CHAPTER 99

Mara just stared at the man as he smiled strangely and walked off. Sitting, she guessed she had to wait for a bit before she was able to ask the man her question.

Derrick looked up as the door opened allowing Dempsy entrance. "I really don't have that much time, Dempsy." Derrick said.

"Yes Sir. I was wondering, what if any decision you had made about what we talked of earlier?" Dempsy asked as he sat before Derrick.

Derrick sighed, he'd watched the last exchange that they had and he also had to admit the man was almost as fast as Dempsy. All AFTER Mara Callie had entered the room. "You're not going to let it drop are you? Just like the last time when I had to bust you in private to get you to shut the hell up!"

"Ah! Those were good days!" Dempsy said as Derrick shook his head in disbelief.

Sighing again Derrick finally relented. "Alright, alright! I'll make him a Warrant Officer, that's the lowest officer there is. When and if I see he is better officer material, then, we'll talk again. Now then, get the hell out of here!"

Bowing low, Dempsy smiled wide, "But of course your lordship!" This drew another groan from Derrick. "Sire it serves you right! Making me an officer! As if!" With that Dempsy left to tell Greeson the news, as he thought the commander would want him to.

Derrick smiled he'd already thought of Greeson as an officer anyway, after all that the man had been through. Now Greeson had to prove that he was better than Derrick thought he was. Shaking his head he thought he hoped Greeson was better. It was a fact that that sadistic psychopath would delight in killing him in front of Dempsy!

As Dempsy walked back to the training room he had to smile more. This actually bode better for the emperor and the men. This crisis would afford him more time to train them and have them ready for the next attack.

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Alexander was wringing his hands in anticipation of finally killing Derrick O'Toma. Let his bitch of an ex-wife get in his way. An evil smile crossed his lips as he thought of the life slipping from her body after a fatal blow. There was no one to save her nor would there ever be, as she'd killed them all.

They had just exited trans-warp when several alarms went off. "What in the hell is with this racket?" The leader growled.

"It appears that an old race that hasn't been seen for a long time is heading this way. If this information is right they are a nasty lot. LEADER sir!" The young man shouted.

"What!!?" Alexander growled.

"I am detecting another trans-warp reading. It appears to have been a small craft moving away from the planet." The young man said to his guard for an attack.

"Show me!" The older man growled. Suddenly a smile crossed his face. So she was here as he'd thought, though it appeared that she had also detected the soon to be invading fleet. So the bitch had decided to go elsewhere while the Imperial bastards were busy. Knowing her as he did, she was doing it to keep from getting bored.

Ducking a blow from the leader the young man asked, "Any orders sir?"

The leader smiled then nodded as he pointed to a topographical map of the planet. "I want to land as close to this area as we can. Do all of you understand the importance of secrecy in this operation? Failure is not an option, but death, now, is! Am I making myself understood?!"

All the men present nodded with evil smiles. Good the leader thought they should make this interesting at least when the bastard went down.

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Derrick watched and advised all of his Captains. They were interacting far better together than he'd thought. Plus the fact that Callie's ship was almost ready helped greatly. Though not actually on board yet, the link that she was sharing was helping to make the transition easier. When she was onboard it appeared, she and her ship would be as one much like Shelby and he were.

"Derrick!" Came Shelby's urgent voice.

Suddenly snapped out of his ruminations by Shelby's urgency, Derrick asked worriedly, "what's the matter?"

"I can't find him Derrick; he seems to have disabled several of my internal sensors! I am not detecting him onboard at all! It appears that one of the small craft is missing also! I have notified my mother but she at present has no lock on him either!" Shelby was reporting.

Shaking his head Derrick knew he should have confined the man. "Mary! Concentrate all your scans on Duke Risen's planet for any signature that matches the small craft. If you detect any problems I want you to get him out of there. Shelby contacted Rayburn and Kimison; it appears that I am going to need another micro-shield emitter!" Sighing Derrick could only shake his head.

