TTO Episode 4.2

4.2

The Hawken Predator was one of the earlier heavy fighters before they replaced it with the lighter fighters like the Stingers. The Hawken Predators were of the Mistral then but with the Federation of Planets all the crafts were all sent to the scraps. Maybe not all for there was one in front of me then.

The Hawken Predator looked like a bird of prey with the sloping forward double wings and the cockpit which sat on the extended hull from the main unit at the rear. The craft held the three barrel rotary cannons on the tip of the wings and below the cockpit at the extended sloping hull. There was another turret above on the main unit which housed the revolving three barrel rotary cannons. Below the main unit was an array of six missiles launcher that was also on the swivel stand. The cockpit could sit three persons with one as the pilot while the main unit holds enough space for six persons with ample rooms for storage of weapons. The craft was powered by the double engine at the rear. It holds also the jump-light drive which shortened the distance of travel between the galaxies. On the craft was the marking HP-109.

“She was the last unit commissioned.” I recalled then the Hawken Predator had stopped at 109 units. Of the 109 units, only eight five units saw action in the thirty years of use while the others was used for training except 109. It was always the prototype for upgrades.

“We hid her here after the order for de-commissioning. I was the one who re-fit the craft and upgraded the sensors.” Kuzuka continued on while I took to the rear ramp of the craft. It was lowered and I walked in. It was cramp itself with the crates.

“We had it stored the supplies.” Kuzuka smiled while he checked one of the crates. “We also stored some weapons.”

I ignored him and proceeded to the cockpit. I lay my right hand on the pilot seat but did not take the seat. Kuzuka stepped in and then took the co-pilot seat. He smiled at me. I took the cue to accept the invitation and sat at the pilot seat. I hit the switches to turn on the engine. The twin thruster on the engines purred up like a snarling Toberian Tiger. I moved the levels to increase the power with my focus on the system readings. It was good for an archaic machine.

“The sensors were all changed to the new model Xeon IV. It has the ability to go into stealth mode for us. The Federation of Planets fleet were still on the Xeon III except for some of those retrofitted recently which were few. So were the Navigation charts. I had it updated from the Traders’ Post best charter. It held some undeclared places of interests.” Kuzuka gloated on the new fittings. “You may find the craft held some new stuff. I named it the Sweeping Eagle. I doubt any Stinger could pursue the Eagle in the race.”

I called up the sensors and looked at the layout of the Federation of Planets fleet out there. They got the planet well covered with hardly any space for any ships to do an escape without any detection. If I was to do the jump-light, I need to hit out past the planet atmosphere before the ship system will jump. Somehow Kuzuka read my mind.

“The Mitoushi will launch the transporter with four hundred passengers on the eastern side of the planet. It will attract the Frigate there. The Federation of Planets frigate will respond to intercept. It will not shoot first for the craft was a transporter. I know their rules of conflicts.” The man had it all planned. That would have given me the needed gap to do the jump-light. My reservation was that the life’s of four hundred innocent that that may be sacrificed. He did not wait for my next action and called on the communicator to his Mitoushi’ transporter.

“Lima hato o kido shimasu!” The plan was in action then

I saw the transporter appeared on my sensors. It was heading for the atmosphere. I saw three Stingers have locked onto the transporter. The Stingers may intercept at approximately five minutes. The transporter won’t make it to the atmosphere unless there was a miracle.

A miracle I was to perform but the prayers came in a different note.

The transporter had launched an array of four missiles towards the Stingers. Normally the Stingers would have been able to evade the missiles of a typical craft but the ones fitted on the transporter, it was the Sevan V model. They were fast and once locked into the target, the percentage of hit was above ninety percentages. 

I could mimic the Stingers’ responses. They peeled off in different directions with two missiles each on the Stinger’s tails. They will be screaming for assistance then. They have like split seconds to break or die. The assistance came too late. The frigate above had sent their own missiles to hit the pursuing missiles but the Stingers were hit. The transporter was cleared of the Stinger threat. The frigate was next in the path.

The transporter veered off in slight turn to the atmosphere thus creating the gap I needed. It was also split seconds timing then for the other ships may close the gap. I hit the thrusters on the engine on the HP-109. The craft soared up in seconds and then hit the atmosphere. I did not detect any of the ships are in the quadrant there. We may be cleared of the siege. I plotted the jump-light and kicked it in. We have like ten seconds before the calibration get completed.

Ten, nine, eight, seven, six…

The jump-light calibration had stopped. It was re-calibrating then for there was an obstacle in the part.

A Scimitar ship had appeared in the gap.

Fuck!

Tweet.....tweet..... 8th Feb...I am on the road.

I will be away for two days so be advised that there may be some delay in the posting.

Cheers

TTO Episode 4.1

Episode 4

The Book of Edo

4.1         

Never ride in a borrowed vehicle from a trader. They are all craps and what they offered was scrap. The land hover would have sat comfortably for five but the trader had removed the comfort from it. Instead it sat three with the other spaces modified for a double mini cannon mounted on the elevated pole with the double energy pack on the flooring. The land hover engine packing a powerful engine was situated at the rear with front section modified into a storage compartment. It had seen better performance but on that day it will hold well, I hope.

The vehicle had no roofing and environment equalizer which left me sweaty and upset. The later was more prevalent when Kuzuka was glaring at my protruded nipples on the suit. The wind made me aroused but I was not fucking anyone when my perspirations were from the wrong heat

“Edo, I am sure I could operate this vehicle.” Kuzuka was in his macho attitude when I had taken the wheel. I ignored him while I drove the land hover. One thing about this hover’s we do not have to experience bumps but it was still a need to avoid the sudden breaks in the terrain. The vehicle was cleared to levitate at above three feet above the ground assuming flat ground. When the terrains become bumpy, the vehicle hovered higher. There was a limit though at six feet. Anything higher will need to be avoided. I was skipping the designated routes and taking the unexplored ones which hold those high irregular terrains. Our journey was towards the cliffs by the seaside, and it won’t be scenic that day. It was a normal one hour drive but on the unexplored route I might hit before the one hour allowing for my reckless driving with no set limits on the need for comfort. During the drive, the sensors then screeched out loud. Thank the stars it was working for I knew the navigator was not. I was driving based on my own instinct.

