The Battle for the Ringed Planet
Page 38
In the driveway parked another pick up with a longer cab, sky blue. When stopped, the hover truck eased down on small struts underneath and Torian hopped out first. He then helped Siiri down and grabbed their backpack.
The reunion of Torian and his parents made Siiri feel a little homesick. His father, Torstun McCallum, stood as tall as Torian, with a leathery tanned youthful face and hard brown eyes, but with an easy smile and a quiet disposition when he greeted his son. Anna McCallum, less reserved, broke out in squeals of joy rushing to her boy and squeezing him while her long reddish and grey hair flew behind. Trevan shrugged a little sheepishly glancing at Siiri at the emotional scene. After a few moments both parents noticed the lovely blonde haired girl, greeting her warmly while Anna took both her hands with the welcoming expression of a proud mother.
The home was simple yet with modern enmities evident everywhere, such as frozen holo family pictures with full faces and figures extending beyond the flat panels, and when Siiri reached out and touched the round full portrait of a younger Torian in a hockey jersey her hand went through until it reached the solid back part. Other furniture had built in controls on the arms for holo displays, lighting, and door locks. The décor, though slightly futuristic, still had a woman’s touch with desert rose drapes and light flowing colors throughout.
After some small talk, with Siiri and Torian evading a few questions about there experiences on Selunia, dinner was presented and it was then that the young man felt weak with hunger, despite the tiny portion served on the space liner. When the food was brought, he winked at the pretty girl when they saw it was lamb and mashed potatoes.
Sitting beside Siiri, he leaned over and whispered, “I didn’t plan this, having the same meal as at your place.”
“Somehow I doubt that.”
No more questions were brought up about the war, and a knowing glance from his father kept Trevan silent. Torian knew it was a topic of interest for Torstun, who had served as marine years ago in some long forgotten battle, but the elder empathized with his son and the time to talk would come later. Instead, they talked about Torian and Siiri, and their plans about farming and where to live.
The three men then retired to the living room to watch a holo cast of a football game and Siiri watched from the doorway as her love grinned joking and catching up with his father and brother. She brought them all beers from the kitchen and then Anna beckoned her over.
Torian’s mother was stacking dirty dishes in the cupboard, that caused Siiri to frown, but then she saw that the doors were solid with controls near the side for cleansing.
“Don’t mind them.” Anna stepped close to the young woman, “You can stay in the guest bedroom here if you like.”
“Thank you.”
“Come, I’ll show you.” The older women, who looked far younger than her forty odd years, led Siiri up the stairs, “You have a beautiful name.”
She turned a little red and peeked at more family portraits on the wall leading up to the second floor, Torian and his siblings when they were very young.
“You didn’t bring any bags, or luggage?”
“They are with my family.” Her voice grew distant.
“I’m sure Miriam won’t mind if you borrow some of her clothes, she is about your size.”
The guest room was luxurious and the bed inviting when she realized how exhausted she was, particularly after sleeping on a gurney watched over by a secretive man.
Suddenly Anna became very serious, standing by the door blocking the exit, “Now Siiri, when you mentioned Selunia, it is a place that Trevan or Torstun would not know.” She paused for effect while the girl narrowed her eyes, “However, I know it.”
“Did you read about it?”
A thin smile formed on Anna’s lips, “Why don’t you come into our family room so we can talk.”
Curious, Siiri followed Torian’s mother into the second floor room with a large angled window that over-looked the fields of barley in the distance. Anna sat down on a comfortable couch and adjusted the controls on a flat rectangular object on a side table.
“Kanata was colonized about 60 years ago, and my family came soon after when Gold Sea was just a cluster of warehouses and a couple of landing pads.” She turned on the rectangular object, a holo projector, displaying a three-dimensional image of a young woman with long sandy hair smiling next to a building with several towers. Siiri thought the girl was pretty and noticed some of the hover cars looked familiar.
“Who is she?”
“My great great grandmother, do you recognize anything?”
Then she swallowed, she knew the building, “That’s the university in Kaarina!” After the holo was taken, sometime later, Jarlan had used the tallest spire for an alien transporter tube to create the shield that killed anyone but Siiri’s people that entered the city.
“That’s right, Siiri, when things started happening, she and several others escaped.”
