The Reidforcian Threat
Chapter I As the planet of Manita came into view from the observation deck atop the rescue ship Burmi, Denise noticed the look of turmoil on Joseph's face. During the Reidforcian attack on the Beta-9 scientific colony his mother had been turned to ashes by an enemy weapon and his father was taken captive. Joseph felt as if it were solely his fault that he had survived and not them; after all, he had wandered off on his own, forgetting about his parents. Now he was on the Burmi heading for Delta-5, an Alliance outpost in the Vultar sector, and they weren't.
Denise told her mother that she thought it would be a good idea if Joseph received some comforting words from an adult. Mrs. Wantis agreed with her daughter and walked over to the boy to give some words of support.
“I understand how you must feel. Besides I knew your mother very well, and I know that she would have wanted you to continue on with out them. You've got your whole life ahead of you.
“It's just not fair, I survived the attack, and they didn't. I should have stayed with them,” Joseph said with tears welling up in his eyes.
“It's not your fault.” Mrs. Wantis responded in a reassuring tone. “You didn't tell the Reidforcians to attack the colony.”
“I hate the Reidforcians and I am going to free my father no matter what it takes,” Joseph exploded in a rage as he ran off to be alone.
Since the year 2689, the Reidforcians had been attempting to take control of the entire galaxy. They had a military armada consisting of some of the biggest and most powerful space vehicles ever assembled. The Reidforcian army was on the move throughout the known universe. Ever since they discovered that there were other life forms living in other systems (such as our own Terra system) they had been capturing humans, Bignols, Manitans, and other aliens as slaves to work in the Reidforcian ronadium mines.
Ronadium is the main element used in Reidforcian sub-space thrusters. Long exposure to the ore causes severe deformation and eventual death. Matthew Xelco, Joseph's father, had become one of these unfortunate slaves.
Matthew Xelco was one of the scientists responsible for the discovery and development of copernicium, a valuable product used in the main thrust units in the McMarian hyper-warp drive systems; known only by the Interplanetary Alliance of Planets. This engine was already in use on most Alliance Forodian class ships. The Reidforcians wanted to copy the hyper-warp system so that they could be more effective in their quest for domination of the galaxy. The McMarian hyper-warp drives allow the Alliance ships to move four to five times faster than their Reidforcian counterparts. Dr. Xelco had also been working on a new experimental craft that was said to be the envy of the fleet. The ZX/2 had been rescued before the Reidforcians could capture it, and it was on the Burmi to be delivered to the high command.
One of the problems facing the Interplanetary Alliance was that they had no actual means of communication with the tyrannous aliens. There wasn't a single intelligence in the galaxy that could read, or even speak for that matter, the Reidforcian language, except the Reidforcians themselves. The Reidforcians had devices that allowed them to communicate when they wanted to, but the rest of the inhabitants in the galaxy didn’t have access nor knew how to build one of these communication devices. The Reidforcians therefore had the advantage, and they were able to turn it on or off at will.
After an hour or so Mrs. Wantis sent Denise to find Joseph so he and Denise could tour the ship and get settled in. She hoped that Joseph would get his mind on something other than his parents.
Denise found Joseph sitting alone in the food court. He had a cup of hot chocolate and he was eating a cookie.
“Do you want some?” Joseph asked Denise when he saw her.
“No thank you, I just came by to tell you that we have been invited to go on a tour of the Burmi. Do you want to come?” Denise asked Joseph.
“I guess so. I have nothing better to do with my time right now.” Joseph replied through his food as he ate the last bite of the cookie.
The tour began in the control room where they were shown how the ship operates and the job assignment of each of the crewmen. It was here that they met Admiral Vernondi. He was the only surviving member of the Alliance command center located on Beta-9. He had been on an assignment away from the facility when the attack happened.
“Welcome to the control center. If you have any questions or need any assistance don't hesitate to ask,” Admiral Vernondi smiled at Joseph and Denise. He had been a good friend of Joseph's parents and knew Joseph as well.
They then moved on to the medical treatment bay where Denise was able to show her knowledge of medical methods and equipment. Denise's mother was a Military Reserve Medical Specialist (MRMS) and she had taught Denise many of the new medical techniques used on the most sophisticated ships in the Alliance force.
