Legacy Ch5

Legacy of the Guardians

AJ Marks

Chapter 5

Randall received word from Steve about the attack going on with the battlecruiser Moscow and quickly walked back into the council room where the council was still meeting. As Randall walked in he wondered if Kinser already knew about the attack.

His reentry into the room went without much notice, not that it was unusual, ambassadors were always coming and going during the meetings, it was usually during tense times that no one walked in or out. Randall glanced over to see if the Skartian ambassador was still in the room, which he was, that would make things real interesting.

"What's up Kinser?" Randall said as he sat down. "Have I missed anything?"

"Your back Ran Dall." Kinser said a bit surprised at his appearance. "I didn't think you would come back after your actions earlier today."

"Well, it seems that things are about to get worse." Randall said knowing what was about to happen. "Have you heard anything lately?"

"No, I've been listening to these boring speakers all day, mostly the Skartian ambassador ramble about how the humans should be kicked out of the council. He really started to bring that up right after you tore up his charges against the human race." Kinser said. "But I think that you had a reason for it."

"Then you're right." Randall replied. They both noticed that the Skartian ambassador had gained the floor again and was now speaking again.

"Here we go again." Kinser said, only loud enough for Randall to hear, and Randall watched as his friend decided to go take this time to check out the news. Randall knew that Kinser was in for a shock.

"I see that the human ambassador has returned." The Skartian ambassador said pointing to Randall. "I would like these charges to be address in the proper manner, or I might have to do something more diplomatic penalties."

"I don't think so!" Randall replied, stunning the Skartian.

"You are aware that the charges levied against the humans are quite severe," The president said.

"I really don't care, now that the Skartians have decided to declare war against us." Randall said dropping a bomb on the council room.

"We have done no such thing!" The Skartian practically yelled back.

"I have quite a bit of proof that you have." Randall said.

"Yes, I'm sure your race has fabricated some phony lie and elaborated on it just so you can declare war on us." The Skartian said.

"We have a bit more that just words, I have solid proof."

"I can't wait to see it. What do you have, a couple of pieces of debris left over form the war, yeah that looks real good."

"How about the fact that you attack our fleet!" Kinser yelled in a loud voice as he reentered the council room. All eyes were on him as he walked toward the Skartian ambassador. "You attacked and destroyed several of our ship patrolling your neutral zone."

"I'm sure it was a fabrication of the humans to sway this council." The Skartian said.

"No, if it wasn't for the humans our fleet would have been destroyed." Kinser said. "If anything, I think that your race is hiding something. You have constantly tried to deflect anything from your race and place blame on the humans, why?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Sure you do." Randall said. "I found it quite interesting when I told the council that earth space was closed that the only person who objected was you." Randall said pointing at the Skartian before continuing. "Then when I mentioned that any ships entering earth space would be met with warships you seemed a bit concerned, perhaps you knew that your fleet would be met and destroyed."

"I'll have to talk with my government on what their new position is." The Skartian said leaving the room.

"As far as the human race is concerned, the Skartians have declared was on my race, and we will respond with equal force." Randall said.

"I have been instructed by my government to formally declare war against the Skartian Empire as of the time they attacked our fleet." Kinser said. "As of right now the Ilderians stand beside the humans in their fight against the Skartian Empire. I suggest that each of you take a hard look at the Skartians and their recent actions as an indication of their threat to our peace."

Silence reigned for a while as everyone considered Kinser's comment. They all knew that what he said was true, during the last couple council meetings that the Skartian ambassador had attended he was quite aggressive, especially toward the human race. While most agreed with Kinser, they still felt that they should not get involved with an escalating situation without further discussion.

The Skartian ambassador walked back into the room and was granted the floor.

"My government has informed me that I am to declare war on the human race, and any race that would support them. This time human, there will be no peace." He said and then left the room.

"So be it!" Randall said to the Skartian before he left the room.

Ahmed sat on the bridge of the Moscow as the interim captain, because in the battle the captain had been more seriously wounded that previously thought and he would not be returning to duty for at least a couple of months. Vice Admiral Dinen had put Ahmed in charge of the battlecruiser and what was left of her escorts, which was just one ship now. The escort ship was not badly damaged and would be back in action in a couple of days, the Moscow would need at least two to three weeks of repair before entering service again.

The ship was still a couple of hours out of Independence Station when the news of a formal declaration of war came through.

"All hands, this is the captain speaking." Ahmed said over the ship's intercom. "As of right now we are formally at war with the Skartian Empire. All ships are to maintain a level one-war condition beginning immendentally. I don't have to tell you what happened, you were there, but the newest news is that high command believes that the Skartians as a distraction for their war fleet orchestrated the terrorist attack. Because of your courageous actions we stopped their plans, good work crew." Ahmed then turned off the intercom. He wondered if he could be of some help in finding those who were responsible for the terrorist attack. He would look into it when the ship arrived at the base.

"The captain's asking for you captain Ahmed." The doctor said over the intercom.

"I'll be right there." Ahmed said and handed the bridge over to the next in command and went to sickbay. A few minutes later he arrived in sickbay to see the captain lying down, looking more relaxed than Ahmed could ever remember. Ahmed figured that was probably because of the pain medication.

