In Krovash’s training, he would never accept that a frontal charge using brute force and with all weapons blazing was the answer. Much to the chagrin of his superiors, instead Krovash repeatedly opted to attack from the shadows, to blend in with his surroundings, and to strike when his enemy was at his most vulnerable. Many thought Krovash’s techniques were superior, however military commanders viewed it as a cowardly affront to the pride and power of their military, Krenarans skulking in dark corners like frightened children, never.
It was this tendency that ultimately unsettled the warriors within his company, many thought it an insult to the Krenaran sense of honour and pride in combat. This led to him being given the title Gromish alcra, the sword from the dark.
His company commander however, recognised his talents and transferred the young warrior to the newly operational top secret training facility on Corvandris. Where, for many years he perfected the art of striking from the shadows, as well as from distance; to kill without ever being seen.
It was this innate ability led to him being selected for this most dangerous of missions.
Three days later, the transport blue-177 finally entered the Sol system. Lathiel, with consummate skill dropped the ship out of plasma drive on the far side of the moon. He wanted to get as far in-system on plasma drive as he could. Thereby shortening the time in which the pathetic E.D. F could react to his intrusion.
A communication blazed through the speakers, interrupting his concentration. “Transport blue-177, this is lunar control, state your reason for approach?”
Lathiel had to think hard, and quickly. “Lunar control, this is transport blue-177, we are on approach to Earth to deliver medical supplies from Barnards star.” He managed to remember from the late Siccio’s flightplan.
“ Transport blue-177, you are earlier than scheduled. Can you give any satisfactory reason?”
Lathiel grew anxious, if he didn’t give the correct response now, within five minutes fighters would be all over him picking him apart. “Lunar control, we were loaded faster than anticipated at Barnards star.”
A long pause ensued, which only served to heighten the tension. Finally, a communication broke the silence. “Transport blue-177, you are cleared for approach to Earth.”
Never had Lathiel felt such relief at hearing that news, he gently increased the power to the ships inter-system engines which roared into life, and the transport gradually picked up speed and headed towards Earth itself, the inter system boosters blazing white hot.
Barely half an hour later, the battered Liberty dropped out of plasma drive near alpha base, orbiting mars.
“ Get me alpha base command,” Michael said, he had no time for pleasantries.
“ Admiral Mason here, welcome back Liberty, I’ve heard great things happened over at Gamma IV.”
“ Sorry admiral we are here on business, it’s an emergency. Have there been any unusual events happening around Earth?”
“ Not around Earth captain, there was an E.D. F transport that came in out of plasma drive near the lunar control station. I found it a little odd, since transports don’t usually drop out of plasma drive this far inside a system and it was much earlier than expected.”
Michael grew tense, half an hour. That would mean it would be getting ready to dock at Earth.
“ What was the identification of the transport?” Michael asked.
Mason consulted something off-screen for a few seconds, “blue-177, what kind of emergency captain?”
“ There is going to be an assassination attempt on the president at his speech today, do you know where it is taking place?”
“ Sure, everyone knows. It’s in Prague, at the institute of quantum mechanics. Due to start in about an hour and a half’s time, what proof of this do you have captain?”
The huge form of Dalvosh stomped into view of the admiral, “The threat is real admiral, he is a rogue agent activated before the war ended, and he can take on the form of any humanoid he touches; only we can stop him.”
“ My god!” The admiral gasped, “I’ll contact Earth, let them know of the situation, and get you emergency landing clearance.”
“ I would recommend alerting your guards quietly, if Lathiel notices any sign of increased activity, it could spook him,” Dalvosh suggested.
“ Understood; Mason out,” the communication ceased.
“ Continue on course for Earth, maximum sub-light.” Michael said, preying that they weren’t too late.
“ Yes captain.” Eldathar replied working the controls.
The Liberty rapidly accelerated past the gigantic spherical installation of alpha base, and headed for Earth.
The small transport had cut through Earth’s atmosphere with relative ease, and continued to descend through the cloud cover towards a freight loading platform, just outside of Prague.
The speakers blazed into crackled life once again, “Transport blue-177 you are cleared to dock at pad D, once docked please have your crew remain onboard for security checks.”
“ Understood control,” Lathiel replied before he ended the communication. They won’t find anyone aboard, he thought. Just corpses, which, while they are busy trying to find out what has happened I’ll be slipping straight out the front door.
The twinkling lights of the city of Prague were visible now as the transport gently glided on its final approach toward the platform.
Lathiel kept his eyes peeled on the viewer as he tried to make out the shape of the platform amongst the sprawl of buildings. Gradually it revealed itself; just on the outskirts of the city.
Quickly keying in some controls on the pilots console, five landing legs gently lowered from their positions secreted within the underside of the transports hull.
The small ship continued to slow and descend for its final approach to the platform. Lathiel keyed in the control to add reverse thrust as the transport came in, and gradually slowed the ship until it virtually hovered above the landing pad using just the power from its gravitic engines. He killed the power just as the transport came to rest on the pad. Lights from the surrounding buildings shone down upon the transports aged hull.
Lathiel, still in the guise of lieutenant Forrest, went to greet the cargo inspectors. Making his way through the tight confines of the ship and down towards the lower loading ramp on deck seven. He punched in a control and lowered the main ramp with a loud hiss of pressurised air. Once the ramp had finished lowering, three men came aboard. Lathiel acknowledged the men with a polite nod “Lieutenant Forrest, bringing in those medical supplies as requested.”
“ Forrest, where the hell is the commander here, you’re three days early! We might have to turn you around, does he even know how much shit he is in! He’s damned well screwed up our schedule for the next three days.”
Another man spoke up, “There’s another transport due in on this pad in a few hours time and we’ll have to divert him, which throws the others out.”
“ Just following my orders,” Lathiel said, trying to remain as blank as possible.
Two of the three men headed towards the command deck in an attempt to find the now dead commander, lieutenant Pryce.
“ You can check through the inventory with me,” the third man said, he was a shade taller than the other two, with a rather scruffy looking unkempt beard.
“ No problem,” Lathiel said with a smile, his chance had now come.
The Liberty closed in on Earth, just passing the moon.
“ Get me E.D. F command headquarters on Earth,” Michael asked.
“ Patching ye’ in,” Kinraid replied.
A young woman with long dark brown locks flickered up on the holoviewer, “greetings Liberty, what can we do for you.”
“ I need full emergency landing clearance in Prague, preferably as close to the institute of Quantum mechanics as you can get us.”