by Charles Nall
“It's like I said, they abandoned us,” Python mumbled.
“For what purpose?” asked Badger. “Why would they leave us out here in the middle of space? The nearest system is light-years from here. Even if we were on full burn this whole time we wouldn't have reached it. There's nothing we can do.”
“Keep an eye on your instruments, this has to be a test.”
Python yelled with emotion over the link, “I have been staring at my instruments for the past eff'n hour! There's not a blip on this eff'n thing! There's nothing out here! We've been left out here to die!”
“That's not true,” Blackwing said.
“It's true! Do you see any ships out here?” Python laughed. “We’re dead.”
Riko Maeda tried to calm down Python. “Look, we've already sent a distress signal through the relays. Somebody is on their way.”
Python fired his ship's engines and flew around the other stationary craft.
“Python, conserve your fuel.”
“I'm bored! I have to do something! If I'm going to die out here at least me get some flight time before I die!”
“Python, conserve your fuel, that's an order.”
“I don't take orders from some washed up fighter pilot, Runt,” quipped Python.
“Whoa, whoa,” said Blackwing over the link, “that's enough, let's all just calm down.”
Badger called over the link, “Yeah, let's not get agitated, we don't have any enough oxygen for that. Let's just be calm and get through this oxygen as slowly as we can.”
Python slammed his console. “Guys! We're screwed! They left us to die! Let's just find the nearest space junk and just ram into it. I don't want to suffocate to death!”
“Python, please calm down.”
“We're dying, Lieutenant! Dying. No one is coming. If anyone was coming we'd detect their signatures by now.”
“That's not necessarily true, gravity storms, grav–”
Python interrupted Riko, “There's nothing out here! We're in the middle of absolutely nothing! We'd detect a ship approaching if they were ten minutes away!”
“Only if they are linked with the NEP.”
“Python does have a point, why would they not be linked with their own NEP?” Badger asked.”We should be picking something up in hyperspace if there was a ship nearby. Where are they?”
A tear began to go down Riko's cheek. “I don't know. Maybe someone else heard our signal. There’s still hope. Someone will find us.”
Python laughed. “You think some mercs or the Union is gonna send someone out here to rescue us? There's no money in it and the Union wouldn't dare set foot in our borders. We're dead. We're eff'n dead.”
“Warning: Oxygen levels critical,” announced a computer voice.
“Let's think this through. Why would they leave four birds out here with us in them?” Blackwing asked.
“Don't you see? They'll come back for the birds. They will pry our cold corpses off the controls. They'll blame a training accident or some such. I don't know,” Python said.
“I really don't follow, there is no reason to kill us! We're on their side,” Badger said.
Riko began to sob. She didn’t want to go out like this.
The others continued to argue. Python flew his Kitsune extremely close to Riko's and nearly impacted. “See, that's what we should do! Just run our ships into each other, just end it.”
Blackwing yelled over the comms, “Python! Stop wasting that fuel! Guys, I don't know, maybe we did something. Were any of us insubordinate? Did we do anything questionable?”
“I had an affair with one of the deckhands,” admitted Python.
“Python, shut up,” Badger said.
Python laughed. “It’s true. Maybe her husband found out! Ratted me out to the firing squad.”
“You're lying.”
“I swear I'm telling the truth! It'd ruin the poor girl if it got out. But it's not getting out!”
Blackwing called over the link, “We're nearly out of oxygen. Let's just conserve fuel and oxygen and stop babbling about this stuff. We're okay, they'll be back... They’ll be back.”
“They won't be back! They left us here to die!” exclaimed Python. “Blackwing. You do anything they'd want to kill you for?”
Riko Maeda leaned her head back and cried.
“I didn't do anything! I told the chief that I needed some time off!”
“How about you, Badger?”
“I have been late to early morning exercises a lot, but that's hardly a crime worthy of death. Runt, you okay over there?”
The computer voice continued to warn the fighters about their supply of oxygen.
