ship cleared Razerus space. The dark-red craft started its entry course into docking. His light spirits turned dark when he realized what he had to do. His work was never complete—especially when dealing with incompetence.
Dacian turned from the glass of the window, and one of his men was immediately there, bowing. "Sir?"
"Ready my ship."
The faceless soldier scampered off.
Just as he made to follow, a radio operator stopped him and bowed respectfully. "Master Velkas, I have a troubling report." The operator tried his best to keep his composure near his leader, but it was difficult when his master smelled so strongly of overused cologne and dust.
Dacian motioned for him to continue.
The operator proceeded without pause. " Breaker IX just called in with a status report."
"Out with it…" Dacian said patiently. Since Render had lost his latest endeavor, the Void Star, to the Eckelions, he'd been sending everything he had to find out where it had gone. They tortured an Eckelion to death to get the name Cleph'thera, and then they had to find out where the Nymarian was and go after him.
"They say the Nymarian's ship crashed into a planet, Aquaria."
Aquaria? One of the worlds they had identified as having a secret Elysian base? Hadn't he sent a Breaker to destroy that world?
The operator continued as he processed. "Well, Breaker VI rifted the planet as directed, though it seems the Nymarian was on board a new craft that got away in time. The two Breakers have conflicting reports of what occurred after, but they both say that the rogue ship escaped into an energy ribbon that they are both combing through."
That made enough sense, Dacian mused. "Who rescued the alien? Was it the Elysians?"
The operator paled. "We don't think so. There is one aboard that has been linked to the Elysians, but it doesn't seem that it is an Elysian craft. Its manufacture has been tracked to Earth. And if the vitals-check they performed are correct, the captain of the ship is Nathan Sutherland."
Dacian coughed unintentionally. He grabbed the report from the operator's hands. Sure enough, it had a list of the names and aliases, and Sutherland's was there. It was a small universe indeed.
"Ready three more Breakers and have them prepared to launch in the next twenty-four hours!" he barked.
"Aye, sir." The operator took off and soon disappeared.
He stood motionless for a moment and let the information find its proper place for use. It kept going back to Sutherland.
He was still alive.
Dacian flicked his hand, and a retinue of guards appeared to accompany him. They left the command center behind and walked down the secret, heavily guarded halls toward his private docking station.
Black as deepest space, sleek and sharp, his ship stood at the ready. It just looked dangerous as was its intent. The side of the ship boasted a placard, on which was engraved the number of worlds that had been destroyed, enslaved, beaten, or otherwise broken underneath the heel of Ruvera. He would have them add another "I" to the "XXXVII" for the world of Aquaria.
He scaled the steps and took his seat in his private quarters. His mind flashed back to the last battle with Earth before he ordered its destruction.
The war with that world had been a humbling experience. They had crushed so many others, it seemed that Earth would be a walk in the park, so to speak. But they fought hard, they never quit, and they were stronger than Ruvera.
The last battle had him commanding the remaining ship in their fleet. It was nothing like the Breakers were now, but it was a decent ship—and it was breaking apart in the attack.
And then the thing that changed everything happened.
"Sir, the rift cannon is online."
Dacian Velkas ordered its first
Dacian turned from the glass of the window, and one of his men was immediately there, bowing. "Sir?"
"Ready my ship."
The faceless soldier scampered off.
Just as he made to follow, a radio operator stopped him and bowed respectfully. "Master Velkas, I have a troubling report." The operator tried his best to keep his composure near his leader, but it was difficult when his master smelled so strongly of overused cologne and dust.
Dacian motioned for him to continue.
The operator proceeded without pause. " Breaker IX just called in with a status report."
"Out with it…" Dacian said patiently. Since Render had lost his latest endeavor, the Void Star, to the Eckelions, he'd been sending everything he had to find out where it had gone. They tortured an Eckelion to death to get the name Cleph'thera, and then they had to find out where the Nymarian was and go after him.
"They say the Nymarian's ship crashed into a planet, Aquaria."
Aquaria? One of the worlds they had identified as having a secret Elysian base? Hadn't he sent a Breaker to destroy that world?
The operator continued as he processed. "Well, Breaker VI rifted the planet as directed, though it seems the Nymarian was on board a new craft that got away in time. The two Breakers have conflicting reports of what occurred after, but they both say that the rogue ship escaped into an energy ribbon that they are both combing through."
That made enough sense, Dacian mused. "Who rescued the alien? Was it the Elysians?"
The operator paled. "We don't think so. There is one aboard that has been linked to the Elysians, but it doesn't seem that it is an Elysian craft. Its manufacture has been tracked to Earth. And if the vitals-check they performed are correct, the captain of the ship is Nathan Sutherland."
Dacian coughed unintentionally. He grabbed the report from the operator's hands. Sure enough, it had a list of the names and aliases, and Sutherland's was there. It was a small universe indeed.
"Ready three more Breakers and have them prepared to launch in the next twenty-four hours!" he barked.
"Aye, sir." The operator took off and soon disappeared.
He stood motionless for a moment and let the information find its proper place for use. It kept going back to Sutherland.
He was still alive.
Dacian flicked his hand, and a retinue of guards appeared to accompany him. They left the command center behind and walked down the secret, heavily guarded halls toward his private docking station.
Black as deepest space, sleek and sharp, his ship stood at the ready. It just looked dangerous as was its intent. The side of the ship boasted a placard, on which was engraved the number of worlds that had been destroyed, enslaved, beaten, or otherwise broken underneath the heel of Ruvera. He would have them add another "I" to the "XXXVII" for the world of Aquaria.
He scaled the steps and took his seat in his private quarters. His mind flashed back to the last battle with Earth before he ordered its destruction.
The war with that world had been a humbling experience. They had crushed so many others, it seemed that Earth would be a walk in the park, so to speak. But they fought hard, they never quit, and they were stronger than Ruvera.
The last battle had him commanding the remaining ship in their fleet. It was nothing like the Breakers were now, but it was a decent ship—and it was breaking apart in the attack.
And then the thing that changed everything happened.
"Sir, the rift cannon is online."
Dacian Velkas ordered its first
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