Status Quo (Oolite Saga part 1)
Page 17
Epilogue
Rebecca Weston posthumously found worthy of Elite Combateer status, this date, Galactic Year 3152. Decorated for extreme valour in the Thargoid War of 3151, twice commended for bravery under fire. Awarded the Tionisla Crossed Dagger for her defence of the Tionisla Coriolis station, in which she single handedly destroyed five Thargoid warships after the local Galcop contingent was wiped out. Hers was the only trading vessel that remained to defend the station when others fled. Despite a brave fight, watched in horror across the galaxy on the station's vidlog, she eventually succumbed to enemy fire. Coriolis station five was destroyed shortly afterward with the loss of over four thousand men, women and children before GalNavy reinforcements could arrive. It was later deemed to be one of the worst disasters of the Thargoid War.
'The video footage is used as training material for our pilots – jaws still drop. She's a legend. Her flying is still unequalled, still the envy of the navy. She was beyond ‘Elite’, she was more like a force of nature out there. I only wish we'd got there five minutes sooner, she might still be with us.' – Commander McLane, GalNavy.
'She gave her life in an attempt to save others; she’s our guardian angel. She will always be remembered here on Tionisla. A special marker has been placed in the Tionisla Graveyard in her honour.' – David Hughes, Tionisla Orbit Commissioner.
– Extract from Elite Rating Authority Log
James McKenna, though little is known of his background outside of academia, became a leading advocate of the Karella Institute (commonly referred to simply as the ‘Ban the Bomb movement’) set up shortly after the Q-Bomb appeared for sale in 3139. He was killed whilst en route to a demonstration at Lave in 3156 over the proposed use of the Q-Bomb in order to quell the Aesbion uprising. Though it was officially claimed it was a life support malfunction, circumstantial evidence points to an assassination by forces unknown. Despite the fact he never lived to see the Q-Bomb banned, historians agree that without his efforts the ban would never have taken place at all.
– Extract from the Unofficial Galcop Conspiracy Theory Archive, Tianve
The Tyley-Feynman Quirium Cascade Mine was finally banned across all Galcop, Empire and Federation territories today. Widely lauded, the treaty was ratified this morning, symbolically at Onrira, where it was reputed that the bomb was first developed. As we reported last year during the Aesbion conflict, over five-hundred-and-twenty vessels were lost. More than sixty percent were destroyed by the Q-Bomb during a terrifying cascade reaction caused by the positioning of combative ships.
Some pundits have said the treaty is irrelevant and the Q-Bomb will remain regardless of its banned status. However, most consider that with the latest witchspace injector improvements the bomb is now something of a white elephant. Add to that the fact that all the major manufacturers have agreed to no longer produce this weapon, its days appear to be well and truly numbered.
Vocal and well-organised protests from the Karella Institute, not to mention the tragic death of their Chairman James McKenna, appeared to force the final resolution. A spokesman for the Karella Institute was quoted as saying, 'It’s taken too long, too long by far, but we are pleased with this outcome. We wish only that James could have been here to see the culmination of his efforts.'
Is this the end for the Q-Bomb? Truth is, we don’t know.
– Excerpt from the Tionisla Chronicle, Issue 1648, Volume 8, Year 3158, Editor-in-Chief: Anna Mereso
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About the Author
Drew has written a series of novels and short stories for the 'Oolite' Universe. You can find them at his website below. He is currently working on a contemporary novel 'Torn' exploring the interaction between religion and science.
Connect with Drew:
Email: drew@wagar.org.uk
Drew's Website and Blog: http://www.wagar.org.uk
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/drewwagar
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/drewwagar
Linked-in: http://uk.linkedin.com/in/drewwagar
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/drewwagar
From the same author on Feedbooks
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Schism (2007) An Oolite Short Story - Lumbering through the depths of space are the Generation Ships; huge self contained transports driving between the stars at sublight speeds in the midst of thousand year journeys to populate new planets. After 30 generations, a staggering and devastating truth is revealed to the occupants of one such ship…
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Ascension (2008) A tale of what might happen when an example of sophisticated technology is suddenly thrust upon a backward culture steeped in religion. Ascension tells the story of a young woman alienated from her culture, and wondering if there is anything beyond the realm of her immediate experiences…
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Nine (2008) All seasoned space travellers know that there are only eight charts reachable by traditional Galactic Hyperspace jump drives. Does the ninth chart exist? Can it be reached? If so, what’s there? A story of one man’s quest to answer this enigmatic question. Is a slightly chilling tale of the ‘Ooniverse’…
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Mutabilis (Oolite Saga Part 2) (2008) Part 2 of the Oolite Saga, and sequel to Status Quo.
When a series of linked murders forces GalCop to outlaw the shadow organisation known as ‘The Dark Wheel’, a mysterious top secret document must be found in order to stave off a galactic conflict. The document contains a devastating secret; the key to domination, power and control. A secret as old as space itself, the location of the legendary planet ‘Raxxla’.
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Replay (2009) An Oolite Short Story - Difficult to describe even in summary without giving away the plot. It’s only three and a half pages long, so won’t take you long. Suffice to say, things aren’t always what they seem.
www.feedbooks.com
Food for the mind