RIPE & DRAGGERS

CHAPTER 18

The Mawari system is actually a small nebula system inside the known quadrant galaxy; most famous for its gasses particularly in the blue planet Mabayo. Where a war fleet of any size can stock and re-stock fuel which is more than abundant. It is actually present in the planet's atmosphere.

With the right technology from the capital, the blue planet gas is easily convertible to fuel-atom.

Hence, this fuel planet is a declared property of the Runkan capital. And Bob being a member of the supreme council knows this well, and so does Euclid. That is why Bob knows that Euclid will challenge Dualen to a legal duel. There is no other way, because she alone cannot attack a fleet of a hundred battle-ships. If Dualen has enough honor left in him as a dragger warrior, he will accept the match. But, at a strategical stand point, a duel is unnecessary for a battle commander to indulge at this stage.

Dualen could just give the order to his fleet and execute her on the spot.

Who would risk losing in a duel, when you can order thousands of troops to eliminate a single opponent. The logic is sound and Bob sees it crystal clear. Euclid will have no grand welcoming party on her arrival, but a fireworks display of laser cannons and long range missiles.

"We must hurry and catch up; a five minute trail may be too late for her." Bob muttered into the comms.

"There's no time for a sneaky entry to the planet's atmosphere so we must get-off the jump exactly in the middle of the fleet's coordinates." He added.

"Copy that brother.." Gener answered from the other end. "Once we get-off jump, we only have about three seconds until they start firing. We need to move quickly."

"I have the best pilot in the galaxy right here." Gener added rubbing Nene's furry head. "You think you can keep up, Rodrick?"

"Obviously, you don't know me." the old pirate answered with a smirk; who then made the sign of the cross, closed his eyes and bowed his head and murmured a silent prayer.

Bob was amazed at the site of Rodrick having a quick prayer. Now he understood why he's called the whispering pirate. All this time he thought it was a foolish nickname for some kind of enchantment ritual, or a scandalous incident; but now he understood why he would be whispering. He whispers because of his faith.

"Is somebody praying?" Gener asked from the other end of the comm that Rodrick forgot to temporarily disconnect.

"Its Rodrick." Bob answered.

"Oh... Yeah right, the whispering pirate." Gener mindlessly uttered.

"Here we go!!" Kai exclaimed, being Rod's co-pilot.

When they got-off jump, their eyes are suddenly filled with the bright blue surrounding of the planet's atmosphere. There are occasional mists and formations of yellow clouds but the bright blue sky is a dominant color.

Immediately after adjusting their eyes they notice the battleships floating all around them. Each ship that is a hundred times bigger than the 'Vegas' are hovering neatly at 50 kilometers from each other.

The 'Vegas' suddenly felt like a small fish amid a gargantuan school of titanic whales.

Gener's mini-frigate led the way, round and about, and under these supersized battle fortresses, while the vegas swiftly followed. Each ship are quietly hovering and none of them seems to be fueling anymore. It seems these are all battle-ready; and yet none of them are moving.

"Gene.... When you saw the army in Brahm, what do you think is the assembly age?" Bob suddenly asked.

"I estimate about 3 months, and I know what you mean; this fleet looks a year old and battle-ready." Gener answered.