by Luigi Robles
“Sir, in all this time, you haven’t mentioned the origin of the ship or the species it came from.”
“Right,” Green said. “I was kind of hoping that we could wait to discuss that until you meet the linguistics professor already aboard the ship. But since you asked, there is no sense in waiting any longer. As far as we know, the ship came from the opposite edge of the Milky Way galaxy, a place we now call The Shadow Waterfall, and more specifically the Sodenn region, hence the name Sodenia. We know little about the place. And we call the species Herrion.”
As they neared the ship, Fain was no longer able to distinguish its shape. It all just looked like a massive wall to him. If it wasn’t for the obvious small bridge between the dock and the ship, he would have had a hard time finding the entrance.
They got out of the transport and walked inside the massive ship. Everything smelled brand new, everything looked brand new—and again, surprisingly human.
“Welcome to Sodenia,” Green said as they walked down one of its corridors. “Here’s where you will spend most of your time from here on out. I suggest you get intimately familiar with the ship, as there will be no need for you to disembark. You will eat, work out, and sleep aboard this ship unless you are granted a leave of absence.”
This place is amazing, Fain thought. Now I get the feeling that every time I’ve used the word amazing in the past, I’ve been using it wrong. It’s just hard to wrap my mind around it, especially knowing that all of this is meant to fly, and not only in the sky but also in space. Whoa… But all that aside, I wonder what my duties will be on board this ship. Am I going to be the backup pilot or something? Nah, that would be too much responsibility for me.
“Sir, can this ship really fly?” Fain asked as they got on an elevator. “I’ve never seen something so massive in the sky. The Acram ships that came to Earth don’t even begin to compare to this one.”
“Well, we have never tested it beyond this hangar,” Green said. “Our engineers are positive it can fly, but they do tell us that it’s meant to be in space more than anything else.”
But it must weigh several million tons, Fain thought as they exited the elevator and headed towards a group of people. Taking off must be one hell of a task, that’s for sure. How can it even be done without the ship tearing itself apart?
“It’s time to meet the flight crew,” Green said, walking into a room. “These are the people you will spend the most time with. Get to know each one of them, as you will rely on them to carry out your duties on this ship.”
“I understand, sir,” Fain said as the faces of the strangers came into view. “I will do my best.”
The group of five saluted Green as he approached. They were standing around the center table in the room.
“At ease. Sorry we are late,” Green said as he saluted back lazily. “This is Lieutenant Fain Jegga, and he is the newest and last addition to Sodenia. Please introduce yourselves and give us a little background, just enough to break the ice. After this, Sodenia will be complete.”
Well, that’s one way to make things a little awkward, Fain thought. What is Green thinking? Give a little background? I hated this back in school and I still hate it now. What the heck am I supposed to say? Hi, I’m Fain, and I just beat the battle simulator. I am a pilot. Damn it, I’ll just have to go last.
The room was silent; it looked as if no one wanted to be the first.
“Well…” Green said, fixing his eyes on one of the three females in the room. “I don’t have all day. Why don’t you start, Eora?”
Fain looked towards a woman wearing a black uniform with red accents.
“Very well. I am Lieutenant Eora Blackwaters, weapons specialist. Nice to meet you. I am intimately familiar with all weapons on the ship. All 20 different kinds and all 864 of them. The ship has an impressive array of weapons, from turrets and missiles to drones and cannons. I can take them all apart and put them back together—well, that’s with the exception of the main cannons. Those I still have to study, but they are kind of complicated because they are just so large. But I am sure that given their size, they could probably destroy a small planet if we wanted. I mean, they run the full length of the ship. I haven’t seen anything like them, ever. And—”
“OK, thank you, Eora,” Green said, cutting Eora off. “That’s quite enough. Save the details for another time; it was only meant to be a little bit, not your entire experience on board the ship.”
Fain looked expectantly at the next person, whose uniform was also black, but with yellow markings.
“I am Lieutenant Commander Larissa Drewner. I am the general manager on board Sodenia. I take care of the rations on board this ship, as well as directing all fellow officers in their day-to-day tasks.”
“Sounds like you have quite a big task on your plate,” Fain said.
“It’s nothing I can’t handle.” Larissa snickered.
Another crew member spoke up. His lab coat covered most of what he was wearing, so it was hard to tell if it was a uniform or not.
“All these ranks are starting to make me feel bad about not joining the space fleet. I am Professor Jonathan Kepp. I am the linguistics expert around here. I have been fascinated by language my entire life. As a result, I have dedicated my work to language,” Jonathan said with a smile. “I’ve studied the Acram language and behavior for as long as I’ve known about them. I was also the one who decoded the unnecessarily complicated language of the Herrion. If you should need any reference, I am the one to ask. You can ask Kya, the onboard computer, where my office is located and it will take you there. There is much to talk about, but perhaps another time would be more suitable.”
There’s something off about this guy, Fain thought.
“Now, now, don’t be modest, Professor. You see, Fain, the professor here is also a scientist, with several other doctorate degrees. You two have a lot to talk about sometime in the future,” Green said. “Fain, I need you to get acquainted as much as you can with the coming enemy. I need you to know how and what they think, what they feel, and most importantly whatever weaknesses they have. I think the professor here will be able to assist you with that.”
