A Space Story 10

            “This is it people,” said Ryoko as the kites launched, “This is real.  The Northern Hemisphere Mars satellite base has detected an incoming Horde battleship.  We are going in with live ammo.  We have guidance systems to prevent it but still, try not to hit your squad mates.”

            Over the comms they heard Duron Ardiniero, “Prime squad will take the lead.  The kite fighters will intercept the horde cruiser and provide a distraction while the Daedlus gets into position to shield Mars base.”

            The kite squadrons got into their pyramid formations and used their jump ability.  When the fighters were together they could perform a near light speed jump to a set location.  It was a new technology and no one seemed to know who had developed it.  As soon as they finished the jump they saw the horde battle cruiser.

            The Spectral Horde battle cruiser was cylinder shaped ending in a blunted cone.  It was gray but surrounding it were lights and shapes.  The colors and shapes of the lights changed frequently.  They were like ghosts, like unholy specters.  No one knew what the purpose of the lights around the battle cruisers was.  No technology could actually register the lights as being there.  But anyone who ever came into contact with a horde ship had seen those dazzling and frightening lights.  The first people to encounter them named them the Spectral Horde because of those lights, and because of the way they attacked.

            Black dots appeared on the sides of the horde ship and a multitude of pod fighters came flying out.  At first they looked like a wild swarm.  Then they formed into a circle attack formation.  A single pod flew in the middle with eight others rotating around it.  The horde attacked.

            The battle did not last long.  Janessa had seen footage of battles with the Spectral Horde before.  It rarely ended well for the human forces.  The horde reacted too quickly.  But this time the horde did not know what it was fighting.  The smart rockets did not always fire when Janessa was sure she had a target lock.  There was a slight delay but when they launched the rockets did not detonate until they were in range of the target.  It did not matter how the horde pod fighters maneuvered, the rockets chased them.  The laser claws were like tiny ships that followed the fighter around and shot at any enemy that got to close without being told to.  Janessa needed every ounce of her concentration to keep up not just with the rest of prime squad but with her fighter itself.  It did not help that Junitha was clearly enjoying this and announcing it over the coms.  While the other squads occupied the pod fighters, prime squad made a run at the battle cruiser.  They readied the pulse cannons.  In formation they would all fire at once.  As they made their run and just as they fired Junitha screamed for all to hear, “Welcome to primetime bitches.”

            There were five direct hits with the pulse cannons.  One shot only grazed the battle cruiser.  Janessa had been sure she was on target.  The Spectral Horde battle cruiser attempted to turn around and retreat.  But in seconds it was exploding and splitting in half.  The lights that surrounded it disappeared before the ship was destroyed.  The remaining pod fighters attempted a suicide run on the Mars base.  The Daedlus’ cannons destroyed them all.

           

            Back in the hangar everyone was cheering.  When Ryoko got out of her fighter she was not smiling.

            “You all did well out there,” she said getting everyone’s attention, “and you should congratulate yourselves.  But remember that we had the element of surprise on our side this time.  The Horde did not know about the Daedlus or the kite fighters until now.  We did well but we were not perfect.  The horde is going to be looking for weaknesses.  Do not make the mistake of thinking you are unstoppable.  Keep up your training.  Do not forget that we are at war.  In the meantime, enjoy the taste of victory.”

            Everyone went right back to their celebrating after that.  Janessa did not feel like celebrating.  She was glad to still be alive.  She was glad they had won the battle.  But she knew something was wrong about all of this.  And she could see across the hangar that she was not the only one.  Junitha motioned for her to follow.

            Outside the hangar Janessa and Junitha talked.

            “Are you pondering what I’m pondering?” said Junitha.

            “I think so Junitha,” said Janessa.

            “You’re supposed to call me Brain,” said Junitha with a smile.

            “What?”

            “Never mind, no one ever gets that joke.”

            “This is serious,” said Janessa, “I mean its great that we are winning but…”

            “But how is that possible,” said Junitha, “Where the hell did any of this technology come from?  How was the Daedlus built so fast?”

            “Yeah exactly, and there are other things I’ve been wondering about.  The crew of this ship.  Why are there so few people here with any real combat experience?  And why is everyone on staff so young?  I’ve noticed that there is hardly anyone over thirty on this ship.”

            “I’m over thirty,” said Junitha, “but I get your point.  At first I thought maybe it was because there are so few survivors of battles with the horde.  But that can’t be the only reason.  Kerrigan isn’t stupid.  He must have chosen this crew for a reason.  And he is lying through his teeth when he says all this new technology came from secret projects around the world.  There’s no way the international blocks would share these kinds of breakthroughs.  The Solar Fleet may have a lot of money but they can’t make miracles happen.  There is another thing.  Have you noticed that there are parts of this ship that are off limits?”

