The Fate of Stag Read online

  The Fate of Stag

  The Knight In Shining Armour

  Carly Ballard

  Book One

  Copyright © 2020 Carly Ballard

  All rights reserved

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  Cover design by: J J Liniger

  To my husband Mark, who always supported me

  and my family who believed in me.

  Thank you to everyone who has helped me either with this book

  or any other writing, especially the Kidsgrove Band of Writers.

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Chapter One: The Battle

  Chapter Two: Winners and Losers

  Chapter Three: Test of The Springs

  Chapter Four: Knights In Shining Armour

  Chapter Five: Visions & Confrontations

  Chapter Six: The Long Distance Warning

  Chapter Seven: Gathering

  Chapter Eight: The Problem With Hadygo Engines

  Chapter Nine: The Destruction

  Chapter Ten: Over The Roveta/ Monjerian Sea

  Chapter Eleven: The Last of The Stags

  Chapter Twelve: The Journey Begins

  Next book in the series

  Chapter One: The Battle

  Nothing prepares you for the wrath of hatred quite like the simple act of war. The blood loss and death toll rising in seconds like the devil’s fury. But what is worse is when no one expects it. Innocent lives torn asunder and the victims look to whole races to blame. The victims in question were a race known as Stags. With no resemblance to the animal of that name, they were very much like humans, sharing the same stature and body system. The only difference being that they had beautiful wings of all colours protruding from their backs and some even had tails or antennae. They lived on a planet where they were the dominant species and were a very harmonious people. They had two neighbouring planets known as Spouse and Sting and together they appeared as triplets in a far-off solar system.

  Spouse was a planet that liked to keep to itself; Its people were again very humanoid in stature, however, they had the appearance of animals mixed in with humans. Their hair and faces would take the shape and colouring of whatever animal was in their generic structure. The Queen of Spouse, for example, was elegant in her form. She was tall with red fox-like hair that faded to white at the ends and a bushy tail that was only just visible underneath her long, white gown. Her eyes were pure black and oval-shaped. Her law for Spouse was that everyone on that planet, whether living there or visiting, had to be married. It was a form of control that had, for many centuries, worked very well. Divorce was not an option, nor was it ever heard of. It was this law alone that kept out many unwanted visitors from other planets. But it was not Spouse that had a hatred for the Stag people. The Sting race were far more aggressive in their punishments and as a result had no visitors at all. Stings were tall, muscular creatures with large spikes that protruded from their backs like hedgehogs. They were naturally incredibly strong with fangs for teeth and a constant blood-thirsty attitude. Many Stings despised Stag and Spouse because it is foretold that long ago when their ancestors first arrived on the three planets, all the species had been fighting over land, a precious land that none of them could have as a result. The fighting turned into centuries of war until most had forgotten where the land was or even what they were fighting for. All that was left was the bitter taste of hatred and none felt it stronger than that of the most devout, patriotic Sting. The most recent war of the century was the Corhumbian wars, a series of three wars that claimed the lives of many. After years (or starcycles as the native tongue would say) of resentment, the Sting colonies tried taking Stag land by force. The Stags declared war when the Stings tried invading Corhumbia, a large country in the continent of Hortuan, which gave the first war its name. The first war was a landslide victory to the Stings and they overtook the entire Eastern Hemisphere of Stag. That was until they started on Spouse, a species known for the unique abilities each member of the race possess. These abilities varied from telepathy to controlling fire to shape changing and they fought back with a vengeance. The war ended and Spouse claimed parts of Sting territory. The Stings didn't give up however, and with new technology on their side and a general in charge of their military who felt determination within every fibre of his body, they came at Spouse with the full force of a Sting attack. The general was known as Bilgut Larkstan and his hatred for the two races was well known throughout the lands, so much so that he didn't care who he killed, even if it was a child, he deemed them all as vermin. Spouse and Stag formed an alliance against them, something neither side thought would ever happen. They fought back and with their combined efforts they won the third war. They claimed back the lands that had been lost to them and Spouse even had control of the politics in certain Sting countries. Sting went home defeated and ashamed and rumour had it that General Larkstan put a gun to his head. The Corhumbian Wars had left a bitter taste in their mouths making them long for the day they could get revenge. They had a particular hatred for Stags especially as it was the Stag race that had convinced Sting warriors to fight against their own. It had been those very warriors who had taken back Corhumbia for Stag. But that was over fifty years ago, all who had fought had withered with old age, all that was except for the Stings, who lived twice as long as the average human. This meant that they were still as young fifty years later as the day the first war began.

