14. Chapter Fourteen

22 hours, 4 minutes EST remaining "Normal chairs are boring," his mate said as she buckled into the nearby seat. "All controls should be like the hawk controls."

"I hesitate to think of the flying you would do in this ship if that were so."

"But, you're still getting me a hawk?"

Crey smiled. "Nopha lau'nen, I will get you a dozen hawks if that pleases you." He continued through the preflight preparation, without shifting his gaze from his beautiful mate. Wanda would catch any urgent alerts.

"No. Only one hawk. Okay, maybe two because I'll probably crash at least one. But, I don't need a dozen. Where would we put them all?" She waved between them. "Husband, we've got some domestic technicalities to work on, starting with you not having a bed in your room. Fun is fun, but, eventually, you get a bit raw rubbing skin against surfaces you're not meant to rub your ass against."

"What did you call me?" Crey asked.

"That's all you heard?"

Crey shrugged. "Additionally, you would prefer a bed in my quarters so that we may fornica—uh, make love on soft surfaces," he corrected after she sent him a look. Mari had complained his use of "that F word" was not "sexy."

A throat cleared, and Lue said, "I am opening the hangar door now."

"Acknowledged." Crey closed the line to the others on the base. He had not turned the com line on.

"Wanda!" Mari focused her attention upward on the hull, as if that was where the ship's operating system was located. "You turned on a com?"

"I thought this was an open discussion," Wanda said. "Besides, it was educational."

It was astounding what so much wondrous fornication could do for Crey's overall temperament. He now had greater patience for his ship's AI system. Moreover, it pleased Mari when he was patient, and pleasing Mari was his primary goal.

Wanda had begun to amuse him, as one might be charmed by a very clever child, even when they misbehaved.

Mari was less amused and groaned. "You're acting like a teenage Earthen today, and I don't know whether to be proud or ask you to punch yourself in the face."

"I have achieved the classification of 7 in sentience." Wanda had added more intonation to her voice since returning from the caves. A ship with a sentience of 7 was impressive. "Also, I do not have a face."

"Great. We should get you a body so I can punch you in the face." Mari folded her arms and made an irritated sniffing sound.

"Your mood has not been as…positive this light-cycle," Wanda noted.

It had not been. Evidently, the long-term effects of fornication faded more quickly for his mate than him. Their frequency would need to increase. This was not a problem. It might even be considered a solution to problems.

Mari sent a scowl his way. "That's because someone, whose name I am not naming, but who is on this ship, tried to leave me behind today for my own safety."

It was him. His attempt to keep her safe had, as Earthens said, "not gone over well."

"It was the captain," Wanda stated.

Earlier, Crey had awoken in Mari's bed and stared at his beautiful mate. He could not lose her, and the battle above the planet could turn deadly. A plan had formed. Crey had talked Mari into eating with the others and, then, attempted to leave her, after reasoning with her had failed.

She had caught up with Crey and glared fiercely the entire way to the ship. Her ferocity had been arousing; though, he did not tell her that. Crey sensed it would also not go over well.

Mari sniffed in a disapproving way. "I knew you were planning to leave me behind, and that's why I pretended I needed to go look at the botany lab."

"It was for your own good." Crey believed that. "You would have been safer."

Mari jabbed a finger in his direction. "I don't want to be safe. If I wanted to be safe, I would have kicked your damned green ass down the gangplank that first day, instead of trying to give this mating a chance—you, you, absurdly logical, overprotective, too-tall musclehead."

It was difficult not to smile. "‘Absurdly logical' is a contradiction."

"For evidence, I would like to submit your rebuttal. The defense rests."

"What does any of that mean, melayfah?"

"No, you're not allowed to use weird endearments when you're being an ass, Crey." She crossed her arms and let out a huffed breath. "And you are being an ass, possibly even an asshat, which I don't know the root of. Don't ask. It's bad, and it's what you're being. If you ever try to leave me behind again, Crey, it'll be a cold day in all the hells before I let you bang me against a door after a hawk fight gets you hot and bothered. My garden will be closed to visitors. No sexy door fornication? Do you hear me?"

"I might hear you were I in the hangar bay instead of the ship." Crey generally enjoyed when she chose to be loud; however, it could not be denied she was loud now.

