by Charles Nall
Jacob looked around the bridge. The crew from Rapture were on duty tonight. Trevor worked on the communications and Sharon was on the tactical station. Elijah and Arnold flew outside Empyrean in the patrol squadron. Jacob was stationed on navigations.
Jaxon Knight was at one of the auxiliary stations looking over some data. John Devereaux paced around the lower area of the bridge. President Rhett Trachis looked over the bridge from the upper level. Marines patrolled the area. Aiden Alexander was also working on the spare console on the navigation station, finishing up some work from his previous shift.
“I’m getting a video transmission through the NEP, Captain,” Trevor said. “From Zeta Volantis III, SDY-101.”
“Alright, overlay,” Devereaux said.
The middle holographic projector projected an image of an older gentleman in a Galactic Union uniform.
The man spoke. “This is Captain Pierce of the USS Seattle.”
“Ah, Captain,” Devereaux said. “What can I do for you?”
Trachis walked down to the bottom level and then moved in front of the captain. “What can we do for you?”
Devereaux was annoyed.
“Mr. President, Captain, we have learned that a shipment of weapons is traveling near your position in standard space. The transport is from Zeta Volantis, they escaped during the liberation. They are carrying weapons to Silver Cove. We believe that these weapons will be delivered to the mercenaries, and in turn, delivered to other ISF planets to incite further rebellion. They must believe that Zeta Volantis III is a lost cause, but they wish to continue to sow unrest.”
“I do believe the majority of the unrest is the ISF’s fault, sir,” Devereaux said.
Trachis turned and scolded Devereaux, “Watch your mouth.” Trachis turned back toward the projection and smiled. “We are uploading the data to our sensors and will track down these weapons, Captain Pierce. Thank you for letting us know.”
“Of course, Mr. President. The transport needs to be destroyed. These people are highly dangerous.”
The link closed.
The President roared, “Do not act like a fool, Captain! This ship is now my flagship. Do not mock the Interstellar Federation or you will be removed!”
Devereaux flashed a fake smile. “Of course, sir.”
Commander Ember Skyrift entered onto the bridge. “What’s going on?”
“A military operation is under way,” Trachis said.
“What sort of military operation?” Skyrift asked.
Trachis ignored Skyrift. “You. Reynolds is it? Get the location of that transport. Carpenter, set a course for that location. You... Alexander?”
Aiden Alexander sheepishly nodded his head.
“Shave that monstrosity off your face,” Trachis said, referring to Alexander’s impressive mustache.
“Yes—Yes sir.”
Trevor relayed the information and Jacob tapped the position of the transport into his console.
Empyrean turned and traveled toward the transport’s position. Within an hour, the warship had come up on the small transport, traveling at sublight speed through a barren star system.
“Open a link with them, Reynolds,” Trachis said.
Within a few seconds an elderly man appeared on the holographic viewscreen.
“Yes?” the old man wheezed.
Trachis smiled. “We have learned that your transport is carrying contraband. Please comply with our demands or be destroyed.”
“Destroyed?” Jacob inquired.
“Shut your mouth, Lieutenant,” Trachis said.
The old man shook his head. “Please, sir, we...” He coughed. “We all just wanted off that planet. We lost so many during the massacre. Please, let us live.”
“You are carrying contraband. You need to stop and allow us to board your vessel.”
“No... No, sir. We aren’t carrying contraband. There are sixty of us on this ship, including women and children.” The man coughed again.
Trachis chuckled. “Yes. Of course. Refugees... going to a den of thieves...”
“Silver Cove graciously accepted our request. We need a place to stay. Our home was taken away from us,” the old man said.
“Stop or be destroyed.”
“I swear I am telling the truth. A Confederation corvette recently boarded our ship for the same reason. They let us go on our way. Here, I’ll give you their contact information if you want to confirm it with them.”
Trachis scoffed, “You think I’d actually believe the Confederation?”