“We may have picked up a Stinger.” I called out to Daniel who was manning the mini cannons. The sensors screeched out more Stingers. “Correction, we have two coming from different sectors.”

I heard Daniel armed the mini cannons before he strapped himself before standing up. He does not want to be thrown off the vehicle when I take evasive action. I felt constricted in my flight suit and wished that I have my own suit then. It was not too soon when I heard the arrival of the Stinger. It was the nearest one.

“Kuzuka, be helpful. And stop staring.” I called out to him. Kuzuka smiled and then looked for items under the seat. It was one of the most accessible spots. I normally leave a side arm there too. The Stinger came in hard, and fierce. I had to keep on turning the wheel to avoid the blasts. Daniel tried his best but the darned mini cannons have no automated target system. It was pure luck shooting at a flying craft which was doing two hundred miles an hour then with my best speed between a hundred and above by forty. I thought we had it worse but the second Stinger came on our flank.

“Shucks, we got a double whammy on the flank.” That was my call when the enemy was more than one.  The pilots then took on a wide berth before coming at us on both sides from the rear. They normally do with one in front and the other from the rear like a double fuck.

“Edo, the Stingers are trying to get in a vectoring shootout.” It was a move to have two crafts converging on the target together from different directions. These pilots were doing it wrong or they are competing for the kill.

“I can feel that, Daniel. Can you split them? My other holes are sore.” I shouted back while moving the vehicle near a low rise. I was hoping to get the Stingers off my flank with the higher terrain. They did as I expected and soon disappeared over the rise. They flew upwards above the rise. I kept close to the rise while Daniel trained his mini cannon there. It was a game of ours. We knew the Stingers will appear.

One did with part of its saucer seen. It was all Daniel needed.

The mini cannons hit it when the saucer tried to fly parallel to the rise and then it went down in a heap of explosions.

One down and the other still out there. It may not come over and remain there for reinforcements. I drove on until I saw the sea. We were nearer than I thought.

“The place we were to go?” I shouted to Kuzuka. He looked up from his search and then gave me the coordinates. It was a narrow path by the cliff that led to the beach. I knew that route for it was one of the few tracks I go for on my lonely drives. I drove towards there and then turned off at that sharp corner. It was a sandy drive down for about five minutes given my speed then of sixty five.

“Go on for another mile and then hit the tunnel.” Kuzuka gave me the other direction.  It was a private beach. I reached the beach and drove on alongside it. The Stinger appeared then from the sea flying just above the waves. Its cannons were hitting the side of the cliff. I ignored and drove on while Daniel tried to deter it off. It was then I saw Kuzuka dragging the missile launcher from the rear of the lad hover.

“I hope it work.” Kuzuka was inspiring at times. He levelled it at the Stinger and the darned launcher did fire. The missile missed the Stinger but it pulled off. It gave me time to focus on the driving. I soon reached the place which Kuzuka was telling me about. It was a small tunnel in the cliff that would fit the land hover at sixty five miles an hour. I turned the wheel and the land hover did the tangent swing on its structure with the right side of the vehicle tilted upward. The tunnel was short and soon we were inside the lagoon.

The lagoon was oblong shaped and surrounded by the high walls. It was a private place for the Houses and they all take turn to visit there. No House wants another House to intrude on their party there. Well with the war going on then, I doubt there will be any party then. I reached the inner lagoon and then got the last direction.

“Move to the end of the lagoon there by the three boulders.” I saw it and drove there. We got off in a rush and proceeded to the high cliff wall. There Kuzuka reached for the hidden switch to open a doorway in the wall. He took us in for a short dim lighted wall. Then we arrived at what may be called a cavern.

Inside the cavern was Kuzuka’s surprise.  

TTO Episode 3.5

3.5         

“We have your order, Darth Natria.” The Stinger Commander was known to me as Commander Niko Tarnia although I addressed him as Commander Squad One. She was a beauty when I saw her without her flight helmet. She was shorter than me but she had the double dimple. She had the Grecian hairdo which was a shaved half on her head.  I felt her vibes on me but I shook it off. If I let it develop, it will develop a rift between us. Or more like a death sentence to her. The Grand Order was not one to let another feel my lust. I heard her calls to the other three pilots.

“Red One, I want you to fly low with the sun on the rear. Take Red Two as your wingman.” Commander Tarnia gave the order. “Red Three and Four, take to portside and circle us.”

Commander Tarnia then took her own flight path to come in low at the Traders’ Post. She was needed there at the battle but she will complete the annihilation of the enemy’s base. She flew in low and marked the standing huts. She lined them in her target finder. All it took then was the missiles.

She took them all down in one sweep.

She was one capable lady.

“Red Leader, I am hit.” That was Red Three. Red Leader swerved out to assist on Red Three. The leader pressed the throttle to push the Stinger ahead. The sensors triggered a warning of a missile targeted on her craft. She hit the button to slow her craft and then did a dive. At the height of five hundred feet, it was a dangerous call. The craft went down in a sixty degree angle and the last possible moment, she hit the button to bring up the Stinger. She had the Stinger turned to have its portside before she pulled it up. The craft almost skimmed the ground on it turn but it was soaring then. The missile that was on its tail hit the ground.

Commander Tarnia was then focused on tracking the trail from the missile. She got the sensors to work on the vapour trail and it was locked in. She then pressed the trigger to launch her own missiles. Two missiles streak out and she was on her own vengeance track to find the others. She caught trace of the trooper position and locked them in. She does not want to hit any of them.

On the ground, I saw the Stinger flew past our position. I need not see the markings but felt her presence. She felt the presence of the Commander Tarnia in the craft. I felt silly then for I was in the middle of a battle and yet I felt the vibrations of the commander.

It was only a one off event which she was not even aware on my identity then. I had her blinded on half her face covered. It left her lips exposed. .