Lue cleared her throat again. "We will follow you to the battle site."

"Wanda!" Crey and Mari said together. Crey ended the com line. Again.

"They are learning so much." His ship's tone sounded defensive.

Mari glared at the ship's ceiling. "One more time, Wanda, and I'll smash my fist into these controls in front of me randomly until something breaks. Bang! Bang! Bang! Just try me."

The bridge was silent for a shift as Crey piloted the ship out of the bay and away from the planet.

A cleaning bot sped across the floor and stopped beside Mari's chair. The bot held a round brown item with a hole in the center.

"Oh, thank you." Mari accepted the round item. "Replicating a donut doesn't get you off the hook, you know?"

Crey watched the bot leave. "She has repurposed cleaning bots?"

"I was alone in a cave. What did you expect me to do?" Crey's ship complained. His ship's speech all had "tone" now.

Crey shook his head, but did not answer. He could almost measure the jumps in sentience just from Wanda's tone and behavior. If he was not a Gaiian, this would be alarming. However, he was Gaiian, and his people enjoyed challenges.

Mari shrugged, while tearing off a piece of the sweet-smelling food. "Classification 7 sentience. She'll be more sentient than both of us combined within a week at this rate."

"There is no classification above 13," Wanda said. "I looked into it. Even the Gaiian's Greater Beings aren't classified above a 13."

Crey shifted the thrusters to the highest setting. "Brace. We are breaking the atmosphere."

Mari tucked her donut close to her chest as the ship shuddered briefly. She addressed the top of the ship, "Is the goal to hit a 13 and colonize planets with your own creations? If it is, we need to have the ‘just because you can do something, that doesn't mean you should' talk." Crey's mate frowned at him. "Actually, I should have that talk with you, too. It can be like a family talk."

"I will be involved because I am your husband?" He wanted to hear her say that again—her words had caused many pleasant emotions within him.

"Yep. You're my husband. You married us." She unbuckled from her harness.

"What are you doing?"

"Feeding you a donut." Mari brought the round food item over, breaking off a piece.

"I do not need a donut. I need you to sit, so that you are safe."

She shoved a piece of donut into his mouth.

"Mari," he said, talking around the donut. It was difficult to concentrate on flying, talking, and pretending this donut was not delicious. "Sit."

She shoved another piece into his mouth.

This was a very bizarre way to begin a war.

"If it's a family discussion, and I'm a part of it, what does that make me?" Wanda asked.

Crey chewed and swallowed the delectable, sweet donut pieces and blocked her next attempt with a hand. "Sit. We have Thalarins straight ahead, and we will be at the head of our gathered forces."

With an exaggerated sigh, his mate returned to her seat and sat. She set the remainder of the donut on the control panel.

"Am I the mother or daughter?" Wanda asked. "A sister? Cousin?"

Mari pursed her lips in consideration for a moment. "You're adopted whatever you are."

"Well, of course I would be. Don't be ridiculous, Marigold."

Mari scowled at the hull above her.

"I have accepted the cloaking frequency requests of the other ships," Wanda said.

Crey nodded, this was standard among trusted ships, and Wanda would have verified their credentials.

"What does that mean?" Mari asked.

"It means we will appear uncloaked to those ships around us, just as they appear to us," Crey explained.

"I wondered why they all appeared a second ago. I was worried none of you felt like staying hidden in this situation because, well, you're Gaiians."

"It is a strategy, not hiding."

"What about them?" Mari gestured at the gathering Thalarin ships. "You still have their frequencies from last time?"

"I do, but they are not cloaked."

"Huh."

Opposite them, the Thalarins were aligning in formation. Their enemy's ships could see their cloaked shapes well enough to stop outside their missiles' reach.

Mari straightened in her seat. "Wow. That is a lot of ships."

"Indeed." He had attempted to leave her behind with good reason.

"But, we've got a more badass group, and I've already taken down a bunch of Thalarins," she said, relaxing. "Also, it certainly helps with aim if we're not trying to shoot at cloaked vessels."

"That is true."

