The Atlantis turned ten degrees to starboard as her whiskers started probing the dark expanse of space. Unknown to Rick and the crew of the Atlantis, the source of the disturbance was only ten thousand meters from them.
On board the other vessel Commander Olissua watched the holo display in the center of the bridge as ripples in the motion detectors appeared.
"Con, twenty five degrees up angle," Olissua ordered.
"Aye sir, twenty five degrees up angle," the woman sitting at the con repeated.
Olissua felt the shift as the massive ship shifted its course. The inertial dampeners were still out of sink and took a few seconds to compensate for sudden shifts motion.
"Steady as she goes Con, keep on course for Eutharan and the Marudas," Olissua said as she stood up from the command chair.
"Aye sir, steady as she goes," Con repeated.
Olissua watched, as the distortions grew stronger from what she assumed was the Atlantis, approached their previous location.
"Ops, do we have an identity on that vessel?" Olissua asked as she leaned forward on the railing.
"Negative sir, we don't have enough information from the distortions for the computer to make a guess," Ops reported.
'Commander, I calculate five minutes until my recognition software will be able to identify the unknown vessel, ' a male voice said.
Olissua nodded as she gave the order to come twenty five degrees down and to proceed on course for Eutharan. She was determined to reach her objective and prove that the new technology that had been discovered by the people on Ghost Station was useful.
Terri and the Raptor team lead by Brin'tores had finished securing their ships as the shuttle carrying the kids landed. The marine squad that was supposed to meet them hadn't arrived yet, which put them all on guard.
"Raptor Je'laques to Marudas control," Brin'tores said. When no response came she tried again and after nothing she turned to Terri. "Commander I'm not getting a response from the Marudas."
"Huh?" Terri said as she furrowed her eyebrows. "Captain Hunter to Marudas control respond." She waited a couple seconds before she tried a different route. "Captain Hunter to Eutharan Ground Control."
'Eutharan Ground Control, what can we help you with Princess?' a male voice said.
"We're unable to reach our vessel in orbit, is there something wrong?" Terri asked.
'Please stand by Princess while I check it out, ' the voice said.
Terri turned to Brin'tores, "I don't like this Commander, I want you to move everyone to the Raptor Je'laques and prep for immediate dust off. My team isn't here and the marines haven't arrived and I smell something fishy."
Brin'tores nodded as she began calling out orders and turned her attention from Terri as she monitored the move. Terri walked back over to her fighter and started the prep cycle as she took it out of stand by mode.
'Princess, we have no interference that can be detected. If you would like we can send someone out to check your area, ' the voice said.
"No, that will be ok, your people are restricted from this area. Just patch me through to Admiral Hunter or Princess Deatra please," Terri responded.
'One moment Princess, as I patch you through, ' the voice responded.
"Thank you," Terri responded.
Terri had just stowed most of her arms in the fighter in preparation to take off as someone's voice came from her com.
'Princess Hunter, what can I do for you?' the voice asked.
"Excuse me, but who is this I asked to speak to Admiral Hunter to Princess Deatra," Terri said carefully.
'I'm Duke Nadeo Princess. Prince Hunter and Princess Deatra are busy right now and I have been tasked with your safety, ' Nadeo said.
"Thank you, but I just need patched through to the Marudas or the Prince or Princess. There is really no need for you to worry yourself with our safety," Terri replied.
'I'm sorry Princess but I have been ordered by the King himself to make sure you and your people are escorted safely to the palace. I have dispatched two squads to your location as escorts, ' Nadeo replied.
Terri started pulling her weapons back out as she replied, "Duke, understand this, your people are not allowed access to this part of the tarmac. Trying to enter it will cause a conflict and until I get the ok from Admiral Hunter, me and my people will defend it with our lives."
After a brief pause Nadeo responded, 'I have my orders Princess and I'm sorry but they come from the king himself and I can't ignore them.'
"Then perhaps we should just return to the Marudas until I can contact Admiral Hunter," Terri replied.
'I'm sorry that is not an option, the base has been locked down because of the recent attack on you. I'm afraid if you try to take off you might get accidentally shot down by our own people and as such your ships have been locked down to protect you, ' Nadeo said.
A different voice interrupted Terri's conversation, "Captain we have multiple units closing in on our positions."
"Lieutenant are they military units?" Terri asked.
"Affirmative Captain, we could at least five separate units closing from multiple directions," the Lieutenant replied.
"They're not to enter this section of the base, reposition your mean as you see fit," Terri said as she started back towards the Raptor that was sitting a few feet away.
"Yes sir," the Lieutenant replied.
"Duke Nadeo, just what are you playing at? Pull your men back or we will use force to stop their progression. One more thing, that is NOT two squads," Terri said.
'I'm sorry Princess, I have my orders, ' that was the only thing the Duke said before the com went dead.
Opellissa and five females dressed in loose fitting black garbs watched the movements of Terri and the Raptor team below. Something she wasn't expecting was the three kids and their guardians. Two of them walked on all fours and she was unsure of their abilities. The other flitted about checking one thing or another, she knew by his movements he was a special forces Buranis. He shouldn't be much of a problem as long as they made their intentions clear. They weren't after the kids, they were after the Princess; no loss of life would be necessary.
The duke shouldn't have been here and his presence complicated things. Because of his threats and his mistreatment of the Princess, the Princess and her party was on guard. She carefully studied the placement and organization of the armored figures, looking for a break to use as an advantage.
Opellissa, turned and nodded and two of the females turned, disappearing into the darkness as they moved to their predetermined position. A dull tingling sensation crept into her mind; the sensation was nothing she had ever felt before. She began to worry about the upcoming abduction and if it would be successful.
Her team's job was simple, kidnap the Princess. If unable to complete her primary mission her team was to retreat and attempt to abduct the Prince later. They weren't to harm either of their targets and to only disable anyone standing in their way.
Opellissa's eyes switched to the three children sitting in the cockpit of the Raptor, they were an unforeseen complication. Why hadn't the Elder known that they would be here? Wasn't he supposed to see all possible branches in the future? How much more could be wrong about this situation? If more predictions were wrong, what impact would their current actions have on the future?
Thanks to all my fans for making this possible, remember feedback is welcome.
Thanks to my editor BoBMcC
Siath