Gracie's Touch Zion Warriors 1 (17 page)

Mohan reached around Gracie and hugged her tightly for just a moment before pulling back. “Let us go home.” Mohan said looking deeply into Gracie’s eyes. She must have felt content with what she saw because she pulled her helmet on and moved to the doors of the detention cells.

Gracie watched as her friend walked out with the first group of four women. Kacie nodded once to Gracie before following with her group. Two minutes later, Mouse and Beyra flashed a mischievous grin to Gracie and left. Now, there was only Gracie and the other three women.

Ladara looked at Gracie. “It is time.” She said quietly.

So far, none of the small groups had been stopped. Gracie nodded and looked one more time at the programs she had running on the small portable tablet.
So far, so good,
Gracie thought with a sigh of relief. Gracie was about to slip her helmet on when the doors to the detention cell slid open. Two Alluthans were entering. They stopped for a moment looking back and forth between the three women dress as Alluthans and Gracie who was standing there in a uniform but no helmet.

Ladara raised her arm and fired on them. Both dropped as a huge hole appeared in their chests. She walked up to both of them again and fired into their helmets at close range. Turning, Ladara looked with concern at Gracie.

“I don’t know if they were able to send out anything.” Ladara whispered as she pulled her helmet off.

Gracie turned to the portable tablet and grimaced. A signal was sent. She looked up at Ladara. She would be damned if she got this far only to be stopped. The signal was sent but not complete. They would have to move quickly.

“Move now. Walk slowly.” Gracie said pulling her helmet on and sending out a warning to the others before she sent the command for Kordon to begin firing. They would need all the distractions they could get.

Ladara and the other two women quickly moved out of the detention cell with Gracie right behind them. Gracie sent a message to Ladara warning her that a group of Alluthans were approaching.

Let me do the communicating. If it gets hairy, get out fast. I’ll cover you.
Gracie sent the message across the screen in Ladara’s helmet.

We all go home. You said that. We are not afraid to fight or die.
Ladara returned firmly letting Gracie know they would not abandon her.

Gracie blinked back tears. She would never be alone again, she realized. Gracie was about to answer when she saw a flash of communication across her helmet. Four Alluthans approached the small group. Gracie moved forward so she was in front. Each of the women behind her moved slightly to one side so they were spread out enough to fire without hitting Gracie but still looked like they were part of a group with her leading them.

233-9095
maintain position for incoming orders.
One of the Alluthans approaching them flashed as it stepped forward.

Gracie immediately froze and waited.
Request incoming orders.
Gracie responded.

233-9095 orders received. Disruption in detention cells
Level 824, Section 228, Ce
lls 18-21. Request additional information.
The Alluthan stated.

Replacements in position. Permission for recharge. Replacements currently analyzing equipment failure. Resolution
estimated in 5.8286 parsecs.
Gracie replied making up the number and holding her breath to see if they would buy it.

The Alluthan stood still for a moment before a response flashed across Gracie’s screen.
Permission for recharge granted. Proceed.

Gracie moved pass the Alluthans walking at a steady pace even though everything
inside her
was screaming for her to run like hell. They were almost to the lifts when the first shudder against the mammoth ship knocked Gracie into Ladara. Turning as one, the four women opened fire on the Alluthans behind them just as the lift opened. The battle had begun.

Kordon’s face was grim as he ordered the
Conqueror
to begin firing. They were working systematically on taking the engines offline on the huge mother ship and causing specific damage. He ordered any fighters leaving the great ship to be destroyed. Any other ship they were to disable unless it was sending the specified signal Gracie was sending out. Kordon fought against the urge to climb in one of the fighters himself. Everything inside him wanted to be there to protect Gracie but his place as Grand Admiral was on the
Conqueror
. Instead, he requested Quan and Cooraan to be there. Both were excellent pilots and would not hesitant to give their lives for Mohan or Gracie. Bran was monitoring the shields, weapons, and engines. Kordon requested Toolas to be prepared with an emergency team in the landing bays.

Kordon’s mind ran through all possible scenarios at amazing speed adjusting as reports came in. “Fire at will. Take out all laser cannons. T-force, take out any fighters that come out. Quan, be ready with your squadron to protect the supply ship. It will be coming out hot and heavy.” Kordon said coldly.

The men and women aboard the
Conqueror
were the best of the Confederation Military. Kordon reviewed each member wanting to be on his crew before accepting them. He picked each of them based on their skills, loyalty, and ability to work fluidly under pressure. As the flagship of the Confederation Military, he made sure it was lethal.

Kordon listened in as reports came over his comlink. The modifications Bran and Cooraan made based on the data from Gracie gave them an edge. The shields were holding on their fighters and they were cutting through the Alluthan’s defenses. The
Conqueror’s
laser cannons destroyed the forward and aft laser cannons on the mother ship and continued to inflict devastating damage. Fighters continued to pour out of the mother ship at an amazing speed and number. They were greatly outnumbered but with the modification to their shields and weapons, they continued to press forward.

