Thanks TP Scot, I am glad you are enjoying the read.
Now for the Twelfth installment! Events are now in motion for an huge battle between Gondacor and Chelsyria, that could determine the outcome of the war. I hope you enjoy.
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“The Looming Conflict”
“Guard! Open that door!” Empress Surrelia shrieked down the hall, approaching the cell Telari was held in, with Loke at her side. Inside the cell, the shrieking of Empress Surrelia’s voice echoed, and woke Telari out of her daydreaming, and brought once again the back to the reality of her situation.
“Loke, is the prisoner all ready for a good questioning? Surrelia asked with growing excitement.
“I checked her out awhile ago and she is in good health.” Loke replied, grudgingly.
“Ah! Wonderful! Finally some new blood to play with. When I’m done with her, she may not be in the best of health.” Empress Surrelia said out loud, cackling. “Wait out her till I am done Loke, It won’t be too long.” Empress Surrelia said strutting into to the cell, closing the heavy door behind her.
“So, you are the spy that I keep hearing about in my palace. Gondacor sure has a great since of humor, sending a feeble person like you over here. My troops tell me you took off running, and fell to the ground, trying to get away from them. Needless to say, you didn’t put up much of a fight.” Empress Surrelia said mockingly.
“Like I told your troops, guards, Loke, and now you, I AM NO SPY!” Telari shouted at Surrelia, spitting in her face.
Wiping the spit from her face, Surrelia began, “so, you want to play rough! I was hoping for this, I can now bring out my toys! Also, Get one thing straight, address me as EMPRESS! Surrelia screamed, getting into Telari’s face, and striking Telari with her fist.
Coughing, Telari responded, “You can beat me all you want, but you will never get anything out of me! I AM NO SPY, and I NO NOTHING! I know nothing about Gondacor military plans, or intelligence! So, you get me, I will never address such a vile scum, such as yourself, as EMPRESS! You are nothing but a pathetic scum, infesting this galaxy!”
After Telari finished venting her frustration, Surrelia looked around, licked her teeth, then grasped Telari by the neck.
“YOU GET THIS, one way or another I am going to get the information out of your head.” Surrelia screamed, moving within an inch of Telari’s face, and grasping her hand ever tighter around Telari’s neck.
Gasping, Telari pleaded, “Please! PLEASE! Let go! I can’t breath!”
“TELL ME WHAT I WANT TO KNOW!” Surrelia shouted back, grasping her hand even tighter.
“AHH! LET GO!” Telari barely gargled out.
“Very well!” Empress Surrelia said, letting go of Telari’s neck. Being let go, Telari let out a loud gasp, sucking in the putrid air, and coughing.
Surrelia than began again, “That was only a taste of what is to come for you! Guard, Get this pathetic thing of the table, and strap her to the wall! Also bring in my cart of goodies! Empress Surrelia ordered through her Com.
“Right away my Empress!” The guard replied.
Surrelia then turned to Telari, with a smirk, “Now the real fun can begin!”
“Nothing you can do to me will ever break me! I would much rather die, so just kill me know! Telari shouted at Surrelia, then turned her head toward the wall.
Surrelia grabbed Telari’s chin, and jerked her head back around. “Where would the fun be in that! Plus, that would be too easy!” Surrelia sternly said. looking deep into Telari’s eyes, Surrelia spoke again in her loathing voice, “the fun is just about to begin!”
The guard walked into the cell pushing the cart with Empress Surrelia’s ’toy collection,’ leaving it beside the table. He then went over to the table, and holding Telari with all his strength, picked her up, kicking, and shackled her up to the wall.
“Is there anything else you need my Empress?” The guard asked.
“No, that is all. Just tell Loke I’ll be done in awhile.” Empress Surrelia said, turning her attention back to the prisoner. Empress Surrelia walked over to her cart by the table, and pushed it front of Telari hanging the wall. Surrelia then moved over toward Telari.
“Can you guess what is inside this cart?” Surrelia asked menacingly. Telari just turned away, and ignored Surrelia’s question.
“Well, it is the silent treatment now!” Empress Surrelia laughed at Telari. Surrelia then immediately stopped her cackling, and grabbed Telari’s head.
“You listen here!” Surrelia punched Telari in the gut. “No one disrespects me by not answering when I demand it. I am going to let you hang here for awhile, and when I return, I expect some manners. I’ll let you contemplate what fun awaits in the cart.” Empress Surrelia shouted, then turned and exited Telari’s cell. She turned to Loke.