Their next stop was the shuttle dock where they learned how the Tolmit Airlock System (T.A.S.) worked. Joseph admired the many attack ships in the holding area. There were just enough to be of assistance in the event of an attack on the Burmi.
“What is that over there? I have never seen this before. This is really cool.” Joseph said as he headed straight for the new craft.
“This is the ZX/2 Experimental attack unit,” the guide explained.
“Can we go inside and look around?” Joseph asked.
The officer nodded yes and Joseph and Denise went inside. Joseph immediately sat in the pilot’s seat. “Wow, this is really cool. How fast can this thing go?” Joseph asked as he turned his towards the guide.
“It is the best piece of engineering of our time. In fact, it is the only craft of its size to be equipped with the McMarian hyper-warp drive technology. It also has two krolon power trazers, capable of 40 mega-throns of force,” he then went on to explain the operation of the craft.
“To engage the engines the thruster pod must be activated by raising the blue cover and pushing the switch forward,” Corporal Rant explained, “Then by pushing the double levers forward the auto-nav program engages. As the craft moves forward through the release tunnel the T.A.S. opens the doors. After that the craft is computer controlled and then even a shuttle pilot can operate it. The ZX/2 has the most advanced systems known to the Interplanetary Alliance, however some of the newer components are still under initial testing,” Corporal Rant continued. “The reason we have such an advanced piece of equipment on board the Burmi is that it was about to be discovered by the Reidforcians on the Beta-9 colony when we rescued you. Your father, Joseph, was designing this when you were attacked. Fortunately they didn't know it was there or we would be in big trouble, they would have taken it and found the secrets behind the hyper-warp drive technology.”
When the tour guide advised the two that it was time to leave, Joseph pushed Corporal Rant out of the small spacecraft. He slammed the door of the craft shut, and then jumped into the pilot’s seat of the ZX/2. He lifted the blue cover, pushed the switch forward, and engaged the main power throttle.
“Joseph Xelco, What do you think you're you doing?” Denise shouted in a rage.
“WE, are going to Reidforcia to free my father. And, if possible, rid the galaxy of the Reidforcians while we're at it,” was Joseph's reply. Then he added, “By the way, HOLD ON!”
At that moment the ZX/2 lifted from the floor of the dock and dashed down a long corridor. Lights flashed in front of them and a loud voice could be heard, “Stop that craft or be destroyed!”.
Denise Screamed, “We're gonna be killed!”
Joseph gripped the controls and glared down the long shaft as if he were in a trance. He noticed on the dash panel a lever marked T.A.S. He pulled the lever back and the two large doors in front of him opened releasing them into the darkness of space.
A glaring voice over the headset radio could be heard, “Return to the ship or be destroyed!”
“Go back before they blow us up!” Denise urged Joseph with the sound of panic in her voice.
Joseph ignored her pleas and engaged the power system. TJoseph was familiar with this system and knew how to operate it. Suddenly the ship lurched forward leaving the security of the rescue ship behind them and hurtled them into the emptiness that lay before them. Joseph set the auto-navigation system for the Blithonian solar system in the Colderus sector of the third quadrant, in other words Reidforcia.
After a seemingly endless silence Denise began to question. “Do you really think that you are going to get away with this? In case you haven't noticed we are in a stolen craft heading for a planet that belongs to the cruelest people in the known universe.”
“What's the problem? You heard the guy; this is the best piece of technology in the universe. We are absolutely safe,” Joseph said in one of those `get a life' voice tones.
“Is that so,” Denise remarked. “Well Mr. Bigshot, it seems as if you've forgotten that we have yet to get down onto the planet without being detected.”
“Will you quit being such a worrywart,” responded Joseph. “Perhaps if you had been paying more attention you would have noticed that, while you have been up there worrying yourself to death, I have been down below converting our shields into a detection jamming system.”
Joseph set the ZX/2 to auto control. He set the speed to maximum, but decided not to use the McMarian hyper-warp system for fear that they might be detected by the enemy.
The bickering ended with that and the rest of the journey was basically wordless (partially because Denise fell asleep).
Just as Joseph began to relax, he was startled by a synthesized voice, “Now approaching destination Reidforcia. Please be prepared to enter standard orbit; now awaiting further orders.”