“Most certainly,” Jonathan said with a smile.
The next crew member cleared his throat.
“I am First Officer August Macaraeg. I am familiar with the ship’s navigation controls, and I think I’m ready to take her out for a spin. As far as my assigned duty goes, I am meant to help the future captain of the ship in whatever way I can.” His uniform was also black and had yellow markings.
Fain nodded.
“Come on, Evans, don’t make us wait,” Green said as he noticed the room grow silent. “Time is valuable, and the more time passes, the less of it we have.”
“Senior Chief Pycca Evans, Head of Engineering…” Her uniform was a dark blue, with black markings.
“That’s cool,” Fain said, sensing her cutting attitude. “So, you are the one that will keep this ship afloat if something were to happen? Or better said, moving through space.”
Pycca rolled her eyes.
“Is there something the matter, Evans?” Green asked.
“No, sir,” Pycca replied, standing a bit straighter.
“Good, and I hope there will be nothing the matter later, either,” Green said. “This group right here is it. The best and brightest the ESAF has to offer after years of specialized training. Each one of you has been through your very own version of hell to be here, so I hope it will count for something. Now let me introduce you to the captain of the ship. The person whose orders you must follow; whatever he says goes. He will be receiving orders directly from command, which is us or the council on board the ship.”
I wonder who it will be, Fain thought. Whoever it is, he must be skilled. I mean, for command to trust him with the entire ship. I didn’t see anyone else with uniform on the way here. Are we going to have to wait for him?
“Fain Jegga will be the new captain of Sodenia,” Green s
aid.
The room grew cold and quiet. No one made a sound. The news must have shocked them the same way it shocked Fain.
Wait, what? I am the new captain of the ship? But how? I was just a lowly lieutenant. I can’t captain a ship. In fact, I can’t captain at all. Is this some kind of joke? Yeah, that must be it. Who knew that Green had such a good sense of humor?
“Is this a joke?” Pycca asked.
Yeah, see, I am not the only one who thinks that way. I am no captain. There’s no way that I could have jumped two full ranks up. Boy, this will sure be funny once Green admits that it’s a joke.
“This is not a joke; it’s the plain truth. I’ll repeat it once again. Perhaps you did not hear me the first time,” Green said. “Fain Jegga is the new captain of Sodenia. I hope this time I was clear enough. Was I?”
“Yes, sir,” Pycca replied sourly.
No, no, no, this can’t be. I mean, all I wanted was to do whatever I can to help. But I literally don’t know what my role as captain would be. I have no clue. I can’t let this happen. I am just a pilot.
“Sir, can I have a word with you in private?” Fain asked Green in a low voice.
“Not now,” Green said. “I am still not done.”
Not done? He means to say there is more? What have I done to deserve this? Fain asked himself as a wave of embarrassment washed over him. This is bad, this is bad.
“By now, if you check your task manager,” Green said, “you will have received new orders that place Fain Jegga as your new captain, along with a list of your subordinates and their subordinates and so on. Get to know the people underneath you like your life depends on it. At any given time, there will be as many as three to five thousand individuals on board. You six, apart from the council on board the ship, will be at the top of the command chain. Civilians will be coming on board as Sodenia begins operation. We are talking about scholars, doctors, nurses, teachers, chefs, agriculture experts, civilians… You get the idea. Anyone that we deem necessary to have a functional society in space. The three thousand civilians we have chosen for Sodenia’s maiden flight will be arriving at the facility in three days.”
I will be in charge of five thousand people? The news just keeps on getting worse, Fain thought as his neck got heavier with each line Green delivered.
“I know that some of you might have been under the impression that Sodenia would be just a battle fortress,” Green said. “Perhaps a ship that could just fend off the enemy? But the truth is that we cannot afford that luxury. When the Acram come, and they will come, if they decide for some reason to destroy Earth, that would be the end of humanity. We are just not sure of what will happen, so we are taking every precaution necessary to ensure the survival of humanity. That being said, we are also not sure whether the lives on board the ship will be safer than those on Earth, which is why we have settled on those numbers.”
I feel like I’m going to throw up.
“The new captain isn’t looking too good, sir,” Pycca said with disdain in her tone. “It might be an early sign of ineptitude.”
“That’s enough, Pycca,” Green said with authority. “You will treat Fain Jegga as your new captain or lose your place on this ship. It is your choice. He is fully capable of handling his new position. Go on, Jegga, tell them a little bit about yourself.”
Can’t you see that I’m in the middle of having a crisis here? Fain thought while he tried to snap himself out of it. What am I even supposed to say? I think that they are right in questioning my promotion. Damn it, if only I had suspected this was going to happen. This is the last time that anyone will catch me unprepared like this.
