Hi All,
Grab some beer :beer: and check out a story I've sent for Hercules Starlifter Short Story Contest. Actually, I felt like writing something more than just a short blurb, so I did a bit extra and wanted to hear your feedback. Let me know your thoughts: how did you feel when you've read it?
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I have routed all the power to thrusters, and hit boost and afterburner while pointing the nav crosshairs on my HUD to Crusader, which was visible through the light misty haze that surrounded the asteroid. The roaring thunder filled up the ship. Its body shivered making the hull sing like a released arrow. Then, I felt the G-force pressing me into the chair, making my body so heavy that it was difficult to breathe. With no spacesuit and its life support systems compensating for high-G manoeuvres and releasing extra oxygen, I have almost blacked out. It took me a few seconds to recover. The ship, Doombringer, was now making almost half a kilometre per second, taking me further away from Nine Tails pirate base. I have appreciated how much Crusader Industries have put into the A2, a military model of Hercules Starlifter. After all that damage the ship has taken, it has still been able to fly.
But I needed to hurry. Certainly, by now all Nine Tails fighter pilots would have been alerted, and I could imagine them running to their ships and starting the engines. There still was one massive Morningstar bomb remaining in the bay. If I hesitated any longer, Nine Tails fighters were going to get me. However, I was almost certain that I was still within Morningstar’s enormous blast radius. I had no other options, but to try my luck. I moved all shields to the rear and then pulled the bomb release trigger...
One month earlier
It was a cold rainy morning on Earth, a lovely blue planet in the Solar system. The planet I called home. I could see the torrents of rain being thrown and splattered over my window by strong gusts of wind. This weather could make anyone sad, but not me, not today. Because today I finally have got a job. After graduating from the flight academy, I have desperately been trying to find a place to work. My credit balance was getting smaller with every day, and it seemed like I have hit a wall with dozens of post-interview e-mails starting with the word “unfortunately”. This has been happening until one day an HR agent of Crusader Industries called me. Now, 2nd officer’s place on one of many M2 Hercules Starlifter military transport ships has been waiting for me. Crusader Industries have been running cargo convoys to Yar, the second planet in distant Centauri System close to Vanduul frontier. Anyone familiar with the Ark Starmap knew that the planet was terraformed originally and lately it was said that Yar was abandoned since its mineral resources were exhausted. With remaining inhabitants living in research stations, the red deserted planet didn’t seem to attract any interest: rocky desert, nothing to mine, no trade, a complete desolation. True, but not entirely. Only a week later I would find out that in reality, Yar had a strategic location where UEE Navy could set up a stronghold. The distance to major trade routes and supply chains was also very convenient, so that almost any large cargo ship could reach it in one jump from several locations. Also, Vanduul territory was close enough for the Navy to monitor. If that was not good enough, a system called Vanguard, the actual Vanduul domain, was only in 2 jumps from it. Big enough number of jumps to prevent unexpected invasion from Vanduul, and small enough number to rapidly advance into enemy territory if needed. The Beta Centauri true value was well concealed by its arid red desert.
I looked at my mobiglass. 9 am, still an hour to go. Bookings have been made and tickets have been paid for by Crusader Industries. From Earth to Port Olisar, stay overnight, and then to Hurston. There I would undergo Hercules training, and finally onboard Paladin Bale, my new place of work, one of many Crusader’s Paladins that run cargo missions for the UEE Navy. A cab would arrive at ten-hundred, then it would take me to Orion Star space port, where my journey would begin. I’ve checked my backpack one more time. Some clothes, ionic toothbrush, a multitool, and a VR. Mobiglass alone wasn’t enough for all what a personal computer had to offer. A VR, Virtual Reality, was a small visor, like sunglasses, which could also be connected directly with a brain implant, making everything inside VR real, should you opt to get one inside your head. That was it. I didn’t need much for this trip, - all the necessary stuff would be provided by the employer.
My mobiglass emitted a bright chime notifying me that my cab has arrived. I stood up, and headed for the exit. Just before leaving, I stopped. Then I looked back as if I was saying good-bye to my home. I’ve spent a minute like this. Then I shut the door, turned, and exited to the street. The cab was waiting next to the building entrance. It was one of the auto-taxis, a fully automatic shuttle with no pilot. As I’ve made myself seated, the cab has closed the door and a soft modulated voice said: “Champion taxis. Welcome on board. Your pleasant journey is our care. Time to arrive at Orion Star space port is 32 minutes.” Then the cab accelerated, skittering frictionlessly, taking the full advantage of gravlev drivers. I looked out of the window. The scenery was flying past. The city block looked empty and miserable with all the wind and rain. The sky was steely grey and a grim mass of led clouds gave a feeling of something heavy pressing my chest, making it difficult to breathe. The cab reached the end of no-fly zone, and lifted off, almost instantly launching itself a good couple of hundred meters above the ground. The wind and rain didn’t seem to bother it. From up here the gigantic city looked like a large grey mass, almost merging together with the grey sky. Suddenly the cab entered a clear patch and a bright sun shining from the cobalt blue sky almost blinded me for a moment. Down below I’ve seen large green fields of central park and botanic gardens. Far on the horizon, the ocean’s blue surface rippled with silver reflections. At that moment, I felt good. The cab re-entered the rainy and windy greyness, but my sadness disappeared and I was smiling. My journey has begun…
Grab some beer :beer: and check out a story I've sent for Hercules Starlifter Short Story Contest. Actually, I felt like writing something more than just a short blurb, so I did a bit extra and wanted to hear your feedback. Let me know your thoughts: how did you feel when you've read it?
