he Alienbutt Saga, Book 1. War of the Coffee Bean. Part 51.

CHAPTER 22
The Return.

INTERSTELLAR NEWS CHANNEL 9 NEWS FLASH
News is still coming in of crushing defeats for the Ick rebels. Grand Admiral Bush Jr. is expected to announce the start of the final push in the next few days. Unconfirmed reports claim that the commander of the Second Fleet of the Ick Navy has been captured and the fleet destroyed during fierce fighting over the last week.

Grommit lay on the hard bunk within the cell. Since being captured she had been treated quite well. Her broken arm had been strapped and the cuts to her face treated. Three guards stood watch over her, showing that they were taking no chances even though the energy shield cell was practically escape-proof. The doors to the holding area slid open and someone walked in. The guards’ stances became even more alert in response to the new arrival. Grommit glanced over and saw a tall muscular figure dressed in the uniform of the E.D.F. officers. Dark green combat trousers with a platinum moulded breastplate and crimson red cloak pinned to the shoulders, the hood of the cloak was pulled up, casting his face in shadow. Grommit, though, didn’t need to see the face to know who the newcomer was.
“Why General, so nice of you to visit.” The tone of her voice left little doubt that the sight of him was no pleasure.
“Little sister, it appears that you chose the wrong side again. Now you will face trial for treason, but I will ensure that you don’t get the death sentence. I think life with hard labour would be more fitting.” General Jee stood close to the cell and pulled back the hood of his cloak. “Or maybe selling you into slavery with a behaviour chip implanted would be fun.”
Grommit slowly got up off the bunk and walked over until she was inches from her older brother and just the force field of the cell separated them.
“Why don’t you get them to drop this barrier and then I’ll show you what I think?” she hissed at him.
Jee stared into the eyes of his younger sister and could see the murder in them. “I take it you’re still mad at me for killing our parents and placing the blame on you, then?” He took a couple of steps back as Grommit threw herself at the force field.
Electricity shot over her body and threw her back, but again she launched herself forward. Jee was impressed at the pain she was enduring in her rage to get to him.
Turning his back to her, he walked past the guards. “Subdue her,” he ordered. Each of the guards pulled clear an electro-batton and advanced. As the force field of the cell was lowered they rushed in to rain blows down on the unarmed Fo’c’sle commander. At first she tried to fight, knocking one guard off his feet and breaking the nose of a second, but it wasn’t long before she lay face down on the floor, bleeding and unable to move.
Jee then walked forward again. Kneeling next to Grommit, he carefully turned her over and supported her head, cradling her almost gently.
“It took me two weeks to break Father and make him beg for his life. I so hope you hold out longer. Don’t disappoint me.” With that he stood up and turned to one of the guards. ”Ensure a video of this is leaked to the Ick Command. Let’s see if they try a rescue mission.” Then he walked out without a backward glance.

A small Interstellar Raider class ship appeared in a giant flash of rainbow light. This sector of space was empty apart from an old relay satellite, so no one saw the impressive display. The ship sped on for a short time, but then came to a stuttering stop close to the satellite. Inside Professor Frank ran around with a fire extinguisher spraying computer consoles as they sparked and smoked, burnt out by the use of the F.T.L. drive. Finally satisfied that there was no further risk of fire, he checked on the still unconscious Wickede, before walking over to a large lead box. Opening the lid he lifted out the robot Kirk and flipped a switch on the back of his neck. After a brief whirring noise, the robot came to life.
“It appears that your box idea worked, Professor. Should we watch a film to celebrate?”
“Soon, Kirk. I need you to send a message to the Ick to come pick us up.”
The robot seemed to consider this for a minute before it again spoke. “Done, I remote connected to my old relay satellite to boost my signal. There was an Ick dreadnought hiding in the asteroid belt of Big Rock waiting for our return. It will be here in a few minutes.” Frank breathed a sigh of relief. They were back, although leaving Alienbutt didn’t feel right. He would work nonstop until he could find a way to get back for him. He looked over to where the leader of the Ick lay. He still looked incredibly green, but the effects of the cyborg Alienbutt gas would soon start to wear off.

The star system was a hive of activity. Giant mobile stardocks had been brought up by the Ick for the repair of the battered fleets that had been battling along the western front of Ashia Minor. Killashandra and her command had been sent back from the front line for repairs and refitting. Her dreadnought command ship limped into one of the giant stardocks. Only two of the five great engines that powered her were operational and a giant tear down the starboard side showed the effects of being rammed by a Federation ship. Under normal conditions the ship would have been scrapped, but they didn’t have the ships to spare, so they would patch it up the best they could. As the ship came to a stop and large docking clamps pinned it into position, the surviving crew headed for the hangar bay and transfered to the large space station where they would spend the next week before being reassigned. That was provided the Federation did not launch another offensive.

Killashandra took a final look at the view screen of the ship before leaving the bridge, looking out at the hundred or so ships in the system. Most of them carried damage and she prayed the Federation did not push its advantage, as before her were the entire Ick reserves for the Ashia Minor sector. She turned, expecting to see Captain Noble or Jack Lantern, both constant companions since she had taken over command after the battle at Dagnabbit, but she then remembered that Captain Noble had been evacuated with the seriously injured the day before, while Jack had fallen four days earlier, leading a relief fleet, desperately trying to punch a way through to the Zaldarn System and the besieged second fleet. With the loss of Grommit with that fleet, she now found herself as the Ick Commander for the whole Ashia Minor sector and second only to the giant Duke Ramboe. Not for the last time, she prayed for Alienbutt’s return so she could kill him, ever so slowly and painfully for getting her into this predicament.

To be continued.
Thanks for reading, all images are mine.