The Threat
by Christine
The threat
By Christine
Capt Jason was just about to finish the fifty-first mission. He looked out the window of his tiny spy ship at the planet below, CentauryIV. He sent a message to the Eight fleet grand admiral Shanya. “Last outpost has been found. The traitor Abu is here with his fleet and the rest of the rebel sect of Orions. The beacon has been activated. “ A tight smile spread across Jason’s face. The long civil war was about to be over and then peace would reign though the galaxy.
The orions, he thought with disgust. They were crazy religious sect that his government has declared enemies. Government Caricatures depict them as hooked noses, bent frames and molesting women. The government told people that they steal, murder and plunder populations. During the first fifty years of the empire, hundreds of billions were sent away, never to return and the remaining Orions went into hiding and a few built up fleets to resist the government.
This was the last outpost of their resistance. After the civil war was over, he would be free to marry the empress’s niece. He earned his time off for this.
***
“Captain Julian?“ a voice called from the portside crew pit. “We just received a message from Capt. Jason. “
Julian, leaning over the shoulder of a new trainee at the new colossal commandships engineering monitor ignored the shout. “Trace these new lines for me” he taped his light pin on the schematic on the display.
The engineer threw a questioning look at Julian. “Ma’am?”
“I head the man.” Julian said. “You have an order.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Captain Julian.” The voice repeated, closer this time. Keeping her eye on the display Julian waited till she could hear the sound of his footsteps. Then, with all the regal weight that thirty-five years spent in the Imperial fleet gave to a person, she turned and straightened her tunic.
The young officers brisk walk faltered and abruptly halted. “Uh ma’am” He looked into Julian’s eyes and his voice faded away. Julian let the silence hang in the air for a couple of heartbeats. Long enough for those nearby to notice. “This isn’t a slave auction at a remote outpost, Ensign Tachal. This is the bridge of an Imperial battleship. Routine information is not--repeat not- simply shouted in the direction of its intended recipient. “ Her voice was calm but icy cold. “Is that clear, Ensign?”
Tachal swallowed, “Yes, ma’am.
Julian nodded and said, “Good, report.”
“We received a message from Jason, it’s for the grand admiral. The last outpost has been found. The traitor is there with his entire fleet. Jason has activated his beacon. “
A tight wolfish smile spread across Julian’s face. This was good news indeed. “Good lieutenant. Continue your duties. I will be back soon. “ She turned and headed out the door. If procedure frowned on shouting across the bridge, it frowned even harder on interrupting the grand admiral’s sleep by intercom. One spoke to her in person, or one did not speak to her at all.
She didn’t know what the grand admiral did with her long hours she spent in her personal office that she had constructed soon after taking command of the flagship of the imperial fleet. The empress promoted her the esteemed rank of grand admiral only a few months ago. ‘Perhaps’, Julian thought to herself, ‘ she was about to find out.’
She entered the hallway and approached one of the red suited guards that protect flag ranks of the Imperial fleet. She stated formally, “There’s a personal message for the grand admiral. “ The guard nodded and opened the door for her. She proceeded though the protected corridor and at last, saw what she did.
Her eyes adjusted to the darkness in the room. She saw holographic images surrounding the naked grand admiral sitting in the center cross-legged. Julian saw her commander’s eyes open. She looked up from her displays, “Greetings Julian. What is your message?”
“Capt Jason has found the last outpost of the orions. The traitor Abu is there with his entire fleet. He’s activated the beckon. “
The grand admiral smiled and pressed a switch on one of her counsels. The image of Jason was replaced with a new holographic image of the galaxy with a blinking circle where Jason’s beacon was. “So there it is, captain. Proceed there at once.”
Julian opened her com and gave the orders for the fleet to enter hyperspeed.
Then suddenly the grand Admiral asked, “So what do you think of Jason, Julian?”
Stunned by the question but Shanya didn’t hide that she has a fascination toward Jason. She didn’t understand it herself. He was cute but very small for a twenty-five-year-old man. He had an almost, effeminate look about him. He had a very tiny body for a male. Face soft face and he styled his hair very femininely. “Well ma’am, I don’t know what to think. He’s a good officer, I guess. Why do you ask?”
The grand admiral responded, “Because I’m thinking of a new project. Jason is perfect for it. We could name him Jennifer, don’t you think?’
Julian was getting confused and stammered, “But that’s a name for a female, Admiral Shanya, why would you change his name?”
She responded evenly, “Because of our new project. Jason would look great as a woman. I certainly have the authority to order it. Jason has the perfect frame and build. The transition would go perfectly, don’t you agree?”
Julian let those thoughts go thought her mind for a few seconds and then stated, “Well yeah, but he’s engaged to the empresses niece. What do you think Jason’s response to it will be? And what of the Empress, wouldn’t she be displeased?”
Shanya simply said, “I have been in contact with the Empress. She has no problem and of Jason’s feelings, I don’t care. I am his superior officer. He will obey or be thrown in the brig for insubordination. “
***
Julian peered though a window looking at the spiraling vortex of her ships traveling thought hyperspeed and then, suddenly she felt the ship slow.
“Grand Admiral, we have CentauryIV right in front of us and the last remnants of the Rebel Abu’s fleet is there with them. We finely have them!”
Shanya said, hiding no satisfaction in her voice, “Good. There’s no need for subtly here. Open fire at will. They’re trapped between an anvil and a hammer.”
It was over quickly. Abu never had a chance against the awesome power arrayed against him. His ships destroyed one by one in fury fireballs.
***
Jason docked his ship in the command ship just as he saw the landings and the black troop ships of the Imperial Inquisition squads go though the atmosphere to round up the Orions.
He stood in front of the grand admiral as she presented him with a medal. He thought he would get some leave but she simply ordered him to his cabin.
Ten minutes later he was alone in his cabin and wondering when he get some leave.
***
“The scout ships have returned from their scanning mission in the Athos arm of the galaxy. They found an undiscovered planet that has intelligent life, a kind of civilization with primitive industry,” Said a junior grade officer to the captain.
She took the report and looked it over. She said “looks like it is at least worth giving further attention.” I will give a report to the Empress. Send a dedicated scanning fleet to the edge of that solar system. Do not enter the system. Record all transmissions emanating from the planet and send it to me. We will call this undiscovered planet, Solarus.
**
Four weeks later.
A monstrous battleship was heading toward colossal spherical station. A small shuttle flew out of the docking bay silently. The pilot stated briskly, “Doomgiver, you are commanded to lower the deflector shield immediately.”
“The deflector shield will be lowered when we have confirmation of your identity. Transmit your clearance code now,” was the reply and the pilot felt sweat trickle under her collar. Her passenger wasn’t in the mood to wait. She looked back to see the black clocked figure glaring with her glowing eyes at her.
Her trembling hands danced over the keyboard keying in the sequence code.
The controller on the other end, in the bridge of the Doomgiver looked at his readout with disbelief. What came back with the confirmation code was the very symbol of the Empire. He looked at the display for several seconds before it hit him, who that shuttle was transporting. The Doomgiver captain came up behind him, wondering what the holdup was for this shuttle was. They both said in unison, “The Empress.”
He said in a firm voice, “Code accepted, proceed to the main docking bay.”
The shuttle engines flared up and sped toward the enormous spherical station. The pilot could see hundreds of thousands of small fighters orbiting the station in honor of the empress’s arrival. The shuttle silently entered the docking bay. She could see enormous columns of troops standing in ridged formations. The shuttles ramp lowered. Captain Julian and Grand Admiral Shanya were standing in front of the enormous columns of assembled troops.
On top of the ramp, the praetorian ran down and poised themselves in two lethal rolls at the bottom of the ramp in watchful guard of their ruler. Then a dark clocked woman appeared out the doorway of the shuttle. She looked malevolent and cruel. Her face was darkened under the hood but her purple glowing eyes seemed to burn holes in whoever she looked at. She started moving down the ramp with absolute confidence and power, a twisted cane taping as she walked down. When she reached at the bottom, the two commanders knelt to their dark ruler. She beckoned to the two, “You may arise.” They stood up and started walking in between the assembled troops. The empress said, “You have done well, Shanya. I have studied the reports of this new planet and I have foreseen that it will become important strategic possession for the Empire. I have come to supervise the conquest personally. This will be one of the greatest conquests since CentauryIV.” She cackled and the evil sound reverberated throughout the great hall.
***
Shanya and Julia were at a meeting onboard the Doomgiver battlestations war room. There were hundreds of officers and a few flag ranks attending. In front of them all, were a team of elite army commandos assigned to Jason. There was a holographic projection of the planet they named Solarus in the center of the room.
Shanya started the meeting, “The Empress has ordered us to begin preparations for this absorption of this planet into our great empire. This planet is what we are focused on. An undiscovered planet, this is what our empress has commanded to be absorbed into our empire.
“This planet is roughly thirteen thousand kilometers at the equator. Around seventy percent of the planets surface is covered in salt water. Its landmass is distributed between six continents. There are roughly two connected continents at each hemisphere. The planet also had roughly eight billion intelligent inhabitance and they seem to be very violent and warlike. They have, by consequence, caused much misery and death among themselves. they have formed separate nations on their planet that war against eachother by various alliances. Shockingly, these beings are exactly like us, humans. We need to find out how this came about.