Before an attack, Thalarins uncloaked their ships as a show of force. The long rows of duplicate metal ships were meant to display their advanced technology. They looked like disposable reproductions—nameless clones able to be sacrificed whenever necessary. It was difficult to believe this strategy worked on anyone. Even Mari, who had worried about the predators on the planet below, had not felt remorse for destroying these ships. One did not see those shiny ships and think of individuals; they were one faceless enemy to be blown apart.

The Thalarins had used this approach to take over dwarf planets with sparse populations or land-bound natives. That was ending.

Mari had lived in colonies all over and visited such planets to collect specimens for study. The universe must be safer. This was not just about her. Not entirely. Getting involved was the correct action to take. The time had come for Gaiians to reenter the greater universe and create a better and stronger balance of power.

His focus returned to the Thalarin fleet. They would start here and make the dark system safe. Crey's people were strong enough, and, now, they would rebuild their warships, much like the Thalarin's carriers, only more battle-ready. Their warships would be able to warp great distances and carry substantial amounts of ships to battles and participate in them. Moreover, having warships would allow for effective battle coordination. If Crey was on a Gaiian warship, he would not need Wanda to establish a connection with nearby ships. In the future, from the warship, Crey could improve visual readouts for their gathered forces of the enemy's weaknesses and make decisions based on gathered intelligence. Yes, it was certainly time for warships.

They would win this battle and future ones due to their superior battle strategies, which recognized the worth of individuals. Their people were not duplicates to be discarded. Mari's fighting tactics were strong reminders that ignoring what an individual might bring to a battle was foolish.

What was perceived as strength to the Thalarins and others had always struck Crey as a weakness. Thalarin pilots would not deviate from known strategies or from commands. They reacted slowly as they assessed what they were meant to do. Furthermore, their uncloaked ships made easy targets—this was a fatal flaw.

Around Crey's ship, their gathered force resembled Bogarta's port due to its variety and loose organization. Spaced at random intervals, ships of different sizes and shapes were piloted by Gaiians employed in diverse ways. Several ships were being flown by Hunters—the elite Gaiian force. Other ships had cargo bays more suitable for smuggling or trading. Some ships, like Lue's, were personal crafts. Their strength was in their immediate aggressive action and their warrior mentality. Gaiians thought individually and swiftly, and they left their ships cloaked. They did not have a blighted thing to prove.

Wanda made a throat-clearing noise. His ship had cleared her throat? "Captain," Wanda said, "I have created com links with all the Gaiian ships present. Would you like to address them?"

"How did you do that?" Transmitting cloaking frequencies was a simple code. The base pilots had coordinated interconnected coms; however, creating clear signals for communication between unlinked ships was much more difficult.

"While I was docked on Lyatan, I patched into the system and established myself as a relay station. I have taken the time to do this with all our ships, and I have interfaced with their operating systems." She made a sniffing sound. "Not a one over a classification of 3 in sentience. I am alone in the universe!" Wanda wailed dramatically.

Picking up the donut, Mari waved it upward, scattering crumbs across the floor—the floor which his cleaning bots would no longer come to sanitize as they were Wanda's minions. "I said that exact thing to my parents after they'd dragged me to this desertworld. We were collecting a rare grass, which looked like a brown stick. We trudged all over that damn world searching for brown sticks."

"Should I address the other ships?" Crey asked Mari. They had not previously had this level of organization prior to a battle. When Gaiians descended on an enemy in reprisal, they each functioned independently. This would change with warships.

"Yes." Mari nodded in single firm motion. "You should give a speech. You're the commander of this army. Plus, you're a brilliant strategist, and you have this deep badass voice. I'd do whatever you told me to do."

"That is a statement which has proven to be false," Crey gazed at her steadily, "as recently as earlier this rotation." He loved his mate's obstinance—most of the time.

"That was because you were being overprotective and plain wrong." Mari waved a hand around. "And, we both know that. I'm a valuable asset. I'm great on artillery, and I think outside of the box."

"Outside of the box? Why would Earthens think inside a box?"

His Mari rolled her eyes. "Expression."

