Surviving Behind Enemy Lines: Galactic Star Force - Battlefleet, #2

By Clayton L McNally

Earth had hosted humanity for several thousand years.  Hostility between the nations had erupted into open warfare in almost every century.  Man had evolved from cavemen to people wielding lasers and nuclear and biological weapons.

 

World wars with entire continents of the planet united against other continents had taken place three times in the past.  Earth seemed on the verge of extinction during the fourth world war.  The world was engulfed in man's final test of each other's battles for total domination.  On one side, it would equate to destruction or complete servitude to the winner.

 

Acts of desperation forced ships into the night toward the stars.  Man ventured 'To the Stars' in search of a future peace for humanity and, more importantly, the continuation of society.  As the colony ships left Earth - two for Mars and two for Alpha Centauri - Earth was on fire.

 

The Mars trip ended in a battle for landing rights on Mars. The Block and Confederation colony ships battled high above Mars for landing rights.  Confederation forces fought to live. Block forces fought to exterminate.  Mars would be a colony of Earth; survivors had landed on Mars.

 

Upon entering the Alpha Centauri system, an untimely encounter with pirates forces the colony ship to flee Alpha Centauri.  While avoiding the pirates, they enter a wormhole and travel it until they exit in Andromeda, the home system of the ShanTu.  The ShanTu help humanity by saving them from the pirates and then showing them the way to a planet capable of supporting human life.

 

In a history class at Galactic Star Force Academy three hundred years later, humanity's 'To The Stars' movement is retold.  What once had started as the Confederation forces, an outgrowth of the nation America, now populates the Pegasus System, a system handed to humanity by the ShanTu people.

 

Two planets were teeming with human life, and people were eager to explore the stars more fully.  In one such exploration, they encountered a hostile warring species, and a battle began.

War engulfed humanity for the first time in three hundred years - this time with aliens, the BrakNar. The aliens strived to rule the Pegasus System as their system.  They sought a mere expansion of their species and the total subjugation of humanity.

 

Humanity had to battle overwhelming odds for the right to live.  As they defeated one alien species, a second entered the system that could end the existence of humans and the BrakNar people.

 

The Krang moved in to conquer the Pegasus system from humanity, not for territory but for a food supply.  In the face of devastation, even the cadets at the Academy are needed to fight.  Acts of desperation and heroism from seasoned warriors to cadets filled the stars with life and death.  On their acts of selflessness, humanity still clings.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Clayton L McNally
• Release date: Feb 8, 2024
• ISBN: 9798892980388

Clayton L McNally

Clayton McNally writes in a story-telling manner that is fast-paced and exciting. His stories grab your interest from beginning to end. 'To the Stars' will engage the imagination of Science Fiction enthusiasts. This action-packed novel includes hand-to-hand combat using Kenpo Karate and major space battles utilizing unconventional ingenuity.    Clayton is a software engineer and a 4th Dan Master Instructor of American Kenpo Karate, Reiki, and Acupressure Practitioner. Clayton has been a guest at numerous Science Fiction Conventions, including Albacon, Arisia, Balticon, Boskone, Marscon, Ubbercon, DexCon, NonCon, PortConMaine, UMassCon, and others. He provides excellent insight as a panelist. Email for appearances:     Email:       [e-mail] Email:       [e-mail] Website:    www.claytonlmcnally.com                  (Blog on website)

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Dedications

To my wife, Betsy, life can often throw in curves. The journey is more important than the destination, especially when the one you journey with is a soul mate. Betsy is and always will be my best friend. Life with her was blessed.

Jenna was at college but is ready to take on the world. We’ve tried to provide you with everything you need to succeed. Most notably, the love to last you forever, and I am so glad to feel that love in return. I am so proud of the young woman you have become.

To Alicia, a recent graduate of a University. All things begin, journey, and end. It isn’t the road traveled that is important, but rather the attitude on the way. Nothing in life is easy; if it were, it wouldn’t be as exciting. Within you is the ability to alter a world and use your skills to the most significant potential. I love you very much and count myself blessed for your love.

Clark Pfaff, thanks for your guidance in my becoming a believer. I thank God you came into my family’s life and look forward to a continued friendship. It is lovely to be part of a faith community that isn’t just there for the Sunday show so your neighbors see you believe in God. Valley Brook of Granby, CT, is a church that tries to make the words of the Bible come alive for every member in all aspects of life. A loving pastor nurtures this beautiful family place.

Karen and Joe Rieger helped my wife and me on a spiritual journey during the past year. Any trip is best made with caring guides that help make the path taken a smooth transition.

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Fan Appreciation

Thank you to the many readers who have waited for the second book. Thank you very much for the interest that allowed a second printing. My wife and I were in a head-on collision in April of 2004. It has taken quite a while to get to a point where even a little work could be done. I’m back, and many more books are coming, including two new series.

I have enjoyed conversations through email with so many of you and hope to continue to do so. I try to attend as many ‘Cons’ as possible and appreciate the time many of you give me in conversation. I want to thank you all very much for your feedback to me at the ‘Cons.’ I am glad you like the preparation I put into my work as a panelist.

I thoroughly enjoy the numerous emails from those who read the ‘Galactic Star Force’ series. I hope you find future books equally exciting, and two new series are coming; ‘Galaxy on Fire’ and ‘Vampiric Wars’ will also catch your imagination.

Web site   -   www.claytonlmcnally.com

Blog on website

Email   -  [e-mail]

Email   -  [e-mail]

God Bless you all!

Acknowledgments

To East-West Karate NE (Granby, CT), every student, the parents, and my staff. The encouragement all along the way in writing this book has made it easier to fit into a busy schedule. I have listened to the input on the creation of the writing and the artwork, and much more. The students and parents here are the finest any Martial Arts school could hope for.

Thanks to Layne Moore for taking the cover art and adding titles to create the book cover itself.  I look forward to further work in the future.

I thank God for his grace in allowing me to write in such a way that readers find enjoyment in my books. Only by God's grace can I create something that so many people have told me they enjoyed.

