SKYTREK - CHAPTER 14 (standard:humor, 2312 words) [14/15] show all parts
Author: Danny Miami	Added: May 24 2010	Views/Reads: 2174/1702	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Second last Chapter of the comedy novel.

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story

fleet and convince them that they were on a captured Federation ship on 
their way home. 

The bait wasn't necessary. Dennis had jumped at the opportunity to help
and with the promise of a trip to the seaside sometime in the near 
future, Otto was hovering behind him, adding authenticity to the 
deception. 

“No I'm afraid you can't talk to the General,” the Lieutenant told
Dennis. “He's making a speech before we go on our mission.” 

Dennis affected convincing disappointment. “Oh well, pity about that. I
haven't seen old Draygo for yonks. Last time I saw him he threatened to 
put me down a rubbish chute!” he said, laughing. 

“Get on with it, Dennis, get on with it,” the Captain muttered through
gritted teeth. 

On the battle cruiser, the Lieutenant was also gritting his. He was
missing Draygo's speech and wanted to get back to it. 

“So you're off on a mission, are you?” Dennis continued chattily, much
to everyone's annoyance. “Must be something special with half the fleet 
there.” 

“It is,” replied the Lieutenant. “We're going to wipe out Earth.
Draygo's got hold of some Anti-Matter.” 

“Has he?” said Dennis, raising his hairy eyebrows. “He wants to be
careful with that. It's pretty dangerous stuff, you know. One spark and 
the whole fleet could go up. Reminds me of the time we were exploring 
the other side of the planet Kedatryl. We had some terrible explosions 
there. Ever been to Kedatryl?” 

Barely concealing his irritation, the Lieutenant shook his head. ‘Trust
me to get stuck with a long winded bore in the middle of Draygo's 
speech,' he thought. 

“It's a strange place,” Dennis went on. “Got two atmospheres, you know,
bit like a double rainbow. Ever seen a double rainbow? Gorgeous, aren't 
they? All those lovely--” 

His chatter was interrupted as Otto thrust a note in front of him. 

“Oh excuse me till I read this, Lieutenant,” he said, unfolding it. 

‘GET OFF THE FRIGGING SCREEN NOW!!' said the note. 

Dennis smiled at it then glanced up. “Sorry about this, Lieutenant,” he
said, “but I'll have to go. Something's cropped up. Well, good luck on 
the mission.” 

“Yes, thanks sir,” the Lieutenant replied, relieved that he was finally
getting away. “See you when we return.” 

“Oh hang on a minute,” Dennis said, just as the Lieutenant was about to
switch off his monitor, “you don't happen to know if there's a Corporal 
Brick along on the mission, do you?” he asked, then glanced to the side 
as something caught his eye. 

Off camera, General Bradley had one of his laser pistols pointed at him
and his finger was tightening on the trigger. 

“Forget it,” Dennis said quickly. “Must dash. Good luck.” 

“Thanks sir – bye,” the Lieutenant replied, seizing his opportunity and
flicking off his monitor. He breathed a sigh of relief and turned to 
the Private. “Relay a message through the fleet,” he ordered. “There's 
a captured Federation ship passing. Anybody who contacts them is liable 
to be talking to its Klinger Captain for the rest of the night.” 

Back on the bridge of the Orion, Dennis turned and beamed at everyone.
“Well how did I do, gents?” he asked. 

“Wonderful,” replied the Captain. “You're a natural.” 

“Talker or liar?” grunted General Bradley, holstering his laser pistol. 

Dennis grinned and took off Simon's blue cloak. “Glad to have been able
to help, gents,” he said. “Really enjoyed it. Anytime you need me, just 
say the word. Having a bit of a party are we?” he asked, taking in the 
American football shirts, baseball caps and Mr Sprock's frilly pink 
dress. “Must be a bit naughty going by that stuff you're wearing. Bit 
on the kinky side is it, eh? I've been to some wild parties in my time 
I can tell you.” 

“Tell us some other time,” the Captain said wearily. He nodded to the
two Ensigns who escorted him and Otto from the bridge. 

“Right – everybody back to their posts!” General Bradley ordered. “Let's
get this show underway!” 

The depleted bridge crew returned to their positions and everybody
watched the rear observation screen as the Orion drifted away from the 
Klinger fleet. The plan was simple enough – to give the impression they 
were moving past and then double back and fire. 

“How far off the firing position are we?” the Captain asked Mr Sprock. 

Mr Sprock glanced at his monitor. “Eighty space miles, Jim,” he replied.


“Let me know when it's one hundred and fifty,” the Captain said, “then
we'll double back.” 

Sprock nodded and the Captain strolled over to the Weapons Console. 

General Bradley grinned and rubbed his hands together. “Get the nukes
warmed up, boy!” he ordered. 

“Yes General,” said the Captain. He slid back a metal panel on the
console and punched some buttons underneath. The buttons glowed green 
then moments later turned red. “Weapons ready,” he announced. 

“One hundred and fifty space miles,” Mr Sprock said calmly. 

“Turn us around!” yelled the General. “Let's kick some Commie ass!” 

“Let's hope the Klingers are too busy listening to Draygo to bother with
their scanners,” muttered the Captain. 

“Agreed, Jim,” said Sprock. 

Crackers swung the Orion around and as they headed back towards the
Klinger fleet, Mr Sprock continued to watch the figures on his monitor. 


