Episode III
Return of the Hunter
 

           The Galatea had never looked as good as it did to Sam now. The flashing lights guided his small Ulysses into the bay. The usual crews waited until the two ships had come to a complete stop, then, when the fields went down they rushed in to help the two weary pilots out of their crafts. They had spent over forty eight hours in the heart of a Shivan destroyer, something the GTA had never done before. 
            Admiral Wolfe was waiting for them when they got out, Vo’tion handed him the disk. Wolfe turned and walked away without saying a word. Sam turned to Vo’tion. 
             “Thanks Vasudan.” Vo’tion nodded. 
             “The name is Vo’tion, Terran.” Sam smiled. 
             “Thanks Vo’tion.” He smiled. “I`m Sam.”
             “Well..” Vo’tion struggled with the name, “Sam,” he smiled, “I believe the correct Terran response is you are forgiven.” Sam almost laughed.
              “That’s you’re welcome.” Vo’tion furrowed his brow and cocked his head. Sam smiled and began to walk off. “Catch ya around Vo’tion.” Sam walked off the platform and rounded the corner, right into the angry face of David. David grabbed Sam and pushed him up against a wall. “Well you said you would catch me.” David pushed him up higher.
               “Why the Hell didn’t you tell me?” There was fury in his eyes. Sam batted David’s hands away. 
               “You know GTI,” Sam started, “they don’t want us discussing what we had for breakfast.” There was no change in his companion. Sam decided to try again. “I wanted to tell you, but..” He trailed off, Sam pointed an angry finger at him, and then smiled.
                “You owe me a drink.” Sam smiled. 
                “You know assaulting a superior officer is a capital offence.” David smiled and pulled back his collar. 
                 “You’re not my superior anymore.” Sam’s smile grew, he drew back his collar and revealed the insignia of a Captain. “Now you owe me two drinks.” He smiled and they started down the hallway.

                   Vo’tion turned on his consol. The room was dark, and he could barly see. The familiar Vasudian letters came up on the screen. He typed something in, and the image dissolved to reveal a Vasudian face. The creature looked out at Vo’tion. “Is it done?” Vo’tion nodded.
                    “It is.” He placed the disk into the slot and information flew across the screen. The other Vasudian nodded.
                     “Excellent, you have done well Tak’eye Vo’tion.” He smiled. “Such a job we could only expect from a Cla’anie.” Vo’tion nodded.
                     “Thank you.” The screen went black. Vo’tion stood and walked out of the room.

              
                      “Well If it ind’nt kaptain Spy, back from the Shivan homelands.” Sam smiled.    
                      “Does the whole ship know about this?” He asked. The man nodded. 
                      “Eye kaptain, that it does.” The man put out his hand, Sam shook it. “Welcome back Sam.” Sam smiled.
                       “Same to you. You know you should really cut back on the decaf Hank.” Hank smiled.
                       “I’ll do that Kaptain.” Hank enjoyed talking like an eighteenth century pirate. Sam didn’t exactly know why, but then again he didn’t understand his love for swords. Hank stood and walked out of the room. David led Sam over to the bar. The bartender walked over. 
                        “What will it be Captains?” Sam smiled.
                        “Two Altary punches for my friend, and I’ll have a Galatea special.” He nodded. “I’m paying, charge it from Captain Sam Morrison’s account.” The bartender nodded. He punched a few keys behind the bar and then started to mix drinks. 
                         “So can you Talk about the mission?” David asked. 
                         “GTI hasn’t said anything.” David smiled. “They had an android, not a good likeness of humans, but it passed.” Sam glanced at the bartender, his apron was fitted loosely over his beige uniform. He had short black hair, Sam turned back to David. “And there was this Shivan, he called himself ‘Cron’is.’” David widened his eyes. 
                          “That sounds familiar.” The drinks came. “I don’t know why, but it does sound familiar.” He took a sip of his drink. Sam’s drink was a little while longer. The viewer suddenly changed its view, to a command briefing. Everyone stoped talking and looked up at the screen. Wolfe’s booming voice flew across the room. 
                           “A captured Shivan freighter was broken into today, and theses stunning Images of what appears to be the ‘Shivans’ were captured. The Image soon went blank and GTI is still investigating the matter.” Wolfe’s voice droned into the back of Sam’s head. He wasn’t too interested in flight rosters, or weapons information, or any of that other stuff that command loved to spew at them. But one article did catch his eye. “Scientist in the Sol system, on the planet Mars, have discovered a strange tablet, on it they found the words scrawled in English... ‘Sa’ka’an, the legends are true’ the scientist still haven’t figured out what Sa’ka’an means but some people back on Terra believe that the Sa’ka’an are the Shivans. The tablet seems to have sparked some religious groups to begin protesting the war with the Shivans. Though it is not known at this time, exactly why or how these tablets got on Mars, mass panic has spread across the Earth. All Terran pilots are to disregard these tablets, or anything...” Sam jumped up from his seat and ran out the door, the bartender turned around with Sam’s drink.
                             “Sir? What do I do with...” He trailed off. David took the drink.
                             “Don’t worry, he won’t mind.” David watched the door closed. “What is going on around here?” he whispered to himself, as Sam dashed off down the hallway.

