Special Notes: The Com-Device pictured above I find disturbing. I found it in a museum, and what is so disturbing is that it is the Com-Device I used when I first joined the army... and now it's in a museum! See where the handset is connected to the radio, you would have to lick the connector to make sure you got a good connection. High Tech stuff there. And it weighs a ton. [The White Raven, Chapter 12, Red Feather, Part II] [Clapper Province, House Eagle, Ground Defense] Cala rolls in the mud while Kata watched with a disgusted expression. “Come on, you got to,” says Cala. “I know, give me a second,” replies Kata, setting the precious Com-Device on the ground. “This is gross.” The other orphans are already gone, sent out into the forest on the special mission. Kata walks out into the mud, closes her eyes, and drops down in the mud. “Ewww…” screeches Kata. “Hurry up, cry baby,” taunts Cala. “Shut up, I’m doing it,” says Kata. “Get your hair too,” says Cala. The two acolytus needed to roll in the mud to cover their white wings and clothing. Cala walks out of the mud and rolls in the leaves to add even more camouflage. Cala looks down at the Com-Device, it’s a piece of the satellite array House Eagle will deploy. A Grackle Communications Ship landed right after Vas left, someone in House Grackle had a brilliant idea. The Grackle Com-Officer said that the enemy would take out the planets Communications systems first. So they were passing out the Com-Devices to the Eagle Orphans, the Raven First Eggs, the Hawk War Chirps, and the Grackle Squawks. The idea was that instead of just mindlessly throwing away the lives of all the Chirps as cannon fodder, the Chirps of the four Houses would spread out in the mountains and turn on their devices at predetermined times and form a Communications Array that couldn’t be destroyed. “It’s time,” says Cala. “I know,” replies Kata stepping out of the mud. “I feel so gross.” Kata kneels down and turns the device on. Nothing spectacular happens, just a green light, but for the next three minutes they are part of the constantly moving communications array. Cala watches the timer. This is the most dangerous time, the enemy wasn’t here yet, but when they did get to the planet they would try to triangulate the Com-Device’s positions and fire missiles at them. But, three minutes was a reasonable risk, they hoped to be long gone before a missile could arrive. “That’s three minutes,” says Cala. Kata turns the device off and picks it up. “Run,” says Kata. The two acolytus run for their next position, they would have four hours before it was their turn to turn the device on again. The roar of a ship’s engine makes the two look up at the sky. The Cargo Ship is lifting off from the House Eagle Camp, in the distance they could see transport ships rising from House Clapper. “There goes the Evacuation Wave,” says Cala, waving at the ship. “Don’t think about it,” says Kata. “You will just get sad.” Kata takes Cala’s hand and for once he doesn’t complain about it. The two run into the mountains. ***** [Above the mountains of Clapper Province, Evacuation Wave] The White Raven pulls back on the controls and the ship rises into the air. The ship is old and sluggish, but Willet and Teal went over every inch of the old beast; this model was built to be a work horse. Somewhere below her in the forest is Kata and Cala, and she searches futilely for any glimpse of them, it feels like she is leaving her own children behind. If we survive this, I’m going to the Commonwealth Senate and fighting to pass a law to make it mandatory that every House has enough evacuation transports for the entire population. We could have done so much more to prepare. All the decommissioned fighter Darts could have been given to less prosperous communities to be used for emergencies, instead of scrapping them for their metal to make toaster ovens. She glances at the Vid-Screens monitoring the passengers throughout the ship, it is going to be an uncomfortable journey; every spare inch of room is filled with six year olds. The eggs are nested safely in an upper cargo bay near the engines for warmth. The five older females just reaching egg bearing age are rushing from cradle to cradle doing last minute checks, and the five males are running from room to room making sure the hatchlings are strapped in, or at least sitting on the floor so they aren’t thrown around. Other transports are rising into the sky and she follows them. Squadrons of Darts pass