CHAPTER 28

Derrick watched as Mary ran the program then her mouth opened in shock, "Mary, are you ok? Is the program not helping? He asked.

"Yes my Lord, it has destroyed half of the virus, not a cure but an extra-long extension to my life. I thank you, my Lord , for giving me hope for a brighter future." Mary told him, tears in her eyes, as she heard a familiar voice on the disc tell her to hold on, it wouldn't be long before she was whole again. Half an hour later the disc was back, Mary again thanking him telling them all that well over half of her commands were now free. Derrick began to formulate more plans; with Mary freed, and with all her power, he could seriously make a dent in all the opposition to him ascending the throne.

"My Lord?" Mary interrupted. "I am

detecting a massive amount of ships closing on my position, I am afraid that the amount may prove to be a bit much even for me, adjusting all batteries, all planetary generators to full. I will do the best that I can, my Lord."

With that, Mary cut off the signal. What was she doing Derrick thought? Why didn't she ask for help?

"I want all ships prepared to jump in 5 minutes!" Derrick ordered. "I want all weapons charged to full; we are going to save Mary and the Imperial planet!" All the holograms snapped to attention, leaving everything ready to go.

"All ships, I want to arrive at point Alpha 0001-3." Derrick ordered. "Be ready to engage at a moment's notice, light shields to full! Tempro I want you to hang back while this happens." The hologram bowed then vanished. "Everyone ready?" Derrick asked.

"Systems ready," Shelby reported.

"All weapons are armed," Zann replied.

"All light shields at full," Conner said.

"All ships have no anomalies, trans-warp ready," Lucy answered.

"All right, on my mark, 3, 2, 1, NOW!" Derrick shouted. With that, all 4 ships jumped and were behind the imperial planet seconds later. Derrick looked at the reading shit! There had to be well over 10,000 ships out there!

"All ships report!" Derrick ordered.

"All systems are still green," All of the ships replied. Derrick watched as the fleet started to make runs at Mary and the planet, her first salvo took out the first wave but then the second started to come in directly behind them.

"Derrick," Shelby said, "I'm reading a significant power drop with the power generators, the third wave may deplete them enough that a fourth wave could break through!"

"All ships, we are going to a hit and run tactic, Conner, Zan after she fires at the third wave I want pinpoint strikes on all the lead ships. Lucy, Shelby we are going to flash in and take those behind the primary leaders. I want a continuous bombardment 'till such time as Mary has replenished her power." Derrick ordered. They watched as the second wave vanished, almost reaching the planetary shields. Immediately a third wave came in this time actually reaching the shields before

they were destroyed.

"All ships now!" Derrick shouted as they all flashed out, as he watched through the link, Conner and Zan were taking out several ships at once.

Turning, part of the fleet started to give chase 'til the ships flashed and were gone. It was at this time that Lucy and Shelby struck, destroying as many ships as they could in 15-20 seconds then flashing out. This continued for 10 minutes, hardly more than a dozen shots had been fired at Derrick and the ships. "Derrick I am reading that Mary is at 80%, I suggest we evacuate." Shelby advised.

"Good, all ships retreat back to position Alpha 0001-3," Derrick ordered. Flashing out the fleet was partly in confusion, a few ships collided trying to escape the newcomers that were taking them out with ease. "All ships! Status report!" Derrick inquired.

"All systems have minimal damage," Shelby reported.

"1% of all weapons damaged," Lucy stated.

"20% shield reduction is regenerating now," Conner said.

"Damage to shields minimal, 3% of weapons damaged, light shield reduced to 80%, all in re-gen now." Zan added.

Derrick breathed a sigh of relief, though they weren't as strong as the others they had faced, there was enough to make a difference. They all watched as Mary let loose another salvo. Looking out, Derrick estimated that at least half the fleet was wrecked or destroyed.

Derrick contacted Mary, "Mary, patch me through to all the ships." Though she hadn't said anything Derrick could see that she was glad that they were there. "To the criminal fleet that is attacking the Imperial planet, you have lost over half your fleet. I'd rather take no more lives, but if you insist upon continuing your attack upon the empire, your president is already an enemy of the empire, don't continue and be branded a criminal yourself." All of the fleet stopped, for a moment nothing happened then Derrick received a message.

"To the strangely configured ships, we also wish no further deaths but under authority of the press..."

"I do not recognize the Republic any more, or the supposed leader of said Republic. I am the rightful emperor of this realm. I am going to claim it once again and bring the peace and justice back to it that has been missing for centuries!" Derrick said, cutting off any other comment.

On board the last flagship of the fleet the captain was unsure, the power that the planet and the ships had shown was far beyond anything he'd ever seen. He was about to withdraw when the president's voice could be heard screaming over the link.

"Attack them! They are only a few; you still have almost 5000 ships! Kill them! NOW!" The president was red faced; he'd lost enough, this supposed emperor had to be a sham, he'd kill him, then all this mess would be through! "You hear me, you idiots! Kill them; kill them all! I command you!"

"President Maury, under the articles of the council, I cannot endanger the rest of the fleet, you sound hysterical and I therefore cannot follow your orders." The fleet leader said. President Maury suddenly grew quiet then launched into a tirade where not a single word he said made sense. Derrick was laughing at the turn of events, not only were his men not listening to him but he was going against the council, political suicide if Maury didn't have a tyrannical grip on everything.

"Don't worry, I'm coming for you soon," Derrick told the president. "For the horrible things you have done, your punishment will more than fit your crimes." Maury turned even more red-faced as the floor beneath him became once again covered in his urine.

Sneering at Derrick, he laughed as he pressed several buttons. Deep beneath the planet a rocket rumbled then launched.

"Derrick, I am detecting the launch of an extremely high yield explosive," Mary told him. "Even detonation in space anywhere in this galaxy would be dangerous. Suggestions?" Mary asked, not really sure how to stop it.

"Mary," Derrick started, "Can you gain control of the guidance system on board it?"

"Hmmmm, attempting now, yes it is possible, establishing a link now, I have it my Lord. Oh dear!" Mary suddenly said.

"What's wrong you haven't lost it have you? Derrick asked worriedly. "No my lord, but the missile response time is extremely sluggish, I have already managed to turn it so it would already miss this planet. It appears that I will only have control 'til the missile is 500,000 miles from the galactic edge, far short of where we need it to go."