FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

For those of you who have the soundtrack from Aliens: you can play the cut "Bishop's Countdown" during the ship's take off. For everyone else who may only have the DVD this is the scene where Ripley is on the platform with Newt and the Alien Queen (represented in this story as an enemy ship) emerges from the elevator and what happens afterward.

11: The Ship

Startled by Feih's apparent attack on Matt's sister the occupants of the airlock could only look on in stunned silence as she pinned Colonel Thorn to its floor then brought her face down to her victim and engaged her in a deep kiss.

Seconds later, when the two had separated, Sarah smiled then asked, "What was that for?"

Feih released her and moved back so that she could sit up. "That was for saving us on the bridge. Such an act of bravery will not go unrewarded." Feih placed her right hand on Sarah's shoulder. "As of now you are a member of the clan Desslat."

"Welcome to the family sis," congratulated Matt.

Embarrassed, she told him, "I was only doing what was necessary to ensure the success of the mission." She looked him over then raised an eyebrow. "You look different."

Everyone looked at him and then he looked at his body.

Feih commented first. "You're smaller."

Jason answered the question before it could be asked. "What I did to him and Colonel Thorn has worn off so he's reverted to his normal size and abilities."

Everyone felt the chamber shift then turn until it aligned itself with the inner door. A loud locking sound was followed by its opening into a well lit corridor where the other members of the multi-species assault force were and where Daihas was typing on a Dorzeli sized terminal built into the opposite wall. The near ten-meter height of the ceiling, confirmed for Jason and Feih's beliefs of the fortress' origins.

"This ship and this base are definitely of Dorzeli design."

"Yes," agreed Feih. "That would explain why all the hallways were at a comfortable height for my people. The Soriss must have discovered and excavated it, then adapted it to their own needs."

They felt the ship get rocked by a large explosion. Daihas informed them as to the cause. "That Soriss ship is using its long range weapons and the fortress is starting to break up." He motioned at the screen and a picture of the hangar around the ship appeared. Explosions and falling debris were seen on all levels. "We have to get out of here now."

"Find the main bridge," ordered Feih.

He brought up a schematic of the entire ship on the screen. It displayed all decks, power sources, engines and their status in Dorzel. Then a green line from their location to the front top end of the ship highlighted the shortest route.

He shouted in triumph, "That's it," as his sharp claws tapped across the touch sensitive screen that Matt concluded had to have been made of some unknown durable compound. "I'm activating all the lighting to and in the bridge and initiating the engines from here." He shut down the terminal and folded it into the wall. Everyone noticed that he was not too happy despite his discovery. He looked at his sister and gave her the bad news. "There's only enough stable fuel and energy left to make it to orbit and I couldn't get anything on our weapons status."

Jason spoke up before she could; "That doesn't matter. We'll have to get out off this hangar before we can worry about our ability to fight." He turned to Feih and spoke to her in Dorzel, "Get your family to the bridge." He then addressed the non-Dorzeli members of the infiltration team. "Follow us as soon as you're able."

Matt saw her eye Jason with some degree annoyance before she agreed and they all took off at high speed. Daihas picked up him and noticed that he was much heavier than before.

Matt concentrated on taking in as much of his surroundings as possible as they made their way forward at a full run. He saw open doors of what could be living quarters and was amazed to see that human sized individuals could use the accommodations in some. Then another use for the sparse rooms came to his mind when he felt his predatory instincts resurface and he realized that he and the other Dorzeli had not eaten since last night in anticipation of finding live prey.

He pulled along side Daihas and looked at Jason out of the corner of this eye. Jason turned his head to him, and through the communications link informed his ambassador that he was aware of the situation and, although he believed the Dorzeli would never turn on the others, he let him know that a warning had already been sent to Captain Creduta on a secured frequency,

They made two quick turns and ran up a ramp then passed through a set of automatic doors and entered a chamber that looked like a combination support crew room and lounge for various sizes of individuals. Matt found it interesting that some of the duty stations were sized and shaped for humans.

They next came to a second set of impressive and decorated doors that in Kroon indicated that the bridge was on the other side. Feih used her palm print to open it and she rushed in. He followed and saw that the configuration of the bridge was very similar to the ones found on many earth ships, with a central captains' chair and tactical stations along the walls; none were small enough for a Dorzeli-An let alone a human.

He was surprised when Feih turned and allowed only him, Daihas, Sarah and Jason to enter and ordered Bisafak and the others not to allow anyone else in. Her actions puzzled him because the spacious room was more than large enough for them all and many more.

