his stomach. Sarlana watched intently through the clear view window as the stars became bright points once more and off in the distance she saw the reddish green cloud of some unknown nebula. Her emerald green eyes were wide with wonder and she turned back as Conlar settled to the couch beside her.

“We’ve completed our final jump.” He observed as he looked out the view window. “We are now within the Alpha Quadrant. Something I never imagined I would ever think of let alone see.”

“Such wonder.” Sarlana stated softly. “I was with the Vrrarhoinpa all of the time helping them to prepare for the beginning of the Seed Mission. I was never able to see the stars like this. It is truly amazing.”

Conlar nodded his head. “There were times during our escape when one could look out into the stars and for a fleeting moment forget what was going on all around us.”

Sarlana reached out and placed her hand on top of his. “You seem much more relaxed than when we first began this trip my friend.” She told him.

Conlar nodded in agreement and took a deep breath. “Delnash told me something before we left. He told me to forget everything we had been raised to believe. Forget everything that we grasp onto. He told me to open my mind.” Conlar looked at her.

“He is a wise man.” Sarlana told him. “Now that his eyes have been reopened he will be the leader he was always meant to be.”

“I did not do that when we first arrived on Manne and I appeared just as arrogant as any other Pralor they had met.” Conlar said.

“And now?” Sarlana asked him.

Conlar smiled as he looked at her. “Now? Now I have seen things that prove all we ever thought was a lie. Just as Delnash has seen.” He told her.

Sarlana shook her head. “Not a lie Conlar my friend.” She told him quickly squeezing his free hand. “A misconception. One which we can fix with but a simple decision to expand our minds. We as two species, advanced though we may be with our technology, in some ways we think we can do no wrong and that makes us dim-witted beyond measure.”

Conlar nodded in agreement. “A choice. Something I decided to do the moment I boarded this ship. I have been reading of their history Sarlana. From before Martin Leonidas returned to them and after. It is ... it is a grand story. Almost ... almost magical in nature. It is filled with brutal violence and death yes, but never violence that they themselves began. And for all the many reports given by others supposedly so much smarter than all of us that said this species was barbaric and vile, I have seen dozens of acts within their own history that refute that notion bitterly. Even before Sumar joined with them. Acts of compassion and bravery that were often dismissed as irrelevant and nothing more than oddities.”

Sarlana nodded her head. “I have done much the same.” She told him. “My people are no better Conlar. We took much of your knowledge as explorers and Seeders of Life and used this to base our own thoughts and decisions on because we never left the world of our birth. It was a choice ... as you said. We have ships, grand ships, but we never looked beyond what we as a species had. We never truly looked to the future. That is what I believe Wer Zezhuanth wanted us to do. We...” Sarlana’s eyes grew wide and she froze in her spot, her hand clamping onto Conlar’s arm with all of the strength in her small form.

Images flashed through her mind causing her to gasp almost in pain. The dark red blood and agony, the shame at the vile laughter as she was taken against her will. The pain of every touch, every bite that they had laid upon her. The devastation in her eyes.

Conlar gripped her tightly. “Sarlana?” He gasped aloud. “What ... what is it?”

“Such ... such pain and agony!” She echoed as she shook her head.

“Sarlana!”

Her head came up them, her emerald green eyes brighter than Conlar had ever seen. “We must ... we must go to the where they fly this ship.” She stammered.

“What? Why?”

Sarlana rose to her feet in the next instant. “Come quickly.” She stated as she placed her mug on the small table and regained control of her emotions.

Conlar could only follow as she practically dragged him through the upper deck of the corvette and unerringly guided them to the cockpit. Within moments they burst into the medium sized cockpit filled with two elven pilots and a vampire engineer. All of them were female and all of them turned to look at her.

“Can we help you Lady Sarlana?” The vampire female asked as she came to her feet.

“Where are we?” Sarlana demanded.

“We have reverted to normal space.” The woman answered her. “Our present course will take us to SPARTA’S WRATH in just under fifteen minutes. They conducted a standard combat deployment while we were collecting you and have moved. Prince Androcles will greet you when they return from their mission.”

