Distant Hope

CHAPTER 32 – Oset

Days later Lisa heard a radio message from the Ventroth requesting a visit from Lanoon and had been accepted.

Lanoon in a small circular ship less than ten metres in length. The ship was deep gold and it shimered in the sun as it powered down and a ramp descended onto the planet. Out came Lanoon and met Lisa who smiled at him.

“Welcome to Oset”.

Lanoon was intrigued and had not been off his world for a thousand years “It is good to see you”.

Lisa could tell what he wanted “Would you like a tour of the colony”.

Lanoon nodded and Lisa accepted showing what they had built and the repairs from the Razor. Lanoon was warm and interested in what he saw.

Lanoon switched topics and he sat opposite Lisa a bond had formed between them"You have built an impressive colony here Lisa we are happy to call you friends."

Lisa sensed hesitation they both sat together under a tall shaded tree "Your holding back."

Lanoon "My people believe still that this is not the right time for us to help you to win. However I am not one of them the signs are all there it is time we help to fight the Iquan and for us to return home."

Lisa was intrigued "We are in no shape to fight Lanoon we barely defended this colony."

Lanoon smiled "My friend their are more of you out there."

Lisa was curious "What do you mean."

Her radio chirped and she answered it was from the Shannon "Governor you might want to see this."

She watched as a fleet of Alliance ships emerged numbering in the hundreds emerged from hyperspace. Lisa shook her head in disbelief.

"How can this be possible. I thought the Alliance had been wiped out."

A shuttle from the fleet descended on Oset and out emerged yet it was different and she had noticed that some of the she knew they where Alliance vessels but was not sure who they belonged to.

A shuttle landed on the planets surface and out came an old looking human six foot medium build with a greying moustache and narrow beady eyes. The man walked upto Lisa and Lanoon.

He was with two other people both Lieutenants from what Lisa could guess.

Both stood opposite other the older man spoke "I'm Fleet Commander Thomas Pentworth of the eighth fleet."

Lisa looked on in disbelief "The eighth fleet wow I thought that was destroyed over Meon."

He smiled "That’s a long story."

Lisa introduced Lanoon and all three walked towards Lisa’s office.

Commander Pentworth sat quietly opposite Lisa and Lanoon "We where on our way to Meon to retake the planet but we were to late the Alliance had surrender. We escaped into hyperspace took refuge in neutral space until we heard about this place from a passing trader who mentioned it in passing.”

Lisa was intrigued "How many of you are?"

Commander Pentworth continued "Over eight hundred ships and two hundred thousand in our fleet."

Lanoon had been quiet "As I had said you would get help."

Commander Pentworth was taken "Help?"

Lisa explained the colony and the Ventroth.

The Commander nodded "True but there are a lot more of us out there. There are at least another two fleets totaling a half million. The Iquan did not destroy all of us and a lot of refused to surrender once we heard about the brutality."

Lanoon looked to them both and he said "The Ventroth are willing to help take back your home."

The Commander looked to him "My crew and fleet need a rest."

Lanoon nodded "Of course."

He got and left heading to his ship and left for home.

Commander Pentworth continued "He's a strange one".

Lisa smiled "You get used to it."