“Their weapons are weak by our standards. Their most powerful weapons are primitive fusion bombs and ballistic missiles but they are still devastating in an atmosphere. Our intelligence would also indicate that several of their nations have vast arsenals of such fusion weapons. Enough to wipe themselves out, and that is their plan when all seems lost. A stupid military doctrine called, MAD: Mutually Assured Destruction.
“They have achieved the power to propel ships out of their gravity well. Small and medium craft routinely orbit their planet in high orbit and they seem to have sent several ships to their own moon. They have also sent manmade satellites to neighboring planets. They have has thousands of satellites orbiting their planet. The satellites do anything from send info about military movements to porn to spying and global positioning. They do seem to have built a small station in high orbit.
“The empress has ordered closer observation in preparation for our main landing. Capt Jason will land and provide the direct observation we need. His orders are to find out their exact capabilities to oppose our landing, and what their likely response would be to diplomatic overtures to willingly join us unconditionally. He is to find out who they are, what they have and their attitudes and customs. He has some leeway: it is fully up to him how to proceed. That concludes this meeting. Victory to the Empress.”
The officers replied in kind.
***
The grand admiral called Jason into her office for a meeting.
She started the meeting, “From what our intell has said, Their culture doesn’t seem to have learned that women can be just as good and in many cases stronger that their male counterparts. They view women as week silly people, mostly interested in material things or looking pretty. Males on that planet view women mostly as sexual objects and not taken seriously. Would you agree?”
He nodded, “Yes ma’am I agree. “
She said evenly, “Since they view women as unthreatening, I order you to go as such. You have the build and frame to make a very convincing woman. You have the skills to defend yourself with lethal force. How you proceed after that is up to you. Now you are ordered to report to doctor Ryan for the transformation.”
He stammered, “But, but Admiral, you cant be serious. “
Her face hardened, “I am very serious. Its weeks till your marriage and you wouldn’t want to be thrown in the brig for insubordination, would you?”
He snapped his heels and said, “No ma’am. I will report as ordered. “ Turned on his heels and walked toward the ships infirmary.
The Threat
By christine
Chapter 2
Jason slept soundly after his operation and woke up the next morning feeling very weird. He moved to the side of the bed and tried to stand up. Unaccustomed to the new weight, he nearly fell over face first on the floor before steadying himself.
He cursed himself for being so clumsy. He had trouble standing up straight because of some enormous weight on his chest. He wasn’t used to this nor could he figure out what it was that was pulling him down. Sliding his hands up from his waist to his chest, Jason finely figured out what it was, enormous fleshy mounds had caused the weight. In his shock of this, a new thought flashed though his mind. He remembered Shanya’s command that he was to be transformed.
“Oh my god, “he said loud, “They are breasts.”
“Yes Jason. You have breasts like a girl. Go look at yourself in the mirror“ Said a cruel woman’s voice behind him. Then the woman cackled like a witch.
He realized who the voice belonged too. They had met one time before, when she awarded him the imperial medal of honor for his service. That one time when he was in her presents before, he felt this primal fear. He heard about how she had this power and everyone was drawn to her. He seen it happen when she rose the imperial banner and people flock to serve her. But, he did not feel this himself. He felt cruelty within her and all he wanted to do was run as fast as his feet could take him. She was the Empress, the ruler of the empire.
Jason walked over to the mirror and saw what all was done to him. The breasts hanging from his chest were as big as beach balls! They must have given him triple D’s. His waist was extremely tiny. The hips were rounded. The face that was looking back at him was a woman’s face. His hair was much the same as always but the jaw line was more slanted and pointed at the chin. The result of this was despair.
He turned about to face the black-cloaked woman standing behind him. Her face was shrouded in a dark hood and her entire body was covered in long flowing black robes. “Now there is no way my niece will marry you, Jason. “ The Empress was glowing in triumph.
“But, My mistress, I thought you gave your approval to this wedding. “ Jason said in disbelief.
“Yes, that was my public stance. There was no way I could say no with her standing beside you. With her love for you, She would resent me. This way is much better. Now your name is Jennifer.”
“Why don’t you want me to marry Ankhesenamun, My Mistress?” He asked her.
The empress stated evenly, “Because Jennifer” She said Jennifer loudly and saw him wince as hearing his new name. “ There is just something about you that pisses me off. I don’t like you, I do not want you in my family.”
He put his face in his hands weeping. She continued, “Now, you have the body of a female. That means, you have all of the sexual and reproductive organs. I even ordered your chromosomes changed, your XX now, Jennifer.” The empress cackled cruelly. “Since the operation was so extensive, it can never be reversed. Such an attempt would over stress your body. It would kill you”
He wept into his hands. How could she love him now? She would never love Jennifer. She loved Jason.
She was cackling as she turned and walked away. Shanya came in after her and mocked, “Damn woman, you look awesome. This exceeds all of my expectations.”
Jason looked up and glared at Shanya with poisonous hate.
“Don’t give me that look you slut. I am still your superior officer,” She shot at him. “And in my kindess, I am giving you 4 days to get totally accustomed to your new body before I send you off to Solarus for your mission. I better not get any more insubordination from you, girl. Or there will be…Trouble.”
The only response Jason could give was, “Yes ma’am. My apologizes. “
“I accept your apology. The empress shared with me another idea to help you to help you get accustomed to your new body, Jennifer.”
The foggy look on his face must have told her, that he had no idea what this was leading to.
“Well a girls first time is always special. The empress has found just the right person for you. This will be an especially feminizing experience. Don’t resist this at all, Jennifer, or we will have you court marshaled.”
Oh, no. Jason thought as she watched the Grand Admiral walk out. Then a nice looking orderly in a clean cut white nurses uniform came in and sat beside Jennifer. He couldn’t be older than 19.
***
45 minutes later, Jason had made it up to his cabin. He was lying on his bed curled up into a fetal ball. Heart wrenching sobs could almost be heard outside his door. This empress had shattered ‘his’ life. He felt like a man still but this body was completely wrong. The empress had destroyed his marriage to the woman he loved most. He had lost his entire future he had been planning for. To top it off, he had just suffered a violation worse than anything he could have ever imagined. There was nothing he could do about it either. It was all done by a imperial decree of the Empress and his grand Admiral. He was Jason, betrayed by the Empire he served so much.
He stayed in his cabin all night trying to figure out what he should do. His only answer he could come up with, was, his duty
Once he figured that out he could fall asleep, after he was cried out. He slept soundly all night and woke up the next morning. He still felt a powerful sense of loss and sadness. He reported to Shanya and was promptly informed that he she found him a proper instructor to help him get adapted to his new body. She would teach him how to move and pass convincingly for a female. He was to report to Melinda.
The four days Jason spent learning the proper feminine mannerisms and ways under Mistress Melinda was mentally taxing. She was one of the harshest women he had ever met in his life. Any time he in the slightest displeased her, he received a harsh beating. He learned to sit and straighten his skirts properly, he must have repeated that one thousand times till he got the technique right to suit her. Then he had to learn to walk in heels and she forced him to walk back and fourth across the room till he got that right. He walked for hours in them and by three hours, his feet hurt badly. By the end of the day, his mind and body were exhausted.
To top it all off, he had to also learn the umpteenth thousand languages on Solarus as well as the cultural taboos and ways so he wouldn’t get killed, or look like an idiot. Given Mistress Melinda’s lessons on being a female, he didn’t have the time to learn about Solarus. So, he just took the data tapes intelligence gave him to learn.
He went in the massive docking bay and got in his small craft. He waited for permission and then he lit it up and flew it out. He flew it out of the frigates docking bay and looked back. It hit him then how serious the Empress was about this invasion. Frigates are small but there must have been thousands of them. There were massive battleships behind the frigates and they contain enormous firepower. He saw the colossal command ship in the center of the fleet and the empire rarely used those on all except the most serious missions. There were not many of them around because they're so huge. It took a long time and alot of resources to build the command ships. they were thirty Km across and there main weapon can vaporize entire continents down to the bedrock. As if that wasn’t enough firepower, he saw the enormous spiracle station sitting silently aside the fleet. That one had enough firepower to blast a planet apart and it was one thousand kilometers across at the equator. The fleet must have contained billions of troops for the invasion. Solarus didn’t stand a chance.
He had almost made it to Solarus and was passing a gigantic giant planet on his way there. He looked out of his window at a utterly massive planet with swirling deep clouds and a massive red giant storm below the equator. He passed it quickly enough and turned passing a red desert planet on his way to Solarus.
It had came up quickly. Solarus, a bright blue planet with white vapor clouds and vast seas of oceans and dark brown landmasses with green all over. It looked beautiful. He activated his cloaking shield to shield his craft from any Doppler radars or sensors. He didn’t want to run into a missile. Even though his deflector shield as well as his point defense guns could defeat anything the Solarians could fire, that would ruin his recon mission quickly for when he landed, they might have a 1000 military troops waiting for him to exit. Then the empress would be quite displeased.
He selected a good place to land his craft. The intelligence files said the nation called itself the United States and the state itself was called California. He had to put the craft at the bottom of the ocean and take one of his pods up. He didn’t want to risk anyone running into the cloaked craft and the ocean would assure it world not be mistakenly ran into.