“I'm okay. I'm just–I don't want to die. I agree with Blackwing, let's just wait. Let's watch our instruments and wait. We only have minutes left. Let's just wait... to die.”
Blackwing sighed. “Not you too, we're not going to die.”
“Oh look at that, estimated oxygen left? A minute! Looks like I'm going out first!” Python said.
“It's because you've been acting a fool, Python,” Badger said.
“Runt, you want to go out suffocating or in a fireball? I can make this all end.”
“Python... No, let's just watch our instruments and—” A hyperspace fluctuation appeared on Riko's sensors for a split second. “Guys, did you detect that?”
“No?” replied Badger and Blackwing.
“I picked something up. It's gone now. It was a few light-years away. What was that? It's not on the sensors now. What?” Riko said.
Python flew his Kitsune away from the others. “Look, guys. She's losing it, she's seeing things. The lack of oxygen is going to her... head. I'm, I'm... coming back.”
“Python, buddy, you okay?” Blackwing asked.
Python's fighter drifted farther away from the group, “No–no. I'm out. I can't... I'm going to... eff this...”
The fighter turned back toward the group and went to full burn, increasing speed drastically.
Riko Maeda was staring at her instruments. She was hitting buttons and trying to figure out what happened with the hyperspace fluctuation. She looked over the recent computer logs.
“Warning: Oxygen levels critical,” a computer voice announced again in a soothing tone.
“Runt! Runt! Move! Python is heading straight toward you! He's gonna ram you!” Badger yelled.
Riko wasn't paying attention and continued looking over the logs.
“RIKO!”
Riko Maeda hit her engines and narrowly escaped getting rammed by Python's Kitsune.
“That was... that was close, Runt. I... Oh eff.” said Blackwing over the link.
“Blackwing? You with me? Blackwing?” called out Badger, “How about you Python, buddy. You still there? Blackwing and Python please report your status! Please come in.”
Despair returned to Riko. She eyed her oxygen gauge. She only had seconds left.
Badger yelled over the comms, “Wait, what? Wait–are you getting this Maeda?!”
She could barely keep her eyes open. She looked at her console and then out the cockpit. “Hyper... space... flux?”
A blue flash of light bathed the cockpit of the Riko’s fighter.
Iriguchi materialized into view. Six warships accompanied it. The ships glowed a light blue against the black background of space for a few seconds.
“How did we not see that squadron creeping up on us?” said Blackwing, “We should have detected that minutes ago!”
Captain Oshiro linked with the fighters, “This is Iriguchi-Actual. Fighter group return home. We've got some craft heading your way to tow any ships that aren't able to move on their own volition. Sorry, our timing was a bit off but it looks like everyone is alive. We'll get you to the sickbay as soon as possible. Did anyone detect anything on our approach?”
None of the fighters replied.
Oshiro continued, “Either you didn't detect anything or you can't hear me. Perhaps both. We'll get full reports later. Le
t's bring you home.”
February 7, 0270 AC - 21:12
Sickbay, CFS Iriguchi
Edge of Confederate Space
Riko Maeda opened her eyes. She was lying in a bed in the sickbay. The brightness of the room hurt her eyes.
“There's my Runt.” Oshiro smiled. “Peace.”
Riko looked around in sickbay. Python was still resting, the other fighter pilots weren't there. “Badger and Blackwing, are they–”
“They're fine, Lieutenant. You did a good job out there.”
“I don't even know the job I was doing. We could have died out there.”
“I understand. One of the cruisers, Osaka, was having engine trouble. We delayed as long as we could. We were supposed to have Osaka in the conduit for the test as well, but we had to make do.”
“I know Osaka, is she okay?”
“Yes, she's fine, just some engine issues. The important thing is that the we made it back in time and we didn't lose anybody. We didn't lose you. Mission accomplished.”
“I don't understand the mission.”
“You didn't detect anything did you? No hyperspace fluctuations at all? The other pilots I have spoken to have told me they didn't see us approach.”
“No... No sir. Nothing.”