Contacting the Author

Clayton L. McNally enjoys contact from readers of the Galactic Star Force series. You can contact him through his email:

Web site   -   www.claytonlmcnally.com

Blog on website

Email   -  [e-mail]

Email   -  [e-mail]

Send emails and images. Pictures help establish a connection to make it easier to converse with people.

Please allow time for a response.

NOTE: Some names may have changed from book one to all future books. Since my wife passed away, the software used to edit books (since my wife passed away) doesn’t seem to allow any special characters in a name. So, from this book forward, I have changed any name that may have included a ’ in it to eliminate it. I suspect that if an author were to use a hyphenated name, it would be reflected as an error. A software limitation that may one day be removed.

Freedom

Freedom is a one-of-a-kind super dreadnaught. The unique nature of this starship is in the Artificial Intelligence that becomes complete when a ShanTu or Human/ShanTu is augmented and bio-neurally linked to the vessel.

Capable of destroying a planet with its weapons arrays, it utilizes four flight modes:

Sub-Light  - Less than the speed of light, primarily used in intra-

solar system travel

FTL    - Faster-Than-Light (up to 2,725 times the speed of light)

TransFTLStream   - Faster-Than-Light (up to 8,039 times the speed of light)

Spatial Folding  - Manipulate Space and Time to move instantly from one

part of the Universe to another at over 40,000 times the speed of light

Freedom

A drawing of a spaceship Description automatically generated

Freedom

A blueprint of a space ship Description automatically generated

Freedom

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Heritage

Heritage is a one-of-a-kind super-heavy carrier. This ship's unusual nature is in the Artificial Intelligence that becomes complete when a Shan’Tu or Human/Shan’Tu is augmented and bio-neurally linked to the vessel.

Capable of bringing hundreds of fighters and bombers and their weapons to a battle, it could equal the Capable of destroying a planet with its weapons arrays. It utilizes four flight modes:

Sub-Light  - Less than the speed of light, primarily used in intra-

solar system travel

FTL    - Faster-Than-Light (up to 2,725 times the speed of light)

TransFTLStream   - Faster-Than-Light (up to 8,039 times the speed of light)

Spatial Folding  - Manipulate Space and Time to move instantly from one

part of the Universe to another at over 40,000 times the speed of light

Heritage

A drawing of a space ship Description automatically generated

Heritage

A drawing of a spaceship Description automatically generated

Heritage

A drawing of a plane Description automatically generated

Freedom - 3 Views

A top and side views of a spaceship Description automatically generated

Heritage - 3 Views

A drawing of a spaceship Description automatically generated

Consider

Jesus died for all of us!

ALL Lives Matter!!!

Anything less, and you could be a bigot.

Table of Contents

Ship Descriptions

Faster-Than-Light Speeds

Chronicles    - To the Stars

Prologue    - Alpha Centauri, Foundation of Hope

Chapter 1    - Desperately Alone

Chapter 2    - Underground and Fighting On

Chapter 3    - Freedom Dawning

Chapter 4    - ReTairens Meet the KroMach

Chapter 5    - Enemy Thine - Enemy Mine

Chapter 6    - Life Has a Price Tag

Chapter 7    - A Fire Storm Unleashed

Chapter 8    - Facing off a Goliath

Chapter 9    - No Longer Alone, Help Has Come

Table of Contents

Chapter 10   - Don’t Covet Your Brothers

Chapter 11   - SOL, Object of Desire

Chapter 12   - Life is a Stage

Chapter 13   - Alone in the Night

Chapter 14   - Brother Against Brother

Chapter 15   - Scout the Enemy, Prelude to War

Chapter 16   - Rebuilding a Battle Fleet

Chapter 17   - Let the Games Begin

Chapter 18   - Back at the ‘Lair’

Chapter 19    - Robin Hood, Alive and Well

Chapter 20   - SOL, the Right to Exist

Table of Contents

Chapter 21   - Peace: Can it Survive?

Chapter 22   - A Little Here, a Little There

Chapter 23   - Galactic Star Force - Rebuilt

Chapter 24   - Earth Must Be Cleansed

Chapter 25   - A ‘First’ Detects New Hope

Chapter 26   - Terran Space Force a Death Sentence

Chapter 27   - SOL Will NOT Roll Over and Die

Chapter 28   - Desperate Times and Chances

Galactic Star Force Ship Categories

Note: There are two different fleets of the Galactic Star Force. The first fleet is used to battle the BrakNar and the Krang (To the Stars - book 1). The second fleet was discovered in a secret ShanTu military base.

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Galactic Star Force Ship Duties

General - Each type of ship mounts massive energy weapons, from smaller frigates to the largest super dreadnaught. ThraseRs for long-distance constant energy beam, PulseARs (short distance, machine gun-like with a heavy concentration of energy pulses), and a Laser Point-defense system (rapid-fire system to track and destroy incoming missiles or torpedoes). Each ship carries multiple missile launchers and torpedo banks. The actual numbers on each are classified and increase by the vessel size. 

AI Super Dreadnaught, only one exists: ‘Freedom.’ The primary scout ship, the Galactic Star Force, will be used to investigate the Universe and lead in battles. Freedom is a massive weapon.

AI Super Carrier, there is only one in existence: ‘Heritage.’ The secondary scout ship, the Galactic Star Force, will be used to investigate the Universe and lead in battles. Heritage is a massive weapon and launch facility.

Super Dreadnaught, Battleships, and Battle Cruiser: Their primary mission is waging war. They had super heavy hulls designed to take a lot of weapons fire and were generally not used for diplomatic purposes unless an impression was needed to be made.

Galactic Star Force Ship Duties

Heavy Cruiser, Cruiser, and Light Cruiser: Their primary mission is to support exploration and the Diplomatic Corps, but they would also have to keep waging war. Their large hulls were designed to take a lot of weapons fire, but not as much as the ‘Battle’ ready ships. Generally, they are not sent into areas of known aggression unless as a support ship or part of a small fleet.