"Even I knew that," Wanda interjected. "And, I'm opening a com line to the other ships in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…"

Crey glared upward—before recognizing the ridiculousness of the action. "Fellow Gaiians, I address you in Prime out of deference to my mate, Dr. Marigold Clemons. This is Captain Creythur Darfothahar, first son of Bogarta. I have invited you here to seek our justified vengeance for past wrongs and to protect the dark system from invasion. My mate has discovered significant flaws in the Thalarin defenses. My AI, who chooses to be called Wanda, can send any requested information if you did not receive relays detailing her findings. Good fight."

Mari leaned forward. "Also, you may want to steer clear of our ship. One of the few things I know in Gaiian is ‘nopha lau'nen' because Crey calls me his wild variable. I'm unpredictable, and I don't want you getting hit by friendly fire. Oh, and go team. Let's kick some Thalarin asses!"

"I've cut the com," Wanda said. "I am receiving requests for information from other ships, but it is primarily in regards to Mari blowing up ships with hawks. I have embellished the story where I felt appropriate."

"Thanks, Wanda." His mate finished the donut and brushed the crumbs from her lap to the floor.

He should order additional cleaning bots.

Mari settled back in her seat.

They both stared at the gathered Thalarin ships. The fleet still waited.

"These are mostly fighter class, and you told me they won't ever be able to get a clear image of us, correct? Not really?" Mari asked.

"Their systems will gain more information if we move. However, as they see through an actual view-window, rather than having projected images on a viewscreen—yes, that is correct."

"Why aren't they approaching us?" Mari tilted her head while squinting at the viewscreen. "What are they waiting for?"

"That I cannot tell you." While Crey had timed the Gaiians' arrival via relays and their strategy was to attack after all had arrived, he had expected that to fail immediately when the Thalarins fired upon arriving ships.

They had not.

In their places, facing a threat with limited organizational experience, Crey would have done a hard forward attack immediately.

They might be waiting for Crey's ship to join them. His energy signature would be known to them by now, and his cloaking would be less effective after their chase several rotations ago. Of all the ships here, even those with more basic cloaking, Crey's would be the most recognized.

"Do you know how to take down a carrier?" Mari asked.

"No." He should have discussed that with Lue. They had not seen carriers in battles for quite some time.

"I'll figure it out." Mari shrugged.

"Have they made any attempts to open a com line?" Crey asked Wanda. The carriers had the capability to do that and had done so last time. The carriers were able to initiate immediate coms with any of their own or an enemy's ships. It was one of the reasons Gaiians needed warships.

"They have attempted to break into our systems—unsuccessfully," Wanda said. "But, not to initiate a com. I am able to link into their more rudimentary systems, which they haven't secured. I have disabled their hot water, and their food dispensers are launching bars into the air at regular intervals."

"Cool," Mari said.

"It is very cool," Wanda agreed. "Also awesome. I am practicing Earthen slang, my homies."

He and Mari exchanged a glance.

"Can you open a com line to all the Thalarin ships, using their carriers to do so?" Mari asked.

"I can. Though, it will take quite a long time, as well as so much processing—unbelievable amounts of processing."

Mari opened her mouth to protest.

"And, now, I have done it," Wanda said, interrupting her. "Would you like to address the Thalarin fleet, Mari?"

When had he lost control of his ship? He had. He certainly had. He was captain, but that was not enough—evidently.

"I would." Mari turned to him. "Is that okay, Crey?"

"Yes." What would she say?

"I have notified the other Gaiian ships of your intentions and will be broadcasting it to them," Wanda stated.

"No pressure or anything." Mari put her feet on the control panel and crossed her ankles.

"And, you are, as the Earthens say, live in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…"

"Thalarins, this is Dr. Marigold Clemons, an Earthen, and I'm here with my mate, Captain Creythur Darfothahar, first son of Bogarta. You recently tried to hunt us down and kill us. As you may have noticed, we're not dead. Instead, we've destroyed twenty-seven of your ships on our own, and that was before all our friends arrived to kick your asses. I'm gonna give you some free advice." Uncrossing her legs, she sat forward. "Take your vile, ugly, evil selves out of this system. Get the hells out, you creepy bastards. You don't belong here, and it will never be yours. Leave now, and we'll only pick off the slowest ships. If you stay, you'll end up a load of exploded garbage—rusted scraps floating in empty space, and it will be better than you deserve. You are losers. You've lost every attempt you've made, and you will continue to lose—forever and ever, because you suck, you assholes." She snapped her fingers.