“Quan, any sign of a supply ship yet?” Kordon asked calmly into the comlink.

“Negative.” Quan replied tersely. “Nothing but fighters pouring out of the mother ship as yet. Have you heard from Gracie or Mohan?”

“Negative.” Kordon replied heavily.

Kordon frowned as he saw the mother ship turning. “The mother ship appears to be trying to retreat. Take out engines now! I want that damn thing dead.”

Kordon’s blood ran cold at the thought of the women not being able to get off the mother ship before it self-destructed. He refused to think of Gracie dying. She had been through too much to die now. Those damn creatures were never going to touch Gracie’s life again if he could help it.

“Kordon, a supply ship has left the mother ship.” Cooraan said calmly. “I am picking up Gracie’s signal.”

“Bring them in.” Kordon said tersely in response.

“Affirmative.” Quan replied.

Kordon watched as bright flashes lit up the background of space. Pieces of destroyed fighters bounced off their shields. The Alluthan’s were attempting to flee but already Kordon could see lights flickering on and off throughout the huge mother ship. Kordon’s eyes followed the movement as a tight formation of Confederation fighters surrounded an Alluthan supply ship moving steadily toward the
Conqueror
.

Pressing his comlink, Kordon informed the landing bay officer he wanted to know the minute the supply ship was safely on board. After receiving confirmation at his order, he waited impatiently. Once the supply ship was safe, he would give the order to fire without restraint.

“Sir, the supply ship is docked and the females are secure.” The landing bay officer informed him.

“See that the female Gracie and Mohan are escorted to the bridge immediately.” Kordon replied.

“Bran, take that bitch out.” Kordon said coldly.

“I thought you would never ask.” Bran replied as the
Conqueror
lit up with laser cannon fire. Huge flashes began flaring all over the mother ship. The remaining fighters began trying to return to the mother ship as it continued to turn away. Kordon gave the order for the
Conqueror
fighters to return to ship. Gracie said the self-destruct on the mother ship would automatically begin when the supply ship was safely outside the ship. He would have less than five minutes to get the
Conqueror
a safe distance away.

“All fighters are safely docked and secure.” The landing bay officer informed him.

“Bran, get us out of here.” Kordon said sharply calculating they had less than three minutes left.

“Quan, do you have a visual on Mohan and Gracie?” Kordon asked as his gut twisted.

“Cooraan said he saw Mohan briefly. Toolas is looking over the females to make sure they are not injured.” Quan said tensely. “I haven’t heard anything about Gracie yet. Many of the females still have the Alluthan suits on. I am heading that way now.”

Mohan turned when she heard her name called out loudly in the landing bay. Toolas was just finishing checking her over, even though she had reassured her she was fine. Seeing Quan, Mohan gave a cry of joy and pushed past the other women and men standing in a tight circle. Quan’s arms closed around her and he buried his face into her neck breathing deeply as he drew in her scent.

“Never again, do you hear me! Never again will I let you be in such danger.” Quan said harshly as he crushed his lips to Mohan’s softer ones. “By the gods, I love you, Mohan.” Quan groaned out.

Mohan lifted a shaky hand and touched Quan’s cheek. “Gracie is not with us.” She said with a slight hiccup as she fought back a sob. “She remained on the mother ship.”

Quan’s nostrils flared as he jerked back with a muttered curse. “Shit! Kordon!” Quan practically yelled into the comlink. “Gracie isn’t with the females.” Quan gripped Mohan’s hand tightly in his own and started running towards the corridor leading to the lifts.

Kordon jerked as if shot when Quan’s voice came over the comlink. What did he mean Gracie wasn’t with the other females. She promised she would be. She said she was coming home. Kordon barked out for Bran to change course and redirect the
Conqueror
back to the mother ship. They were already a good distance from it. Kordon called out to one of the helmsmen to get him a visual on the mother ship up on the front viewport. He could feel the
Conqueror
beginning the turn when a huge flash followed by a series of explosions rocked the mother ship tearing it apart right before his eyes.

“Brace for shockwave impact.” Bran called out as alarms flared throughout the
Conqueror
.

Kordon stood still as wave after wave hit the
Conqueror
. He reached out a hand at one time and gripped the back of the commander’s chair for support as the
Conqueror
shuddered. His eyes remained glued to the Alluthan mother ship as she slowly broke apart into billions of pieces.

Gracie and the other three women were almost to the supply ship when a group of Alluthan warriors approached them. Gracie stopped and waited. They had made it down almost half way when the lift stopped and opened. Gracie looked at the screen and watched as the lift programming shut down and a warning of possible intruders flashed across her helmet. The bodies on Level 824 had been found. Gracie barely bit back a scream of frustration. She was really getting tired of these creatures screwing up her life. A message flashed for
233-9095
to halt.