Riko knew she was lying, she detected something for a split second, but her entire group nearly died during this test. They were getting worked hard over the last few days, but to be so close to death was unacceptable.
“Good. Some theories say a large enough wake is detectable if your sensors are tuned a certain way. Something about graviton distributions or something. We tuned your ship to those frequencies. Are you sure you didn't detect anything?”
“No, sir,” Riko said.
“We'll pull the flight logs and go over them soon. I'd like to see how you guys managed to keep your spirits up when things were grim. Survival tactics are good to practice in the field. We'll also go over the data from your instruments.”
“Sir, you don't have to do any of that,” said Riko, “we didn't detect a thing. It's a waste of manpower. You know we've been overworked as it is. I'm afraid that some things were said in the heat of the moment that should stay between those who were in the field, sir.”
Oshiro paused and looked deeply into Riko's brown eyes. His eyes seemed to pierce into her soul. He nodded. “Perhaps you're right. I trust you. Mission accomplished!” Oshiro wiped a small trickle of blood from his nose.
Riko sat up in her bed. “I still don't understand. What was this mission?”
Oshiro eyed the surrounding sickbay to see if anyone was listening. He went ahead and pulled the privacy curtain even though he didn't see anyone. “Lieutenant, this is extremely sensitive information. Some of our admirals do not even know about this. Do not say a word.”
She gulped. “I won't.”
“Iriguchi has been outfitted with a hyper-drive module that masks hyperspace fluctuations. Essentially, we are a stealth ship. You can't even detect the wake through allied linked communications systems. We can jump with an entire squadron of vessels and be upon the enemy before they even could raise their shields.”
“Why?” Riko asked.
“For the war. We will hit them before they have a chance to hit us.”
She was terrified. “What? No. We can't start a war.”
Oshiro grinned. “Don't you see? The war has already started. We're going to end it.”
7
February 6, 0270 AC – 13:00 Local Time
Turner's Salvage
Argolis, Artemis, Galactic Union Space
Jerry hugged Sharon tightly. “I'll miss you. Sorry I couldn't see Rapture fly, I know you'll get the girl going.”
Sharon rested her face against Jerry's chest. “No, dad. I'm going with you. We're taking the last shuttle on the day of the launch. I’m going with Jacob and you to Andromeda, dad. Can't you wait for the final shuttle? We can get Rapture working before the launch. You can see her fly! Arnold just had the wrong estimate on the amount of time for her repairs.”
Arnold avoided eye contact with Jerry when Sharon mentioned his name.
Jacob, Arnold, Trevor, and Sharon were standing outside the hangar with Jerry. A black car with tinted windows pulled up alongside them. An escort of vehicles followed closely behind the car.
Jerry looked over at the main vehicle. “I have to be going. That's my ride. For safety, you know, with the riots and all. I'm blessed they haven't tried attacking us where we live.”
“To them, you aren't the enemy,” replied Trevor, “the Union is.”
A muscular man in a dark suit exited the front passenger side of the vehicle. He walked to the back of the vehicle and opened a door and motioned to Jerry.
Jerry began to tremble. “Oh, I wasn't ready for this. And no, I am the face of the enemy. I am the captain of Exodus. This honor, I can't believe I had this honor.”
Sharon hugged her dad tighter. “Stay a little longer.”
Jerry struggled to speak. “My child, I have a duty. I wish. I really wish I could stay. I mean that. You have no idea how much I mean that. But please, please, don't come with me to Exodus. Do not take that final shuttle before the launch. Fix Rapture in memory of me.”
“Memory?” said Jacob, “You won't be a memory. I'll see you again in Andromeda, and so will your daughter. We will see each other again.”
Jerry looked toward Jacob. “Please remember what we talked about. Please. You both have to stay here.”
Drops of blood trickled out of Jerry's nose. Jerry cleared his throat and wiped the blood away with his shirt sleeve. “Allergies,” Jerry nervously said, “damned allergies.”