“Uh…” My head was lowered to between her legs. She had taken up the invitation to come to the party. It was one organized by the Stinger pilots but I got myself invited in. I have a face masking on to avoid them identifying me. It was impossible to identify me for I was always hooded. No one could see my face at all. I was part of the invited entertainers aka pleasure escorts. I was dressed in the leathers; the tight dark suit zippered from neck to toes. I was having my scars hidden and it seen, the suit tells more.

Commander Tarnia caught my preference and slide over. She was already intoxicated then and her dressing was slutty in nature. Soon I have her in the personal chamber. It was a small area but it held a view to the void of space with the glass viewer next to the soft bedding. The chamber was not lighted but the exterior lights on the Scimitar hull had lent its ambience there. We started smooching and then went all rough with me. She grabbed my right arm and tried to twist it. I played to her tune and soon she had my suit zipper drawn down to the waist. She stopped when she saw the scars below my breasts. I did not explain nor did she need any. She bent down to soothe it with her lips. Every kiss and nibble there was met with my eagerness for more. I pushed myself up towards her but she had moved to my right shoulder. Her tongue trailed the cleft on my shoulder to the side of my neck before moving towards the earlobe. I grabbed her face and force it to my lips. It was forceful move on her but she enjoyed the returning kisses. I too enjoyed the earlier action but I was not one to only receive. I grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her over. She was below me when I straddled her waist. I laid more kisses on her and trailed it across her chest. The scant clothing that was there was removed and her real flesh for me to devour.

It was then she showed me the blind mask.

“I like it to be as if I was with strangers.” It was all I needed then. Soon I had her crying out soon in pleasure. There was a difference when a person could feel pain that translate to pleasure. She was open to the contorting moves which brought in the sudden releases. It was soon when I left her on the bed spread wide and breathing in deep before I made for my exit.

“Do you want me to do you?” Commander Tarnia had asked. “I am good.”

“No, I am fine. It’s your pleasure I seek.” I replied before leaving. I knew that one day Commander Tarnia will repay me. She did give me the needed relief at the Traders’ Post.

“Darth Natria, we are cleared of the enemies.” The trooper reported to me. “We have a prisoner. He was the commander of the attacking party. We thought you might want to question him.”

I had the prisoner brought to me.

“Hancho Kendo, your House is dead. You have no masters to serve for.” I mocked the prisoner who had refused to speak. I had his mind probed but it was a tiring task for the man was strong. He had me blocked but in the end I was the victor. One cannot withstand the mind probe when your other senses are screaming for relief from pain.

“The loss of your arm does not warrant the servitude to a dead House.” I had drawn back the sickle which had removed his left arm. “If you do not let me read your mind, I will do the same for your right arm.”

For a warrior like Hancho Kendo, the loss of his natural arms will be a disgrace. Even with the construct replacements he will not be the warrior he once was. Hancho Kendo glared at me and shook his head.

“Yurei!” The wounded warrior held onto his pride. For one, I was not a yurei and detested being named one.

“I am getting tired of this game, Hancho Kendo.” I reached out with my mind again but the information I extracted was minimal. “I will find another to replace you.”

With that I removed his head with the sickle on my right hand. I uttered a word of prayer for his soul. It was a deserving ritual for he was a warrior like myself.

A love note for Valentine.

St.Valentine as told to me then

Author's Note:

Bless thee Father for without his love, we would still be lost.

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I do not know what lies ahead of me as all I seen was a single dark image. It’s the sight of one who is without the gift of sight. But as I am without a sight but I was no clumsy lady of my age. I can hear and smell better than most and what I feel with my hand gave me their shapes in my mind. I was then led by the person I knew as my father who is ever anxious to find me a cure for my sight. His prayer to God was that I may see him with my own eyes. But many a times, I have lament to him that none was to cure me of my ailment. ‘I am without sight, Father but I know you from your love and touch’ I told him many times but he was still ever insistent to grow me my sight. To him, the gift of sight was crucial to me but what he does not know that his daughter while sitting on the patio daily listened to the sounds of others who may be in a play or on a stroll. Little did he know I could smell the lilac growing at the flower bed beside our home, and the sound of the wind as it weave through the spaces in between the houses. Father, I was not alone but with them every moment.

"Aargh!" My feet had stepped on the damp flooring of the place I was to venture with my father.

"Father, pray tell me we are not going into your place of work. I find the smell there very uncomfortable." I was able to pick up the pungent aroma of the place he worked. It was familiar to me when my mother then had brought me along when she was still with us. Those were the time when the family had lived as a whole and happiness prevail despite the pain of the infliction on their daughter. But it was soon to end with her passing and my father inducement with the liquor. His sleep in the night assisted by the intoxication drink was then disturbing while his snores kept me awake.

"We are there, my child." I found my touch on the familiar walls of his work place. It was damp and coated with the grime of dirt. "Priest, I brought her now. Please do your merciful acts for us. I will pray to your God as if its mine. Do it."

"Father, why do you speak in such rude words? Our faith is within us and we may not impose on it nor can we be imposed on it?" I was deeply sad at my father for his shallow thoughts on the belief of the faith. When mother was here then, she used to take me to the place of worship and we will pray on our faith. She used to drag my father along as he was not one of the strong believer's but he came along.

"Hush, you girl. I am speaking to the Priest." His words were a slap to me for he rarely raised his voice on me. I heard the shuffling of the body and then the smell that came from the person. It was not usual smell of a man covered in dirt and grime. He did have a distinct smell but it was not pungent to my nostrils. Yet it comes refreshed to my senses. What manner of man was I to meet then.

"Fear not, my child. I meant you no harm. If you were to permit me your belief, I would like to extend mine. It’s not of any miracle I can do but the works of GOD. He works in many different ways that even I do not know how and why, but I leave it to his judgment on the action. I am but his faithful servant to serve his works here." I felt a hand on my forehead and then over my eyes. I remained still with my eyes shut tight and yet I did not fear him.

"I heard of your ailment from your father, but as i have said, I do no miracles. It’s work of GOD who does it. If he chooses to cure you, he will do so."