Destroyers and Frigates: Their primary mission is to support scouting and escort duties and support the Diplomatic Corps. They would also have to support waging war. Lighter ship hulls were designed to take a limited amount of weapons fire, not as much as the Cruiser class of ships. 

Carriers, Light Carriers, and Fast Attack Carriers: Their primary mission is to support battles from a safe distance with a constant guard of escort ships - destroyers, frigates, and cruisers. They would also have to support waging war. They had light to moderate hulls designed to take a limited amount of weapons fire, but not intended to be in the middle of a battle. Due to the nature of their fighters and bombers and the damage they could inflict on the enemy, carriers would often be the target of choice by enemy warships.

Faster-Than-Light, TransFTLStream, and Fold Speeds

Estimates of Faster-Than-Light speeds are listed. Velocities are approximated.

Faster-Than-Light, TransFTLStream, and Fold Speeds

Estimates of Faster-Than-Light speeds are listed. Velocities are approximated.

Chronicles - ‘To the Stars’

Earth had become a well of shallowness, a bottomless emptiness, an inky blackness. Humanity needed a new Earth.

Earth has hosted humanity for many thousands of years. Hostility between the nations had erupted into open warfare in almost every century. Humanity had evolved from cave dwellers to people wielding laser, nuclear, and biological weapons. 

World wars with entire continents of the planet united against other continents had taken place three times in the past. The world was engulfed in man’s final test of each other’s battles for total domination. It would equate to the destruction of the loser or complete servitude to the winner.

Acts of desperation forced ships into the night toward the stars. Man ventured ‘To the Stars’ in search of a future peace for humankind and, more importantly, the continuation of humanity. Earth was on fire as the colony ships left Earth - two for Mars and two for Alpha Centauri.

The Mars trip ended in a battle for landing rights on Mars. The Block and Confederation colony ships battled high above Mars for landing rights.  Confederation forces fought to live; Block forces fought to exterminate. Mars would be a colony of Earth; survivors had landed on Mars.

Upon entering the Alpha Centauri star system, an awkward encounter with pirates forced the colony ship to flee Alpha Centauri. While avoiding the pirates, they entered a wormhole and traveled through it until they exited into Andromeda, the home system of the ShanTu. The ShanTu helped humanity by saving them from the pirates and showing them the way to a planet capable of supporting human life.

Three hundred years later, in a history class at Galactic Star Force Academy, the movement of humankind ‘To the Stars’ is retold. What once had started as the Confederation forces, an outgrowth of the nation America, now populates the Pegasus star system, a system handed to humanity by the ShanTu people.

Two planets were teeming with human life, and people were eager to explore the stars more fully. In one such exploration, they encountered a hostile warring species, and a battle began.

A new war had engulfed humanity for the first time in three hundred years - this time with aliens, the BrakNar. The BrakNar, a warring race, strived to rule the Pegasus star system as their star system. They sought a mere expansion of their species and the total subjugation of humanity. Humanity had to battle overwhelming odds for the right to live. As they defeated one alien species, a second entered the system that could end the existence of humans and the BrakNar people.

The Krang moved in to conquer the Pegasus star system from humanity, not for territory but for a food supply. In the face of devastation, even the cadets at the Academy were needed to fight. Numerous acts of desperation and heroism, from seasoned warriors to cadets, filled the stars with life and death. On their acts of selflessness, humanity still clings.

Prologue - Alpha Centauri, Foundation of Hope

He runs the Universe - look at the stars!

The Universe - as understood by Galactic Star Force - included over ten billion superclusters. The Milky Way finds its home in the Local Group on the outskirts of a more massive structure dubbed the Local Super Cluster within a family of Super Clusters. 

History would reflect a full circle, or nearly so, for humanity. Fleeing SOL and Earth a few hundred years earlier, humankind had wound up in Andromeda. Escaping from humanity, or rather a different race of humans, humankind finally established a colony in Pegasus. Humanity had survived again, and they were driven from Andromeda back to the Milky Way. With no plans for settling anywhere individually, they chose to colonize Alpha Centauri, the original goal.

The Milky Way was the home of the SOL solar system and ‘Alpha Centauri.’ Alpha Centauri would place the survivors close to their origins. SOL held wonders of discovery for the scientific community; long ago, plans had been developed to return to Earth for historical reasons. Funding had fallen short in years past, but the continued existence of humanity had necessitated the visit.

The Milky Way contains at least two hundred billion - possibly as many as four hundred billion - stars with planets and thousands of clusters and nebulae. The Milky Way, a giant spiral galaxy, contains between seven hundred and fifty billion and one trillion solar masses within its diameter of about one hundred thousand light-years. The Milky Way has three components: a galactic bulge in the center, a large circular disk where Alpha Centauri resides, and a halo on the outer rim.

The ‘Bulge’ is a flattened spheroid - measures three thousand light-years high and twenty thousand light-years in diameter. In the center of the bulge are matter and antimatter. Black holes are composed of condensed matter. A black hole can have the mass of a billion suns but may be smaller than a star. The ‘Liedenfrost theory’ is found in the Earth’s scientific libraries - keeps matter and antimatter Black Holes separated and forces the Black Holes to throw off matter and antimatter in opposite directions, producing the spiral arms of stars within the disk.  

The ‘Disk,’ with spiral arms, measures ten thousand light-years thick and one hundred thousand light-years in diameter. One spiral arm is composed of matter, and the other is antimatter. Each spiral arm contains billions of stars and planets. A similar number of matter stars and antimatter stars have been postulated. When galactic antimatter enters a ‘matter’ solar system, it does so as comets. 

The ‘Halo’ is a diffuse spherical region surrounding the Bulge and Disk.  The ‘Halo’ has about two hundred globular clusters containing between ten thousand and a million stars. The halo extends tens of thousands of light-years beyond the edge of the disk.

The Milky Way belongs to a smaller group of three massive and over thirty small galaxies and is the second-largest galaxy - after Andromeda. The closest celestial neighbors to the Milky Way were the Canis Major Dwarf Galaxy (twenty-five thousand light-years away) and the SagDEG galaxy (eighty-eight thousand light-years away). Each painted the picture of the vast universe and how far humanity’s neighbors might be. 

