Lost Empire 61

0001 – Tempro

0003 – Conner- Thomas

0097 – Ace – Zimmel

0098 – Lucy

0101 – Shelby (mother ship) – Lucie

0125 – Lars

0200 – Ellen

0301 – Rodrick

0403 – Johnathon

0667 – Marco – Brown

0778 – Jan

0798 – Celeste – Shelby (human)

0908 – Tara – Mara

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Ungrown – unnumbered

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3 – onboard Tempro awaiting Shelby

0999 – Zan – Also lost

1000 – Sherry – lost at the moment

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Derrick’s head snapped up as the intruder alarm started to warble. Damn it he thought I finally get to have a little peace and some other race has to interfere. Shaking his head Derrick had Mary pull up all the information on the invaders.

ALMOST A DAY BEFORE

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Lucie was still a little in shock from the quick transfer to Ace. Still she had to find the ship that she was certain was Sherry. ‘Oh please,’ she thought, ‘you have to be Sherry.’ Straining she could barely hear the thoughts of the ship now even as close as they were now.

“We’re very close Ace,” Lucie said as fresh tears started anew from her eyes. “It’s so hard to hear her.”

They traveled a few more minutes when Sherry suddenly was yelling to stop. Her eyes were wide as she started to nod her head.

Zimmel had been watching her and the instrument boards like a hawk. Though he’d read that there had really been no advanced warning of the Tendrax Fleet. He studied the readings harder trying to discern anything that would give away the enemy.

“She’s in front of us though I’m not quite sure where. Ace can you…” Lucie started.

“I have the brain box two degrees astern Prime Lucie. Prime should I bring it on board?” Ace said sounding hopeful.

“NO! You know the procedure the emperor mandated we follow. Start the first of the four batteries of testing.” Zimmel told Ace whose face was now crestfallen though still happy they had located a brain box.

“I have started the first set Prime. All four sets should take two and a half hours to complete.” Ace informed both of them.

“Four sets? I only remember three. When was this last set added?” Lucie asked of Zimmel.

“Just after you left we were contacted with the parameters for it. We’ve been through it; it searches for more invasive programs that could have possibly gotten through. With this new race of tech hoarders the emperor thought it was an advantage we would need.” Zimmel explained.

Lucie was nodding though a lot of what Zimmel had just said was a bit beyond her. “Well, as long as it works.”

Two hours later Ace had just started on the fourth set when Zimmel noticed a slight warping of the stars. Almost like a heat wave you could see on a hot day warping what things looked like as it passed.

“Ace, change frequencies of the shields, and the engines now! Double shielding of the Trans-warp.” Zimmel was shouting as the shimmering of space in front of them started to increase. “I want a shield around the brain box. Notify the emperor we are going to have company.”

Ace was doing everything that Zimmel had ordered, and then advised him that their communication wasn’t getting through.

“Damn it! I was afraid of that. Increase the shields; keep rotating the frequencies ’til you are finished with the box.” Zimmel ordered.

“Compliance Prime,” Ace responded as he kept at what he was doing. “I am reading that they are trying to blanket us with ripalon energy. The new frequencies are holding though they seem to be adapting to that as well. Fifteen minutes ’til completion. I have already removed twenty programs that do not belong.”

“Good, I was afraid they might try something like this.” Zimmel said as he monitored the approaching fleet. Shit he thought they have far more than they did the first time they hit Sherry. Even as he watched he saw space in front of them start to rapidly fill up with Tendrax ships.

“The box is clear, now bringing it on board.” Ace said even as the Tendrax opened fire.

“I suggest we depart now!” Lucie said to which Zimmel nodded to Ace.

“Warning, Warning! Unable to shift to trans-warp Tendrax blasts increasing in intensity. Now…” Ace was saying when several of the ships that were in front of them exploded.

“What in the hell was that?” Zimmel asked as he searched for the source of the destruction. “Never mind, get us the hell out of here!”

“Going to full Hyper-drive, prime.” Ace said starting to move out even as twenty more ships exploded behind them.

Turning they were moving away watching as the Tendrax started to give chase. Then they suddenly stopped when another fifteen ships exploded. This time though, they all thought they saw an EIG ship moving past the destruction field.

Then, they were in a tractor beam, entering Trans-warp, all be it for a second and a half. “Sorry Ace, Prime Zimmel that’s all I have for now. I thought it would recharge faster, mother told me one minute though I believe I sustained more damage. I’m afraid it will take two minutes, I’m also afraid they might get very close before that.”

“We could fight, brother Zan.” Ace said eagerly.

“Not with our systems as down as they are. I am in re-gen this whole time I might be able to get it down more though I am not too hopeful.” Zan advised them.

Zan tried his best to not look in Lucie’s direction as he was reporting. “How long ’til we reach the Galactic edge?” Zimmel asked worry apparent on his face.

“Even with the Trans-warp bursts I estimate almost a day. I am also unable to contact the emperor, Mother or Mary. I am hoping that the closer we get the more likely we will be able to get through.” A now worried Zan was replying.

It was almost a day later that they breached the edge of the Galaxy. Zan had been trying to take readings the whole time. Not sure he’d done a count of the opposing fleet several times. The number he got was grim indeed.

“I have tried to do an accurate count of the fleet. It is proving difficult as it seems many ships are phasing in and out of visible spectrum. I believe they are numbering in the tens of thousands.” Zan relayed still not happy at the overwhelming odds.

Zimmel was shaking his head as he watched the following fleet. “They must be desperate if they are committing this many ships.” Zimmel replied staring at the huge fleet that was following them.

“Desperate or they just love war.” Lucie said speaking up.

Zimmel was again nodding his head, the observation did make sense.