Defiance Chapter Two

Chapter 2

Charlotte had been on board Valkerie for four hours and already it was becoming a nightmare. Lieutenant Commander Harkins' had irritated her within three minutes of meeting her. He had lined up the new navigational officers and inspected them, he had assigned the two attractive women the glamorous bridge position, the two men were sent to rest break and she had been lumbered with recalibrating the navigational array. It had taken her two hours to locate the damn thing and a further hour to clear out all the faulty readings.

She had now been detailed to report to stellar cartography to aid the ship's helm officer to familiarise themselves with the area of space in the Oberon sector. That had been an hour ago and she was still wandering the ship, rage had overtaken her and coursed through her as she balled her fists at her side.

The corridors were large and spacious, bigger than the box like cabin she had been assigned, and practically empty. She stormed around the corner straight through two officers. She noticed they were wearing the blue-grey uniforms of the fleet air arm with yellow patches denoting them as fighter pilots.

"Wow... Sorry miss." The first pilot said defensively taking a step back and raising his hands. He was a bit taller than her with short read hair, a playful smile spread across his lips. Was he mocking her?

"Excuse me." She said quickly in an acidic tone, she turned her gaze to the floor and started to power off down the corridor.

"Wonder where the fire is?" The blonde female pilot half laughed.

The laugh tore through Charlotte like a razor blade, she could feel herself shaking with rage and it was all she could do to stop herself from exploding.

"Bite me." She muttered as she continued her journey to nowhere.

Why did all these corridors look the same? Why did the directions seem to lead in circles? Who did those two space jocks think they were?

She had already made up her mind to put in a transfer to the Hercules as soon as her shift had ended. She rounded a corner and there it was; stellar cartography. Exhilaration and relief washed over her calming the heat of her anger like a rain shower on a hot summer’s day. She almost skipped up to the door.

The room was spacious with a giant holosphere in the centre surrounded with shelves of maps and info cds around the walls. A tanned and athletic looking officer was reviewing a set of charts. "He must be the helmsman." She thought.

She hurried to his side and snapped to attention and saluted.

"First lieutenant Charlotte Bell reporting sir."

The man didn't look up. "You're late." His voice was soft and calming.

"Sorry sir. I'm new aboard and managed to get completely lost."

He looked up and smiled, white ivory teeth glinted in the spotlight, shrouded in a perfect smile, his hazel eyes seemed to generate light as they danced hypnotically.

Charlotte felt her heart skip a beat, and then begin to melt. He was one of the - No- the most beautiful men she had ever seen. She had read and dreamt about love at first sight but had rationally told herself that it wasn't possible. No man she had ever met before had generated such a spark within her. She had had crushes before and once a fellow cadet, Jack, had told her he loved her and that he wanted to give up everything for her and wanted to bring her nothing but happiness but he had lied to her. She remembered the day she discovered the truth, something that had destroyed her youth and naivety, the day she met his wife. The pain had been too great for her to take and she almost gave up everything she had worked so hard for and returned home to her mother in tears had it not been for Amy consoling her. Then one night she had an epiphany, a blinding light in the darkness of her hurt. She would never allow this to happen again, she had bared her soul and offered her heart willingly to someone and it had been torn apart before her eyes. From that day onwards she had thrown up a defensive barrier between herself and the rest of the world except for Amy, it often left her isolated and aloof from the other cadets but she no longer cared what they thought, she was there to do her job and to be the best and that was what she would do. Jack had promised to leave his wife for her but she could no longer face him feeling the way she did, torn between wanting to throw her arms around him and ripping him to shreds so she slowly cut him loose from her inner circle. The whole experience had left her cold and hostile to any future advances by potential suitors. But something deep inside her melted under the hazel eyes.

"Don't worry." he smiled "Now... let’s look at the charts shall we?"

*** 

Stacey replaced the rifle into the sergeant’s hands, noting that his jaw was on the floor as he surveyed the fallen targets, each with a smoking “Bull’s eye.”
“I can do it again if you’d like sir?” She offered genuinely.
When she had arrived at the recruitment centre the Sergeant had near enough laughed in her face, she could see in his eyes that he held her in contempt as if a woman could not serve the army in a combat role. He was a giant bull of a man with a neck the thickness of her leg and thick black sunglasses that hid his expression. His uniform was tight across a muscular frame and he towered over her trying to intimidate her with pure masculinity. She had seen this before, in the mines. I t hadn’t worked there and it wouldn’t work now.