The Universe, as mapped by the ShanTu, is vast. Much of their mapping had been via uncrewed drone ships. The amount of time to traverse the distance of just the Milky Way was insurmountable for even Faster-Than-Light starships capable of going only over twenty-seven hundred times the speed of light. Even TransFTLStream speeds were limited to only over eight thousand times the speed of light. Entire sections of the galaxy could go unmapped for generations, except probes that would send back information for many decades to come.

Until the starships, Freedom, and Heritage were designed and built, ‘Fold’ technology was not invented. Spatial ‘Folding’ allowed a starship to move between the stars - by hundreds of millions of light-years - within seconds. Freedom had already translated the charts into images that more closely reflected the previously known astronomy charts found in Earth databases.

Locally, within the Milky Way, the Alpha Centauri and SOL star systems were roughly twenty-five to twenty-eight thousand light-years from the galactic center of the Milky Way. The Orion arm of the Milky Way was the new home of the Galactic Star Force and the Commonwealth. Time would allow a rebuilt Galactic Star Force to document a definitive answer to the number of light-years from the center of the Milky Way to the SOL and Alpha Centauri systems.

Humanity was again settling back into the Orion Arm of the Milky Way. Three hundred years earlier, humanity had accidentally fled from the Milky Way. Now, the prodigal sons and daughters returned home to rebuild. They would plot a rescue of Pegasus to uncover the lost roots of humankind on Earth. Humanity would occupy only a small spec of the Orion Arm/Spur.

Humanity had left Pegasus under fire and fled to Andromeda from the Krang to finally settle in Alpha Centauri - the original colony target system. Alpha Centauri was just over four light-years from the known birthplace of humanity - SOL. In centuries past, humankind had ventured ‘To the Stars’ in search of a colony world where they could live in peace. In that search, Alpha Centauri had been the dream, the goal for humanity’s survival. Nearly three hundred years later, one branch of humanity returned to Alpha Centauri, running from almost annihilation. 

A diagram of the solar system Description automatically generated

Milky Way’s local neighborhood

In the building of a new home in Alpha Centauri, the Galactic Star Force would be reborn, built anew from ships with technology hundreds of years more advanced than the Galactic Star Force Pegasus fleet and at least five or six hundred years ahead of any technology in SOL or any other surrounding star systems.

Alpha Centauri had three suns. Alpha Centauri - A (Rigel Kentaurs, a yellow star), Beta Centauri - B (Agena or Hadar, five hundred and twenty-five light-years distant), and Proxima Centauri (a red dwarf sun). 

Rigel Kentaurus had two planets in orbit, both habitable by human standards. The largest was named ‘Terra Nova’ and became the home of humans and BeNovans. Rigel Kent - its nickname - would provide the light that shone on ‘Terra Nova,’ home of the Commonwealth and the future of the Universe. It also shone down on Alpha Rigel, a future colony planet that would be used when the population growth required.

Proxima Centauri was a sun that had small planetoids that could be used for bases if retrofitted with domes to protect any people choosing to build on these little, bleak worlds. Minerals abounded in these planetoids, some never before encountered by humanity. These planetoids would not go untouched; there would always be a hardy bunch that would seek their fortunes by trailblazing into the unknown. Galactic Star Force would set up a small base as an early warning detection facility.

Alpha Centauri would provide a safe harbor for the Commonwealth to flourish, for peace to find a home, and for different species to unite for the common good of all. Two species fled Pegasus, driven from homes in a desperate attempt to live. One refugee species escaping Pegasus was humans - returning to their roots. The other running species - BeNovan - ran to a previously unknown star system.

When you examined the more fabulous' local neighborhood, Alpha Centauri and SOL were just small areas of space. The ShanTu star databases charted all known stars within fifty light-years of the SOL and Alpha Centauri systems. Previous ShanTu mapping of stars in the area within fifty light-years of Alpha Centauri had uncovered roughly forty suns similar in many ways to SOL’s sun. Without great effort, the ShanTu had identified over one hundred planets.

The ShanTu had discovered planets that contained similar and different life from the experience they found on Earth. Within the fifty light-years, the ShanTu had classified humanity as the most advanced species in the region.  They had classified humanity as more sophisticated but not necessarily more superior. A pure reflection of technology might demonstrate humanity’s superiority, but the ShanTu also classified species by aggressive nature. Humankind was just one of many aggressive species.

Each previously charted star system would require a thorough investigation of life and finding sites for future colony planets. Several of these were known to have worlds that various species dwelled on. The excitement of exploration beckoned to Galactic Star Force, but the wish to rescue those left behind in Pegasus also called and would always be loud in Galactic Star Force’s hearts. There was so much new space to explore, so many ships to accomplish the exploration, and only enough to ensure security would be performed. The Pegasus star system would require the greatest need for warships and personnel, and then there was SOL with its hostile KroMach species attacking humans - cousins. The known Universe wasn’t proving to be a friendly neighborhood, even though some new neighbors had been found and could be trusted.

Galactic Star Force was quickly evolving into an arm of the Commonwealth that was expected to accomplish more than should be expected and required planning for four different fronts. Galactic Star Force’s top priority would be to rebuild and triumphantly return to rescue those left behind in Pegasus. As the rebuilding process had already gotten underway, additional areas of concern relating to the new sphere of influence that the burgeoning Commonwealth and its defensive arm - Galactic Star Force - could manifest themselves in began to materialize. Humanity had been caught by surprise in Pegasus; Alpha Centauri could do likewise, but not if the risk of ‘chance’ could be projected.  In essence, Galactic Star Force and the Commonwealth would have to embark on a path of planning for the unknown, causing observers of the Commonwealth to see the Commonwealth as a very war-like species. One day, a footing of potent offense would be humanity's only hope of survival, and the infant called the Commonwealth. The task of a building comprised many assignments, each monumental by itself.