Devereaux stroked his beard. “He seems sincere.”
Trachis shrugged and continued talking to the elderly man. “If what you say is true and you are only carrying refugees, then let us board.”
“Alright, alright,” The old man wheezed. “Please, do not harm us. We left the warzone. Have mercy. We have no weapons. Please, sir.”
“Of course,” Trachis said. “I have mercy.”
“We aren’t the enemy. Please. I am going to slow down. What should I do after that?”
“We have it under control, my friend,” Trachis said. “Close the link.”
The transmission ended.
Trachis looked over to Sharon. “Lieutenant Turner, when the ship slows down sufficiently... destroy it.”
“What?!” Skyrift shouted.
Trachis ignored Skyrift.“Just fire a torpedo, that should be sufficient.”
Sharon was stunned. “Sir?”
Trachis smirked. “I’m sorry? Did you not understand my command?”
“The transport is slowing down,” Trevor said. “Uhh... so about that boarding, should I send a marine squad over there?”
“No need, as I said, we are destroying that ship,” Trachis said. “They are carrying contraband and need to be punished.”
“No! There has to be a different way!” Jacob exclaimed.
“Look, sir, I just scanned the ship. I detected fifty-three life-signs. That’s probably accurate, the plating is thin and they have no energy shielding,” Jaxon said.
“He said sixty,” Trachis pointed out.
Devereaux growled, “He misspoke! It’s close enough! Let’s just board the ship and find out for ourselves. We’re not in the business of murdering innocent people!”
“This is a warship. This is war. Innocents are sometimes lost during war. That is the miserable state of things. If we board that ship it could be a trap. Destroy that ship, Turner.”
“No, I can’t,” Sharon said.
“It is a command,” Trachis stated.
“I can’t let you do this!” Devereaux said. “You said you would have mercy!”
“You are on my side. Remember? I am showing them mercy. A quick, painless...” Trachis chuckled. “Mostly painless, probably, death.”
Devereaux fumed in anger.
Sharon shook her head.
“Destroy it!” Trachis snarled.
“Belay that order!” Skyrift shouted.
“Commander, I outrank you. Do not overstep your boundaries,” Trachis calmly said.
“Make him stop, Captain!” Skyrift said.
“I’m not sure if I can...” Devereaux replied.
“I can’t watch this! Captain,” Skyrift said. “Stop this madness!”
Devereaux shook his head. “I’m sorry.”
Skyrift stormed off of the bridge.
“Destroy that ship, Lieutenant Turner!” Trachis ordered.
“Sharon...” Jacob said.
“Not following orders. What a dumb way to lose your stripes.” Trachis pointed at Sharon. “Marines, arrest Turner for failing to follow direct orders. Arrest everyone that doesn’t follow my orders! We have to make an example out of them!”
Sharon stared at Trachis in disbelief.
“Destroy it, Lieutenant. Or shall I end your career?”
“You are an effing psychopath,” Sharon said.
Trachis chuckled. “How inappropriate.”
Marines surrounded her station. “C
ome with us,” one of them said.
Sharon looked over to Jacob. “Sorry. I—”
“I understand,” Jacob said.
Sharon tapped a command into her console. She slammed her hand down and bowed her head.
A torpedo sped out of the magnetic tube toward the transport. The torpedo struck the port side of the transport and exploded. The ship burst into shrapnel.
Sharon did not look at the viewscreen showing the carnage. It was a good thing, as there were many cold bodies among the broken pieces of the transport.
The marines walked away from the console.
Jacob jumped up and ran over to Sharon. She buried her face into his chest and bawled.
“Thank you, Lieutenant Turner, you did the right thing,” Trachis said.
“Mr. President, The blood is on your hands,” Trevor said. “On your hands.”
“Yes. But I saved countless other people from those weapons,” Trachis said.
“They weren’t carrying weapons, Mr. President.” Devereaux frowned. “And you know full well they weren’t.”
