Introduction: The very first Naorhy story. Written in 1992 it has been rewritten somewhat since. Several times. It is still lousy. I’d been playing a home grown colonization game based on Star Fleet Battles. Sometime you just go overboard in a game. Especially document heavy face to face ones with thirteen other very good players.

GLASS PANELS

by Mr. David R. Dorrycott

Thirteen standard months from home, still twelve hours from their destination system and another five days from orbit three, slow fat ships flew in a loose formation. A convoy, these ships were also bait in a trap. Deadly bait as they pushed their way out of hyperspace just inside the alien systems comet belt. Eight hours later Seelsa Ironclaw, Captain of the heavy freighter CRYSTAL SHARDS, commander of Supply Convoy Delta Three, sat slumped in her command chair. Normally she would have been deep in her sleep cycle, but something had been nagging her the last few days. Something in her dreams that had kept her awake this night, worry seeping into her blood like some cheap poison. It was nothing she could put her paws on, still she’d had these feelings before. Seelsa hadn’t risen to the rank of Convoy Commander by ignoring her dreams. Still, being responsible for three freighters carrying critical supplies to a newly settled star system made her cautious. She looked again into the computer generated star studded screen. Nothing. Paws of hours had passed, yet the scans still showed only empty space.

"Tactical, what's our current emission situation" she suddenly snapped, jerking everyone on her small bridge into alertness.

Across the small bridge her Tactical Officer started, caught daydreaming. A quick check of her board gave the young lieutenant the requested data. "Full counter emissions, as per your standing orders Lady" she reported.

Seelsa smiled inwardly at the young officer's situation. Normally Third was the calmest duty, subject only to the Captains possible early arrival for First. Yet here it was, a quarter through Third and the Captain was still awake, still on the Bridge, and not in a very good mood.

"Swing too full Hunt, look for a ghost" she ordered. "Have QUEENS HEART and TIGER coordinate their assist. Commence in three minutes." Seelsa was becoming exhausted, if nothing showed up this time she was going to turn the bridge over to Thirds Command Officer and get some sleep. Still, these feelings were rare, and they had never failed her. Probably one of Survey's ships was out there playing games again. To her though it felt like a predator/prey situation.

Time slowly before the bridges relative silence was broken again. "Commencing full scans now Captain" reported her Tactical officer.

Seelsa sat up, concentrating her attention on the forward screen. It now showed what Tactical was seeing at her station. Nothing, parsecs and . . . "Wait" she barked, "Upper right Z plus, what was that?" The screen swung back, zooming in. A vague shape expanded, hardly filling the screen at maximum magnification.

"Sensors show it as a ship, size class light freighter/scout" the officer replied. Suddenly that ghost ship faded away, replaced with static. "A massive increase in jamming Captain. We haven't the power to punch through it."

"Red Alert. Status two. Get First here now" Seelsa ordered. "All Third officers remain as backup. Notify our sisters, both ships to follow my lead. Close the formation." Pausing for a breath she wondered if she should call for help, then decided to wait. 'Let her think we missed her' she decided. 'Wait for it, we'll show Survey what kind of Pride three Heavy Battle Freighters can be'. She settled back in her command chair, pulling her restraints into place. 'War games' she fumed to herself, 'It's always Survey and their fargin wargames.'

Something though nagged at her, a half memory. "Command sent Survey out last month, this might not be Survey” she announced to her arriving command crew. Punching up the communication logs on her small personal screen it took precious minutes to locate the entry she half remembered. A standard coded communication that ordered most of Survey's ships out into unexplored territory. That decided her next action. "Maneuvering keep our heads down, facing that ship, don't let them see the heavies."

Slowly the ponderous Naorhy freighters cut through space, moving like giant bloated whales as they turned their 'heads' down, looking 'below' the Galactic plane. Their military standard heavy weapons suddenly hidden from view by the ships bulk. With over thirty years of Hypertravel, knowing they were out there but still not having met another space going race, these ships carried as much firepower as the average frigate. Aboard the ships alarms blasted, crewfem bailed out of beds, sometimes grabbing parts of clothing and armor, but always their weapons. Small armed shuttles blasted from their bays, taking up pre-determined positions under their mothers. Hidden in the massive freighters bulk and clutter they waited, like bees protecting their nest. Within minutes every station was manned, perhaps not ready for everything, but they would do their best.