            “I have,” said Janessa, “The engine rooms are sealed.  No one ever goes in or out.  And nobody on this ship seems to know how they work or who maintains them.”

            “It’s not just the engines,” said Junitha, “there is a section of the ship, in the middle towards the underside, which is big enough to fit everyone on this ship into.  There is no explanation for why that part of the ship is off limits and I haven’t seen any way to access it.  You probably have not noticed it but it is there and it is well hidden.”

            “So what now?”

            “We do one of the greatest things humans can do.  We ask questions.”

A Space Story 9

            Felina Golumbine was excited about her position on the starship Daedlus but she did her best to remain professional.  Of all the people Vanz Kerrigan could have chosen to host the documentation of the journey of the Daedlus and its crew, he had chosen her.  Felina was not hard to describe.  She was a skinny blonde with blue eyes.  She was pretty as long as she did not pull her hair back because then you could see her ears and she always though they stuck out just a little too much so she always kept them covered by her hair.

            So far the interviews had gone well.  Most of them anyway.  Ryoko Jeagan had been great.  She knew how to work the interview.  Ryoko was more than just the greatest super soldier of the Human Enhancement League; she was a natural born star.  Duron Ardiniero had remained professional.  He had no time for questions about love life and such and he dodged them very well.  Therazan Sajan was the same although she seemed a little nervous about the love life question.  Samal Hectorese was not very cooperative.  Within the first two minutes he decided the interview was a waste of time and left.  The interview with Mr. Kerrigan was in a sense ongoing.  He always had something new to say and Felina spent a lot of time following him.  Occasionally she got his cute little assistant in the shot but the girl never said anything beyond reminding Kerrigan what was next on his daily schedule.  Her favorite had been the interview with Raddy Volcane.  Felina was a sucker for that old fashioned bad boy charm and she was considering seeing him again for a more personal follow up interview.  There were still plenty of crew members to talk too.  Now Mr. Kerrigan was leading the way.

            Vanz Kerrigan was a handsome man.  He carried himself like he was the most important person in the room, like he owned the place.  Technically as the CEO of the Solar Fleet he did own the place.  Anyantha Whitecross followed close next to him with a pair of data frames on.  Also with them was the portly bearded man that operated the camera who was actually responsible for filming and editing the documentary.  He did not say much.  He mostly just observed and recorded.

            “You see it is not enough that we just win the war against the Spectral Horde,” Kerrigan said with a smile, “Once we beat the horde, and there is no doubt that we will with the Daedlus, but afterwards what will happen back on Earth.  The last few decades have been without war on Earth because for once humanity has a common enemy but even that had not completely united us.  The world is divided into six power blocks.  The New American Union, The European Coalition, The Eastern Alliance, the African Alliance, the Chinese Empire and the Human Enhancement League have all been working together through the Solar Fleet but they still compete with one another economically and in their efforts to be the ones that produce the soldiers that win the war.  The only thing that will truly unite us is victory.  But it can’t be just one nation or one power block’s victory.  The victory must belong to the entire Earth so the Daedlus had to have a diverse crew.  Every major power on Earth has members of their military on the crew of the Daedlus.  Everyone shall do their part to ensure victory.  This brings us to the next interview on the schedule.  We will be talking to none other than the natural born pilot of the prime squad, Janessa Kepshawn.”

            Kerrigan pressed the call button outside the door and Felina got ready.  The documentary maker used the remote to position the camera to float just above their heads.  The door slid open and Janessa Kepshawn stood with a confused look on her face her hair wet and nothing but a towel wrapped around her.

            “Can I help you with something?” she asked.

            “Are you busy pilot Kepshawn?” Kerrigan asked jovially.

            “Yeah kind of.”

            “Ms. Golumbine is here to conduct your interview.”

            “Oh crap, Junitha warned me about this.”

            “Yes Ms. Findragon’s interview was interesting you could say.”

            “She said the f word a lot,” said Felina, “and she kept coming out with these strange random quotes I’ve never heard before.  But she did seem to be having a good time.”

            “We are definitely going to have to do some significant editing to that one,” said Kerrigan.

            “Listen I don’t have time for this,” said Janessa, “I just got back from the showers and I need to get dressed.  It’s been a long day.”

            “I understand Commander Jeagan is very demanding,” said Felina, “how do you feel about that?”

            “She had to be demanding, we have to be at our best,” said Janessa, “Anyantha, I didn’t know you wear glasses.”

            “They are not glasses,” said Anyantha with a smile, “They are data frames.  I can use them to call up any information Mr. Kerrigan might need.  It is much handier than carrying around a data pad.”

            “They are a product of one of the Solar Fleet’s affiliate corporations I own,” said Kerrigan with pride.

            “Ms. Kepshawn?” Felina continued, “Do you feel any extra pressure as a natural?  Do you feel there are any unfair expectations of you?”