Each set of assignments being examined - as outlined or directed by the Commonwealth leadership - could be viewed as a front, each with the priority to claim significant fleet resources. While rescue in Pegasus weighed heavy on the minds and in the plans of Galactic Star Force, securing Earth’s safety from an invading force could not be ignored, and failure to defend Earth from hostile forces would leave a potential second front next door. Beyond SOL, the projected borders of the Commonwealth needed securing from aggressive species that the ShanTu had classified as species requiring monitoring. 

The ShanTu had documented several species centuries earlier. Each species had been cataloged long ago when none had space technology. The ShanTu had ceased examination of the Milky Way over one hundred and fifty years earlier. ShanTu exploration has forced many changes in the ShanTu species. Their continuous battle with the Krang had prevented them from prospecting. War had a way of interrupting even the best plans of humanity. Ideas on the table rarely bore fruit as written; too many variables always entered the equation. 

Space had proven to be hostile to humanity, more than just the pure cold emptiness of space or the lifeless vacuum it was. Humanity had fought off itself, the void of space, even the hostility of aliens. Outer space, once seen as finite to understanding, had become limitless in the process of running for life. Humankind had lived in solitary peace, prospered, and even grew to embrace the stars around their home in Pegasus. Humankind had discovered technology that led them ‘To the Stars,’ and they had been found with this. Discovery can be a tremendous blessing unless that blessing comes with the threat of destruction. Humankind had lived for peace, deserving of peace, but had attracted two species: one bent on dominating humanity and the other bent on feeding on understanding.

Peace would be lost to humanity in this century; running had brought them life, and with living, there was the responsibility to rebuild. With responsibility came the struggle of ensuring the safety of those few survivors to protect a viable strain of genetic material from guaranteeing the sustainable growth of humanity. Peace and responsibility had forced humanity and the BeNovan people into the bleak and often stark realization that they were just tiny cogs in a much grander scheme of life. This new life for two non-related species had just taken them from the safety of their homes and thrust them into a life-and-death struggle. Their struggle would become a battle for more than just life itself; it would broaden to an epic war.

Two species just learning to trust each other now found they were pitted against an unforgiving universe. The struggle had escalated into the very war humanity had wished to avoid. They were thrust into delivering the Galaxy into safety and peace for the survival of humankind and the BeNovans. At times, understanding had been called upon to salvage faith and life from a higher power, but that was simpler; it was only for humanity. God had placed humanity in the path of all that was evil and allowed a savage and brutal near-destruction of humankind to develop the character, faith, and trust in God to go forth and free the universe from persecution.

Chapter 1 - Desperately Alone

Rejoice in suffering because suffering produces perseverance, perseverance builds character, and in nature, find hope.

"Captain, Omega signal received from Heritage!" Lieutenant Sarah Hanson cried out, partly from a need to inform her Captain but primarily because of the finality of her own ship’s weak position. 

Galactic Star Force had once filled the Pegasus star system with ships and crews. Now, only three vessels survived. A devastating war had forced the remaining Galactic Star Force ships to flee Pegasus, escorting thousands of civilian starships that contained human and BeNovan people to safety. The Krang had overrun every obstacle that the Galactic Star Force put in front of them, and like a tidal wave, they just crushed humanity.

Destined for greatness, humans always dreamed of spanning the stars. War with the BrakNar and then the Krang had destroyed the visions of space exploration and left just a few surviving ships alone in Pegasus with few resources. Life might find a way for the few left behind, but the hope would certainly fade quickly in their minds. Hope - humanity’s optimistic view for future survival - had all but been crushed, but concern was one of man’s most endearing qualities. Humanity has overcome insurmountable obstacles to get to this point in life. Unfortunately, this point in life was the near-destruction of humanity - as a species inhabiting the universe - as it was known to exist. 

Destiny might only matter in dramatic books or movies; in real life, fate was a farce often playing mad jokes on humanity. Humanity was becoming a by-product of the actions committed against it. People quickly moved from potential greatness - their destiny - to near extinction. The survivors would question their future, even to the point of wondering if their actual future was to lose and cease to exist. Quitting would be easy for them, but they found the path of stopping too easy, and if they started, they knew there was no hope. Even with near destruction, Humankind wasn’t ready to quit; their path would lead them on another road. Life’s road had just taken a sharp turn, but the bus carrying humanity hadn’t made the corner. Through only a few survivors, Humankind would carve the road to freedom for others to witness as hope.

Destiny might have been fulfilled for humanity; perhaps suffering a devastating defeat would be the one true destiny of humankind. If fate were unavoidable, humanity would have been victorious over the Krang. The loss had been near-total destruction but not complete enough to see humanity defeated forever. Humanity had escaped in lesser numbers but ran nonetheless. Destiny could be read in many ways - depending on a reader’s frame of mind.

Lieutenant Hanson served as the First Officer on the star cruiser Opportune, the most significant of the surviving ships of Galactic Star Force. The crew of starships Opportune, Gambit, and FierceLion had wound up alone and stranded with a hostile alien species in control of the Pegasus star system - the Krang. She was scared and scarred from the recent battles and afraid of what might lie ahead for her and so few Galactic Star Force personnel. She also experienced guilt for her feelings of relief that she was still alive and safe when so many thousands had given their lives. At least for the moment, she was alive; unfortunately, the moment could disappear in the blink of an eye by a simple discovery of her ship by the Krang. Even in her safety, she felt remorse over the countless billions of civilians stranded on New Earth and Europa. She felt their pain of being deserted - she had slight feelings of being left behind herself - but at least Hanson knew she had escaped death or far worse. She felt a keen emptiness and burning futility in her inability to rescue those in the worlds she knew as home to humanity.

Opportune - was a proud and mighty cruiser - once one of many starships of Galactic Star Force. Opportune had become the default command ship of whatever fleet forces were still alive within the Pegasus star system. The fleet had quickly dwindled from hundreds of vessels to only three known surviving Galactic Star Force ships - a cruiser and two frigates. Not much remained after the past week’s battles between Galactic Star Force, the BrakNar, and the Krang. Unfortunately, these battles failed to save the people of the Pegasus star system from a final defeat.

