Star Raiders and the Lost Expidition (29 page)

“
Precisely,” CRAIG said.

“
Well you three better get going,” King Rymu told them, “I am sure the Hades is heading our way, armed.”

“
I am going with them as well,” Tygla pronounced.

“
Sorry Tygla, it is too dangerous, I will not allow it,” Rymu said firmly.

“
But father, please I have been waiting all my life for a chance to help the Colonials. I want to help them,” she said pleadingly, “Daddy, I know it is hard for you, but I have changed since I was a little girl. You must realize that that your little girl has grown up and I am not afraid to fight them.”

“
Now Tygla, I know I have taught you well, in diplomatic actions, but this is more militant than anything else. I just don’t think you are up to it.”

“
You’re wrong,” Tygla frowned a bit and said, “I have been keeping something from you for a long time, father. I have been learning military strategy and actions in secret, fearing you disapprove. I’m sorry daddy.”

He sighed, and then nodded knowing that his little girl has grown, “You are the cunning one Tygla.” He smiled. “I should’ve seen it in you. All right, you may go with them, but be very careful. The Xatu are a ruthless race and I hate to lose you like I lost your mother.”

“
Don’t worry daddy,” she replied, “I will,” she hugged and kissed him on the cheek and turn to her squad. “Ok troops, let’s kick some butt.”

“
Oh, there is one other thing,” Rymu told them, “They may use their plasma dill during this battle to destroy the
Rebirth
, and so if you can, disable it before they can use it,” they nodded, “Your Android would have detailed information.” As they left, the king stopped Mike, but he told his team he would catch up to them.

“
Yes your highness?” Mike asked

“
I hear you have taken a great interest of my daughter. Now the only reason I am letting her go with you is because I know you can protect her. She lost her mother to the Xatu. I do not want to lose her as well.”

Mike nodded understanding Rymu and said, “Don’t worry, I promise I will bring her back unharmed.”

The king smiled, “Good. Now may the gods be with you.”

“
Same to you,” Mike replied as he smiled back.

As they walked down the hall they were discussing on how they would het the items they needed, then Justin asked, “Alright I know we can get the pass code and security card, but how the hell we going to get a handprint? I mean it’s not like we can got up to Drax and ask him if can borrow his hand.”

“
Don’t worry Justin,” Tygla assured him, “We’ll get that handprint one way or another.”

“
How?”

“
You know Justin. You don’t have a lot of faith in things,” Tygla said.

Mike raced to meet his friends and added, “Tell me about it.”

Tylga continued her thought, “CRAIG said that the captain handprint is also acceptable. We’ll just have to find him and drag him to that room.”

CRAIG then said, “That would prove fatal your highness. Captain Tah is constantly on the bridge of the ship. He is also surrounded by the best Xatu guards in the fleet.”

“
Well that’s out,” Mike said. “Are you sure there isn’t another way? Maybe can we hack in to their computer and change the access program.”

CRAIG thought about it a bit, “Well that could work, except it would take a hacker about three days to crack into that system.”

“
A human hacker would, but not android,” Mike said.

“
But it is against my programming to hack in another computer especially that I do not possess a ‘hacking program’ to begin with.”

“
Justin, you think can upload one of your hacking programs into CRAIG?” Mike asked his friend.

Justin thought a moment and replied, “Yeah that should not be a problem.”

“
Good”

The team met Digan in the hanger as Mike told him their plans. At first, he thought that they were crazy, and then he realized he was talking to the person who escaped the endless dungeons on Turas 3. Mike had Digan join the team as he had had a special mission himself, guarding the
Condor
while they were in
Hades
.

Xman had about forty star ships in the huge hanger ready to fight the huge battleship. He could not believe it. He was about to attack and destroy Drax and his stupid ship. He grinned at that thought and switched on his engines. The other pilots scrambled to their ships, climbed in their cockpits and engaged their engines. The crescent shaped fighters flew out of the hanger one by one. Once they were in space, they got into position ready for the ultimate battle for freedom.

The door opened and Drax entered the bridge. He stood over with Capitan Tah and Commander Hiss, waiting for the Colonials to attack. He could not wait to use their new power to destroy the Felinis Colonials.

“
Sir, we have something big on our scopes coming in at 50.80.5,” the officer reported.

Captain Tah turned towards the window as he saw thousand of ships appearing out of nowhere. Drax sat down on his command chair as he observed the battle. Once he saw the ships, he knew what the outcome was. Those Colonials will now face their doom, he though as a grim smile drawn on his face.

“
Raise shields, and go to red alert,” Drax ordered, “Hiss, get the pilots to their ships.”

Hiss said nothing and nodded nervously, as soon as he left the bridge, Captain Tah announced, “You heard him. Battle stations everyone!”

Xman eyed
Hades
and ordered his squadron to open fire. Soon every ship took evasive action as each hit pounded the ship’s hull. Xman then growled, as they did not make a dent.

“
Their shield must be up,” he said, “All units regroup.”