  It was prophesied that one day a war would break out among the worlds, a war so large and powerful that there would be only one surviving race. This race would start everything anew, the whole galaxy would be reborn and it would take the actions of just one soul to start it. The time of prophecy was upon them now…

  (Roverton, Stag. 10:15)

  The ships flew into the sky, oval-shaped and shining silver, darting and swerving to avoid

  the shots. The enemy ships, black and arrow-headed, shaped like diamonds flew after them, firing lasers.

  An oval ship flipped itself upside down and chased after a diamond ship. Opening its weapons, it fired blue lasers at the ship in front.

  ‘Yes!’ cried out the pilot inside happily. He was a young Stag with headphones on his ears and a gold badge on his shirt, showing the world he was the best pilot on the squadron. He watched happily as the diamond ship fell.

  ‘Nice work Oval 1,’ another ship complemented him through his headphones.

  ‘Thanks Oval 4. How many are left?’ He asked.

  ‘There’s ten left Oval 1,’ came the reply.

  ‘Right,’ said Oval 1, taking charge. ‘Everyone listen up. We’re going to win this thing. 2 and 3, take the two guarding the perimeter. 4, 5 and 6 I want you to trap that small cluster to the left.’

  ‘We’re on it,’ they replied.

  ‘7, 8 and 9, cover me.’

  Oval 1 suddenly took off quickly and chased the leading diamond ship through the air.

  The ovals named as 7, 8 and 9 fired their lasers at the diamonds attacking Oval 1.

  ‘Look out Oval 8!’ cried out a woman suddenly from Oval 7. Approaching Oval 8 with yellow lasers firing was a diamond. It only took a small swerve for Oval 7 to get into position and fire her lasers at it. The ship went down instantly and Oval 7 breathed a sigh of relief.

  ‘That was a close call,’ said Oval 8. ‘Thank you. But where were your eyes eh, Oval 9?’

  ‘Sorry?’ puzzled Oval 9. She was a young Stag with blonde hair and green eyes. Her delicate features and soft pink skin showed panic and misplacement. This wasn’t her scene, they could all tell that. Sweat and fear grabbed her and she hovered her ship in the air, barely calm enough to keep it steady.

  ‘Wake up!’ Oval 8 shouted at her angrily. He flew his ship higher so he could see Oval 1. ‘Oval 9, stay to the sides.’

  ‘We should keep moving,’ suggested Oval 7. ‘If we stay still we’re sitting ducks.’

  ‘Good call,’ agreed Oval 8.

  The two ships moved, constantly keeping an eye on the approaching enemy diamonds.

  Oval 9 stared at the ground below, not believing how high up she was. Why was she doing this? Was she even ready?

  ‘Are you still with us Oval 9?’ Oval 8 asked her sarcastically. ‘We are kind of in the middle of a battle here.’

  Oval 9 sat bolt upright, as if suddenly realising the situation. ‘Umm… yes… of course.’

  ‘Then move!’ Oval 8 yelled at her.

  As Oval 9 started thrusting her ship into forward motion she glanced a look at the scene below. A crowd had gathered a safe distance away, staring up at them all as if they were watching heroes.

  Amongst the crowd was an elderly Stag named Murray Lodgis. He was very tall and skinny, with his grey hair receding along the middle of his head so that two tufts stuck out at either side to make him have the appearance of a mad scientist. His butterfly, almost moth-like wings shimmered navy blue in the morning sun. He stared up at the ships in astonishment and concern. Standing beside him, a foot smaller in height was his 22-year-old granddaughter Glissa Starflow. Drop dead gorgeous with her slim, model-like figure, delicate features of soft and subtle pink lips, rosy cheeks and lilac eyes, Glissa was always one to catch a man’s attention. Her pink, wavy hair fell gently on her shoulders as her white blouse cheekily showed a little cleavage. Her elegant butterfly wings were baby pink with large m
auve diamonds in the middle of them and her pink frilly skirt was far too short in her grandfather’s opinion.

  ‘I can’t see her,’ she complained, squinting up at the ships.

  Murray searched each oval ship with his eyes, desperately trying to see the people inside. ‘There she is!’ he said, pointing to one oval ship that was barely moving.

  ‘What is she doing?’ gasped Glissa, worriedly. ‘She’s going to get herself killed!’

  Oval 9 moved slowly through the air, fear gripping her so tightly she could barely breath.

  Ovals 7 and 8 took out a few more ships that had been heading for Oval 1 and Oval 9 just stared at them as if she were part of the crowd. She didn’t notice the diamond ship heading towards her.

  ‘Oval 9 you have incoming!’ came the voice of Oval 5 through her headphones.

  Oval 9 checked her scanners that were centred on the dashboard before her. The scanners were two small screens that outlined the frontal and rear attacks like radar view. Panic fell across her as a diamond-shaped blip sped towards her on the screen from the rear.

  ‘Suggest abrasive manoeuvre,’ said Oval 5.