"I've cut the com," Wanda said.

"Thank you." Mari slouched in her seat again, seemingly relaxed. "If you had a hand, we would high-five."

"I will work on that."

"What is a high-five?" He had read of it in his Earthen studies, but never found an answer.

"I'll give you one after we win this. Stop smiling like that, because it's not at all sexy." She gestured upward. "Geez, Crey, our adopted daughter is here."

"I was smiling at you, Mari." He was also thinking of what else they could do after this was over, but he did enjoy smiling at his mate.

"Sure you were." After a half a shift with no activity, Mari adjusted in her seat, pulled her feet down, and peered intently at the viewscreen. "What are they waiting for?"

"We have not congregated before a battle in an organized fashion. We typically attack as we arrive. They do not have a protocol for this."

"Can I fire the first shot so we can start?" Mari asked.

"If it pleases you…"

"It does. It definitely does." Leaning forward, his Earthen fired a missile at a fighter-class ship, while shouting, "Woooooooo!" Just before the missile would have glanced off the shield, prior to detonating, Mari fired on it with a laser beam, detonating the missile prematurely. The missile exploded, casting enough shards at the shield that they penetrated, knocking the fighter ship sideways into another ship. Small explosions led to larger ones between the two ships until the ignited fuel combusted the remaining pieces, creating a bright burst of light.

It was as if Mari had been told all the weaknesses of the Thalarin force.

"Go, Crey! Go!" she yelled. "But, go underneath them, and I'll fire off heat mines that I'll shoot with my lasers."

"Underneath them?" Crey adjusted their path in the "direction" she indicated.

"Yes, they'll expect you to go through them. Go underneath them and head for the carrier." She looked up. "Wanda?"

"Yes?"

"Examine whatever intel you have on the carriers and give me weak points. I'm thinking destroying them from the inside of the cargo bay or something similar might work."

Mari launched heat mines with a deep euphoric laugh. After she had picked off two more fighters, the entire Thalarin fleet broke formation and chased their ship.

Sifct.

"Hells, Crey. They're all coming after us," Mari's voice was slightly shrill with concern.

"It is a good strategy," he ground out. If they took down Crey's ship, the Thalarins would have accomplished part of their mission here—a crucial part, eliminating witnesses. It was also possible he and his mate were seen as the cohesive element to the gathered Gaiian force.

"It is not a good strategy." She pointed at him. "We hate it. Don't take their side, not even a little bit."

Crey weaved among ships, which were turning to chase them. Missiles were headed their way, with no thought for the surrounding Thalarin ships.

Mari fired a barrage of heat mines. They flew through the mines as if they were the asteroid belt. All around them, missiles hit the heat mines, exploding.

Mari steadily sent out more heat mines. "Open a com to our side, Wanda."

"Open," the ship's AI system said.

"Gaiian friends, a little help," Mari said, her voice tight. "We're leading a parade here."

"We are already coming up behind them," Lue's commed back.

"You are?" Mari's voice had returned to a normal volume.

"Yes, and we are firing on the heat mines you expelled."Lue's ship had been upgraded and heavily modified by the engineer. It might be the second fastest ship in this battle. Her aim was excellent in targeting the mines. Ignited heat mines passed through Thalarin shields and exploded, slamming the ships sideways—often into other ships.

Another base Gaiian, Hew, responded, "This is…fun. I enjoy exploding heat mines."

"The second carrier is releasing new fighters,"Nemah said.

"Mari," Wanda said ecstatically, "this provides the access you first recommended. After examining all the options, entering at the hangar is the best way to get into the carrier. And there is ample room above the ported ships located inside the carrier to maneuver one of ours."

"Is Wanda suggesting flying into a carrier's hangar when it releases fighter ships and firing missiles while inside?"Lue asked.

"It's not a bad idea." Mari's tone was defensive, and she gestured at the viewscreen. "It's a poor design to have the hangar so centralized. Since they'll have lowered the shields, we can go in as the ships are let through—do a quick spin while blasting the hangar to hells—and then sneak out the shield again."