However, it was too late as Xatu ships emerged from the battleship. They then started to attack the Tiger Claws. Laser blasts emerged all about, as it was some laser light show, but the Colonials were not enjoying it. Their ships scrambled all around as Xman hit a few ships, one on the wing, and two dead on. He looked ahead and smiled a bit, as he saw the
Golden Condor
make its way near
Hades
. He knew that their plan was working and he hope he knew what Mike was doing.

“
Ok boys and girls. Let’s give these alien scums the run for their money!”

Meanwhile, the
Golden Condor
gracefully flew over towards the Garbage Disposal Unit trying to doge laser fire. Justin in the gunner chair aimed towards the door and fired, but that did not work as the red-like beam stopped short.

“
Mike!” Justin called, “We got a problem!”

“
Their shield must be up.” Craig informed him.

Mike cursed to himself and then was worried, but he conjured up something in his head. A high frequency sound could jam the force shield. He tried this once trying to escape an old abandon fortress on the planet Juno a while back. They were there to find some important documents, but it was nothing more than a trap sprung by the Empire. The Xatu had trapped them there by a force shield. The Xatu just left them there for a day or two until Justin was playing his digital Walkman music player. Mike then had a thought. The Xatu force shields are controlled by impulse waves and the only flaw to it was high frequency sound. He grabbed his friend’s music player, turned it high and moved over to the shield. He was right, the shield weakened a bit, but it was not enough. Soon after he and Justin, had a plan. They got some speakers and hooked the Walkman to it. Mike then turned up the volume and boom the shield was gone.

“
I got it,” said Mike as he was fooling around on his controls, “We just have to find the right frequency.”

Suddenly Mike hit the wrong button accidentally and an electric guitar solo from their favorite band started playing. Justin and Digan, looked at Mike even Tygla. She have heard of Earth music before and wondered if this was the kind of music Mike listens to.

“
What the hell is that?” Digan asked curiously.

“
Oh, nothing just part of a cool live song,” Justin replied from the other room.

CRAIG was just about to change it, but Mike stopped him and said, “No wait, Turn it up.”

“
What?” Tygla wondered.

Mike replied, “The high pitch of the guitar solo might jam the shield’s frequency.”

Mike turned on the outside speakers as the music blared. Even though the sound was null in space, the high vibrant wave, might be enough to do break the shielding. Justin smiled knowing what Mike was doing as he remembered the same thought.

Inside, the crew of the
Hades
began to feel some type of vibration. On the bridge Drax felt the vibration and wonder what kind of tactic this was.

“
Where is that vibration coming from?” Captain Tah asked.

The officer replied, “I don't know sir, but it's lowering the shield frequency around the garbage chute.”

The garbage chute,
Drax though,
no it couldn’t be.
Tah knew it must have been the same crew who tried to pass them earlier. He informed Drax of it.
It must be Tippin and his friends,
Drax thought. He stood and ordered Hiss and his men to follow as Drax exited the bridge. He told Hiss to get some soldiers and surround that section. They will take them by surprise he thought. Drax took some men of his own and returned to his quarters.

“
The shield is weakening,” CRAIG told him, “But it is not enough to break it.”

Mike then continued to raise the volume to the max. Digan, Tygla and Justin covered their ears as the pitch irritated their hearing. Soon after, CRAIG reported that the shield was gone. Mike’s friends were so pleased that his plan worked. Justin fired once more and the chute’s door blew open. He turned off the loud music and entered a long shaft that was connected to a main refuse storage room.

Meanwhile, the battle raged on as more enemy fighters flew out of their hangers. Sommanar looked from the bridge and knew that they were not going to win. He wondered if this plan was a good idea from the start. One of his crewmembers looked at his sensors and told them that it detected that the force shield around Hades was gone and hope reemerged.

“
This is
Thunder Claw
to Lion King,” Xman said, “Their shield is down, but they sent out more of their fleet. More than we can handle father. We can't hold them off for long.”

“
But we must,” Rymu replied, “Michael is counting on it. Focus all firepower back on the ship. It is our only hope.”

“
Yes father,” Xman replied, “Attention all ships, redirect your fire back on
Hades
at full power.”

The vacuum of the haul was sucking the air out faster than biggest black hole as the Condor barely got in and a safety shield resealed the opening. As soon as everybody got out, Mike checked the door, locked he thought. Digan ordered them to take cover as he fired the proton beam on it. The door exploded and once the smoke cleared, they saw about ten dead Xatu guards lying on the floor.

“
Well what do ya know,” Justin commented as he smiled.

Once they got in the inner halls Mike said, “Ok, Tygla, CRAIG, you go find the room where the self-destruction system is while Justin and I try to disable their plasma drill. We’ll all meet back here got it?”

They all nodded as Tygla gave him a kiss, “Good luck and be careful hon.”

Mike smiled and replied, “You too.”

CRAIG asked, “Now Michael, in order to get there, you must take that passage.” CRAIG pointed to the extending hallway on the left of them, “About fifty yards. Then there should be a door on the left in Xatu marked ‘Drill Room’. Be careful that area should be heavily monitored.”

“
No problem, thanks,” Mike replied looking at him.

The team then split up as Tygla and CRAIG entered an elevator lift that was down the hall. Mike and Justin made the turn down a long hallway. Several guards spotted them and took them by surprise.