“What can you offer us?” He had asked in a condescending way. He had almost laughed at her when she told him in deadpan that she could shoot a rifle better than any of his recruits and that she could carry a kit bag further and longer. The man had grinned at her and talked to her like she was a child, taking her out to an improvised shooting range at the back of the building and handed her the rifle.

“This is my rifle civilian. You will treat with respect and I will treat you with respect.”

She had dropped to one knee and taken careful aim, feeling the wood against her and her eyes quickly getting used to the sights, she felt the rifle become a natural extension of herself and her mind cleared, all there was was her and the target. She held her breath and pulled the trigger. Within moments she pulled herself back to the real world and saw the targets all struck.

"Sergeant?" She prompted. "Do I get in?"

The man mumbled something inaudible, his eyes still fixed on the targets.

"Sir?"

Something seemed to wash over the Sergeant and he snapped to attention as his military mode overtook his temporary speechlessness.

"Congratulations Recruit." He adopted his drill sergeant voice and thrust the rifle at her and pointed back at the grey concrete building. "This is your rifle now. Get inside and see Corperal Davis, he will kit you out and assign you to your unit. Understood?"

She took the rifle, holding it with reverance, she felt a glow deep inside her rising at the man's acceptance of her.

"Yes sir!"

She glanced over her shoulder as she entered the building and saw the Sergeant remove his hat and glasses to stare at the targets, he still looked shocked but a smile of approval was growing on his face.

*** 

Jonathon and Claire moved into the main docking bay amongst a sea of other pilots. The entire 51st fighter division had somehow squeezed into the space and were all talking at once. The loud din filled their ears as it roared and echoed all around them. Jonathon noticed that Claire had slipped her hand into his and gently squeezed. He told himself it was so they wouldn't get separated.

There were officers shouting from raised platforms and waving signs, their voices lost in the sea of noise. He turned to look at Claire and smiled, her eyes betrayed fear as she looked around.

"Don't worry." he mouthed, gently shaking his head.

She looked straight at him and smiled her usual enchanting smile and winked her left eye. "Ok."

An officer grabbed Jonathon's left shoulder and roughly turned him around. "Unit?" he barked.

"Fourteenth." Jonathon snapped reflexively.

A look of disgust briefly crossed his face, "Training? You want Campion...Over by the fuel barrels."

With a rough gesture the officer disappeared into the crowd. Jonathon threw Claire a quick glance and she shrugged.

Both began scanning the sea of Blue-grey uniforms and finally managed to see a glint of yellow that hopefully was a fuel barrel. Claire's grip tightened on his left hand as they advanced through the pressing crowd, gently barging other pilots and rebuffing their shoves. All the time trying to maintain a course for the barrels and all the time Claire's grip never faltered. Only once was their umbilical cord almost broken but Jonathon had turned around and pushed the offending pilot aside.

"Excuse us." he said, false anger rose in his eyes as the two men briefly stared each other down.

"Sorry lieutenant." the man eventually conceded before disappearing with the crowd. Claire gave his hand an appreciative squeeze and shot him a smile.

He began to push forward again and soon the fuel barrels were in clear sight. A tall blonde officer paced up and down, a board with the number 14 lay next to him. He had obviously become tired of shouting and had decided to wait instead.

Jonathon pulled Claire forward and pushed her up first, they both halted in front of their new commander.

"Lieutenants Doolan and Eldon reporting sir." Claire quickly saluted.

The officer looked up contemptuously, briefly noting they were still holding hands.

"You...Doolan. You're the first cadet here. You are now in charge of flight two. You Eldon, you are her second. Don't drop the ball." his voice was curt and no nonsense. Something told Jonathon this was going to be a tough assignment.

"Now stop holding hands like frightened children and sit over there."

They quickly released each other and went over to the corner Campion had indicated and perched on a barrel. Claire looked around nervously at the throng in the docking bay.

"So promotion already." Jonathon smiled, playfully punching her on the arm, her brow was furrowed and she looked far away, as if mulling over a great issue. "Doolz?"

"Hmmm?" She quickly turned back to reality and smiled at him. "We're what now?"

"What's up mate?" He was concerned. She was always bright and attentive; it wasn't like her to zone out.

"Nothing." She smiled, "I'm five by five. Just waiting for this to end. I don't like the crowds."

"I know." he smiled and patted her knee. "It'll be over soon."