The craft shuttered as it splashed into the ocean and went deep. Around one km down and it settled at the bottom of the ocean. He went back and loaded his weapon a single hand pistol and all the energy packets to fire. Some clothing to wear. His video recorder and picture camera.
Nothing to do but go to the surface now so he took a single pod with enough room for one person and it shot him up to the surface. It guided itself up to the continental shelf till it was about 12 feet deep in water. Since he didn’t want anyone to see the craft, it went back down and left him swimming to the surface of the water. He was wearing a pink bikini and carrying the rest of his gear in a compartment inside a surfboard.
He made it to a dressing room and took off her bikini. He was wet and didn’t want to get her other clothes wet. He put on some panties and a bra. He still felt weird putting on a bra. His chest needed it though. He planned on asking the Empress why she gave him such huge breasts. He put on what he though was the style people here wore and left. It was a light pink dress that draped over her body and went down to her thighs.
He walked out fully dressed, he noticed a some guys yelling about the trial ending. He saw them running off the beach and into town. He followed them, curious about what was going on.
A horrifying display greeting him when he arrived: five primitive wooden platforms with dried grass under them. Thick wooden poles jutted out from the back of each platform. He saw men with elaborately decorated cloaks wearing large hats. One of the men was holding up a large gold pole with an elaborately decorated cross. They were surrounding five women, each of them having heavy chains on their wrists and ankles. It appeared to him as if they were prisoners. One of men stepped forward and shouted for all to hear, “These women have been tried and convicted of heresy by the Federal Ecclesiastical Court of the United Papal States. The Holiness of our Mother Church can do nothing for Salvation of these women’s souls for they refused to Repent. They are to be handed to civil authority and delivered to the executioner. May God have mercy them. “
Jason watched horror, as large, mean looking men grabbed each woman and lead them to the platforms. They were shackled to pole on each platform. Each woman was attended to by a decorated man and touched with the cross. It looked to him as some religious ritual. To Jason’s total horror, a man holding a flaming torch walked to each platform one by one, and set the grass on fire under the women.
He watched with horror as the flames caught the platform on fire and it rose though the platform. The women let out horrifying shrieks of pain as the fire started to burn them. The shrieks of the women would haunt him forever and it looked like this bloodthirsty crowd reveled in it shouting, “Burn the witches.”
It only took 10 minutes for the entire horrifying spectacle to be over. When it was, he watched in horror as the burnt out platforms spew their smoke and ash skyward in massive plums.
A bystander noticed him, he didn’t recognize this person and that worried him greatly. The police tend to take outsiders and they are not heard from again. The person looked like a very attractive woman but that wouldn’t save her. They tend to be more serious about women than men. They were targeted with far greater frequency than men were. That worried him and he said toward her, “I don’t remember seeing you anywhere, lady. Can I get your name?”
Jason blushed. He would have to identify himself as a woman to a stranger. “I…My name is Jennifer and I am not from around here.” He was blushing bright red.
The other didn’t let up either. “Hello Jennifer my name is Morgan. May I ask where you are from?”
What was he going to say to that? He thought quickly and said, “I am lost. I was on ship that had an accident. I swam to shore and now I’m lost. “
Morgan laughed. It sounded fishy but he knew he had to get her out of here before she was taken. Especially how she was dressed. He told her, “Well ok. But you better come with me Ma’am. It isn’t safe for outsiders. Please come with me.”
She followed him as he walked down the street and then inside the guys house. he shut the door and latched it. he shut all of the blinds and then turned, “Ma’am I need the real story about you. There hasn’t been any ships lost at sea in a long time. I need the truth.”
She took a deep breath, “Ok. I am a spy. I was sent here to observe and report back to my leaders.”
His expression turned serious, “A spy, from where. Observe, you need to explain further. Before I decide to report you myself to the authorities. “
“I am from the Empire. You might never have heard of it. They call themselves the Empire for the People of the Galaxy. They have a force headed toward this planet and I was assigned to observe and report back about the strengths of the forces to oppose the landings. “
He started laughing, “Ok, I think I need to call the doctors.”
“That’s ok, from what I seen there isn’t any forces here strong enough to oppose the landings. I will be rescued but, I can prove what I’m saying is true. Is there anyplace with a strong concrete walls?”
“Yes, in my basement, but why?”
Jason took out what looked like a pistol but it wasn’t like any Morgan had seen before. It looked like a light up toy. Jason said, “Because this is powerful. I don’t want to blast a hole though your house. lets go to the basement.”
They went down the steps and he turned on a light for Jason. He took aim at the wall and squeezed the trigger. The entire room flashed and he felt the heat blast from the thing. He saw a bright bolt shoot out of the muzzle with blinding speed and gouge a foot wide hole in the solid concrete. He stumbled back and looked at Jason, “Oh my, what in Hashems name was -that-?”
Jason shrugged as if it was nothing, “Oh that, its nothing. It’s a small thermal nuclear reaction. We call it a blaster. I had it set on its lowest setting."
Morgan said carefully, “A….small…..thermal…nuclear…reaction?”
“Yes, a bigger one can vaporize a town. I’ve seen bigger ones that can vaporize a world. But those use a different matter from another dimension. You get the idea now.”
“Yes, I believe that I do, Jennifer. What are we going to do now? When do they show up, why did they pick here?”
“The Empress just discovered this place and decided they needed to absorb the people here into the Empire. There is nothing we can do. There is no way to stop it. we must accept that this place will be absorbed into a greater empire. There is nothing that can stop it. If you resist, you will just loose and entire nations will be burnt down to the bedrock. It will cost billions of lives. “
Morgan shook his head sadly, “How does people like that get so much power. Who is this Empress?”
“The Empress is a great leader. I remember her when she was simply a general leading her troops to conquer the entire rim. Her victories there were brilliant. The citizens were very happy. They loved her. Then the Senate appointed her as the Consul. Back then, the Senate led. We were a republic, the Senate and People of the Galaxy we were called back then. But the Empress got more and more popular and more power. Her legions were unstoppable. The Senate tried to take her army away, they sent her a order to disarm her army. Her response was to lead her army past the boundary of the home system. There was a rule no armies were allowed within the home system. There was a long civil war but the end was never in doubt. The Senate's armies were crushed, the Empress marched into the capital and proclaimed herself, Dictator for Life. After that, she proclaimed us an empire. Then she started horrible repressions and exterminations, labor camps, basically a galactic holocaust. And it is coming here and there isn’t a damn thing anyone can do about it. “
Morgan took all that Jennifer had just told him about the Empire. It was several minutes before he spoke again, “That kind of thing happens here too. We have people that shouldn’t gain ultimate power over the people with their consent. That is a sad fact of life.” He looked at Jennifer, “Hashem must have chosen you to come here for a reason. Given time, we will figure out why. But I think you can save us.“
Jason blinked, “Me, you think I was chosen by God to save your people?”
Morgan nodded, “Yes, there must be a reason you were sent here. You will find the answers soon. Hashem will show you the way.”
“I wish that I had the faith that you do Morgan, “ Jennifer laughed light heartedly. “But its hard with the Empress ruling. I only told you half of the story. The Empress, Hatshepsut, She has some kind of power. It's almost godlike. She can’t be killed, she can anticipate the future with a power her kind calls, foreseeing. Her followers can kill you with a gesture from their hands without touching you. Being in their presents is terrifying. “
Morgan regarded Jennifer thoughtfully then he said, “This woman sounds like some kind of prophet, or a dark prophet. What do you mean about her followers?”
“She is the leader of some weird religion. It is an ancient religion, thousands of years old. But she has many followers in key positions in the new government keeping an eye on things to help her maintain control. They all have powers like her, only not nearly as powerful as the Empress. I was engaged to a member of her family. The woman I was to marry was a key member of her religious order. But now that cant happen because the Empress forbade the marriage.“
Morgan suddenly stood up and went over to his book shelf and took out a book, “My new friend Jennifer, I am going to teach you about hope. Take this book, I will help you read it. It is called the Tanakh. Open it to the first page. I will read it for you.”
She looked at the page. She could understand it as she had learned Hebrew.
He started reading, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”
They had covered the basics of his faith withing a few hours. They had covered the prophets, the Torah and writings of various prophets. Jennifer was amazed at this. Then he started explaining the difference of his faith and the Catholic faith of the Papacy that ruled.
Suddenly Jessica asked Morgan, “I need to know about this place. Can you tell me about how this world works, what is the United Papal States? “
Morgan took a deep breath and sighed. “This all started during the depression in the 1930s. At that time, over a fourth of the population of what was then called the United States was poor and homeless. Times back then were very desperate. There was a group of people that thought it was Gods Judgment on America. The depression dragged on and they got restless. In 1935, they attacked. America fell into an other Civil War. The Catholic Army attacked a weakened Federal Army and they overran Washington. They declared victory and declared the American Papal States. They exported all Jews and other sects of Christians they considered heretics. When Japan attacked, they declared war against Japan but refused to get drawn into a war against Germany, whom they considered fellow Christians. Hitler declared victory over Europe and the British Empire. Russia and Germany have been at war for over 80 years. Europe is dominated by Germania. Berlin is the capital of all of Europe. Japan was defeated by America during the war and now they're America's ally along with Germania. Germania and America are about to conclude an alliance against the Soviet Union in order to end the war. In America, for someone not Catholic, it’s like a living nightmare. In order to survive, I have to pretend in public to believe in the Catholic faith and the catechism of the church. In Germania, there are whispers about horrible things that happened during the big war in the 1940s. Nothing can be verified because of tight controls over the press by the Ministry of Information in Germania. No one dares asks awkward questions, even here. “
Jennifer listened to the nightmare that happened on this planet and how it became such a horrible place. It was hard to understand exactly how everything happened that way but as everywhere, bad things can happen. She felt sad, it was about to become so much worse. How ever bad it is with this Papacy controlling America, it would be a lot worse with the Empress controlling the world.
