Free Resurrection (The Inherited War) by Eric McMeins

back.”
    Silence filled the small cockpit for mere seconds before the com system was bombarded by all five of the ships talking at once.  Finally, Justice got them all quieted down and spoke for the group.
    “We are with you.  Commander.”  That was all he said, and it was enough.
    “Thank you.  After we retrieve Hal from the Savior, all of you except the Payback will leave with Jeth and head to the Twin World System.  There you will pick up any volunteers from the Worlders home worlds that want to join the fight.  Get them prepped and install the bonding nanites into their systems and start training them on the ships systems and combat drones.  One month.  That’s all you get to make them proficient on your systems.  After that we head to the Esii home world.  I will be joining you in a few days after I take care of some personal business.  One last thing.  Shift your orbits and move closer to the Savior, I want Fury nervous about his chances of pulling a fast one with Hal.”
    The ships all acknowledged her orders and began moving closer in system.  They fanned out in a blocking pattern.  Close enough to intercept or attack, but far enough out to not be to menacing. Thalo chuckled as he saw the ships response to Sky’s orders.
    “You got yourself a fleet, now you just need a crew.”  He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye as he spoke.
    “Sorry I just assumed that your people would help.  Was I wrong?”  Sky returned his sly look with one of confidence.
    “Aye, aye Commander.  Our people will fall all over themselves trying to volunteer.  You will get your crew there, I will guarantee that.”  Sky relaxed back into her chair and watched as the Savoir slowly grew in size.  It took them just over one standard hour to reach the former human ship and dock in its landing bay.  Sky steeled herself for this encounter and hoped that Fury had common sense enough to just leave Hal’s container on the deck and keep himself absent.   Once again , the small rented shuttle landed with a hiss of hydraulics and a groan as the struts took the ships weight.  
    Sky and Thalo got up and moved through the passenger compartment , and joined Jeth in the rear airlock.  “Jeth stay on the ramp and be ready for anything, Thalo with me.”  Again she slapped the release button and held it until the ramp clanged down on the bay floor.  She took a deep breath and settled her nerves.  She strode down the ramp with Thalo in tow.  She hit the bottom and turned to her right, and walked with as much self-confidence as she could muster to where a large box waited in the bay for her.
    To her dismay, three other people waited next to the box along with various other Nixa doing routine work in the bay.  It was the three next to what she assumed was Hal’s container that concerned her the most.  One was Fury, the other was Colonial Administrator Fire and a bodyguard.  Sky muttered some choice curse words under her breath as they approached the three Nixa.  She had complete and utter control of herself, her iron will kept her from doing anything rash.  Until she got close and the Administrator turned and looked at her.
    In a smarmy, condescending tone, the Administrator started to speak.  “Well if it isn’t the…”
    That was all he got out before the sheer weight of the stress and loss Sky had undergone the past few weeks broke her control and flooded her system.  This was the Nixa responsible for her people inaction.  This was the Nixa who tried to malign her in front of her people, and this was the Nixa who turned a good Commander away from his duty to the war.  She never even thought about it.  All those years of practicing her martial skills, not to mention all those recent training sessions with Cole, boiled to the surface and with a bestial snarl, Sky struck. 
    She bent at the knees and dipped down.  She came up like a coiled spring and almost delivered the most powerful uppercut ever.