Time seemed to trudge on slowly and still the crowds and noise didn't subside, one by one new people arrived, bright eyed and terrified. They all sat on the floor cross legged like frightened children. No one spoke. Campion continued to pace, his expression of anger still frozen onto his icy face. Jonathon tried to read into his new commander but got nothing. There was no betrayal of emotion, save for anger, nor outlook ore even general demeanour just a blank angry slate.

Claire sat motionless next to him, almost in a daze. He had seen her like this once before but that was a long time ago, back on the first day at the academy.

She had been frozen at the back of the sign up hall, overwhelmed by the throng of new sights and sounds. Seeing her alone, an island in a sea of pushing and shoving cadets he had gone over to introduce himself to her and see if she was alright. He had talked inanely to the petite pretty blonde woman for a while whilst she silently watched the crowd move around them. Presently she muttered an apology and disappeared into the mass leaving him alone again.

“Always had a way with the ladies.” he had thought to himself.

He had been surprised to find her back in his dorm room sat on the end of one of the bunks staring into her hands.

"How did you find me?" she looked up at him in shock. He had thought about it a lot afterwards, it may have seemed like he was a crazy stalker that had latched onto the pretty blonde girl and followed her back to her room.

"This is my room." he had said defensively moving over and flopping down on the bunk he had already picked out as his.

"Do you mind if I put some music on?"

"What do you have?" Her eyes had lit up and she had moved over to his collection.

That had been the opening of the flood gates and the start of something amazing. Wherever he was - Claire was. Wherever Claire was partying he was buying the drinks. If he was working late she made the coffee; if she was on disciplinary he would serve the punishment with her, whether he deserved it or not.

The Lecturers and officers always paired them up; they had given up trying to separate them and accepted them as a single entity. Major Braxham had assigned them to different flights once but to his surprise twenty four hours later, through a complicated system of favours and swaps they had got back together. The Major had forbidden them from working on the same courses but they both pulled double the work and Jonathon did the same course work as her and vice versa so they could help each other. Eventually Braxham just gave up and they just got on and did things they way they always had. At their graduation he had pulled them aside and gloated.

"Now you two... You're finally on your own; let’s see how well you can cope."

But he had underestimated Claire. She had managed to swap and transfer the same day so they could cling on one more time.

He reached out and slid his hand over hers. She looked up and smiled at him, her eyes regaining their sparkle.

People had often intimated that they were actually a couple and that sharing a dorm was a cover for sharing a bed. His friend Mark had been deeply surprised when he had fallen for Lucy.

"What about Claire?" he had asked.

Jonathon had just smiled and shook his head. They had been close but never more than that. There was no reason why he had never fallen for her and on more than one occasion he had thought that he would like to meet a woman like Claire or that something would develop between them but there had never been a spark or developed, she had never shown similar feelings and they had existed in a quasi brother-sister relationship.

"Right!" Campion's voice ripped through his reminiscence "Let's go training Squadron. You Doolan pick three pilots and fall in. Jackson, Flately do the same."

Claire leapt to her feet and looked around, settling on two faces at random, she pointed at them and said firmly. "You and you come with me."

One of the other officers touched Jonathon's shoulder. He looked at the dark-haired woman in front of him slightly quizzically.

"You like you can handle yourself." She observed with a  wink. "Why don't you come with me?"

Jonathon turned to face her and was about to apologise when Claire pushed in-between them and put a testing finger on the others shoulder. Her eyes glowered and her voice sounded different.

"Back off! He's spoken for." came an ice maiden's voice frozen tone from Claire.

"I don't see your name on him. He's free to choose." The other protested weakly.

"No he isn't and he's mine. His tag is under his uniform." Claire, despite her small stature had puffed herself up and spoke with such venom as to be as imposing as she could. It was a sight rarely seen by anyone; in fact Jonathon hadn't seen her like this since she had confronted Lucy in the academy cafeteria.

 Lucy had been making light of Jonathon's admission of love for her to her sister and Claire had heard. Her face had flushed red and her eyes seemed to glow with rage as she quietly got to her feet and strode towards the blonde twins. In a calm but venom laced voice she had told her in no uncertain terms that;

"If you pulled your head out of your arse for one minute you would see that Jonathon Eldon is a fantastic man and any woman would be lucky to have him."

Lucy had retorted successfully silencing Claire. Jonathon had never found out what was said but it had taken the wind out of Claire's sails and she had backed down and quietly walked out of the Cafeteria.

The other officer backed away from Claire's accusing finger, her hands up defensively. "Alright if you want him so bad.”