Joseph Hartwell's face held a grim determination, and Risen soon thought. As soon as I rescue my sister I am coming to end your miserable life! Looking at the micro-shield emitter he shook his head. Nothing could stop him now, NOTHING! Adjusting course he entered a trans-warp heading for Duke Risen's planet.

Captain Callie was extremely excited; she'd been talking to her ship all day on and off. She was already familiar with the tactical displays and several systems that her ship had been showing her. Sighing she just hated that she had to wait, though she did understand that her ship wanted to be at a hundred percent before she assumed command.

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Several hours later

Joseph Hartwell moved into the shadows, he'd been moving up for an hour now. He'd almost gained entry into the palace of the Duke. Looking around he found what he'd been for, slipping in he started to scan more now that he was inside the scan screens. Hartwell nodded it appeared the Duke had more going on than anyone thought. Sweeping back and forth Hartwell stopped when a blip came up on the scanner. Nodding Hartwell cursed when he saw that she was deep within the Palace. Sighing he thought yup, about my luck.

Creeping further in he looked at the scan scrambler on his belt, not a lot of time left he thought. A lot deeper than he wished to be, he finally spotted her. Damn it! She was serving that fat pig of a Duke! Growling Hartwell almost drew his weapon when she moved away straight toward him!

The young woman was almost numb years of this and had finally almost killed all of her instincts to run. She had at first but was always caught and punished. Rounding a corner a hand went over her mouth and an arm around her body.

"I want you to remain still, we are leaving here, I can't trust that you won't cry out so we'll stay like this for a bit." A voice whispered in her ear, this was a new game she thought, the sick Duke was trying to get her to escape so he could punish her more. For the next few minutes they moved further and further toward the back of the palace.

Hartwell breathed a sigh of relief they were almost free. Slipping outside Hartwell was about to activate the IMT when the alarms went off pressing a button on his wrist he watched as the startled girl vanished. Pressing again he heard a voice in his ear, "unable to transport, micro-shield activated, unable to pass matter through."

Crap Hartwell thought, "I'm gonna have to fight my way out!

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Several Alarms were going off onboard Shelby, "Shelby report!" Derrick yelled above the noise.

"The Creagons have accelerated toward the Galactic rim. I estimate they will be there in two days instead of three!" An excited Shelby told Derrick.

Nodding Derrick said, "All ships this is not a drill, the Creagons have increased speed. I want all ships to be ready immediately! Captain Callie reported to me at once! Thomas I want both Roderick and Tara here as soon as you can! I want battle strategy and simulations to start as soon as the information is loaded. This time I want no mistakes, no lost ships. I want these bastards to know they aren't dealing with the same empire any longer!" Derrick looked over and saw that Mary 1 was waiting. "Yes Mary?"

"I wanted to inform you that I have finished all of the records." Mary's face suddenly held an angry look. "I also wish to inform you that it was Duke Risen who alerted the Creagons and incited them to attack. I have already issued an alert to all sentries to arrest him on sight. I have also sent twenty of them to his planet to facilitate this."

Derrick was nodding as he also was getting angry, then he stopped seeing a worried look on Mary's face. "Is there more Mary?" Derrick asked, getting a little worried himself.

"Yes Sire. It appears that your second, Admiral Hartwell, is already on the planet. It is being broadcast that he stole a slave and has hidden her. The orders are to kill on sight. I am sorry Sir I am doing all I can but I am afraid that it will be a few hours before the sentries reach the planet." A grim-faced Mary informed Derrick.

"Is there anything else?" Derrick said, noticing that Mary didn't quite seem finished.

"Yes Sir. I picked up a trans-warp signature a few minutes ago then it vanished. I believe it is the same as the ship that Trianas Macley was using. Also if I remember right she has a vendetta against all of your men and you." Mary Informed Derrick.

Derrick nodded, "Try to contact Joseph and let him know." Damn it Derrick thought when it rains it pours and it was definitely pouring right now!