She spoke up finely, “I think that I can help but theres no help here, Morgan. Lets go to my ship. I think that I know who can help. Lets get dressed, and lets go swimming. “
Morgan looked up, “Swimming, what are you talking about?”
“We need to leave,” Jennifer said. “My ship is under water so we must swim to it. Then we can get off the planet. I know someone that can help your people. So lets get dressed and ready to swim.”
He packed a swimming suit and she got her surf board and they went out. This time, he noticed the police carefully watching the homes as they went down the streets and turned to head down to the beach.
They both went into the dressing rooms at the beach front and went in. Jennifer took off her dress clothes and put the pink bikini back on and went out. Morgan was already waiting. He couldn’t stop looking at her chest and it made her uncomfortable.
The dry stand burnt her feet as she walked down the beach, she whispered at him, “There will be a small pod ready to take us down. It’s big enough for one but two of us can squeeze in. it will be a tight fit."
Morgan saw Jessica take out a electronic device and press a button down while aiming it at the ocean. She waited for a minute and then looked at him when she heard a beeping sound. “It is here now. We must wade down the water and swim under it when its over our heads. The pod is in twelve feet of water so no one can see it. lets go. “
She started down into the water of the pacific ocean and started swimming down over the waves. Then she dove down and he reluctantly followed her into the ocean as it got deeper and deeper. Under the ocean, she started looking around and looking at the device till she was touching a metal tube laying on the bottom, under twelve to fifteen feet of water. She pressed a device on the tube and a slot opened up suddenly letting the water in. she motioned for him to get into it. he did and she squeezed in with him and it shut them into it. then it sucked the water out as he was about to panic.
Then, he just had to deal with being pressed in very close to a very beautiful woman and feeling her breasts against his body. They felt the tube they were in turn around and started shooting down the ocean very fast. He felt panic rising in him again as they were obviously going deeper and deeper into the ocean. He hoped it wouldn’t crush under the weight but it seemed to have no problem at all dealing with it.
Then, it settled into something and the slot they were in opened up. They were in some compartment. She exited it and he followed and a door opened up letting them though. From there, he saw lights and a lot of devices on the wall. She manipulated it with ease. “This is the nav computer there that charts our direction and the electronic warfare. I’m setting our course for Dyspere Penal colony. I know a person there that, ironically, I just put away but he is a brilliant rebel Admiral. I hope I can free him from there. “
She set the course in and then opened another door and he saw what appeared to be a regular cockpit with two seats and lots of levers and buttons. She settled into one of the seats and motioned for him to sit in beside her. There was a large window but at a mile deep in the ocean, he couldn’t see anything. He was kind of afraid at there being a glass window but she saw his fear and said, “Don’t worry, that is a transparent metal alloy that can withstand a direct turbo laser strike and not break. And if anything does, there’s a automatic deflection field that will come on in its place. Buckle in.”
Jennifer manipulated a series of levers and the craft they were in shuddered to life and started rising though the ocean. It was going faster and faster every second till he saw faint light in front of them. It got lighter till the craft blasted though the water and rocketed up to the sky. Then, he saw the blue sky clear and turn to black as they exited earths atmosphere.
When they were clear, she manipulated a series of levers again and the craft leaped forward with impossible speed. It appeared as though all of space closed in around them, and turned into a swirling vortex hole they were speeding though as an ungodly rate.
He started shaking when Jennifer said soothingly, “Don’t worry. That is hyper speed. We entered another dimension of space. We are traveling many thousands of times the speed of light. The colony we are headed is around a hundred light years away. We should be there in twenty-five minutes. “
It was about that much time when she pulled the lever back and they slowed back. What he saw then was hell. It was a airless asteroid with a prison on it. There were brutal steel towers, armed guards and a small landing port. It looked like a forced labor camp.
She looked knowingly at him, “Its time to rescue Abu.” She headed toward the prison and got ready to land.
Getting in was the easy part. With Jennifer’s credentials and her classification, she could be let into the most sensitive places within the Empire. She flashed her badge and the guards let her though the heavy gate and got Abu. The place was pretty much what Jennifer expected. Misery everywhere she looked, completely inhospitable penal colony. Heavy foreboding steel walls and vicious guards and depressing tall towers overlooking the place.
It was a rude shock for Morgan who, on seeing the place remarked, “This place is the worst I have ever seen. “
Jennifer had told the guy about earths situation.
The reaction was the last thing Jennifer expected. He simply started laughing. “You, the great Capt. Jason, the super-spy for Imperial Intelligence, You one of the most loyal and now committing you are treason after they made you a woman. I am happy for you. You have seen the truth but I am afraid that you are late asking for my assistance to help liberate Earth. It was you that directed them to my fleet and it was destroyed. I am afraid there is nothing I can do for you or earth, Capt Jennifer. “
Jennifer simply said, “Yes. I will get you out of here so you can help us in any way that you can.”
“I would be grateful if you would. I can not help The Earth at the moment as our fleet was destroyed. But I have contacts that can provide assistance. IF you get me out, I will make the contacts for the people you care about. But… are you willing do to your part now.”
Jennifer blinked, “What are you talking about?”
“You have changed sides now. That means you are on our side in this conflict. You are now a rebel and after you rescue me, They will be hunting you. You will be a wanted woman, A traitor. If you are on our side you must work for us, follow the orders of the leaders of the rebellion. That is me. Are you willing to do as your told to aid the rebellion?”
Jennifer never thought about that but he was right. Breaking out a high level rebel officer would make her a traitor. They would know and be hunting her down. But, it had to be done. The empress had to be stopped. With her new conviction an what was right and wrong, she said with no doubt, “Yes. What do you need from me?”
Abu knew this would be hard for her. He listened when Jennifer described this place. It seemed very hostile. He told Jennifer, “You need to go back to Earth, observe the landings and report to us the size of the forces they land and exactly where so we know where to send help. And you need to organize resistance among the humans on Earth. Those are your orders, Jennifer. “
Oh my god. “Yes. I can pull that off. “ Jennifer stood up and walked out with Morgan. “Morgan, you must stay in the ship. IT will be highly dangerous. This ship will protect you. She checked the status of the weapons. She was pleased they were fully charged. She let the ship up and flew it over to the prison. “Here it goes. After this, everyone in the Empire will know I rescued the most dangerous rebel officer. “
She armed the main turbo-lasers and targeted the main towers overlooking the prison. She took a deep breath and fired . Emerald green blasts of power flashed from the ships guns toward the steel towers. They exploded in brilliant balls of fire and in a second, they were turned into hot indecent clouds of vapor.
Then she rotated the craft hovering over the prison and targeted another tower on the far end of the prison and let the turbo-lasers speak. The watchtowers erupted into hot fury clouds of vapor. She targeted the main gates and blew them apart with the weapons.
She saw troops come out firing up at the ship. She lowered and armed a smaller repeating heavy blaster. She fired and streams of deadly bolds shot out in rapid succession destroying the attackers. Pretty soon, the prison was in ruins but she knew it was dangerous to exit. She didn’t fire at the main building because she didn’t want to kill Abu.
She lowered the craft and told a stunned Morgan, “Now, the real fun starts. “ she stood up and walked into the back. She stood in a circle and pushed a few buttons. The circle opened up and a heavy armor suit slid out of the floor and over her. It covered her in heavy black armor plates. The armor fit her perfectly and then some bio armor arms slid over her own arms and her legs were covered. IN all, she looked very deadly and 20 foot taller. She walked out toward the door to the outside. Her footsteps were heavy thumps. The door opened and when she walked out, there were over a hundred armed troops aiming guns at her.
The battle was swift as they all fired and their bolts were easily absorbed by the armor Jennifer was wearing. She walked out toward them and stood. The suit she was wearing made her look imposing over the troops. Then, two heavy chain blaster guns slide out over both of her shoulders. The guns fired with expert precision and killed all of the troops easily. Then, with all of the troops defending the prison were gone, she walked in unopposed though the prison and broke open Abu’s cell. They went back to the ship and she flew out unopposed.
It was done and now she was officially a traitor to the empire she had served. There was no denying it, everyone would soon know what she had done and imperial officials would have orders to arrest her. Bounty hunters would be hunting for her for large rewards.
She had already left the penal colony and was on her way. She told Morgan, “This mission will be extremely difficult. I set our course to the home, I know a few friends there that will help us in this mission. I promise you that they wont turn us in. “
He was taken back, “Are you mad, Jennifer. Did you just say you were going to the Home planet, the capital of the Empire? “
“Yes, “ She said. “Where would be the last place you would look for a traitor if you were an Imperial Officer?”
