Robot Wars

by: Greywolf
Part 1: Exploration


     The captain stood in his office, with much on his mind. 
They had tried every place they could think of to actually seek
help and found nothing.  The Milky Way must be devoid of other
life.  The captain taps a button and in runs an ensign "Yes
Captain McRandy" 
     "Set wrap engines to the safest possible setting and head to
the..." He looks down at a key pad "Denubian Galaxy" 
     "As you wish sir" The ensign turns and leaves to carry out
his orders, the captain touches a console and speaks into it
"Everyone prepare for warp" 
     He sits in his chair, the room he in was decorated with some
medals and a old earth sword is hung against one wall.  The case
is leather brown with gold worn metals.  The hilt is a simple
design branching up in a V pattern it had a cross in the middle,
which is basically square on each side.  The captain sighs "We've
been searching for years now... Can we really ever hope to find
anything now?"   A small distortion around the ship as the space
around it is being warped and bent so the space can fly through
at faster then light speeds.  They were off to the Denubian
galaxy with slim hopes...



     The Explorer and the military escort around it feel the
deceleration as the ships begin to slow to a more stable speed
slower then light travel.  A few hours had passed since the jump
started.  The captain was sleeping when the ensign paged him
"Captain to deck.  Repeat captain to deck" McRandy gets up slowly
putting his shoes on he gets through the door when the second in
command walks up to him "Captain, I thought I would see you here" 
     "Well you guessed right as usual Neil" 
     "I just know you too well... you can get to know anyone
after 21 years on the ship together.  Still can't believe you
were promoted to captain like that" 
     "Yeah, and you the second in command."
     "Right, that's not the way I wanted to be promoted"
     "Me either" 
     "After I finish this we will talk about it" 
     "Yeah...I think it should be addressed" 
     They both take a deep breath and walk to the bridge where
the full crew is working on their special functions "What is it
Ensign Jean?"
     "Captain, we have come out of warp in the Denubian system
around the Amethyst star system in the Azure quadrant."
     "Anything else?"
     "Well sir there is a beacon blinking, but it's very far
away"
     Neil leans forward asking "A beacon"
     "Yes sir, it's from a planet on the edge of the diamond star
system and close to the Coral quadrant.  I believe it's a
distress signal sir" Both Neil and McRandy stand up straight "A
distress signal huh? Just like last time..." 
     "Neil, you really don't think it could be the same"
     "It might captain... It just might"
     "What would you like to do?" 
     The ensign breaks in, Neil grabs McRandy's arm "Don't do it"
     "I have to, you know that... someone could be in trouble" 
     "And it could be a trap just like with the other captain!"
Neil counters
     "I remember it too well Neil, too well" 
     "That's right, just like last year, when me and you were
promoted.  The ship came across a distress signal from a planet
close to the earthen colonies.  The captain thought someone might
need help, so the ship was ordered to turn and head off towards
this new signal.  When we got there however, the planet looked
abandoned.  The team was made, you the captain, his second, and
me.  We journeyed to the surface and searched it. They're the
signal source, what we found. A bomb! It was a trap.  The bomb
didn't get anyone, but the alien soldiers that followed did.  The
captain and second stayed behind.  They left US in charge
remember? Do you really want that to happen again?" 
     "Neil, calm down please. I know that, I was there but we
can't just leave it like this.  Ensign rally a message to the
other ships. We are going to check this out"



                    "Sir" A rough almost robotic voice calls out "There are
          several ships approaching.  Some of them seem to be
          military class." 
     "So, who are they?" A more humanoid lighter voice, with a
hint of evil in it asked
"It appears to be the remnants from the Milky Way forces sir"
     "The humans?! Resourceful aren't they? Well we will see
about that" The evil voice laughs.  
     "Should we take them this lightly Prince Jak'xan?" 
     "Fool, Of course we can, they don't have the mecha
technologies.  What a pathetic race, no mechas"
     "And until they get here?"
     "Continue to hammer Arus with as much firepower as you
possibly can"
     "Yes sir!" 
     The battleship, and that's what it was; a heavy assault
ship, continued to fire high powered laser generated weapons at
the planet surface. "And I want the princess alive" the prince
ordered sitting on his command chair.



                    "Captain we are in range of the planet now" 
     "Great ensign, now open a visual and everyone be prepared to
act." 
     "Yes, captain!"  the screen flashes to life and the humans
all are shocked as a large battle cruiser, a red skull on the
front with spikes along the hull and armaments were everywhere,
attacked the planet below them "We have to help them, order all
ships to advance on the battlecruiser and power up all weapons. 
Raise the shields and have everyone moved to safe spots" 
     "It's done sir" 
     "Good job, now approach and open communications to that
ship"
     "Sir, they are talking to us"
     The screen is replaced by a vicious yet handsome Drule, his
long silver hair shoulder length and combed back in the front. 
He is wearing a silver link shirt with gold mixed in and a blood
red jewel on the center.  "I am Prince Jak'xan of the planet doom
leave here or be destroyed."
     "I am Captain McRandy of the Earth fleet, you are attacking
a planet may I know why?"
     "To conquer it of course"
     "I cannot allow that"
     "And you cannot stop it either" 
     "Watch me... all weapons full power and fire!"
      The smaller protection fleet is ahead of the explorer and
fires weaving in and out of the autoguns on the battlecruiser. 
The explorer fires large concentrated beams of particles, which
smash into the battlecruiser.  The battlecruiser fires back and
the explorer is the primary target as the force rocks the ship.  
     "Give it all you have earth forces, we cannot allow this,
its only one ship!"
     The second round and the battlecruiser is forced to back
off.
     "When I return with the rest of my forces you shall regret
that action" 
     "Until then prince, Close the connection"
     "Already done sir"
     "Excellent and now send for an exploration team we are going
down"

CONTINUED