“So you’re …” her mouth hung open.
“I am the same as you.”
“Does Torian know?”
“He doesn’t, and neither do the other men in this family. There are many of us here, and on other worlds, in hiding. Some do not know they are special.”
“So Miriam …”
“Yes. We’re close, as mother and daughter.” Then she hesitated, “You cannot tell anyone where you are from. I didn’t know that the government would let anyone from Selunia leave, or that there were survivors. You see, my great great grandmother came back to earth, was secretly married and had a family, before they captured and killed her. So we lay low.”
“I see.” Siiri felt a crushing weight and it showed; only wanting peace, after all she had been through. Anna reached out her hand.
“Don’t be worried. We warn each other of there is danger … you can mindspeak?”
“Yes.”
“Fortunately, we can only project our thoughts to each other.”
“I can to Torian, but he can’t back.”
“It will come …”
“And to … May …” Siiri frowned, “...you said people like us live on other worlds … like Jiangxi?”
“Yes.”
“Then that’s how.”
“How … what?”
“Torian and May survived the shield.”
Anna got up and shut off the holo, watching out the window, “Something happened on Selunia, we saw the holo news, a battle.”
“A very scary battle.”
“Are there others like you?”
“A small village, I hope they rescue them and come here … my family is with them.”
“They may be watched.”
“Is that bad?”
“Perhaps not. They mentioned discovering an alien race in the news … that should keep the spies busy.” She then stared hard at Siiri, “I won’t ask how you two were involved, but I know you were.”
Siiri could not help bragging about Torian, “Your son was a war hero.”
The older woman smiled again, “A war hero? You would not have believed him capable of even getting out of bed before they conscripted him.” They both laughed.
Gazing at the young woman, Torian’s mother became serious again, “Do you love him?”
“With all my heart.”
“Good, then I will leave it you to tell him the truth about his heritage.”
“I don’t know how he will take it.”
“Oh, like he always does, with a matter of fact attitude.” They both grinned again.
Both women eventually came down and watched the game with the men and Siiri and Torian exchanged warm glances. She was very happy for him to be with his family. Later, when the game was over and they cleared away some of the beer bottles and he said good night to Torstun, Trevan, and Anna, hauling his backpack up the stairs with Siiri behind.
She stood in the doorway of his bedroom as he laid the pack down near his closet. The room was neat, only because his mother had tidied it years ago af
ter he had left for the military, but old holo posters of hockey players and music groups still hung, along with others of sports teams and school graduation.
“So, this is your old room?”
“Yeah, it looks like Trevan borrowed my holo player and a few other things.” He reached on a high shelf for an old trophy and blew off the dust, turning back to her, “Are you going to be all right tonight, after all we’ve been through?”
“You’re down the hall, if I have nightmares.”
Glancing at his old gel bed with a blue comforter, he grinned, “If I touch that, I won’t get up for another day.”
“A very long Selunia day.”
“Oh, I forgot I received a holo from Admiral Bennion, who relayed a message from Colonel Trilling; they found the people from Grondalle. It was a little tense at first, but fortunately, no one was hurt. The fleet is back and processing prisoners and refugees. They are also recovering the people from the alien city. Admiral Bennion says he keeps his promises, and your villagers will be coming here.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful!”
“I don’t think there is room in Brendan, they only allow up to 10,000, but hopefully in another place nearby.”
“I can’t wait.”
He then raised his finger, “And then tomorrow, you get to meet Miriam, who is a real pain for a sister, but we’ll tour the city and help you shop for clothes and girlie things.”
Then Torian walked up to her and extended his arm casually around her waist, she still wore dress from Alpha Centauri, reaching her arms up around his neck, “Torian McCallum, you saved my life and brought me here.”
“You saved my life, pretty girl.”
“Then let’s make new lives together!” She brought her lips up to meet his tenderly.
A few days later, he rolled up his jeans and dipped his feet into the clear water lapping up against a flat rock. She squeezed close, tucking her dress between her legs and rubbing her foot against his leg, “You’re right, it is lovely here by the lake.”
Shading his eyes from the waning sun and a lonely bluish moon seen in the daylight, he grinned at Siiri who beamed back, “The water is warmer than I remember.”