Feih walked to the chair, slipped her tails through a side slot and sat in it. The doors closed and locked and a control console rose up from the floor to her waist level. The moment it locked in place she entered a series of commands onto its control panel.

"Let's see what is going on out side." At this statement the panels along the sides of the room slide down and exposed a peculiar sight.

The knowledge that the ship was vertical and was using some advanced form of artificial gravity when they had entered it did not prepare them for the perpendicular view they saw through the view ports, but their disorientation lasted only a few seconds before another quake hit the ship. Feih directed Daihas to what looked like the engineering station, Sarah to the tactical and him to what looked like navigation.

"What's our engine status?"

Daihas ran his claws across the controls and answered. "They're primed and the main drive is fully charged."

"Sarah, do we have any weapons?"

She hesitated for a second but the moment she touched the controls she mimicked her future mate's actions then announced. "No missiles or shields and I've just started charging the energy weapons, but we won't be able to fire them for at least five minutes." She smiled as she continued to go over the controls of her station, "I can't believe this ship is in this good a shape after so many centuries."

Feih grinned. "My ancestors built their ships to last and to be easy to operate. What about the Soriss ship?"

She looked up at Feih and told her, "Three hundred kilometers distant and closing fast which means we're well within range of their main guns."

"Then we don't have a choice." Feih touched a control and her voice was heard throughout the ship; "Brace yourselves; our launch may be rough." She turned to Matt. "I'll need a course to high orbit."

"I'll do my best," was his response as he wondered how everyone was able to operate controls they had never seen before. However, when he touched the control panel in front of him he felt its systems access the Dorzeli nanites in his body. Within a second all of the information he needed to operate it and every other station on the bridge and throughout the ship flowed into his mind; he had the course laid in and locked a few seconds later.

Sarah raised an eyebrow when she saw Daihas' tails wrap around Jason in a protective and almost affectionate embrace. Jason saw her reaction and shrugged his shoulders. Through her link she received his message; "What can I say. We saved each others lives."

"Here we go," announced Feih.

She slid her hand across the thrust controls a low vibration built up throughout the ship as it rose from the floor of the hangar. Then Matt remembered an important fact.

"What about the hangar dome above us? This ship has no control over it."

"We're going to go straight through it," answered Feih just as the ship accelerated and impacted it.

The effect on the ship was slight, but Matt's panel's view screen revealed that the lack of heavy vibration from their lift off was disproportional to the damage done to the fortress: the remainder of it collapsed in upon itself. That was when they received a direct hit.

Warning lights appeared all over the bridge as the ship was rocked by the impact. Sarah located the source of the weapons fire.

"That was their main weapon!" she exclaimed as the ship continued to rise. She used her instruments to scan the area and located their attacker. "I have it; putting it on the main display now." The whole front of the bridge flickered to life, displayed a view of the sky above them then to that of their attacker.

Even at over fifty kilometers away the Soriss ship, which resembled two tires stacked on top of one another, with the upper and lower section's circumference covered with squares alternating between yellow and blue, the Soriss national colors, was huge. It accelerated towards them and continued to fire on them to little effect.

Amazed at how little damage their ship had received without its shields Matt asked Feih, "What's this thing made of?"

Jason again annoyed her by answering before she could; "Probably some type of neutronium alloy. This ship can obviously absorb a large amount of energy without its shields up."

"But," snarled Feih, "not an infinite amount," she addressed the others, "What's our weapons and main drive status?"

"Main drive ready," answered Daihas.

"Only five percent for the main weapons, one hundred for anti-fighter cannons," answered Sarah.

"That'll have to do." She looked forward and braced herself. "Daihas, full power on my signal."

Jason grinned. "I see. They'll think we're going to warp and..." He was cut off by a very dangerous growl from Feih.

"Shut up so I can concentrate."

Both Matt and Sarah began to get a bad feeling about Feih's attitude. They had both noticed that she had been getting more irritable since they had entered the main body of the ship.

At that same time Captain Creduta arrived at the entrance to the outer chamber with the rest of the Alliance troops and Lasteri Hatelo to find all eight of the remaining Dorzeli guarding the door to the bridge. Already warned of their nutritional needs she and a few heavily armed soldiers entered in a relaxed a manner as they could.

She asked "Where are Jason and the others?"