‘Failure’ is a relative term, and the life of humanity has become ‘relative.’ Not just individuals. They were a species balanced between ‘surviving’ and ‘extinction.’ Refugees now, survivors of two species - BeNovan and humans - had escaped capture or destruction to the portion of the Andromeda Galaxy home to the ShanTu. They had fled as refugees from the slaughter, but they left billions behind. History could never use the word ‘deserted’ in relationship to the Galactic Star Force’s effort throughout every battle with the Krang. Galactic Star Force had fought battle after battle until there was nothing left to compete with, and even then, the surviving ships would have chosen to fight against the overwhelming odds before them. A scant few Galactic Star Force ships and crews had left Pegasus as protectors to be a refugee fleet. Who could ever write in history books that flight from danger or extreme danger was wrong? They would not measure it as a failure; humanity would at least live on, which was a success.

Those refugees of Pegasus that the Galactic Star Force had helped to get away certainly never felt more saddened than by the feeling of abandoning so many civilians. Galactic Star Force didn’t just quit. Thousands of ‘Force’ people had died, some even throwing their lives into desperate battles that no one could hope to survive. Also, the surviving Galactic Star Force ships left in Pegasus knew quitting was not taught at the Academy. It wasn’t an option; a rescue would be mounted one day, and the ships still in Pegasus had to be prepared for that day. Those left behind needed to find ways to hold out until that time.

Understood, Omega signal acknowledged Lieutenant Hanson. Captain Vaughan didn’t need to answer, but simple words might reassure his crew of their mission. To his knowledge, these three ships were the last to survive in Pegasus for the BeNovan fleet or Galactic Star Force. He touched the com-control button on his command chair. "FierceLion and Gambit, come to course 134.9. Let’s get out of here. There’s nothing left for us to do here. Let’s hide among the asteroids, Faster-Than-Light two, now."

A mere two light-years away from Galactic Star Force remnants in Pegasus, a BeNovan light cruiser found it alone and presumed to be the sole survivor of the Krang battles. Hope on the PraGor had long since perished, along with freedom in their world. The crew of the PraGor all shared the perspective concerning their homeworld; the situation's futility allowed them no hope of helping their fellow BeNovans.

Captain PlarDok, we have two hostiles approaching from ahead, First Officer JemDar said as he moved from the sensor station. He had moved to the sensor array to assist a junior officer in reading it. Two Krang destroyers are moving to engage us.

Bring all defensive systems online and weapons to ready status! Captain PlarDok had survived the fall of his homeworld, BeNova, only because his ship was assigned to guard the refugee fleet. He would have chosen to stay and fight but was not given the option. Therefore, he was unattached to a mate and best suited to protect others. Captain PlarDok had been a career officer who hadn’t found time for family. He was atypical for a BeNovan; about five foot eight inches tall, his skin was a slightly lighter brown than those younger than him. His age approached fifty-five, meaning he had many years still left in his life. With age came a gradual lightening of pigmentation in BeNovans. Even his spotting - was a sign of strength - once a healthy, vibrant, and dark taupe was now more of a pale color. His hair, once hardy and wiry, almost reaching out to the night with each strand, was more fallen to his head. His quill hair had once served as a formidable defensive function; in a dangerous situation, he could stiffen the quill through muscles on his head and then toss them at an assailant like a dart. Age does things to creatures, and adding the stress of war accelerates the aging appearance. 

We can’t outrun them, so let’s be quick about this, Captain PlarDok ordered. Fighting had become his only course of action. Prepare for battle.

Three ships bore down on each other, one a light cruiser from BeNova and two Krang destroyers. Measured by tonnage, the BeNovan ship only equaled one of the Krang destroyers. In this fight, the BeNovan’s PraGor would see the end of its existence as a naval vessel, and it could only expect to become scrap metal from this encounter. So many lives would end, and so many ships would die, for they had no place to run or hide. PraGor was a proud BeNovan ship, once prowling the space around BeNova in hunt of something new, not the prowl of a hunter.

Less than five thousand meters and the distance rapidly closed between the two sides of the conflict. All three ships began launching torpedoes; it was still out of range for either side to start using laser systems. The PraGor required closer proximity to use lasers than the Krang vessels needed.  While no ship on either side was equal to Galactic Star Force ships for sheer power, the Krang had won the recent battles by sheer numbers. The BeNovans had never really stood a chance, but they hadn’t realized it until it was too late to save all of their people. The Krang were here for a food source.

A sketch of two people Description automatically generated

BeNovan people with ‘quill’ like hair

PrangBaur ShetFor, our first wave of torpedoes is away. Impact in ten septines, GothHar, the Krang lead destroyer’s first officer, said. He monitored the approach of all eight weapons: four from his ship and four from the other Krang ship. All are running true to the target.

Several septines passed by, and with each one, the torpedoes drew closer to their prey. As they drew near, the enemy ship began firing countermeasures at the weapons. It would not be enough defense against the incoming threats; at least some torpedoes would get through.

ShetFor was typical of his species, with fur that was soft to the touch. But as he aged, it became coarse. In centuries past, the masters would put their pets or servants to death before they reached thirptine cycles. No master wanted to show they were sick or of the low station with elderly pets. Unless battle took a life, the Krang could live as much as fifteny cycles; the masters had bred in a failsafe termination age. As he approached his later periods, ShetFor preferred to walk erect more, and all fours tended to leave him with aches. He maintained control not by power - which no Krang had - but through paying others to fight his battles. His battle victories kept growing, so Krang's command needed to keep him alive.

PrangBaur, four of the torpedoes got past the defensive system, GothHar reported to his leader. He was proud of the day’s work from his crew; if they destroyed another enemy ship, rewards would be plenty for his starship and crew. Two direct hits and two near-hits.

Give me the damage assessment quickly! PrangBaur ShetFor would not express delight with the outcome until he was confident the enemy vessel did not fight. He would have expected more than just the four to get to the enemy. This enemy should be destroyed, not still fighting. What of the incoming from the ship?