Seelsa checked the time, four minutes to full battle stations from sleep. Better than she had expected. "Communications. Send our status and a request for aid to Farhold" she ordered, "As I remember, Survey ship DARK DESIRE was due to arrive for R&R about now. Send it in the open, lets let our friend out there think she has easy meat." She paused to think, "And begin a continuous data transmission to Farhold. At least it will give them something to mull over while they finish that battle base."

Leaning back she relaxed in her soft cotton command chair. Her people were ready. Her ships were ready. There was nothing left to do but wait. Out there in the dark a hunter waited. From what she could gather it might not be one of theirs. 'Too bad the first meeting between our race and another has to begin like this' she thought. 'I wouldn't want it any other way. Lets see what they have.'

Hours passed with no further contact, no answer from the planet only hours away by FTL radio. This was unusual, confirming to the young captain her worst fears, her greatest dreams. This wasn't a test. Her blood raced at the thought of combat with an unknown race, an unknown ship with unknown weapons. She had dreamed of this since she was a child, now her dream may be coming true. Still, she worried about the planet. Were they under attack? Did they even receive her call? All unknowns, and her convoy stood as the only available support for thirteen months plus. Small support, three battle freighters would be no-match for even a pair of standard destroyers, much less an invasion fleet.

Third passed to First, yet no one left the bridge. Time crawls when your waiting for the unknown, time for a break. The young Captain decided to relieve the tension, give her people back their edge. "Second, relieve Third, all personnel, half break by odds, twenty minutes" she commanded. Tension eased a bit as hair triggers relaxed. Rubbing her eyes Seelsa realized she was exhausted, she had to do something or she would fall asleep in her chair. "Have Medical bring me a stimulate, and get some food up here" she ordered. Still they waited.

 Half through First the message arrived, "Captain" called her watch officer. "We are receiving a transmission from Farhold, shall I place it on Main?"

Seelsa looked up from her sandwich, "Yes, now" she answered around the suddenly tasteless food. Her screen showed the face of a Senior NCO. "Captain Ironclaw. We regret to inform you we cannot send you assistance for another two days. Dark Desire reports navigation problems requiring repair. Please keep us advised of your situation. This is Farhold Deep Space Command."

The screen returned to its view of deep space as Seelsa laughed, "We have her now" she cried.

"Captain?" asked the Communications Officer.

Releasing her seats restraints she stood, stretching her lean lynx form. "Farhold doesn't have a Deep Space Command, they're not set up for that until the Battle Base is completed. That means the entire transmission was false." She gave her officers a sharp look, "Plus, their not under attack. And when was the last time you saw a Marine NCO in Communications? Whatever happens now it's a sure bet Dark Desire is out there sneaking around. Our little visitor is in for a huge surprise. Have Heart and Tiger form under us. I want Heart to keep her heavies down, put everything into her attractor. When our friend runs into us, I want them to hold back a few kilometers, let her go for us first." She stretched one last time, feeling the stimulant like fire in her bloodstream, bit into her sandwich, sat down, and waited.

irst turned to Second before the attack came. "Contact" announced Tactical, "75 thousand kilometers, closing fast." If they hadn’t already been ready there wouldn’t have been time to react. Not civilian ships. But there were no Naorhy civilian ships. Not outside the home system.

Seelsa sat up. "Battle Alert" she ordered. "All personnel to battle stations, Guards to Bridge, Engineering and Heavies. Bring us out three Kay. Tactical. Stand-by to swing us up." Her blood roared. 'Here it comes' she thought, 'Now we find out if these barges are worth their cost.' Suddenly, there it was. A dim black shape seemed to slip out of nowhere, filling a third of the screen. Unlike anything any had seen even in the wildest movies, thin and sleek. A dark black hungry looking design. Strange balls of light leapt from the alien ship, slamming into the 'Shards forward shields.

"Full shields, battle speed, maximum power to number one" spat Seelsa. Lights dimmed around her as power drained away for other use. "Bring us up, show her the heavies, stand-by to fire."