***************************************************
I have routed all the power to thrusters, and hit boost and afterburner while pointing the nav crosshairs on my HUD to Crusader, which was visible through the light misty haze that surrounded the asteroid. The roaring thunder filled up the ship. Its body shivered making the hull sing like a released arrow. Then, I felt the G-force pressing me into the chair, making my body so heavy that it was difficult to breathe. With no spacesuit and its life support systems compensating for high-G manoeuvres and releasing extra oxygen, I have almost blacked out. It took me a few seconds to recover. The ship, Doombringer, was now making almost half a kilometre per second, taking me further away from Nine Tails pirate base. I have appreciated how much Crusader Industries have put into the A2, a military model of Hercules Starlifter. After all that damage the ship has taken, it has still been able to fly.
But I needed to hurry. Certainly, by now all Nine Tails fighter pilots would have been alerted, and I could imagine them running to their ships and starting the engines. There still was one massive Morningstar bomb remaining in the bay. If I hesitated any longer, Nine Tails fighters were going to get me. However, I was almost certain that I was still within Morningstar’s enormous blast radius. I had no other options, but to try my luck. I moved all shields to the rear and then pulled the bomb release trigger...
One month earlier
It was a cold rainy morning on Earth, a lovely blue planet in the Solar system. The planet I called home. I could see the torrents of rain being thrown and splattered over my window by strong gusts of wind. This weather could make anyone sad, but not me, not today. Because today I finally have got a job. After graduating from the flight academy, I have desperately been trying to find a place to work. My credit balance was getting smaller with every day, and it seemed like I have hit a wall with dozens of post-interview e-mails starting with the word “unfortunately”. This has been happening until one day an HR agent of Crusader Industries called me. Now, 2nd officer’s place on one of many M2 Hercules Starlifter military transport ships has been waiting for me. Crusader Industries have been running cargo convoys to Yar, the second planet in distant Centauri System close to Vanduul frontier. Anyone familiar with the Ark Starmap knew that the planet was terraformed originally and lately it was said that Yar was abandoned since its mineral resources were exhausted. With remaining inhabitants living in research stations, the red deserted planet didn’t seem to attract any interest: rocky desert, nothing to mine, no trade, a complete desolation. True, but not entirely. Only a week later I would find out that in reality, Yar had a strategic location where UEE Navy could set up a stronghold. The distance to major trade routes and supply chains was also very convenient, so that almost any large cargo ship could reach it in one jump from several locations. Also, Vanduul territory was close enough for the Navy to monitor. If that was not good enough, a system called Vanguard, the actual Vanduul domain, was only in 2 jumps from it. Big enough number of jumps to prevent unexpected invasion from Vanduul, and small enough number to rapidly advance into enemy territory if needed. The Beta Centauri true value was well concealed by its arid red desert.
I looked at my mobiglass. 9 am, still an hour to go. Bookings have been made and tickets have been paid for by Crusader Industries. From Earth to Port Olisar, stay overnight, and then to Hurston. There I would undergo Hercules training, and finally onboard Paladin Bale, my new place of work, one of many Crusader’s Paladins that run cargo missions for the UEE Navy. A cab would arrive at ten-hundred, then it would take me to Orion Star space port, where my journey would begin. I’ve checked my backpack one more time. Some clothes, ionic toothbrush, a multitool, and a VR. Mobiglass alone wasn’t enough for all what a personal computer had to offer. A VR, Virtual Reality, was a small visor, like sunglasses, which could also be connected directly with a brain implant, making everything inside VR real, should you opt to get one inside your head. That was it. I didn’t need much for this trip, - all the necessary stuff would be provided by the employer.
My mobiglass emitted a bright chime notifying me that my cab has arrived. I stood up, and headed for the exit. Just before leaving, I stopped. Then I looked back as if I was saying good-bye to my home. I’ve spent a minute like this. Then I shut the door, turned, and exited to the street. The cab was waiting next to the building entrance. It was one of the auto-taxis, a fully automatic shuttle with no pilot. As I’ve made myself seated, the cab has closed the door and a soft modulated voice said: “Champion taxis. Welcome on board. Your pleasant journey is our care. Time to arrive at Orion Star space port is 32 minutes.” Then the cab accelerated, skittering frictionlessly, taking the full advantage of gravlev drivers. I looked out of the window. The scenery was flying past. The city block looked empty and miserable with all the wind and rain. The sky was steely grey and a grim mass of led clouds gave a feeling of something heavy pressing my chest, making it difficult to breathe. The cab reached the end of no-fly zone, and lifted off, almost instantly launching itself a good couple of hundred meters above the ground. The wind and rain didn’t seem to bother it. From up here the gigantic city looked like a large grey mass, almost merging together with the grey sky. Suddenly the cab entered a clear patch and a bright sun shining from the cobalt blue sky almost blinded me for a moment. Down below I’ve seen large green fields of central park and botanic gardens. Far on the horizon, the ocean’s blue surface rippled with silver reflections. At that moment, I felt good. The cab re-entered the rainy and windy greyness, but my sadness disappeared and I was smiling. My journey has begun…
