Chapter 13: The Battle of New Olympia

Only two seconds had gone by, but it felt like it was eons that had passed. Raavi could feel it. The icy conditions of the vacuum of space were a death rattle for anyone to feel. This was the place that humankind could not survive without a spacesuit. Space was everywhere, and the lack of oxygen, air pressure, and temperatures would most certainly kill any and every human being without the proper protection. He was helpless ... utterly helpless as he floated endlessly.

Suddenly, a warm flash of light bathed him. He could feel the warmth hit him more and more. The icy cold temperatures stopped as he could find himself breathing air. The environment had not changed. He could still see everything as he turned to see that Opet was still holding onto his hand. Even in the vacuum of space, she reached over and touched his chest. Magic was being channeled into him. The magic was keeping him alive. He was able to breathe and feel normal even though they were floating in space.

He tried to scream, but nothing came out. His heart was racing, but he could actually breathe even though there was no atmosphere around him. It was as if Opet was keeping his body stabilized. He used his other hand to grip her arm in reflex.

Opet raised her finger to him to tell him to wait. Her woven hair was floating in zero gravity. The environment did not faze her as she had a firm grip on him. She instead seemed to be looking around.

The shock of the open environment was startling. With the exception of the planet to their right and New Olympia’s star, the place was seemingly devoid of nothing. The vastness of space was enormous. Having no gravity caused the person to feel like they were falling with no force exerted. For Raavi, the only thing preventing him from suffering from agoraphobia was the fact that Opet was there. His breathing was something he had no idea how it was possible. All he could feel was a channeling of warmth that was being pushed over his frame.

Opet had no control over where her body was going, but she looked to her right. This caused Raavi to turn his head in her direction. It was here that answers were being given to him. At least several kilometers away were the great white fleet of the New Olympian dreadnoughts. The warships were no longer parallel with the orbit of the planet. Many of them were leaving or in the process of turning. Small vectoring thrusters were altering their angle as they seemed to be adjusting where they were going. At least three of them were in the process of turning as their aft engines getting ready to move. Raavi could see it as the small ship of the UHN Opet was nowhere near them. It was in formation with the three forward most dreadnoughts. There was also something in the vast difference, but his eyesight had a hard time seeing it. It was a series of swirling lights and tiny objects, but he couldn’t recognize them.

Raavi turned to look at Opet in which he was still feeling a level of absolute shock. She gave the nod to him as she removed her hand to his chest and began to emit a glowing white light from it. It lasted a few seconds as the light grew brighter and brighter until a large flash of light engulfed both of them.

Suddenly, there was ample light that was all around Raavi. He felt like he was being moved again. This time it was in a new location. He had been teleported once again. The first thing he noticed differently was that he heard sound. He felt gravity, and he felt more warmth hit him.

His body fell limp as Opet still had a firm grip on him. He was lightheaded as the ice began to melt off his beard and body. He was gasping for air in which he had an ample supply. He put his hand to his throat and realized that he was alive.

“Raavi!” a voice called out to him. “Are you alright?”

He recognized it immediately that it was Opet. He was regathering his bearings as he could tell that he was lying on the carpet of a room.

“S ... I ... Opet!” Raavi called out. He could hear sounds once again. He could tell immediately that he was in sickbay. He choked a little bit, but he felt that his body was returning to normal.

“Qing!” Opet called out. “Come quickly!”

“I am coming,” a different voice echoed in the room.

“He was exposed to the vacuum of space,” Opet explained to her. Raavi was looking before he felt his body on the verge of passing out.

“How long?” the other voice asked.

“About two seconds ... maybe three. I used my powers to keep...”

Raavi didn’t hear any more as he passed out. All he remembered was being engulfed in darkness as he fell limp.

“Ahh!” Raavi screamed. He felt a warm hand being pressed to his chest as his eyes went wide. He looked around and could see a face that he was familiar with.

