On the vidscreen, they could see the wavering image of the shield above Valespia's atmosphere. They had to time their approach and the entry of the access codes precisely. Otherwise, the vessels behind them would slip past the defense screen.
"Axis?"
"Entering the codes now." Access granted." Axis's fingers flew over the navigation control board. "Oh, no."
Before Zeus could inquire, the Oethra 7 shook from an impact. "Report."
"The battleship attempted to use a magnetic cable to latch onto us. Thankfully, your hull enhancements worked. The device overshot us when it could not lock on," Axis replied.
"The system is reporting damage to the right aft thruster," Gaex reported.
"How much?" Zeus could not tear his attention from the screens.
"The engine capacity is at eighty percent and declining at a rapid rate."
"Warlord Sohm'lan, are we ready?" Zeus watched as a window opened in the planetary defense shield.
"On your mark."
"Axis, give a countdown." The view of the navcharts changed, so the only objects visible were their vessel, the battleship pursuing them, and the shield.
"In five ... four ... three ... two ..."
"Mark!" Zeus watched closely to see if the second EM net would catch.
No sooner than the netting box began to expand, the battleship started drifting to the side. Zeus held his breath. The cable that had damaged the Oethra 7's engine caught on the corner of the rectangular ship. The vessel only partially lit up, blue belts of lightning arching across the hull plating, but the charge was enough, for the ship continued to list and collide with the edge of the planetary shield, cleaving the battleship into two.
The crew gave excited whoops of joy, but the elation was short lived. The last two ships maneuvered around the splintered battleship and passed through the shield window before it collapsed behind them.
Abechan immediately opened a communication line. "Valespia Air Patrol, this is the Oethra 7. We are being pursued by two hostile Terren vessels."
The turret fire began again, peppering the two ships.
"Oethra 7, this is Valespia Air Patrol, we have a visual. We suggest you take evasive measures to pull out of the line of fire of the ground to air armaments."
"Right aft thruster at sixty-five percent," Gaex announced.
"No can do, Air Patrol. We have taken heavy damage," Abechan replied.
"We are scrambling aircraft to assist you as we speak."
"Prince Zeus." Gaex's concentration remained on his control panel. "With the engine failing, we are not going to make the landing field."
"Axis, do you have a surface map?" A hologram appeared, then changed to a three dimensional view.
"With the calculated reduction of the aft engine, we will be landing somewhere around here." Axis indicated a small, grassy plain lying nestled at the foot of a snowcapped mountain range, the shoreline of the ocean on one side with the remaining two sides against a vast, lowland jungle.
The original landing strip lay high above the capital city, Haven, on a plateau. The city itself sat nestled in a box canyon with the icy waters of the mountain's glacial melt creating waterfalls on three sides. The galactic capital was comprised of huge waterwheels, glistening blue-green in the setting sun as they flew over. Golden, needle-thin spires overlooked another one hundred manufactured waterfalls, spilling into broad pools shining like polished jewels. The surrounding mountains towered over the beautiful city with their jagged peaks rising all around. The city sprawled down the canyon, until the last of the waterfalls plunged into the ocean.
Too low to land on the designated platform, they could barely make out the four fighter crafts rising off the ground in a vertical takeoff. They were able to watch on the viewscreen as a volley of ground to air artillery was launched at the two star crafts pursuing them. After several hits, the vessel trailing the furthest behind began to billow dark smoke.
When the closest ship began to fire on them, Gaex dropped the Oethra 7 low. He then gave a sharp verbal warning before he slowed the vessel dramatically, causing the two Terren ships to blast by them. On the view screen, Zeus watched as four Valespian Air Defense crafts also passed. A heartbeat later, another four buzzed by in pursuit.
The damaged Terren vessel careened to the left, the ship seeming to list before it lost altitude and disappeared into the forest, a plume of gray smoke rising into the sky moments later.
The remaining Terren vessel turned. The Air Defense crafts swarmed the starship and blazes of light slashed across the sky like knives, leaving billowing wounds in the cloudless sky. Explosions colored the grey hull with brilliant bits of orange. It appeared the vessel attempted to make a controlled descent but the image was lost when the view screen flickered to the image of a green grassy plain, fenced in by a lush green jungle. The images the screens began to blur slightly as, the view panning from right to left in an ever faster sequence.
