CHAPTER 70

A moment later Derrick and Hartwell heard a hissing then the first door exploded, as did several shaped charges. Smiling Hartwell held a thumbs up, Derrick nodded hoping it delayed them long enough to get what they came for. "Now at 92% one more minute, 93%." Mary reported.

Damn it Derrick thought as he watched several of those entering take to the ceiling, activating a switch several charges blew the hell out of most of those on the roof. Near the second door they stopped a moment then advanced as Derrick blew a second set of charges. "98% Initiating IMT," Mary said.

A group of the sect entered the room looking around. They were about to rush forward when the device Derrick had attached to the data banks dinged, "Too late ass holes!" They heard Derrick's voice say then the entire room exploded.

Cursing, the Captain recalled all of the men and made orbit as fast as he could. The leader cursed under his breath as he chopped his second aide, effectively breaking his neck. "Get out of there now! I want your shields at full push them higher if possible!" The leader was screaming fearing that they would lose this ship also.

The Captain did as he was told, and was already going to trans-warp when three ships appeared in front of him. Thomas smiled a wicked smile as he launched a full out attack upon the smaller ship. The cursed pissed off when the ship avoided the blasts! As a trans-warp portal opened Conner again released a full charge blast, the ship barely avoided it and entered the portal. Thomas made to give chase when the portal collapsed in front of him!

"Conner, Sherry, Ace track it!" Thomas was almost growling into the com. "I want a trans-warp! GO, go, go!" As the three ships entered the space they began to hunt and track the ship, closing in within thirty seconds. At least they were 'til the ship hit all three of the EIG's with a nullifier beam. Ace had managed to hit an astral fin just before he shut down.

Celeste called Shelby hers being the only radio that was functioning, she had been further back and to the side when it hit. Shelby appeared a few moments later, bathing all three ships in a mysterious blue beam. Thomas's mouth dropped open; when had he developed that?

Thomas appeared a moment later as a hologram, "I apologize Sire, I had forgotten about the nullifier beam. I will not rest assured again!"

"I know Thomas; you always were quicker to react than most. I see that you hit their astral fin possibly two. I don't think they will be able to use that ship for a bit. It might actually give us a little time. Besides," here Derrick smirked as he thought of all the files that they had gotten from the store house. "I have a bit of heavy reading to do."

Thomas smiled; he wished he could be there when the commander pulled the information out about all the dandies. Laughing he could see several of the higher Nobles crapping their pants when the commander told them.

The Captain breathed a sigh of relief when all three of the ships were hit by the yellow beam. Then again there was going to be hell to pay when they got back. Stealing himself up he'd have to be at the top of his game when he got there the leader was far better than he was. Shuttering he knew if he didn't he'd be dead before the day was out that was for sure.

Rayburn was still worried about Kimison; the man had been babbling about the strangest things for the last half hour. Rayburn had already been through the device three times, each time finding a fault that was as deadly as it was stupid to use the device before all was tested. Finally on the fourth time through he found nothing but ran it a fifth time to confirm. Satisfied he went over the rest of the safety protocols finding three missing that they agreed needed to be there. Shaking his head he looked at Kimison again. He really was lucky to be alive.

Taking a deep breath Rayburn was about to don the device when he thought to check one more thing. Sure enough he found another dangerous snag that might have killed him. This time he donned the device and flipped the switch. At first it was almost exhilarating then a slight pain started.

Afraid that he might also fry his brain, Tempro immediately called Mary. "How long has he been in?"

"He put the device on twenty minutes ago and at first it was going well. It was then I noticed that his pain receptors were reacting at twice their capacity. I am afraid that this one might have a higher pain..," Tempro was explaining. Suddenly Rayburn let out a shrill scream as the information began to invade his mind at an even faster rate.

Sighing Mary shook her head, these men were too much of risk takers, yes the project was of extreme importance but it would not matter if they both were dead. Delving in, she saw that Rayburn had finished Tempro's library and was not here. Then she felt him in hers! Quickly she started to push him back towards his body explaining she was shutting down, nodding Mary breathed a sigh of relief then shut it down.

"I do believe I know why the transfer and the organic experiments have failed," Rayburn said when he opened his eyes. "Mary took me into Kimison's mind. I believe I can help him." Nodding, she, and Rayburn delved briefly into the man's mind then were out as Kimison opened his eyes.

"Damn it! I forgot three safety protocols. No wonder I was hurting! Thank you Rayburn, I also have had time to think about the transfer. I believe we can do it with a device not unlike the download one." Kimison said.

Rayburn was nodding he could almost see what Kimison was thinking about then suddenly he could! What in the hell was going on? Were they now linked? Great, all he needed to be linked to an ass hole!

"You know it goes both ways shit head!" Kimison spit out at Rayburn.

OK Rayburn thought that was really weird!

"You aren't lying there," Kimison told him.

Derrick and Hartwell had just arrived back at the palace; Shelby was running checks on all three of their ships to make sure no systems were damaged. "Sire, I have finished analyzing all the information that you and Rear admiral Hartwell retrieved. It was as you suspected Sire the president did have information on almost all of the Nobles some of it is very damning evidence."

"Bring up all if any information on Baron John Talbert I want to see if what I thought about him is true or not." Derrick instructed Mary.

"Yes Sire," a moment later a few sheets of paper appeared on the desk in front of Derrick. Reading as quickly as he could Derrick was shaking his head yes.

Dropping the papers he looked at Hartwell. "It was as I thought, the Baron really is an honest man. I'm glad I was right about him, Mary, have you received any word from him since we sent him home?"

"No Sire, not as yet though he isn't due for a few more hours with the report." Mary informed Derrick.

"Alright," Derrick replied, then thought for a few more moments. "You know Hartwell, I think it's about time we visited the Nobles. I did after all promise them I was going to make inspections of their respective holdings. I think it's about time the people saw that their emperor cares more about them than their money."

Hartwell got a very huge smile on his face, 'oh boy' he thought, 'this ought to really be good!'

END OF VOL 1

WATCH OUT FOR VOL 2!