She bit her lip and gazed into his eyes, “Um … Torian, I have something to tell you …”
Glossary
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Starships
R-26 Hawkeye (United Earth two-man long-range scout vessel)
Hawkeye 206 assigned to the C.S.S. Callisto
Hawkeye 221 assigned to the C.S.S. Europa
Hawkeye 211 assigned to the C.S.S. Europa
Hawkeye 228 assigned to the C.S.S. Europa
F-24 Starhawk (United Earth one-man fighter, one engine)
U-90 Spacemaster (United Earth troop carrier, cargo transport, or gunship)
R-19 Starseeker (Rebel scoutship with a 10 man crew and large gun turret)
F-40 Solvair (Rebel one-man fighter, two engines)
Confederation Star Ship (C.S.S) Camulos, (God of War Battle Cruiser, 2 turrets of 3 plasma canons, 1 up and 1 under in the stern, and 1 double size plasma canon in the nose)
Confederation Star Ship (C.S.S) Peron, (God of War Battle Cruiser)
Confederation Star Ship (C.S.S) Mars, (God of War Battle Cruiser)
Confederation Star Ship (C.S.S) Yamato, (Victory Class Battle Cruiser, 1 squadron of Starhawks, 1 flight of Hawkeyes, 1 flight of Spacemasters, 3 turrets of 3 plasma cannons each, 2 up and 1 under)
Confederation Star Ship (C.S.S) Iowa, (Victory Class Battle Cruiser)
Confederation Star Ship (C.S.S.) Callisto, (Moon Class Battle Cruiser, 1 squadron of Starhawks, 1 flight of Hawkeyes, 1 flight of Spacemasters, 4 turrets of 3 plasma cannons each, 2 up and 2 under)
Confederation Star Ship (C.S.S.) Europa, (Moon Class Battle cruiser)
Confederation Star Ship (C.S.S.) Titan, (Moon Class Battle cruiser)
Confederation Star Ship (C.S.S.) Cordelia, (Moon Class Battle cruiser)
Confederation Star Ship (C.S.S.) Prometheus, (Moon Class Battle cruiser)
Confederation Star Ship (C.S.S.) Hyperion, (Moon Class Battle cruiser)
Confederation Star Ship (C.S.S.) Juno, (Planetary Assault Landing Ship, 16 Spacemasters, 1 turret of 3 plasma canons)
--
The 4th Fleet
C.S.S. Europa CHF (Flag)
C.S.S Camulos CLG
C.S.S Peron CLG
C.S.S Mars CLG
C.S.S Yamato CLF
C.S.S Iowa CLF
C.S.S. Callisto CHF
C.S.S. Titan CHF
C.S.S. Cordelia CHF
C.S.S. Prometheus CHF
C.S.S. Hyperion CHF
C.S.S. Juno CHA
(C = cruiser, L = light, H = heavy, F = fighters, G = guns, A = assault)
--
Military Vehicles
MUV (Marine Utility Vehicle, room for 4 fully equipped marines, variants include anti-aircraft missile, command communication set, anti-tank plasma canon, and anti-personal plasma gun)
M-35 MBT (Main Battle Tank, crew 3, armament: 1 main plasma canon, 2 secondary anti-personnel plasma guns in the turret and 1 additional optional gun on the hatch)
--
C.S.S. Callisto Crew
Captain William “Bill” Spence (45, Commander of the C.S.S. Callisto)
Lieutenant (j.g.) Miky Chang, (22, 5’5”, Hawkeye pilot)
Lieutenant (j.g.) Venus Calahan (22, Hawkeye pilot)
LRRS (Long Range Recon Space) Specialist First Class Torian McCallum (21, chocolate brown hair, chestnut eyes, 6’2”)
--
C.S.S. Europa Crew
Admiral Martin Bennion (48, flag of the 4th fleet)
Commander Lars Tobias (54, Executive Officer)
Commander Marshall Skylin (39, Commander Air/Space Group)
Lieutenant-Commander Declan ‘Dekker’ Stronn (26, ace pilot who flies a blue striped Starhawk)
Lieutenant-Commander Val Dubois (38, Chief Medical Officer)
Lieutenant (j.g.) Dolce Paulo (21, nurse)
Lieutenant Mark Senzo (22, Hawkeye pilot)
Lieutenant (j.g.) Monica Poehler (20, Hawkeye pilot)
Lieutenant (j.g.) Torian McCallum (21, LRRS officer, chocolate brown hair, chestnut eyes, 6’2”)
Lieutenant (j.g.) Nathan Johnston (19, Hawkeye pilot)
Sergeant Matthew Blocker (32, LRRS technician)
Sergeant Thomas Mal (27, bridge technician)
Specialist First Class Rhonda Birk (24, bridge technician)
