Gwen and Drake versus The Inferno King

By Adrienne Gordon

This is book one of a five book series. The first four are available now.

In a parallel universe magic amplifies science, so magicians can stride forth to the stars.

Gwendolyn Morihei is at the top of her class at the Royal Magus Academy. The daughter of the Praetor of the Dominion, she is respected by all her fellow students. She is estranged from her brother, Drake Morihei, who is near the bottom of his class. He is viewed as a failure, with poor magic skills and an aloof attitude.

They, along with their class, are on a training mission aboard the Dominion flagship Orestes, when it comes under attack. Gwen, along with the rest of the student council, are forced to take control of the ship, and face off against the greatest threat the Dominion has known. For on-board, they carry not only one of the most powerful forces in the Dominion, the Sixth Monolith, but a terrible secret that threatens the entire universe.

Gwen thinks she can handle it alone, but when she least expects it, she might find help from the one person she never thought she could count on; her brother, Drake.

Gwen and Drake versus the Inferno King is the first book in the Gwen and Drake series. It is followed by Gwen and Drake versus the Dummy Kings, Gwen and Drake versus the Queen of Time, and Gwen, Drake and Jessie versus A Thousand Demons. The series will conclude with Gwen and Drake versus Jaxon Savoy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Adrienne Gordon
• Release date: Dec 23, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005269630

Adrienne Gordon

I write in mostly teen fantasy/science fiction. I have two books published at the moment: Emergence, Book 1 of the Archsussa Melissa series, and Forsaken, Book 1 of the Agilia's Lament series.

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Gwen and Drake versus the Inferno King

Book One in the Gwen and Drake Series

by Adrienne Gordon

©2023 by Adrienne Gordon

Table of Contents:

Prelude

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Prelude

On a small island at the edge of the Aegean sea, many years before the birth of Christ, a long, weathered cargo ship was being loaded.

Several dozen men carried a large crate, struggling to keep it aloft as a strong wind pushed them to and fro. The darkness hid an ominously large storm front that approached from the northwest.

Be careful! yelled an older man as he pulled his robe close around his body. He had just gotten over a cold the previous week, and had no desire to trouble the god Asclepius again with supplication. That’s the best stature of Heracles anyone in Greece will ever see!

Diodorus, should we be putting it on the sea now? asked a younger man who walked by his side. There’ve been scattered reports of pirates attacking Rhodian vessels.

That cursed Macedonian king! cried Diodorus, as he shook his fist against the sky. Why is no one content with what they’ve got? Always more and more they seek, ruining the lives of the innocent. Well, Philip be damned, the ships of Rhodes still dominate the sea! We’ll not fear the foolish upstart.

The young man sighed, knowing he must once again be the voice of reason. Well, perhaps we should split the load? It’s bad enough to risk the statue, but the mechanism as well?

Another, smaller crate passed before them, and Diodorus motioned for it to be brought over. He held the crate in his hands, looking on it with reverence.

It’s a wonderful thing that Posidonius and Hipparchus have made. He ran his fingers along the wooden slats, imagining he was touching the dials of the mechanism. I’ve seen echoes of the device, here and there, but nothing that moved with such precision and elegance. When this gets to Greece, when the blueprints are shared amongst all the academies, all the scientists, well, there will be a technical revolution unparalleled in scope.

Why put both on the same ship? argued the young man. Surely the revolution can wait another day?

No, you said it; Phillip’s forces grow stronger and more brazen with each passing day. Diodorus handed the crate back, and brushed the dust off his weathered hands. We haven’t a moment to lose.

The ship set sail a few hours later, cutting out ahead of the approaching storm, which descended with great strength on the Greek island of Antikythera. Several pirate ships were poised to intercept, but were unable to set sail due to the onslaught of the storm. The merchant vessel sailed over the Aegean sea unscathed, the only one if its kind to survive across the multitude of universes. The mechanism reached the shore, and just as the old man predicted, ignited a technological revolution unique in all of creations.

Chapter 1

"Priority one alert! Priority one alert! Mass-Drivers offline, repeat; Mass-Drivers off-line!"