He was lying in one of the beds of sickbay. He looked and saw a tall woman. It was not Opet but a woman that was different in shape and size. Her figure was that of an anthro-like-unicorn, at least by first appearances wise. Raavi knew what she was and what she was supposed to represent. She was a rare creature that lived in China and was known in the Eastern parts of Asia of former Earth. The Qilin was a combination of a horse or deer and a dragon put together. Qing had these features as she stood on two digitigrade legs. Unlike many of the Qilin, she had white fur and white scales that covered her body. Being a female of her species, she didn’t have the beards that the males had, but she retained her antlers. She had purple hair that was on top of her head. Parts of her body had purple and red fur that flowed from her wrists and at the end of her long white tail. She was dressed in a white medical uniform that covered most of her body except her hands and hooves.

“Qing? Uh...” he tried to say.

“Alright ... you are fine ... relax ... relax... , “ she calmly said with an almost monotone Chinese accent. “You are fine.”

Raavi knew Qing rather well. She was not always the most cooperative of individuals. One hand was naturally placed to her chest with her fingers pressed outward. The other hand was pressed to his chest. Her rather snooty look was one of almost annoyance this time.

“What? ... Opet...” Raavi said. “What happened?”

“Opet accidentally teleported you into space,” Qing explained as she lifted her hand away from him. “The ship altered course and position, which was the cause of it. You were exposed to the elements for around three seconds before she used her powers to stabilize you. It was a good thing ... you mortals only live for about ten to twenty seconds out there.”

“I couldn’t even scream...” he recalled.

“Because there is no air out there to carry your voice. The temperatures of space can be anything from absolute zero to whatever the star is throwing at you ... not including the radiation that you took as well.”

It made sense as Raavi was getting his senses back together. He had realized that everything that had happened was an accident. Opet had somehow accidentally teleported the both of them and missed her own ship.

“Am I alright?” he asked her.

“Fine as a fiddle,” she replied as she sniffed from one nostril. She kept her hand to her chest as she looked away from him. “You were not in much danger. Your blood was very nearly boiling, though. Opet kept your life signs functioning enough that it didn’t require me to do much in healing magic for you. Of course,...” she commented as she looked at her furry hand. “I could have done far greater of a job than she ever did.”

“How long was I out?”

“Not long. About five minutes ago,” she paused for a little bit as a small glowing light erupted from her hand. She glided it over his chest and shirt. “You are fine. Opet said to come and see her in the bridge once you woke up.”

She turned around as she began to walk away from him. Her head and snout were tilted up as her tail began to swing around a little bit.

“Thank you, Qing,” he told her as he got off the bed. He could feel his body was healthy and normal. The shock of being in space had faded from him as he began to think of Opet more and more. Qing simply waved her hand at him and said nothing more.

With that, Raavi went and left sickbay. As he reached the passageway and the doors slid closed behind him, he went and looked out of the porthole. He peaked out and could tell that the ship was at a different location.

“I can’t even see New Olympia,” he remarked to himself as he began his walk to the bridge. “I thought I saw something else when I was in space with her. They almost looked like other gates that were being opened up. Tiny objects in space ... it...”

It hit him like a ton of bricks as he began to hurry his pace down to the bridge. The reason for the course change of the New Olympian fleet was that something big was about to happen. The many series of gates that he saw could only mean the evidence of a fleet that was entering the system. He hoped that he would be close to Opet as he could see what was about to happen. He was thankful that he only passed out for so long. He decided to say nothing else as he started to jog down the passageway.

Within less than a minute, he reached the door to the bridge as it opened up without any pause. He stepped in as he could see that the bridge projection display showed a lot of activity to it. He approached it as he observed the overall scene. The New Olympian fleet had moved entirely to a new location further away from the planet. The UHN Opet was close to the bottom middle of the fleet formation. Not far from the white dots were a series of other dots that were in formation that were slowly moving towards it. A proximity alarm was flashing from it.