Claire shot him a smile and a wink before they moved off with the rest of the squadron as they filed off towards the briefing rooms.

***

The second salamander exploded. Jenkins looked over her shoulder and saw the remnants of Adeogan's craft burning and flash freezing.

"Damn it Holman keep closer or we've both had it/"

The target, a N'kell cruiser filled her cockpit glazing as she careened towards it. Her targeting computer had selected the main shield generator, she was waiting for the range meter to hit optimum but it was taking an eternity.

She was still confused as to where the N'kell had come from; this was supposed to be Oaten's fleet at the rendezvous.

Green light!

"Payload released." She squeezed the fire control and four medium rockets blazed away from her wings.

"Holman target their bridge.... Holman?"

There was no response, and as a reflexive glance she saw his fighter had gone to.

"Frick!"

Her hands tightened around the control stick and she pulled out of the attack dive and back into the swirling maelstrom of fighters.

"Black group report in?"

"Here sir." Gibson chimed in.

"Kinda busy Jinx but here." Sams sounded combat fatigued but Jenkins knew he operated best in those circumstances.

She was glad her new wingman had never reported for duty, a cadet would have been slaughtered no matter how good she was supposed to be.

"Ok Ace of spade wing... Numbers?"

The whole fighter group tried to report into her as they whirled and danced with the N'kell 901 fighters. To her horror and grudging respect she had seen a squadron of the heavier 904 "destroyer" fighters marked with black triangle markings of the N'kell 97th. She had fought them before aboard the Olympia. Their commander Mahltz was a cunning and ruthless individual who knew how to coordinate his group effectively. Jenkins had met him personally once - through the bars of the brig, there had been a meeting of minds and comradeship and eventually she had let him go when she had heard he was to be executed for crimes committed by his senior officer just because he was a N'kell. It was times like this though that she had wished she hadn't. Seeing those black triangles always filled her with dread and she knew she would be losing her men... her friends that day.

There was an explosion to her port and the Hercules began to break up. Jenkins locked her jaw as she thought of her captain, crew and friends suddenly perishing in the fiery instant. She could see the other great ships of the line trying to break formation and flee. Proud names like Ramillies, Plassey and Mongelheda tried to turn on their axis and escape the carnage like frightened children. With Admiral Stimson gone it was understandable, the captains didn't know what to do and with no voice to coordinate them chaos ensued as they tried to save the lives of their crew and their vessels.

She saw the trap as it sprang. Why had she not seen the signs before? The port flank had been far too quiet and her sensors had been clear. All signs pointed to a sensor shroud. Out of the manufactured blackness they came, like creatures spawning from a nightmare the N'kell fleet descended in vast numbers, their pulse cannons firing.

"53rd BREAK!" she screamed. "Stay away from their capital ships..," she was cut off by an explosion on her starboard wing. A 904 with a red tail fin cruised past her.

"Mahltz..." She whispered.

Accelerating her craft she moved to pursue. They had agreed all those years ago to settle their score, it had been at one a piece and now she world get the best of three.

"Everyone leave my target. He's mine." She would have no one else claim this scalp.

The N'kell weaved through the swirling maelstrom of dog fights, individual battles locked away in concentration from the big battles. Every time she got a lock on him and fractionally squeezed the trigger he would wave slightly and she would lose the lock. He was toying with her. She pictured his smug face taunting her and her blood ran like lava through her veins.

Then suddenly his fighter dived away and span off to port. Not expecting it Jenkins struggled to turn in time and locate him.

"Jinx... I've got one on my tail! I can’t shake him..." Sams’ voice echoed in her ears.

"Calm down black four." She bit back. She scanned space for her stricken friend finally seeing the burning fighter being pursued by... "Oh no." She cursed.

"I've lost starboard thrust... I can't evade... Jinx...JINX!"

Another star erupted in the darkness of the sky. For a brief moment her friend and colleague joined the eternal number of bright spots.

Mahltz broke from the combat and withdrew towards the safety of the N'kell flagship screened by a new wave of reinforcements.

She bit back a curse and a tear filled her eye. Regaining composure she toggled comms.

"All right guys... we... let’s get out of here. Withdrawal pattern alpha to the nearest cap ship..."

She gave a quick scan and saw the Messiah, Heretic and Valiance were on fire. The destroyer Phobos had nearly reached a safe distance, she was small enough to be missed by the N'kell ships.

"Flight controller Phobos we will cover and join you over?"