  Without thinking, Oval 9 shot forward, trying her hardest to lose her pursuer. The diamond behind her fired his lasers.

  ‘That stupid 9 is going to lose this for us,’ complained Oval 8.

  Oval 9 could hear this perfectly over her headphones and knowing that she had little chance of winning this fight, she decided to pull off the only flight stunt she had ever been able to master, other than crashing. It was the most profound and bewildering manoeuvre that she had ever been taught and in most circumstances it was deemed unnecessary or pointless, but it had been proved useful in avoiding oncoming hits and was simply known as 'The Whirlpool.' Right now, Oval 9 knew it was the only thing left that could save her.

  Halting her ship abruptly, she turned it around sharply and sped towards the oncoming laser fire.

  ‘What is she doing?’ gasped Glissa worriedly.

  ‘She’s lost her mind,’ said Murray.

  Oval 9 turned the ship again, edging it upwards. The lasers sped towards her as she ascended, circling the sky faster and faster. She looked as if she were trying to create her own personal tornado and like a vulture, she sped upwards in her forever ascending circle. The laser shot underneath her, missing the ship by centimetres.

  ‘Wow!’ gasped Glissa in awe.

  A second laser was fired and Oval 9 ascended even higher, gathering a dizzy whirlwind as she circled and missed it. Both lasers continued on into the unknown abyss of the atmosphere. Stopping her craft in mid-air she relaxed and looked down at the crowd with a smile.

  Glissa applauded her happily from the ground. She jumped up and down excitedly, her frilly skirt flopping around her legs as she did so. She stopped her jumping and stared up worriedly at her friend.

  ‘Skittle, watch out!’ she screamed loudly, making people around her jump.

  Another laser was heading straight for Oval 9.

  ‘Oval 9 you have incoming,’ came Oval 5’s voice over the headphones.

  Oval 9 looked at her scanner worriedly and panicked when she noticed the blip heading straight towards her. Before she could even put the gears forward, the laser hit the ship, causing an explosion in the back compartment.

  Alarms sounded, glowing red as the engines cut out and there was a strong smell of smoke as the back compartment of the tiny one-person ship caught fire. The flames licked the walls and crawled higher up them, making their way over to the nervous pilot.

  ‘I’m going down!’ panicked Oval 9. ‘I’m sorry guys.’

  ‘Skittle!’ panicked Glissa as the ship started plummeting to the ground. ‘Oh my God!’

  Murray and Glissa squeezed through the crowd and ran towards the direction the ship was heading.

  Oval 9 braced herself as the ship started burning up on re-entry to a new atmosphere.

  It jittered and jerked as it fell, making her feel sick with fear and vibration. She held on to the sides of the ship and gritted her teeth as the ground neared. Alarm bells flashed and rang out loudly on the dashboard, an obvious warning of the imminent crash.

  The ship started slowing as the fires inside it suddenly burnt out, the alarm bells abruptly stopping and it landed neatly on the grass, a few yards away from the battle.

  A tall, dark man approached with a digital clipboard in his hands. The ship door opened upwards and Oval 9 stepped out, shaking.

  ‘Oh dear, Skittle Bluestreak, do you know where you went wrong?’ the man asked.

  Skittle twisted her wrists nervously on her soft yellow blouse. Her yellow skirt fell to just above her knees and was tinted with a light green at the bottom. She had wings of yellow that faded to green in the same style and her long blonde hair waved naturally in the wind.

  ‘Umm… I… crashed?’ she stuttered.

  The man sighed heavily. ‘You weren’t playing as part of a team, you failed to defend your fellow comrades and you stopped in mid-air when there was clear danger around. Quite frankly, I’m surprised you lasted as long as you did. Yes, that was a clever manoeuvre, but when you’re being pursued you can’t afford to stop. You must carry on, keep going as fast as you can otherwise you'll get hit.'

  Skittle lowered her head sadly, forcing herself to hold back the tears.

  ‘What would have happened had that have been a real battle? You would be dead by now. Do you understand me?’

  ‘Yes Commander Regam,’ said Skittle quietly, nodding her head. ‘Next time I will be more aware and I won’t stop.’

  ‘There won’t be a next time,’ said Commander Regam, sternly. Skittle stared up at him with blurry eyes. ‘I’m sorry Skittle, but you only scored 4 per cent. I can’t let you carry on this course.’

  Skittle’s heart sank and a heavy depression fell over her. ‘Isn’t there anything I can do? Can I retake the test? Take another path or something and get back onto this course?’

  ‘It’s a long and arduous process,’ sighed Commander Regam. ‘I really don’t think you’ll make it through that either. I’m sorry, but you’re not cut out for flying.’

  Murray and Glissa reached Skittle as Commander Regam walked away.