A NEW DESTINY

The following story is dedicated to the Andromedan Princess, Thank you A.P.

for all your support.

"What do you mean your getting married!?"

Radu paced back and forth in front of the throan where Elmira was seated, he stopped suddenly and turned to face her.

"How could this happen, When did this happen, You yourself said we were destined to be together"

"Well things have changed Radu, I am now Empress of my people and as Empress I must Wed a Spung Warrior"

Seeing the hurt in his eye's she leaned forward to embrace him, but he pushed her away suddenly and pointed accusingly at her, "YOU LIED" he shrieked "You lied and I believed you"

"Please Radu, I didn't lie, but I had to do what was best for my people."

Turning to face her Radu suddenly took on a calm but deadly look, slowly walking towards her, he pushed passed the guards and came face to face with the newly crowned empress, he stopped only when his face was just inches from hers.

" don't know you anymore, I thought you wer different from other Spung, different from your father, but your all the same,

from now on to me a spung is nothing more than a cowardly backstabbing member of a filth infested race deserving no more mercy than a quick death."

The look of utter hate on Radu's face was enough to scare the scales off of Elmira's back.

"If I ever see you or another member of your disgusting species there won't be any mercy."

Suddenly wishing he hadn't said what he had just said but knowing he could never take it back for fear of looking weak in front of the palace guards and in front of Elmira he simply turned and stormed out of the throan room and made his way to his ship "The Archon"

Elmira remained seated upon her throan for the next several hours when finally a single tear fell from her eye and down her cheak

to land in her open pawm.

"Oh gods what have I done"  she said to herself softly "I've turned my greatest friend into my worst enemy."

Slowly she closed her hand around that single tear and said a soft and final goodbye to the one she truly loved for so many years,

The next morning she began her long and prosperous rule, never once mentioning Radu as long as she lived.

"I am the Andromedan Princess I have no name, nor do I have a number, I am one being not hatched but born."

"Through the ashes of War and Tyranee I have been chosen to lead my people back to the home from whence they came."

-Andromedan Princess, Oath to her people during her innoguration on New Andromeda 2266

"Terra give me the last known co-ordinates of the  Archon"

"Radu was last seen passing through the Altarian rift about six months ago Capt. also I think we should check in with the Essex we're about two hours overdue."

Sorin turned towards the electronic log and pressed the record button, "Captains log Earth date Jan 3 2273 after recieving a very confusing distress call from what appeared to be Radu's old ship the Archon I set out immediatly to search for him it's been a year and a half now and still almost no sign of him, I fear the worst but still hope for the best, unfortunatley the time I've been granted to search for him is drawing to an end, I shall have to get an approval for more search time when I return to earth, End recording"

Turning to face the holographic face of the computer he punched up a few commands on the view screen and opened a channel to the Essex.

"Essex, this is Capt. Sorin, come"

The usualy cheerful face of his first officer Commander Jack Morran appeard quite sullen and distressed, "Capt. we just recieved a report from U.P.P headquarters they say they are recalling all ships to earth, apparently three of our star bases were mysteriously destroyed no more than an hour ago......

"What!, by who"

"Unknown sir, we've recieved no threats or warnings so we're unsure as to what is going on."

"Allright, rendevous with me at co-ordinates 002434.65 in three hours then we'll set a course for earth"

"Oh one more thing sir, we recieved a message not to long ago, your wife and kids are going to meet you on earth station Omega when we arrive"

"Good" he sighed "I want them as close as possible so nothing happ........ Hang on a sec, I'm picking up intense gravimetric distortions it's destabalizing my hyper jump engines"

"Captain!" Terra shouted over the wine of the engines as they tried to break free from the gravity well, "I'm reading another ship out there...

It... it's the Archon!"

"The Archon!? open a channel!"

"Channel open"

"Archon this is Capt. Sorin, Radu can you hear me?"

";S...S...Sorin...Help...ARRRGGHHH!!!!"

"Radu, HANG ON";

"Terra extend grapplings NOW!"

Terra extended the grappling hooks from the docking ports and reached out with the two metallic arms