A full security task force wove its way through the corridors of the SPQD Flagship Orestes as the voice of the Governor repeated the warning in their Mcomms. Arriving at the doors to Motive Power, the mages cued offensive magic spells in their susylons, while the lead officer created a glowing disc of discernment that hovered in the air. He hurriedly worked through the calculations, and cast a series of spells called Separation, that slowly pulled apart the massive doors.

The smell hit them before the sight. A Dispersion spell was cast, ungluing the molecules of burned organic waste from the air molecules, but nothing could negate the sight of the entire Mass Driver team lying on the floor, their bodies ripped apart and burned.

The lead officer tapped against his ear, opening a private channel in his Mcomm. "Alpha, all Mass Drivers are dead. Initial assessment from Governor indicating Mass-Driver burnout was in error. Appears to be sabotage. The ship is cruising solely on accrued momentum. Please advise."

He listened to the Alpha’s reply, which, after the string of profanities, were instructions to use forensic analysis spell trees to recreate the scene before the crime. As the officer was about to begin casting the series of spells, the ship was rocked by an explosion that ripped a hole in the hull around Motive Power. None of them had time to cast any protection spells, as they and their burned colleagues were violently evacuated into the vacuum of space.

Chapter 2

What do you mean the ship stopped moving?

It stopped moving.

Did we dock? Are we at Hatha Station already?

"Does it look like we’re at Hatha station?"

Then why’d we stop?

"Did you not hear and feel the really big ‘boom’ that shook the ship a few minutes ago?" asked Gwendolyn Morihei, as she spread out her hands in mimic of a blast, her long, black braided hair swinging around her head.

The lift they had been waiting for finally arrived, and the door slid soundlessly open, revealing a lone mechanic from facilities.

Yeah, replied Jaxon Savoy, sulking, as he ran his hand through his short, blonde hair. He may have been an expert at electromagnetic particle manipulation, but was always slow at common sense deductions. But . . . wasn’t that just a waste processor?

So, said Gwen, as she grabbed him by the short collar on his jumpsuit and dragged him into the lift, we’ve all been summoned to the command nexus because the ship took a shit; that’s what you’re saying? "Command Nexus," she said to the lift.

Jaxon yanked her hand away and straightened out his collar, sneering at the mechanic who couldn’t help but chuckle as the lift started to move. Jaxon adjusted his black and white uniform, as she had pulled it almost off his shoulders. He hated it when she asserted herself, which was mostly why he broke up with her a few months prior. While he may have had the edge on her physically; Jaxon was physically one of the stronger mages, a tall, lean boy with chiseled arms and a broad chest, she was immensely more powerful magically, and that threat allowed her to bully him. You don’t have to be a bitch about it. I mean --

Gwen came directly in front of him, her face a few microns from his. The fact that the mechanic was still in the lift did nothing to shake her focus. After all, she was the daughter of the commander of all military forces in the SPQD, Praetor Morihei, and she had learned from her father how to not only inspire, but to terrify as well.

"Let that be the last time you address me in such a common manner, she said in a low monotone, her eyes focused with deadly hate upon him. She pushed back her braids, and focused her deep brown eyes on Jaxon. She had a sublimely beautiful face, and Jaxon found the extreme disparity between her beauty and her anger was making it difficult for him to concentrate. This ship may have an alpha, but to you, and all the others in our class, I am alpha; do you understand?"

"Yes alpha!" he shouted without hesitation in response, as he banished the fear and loathing from his face.

She backed away, and Jaxon seethed. It had been a long time since he had kissed her, since he had felt her warm body against his, and it made him into a swirling mess of pent-up rage and lust. His attention fell on the mechanic, who tried to act as if nothing happened.

Next level, said Jaxon to the lift in a low voice. What’s your name, boy?

The mechanic angrily glared at Jaxon. He was about Jaxon’s age, a little taller but a little thinner, and resented being called by such a name. Rodion Grasmick.

You’re not getting off, are you? asked Gwen with a raised eyebrow.

No, said Jaxon, motioning to the mechanic. He is.

The lift doors opened, and Jaxon made a quick motion in his susylon, the magic focusing device implanted in his right forearm, to cue a Displacement spell. The pressure of the air around the mechanic swelled, pushing Rodion out of the lift with such force that he stumbled out and fell onto the floor.