                              Sam walked up to the dec lieutenant. She was a brash young woman. “Where is Captain Vo’tion’s quarters?” he asked. She checked a sheet. 
                              “1-9-A-1-3, Sir, but..” Sam pushed past her. “Sir you cannot go in there, Sir.” She chased after him. “Sir.” Sam continued, he counted off the rooms, when he got to Vo’tion’s he stoped and punched the control panel. “Sir, Mr. Vo’tion...” Vo’tion came across the com. 
                              “Yes, I thought I- ” Sam cut the Vasudan off    
                             “Vo’tion we need to talk. Now.” The door opened and Vo’tion immediately looked at the lieutenant. 
                              “I am sorry Sir,” she started, Vo’tion waved her off.
                              “It is alright Lieutenant. I shall not report you.” She nodded and walked off. Sam pushed his way into the low lighting of Vo’tion’s quarters. Vo’tion wore a kind of black robe, it wasn’t night aboard ship, so it probably wasn’t a night shirt. But on the other hand how much did Sam really know about the Vasudian? “Well Sam, why do you come barging in here looking as if you have a stick up your mouth?” Sam didn’t smiled.
                              “That’s ass, Vo’tion, a stick up your ass.” Vo’tion nodded.
                              “Ah yes, a word I am not too familiar with, and do not want to be. So what brings you here?” Sam turned on the chanel, 
                              “that’s why.” He pointed at the command briefing. Vo’tion studied the screen.
                              “A Terran Weapons report?” Sam’s face didn’t change from one of extreme anger.”
                              “No, the one before it.” Vo’tion scanned the page. 
                              “It appears to be a tablet of some kind. Found on Mars in your sol system.” Vo’tion turned back to Sam. “I do not understand.” He said. Sam nodded.
                               “That tablet says ‘Sa’ka’an, the legends are true.’ On the Shivan ship that’s what you said when you saw the Shivans.” Vo’tion turned back to the screen in shock. And then back to Sam, he tossed, and ran for the words, almost out of breath. Something had scared him. 
                               “Trust me Terran, we have never been to Sol, or your home world. I do not know how one of our myths got unto a planet in your home system. Trust me Sam, we have never been there.” Vo’tion turned back to the screen, and then looked at Sam in even greater shock. “It says here that it is suspected of being a few million years old.” Sam furrowed his brow. “Do you see? We have not been a space faring race for that long. There is no way that we could have visited your world.” Sam nodded, he still had a puzzled look on his face. He pointed at the screen.
                              “But if you didn’t plant it, then who did? And how does a centuries old legend from Vasuda Prime get halfway across the universe without anyone knowing about it?’ Vo’tion nodded.
                              “Yes, that appears to be the question.” Admiral Wolfe’s face suddenly popped on the screen. 
                               “Captain Vo’tion, I see that Captain Morrison is with you.” He nodded. “Could you both please report to the briefing room? Immediately?” Sam and Vo’tion exchanged weary glances and walked out of the room. 
                               “You go on Sam, I shall be there shortly.” Sam nodded and walked off down the hall. It was a long walk as Sam moved down the bright corridors of the Galatea. His first assignment had been on the GTD Olympus, an Orion commanded by Admiral Harrison Newshire. A British admiral, and one of Sam’s friends, Admiral Newshire was still fighting the Shivans, but so were they all. Sam pushed the past from his mind, and continued on to the briefing room. 