As the planet of Manita came into view from the observation deck atop the rescue ship Burmi, Denise noticed the look of turmoil on Joseph's face. During the Reidforcian attack on the Beta-9 scientific colony his mother had been turned to ashes by an enemy weapon and his father was taken captive. Joseph felt as if it were solely his fault that he had survived and not them; after all, he had wandered off on his own, forgetting about his parents. Now he was on the Burmi heading for Delta-5, an Alliance outpost in the Vultar sector, and they weren't.
Denise told her mother that she thought it would be a good idea if Joseph received some comforting words from an adult. Mrs. Wantis agreed with her daughter and walked over to the boy to give some words of support.
“I understand how you must feel. Besides I knew your mother very well, and I know that she would have wanted you to continue on with out them. You've got your whole life ahead of you.
“It's just not fair, I survived the attack, and they didn't. I should have stayed with them,” Joseph said with tears welling up in his eyes.
“It's not your fault.” Mrs. Wantis responded in a reassuring tone. “You didn't tell the Reidforcians to attack the colony.”
“I hate the Reidforcians and I am going to free my father no matter what it takes,” Joseph exploded in a rage as he ran off to be alone.
Since the year 2689, the Reidforcians had been attempting to take control of the entire galaxy. They had a military armada consisting of some of the biggest and most powerful space vehicles ever assembled. The Reidforcian army was on the move throughout the known universe. Ever since they discovered that there were other life forms living in other systems (such as our own Terra system) they had been capturing humans, Bignols, Manitans, and other aliens as slaves to work in the Reidforcian ronadium mines.
Ronadium is the main element used in Reidforcian sub-space thrusters. Long exposure to the ore causes severe deformation and eventual death. Matthew Xelco, Joseph's father, had become one of these unfortunate slaves.
Matthew Xelco was one of the scientists responsible for the discovery and development of copernicium, a valuable product used in the main thrust units in the McMarian hyper-warp drive systems; known only by the Interplanetary Alliance of Planets. This engine was already in use on most Alliance Forodian class ships. The Reidforcians wanted to copy the hyper-warp system so that they could be more effective in their quest for domination of the galaxy. The McMarian hyper-warp drives allow the Alliance ships to move four to five times faster than their Reidforcian counterparts. Dr. Xelco had also been working on a new experimental craft that was said to be the envy of the fleet. The ZX/2 had been rescued before the Reidforcians could capture it, and it was on the Burmi to be delivered to the high command.
One of the problems facing the Interplanetary Alliance was that they had no actual means of communication with the tyrannous aliens. There wasn't a single intelligence in the galaxy that could read, or even speak for that matter, the Reidforcian language, except the Reidforcians themselves. The Reidforcians had devices that allowed them to communicate when they wanted to, but the rest of the inhabitants in the galaxy didn’t have access nor knew how to build one of these communication devices. The Reidforcians therefore had the advantage, and they were able to turn it on or off at will.
After an hour or so Mrs. Wantis sent Denise to find Joseph so he and Denise could tour the ship and get settled in. She hoped that Joseph would get his mind on something other than his parents.
Denise found Joseph sitting alone in the food court. He had a cup of hot chocolate and he was eating a cookie.
“Do you want some?” Joseph asked Denise when he saw her.
“No thank you, I just came by to tell you that we have been invited to go on a tour of the Burmi. Do you want to come?” Denise asked Joseph.
“I guess so. I have nothing better to do with my time right now.” Joseph replied through his food as he ate the last bite of the cookie.
The tour began in the control room where they were shown how the ship operates and the job assignment of each of the crewmen. It was here that they met Admiral Vernondi. He was the only surviving member of the Alliance command center located on Beta-9. He had been on an assignment away from the facility when the attack happened.
“Welcome to the control center. If you have any questions or need any assistance don't hesitate to ask,” Admiral Vernondi smiled at Joseph and Denise. He had been a good friend of Joseph's parents and knew Joseph as well.
They then moved on to the medical treatment bay where Denise was able to show her knowledge of medical methods and equipment. Denise's mother was a Military Reserve Medical Specialist (MRMS) and she had taught Denise many of the new medical techniques used on the most sophisticated ships in the Alliance force.