CRYSTAL SHARDS swung up slowly as she accelerated, quickly approaching speeds no non-NAORHY heavy freighter could ever expect to see, and survive. The hunter screamed in, spotting those twin heavy weapons too late to do anything but strengthen her own defenses. Caught off guard by a freighter that moved at the speed of a warship and unable to shear off as planned, she could only bore in and overrun the outgunned ship.

All four ships closed, freighters formed into a triangular box the hunter found itself forced to thread. Fire spat between hunter and Crystal Shards. Weakened, their forward shield failed. Panels exploded, screams and death filled the Bridge. Seelsa felt herself thrown from her command chair across the bridge. Fire lit her right side as she slammed into the navigation station, darkness. The hunter was past. Then on, on into the face of Queens Heart and Tiger. Too late a one time hunter realized the trap, realized these were no mere heavy freighters and a Q-ship, but light warships. Fire flashed from Tiger while attractors reached from Queens Heart. Suddenly these fat bloated freighters didn't seem like easy meat anymore. For that black ship, all the fun had abruptly vanished.

Perhaps some Gods looked down with interest as the hunter became the hunted. It was no longer a simple run and grab raid against helpless civilian ships, but a battle for survival against an unexpected force. 'Shards bridge filled with acrid smoke as Seelsa slowly picked herself up from the deck, blood dripping from a head wound. "Situation report" she called, trying not to show the pain with her voice. She had just discovered a metal sliver pinning her right arm to her side. Slowly she climbed back into the Command chair.

"Heavies down, cargo pods two and four near shearing limits, impulse down, minor damages to Mains. Heavy casualties in Engineering" someone answered. Seelsa couldn't detect who answered, but for now it didn't matter. "Blow those pods, swing us up and loop back on the hunter. Get me a report from Heart and Tiger" she commanded.

Crystal Shards twisted up, using the remaining pods' inertia to swing her around, looping above and behind the three ships in mortal combat. Finishing her turn she released the remaining two pods. Below her the hunter twisted in the grip of Heart's attractor, unable to break her grip and still retain enough power run. Tiger mauled the more powerful hunter, taking a pounding in return as she closed, attempting to lock her gates and send her marines aboard. Naorhy battle-shuttles died between the ships, their tiny weapons almost lost in the flare of the larger ship mounted weapons.

Seelsa looked at the screen, closing her pain filled eyes a moment. "This is one hell of a mess" she mummered. "Are any gates still up?" she asked.

Someone in the smoke replied the affirmative, without honorifics.

"Very well" she replied. "Have the marines' board that ship, get us in as close as you can. If any shuttles are still alive, shove someone in them as well." She coughed, tasting blood. Wiping her mouth she saw bright orange blood pooled in her hand. 'Bad, I hope I last the battle' she thought.

Aboard the hunter Naorhy marines fought with its crew. Fire flashed, lives snuffed out in the sudden vacuum without a sound. Still the hunter fought, twisting in the grip of a slowing Queens Heart, losing the power to break that attractor's lock, much less accelerate and escape. Well caught, the aliens fought with a fury the marines understood, and could equal. Battered shuttles shoved their way into shattered bays, to dump their loads of marines and pull away for the next. Slowly the hunters resistance failed, sputtering fitfully, as a fire in a storm. Within half an hour the ship lay quiet, its remaining crew in chains while marines worked to put out fires created by combat.

Seelsa lay almost unconscious in her Command chair when the victory report came to her. She shook herself, using the pain of her wounds to force herself awake and alert. "Close in around the prize, there may be another. Return to course and get medical up here" she ordered, coughing in the acrid smoke filled atmosphere. "Send a call to Farhold, we're going to need a tug." She felt a paw on her good shoulder and looked up. Her second officer stood beside her, her own head roughly bandaged and her left arm shoved into her tunic. Turning to her Seelsa managed to whisper "Reeshale, you have the Con" as she passed into unconsciousness.

She woke to the smell of antiseptics and strange voices. Slowly opening her eyes she looked around. 'This isn't 'Shards sickbay' she thought, 'its way to big.' Carefully trying her limbs she discovered that all but her right arm responded normally, if a bit painfully. Slowly she tried to pull herself into a sitting position. As she moved a nurse noticed and walked over.

