Tue Aug 10, 2004 8:09 am
Chapter 4: Strange Openings
Track and Alice were being escorted back to New Berlin by Gamma 1 in his fighter, the two pilots flying alongside with an eager feeling of wanting to know what was going on.
“Rheinland Intelligence located a jump hole in the nebula, one that was rather unstable, but was suspected to become useable over time. It became active at least a few months ago, and they sent in a wing of fighters to look around.
“They ended up in the middle of a large radioactive nebula, although the gas did not affect their fighters much at all. Located nearby was an Outcast base with two ports and a large fighter wing compliment. The fighter wing immediately broke off and headed back into the jump hole, returning to New Berlin and telling them everything. The Outcasts seem to know about the jump hole too, and they seemed to be ready for outfitting a base on the other side of the jump hole. Why they needed two dock yards for capitol ships, I don’t know.
“We were planning on using those science ships as a cover for heading into the nebula and looking around, seeing what they had put up already. We know that they have at least a forward outpost with some sentry guns and a large wing of fighters. Rheinland Intelligence thinks the force is sizeable enough to take on our forces here in the New Berlin system. If they did that, and managed to seal off the exits out of here, we would be in for some serious trouble. We need to take over the jump hole in the nebula, seal it off, and destroy any remaining Outcasts in the area once it is complete.” Gamma 1 completed his story, and topped it off with a confirming click on his comm.
Track sat back in his seat, switched to autopilot, and did some reflecting.
“Wait…” he asked. “You are going to ask us to do something for you, aren’t you? Otherwise you wouldn’t have called us back to base.” Track commented.
“It’s not a special assignment, but I am giving you each command of your own squads. Your objectives will vary from one thing to the next, but this thing with the Outcasts has made our forces move over to tactical deployment. We are going to need our best pilots out there.” Gamma 1 explained. Alice made a bit of noise on her comm, as if to wonder what her part in all of this was.
“Rheinland Command will give you your assignments when you get back to base. I am just the messenger. Not a lot of other pilots know about this. They think this was a simple exploration and science mission, and Outcasts just so happened to be in the area. Lets keep it that way until further notice.” Gamma 1 ordered. Track and Alice confirmed, and they continued on their heading for the New Berlin docking ring.
Track set his fighter down on the landing pad gently, and he watched as Alice flew overhead and landed on the pad beyond the building he was staring at. He was less concentrated on the mission at hand, and more concentrated on the little get-together they were planning on having, but he dismissed the thought when he remembered that they probably wouldn’t have the time. This was a serious threat to Rheinland Security, and the New Berlin Intelligence Council was probably aware, but the neighboring systems might not have a clue what was going on. Rheinland Systems were usually viewed as able to take care of themselves, due to the vast military size. But Track was wondered if they would have the means to combat a large-forced nemesis, let alone the fact that they might be using Sabre fighters in the struggle.
“What now?” Track heard a familiar voice call to him from his left. He looked, and Alice stood there, her hands on her hips and her long brown hair waving with the wind as it breezed around the buildings.
“I guess we head over to Fleet Command. They will probably want something out of us.” Track mentioned. Alice nodded, and then started to head back for the landing bay.
“Wait, they probably don’t want us over there in our ships. Gamma 1 said this was a covert assignment. Better if we took a civilian vehicle so no one will identify our fighters.” Track recommended. Alice raised an eyebrow.
“You really are taking this seriously aren’t you?” Alice asked. Track looked around, kind of trying to avoid the question.
“I take a lot of things seriously, since a lot of things I used to do were quite serious.” Track explained. Alice nodded, shifted her thighs to the left from her right, and then turned around.
“Well I don’t care what you say. I’m taking my fighter over to Command whether you recommend it or not. I don’t think anyone is checking.” Alice sighed, waved Track off as she walked back towards her landing pad. Track shook his head and followed her.
“I might as well just fly with you since I have my fighter already parked in the hangar.” Track said. Alice continued on until she reached the landing pad, clamored into her fighter with Track following behind her and jumping in the rear cockpit. Alice started the flight sequence and lifted the craft off the ground. Track fastened himself in, and Alice took off.
Track was fiddling with his thumbs in the back of the ship, and wondering if Alice still remembered was she said earlier. She shifted in her seat and then spoke up over the tension Track was feeling.