them, hurrying to their assigned positions. She reaches orbit and gasps at the enormity of the defense. Millions of ships are ringed around the planet, and most of this wave isn’t even armed. The wave she is looking at is the last wave, the final defense of the planet before the enemy reaches the surface. There will be countless conventional air forces fighting in the lower atmosphere, but they won’t last long. Tears flow down the White Raven’s face as she looks out at the ring of ships around the planet. These are the farmers of Darai in unarmed farming ships, and their courage breaks her heart. None of them can possibly survive if the enemy gets this far. During the last invasion by the Kitsune, the farmers rammed the Kitsune fleet by the millions and stopped the invasion at the moons of Darai. The Com is beeping and she opens a channel. “House Eagle evacuation ship,” answers the White Raven. “This is Evacuation Command, say how many souls on board,” the Com-Officer requests. “House Eagle carrying twenty-seven eggs, five breeding females, five breeding males, two-hundred and thirty-seven hatchlings, and one female pilot; total two-hundred and seventy-five Eagles.” “You have your destination, House Eagle,” replies the Com-Officer. “You are clear to TDS, good luck.” The White Raven opens a fleet-wide Com channel. “This is the White Raven, blessings to all of you, and may the ancestors guide your hands.” Thousands of replies step on top of each other as the farmers send their best wishes to the White Raven and the Evacuation Fleet. The White Raven pushes the ship into TDS and Darai and the Universe disappears. She will travel to the Saerus Mining Colony, refuel, and then head out into deep space to wait for the recall order, or failing that, begin the long journey to search for a new planet. She opens the ship intercom. “Go ahead and start putting the eggs and hatchlings into slow sleep,” she orders. Six years… she can keep them in slow sleep for six years before she will have to wake them again. Hopefully, the recall order comes, but if not… six years… a person can only stay in slow sleep for six years, she has to find a planet in six years or they will exhaust their oxygen. ***** [Orbit, Fifth Wave, Planet Darai] Cody was doing flips in the weightless environment of the Dart Ship. Gaevin had been concerned that the boy would suffer the usual sickness most first time space travelers suffered, but not this boy. Cody giggled and flipped and thoroughly enjoyed himself. “Swift and safe journey to you, White Raven,” Gaevin transmitted over the Com. “Who you talking to, father… papa… pa… pops… dad… da…?” asks Cody. Gaevin grins. “Can’t find one you like?” Cody grins back. “I don’t know… hey, those ships just disappeared!” “That was the Evacuation Wave,” explains Gaevin. “They are going away to hide.” “We’re the Fifth Wave, huh?” asks Cody. “Yes, we are,” says Gaevin. “Are we going to hide?” asks Cody. “No, Honor and Sacrifice is our role, son,” says Gaevin. Mae grabs the boy and pushes him up into the cockpit with Gaevin. “Show him, he deserves to know everything.” Cody floats above Gaevin and looks out the canopy at the planet below. “That’s where we live, that’s Darai,” says Gaevin. “It’s pretty,” says Cody. “Bad people want to hurt it,” says Gaevin. “We’re going to fight them, huh,” says Cody. “Cause we’re Hawks.” “That’s right, you little War-Chirp, we are going to fight the bad people,” says Gaevin. “Because I’m a Hawk… Bwaaaahhhh,” screeches Cody. Mae and Gaevin look at the boy and share a glance between them. All Daraians are very good at imitating the sound of their patron bird, but the sound Cody made was not a Hawk’s screech, it was the cry of the eagle. There were no eagles on Darai, the bird had become extinct two million years ago, but other worlds had them. Biologists had tried to bring eagles to Darai, but they never survived, and there was no scientific reason anyone could find for why. Some scientists believed Daraians had formed a projection bond with their patron birds, other worlds called it a telepathic bond, but that wasn’t an accurate description of a projection bond. They believed it possible that the eagles couldn’t survive on Darai without the Eagle being hatched first. “Gaevin,” whispers Mae. “I know,” says Gaevin. “We need to find a way to get them to try and bring eagles again and see what happens.” “Ohhh… Papa War-Bird, look,” says Cody excited and wiggling around to see. A line of massive Battle