"Affirmative a fighter screen is more than welcome."

Jenkins looked at the great cloud of N'kell fighters swarming like angry locusts on the last human ship.

"We have to get to you first." She muttered.

***

Aboard the N'kell cruiser Bloodletter, Keister watched the single human vessel and the last of the human fighters trying to flee.

"We're in position now sir." Sperrle his aid croaked.

"Let them go commander." He waved a hand dismissively. "They can report what they have seen."

"But sir!" Sperrle hissed with rage.

"They are of no threat to us." Keister Mused "The fear they can carry will spread through their lines. We shall strike in 72 hours."

Sperrle nodded in eager agreement. "Yes Admiral."

Keister regarded his juniors’ enthusiasm fuelled with religious fervour.

"Have Mahltz sent to me and all three of us shall prepare for the invasion."

Serialisation of "Defiance" Chapter 1

The four Salamander fighters roared overhead in a low pass saluting the recent graduates. The freshly promoted second lieutenant Jonathon Eldon looked up at them. His heart leapt with pride and excitement. Clutching his dispatch papers and graduation roll he began to relive the same day dreams that had got him through the bad times here at the academy and a spur for the endless testing. Being a fighter pilot in the "Service" had been his dream and ambition since he was a small youth growing up on the Agri world of Rowlatt, staring up at the blue sky on a warm summer’s day dreaming of dog fights and medals.
"Hey John!" A familiar voice cut into his reality. Looking across the "Quadrangle" he saw her walking towards him.
Lieutenant Claire Doolan, his bunk mate smiled as she drew near. Her blue eyes sparkled in the sun light with a youthful playfulness. They had been billeted together for three years now and had become nigh on inseparable, she was always on his wing.
"Did you get your orders Freya?"
Freya was her pet name for him; she said that he snored like the sounds of a dying Freya night beast. He never quite believed her, nor knew how she knew what a dying night beast sounded like but had grown to like the name.
"Yes indeed. 51st." He smiled broadly "Stationed on the Valkerie. What did you get?"
"53rd, Ace of Spades on the Hercules. I'm shipping out in two hours." She shifted her eyes down to the grass below.
A wave of shock washed over him. He and Claire had been friends for so long and been such a major part of each other’s lives that he couldn't imagine being separate from her.
"That was fast." He managed to murmur. All thought of glory and achievement lost under the dark waves of loss and regret.
"Yeah I know." She tried to manage a half smile. "Something about fleet movement into the Oberon Sector and needing the best pilot for the job!"
"Then surely..." he began but stopped, looking her straight in the eye he smiled "They have chosen well."
She punched his arm lightly "Don't get all mushy on me Freya."
They grew silent and started walking to the dorm. "Are you all packed?" His voice was tight and lacked its usual light heartedness.
"I don't think in the three years I've been here I've unpacked everything." She said wistfully, "Anyway, all that crap in the dorm is yours!"
They laughed again and he put an arm around her shoulder.
"I'm going to miss you Doolz."
Her step faltered and her eyes rolled up to meet his, a touch of remorse nagged her features.
"Going to miss you too Freya." She half whispered.

***

Charlotte sat on the end of her bed, her kit bag at her feet. How could her entire life be fitted into such a small bag? The room lay bear save for a book left casually in the middle of her bunk.
The Room's emptiness seemed to resonate around her and permeate her soul. Amy, her roommate and best friend had shipped out that morning. She had been second top of her class and received promotion to the cruiser Hercules. It was a prestigious assignment. Second Navigational officer on the Command ship of the Zosen sector.
Charlotte hadn't wanted to see her go. Where ever there were pranks her and Amy had started it. Where ever there was a party her and Amy had planned, publicised and starred in it. Amy was the brash out going one, Charlotte the insular studious one but when she was with Amy she had become a mirror of her charismatic nature and was one of the twin stars at the centre of their own galaxy.
Her three years here had been a rollercoaster ride of dizzying highs and crushing lows. She had fought and won the title of "Top of the class" and majored in Astro navigation with a ground breaking study on Quagor Nebulonic formations. A theory so complicated she had managed to dazzle her lecturers with guess work and supposition.
A brief smile played across her lips as she remembered Doctor Cubb's face as she argued the point he was making failed to stand up to the laws of physics and then proceeded to explain to the aging professor, who had dedicated his life to the study of this field, that the basis of his ideas was:
    A) Dated and flawed by current research, and;
 B) If the "Presumptions" were followed by a crew in the field they would all end up dead.
To her surprise he agreed -to an extent- before sending her to report to the head of the department.
She fidgeted, pushing her light brown hair behind her ears and scooped up her muster sheet again. There was no need to read it, she had read it four times, had committed it to memory but found solace in reading it one last time.
"1st Lieutenant Charlotte. M. Bell Navigational officer first class - Report to chief navigator Harkins aboard Valkerie in 48 hours (0900 27-4)
Shuttle 0745 departs Rantru academy 16.00 25-4"
Short but simple. She glanced at her watch. 14:55. With a sigh she stood up and scooped up her bag and book. How could her life feel so light?
Approaching the door she turned to take one last glance around at the gunboat grey walls and metal bunks. She could hear her and Amy laughing; the sound resonated and seemed to escape from the walls. She smiled gently. The room had been so full of life now lay in state.
"Good bye Room." Her voice was soft and tinged with remorse.
Forcing another smile she flicked the light switch plunging the room into darkness, save for the white glow of the door, which slowly faded to black as she closed it.
One chapter ends, however much you loved it, another begins.