            Janessa closed the door.

            “Oh god I pushed that question way too early didn’t I?” said Felina.

            “If you want to be a real journalist you have to ask the hard questions,” said Kerrigan, “let’s not let this one roadblock stop us.  We can move on to the next interview.  Anya, check the schedule and see when Ms. Kepshawn’s interview can be rescheduled.”

            Janessa waited in her quarters for a while just to make sure Kerrigan and Felina had plenty of time to get far away.  When she went on her way someone passed her in the hall then followed after her.

            “Oh uh Ms. Pilot Kepshawn,” he said.

            The ship was not strictly divided into a male or female section but most of the women’s quarters on the ship were on one side of the ship and the men’s were on the other.  It was not impossible to find a member of the opposite sex in the opposing area but it was usually for a reason.  This young man in a black staff uniform carrying a data pad did not appear to be in the area for any reason.  He had short brown hair and brown eyes behind a pair of data frames.  Janessa was tempted to ask why he needed a data pad and data frames.

            “Do I know you?” asked Janessa.

            “Oh no, no one really knows me,” he said, “My name is Evan Evaide.  I keep track of the ships supplies and inventory.  They have computers that do that but Mr. Kerrigan believes everything should have a human touch.  And I have a photographic memory and I can calculate as fast as any computer.  I’m just doing some routine checks with some members of the crew.  You know you are one of the few people who consume any of our vegetable stock.  You and commander Ardiniero actually, there are a few others, but not many and not as much.”

            So Duron was still eating the diet Janessa had taught him.  It made her wonder how much he was still doing the same or what had changed.  Then she realized she was thinking about Duron again and tried to stop it.

            “So, what, you came here just to talk to me about salad?” asked Janessa.

            Evan tried to come up with an excuse but could not find one.

            “What do you really want?”

            “Okay… uh… the thing is…” it took Evan a moment but then it came out, “you know Anyantha Whitecross.”

            “Kerrigan’s assistant?  Yes I know her.”

            “Well I noticed that you have lunch with her sometimes.  And I make reports to Mr. Kerrigan when he requests them.  And he always insists they be in person.  And Anyantha is always there.  And she seems nice.  And she is beautiful.  But as soon as I finish my report Mr. Kerrigan makes me get out of his suite.”

            “Are you asking me for what? Advice?” asked Janessa.

            “I was just wondering,” said Evan, “since you seem to be friends with her.  If you had any suggestions about…”

            “Just talk to her.”

            “Eh?”

            “If you like her than just go up and talk to her.  Just say hello.  Maybe when she is on one of her breaks when Kerrigan doesn’t need her.  Just talk to the girl.  That’s the best advice you are going to get.”

            Janessa walked away and left Evan Evaide to ponder her words.  A few seconds later a combat alert went off.  Janessa ran to the fighter hangar.

A Space Story 8

            Janessa and Samal parted ways after that.  Janessa was on her way to take a shower.  She thought she heard a door slide open while she was on her way down a hall.  Around the corner she heard it again.

            For the next few days as they made their way closer to Mars and the nearest hotspot of Spectral Horde activity the routine did not vary much.  In the morning they would do fighter training with the other squads.  They would do their personal training later in the day.  They would socialize.  Janessa still did her gymnastic routine in the evening.  She did not see Duron again but she did run into Samal a few times.

            One night when she was on her way back to her quarters Janessa heard a door opening and closing again.  She waited around the corner a moment and saw a storage compartment open up.  Zemwell Tickbird came out and he was making sure his pants were on right.  A moment later Therazan Sajan came out after him.  She briefly reached into her uniform shirt to adjust her bra.  Janessa could not hear what they said to each other.  Zemwell looked like he was in a good mood.  Therazan also looked pleased but seemed to be trying to hold it back.  They took different paths away from the storage compartment.  Janessa wondered to herself if they had just done what she thought they had just done.

            “That’s the third time this week,” said someone nearby.

            Janessa was startled by an older looking African man with graying hair and an accent to his voice.

            “Before you make any assumptions just know that I was not spying on anyone,” he said, “well not that much anyway.  I was wondering why that young man kept coming to me for contraceptives.  I don’t have much to do so far on this ship and I got curious so I followed him to see what it was all about.  I am Doctor Winchester Faction by the way.”

            “Yes,” said Janessa, “you’re the ship’s doctor.  I remember that.”

            Janessa paused then said, “This is a little awkward.”

            “Why?” asked Dr. Faction, “because we just saw the head of security having sex with one of the other prime squad pilots?  It’s not like the Solar Fleet has any sort of regulations that prohibit that sort of thing.  People have sex all the time.  People have sex on this ship.  Although I got to say those two seem to be having a bit more than anyone else.”