"I understand, Priest. I do not impose on you for my recovery. I have been blind since birth but I do desire to see the things that others do. But one's desire and needs can be a distance apart never to be met. I am resigned to that fate." I knew myself from the days with the healers in every corner far and near. But none has done any which will show me a slight belief that my sight will recover.

"Have faith, my child. GOD sometimes test us in his works but he is ever merciful in his grace. Maybe your ailment is not to be cured but a gift of sort which you can work with." He may have spoken the truth but my father was harsh to act then. I heard his whip lash on the Priest while he cursed at the later..

"Father, please do not do that. He speaks his mind and I fear you are the one who cannot accept the truth." I reached out and found my father's arm. I pulled at him to stop his loathsome act on one who does us no harm except to speak his mind. He relented and lowered the whip.

"Forgive me, Priest. She is my only child and I do not want to see her walk alone when I am gone. You are a Priest and of the knowledge on the books. Pray teach her the words, so that even if she was to join the convent, she may be a learned one and not a servant of the broom. I beg of thee for thy mercy in granting me this last wish." I saw not but I felt the rustling of the body clothes. My father had bent down to seek for the Priest help.

"Arise, my gaoler. I did say I cannot perform Miracles but GOD may. For what you asked later of me, is not his works but mine. I can teach as I was taught, and she will learn as I have learned. But please heed as what she would learn is my Faith. If you can accept that then the Words I will impart to her will be the Words of my faith to strengthen her beliefs in the way of GOD." I listened and I knew the Priest words may be harsh to some but I found solace in his words. I felt enlightened in myself as if I was to be freed of my bonds.

"Thank you, Priest. May I know your name........., Teacher.?" I knew we have spoken for long and yet we were never introduced.

"My given name is Valentine. I am a Priest of the House of GOD. I know your name, Rose as your father has spoken of you to me. We can start our lesson as of now as time is not on my side.”

My father shuffled to his feet but the priest had stopped him.

“Gaoler. I know my fate like the inmates in these cells. The Emperor will soon call on me for the execution as he is vain and fear of my influence on the numbers he calls his army. His decree against the Faith as it’s a selfish act of his thinking he is doing good for them. But MAN will fight well when he has a reason to fight, and what better reason than that of his Family. None sits above his concern for his family, not even Emperor or King. He is a poor Emperor with poor Advisers around him. It will be his downfall if he does not get his ways corrected."

"Priest. I can save no more of you if you condemned the Emperor with your mouth. He is Almighty here and his command is ours to order." I sensed my father's fear of the Emperor. For one without sight, I saw not the Emperor or the Priest when both does not appeared in real to me. In my sight, they could be both a square or round, or even nothing in my mind. I knew my father and mother well as their image are defined by my mind, but if you asked me to describe it would be like a telling you how an elephant can fly over the walls. Ha! That was my mother told me once when I asked her to describe the boy next door. It’s our personal line of jest in my sightless world.

"Rose, please sit by me. I would teach you not of written words but of the spoken ones. They are faster and easier to pick up and above all remembered. But you must tell me when you tire or other needs. Then I will continue on your return." I felt the calm hand on mine as he who was a Priest led me to a place to sit by him. It was a hard flooring and yet comfortable to sit on. "Thank you, Gaoler. Your offer of the drink would be much appreciated. Please sit yourself as my class need not be her alone. As a show of Faith, I would teach all who would listen as there is nothing to fear from the words of GOD."

So it was a succession of days which I was to find myself with my father sitting by the priest named Valentine as he recites to us the words of his teaching. During the session, I heard the sounds of others who dwell in the other cells also lending their ears to this man of GOD. From the drones of his voice, I found fleeting images that shifted in my mind; one cannot be described as its the not the gift of the sightless to explain all they saw. I found myself feeling comfortable to sit by this man and bring him his daily bread for his meal. Above all, I sensed in me a feeling of relief and enlightenment within myself as if I am accepted to by someone I can love and cherish.

But the day I feared arrived that morning.

It was the day I took to the sick bed, and I was not able to move. My father went on his usual path and was surprised by the Priest for a pen and paper. He gave the priest his request although it was unusual in request. But little was he knew that the Execution guards were soon to come and asked for the priest. My father knew then what awaited the priest so he asked for a time to be alone with the priest.

My father asked for my forgiveness from the priest for not arriving today. But the priest was to stop my dad from his action. He said it was ordained and he would walk the last day of his lifetime alone here. Just before he was to depart for the execution square, he asked my father to hand me the paper he held in his hand. My father took it from him with his face in sorrow knowing that this is probably the last time he would get to see the priest. With that done, the priest was led away from his cell by the guards. My father soon left for home to see me.

"Rose, The priest ask me to give you this. He has been led to his execution at the Square.” Father left the note on my hand as I lay on the bed. I asked of his help to prod me up on the pillows so I can feel what was written on the paper. I slowly opened the paper and felt my fingers over it.

I felt nothing. It was just a paper.

I moved my eyes as if I have sight to see what was written. I asked for GOD's help in allowing me to see the paper as any living sighted person could. I laid my eyes to what was on my hand.

The image soon formed in my mind. It was in the forms which I have not seen before. It has shades to it and then more shades than I could imagine. I looked away and there were images around me.

"Father?" I saw what was to me than an image. It moved towards me. It was different form the form I knew. Inside me, I knew I was seeing my father for the first time.

Oh my GOD! I could see then. My sight was restored. The priest taught me to believe in GOD; that GOD may be merciful to the ones who believes in HIM. Yes, I do. And I do because you taught me the ways of GOD.

I looked to the paper now.

It was an image of something and yet its pleasing.....no, beautiful like the things I could see then.

"Father, what....is that I see in my hand?" I looked to my father for his assistance.

"It’s the paper which the priest gave you." I nodded to his reply and then pointed to the image on it

"It’s a flower. It’s a yellow crocus which your mother used to plant in the garden." The flowers petals floated from the stem and sway around the room. It was beautiful to see the colors as my mother used to say. I looked back at the paper and found something else on it.

"Father....."

