A difficult decision.

Zero pulled Louise after him and after labyrinthine trip through several passageways they arrived at the bridge. It was more compact than Louise would have imagined for a ship the size of this one. Zero seated her at an auxiliary control station before he took his place in the elevated command chair. Before a main visual monitor in mid air a three dimension line drawing of an airship rotated. On the main screen a stream of symbols and what seemed to be Arabic numbers streamed. She assumed they were technical details of the craft being displayed. "Mookai report"Zero said looking toward a Saurian with brilliant blue and green scales. The Saurian tactical officer glanced down and momentarily consulted readout before responding:"The sensors we left behind at the site where we found the human female have detected an interdimensional  transit event. A few moments ago a large airship came through the portal. An Annihilator class cruiser judging by the readouts."As more data streamed in from the remote sensors and those of the ship, the ships A.I. started to fill in details on the 3D projection. Louise didn't know if it were her imagination or not, but it seemed to her that the massive craft was bristling with weaponry. 

"Haliss report please." Zero this time directed his words toward a Saurian that nearly the height of an average man. Louise also noted that Haliss' scales were a dark green, probably female she thought to herself. "We are approaching on an indirect course at one quarter speed and the ship is rigged to minimize detection" "Mookai, how dangerous is she?"Zero asked.

Mookai once again glanced at his display,"12 general purpose missiles, 3 100 kiloton and 3 one megaton fission war heads. Fore, aft,lower and upper rapid fire cannons. And of course port and starboard anti airship waist guns." "Of course, do you know what they are doing now?asked Zero. "They seem to be searching for something or someone? he responded. After that being said  all eyes in the room went to Louise. She shifted in her chair uncomfortably at the unexpected attention.

"Range is 180 kilometers" Mookai reading from his display console. Then  suddenly an alarmed sounding Mookai said, "Zero they have armed a missile!" "Could they have detected us?"Zero asked."Unlikely, They have no lock on us."came the reply. "They are launching, but not at us, the missile's trajectory is almost perfectly vertical." "Prepare for magnetic pulse and shock wave Zero announced ship wide." Just then every display blinked and relays and circuit breakers through out the ship reset themselves. The ship rocked briefly and was soon calmed by the inertial dampeners.  "It was a low yield atomic war head  and I think they are using the radiation and shock wave to locate us,"announced Mookai. "Clever,"was the only reply from Zero.

At that moment a disembodied voice of the communications officer said"Zero we are being hailed, audio and video." "Let's see what they have to say for themselves" he replied to what seemed to Louise like empty air. The projection of the ship disappeared and in its place a middle aged man with one eye covered with an eye patch ,wearing an elaborate uniform appeared. "Greetings I am Captain Malik of the Avenging Angel you are trespassing on a world claimed by our Goddess" the stern looking man said ominously.

"Zero", Mookai said urgently, "they have two missiles locked on us". Zero muted the internal microphone and said: Their technology has improved since our last meeting it seems."Zero restored the audio. "I am Zero of the air ship Albatross and my friends and I recognize no such claim". "An error in judgement that you will probably not live long enough to regret. "he said as he adjusted his uniform and cleared his throat.  "I am not here for a battle, I am here on a mission for my Goddess, We looking for a young woman named Louise Saunders, she is under the protection of my Goddess."Once more Louise felt a blush coming on as a dozen reptilian and two human eyes glanced at her all at once.  "All of my ships company are free to come and go as they see fit"Zero stated. "Perhaps engineer Louise Saunders or as her two surviving friends from her expedition call her, "Lou" would like to be reunited with her team mates"he said with a smile."" and I would feel terrible if anything happened to her friends" he said with mock concern. 

Zero once more killed the microphone. "Louise", Zero began, Obviously they are holding your friends hostage and by our ship's bylaws I cannot tell you what to do. It is also obvious  that what they really want is a way to get to your world"."What ever you do you must not give them that information because it will mean the the destruction of your world and eventually many others."He concluded. Louise thought for a minute before she spoke. "Zero If my friends are alive I must do what I can to help them."I will do my best not to reveal anything to this so called Goddess,plus I do not want to endanger this ship or crew.""Very well, Haliss make arrangements for the transfer."Louise I do this reluctantly for I fear for you and your world but if there is one thing I understand it is loyalty!, as he said this he turned and left the bridge.

Next Time: Misplaced Loyalty