“Remember what I told you Track… about getting together some time…” she asked. Track nodded and let out a “Uh huh” in the process. Alice smiled a bit.
“I had been planning something like this for a while now. The last time we went out somewhere, you were too drunk to do anything so I just took you home.” She laughed at the thought of Track stumbling over his own feet through the halls, complete out of it and speaking nonsense.
“But you and me…” she said “We have been seeing each other for a while now… I think we could try something for a change.” She looked back at Track as he sat there childishly in the seat.
“Maybe afterwards we could do something else. I think I could grow up living with you Track. You’re a nice guy.” Alice commented. Track felt very small at this point, having Alice doing all the talking and speaking of sex and long relationships. Track just nodded again. The fighter danced over the air in New Berlin and slowed down as they came closer to Rheinland Command.
“They give all the soldiers some prep time before every assignment, at least a day, and I think we could squeeze our time into that one day.” Alice suggested. Track perked up and said “Ok” quickly. He felt like she was, indeed, in control of what they did and how they did it and when they did it. Track felt like saying something stupid.
“At least you know I’m not after you because you’re rich.” Track laughed. Alice also laughed at the thought of pathetic rich men asking to marry her just because she was one of them. She thought that she joined the military to get out of a life of being waited on hand and foot and do something else in the world.
“That is true. Which reminds me, how long have we been dating?” she asked. Track counted back his years of service in the Rheinland Military. It dated back at least three years. He met Alice when she was a new recruit in the patrol service two years ago. After some time as friends they had at least grown fond of each other at that point. Track never knew the official date of when they started seeing each other on more personal notices, but it went back a while. Track guessed a number.
“A year.” He commented. Alice nodded. It must have been that long. She didn’t quite know the date either, but after some time together they had hit on each other more often than not. It was becoming quite regular to see each other’s faces when turning the corner.
“We’re here.” She said. Track looked out the window. Rheinland Command glistened with search lights placed on all four corners of the base’s square foundation. The docking bay nearby signaled them in, and Alice maneuvered the Valkyrie towards the large opening roof doors, set the ship down, and shut off the engine. Alice and Track hopped out of the ship, and an officer approached them.
“The general wishes to see you immediately. He has been expecting you.” He said quickly. Track and Alice looked at each other, and then nodded and followed the officer.
Track and Alice were being escorted back to New Berlin by Gamma 1 in his fighter, the two pilots flying alongside with an eager feeling of wanting to know what was going on.
“Rheinland Intelligence located a jump hole in the nebula, one that was rather unstable, but was suspected to become useable over time. It became active at least a few months ago, and they sent in a wing of fighters to look around.
“They ended up in the middle of a large radioactive nebula, although the gas did not affect their fighters much at all. Located nearby was an Outcast base with two ports and a large fighter wing compliment. The fighter wing immediately broke off and headed back into the jump hole, returning to New Berlin and telling them everything. The Outcasts seem to know about the jump hole too, and they seemed to be ready for outfitting a base on the other side of the jump hole. Why they needed two dock yards for capitol ships, I don’t know.
“We were planning on using those science ships as a cover for heading into the nebula and looking around, seeing what they had put up already. We know that they have at least a forward outpost with some sentry guns and a large wing of fighters. Rheinland Intelligence thinks the force is sizeable enough to take on our forces here in the New Berlin system. If they did that, and managed to seal off the exits out of here, we would be in for some serious trouble. We need to take over the jump hole in the nebula, seal it off, and destroy any remaining Outcasts in the area once it is complete.” Gamma 1 completed his story, and topped it off with a confirming click on his comm.
Track sat back in his seat, switched to autopilot, and did some reflecting.
“Wait…” he asked. “You are going to ask us to do something for you, aren’t you? Otherwise you wouldn’t have called us back to base.” Track commented.
“It’s not a special assignment, but I am giving you each command of your own squads. Your objectives will vary from one thing to the next, but this thing with the Outcasts has made our forces move over to tactical deployment. We are going to need our best pilots out there.” Gamma 1 explained. Alice made a bit of noise on her comm, as if to wonder what her part in all of this was.
“Rheinland Command will give you your assignments when you get back to base. I am just the messenger. Not a lot of other pilots know about this. They think this was a simple exploration and science mission, and Outcasts just so happened to be in the area. Lets keep it that way until further notice.” Gamma 1 ordered. Track and Alice confirmed, and they continued on their heading for the New Berlin docking ring.