"It was written by Valentine. He wrote it for you. From your Valentine; he wrote that for you. He loves you, Rose." My father hugged me for the first time after I was recovered.

"No, father, He loves me as I love him for teaching me the words of GOD. He taught me how to love GOD as in loving GOD, I learned to love HIM too. Just as much as I love you and the priest, he taught us more than words. We shall be blessed that Valentine did not die in vain. He died for the love of the people to rejoice in the love of one another and also in GOD."

I cried in joy as on this day, LOVE is declared with no barrier and imposed conditions.

Tweet...tweet.... Flourish in.....6th Feb

Valentine? Nay., that's past me for now. My first Valentine 'involved' a day of hunger to save enough money to buy a stalk of rose which was delivered to my girl friend then. It would had been 'eventful' but the flower was delivered to my girlfriend's cousin's girlfriend who was there at the house while the deserving one which was my girl friend was out.

I arrived 'earnestly' hoping to be garlanded with kisses but was confronted by the idiotic cousin who was untimely sounded off by his girlfriend for the failure to bestow the needed gift on Valentine Day. Yours truly was then the culprit who 'initiated' the event that caused their breakup.

Darned if I will to send another rose by the delivery man. Since then I have delivered my own gifts personally.

And of gifts, I will re-published a tale I wrote on St. Valentine.

Please do enjoy it.

And also be advised I am on the Second Book of the Order at about 24K words now since late January. And there may be a Third Book. I actually enjoying the adventure of Edo, Daniel and Natria.

Cheers

TTO Episode 3.4

3.4         

The retreat was orderly but we did not expect the arrival of the reinforcements. The Traders Post was without its allies even in the defeating moments of the war. The sensors showed five armoured vehicles approaching fast towards there.  My trooper strength had dwindled to seventy eight in numbers. The twenty trooper scouts have re-joined the main force and we were retreating. We arrived in the five trooper transports which twenty of the troopers were guarding it.

That was a wide move on my side.

“Squad Leader, we have not got an update from Trooper TD12909.” The Squad Leader nodded on that. He had sent out two troopers to patrol the outer perimeter. It was the Traders’ Post that made me extra cautious.

The Squad Leader was right.

The enemies were upon them then. It was a forward team led by one named Kendo Itashi. He was a veteran of many campaigns under the Mitoushi House. He was a third generation servant of the House. He had a team of ten fighters with him. They were moving in for the transporters. It was the House request.

“Team One, move in for the troopers.” Kendo cleared his first team of five. “We will provide support.”

Kendo smiled at his planning but he did not expect the others to be retreating from the Traders’ Post. He was outnumbered then and called in the others. The second team was hidden behind the hill with the sensor jammers. The second team was bigger in numbers that was three times his. And they were also armed with heavier weapons.

“Hancho Kendo, we are approached by the other troopers.” Kendo heard the warning. He then ordered his scouts to re-deploy near him. They will hit the returning troopers.

“We are near the transporter, Darth Natria.” The trooper told me with his strides beside me never falling in the steps. He was a good trooper with the designation D13007 but his name will be remembered. He took the shot meant for me. The trooper went down and the new battle had started.

“Renegades!” The warning went out.

I crouched down for cover behind the boulder and looked to my troopers. I lost three more troopers who were too eager to leave the Traders’ Post. The other troopers are shaping up well to the training. They are in the covers and returning fire. I used my mind to probe the area. It was a technique taught by the Grand Order.

“Open your mind, my apprentice.” I had stood there at the edge of the cliff where the trees below it appeared like small cones. I tried to focus but the calmness on my mind was disturbed. I tried to step back but my legs won’t move. I force it to move but I was dead then in the muscles. I felt my body moved and before I could even react, I found myself hovering in mid-air above the trees.

“Stella, you have to focus.” The Grand Order had pushed me off the cliff and yet I was not falling. I was a frigging hovering creature. “Or you will fall.”

I fell and then hovered up again. From then I learned fast.

I want to live.

To kill the bastard.

“Darth Natria, we have the control on the battle.” The trooper told me this then. I looked at him and then gave him new orders. It was in time for the reinforcements came in hard. They have missile launchers. They went for the transporters. Two of the transporters went up in flames.

“Cover the transporters.” I gave the orders and fifty troopers formed a cordon while the others sought the attackers. It was time for me to call in the Stingers.

TTO Episode 3.3

3.3         

The Traders’ Post was not all you will imagined. It was a yard for discarded parts but those were of valued for those who knew its true value. Hence the scrap yard held a small community of traders who ply their trades there. I have the Stingers cordoned the area while five squadron of troopers were deployed on the ground level. The only issue was the yard covered over five miles with spots of traders’ huts. Each spot held at least five huts each and the biggest have ten huts. It was estimated there were about two hundred of the inhabitants there. There was once an Enforcer’s post there but it was abandoned for years. The so called Traders’ Posts was in a plateau with only two entrances with the sides all too steep to climb.

“Darth Natria, we have the place surrounded.” I heard the trooper leader update. “We are holding back waiting for your order.”

That was a blatant lie for the trooper leader was fearful of the traders there. They were the mix kinds of almost every nasty character in the Federation of Planets. I did not reply in words but my left hand moved fast for the sickle there on the left side of my waist. The arm swung out in forward thrust and the sickle flew from my hand. It went out and then arc back towards the trooper leader. The sickle sliced at the trooper’s neck and killed him.

I disliked liars.

“You.” I motioned to the nearby trooper. I saw his rank and designation. “Squad Senior, I want you to take care. You are now Squad Leader. I want one squad each to hold the two accesses. The other three squads will assist me. Yours will be the one holding this access.”

We hit three spots and found no one there. Those thieving rats were converging somewhere and I will find them. The next spot was the biggest of the lot. According to the intelligence, it was like a small community. It was located next to a yard full of scraps that included discarded crafts and all types of vehicles. The biggest scraps were stacked to resemble a ‘U’ protection wall. In the protected walls, there were three traders setting shop. The others build their huts on the end of the ‘U’ and it literally closed the place up.