“Loke, make sure she is ready for some fun when I get back. I want her to be fully aware of what’s going on.” Empress Surrelia ordered Loke.
“Yes, my Empress it will be done.” Loke said with a sigh.
Back on the galactic scene, more conflicts were breaking out, and spiraling the galaxy deeper into chaos.
“Commander Tarsus, what is your status?” President Zocar asked, opening communications.
“We are currently conducting repairs on the fleet in the Gabe System. The fleet sure took a pounding in that last engagement with the Chelsyrian Alliance, we might be out for awhile.” Commander Tarsus said disappointed.
“You are not going to be able to be down very long! Our scout ships, in Chelsyrian space, have reported a massive fleet of Chelsyrian ships heading for the Gabe System, and they will be there very soon. The scouts reported that the Chelsyrian fleets were composed of heavily armed battleships, and almost outnumber your fleets stationed at Gabe almost two to one.” President Zocar informed Tarsus.
“Shoot! I don’t think we will be prepared in time to counter their attack!” Tarsus reluctantly replied.
“Don’t worry too much, I have a little surprise for you. The new ships that we have been franticly trying to put together are done and ready for action. I have ordered the ships to rendezvous with your main fleet down at Gabe. They should be there before the Chelsyrians make it there.” Zocar pleasantly reported.
“Wow, that was quick! The ships are much appreciated, I will be putting them to use as soon as they get here.” Commander Tarsus said in amazement.
“You are very welcome. We want this conflict dealt with quickly, and with minimal loss of life. Zocar graciously replied.
“I will end this as quickly as I can!” Commander Tarsus promised, and closed transmission.
After transmission was closed with Commander Tarsus, President Zocar returned to his work. But, before he got to deep into it, his secretary came running into the office.
“President Zocar! We have just received word that the Drengin Empire has attacked the Korath planet Florin, effectively declaring war on them.”
“Thank you for the information. Get me Lord Kona on a secure channel immediately!” President Zocar asked.
“Right away President Zocar.” the secretary replied.
When communication was opened President Zocar began.
“Greetings Lord Kona! It is a honor to have your audience.” President Zocar said welcomingly.
“The same to you. Now what is your reason for contacting us?” Lord Kona said questioning Zocar.
“We heard of your declaration of war upon the Korath Clan, and would like to offer you support in this conflict. If there is anything you need, the Gondacor Federation will be here to help.” President Zocar expressed.
“The Drengin Empire thanks you for your offer, but it seems that you can use all the help you can get in your struggle against the Chelsyrian Alliance. I don’t see how Gondacor could possibly help.” Lord Kona replied, concerned.
“We are having a bit of a problem with the Chelsyrians, but if the Korath are not stopped, Gondacor will surely be a target of theirs.” Zocar stated.
“You are probably right. If there is anything we need, I will be sure to ask you first.” Lord Kona said, and closed transmission.
Following Zocar’s discussion with Lord Kona, Zocar tried to get back to work, but was too distracted to concentrate. He got up from his desk, and walked over to the window over looking most of the capital. Zocar looked out across the city, watching all the ships and vehicles flying through the sky, and began to contemplate the effects the war with the Chelsyrian Alliance would have on Gondacor. He knew that this war must be won at all costs, for Empress Surrelia would love nothing more than to blast Gondacor to fragments. Zocar then turned his head up, and looked into the evening sky, watching the stars slowly begin to poke their light through.
He began to think back, before the time of space travel, when he was still young. Zocar pictured all the times that he remembered just going outside and laying on the soft grass to watch the stars. He remembered how they always seemed so far away, but he loved to imagine what amazing things must lay around them. Now, all Zocar could see was the misery that laid waiting around them, the stars had become a diminished memory of what they had used to mean to Zocar, they were the bringers of sorrow.
Suddenly, breaking the dimming evening sky, a shooting star came streaking across the sky. It only lasted a moment, quickly burning out, as it shot towards the ground. For a moment images of disaster entered Zocar’s mind, before it hit him that it was only a shooting star. He could no longer see the beauty in the heavens, when he looked towards it, Zocar only pictured disaster. Zocar realized that finding out Gondacor was a small and insignificant spec in a universe full of life, somehow had diminished the preciousness of his world.
While President Zocar contemplated in his office, light years away in the Gabe System, Commander Tarsus’s fleet was preparing to head out and meet the advancing Chelsyrian fleets. The battle that was beginning to unfold, involved more ships than any previous engagement, and promised to be a turning point and longing war.