"Dirty killician," hissed Rodion, as the doors closed.

"Fucking baseline," cursed Jaxon, as he adjusted his sleeve.

Don’t forget, said Gwen, it’s those people that ensure the non-magic aspects of this ship run smoothly. And we’ve been trying to avoid calling them ‘baselines’.

Yeah, well, they should never forget their place in the Dominion, replied Jaxon. He should’ve gotten off at the nearest level once we got on. Only insolence and arrogance made him presume to think he could remain on with us. You could see by the look on his face how much he had forgotten his place! And then to use such a slur, well, I’ve broken limbs over less.

And yet, that’s what we are, thought Gwen, as she adjusted her shirt. The summons had gotten her out of bed quickly, and forced her to dress in a hurry. Gwen was at the age when her bosom was just starting to fill out, and she was constantly adjusting her undergarments for better support. As she did, she could see Jaxon eyeing her reflection in the wall of the lift. Bet you hate yourself now, she thought. Always trying to get in my shirt, in my pants, but always putting me down for how small I was. Now, you can’t stop looking! She whipped her hair back, and slowly tied it in a loose bun. Her long braids almost touched her shoulders, framing her full, brown cheeks and thick, red lips, and she remembered how much he liked playing with it. You always were a horny little bastard.

As she began reflecting on protocol, she suddenly remembered Jaxon’s assignment.

Weren’t you supposed to be on command deck? I thought it was your turn in the rotation.

Yeah, well . . . Jaxon stammered, wondering what to say. He couldn’t tell her that a strange woman materialized in his quarters, and instructed him not to go. He still didn’t even know what to make of it. I was feeling a little ill, that’s all.

Yeah, replied Gwen, probably feeling someone up and making them ill, is more like it.

The lift came to another stop, and five more cadets entered. They were about to engage in some casual conversation, but one glance from Jaxon warned them not to.

"Good day, alpha!" they said in unison, snapping to attention.

Gwen nodded in response, and proceeded to review their uniforms, her eyes hitting on the usual trouble spots cadets had in conforming to dress code. All of them looked clean and white, with the long, black stripes than ran lengthwise down the jacket opening appearing unmarred. When she first put on the uniform of a cadet, she hated how it looked in contrast to the all-black uniforms of the regular enlisted men and women. White was a difficult color to maintain, and it became an obstacle to overcome in terms of perception. No matter the officer, they appeared imposing in their black uniforms with gold piping. But she came to appreciate how it exaggerated the smallest stain, forcing her to be as perfect as possible, and making it easy to spot the imperfections in others. Her eyes saw only perfection in those who stood before her, until she focused on Charles Ya, who worked with the Siege-Drivers.

Charles, you’re out of uniform.

Yes, Alpha! Charles clicked his sneaker-clad heels together and tensed his body. His sweatpants drooped down around his hips, and his t-shirt was stained and ripped in the armpits. At least now I know who smells, she thought. I was on assigned rest period, but felt the situation required an urgent response, rather than one that fully conformed to protocol. I was nowhere near my suite, and chose to head here instead.

Fucking suck-up, grumbled Jaxon, as he rolled his blue eyes.

Gwen nodded with approval. That’s what I, and the instructors on this ship expect. She saw they were almost at the command nexus. Now, I don’t know what the situation will be. While we’re only cadets, the fact that we’ve all been summoned to the command nexus can only mean a catastrophic event has occurred. We’ve been training for all our lives for this moment, under some of the greatest mages the SPQD has ever known. We serve on the flagship of the fleet, a ship that has taken down more Earth Scientific Alliance ships than any ever commissioned. We are ready, are we not?

"Yes alpha!" they cried in response.

The doors opened, revealing the most terrible sight any of them could imagine. The walls, even the floor had been ripped away, leaving barely a quarter of the command deck still in place. Ripped conduits crackled with electricity around the edges of the rough opening to space, and fluid could be seen leeching out. The opening appeared cloudy, as if gauze had been pulled over it, and they all understood that the automatic shields had come online.

Gwen took one careful step out to afford a better view, but motioned the rest to stay still. She peered around and through the debris, but only found pieces of bodies with no one whole. She was assaulted by the smell of electric power and burnt flesh, and it took all her concentration not to vomit. She stepped back in the lift, and as the doors closed, said;

"Siege-bunker."