A drawing of a person in armor Description automatically generated

Krang species of genetically created creatures

Created as pets, light laborers, and warriors - now all warriors

PrangBaur, our ship was not targeted, GothHar said. He returned to the sensor station to examine the results of the enemy’s torpedoes. PrangBaur, two of their torpedoes have caused extensive damage to the ProFar. She can still fight but is in danger.

Instruct them to stay to our port side. We’ll address this enemy, and they can tag along. PrangBaur ShetFor was fuming in his command chair. PrangShor PletRok was an incompetent leader and maybe shouldn’t have been a ship’s captain; he should not have suffered as much damage as he had.  Inform PrangShor PletRok. I’ll deal with him later.

On the bridge of PraGor, BeNovan officers watched as four of the Krang torpedoes quickly approached PraGor’s port side. The point defensive system had stopped four Krang torpedoes, but the system couldn’t prevent all eight from striking. The damage would engulf the PraGor, and the survival of the starship and the crew was in question.

The first struck within one hundred meters of the port side, close enough that a gaping hole was left. As the blast and shock wave sent energy and shards of metal against the hull of PraGor, entire sections of the hull ripped back as if peeled by a can opener. The blast engulfed over fifty feet of the starship's hull; luckily, the detonation wasn’t closer to the ship. Fortunately, the explosion had been far enough from the starship that it hadn’t penetrated the PraGor more than two decks. The atmosphere had begun leaking out to space, and crew members assigned to defend the ship's internal structure were working on it.

The second torpedo impacted roughly fifty feet down the hull from the first blast; this time, the impact had been more directly onto the starship's hull. Once this section of PraGor’s solid hull had contained everything for life, now it only spewed air and lifeless bodies into space. This impact had left a crater fifteen feet across, reaching over four decks deep inside PraGor, and PraGor bled fire. For a brief moment, flames spilled out into the cold vacuum of space until no air was left to support them. Quickly, the gap pulled out all of the air from this section of the PraGor. Life ceased in the damaged portions of the starship and those areas of the vessel with fires.

Close behind the first two were the last two Krang torpedoes that made it through the point defense system of the PraGor. The timing was such that good fortune befell the PraGor. The explosions from the first two torpedoes had sent strong blast waves out from the ship, and those waves partially deflected the remaining two projectiles.

Captain PlarDok, one of the Krang ships is severely damaged, First Officer JemDar reported. He was waiting for his ship’s damage reports, but he could write on the enemy’s at least. With two against one, he knew PraGor couldn’t survive, but if one was damaged enough, they might have a chance; sometimes luck came through. We got lucky, Sir.

Good, they felt the sting of revenge. What of our damage? Captain PlarDok asked. The battle could be won or lost by how much they damaged the enemy and how little the enemy mortally wounded PraGor.  He knew his ship was outclassed but wanted to take at least one. Come to 123.5; let’s skirt around the stronger ship and see what our lasers can do to the damaged Krang ship.

Course change made, laser crews ready, JemDar replied. He looked at the damage assessment, and it didn’t look right. The battle had been good for PraGor but had also injured PraGor sufficiently to ensure the demise of the proud ship. Sir, we lost thirty percent of our laser batteries on the port side. Decks six through twelve are open to space, and one of the torpedo tubes is gone.

Make the best possible speed to that destroyer and have all weapons ready, Captain PlarDok said. They sustained enough damage that it was unlikely that they would survive the battle. Defensive system to full readiness. Stop what you can.

PraGor was tracking a course that would bring it around the side of the damaged Krang destroyer, attempting to maintain the most significant distance from the undamaged Krang vessel. The approach brought all three ships to less than two thousand meters from each other. Each ship fired more torpedoes at each other, although PraGor directed all launched ordinances toward the already-wounded Krang ship. PraGor would take more hits this close to the two Krang ships, but it would be the only course allowing PraGor to take out one Krang ship. Even in their death dance, PraGor wasn’t alone in Pegasus.

Captain Vaughan, sensors are detecting energy discharges ahead, Lieutenant Hanson said. She quickly focused the scans on the area reflecting weapons fire. As she fine-tuned the sensor data, she identified a battle in progress. Sir, one BeNovan light cruiser is up against two Krang destroyers.

Can you tell how the BeNovan ship is doing? Captain Vaughan asked. The BeNovans had worked with the Galactic Star Force in the final battles with the Krang. He would honor the commitment made by the two species and assist the BeNovan. "Signal FierceLion and Gambit, we are moving to intercept those Krang ships."

It looks like the battle just got underway, Ms. Hanson said. She sifted through sensor scans for details of the damage. The BeNovan ship has sustained damage. One of the Krang ships has moderate damage, and the other is fully intact.

Captain Vaughan only took a few seconds to consider his options. It wasn’t a difficult decision, but it was the first decision of his that would challenge the other Galactic Star Force ships to follow his orders. Although officers on board Gambit and FierceLion might have chosen to avoid the fight ahead, it didn’t matter to Captain Vaughan. Opportune was a Galactic Star Force warship; her duty was evident in this instance. Captain Vaughan quickly assessed and plotted a surprise strategy in his mind. 

"Signal Gambit to move in on the three ships at light speed, he ordered as he developed the battle plan on the fly. Have them drop from light speed, put a tractor beam on the BeNovan ship, and pull them out of the Krangs’ weapons range."

Excellent, sir, Lieutenant Hanson replied, turning to her console to signal Gambit. "Message acknowledged from Gambit." Even as the message was acknowledged, Gambit forged ahead of the two remaining Galactic Star Force ships, ready for an unusual and high-risk maneuver.

"Once they finish getting the BeNovans to safety, have Gambit come about to assist FierceLion in directing an assault on the damaged destroyer, Captain Vaughan said. His ship was the more massive and would take down the whole Krang ship. The battle had seemed lost but suddenly revived. He could not walk away from an ally in trouble. Signal the BeNovan ship to make a course change to 092.4, away from the Krang and us. Advise Gambit as well."

