Liberation : Preparation

The feel of rumbling that the small Cessna 152s engine produced was a joyful experience coupled with the sight of the clouds rushing by added to the experience. Devore increased the power and the small plane's airspeed needle went from 200 knots to 300 knots effortlessly. He had always had a fascination with the old time aircraft, feeling that he was born a few centuries too late. He wanted to be one of those that had the opportunity to fly the old-fashioned way, but in the 24th century the flight of aircraft was now based on repulsor fields and inertial dampeners Flight was intended to be felt and experienced. Now it was simply a task to do.

One of Devore desires was to fly an F-15 or F-14, older military aircraft of the 20th century era when massive war machines fought battle in the air. Then the F-505, the first trans-atmospheric fighter developed in the mid 21st century was a delight for many pilots. It was developed to fly through the atmospheres of planets but once it was space borne, it was a bore. So Devore directed his hobby to the single engine aircraft.

The events of the last few days have really taken its toll on the exhausted Captain, but flying in the sky was where he was able to feel free, beside the now instinct eagles that once soared the sky. His flight in the sky gave him the opportunity to clear his mind.

*Why were the Klingons and Starfleet involved with the Bariens and the Nuans. I cannot believe that all this is because of personal vendettas against Harris or the me. The Federation and the Klingons would never commit so much of their resources to settle a score ?* Devore thought as he turned the small aircraft away from the sun. The small plane was now coursing along an Devore began to think of his abduction. The anger he felt began to constrict his stomach and it felt that it was beginning to rise. It now was deep in his throat. He almost felt his blood pressure rising and perturbness now turned into full blown anger.

"Computer. End current program and begin program Devore : 2003"

<Program Transferred.>

The Cessna was now changed into a F-14 Tomcat, fully armed. Just above the HUD, the Heads Up display, his holo generated head gear and face mask rested awaiting for his retrieval. He grabbed it and put it on and placed his hands on the control stick and the throttle. His RIO, who sat behind him frozen as the program had not been started, was bracing himself. His mouth was positioned in such a way that hinted to he was trying to say something. Devore was now ready ! "Computer! Begin program !"

Suddenly the F-14s roar filled the cockpit. Instrument lights and buzzers were going off.

"Giz. do some of the pilot crap." His Rio yelled. Devore looked behind him and on his tail he saw a MiG-28 right on his six. "He's firing ! He's firing ! Bank hard right !"

"No !" Devore yelled.

"What !"

"Trust me !" Devore yelled as he jerked the stick back. The F-14 jerked upward and as the nose pointed completely vertical, he jerked the stick, left then right at the same time decreasing power.

"Ugh, Giz You're killing me back here."

"Let's see how good this guy is !"

The Tomcat banked suddenly to the left the to the right decreasing the airspeed quickly, almost to stall speed. Then as it almost stalled out, the MiG-28 flew by obviously not being able to slow down fast enough. Devore pushed the throttle wide opened and now the MiG was dead ahead.

"Whoops ! Not good enough."

"Okay, Giz. Remind me not to fly with you when you do things like that."

"Now, now Daffy... it is time to put this Ivan to rest !"

"Do it man !"

With his thumb, Devore armed the sidewinder missile that was comfortably nestled in it perch on the plane's underbelly. The HUD suddenly had a small but red set of crosshairs that was trying to line up with the evading MiG. The firing tone beeped relentlessly in Devore's ear, effortless keeping the MiG in the range of the HUD, for if for some reason the MiG was to evade and fly outside of the HUD, then the targeting computer must re-aquire, which in itself can take as much of thirty seconds.. thirty seconds too long.

"Okay.. Enough playing with this guy." Devore yelled. He executed a high speed Yo-yo that put the Tomcat at the MiGs upper six as the smaller plane banked and headed for the hard deck. "Wrong answer ! Switching to guns !"

The crosshairs now turned to a slow targeting site that lined the MiG dead centre.

"Firing."

The rat-ta-ta-tat of the armour piercing rounds left in its wake a small stream of smoke. Hundreds of rounds rattled the MiG as now smoke streamed from her port engine. Suddenly the two hundredth round penetrated the fuel line and searing, red-glow of the shell ignited it. The MiG burst into a great ball of fire.

"Outstanding !" Devore's RIO screamed out.

"Absolutely ! Righteous." Devore said smiling. He now felt a lot better.

[Captain !] Devore's combadge beeped.

"Computer halt program. Go ahead old man."

[Sir we are entering the Limerus Sector.] Toran said.

"Very well. On my way. Make standard orbit on Limerus Prime." Devore said.

[Understood.]

Captain Devore made his way from the holodeck to the bridge. He liked the solitude of the holodecks but when duty calls, he knew that he couldn't stay there forever. As he entered the turbolift, Cadet McCaffee screamed out. "Captain. Please hold that door."

Brayden was running down the hall as the captain stuck out his hand to keep the door from sliding shut.

"Thank you sir." Brayden said. His cadet uniform was meticulous, their was something wrong.

"Cadet. You need a haircut."

"Sir ?" It caught him off guard. Brayden didn't expect the Captain to say anything to him.

"Your hair. It is out of regulation."

"Oh. I am sorry sir. I will take care of that after my shift."

"Your shift ?"

"Yes sir. Remember. You told Commander Toran to train me and put me on rotations at the Helm. Well this is my shift starting in a few minutes."

"Oh."

The rest of the trip to the Bridge was made in silence. Devore was too busy remember how he was at Brayden's age. Young and full of life, as a matter of fact he saw a lot of himself in Brayden, even to the small birthmark just below his ear. Captain Devore had a small faint birthmark under his left earlobe and noticed that Cadet McCaffee had one too. He wrote it off as coincidence and pressed on.

The door opened and all were at their stations. Devore walked around and took his seat as Toran rose respectfully. "Report."

"There are no ships in the area. However, there are faint traces of decrum particles from and a small debris field." Lieutenant Savage said from her post.

Devore looked at Toran."Could be the remains of a ship ?"

"I assume so. It is consistent with their strategy."

"Okay. I want tactical analysis of the system. Ambassador Maul. Where is Limerus IX ?"

"Captain !" Maul began. "Limerus IX is the third planet from the Limerus sun. It is the only planet in this system besides Limerus Prime that is habitable. We colonised it some 25 years ago and it has prospered ever since... until now. "

"Okay. So what is the importance of the H'Cter colony ?"

"It is the furthest most colony of the Nuan Empire. We must liberate them."

"I understand that. However, before I commit a ground offensive I want some information about that colony. Generalised layout and defensive capabilities would be good as well."

"Captain." A voice from the rear interjected. It was Major Phanan along with Captain Goerl and Commander Loris. "We have that information all ready. As a matter of fact we have been running combat drills for the passed three days."

"Outstanding Major. Then are you ready ?"

"The only thing we need now is some recon of the colony so that we have updated information. The Bariens could have changed something, plus we need to know the defensive placements."

"What do you suggest ?" Toran asked.

"I recommend we take the Hellcat in and take a high altitude series of holoimages. Then we can map it out from here then move in."

"Sounds good." Devore said. "Commander Toran, assemble an excursion. I want as much detail as you can muster, understood ?"

"Aye sir."

"Phanan. Go with him. Be ready and plan for insertion as soon as possible."

"Will do."

"Captain. May we accompany the Major," Loris asked respectfully.

"Go ahead. Until then, Captain Goerl I recommend that you continue battle drills as with the crew of the Leviathan. This is going to get really messy before it gets any better."

"Major Maul ?"

"Do it Captain."

"Yes ma'am."