Trachis smirked.
“I... I killed them all,” Sharon said.
“No. No, you didn’t.” Jacob looked over at Trachis. “If you didn’t do it, he would have made someone else do it.”
Trachis locked eyes with Jacob.
Jacob knew this man was evil.
“Lieutenant Carpenter, you and Turner are relieved, you can have the rest of the night off.”
“Why thank you, Mr. President,” Jacob growled.
April 25, 0271 AC – 18:30 Local Time
GNN Broadcast
Originating from Urbania
“Welcome back to the Galactic News Network, I’m Mara Golden.” The news anchor gave the camera a huge smile. “An owner of a bar on Urbania made a shocking discovery in his bar’s bathroom! A live snake! We... Oh, I just got word that we’re going live through our relays to an undisclosed location... He is asking for his voice to be distorted... Audio only... Hello?”
“Hi, thanks for having me, Mrs. Golden,” said the distorted voice.
“We understand you have information regarding the ISF killing unarmed civilians? This is quite the claim, sir.”
“Other claims like it have been surfacing on the NEP. The ISF cannot keep the Resistance down,” said the distorted voice.
“What do you have to say?” Golden asked.
“Am I on a secure line?”
“Of course, sir.”
“The President ordered the destruction of a ship containing refugees from Zeta Volantis. I am sending footage over the NEP that shows the warship Empyrean destroying the ship.”
“We were told that it was carrying weapons and other contraband.”
“Just a cover story for the murder of innocent lives. There wasn’t a point to this, just a slaughter for the sake of slaughtering. The transport had recently rendezvoused with a Confederation corvette, their logs collaborate my story. In addition, I have deep level scans from Empyrean itself, which shows no evidence of weaponry.”
“You obtained data from Empyrean itself?”
Someone interrupted the news anchor. “We can’t keep showing this! Go to commercial!”
Someone started arguing. “No, the people need to hear this!”
“We can’t!”
“I’m sorry,” Golden continued. “A bit of technical difficulties here. You obtained data from the warship that destroyed the refugee transport?”
“Yes,” the distorted voice replied, “I have my contacts.”
“So you are saying...” Golden was suddenly interrupted by the sound of gunshots.
“What was that, Mrs. Golden?”
More gunshots. Closer.
Mara Golden ran out of the newsroom. There was a sound of a door opening and then a small scuffle.
A handsome man in a sharp suit took Golden’s place. “Thank you sir, for your time, but we have had enough of your lies today.”
The link was terminated.
The man continued, “The Interstellar Federation is committed to the safety of everyone, and is not in the business of killing refugees. This is propaganda from the misguided Resistance. I’m Seth Corvus, and I’ll be bringing you the hottest news from across the galaxy. Did you hear about the bar owner who found a snake in his bar?!”
May 1, 0271 AC – 20:20
Hotshot’s Bar, USS Empyrean
Neutral Space
“Thank you, Crusaders, for meeting with us tonight for a special meeting,” Commander Ember Skyrift said. She stood on the small stage. Jacob, Sharon, and Jaxon were sitting together at a table. Although Jacob and Sharon did not attend these meetings as often as Jaxon, Jacob figured this would be a good meeting to be present for. Sharon was still shaken up from the destruction of the refugee transport. Aiden Alexander stood off to the side next to the stage.
“I would like to thank the brave soul for getting news of the ISF’s atrocities out to the rest of the galaxy. Unfortunately, the media has been taken over by the ISF, but the news did get out. Thank you, whoever you are,” Skyrift said. She glanced at Aiden Alexander and they shared a knowing look.
“We have a big problem.” Skyrift paced the stage. “The Interstellar Federation is not supposed to be controlled by one man, but we have word that King Drake Mabus has effectively become the leader of the entirety of the ISF.”
The crowd booed.
“I hear you,” Skyrift said. “And this corruption seems to flow throughout this new ISF. I’m sure you have heard of the President’s display on the bridge a week ago.”
