The Carlson Chronicle Chapter 1
Chapter 14

David Roger Anderson, simply Anderson to his few friends, looked on as Jared slipped them out of hyper space and proceeded to head in-system. The number of ships circling the main world in this star system boggled the mind, but what had Anderson tickled pink, was that new ship class, the one that looked like a cross between an old wet navy battleship from the 20th, and an anime battleship, also from the 20th. Mass reads put it at just around a million tons displacement, and she was armed to the teeth, according to Jared.

“I dare say, whoever that is commanding those ships, Lorelei really likes him or her. They are 100% new technology Galhadian. The hull design certainly screams human, but all of their systems are far more superior to even my own. Those Garshans are in for an ass pounding like nothing they’ve ever faced before.”

“Colorful, Jared, very colorful.” Anderson smiled. Finishing his scans, he sent them ahead at full sublight, 30c.

“Hmm, We’ll get to the battle a little bit too late, except to look for survivors at this rate. Any chance we can fold a little closer to the Garshans?” Anderson asked.

“Stand by. Initiating Fold sequence. Fold in 3, 2, 1, Fold!”

And the mammoth vessel disappeared...

“Damn, what the hell was THAT!?” Jett said excitedly, as a contact showed up behind them, with a mass reading that pegged her meter, then it simply disappeared.

Star Captain Elaina Duchance’s Command ship

“Exalted Redeemer’, Victory Class battleship

Orbit of Marrok Prime

Same time

“Today is a glorious day for us all! Finally! We have finally found our truest enemy, and we have slew them!” She shouted, as her crew and aides cheered with her.

“Never more shall we lose our family and friends to slave collars of these filthy felines! Primus be damned! Ozum is great!” She cheered again.

“Star Captain! Contacts close aboard! I read over two dozen ships, small tonnage, all around us, they’re engaging our escorts! Negative! They’re destroying our escorts! They’re mounting Reflex guns!!”

“Galhadians! Those treacherous bastards! Come to see us victorious, finally, only to stab us in the back on our most joyous day! Helm, hard over, target these interlopers! Blast them out of my sky!”

“I would if I could get a bead! They’re moving close to 30c! The targeting computer is shutting down!”

“Ma’am! Our shields...They’re dropping! Someone out there knows our command protocols!”

“I’ve lost control of the helm! All systems are going to in-port stand by! We’re sitting Ashnals!”

“No! This can’t be happening! Today we are victorious!”

“Ma’am! New contacts, bearing dead astern! Million ton, squawking Terran Empire, same ships as those that just destroyed Lacy Shival!”

“CONTACT! Close Aboard! Ozum’s bloody beard! Is that an Infinity!?”

“An Infinity!? We destroyed everyone of those! Re-check your sensors! Get my ship up off of stand-by you worthless Ashnals!”

‘Terpitz’, ‘Graf Spee’ class raider, same time

Captain Arthur Willowitz couldn’t believe his eyes. The ship that just folded into orbit was easily 8 miles long if it was a foot. His fire control computer registered a lock on it at the same time it fired a metallic blue hued beam of charged particle energy, vaporizing 4 of the Garshan heavies, all of which seemed to be shutting down, as he was reading shield failures in all the ones around him. Main gun turrets the size of ‘Commercants’ began spitting out tungsten and concrete shells the size of his wife’s compact sedan, each slug moving close to the speed of light...

‘Richelieu’, Same time

“Oh my god! An Infinity!” Amy shouted, standing. Barnard looked at the screen, and let out a cheer.

“Pop? You know that ship?” Alex asked.

“Well, if you had gone to Marrok in my Commercant, like you were supposed to, you might have met Jared one day. He too, like Center, was designed and built by Lorelei.” He finished, as Alex sat down stunned.

“Well, it’s hella big, but I like my life as it is now. Hail that ship! Let’s see if ‘Jared’ wants to talk. Target those heavies as guns bear Flow!”

“Aye!” The wolf growled at him, watching the range click down to actual in seconds.

A blonde haired man, European in his features, appeared on the small screen at Alex’s command chair.

“Anderson speaking. May I help you?”

“Are you the captain of that ship? The Infinity?”

“I drive it, and the AI seems to call me Captain, so yeah, I guess I am. You the leader of the TE flotilla?”

“Aye, Alex Carlson.”

“DAMN! YOU! You’re the one Jared keeps telling me about! You don’t know man? You’re supposed to be sitting here, not me!”

“Whatever, Marrokian Chosen One, yeah, yeah, I know. My old man won’t shut up about it. We’re here to help. We’ll be in range, now!”