Their next stop was the shuttle dock where they learned how the Tolmit Airlock System (T.A.S.) worked. Joseph admired the many attack ships in the holding area. There were just enough to be of assistance in the event of an attack on the Burmi.
“What is that over there? I have never seen this before. This is really cool.” Joseph said as he headed straight for the new craft.
“This is the ZX/2 Experimental attack unit,” the guide explained.
“Can we go inside and look around?” Joseph asked.
The officer nodded yes and Joseph and Denise went inside. Joseph immediately sat in the pilot’s seat. “Wow, this is really cool. How fast can this thing go?” Joseph asked as he turned his towards the guide.
“It is the best piece of engineering of our time. In fact, it is the only craft of its size to be equipped with the McMarian hyper-warp drive technology. It also has two krolon power trazers, capable of 40 mega-throns of force,” he then went on to explain the operation of the craft.
“To engage the engines the thruster pod must be activated by raising the blue cover and pushing the switch forward,” Corporal Rant explained, “Then by pushing the double levers forward the auto-nav program engages. As the craft moves forward through the release tunnel the T.A.S. opens the doors. After that the craft is computer controlled and then even a shuttle pilot can operate it. The ZX/2 has the most advanced systems known to the Interplanetary Alliance, however some of the newer components are still under initial testing,” Corporal Rant continued. “The reason we have such an advanced piece of equipment on board the Burmi is that it was about to be discovered by the Reidforcians on the Beta-9 colony when we rescued you. Your father, Joseph, was designing this when you were attacked. Fortunately they didn't know it was there or we would be in big trouble, they would have taken it and found the secrets behind the hyper-warp drive technology.”
When the tour guide advised the two that it was time to leave, Joseph pushed Corporal Rant out of the small spacecraft. He slammed the door of the craft shut, and then jumped into the pilot’s seat of the ZX/2. He lifted the blue cover, pushed the switch forward, and engaged the main power throttle.
“Joseph Xelco, What do you think you're you doing?” Denise shouted in a rage.
“WE, are going to Reidforcia to free my father. And, if possible, rid the galaxy of the Reidforcians while we're at it,” was Joseph's reply. Then he added, “By the way, HOLD ON!”
At that moment the ZX/2 lifted from the floor of the dock and dashed down a long corridor. Lights flashed in front of them and a loud voice could be heard, “Stop that craft or be destroyed!”.
Denise Screamed, “We're gonna be killed!”
Joseph gripped the controls and glared down the long shaft as if he were in a trance. He noticed on the dash panel a lever marked T.A.S. He pulled the lever back and the two large doors in front of him opened releasing them into the darkness of space.
A glaring voice over the headset radio could be heard, “Return to the ship or be destroyed!”
“Go back before they blow us up!” Denise urged Joseph with the sound of panic in her voice.
Joseph ignored her pleas and engaged the power system. TJoseph was familiar with this system and knew how to operate it. Suddenly the ship lurched forward leaving the security of the rescue ship behind them and hurtled them into the emptiness that lay before them. Joseph set the auto-navigation system for the Blithonian solar system in the Colderus sector of the third quadrant, in other words Reidforcia.
After a seemingly endless silence Denise began to question. “Do you really think that you are going to get away with this? In case you haven't noticed we are in a stolen craft heading for a planet that belongs to the cruelest people in the known universe.”
“What's the problem? You heard the guy; this is the best piece of technology in the universe. We are absolutely safe,” Joseph said in one of those `get a life' voice tones.
“Is that so,” Denise remarked. “Well Mr. Bigshot, it seems as if you've forgotten that we have yet to get down onto the planet without being detected.”
“Will you quit being such a worrywart,” responded Joseph. “Perhaps if you had been paying more attention you would have noticed that, while you have been up there worrying yourself to death, I have been down below converting our shields into a detection jamming system.”
Joseph set the ZX/2 to auto control. He set the speed to maximum, but decided not to use the McMarian hyper-warp system for fear that they might be detected by the enemy.
The bickering ended with that and the rest of the journey was basically wordless (partially because Denise fell asleep).
Just as Joseph began to relax, he was startled by a synthesized voice, “Now approaching destination Reidforcia. Please be prepared to enter standard orbit; now awaiting further orders.”
