“ Shuttle tempest one-niner to echo base, requesting permission to dock,” Ericsson spoke into his console.
“ Confirmed, clearance granted for bay four,” came the reply.
The shuttle altered course slightly, veering around one of the gigantic upper docking pylons of the base, before landing in one of the smaller docking areas built into the hull of the station. Once the shuttle had landed, the bay was re-pressurised and a small access ramp descended from the craft.
Vargev stepped out onto the wide, flat hangar bay. He noticed the bay was packed with various other shuttles transferring the wounded and supplies to and fro from vessels still unable to dock with the station. The comparatively enormous Dalvosh then emerged from the shuttle, ducking his reptilian head as he did so, Ericsson was the last to leave the shuttle as he powered down the small craft.
“ What’s the casualty count?” Vargev asked.
“ Don’t know; final figures still haven’t come through yet.” Ericsson answered, “best guess puts it at around forty four thousand dead.”
As they made their way through long corridors choked with wounded naval personnel, Vargev couldn’t help but feel a sense of pity for what these men had gone through.
Dalvosh simply stomped his way through the jeering crowd, uncaring and unheeding of these men’s plight, he knew they hated him, he had been their most hated enemy for the better part of a year, and the feeling was definitely mutual.
After what had seemed like an eternity, they finally arrived at the vast command section of the facility. There, stood in the recessed centre section of a huge circular room were twelve captains all talking amongst themselves. As the three of them entered the room they turned their attention towards them, studying the blackened, weary face of Vargev, then Ericsson, finally they turned to the huge form of Dalvosh and eyed him with a look of pure hatred.
“ What is a Krenaran doing on this station captain Ericsson?” They asked pointedly.
Dalvosh spoke up, “I have come to establish peace with our two races in the form of a non-aggression treaty.” The words sounded hollow, “though we may never be friends, both of our races have already lost too much in this war, and that is why it must end now.”
“ Impressive words Krenaran, but why should we trust you?” One of the arrayed captains replied.
“ A Krenaran warrior stood in a Terran built station advocating peace should be all the proof that you seek. That, and my master Alax is dead, he was the head of the Krenaran military. Now I must take his place, which grants me the power to speak for my people.”
One of the captains then gave a command to a younger naval officer manning a station on the upper periphery of the room. “Open a communications channel, I want a direct channel to alpha base, get me Admiral Mason.”
“ Yes captain,” the officer replied.
After a brief pause, Admiral Mason’s wizened features appeared on the viewer of Echo base.
“ Yes captains, what is it?”
“ Echo base has been secured admiral, and the Krenarans wish to discuss terms to end the war, they want peace in the form of a non-aggression treaty.”
Mason’s brows furrowed noticeably, “you have proof of this?”
Dalvosh stepped forward towards the viewer, “My name is Dalvosh, I am the new head of the Krenaran military and lord Alax’s successor, I am standing on one of your stations in peace, surely this is the proof you seek.”
“ My god!” The admiral gasped, and promptly paused the communication.
“ What is he doing,” Dalvosh asked Ericsson, quizzically.
“ Probably wondering if he’s dreaming,” the captain replied.
A long pause passed, before Mason’s face re-appeared on the viewer again.
“ A small team of E.O.C. A diplomats have been scrambled from Sicarius, they are carrying the official documents for the treaty, it will be five days until they are able to reach you.”
“ That will be acceptable,” Dalvosh nodded.
On the surface, Kinraid, Logameier and Kalidis were busily assessing the damage to the battered Liberty.
Kinraid turned to the general, “do ye’ tink ye’ can get it into orbit again?”
“ Normally I’d say no, but with what’s been happening around here lately I’m not so sure. It needs the hull fractures sealing, as well as the destroyed launcher, otherwise it will just burn up as it attempts to get out of the atmosphere. We’ll have to rig up a new main engine, we’ll need to contact people in orbit for that.”
“ How long do ye’ tink it’ll take?” Kinraid asked.
“ It should be ready in about a month.”
Kinraid gasped. “A month!” then sighed, “understood, I’ll organise te’ Liberty repair teams to assist ye’.”
Over the course of the next week, shuttles went to and fro, ferrying supplies from the echo base shipyards to the planet below. Engineers swarmed over the Liberty, repairing hull fractures and replacing damaged systems. The Solarians lent their aid also, and donated a Solarian Ionic drive system, from one of their own damaged escorts.
Kathryn Jacobs spent most of the week monitoring the weak form of Michael. Towards the end of the week his results showed a marked improvement, her excitement began to increase as she knew the captain was beginning to pull through, finally four days after being rushed to sickbay, Michael awoke and looked visibly stronger.
“ What’s our status?” He asked weakly.
“ Always down to business aren’t we, well the repairs are continuing, and the Krenarans are due to sign a peace deal tomorrow which will officially bring an end to the war. It’s being broadcast all over E.O.C. A space, there’s street parties and massive celebrations being planned all over the outer colonies. Its almost like all of humanity is breathing a giant sigh of relief.” Jacobs replied, her smile could barely contain her excitement at the prospect of the war being over.
“ How long until we can get back into orbit?”
“ Not for another three weeks at least,” Kathryn replied as she studied his vital signs monitor for any signs of change.
“ So are we just supposed to sit on our hands for three weeks,” Michael retorted, growing a little angry at the situation they had found themselves.
“ We don’t have a choice, besides you’re not cleared to leave sickbay yet anyway.”
“ The hell I’m not!” Michael shouted angrily, sat bolt upright, and made to leave.
“ I could order you,” Kathryn replied calmly.
Michael thought about this for a moment, before finally conceding and laying back down on the hospital bed, “I guess so, besides the last time I went against your orders, it nearly killed me.”
“ Well, no one was expecting you to go gallivanting off and fight a huge Krenaran monster straight from your hospital bed, were they?”
“ Gotta have something to do during the day,” He winked and smiled.
Ensign Kathryn Jacobs simply tutted, “you’re unbelievable,” before going back to her duties.
The next day Michael was feeling something like his normal self again, and had been cleared to leave sickbay. Kathryn had prescribed him light duties only for the next few weeks, and plenty of rest. Suddenly a one hundred and forty nine metre long ship seemed awfully small when on the surface of a planet. He went to pay Kinraid a visit outside of the ship, partly to escape the confines, and partly to find out what he had missed, finding that Kalidis was with him.
“ Glad your up on your old feet again cap’n,” Kinraid said with his customary Irish twang.
“ Thank you, what’s our status report,” Michael replied getting straight down to business.
“ The engineers have sealed around forty percent of the hull fractures, and the main breach where the launcher was has been sealed. The new Solarian engine is fitted but not powered up yet.”
Michael looked upon his ship, its matt black silhouette glinted dully in the light from the morning sun, flashes from welding arcs lit up parts of its dark hull. He and this ship had been through more than their fare share of scrapes together, and he was confident she could get through this one as well.