"Right aft engine is at thirty percent," Sohm'lan announced.
"I can feel it." Gaex did not sound happy. The view of the ground was coming up quickly: too quickly, Zeus thought. "Vertical thrusters engaged; we are coming in too hot."
The landing jarred Zeus’s teeth, his head smacking the back of the captain's chair. For a moment, his mind froze. His thoughts focused on the kits possibly making their way to Dargon's pouch. Being jostled by the landing would be detrimental to them. The crew began giving reports, pulling Zeus back to the moment. His worries sat in his stomach like a stone.
"Shutting engines down. Apologies on the landing. We were losing power faster than I could compensate. We came down fast, but the vertical thrusters kept us from crashing. I landed closer to the cliff wall than I planned." Gaex's movements returned to normal speed as he shut down his control panel.
Sohm'lan unbuckled his restraint belt
.
"The damaged engine is shutting down correctly. Otho reports all indicators in the engine room read clear. Currently there is no external leakage of bio hazards."
Zeus released the belt's clasp and drew in a deep breath, his mind cataloguing all they needed to do.
"Warlord Sohm'lan, please raise my father on a secure communications frequency. Relay to him what happened along with our chosen course of action. Then have the Monticore secure a perimeter outside. Abechan, contact Valespian Air Defense and find out what happened to the last two Terren vessels. If there are survivors, then they could be heading this way. Axis, Gaex, and Europa, get the Fal'Amoric ready to move. There are two shuttles in the hangar bay that can hold five passengers each. We will need to send the younglings and the infirm first. I need someone to calculate the timetable, so I know how long shuttling all of the Fal'Amoric to Haven. Warlord Sohm'lan, the Monticore not assigned to securing the perimeter: send them to help move the Fal'Amoric. I am heading to Dargon's quarters. Abechan, Warlord, report back to me there."
Zeus left the bridge, confident his orders would be followed. When he exited the lift, the guards were standing outside the captain's quarters as if nothing was amiss. He broke out into a cold sweat and gathered himself together before opening the door to the quarters. Hazy vibrations, not thoughts exactly, leaked through the bond to Zeus, fueling his imagination of what he would find when the door to the cabin opened.
A wailing moan of pain met Zeus’s ears as the doors slid open. He gazed quickly about the room, taking everything in. Amlyn sat perched upon the mezzanine, partially hidden by the foliage with two long daggers drawn as if she would leap upon an enemy. Nodding at him, she spun both belt knives in her palms before resheathing them. Madux reclined on the sleeping platform, his arms and legs protectively cocooning Dargon, who lay with his back against Madux's massive chest. Dargon appeared small and frail against Madux. And even though he knew it was because Madux towered over all of them, the sight still gave him pause before he turned his gaze to the medic, Mayra, who monitored Dargon's vitals.
"Have we landed? Are we done being jostled about?" Madux asked. The last word was cut abruptly off when Dargon groaned and squeezed Madux's dark hand.
Zeus crossed the floor, crawling carefully on to the sleeping platform to grasp Dargon's free hand. At the touch, the sensations from their link amplified. He heard more clearly the white noise Dargon and Alpha minds projected as they processed the pain.
Knowing what Alpha told him earlier about the birthing process, he did not understand what caused them to experience such pains. Did it have to do with the type of musculature Alpha had, or was it due to gravity and his lack of skeletal structure? All he knew was that his Amors were in agony, and he sat there helpless to make the pain go away.
"We have landed, but we overshot our designated landing site, and lost an engine. The Fal'Amoric are preparing to evacuate. It may take a while to shuttle everyone to the capital. I want Dargon on the first shuttle out."
"Too late," Dargon whispered. His bright green eyes open to look at Zeus, the pain all too evident. "They come."
Zeus accepted a cold cloth from Mayra and pressed it against Dargon's sweaty forehead. "We have just enough time to get you two aboard the transport to Haven."
"No, Zeus, they are coming right now, and I cannot move. Madux quickly, leave me
now
." There was more weakness than bark to Dargon's command, but Madux responded as if Dargon had screamed.