            “Are you sure you weren’t spying on anyone?”

            “I’m a trained military field medic and a surgeon and a certified pathologist.  So far I have had nothing to do on this ship but treat a few scrapes people gave each other in the gym.  I got bored.”

            Janessa determined that indeed Dr. Faction was just bored and not some crazed sexual pervert.  Although as they walked and talked he seemed to find it amusing to make her think deep down he might be.  In the commissary the doctor got a dessert bar and Janessa just got something to drink.  They talked more.

            “So your first name is Winchester?” she asked.

            “Yeah,” he replied, “all of the clones in our batch were named after guns.  A Winchester was one of the first repeating rifles.  There were sixteen of us, each one named for different type of gun.  I know there was another batch of that generation named after tanks, another group was named after different kinds of pasta.”

            “You’re a clone?” said Janessa, “are you from Sierra Leone?”

            “No, Somalia actually.  Yeah I’m one of the few child clone soldiers still alive.  You know about a century ago they used to kidnap children from their homes and brainwash them into fighting for whatever bullshit cause the local warlords claimed they fought for.  Then the corporations started taking over the continent.  But it was still Africa and the only way anyone knew how to get things done was with guns and bombs.  Somewhere along the line during the corporate wars they found it was cheaper and faster to grow soldiers from stem cells than to snatch them.  Still cloning isn’t perfect.  Very few from a given clone batch even survive.  And then our life spans tend to be shorter because we almost always come out with some sort of genetic defect.  I was lucky I came out mostly right.  I’ve had gene mods to stop my accelerated aging and make my DNA semi normal.  But I’ll still won’t live to anywhere near the average human life span and I’m sterile.  That’s not to say I’m impotent.  I can still keep up with any of the young men on this crew.”

            It took Janessa a moment to realize that last part was another joke.

            “So how old were you when you were liberated?”

            “Age is a funny thing for a clone like me.  When I was first put into battle I was only three years old but accelerated growth and virtual training gave me the mind and body of an eight year old.  I only saw combat for five years before the Solar Fleet started building up its power on Earth in part by gutting corporations like the ones using child clone soldiers.  And then the African Alliance was formed.  Isn’t that just how it would be?  It took an alien invasion for the nations of Africa to get their shit together.  Things are better with the Alliance.  They are not perfect, but at least these days no one is openly at war with anyone else in most of Africa.  They still have no shortage of crime and corruption but it could be worse, it has been worse.”

            “So how did you become a doctor?”

            “I’m not really sure when it started.  At some point I started being the one who tended to my brothers wounds.  Then when the corporation that owned us was taken over by the Solar Fleet and we were granted citizenship, well I looked old enough then to attend medical school so I did.  I got the gene mods I needed so I would age normally after that.  After that I took a job with the Solar Fleet.  Then I got selected to be this mission’s chief medical officer.  And I got these nice blue uniforms for me and my staff.”

            The blue outfitted medical officers of the Daedlus were the smallest subsection of the ship staff.  Janessa and Dr. Faction talked a bit longer.  When they realized how late it was they went their separate ways but before that they agreed to talk again some time.

The Future of A Space Story

I began releasing A Space Story last week on this blog.  I put out a segment everyday.  I have decided to slow that pace down.

I will now release two or three segments a week.  I am still not sure how long it will take to get it all out there.  We are not even done introducing all of the characters yet.

A Space Story 7

            The pilots of the prime squad lined up and waited for their commander to address them.  Ryoko Jeagan walked up and down the row and looked them all over.  Janessa Kepshawn, Junitha Findragon, Raddy Volcane, Samal Hectorese and Zemwell Tickbird stood in their space flight suits holding their helmets.

            “Okay listen up maggots,” said Ryoko with vehemence.  Then she smiled and chuckled to herself and said, “sorry I just wanted to try that.  In all seriousness I have seen no evidence that negative reinforcement makes for better soldiers.  But that does not mean that we are going to be friends.  We are not friends.  I am your commander.  It is your job to do what I tell you to do.  If I tell you to do something, you do it.  If I do not tell you to do anything, then do not do anything.  The only time you should be acting on your own out there is when I tell you to act on your own.  You had best all get that through your heads right now so there is no confusion in the near future.  Now you are all going to pay very close attention as the ships master of arms explains the new weapons systems we will be using.  And after that you are going to start getting familiar with your fighters.  Mr. Sinclair they are ready for you.”

            Roweth Sinclair was the master of arms for the Daedlus.  He was not very handsome for a gene mod soldier.  His features were largely average but he was in as good of shape as any other soldier on the ship and there were some who found his British accent quite charming.