"Well, how are we this afternoon" the white dressed woman asked, all light and cheer as she gently forced Seelsa back into bed.

Shaking her head slightly Seelsa closed her eyes against waves of nausea that rolled over her. "I don't know how you feel" she replied, her voice harsh from dis-use and drugs. "I feel better than I have a right too, how is my ship?"

A professional smile vanished as the nurse turned serious. "I don't know about your ship, but you young lady are very lucky to be alive. You had over twenty centimeters of durluminium in you. You're very lucky. Several of your crew and members of the other ships are here as well." She winked at Seelsa, starting to smile again. "Give me a few minutes and I'll get someone who can answer your questions, I just have to go wake her up." With that she turned and walked out a nearby hatch.

Seelsa laid back into the pillow, spotting the Dragon emblem inlaid on a chair beside her. 'At least we made it to Farhold' she thought. Moments later Reeshale walked around the curtain. There was a new bandage on her head and her left arm was in a sling, otherwise she looked well.

"So" Reeshale quiped, "You've decided that six days of sleep is enough and decided to join us again?"

Seelsa started, "Six days?" she asked, "That long . . . what about the ship and crew?"

Reeshale turned the chair around, sitting with her good arm over its back. "Well we lost over half the command, out right dead that is" she reported. "Of the rest . . . no one escaped undamaged. I'm sorry but Fleet has declared the 'Shards as a write off. Over half our cargo was either vaporized or blown into space. You can forget the main hull." She paused. "Queens Heart is all right, nothing a few days in drydock won't fix but Tiger is going to need a few month's repairs. All in all we got off better than we had any right to, considering that ship was a warship turned pirate."

“So we're without ship or personnel" Seelsa groaned. "Any idea what we're going to do now? What about Dark Desire, where was she. Or did I guess wrong."

Reeshale smiled, warming her companions hearts. "Good news on both counts. Dark Desire ended up sneaking up on a second hunter. She got her fighters out and engaged her from behind. Not a pretty fight, considering she was outgunned. Luck was with her, these aliens had never seen fighters. They took them for boarding shuttles. Seven managed to close to firing range. All in all we have two hunters with varying levels of damage and twenty-seven prisoners. Twelve females and fifteen males."

Seelsa sat up at that, falling back as her body forcefully reminded her of her injuries. "Males in combat" she exclaimed. "That's, that's unheard of what were they thinking."

Reeshale grimaced, leaning over to place her good paw lightly over Seelsa's mouth. "Keep it down will you?" she begged. "You're not the only one with head injuries you know."

Behind Seelsa the nurse injected something into the tube running to her arm, then stepped away.

"Anyway" Reeshale continued. "They haven't gotten much out of them yet, but it appears their race has more males than females. Almost two to one, so intelligence has labeled them as probably expendable. After local intelligence is through with them they get shipped home, where the professionals can work on them.

Seelsa was shocked, "Males expendable" she whispered. "I never thought I would ever hear such a thing. But what about us?"

Reeshale leaned back, pulling a small fold of paper from her sling. Opening it she scanned it, then turned it over.

"Well?" demanded Seelsa.

Reeshale absently waved at her and started reading in an officious voice.

"By order of Deep Space Command. Captain Seelsa Ironclaw and what members of her crew, the crews of the ships QUEENS HEART and TIGER she selects, are to report to Naorhy Deepspace Drydock to take command of the newly commissioned Heavy Cruiser FIREWAND. Captain Ironclaw is authorized to travel aboard the Survey ship Dark Desire, along with those officers she selects." Reeshale carefully folded the paper and passed it to Seelsa.

"Well," she asked. "Do I get the job or do I pound the decks selling my body for food?"

"You'd be dead of starvation in a week Res'" Seelsa laughed. "I'll just have to take you with me, and hope I can find some use for you." She smiled, then closed her eyes as the drug took effect, forcing her into a healing sleep.

Stepping forward the nurse quickly checked her patient. "She'll be asleep for another day" she told Reeshale. "I'll have someone notify you when she wakes up."

Reeshale waved her free hand, reaching out to take the smaller paw resting on starched white sheets. "No need, I'll wait" she answered.