Ashes of the Realm - Juliette's Dream (17 page)

Julie blushed, “Thank you very much.”

Timmy turned to Scotty, “What kind of help do you need?”

“We want to know about that ship that was parked at the forest edge in the northern lands.”

Timmy smiled, “I’m way ahead of you on that one. I looked it up the next day, but I don’t think I have anything that will help you.”

“Why not?”

“The Dukes built that particular lander for over fifteen hundred years. They were all changed about every thirty years. There are so many different layouts, for the interior, scanners, weapons, and power generation, that I can’t tell you what you’ll be dealing with. The outside body remained consistent, but the interior was different from model to model. The Dukes were never satisfied with any design and constantly made changes.”

“Timmy, we don’t think the Dukes built that particular shuttle. We think it was manufactured in the Holy Stars Realm.”

Timmy’s eyes grew wide, “Are you sure?”

“Why, would that make a difference?”

“A huge difference. A gigiantic difference. A difference so big you can’t see over it.”

“Timmy, Timmy, Timmy; slow down!”

“What makes you think it was built in the Realm?”

“We know the serial number and the first two letters are SR.”

“Are you certain?”

Scotty looked at Julie and she said, “Yes. I’ve seen it my whole life.”

Timmy grew animated, “You have got to give me a ride if you capture it.”

Julie shook her head, “It doesn’t fly anymore. I think the power reactor is just about exhausted.”

“If it was built in the Realm, the reactor is not exhausted. The emergency reactor probably is, but the main reactor is self-generating.”

Scotty looked at Timmy with obvious confusion on his face. Timmy sat down in front of a display and took out a microphone. He looked at Julie and said, “Do you remember the entire model number?”

Julie said “SR101059.”

“Were there any numbers after that number?”

Julie closed her eyes and said, “There were smaller numbers under those. I think they were 12148.”

Timmy turned to the microphone and said, “Stars Realm Large Shuttle. Model number 101059 dash 12148.”

A picture of a ship appeared on the screen that matched the ship parked near the tree line. Julie looked at it and said, “That looks exactly like it.”

Timmy said, ‘That’s because it’s the same ship. I notice the Dukes painted over the SR on the rear fins, but that is the ship in that field. Hold on a moment and let me see what I can find out.” Timmy went over to the recliner and put the headband on.

A voice said, “Download commencing.”

Sixty seconds later Timmy opened his eyes and looked at Scotty. Tesa saw his expression and said, “Tim, are you sure?”

Timmy looked at Scotty and said, “That ship has a working star drive.”

Scotty looked at Julie and remembered her dream. Julie looked troubled. Scotty turned back to Timmy and said, “Tell me what you know.”

“That ship was built before the Realm converted their ships to teleportation drives. Once teleportation became the primary mode of travel around the universe, it was faster, easier, and safer, most of these shuttles were converted to teleportation consoles.”

‘Ok, but teleportation no longer works.”

“Scotty, the Realm used the most economical and efficient means to convert these shuttles. They took a teleportation console and bolted it down on top of the old null drive console. The button that energized the new teleportation board was connected directly to the power switch for the main reactor on the old console. You press the power button on the teleportation board and it tripped the switch on the old board. Very simple, very efficient. They simply ran the connections from the new board to power lines coming out of the console. When the Realm caused all teleportation devices to fail just before its departure, the connection to the main reactor switch was disabled on the teleport board.”

“What are you saying, Timmy?”

Tesa said, “If you remove the teleportation console, the old null drive console under it will still operate. It is powered by a red generator which was the most powerful reactor ever created.”

Scotty looked at Julie and said, “We’ve got to move our attack up.”

“Why?”

“If the beams stop operating in that ship, the Magrum may take it apart. We can’t take that risk.”

Julie’s heart went in her throat.

“Timmy, I need you to find out how to remove the teleportation console. If you could download the pilot’s manual for that shuttle, it would be a plus.”

“What do you have in mind, Scotty?”

“You and Tesa are going to fly it out of there.”

Timmy and Tesa jumped up and yelled, “Whooo hooo! Let’s get started. Wait til Nathan hears this.”

Julie followed Scotty out of the learning center and said, “Are you serious about taking those two children with us?”

Scotty stopped and thought, “Zreeg, are you up there?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Share with Julie the memory you have of one of your warriors being hit by the beam from that ship next to the field.”

Julie watched the event in her mind, “What are you trying to show me?”

“Zreeg, show her the beam from the weapon carried by the big guard and then the beam from the ship.”

Zreeg switched from one vision to the other several times and Julie saw it, “The beam on the ship is weaker than the guard’s blaster.”

“It won’t last much longer, and if the Yellow Skins decide to explore the electronics of that ship, they’ll start at the control board.”

Julie felt her fear. If that ship had its protective screens operational along with its scanners and weapons, no one on the planet would be safe. Scotty yelled, “Tell Jingo we attack in two days.”

Zreeg flew off at high speed.

“Scotty, how many archers have Zeckas?”

“About four hundred, and that will have to do. If we can’t do anything but steal that ship, then so be it.”

Julie ran through the forest with Scotty fearing for her parents, “Scotty, we have to try and save the prisoners.” Scotty didn’t respond, and Julie worried that it might be because he didn’t want to scare her.

Jingo met them as they came out of the forest and said, “What’s going on?”

Scotty said, “Zreeg, give him what we discovered at the learning center.”

Jingo got a faraway look, and then they saw his fear, “We’ll need the kids.”

“I know. Someone will have to stay behind and bring them in behind us. We need to get them covered with a Zecka. It won’t have to be a warrior’s suit, but we need them to be hidden.”