Carriers, Destroyers, Frigates, and Battleships, were just coming up to and passing the Fifth Wave’s line. Cody watched, fascinated with the great war ships. “What’s that one,” asks Cody, pointing at the nearest Battle Carrier. “See the bird painted on the side?” says Gaevin. “That is one of House Sparrow’s Battle Carriers.” “We look like an ant next to it,” says Cody. “Are they the Fifth Wave too?” “No, that’s the Second Wave,” explains Gaevin. “They are headed to the edge of the solar system where the brunt of the battle will be fought.” “Where is our Battle Carrier?” asks Cody. “Turn around,” says Gaevin. “It’s coming up now.” Cody flips around and his mouth drops open. The Hawk Battle Carrier is easily three or four times bigger than the Sparrow Battle Carrier. “Papa War-Bird…” whispers Cody. “Yep, that’s pretty much everyone's reaction when they see it for the first time.” “An entire moon was used to create that War-Beast,” adds Mae. “Why don’t we go beat up the bad guys first?” asks Cody. “Would you have us be Kitsune now?” asks Gaevin. “We are one of the two most technologically advanced species in the galaxy, that we know of, we have responsibilities to care for lesser species. We do not invade other worlds.” “Can we be beaten?” asks Cody. “Never forget, the Kitsune are nearly equal to us in technology, they almost beat us last time. If it weren’t for…” “Honor and sacrifice,” Cody finishes the sentence. Gaevin stares at Cody for a long moment and then whispers in his ear. “Yes, Sir,” says Cody. Gaevin pushes open the all-Fleet Com channel and nods at Cody. “The Eagle is with you,” says Cody into the Com. “Bwaaaahhhh… Bwaaaahhhh… Bwaaaahhhh.” ***** [Mulae Farael Battle Carrier, House Sparrow, Second Wave] The chaos of the Bridge ends in a split second. Pesa was pretty sure you could have heard a feather hit the floor. “Com, did you get a lock on that transmission?” demands Lord Sparrow standing up from the Captains Chair. “Searching,” replies the Com-Officer. “There are too many signals bouncing around, I have it near… within 7000 feet of the Carrier.” “It was a boys voice, and we know the Eagle should be about six years old,” says Lord Sparrow. “I need an assessment, was that the Eagle?” “My lord, we just passed the Fifth Wave, the ships within 7000 feet are the Hawk farmers,” says the Executive Officer. “We searched all the cities without success, it would make sense one of the farmers may have found him.” “I agree,” says the Chief Medical Officer. “What better place for the Goddess to put the Eagle but with a common sense farmer to teach him a solid foundation of work ethic, morals, and a deep love of Darai.” “Com, zoom in on the cockpits of all Darts within 7000 feet,” orders Lord Sparrow. The big Vid-Screen on the front wall starts flipping past images of Dart cockpits. “Stop, go back,” says Lord Sparrow. “There, that one, there’s a boy in the cockpit of that Dart… no, keep going, that one looks around twelve… wait… stop… no that ones a girl… keep going… stop, yes… zoom in.” “That Dart is registered to medically retired Master Sergeant Gaevin,” says the Com-Officer. “The Feather of Honor recipient?” asks Lord Sparrow. “I have his personnel file, Sir,” says the Com-Officer. “Master Sergeant Gaevin, two time Feather of Honor recipient, two Gold Feathers, three Silver Feathers, four Bronze Feathers, served six combat tours aboard the Blood Hawk Destroyer, Master Sergeant of the Blood Hawk Battalion, medically retired, and currently holds a reserve commission as a Colonel.” “If he’s been hiding the Eagle, why did he just give away his position?” asks the Com-Officer. “He didn’t mean to,” says Lord Sparrow. “As a Sergeant he understood the Fleet needed the morale boost, but he is used to those flying tanks they call Hawk Carriers. He didn’t realize how fast a Sparrow Carrier could find him. Zoom in on the boys face.” “I heard the Hawks might invent electricity in the next century or so,” says the Executive Officer. That gets a laugh from the Bridge crew, Hawk Ships aren’t known for their technological superiority, just for their size and ability to take massive damage and keep flying. The image on the screen zooms in on Cody’s face. “He’s a handsome boy,” says the Executive Officer. “Has a bit of a Hawk appearance, but something more.” “Okay, we’ve seen him, he looks healthy and happy, and he has a good care-taker, delete the image,” orders Lord Sparrow. “Everyone is sworn to secrecy on this subject, understood. Not a single word of this gets