“Return?” She asked. “They are not on this SPARTA’S WRATH.”

The vampire female glanced at her pilots and then back to Sarlana. “No. If the reports are accurate, they have just begun their assault to bring the criminals Robert and Dante Moran to justice. Armen has directed us to land immediately in the Port landing bay.”

Sarlana shook her head. “No!” She barked. “We must go to them!”

“Lady Sarlana ... our orders were to deliver you and Elder Conlar to...”

“I am not an Elder.” Conlar corrected her. “I...”

Sarlana grabbed the woman’s arms. “Listen to me!” She demanded. “I must go to them! They are the last hope of my people and...”

“Lady Sarlana...” The female elf pilot spoke now. “Their plan was perfect. And there is no one who could stand against Androcles, Deion and Dorian Leonidas except their father. And now that Praetorian Murano is with them...”

Conlar looked at her with wide eyes. “Murano is with them?” He almost yelled.

The elf pilot nodded. “Yes.”

Sarlana looked at Conlar. “I can see what they did to his sister Conlar. Their sister. I can see it within them as easily as I stand before you now. I can feel their rage and hate coursing through them. I must go to them!”

“Wait!” The elf pilot spoke once more as she became more attentive. “You can ... you can see within the Prince’s mind from here?”

Sarlana looked at her. “You know what I am? Martin Leonidas told you what I am did he not?” She asked calmly.

The pilot nodded her head. “As much as he was able ... yes.”

Sarlana met her eyes. “Child ... if Androcles and Dorian Leonidas and their Bonded Ones unleash the full scope of what they are truly capable of ... everyone on that ship will die. I must insure that does not happen. In order to do that I need to be with them ... guiding them. That is my place ... my purpose in this life now.”

“Lady Sarlana we ... we don’t even know you.”

Sarlana stepped forward quickly and reached out her hand to touch the female elf on her shoulder. “I am not an enemy child. Most would consider me a religious icon among my own people. My only goal in this life now is to guide those you call Prince. I could no more hurt them or anyone close to them than I could hurt my own children. I know you can feel that within me.”

“Regardless of what I feel ... you are asking me to enter what is no doubt a combat zone right now.” The elf pilot said. “One that SPARTA’S WRATH will surely have complete and total control of. Armen will see to that. The attack was to take place on the High Coven ship Lady Sarlana. There is no telling what conditions we will be entering. I can not risk your safety for anything, no matter how important. Those were Prince Androcles’s words to me before we left to come retrieve you.”

Sarlana blinked. “He told you that?” She asked.

The pilot nodded. “Yes.”

Sarlana looked at Conlar. “He knows what I am.” She gasped.

The elf pilot Mal’ita looked at Sarlana for a long moment without saying anything. This strange woman was so very different. She remembered well her classes in school about how the modern elf was descended from dragons. How over millennia of evolution they stood as they were now, but had lost none of the connection to the dragons that they had when they were first conceived. It was why no elf within the Lycavorian Union was afraid of any dragon. She could indeed sense that this woman meant no harm to the Prince. Any of them. All that flowed from her when she spoke their names was love. Mal’ita’s own life was full of unknowns that she had embraced, the first and most important among them the beautiful vampire that was now her wife and lover. They had been together for six blissful years now and had she not followed what her heart and intuition had told her, they would never have been brought together. She made her decision now based on that very same intuition.

“Leeta ... engage Full Jammers and Whisper nodes.” She spoke looking at her vampire lover, wife and engineer.

“We’re going in Mal’ita?” Leeta gasped in shock.

Sarlana looked at the pilot once more as Mal’ita met her eyes. “Yes. We’ll sweep in under the starboard wing and if all seems stable we will hold position until we can contact Princess Sadi or one of the Crown Princesses.”

Sarlana looked at her. “His ... his Anome. His wives.” She said.

Mal’ita nodded in answer. “I will not enter that ship unless she or another Crown Princess tells me it is ok Lady Sarlana.” She told her. “You must understand ... my task is to protect you and Conlar ... nothing else. Without permission from one of the Crown Princesses then we will not proceed.”