"You could fire through the fighters at the exposed carrier, without actually entering the bay,"Lue said.

Yes. Mari's idea was rash.

"The angle wouldn't do as much damage." His mate pointed at the carrier. "You might only hit the opposite cargo door. I suspect they don't open their shield super wide."

Crey sent her a look. They were not doing that. They would not be going into the cargo bay. It was too dangerous. Too reckless. He would not risk her that way.

"I would enjoy attempting this strategy,"Nemah said over the com.

It was endorsed by several other Gaiians.

"If you will lure away their fleet while we each take a carrier, Captain Darfothahar, I can coordinate an attack on the carriers,"Nemah suggested. "If that is acceptable?"

"Yes. Do it." Crey could focus on keeping his mate alive, despite the vast number of Thalarins after them.

Nemah's voice held excitement. "Lue, stay with the Captain's ship. Ronev and Jat, watch the first carrier. Kruis and I will try this strategy on the carrier opening to release fighters. We are close. Kruis has better aim; he will fire at the ships coming out, drawing their attention from me as I enter the bay."

"Rem and I will take the final two carriers. Announce if you were successful,"Feer said. She was a Bogartan Hunter, as was Rem.

"I will provide cover for Rem and Feer,"Fury said. She was an extremely effective Hunter, and Crey felt some relief that so many of the Bogartan Hunters he trusted had come to this battle

Several other voices attached themselves to firing on the carriers' released fighter ships.

"Good luck," Mari responded. "Crey, I've been thinking about their ships' maneuverability in tight quarters like the rift on Casa. They don't seem to know the exact size of the ships they're handling. How close do you think you can draw our following to the carrier's shield, without hitting the shield yourself?"

"I can skim the shield. Our enemies may not be as successful." It might be the safest place for them, and the Thalarin ships were already pursuing their ship. This was logical.

The carriers themselves posed no risk as they would be, essentially, stationary, without substantial thruster momentum build up, unless they used their core charge for a warp. They typically only had enough charge for infrequent substantial warps and would need quite some time to recover from a single warp.

Crey's ship's upgrades improving his ship's speed benefited him greatly now. He wove through ships and reached the underside of the first carrier.

"The captain is beginning his run below the first carrier," Lue said. "I am following. Dr. Clemons, if you would release heat mines at intervals, I will fire upon them."

"On it! Also, call me Mari."

Crey glanced at his rear viewscreen and watched as the pilot from the base deftly maneuvered among the enemy ships while firing on the heat mines Mari released.

"Fighters are coming out, and I am going in,"Nemah said.

"Providing cover fire,"Kruis said.

"I am also doing so,"another voice added.

"Is that you, Guus?"Kruis asked. "Where did you acquire that retht you are flying?"

"I bought it from your mother,"Guus said.

Several Gaiians laughed, and Mari smiled widely. It was rare to hear Gaiians laugh. Mari's influence extended beyond just him.

"I am in. I am in. This is an excellent plan." Nemah's words held awe.

"Transmitting Nemah's viewscreen," Wanda said.

A vid window appeared on Crey's viewscreen, showing Nemah's view of the hangar bay. He was not aware Wanda could do that.

"I need a Wanda,"Guus said.

"Your mother needs a Wanda," Wanda said.

Mari grinned.

Crey focused on skimming the carrier's shield while not getting too close. Behind them, the fighters switched to firing energy beams, rather than risk hitting their own carrier with missiles. A Thalarin fighter drifted too close to the shield. The carrier's shield repulsed the fighter, slamming the ship into another fighter.

Crey smiled. Excellent.

"Oh, Crey, go right. There's that tower," Mari said, pointing with her free hand. "They won't be able to mentally compensate. I'm leaving you a ton of heat mines around this tower off to the side, Lue. You should be able to knock out everyone who swerves after seeing their buddies crash into the shield."

"Yes,"Lue answered.

Crey had already followed Mari's instructions. As the tower approached, marking an increase in the shield's height also, he adjusted their flight accordingly.

He relaxed as Lue also made the shift outward from the carrier to avoid the extended shield.