Although not directed at any individual in particular it was Bisafak who answered her. "They're on the bridge and are not to be disturbed."

She and her escorts continued to walk toward the door. "I just need to make sure that he's all right."

Bisafak stood and moved to intercept them while the other Dorzeli positioned them selves to block the door. His voice was calm but stern when he said, "Feih left orders that no one was to enter the bridge."

At a silent signal from her Posk and Bonn ran into the room and took up a position between her and the Dorzeli contingent. Bisafak stopped and sat in front of the two angry canids, looked back at the door then returned his gaze to the soldiers. A hint of anger was in his voice when he complained that "We're your allies and have more control over our present needs than you give us credit for, but we will make sure Feih and the others are not distracted during the coming battle."

Before the tense situation could escalate any further everyone felt a sudden surge of movement, then nothing. Posk was the first to notice what had happened when he looked out one of the view ports. "We're in space!"

Feih grinned when she saw the blip that represented the Soriss cruiser approach. Matt was apprehensive, "Feih, I don't know if we have enough power to damage let alone destroy that heavy cruiser."

She snarled, "I know exactly what I'm doing." Seconds later, when the enemy ship passed them and slowed down she shouted, "Fire all eight of them!"

Without hesitation Sarah initiated the firing sequence.

Outside, the leading edge of the wings dropped down to reveal four tubes on each which energized and released forces that had not existed since soon after the big bang onto the enemy ship. It exploded upon contact and the screen went black to protect their eyes from the flash. A second later the ship shook from the shock wave. When the screen returned to normal nothing could be seen of the Soriss cruiser's remains.

"My god," gasped Sarah, "That was at only five percent of full power!"

Feih grinned in satisfaction while Matt sat speechless and continued to look at the spot on his screen where the enemy ship was once located.

Feih turned her chair to face her brother's station and looked down at Jason. "Release him."

He reluctantly complied with her wishes and, once free, Jason walked toward her. "Congratulations. As we agreed you will receive primary control over this vessel after the Alliance conducts its research on it while also using it to protect this system."

"No."

Sarah and Matt were stunned by Feih's response. He tried to say something to her, but was warned off by a silent signal from Daihas.

"I will use this ship to free my people then secure their place on the Kroon council, and then I may concede to your wishes."

Jason frowned, stopped and stared at her. "We had an agreement..."

"And you're in no position or condition to enforce it." Feih got up from her seat and moved toward him.

Matt, alarmed at this turn of events, was unsure what to do, but when he saw Jason match her movements he knew then that there was only one reason why he would be so bold or foolish.

She brandished her claws and said, "I will not back down Chire Jason so concede to my wishes now."

Jason growled in Dorzel, "I don't think so, Chire Feih Desslat."

The change in his voice and the use of formal terms was all that Matt needed to hear. He startled both his mate and commander when he dashed and stood between them.

He faced his commander, "I won't fight you sir, but I won't allow you to harm her."

Jason laughed, which confused Matt and Sarah. Daihas only shook his head and looked at the floor.

"Lieutenant, I told you to when I first transformed you that, although I gave you all the instincts that you needed, you still had to learn some of the customs of the Dorzeli." Since Matt still did not seem to understand he spelled it out for him, "We would not have seriously injured each other. It would have been more like a ritualistic fight." He looked past Matt and smiled. "But I guess you're going to find that out for yourself the hard way."

Matt turned and saw such an angry look on Feih's face that he jumped away, but something large stopped his backward motion. He looked up he saw Jason's upside down Dorzeli Prime face smiling down at him.

"You can go a few rounds with me in her place. It's up to you." Matt turned and backed away from Jason, but also maintained his distance from Feih.

Jason laughed again. "I thought so."

Matt saw her anger fade, but her words sent a chill throughout his entire being. "We'll 'talk' about this later, Matthew."

He feared what form that talk would take with the knowledge that she had already proven that she was stronger than him.

She turned her attention back to Jason and prepared herself; "Ready?"

Jason's actions spoke for him: he prepared to charge her, but before they could start all the lights on the bridge went out.

When the emergency lighting kicked in Daihas reported that; "The fuel system has given out along with the main drive. We're drifting."

"That's not all," added Sarah, "I've two more Soriss ships coming at us from our starboard side and they're closing fast." She did not try to hide her fear when she turned toward Feih. "Without weapons we're screwed."

With his viewer down Matt moved to one of the transparent panels to try and spot the incoming enemy ships. Although they were only specks of light in the distance he saw that they would soon be upon them. In panic he cried, "Jason, do something." However, when he turned he saw that he had not moved from his spot.