“An invasion?” he asked himself as his heart began to pound a little bit. He turned to look at the balcony that was overlooking the bridge. He could see Opet that was standing beside Neb Petti that was talking to her. He couldn’t tell what they were saying as he decided to walk down the stairs to see what was going on.

As he reached the bottom of the stairs, Raavi could get a better view of the massive display of the bridge. It was currently zoomed in on the mass formation of unknown ships that had come into view. It was somewhat hard to see them, but there had to be at least thirty to forty of them. It was intimidating to behold. These ships almost had a dark purple in color appearance, and they didn’t look like they were UHN warships.

Opet turned her head and saw Raavi. She had a look of relief on her face as she left Neb Petti that was talking to her. The four-legged hybrid turned and looked at Raavi.

“Husband...” she said as she put her hand on his shoulder. “I am so sorry that you had to go through all that.”

“Qing told me a little bit on what happened,” Raavi replied.

“Are you alright?” she asked with great concern on her face.

“I am alright. Qing told me that I was ok. Little shaken up but fine. What is going on?”

“I might be the one to blame on this, Raavi,” Neb petty replied in her deep voice. She gestured her head at the display. “Approximately fifteen minutes ago, we picked up the arrival of an Itrean fleet in our system.”

“What?” Raavi asked as he stepped away from Opet. He approached the massive panel as the screen was monitoring all of the activity. He could see more in-depth of the alien warships in space. Most of the ships consisted of blocky cylindrical vessels that were painted in purple or violet. Much like the UHN warships, their layout was almost similar. It had a front line bow section that had a protruding cannon and gun mounts. Some thrusters were mounted on the aft, and others pointed forward mid port and starboard sides of the ships. In the midsection were two pairs of medium-sized railguns slightly more prominent and longer than the typical Martian battleships. On the mid-dorsal and ventral sides besides the railguns were additional CIWS missile and gun batteries along with a couple of fin-like protrusions. Near the aft section by the reactors and engines were two rotating centripetal rings that spun slowly.

“Many of the ship profiles match that of the ship classes that were seen at the Battle of Oshun over a week ago,” Neb Petti explained. “Itrean warships ... at least one of the clans. They showed up from the edge of the system and began closing directly to here. They are in a similar line and wall formation as well, and their weapons systems appeared to be powered up.”

Raavi felt himself get nervous. It looked bad. Even a fleet of forty, it looked menacing. It was the first time actually seeing the Itrean warships up close, and they were bearing down on New Olympia. In the center of the formation were ships even more extensive than the standard warships. There were at least five of them. These ships had a larger profile and almost looked like enlarged battleships. They carried longer and bigger railgun turrets. There were additional fins on the sides, almost as if it looked a little bit like an aquatic animal somehow.

“What are the other ships?” Opet asked.

“Not sure,” Neb Petti commented as she was looking at the data. “Our knowledge on the Itreans are limited but judging from appearances ... possibly a heavy battleship or dreadnought of some sort. I don’t know what the center vessel is supposed to be, but it does carry some sort of bow-mounted gun ... most likely a powerful railgun or beam weapon.”

The one that was in the center was the most menacing warship. It was difficult to tell since the camera feed was showing everything mostly from the front as it was coming towards them. The ship in the center was the largest warship of the fleet. In many ways, it looked like some sort of whale in space or something of that line. It had a series of CIWS guns and launchers that dotted its sides. It had one large rotating centripetal ring that was spinning near its rear. Two large fins stuck out from the ventral port and ventral starboard sides, just like an aquatic creature. Lights dotted the frames as the purple hulls gave a slightly darker color due to the star’s reddish radiance. In the very front bow was a massive railgun or cannon that were mounted in the mouth or jaws of the warship.

There was new data that was being reported in words that Neb Petti was reading on display. Opet focused on it as well.

“This doesn’t look good...” Raavi remarked. “We have thirteen ... fourteen ships to stop all of that?”

“I would not worry about it,” Neb Petti replied. “They can’t hurt us.”

“That isn’t what I am worried about...” Opet commented. Both of the two gave a questioning look at her.