"Hey, I'm glad you could make it." The captain said, his voice sounding a bit slurred from the medication.

"The doctor said you wanted to see me!" Ahmed replied.

"How many ships did we lose?"

"All but the Griffen sir." Ahmed replied.

"What about our damage?"

"We have lost the main port generator, two of our engines are off line and one will need replacement, most of our weapon systems are off line, and the long range scanners are damaged." Ahmed said having read the report just an hour and a half ago. "We lost thirty one crew members and another forty eight were injured."

"We won the battle, right?"

"Things weren't looking good there for a while, but the Fifth battlecruiser fleet arrived and beat their ass. We are currently being escorted by the battlecruisers Calgary and London."

"That's good." The captain said.

"Was there anything else captain?"

"No, the doctor didn't know that information, but I needed to know."

"I thought so." Ahmed said. "If it wasn't for us staying near the neutral zone we might have been fighting this battle at earth instead. Your commands probably saved us."

"Things just didn't feel right, I just trusted my instinct." The captain said.

"Well, you need to rest, we'll be in port soon."

"And you'll be busy bring the ship in, I understand."

"You do realize that I'm not trying to take over you command?"

"I understand, Ahmed, someone needs to be in command, I'm just glad its you."

"Thank you sir." Ahmed said and left to go prepare the ship for when they arrived at Independence Station.

"Vice Admiral Dinen says they just got there in time." Steve was telling Jack in a summary report of the battle. "The Skartian fleet was just about to finish off the patrol fleet and continue when his fleet arrived."

"Sounds like they have been rebuilding their fleet for them to come at us with about a hundred warships." Jack replied. "That concerns me. That terrorist attack had us looking the wrong way, do we have any leads as to who was behind it?"

"Some people are saying that Osama bin Laden isn't smart enough to orchestrate an attack like this and that maybe there was someone higher that him."

"And I bet when we find that person they will be a Skartian!" Jack said. "This time they had gone too far."

"It seems that most of the council agrees with you, the Ilderians have already pledged their support along with a dozen other worlds that are close by."

"I guess Randall is doing his job."

"You and I both know that he has more patience for other races that you do, besides, you do a better job with the fleet then he would of."

"I guess your right." Jack said reluctantly agreeing with Steve.

"So red beard, what's our next move?" Steve asked.

"We are going to keep the fleet on alert, patrol the neutral zone and wait until after I have talked with President Bush." Jack said.

"Do you think that's wise?" Steve said referring to the president. "After all, he is an elected official, remember last time?"

"Yeah, but I don't think it an be avoided this time." Jack said. "I have a feeling we might need some support in this war, but I appreciate the concern."

"The captain of the Moscow will probably be up for an award, if he hadn't keep his patrol there I hate to think about the consequence."

"Me too Steve, fortunately we have a well trained military." Jack said starting to feel a little bit pleased about the fleet actions. "I just wish we had had more intelligence, damn that Clinton for slashing the intelligence budget."

"No since crying over spilled milk."

"I know, I just wish we had a heads up on what was going on."

Ahmed sat down in his quarters; it was the end of a long day. The battle and the return of the fleet to the station. He had just finished the docking procedure and all of the post reports and repair papers and was now looking forward to going to sleep.

He looked at his desk and noticed the note he had written to himself as a reminder to tell the high command that he was from Afghanistan, in case they needed any help.

He sat down and typed a quick e-mail to his commander and sent it off. He really did not expect to hear from them, but it was the thought that counted.

Not able to keep his eyes open any longer he walked over to the bed and without undressing collapsed into the bed and fell right asleep.

"Anything new this morning that I need to know about?" Jack asked Steve as he walked into his office.

"Fortunately, or not depending on your view, nothing has happened in the last eight hours." Steve replied. He had only been the office for about twenty minutes and figured that Jack had left later than he did.

"That's good news, are they rotating the patrol fleets?" Jack asked.

"Yep, but the loss of patrol one has bunched things up a bit, we are borrowing some ships form the second battlecruiser fleet, and they have stepped up recruitment and training just in case." Stave said. "Oh yeah, I got a message saying that newly promoted Captain Ahmed is from Afghanistan and has offered his skills if we need it."

"That could be useful, did you get in contact with him yet?" Jack asked, his mind already going over the possibilities.

"Not yet, the bridge officer of the Moscow said he had just gone to bed after a shift of about thirty eight hours, I gave instructions that when he woke up he was to report to me right away."

"Good idea, I don't think this will be resolved quickly, and I want to be alert and awake when we talk to him, I can wait." Jack said. "Anything else of importance?"

"Randall left a message stating that the council tried to locate the Skartian ambassador and he has disappeared."

"That, I don't like."

"Me neither." Said Steve handing Jack Randall's message.

"Something is definitely going on Steve, I don't like what I beginning to think."

"What's that?" Steve asked really wanting to know.

"There might be another player out there, one that is helping the Skartians."

"Another race?"

"It wouldn't surprise me, not all intelligent races belong to the council. I want anything unusual to be sent directly to my desk, no intelligence reports, the real report from those who saw it."

"Ok." Steve said and watched Jack walk out of his office and start on his day.

End Chapter 5

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