Agent Kavan Tass (25, Special Intelligence Service)
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C.S.S. Titan Crew
Captain William Chen (42, Captain of the C.S.S. Titan)
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C.S.S. Camulos Crew
Captain Brynn Mostyn (39, Captain of the C.S.S. Camulos)
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Torian’s Family and Friends
Torstun McCallum (41, Torian’s father)
Anna McCallum (42, Torian’s mother)
Miriam McCallum (2, Torian’s older sister)
Torian Liam McCallum (21, chocolate brown hair, chestnut eyes, 6’2”)
Trevan McCallum (18, Torian’s younger brother)
Leigh Hutton (21, Torian’s ex-girlfriend on Kanata)
Tristan Alpha (23, Hawkeye pilot, Torian’s best friend in the military)
Lindy Monahan (21, a red headed girl in Torian’s robotics class in college)
--
Planets and Moons
Selunia (Siiri’s homeworld)
Kanata (Torian’s home world)
New Persia (home of the Immortal Fleet)
Jiangxi (May’s home world)
Earth (Tristan’s home world)
Vanir, Selunia, largest moon, light green
Mospel, Selunia, smaller red moon
--
Cities and Settlements
Brendan, Kanata (population 10, 000)
Gold Sea, Kanata (population 663,000)
Manitoba River, Kanata (flowing thr
ough Gold Sea)
Kaarina, Selunia (former population 222,340)
Reega, Selunia (former population in the millions)
Norstrom River (flowing passed Kaarina)
Grondalle, Selunia (population 1000, village on the outskirts of Kaarina in the valley of the Norstrom River)
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Grondalle Villagers
Davin Lauronen (40, Siiri’s father, injured his leg in a fall)
Krystin Lauronen (39, Siiri’s mother)
Siiri Lauronen (19, long ash blonde hair, azure blue eyes, 5’6”)
Serena Lauronen (17, short straight blonde hair and green eyes, Siiri’s younger sister)
Daniel Lauronen ( 16, Siiri’s younger brother)
Brant (20, Siiri’s ex boyfriend)
Lexor (38, Village Council leader)
Alvarr (22, Serena’s betrothed)
Riku (45, the constable)
Lothar (51, metal smith)
Bjorne (40, carpenter)
Mikael (19, son of Bjorne)
Jarlan Almquist (137, village priest, engineer, doctor)
--
Soldiers, 16th Marine Expeditionary Unit
Colonel Benjamin Trilling (38, 16th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Commanding Officer)
Major Neil Duncan (27, 16th Marine Expeditionary Unit, S-2)
Captain Mark Vicktor, (27, 3rd Commando)
Lieutenant Katherine ‘Kat’ Martine (22, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Confederation Marines, the Warlords)
Sergeant Martin Keith (26, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Confederation Marines, the Warlords)
Corporal Jack Wilder (23, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Confederation Marines, the Warlords)
Lance Corporal Millyssa Greene (22, Multi-Con operator, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Confederation Marines, the Warlords)
Lance Corporal Callie Morgana (22, 7th Combat Engineer Battalion, the Lucky Ones)
Private First Class Neal Collins (19, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Confederation Marines, the Warlords)
Private First Class Peter Nixon (19, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Confederation Marines, the Warlords, tall with tapered blonde hair)
Private First Class Anthony Walker (20, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Confederation Marines, the Warlords, black)
Private First Class Clive Stewart (22, 7th Combat Engineer Battalion, the Lucky Ones)
Private First Class Andy Norwood (25, 7th Combat Engineer Battalion, the Lucky Ones)
Private First Class Stuart “Smitty” Smith (18, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Confederation Marines, the Warlords)