He laughed, “Yea. I wouldn’t think anyone would be that stupid to go there. Its lucky for us they don’t know that we -are- that stupid.”
Jennifer became serious, “This will be very difficult. The Home is surrounded by skyhooks, orbital battle stations, Gun emplacement satellites and a big chunk of the Imperial Navy. There is no mistake, this will be extremely dangerous but I cant see any way around going there. I am alone and I need some help. The people I know are there, so I am going there. “
“So how can we get in there in this ship?”
“We don’t, “Jennifer said. “ This ship will be identified. There are huge robotic freighters going in and out of the Home all the time and the space lanes they take are well known. We find one of them, get in and let the freighter take us in. Once we are docked, slipping out will be easily enough and then getting to the surface wont be hard. “
Abu sent out a signal and a ship docked with him he was off toward an unknown destination so they found the space lanes that went to and from the home system.
They found the perfect ride. A huge lumbering heavy robotic freighter carrying supplies to the home planet. “Being robotic, it has no crew. There wont be anyone to hide from in it. The problems will come when it docks on a orbital dock and people come. They’re always searched for stowaways since the powers that be know the big corporations use robotic freighters. Some times they only pretend to search, and other times there serious. It depends on who is searching. But getting in one of the big freighters wont be a problem. “
It certainly was not what Morgan expected when they boarded the freighter. Looking at the lumbering giant from outside was impressive and it looked very spacious but when they got inside the ship, it turned out to be very cramped, little spaces and no where to rest and wait out the trip. When Morgan mentioned that, Jennifer laughed, “Its not made to hold any crew. Its robotic, Kuat shipyards designed this as a cost saving measure. NO crew means no crew comforts are needed. They didn’t figure in stowaways when they designed this. Why do you think I forced all of the rations of food in the tiny pod when we transferred to this? “
He shuddered at the memory of the extremely tight fit of traveling from their craft to freighter with the huge case of food, tons of water and even a portable toilet. He didn’t know why at the time but he found out. There was nothing on this ship except for the big computer, Ion fuel for the engines, and an enormous compartment for the cargo. Which they weren’t allowed in. Morgan explained if they touched the cargo, it would alert the navy and send out a signal for warships to show up because of a pirate attack. They had to stay in a stuffed maintenance compartment till they docked at the home world a week later. So there was nothing to do but wait.
After several hours of traveling, Jennifer had enough, she asked, “What horrible things?”
Morgan was about asleep when he was woke by Jennifer’s soothing voice. He blinked having no idea what she was talking about. “What things, I do not understand what the topic is.”
“You said in Germania, there were rumors and whispers of horrible things that had happened during a big war,“ Jennifer stated. “What horrible things? “
“Oh Jennifer darling. I would have preferred to avoid this all together. “
“I am sorry but if I must go back, I think it would serve me to know all that I can. Please explain everything.”
He sighed, “You are probably right. These events are eighty years in our past. A crazy man ascended to power over a defeated Germany in 1934 in our years. He gathered up all power and became the supreme voice in Germany. He declared the beginning of the Third Reich, He called it the thousand year Reich. They went to war in Europe and had many victories over the weaker states. Then they started conquering the bigger states like France and Poland. Then they went to war against the British Empire and the Soviet Union. He hated a people called the Jews. I am Jewish and one of his claims to powers were having all of the answers to the Jewish Question. Officially, the word is that the Jews were deported to the conquered lands in Poland. That started happening in 1942 after a conference among the high officials in Germany. That story came out in 1945 after the British Empire surrendered to Germany and he started building the world capital and renamed Europe, Germania. But, there are whispers that they were not relocated. That the official story is a lie and instead of relocation to the east, the Jews were rounded up, shipped to extermination camps in the east and millions were killed. The rumors were it was a extermination program intended to wipe out all of the Jews. Men, Women and even children. No one Jewish was spared. That story cannot be verified and no one questions the official story. People that do ask questions disappear into the clutches of the SS. Even in the United Papal States, congress passed a law forbidding anything published questioning the official Jewish relocation program of 1942. Those that do are arrested and tried as criminals or extradited to Germania. There are whispers that the extermination program is still going on in the east parts of conquered soviet Russia. “
She listened carefully and looked very disturbed. “It seems like madmen and madwomen control the everywhere. There are stories here too about a people called the Orions. They’re a strange mystical sect of religious fanatics. They seem largely peaceful but for some reason our empress had declared a war against them. They’re rounded up and the story is they’re relocated to parts in the galactic rim. But there are rumors that they were exterminated. With the fact that our military has increased 3000 percent since the empress took power and horrible weapons like the Doomgiver were built, I would say that the rumors are probably correct. “
He was asking the questions now, “What are the orions?”
“Their part of a age old religion. People like them once controlled the republic. They made up a council that advised the Senate and kept peace in the galaxy. They made generals of the army and were largely peacekeepers and advisers. Our empress was part of their order until she turned against them. Once she had power, she purged the Orions from power. Killed them all very quickly. Her official story was they attempted to overthrow the government. Its probably true but not for the reasons she stated. She said they wanted all the power to themselves but they probably tried to force her out because they realized she was becoming a dangerous tyrant. But they moved way too late and she was way too powerful for them to deal with anyway. That story retold by the empress about her victory over the senate and the attempted assassination plot when she was entering a theater ran by one of her rivals and a many senators were also involved in the plot. That happened in what your calendar would be March. The empress’s response was to declare all orions to be enemies of the republic and she dissolved the entire senate. That was that, all liberty died after that. The are a few left Orions left and they have restructured themselves and organized a resistance to the Empresses regime. That gave her an excuse for an even tighter grip and a declaration of Galactic Marshal Law. It has been estimated that she has killed trillions of people by now. It has been a holocaust on a truly galactic scale.“
Morgan was told that the freighter ships were slow, no were hyperdrives installed on the lumbering freighter to keep costs down. They traveled as a fast subhyper speed. Instead of hours, it would take a week to get to the home planet. They made do how ever. They passed the time by talking to eachother, they taught eachother a few games they played in their cultures. It got interesting when Jennifer explained about her situation and it took a while for Morgan to understand. But he took it in stride. Jennifer still haven’t gotten comfortable with her female body and many things were completely new including new hygiene requirements. It was a lot easer as a guy to keep herself clean. This body gave her a new outlook on what a woman has to endure to stay healthy. Her chest was the worst. Her breasts were made so big, they hurt her back if she stood to long. They must weight ten lbs. They kept pulling her down. Morgan kept looking at her chest. She now finely understood why women get so annoyed as men talking to their chests. She never understood before but she did now. She thought ashamed, she was guilty of that when she was Jason. She promised himself if she got the chance to be a guy again that she would never talk to a woman’s chest again.
Morgan went exploring the ship they were in. Jennifer knew what was around but this was the second starship Morgan had been in, and this one was a lot bigger than the tiny spycraft they were in before. But Morgan was astounded that the ship could be so huge yet have so little space to move around. He went to the cargo hold and not surprisingly, there were huge staked metal crates stacked high. They were all on some metal pallets and somehow secured down on the metal floor.
Jennifer made sure that Morgan didn’t disturb the cargo. They went toward the back and he studied the enormous engines and the massive fuel pods feeding the engines. He studied the hot pipes. Jennifer told him he had to be careful not to touch them and being there he could feel the power roaring though the room. Even though the detonation was outside the craft propelling them forward close to three times the speed of light, the volatile fuel made the entire room vibrate. Morgan was taken down into the bowls of the ship to see the generator. That wasn’t much to see, it was a massive cold metal ball with pips feeding out. Jennifer said, “That is what feeds every ship its power. Hypermater only exists in hyperspace but when its taken into this dimension, it provides nearly unlimited power. Of course, its extremely dangerous too and that’s why its contained in that ball. But if it were escape the controls, it would vaporize this ship before we knew there was a problem. This entire ship is a robotic being. “
Morgan thought that though and he asked, “You mean this entire ship is a robot? We are inside a robot?”
Jennifer nodded.
“Is this thing self aware?”
Jennifer shook her head, “No. They want to keep costs down. They didn’t program an over advanced program in this. It just obeys orders from its corporate command and the Imperial Navy. That’s all it can do. Its dumb, Luckily. Before We could board, I had to input a order to allow us to enter and pressurize the room we would be staying in or we would suffocate. It normally has no air. NO need, no crew. Then I ordered it to forget we were there and to erase all records of us and our ever being here. It will do that right before it docks. We don’t want it to forget too soon and depressurize with us here. Or we would die. “
Morgan looked more afraid at that. Jennifer said hotly, “Would you have preferred we find a imperial battle cruiser to board that’s fully crewed with commanders, officers, enlisted men and women and possibly several hundred troopers to maintain control. “
Morgan saw the point and they went back to their tiny room and slept.
“Morgan, wake up. We are docking. Wake up,” Jennifer leaned over and shook the old man awake.
Morgan looked up, his mind still foggy from sleep. He saw Jennifer leaning over him shaking him awake. Her long golden blonde hair and her chest shaking as she shook him. It was beautiful and he rose and said gruffly, still sleepy, “I am awake. “
He was shocked more awake by a loud bang. The ship shuttered as if something was clamping onto the ship. He heard more clanks and bangs.