“One hundred and twenty space miles,” he announced. 

The Captain leaned forward at his console and contacted the Engine Room.
He had warned Jocky earlier that they would require Warped Speed and 
now he was ready to implement the order. “Ready for Warped Speed?” he 
asked. 

“Anytime surr,” came Jocky's reply. “Just say the word.” 

“I'll leave the line open,” the Captain told him. “Go to Warped Speed on
my command.” 

“Eighty spaces miles,” said Sprock. 

The Captain punched some buttons on the Weapons Console. “Lasers locked
and ready for firing,” he announced. 

“Fifty space miles,” said Sprock. 

The Captain punched some more buttons. “Shields up,” he announced. 

“Forty space miles to our firing position,” said Sprock. “How is our
approach angle?” he asked. 

“Locked on a thirty seven degree approach,” replied Crackers. “Ready for
firing.” 

General Bradley grinned and strapped himself into his seat. “Hang on
boys!” he yelled happily. “Let's nuke them sons of bitches!!” 

PART TWO 

On board the Klinger battle cruiser the Private who had earlier spotted
the Orion joined in the cheering and whistling at something General 
Draygo had just said. 

At first he had watched his scanner closely but as the small dot which
represented the Orion began heading away from the fleet he had lost 
interest and his attention had drifted back to the observation screen 
and Draygo. 

He had leapt to his feet to join in some applause with the others and
now that it was dying down he turned and took his seat again. Still 
grinning he glanced casually at his scanner and the grin died on his 
ugly face. 

He reached out and grabbed the Lieutenant's sleeve again, his eyes on
the small dot which had turned back and was rapidly approaching the 
fleet. Not wanting to be bothered a second time, the Lieutenant shook 
him off. 

“Sir!” the Private persisted, grabbing his sleeve again and shaking it. 

“What the hell is it now!?” the Lieutenant snapped. 

The Private pointed a thick finger at his scanner. 

The Lieutenant's hairy eyebrows shot up his forehead. “Jesus!” he
exclaimed. “They're attacking!” He hit the alarm button then turned and 
started shoving his way through the crowd of warriors watching Draygo. 
“Captain!” he yelled. “Enemy ship on the scanner! We're being 
attacked!” 

“Raise Shields,” the Captain ordered calmly then turned to his open
ship-to-ship line. “Fleet under attack. Raise Shields,” he relayed. 

“Fire!” announced Mr Sprock on the Orion. 

“Fire!” echoed General Bradley. “Nuke the bastards!!” 

The Captain hit the red buttons on his Console then turned to his open
line to the Engine Room. “Warped Speed!” he ordered Jocky. 

Crackers veered the Orion away and seconds later they hit Warped Speed
as their laser shot was deflected off the Shield of the Klinger ship in 
the second circle. 

“Fleet under attack! Raise Shields!” the voice ordered over the
ship-to-ship line on the Mother Ship but enthralled by General Draygo's 
speech, nobody heard it, 

Except Kharg. 

His oval yellow eyes flicked to a nearby scanner and he saw the dot
racing away from the fleet. He turned to warn Draygo as the Orion's 
laser shot deflected off the Shields of the ship in the fourth inner 
circle. 

“So let's get this mission under way!” Draygo announced, finishing his
speech. “And we'll show the Universe what we Klingers are made of!” 

The deflected laser shot hit the Mother Ship. It exploded in a huge
billowing red and yellow ball. A millisecond later the Anti-Matter 
exploded as well. 

“Son of a bitch!” muttered General Bradley, watching on the rear
observation screen. He un-strapped himself and jumped up and down 
excitedly. “Fry you Commie Mothers! Fry!” he yelled. 

The force of the exploding Mother Ship hurled the Anti-Matter outwards
and seconds later the innermost circles disintegrated in bright orange 
flame. 

The Captain glanced over at Mr Sprock who raised an approving eyebrow.
The circle of gigantic supply ships was next to go, their massive fuel 
holds igniting and spraying burning fountains across space into the 
next two rings of attack ships. 

The attack ships tried to flee but in their panic to get away several of
them collided with each other or with some of the ponderous battle 
cruisers which were also intent on escape. 

“Look at then Commies burn!” General Bradley yelled, dancing around. 

The Orion's rear observation screen now showed a mass of billowing,
shooting flames as ship after ship exploded fiercely. The darkness of 
space was lit up as the entire Klinger fleet erupted in thundering 
explosions. 

“Distance?” the Captain asked. 

“Seventy space miles,” Sprock replied. “We should feel it shortly.” 

Moments later the outer wave of the massive explosion broke over the
Orion. Although their Shields deflected most of it they were badly 
buffeted and thrown off course. 

The Captain, Mr Sprock and Mr Crackers were jolted around in their seats
but that was the worst they suffered because they had wisely remained 
strapped in. General Bradley however was dancing up and down in front 
of the rear observation screen when the ship started getting thrown 
around. 

Some continuous rocking knocked him off balance and he fell, striking
his head on the edge of a console. When the buffeting stopped the 
others quickly un-strapped themselves and rushed over to him. 

Sprock was first there and he knelt down and checked his breathing and
pulse. “He's knocked himself out, Captain,” he said. 

The Captain strolled back over to his command chair and contacted the
Sick Bay. “To the bridge immediately, Doctor Malloy,” he requested, a 
smile on his face. “General Bradley has just resigned his commission!” 


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