Zeus scrambled back as Madux untangled himself from Dargon, rolling to the opposite side of the sleeping platform. Catching the sight of the colored liquid pooling in the hollow at the base of Dargon's throat, he barely registered Madux's movement until Madux bumped Dargon in his haste. The liquid dripped down the side of Dargon's neck, leaving behind a blue-stained streak against Dargon's light, golden fuzz.
He scrambled back to Dargon's side. "Amlyn, something is wrong. I think Alpha is bleeding."
Barely-bridled hysteria became full-blown panic when Alpha's skin erupted, splitting from the bottom edge near Dargon's upper sternum to the middle of Alpha's form.
Something wild and dangerous broke open within Zeus upon seeing Alpha almost ripped in two. The white noise of their shared pain beat at the edges of his mind, calling to him, demanding he protect what was his. A protracted rumbling fell from his lips. His visual acuity intensified, the blue of Alpha's blood becoming more brilliant as more of the liquid painted Dargon's chest.
Zeus tucked his chin, hissing as he fought the desire to maim any who dare came near his mates while they were vulnerable.
"Zeus." Dargon's whisper was faint, only just audible.
He glanced up to meet Dargon's eyes. "This is normal. Call Mayra back into the room. Alpha, he needs her."
Dargon grasped his hand, drawing his gaze from Alpha, and the pooling blood, again. For the first time, he noticed they were left alone in the cabin. He needed to pull himself together enough for the others to be able to enter, or he would jeopardize his family.
He concentrated on slowing down his breathing. He was a prince of the Mar'Sani people, and he would conduct himself with some decorum and not behave like a mindless beast. Zeus pressed his lips to Dargon's forehead. Alpha was lost in the fog of labor pains. This close to Dargon, the scent of blood became stronger, causing his vision to switch again.
"I will be right back." His voice sounded hoarse to his own ears.
Dargon nodded and closed his eyes. He refused to examine how frail Dargon appeared, even without Madux next to him as a comparison. The image of sweaty skin and trailing blue blood called to his protective instincts which he forcibly stamped down before he turned away, crossing the room on unsteady legs.
When he pressed the panel to open the cabin door, he stared at the packed hallway.
Warlord Sohm'lan was speaking to Mayra. "When a Mar'Sani bull's mate is in labor they become distraught." Sohm'lan glanced at him and gave a kind smile. "Especially in the presence of blood. Males will gather at the opposite end of the house, while others take up a perimeter around the estate to ensure the safety of the mated pair while they are vulnerable. Females will attend, but they do not meet the bull's stare, for it is seen as a challenge. If the bull is overly agitated, they will drop to the floor and make themselves small to appease the bull's need for control."
Glancing cautiously in Zeus’s direction and away again, Mayra gave a shaky nod.
"I promise to behave better. I am told Alpha needs you. Would you please help him?" He hoped his words would reassure her, even if his voice sounded rough.
He stepped aside to allow her to enter the room. A movement in his peripheral vision caught his attention: Amlyn still crouched upon the mezzanine, as the only one who had not left the room. She gave him a slight nod before she sat back on her heels.
He turned his attention back to the packed corridor. "Why are there so many people here?"
Sohm'lan looked right, and then left, as he surveyed the number of Monticore who stood shoulder to shoulder, as close as they could be and still allow a person through. "They are here to bear witness to the birth of the younglings, the first of the next generation of the royal family. Those who stand here worked hard,"—Sohm'lan flashed his needle sharp teeth in a feral grin—"fought, and won many rounds of unarmed combat to have the honor to be here at this momentous occasion."
Clasping his fists at the small of his back, Zeus swallowed thickly. "No, it is I who is honored by the gift of your presence."
He bowed low, the depth a mark of his respect for the warriors before him. The corridor filled with hisses of approval.
Mayra called from within his and Dargon's quarters. "Zeus! You are needed."
"We will wait and observed here," Sohm'lan reassured him when he paused.
Returning to the room, he trapped a snarl in the back of his throat, unprepared for the sight of Dargon's chest and throat covered in Alpha's blue blood.
"Is this normal?" he asked Mayra as he gently climbed onto the sleeping platform, taking Dargon's fevered hand, his golden color now pale and pasty.