“A docking tube is being attached. Soldiers will enter very soon and search though the ships, for stowaways. Like us. Be very quite and lets go under. I know a perfect place to hide but it will only work if they aren’t very thorough. If they are, we will be locked into an imperial prison. Don’t say a word and be praying that this works. “
They ran down until they were next to the generator. Then, they opened up a section of metal plates covering the floor and ducked inside. Then laid flat and put the metal plate back in place. They stayed still on the bare metal garters holding the ship together.
Then they started hearing shouts and heavy thumps. They were the unmistakable footsteps of soldiers. The two stayed as still as possible as they listened to the heavy stood steps of the soldiers marching thought the ship searching. They rushed though, opened every door and looked though every room. Three soldiers finely made it to them and they watched and listened as they marched in, looking around for people that shouldn’t be there. The fearsome black armored soldiers holding mean looking blaster rifles walked right over them and spoke though some distortion voice box installed on their armored helmets. They didn’t find anything and one, he assumed was a officer, “The ship looks clear. Lets move out and tell the crew to begin unloading. “
Jennifer and Morgan took a deep breath of relief as the soldiers headed out. They slid the floor tile off and stepped out after the soldiers left.
“Now that they are done with their mandatory inspection, It should be easy enough to pass as part of the unloading crew. After we have unloaded a pallet, it should be easy enough then to get a rid down to the surface. Perhaps we can pass as tourists. Want to look at the Pyramidal Palace or the Republic Senate Building or the Capital. Any of those should be very interesting but lets get out of here first.
Getting out was easer than Morgan thought. They simply walked out. There wasn’t anyone watching the ship when they exited the docking tube. Jennifer gave them both fake identification cards and they made it easily to a transport and it took them down to the surface. They passed customs and then they were free to move about anywhere they wished.
The view was awesome. There were the most amazing structures Morgan had ever seen. The buildings rose miles high above the surface. The enormous palace was visible for miles. It was a enormous solid black pyramid that rose miles into the sky. There was a massive light that shown at the very tip sending a brilliant column of light straight up into the sky. Jennifer said, “Her personal palace is impressive. Her palace five kilometers in height and around twenty square kilometers in area on the ground. Her personal palace is the biggest structure in the entire galaxy. “
“Dear Hashem!” he said gasping. It was clearly enormous.
He was able to relax and look around once they were on the ground and pass customs. He still felt the oppressive weight of control of the clearly present military troops keeping a watchful eye on everyone. They were passing a massive concrete statue of the Empress. People were walking around it. He gazed up at the frightening looking woman. Even in a statue, Morgan thought, the woman still radiated pure malevolence and evil.
Jennifer said, “Lets take a tour bus to the Imperial Palace.” The two stood near the bus stop after she bought a ticket. A black suited formal looking woman took their ticket and they sat down. The woman wore the official black uniform of a Imperial Intelligence Officer. Her party purple party emblem made no mistake that this woman was a member of the ruling party. She was one of the empress’s followers. She gazed coldly at them all and started her standard speech. “In the name of the Empress, I greet you all to the Home world of the Galaxy. My name is Lieutenant Cleopatra. “
As the bus drove down the street, she told the passengers about various sites. The bus stopped in front of the utterly massive main front door. They all exited and she stepped out.
“The empresses begun contraction of the grand Imperial Palace thirty years ago, shortly after proclaiming the Empire. It took two years to construct. It stands six kilometers above the surface and its base covers twenty square miles of land. It’s contracted using quantum steel and its outer surface is made of transparent steel. It’s toped with a brilliant hydrogen bulb. Its atomic hydrogen fusion reaction won’t ever fade out. It will brighten the clouds for eternity. “
The woman lead them thought the front door into the main lobby of the palace. She head a voice thought speakers and a halo projector of the empresses upper torso, “I greet you citizens to my palace. It is my sincere wish that you enjoy your tour. The imperial museum if on your right and you can perches souvenirs in my shop. “
Morgan went to the museum. He saw a disk, “the empress dissolves the senate. “ It started playing. He saw a holo film. It looked like some congressional building. It was enormous. There must have been tens of thousands there. The empress stood at the top speaking down to them as if she was in complete control. Her voice boomed above them all. “do to the continuing insurrection among the orions, and the attempted assassination and injuries done to me by rouge senators, This counsel is dissolved. Any senator found to be complicit in the insurrection will be arrested and imprisoned without trial. The orions will be hunted down and terminated. TO insure innocent citizens safety in this dark time of insurrection and civil war, I am forced to declare a state of marshal law over the entire galaxy! The republic will be reorganized into an Empire. The Empire for the people of the Galaxy!”
He saw the senators gasp as troops flooded the building and take dozens away. Jennifer came behind her, “That was a dark time. Lets go, we need to find the general. She is a leader of the Praetorian Guards. “
She lead Morgan out and they went thought massive decorated corroders, the hall was arched twenty feet high. They turned and went though a smaller hallway. They approached a locked passageway. She punched a code and it opened. She entered and Morgan followed.
They were running down the empty halls until they heard a loud shout, “Halt, stop where are you are now! Show your hands, both of you!”
They both turned. It was a very familiar voice, Jennifer thought. She turned and saw the woman pointing a blaster pistol right at both of them. She smiled, “Ankhesenamun! It is really you?”
She shouted harshly, “Show your hands, who are you and how do you know my name?”
Jennifer approached slowly, “It is me, Jason. Your aunt did this to me. It is really me, please you got to believe me,” She pleaded.
“How is that possible. Prove it to me?” she kept the gun aimed at Jennifer.
“We met four years ago, January 16, 4520 galactic cycle. We were set to be married march 15th. Please trust me, Ankhesenamun. I love you so much.”
Ankhesenamun lowered the gun and started smiling back. “Its really you. It is It is. Oh Jason I love you too. I hate my aunt for doing this. Now, I have something for you.”
“What, my love?”
Ankhesenamun approached Jennifer and then slapped her across the face hard. “You idiot. What are you doing here, are you a total moron?”
“Oww why did you do that, “ Jennifer asked.”
“I love you, that’s why. I heard what you did. Now you are a traitor to the empire. So where do you go, right into the empresses palace. Do you want arrested and executed?”
“No of course not but I had no choice.”
“Sure you did. We always have choices. Why did you come here you idiot?”
“I needed to see commander Janas I need her assistance for a mission.”
Ankhesenamun was amazed, “So a accused traitor goes right into the imperial palace to see a leading commander of the empresses Praetorian guards. You idiot. “
“She wont betray me. I know this woman. You must trust me.”
“I don’t because You are acting like a idiot. You are lucky I am here. As soon as you became a traitor, there were flags put in the system so if your code was entered, it would call the troops. I noticed it when you entered yours at the door. If I weren’t here, you would be in a cell now. You sit tight, I will get Janas for you. And then we need to talk, Jennifer. I am part of the resistance against the Empresses rule.”
Ankhesenamun gave Jennifer a long kiss and left.
It didn’t take long for Ankhesenamun to return with Jennifer’s friend, the captain of the empresses Praetorian Guard, Janas. She recognized Jennifer and smiled. “What are you doing here, are you aware that you are a fugitive now? The empress has posted a large reward for your capture. “
Jennifer shrugged, “Yeah and this seems to be the last place you’d have thought to look for me, right?”
“Well yeah. Who would be that stupid to go into the empresses palace full of imperial troops, law enforcement, imperial intelligence and a large percentage of her personal praetorian guard. Imperial Intelligence seems to think you could be on earth organizing a resistance among the human population. Who know you plopped yourself right in the most heavily guarded place in the empire, as if you are giving yourself up.” She laughed. “Who could be that stupid?”
“Me,” Jennifer laughed loud stretching her arms out. “Who else.”
“Janas, I need your help. There is a planet that doesn’t stand a chance and I need you to help me organize them so they can resist the empress. “
“Okay, you are my friend, lets go.“
Ankhesenamun said surprised, “No argument, I would think the empress would be picker in who she assigns her personal guard. You know, in making sure her troops are loyal. “
“Hey, I have a heart and this is a favor to one of my closest friends. Are we going to stand here in the palace and have a council of war or are we going to get the frip out of here.”
They started running thought the protected corridor until they ran into a squad of troops. They recognized Jennifer and raised their blaster rifles, “Halt, raise your hands, all of you.”
Ankhesenamun stood in front of them and raised her arms up and as she did, the first three soldiers were raised off their feet and flung into the far wall hard. They crumpled down in a heavy thump sound. The rest started firing and the blasts seemed to be absorbed six inches from her body. None of the shots struck her. But she held out her hands, palms open facing the black armored soldiers. Three white-hot balls of flame shot out of her hands and each ball struck a soldier, the last three erupted in fire and died screaming in agony. Morgan never saw power of this sort. It seemed like the stories of Moses he had read.
Jennifer just stared at her, all struck. She saw this type of power but had no idea that her girlfriend, her fiancé had it herself. Ankhesenamun was part of the order.
“Yes Jennifer, I am part of the empresses party. I am part of the Dark Orions. I am also part of the resistance. There are many among the navy that are secretly part of the resistance also. Her invasion of earth will result in a fracturing of her fleet, when the time is right. Lets get out of here. I can get us a ship easily. Follow me.”