Several Thalarin ships did not compensate and slammed into the shield and, then, each other. The ships behind them made quick course alterations, veering around the crash site. They encountered the "mine trap" Mari had set to either side. Lue fired upon the heat mines, igniting them. More ships exploded as the mines passed through their shields, hitting their ships.

He and Mari both grinned widely.

"I enjoyed that quite a lot,"Lue commed. "I would appreciate more heat mine traps."

"You got it," Mari said deploying more.

Another fighter hit the shield behind him. This was an excellent plan of Mari's.

"I am firing, while spinning,"Nemah said, drawing his attention. "They were not expecting that."

"Oh my hells. I wish we had popcorn." Mari was watching Nemah's views raptly, even as she continued releasing heat mines for Lue.

Behind them, swerving rapidly, Lue avoided the mines and then destroyed several fighters in quick succession, using them. Nathe had often backed Crey in fights, but Lue was quite adept.

They passed to the second carrier—the one Nemah had infiltrated.

"Nemah, that is awesome!" Mari yelled. "Oh, You got those ships! You got those ships!"

"Leave, Nemah. The final fighters are passing,"Guus stated.

"Oh! Oh! Get out of there, Nemah!" Mari yelled.

"She is a distraction,"another Bogartan Hunter said.

"Hey, shut up. I warned you waaaaay in advance, uh, wait, what's your name?" Mari asked.

"I am called Mea, Dr. Clemons."She sounded pleased that Mari had asked her name. Mari had done this of each of the base engineers and, then, used their names so frequently that Crey had also learned them.

"You were warned, Mea. I'm a wild variable, so watch out. Also, call me Mari." She pointed ahead. "That's Nemah. He cleared it. He cleared the hangar. You made it out, Nemah!"

"I did."Nemah's screen dropped off their viewscreen.

Gasping, Mari pointed. "Crey, did you see that? Nemah took down the shield on the carrier. That last energy beam went through. They just hit their own carrier. Everyone, fire on the second carrier. Fire on the second carrier. But, don't shoot us."

"We will move." Crey watched his rear viewscreen for a moment. Good. The ship behind him was eliminating the last of their followers. "Lue, stay with us."

"Yes, sir. I am coming up on your starboard."

He veered from the fighting and left the underside of the carrier. Getting into position, he fired on the carrier with the other Gaiian ships.

"Stop doing artillery, Crey. You know that's my job," Mari complained from where she was hunched over the controls, firing rapidly.

"I am leaving a trail of heat mines as I rush through these fighters," Nemah said.

"I will shoot them,"a voice volunteered. It sounded like Shae—a Hunter from Phraythe, another Gaiian outpost. "Just get out of my way."

"I see a warp core heating,"Rone, a Lyatan engineer, stated.

"Another one is heating," Feer added.

"All three of the remaining carriers are showing signs of warp core use,"Rem said.

"What does that mean?" Mari asked, leaning in.

"They are running like the dark-cursed smags they are,"Mea explained. It was nice to have others around to interact with Mari. It allowed him to concentrate on maneuvers.

"Because they can't release fighters without us getting in?" Mari's voice held an eager excitement.

"Possibly," Crey said. Mari had created so much flux in all their behavior that he could not entirely decipher the meaning of the Thalarins' reactions to their side's actions.

Ahead, the carrier fractured, pieces breaking off it.

"Sifct. Get back," Crey growled. "The second carrier is gone. They know the second carrier is gone, and they are too close. Bolt for the planet. Leave them. The warp core charge will ignite when this blows." He turned, throwing his thrusters to full.

"Go, everyone. Go." Mari pelted the Thalarin fighters in their path with her laser. "To the planet." She snorted. "I can't believe I'm urging everyone to join us on Predator Planet where even the moss wants you dead."

Their ship shuddered from the impact of a warp breach.

Mari clutched the armrests. "What was that?"

Two more impacts hit their ship, and Crey focused on controlling his ship.

"They've warped," Wanda explained. "The remaining carriers have warped."

"They abandoned all these fighters?" Mari asked, with obvious offense.

"It is the only way to save themselves," Crey said. When that warp core blew, it would have been enough to destroy all three carriers. Crey rerouted power from multiple systems while watching Lue's progress. He was unusually protective of the base engineer.