***

Admiral Stimson regarded the star maps on the situation report table. He would get the glory he knew he deserved. Those fools in central command had overlooked a golden opportunity. Since the human Empire had reached N'kell space they had stopped. The original exploration vessel that had opened up the way to the Galactic core had returned with comprehensive intelligence reports and many encounters.
Captain Bond had engaged the same flotilla of craft time and time again but had never been defeated. This alien "Menace" was obviously a paper tiger and not worth worrying about. Stimson looked at the Zoden gap. His superiors had worried their heads over this patch of space and millions of credits had been diverted to planetary defences but the answer was more simple than that. A battle group under the more than capable Vice Admiral Oaten would smash through the door and the whole rotten structure would collapse.
Oaten's fleet was the most powerful reconnaissance force put together, mainly from the Zosen defence force. Twenty heavy cruisers with the cream of the navy and fighter force all led by the flagship Vengeful.
The N'kell didn't stand a chance.
A second fleet to be led by Stimson would follow up and mop up survivors. The rewards for Oaten and himself by a grateful Parliament and Emperor would be far reaching. Glory and wealth would be his forever and the Human Empire would move another step towards greatness.

***

Zosen IV was a hive of activity. The colony on this far flung, temperate world had been founded five years previously and had rapidly increased in size. Settlers from all over the Empire had been drawn to the rich mineral deposits and the endless employment in the defence factories. The Admiralty required a constant stream of warships, star fighters, and a defence force garrison. The population had grown from the first few thousand settlers who had emerged from the seeding ships to forty million in just five years.
Unlike so many other worlds forcibly settled by Parliament, Zosen IV had a rich wealth of minerals and a good temperate climate and no surprises. The memory of Partolli II was still fresh in the mind of every Galactic Scout and colonist. The planet scans showed a similar template as Alpha prime and rich in minerals with fertile soil. Four nights into the colonies existence all nine thousand settlers were killed, as was the battalion of soldiers sent to investigate. It was a month before the next military vessel passed by and landed more troops. Lieutenant Herrick, the sole survivor reported to his Captain that nocturnal Ogre like creatures rose from the caves and culled everyone.
Luckily for the millions on Zosen nothing like that existed here.
At eighteen years old Stacey Nash had already seen much of the Galaxy. Her father had been assigned as a navigator on a civilian Survey ship and had taken his family with him. Stacey had seen the birth of a star, looked into the eternal darkness of a black hole and the deep purple haze of a Quagor Nebula. Life on the "Aurora" had been educational and an experience that had moulded her view of the galaxy.
Now... Now she was stuck here. Her mother had died four years previously and her father had deteriorate and almost penniless took the emperor's golden credit and became a miner on Zone. After the accident that had left his left side paralysed she had taken a job as a pit worker too. Two years of scratching a living from rock and taking care of her two younger brothers had left her with a wistful melancholy but with a chipper sense of humour. She had learnt to swing a pick and operate heavy machinery quickly and to defend herself from the advances of the other miners even quicker. More than one man had reported to the infirmary with a broken jaw or arm and the whisper "Leave Stacey Nash" ran quickly through them. She loved the respect she had earned but it came at a price, people were often too scared of her and she was often treated as a pariah by most. Her only real friends were Eddie and George, two other pit workers from the same watch. George was like a surrogate father who constantly looked out for her where as Eddie was a young lad, a newbie. She' saved him from a fight two years previous and since then they'd become inseparable.