With a high-ranking member of the empresses’ order, getting off the planet was easy. No trooper would dare stop her as they walked though customs and flew off the ship. Jennifer led them to her ship and they transferred to it.
Jennifer took the controls and they entered hyperspace. “Our next stop will be earth. Lets pray we get there before the main invasion. “
~~*~~
They made it well ahead of the invasion he guided the craft to Germania this time. “We are headed for Berlin, Germania.”
The stealth kept the craft from being seen as it dipped below the clouds, screaming for Europe.
They settled out in the country, she kept the ship hovering 200 meters in the air. She looked over at Ankhesenamun, “You will fly the ship, Morgan and me will try to alert the government about the danger approaching them. You will follow me and hover the craft next to the main entrance of the Volkshalle. I will go in, shortly after I go in, I want you to disable the stealth and start firing. Do not hit anything important and I want casualties to be minimal. Just cause some damage. They will get the point if a lone ship can cause that much damage imagine what their main forces will do. “
She agreed and they were soon riding in a bus through the countryside of Germania. Jennifer examined the very attractive woman standing infront of the bus telling them all about the victories the Reich had. Her hair was blonde, like her own. She looked very fit and average height for a woman on this planet. Her uniform looked decidedly military. It was solid black. She had heavy leather shiny jack boots going up to her knees. Her suit pants looked nice on her as they tucked under the boots. She wore a coat, it looked like a military tunic with a bright red armband on her right arm. There were two lighting bolts together on her collar. They made the letters, SS. The bus ride was short and they were soon going though Berlin itself.
They passed a big sign while they were headed into berlin. The sign caught her attention abruptly.
“The fuehrer, Alfred Jodl jr. 35th birthday celebration. “ She assumed his picture was in the center of a blood read sign with those words below and big numbers 35 on each side.
“Construction started on the victory arch soon after the war with the United Kingdom ended, in 1945. It stands at two hundred meters tall and weights two thousand tons. To make the arch stable, the fuehrer ordered workers to drive heavy iron rods all the way down to the earth’s bedrock for stability. We are approaching the Albert Speer monument. The dome was his greatest achievement. Sixteen domes of the Saint Peters basilica can fit inside it. The great dome is four hundred and fifty meters in diameter and three hundred meters tall.”
The victory arch they went under was a huge structure. It seemed big enough to hold a entire museum inside. There were people standing ontop and hanging on each side of the arch was the same flag as was everywhere. It was bright red with a white circle in the center. Those flags were huge to hang on a Three hundred meter high arch and almost touch the ground.
Jennifer stared at it. While not anywhere near as big as the imperial palace on Imperial Home, this building was impressive in its own. She was sure it was the biggest structure on this planet. She watched as the enormous dome got larger and larger blotting out everything. Gleaming white marble rose up high overhead. The wide road they were riding on was blanked on both sides by the same blood red flags that the officer guiding them wore on their arms and the same symbol in the center white circle. Jennifer didn’t know what it meant exactly, but she understood the system, it was a lot like the one in place under the empresses. Dictators flood the streets with their image in marble, crystal and their flags are everywhere. Nothing changes, just who is in charge.
It was show time, the bus pulled to a stop right in front of the huge dome building and the officer let them exit. “The fuehrer wishes you all to have a present and safe visit. TO those visiting from America, The fuehrer wishes good relations between our two states. “
She walked out with Morgan and headed though the big entrance of the building. She found a other officer guarding the place. He looked like someone she could talk to. She stood in front of him, “I have important information pertaining to the security of Germania. I need to talk to someone whom will use this information as soon as possible. I cant stress enough, lives of many citizens are in danger. “
She soon she found herself locked in a bare room with metal charge for him to sit on. she was left alone, the door was locked. It wasn’t long before she heard the latch on the door, and it opened to admit two higher-ranking officers. The older man favored her with a cruel scow. “You approached one of the guards on the tour and said you had valuable information concerning a terrorist attack on the Reich?
“I never said a thing about a terrorist attack, “ she said defensively.
“What else was it then that could concern the safety of citizens?”
“I can prove everything that I say but you must keep an open mind.”
He said impatiently, “Get on with it. tell us what this valuable information is.”
“A war. Germania is about to be invaded.”
Both of their expressions became very grave and serious. “Who are you and how do you come by such information. “
“My name is Capt. Jennifer Reide of imperial intelligence. I once served them but not anymore. I’m giving you this information. “
“What is imperial intelligence? Who did you once serve.”
“The empire. This empire spans the width of the galaxy. They have millions of heavily populated planets they administer and control. Their fleet is one of the most powerful and they serve the Empress. She found this planet on the edge of the galaxy. She had deemed that this planet must be absorbed into the Empire. Their fleet is coming. Their army is coming and you need to get your nation ready to meet them.”
They both looked at her like she must be crazy. The building shook as explosions erupted outside. Over and over, blasts shook the building down to the foundation.
“I am telling you the truth, go look outside.”
Both of the officers went running to see. They saw, it was a large craft hovering in the sky. It had some type of heavy cannons attacked to the hull spitting out large green bolts. They impacted buildings, houses. Big balls of flame erupted to the sky when the bolts struck. Soldiers wheeled anti aircraft guns and shot flack up. The shells exploded in the air but nothing seemed to affect it. They detonated near but nothing touched the craft hovering overhead. Bigger missiles blasted at it and exploded ten feet from the craft. It was clear that nothing they had would stop it.
Jennifer walked out behind them, “That is my ship, officer. If a single ship of our world can cause this much damage, imagine what the bulk and power of the imperial navy can do. It is time that you organize a resistance now! The clock is ticking. “
They saw the point quickly. The officer said, “Quickly, get this woman to see the Fuehrer. They took her up several floors and though a hallway till she stood in front of a door guarded by two SS officers. The door opened and she was let in and she saw the leader of this vicious government. She was in Alfred Jodl’s office. It was an impressive office, not quite as big as the empresses but that was different. His desk was marble and she would say it was around ten meters long. The entire office was close to fifty meters in length and width. The floor was shiny polished marble. The ceiling was twelve meters high above them. Everything was huge and polished till it has a glassy surface.
The fuehrer himself stood in front of her in his neatly tucked military uniform. He extended his hand toward her, “Welcome to the reich. I am Alfred Jodl junior. MY father was a general of the original fuehrer Adolph. Intelligence tells me that you have information about a incoming invasion, they say your information should be treated as very reliable. What is coming, and what can we do about it?”
What indeed, she though. There wasn’t a damn thing they could do but she had a feeling if she said that, they could shoot her right there and she couldn’t stop them. “The Empresses is invading. At my guess when I saw the fleet that was coming, I would put the number of troops she is going to land at around a billion. ‘
On of the generals gasp, “A billion?”
“Yes maybe more. A primary battleship, at four thousand eight hundred meters in length, six hundred thousand tons, they can hold around eight five thousand troops alone, and they require sixty thousand crew complement. The invasion fleet has three thousand of them. It also had over a two thousand military transport ships. Probably five thousand frigates and one eclipse class command ship. That one is thirty thousand meters long, over million tons and they hold over four hundred thousand troopers and three hundred thousand crew. The empress is taking along the Doomgiver, its over one thousand kilometers in diameter. It’s a sphere, kind of like a movable planet they built. Its its own battlestation, siege garrison, and more weapons than the entire imperial fleet. “
“My god, “ Alfred said. “What can we do against -that-“
“I have help coming. There is a rebellion against the empresses order. They are coming to aid this planet. You need to be ready to assist them. Join the resistant. “
Alfred looked at his top general, “Hendrich, We will join this resistance when it comes. Make our troops ready. Make this government ready to go into exile when the invasion shows up.”
They had made plans for several hours when it finely happened. Two frantic officers ran into the office, “Its happening, Its happening. Quick, turn on the radios. Some how its on every frequency. Their signals are overriding everything on this planet. “
She turned the radio on
“People of earth, you are ordered to disarm, and surrender yourselves to the Empire. Any attempt at resistance will be met with severe reprisals against your cities, your puny countries and your people. In two hours, I expect the leaders of every countries will be at the areas we give you and from there, my people will land there to take you up to arrange a official surrender, and to witness a demonstration of the power. Right now, I expect all eyes to be looking up. I have arranged a minor demonstration of how helpless you are. Commander, bombard the coastlines of every nation. Full power turbolaser broadsides. Now! “
Powerful blinding emerald green rained from the sky as deadly hail blasting huge parts of the ocean, flash boiling thousands of tons of seawater. The blasts rocked the shores. The coastline of Germania was first, then New York, Florida, then Japan and china was hit. There were minimal damage but the message was clear. There was no defense.
The cruel voice of the empress came back on, “I hope you got that message. Now witness the next. Commander, instruct the gunnery officer to commence primary ignition.”
All over the hemisphere, they saw a bright green pulse of power lance out at the moon. It impacted the moon, and shattered it apart in a blinding flash. If the message was unclear before, it was crystal clear now. Dire hopelessness.
Despair.
Earths humanity cried out, in vain. How could they resist this power? How could anyone?