            He explained that the kites, as the fighters were called, did not use any ballistic weapons.  Projectiles were unreliable in space.  They were equipped with smart rockets and something called laser claws as well as a pulse cannon.  The smart rockets only needed to be locked onto a target and they would follow it until they were close enough to detonate.  The laser claws were some sort of buddy weapon he called it.  They fired lasers that could cut through a horde fighter in theory.  The pulse cannon was meant to be fired only once by each fighter in a given battle.  It was meant to be fired at close range to a horde cruiser thus employing the same sort of hit and run battle tactic used by the horde pod fighters themselves.  He went on to explain that in the event their fighter was damaged and had to be abandoned there was a jet pack built into their suits.  There was a weapon in two parts in their leg compartments that was easy to snap together and could be used to continue fighting even if your fighter was destroyed.  Furthermore if you were close enough you could activate a vibrating blade and use it as a melee weapon against enemy fighters.  Roweth finished by wishing them all good luck.

            The kite fighters were silver diamond shaped machines.  The cockpit was strangely spacious.  It was not like any fighter Janessa was used to.  The steering system was not like anything she had seen before.  There was no steering stick or wheel.  Her arms rested on arm rests so she could grasp a bar on each side of the cockpit.  The fighter was steered essentially with the whole torso.  When you moved your body one way the whole fighter moved with you.  Instead of being an object to be controlled it was like an extension of ones self.  It took time to get used to the reaction time.  There was no delay between what you wanted the fighter to do and when it happened.  If you steered it in any given direction is moved instantly to reorient itself to your view.  They spent most of the day in the fighters learning to use the weapons.  Ryoko drilled them for hours favoring a pyramid formation for attack runs.  They took a break for lunch then they were right back out in the fighters again.  By the time they landed back in the hangar it was ‘nighttime’ on the ship.  The ships clock was set to central European time and the lights on most of the ship dimmed at the same time it would be night in Switzerland which happened to be the location of the Solar Fleets home office on Earth.

            Janessa felt stiff from sitting in the same position for most of the day.  She felt the need to loosen up.  And she knew the perfect way to do it.

            Although time was relative in space most of the crew did their sleeping when the lights dimmed.  The ships workout area was abandoned at this time of night.  Janessa had the gymnastics room to herself.

            The training and work out rooms of the Daedlus were more than just large.  The gymnastics area was almost Olympic sized.  There appeared to be two chambers one for female events and one for male events.  Janessa put on her pink leotard and went straight for the uneven parallel bars.  She did her stretches then mounted the bars and did her usual routine, with occasional variations.  Her landings were not always perfect but it had been years since she had done this for competition so she did not worry about it.  She remembered ten years ago.  It felt like so much longer a time ago.  Some people claimed her imperfect landing had cost her the gold medal.  Janessa did not see it that way.  She had won the silver.  The other girls, the ones who had won gold and bronze, she wondered where they were now.  Because of her background Janessa had been the one who got the most media attention at the time.  The natural born daughter of Hipper leaders competing with enhanciles in the summer Olympic games.  When she did win a medal there was no shortage of people who wanted her DNA tested to prove her genetic origins.  Gene mods were a tricky thing in the Olympics.  If you were born with gene mods it was okay.  But if you had any form of gene mod later in life you were disqualified.  Even after the tests proved Janessa had never had gene mods and that she was not taking any enhacile drugs there were still a few people who claimed there was a conspiracy or her win was a fluke.

            Janessa was about to leave when she heard something in the adjacent chamber.  She peeked around the corner and saw Duron Ardiniero doing flails on the pommel horse.  He moved his hands quick and swung his legs.  He had not lost any of his skill.  And he was still in great shape.  Janessa pulled herself away and left the gymnastics chambers.  There was no way she was going near Duron.  Was it wrong that she still found herself drawn to him?  It is not like she was going to take him back or anything like that.  But she could not ignore the fact that he was still hot.  As if she would even consider it, even if he did come to her begging for another chance.  He had more than enough chances.  Damn it.  It had been three years.  That was plenty of time to get over someone, right?

            There were more sounds coming from the combat training room.  Janessa saw Samal Hectorese using a bow staff against target dummies with spinning arms.  He was wearing a black martial art gi.  The target dummy’s arms sometimes extended and tried to hit him.  He dodged and scored another strike every time.  Janessa watched just long enough to seen him finish.  The target dummies folded in their arms and wheeled themselves back against the wall.  Samal took a drink of water then looked directly at Janessa.

            “Sorry I didn’t mean to interrupt,” she said a little startled.

            Janessa was not sure what else to say to Samal.  He was not known for being sociable.  Everyone knew he was a super soldier and that he came from the Republic of Afghanistan.  Janessa had heard he was a muslim.  So was he a neo muslim or a conservative muslim?  If he was a conservative did that mean he was offended by seeing Janessa in a leotard?  Should he be covering her bare legs with a towel or something?  No that was ridiculous, why was that thought even crossing her mind?