It had been another gruelling day in the mines. The government had upped the quota of ore required, they were obviously gearing up for something and the supervisors were taking it out on the workers. Stacey and Eddie were walking down the escalator to the habitation sector. The sound of martial music carried across the crisp cool morning air. Stacey strained her eyes in the direction it came from. From their lofty vantage point she could see the columns of figures marching along the main street. Green helmets bobbed like a sea whilst silver plates glinted and sparkled in the sun.
"Looks like a parade." Eddie said incredulously
"Well Yeah..." Her dry sense of humour often relied on Eddie's stupid comments and was rarely left wanting.
"Do you want to take a closer look?"
She didn't even have to answer, this was excitement and standing in the darkness all day carving out chunks of rock was an occupation that needed any form of excitement
The hurried down the hill and into the shanty town of grotty prefabs, lean-to's and unsanitary tenements that lived under the grandiose name of habitation sector. Jumping a burst sewer main and its stinking discharge they picked their way through the slime towards the merchant sector and the aortic road that was the "Main Street."
Stacey had become accustomed to this place. She hated it and yearned to leave but the sights, sounds and smells had long been engrained in her mind and she had acclimatised.
Eddie still curled his nose in disgust at the effluent that flowed down the street and tried to avoid stepping in slime. His attitude would change but Stacey hoped that would take a long time, when others had lost their standards and embraced their lot they had lost a part of themselves.
They crossed the rusting bridge into the "Merchant sector" and walked down the dark ally into the cheering crowd.
Through the mass of citizens Stacey could make out the soldiers of the fourth Zosen light infantry, their pulse rifles held to the port, the regimental band playing with a jaunty number that kept everyone in step behind the red regimental standard. Behind the column of men came the APCs and light tanks. Their engines roared a throaty cough as they rolled down the black tarmac streets.
It was an impressive sight especially for the civilians who rarely saw such a spectacle.
"Fools" a familiar voice filled her ears. George stepped out of one of the doorways and up to her and Eddie.
“Come on George they’re the shield of the Empire.” Eddie scoffed
“They’re dead men walking.” His voice was as cold and crisp as the morning air. “I’ve fought the N’kell boy, they are ruthless and efficient killers bent on one thing- the annihilation of the enemy. When their Admiralty has finished wiping these boys out they will come for us here.”
“Do you really think so George?” Stacey half smiled as she tried to make light of the dark prediction.
“No” Eddie pointed at the proud looking infantry column “They’ll deal with them easily.”
George shook his head, his eyes fixed on the troops. “Their high command has known this day was coming and have prepared for any incursion by us. Then once our shield is cut off they’ll stab deep into our heart.”
Stacey’s blood ran cold. What if George was right?
“You mark my words… Death will come to us all if they cross the border.”