                                  Sam walked into the room. Admiral Wolfe was checking records on his pad. Wolfe looked at the door and then down at Sam. “Alright Captain, Listen up.” The image on the wall flashed. 
                                      “Sir,” Sam started “Shouldn’t we...” he trailed off, Wolfe shook his head. 
                                    “No captain, we should not.” He pointed to the screen, there was the image of the Galatea. “We are here, a message was sent from this ship towards a Vasudian receiving station.” Sam furrowed his brow.
                                     “So?” Sam asked.
                                     “The message came from Captain Vo’tion’s quarters.” Sam opened his eyes in shock. “That’s right Captain. We do not know for certain but Vo’tion might be working for the Hammer of Light.” Sam shook his head.
                                      “I severely doubt that sir.” The screen shut off.
                                      “And why...” Admiral Wolfe suddenly shut up as the door slowly opened. Vo’tion walked in. 
                                      “You wanted to see us Admiral?” The tall Vasudian asked. Wolfe nodded. 
                                       “Yes Captain,” he pointed to the chairs. “Please have a seat.” The two officers sat down. The screen lit up anew. “Because the GTA has been asked to destroy several Hammer of Light stations, and in recognition of your last mission, the Vasudian Parliament has asked us to send you too unto a Vasudian Ship.” Vo’tion stood. 
                                       “Which ship?” Wolfe looked at the Captain. 
                                       “The Cheops.” Wolfe said, Vo’tion suddenly grew angry, you couldn’t tell through the translator but it was in the voice behind the device.
                                        “I refuse to accept this mission.” Wolf got angry himself. He passed the form to Vo’tion.
                                        “You will go on this mission Captain.” The form was signed by the Vasudian leader. Vo’tion threw the pad across the room and stormed out. Sam hurried after him. 
                                          “Vo’tion,” Vo’tion was moving across the deck. “Vo’tion Damn you! Where are you going?” Vo’tion didn’t stop, he continued across the flight deck. Crews stopped to watch the tall Vasudian walk across the deck. “What’s with the Cheops? What the Hell is going on?” Vo’tion suddenly stoped. Vo’tion pointed an angry finger at Sam. 
                                          “Stay out of this Terran.” Vo’tion walked away angrily. Sam didn’t follow. Wolfe came up behind him. 
                                           “Keep an eye on him Captain.” Sam turned.      
                                           “Frankly Admiral I don’t think he’s against us.” Wolfe cocked his head.
                                           “And why is that?” Wolfe almost made a sneer. 
                                           “He thinks I’m prophecy.” Wolfe furrowed his brow. 
                                           “A Vasudian myth.” Sam almost smiled. “Once a long time ago the Vasudian were almost destroyed by Demons. It was said that one day they would return to destroy their race. The legend also tells of a human of two faces that would start the final defeat of the Demons. That man was to be called the leader for the Shivans.” Wolfe nodded.
                                           “And he thinks that you’re this Leader for the Shivans?” Sam nodded and walked away. Wolfe pondered this for a moment, and then continued on his way. 

                                            David was leaning against his Hurc. It was a prototype ship, along with his Ulysses. The Hurc was made by Han-Ronald Corp, makers of such ships as the Valkury, and the Apollo. The Ulysses was a new ship, he didn’t exactly remember how he got chosen to test-pilot it. David pointed at the Han-Ronald Corp worker who was replacing the engine core. “They found another problem.” David said smiling. Sam looked over at his ship. The Ulysses was made by ‘Triton Dynamics’ a new company, this was their first ship for the GTA. Someone was replacing something in the Ulysses. He had a large Triton Dynamics logo on his back. The stars and rings looked back at him. 
                                           “There’s always something.” Sam said, he pointed a thumb over at the man working on his craft. “What’s wrong with my Ulysses?” He asked. David shrugged. 
                                           “There’s always something.” Sam smiled and walked over to his ship. David started to talk to the engineer working on his ship. Sam walked across the bay as the Engineer from Triton Dynamics meet him half way. 
                                            “What’s the problem?” Sam asked. The man cocked his head.
                                            “No problem Captain,” The engineer pulled away from Sam and continued across the deck. Sam went over and examined his fighter. He looked down at the panel. He glanced around and then took out his sword. He forced it into the seam and pried it open. He looked down into the circuitry. He didn’t notice any changes. Sira leaned up against the ship.
                                             “Looking for something Captain?” Sam put his sword back in it’s scabbard. 
                                             “Fix that up.” he said. He walked away. Sira said something but he didn’t catch it. It would be time to fly, and he had to do some research. 

