"Very well, I will drop this subject… for now," Emma said before saying, "If we go with Becky's theory, then it means we need to be even swifter and exact when we move against them. We can't risk them sending out a communication when they learn we're onto them."
"Agreed," Tessa replied.
"Do you really think it's possible they have a secret communications device that is capable of subspace transmissions?" Andria asked before adding, "Even our family hasn't managed to develop that yet."
"True, all small devices that handle subspace transmissions, such as our unibands, need to be connected in some way to an actual subspace transmitter. However, whatever group or organisation they are part of might have access to tech that our race hasn't had access to because of our estrangement," Tessa replied.
"Let's hope your meeting with Princess Liluth goes well and she can help clear up this estrangement with the Solarians as well as the other races," Andria remarked.
"I have high hopes it will go well," Tessa said confidently.
"I don't know where you get your confidence," Andria said with a sigh and was about to say more when suddenly the Imperial Down jerked and alarms sounded all over the ship.
💫💫💫
"Report!"
"Data relay from our spies indicates that the Imperial Down will pass our location in less than one minute."
"Excellent. Weapon control, standby to detonate."
"Affirmative."
"Target will reach the target destination in four.
"Three."
"Two."
"One."
"Detonate."
💫💫💫
The Imperial Down returned to normal space while spinning wildly on its axis as the momentum it retained from travelling in subspace hurtled it across normal space.
Anyone and anything aboard who wasn't sitting or securely fastened down was thrown off their feet and flung across rooms and corridors, either colliding with bulkheads or other objects that got in their way.
Only those with quick reactions managed to grab a hold of something to stop them from being flung, though they then had to contend with objects and other crew members that hurtled towards them.
"What the fuck happened?" Becky cursed in alarm as she clung to the seat she had been lounging in.
"GAH!"
Andria suddenly grunted in pain as she slammed into a bulkhead and was held there by the g-forces of the Imperial Down rotating on its axis.
"Andria, are you ok?" Tessa asked as she clutched the desk in front of her.
"Damn it, I think I broke my shoulder," Andria replied as she winced in pain.
"I can see stars flashing past the window. I think we dropped out of subspace," Emma remarked as she stared outside the window.
"How's that possible and why is the ship spinning?" Becky asked.
"I have no idea, an EMP bomb shouldn't be able to affect us while using the jumpgates," Andria replied.
"Ugh, this spinning is making me feel sick. Why haven't the inertial dampers kicked in yet?" Becky asked.
"They're not designed to handle such extreme changes in direction, after all, capital ships like ours can't do that," Andria replied before adding, "Also, it's your own fault for eating too many snacks that you're feeling sick."
"If I knew I would be going for a crazy ride like this today, I wouldn't have eaten them," Becky retorted.
"Can we focus and try to figure out what caused this, please?" Emma snapped.
"Good point," Andria replied before saying, "Captain to bridge."
"Bridge here, Captain." Someone replied through the internal comm a second later.
"Report, commander," Andria ordered.
"Something knocked us out of subspace and we are currently in a spin and hurtling through space as the antigravity drive and inertial dampers try to compensate and fix this."
"What knocked us out of subspace?"
"Unclear, we are…" The commander began to reply when the sensor operator's voice interrupted him.
"Captain, sensors are detecting the remains of a jumpgate. According to residual readings in the area, an explosion just took place, which most likely destroyed it."
"You would need a weapon on the level of a planetary destruction class weapon to destroy a jumpgate," the commander replied in shock.
"Who would blow up a jumpgate?" Becky asked, then remembered that Adam had done something similar and added, "On purpose."
"Scan the region for other vessels, also send a subspace transmission to TISF Command and keep them apprised of our situation," Andria ordered.
"Is our momentum slowing?" Emma asked as she realised that she didn't have to hold onto her own chair as tightly.
"Affirmative," The helm officer answered over the internal comm before saying, "The antigravity drive and inertial dampers are taking effect; we should return to normal flight operations in a few seconds."
As anticipated, the Imperial Down stopped spinning and slowed down a few seconds later, causing Andria to slide down the bulkhead and land on the floor.