***

Jonathon looked around the small cabin he had been assigned. The shuttle had basic accommodation for the long haul to the rendezvous point. He yawned and ran his hand over his freshly shaved face. It had been a long day and he still had a long journey left. The duty officer had said that there was no reason to wander the ship and he might as well get some sleep. A notion Jonathon was warming too.
He moved over and sat on the small cot and looked over at the empty bunk opposite. The roster showed that the vessel was filled to capacity and yet for some reason this cabin only housed him. Still not always a bad thing. After the calm and friendship of living with Doolan for three years he was dreading a new room mate who would throw his life into chaos.
He reached into his bag and pulled out an old photo, its reflective surface caught the light and briefly dazzled him. He smiled at the familiar faced that glowed back at him.
The photograph was two years old, taken on Valentines day at the campus bar with his dorm mates, all hopeful and eager young fighter pilots. At the centre of the picture was Mark, one of his best friends and the nominal leader of the group, a broad smile lit up his face as he held two thumbs up. Flanking him were the twins Sarah and Lucy, their matching smiles highlighted their natural beauty, their long blonde hair, let down for the casual occasion, cascaded down their backs and over their shoulders.
Sarah was looking at Mark, secretly she had always had a crush on him, something secret and special but never quite realised.
To Lucy's right was Jonathon, he looked younger to his eyes, it seemed an eternity since that time but he still remembered that night. Slow dancing with Lucy, their eyes locked on each other, the smell of her perfume filling his nostrils, he hadn't been able to feel the floor beneath his feet, nor remembered anyone else there, just the two of them. Behind him stood Doolan, she had her arm wrapped around his waist and smiled broadly; a glass of champagne in her right hand, her gaze was a side glance at him. He remembered she had got really drunk that night
and he had carried her back to the dorm and put her into her bed. She had cried the whole way home but wouldn't say why.
He smiled briefly and put the photo on the wall next to his pillow.
The memories of the pas and the good times kept him sane, this one photo had had seen him through many bad times. Just looking at Lucy and the others made his heart swell and the love he had for her would always be with him.
He laid back onto the bed and closed his eyes, the thin mattress stabbed him with every spring in the back but it didn’t matter, it was a bed and fatigue was finally washing over him. He was slowly sinking below the waves into blackness when the door opened and the clomp-clomp of boots on metal floor plating caught his attention. A burst of adrenaline coursed through his arteries and he sat up with a start as if doused in cold water.
"Calm down Freya, its only me." A familiar voice filled his ears as his eye sight cleared. Doolan was sat on the empty bed looking at him, her bag tossed casually on the floor. Jonathon creased his brow as he tried to comprehend what was she doing here? Wasn't she supposed to be heading for the Hercules? This had to be a dream.
"No you aren't dreaming." She half laughed.
His brow furrowed deeper. "Hercules?" He croaked "53rd?"
She shrugged and looked away briefly before her grey eyes rolled up to meet his. "Didn't fancy it."
She let out a ripple of laughter and unbuttoned her jacket revealing the white shirt and loosened her black tie.
"But the ace of spades?" He was stll mumrmering.
"I hear the 51st is the place to be."  she smiled, "So I transferred."
"But Doolz."
She waved a hand dismivily. "Look Freya, you need me on your wing, and I trust no one else to cover me if i slip up."
He smiled warmly at her, he was glad that she was with him, he'd not been able to imagine life in the force without her, they had been together through thick and thin and she was right, he would rather have her on his wing than a thousand other pilots.
"Any way its all ratified now so there's no point arguing." She continued. "I see you've put the picture up." She nodded in the direction of the group portrait. "I hated that night." Her voice filled with bile.
"I'm surprised you remember that night at all, I've never seen you so drunk!"
Claire didn't respond, just stared blankly into open space. Jonathon watched her intently trying to read her thoughts but to no avail.
"You've never told me what was up?"
She nodded silently.
"Two years Doolz, we've told each other everything. You helped me struggle with my feelings for Lucy, I was there when your father died. We told each other everything which is wy we are a good team. But you've never talked of that night, what happened?"
"It was a long time ago." She said looking down at her boots. "I don't even remember."
Her voice was strained and laboured. He knew she was lying but knew her well enough not to push the issue. He was just glad to see her and have her in his squadron.
"Is there anyone else going to the 51st?" he tried to change the subject.
"Only Pentlow." She brought her head back up.
"Pentlow." He scoffed.
Matt Pentlow had bee one of the top fighter pilot trainees in the class. He had carried himself with a confident arrogance and had always been a bit of a nemesis for him. He had hoped he had seen the back of him at the fraduation.
"It'll be fine Jonathon." She smiled. "No point worrying." She removed her jacket and finally took her tie off before loosening her coller. light glinted from the silver chain around her neck. "Any way I'm going to get some shut eye." She said as she flicked the silver cruicifix out from under her coller.
"Ok Doolz." he smiled.
"Lights." She said out loud, the sensors caught her voice and the light level dimmed to near blackness. Jonathon laid back onto his painful matress.
"Hey Doolz?" Glad you're here." he said.
"Freya?" Her voice filled the darkness.
"Yeah?"
"Try not to snore. ok?"

***

The human fleet burned and continued to break up. Keister looked at the devestation his fleet had wrought on the alien incursion. They had been lured further away from their supply lines and then the N'kell had struck. The humans had never expected the "Subs." N'kell scientists had developed a type of vessel able to sit on a dimensional plane below reality but use special weapons to target their real space counterparts.
As yet the humans had yet to develope technology to detect them.
The "Subs" had waited til the human fleet was strung out in pursuit of the bait cruisers and then launched a volley of torpedos into them. The confusion wrought caused as much damage as the volley. Then the main fleet struck out from a sensor shrowd and hit the humans from the opposite flank.
A few elements tried to make a break for freedom but were easilly cut down.
Long range scans and intelligance reports showed that another fleet would arrive in forty eight hours. They would return to their sensor shrowd and await them.
Once the second wave was dealt with they would move on and destroy the Shik'lar.