Opet simply shook her head. “Computer,” she called out. “Hail the UHN Mnemosyne.”

Raavi was looking at Opet. She had her hand to the chin of her hippo-like snout. She lowered her hand to her neck and realized that her pendant was not on. She had taken it off prior to going to Cebravis. She closed her eyes as she waited for the signal to be picked up. Meanwhile, the silhouettes of the Itrean warships were slowly getting closer and closer. Like a giant wall of doom, they were getting closer. In the vast distance, the swirling vortexes of folded space closed behind the fleet. A beeping sound came from the display.

The screen switched to show Fumi Yuki that was standing on a bridge that looked very similar to the Opet. Her blue and red cap was on her head as she looked at the towering hippo. Her pink tail swung a little bit as she altered her stance to face in her direction. There was a look of seriousness on her face.

“Opet,” Fumi called out to her. “I was just about to call you.”

“Fleet Admiral,” Opet properly addressed her. “We are keeping formation with the fleet. What are your orders?”

“Remain with the fleet. Better to keep everything close than try to separate around. It looks like they are coming in all at once to ensure that all their weapons fire will be directed on us when they attack.”

“Fumi ... I have to plead with you that we try to negotiate with them.

“I have already tried to hail the Itreans, but they refuse to respond. They jumped in near the neighboring planet of New Valhalla and are racing to here. I can’t let them pose a threat to us. Our knowledge of them is limited.”

Raavi could tell that Opet was trying to find alternative solutions. He looked at the situation as more data was being shown on the screen. The sensors and data showed the brief specifications of the New Olympian dreadnoughts compared to the invading Itrean warships. Most of the battleships or smaller warships were half the size of the white dreadnoughts. The bigger ships were about two thirds the size of the dreadnought, and the biggest warship in the center of the fleet was almost the same size as the dreadnought. Further details were showing up on the lead vessel. He could definitely tell that this lead warship looked more and more like a whale from the ancient pictures and recordings of former Earth’s past. He could even tell that there were two Gatling cannon turrets mounted near the forward port and stern sides of the ships. It was fourteen against forty warships. A part of him wondered what was going to happen. He had only heard the brief things mentioned about the New Olympian warships and their abilities, but could they stop an Itrean fleet?

The only thing that the New Olympian dreadnoughts seemingly had were two massive cannons that were on a swivel turret. The UHN Opet was only armed with two light railguns and was almost the size of one of their warships. The apprehension that Raavi felt was the unknown.

“I understand now,” Raavi remarked. “I thought that this fleet could provide assistance against the UHN, but I can tell that it is barely enough to stand against the Itreans. They seem to have numbers now ... more than ever. Cipra ... now it’s our turn.”

“Hmmm...” Fumi commented as she smiled at him. She overheard his words. “I wouldn’t count us out just yet, Raavi. If the data from the Battle of Oshun is correct, then this fight should be very easy.”

“That isn’t what I am worried about,” Opet added. “Do we have to use violence against them?”

“I am sorry,” she answered her. “My job is to protect New Olympia, and so is yours. Arm weapons and prepare to engage. I will keep trying to contact the Itrean fleet and warn them to vacate immediately, but there is no other choice on this as far as I know. Contact the council and try to convene with them about this. Fumi out...”

With that, the communication with the UHN Mnemosyne ended. Three of the great dreadnoughts were beginning to push forward a little bit more ahead of the UHN Opet. The great blue flames from the rear thrusters were moving the white cylindrical vessels forward more and more in the direction of the incoming Itrean fleet.

Neb Petti sighed. “Computer, arm weapons, and prepare for battle.”

Opet looked at her and nodded. She turned to look at Raavi. A look of sorrow filled her face, but it was brief. Raavi was beginning to feel that this wasn’t as hopeless as he thought. The reactions of every one were that of either overconfidence or reckless hope. With Opet, he could see that this battle was nowhere near the fact it was going to be a lost cause for New Olympia ... but rather that of a coming massacre ... a massacre against the Itreans.