“Do we still have the old toolbox?”

“Samuel has it. I’m going to see him now.”

Jingo grabbed Scotty’s arm, “If we are going to take the ship, we are going to free the prisoners as well.”

Scotty stopped walking toward Samuel’s house and looked at Jingo, “Can we do both?”

“Now that Julie is an archer, yes. That will make all the difference.”

“Make the plan, Jingo. The main priority is the ship. We’re all lost if we fail there.”

Jingo nodded and yelled for Bleg, “Go to the learning center and tell the kids they have one day to learn what they need. Rush them here by tomorrow night.” Jingo ran to Kess’ home to get her started on two Zeckas for Timmy and Tesa.

Scotty looked up at Zreeg, “You know those that have been fitted with Zeckas. Go and bring their flyers here in two days. Hurry.”

Zreeg disappeared from overhead as he accelerated north.

Scotty looked at Julie and said, “Go explain everything to Jing and ask him to get the millwrights working on arrows.” Julie nodded and ran away. Scotty ran down the hill toward the Human community and remembered Julie’s dream. There was a possibility they were going to have a ship with a working star drive. Now her dream didn’t seem so farfetched. It troubled him, but that was something for later.

The next day the clearing was filled with four hundred and twenty Zord. Their riders were standing in front of them with eight quivers of arrows. As they waited for Scotty and Jingo to arrive, teenage Humans and Cainth were scrambling up the Zord’s harness to attach the quivers. The quivers were not covered with Zeckas but for this campaign, it wasn’t necessary. Bleath was there at Jingo’s request, and he waited as he listened to the thoughts of the riders. He noticed Vring and Zreeg were together talking about their responsibilities and he knew they would do all they could to keep White and Red Hair out of danger. He sighed and knew that was going to be difficult, if not impossible, knowing the courage of White Hair. He knew they would do what they could.

Scotty, Jingo, and Julie came out of Jing’s home followed by Jing and Samuel. Jingo looked over and said, “Where are Timmy and Tesa?”

Vring looked out into the forest and said, “They’ll arrive in an hour.”

“I need them at the ship three nights from now. Bleath, can you make that happen?”

Bleath looked down and said, “Six flyers have been sent north to wait for them halfway to the northern lands. They’ll arrive on time.”

Scotty looked up, “Bleath, we have struggled with how to save the prisoners. There are five thousand or so of them. Do you have enough flyers to transport them?”

“We have double that number if needed.”

Scotty nodded and Jingo said, “I want all the Zord to take the plan from my mind and transfer it to their riders. Bleath, you need to listen so you see where we need you.”

After five minutes the warriors of all three species agreed that the plan was a good one. Jingo looked around, “Does anyone have a question?”

Michael Blake said, “I want a backup in the event I miss.”

Jingo looked at Michael and smiled, “You won’t miss, Michael.”

Michael stared at Jingo and smiled, “No, I guess I won’t.”

Scotty knelt, and all the communities gathered to watch them go knelt with him, “Great Creator, watch over our brave Flyers and Archers and bring success to our righteous cause. We give honor and respect to the Zeckas fighting with us. We thank you for allowing us to fight for you.”

Scotty stood and said, “Have Jeek and Nathan left?”

“More than six hours ago.”

“Did they get what they needed from the learning center?”

“They had it downloaded last night.”

“Thank you, Samuel.” Scotty looked around and said, “Riders, you know the plan. It’s time to put it in motion.” Scotty grabbed the harness and scrambled up to Vring’s shoulders. He looked over and saw Zreeg lift Julie to his back. He thought, “Zreeg, stay close.”

“I will, White Hair.” Vring lifted followed by the other riders.

“Bleath, are the meals ready for our flyers?”

“It has been delivered at the halfway point and is being protected by the six flyers waiting there.”

Scotty looked over at Jingo flying to his left side and Jingo smiled, leaned back, and went to sleep. Scotty shook his head. I wish I could do that! He looked over at Julie and saw she had also turned around and fallen asleep. All three had been working nonstop getting ready, and he felt his fatigue. He thought about it and leaned back. Maybe I can. He thought about the stars and found sleep in fifteen minutes. The flyers moved through the sky heading north.

Three days later, Jeek and Nathan flew in at mid-morning. The two knew the ship’s scanners were not turned on and they flew in at high altitude to avoid being seen. They circled the fields first and saw the ship’s guard sitting outside leaning back against the hull. The open door sheltered him from the sun and he was fanning himself with a handheld fan. Jeek nodded at Nathan, and they descended to the clearing behind the forest. Jeek led the way with Nathan right behind. The ship was four hundred yards ahead and as they approached, Jeek went left and Nathan right. Nathan went to the forest’s edge and notched an arrow. He was responsible for protecting Jeek if he was discovered. He kept the bowgun to his cheek and saw him come around the side of the ship. Nathan knew the only way he could see Jeek was through his mask. The holes were small ,but where the color shifting leaped across the holes allowed him to see other Zeckas. Jeek was getting close to the open door when Nathan heard the guard say, “Leaving so soon?”

Nathan saw Jeek freeze and back up against the ship’s hull.

“Those ancient engineers were good. I broke every bit I have. I’m going to have to go make some new ones.”

“Sorry about that. Are you coming back today?”

“I won’t have them ready until morning. Probably won’t finish until mid-afternoon tomorrow.” The engineer stretched his arms out and Jeek had to lean back to avoid being touched. “I don’t know how you stand it in there during the day. It’s hotter than six fires. It’s cooler in the fields.”