Ohmygod, it…it..the moon is totally gone. They shattered it apart. “ Alfred said slumping helplessly into his chair. His arms were draped hung over the armrests. The others looked disturbed. They had never seen him looking this way.
He asked, “Reichs minister Heydrich, tell me what is up there. What kind of forces do you see there? “
Heydrich looked at his monitor. “Mein fuehrer, the computer counts close to four hundred thousand objects that just showed up. Over seventy percent of them are tiny objects that are barely enough to hold a person. My guess would be one man fighters. There are thousands of small ships. They are around five hundred meters long.”
Jennifer spoke up, “All ships are equipped with fighters designed for defending the capital ships against fighter attack. They screen the fleets. The next ones you see are frigates. They aren’t too powerful but there good for screening the fleet and acting as picket lines. “
He nodded and continues his report, “There are also these large dagger shaped ships, their around twelve hundred meters long and seem to have a lot of mass.”
Jennifer said, “Those are the cruisers.”
“There are around fifty five hundred of them. The computer counts two thousand huge dagger shaped ships. Those are twenty give hundred meters long. They have a huge mass. “ He held out a picture of them taken from a satellite. There was a giant dagger shaped ship that looked very imposing, heavily armed. It looked like it was designed to inspire dread and fear.
“Those are the mainstay imperial battleships. They hold a ungodly amount of power. They have over two hundred heavy guns for ship to ship combat. “
Alfred said, “Two hundred. Where are they located?”
“Along the top sides in large banks of turrets.”
“OH, “ he scoffed. “We once designed ships like that hundreds of years ago till we realized they are better in front. “
“Idiot, in open space, it doesn’t matter where their placed. They can rotate and fire anywhere. Especially when their hundreds of kilometers away. Just wait till they start bombarding your cities. Then you will find how helpless you are.”
Heydrich said, “Okay okay, mein fuehrer, these aren’t wooden ships of the line. In addition to those, there are many thousands of small oval shaped ships. Their quite big though, bigger than the heavy cruisers. “
Jennifer said, “Those are the troop transports.” She walked up, “DO you see that big one in the middle of the fleet?”
“Yes the computer says that one is thirty give kilometers long. Thirty five thousand meters long? That cant be right.”
“Oh yes it is,” Jennifer said. “It’s the command ship and that is the ship that fired the beam that shattered apart the moon. It contains a special type of laser they call a superlaser. “
He wasn’t listening, instead he was looking at the monitor funny as if trying to figure out a problem. “What the, “ he said. “Mars looks like it has a moon now. What is that thing? “
Jennifer looked over his shoulder, “Oh that is the doomgiver. What’s it doing there?”
He was reading another reading on the monitor. “We got a message by the Empire. It says we are to assemble in the courtyard to await transport. All high level members of the government. I think we should go, Mein fuehrer.“
“I agree. Jennifer you wait here since you are now a fugitive,” Alfred said.
A cold voice suddenly said, “No she doesn’t.” all eyes were on her now. They saw Janas behind Jennifer, holding a gun pressed tightly against Jennifer’s back.
“She will go with us to the courtyard, where she will be taken by imperial officials, arrested. She is indeed a fugitive, and a traitor. She will be tried for treason. “
Jennifer cried out, “You are supposed to be my friend. I took you along to help me. “
“I am first, a servant of our empress. You are a traitor and my duty is clear. You come with us now, Jenny.” She laughed.
There was no choice and she walked along with them to the courtyard awaiting transport.
They walked out of the world capital building and stood in front looking out at the large street and open space. It was mainly for large parades and assemblies, public addresses by the fuehrer. It was now a staging area for the heads of the Reich to await transport to their conqueror. Jennifer stood there as a hostage awaiting arrest on charges of treason.
It wasn’t long before a massive steel overcast clouded the sky. They looked up as a massive roar shook the ground under them. There it was, a enormous dagger shaped ship hovered overhead with flames slowly fading out from the friction of entering the atmosphere. A large maw opened out the front and smaller shipped flew out toward them.
Jennifer sensed the people around her bracing themselves for this meeting. Over a dozen ships slowly descended toward them. They slowly settled down, landing braces appeared out of the ships as they settled to the ground. The front opened and lowered into a ramp.
Endless streams of black armored troops exited out of the larger ships in the back. There must have been thousands of troops streaming out of the ships. There were smaller ships in the front that landed and their ramps lowered. Dozens of troops and officers wearing gray tunics came out in front of them. Janas nudged her gun in Jennifer’s back, making her walk forward. She said to the highest ranking officer, “This is a prisoner guilty of treason against the Empire. I think she is wanted. “
The officer, a woman as all officers are in the Empire, looked at Jennifer. “Indeed she is, “The officer said. She looked at the troops, “Commander, take her into custody. “ Then she walked to the assembled people there as three troops took Jennifer in hand and led her into the shuttle. The officer said, “In the name of the Empire, I claim this area, you are to let yourself be taken in by the troops here. You will be taken to the doomgiver for the Empresses demonstration and then you will meet an ambassador to sign your formal surrender to the empire. “
Dozens of troops surrounded the group pointing mean looking rifles at them and they walked up the tramp into the ship. The ramp closed and it gently lifted off into the sky. It picked up speed rapidly as it ascended into the clouds. The clouds dimmed and faded away into the blackness of the airless atmosphere of space.
They exited Earths gravitational field and drifted away from the planet all together. Alfred was surprised as the earth got smaller and smaller until it was no larger than the point of a pin. Then, they saw the red plant grow in size as they got closer to it. as it grew larger, the shiny smaller object beside it grew but the planet was still immense beside the station. It was clear that they were headed toward the station.
“My god, that thing is huge, and you guys built the damn thing?”
“Yes,” there was no mistaking the pride in the officer’s voice. “Imperial construction built it. “
The station just kept growing in size, as they got closer to it. IT soon blotted out everything else in front of them and they weren’t closer than one hundred kilometers from it. They saw a tiny docking bay they were headed for. They got close enough to see the surface cities on the station, massive laser turrets and some focal lenses above what looked like the equator. They saw lights on the thing as they headed toward the equator. They saw docking bays of all sizes inside the trench of the equator, from their distance, they looked tiny. No way they could enter them but as they got closer and finely inside the equator, they realized the bays were huge, there was more than enough space in them to accommodate 20 of their ships and even the larger frigates. The shuttle lowered the then the ramp lowered too. The empress was there with several of her bright red suited guards. There were also many officials from all over the planet. Alfred noticed the general secretary of Chinas communist party. There was Stalin who was still the leader of the USSR, or what was left of it. There was the Pope and his representatives that lead the United Papal states. The Empress spoke to the group, “Greetings While you are all here, I will extend to you the protection of the empire. I trust after this demonstration is finished that you will see the futility of any resistance. “
They all were frightened of her. Her voice carried a weight to it, and a sadistic cruelty. Alfred wanted to leave but he knew there was no way. He wanted to say something to her but he couldn’t find his voice.
“There is a special frigate you can all go to for a better view of the demonstration or my guards will take you up to the observation deck, and for those that are curious, you can go down into the gunneries station but that wont offer a very good view. I will leave you to make your choice. Its now 15:45 and the demonstration is set for 1600 hours. “
Jennifer was taken down to the gunneries station and Alfred wanted to join the empress on her personal observation deck. The rest wanted to view the demonstration from the frigate.
Jennifer and her fiancé were lead to the gunneries station.
“It is sixteen hundred hours, The Empress has ordered us to Commence primary ignition. “
“Understood, tributaries one though twelve are green for feed. “
“Hypermatter reaction is at one hundred percent.”
“Capacitors at one hundred percent charged.”
“Tributaries one though twelve are aligned”
“All tributaries are clear for feed. The laser is primed. “
The officer behind them said, “Fire at will.”
They watched the monitor, Alfred watched from the polar tower where kept her personal accommodations, that had a clear view of everything. The rest watched from a frigate.
It was an impressive and horrifying display. They all watched as the tributaries fired around the focal lenses and coalesced and just built up power until it was seething. Then a huge beam lanced out and struck mares with colossal force. The beam drilled into the core of the planet, pumping an ungodly amount of power into mars. Jennifer knew at the beams total destructive power exceeded matter-energy limits of real space. At its full charge,the beam provided a subliminal boost that caused a large part of Mars’s mass suddenly shifted into hyperspace and mars exploded in a ball of eye smiting light. A ring spread rapidly from the explosion.
The message was clear, Earth would suffer the same fate if they resisted too hard. They signed the surrender and were allowed to return to earth. Jennifer was locked into detainment preparing for execution.
Ankhesenamun had a surprise up her sleeve. A few hours after earths surrender to imperial forces, over half of the fleets crew and troops mutinied upon their officers and fired on Imperial forces around the planet. That started a battle around earth, which quickly ended when imperial forces fled. The empress had left already. Jennifer was rescued and they fled to the rim.
A few months later, Jennifer and her wife returned to earth with Abu only to see a expanding field of asteroids.
“From the looks of it, it looks like the doom giver destroyed the planet. “ Jennifer said sadly.
Abu said, “That happened a week ago, but not before our forces saved a billion of them. They are now in the newly reconstituted rebellion. “
“Yeah,” Jennifer said sourly, “That only leaves around nine billion that died in the holocaust. “
“Nothing we could do, Jennifer. “
The end