            Janessa had grown up on a hipper commune and while they liked to think of themselves as a worldly people, that was not always the case.  Most of the hippers Janessa had grown up with were either some form of Christian or Buddhists.  Her parents had both been raised catholic but they now called themselves ‘Christians of the world’, to this day Janessa was not sure what they meant by that.  Janessa believed in God and prayed to God, but she was not sure she really considered herself a Christian.  Jesus seemed like a great guy and all but she never really felt like praying directly to him.  Janessa knew about the Islamic religion and had been raised to be open to all faiths.  She knew there was the old conservative Islam and there was the Neo Islamic Church.  But she had never had much direct contact with any Muslims.

            “So you train at night?” said Janessa trying to be conversational.

            “I like it better this way,” said Samal, “there is less noise at this hour.  I prefer a certain amount of privacy when I practice.”

            “Do you want me to go?  Cause… um… “

            Samal sighed and said, “Let us get this out of the way now.  I belong to the Neo Islamic Church, so no I am not offended or find it wrong to serve with women.  I am a soldier before all other things.  I fight for God, for Earth, for humanity.”

            “Okay,” said Janessa, “it’s just that no one really knows much about you.  You never talk to people.”

            “I am not here to make friends,” said Samal, “I am here to fight and defeat the Spectral Horde.  If there are bonds to be made with the members of my squad then they will happen.  If they strengthen our ability to fight, then good.  If not, then I do not see the point.”

A Space Story 6

            Therazan was barely out of the commissary when someone tapped her on the shoulder.  It was the pilot from the commissary.

            “Hi I just wanted to say, I hope Raddy didn’t come on too strong,” he said, “he can be a little much at times, but he’s really not a bad guy.”

            “Its nice of you to defend your friend but you should let him know that he should not be sending you to talk to me on his behalf,” said Therazan, “I’ve read his file.  There is no way I’m sleeping with him.”

            “I didn’t come out here for him.  Its just I thought I… when we were in the commissary… My name is Zemwell.  Pilot Zemwell Tickbird, I’m on prime squad.  Some people just call me Zem.”

            “I’m Therazan Sajan the head of the ships security force.  You can call me Thera.”

            Zem and Thera got to talking.  They found they liked each other.  And before long they were looking for a place to be alone with each other.

            “Did you see her breasts?” said Junitha, “I mean Sajan’s.  They were huge.  I bet they’re perfect.”

            Janessa did not want to admit that the same thought had crossed her mind.

            “Are you really going to take that little bit of salad back to your quarters for later?” asked Junitha.

            “I don’t like to waste food,” said Janessa.

            “It wouldn’t get wasted.  As I understand it everything on this ship is biodegradable, from the clothes we get to the packing food comes in.  It can all be broken down and recycled.  And all of it is recycled.  This ship was made to be an enclosed self sustaining system.”

            Janessa went back to her room and put on her dress uniform for the evening ceremony.  It fit perfectly although the skirt felt just a little too short.  When she came out Junitha was waiting.  She was dressed the same as before only she had changed her shirt.  The new t-shirt she was wearing was black with the words ‘whose responsible this’ written on it.

            “Before you say anything, no I am not wearing my dress uniform.  I don’t wear skirts.  Now come on lets go listen to a long winded speech.”

            It was dark in the command and control center of the Daedlus.  The lights were being turned on and off all over the ship as the final power checks were being made before the launch.

            Duron Ardiniero stood alone in the dark.  He had large muscular shoulders and arms that he had developed doing gymnastics.  His dark brown hair ended just above those shoulders.  In the dark he called out.

            “I know you are there.  I know you are watching.  They told me about you.”

            No one answered his call.  Then Duron saw something move in the dark.  There was something standing on the lower floor of the command center that had not been standing there a moment ago.  It was shaped like a man but in the dark Duron could not be sure of the details.

            “So it is true.  You… You are real.”

            The thing standing in the dark did not answer.

            “Kerrigan does not trust you.  But that is because he can not control you.  He does not like it when he does not have control.  I do not know what your motivation is.  I only know that all of this, this ship, this chance, it is all because of you.  So I want you to know.  If you need my cooperation, you have it.”

            The thing in the dark still said nothing and did nothing.  The lights blinked back on and the shape that had been standing there was gone.  Duron Ardiniero stood alone in the light.  Or so he thought.  In truth he was not alone.  He had never been alone.  But the thing standing there did not want to be seen, therefore it could not be.  Duron saw the time and headed to the ships auditorium for Kerrigan’s speech and the launch ceremony.  Duron did not know it but he was followed the whole way.

            Vanz Kerrigan had a full head of big thick golden blonde hair.  He liked to wear white.  He often wore a white cape and the way he smiled he almost looked like a comic book superhero.  He was the CEO of the Solar Fleet and its most public face.  He was given credit for the existence of the starship Daedlus and the selection of its crew.