out or you can join our friends in Airlock 17. But, I do want a company of Sparrows in the woods around Sergeant Gaevin’s farm from now on.” “Lord Hawk won’t like that,” says the Executive Officer. “That blow-hard will never leave his palace long enough to figure out where the Eagle is or even know we are there,” says Lord Sparrow. “Anyone want to wager he’s not even aboard his own Battle Carrier?” “Intel says he’s hiding in his bunker under the Hawk Palace,” says the Com-Officer. “He’s an embarrassment to Hawks,” says the Executive Officer. “He’s an embarrassment to anything breathing,” says Lord Sparrow. "Thank the Goddess for Prince Hawk." Pesa kept her head down and tried hard to pretend she was studying the map of the ship. There was so much happening on the Bridge it was hard to concentrate. “You can look up once in awhile, or go over to the break room and get something to drink, there’s some nutrient cookies in there too,” says the Helm-Officer. “Thank you, Sir,” says Pesa. “We missed breakfast.” “Okay, go ahead and take a ten minute break,” says the Helm-Officer. “Sir, who is in Airlock 17?” asks Pesa. “Two Ravens we caught spying,” says the Helm-Officer. “The outer door is open just the barest crack, it’s wasting a lot of air and sounds like a hurricane in there. They are probably long since deaf.” “It would be freezing cold, Sir,” says Pesa. “They have been there for weeks, amazing they still have the strength to pound on the door.” Pesa walks towards the room that is the break area for the Bridge Crew. The room is bigger than she would have expected, with tables and chairs bolted to the floor. One wall has a sink and stove, and cold storage, and vending machines. I guess that makes sense, the food in the vending machine has to be paid for… oh, I get it, thinks Pesa, the food in the vending machine are special treat items. Another wall has a long table with food laid out from the Mess Deck, and that food is free, but maybe not as much fun to eat as a candy bar from the vending machine. There are several doors around the room, one door has a sign that reads, Cleaning Supplies. Oh no, I’m a Host Cadet, I bet I’ll find out what’s in there real quick. Another door has a sign that says, Sleeping Area - Quiet. Okay, that makes sense too, a place for the Bridge Crew to sleep in rotations during combat. The third door has a sign that says Captain’s Bridge Quarters, and the fourth door is just a storage room. Pesa downs some energy cookies and drinks one of the bottles of water provided and heads back to her station. She is about half-way to her station when the entire Bridge Crew jumps to their feet and starts cheering. Squadrons by the thousands are passing the view windows around the Bridge. The blast doors aren’t closed yet and she can see the line of Darts going past. Pesa runs back to her station. “What’s happening?” asks Pesa. “That’s the First Wave moving out,” replies the Helm-Officer. Pesa starts cheering with the others, and then the Com-Officer turns the speakers on. The entire Fleet is singing the Daraian Anthem. The Bridge Crew joins in and Pesa sings with them. Oh, Blue Skies of Darai, above the trees our nests you hold, on mountain peaks our wings to you we give… ***** [Darai Solar System, First Wave] ”…on wind we soar, above your bounty, my life for you.” Vas finishes the anthem with a tear in his eye. “This is Prince Hawk, we have center position,” says a young man’s voice on the Com. “Prince Falcon, you have left flank, Lord Grackle is on right flank. Lord Raven will take Prince Falcon’s flank. Lesser Houses, fill in the gaps.” Vas flips down from the Fleet Com to the House Hawk’s Com-Channel. “This is House Eagle, filling a gap in the Blood Hawks line,” says Vas. “Welcome, House Eagle, you sure you don’t want to fly with the Ravens?” asks Prince Hawk. “House Eagle is on your border, it’s more appropriate we fly with you now,” says Vas. “We welcome those invisible Raven ships of yours, could you send me a ping, I can’t see you,” says Prince Hawk. Vas sends a single ping and the other three ships of the Moeth Alliance sends their pings. The Raven Ships aren’t invisible, but they might as well be, the stealth technology built into them is formidable. “Got you, House Eagle,” says Prince Hawk. “I want you to go straight for the enemy Com-Ships, your ships should be able to get past their sensors, lets knock out their ability to talk right from the start.” “Understood,” replies Vas. “Everyone keep your eyes open, whoever