As the lift moved through the ship, the cadets stood for a while in fearful, anxious silence, all feeling a mounting apprehension about what must be done next. While many envied Gwen’s promotion to ‘alpha’ at the start of their voyage, they now were relieved not to have her responsibility.

You were supposed to be on that deck, said Gwen to Jaxon, betraying some warm sentiment in her voice. I guess it was fortune that you weren’t.

Yeah, fortune, said Jaxon nervously. Who was that woman? She appeared out of nowhere. At first I thought it was some illusion, some trickery, but the things she knew about me . . . She said she was from the Priory, after all, but never have I been contacted like that. I mean, I’m glad she warned me not to go, but what about that last thing she said to me? To release him . . . How could I even do such a thing?

Gwen tapped against her ear, trying to find a command channel that wasn’t filled with static. She found none.

Alright, she said, as the lift came to a stop and the doors opened on a smaller version of the command nexus, called the ‘siege-bunker.’ "The command crew is gone. There must be several aggressors closing fast on our position. In other circumstances we would use the escape pods, but as you all know, we carry the Sixth Monolith. There is no abandoning this ship. The Sixth Monolith is more important than any of our lives, and we must do everything to safeguard it. Are we clear?"

Yes alpha! they replied.

Once we step off this lift, we must act as the seasoned crew of this ship. You may have fears, you may have doubts. Leave them behind; we cannot afford them. Jaxon, you will be subalpha. Harris, Charles, you both will be gammas, with you Charles, gamma-one, overseeing all assault squads and siege-drivers, and you Harris, gamma-two, overseeing all engineering and technical concerns. Epiphi, you will be delta-one of navigation, Mark, delta-two of defensive capabilities. She took a deep breath. Step off this lift, and step into your new lives.

They stepped into the siege bunker and briskly ran to their stations, activating their consoles as quickly as possible. The bunker was a little dusty, with a stale smell that came from infrequent use. It was a more compact version of the command nexus, with some duplicate controls of those in the nexus, but with an emphasis on tactical controls. Two chairs for the alpha and sub-alpha were placed around a small holotable, while three other chairs were situated in a semicircle around them, each with small displays attached. But those administrative positions were dwarfed by the five enclosed pods that sat along the perimeter of the bunker. Each would hold a siege-driver, and they would be responsible for all offensive activity executed by the Orestes.

The Orestes was not only the flagship of the Dominion fleet, it was the most powerful spaceship in existence. Entering its ninetieth year of service when Gwen went into the siege-bunker, it had become a powerful symbol of the Dominion’s might. Every senior class at the Academy was be required to spend six months on a training mission onboard the Orestes, though none had ever had to cope with the loss of the command crew.

Gwen hung near the rear of the siege-bunker, repeating the mantra of strength over and over in her mind.

With control of our minds comes control of our bodies

The magic we mastered is the key to our strength

Emotionless focus must govern our actions

To steal the fate we use to create.

Gwen took a deep breath, found herself centered, and drew on all her years of training to become an alpha to issue her next commands, ones that she knew would either save the Orestes or doom them all.

Harris, we need to get underway using auxiliary propulsion.

Yes alpha, he replied. "I’ve finished rerouting primary motive and sensory controls to these terminals. The main server on the command deck must have been destroyed. It’s taking me some time to restart the secondary systems and path them through to our location. Be advised that these backup servers have only minimal information; in my brief scan, I’ve found no data concerning our current mission. We also no longer have access to the Governor; with the main servers destroyed, its program has been severely corrupted. We’ll need to manually control the ship from these displays and obtain data from them as well."

"No Governor? said Gwen, in shock. We only just covered manual operation of a ship last term."

And we’ll need to remember all we learned if we’re going to survive, said Harris. I’m sending the necessary technical teams to bring the fission reactors on-line. Backup ion engines are also being recalibrated for use.

Gwen was impressed with Harris’ understanding of engineering. Few mages in any class took an interest in spaceship operations, but Harris had been crawling around the auxiliary engines and service ducts for most of his five months onboard the Orestes. She always thought it was very un-mage like behavior, but she appreciated it now.