            The Daedlus had an auditorium that now held all of its pilot squadrons as well as the command and intelligence officers.  The ship staff worked away as the ship got ready to launch from the station it was docked at and the security force made a final sweep of the ship.

            Janessa and the rest of prime squad were in the front rows with the command and control center staff.  Kerrigan took his time walking up to the podium on the stage.  When he got there Janessa noticed Anyantha Whitecross standing off stage just out of sight.  Kerrigan took his time to make sure all eyes were on him.  There was a short portly bearded man remote controlling a round floating camera.  He nodded to indicate that the shot was good and Kerrigan began his speech.

            “Humanity long dreamed of going to the stars.  We dreamed of seeing worlds beyond our own.  We dreamed of what we would find there.  In the Twentieth century we took our first steps beyond our own planet.  We sent the first men into space and landed on the moon.  A century later we explored Mars.  But it was not until this century that we truly took our greatest leaps into the cosmos.

            “The Earth was becoming overcrowded.  We were drowning in pollution and crime.  We needed a miracle.  And we found it when the breakthroughs in space travel and construction were made.  We built great space stations, cities that floated above the Earth.  We began living upon the surface of the Moon and Mars.  Then we moved out further to the moons of Jupiter and Saturn.  Soon all of the nine planets of the Solar System and their moons had some form of human civilization on them.

            “We had reached out into the darkness of space and grasped hold of it.  It was not a place to fear, but a place to be claimed.  And soon we were able to move beyond our Solar System to new worlds.  We knew there was a chance we would find life different from out own out there.  What we found was the Spectral Horde.

            “They attacked us without reason, without mercy.  To this day we can only imagine what inspires their endless hate for us.  All we know for sure is what we have done to survive as they slowly began to circle the Earth like vultures picking off our outposts one by one, destroying a century of progress.

            “Genetic modification was a largely cosmetic practice before the war began.  But it soon proved to be our salvation.  You are the end result of two generations of gene mod programs that have allowed us to build a better humanity for a better tomorrow.  You were born to win this war.  And now you have the tools you need to do it.  Thanks to the brilliant scientists of the Solar Fleet you now have the starship Daedlus.

            “This warship is the end result of over twenty years of research and development.  The hopes and dreams of the human race are with all of us.  We shall go forth and grasp victory.  We shall purchase another dawn for the world.  A world of one humanity united.”

            Many people cheered and clapped.  Janessa clapped with everyone else but she did not stand up like many others, she stayed in her seat and waited for it to be over.

            The Daedlus launched from the Le Fluer space station without any problems.  By morning it would reach the Moon.

A Space Story 5

            Raddy Volcane was not as dumb as everyone thought he was.  And he knew people thought he was dumb.  It’s not like that sex tape was even his idea.  Looking back he probably should have realized sooner that chick just wanted to have sex with him so she could make that tape and get herself famous.  What the hell was her name again?  Oh what did it matter no one would remember her in a month.  But they would remember Raddy Volcane American superior and hero of the Specter War.  Back in America he was practically already a hero and he had never actually seen any combat until now.  But he was the first of America’s super soldiers and that had been more than enough to get him laid back home.  And now here he was in the biggest baddest space warship ever built.  And what was he doing?  He was a pilot.  Yeah that’s what he was trained for.  And yeah he was on the Prime Squad.  But he had really been hoping for command of his own squad.  He was a Superior after all.  Why didn’t each Superior get a squad to command?  Raddy knew how awesome he was but even he was willing to admit he probably should not be in charge of prime squad.  But why not give him command of one of the lesser squads?  Why were all three super soldiers in the same squad?  And what was so great about that Japanese chick that she got to be in command?  Other than the fact that she was smoking hot?  I mean really damn hot.

            Raddy was just going to have to be so impressive in their early battles that they would have no choice but to give him his own squad.  In fact maybe right now he should do something to help his chances.  He saw Ryoko Jeagan at a table in the middle of the commissary.  She was surrounded by girls.  There was no shortage of pretty girls on the Daedlus.  Raddy thanked god he lived in the era of gene mods.  He had never had trouble finding chicks ready to have sex with him.  Usually they sought him out.  One of the benefits of being the first great American Superior.  But so far not one chick on the ship had approached him.  He was beginning to wonder if maybe those tabloid stories about him were not such a good thing after all.  Until now he had always thought it was cool how they covered stories about his various sexual escapades.  But now it occurred to him that maybe they were having an adverse affect on his reputation with the women of this ship.  Although the stories just seemed to help his reputation with other guys.  There were plenty of guys gathered around him now ready to hear any story he had about his training or about any of the chicks he had nailed.  And all of these guys were Americans.  It made Raddy feel right at home.  But he had the future to think about.  So he got up and approached Ryoko Jeagan.