                                              Sam walked up to David, it was a few hours later. Sam looked up at David as he got into his cockpit. Sam threw up the pad. “Look at that,” David caught the pad and looked down at it, then he peered down at Sam.
                                               “What am I looking for?” He asked. 
                                               “Ten years ago a Triton Dynamics research vessel left the Ross 128 system on an unknown Jump node, Triton Dynamics claimed it was an engine failure. Three years later another ship disappeared, on the exact same day. But there’s one difference.” David raised his eyebrows. “This one came back, on the exact same date.” David nodded. “But there’s one more tidbit for this mystery. The Shivan Attack on Ross 128, was on the exact same day.” David nodded.
                                                “Luck?” David asked. Sam shook his head.
                                                “I don’t think so, we might want to keep our eyes on Triton Dynamics. Until we get more evidence, keep this to ourselves. David nodded, he tossed Sam the pad. Sam made it disappear, and continued towards his fighter. Vo’tion was next to his Horus, he was muttering all the time. He switched on the Translator as Sam approached. “Ya, ya I know, you don’t like this anymore then I do.” Vo’tion almost smiled. “Saddle up, let’s get this over with.” David waved at Sam across the bay. 
                                                 “Have fun Captain.” Sparks flew behind him, he turned and yelled at the mechanic. Sam smiled, checked his sword, and got into his fighter. He clicked on all his console’s and clicked on his com. 
                                                  “This is Alpha one, ready to depart.” The deck commander came across the unit. 
                                                  “Alpha wing, this is Galatea, you are cleared for departure.”
                                                  “Acknowledge Galatea, this is Alpha wing, beginning launch sequence.” The two small fighter departed the Galatea, space was layed out in front of them. Something Caught Sam’s eye. It was a freighter, he arced towards it.
                                                   “Where are you going?” Vo’tion swore something in Vasudian. Sam moved up behind the ship, he made sure to keep his distance. The logo of Triton Dynamics caught his eye. The scanners danced across the ship’s hull. When it had completed its scan. Whatever the freighter was carrying the scanners couldn’t tell what it was. The ship dodged into Subspace. Vo’tion contacted Sam. “What was all that about?” Vo’tion asked. Sam shook his head.
                                                   “I don’t know yet.” He set his ship back on course. “Let’s continue this mission.” He engaged his subspace engines, and they shot into the blue vortex. 

                                                   Sam and Vo’tion emerged half way across the sector. They looked around. they saw nothing. “Where the hell is it?” Sam asked. Sweat beaded on his forehead. He looked around, a wing of fighters suddenly jumped in. They were Terran fighters, but they weren’t friendly. Without even a word they began to attack. Missiles flew in towards Sam. He took evasive action. Vo’tion arced down, then he went up. The missiles split evenly in the middle. They were Ulysses craft, that meant that they had to be from Triton Dynamics. He came up behind one and fired into it. His avengers bit into the ship, it had no shielding systems. They must have been early prototypes. Hammer of Light ships dotted space as they came in. The ship in front of Sam suddenly exploded. The Hammer of light ships began to attack the remaining fighters. When space was clear the ships escorted Sam and Vo’tion towards a Typhon class destroyer. They arced in towards the bay, slowly, they entered.
                                                     The two ships set down one each next to the other. Vo’tion emerged from his Horus and Sam jumped to the ground. A tall Vasudian walked towards them. He reached out both of his hands and placed them on Vo’tion’s shoulders. “Tak’eye Vo’tion,” he started. “Destiny’s Hunter.” He turned to his fellow Vasudian. “The Hunter has returned.” It was in English, how did they know that Sam would have been there? They had been escorted in without a word, and now this? “And who do we have here?” Vo’tion turned to look at Sam. A smile crept across the Vasudian face. 
                                                       “This is......” Sam’s heart sunk as the words left Vo’tion’s mouth.
   
                                                       To be Continued...