Do we have any spare Mass Drivers? asked Gwen.

No, replied Jaxon, as he accessed the student database from the school server. No one qualified to execute those spells; mass-driving isn’t a mandatory class until our eighth term. Records show only three tried, and they all failed; Lars Svenhold, Daria Tanaka, and . . . Drake Morihei.

Gwen winced when she heard her brother’s name but forced herself not to dwell on what she couldn’t control. When we get the Mcomm server operational again, assign them to the training annex, with instructions that we need them able to cast mass-driving spells within seventy-two hours. We won’t be able to get back above base speed without them.

Yes alpha!

Drake, are you up for this? thought Gwen. We had both hoped not to draw attention to your shortcomings, but . . . who am I kidding? You probably still hate me. I wouldn’t be surprised if you chose to stay in your quarters and let the ship, and me, fail.

Epiphi, asked Gwen, give me an assessment of external environment.

One moment, she said, as she struggled to reconfigure the display to resemble one she had trained on before. Almost there . . .

I don’t have time! snapped Gwen, her deep brown skin becoming flushed with anger. The life and death of your crewmates can’t be at the mercy of your desktop reorganization.

"Gwen! snapped Epiphi, without the Governor I need to manually connect all the Mcomm systems, internal and external, as well as manually shunt displays to the main viewfinder and to all auxiliary terminals in the bunker. I only had one class in the manual operation of the communication and navigation controls on a spaceship, so it’s gonna take me a minute!"

Gwen felt pushed back in her seat by the vitriol directed at her by Epiphi. It was almost a comical display; Epiphi had long, brown hair that she curled relentlessly, and it bounced around her head as she spoke. Gwen and her friends knew it always undercut her whenever she tried to be serious, but felt it was too humorous to tell her about. Maybe it’s time I told her. Immediately, Gwen remembered that a good commander must balance the urgent needs of the ship with the time for process.

No problem, Epiphi, replied Gwen calmly. Please let me know when you’re ready.

Epiphi finished moving several panels on her display, got up, and bowed low.

I apologize for my words, and my performance. I promise it won’t happen again.

Gwen relaxed a little. Don’t give it another thought. Just . . . remember to call me ‘Alpha,’ not ‘Gwen,’ okay?

Epiphi met Gwen’s gaze with a smile. Yes, Alpha!

Good. Can you give me an assessment?

Yes, Alpha, she said, as she sat back down and cued up the data. Gwen had noticed Epiphi had more of an affect than other girls, always trying to appear a little slow or self-centered. But she found she was a capable mage in her own right, one that earned her spot near the top of the class. "Mcomm system has been restored. External sensors are now active and routed to the main viewscreen and holotable. There . . . there appears to be an Alliance ship three-hundred thousand kilometers meters from our port, and . . . yes, confirming. A smaller, destroyer-class ship has been launched against us. There appears to be a large debris field fifty-thousand meters off our starboard. As for the Orestes . . . all motive power has ceased. We are drifting, without stabilizers."

Location?

Searching . . . searching . . . We’re just under one-half gigametre from . . . oh my, we’re close to the Haumea mining field!

Damned, said Jaxon, as he sat back. That close to the only known source of chthonine? Can’t be a coincidence.

Confirmed, said Epiphi. The ship appears to be trying to force us into that system.

Where we’ll be unable to cast magic, said Gwen, as she finally understood their strategy. She cursed them under her breath. No mage can cast in close proximity to chthonine. Any other options?

That’s the only system with cover that we can reach using the main engines before they catch us. What’ll happen once we get in there? she asked, anxious and agitated. How will we fight them?

Calm down, Epiphi; let’s take things one step at a time. Besides, first we need to know what happened, said Jaxon. "I’m going to cast Tempus Echo."

We don’t have the time to do that now, said Gwen. We need to decide where to go, not find out what happened!

How can we prepare for the future, without understanding the past? countered Jaxon with equal strength. Gwen was taken aback, as she forgot how focused he could be in stressful situations. "Tempus Echo will only take a few minutes, and I’ll be able to see clearly the events of the past. In that time, you can prepare the ship."

Jaxon stepped forward, and worked with his susylon, to prepare the necessary casting matrix. Gwen hated him and admired him both in the same moment.