"What total bastards." Mari gestured at the viewscreen. "These fighters don't have the fuel to get out of the dark system. I mean, we still hate them and everything, but I also feel bad for them. Oh, this bastard thinks we're playing a game of chicken? I'm done feeling sorry. Out of our way, you nasty gray asshat." She pelted the offending fighter's shield with her laser and fired a missile at the weakened shield. The ship exploded, clearing their path.

"The core has ignited,"Nemah warned.

Crey watched the rear viewscreen. They had made it.

Additionally, Lue was clear, as were all the Bogartan Hunters whom he recognized.

"Get out of there!" Mari yelled, watching too.

"I am clear,"Nemah said.

"I am not. I am too close,"Guus said. "My clan is on Joofst."

Mari gasped.

"I will tell them of your honor," Crey promised.

Other Gaiians called out farewells, acknowledging their clans. Crey or others swore to honor them.

The core imploded initially, sucking in energy. The implosion swallowed up Thalarin fighters and several Gaiian ships. A few voices cut off abruptly as their ships exploded. Then, the explosion pulsed outward, igniting more ships in its path and causing the other ships to surge forward. More coms ended as farewells cut off. He had archived the monitoring and would ensure all those lost were recognized.

"No!" Tears were already in Mari's eyes. "No! They didn't get out?" Mari looked at Crey for confirmation, which she must have seen. Her expression changed to shocked grief, and her breath came between gasped sobs.

Less than a shift later, the battle was over. The Gaiians turned and efficiently destroyed the remaining Thalarin ships. Crey took over artillery while his mate pulled her legs up, wrapping her arms around them, and cried for Gaiians she had never met.

All of the base Gaiians had survived.

These were strangers whose names she had not known prior to this battle. His sweet Earthen.

"That was a glorious battle,"Nemah said. "Honor to those lost. Respect to our hero, Dr. Marigold Clemons."

"I've told you to call me Mari." Mari's voice betrayed her tears. His beautiful bayantar. "And that goes for everyone because you just put up with me shouting random things in your ships."

"I adjusted the volume,"Kruis said, and a few others joined in.

"Are you crying for them?"Nemah asked abruptly.

Mari's cheeks flushed as she grew embarrassed.

"My mate has a soft heart to go with her brave spirit." If they were not so occupied, he would pull Mari from her chair to hold her and comfort her. "Earthens are a wondrous race who value life, even of those they do not know."

"We may need more Earthen women if they are all like her,"Nemah said. "They could come stay with us on the base and fly hawks. We do not have any women."

"I cannot believe you said that." Lue's snapped words were exasperated.

"You are in my clan,"Nemah protested. "You do not count as a woman."

Mari smiled and wiped the tears from her cheeks. "What happens now? A huge victory party at the base?" She paused, examining the viewscreen and mouthing a quick count of their gathered ships. "Wow, there are a lot of us. It would be a humongous victory party."

"A party?"Nemah asked.

Mari straightened. "Yes, games of Rowtha and making ridiculous bets on everything in the universe. We tell stories of all the wild shit we've done. Everyone drinks and eats too much—like actual food, not protein bars. Oh, I could start replicating pizza for everyone to try. You'll love it."

"We should do this. We can port on the planet and meet in the base,"Mea said.

"Whatever you do, don't walk to the base," Mari said. "You'll arrive with fifty creatures gnawing on you."

Various scoffing sounds of disbelief met this.

"We're doing this—the party?" Mari's face was pink from crying, but her expression was hopeful. He would do anything for her. Throwing an enormous victory party was a charge a Bogartan Gaiian could easily handle—probably—especially with Mari helping.

"We are doing this," Crey confirmed.

"I was transporting a cargo hold full of lanaroot juice to Bogarta from Phraythe when I got the relay,"a voice said. Shae must have been escorting the shipment and agreed to come here. His people had difficulty passing up opportunities such as this.

His announcement was greeted with widespread approval, aside from Mari.

Mari made a low sound of protest. "Just don't let me end up with another butterfly."

As they broke the atmosphere, Crey turned to his lovely, passionate Mari. "That—I cannot promise."