“I want three waves. First wave the scouts. Move in and access. Report in to the second wave as the sweeper. The second wave will take care of any resistance. The third wave the flankers to provide support.” I gave the troopers the strategy. I have a hundred and fifty troopers in the three squads of which a hundred was with me in the second wave. The twenty troopers rushed in and swept through the huts. The modus operandi was to drop flash grenades in the huts to clear the way. It will be the second wave will move in and ensure there was no resistance. Any stragglers will be handled by the third wave.

I wished it was that simple.

“We have resistance.” The trooper ducked behind the stripped down generator when the shots came from the hut. We have just started the canvassing of the place and that started off the fire fight. The other troopers returned fire at the hut. Two troopers ran forth from cover to cover while firing. When they were near the hut, they hit the built-in jet pack and soared to the roof. They were midway up when they got hit. They were flung back to the stack of scraps there, and from their sprawled posture they were dead then.

“Fire in the hut.” The trooper with the missile launcher aimed at the hut. The shot went into the hut and the explosion tore it apart.  

“Resistance cleared.” The troopers went ahead to the other huts. There were some firing but the troopers were using the covers well. The mode then was to shoot first and move on. I was in the flank and caught up when the troopers had shot the second hut with the missile. I reached out to stop them from further damage. I was not keen on having Edo Harashi dead before I reached her.

“Stop the killing. I want the target confirmed before we kill.” The troopers went back to the search and then shoot tasks. They did not hesitate given that the defenders were experienced fighters. I lost five more troopers before I came to the hut that I felt the force.

“Resistance is…” The trooper kicking the door did not know did not know his line was silly for he was soon dead..  He was shot with a heavy duty rifle. His body armour could not protect him then for he was flung out to the damaged engine. He died not from the shot but the metal bar that pierced his chest. I was next to him at the doorway and stepped aside when the second shot was released. I have my sickles in my hands and it was an intuitive throw. The sickle flew from the left hand inside and with my mind in focus I directed the sickle at the defenders there. At the end of the flight, the sickle had stuck at the defender’s face that shot the trooper. Next to him, three others had their throats cut by the sickle.

It was till then when I stepped in. Immediately, I felt the vibrations in the hut.

Edo Harashi was there not too long ago.

I went for the nearest defender who was still alive despite the deep cut at the throat. He was gurgling in his throat to stay alive. I had the trooper held the dying defender up and then probed his mind. He tried to fight me off but I was too strong for him. I read his mind and saw Edo Harashi.

The one I seek was there.

Edo Harashi was with the one named Kuzuka Mitoushi. They had sought shelter there.

“We need to get off planet.” Kuzuka Mitoushi had requested. The dying defender then was Mitchum Oline and he was a trader. He looked good in my mind; the beard with the tall frame but his midriff had expanded since his retirement from the military.

“Kuzuka-san, the Mitoushi House have been a good patron but the planet is under attack now. It’s every person to their own survival.” Mitchum had displayed his true self. Kuzuka was not giving up that easy and argued on the contributions to the other.

“Fuck you, Kusuka-san. Your House have been good. I will repeat that but we have no craft for you.” It was then I saw Kuzuka asked for the land vehicle. Mitchum offered him one and he left the hut. I probed for the land vehicles marking. I saw the vehicle and have it conveyed to the Ships for a planet wide search. For the dying who had served his purpose , I broke contact.

“Let him die.” I told the trooper. It was then I heard the explosion and then the screams. I rushed out in time to see two of the huts have exploded and the searching troopers were flung to the ground. I turned my back and then told the troopers.

“Retreat now. The one we seek is no more here.”

TTO Episode 3.2

3.2         

The force inside you is strong

That was the line that got me into this role. I was Stella Noir, the young trooper who had just got her colours. I was not the best in the Academy but during the roll call I met Darth Illium. He was not called Darth then for under the then Federation of Planet. He was one of the representatives from the Monscrats.

“Trooper Stella Noir. I am Lord Illium. Stefan Illium.” Stefan was a dashing figure then despite the grey streaks above the ears. Maybe it was his uniform that was red knee length coat with the high collar and dark bottoms tucked in the knee length dark boots. His head piece was the tall hexagon hat that was favoured then by the Monscrats. He made more complimentary and then got me invited for the Lords’ Dinner. It was a whirlwind of romance and for a Norwarian farmer daughter I was taken in by the older man. The romance was short and then the indoctrination of the Force

“The force inside you is strong.” I thought then it was the orgasm but I was too naïve. I then began the training to be the apprentice. Such the fuck was there but the romance faded off. I was the apprentice and then I found myself changed. I was becoming more focused but with an inclination towards anger.

I had to prove myself. For me to be the Darth, I needed the anger.

I hit the switch on the door release and the twenty troopers lined up there were sucked out to the void of space. I had secured myself to the hand rail there but I felt the pull of the void. It was my anger that fuelled my strength. I felt my fingers slipping and then I motioned with the force inside me to telepathically push the switch to close the door. Once the door was closed, I lowered myself to the standing position. I brushed the creases in the overcoat and pulled the hood over my head.

“Darth Natria, the Grand Order seeks your presence in the chamber.” The messenger was well chosen. It was a rookie trooper who had yet to sample my wrath. It used to be the dice throws before but they disliked the probability. The chamber in reference was my chamber. The bastard wants to crack at me in my personal sanctum.

“My apprentice, I should not have you send you there?” The Grand Order appeared on the mini hologram. He insisted on that in my personal chamber. I had removed my overcoat and stepped out in my rare uniform. I hardly appeared in it for the view of the others. No, it was not sexism that prevented me but the uniform did bring out my feminine side. It was a dark body hugging suit with the low cut that enhanced my boobs and the matching waist levelled coat with over the knees length boots. At my waist I wore a wide belt with the holster for my choice of weapon. I was once a farmer’s daughter where I toiled the soil that grew the products for the marketplace. We have constructs to work the tasks but it was in the family, we bend our backs on it too. When I was clearing the overgrowths or the intrusive pests that spoils our products I have one weapon that they learned to fear; the short handle double sickle. I could swing or throw it in a round arc and never missed the target.