Are the engines on-line yet? she snapped.

Fission reactors are heating up, replied Harris. Forward propulsion in thirty seconds. Full base speed in five minutes after activation.

Time to weapons range?

Should also be one hour, and—

We’ve been in their weapons range, said Jaxon, as his disc of discernment disassembled in the far distance. Two missiles were fired from the main ship. Both used sensors that honed in on high concentrations of Ambient Magic Levels. One hit the command deck, with our most skilled mages, and the other hit the Motive Power section, with the next most powerful grouping of mages. As they were fired, this ship managed to destroy one of their destroyers.

If they were aiming for high AML concentrations, why didn’t they hit the monolith? asked Charles.

The Inferno King is in hibernation; thus, he projects low Ambient Magic Levels. They mean to disable this ship and recover the monolith.

That makes no sense! snapped Gwen. We could awaken the King, and he could destroy all of them with a single cast!

They’re counting on our fear, replied Jaxon calmly. Fear of the repercussions against us if we awaken him for a poor reason.

Gwen had to hold onto the railing, as the weight of his words sank in. This is the decision; awaken the monolith and risk the wrath of the Praetor and entire SPQD for waking the King for something trivial or continue to believe we can beat our opponents without waking him and risk losing it all.

Gwen thought back on the finals test she took at the end of her third term in the Royal Magus Academy, a few months before she was assigned to the Orestes; the first and only time that she encountered the Inferno King.

"Test subject niner-niner-Joshua-baker-fiver, beginning test run. Separate dimensional gates."

Gwen could remember she had just raised her right arm to initiate a disc of discernment. Her fingers moved through the air, typing furiously on her mental keyboard, inputting the thousands of equations necessary for the spell. She had worked for many years to make it to that test, spent untold numbers of hours casting and recasting increasingly powerful spells. Her reaction time had increased exponentially, along with her spell depth and complexity.

Hold . . . hold . . . said the proctor. We have an exception . . . we have an exception . . .

She could remember wanting to look back, to see what was going on, but she knew the test hadn’t been cancelled, merely delayed for a short while, and if she wanted to pass, she would need to remain focused.

And then, she felt it. Power like she had never known before.

The sixth king is present.

The Inferno King! she had thought, awestruck and humbled. He has woken, to witness my confirmation? Why this interest in me?

Exception resolved . . . exception resolved . . . proceed with engagement.

She had focused her mind back on the problem at hand, trying to forget the significance of the Inferno King’s presence. Her disc of discernment manifested, becoming superimposed on the portal to the dimensional gates. Her disc was almost twenty feet in diameter, and within its circumference thousands upon thousands of complex geometrical shapes spun and interacted with one another. At first, it appeared random, but as she worked her way through the computations, a resolution began to occur, and within that disc an object slowly appeared.

Are you ready for this kind of power? had asked a voice in her head, one that she suspected to be the Inferno King.

Is this a test? she had wondered, as she pressed harder on the disc, bringing her equations into sharp focus. I’ve come too far to fail!

Do you even know the full mantra of strength? he had asked.

Gwen had concentrated on the words, mentally speaking them.

"With control of our minds comes control of our bodies

The magic we mastered is the key to our strength

Emotionless focus must govern our actions

To steal the fate we use to create."

"There are four lines missing from that mantra," had said the Inferno king.

No! she had cried. "I’ve known those words since I could speak! I said the full mantra before I said my mother’s name."

And yet, you’ve wondered why they sounded incomplete. You’ve known they were missing something. How can you pursue this power, without truly knowing what it will be used for? Samantha told me about you, and your incredible strength. I just had to come and see for myself.

Her disc was primed, and ready. The gates had been forced open, the gulf between dimensions defined within her calculations. I’m so close . . . she had thought. I can do what no one has done for almost a hundred years!

Do you think this to be the best you’ll ever be? had asked the Inferno King. Do you think what you know, is all you’ll ever know?

She had understood the truth in his words. In an instant, she shut down her magical processes, and feigned fatigue.

I . . . I just can’t, she had muttered. She had looked up at the proctor, her mentor and teacher for the past ten years, who beamed with a wide smile.