“Ummm, well, yeah, I’m Captain Fain Jegga,” Fain said, trying to stand up a bit straighter than before. “What can I say? It’s an honor to be here, serving alongside such skilled personnel. I’ll be looking forward to working with each one of you and seeing just how far we can take Sodenia. And a little about myself? Well, let’s see. I don’t want to bore you to death, so I will keep it short.” Fain paused to look each of them in the eyes before continuing. “As far as I know, I can give you two reasons why I have been appointed captain of the ship,” Fain said, now with a serious tone. “One, in the history of ESAF, I am the only one that has beaten the battle simulator, and I suspect that nobody else has even come close. Two, I am also the pilot with the fastest response time. Meaning that with me, you will stand a better chance at surviving than with anyone else.”
“And why do you think that is?” Green asked the group.
“Because the Acram are fast,” Jonathan said with a half-smile on his face. “Dangerously fast. Humans just got lucky the last time around. All the evidence we have uncovered suggests that they are ahead of us every step of the way. Having Jegga as captain does make an awful lot of sense to me, and it brings me comfort in some ways.”
They all stood quiet, and Fain was sure that some of the hostility towards him had faded from the room. He felt better; he started to feel like he belonged. He might even have been wrong about Jonathan.
“Thank you, Professor, for bringing the room onto the same page,” Green said as he took off his hat for the first time. “With all of that being said, I’ll cut to the point. You have three days to make this ship a functioning unit and get it ready to handle any situation that may present itself. I realize that three days is not a long time. Just remember, all of you come from the same place, except for the professor here. All of you were just kids when the Acram first attacked thirteen years ago. Now you’ve grown up to be the best Earth has to offer. All of you have lost something because of the Acram. No, not lost. All of you have had something taken away by the Acram. As you work together, don’t forget that.”
Everyone in the room stood in silence, surely remembering their own experience with the aliens.
“Why only three days?” Larissa asked. “That seems like a short amount of time. I would think three months would be the minimum.”
“Three days is all we have,” Green said as he got closer to the center table. “We’ve detected a large group of spaceships heading this way. By our count, there are sixty-two of them. We cannot call it a fleet or a force at this time. We can barely detect them as bogeys, as they are using some kind of cloaking. At their current speed and taking into consideration some deceleration once they get near Earth, they will be here in three days.” As Green typed in a command in the center table, a large image of the solar system appeared, and it zoomed out to show the cluster of sixty-two tiny dots.
“Does anyone else know about this?” Fain asked.
“No. The matter is top secret now,” Green said. “But we will let the general public know a day before. And I will be evaluating all civilians from the nearby cities. We are currently running aggressive campaigns to try to keep people from panicking or mass hysteria from spreading when the news finally comes out.” Green then turned off the image above the table and put his hat back on.
Is that it? Is he already leaving? But there’s so much more I need to know—no, not just me, Fain thought. There’s so much more we need to know. This is serious. He can’t just leave us with this limited information. What about a briefing, going into details.
“Colonel Green,” Fain said. “There is just so much more that we need to know.”
“Find out for yourself,” Green said as he began to walk out of the room. “You don’t expect me to hold all of your hands throughout this crisis? Everything I know will be made available to you. I trust that you will be able to make your own decisions. Decisions that will defend humanity; decisions that will protect the people on board this ship and the people of Earth.”
Why is he talking like that? Is there something else going on that he isn’t telling us? Fain observed Green closely as he stepped out of the room. He stopped before fully exiting. There was something off about him.
“As of now, I am no longer your CO,” Green said. “And this is most likely the last time you will see me on board Sodenia. From now
on, you will receive orders directly from command; sometimes perhaps from me but mostly from the council on board the ship. Follow those orders to the best of your ability.”
Green left the room, and the door closed behind him. The room felt cold without Green in it; he was the glue that was keeping them from going after Fain’s throat. Fain knew that if he was going to be successful at all, he would need to take charge, just like Green had. But how? He had no experience leading. He had no idea what the next step would be. The crew was staring at him, presumably awaiting orders.
“Well, that was something, wasn’t it?” Fain asked.
No one replied. The room grew uncomfortable.
Damn it, there is still a wall of ice between them and me. I don’t blame them; they don’t know me, and I don’t know them. I guess I’ll just dismiss everyone for now, then try to talk to them one on one. But we all need to know what Green knows.
Pycca rolled her eyes. She didn’t even try to hide it; to Fain it was clear that she did not want to be there at all.
“How about we go download the files Colonel Green promised us,” Fain said. “We need to know what he knows. I’ll see you again in a few hours. Dismissed.”
Pycca was the first one to exit the room, and the rest were quick to follow, except for Eora, who stayed lingering around.
“What is it? Blackwaters, was it?” Fain asked.
“Yeah, you are right, it’s Blackwaters,” Eora said. “But you can also call me Eora, whichever comes to mind first.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Fain said.
“You know, I don’t think that you being captain is a bad thing at all,” Eora said.
“You don’t? You might be the only one who thinks that way,” Fain said. “By the looks of things, they couldn’t have picked a worse captain.”
“If anything, I think you will bring us all together,” Eora said. “To tell you the truth, and this might be a large part of the picture that you are missing, we were a pretty dysfunctional group already. I think maybe it’s because we didn’t have a captain until now.”