CHAPTER 98

Duke Risen re-read the message he'd received, good they were on the way. Rubbing his hands together he thought this ought to keep that bastard out of his affairs long enough to get a better plan going. Several of his people had reported that their systems had been breached by a very powerful computer. Ha! He no doubt thought it was that bitch of a computer the bastard had at the palace.

Laughing he knew that it wouldn't get much as he was already expunging everything that might be used against him. Pressing a button on his desk a young male voice answered, "Yes, your lordship?"

"Are the erasures on schedule? I want nothing left that can be linked to me!" Risen was saying.

"Yes, your lordship, everything is deleting as we speak." The young male voice replied.

"Good, that bastard that claims to be the emperor has garnered enough support now. He could actually bring me to a standstill and put me away. That is not about to happen! Inform me as soon as all incriminating records are gone," Risen said, as an evil smile crossed his face. Let the bastard do anything now! Without this proof he had nothing and the Duke would gain control again!

Clicking off the visage of Mary smiled as she started to download every file that the Duke had indicated. That was 'til she came across some information that the Duke had ordered the assassination of the emperor and still had a plan in place. Growling, she immediately informed Derrick. "Sire!"

Derrick looked up from the screen he'd been reading at tremendous speed. "What's wrong Mary?"

"Sire, I have quite a lot of information for you. It appears, as you thought, that Duke Risen IS responsible for the attempt on your life. It appears that he paid a considerable sum to the sect to have you removed. I might also add that I am finding several hundred atrocities that are comparable to the old Republic President."

"Finally," Derrick yelled. "I've got all that I need to end that asshole!"

Trianas was in orbit around Earl Tauntoff's planet when her alert system started to go crazy. Looking over the readings she started to curse, this smelled a little of that ass Duke Risen. Smiling evilly at her joke she sighed, she'd have to wait 'till this crisis was over before she could even get near the man let alone kill him. Veering off she decided she'd have to amuse herself elsewhere. Thinking of Duke Risen she smiled and set course.

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Derrick was looking over all of the information sent in. It appeared that this race was the Creagons. They were a particularly nasty race when it came to warfare. Shaking his head Derrick was afraid of this; these bastards wouldn't surrender no matter what. Much as the second time he's gone against them Derrick's mind was working overtime planning strategy.

Calling up his three Captains, Derrick wanted to advise them. All three of the Holograms of the men appeared before him. "Captain Thomas," Derrick started drawing a groan from the man. "I suggest you get used to it Thomas! You are my senior Captain in this. I have faced this species twice before. They will not surrender and will give no quarter."

"Uh Sire?" Mack Brown started. "You mean we have to slaughter them to the last ship?"

"Yes, I am afraid so this is one of the two most ruthless races. They have been trying to invade the Empire for over 800 years. I stopped them last time with only three ships then they only numbered in the hundreds. This time I am afraid they are in the thousands. So far all but two ships have been upgraded with the new triple power particle cannons. They have also had a power added to the power core." Derrick informed them.

"So compared to how you were back when you faced them, what are our chances," asked Randall Zimmel.

"With this new equipment you will be far better protected than I was. You will have almost three times the destructive capability. The new weapons should enable you to take out far more at one time than I did." Derrick told them. "I still want you to remember though, even with the increased shield power, you're not invulnerable. If it's one thing I have learned there is always a way around situations. Remember repeated hits on the same spot of the shields can weaken them ok? I was hoping that Captain Callie would be on her ship but it will be another day before that is possible. I estimate that we have another 3 days before the Creagons breach our galaxy. Now then Captains, I must inform Earl Tauntoff that we will be delayed. Thank you, that is all."

Derrick shook his head this was a hell of a way to really get things started; especially now that they had a fleet of ten or more ships. For some strange reason Derrick felt that someone was behind all of this, shaking his head he'd have to investigate further.

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Greeson had been thinking of Ensign Callie all day. Not really paying attention, Dempsy had smiled when almost everything he threw at the man was blocked. That's when Dempsy started on the second more advanced wave of attacks. Again he was pleased when Greeson, a little more aware, blocked almost all of those. Taking a deep breath, Dempsy started on another different attack, throwing in several advanced attacks of other martial arts. Another wide smile crossed Dempsy's face.

Even as he barely watched Dempsy, Greeson saw that Ensign Callie had once again entered the training area. Watching her walk he again almost ignored Dempsy 'til the man landed a blow to his chest. Crumpling Greeson coughed trying to draw a breath. Smiling Dempsy walked away, now he thought let's see if the man had truly listened.

Gasping Greeson watched as Dempsy walked away, almost as if on auto-pilot the man hit a point near his sternum. Gasping a hung lung full of air Greeson sat and meditated. Thinking he'd avoided almost all of the Lieutenant's moves and blows. Thinking harder he had to solve this mystery, this was the first time he'd reacted like this.

Dempsy watched as Greeson went into meditation, good. The man was finally starting to concentrate without thinking. The simple fact that he was now in meditation was another good sign. Sighing Dempsy thought that the man was a hell of a lot faster; his techniques were starting to advance to a high point. The thing Dempsy was afraid of was that they weren't far enough. If he couldn't make it to them, when she went after his student, the man might not make it. He just prayed that all that he'd taught the man would save his life in the end.

Mara watched as the man Greeson dodged and blocked a myriad of attacks. Then her eyes opened wider as she walked in and the man turned toward her and was moving so fast she couldn't even see either of them move! Then as incredible as it seemed they went even faster! What in the world was going on? The man was just a sergeant and he was almost as good as the Lieutenant! Why in the world wasn't the man an officer also? That's when she saw the one named Greeson go down choking and the Lieutenant walked away!

Dempsy stopped the young woman as she arose to go help Greeson. A smile lit up his face as he thought they both were highly attracted to each other. Then he sighed he had to get the commander to change his mind. The fact of what the man had just done against him was proof enough to Dempsy. "Let me go sir! He'll choke to death!" The young woman was pleading.

Dempsy just shook his head, "He will be fine, watch."

Even as the words came out of his mouth Mara watched in amazement. The man hit a point near his sternum and drew in a huge lung full of air. Almost immediately the man settled to the mat and went into meditation. "How?" Mara asked.

"He is a far better student than I had thought him to be at first. I have to thank you young woman. Your presence has enabled the man to advance where I have been trying to get him to." Bowing low, Dempsy said, "I thank you for that as I am sure he will someday. Just never tell him that I have said so." This Dempsy said as he waggled a finger at Mara.