“I thought it will cleared your anger on me but I guess you still harbour that despite all the gifts I have endowed you with.” The elderly Lord then was encased in a mess of circuitries and only living embodiment was his mind. “I could read you, Stella.”

It’s get personal when he calls me by my real name.

“Master.” The word came out of me involuntary. I was after all his apprentice. “We lost the trace.”

“I know. I felt it too. She is strong like you. Maybe stronger.” I disliked that tone. He was speaking to me as if I was a product that he sowed in the field. “She is still there. Find her.”

I nodded to the Master. He was right. I need to find her.

I may have to save her.

“You will if you bring her to me, Stella. She will be your apprentice.” I looked at the hologram and saw the smile on the face. The constructor gave the Grand Order a face to speak to but they could not have done a better task then. He looked hideous with the sunken eyes and thin lips beneath the hood. His skin was peachy white and it was wrinkled. He looked his age of five hundred years.

The hologram then disappeared and I was left to myself in the chamber. I stepped away from the hologram and move to the wash chamber. I needed a wash after the conversation. I pulled my arms back and let the coat slide off. I then touched the middle of my red belt and it came loose. I slung the belt with my weapons on the table next to the wash chamber. I then proceeded to touch my left shoulder where the released switch for my suit. The switch triggered off the other fastenings on the suit and it all peeled off from the shoulders. The suit slid off my arms and then at my midriff to my thighs. I had to bend over to pull it off the over the knee length boots and then pulled it off my body. I reached down once more to press the switch on the side of the boots to release it. It fell apart for me to step over it. There I was in my natural state I had to view what was left.

The feminine portions were still intact and the tautness retained but the crisscrossed scars on the flesh have not totally disappeared. I could out the faint lines there. My hair piece needed no improvement with my favourite short cropped style and the long tail to the back. I stepped into the wash cubicle and let the simulated streams of air clean my body including the narrow cracks. I heard the communicators buzzed.

“Darth Natria, we have a trace.” 

TTO Episode 3.1

Episode 3

The Book of Natria

3.1         

The Scimitar V was a sixteen hundred thousand tons metal monster design based on the Defiant Class Cruiser specifications. The ship had the designed line of the double scimitars with the sharp blades end to the fore and the engines were at the rear. The two structures were interconnected with a series of nine bridges in the middle. The cruisers measured five miles in length and a quarter mile across to a height of a quarter mile. As in its namesake, the cruisers were named the Scimitars. Each Scimitar cruiser held a crew of five thousand with a complement of eight thousand troopers and two hundred Stringers in its ten hangers. The cruiser deadly weapon was its double phaser cannons which could pierce a planet from its surface to the core with its energy blasts. It also housed over two hundred double cannon turrets on the sides of the ship which protect it from enemy fighters.

On the main bridge of the Scimitar which was placed on the biggest bridge at the ninth one at the fore, there stood the commander of the cruiser Admiral Hoffman at the Viewing Chamber. The Viewing Chamber was a round twelve feet radius platform with a handrail for the ones uncomfortable with height. Below the Viewing Chamber, the main Bridge was a hive of activity with the three circular consoles that was manned by the thirty Scimitar staff there with ten senior officers holding the controls there. All of them report to the Commander who was then gathering the updates. Above the grey haired Admiral frowned at the large glass window view at the bridge. He had dismissed his command seat which had stayed hidden in the flooring. The Admiral was dressed in the hard pressed double breasted suit with the bicorn or double horn design that was once favored by the ancient mariners on Monscrats. His hat held the admiral lapel design that was clipped on the left side horn. At his waist was the red sash with the Federation of Planets emblem. His footwear was the knee high leather dark boots.

“Admiral, we have destroyed the Navaro Cannons.” Bridge Commander Helstrom reported when he stepped up to the higher platform. The officer in command of the Scimitar V was close to the retirement age with the same uniform but his head gear was devoid of any lapels. However the Commander had the shoulder boards with the rank shown in the sword design. He was not pleased to play chaperone to the Admiral. It stifled his style of command.

“A minute too late, Commander. We also lost the Destroyer Shield III. That frigate held five hundred crews and a thousand troopers.” Admiral Hoffman reminded the Commander. “Such losses are unbearable under my command.”

“No, Admiral. It’s a loss which I have taken counter measures to correct.” Commander Helstrom saluted the Admiral. He had just instructed the removal of Commander Gantt from the Scimitar I. The Commander was assigned the task to locate the cannons. For his incompetence, the Commander was jettisoned into the void of space.

“Commander Gantt had been replaced.” At that moment, the Admiral looked to the Scimitar I that was on the left side of the Scimitar V. “I am sure Commander Ian Hoffmann will do a better task.”

The Admiral could not hide his smile knowing that his son was promoted to command the other cruiser. Such was the qualities of a capable son.

“I want to know the status of Darth Natria.” The Admiral held no respect for the Dark Angel of the Order but protocol demands he was to be courteous with the representative of the Secret Order.

“Darth Natria had flown to the surface on his craft.” Bridge Commander Helstrom replied. “He is accompanied by the usual complement of troopers and a squadron of Stingers.”

“Good. May he perish on the re-entry.” Admiral Hoffman cracked out his cynical remark. He then turned to the Commander. “I want the resistance cleared on schedule.”

Commander Helstrom saluted and then left the Admiral to his admiration of the Scimitar I.

Meanwhile on the planet surface, a transport craft that was designed differently from the trooper landing craft took its own landing near the Command Base of the Enforcers. The unique transporter was designed in an inverted crescent look but it could carry over fifty troopers at any one time.  The transport craft was white in shade with the three stripes of red across its hull on the top. It was escorted by ten Stingers which hovered in a protective formation around it. The crescent transporter landing doorway was in the middle inside the crest. It opened to dislodge the first squad of twenty troopers who then took protective cordon for the main squad. The second squad of another twenty troopers then disembarked with their protectorate, Darth Natria.