they are, they are good at hiding,” says Prince Hawk. “If the Ravens weren’t on our flank I’d think the Ravens were invading.” Vas checks the sensors, then the data coming in from the early warning stations. Prince Hawk is right, someone that knows exactly how the Daraian detection system works is out there. “Peli, you seeing anything?” Vas asks his mate at the Nav and Com controls. “Yes, and no,” says Peli. “Something's out there, but I only see it for a second and then it’s gone. They know how to hide, and they are hiding something big.” “A Kitsune Battle Group?” asks Vas. “No, doesn’t match, and I’m seeing an unencrypted message being broadcast on a galaxy wide band from the Imperial Court.” “What do those criminals have to say?” asks Vas. “The Raven Treaty Enforcement House on Kitsune is saying that all Kitsune ships are accounted for, and not only that but every Kitsune ship, all of them, even Carriers, have shut down their engines. They are free floating in place and pinging loudly in every direction to let everyone know exactly where they are at.” “That’s an odd way to invade,” says Vas. “Their planet is completely vulnerable right now,” says Peli. “They want to make sure everyone knows it isn’t them.” Vas nearly jumps out of the cockpit as several hundred Darts zip past the First Wave. “Cracky, mate,” says a voice in that odd accent of Daraians from the southern island continent of Struthio. “What do we have here, did they let the ankle-biters fly the First Wave?” “Lord Struthio, could you please bring your fighters back to the line,” says Prince Hawk. “Don’t get your knickers in a knot, mate,” says Lord Struthio. “I need to go check on something, you blokes stay put and wet nurse each other a bit more, we’ll be back in a shake.” “Where exactly are you going?” asks Prince Hawk, knowing Lord Struthio is going to do whatever he likes anyway. “Fifty K’s south of woop woop,” quips Lord Struthio. “I got an odd message, don’t commit the wave until I get clarification what the wind is blowing in off the ocean.” “You heard him, hold fast,” orders Prince Hawk. ***** [Edge of the Darai Solar System, Invasion Fleet] “Do you think he got the message?” asks Moeth. “I think so,” says Raen. “But will he come?” asks Moeth. “I’m sure of it, I met him once,” says Raen. “He’s nuttier than a Loon, the guy actually surfs in the ocean, who does that?” “I wish we didn’t have to do it this way,” says Moeth. “The stakes are too high,” replies Raen. “Pirates, bandits, privateers, terrorists, Kitsune murderers, and who knows what else would take advantage. We are completely defenseless, this was the only way, there wasn’t enough time to wait after that volcano erupted.” “I know, it had to be now,” says Moeth. “But we’ve kicked off a Red Feather, they might hang… hey, wait… I’m picking up a squadron of Darts.” “Short range only,” says Raen. “Open a channel. “Opened,” says Moeth. “Lord Struthio, is that you?” says Raen on the Com. “And who might I be speaking with?” says a voice. “This is The Heart of Darai,” says Raen. “Is that so,” says the voice. “And what is the Heart of Darai doing invading Darai?” “We’re not invading, my lord,” says Raen. “Scan us, we only have four fighter Darts, and our weapons are powered down. Come look and you’ll understand.” “I see him,” says Moeth. “He’s coming alone, the rest of his House is hanging back just beyond weapons range.” “Why did you send for me?” asks Lord Struthio. “You’re the only person crazy enough to come look first before shooting,” replies Raen. Lord Struthio’s ship passes Raen’s Dart ship. “Cracky, how many ships do you have?” asks Lord Struthio. “What the blazes is going on?” “We were on a trade mission to Demonia,” explains Raen. “They’ve been lying about how many survived the war, and how bad off their planet is.” “Oh, mate, these are almost all egg transports,” says Lord Struthio. “Yes, Sir,” says Raen. “A volcano erupted while we were there and took out their remaining oxygen, there was no time to call for help, and we couldn’t come out of TDS next to Darai with this fleet. The automated defense system would have opened fire. We crossed through space from Demonia guarding this fleet with our four fighter Darts at the front of the column and Prince Vengeance's five Darts at the rear.” “How many eggs, mate?” asks Lord Struthio. “Four thousand ships, a little over one million eggs, and seven-hundred thousand Demonians,” says Raen. “This is all the Demonians left, their entire species.” “Oh cracky.”