            “Hey there Ryoko,” he said.

            “Pilot Raddy Volcane,” she replied, “is there something I can do for you?”

            To Raddy it sounded like she was already hitting on him.  That was fast even for him.  But was it really a good idea to be flirting in front of all these people?  If she was not afraid to then why should he be?

            “Maybe there is,” he began, “we’re both Superiors.  Now I don’t know whose bright idea it was to put all of us on the same squad but I think we can help each other.  It won’t take long for the guys in charge of this mission to see my superior skills.  I’m not saying I want to take your place leading prime squad.  No ma’am that’s all yours.  But I think I could do something if they put me in charge of some other pilots.  As prime squad commander you could put in a good word for me.  And in return, if you ever need anything, perhaps the sort of thing only another Superior could provide you with.  I think you and I could be quite compatible with each other in a more casual setting.”

            For several seconds Ryoko Jeagan just stared blankly at Raddy Volcane.

            “Are you serious?” said Ryoko, “lets get one thing out of the way right now because we are going to be on this ship together and you are going to be under my command for at least the next year if not longer.  I am never going to have sex with you, ever.  As for your assignment, Mr. Kerrigan hand picked the crew of this ship and carefully assigned us all to the place where we would be of the most use.  I trust his judgment and so should you.  Now before your little band of followers over there realize how badly you have embarrassed yourself I suggest you walk away.  I’ll even smile so it looks like you said something charming.  Now please go away.  Oh and I expect to see you early tomorrow for training with the rest of prime squad.  Don’t make the mistake of thinking that because you are also a Superior that I will show you any favoritism.”

            Raddy carefully turned around.  He smiled as he walked back over to his table.  He was gritting his teeth a little.  Who knew even a chick that hot could be such a huge bitch?  Well Raddy would show her.  By the end of this mission he was going to nail every chick on the ship and the stories about his sexual prowess would get around.  And eventually that Japanese chick would get curious and she would come to him.  Unless she was a lesbian.  That would explain a few things.

            Raddy decided he would have to start somewhere else.  Where did that chick that smiled at him earlier go?  The one with the glorious tits.  She was in charge of something on the ship, he could not remember what.  Then he saw this gorgeous red head with pretty blue eyes leaving the commissary.  She was with this other hot chick that looked like she might be Hispanic or something.  Raddy realized then that he had never actually nailed a red head.  Were there a lot of red heads around here?  There were blondes and plenty of brunettes but not too many red heads and none as good looking as that one.  He would have to find out who she was.  But right now he was going for the chick in the green uniform with the glorious tits.  She was getting up to leave when he caught up with her.

            “Hey there,” he said.

            “Hi,” she replied without looking at him.

            “I saw you earlier.  You were looking in my direction.  You looked pretty happy to see me.”

            In her mind Therazan was saying fuck over and over again.

            “Listen Raddy,” she said, “Raddy that’s your name right?  I’m really sorry but you just kind of got in my line of sight.  It’s not that you’re a bad guy or anything.  I don’t really know you at all.  But I’m not really looking for your kind of… uh…”

            “Is this because of all the tabloid stories?” said Raddy, “because most of those aren’t even true.  And the one that says I had sex with that underage starlet on that Disney show, that one is totally not true.  I don’t do underage girls.  Except when I was underage.  And then there was nothing wrong because we were both underage, so it was okay.”

            “Listen Raddy I’m head of security and I really can’t be seen compromising myself with you.  I’m sorry but that’s just how it is.”

            “Oh I get it,” said Raddy, “it’s because you’re a girl.  Some guys just can’t handle having a woman in charge.  I got no problem with it.  In fact I don’t mind letting a lady tell me what to do from time to time.  Well if any of the guys on the ship disrespect your authority let me know.  Maybe I can set them straight.”

            “That would be great.  Now I have work to do before we launch.”

            Therazan got away from Raddy as fast as she could and thanked god he was as dumb as he looked.  Before she left the commissary she glanced back at the other table and the pilot with the blue eyes and the short cropped hair.  Raddy saw the glance.

            Raddy Volcane was not a genius.  His Superior gene mods did not include any kind of enhanced mental acuity.  But he was not as dumb as people assumed.  He understood now.  He was just not her type.  She was into the boyish looking types.  Raddy was more the rough handsome hard type.  He was probably too much man for her to handle.  He saw the pilot follow the head of security.  What was his name again?  Bird something?  Raddy wished him well.  He was not the sort to get in the way of another mans sexual conquest.  Raddy decided he would have to set his sexual bar a little lower.  Going for the commander of prime squad and the head of security on his first day was probably not the best idea.  There were plenty of other women on this ship and there would be no shortage of them ready to have a good time with the first great American Superior.