Near the dorsal and ventral bow of the UHN Opet, two doors opened up. Two white and gray turrets sprouted from the opening hole. The railgun turrets consisted of five-inch barrels on a large swivel like device. Tungsten rounds were being loaded into the barrels as the turrets turned to face in the direction of the tiny purple objects that were getting closer and closer to the great white fleet. Compared to the big white dreadnoughts enormous cannons, the Opet’s guns looked like tiny peashooters. The vessel was a transport and not a warship. Raavi knew that if this was going to be a heated battle, then the ship that he was in needed to cower behind the dreadnoughts for cover.

“I have to see if there is another way...” Opet remarked as she looked at Neb Petti.

“Orders are orders...” Neb Petti commented. “However, we can still contact the council to see if there is some other way of fending off the Itreans.”

“How long before they reach us?”

Neb Petti looked at the data on display. “About ten more minutes. They are coming in slow and from the neighboring planet’s direction.”

“Why haven’t they fired on us yet?” Raavi asked.

“It is just like the Battle of Oshun,” she explained to him. “These Itreans appear to value its railguns as a primary weapon. They only use missiles to shoot down enemy missiles. Apparently, these aliens like to fight up close where we can’t evade their shots. They ... are fools.”

“Computer,” Opet called out. “Hail the council on New Olympia ... anybody ... anybody that is present to listen.”

The display switched over to show the mass formation of alien warships from New Valhalha’s listening post. The lesser-known planet was mostly kept off-limits, but it had a small tiny outpost that served as a monitoring station on the world’s starlit side. Raavi could see more of the fleet from the side and rear as it was ignoring the neighboring planet. The fleet of warships could be better seen as a trail of blue flames was being emitted from the rear thrusters. Most of the warships were armed with twin-barreled railguns, but a couple of the dreadnoughts were armed with larger triple turrets. The enormous dreadnought looked more and more like an aquatic giant that was swimming through the ocean of black. What purpose the fins served on these ships would be anybody’s guess.

“Fumi is once again trying to hail them on all channels this time,” Neb Petti explained. “It is audio only as before.”

“Attention Itrean vessels,” Fumi called out on the speaker. “You have entered the territory of UWA space and New Olympia. Your actions are considered an act of aggression. Leave our space, or you will be destroyed.”

The communication channel closed, and the three seemed to wait to see if the enemy fleet was going to leave. About five seconds went by, but the Itreans were not withdrawing.

“Is it possible that the aliens don’t understand us?” Raavi asked.

“No. The universal translation program is active. They ignored the first hail. They barely responded at Oshun when it happened too.”

“Still waiting for the council to respond,” Opet said as she shook her head.

A communication channel was given out that showed up on display. It flashed red for a short bit as everyone was looking at it.

“The Itreans are responding to it. It is audio-only. Fumi has patched it in so that everyone can hear it,” Neb Petti explained.

“Ukio garlin far’ko s’human,” a voice came through the channel. It was startling to hear it. It was an alien language but had an almost deep feminine voice that came through. There was a brief pause as the program that was on the computer was busy processing the data.

“The translation program will kick in once they say more words,” Neb Petti explained.

“Shal’rein garto ... yolara hotin jaktar’gin...” The alien voice continued. “S’human will surrender your vessels. In the name of the Shal’rein clan, your planet and system belong to us. Surrender your vessels, and we promise a quick and honorable death.”

The channel closed as Neb Petti looked over to Raavi and Opet. Opet herself crossed her arms and displayed a look of annoyance. The translation program was perfect. While it didn’t get the entire message, it was enough to understand more about this race. Even with the translation, a distinct Japanese, Russian, and French accent blended and altered as the words were being spoken. Raavi felt anticipation rise more and more. Much as the other worlds were or had to face had come to his very doorstep. The Itreans had lost the battle of Oshun, but it was a smaller fleet of warships when compared to this fleet that was five times as large.