Free Galactic Alliance 3: Honor Thy Enemy by Doug Farren Page A

The star had suddenly vanished indicating that the hyperdimensional field had been shutdown. For a brief moment the juggernaut’s tactical computer became confused and error messages appeared. A secondary program activated and loaded the old map into the tactical system. The hologram swirled and shifted then stabilized as the tactical computer regained its composure.
    A new star had appeared 1.3 light years from their current position. A few seconds passed as the long-range sensors scanned space. The blue icon representing the Komodo Dragon began moving into Chroniech space at a very high speed. Three red icons representing Chroniech ships appeared. A second later a series of numbers and symbols appeared next to each of the enemy icons.
    Chomach quickly read the statistics with a practiced eye. One heavy freighter heading away from them at a moderate speed – no threat. One battleship at the edge of their detection range – too far away and therefore no threat. One light cruiser at a distance of 0.12 light years was quickly altering course and speed and could possibly become a threat if it managed to cross into Alliance space before the Kyrra reengaged the hyperdimensional field.
    Chomach made a movement with his right hand and a virtual command console appeared. He pressed a nonexistent button to activate a fleet-wide transmission. “All ships are reminded to remain at their assigned position until the field is reestablished,” Chomach ordered then dismissed the keyboard with a wave of his hand.
    One Chroniech light cruiser was no threat to the assembled firepower of the Alliance fleet. Chomach, however, knew that in less than fifteen minutes things could quickly change. Twelve hundred light years away there may very well be other Chroniech ships heading beyond the fold. The moment the hyperdimensional field was reactivated all of Chroniech space would suddenly vanish. If the majority of the predictions were true, then virtually all of the Chroniech ships that had managed to make it to Alliance space would suddenly appear on their sensors as space itself shrank. Until then, the fleet would hold their position and wait.
    The allotted fifteen minutes seemed to take an eternity to pass. Chomach watched as the icon representing the Dragon made its small course correction. He was pleased to see it pass the line it had to cross to ensure they were in Chroniech space when the hyperdimensional field was reactivated. A few minutes later, the stars again shifted, the hologram swirled, and the blue icon was gone. One by one, as the long-range scans returned their data, fourteen red icons spread out across a huge area of space appeared.
    Three yellow icons traveling at over 16,000c had also appeared. Chomach quietly spoke into the microphone inside his helmet giving the tactical computer instructions. The yellow icons turned blue and were identified as Kyrra. As he finished, a flashing icon appeared in his field of view indicating an incoming transmission. He accepted it and the furry face of a Kyrra appeared in the inset virtual screen.
    “This is Fleet Commander Chomach. Welcome to Alliance space,” he began. He was interrupted before he could continue.
    “We have detected the presence of a Chroniech ship that must be destroyed. It is a large vessel currently located exactly 0.213 light years from our current position.” The Kyrra’s face was completely covered in a polychromatic fur which appeared to be primarily light tan in color. Its large brown eyes stared directly into the screen. The mouth was small and no ears could be seen.
    From what Chomach knew of the Kyrra, their instructions were not to be taken lightly. He made some quick hand motions and spoke a command to the tactical computer. The fast-moving Kyrra ships were highlighted and a dim sphere appeared around them A single ship on the surface of the sphere was identified and highlighted. Chomach selected that ship then in quick succession selected three nearby