The hooded figure in the overcoat stood there with the focus on the three remaining towers of the Command Base. The second squadron formed a cordon around Darth Natria while the first squad troopers scouted the outer perimeters. The third squad of ten troopers then appeared flying out with their jetpacks. The third squad took off towards the towers.

“I want the one named Edo Harashi found.” I voiced out to the troopers. “And get me my hover base. I want to check the towers myself.”

“As you commanded, Darth Natria.” I felt the thrill whenever I hear them addressed me as the Darth. It was my hard earned ranking from the years of suffering under my master, the Grand Order Illium. The Master was no kind tutor with the training and worse as my guardian. The Grand Order had picked me from the ranks of the troopers to be his apprentice. I still recalled his words.

“Trooper Stella Noir, the force inside you is strong. You may yet be my apprentice.” I recalled looking at the figure in the hood then. He was twice my age but his presence was over powering with the ranking then as the Darth. I was overjoyed to be selected but then it was when my lessons began. Every subject always began with the easy introduction and then moved onto the harder indoctrination before you get absorbed into the body and soul of the subject. I was there for all in the journey. An admirer to the apprentice by day and servitude servant by night with my body and soul bare to his whims and desires. The training was hard but the sacrifice to the lust of the man was worse. The Grand Order was no man of love but of pain. His mind twisted like his teaching was translated to me. I soon became twisted like him but somehow I kept a part of my own inside. I survived because I wanted to be the all powerful Darth and then the Grand Order.

A fool’s dream for the Grand Order had moved himself into the position permanently. He had lost his physical body to decay despite the Dark forces having extended it to three hundred years. Just before his final decay, the Grand Order had his mind shifted into the mass of circuitry and machineries. He had become the Dark Machine of the Secret Order. I for one still remained in my physical body with some portions replaced with the construct parts but my mind and heart remained the same. So was my desire to be the Grand Order.

‘My Lord Darth Natria, there is no trace of the one you seek.” 

TTO Episode 2.3

2.3          Planet under attack.

I followed her in the armored vehicle while she rode the bike. We were moving through the city elevated highways making for where she was headed. She had ignored me during the journey. I can’t blame her for every mile of the city we saw carnage on the city. The Stingers were uncontested in the skies and they were hitting the survivals hard. I then saw her pulled into the nearby mountain.

I knew then why she had ride towards there.

One of the terms of the alliance in the Federation of Planets was that the others were not allowed to have their own fleet. Only the Federation of Planets hade that privileges and it was controlled by the Monscrats. The Federation promised the allied members of their protection. Some of the allied members argued hard for the own defenses in the case when the Federation of Planets may be delayed. For the sake of a peaceful takeover, the Federation of Planets relented and allowed them to build their planet defenses.

The mountain held the only one defense of the planet.

The Navaro Cannons.  

The Mistral leaders have retained that set of defense for planetary control. It compromises of two huge cannons that measured over a hundred feet in length with a radius of twelve feet. Its energy shot was fed by the huge conversion generator inside the mountain where it tapped into the planet molten core for it power. Each shot could reach beyond the planet atmosphere and destroy a frigate size ship or create major damage to a cruiser.

We reached the mountain just in time to see the Stingers were engaged by the Navaro Cannons defense system. The archaic defense system was the twelve rotary cannons mounted on the turrets placed at strategic locations around the mountain top. The defense system was holding up well against the squadron of Stingers. I saw Edo rode into the mountain entrance and parked at the open cavern. I took myself to follow her into the transporter that was lifting us up. She had not spoken but the mountain sides groaned its misery on being bombarded. She got off on the level that led us to the open hanger. I was awed by the sight.

It was pathetic.

Six Mistral fighters were stationed there and the technicians were arming it. I have not seen any of those fighters in flight nor action since I was activated.

“Edo, those…” I was to raise my objection at the show pieces.

“Daniel, those are the pride of our people once. They are named the Kingfisher.”

The Kingfisher design was an upright two seaters craft with the two side drawn back side wings and a awesome top cockpit where the pilot resides. Just below the cockpit level was the rotary six cannons which fired the deadly shots with the array of mini missiles on its wings. The Kingfisher could fly in any direction in its upright position. It was able to fly sideways or in their favorite hunting flight of the ‘s’ formation.  The craft center hill was shaded orange while its cannons were red with the wings the shades of ocean blue.

“Trust in the Kingfisher. The last great pilot was Sasaki Moto. He had fifty five aces on his hull.” Edo was trying to be convincing but those facts were a century ago. The Kingfishers have been salvaged or destroyed since then. Well, apparently not all.

Edo grabbed a flight helmet with the suit given to her and then proceeded to dress. The lady had no shame with her stripping before those gaping technicians. I stepped forth to cover her with my body but she was a fast dresser. The suit was an orange flabby overall and when dressed, she pressed the codes for the suit to adjust to her frame with the correct compensation for comfort. God, the skin tight overall then was more revealing than her other suit. I motioned  to the technician for my suit but it was declined.

“Construct, you don’t need one. Your frame will be able to withstand the ‘g’ force.” The technician gave me the once over look. “More to it, we don’t have implants slots. Ours are designed for the ladies.”

Damn! The day they allowed ladies to be technicians was the start of discrimination for us constructs. They truly did not appreciate add on implants.

“Daniel, climb in.” Edo had taken the pilot seat and that left me with the navigator’s position below. The seating arrangement was vertical hence I got the up view of her bottom.  I was not to complain there; it was one of my favored postures at her.  On seated, the craft system took over. I soon find myself strapped into the seat; it was more of a ‘T’ padding that curved up to my chest and locked me in for safety.  While I was doing a system check, I asked Edo if she had flown this craft before.

“Yes, in the simulator.” God! If I was given more access to my emotional sensors, I may have leaked oil then. I was to reply when she addressed another person outside the craft.

“Kuzuka? I did not know you were in the program.” I looked out from my view glass and saw Kuzuka in the orange suit. He was carrying his flight helmet with the Mitoushi emblem.

“Hai, Edo. I am the representative of the Houses.” All the pilots of the Kingfisher were secretly recruited and trained individually. “I see you represent the Enforcers.”