The True King of Andea

As the small Saber class II aircraft lifted from Andea’s surface, urgent messages went out to intercept the short-range hopper craft. Ground forces opened fire and while border stations were warned, long range Anthol’s was deployed to intercept the little Saber. More short-range hoppers lifted off the planetary surface and scattered into space. All filled with upper class civilians and lower class officials escaping prosecution and execution, creating a diversion for an unmarked long-range ship to lift into the sky. Carrying the most precious cargo ever, the ship flew low over the planet’s surface in an opposite direction, followed by thirty more ships. “Angel one to all Angels. Border stations ahead. May you be guided and protected by the force of Largus.” Two ships surged ahead of the formation. All knew what was expected of them. Flying high, they opened up their attack. A third ship slipped in under their attack. He went straight for the force field reactor, a small triangular system transmitter creating the force field. With two well-placed proton seekers he destroyed the reactor; just as Angel one entered the space where the force field would have crushed the space plane. Proton blasters lighted up the darkness around the spaceships. All the ships broke away into different directions and shot up into the skies above. They regrouped and came rushing in for a renewed assault on the border station. Their mission: “Protect Angel one at all cost. Give him time to get away”. Mission accomplished and everyone for himself. Angel one came out of a spiral with boosters fully deployed. He shot up through the darkness of space. Proton blasts followed him; lighting up the ship as the explosions ripped open the air around him. “So long Guardians. May you find what you seek! Remember your oath and stay true to your future king.” The ships scattered into all directions. In one year’s time they will all meet again at a pre-arranged rendezvous. As Angel one sped away in his own direction, he thought of his only love, flying into another direction. Will he ever see her again? Will she make it, or will the witch-hunt bring her down? All the dreams they had, all shattered into thousands of pieces. He looked at the young maiden next to him, cradling the small sleeping bundle in her arms. Will he ever have the opportunity to see his beloved with a similar bundle in her arms? A small bundle of love that belongs to them and them alone! “Bye, my love.” The words were hardly audible. Rudely he was shaken from his train of thoughts by an ear piercing alarm and a flash on his radar screen caught his eye. A red display lighted up the interior of the cockpit with the words ‘locked on’ displaying. Six Anthol border patrol ships appeared on his screen. “Shit! Hold on, there’s enemy ships locked onto us.” The first blast came over the bow of the ship. Jade swore at himself for not paying attention and letting his emotions get the better of him in a time like this. Trust him to bugger things up. The most important cargo of all the Guardians and he blunder it up. That’s a first. He knew they were not safe yet. He should have kept his mind under control, but it’s too late now. He checked the ship’s position. They still have a long way to go to the hyperspace gate entrance, still too far to run for it in this huge ship. The smaller, long range Anthol’s could get up to more speed in a shorter time frame than this huge ambassadorial ship. A red LSD indicator lighted up, indicating the ship being hailed over military channel. “Incoming call, Commander.” “Open channel.” “Unidentified Phoenix transporter class ship, this is wing master Trechad. You are in direct violation of the NRPA law on departing of cargo ships. No aircraft will lift off, unless cleared by the high lord Nephra. Identify yourself and stand by for a boarding party.” “This is Angel one, Trechad you are a traitor and a disgrace to the rank of Wing master. There will be dealt with you on a later stage and may Largus give that I am your judge. I have cargo onboard that is dearly wanted by your puppet master. If you dare to open fire on me, he will have your crown jewels in a sling.” “What are you doing my Lord? They were not supposed to know about the Prince.” “Buying us time, it is still a long way to the hyperspace-gate. They don’t care for the prince; they want the manuscripts of Largus. They don’t know it was divided between all the Guardians. If they think all the manuscripts are on board, then the rest of the Guardians will have a better chance of getting away.” Jade opened the line again as wing master Trechad’s voice came over the military frequency. “Jade, you were always the one who didn’t listen. Don’t you get it? We are in control now. The NRPA is the new government. You are outnumbered six to one. You can’t win, because it is all over. Give yourself up and maybe, just maybe, I can put in a word for you. They will welcome an officer of your caliber into their midst. Always in need of good commanders and pilots, you know.”