“Firing!” Flow growled.

“Target locked, Firing!” Tina said right behind. The main gun charge peaked, the firing joystick rising out of his arm-rest again. He grabbed it, aiming the targeting sight over a Garshan BB, and blasting the shield-less bitch straight to hell...

Several hellish hours later, in orbit of a thoroughly dead world...

“Come over here Alex, bring your staff. You’re safety is guaranteed.” Anderson said, cutting the COM.

“Amythyst, you’re read?” He asked his lovely mate.

“I think if he wanted to kill us, we’d be as dead as the Garshans are.” She commented as more debris streaked down into Marrok’s atmosphere, the whole world reduced from a lush blue-green, to a fire raging red-orange, as soot clouds filled the sky.

“Ok, Leo, you have the con. Amy, Ericka, Jett, Barnard, Claudia, on me.”

A few minutes later...

“Greetings, and welcome aboard the Infinity class heavy battle cruiser ‘Deus Ex Machina’” Anderson said, as they all gathered in the spacious wardroom.

“The slots behind you can be used for most terrestial beverages, though I don’t believe we have any fresh milk.”

“Negative, My Captain. We’ll need to stop by Center to acquire some more.” Jared said, taking his form. Alex nodded.

“Are you Alex, son of Barnard?” The hologram asked. Alex nodded, as did Barnard and Claudia.

“Oh dear. I believe I’ve failed Lorelei then.”

“Lorelei and I have met Jared. She’s the one that gave me access to the technology to build those ships out there.”

“But, what of the Marrokians?” He asked, as everyone looked on.

“What of them? According to all accounts, they were supposed to be wiped out by the Garshans, then an outside force was supposed to destroy not only the Garshans, but the Vor’Gosh too. I believe I and my friends here to be that outside force.” Alex finished, as Anderson sipped at his tea. Everyone else just sat back and listened, nodding with Alex’s assessment of Galhadian perceived history.

“So, why do you suppose I was sent here?”

“Most likely to aid in that endeavor. Barnard stumbled upon the Marrokians. Had he not, I would have gone forward with the plans that have already come to be. I believe I was to watch the Garshans destroy Marrok, and then when they turned their attention to us, the Terrans, we were supposed to rise up and with Center’s help, drive them out and destroy them. That’s just the way I see things. If I am seeing it wrongly, say so.”

“Oh Alex, Cygna’s people were so kind to us when we landed there. Peaceful, yet knowing of their fate. Their elder council sought Barnard’s help in trying to change that fate. Alas, he failed.” Claudia said, as tears rolled down her cheeks once more. Barnard put his arm around her, pulling her into a lover’s embrace, kissing her cheek.

“So, Anderson, interested in joining in on this Garshan Ass Whipping party?” Alex asked with a bit of a grin.

“Maybe, but tell me something first.”

“Yes, I killed the ‘Three’.” He responded, as though reading Anderson’s mind.

“Ok, good to know. I’ll meet you all back on Center.”

“Jared? You and Lorelei are friends yes?” Alex asked.

“Aye, like her, I hold my body in stasis here aboard ship. Why do you ask?”

“I’ll be scrapping this ship. Wanted to make sure the two of you get along before I leave you there to help her run the place.” Alex said, as Anderson’s eyes widened to their limits! Jared on the other hand, was ecstatic.

“Thank you! Thank you so much Alexander! We were to be wed before she tasked me with maintaining a vigil for your arrival. Will you attend should she say yes again?”

“We’ll make it a double, as Amy and I have been avoiding that date at the altar because of all of the hell that’s been going on.” He said, casting a sly wink at Amythyst. She lept from her chair, and kiss-raped him!

Everyone was returned to their stations a few seconds later, and from there, to Center in a single fold.

The Infinity was indeed reduced to useful parts, some as back up for Center, the rest recycled into 4 more Andro’s.

Jared and Lorelei, along with Alex and Amythyst, Ericka and Leo, Flow and Tina, and strangely enough, James and Karen, were all wed a few weeks later.

The Andro fleet grew over the next few years, until in 2352, the call came in that the Republic of Ironsides, Saga Sector, had been blasted flat by the Garshans.

A message buoy arrived from them, declaring war on the Terran Empire. A message was sent back, originating from Center, and composed by Alex Carlson, at the behest of Emperor Tiberius the First. It was short, to the point, and reflected how the Empire really felt about the Garshan’s threat.

It read...

“Bring it on, Bitches...”