"Captain PlarDok, we have a signal from a Galactic Star Force ship, the Opportune, JemDar said from his console. From the outset of the battle, he had prepared to die. Now, hope was back. They are asking us to change course! They are coming to our aid!"

Make the course correction and go to full speed! Captain PlarDok knew his unexpected change in course would confuse the Krang. He was moving closer to them for an assault run and was just firing his torpedoes. When the Krang fired at PraGor’s location, he hopefully would be elsewhere. If luck held to his ship and crew, he would alter his course fast enough to avoid contact with most of the torpedoes launched at his starship.

A single Galactic Star Force ship - Gambit - moved quickly upon the Krang warships. Gambit dropped from light speed as the distance shrank to thousands of meters. Once out of light speed, Gambit initiated a tractor beam on the PraGor and quickly accelerated from the two Krang ships, dragging the PraGor in her wake.

The two other Galactic Star Force ships moved at the speed of light toward an encounter with the widow-maker, not their widows, but the Krangs. From the point of detection, they were only a minute from the battle. Captain Vaughan would wait until the last second to disengage Faster-Than-Light drives; he wanted to surprise the Krang ships completely. 

Seconds passed by as the PraGor moved away from the Krang. The Krang began an all-out pursuit of the BeNovan ship, and firmly behind the Krang came death. With each passing second, the Krang ship closed the distance to the PraGor. In just seconds, fate would be able to prevent Krang torpedoes from flying right up PraGor’s engines.

PrangBaur ShetFor, the enemy, is fleeing from your might, GothHar said. Excitement on the Krang warship bridge was high. The enemy would be destroyed even with the damage to their sister ship.

See how these puny beings run before us! PrangBaur, ShetFor replied. His gloat could have caused more damage on his bridge than the BeNovan torpedoes might. His crew felt fear of failing him, but when things went right, his praise was equally great. He had aspirations for higher positions, and this battle would be another step up that ladder. There was never any doubt with my skills.

Slowly, the two Krang vessels gained on the BeNovan ship. The three starships were still out of weapons to range from each other, but that wouldn’t hold for long. It was only a matter of time before the BeNovan ship’s course was matched. Set a course so we flank both sides of the enemy. PrangBaur ShetFor ordered. He was now playing a game; he knew the battle had already been lost for the BeNovan warship. It was only the killing that needed to be finished. Instruct torpedo rooms to set up for a broadside. The target practice will do them good.

As you command, PrangBaur, GothHar smartly replied with a brisk salute. Just as the Krang started getting overconfident with their prowess, the BeNovan ship began to pull away even faster.

Sir, the BeNovan ship just pushed way ahead of us. Sir, a huuman ship is pulling them away at a higher rate of speed.

Surprise had been the critical element; the Galactic Star Force capitalized on the overconfidence of the Krang and sheer luck. It didn’t matter which was in more excellent supply in the daring move; the ruse had worked. The audacity of the approach would catch many by surprise and make them incredibly cocky.

Jubilation ran rampant on the bridge. In the blink of an eye, that joy turned to shock as the BeNovan ship eluded them. They had been so close to a glorious battle that the entire bridge team was on their feet, howling in anger. They were so occupied with the frustration that not one officer noticed the red light flashing, indicating the proximity of something. That ‘something’ was two Galactic Star Force ships bearing on both Krang warships.

Captain Vaughan, we’ll have a firing solution in five seconds, Lieutenant Hanson said. She had all ships direct weapons to assigned vital areas of each Krang vessel for a quick end to the fight. 

Gambit would require a brief few minutes to return to a firing solution. Her course had taken her away from the Krang to place the BeNovan ship in a safe area. Executing a hard one-hundred-eighty-degree turn would be tough on Gambit, but she was getting ready for war. She would not stay behind and leave FierceLion - a frigate - to face a wounded Krang destroyer alone.

Lieutenant, drop us from light speed and make ready to fight. Roll us down twenty degrees on the starboard side, Captain Vaughan said. He was out of his command chair; life was in his heart again. Galactic Star Force had just been handed its most massive defeat, and still, it fought. Begin a partial roll to the starboard until even the port side has a shot. Laser batteries first. We should have five to ten seconds before the Krang respond.

Captain Vaughan was planning what had once been classified as a barrel roll, usually reserved for smaller fighter craft. His goal was to allow full fire from all laser banks in his first salvo, at least for a few seconds. The Krang would feel the sting of his beams as if two ships were attacking. Opportune would briefly present all laser banks to the Krang.

Yes sir, we’ll light up their lives, Lieutenant Hanson replied. She was smiling with almost a hint of laughter in her voice. "Gambit and FierceLion understand and stand ready."

PrangBaur ShetFor, the sensor station officer’s voice yelled out in terror. His terror may not last as long as his shipmates’; his neglect would cost him his life even if their ship won. Two enemy ships have pulled up alongside us.

What, how can that be? PrangBaur ShetFor moved from his chair to the sensor station to see for himself. His ship started to vibrate intensely as he looked down at the console. Arm all defensive systems, and we have been caught.

PrangBaur ShetFor was not a patient commander. His ship was in great danger now, but his sensor station officer would no longer worry about losing his life in the battle; he was already forfeit. The defeat was apparently in the eyes of the PrangBaur as he moved back to his command chair. Quietly, he turned to sit, and as he did, he shot his first officer as well.

ShetFor felt his senior staff had failed him, which was instrumental in this potential loss. How could one with such potential for service to the command have been dealt such a blow? He was destroyed not by his enemies but by his own handpicked crew. Had he not known his starship crew better, he would have been confident of treason on his ship. It would only be possible if he had missed some warning signs from a crewmember seeking advancement. He had advanced through the vision of setting up his former commander as a failure. He had stepped in to save the day when his commander lost to the enemy.

Gambit, FierceLion, and Opportune began deliberately frying the Krang ships. FierceLion quickly passed down the starboard side of the damaged Krang vessel. Gambit moved along the port side of it, all the time maintaining maximum laser output on the Krang vessel. Gambit and FierceLion had neatly positioned their flight path, placing the Krang ship between Galactic Star Force frigates. Opportune moved along the port side