"Multiple ships detected on an intercept course," The sensor operator suddenly announced.
"Identification and numbers?" Andria asked.
"I am not receiving any registration data from them," The sensor operator replied.
"Pirates?" The commander questioned.
"Unlikely, sir, the readings I'm getting from the ships make them look like they were built by the same manufacturing company."
"Give me numbers already," Andria ordered.
"Three, seven, nine, twelve. I'm detecting twelve ships, including one capital-class ship," The sensor operator replied.
"Fuck, I guess that explains how they launched a planetary annihilation weapon," Andria cursed as she winced in pain before asking, "Helm, can we enter subspace?"
"Negative, the subspace drive was knocked offline when we were forced out of subspace. Also, for some reason, the stardrive is offline."
"Damn it," Andria cursed before ordering," Take us away from the incoming ships, best possible speed."
"Aye, captain," The helm officer replied.
"Commander, get engineering crews to repair the subspace drive and investigate why the stardrive is offline."
"Yes, captain," The commander replied.
"What's our current location?" Andria asked.
"Sector Five, Kemel Galaxy"
"Fuck, the Gargolian aren't going to be happy that their jump gate was destroyed," Becky cursed.
"At least it's not the Piares Galaxy jump gate. Most Gargolian don't travel much, so the impact of losing the jump gate should be less than if the Janari lost theirs," Tessa replied.
"Communications, update TISF Command on our situation and also send out a distress signal."
"Yes, Captain."
"I don't like our chances, Captain," The commander said in a grave tone before continuing, "The Gargolian's don't have many ships, so it's unlikely help will arrive anytime soon."
"We're just going to have to try and hold out the best we can," Andria replied before ordering, "Get me a damage and casualty report, all hands battle stations."
After she finished giving orders, Andria turned to Emma and said, "I'm heading for the bridge; the traitors might use this opportunity to attack Tessa, watch over her."
"Naturally," Emma replied.
As Tessa and Emma watched Andria leave, they didn't notice Becky playing with her uniband.
💫💫💫
As they got closer to the glow, Adam was able to make out what was causing it and as he did, his mouth couldn't help but drop open in shock.
Before them, towering high into the sky was a tree, but it wasn't the tree's size that shocked Adam, as he had seen taller ones of Solarian Prime. No, it was the fact that the tree was ablaze.
"That tree's on fire, is that tree supposed to be on fire?" Emma asked in shock.
"Yes, that's normal, don't worry," Elemance said with a smile.
"Please explain to me how a tree being on fire is normal?" Emma asked in confusion.
"The first two phoenix were born from this tree and any phoenix that dies without being able to resurrect has its ashes spread around the base of the tree," Revi explained.
"Like those who died during the phoenix hunts, you mean?" Adam asked as he looked up at the tree.
"Unfortunately, we were never able to recover all of those who died back then, those that we did have indeed had their ashes laid to rest here," Revi said in a sombre tone.
"I'm sorry to hear that, Revi. I'm sure you tried your best to get them all back," Adam replied.
"We did, but unfortunately, because those damn Herpolisks killed so many of our people, they couldn't tell us where they all died," Elemence replied in a similarly sombre tone.
The group stood in silence and looked up at the burning tree in silence for a few moments while people who passed them by observed them from a distance.
Unfortunately, the tranquil moment was ruined when Spector suddenly made an announcement, which Rowena and Eri also heard since they were still wearing the earring.
[Emergency Stream Launch]
[Launching stream.]
[[Stream description below:]]
[[Stream Title: Save the Princess]]
[[Mission Parameters: While visiting Fenix Nest, Lorelie received a message from Becky Starlover stating that the TISF ship Imperial Down was being attacked by overwhelming numbers and in need of help.]]
[[Mission Goal: The peace talks between the Solarian and Terran princesses are vital to peace in the universe and need to take place. You need to somehow figure out a way to save Princess Tessa Terrana without going in person since you are still recovering from Temporal Displacement Syndrome.]]
[Forever1stCommenter (Earth): First.]