Track set his fighter down on the landing pad gently, and he watched as Alice flew overhead and landed on the pad beyond the building he was staring at. He was less concentrated on the mission at hand, and more concentrated on the little get-together they were planning on having, but he dismissed the thought when he remembered that they probably wouldn’t have the time. This was a serious threat to Rheinland Security, and the New Berlin Intelligence Council was probably aware, but the neighboring systems might not have a clue what was going on. Rheinland Systems were usually viewed as able to take care of themselves, due to the vast military size. But Track was wondered if they would have the means to combat a large-forced nemesis, let alone the fact that they might be using Sabre fighters in the struggle.
“What now?” Track heard a familiar voice call to him from his left. He looked, and Alice stood there, her hands on her hips and her long brown hair waving with the wind as it breezed around the buildings.
“I guess we head over to Fleet Command. They will probably want something out of us.” Track mentioned. Alice nodded, and then started to head back for the landing bay.
“Wait, they probably don’t want us over there in our ships. Gamma 1 said this was a covert assignment. Better if we took a civilian vehicle so no one will identify our fighters.” Track recommended. Alice raised an eyebrow.
“You really are taking this seriously aren’t you?” Alice asked. Track looked around, kind of trying to avoid the question.
“I take a lot of things seriously, since a lot of things I used to do were quite serious.” Track explained. Alice nodded, shifted her thighs to the left from her right, and then turned around.
“Well I don’t care what you say. I’m taking my fighter over to Command whether you recommend it or not. I don’t think anyone is checking.” Alice sighed, waved Track off as she walked back towards her landing pad. Track shook his head and followed her.
“I might as well just fly with you since I have my fighter already parked in the hangar.” Track said. Alice continued on until she reached the landing pad, clamored into her fighter with Track following behind her and jumping in the rear cockpit. Alice started the flight sequence and lifted the craft off the ground. Track fastened himself in, and Alice took off.
Track was fiddling with his thumbs in the back of the ship, and wondering if Alice still remembered was she said earlier. She shifted in her seat and then spoke up over the tension Track was feeling.
“Remember what I told you Track… about getting together some time…” she asked. Track nodded and let out a “Uh huh” in the process. Alice smiled a bit.
“I had been planning something like this for a while now. The last time we went out somewhere, you were too drunk to do anything so I just took you home.” She laughed at the thought of Track stumbling over his own feet through the halls, complete out of it and speaking nonsense.
“But you and me…” she said “We have been seeing each other for a while now… I think we could try something for a change.” She looked back at Track as he sat there childishly in the seat.
“Maybe afterwards we could do something else. I think I could grow up living with you Track. You’re a nice guy.” Alice commented. Track felt very small at this point, having Alice doing all the talking and speaking of sex and long relationships. Track just nodded again. The fighter danced over the air in New Berlin and slowed down as they came closer to Rheinland Command.
“They give all the soldiers some prep time before every assignment, at least a day, and I think we could squeeze our time into that one day.” Alice suggested. Track perked up and said “Ok” quickly. He felt like she was, indeed, in control of what they did and how they did it and when they did it. Track felt like saying something stupid.
“At least you know I’m not after you because you’re rich.” Track laughed. Alice also laughed at the thought of pathetic rich men asking to marry her just because she was one of them. She thought that she joined the military to get out of a life of being waited on hand and foot and do something else in the world.
“That is true. Which reminds me, how long have we been dating?” she asked. Track counted back his years of service in the Rheinland Military. It dated back at least three years. He met Alice when she was a new recruit in the patrol service two years ago. After some time as friends they had at least grown fond of each other at that point. Track never knew the official date of when they started seeing each other on more personal notices, but it went back a while. Track guessed a number.
“A year.” He commented. Alice nodded. It must have been that long. She didn’t quite know the date either, but after some time together they had hit on each other more often than not. It was becoming quite regular to see each other’s faces when turning the corner.
“We’re here.” She said. Track looked out the window. Rheinland Command glistened with search lights placed on all four corners of the base’s square foundation. The docking bay nearby signaled them in, and Alice maneuvered the Valkyrie towards the large opening roof doors, set the ship down, and shut off the engine. Alice and Track hopped out of the ship, and an officer approached them.
“The general wishes to see you immediately. He has been expecting you.” He said quickly. Track and Alice looked at each other, and then nodded and followed the officer.