Tarakus Deadmerit: Time Frame/CH. 18

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN Tepagastra Sandman Near Lorrd

Tarakus was near the hyperdrive, fixing one of the terminals nearby, when he was thrown off his feet. The ship shook violently. "What the Force was that?!" He yelled. He made his way to the front of the ship, and saw a few ISD-5's coming into view. "Great. Moorshavin's fleet.  When did they arrive?!" He said this, while Mirandall and Tu'verana were working the controls. Tu'verana, in the pilot's seat, said, "They just appeared. They're using their long-range turbolasers." Tarakus cocked his head to the side, and said, "Doesn't he know we're using collubroid? No laser is powerful enough to destroy c-90,000 grade Collubroid." "That's what they said, when they fabricated durasteel and C-75,000 Collubroid. Look where that got them." Tu'verana replied back, sporting a sarcastic smile on her face. Tarakus looked at his daughter. "After all these years, I still wish you were more like me, and less like your grandmother." He clapped her on the shoulder, and quickly retreated back to the hyperdrive terminal, which was spitting out sparks. "Gahh. . .they always get worse before they get better. Ain't it how it always goes." He set straight to work, when his comlink buzzed in his pocket. "Deadmerit." "Yeah, Wayne here. Did you see those WSIR warships before?" "No. They must've been cloaked.  No wonder they fired on us.  Sneaky sandscales!" "No kidding. I caught a big blast myself.  I'm glad our gunship's made out of C-90,000 collubroid." "Even that's not guaranteed to hold, Wayne. Everyone tells us that when we do our space training." "Good point, Tarakus. I'll keep that in mind." Tu'verana yelled back into the hyperdrive chamber. "These guys are demanding to talk to Tarakus Deadmerit!" "Thanks, Tu'vy. Uh, Wayne, I'll have to call you back." ''"Got that, Admiral Deadmerit. Deadmerit out."

- - - - - - ISD-5 Intercept crew near Lorrd

The captain of the ISD-5-244, looked at the ship's comm system, waiting for Tarakus to answer. The line crackled after what seemed like minutes. "This is Admiral Tarakus Deadmerit, Black Commander Corps. Who am I speaking to?" "This is Captain Tutherland, on the ISD-5-244. You do realize that you are in restricted space, correct?" "What?! How is that possible?" "The WSIR took over Lorrd, just a couple weeks ago. We need you to turn around, and return to Tepagastra.  You are not to interfere with our operations." The captain, Tutherland said, flatly. "Look, Captain Tutherland, I outrank you. Even though we belong to different factions, I still outrank you.  You must permit me and my cohorts through your defensive line, so we may conduct our investigation into the disappearance of Lumiya." Tutherland held his ground for a moment, trying his hardest to keep Tarakus in line, but when the word investigation was dropped, he folded quickly. "I'm sorry, Stenthis Deadmerit. I didn't realize that you were conducting an investigation on Lorrd.  You may proceed on your present course.  Tutherland out." Tutherland shut off the comlink, then opened a channel to the other vessels with him. "Allow him through. He's conducting an investigation." "Copy that, Captain Tutherland." After that, the channel became a mess of technical maneuvering jargon, that even Tutherland could barely understand. When Lord Warbird finds out I did this, I'll be fried for sure. Tutherland thought, as he continued to watch the maneuvers executed by the ships he was in charge of.

- - - - - - Tepagastra Sandman, passing WSIR blockade runners

As Tu'verana maneuvered past the ISD-5-244 and her other charges, she breathed a sigh of relief. "Nice lecture, Dad." She said, looking at Tarakus, who stared straight ahead. "Wayne?" "Yeah?" "Ya cloaked?" "Yep. I'm cloaked. We're following close behind you.  They don't even know that we're there." "Good. Keep it that way.  I need to make a call." "Very well, Tarakus. I'll see ya on Lorrd." "Yep. Deadmerit out." Tarakus clicked off the comlink and said, "Time to call Harlan."

- - - - - - Slokana, Tristchana

Harlan's comlink went off unexpectedly, making him jump out of his seat. He pulled it out of his pocket, and replied. "Takanagamo. Who is this?" "Hello, Harlan. Tarakus here.  When did the WSIR take Lorrd over?" Harlan's face went numb. Moorshavin's invasion had already begun. ''Try to remain calm, Harlan. You can do this.'' He grabbed an Intel report, suggesting that WSIR had silently taken over Lorrd, only a couple days ago. "According to my latest Intel, looks like the WSIR took it over, a couple days ago." "Great. Moorshavin started his invasion.  We're gonna have to stop him fast." "Agreed. I'm dispatching my fleets as fast as I can.  I'll be there as soon as I can.  Just hold on for a bit, ok?" "Yeah. I kinda wish you could be here sooner.  I had to sneak past a WSIR ISD-5 blockade, just to get where I am, right now." "Wow. That's bad. I'll be there soon.  Takanagamo out." As soon as Harlan set his comlink down, he grabbed his equipment, including his lightstaff, and walked out the door, cursing.