You’ve come closer than so many before you! he had cried. And you have a witness . . .

For the first time, she had cast eyes on a king. True to his name, the Inferno King was a tall man with a face that impressed one with its regal bearing. His alabaster skin stood out under the rich, black uniform that he wore; his neck and wrists bounded by lustrous gold trim. His hair was the color of fire, and it seemed to dance above his head. She could feel the power emanating from his body, and wondered exactly what his limits were, if any.

"I am honored to have witnessed this trial," had said the Inferno King, his voice a melodious tenor. I now understand . . .

Gwen resolved her sight on the holotable, having come to a decision. I hope I don’t fail him.

Alpha, one more thing I discovered in the scan, said Jaxon.

Yes?

"Motive Power had ceased before the section was hit with a missile."

Gwen paused, considering his words. Perhaps it truly was a surprise attack.

Ships don’t stop, said Jaxon. Not this far out in space, not unless they’re incapacitated. Motive Power had failed before the section was hit with a missile.

Gwen felt a chill, as she understood what Jaxon was suggesting. Sabotage.

Yes. And if it was sabotage, then we have more to worry about besides an enemy ship. What are your orders? Fight them, or wake up the monolith?

If we go into the mining area, ventured Epiphi, we’ll lose the ability to cast. Without that, we’re at a tactical disadvantage. Since they don’t mean to destroy us, the best course of action is . . .

Plot a course to intercept, said Gwen, as she sat at the seat of command. She suddenly didn’t care if her bosom was straight, or if her hair was pulled back or let out. All she cared about was doing right by the Inferno King. If they want a fight, then we’ll give ‘em one! Bring us to full base speed.

Yes Alpha, said Epiphi. Plotting course. Engaging main engines.

Charles, coordinate with your division leads to create two invasion squads.

Two? cried Charles, shocked at her boldness. We’re going to invade both of them?

Yes, said Gwen firmly, as she leveled her hateful gaze on him. Execute my orders.

Yes Alpha, grudgingly replied Charles. Coordinating with division leads. I’m . . . I’m getting some blowback, with basically all of them wondering who I am to be giving them orders.

Gwen suddenly remembered that without the Governor, changes of ship command wouldn’t be announced for all to hear. This is going to be harder than I thought.

Epiphi, said Gwen, Mcomm my words to all division leads, and members of all siege and navigation teams.

Yes . . . confirmed, said Epiphi. You’re ready.

Gwen paused for a moment, as she thought on what to say. "Attention, relevant personnel of the Orestes. The ship has suffered a catastrophic attack, that resulted in the deaths of all the command crew and all mass-drivers. We are in a severe state of emergency, as an Alliance ship is attacking and threatening to board. The ship is now under my personal command, Alpha Gwen Morihei. Section leads have changed as well. As you are contacted, you may ask for verification once, but in the interests of the ship, do not delay in complying with orders. I know that with all your cooperation, we will prevail, and bring our ship home."

Gwen leaned back and sighed, as Jaxon nodded with approval. She looked at the projection of the Alliance ships on the holotable, suddenly eager to throw the might of the Orestes against it.

Charles, she said, leaning forward, time to remind these fools just what a Xliona-Class flagship can do. How many siege-drivers do we have?

Five, replied Charles, with pride. Nathan Landvik, their leader, is a veteran from many conflicts. I studied under him for the bulk of this trip, and he is fierce!

For the first time since she stepped into the lift with Jaxon, she felt a sense of relief. We might be cadets, we might be untested in real battle, but we are some of the most powerful mages ever to graduate and have some of the most talented mages serving under our command. "The word is given; drive the siege!"

Charles mentally connected with the five siege drivers, and coordinated an assault. As the destroyer came into range, two bursts of light fired from the underside of the Orestes. They moved slowly, but accurately, with both impacting the port sides of the ship. The first burst spread out a liquid-like substance that enveloped almost a quarter of the ship, while the second burst exploded with terrific force. The metal of the ship shattered, exposing much of the interior to space. The ship listed on its side, as power failed throughout.

Yes! cried Charles, as data flowed in about the ships’ demise. All systems failing. Life support terminated. And . . . yes! The main ship has come to a full stop.

Gwen nodded with pride. This