Jaxon leaned over to Jacob. “Do you think we should try to join the Resistance?”
“I have no idea, you think that would be best?” Jacob whispered.
Jaxon shrugged. “Probably better than living under this tyranny.”
“I’m not sure what the best course of action will be,” Skyrift said. “Devereaux shares my concerns and is trapped just like me. We’re all trapped, and I’m not sure if abandoning the Union is the right call.”
“KILL TRACHIS!” yelled a person in the crowd.
“No, no...” Skyrift responded. “We can’t do that. He’s a despicable man, but that’s still not right. I will not incite any violence on this ship. We can do this peacefully. I will figure this out. I know that President Trachis will be leaving our ship once Ajax is repaired, which should not be too much longer. Once he is off our ship, we at least will not have the President breathing down our necks. I just want to assure you all that I have not forsaken you. I know things are getting rough, but I will do everything in my power to prevent this from going further out of control.”
May 12, 0271 AC – 09:12 Local Time
Bridge, USS Empyrean
Neutral Space
“Mr. President, can I ask what we are doing out here? This is a violation of neutral zone treaties,” Devereaux said.
Trachis let out a guffaw. “Treaties? The war is upon us. Let the Confederation come.”
Empyrean floated in space near the Silver Cove space station, home to many mercenary groups. Empyrean was accompanied by three Commonwealth of Perseus destroyers.
Lieutenant Jaxon Knight, Lieutenant Lance Hydrus, and several ensigns were working on the bridge. Commander Ember Skyrift was in her quarters.
Lieutenant Lance Hydrus called out from his station to President Trachis and Captain Devereaux. “Sirs, Captain Sid Hawk of the station is requesting a link with us.”
“...Understandably,” remarked Devereaux as he paced around the central area of the bridge.
“Overlay,” Trachis ordered.
Hydrus nodded and tapped on his console.
An agitated Captain Sid Hawk appeared on the holographic projection.
Trachis smirked. “What can I do for you, my friend?”
“I was going to ask you the same thing. Welcome to the Silver Cove... friend,” Hawk said sarcastically. “Business or pleasure?”
“A little bit of both,” Trac
his said. “We are officially here on business,”
“Look, you can send your propositions through our network like anybody else. You don’t have to come out here in person. Especially...” Hawk paused for a moment. “Especially in warships.”
“The warships are necessary,” Trachis said.
Hawk sighed. “Of course, Mr. President. What sort of business?”
“Are you aware of the... events over Epsilon?”
Hawk nodded. “Of course, Mr. President. The alliance sent ships to try to take Epsilon. I imagine that they were not expecting the resistance.”
“Our forces were liberating the planet,” Trachis said. “Without the Confederation, the independent world of Epsilon would not be able to sustain themselves. We were going to integrate them into our new Interstellar Federation. But then they fought back. They attacked their very future. It is a sad state of affairs. They didn’t know better.”
Devereaux sighed and rolled his eyes.
“Oh, I do believe they knew exactly what they were doing. Epsilon is still free,” Hawk said.
The President snickered. “For now.”
“That doesn’t explain what you are doing out here,” Hawk said.
“You’re right.” Trachis made his way to the tactical station. He pat the ensign stationed there on the back and then whispered something in the ensign’s ear. The ensign looked up at the President in confusion and then tapped on his console. Trachis looked back towards the projection of Hawk. “I’m not sure if you know how our systems work. But this station is called tactical. It controls our weaponry systems, which Ensign Stewart has activated. The coil cannons are warming up.”
Sid Hawk looked over at something. “Yes. I see your weapon systems are coming online. Are we expecting a battle out here? Should I scramble the mercenary teams and get our weapons ready for the battle?”
Trachis smiled. “That’s entirely up to you, sir. You see, it has come to my attention that your mercenaries have been aiding the enemy for quite some time.”