Beyond the Ninth Star

Ch. 10 Plan in Action

The last two days seemed to pass by in the blink of an eye, my mind completely consumed by thoughts of our upcoming dangerous plan. Despite my best efforts, I knew that my tachyon skills were still lacking and that I was not fully prepared for an actual fight. My father had reminded me of this fact just yesterday, urging me to hide if danger presented itself during our mission. But he had also given me something to aid me in battle, just in case. It was a container to carry Azulrian blood. 

The cylindrical container was made of a lightweight yet durable metal, similar in size to a water bottle. The screw-on cap was equipped with a special mechanism that allowed me to easily draw blood with a simple twist, while also ensuring a steady flow of tachyon. The container's single strap was adjustable, allowing me to wear it diagonally across my body and rest it comfortably at my hip. Made of a flexible yet sturdy material, the strap would hold the container securely in place while still allowing me to move freely.

But what truly set this container apart was its quick-release mechanism. With just a flick of my wrist, the container would pop open, allowing me to draw blood almost instantly. It was a sleek and functional piece of equipment, perfectly tailored to my needs in combat.

Overall, I felt a sense of confidence and security with the container by my side. Even though I still had much to learn and improve upon, I knew that I was as prepared as I could be for whatever lay ahead.

We were all gathered in the central hub, waiting to cross the border into R-222. The silence was palpable, broken only by the occasional beep from the radar that my mother was intently monitoring for any sign of enemy ships. I sat at the shield controls, my hand hovering over the button, poised to activate them at a moment's notice.

Meanwhile, Illu was focused on operating the weapons, making sure they were ready for any potential threats. And my father, as always, was expertly piloting the ship, guiding us ever closer to our destination of Callis.

As I glanced out the window, I marveled at the sight before me. Callis, once just a mere speck in the distance, was now looming ever larger and more magnificent by the minute. I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness as we approached our destination.

As we approached the planet, I couldn't help but marvel at its beauty from the safety of our spaceship. The small planet had a mesmerizing appearance, with swirling storms of light blue and grey that covered much of its surface. Even from orbit, I could feel the cold radiating from the planet, and I shivered despite the warmth of my suit.

I gazed down at the planet's surface, where I could see the jagged edges of the continents and the vast expanse of the frozen oceans. The ice that covered much of the planet's surface was a pristine white, glittering in the starlight. As we continued to circle the planet, I could see the incredible detail of the snow-capped mountains and the deep crevasses that snaked through the icy landscape.

Despite the planet's inhospitable climate, it held a certain allure that I found hard to resist. I knew that we weren't planning to land, but I couldn't help but feel a sense of curiosity about what secrets the planet might hold. As we continued to orbit, I couldn't help but wonder what kind of life might be able to survive in such a harsh environment.

My father's voice cut through the silence, pulling me back to reality. He rose from his seat, removed his helmet, and addressed us all. "Listen up, everyone. It's time to execute the plan. Remember, stay calm, and don't act impulsively."

He went on to explain the details of the plan, which involved Illuv'iam hiding in a compartment above the main entrance while my parents and I would conceal ourselves beneath the floor of the central hub. Once the enemy boarded the ship, Illuv'iam would strike from above, drawing their attention away from us. Then we would emerge and launch a surprise attack from behind, catching them off guard.