Jason's voice was eerily calm, "I won't have to this time."

"Here they come," shouted Sarah.

They all went to the same window and saw the ships grow in size.

"Jason!" shouted Matt.

"Watch and learn, grasshoppers."

When the ships were clear in their sights they saw that they were firing at something to their rear. Two blue beams light struck the farthest ship and it exploded. Then, to their astonishment, the explosion collapsed in upon itself and the brightness of the beams increased a hundredfold then disappeared. The second cruiser, in an attempt to use their ship as a shield, tried to pass behind them, but was also hit and destroyed in the same manner.

They were plunged into darkness when the self-adjusting transparencies protected their eyes from the last energy flash. When they could once again see they, except Jason, jumped backwards from the panel; a giant eye was blotted out all else from view.

"Is everyone all right in there," asked a voice over the ship's public address system, "Oh, I'm sorry." The eye shrank to reveal the entire form of their savior who had been at her full battle size.

"It's Freerah!" announced Matt with notable fondness.

"Is everyone all right in there?" asked Jason's mate.

"We're okay Free," answered Jason.

"I'm sorry that I left you before, but I've come to terms with what happened when you defeated Argent."

Jason frowned then gave them the reason for her absence. "In a fit of rage I killed her former suitor when he interrupted our first mating."

Matt thought back to when he and Feih were first engaged and remembered that he too was in such a state that he would have behaved in a similar manner had they been interfered with, but he wondered why he had not done so when he discovered that they were being spied upon by those two soldiers.

Jason cheered up and turned back to his mate. "We have a problem with our fuel supply Free'. Can you help us out?"

She nodded yes and fired her power beams into the ship. All its systems were restored to full power in an instant. "Let everyone know that the ship's food fabrication system is also working."

"Thanks Free'."

Without any additional words she pointed to herself, then Jason, turned one hundred and eighty degrees around and drifted away from the ship with her tail raised high. The meaning of this silent communication escaped no one. They all looked at Jason and saw a light pink hue appear on his otherwise blue face.

Without taking his eyes from her he asked, "Where is the nearest airlock.". Daihas indicated a door on the left-hand side of the bridge. Jason thanked him then turned to Feih. "Chire Feih Desslat, please take this ship back to the Alliance's base. We'll resume our 'discussion' in four days."

"That won't be a problem Chire Jason," responded Feih with a grin.

He turned to Matt and said. "I will send for you before then."

Matt swallowed hard and responded with a low, "Yes, sir."

Jason smiled, "It won't be that bad."

He next turned to Sarah. "Colonel Thorn, you are now reassigned to assist your brother in his mission on Dessla with the Dorzeli-ki."

She turned and looked with fondness at Daihas. "Yes sir."

He turned and almost ran toward the emergency airlock. That was when Matt decided to make a comment to try and lighten the situation. "I know how you feel."

Jason hesitated when he heard his own words from when he had transformed Matt, and then prevented him from joining Feih right away, used on him. He half turned toward Matt, winked at him then proceeded through the open doorway.

Soon after the lock cycled they saw him fly by the nose of the ship toward Freerah. When she saw him her battle uniform disappeared, the undersides of her wings pulsed with a yellow glow and she moved off at a high rate of speed with Jason, who had also become nude, in hot pursuit.

Sarah also looked at her tracking instruments and gave off a high pitched whistle. Then switched her display over to the main viewer where they observed two blips, one chasing the other. With a sudden burst of speed the trailing one caught up to then merged with the first.

Daihas laughed. "They didn't even wait to enter the atmosphere."

Matt and Sarah turned and saw that he was viewing an enlarged picture on his station's display.

Feih growled, "Enough of that," pressed a control and his screen went blank.

Sarah cursed when she heard muffled cheers from the adjacent room. "Someone must've tapped into the communications system. Jason is going to kill us if anyone recorded that."

"Never mind that now," interrupted Feih. "Matt lay in a course back to the Alliance's base and let everyone know we are going down."

Daihas snickered, "So is Jason and Freerah."

Feih smiled, "Sarah, you're a bad influence on my brother."

She smiled at him then said, "From what I heard he was always like that."

They all laughed at Daihas' expense, but Matt's laughter became nervous when Feih gave him a side-glance before she settled back into the command chair. His mind raced as he speculated what would happen to him once they landed.

.