The suited man yelled, “Time to go.”
Sharon began to cry. “This isn't goodbye, you know. This isn't goodbye. I'm coming with you.”
Jerry broke down in emotion. “I love you so much. I love you so very much. If you love me do not...”
Jerry began to cough, he seemed to be struggling to finish his sentence.
The suited man walked over to Jerry and grabbed his arm. Jerry and Sharon broke their hug. They both looked at each other through teary eyes.
Jerry stammered, “I love you.”
The man began leading Jerry away.
Arnold shouted, “Give them a moment!”
The man replied, “I hate to break this up, but we're launching to Exodus soon. We have to take the captain to the port and then go up to the ship. We're on a tight schedule. I'm sorry.”
“No! Don't take him away,” pleaded Sharon, “No! Don't!”
Jerry frowned. “I'm sorry.”
“No! No!” yelled Sharon as Jerry was succumbing to being led away.
Sharon began to pursue, but was stopped gently by Jacob. Jacob whispered in her ear, “Don't, just stay here. You're okay. You're okay. You'll see him again.”
Jerry sat down in his seat in the vehicle. He looked toward Sharon. “I never wanted to hurt anyone! Please stay here! I love you! Please st–” The door was slammed shut and the suited man quickly got back into the vehicle.
Jacob put his arm around Sharon. She buried her face into his coat and sobbed. Arnold placed his hand on Sharon's shoulder. Trevor began to tear up and looked toward the sky. “Sharon, this isn't the end. It has just begun,” he said.
February 8, 0270 AC - 09:00
Hangar, CFS Iriguchi
Edge of Confederate Space
Lieutenant Riko Maeda darted her eyes around the hangar area. Crewmen were tending to several fighters in the bay. She nervously approached the Kitsune fighter she had flown her last mission in. She walked up to the nose of the craft and opened a small panel on the side, revealing some electronic equipment. She then pulled out a personal computer and ran a wire from the computer into the fighter.
“Lieutenant?” called out a voice.
A startled Riko Maeda jumped. “Oh! Uh!” She composed herself and bowed. “Peace, Commander.”
Commander Tyr Tsukino smiled. �
�Peace. I see you are here with your bird from the last mission.”
“Yes, yes. Uh. She's quite the beauty. Very reliable fighter, I–I'm kind of wanting to fly more often, I miss the whole fighter piloting thing,” Riko said.
Tsukino chuckled. “Yes, alright, perhaps we could allow a communications officer to pilot a fighter here and there, especially since you are quite experienced at it. However, you are needed far more at the communications console.”
“Yes, sir. I agree.”
“And what are you doing?”
Riko Maeda tapped on the screen of her computer. “Well, uh, I'm downloading the logs from the fighter. You know, I realize the mission was to try to detect the hyper-drive stealth system, and I just wanted to look back over the logs and see if I just happened to miss it or something.”
“Of course,” the commander said, “Of course. I will be honest with you, Lieutenant. It's highly irregular to be using such a device. I haven't heard any briefings from Command about it. It's all very odd.”
Riko sighed with relief. “Yes, yes sir, I agree. Something is well, fishy, about all of this.”
Tsukino smiled. “Ah, your choice of words always amuse me, you know I like fish.”
“I'm sorry, I am being serious. Something is very strange around here. The captain acting odd, this new very, well, dangerous hyper-drive system, the rumors of war–”
“Probably nothing to worry about.”
“Maybe, but, the mission I was on? The hyper-drive system?”
“Lieutenant. Things are moving quickly,” Tsukino hushed his voice, “I am not discussing this with you right now, do you understand?”
Riko gulped. “I understand.”
“Do not trust anyone. Not even me. Something is quite wrong, but it’s best not to jump to conclusions. I will try my best to get to the bottom of this. But please do not get yourself killed by meddling with things above your pay grade. Let me handle it. Please do not worry yourself with trying to perfect that devilish hyper-drive system. I sense nothing but evil from that device. Do not help anyone develop it further.”